Caray, Caray!

Alternate Title: Fresh meat
Second Alternate: Chucky’s Grandma!

The two fighters slowly circle the ring, eyeing each other warily, looking for a weakness. One jabs, the other feints. Fists shoot out quickly, and are quickly withdrawn. Occasionally, a punch lands, and bit by bit, some damage is done. Little bruises appear. Breathing becomes labored, but still the jabbing continues. The craftier fighter knows what she’s doing – setting everything up, wearing down her opponent, waiting for just the right moment to unleash everything she’s got. But not yet.

And that’s how our show is getting. Everyone’s dancing around, jockeying for position, setting things up, everybody has a plan. Jero dreams of outsmarting Oscar, Gabi hopes to outmart Jero to find Oscar. Sal and Aldo are probing for any weakness in the tight security of the mansion. Oscar is readying his final solution. Marcos has plans for Nieves, Coni seems to have something up her sleeve (or would, if her outfit weren’t sleeveless). And Mau, at long last, seems to have an ace in the hole, with that recording of Isabel. But he, too, is biding his time, waiting for just the right moment to strike!

We begin tonight’s jabbing with some furious punches by Moni, working on the hanging punching bag. She thinks of Mau’s sweet promises, then the “reality”, screaming to herself, liar, liar, liar!, breaking down into tears.

At Oscar’s Hodge Podge Hunting Lodge, apparently his hot game of solitaire wasn’t enough, so he calls Lorenza over for a little personal sadism. He teases her with the promise of a second wedding with Salvador, asks her to show us how she’ll dance at the reception, and when Lori hops happily, he yells “Watch Out! Here Comes Gabriela to steal Sal!”, which causes Lori to go loca. Oscar sickly snickers, he gets OFF on this kind of thing. Aldo doesn’t think it’s funny, but Oscar cares not one bit what Aldo thinks, and goes out to get some fresh air. Lori cradles Sal’s head, asks if he’s thinking of her, but Sal is actually lost in his reminiscences of Gabi, replaying in his mind the marriage proposal, when he pretended to complain of something pressing against his chest, which turned out to be a engagement ring! Out loud, he says “My love, I love you so much.” Lori hears these words and is overjoyed, “Honey, I love you MORE”.

Gabi meets Jerry in a restaurant. She wants the information on Oscar’s whereabouts before paying any money. He wasn’t born yesterday, wants the money first. Gabi’s firm, she insists Oscar has to be behind bars (tras las rejas) first, she’s not going to lose her savings based on false information. But she’s a woman of her word, Jero can trust her. Fine, says Jero, I’ll deliver Oscar to the police first. But if you leave me whistling in the breeze (chiflando en la loma, literally, whistling on the hill), I’ve got an ace up my sleeve, and you’ll be sorry. Gabi thanks Jerry for his time, says they’ll meet again when Oscar’s in jail, confidently gets up, and sticks Jerry with the bill.

At Grupo Sermeño, Pau’s hiding in the coffee room. She doesn’t want to run into Cris. Xime chides her, you can’t keep hiding from the police. Pau disagrees, if Oscar can do it, why can’t she? Okay fine, says Xime, but we have to plan the company’s reopening party. Pau’s already booked the room, arranged the food, all she needs is some music. Xime’s on top of that. She’ll ask that nice boy Luisa knows (Andrés). I’m not sure Xime’s in tune with the cacophony this could cause, but for now, all’s harmonious.

Tepid Tano enters the vecindad, hands in pockets, approaching Estrella to give her some completely undesired and unwarranted advice. He’d like to believe Estre, but gee, those photos don’t lie, and she knows how impulsive she is, right?

He helpfully reminds her that one day they were “just talking”, and remember how that ended up? We go to commercial to spare us from more of Tano’s tactfulness.

Beto bops into the breakroom, dressed for success with his blue pressed shirt and shiny orange tie, and is happy to hear that Pau and Xime are planning the office party. He’s got some ideas, too. How about a magician? With doves and a busty (pechugona) assistente, of course. Xime thinks that sounds like something you’d have at a children’s party. Well, quips Beto, depends on how busty the assistente is. Or how ‘bout a table, with several sexy women dancing on it, you gals don’t understand the business world, but this is what businessmen like, you know, the Japanese, the Swiss? Xime and Pau think this would be too “complicated”. Undeterred, Beto gives his menu suggestions, sopes, tostadas de patas y memelas (pig’s feet sandwiches and mexican pizza type snacks, yum), but Xime’s not impressed with his selection. She and Pau say they’ve already lined up the food, and FORGET that table dance. Beto pulls rank, I’m the boss, you have to do what I say. Xime smiles weakly, you know, that MAGICIAN wasn’t such a bad idea…..

Tano’s still at it. Estre’s distressed he doesn’t believe her, and he should know that Mau would never do this. Ah, says Tano, but he’s just a man, and you know how to provoke men. Estre swears she’ll clear things up, the whole thing was Isabel’s fault, she put Mau and her to sleep to trap them. But the worst part was that Aldo saw them, got really mad at his Dad, and now he’s gone. She’s worried about him, and hopes one day, she can clear things up with him too. Tano not too convincingly agrees.

The nurse asks Lori to help her in the kitchen, allowing Aldo to pow-wow with Sal. Sal says they have to escape soon, but Aldo thinks it’s won’t be easy to get past those guards. Sal misses Gabriela, her smile, her humanity, her beauty, her integrity. He can’t stand that she’s suffering, thinking he’s dead. But he’s a bit worried that she found someone else. Aldo reassures him that won’t happen, Gabi cares the world for him. But he, Aldo, has lost everything. Sal still thinks there’s an explanation for what Aldo saw, but even assuming it was all true, Aldo has to avoid the easy way out (drugs), he has to overcome this. And Sal will be there to give his total support. He extends his hand in friendship and solidarity, and Aldo clasps it. At least SOMEONE’s on his side.

Ahah! Mauricio’s (somewhat shlubby) detective is working for Gabi, too! He’s trailing Jerry’s car, talking through his earpiece, as Gabi (having called him from the restaurant) tells him she’s not falling for Jerry’s tricks, keep her posted on where he goes, maybe he’ll lead them to Oscar. Jerry’s first stop – Gym Jimmy, to give Coni some verbal venom. Pudgy watches Jerry enter.
Inside, Coni’s enthusiasm is flagging. It was much more fun training with Beto than with Jimmy. She’s whining as Jimmy keeps urging her to train harder. Enter Jero, who remarks how much he likes seeing Coni all sweaty, reminds him of some good times they had. Shut up, pig, is her reply. Jerry tells her time is running out for the money she owes him and Oscar. If she doesn’t deliver, she’ll be defending herself in prison. So keep training with your little punches, bites, scratches, you’re SOOO scary, he says sarcastically. As he leaves smirking, Coni’s enraged.

Knock, knock on an orange door, and Estrella’s happy to see that Luisa and Dani have come to visit. Actually, Dani’ll play with the kids outside, while Luisa talks with Estre. She’s tired of being treated like a kid, and since her Dad won’t tell her, Estrella has to. Where’s Waldo? (sorry, I mean Aldo).

Ivan’s tackling a critical photocopying job when who should enter but Alejandra, the new, cute secretary. Filling out the standard uniform rather nicely, she informs Ivan that she’s a copy-making experta. In fact, in the office where she worked in Guadalajara, she was in CHARGE of the copy machine. As she takes the sheets of paper and deftly presses “start”, Ivan seems mightily impressed with her “qualifications”. Ale just got to the DF, doesn’t really have any friends. Well, Ivan will be happy to be her cuate. Ale flashes her million dollar smile, and asks if Ivan wants to go out to lunch. Sure, he says, there’s a fast food (comida corrida) place right around the corner that’s pretty good. Then let’s go, she says. First he has to put the copies in order (I think she forgot to press “collate”). The two of them collate manually. Maybe a little TOO manually.


Remember back at the start of this recap, with Moni punching? Well, she’s still at it, hands aching, still trying to forget, when up from behind her comes a smiling, hot young guy in a muscle tee, asking if he can help. She turns around, and we pan right up his ripped body to a handsome, beaming face. It’s her old pal El Lobo (the wolf), a famous boxing buddy, back in town.


Jerry gets back in his sportscar, and Pudgy PI resumes the chase.

Moni and Lobo haven’t seen each other in years, but both think the other hasn’t changed a bit, and looks super good. Moni’s grinning more than we’ve seen in months. She’s been following Lobo’s career, and knows he won the “world championship” in Chicago (yes, Moni’s only a national champion, but this guy’s the world champ, interesting how they don’t seem to have any money). Moni asks if Lobo’s still married, but conveniently (for our story) he just got divorced a few months ago, his ex is in Chicago, so he decided to return to Mexico. Does she still live in the vecindad? Yeah, well she hasn’t won the lottery, so she does. But she found her Mom! He’s happy, and they agree to meet for coffee later. Our guapatón saunters out as Moni’s eyes twinkle at this new wrinkle in her life.

Estrella tells Luisa she really doesn’t know where Aldo is. Luisa is worried, and complains that she thought once Mau got custody, everything would be better, but everything’s gone wrong. Estrella assures her that things will work out. Everything will be fine, Luisa.

Well, maybe not everything. Ivan and Alejandra are having a little bite to eat in the restaurant near the office (actually, only he’s eating, though she’s eating him up with her eyes). She needs someone to show her around, and he says he knows all about how things work at Grupo Sermeño. She tells how when she saw him she told herself he was for her. Huh? Well, she covers, she means he just has a good vibe, they’ll get along great, she hopes there won’t be any problem with his, ummm, novia? No way, he says. So you have a girlfriend? Yep, and she’s great, says Ivan, I really care a lot for her. Ale’s not surprised, with how handsome he is, girls must be falling all over him. Ivan is totally lapping this up, and asks if Ale has a guy. Nah, she’s single, but totally open to anything life has to offer. Woohooo!

It’s also lunchtime in the vecindad, and Beto has invited Marcos for a little home cooking. Striding into his place, he calls for his Mom, but Nieves wasn’t quite expecting him, and is wearing a pink robe, a face covered in white coldcream, and huge rollers (tubos)! Beto screams “Chucky’s grandma!” Nieves then realizes that Marcos is there, and scurries mortified behind the curtain of her bedroom. Marcos chuckles, then reassures her that he’s fine with her look, in fact she’s beautiful like this. He loves her, and this is part of her charm. Nieves comes out, primps a bit, admits women have to do this, to make themselves pretty for their men.


Coni is now jumping rope (saltando la cuerda), and doing a fantastic job of it, I might add, crossing her arms, looking very agile. Jimmy tosses her a bottle of water, which she easily snatches out of the air without even looking. I’m impressed. Jimmy says he has a surprise for her, someone who can help her even more with her training.

Beto wonders if Nieves has milanesas ready to eat, and of course she does. He goes outside to wash his hands. Nieves, in her wild white faced clown look, smilingly tells Marcos how the three of them are almost like a little family. He likes this, too. But how’s she been? Well, a bit sad, what with Moni rejecting her. And all due to Isabel! Marcos assures her that very soon Isabel won’t be able to hurt them anymore, everything will work out.

Coni’s finished HER workout, her whole body hurts, as she walks right into hunky Lobo! Her vision temporarily blurred, she looks up at this vision of manliness, and likes what she sees!


He extends a wonderfully muscled arm to help her up,


and asks if she’s okay. She is, he says nice meeting you, and walks past. She sneaks a peek at his butt. This is getting interesting!

Beto’s back, with clean hands, fiery hunger, and growling tummy. Now it’s Marcos’s turn to wash his hands, and he goes dutifully out. Immediately Nieves begs Beto to set the table, as she has to get this cream off her face and get fixed up pronto. Beto agrees, it’s not Halloween, Ma.

Jimmy and Lobo meet and hug. It’s been years. Lobo asks how are Jimmy’s kids? Fine, but much bigger. Well, you know why I had to leave, says Lobo. Right, replies Jimmy, you think they’re still searching for you? He doesn’t know, but if he has to, he’ll face his past. So what brings you to town, why did you leave Chicago, since you’re the world champion? Well, my wife left me, and I couldn’t stay there. Sorry about that, says Jimmy. But I’ve got a job for you. Train this woman, called La Momia, in boxing. She was just here. You mean that tall, thin, muy guapa chick? You got it. Lobo can’t believe she’s a boxer. Jimmy admits she’s not that good, but she’s got a big fight coming up, and needs help. Who with? La Monita. Ooops, problem. Lobo is buddies with Moni, no way can he train someone to fight against her.

Our “trainee” is standing, arm languidly over her head, head cocked, shades in place outside Moni’s gym.

Out comes Moni, and the sparks fly. Moni spits out that she didn’t want to see Coni until the fight. Well, shoots back Coni, one thing is what you want, and then there’s what I decide. I couldn’t resist seeing you suffer. Mauricio did the same thing to you he did to me, cheat, but for you it was with your best friend, another slut like you. I continue to hate you with every fiber of my being. I don’t hate you, replies Moni, I pity you. Coni smiles, puts her sunglasses back on, and leaves. Moni thinks to herself, her world will come crashing down when she finds out that we’re sisters.

Jimmy says he’s always counted on Lobo, and offers him whatever money he wants to train Coni, but Lobo won’t do it, he and Moni are friends, and training her opponent is not open for discussion. Jimmy accepts this, says it’s good to see Lobo anyway, and Lobo had better watch his back while he’s here, Jimmy will also warn him if he hears anything bad (maybe Jimmy will do just the opposite, since Lobo’s got something to hide). Lobo gets a dreamy look on his face. He just can’t wait to see those two beauties fight in the ring. Neither can I!

Costeño’s now giving Jacqui a foot massage, while she’s on the phone with Katia. Seems Kat’s a bit lonely in that school in Italy, and Jacqui may go pay her a visit. She asks Costi if he knows Rome. Sure, it’s a barrio (colonia) just across town, he can take her if she likes. Ay, how naco you are she says, I’m speaking of Rome, Italy, it’s on another continent. Ah, says Costi, I’ve never been past Metepec (which is less than 100 miles from Mexico City, where they are).

Jacqui loves the simplicity of Costi’s roots, his social class, growing up happy without ever having traveled. But you know what? You keep showing me heaven (with this foot massage), and I’ll show you the world. Want to come with me to Italy?

Enter Coni, who’s disgusted that these two are still stuck together like dogs. Well, Jacqui needs to have her body stuck to Costi’s 24 hours a day, she deserves this “rest”. Coni’s going to bed, SHE’s the one who needs rest, after all that training. As she leaves, Jacqui asks Costi if he’s ever heard of gondolas, as their cares drift away….

Night falls, the moon rises, and Jerry’s car has arrived at the Mysterious Mansion of Madness, closely followed by Pudgy PI in patient pursuit. He sees Jerry enter after greeting the burly bruiser guarding the oaken entrance.

Costi has gone home, and Jacqui tells Coni about the phone call with Katia, and how Jaqui may go and visit. Well why not just go stay there for life, says Coni, this is stupendous news, and if your plane goes down in the middle of the ocean, even better! Jaqui opines that Coni’s “negative energy” doesn’t seem to be making her happy. Well, says Coni flippantly, old habits (mañas) are hard to break. Speaking of old habits, adds Jacqui, I heard you’re selling the lingerie boutique. Well, right, Mom, I don’t have time for it these days, with my boxing training. Ah, you don’t fool me, dear. You need the money to pay Jerónimo and Oscar, right?

Cut to the Dark Domain of Doom, as Pudgy PI watches Aldo try to leave for a walk. The guards firmly push him back inside. But Pudgy saw it.

Mau comes to the vecindad to talk to Estrella, who is very worried about people seeing them together, getting the wrong idea. Don’t worry, he says, they didn’t do anything, so they have nothing to hide. Besides, he has good news. He finally has the proof of what Isabel did, and when Moni sees it, she’ll finally forgive them. Mau’s cell rings, and Pudgy found Aldo! Mau tells Estre, and they hug warmly,

joyful at last, all their problems are solved. Of course, at this precise moment, Moni enters the neighborhood, sees her ex-amiga hugging her ex-novio, and now she KNOWS she was betrayed!



Previews: Things heat up between El Lobo and La Monita, but Hissabel tells Oscar she wants Valentina to die!

Vocabulario:

Tras las rejas – behind bars
Chiflando en la loma – whistling in the breeze, whistling Dixie, literally whistling on the hill
Comida corrida – fast food (corrida literally means straight or continuous)
Tubos – rollers, curlers, also means tubes or pipes
Saltando la cuerda – jumping rope
Colonia – a neighborhood, also means a colony, and also is the word for cologne
Mañas – old habits, in the singular, maña means cunning, guile or skill

Labels: gancho

Tonight, Adriana Fonseca is "Cecilia, Prohibida" (Cecilia, forbidden).

We see scattered flower petals on tile and lots of well-dressed people milling about. A priest hovers over a young man in a tux, while a woman in a white dress looks very, very confused.

You got it, Gloria, let it flow, let it flow, let it flow!

The ambulance guys load up the body while the confused young woman in the white dress is led away in cuffs. A woman is supported by her husband and the priest as one of the DIEM guys says he's sorry for her loss. The mom, I presume. The dad is played by that smarmy guy from Amar sin Limites and Al Diablo con los Guapos. Aranda calls Capellan and tells her the body is on its way and it was a murder at the church.

A guy storms away from a house while a woman grabs him by the hair to keep him from leaving. Things get physical really fast and another guy drives up and protects the girl. The first guy finally leaves, but he calls her a "maldita enferma" (damn sick woman).

Inside, the second guy, Luis (played by Luis Gerardo Mendez, who I remember as Bataca in Lola) rubs the girl's, Cecilia's, feet as she says the other guy just got mad and started hitting her. Luis checks out Cecilia's face and she asks him to put the ice pack on it for her. She confirms she's not with anyone else now and thanks him for taking care of her. They start kissing. Then he breaks it off and says he can't, it's not right. He leaves. She puts the ice pack on her face.

In his glass-walled shower, Luis cries.

Cecilia lies on the sofa, smoking a cigarette.

18 years ago: a girl puts on a puppet show for a little boy. She's telling a story about a boy who kept asking for balloons and letting them fly away, until the boy himself flew away. The boy sneaks around behind her little makeshift stage and she gasps when she sees him and pulls her skirt down over her knees. The both start laughing and the little boy kisses the little girl.

Luis looks out the window. He hears a door behind him and sees Cecilia walk in. They start kissing. She has some kind of tattoo on her shoulder. Looks like they have the sex.

Now he's all upset again and she's confused.

(Mr. 5ft: Did she just sleep with her brother?
Me: I kind of think so.
Mr. 5ft: Ok. Cause that's the impression I got.)

Cecilia greets her Elsa and Mario, who I presume are her parents. She explains away the cut on her lip, saying she hit herself with something in the studio. Elsa asks if she put ice on it and she smiles when she says she did. Elsa says she's going to send someone to clean it up, but Cecilia says she can't work if her stuff gets moved around. Cecilia asks where Luis is and Mario says he left early, he had something to do. Cecilia tries to act like it's no big deal and says she just wanted to ask him about something.

Cecilia waits for Luis at school. He's on the phone, talking too fast for me to understand. When he gets to Ceci, she gives him a hard time for leaving the house early to avoid her. He says he just needed to get to class. He says he doesn't know how he's supposed to deal with this, just because, because it's wrong. She says they both wanted to. He responds that what they did makes him sick.

Luis talks to a priest, Nacho. He tells him he didn't know who else to talk to. "I lied to myself, I constructed a big lie." Padre Nacho surmises that Luis went did it "again." Luis admits that he wants her so much, he doesn't know how he stood going so many years without her. "She was right, I always wanted this to happen, we both did."

So now, he's on Forense Gerardo's slab. Forense Gerardo reports to Moran that the wounds were fatal. The first one to an intestine, the second one into the liver. Moran tells Gerardo that the guns have her fingerprints all over them and her dress has her brother's blood on it. Gerardo sagely says "Love kills too, Moran."

In her studio, Cecilia is smoking, drinking, burning a bunch of candles, and using a tool to etch into some wood. She cuts herself and drips blood on her artwork. She uses the dropped blood to write an L. Mami comes knocking and Ceci screams at her before going to open the door. Mom came to tell her that a client called because Ceci was supposed to bring over some works. "Yeah, I couldn't." Mom is alarmed at Ceci's wound, but Ceci brushes it off, "I cut myself, I'll put some carbonated water on it and it's over." When Ceci goes to do that, Mom looks at the work bench. "Now you're working in blood?" "Yes, and drinking it too. I'm a vampire." Cecilia tries to shoo mom out. Mom asks about the last boyfriend. She starts prying about why they broke up. Cecilia says she's in love with another man, that's what happened.

Back at the house, she tells dad that she was afraid to ask who Ceci was in love with. He thinks she's exaggerating. Mom says she hurts herself and writes in blood. The dad says she's capable of doing anything to get attention. Mom, however, is convinced that Ceci isn't well. Dad suggests that Mom talk to Luis. He'll probably know if something's wrong.

Ceci and Luis are sitting on the couch together watching TV. Ceci's feet are in Luis' lap and she whines at him to change the channel. Mom comes in and asks if they want anything. Luis wants a coffee and offers to get up and make it, but Ceci tells him to stay put, so Mom says she'll bring it. Mom looks suspicious. Ceci whines some more for him to change the channel, but he still won't. When she suggests, "juguemos" (let's play) he hands her the remote. He also asks her to quit rubbing her feet into his crotch. She asks "What if we tell Mom?" He looks panicked and asks her to please stop. She starts calling for her mom, who, when she shows up, looks kind of worried. Cecilia finally says she wants a coffee too. Mom nods and leaves. Ceci grabs Luis around the waist and puts her head on his chest.

Aranda asks Padre Nacho, whose last name is Quezada, which makes it sound just a bit like he's Father Cheesy Nachos, if he knew what was going on between Luis and Ceci. He says that Luis was having a hard time with his feelings, that he adored Cecilia, but it was impossible. "Why didn't you tell the parents?" "Because he told me under the seal of the confessional. Besides, he had made the decision to stay away from his sister. Especially after he met Lucia."

Luis and Lucia bicker about something. They run into Cecilia who claims she needs Luis to come with her to pick up some paints. Luis awkwardly introduces them. Lucia kisses Ceci on the cheek. Cecilia is gratified that Luis told Lucia about her, but she wonders just how much he told her. Luis says he didn't say anything, just that she's his sister. Lucia gives him a hard time when Ceci says Luis didn't tell her anything about Lucia. Luis tells Ceci that he and Lucia have a class, so he'll catch up with her later.

Later, he goes into her studio to find her and asks her what she's up to. She ignores the question and says he should have knocked before coming in. "What if I was naked?" He begs her to cut it out. She says she needs his help with some work. "It's a thematic series, about the deadly sins. I don't know much about the topic, but you do. You have a friend who's a priest, a fresh little girlfriend…now that I think about it, I do know two: wrath, and lust." Luis tells her he can't take this the way she does, he just wants…"a normal life? Having a girlfriend you don't love, that's a normal life? Ok." He tries to leave, but she pulls him back. "You love me." He says of course he does, she's his sister. She says she misses him, but eventually says they won't do anything, they'll just go back to the way they were before. She keeps repeating "you're my little brother" over and over again into his chest.

Little Ceci is outside the house, sneaking around, and catches Little Luis undressing in his room. She calls out to him and laughs.

At the breakfast table, dad asks for more coffee and mom pours it. Mom says she'll go to wake up Luis, but Ceci offers, rather creepily, to do it. She saunters over to his room and opens the door without knocking. It looks like she locks the door behind her. She kneels by the bed and tries to kiss him, but he turns away in his sleep. She starts pulling up his shirt and his eyes open, but he closes them again. She hears someone knocking on the door, so she kisses him and gets up. Luis turns over and pretends to be sleeping. Ceci goes to the door and Mom angrily asks her why they locked the door.

Cecilia says "costumbre" (habit). "See if you can get him up, because I couldn’t." That has a much creepier meaning in this show. I'm going to have to scrub my brain after this is over.

Luis brings Lucia home and starts macking on her as soon as he gets her in the door. There are three other people who live in that house with you, dude. He tells her he's got a surprise and leads her through a doorway. Cecilia comes in the front door and starts skulking. The surprise was a bottle of wine. Ooh, the kind with a cork! Hey, big spender. They go down the hall to his room, still kissing the whole way, and Ceci sees them. Right after he opens the door, Luis sees Ceci down the hall. Ceci starts walking down the hallway, but stops. She makes a face like she's about to start crying.

The next morning, Luis comes out of his bathroom to find Ceci waiting on the bed. She razzes him about last night and says she just happened to see him. He asks her to leave so he can change and she says his girlfriend's pretty. He keeps telling her to leave and she asks him to forgive her. He says she asks for forgiveness and then does the same thing over and over and he can't live like this. She tells him that whatever's happening isn't only happening to her. She starts kissing him. He tells her it's sick and they aren't going to do it again. She tries to prove him wrong, so he runs and hides in his bathroom.

Dad tells Capellan that when he married Elsa, Ceci was 6 and he raised her like his own daughter. Capellan tells him she knows this is difficult, but she wonders if they never had any indication that anything was going on between the kids. Dad says they grew up together, they were inseparable, and who would have imagined that this would happen.

Dad is telling a funny story to Mom, Luis, and Lucia. Cecilia walks in and sees them all toasting. Lucia says they're thinking of getting married by Padre Nacho. When Ceci walks in, she looks angry and Dad asks her to come sit down, they've got news for her. She says she's busy and leaves. Dad asks Luis to go see what's wrong with his sister. Dad supposes it must be something that happened "at the office." Ceci runs into her studio bathroom and throws up. Luis catches up with her and asks her what's going on. Ceci says she has to take care of herself. He's going to get married, so he's not going to be around to take care of her. "My parents are worried about you." "Oh, please, Mario's not my dad." "It's as if he was." "'As if' isn't good enough for me. You didn't sleep with me as if I was your sister." She throws it in his face that he said he was going to take care of her and things were going to be like before, but now he's marrying that idiot. Luis wants her to leave Lucia out of it. "Did you tell your little girlfriend that you slept with your sister? Tell her, I'm sure she'll forgive you." Luis leaves the studio.

Dad comes in late to find Luis in the living room drinking a beer. Luis asks dad "How do you know when you're in love? Really in love?" Dad takes a swig of beer and says "First of all, because you accept her how she is. Then you think of her day and night. You want her all the time, regardless of where you are or who you're with. You're capable of doing anything to make her happy." Dad asks him if he feels that way about Lucia and Luis says he does.

Luis is waiting for Lucia outside of school. She tells him that his sister came to tell her that he's not going to marry her because he's in love with someone else. Sounds like she believed Cecilia and insists that he tell her who it is.

Luis goes to confront Ceci about what she said to Lucia. He grabs her by the back of the hair and the wrist and tells her to back off, or else. He asks her what she wants. "For you to love me. But you hate me." He tells her he doesn't hate her.

Mom goes running out of the house looking for Ceci to tell her dinner's ready. Ceci says she's not eating and she won't open the studio door. She finally gets up to open it. Mom says the place keeps getting messier. She tries to clean up, but Ceci tells her not to. Mom says she's been locked up for days. Ceci says she's just working. Mom tells Ceci that she and dad are worried about her. "My dad died years ago, or have you forgotten? Mario's not my dad. And Luis isn't my brother." Mom asks since when Luis isn't her brother. Ceci just repeats that he's not. Mom says "I'm a mother to both of you, you're siblings, and that's the end of it. Your brother, Luis, is about to get married, Cecilia." "I don't think he'll get married. He's in love with another woman." Mom looks worried. Ceci offers to tell her who. "You already know, Mom. Think." Mom is in tears as she cries and says she doesn't know.

Mom talks to Capellan. "I didn't want to understand. I couldn't. How do you understand something like that?" Capellan says things happen, there are signs. "A mother can't ignore those signs. I gave birth to both of them." Capellan asks about getting professional help for Cecilia. "I thought with Luis' wedding, everything would change."

The morning of the wedding, Mom is worried about where Ceci is, Dad is worried about where the rings are. Luis finally gets out the door. Ceci, in a bathrobe, calls to him from the door of the studio. She fusses with his tie and his collar and says he looks handsome. She asks him if he knows what he's doing. "My love, don't get married, please, don't." She tries to get on her knees and beg him, but he pulls her back to her feet and says they're waiting. Someone honks the horn and he extricates himself and leaves.

Luis walks out of the church with Lucia on his arm. People start demanding a kiss and the happy couple obliges. They start throwing flower petals. Luis and Lucia start hugging people. Ceci pulls up in a cab, wearing a white dress and carrying a bouquet of flowers. Luis sees her and looks nervous. He goes away from the rest of the guests to greet her. Ceci says "I asked you not to."

Ceci tells Capellan "He didn't have to get married. I told him. Because he was in love with me and not her. He loved me and I loved him."

Luis says he's sorry. Ceci shoots him twice with the gun under her bouquet and says "I love you." Everyone comes over to see what happened and Lucia cries. Dad starts unbuttoning Luis' shirt and calling for help, and Mom just sits down on the church steps and cries. In slow motion, Lucia cries over Luis, then looks up at Ceci. Cecilia has her eyes closed, but then looks up.

"Luis died instantly. Cecilia was condemned to 22 years in prison. The first few years of her sentence were served in a ward for high-risk prisoners. Elsa divorced Mario. She never stopped visiting her daughter. With diabetes and heart problems, Cecilia left prison a little before reaching the age of 52."

Labels: asesinas

Ale invites Marco to join her for a bubble bath but he dawdles so long that Ale gets a peek at the hickey on his neck.

Except…not. Apparently, Ale was asking what Marco was holding in his hand and it’s two glasses of champagne. (Say it with me: Psh.) He flicks the bathroom lights off but Ale protests. Marco fakes a coughing fit and runs out of the room.

Leonor and Julieta are thrilled to see “the Panther” again. Rafa delivers the bad news: it’s being taken away the next day and put up for sale. An all around bummer.

Ale calls for Marco from the bathroom. He makes a show of sneezing to stall for time. An idea pops into Marco’s devious mind: he lights a piece of paper on fire and holds it up to the smoke alarm.

Rafa, Vicky, and Rafa’s family and friends share a bottle of champagne to toast to their last night with the Panther. They get teary-eyed about it, especially Rafa, who feels as though the Panther was a member of the family.

Success for Marco! The alarm in the hotel blares and the sprinklers kick on. Ale climbs out of the tub to find out what’s going on.

Everyone sits in the car one last time and says their tearful goodbyes until only Rafa and Vicky are left. Vicky says the car is special for her because it’s where they first kissed. She throws herself at Rafa and pulls him into the back seat with her. Unfortunately, Vicky’s brothers are nearby looking for their hermana.

Ale, dressed only in a towel, clamors out into the hotel hallway with Marco. This is obviously a “no-tell-motel” in disguise, as all the other guests are just as scantily clad as Ale. No one has any idea what’s going on and they have to scatter down the stairs because the elevators are shut down.

As per usual, Vicky’s hermanos interrupt her alone time with Rafa. They pull her out of the car and carry her home.

Rafa is finally left alone with his beloved Panther. “So many battles, adventures, and romances. I’m going to miss you.” He even sings to it a little but gets too choked up. Rafa raises his glass to the Panther and says a final goodbye.

The next morning, Ale calls Rafa and wants to know about his business deal of epic proportions. He promises to explain when he gets into work. Ale accuses him of being drunk, calls him a killer, you know the drill.

Susana is all ears to hear about Ale’s hot date with Marco. “It was on fire. Literally.” Ale explains what a fiasco the night was because of some pyromaniac in the hotel. But, of course, he comes second to Rafa on Ale’s bad list.

A little boy wanders into the beauty shop and makes a sales pitch to Ovi. Turns out he’s Edgar Marino Junior the III (He’s got the haircut, attitude, and toothpick to prove it). The kid pulls out a suitcase full of cell phone accessories and tries to charm Ovi into buying something. (Yep. Definitely Marino’s spawn.)

Rafa meets with Ale first thing once he gets to the Siglo. He tells her he’s doing business with Refri Transportation. Ale tells Rafa he’s wasting his time because they only deal with “Mountain Trucks”. Rafa again uses animal analogies and says that tigers focus on one specific herd, not the entire species. “But you’re talking about an idiot tiger who’s trying to snare a lion in his jaws!” Rafa is still adamant so Ale tells him to either get a significant deal done that day or forget it.

The Siglo employees are all waiting in the meeting room. They find out Dandy is wearing very strong new cologne and tease him for it. Ale starts the meeting and keeps with the “sweet as apple pie” farce. Ramirez speaks out and begs Ale to stop being so pleasant. “Be so kind as to abuse us again! We’re begging you!”

The other employees aren’t so receptive to the idea. Ramirez is incensed; All this peace and harmony is ruining them! They’re going to be out of the job and on the street if things stay they way they are! Ale assures him, in her best diabetes-causing voice, she won’t be shouting at them anymore.

Chavez stops by Marco’s and wants dirt about the date. Marco reminds Chavez he had to sabotage it because of the hickey Chavez’s vampire amiga gave him. Marco has to start planning for the wedding because he’s determined to get hitched soon.

Ramirez is sure Ale is having them on with her new attitude. (NO?!) She’s given them just enough rope to hang themselves with. When the month is up and the sales are abysmal, they’ll all be fired. Now they’re starting to squirm.

Susana warns Ale that her plan to get the employees kicked out is a very dangerous one. Ale pays no mind and claims it wasn’t really her idea.

Ramirez tells Ramiro they could get by without Ale’s constant insults but they need her advice, her reprimands, and her presence to succeed.

Pepeto arrives at the Siglo to take Rafa’s car. He’s clearly reluctant to give it away because he gives a whole list of how the Panther should be treated by the new owner.

Ale happens to walk by and sees Rafa’s car. She gets nauseous and woozy again and is furious Rafa would bring the car back to the Siglo when she warned him not to. Despite Susana’s advice, Ale storms out to give Rafa a piece of her mind.

Rafa hands over the keys and caresses his car for the last time. Ale, still disoriented, starts her tirade but her malice disappears when she sees how downtrodden Rafa looks. As Pepeto drives away in the Panther, Rafa promises Ale she, nor anyone else, will ever see his car again.

Rafa catches Magda outside where she works to ask her out to a business lunch. Rafa is positive that Zarate is hiding something because of the way he acts. He thinks “Mountain Trucks” is slipping Zarate money under the table. (Did I understand this right?)

Magda tells Rafa to give it a rest. There’s no hope; Zarate is about to close a major deal with Mountain Trucks and it would be nearly impossible to discontinue the arrangement.

Magda repeats that her hands are tied; she’s only receptionist. “Yes, but a mistreated one who knows business very well, loves her company, and knows there’s a huge injustice going on. The regret is going to make it very hard to sleep at night.”

Rafa wants to make an appointment with Lic. Lemaitre, the president of the company. Magda calls it crazy; if Rafa can’t get in to see Zarate, there’s no way he’ll be able to get to Lemaitre. Rafa agrees to leave but gives Magda his card; he wants to know what kind of discount Mountain Trucks offers Refri. She reluctantly takes it and Rafa cheers his good luck.

Ale hangs up with Rosario to chat with Susana. Marco is going to end up paying for the wedding this time around. Ale pokes fun at Rafa’s determination to get his epic sale and even mimics his little pose. She calls Rafa and demands he get back to the office to give her a report. Just then, Magda calls on Rafa’s other line.

Susana admires Dandy’s cologne, which he says is called “Essence of Java” and was made organically. She loves it and can’t wait to find out more. Rosaura and Claudia are impressed Dandy finally got Susana’s attention and ask what the cologne really is. Dandy calls it “a trap for vegetarians”. The others ladies still think it smells awful.

Rafa is out to lunch with Magda. She tells him the Mountain Trucks discount is 2%. Rafa wants to meet with Lemaitre and offer a 4% discount. Magda says no way. Rafa gets another plan: meet with Lemaitre “accidentally” somewhere in public, get to know him a little, and then talk business.

Susana tells Dandy her guide didn’t know anything about “Essence of Java” but said it’s a very intriguing product. She asks to talk to him about it later, if he has time. Dandy agrees almost immediately.

Rafa gets back to the Siglo where Susana greets him. She looks over his report and is worried he’s only seen one client, who’s just a receptionist. Rafa dreads having to present his report to Ale but a miracle call comes through from Magda: Lemaitre and his wife are going to be out for cocktails at the senior executives club at 7 that night. Rafa is ecstatic!

Avances: Lies! Gossip! Grave Consequences! Vague phrases with no real indication of what's going to happen on Monday!

Labels: dinero

This episode had a few bonbons of entertaining moments amongst the same old same old.

Luisa has decided to call Silvia on the phone right in the middle of the lobby and ask her in a loud voice who the father of Dora's baby is. [Doesn't she have an phone extension in her office? Doesn't she have email?] Of course, Albieri walks in on this. Luisa hastily hangs up on Silvia. She tells Albieri that the business of Dora's baby is driving her crazy.

Albieri takes a deep breath and tells her that he will confess the truth. Instead of his previous story where a former assistant fertilized Dora's egg with the wrong sperm, now Albieri tells Luisa that he mixed up the embryos and the wrong one got implanted in Dora. Once again, Luisa buys this tissue of lies and is ecstatic that Albieri isn't the father of Dora's baby. She sobers up a little when Albieri points out that the baby is not genetically Dora's at all but she concludes that carrying a fetus and birthing makes you a mom. She also rationalizes that Albieri's attachment to the child is the result of his guilt over the boo boo.

Vicki advises Cristina to lay off pursuing Leo for a while and make him miss her. Cristina agrees but we will see later on how well she does with this idea.

Mohamed hustles Lariat away from Ozzie. She protests that she is just a modern woman but Mohamed accuses her of not following their family customs.

Leo and Enrique are at a restaurant with Lorena, a business associate who follows the broccoli rubber band dress for success philosophy. She tells Leo that she wants to do business with his company. Of all the restaurants in Miami with big glass doors open to a patio this is the one that Cristina is walking by carrying a cake. On a plate. [Now when did you ever buy what is obviously a fancy cake where they didn't put it in a box? And why would you buy a cake like that for a party for 2 year olds? They are happy with a sheet cake and colored sprinkles.]

Cristina recognizes Leo even though he has his back to her, forces her way into the restaurant, creates a scene, screams insults at Lorena and dumps the cake on her. Leo has her arrested.

Jade lays it on a bit thick singing the praises of the girl who was at Ali's party to Said. She says that not only is the girl pretty, she knows how to cook without too much salt, won't burn his clothes with an iron, won't forget to buy groceries and is willing to be a second wife. Said pays no attention. He is totally absorbed with Jade.

Rosa speaks for us all when she asks Lucas what he still doing with Jade's jade pendant.

Cristina gets put in a cell with some rough customers.

Enrique urges Leo to drop the charges against Cristina but Leo insists that she should stay in jail overnight to learn a lesson.

Mohamed tells Latifa that he has doubts about Ozzie as a husband for Lariat. Latifa is so eager to get rid of Lariat that she doesn't care. Lariat tells Mohamed not to question Ozzie too much about their religion since she hasn't had time to teach him much about it. Ozzie arrives.

Cristina entertains her cellmates with the story of her relationship with Leo and the 'five minutes' with Diego that ruined everything. They are sympathetic. Cristina gives them the jewelry she is wearing that was a gift from Leo. She says that she doesn't want anything from him touching her.

Lorena, the object of Cristina's jealousy in the restaurant, signs at $10 million deal with Leo's company.

Enrique suggests that Cristina's performance in the restaurant brought them luck in getting the contract or something. He urges Leo to spring Cristina. Leo agrees and not only goes to the jail himself to get Cristina released but buys her more jewelry to replace what she told him was stolen in jail.

Latifa sings the praises of Lariat's cooking to Ozzie.

Mohamed tells Latifa that it is the man's duty to promote the bride. He sends the women to the kitchen for pastries and gets down to business. He says that they have to call uncle Abdul to decide on how the payment will be made. "Payment?" asks Ozzie. At first, Ozzie thinks that he is going to be paid to marry Lariat but when it becomes clear that he is the one who is supposed to pay a dowry, Ozzie is out of there faster than you can say, 'dancing with the stars.' Lariat loses it, to say the least.

Latifa runs in to Lucas while Mohamed is in a shop getting medicine for Nariza. He says that he is very happily married with a face that says just the opposite. Latifa tells him that Jade is happy with Said. Marisa appears. Lucas introduces Marisa to Latifa. Mohamed arrives and Latifa introduces Mohamed to Marisa. Then Latifa says that Jade will be very happy (muy feliz) when she knows that Lucas is muy feliz with his wife. Lucas says that he is muy feliz now that he knows that Jade is feliz in her marriage. After that feliz exchange, Lucas kisses Marisa and they leave.

Back in the car, Marisa is not muy feliz. She says that now that his Arab friends aren't around, Lucas stops being affectionate with her. She warns him never to use her in the way that he just did. [I had watch this scene a couple of times before I could figure what Marisa was complaining about. She certainly takes offense easily.]

I guess Latifa lost no time in telling Jade about her encounter with Lucas. Jade goes to Ali's house and she and Zoraida rehash the whole betrayal/perfidious Westerner thing again. Jade swears that she will rip Lucas out of her heart. Lucas walks in the rain and swears that he will forget Jade. Yawn.

If the medicine they got for Lariat was Valium or something like that, it's not working very well. When Mohamed points out to Lariat that Ozzie didn't want to pay a dowry, she reminds Mohamed that he got off cheap in the dowry department when he married Latifa and complains about a double standard. She lays into Latifa as well and says that she only has one brother now and she will never set foot in Mohamed's house again.

Lucas apologizes to Marisa in his spineless way. He says that the only thing he wants is for the three of them to live happily. Marisa repeats that this is the last time. Next time, he can forget about having a family.


Things are all ready for the birthday party for Daniel. When Vicki announces that Albieri is bringing a special present for Daniel, Estela repeats her warning about Albieri wanting to take Daniel from Dora.

Leo reluctantly agrees to go to Daniel's birthday party. Just to show that Cristina isn't in charge, he says that he'll arrive an hour late. Enrique observes that Leo and Cristina love each other and shouldn't hurt one another.

Nariza returns to Said's house and immediately vents her grievances against Mohamed and Latifa. When Jade comes downstairs, Nariza starts in on her. Finally, she says that she hopes Said's second wife doesn't treat him like Jade. "What second wife?" asks Said. Nariza replies that it is the one she had to come home to vet. Said says that he doesn't know what she is talking about. Jade backs out of the room unobtrusively.

In the street, Abdul tells Said that Nariza shouldn't have let the cat out of bag before she vetted the girl. Said says that he doesn't want a second wife. Abdul replies that he has to start fixing the problem he got into when he married Jade.

Ali and Zoraida agree that Jade will regret making Said take a second wife. Ali tells Jade that Abdul has asked him to receive the family of the girl that she wants Said to marry. Jade does a, "who me?" which makes Ali even angrier after what he saw and heard at the party the previous day. "May Allah protect you from yourself," says Ali.

Luisa is all perky getting ready for the party. Albieri thinks to himself that her happiness is reinforced by her seeing him as weak because she thinks she knows all his secrets. "How naive," he says to himself.

Ah, the tried and true telenovela device - telling secrets in large rooms with lots of places to be overheard. Lucas and Rosa are waiting for Marisa. Lucas counters Rosa's criticism of Cristina by saying that she helped him when he needed it. Rosa retorts that she helped him because she wanted him to marry Jade and that Marisa must not find out about this or she will never go to Cristina's house. Well, of course, Marisa hears this.

She stomps off saying that she won't go to the party. Lucas says that he will go alone. Marisa tells Rosa how fed up she is with Lucas and then goes into labor. Rosa gets Lucas before he leaves for the party. They go to the hospital. Leo is also about to leave for the party when he is told that Marisa is in labor.

It looks like a fun birthday party with a passel of kids running around screaming. Cristina is dejected that Leo hasn't shown up. The doorbell rings. It's Albieri with a bike for Daniel. Estela makes the obligatory criticism about Albieri buying expensive gifts for Daniel.

The doorbell rings again. It's Julio. He says that he finally wants to see the kid he is sure will be the image of Osvaldo. When he is shown Daniel, he tells Luisa that the baby cannot be Dora's child. Not satisfied, Julio sits down next to Albieri and says in Estela's hearing that Daniel cannot be Dora's child. [Jeez, talk about rude and not PC! So the next time I see a stranger with a little tummy, I'll just come right out and ask if she's pregnant. If I see a woman with twins in a stroller, I'll ask if she took fertility drugs. If I see a white woman with an oriental baby, I'll ask if she adopted the child because she can't have children. What happened to being polite and then gossiping later in private?] Estela tells Albieri that he might be the father of Daniel but he has no rights since the baby wasn't registered with his name. "The father?" asks Julio. Albieri bolts from the party.

Lucas is not in the labor or delivery room with Marisa. He asks Rosa if it isn't dangerous that the baby is born early and her premature labor might have been his fault for arguing with Marisa. Leo and Enrique arrive at the hospital. Leo wants to know why Albieri isn't there. Enrique will call him.

No footage of Marisa straining in the stirrups. We see her post delivery with Lucas looking on. She is given the baby and names her Natalia.

The credits roll.

Labels: clon

I’m here to announce, Jean is the winner of the Name That Recap game! Thank you, Jean, for coming to the rescue. It's a bad allergy season, and the creative juices weren't flowing.

There is some sort of party at Ali’s house. Jade obsesses some more about the newspaper articles. She tells Zoraida that she doesn’t know what to do. The more Said dislikes her, the stronger he refuses to give her a divorce. Z warns her that he might take a second wife, but Jade says she’d love that. In fact, she’s going to get him a woman, a pretty one. Jade steps up to a young woman named Muna and invites her to dance. As the two women dance, Said watches, perhaps confused and disturbed? I’m not sure.

Rosa goes to Albi’s. house. She’s been dying to meet Daniel, and today’s the day. Albi enters, Rosa asks about the photo montage, Luisa invites her to come see Daniel, and Albi interrupts, asking Luisa to make him some tea. Albi goes to Daniel’s room, and full of melodramatic fervor, he says, “If Rosa sees you, I’m finished.” When Luisa brings his tea in, Albi and Danny are gone. Albi is taking crying Danny into his car. Danny, your mama should’ve warned you, don’t get into cars with strangers, and Frankenalbi is stranger than anyone.

Back at the party, Abdul tells Ali that Nariza has a suitor. Ali thinks that’s wonderful, but wet blanket Abdul says she’s already proven that she’s not very wise about picking husbands. Ali says that Nariza made wise choices for wives for her brothers. The two men dispute the qualities of Latifa and Jade. Meanwhile Jade interviews the second-wife prospect. She speaks Spanish and she’s not engaged to anyone. She’ll do. Said looks on, perhaps confused and disturbed.

Zoraida warns Jade that she is diverting her destiny. She’ll lose her husband, and then she’ll be stuck with no way to change her future. Jade points out Muna to Said, but he only wants to look at Jade.

Rosa tells Luisa the story about the photo. Albi takes Danny to Dora’s house. Grandma gathers him up and says, “Now you’re safe,” glaring at Frankenalbi. Cris tells Albi that Grandma thinks Albi is the father and that he’s going to take Daniel away. Cris says, “You’re so nervous. Is it because of your wife?” Albi says, “Huh?” as if, “Wife? Do I have a wife?” She asks him to spill the beans. Is he the father? Albi says, “Um, I have to go.” This part is cute. As Albi is leaving, Cris tells him, “Luisa has the right to know that you didn’t betray her with your heart; it was only your sperm.” After he’s gone, she says to herself, “I don’t see that as a betrayal. Well, maybe a little.”

Albi goes home and Luisa confronts him. “Are you Daniel’s father? I’m not the only one with suspicions. There are a lot of things that are strange about your story. First Silvia was sent away after she inseminated Dora. Then your assistant was sent away when he discovered that you didn’t use the correct donor’s sperm. And you don‘t want a child by me because you already have one. ” Albi makes excuses, but Luisa demands the name of the donor. Albi says he’ll tell her tomorrow.

Cristina calls to invite Lucas to the birthday party. Marisa is jealous that he’s talking to a woman. He gets off the phone and tells her what it’s about. She whines, “Do we have to go?” He tells her of course they’ll go. Suddenly she’s having problems because the baby moved. Heaven forbid that attention should be taken away from her for one moment. Lucas tells her that if it’s a girl, she chooses the name, and if it’s a boy, he chooses. She informs him that it’s a girl and she’ll name her Natalia. Lucas persists, if it’s a boy, I’ll name him Diego.

Jade is whining to Zoraida some more. Z says, “How are you going to forget him if you never stop talking about him?” That Zoraida, she didn’t just fall off the cabbage truck, did she?

Latifa asks Nariza how she met her principe azul, and Nariza spins a yarn. Latifa isn’t sure Nariza’s brothers will approve of her marrying a convert to Islam. Nariza says her case is special because she’s not a spring chicken anymore, and besides, she sacrificed everything for her brothers and now it’s her turn for the good life. As Nariza leaves, a woman asks Latifa for a glass of water. Latifa invites her into the house, and while she’s in the kitchen, the woman steals their stereo. Latifa falls into a heap of tears.

Lucas ponders Jade’s necklace and remembers her story. While Jade’s mom was pregnant, she sat under her favorite tree. But she saw something bright, the necklace, and went to get it. When she did, lightning hit the tree and set it on fire. The necklace gives her protection and happiness. Marisa calls to Lucas to show him the expensive designer crib.

Ozzie and Lariat are flirting at the mall. Lariat says that yes, she’ll marry him. Once he converts to Islam. Ozzie says he’ll convert to a burrito if she asks him to. She says that if he wants to take a second wife, she has to agree to it. A second wife? Ozzie thinks he died and went to heaven. (Wait ‘til he hears about the heaven part!)

He goes to kiss her and she screeches, “Haram!” She says that’s for after the wedding. After they get married he’ll see the real Nariza. Yeah, I’ll bet that’s the truth. She says, “I’m the kind that drives men crazy.” Yeah, I can’t argue that, either!

Nariza and Mohamed are talking about the robbery, and she’s in tears. Ali calls because he heard about it. Bad news travels fast. He says westerners have no respect for the law because they don’t realize that they’ll be judged by God. Muna’s father comes to talk to Ali. Ali calls in Jade and asks if Said is really looking for a second wife. Jade cryptically answers, “If Said wants a second wife, I authorize it. It would be welcome.”

Jade runs to tell Zoraida that it’s working. “Said will marry Muna and then he’ll divorce me and I’ll be free!” Ali comes storming in, the maddest we’ve seen him so far. “What are you doing? Are you putting another woman in your husband’s bed? You did it to get free of him! A man who made himself blind and deaf for you! Any other man would have abandoned you. You’re a malicious liar ! I opened my heart to you and fed you with it, but you spit on me and threw me on the floor.” He then turns on Zoraida for assisting. Z starts to say that she didn’t know anything, but Ali hollers, “You know everything that goes on in this house. A fly doesn’t move, that you don’t know it. But when this house falls and shame covers my head, it will fall on you too.” Then he turns back to Jade. “If you keep looking for damnation you’ll find it. Go ahead. Destroy the love your husband feels for you! Then you’ll find out the nature of what you’ve been hoping for.”

Leo drops in to see Cris. Her make-up actually looks semi-normal. He claims he was in the neighborhood. She says it’s really that he can’t live without her. Then she asks if he’s coming to Danny’s party. He appears to be Albieri’s son. THAT gets Leo’s attention. When he’s home he tells Enrique. Enrique says that if the madrina says so, it must be true. He wouldn’t miss that party for the world, for the chance to meet the child. Leo says, “Ni yo tampoco.”

Mohamed tells Nariza that she leaves for Morocco tomorrow to approve Said’s second wife. Latifa dashes off in a dither. She goes to her room to cry, for fear that Mohamed will take another wife too. Nariza informs Mohamed that she’s not leaving. It would be easier to move a mountain than to move her. He and Said got married without heeding her warnings, and so Said doesn’t need her advice now. “This is my only chance for happiness. God will judge you for making me suffer like this. I’ll be in the garden of Paradise surrounded by fruits, while you will have your heads cracked on the rocks! Tell Said’s second wife she can wait until I’m married!” Mohamed calls Abdul and tells him Nariza won’t leave Miami. Abdul and Ali (but mostly Abdul) complain that we’re all going to he!! in a handbasket. Abdul says he won’t let Ali interfere with the marriage. On the contrary, Ali has no desire to meddle with what Allah causes to happen. Abdul leaves, and Ali tells Zoraida, “See what Jade’s conspiracy caused? The only protection Jade has is Said’s love. If she kills that love, she kills the only protection she has. As Allah is my witness, I did everything I could.”

Latifa calls Ali to ask him to change the marriage contract so Mohamed can’t take a second wife. Ali reminds her that he read her the whole contract before she got married. So let it be written, so let it be done. Latifa said she wasn’t paying attention. In a link we looked at earlier in the series (Jean, did you post that or did I?), a woman wrote that her family never allowed her to read the marriage contract, and that’s true in most of the marriages.

Mohamed goes to the mall looking for his sister, and he sees Ozzie and Lariat together, very chummy. Mohamed announces that Lariat has to return to Morocco. Lariat wants to get married first. Osvaldo says he’s ready here and now. Mo says they’ll talk about it tonight.

Cris waltzes into the apartment with all the things for the party. Vicky pulls a can of Silly String out of the bag, but it looks like Cris already used it to decorate her dress.

At the clinic in the morning. Luisa demands from Albi the info on Danny’s father. She has reviewed all the files, and the only possible donor was the one Sylvia had prepared. He darts away, saying, “We’ll talk later.” Luisa reaches Sylvia on the phone. Just as Frankenalbi walks toward her, Luisa asks Sylvia, “Who was Dora’s sperm donor?” Roll credits. Don’t tell me, let me guess. Albi hangs up the phone before Sylvia can answer. Anyone laying bets?

Labels: clon

From Yesterday:
The doctor comes to work on Juan’s leg. They find they have common beliefs.

Rod and Leo are talking. Rod gives his take on love. Leo reminds him a little too eagerly that whatever he needs, all he has to do is ask.

Regina enters her room to find Aimee playing possum. She ponders who Renato could have confused with her.

Renato in his room. He remembers Regina’s words. He thinks she’s lying. Why? Why? Aimee is so different. He sits up suddenly.

Aimee is dreaming of Juan. This will be the last time. She sits up and says he’s gone, he abandoned me. Why?

Meanwhile Juan is in the Love Cave thinking about Aimee.

Aimee sits up and calls out his name. Renato calls out Aimee. Regina calls out Renato.

Tonight:
The maid brings Santos something to eat. She gets after him for exerting himself. He asks her to wait. Don’t leave. He’s got a present for her. She is excited about it but not sure she can accept it. He convinces her to take it. They make goo goo eyes at each other. Curly and the Parrot show up and interrupt the two love birds with a giggle. Pedro shows up and says get a move on we have stuff to do.

Aimee is making herself beautiful. Regina shows up and startles her. I’m surprised you are up so early since you were out running around until all hours of the night. Aimee says she likes to be alone. But after that? I looked for you everywhere and you could not be found. Aimee says the Finca is a prison for her. This “carcel” is your home (hogar). Aimee thinks she can convince Renato to move elsewhere. Regina says that Renato will never abandon the land. Why don’t you confide in me and tell me the truth. You went to look for this man Juan del Diablo. Dun, dun, dun!


Back at the Love Cave--Gabe thinks Juan should go back to the house. Juan says no way Jose. They are arguing about it when the gang shows up and fills him in on what’s going on. They say nothing has been said yet. Nobody suspects they were responsible. Juan thinks that is good.

Aimee is getting annoyed with Regina. Enough already! I broke it off with Juan. Are you satisfied? Regina says she is just concerned for her. Regina says when she was out looking for Aimee in the garden she ran into Renato. He was acting really strange. What was he doing? He was out walking on the beach looking for you. That gets her attention but she says it was you he saw you were the one walking on the beach. Of course it is your bad nerves. Now you don’t remember what you are doing. Regina says you are crazy… Rosie shows up with some towels. Aimee dismisses her and says thank you we don’t need you right now. But wait, Regina wants to ask her a question--Did you see me leave last night? You can see Rosenda pondering her answer but I’m pondering how does she keep her boobs from falling out of that blouse?

Leo walks in on Rod in the bathtub. Ack! Now I have to poke my eyes out! She is overcome with--something. (Viewerville is overcome with nausea.) He looks at her like “que the hell! “ She hurriedly leaves the towels and closes the door. She looks like she might swoon with delight at seeing her Hot Bod Rod sitting naked as a jaybird in the bathtub. Groan…

Rosenda answers that last night you entered the house and practically ran to your room. You didn’t talk to anybody. Aimee says see what did I tell you? Regina says it can’t be. You are mistaken. Aimee says now will you leave me in peace? Regina leaves crying. Rosenda looks at Aimee and you know she’s thinking that Aimee owes her a big time. Aimee thanks her “for telling the truth” with some perfume. Rosie assures her that she is at her service whenever she needs her. Which really means “soon I will have enough info to blackmail you with.” Aimee thinks to herself “Regina you are in my hands. Nobody imagines that it was me dressed like you going out. Not even Renato knows the difference.” Oh boy! That sounds like trouble.

Noel is talking to Renato. He’s telling him what went on at the dinner table. Noel says that Rod hauled off and smacked Regina. He goes on to say that Regina is so sensitive. Renato says back up Pops, I used to think that about Regina but she is not what she appears. He doesn’t want to say anything, and you can’t say anything to anybody, but last night he went to look for Aimee and saw Regina on the beach. Noel says no way that could happen Renato says oh but it did. When she returned to the house I was waiting for her. She didn’t see me. Are you sure it was her? (Now really Noel, how could you miss her she glows in the dark.) You can’t be right. It was Regina.

Leo walks in and startles Regina. Leo wants to know what is up. Regina wants to know if there has ever been any family history of madness?

Pedro and Santos are talking to the fisherfolk. They are showing them the money. If they discover it we will be up a creek without a paddle.

Rod is just finding out that his shipment went missing. How could there not be any sign. Well, we’ve never had this problem before. Perhaps they were PIRATES. Rod doesn’t believe it. Bandits maybe, but not PIRATES. Nobody knew about it. The soldier says they are not at fault. They have always been faithful. Remember when we took care of that little matter regarding Juan de Dios? Do you think that I am in your hands? Oh no, we just want to remind you of the “favors” we have done for you in the past. We don’t bite the hand that feeds us. FF>>

Leo confides in Regina that her sister was crazy. Oh no! Regina is shocked and looks with doe eyes at Leo-- Do you think that the madness can be passed from parents to children? Leo says oh, of course. Regina falls for it hook, line, and sinker. Ok, now I want to smack her. Regina has some things to do and wants permission to take Clemencia with her. Why does a grown woman need permission to do anything? Leo doesn’t want anything to upset His Royal Majesty. Leo warns Regina that If something happens to Rod it is all her fault. Leo dreamily remembers seeing her big hunk of man sitting naked, exposed and vulnerable in the tub. Ah, what could have been. Sigh…

Rod is questioning the crew. He wants to know what happened to the shipment. The poor guy said they were like ghosts. Like PIRATES. Rod tells the guys they are good for nothing. Get out of my sight. Damn bandits. (Hey, but they could have been PIRATES.)

Gossip is spreading through the town.

Juan is still in the Love Cave. Gabe brings him some water and food. He says the gossip is that PIRATES are afoot. Juan laughs. He tries to talk with his mouth full. Nice. He asks Gabe about Estrella. Gabe loves her. What will you do if she doesn’t exist? She does, I held her in my arms, I kissed her. My opinion is that you should look for Jimena and tell her the truth. It’s not possible. Go find her. Like Mr. I Love You--But Now Not So Much is the one to give love advice.

Regina is talking to Jimena and Clemencia. Jimena says she needs her freedom. I think Regina is worried about her going back to the camp. She wants Renato or her father to go with her. Jimena says no it’s ok. The girls decide they will go with her to just outside the camp.

The doctor is thinking about Juan and what they talked about. How strange. Renato shows up and the doctor tells him he’s been thinking about Regina. Renato asks him if he likes Regina. Duh! Renato says he’s not really the one to talk to. He needs to talk to Rodrigo. Pablo says if she accepts him he would love her for every. Renato says that Regina has changed a lot. I’m not sure what he says after that.

Regina and Jimena and Clemencia go back to the camp. Regina makes Jimena promise that she will find them if she needs help. Jimena runs back into the gypsy camp. Everyone is glad to see her. Especially Servando. He sneaks up behind her and grabs her. What a slime ball. The other men stand around and laugh. (don’t even get me started.) Gabe saves her. He gets in to a knife fight with Servando. Which might not have been the best idea considering he’s good with knives and all. Servando draws first blood but Gabe finishes it with a really nice take-down. Jimena pleads for him to not kill him. He’s not worth the trouble (no vale la pena). Gabe tells him that he was saved this time so he’d better leave her alone.

Gabe and Jimena go for a walk. She is grateful to him. I’ll always be your friend. Estrella is not important. He helps her over a log and gazes wistfully into her eyes. He tells her he loves her-- as a friend of course. Whatever. How much do you love her? More than you can know. Do you want to help me. Sure. She reads his palm.

Juan is still in the cave with his leg all bandaged up. He remembers the woman with the veil and can’t figure out why he is drawn to her. He remembers touching her. Why does she move me?

MdR is in her cell when the white dove flies in. She looks happy to see it. An Angel…she remembers touching Juan’s face. She says it is you. It is you coming for me. But I can’t go. I can’t abandon my son. I can’t. I can’t.

Aimee thinks it is a fine idea to dress like Regina to look for Juan. Let pobrecita’ Regina take the fall. She dons the habit and sneaks out the window. Looks like we are in for another episode of Everyone Hates Reggie.

Juan and Gabe are talking in the Love Cave. Gabe is worried about his leg but Juan says don’t worry about me. You need to get some rest. Juan says they can’t be seen together. If someone asks he should say that Juan will be back soon or whatever he wants.
I will obey your orders because you are right.

Regina is looking for Aimee. Again, she’s not here. Hey check your closet dumbass. A light bulb goes off in her little pea brain. It is Aimee they saw, not me! Ya think? Oh, no, that is seriously not going to happen. I will not permit it. Regina looks in somebody’s room. She searches the rest of the house. Where is everybody? She goes out on the grounds. She goes back into the house. She runs into Renato. He needs something but she is busy. He wants to ask Aimee something. She gets all jumpy. Regina runs into Clemencia. She tells her that Renato is looking for Aimee and she’s not here. Clemencia says what can we do?. I say rat her out and let her face the music. You know she would do that to you without batting an eye. Regina tells Renato that Aimee is indisposed. She’s resting. Tomorrow she will be better. Renato doesn’t want her to go. He wants to talk to her. Please. She looks pensive.

Leo wants to know why Clemencia is standing guard. She says Aimee has a bad headache. Oh, great, Leo will go get her herbs.

Renato wants to read a poem to Regina. (How can you resist those eyes.) She sits down as he begins to read. FF>>

Aimee enters the Love Cave to find a fire going and Juan is asleep on the floor. He thinks it is Regina. She says it’s me, Aimee. She says she used it to get out of the house and find him. She can’t live without his kisses, his hugs. He pushes her away. Get out. She doesn’t get it. Why are you saying this. I need to know if it is true that you are gong. Are you going to abandon me? Yes. I’m leaving and I will never come back. Why? Why? He tells her she is his worst enemy. Aimee looks shocked.

Labels: salvaje

We start where we left off yesterday: Jorge is getting nostalgic at the hacienda. “It’s been so long since I was here. So many memories!” Meanwhile, Chavez is making his way towards the hacienda in the company of two of his lady friends from the strip club. They are in the stripper version (or Halloween version) of a maid’s uniform and a cop uniform. Naughty Maid and Naughty Cop are tired of the strip club clients who treat them disrespectfully. Chavez plans to not only treat them with respect, he will treat them to a night of loving and passion in his Paraíso Erótico- the hacienda.

Back at Doña Dolores’ restaurant, the dance contest is about to get started. Dodo and con man Martín flirt with each other and are joined by….hey! Isn’t that Paula from Gancho?! Yes, it is. Looking quite fetching in a sexy black and silver mod dress, and missing her cute glasses. But I digress..

We get a look at some of the couples who will be competing:
-Dandy convinces Susana to be his dance partner by assuring her that her chakras will thank her and that she will emerge from it with a purer/cleaner spirit.
-Claudia is nervous because her partner, Rafa, is still missing. Dandy assures Claudia he will show, as Rafa loves to dance. He reminisces about the time he and Rafa practiced their dance moves at Autos Siglo and were busted by Ale.
-Marino has partnered with one of the sales floor models and is sporting a special wig for the dance contest. Both the wig and his dance moves are an homage to John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever-over the top and cheesy. He is sure HE is going to win. Where have we heard this before?
-The General and Bebe are teaming together, but she wants to be sure he is healthy enough for the competition. He does a few stretches to convince her, but ends up hurting himself instead.
-Rosaura looks down her nose at the dance competition, especially when she sees Trapito and his partner go dancing by, and brags about the oh so fancy and fabulous dance parties she attended in Miami. “There weren’t any Nacos there. All the best people attended like the Estefans…” (Now I see why she doesn’t have a partner.)
-Jimenez actually brings his wife Elvira! She wants them to dance till they drop, and they’d better win, or else. She decides she will lead.
-Marino spins his partner and himself right into the waiting arms of dance partners B&V, who don’t mind at all. Marino, however is very disturbed.
-Ovi and Pepeto are paired together, but for a moment, after Trapito and his partner (one of the sales floor models) bump into them, it looks like there will be a partner switch. Trapito eyes Ovi (obvio!) and Pepeto eyes the sales floor model.

Back at the hacienda, Chavez and Naughty Cop and Naughty Maid are enjoying a drink at the bar in the pool house. The skirt on the cop is cut so high, and her thong undies are so small, that Univision feels the need to blur her derriere, and for once I am in agreement with the censors. Naughty Maid freaks herself out a bit talking about ghosts, as she’s always imagined that places like the hacienda have lots of ghosts wandering around.

Upstairs, Jorge’s in his jammies and tucked into his bed. Rosario calls his cell and wakes him up, wanting to know why he decided to spend the night at the hacienda. Jorge’s reply (like any good teenager): “Because I wanted to. What’s the problem? See ya tomorrow.” As he hangs up, he hears some party music. Could it be his imagination? Ghosts?

Well, I don’t think Jorge has EVER imagined the scene that is happening right then downstairs in the pool house. And ghosts don’t tend to wear sexy costumes and writhe suggestively on couches. Chavez has a lot of love to give, and he’s decided to give it to his amigitas one at a time. He takes Naughty Cop to another part of the house where she can “take his statement.” Naughty Maid decides to amuse herself by taking a dip in the pool while they are away. She takes off her stockings, then her dress (And I am horrified to see that not only do her bra and panties not match her costume, they don’t match each other! Striped cotton panties with a satin fringe bra. Que?), but she leaves her maid’s cap on, and jumps into the pool. She turns around mid swim to find a very confused Jorge staring at her. “Señorita, who are you?” Naughty Maid thinks her worst nightmares have come true. She calls him a ghost and then lets go a pretty impressive, blood curdling scream.

Back at the dance competition, Lorena Enriquez (she’ll forever be Gancho Paula to me) is announcing the start of the competition and introducing herself. Not only is she some famous tv show host, she’s Martin’s cousin. Claudia jumps on stage to try to stall the start of the competition as her partner has not yet arrived. Just then Rafa runs in and hops on stage. He and Lorena look each other over, and they both like what they see. She calls him guapo and starts some heavy duty flirting. Looks like Claudia has decided to play the role of Vicky tonight, as she jealously puts an end to this and cuts between Rafa and Lorena.

When we transport back to the hacienda, we see that Jorge and Naughty Maid have become fast friends. She introduces herself, “Yadira, mi amor!” Jorge thinks Miamor is an odd last name. Lol! He then introduces himself with his full name and as owner of the hacienda. He thinks she’s the maid- the real one. This whole time Jorge is sitting in a patio chair next to the pool, while Yadira shows off her cleavage and flashes her other goodies while cavorting near the edge of the pool. Sweet, innocent Jorge is just tickled that he found such a nice, amusing young lady to hang out with. Chavez’s time with Naughty Cop is not quite so wholesome, and he catches sight of Jorge and Yadira from the balcony above the pool. He motions to Yadira to keep quiet about his presence, and he and Naughty Cop try to sneak by Jorge.

Chavez manages to scurry quickly behind the bar, but Jorge sees Naughty Cop. “Ah, you must be the other employee (empleada)! And from the looks of your uniform, you’re part of the security team.” Lol! Chavez peeks from behind the bar wondering how he’s going to get out of this mess.

The dance competition begins and we learn the prize is 15 days of eating and drinking free at Dodo’s. (Univision had some strangely long commercial break and we came back mid scene, so some other prize might have been missed by me.) Commence the dancing!

Dodo’s tiny dance floor is so packed that almost as soon as everyone begins dancing, they all start bumping into each other. Eventually they all go tumbling down like dominoes. Dodo has a fit and yells that none of them are doing it right. (Most times things are much better in our imaginations than they turn out to be in reality.) Super Rafa saves the day (of course), by suggesting they do the competition the way they do on Canal de las Estrellas. Each couple dances one at a time and are judged one at a time (like Dancing With the Stars). Lorena is impressed. Not only is Rafa handsome, he’s also wise! Claudia puts on her Vicky hat and jumps in to cool Lorena’s jets.

While Rosario is worrying about Jorge and all the painful memories he must be encountering at the hacienda, we see Jorge drinking and laughing with the Naughties, while they dance on the table and couch and kiss him on his cheeks. He asks them how long they have worked at the hacienda, who hired them, how do they get paid? They stall and fudge their answers until the sleeping pills they slipped him take effect. Once he’s asleep, Chavez enlists the help of Chucho and another hacienda worker to carry Jorge upstairs and tuck him back into bed. Chavez is sure when he wakes tomorrow, he will think it was all a dream. He then warns Chucho to not say a word. “Nothing happened. You saw nothing.”

The dance competition at Dodo’s is in high gear. Each couple takes their turn and is judged on a scale of 1 to 10 by Lorena.
- Maicol Yakson takes the floor solo. He does a perfect impersonation of Michael Jackson, moonwalk and all, and leaves the crowed impressed. Score: 9
- Ovi and Pepeto do a merengue. There’s plenty of heat, but it’s all really coming from Ovi. Score: 7
- Marino and Yadira (sales floor model, not Naughty Maid) dance the Saturday Night Fever hustle to “I Will Survive.” They’re doing pretty well and he almost succeeds doing the lift-spin, but then spins himself and Yadira right into the crowd. Score: 9
- Buga and Amador (hey, now we know their names!) have a lot of fun doing their dance, whatever it is, and are a crowd favorite. But they only score a 5.
- Jimenez and Elvira dance a slow one to “Besame, Besame Mucho.” I don’t think they do badly, although they struggle with the lifts. Score: 5. (Mrs. Jimenez is NOT pleased.)
- Susana and Dandy take a blast from the past and bring out some fun vintage dances (the Watusy, the Swim, the Mash Potato, etc.) to “”Wooly Bully.” Score: 9. Susanna is so excited that she hugs Dandy (hmmmm…)
- The General and Bebe dance to a slow tempo cha cha. The crowd loves them, but they only score a 7.
- Trapito and Noemi dance to the “Lion Sleeps Tonight”, but apparently Trapito lands more like an elephant each time he leaps from one end of the dance floor to the other. Noemi and Lorena seem to appreciate his efforts and they score a 9!
- Dodo and Martin look like they’re square dancing, but it gives them a chance to flirt some more. Score: 9
- Ramirez and Tally seem to be dancing to two different songs. She’s doing some sultry Latin moves, and he’s pulled out some vintage hip hop moves. Score: 8

Rafa and Claudia hit the dance floor and they are dancing to one of my favorite Celia Cruz salsa songs, “La Vida es Carnaval” Claudia is a sexy salsera, and Rafa…well, Rafa is being himself. He is dancing with energy and enthusiasm, if not with much rhythm or coordination. He even throws in a few break-dancing moves. He has a huge, infectious smile on his face. And, as usual, the crowd loves him! And Lorena really loves him. Score: 10! They’re the winners. The crowd cheers and picks Rafa up on their shoulders. He and Claudia mount the stage and Lorena gives Rafa a lingering hug. Rafa thanks everyone, but then announces he has to leave to go meet his pajarita. Both Lorena and Claudia are bitterly disappointed. Rafa rips off his dance jersey and hands it to Claudia as he runs off. She complains that it’s just like a fairytale where the prince runs off and leaves something behind, but instead, she didn’t even get a shoe in the deal.

We finally get a glimpse of Ale and Marco this episode. She is waiting impatiently for him at the hotel’s restaurant. He finally arrives, wearing not only a full suit, but a thick scarf! Ale is concerned and wants to know if he’s sick. She takes a closer look at him, notes that he’s tense and wonders if the cost of the hotel room is worrying him, given their money woes. He assures her that’s not the case and that he’s ready for their evening of romance and lovemaking. Ale looks more than ready and almost skips to their room.

The room is decked out in flowers and other romantic details that Ale really appreciates. Lots of mi amors are exchanged and the kissing begins. Marco suddenly reaches for the lights and turns them off. He and Ale then bicker about why he wants to turn the light off, and so soon. (It’s not going to be that easy Marco.) Ale seductively excuses herself to the bathroom, while Marco feigns a few sneezes and coughs and frantically searches for some candles which will give him the perfect excuse to turn off the lights. The front desk informs him they are a prohibited fire hazard when he calls. Think Marco, think!

Ale beckons him to the bathroom. He’s managed to take off his jacket, but the rest of his clothes and his scarf are still in place. (I actually thought he could tell Ale he had some sort of kinky scarf fetish and leave it, and only it, on as they made love. It’s an idea at least.) Ale, however, has shed all her clothes, and all her inhibitions, and climbed into a bubble bath. She’s eating some delicious looking strawberries that are placed on the edge of the tub, and she wants Marco to join her. Well, you can’t really take a bubble bath with a scarf on, or in the dark. What’s Marco going to do? Ale gives him some come hither looks, she coos, she beckons with her finger, she even pouts. Marco stalls, he hems, he haws, he stutters. Ale finally has had it. She says she knew this idea wouldn’t work and looks sad and dejected. Marco turns his head as he tries to come up with a good lie and Ale catches a glimpse of THE HICKEY. “Mi amor, what’s that?” Uh, oh!

Tomorrow: Vicky tries to make Rafa’s last night with the Panther unforgettable, by making a baby in the back seat.

Labels: dinero

#198 Happy April Fool's Day!

Ahoy all, pardon the hasty post, I have a play tonight and must dash. I will fix any errors later tonight. If any of you see a glaring mistake or omission please let me know. Thanks.

Family...it's hard to define family in Gancholandia. Is family defined by blood or by upbringing? Are hermanos de alma any closer than hermanos de sangre? Who's your mama, your daddy, your sister, your kids? These questions are not easy to answer in our little telenovela, are they? Still, they all bear consideration, now and especially in the weeks to come. Let's join our friends as they attempt to find their own definitions of family and self...

As Moni weeps in the gym Estre also tearfully avers that she and Moni's prince never did anything. Please trust her, she swears on her unborn hijo. Too late for lies, says Moni, Estre broke that bond of friendship today. (Romper ese lazo = to break that bond) Great, Moni's on a screaming rant worthy of a four year old (as Mike pointed out), she doesn't want to even be near someone like Estrella!

Coni interrupts Jacqui who is getting a "magic finger" massage by Costi. Hey, those were her words, not mine! I like how Costi pretty much ignores Coni when she's around. Jacqui tells Coni that she's not in the mood for stress so she and Costi retire to the bedroom for some, ahem, relaxation techniques.

Framed by the carved tusks (very savage!) Jero taunts Sal while Aldo watches. Jero asks Aldo why he's pining over some dame like Estrella, they're not worth it. He knows how it feels, Coni's mother, Aldo's grandmother (ha, he can't even say her name) used Jero and threw him in the trash. But she'll regret it, he'll return with a great fortune and stand in front of her and have vengeance. Aldo asks what's Jero going to do about it, is he like his partner? No no no, Jero's not a murderer like Oscar, he has his limits. But he's not saying what he has in store for her. Aldo and Sal share a discreet look.

Rolu jumps back into his chair just before Xime enters, then Arni enters right after her. Rolu accuses her of being out with Arni since they arrived home within seconds of each other. She laughs and says he it was a coincidence and she's tired, goodnighty! She runs upstairs (looking stunning) and Rolu grouses.

Sucks to live in a small neighborhood. Mau waits for Moni outside her vecindad, stands in her way, maintains his innocence and tells her to hit him or kiss him. Guess which she chooses? He slumps to the ground, unconscious. She kneels down crying his name and he smiles, "mi amor". She pushes him away and sez he's not her love, harrumph! Too late little monkey, I think he knows how you still feel about him.

Ultimas semanas!!

Inside the house Moni tells mami why she's so ticked off. Isa milks it for all it's worth...Mau and Estre are complete low-lifes, what they did was unpardonable. Have dignity daughter! Believe it or not Moni tells her to give it a rest. Isa get's all weepy and pathetic, don't take it out on me boo hoo! She hates Mau for Moni's sake. Moni gives her the 411, she will never stop loving Mau. Isabel continues hissing doubts and nastiness into Moni's ears. Moni says she's going to concentrate on her training and doesn't want to think of Mau any more. Isa won't shut it. Moni's had enough of this endless venom and tells her mami she's not into vengeance. Folks, this is is getting old, let's FF>>.

Moni ends by telling Isa that this thing hasn't touched her essence, she's still who she is and "life doesn't end just because of this." Isa does her pale-wan-hands-upon-the-coverlet thing, "sniff sniff, you're right, it doesn't end...for YOU."

Over at Grupo Sermeño (GS) Pau is teaching the new receptionist how to serve cappuchinos to Beto and Marcos and laughing at the tale of Beto's unfortunate antics of the previous night. Beto's put out because the whole company knows he was handcuffed to the park bench in his boxers. Marcos chuckles in pride at the resourcefulness of his daughters. I notice Beto's got darts on his desk. I was wondering what he does in the office all day.

Today at the gym Don Cesar is wearing an attractive green jacket with light yellow shirt to contrast. Very tasteful and understated for him. He tells Moni that Mau is a good guy, he's sure of it. Moni doesn't want to hear it so they discuss her upcoming fight with La Momia. Don Cesar is certain she'll win but Moni's not as confident. She wants to win and reclaim the neighborhood so let's practice!

Marcos is a little tongue-tied because his love for Nieves is serious. Beto cautions him not to take adantage of mom because she has a macho son who will defend her honor. Beto practically blows his capucchino out his nose when Marcos requests his Mom's hand in marriage. Beto puts his feet up on the desk and begins negotiating his mother's dowry (dote). He gives a little squeak of satisfaction and asks how much money is on the table? Marcos looks about as surprised as I have ever seen him.

At Gym Jimmy Coni is training and her hands hurt. She gets so mad she pushes the bag and then comes back swinging when it hits her in the butt. Her trainer rolls his eyes, there is still a lot of work to be done.

Over at Creep Acres Oski and Jero discuss their funds. Oski suggests they remind Coni her time is about up for raising their money. And just in case she hasn't he'll give her a little reminder of what's at stake, i.e. she'll go to jail for murder. Right here my tv went all wonky and I have no idea what they discussed, but I suspect that Oski says something about getting rid of Sal, Lorenza and Aldo just to be safe. (Can anyone help out here?) When Oski leaves Jero says, "No Oski, you're not going to be able to kill anyone, it's you who will end up in jail and I will have it all."

Chris is at GS and Mau thanks him for what he just installed in his office, some sort of security camera hooked up to the computer. Julia, I think your wish has been granted! Chris is ready to start interrogating but Mau just wants his discretion. Chris comments on how Pau looks quite the executive these days and he brings up Tano. Mau tells him to forget Pau, she's interested in Tano and Tano's interested in her. Negativo, sez Chris, no way, just like Mau and Beto he intends to fight for the woman he loves.

Gabi, Xime and Pau gossip about seeing Chris, why is he there? Pau wants to hide and Xime says no problem amiga, she'll keep an eye on the cat and the other on the hook (eyes in the back of her head). Gabi is excited about the upcoming fiesta, it will have lots of millionaires.

Gabi answers the phone, it's Jero and he know where Oscar is, how much will she pay for the info?

Rolu is giving Arni the third degree, last night he and Xime came home at the same time. Just a coincidence sez Arni. Rolu tells him not to hide things. Arni tells his bro he's hallucinating. Oh yeah, well why does Arni let her touch him? Some fraternal pushing ensues and the subject of the letters comes up, some more yelling, and Arni admits he's in love with her. Finally!

Isa shows up at GS and Mau thanks her for coming. OK so this is the set up, cool. The viper says she has come to laugh in his face and gloat that her plan worked perfectly up to the last detail. She tells Mau that she injected both him and Estrella, undressed them, put them in bed and took pictures. Mau asks how could she do that to her daughter? Isa laughs and says why ask what he already knows, that she has hated Valentina since the day she knew she was pregnant. She never wants Monita to be happy because due to her Isabel was never happy either. I don't get the logic but whatever. He offers to cut a deal to prevent Monita from getting hurt. Isa tells him there is no deal possible, since Moni can't give Isa her life back she no longer has any use for her. She leaves, satisfied with her victory. Mau goes directly to his computer and sees that he has captured the entire conversation. I've got you, he says. Let's hope so!

Marcos comes in and Mau tells Marcos that Hissy was back again to gloat but he recorded the whole thing. Marcos is impressed. The big party is tomorrow and he wanted Valentina to be there since GS is part of her inheritence. Mau's all for it because he wants to unmask Isa in front of the whole world and prove she she trapped them. Marcos hopes that Mau can get Moni there and that she will finally accept Marcos as her father.

Get out! Rolu orders his brother to grab his things and leave. Arni's defense is Rolu treats her like crap. "But she's MINE" Rolu insists. Arni's defense, she's not happy with you, you treat her badly, cheat on her. Arni refuses to leave the house or leave Xime alone with Rolu. She deserves better. The gloves are off. Rolu sez he lied to keep her around, Xime changed his life. Arni sez well too bad, she changed mine too and she deserves better than you.

Gabi grabs her purse and runs out of GS. Her gal pals are worried, what was that telephone call about? Pau stresses, she's on her own and Chris is around. Xime teaches her some relaxing exercises. (Heh, Paula almost falls over.) The hot new receptionis joins in. Ohm....

Beto plays darts while Chris pouts that Pau no longer loves him. Beto wants to help and since he's the Director General he can. He offer Chris a temporary gig (chamba temporal) as a security cop. Will Chris accept or not? Acepto!! Chris hugs Beto a little more emphatically than Beto likes but hey, Chris is a man in love.

Xime visits her favorite primis Mau, she's excited about tomorrow's mega party. She's bummed for Mau but she can't believe he would do it with Moni's best friend! Mau tries to tell her that nothing happened. Basically she doesn't believe and describes a variety of scenarios where such a thing could happen and why can't he tell her the circumstances. There is always a logical explanation, say for example they were held up by laser ray guns and ordered to remove their clothes. She babbles on until he finally tells her it was an Isabel trap, she injected them, took off their clothes, put them in bed and took pictures. Poor Xime can't quite wrap her mind around that one, ray guns make more sense, but no matter, she agrees to bring Moni to tomorrow's party.

Back at the gym our little hothead recalls Mau's romantic words from happier times and punches the bag like crazy. I hate you I hate you boo hoo!

Tomorrow: Looks like one of Moni's old flames is in town. Coni also runs into him, literally, and they have some crazy hawt eye contact.


Estar aqui con un ojo al gato y con otro al garabato. = To have eyes in the back of one's head (Lit. An eye kept on the cat, the other eye on the hook, because in olden Mexican kitchens -without refrigerators- they hung the meat on a hook called a "garabato", so they had to keep an eye on the cat and the other on the meat. Also a clever allusion to our telenovela because another word for garabato is, you guessed it, gancho.)

Labels: gancho