Tuesday, April 27, 2010

un Gancho al Corazón Mon.4/26/10 And Just When Things Seemed To Be Going So Well

Well you have to give Isabella her due. For the moment at least, with the Jero disc she has regained a great deal of lost ground, although the only one really convinced of her innocence is Valentina, but then that's all she really needs, isn't it? Let's reconvene in the boardroom with Mao, Moni, Gabi, Paula and Ximy, and finish watching as Jerónimo convincingly finishes spinning his yarn.

After implicating Oscar in every crime except the Lindberg kidnapping, including drugging Mao and Moni to frame them in order to extort Mao and when Isabel discovered him at Estre's, he threatened to kill Monita if she exposed him, thus exonerating Isabel, he tells Oscar that he is going to disappear in a place where the police will never find him, saying aloha as he waves goodbye. Those gathered around the table look dumbfounded. Ximena, bless her innocent ingenuous little heart, timidly waves back as the screen goes dark. Not surprisingly she gamely offers up tres cosas. "Una. ¡Yo sabia! I knew perfectly well that the camera makes one look fatter, but I never imagined just how much. Dos. Or maybe Jero does not photograph well. Y tres. Where was my hermanolfo going? Where has he gone?" Gabi reminds her that He ended up in a coma before he could go anywhere. Actually, Ximi is closer to the truth than she realizes. For Moni the important thing is, "My mama didn't do anything!" Well heck, this sets us back a bit. Mao however is not so sure. He thinks they should confront Jero. Strange that this disc should appear just now. In a rare moment of clarity, Ximena points out hat her brother is still in coma, "He's not saying much, in fact he can't even move." Gabi confirms that she has spent a great deal of time in his room and the police are waiting to arrest him as soon as he stirs. Mao is shaken but he grits his teeth and for the moment remains silent. Fuming.

Conferring with her new BFF, Snaky Lady lays out the rest of her plan to Jero of a way of avoiding the police and leading a normal life without molestation... plastic surgery." Jero's interested, "a nip here, a tuck there..." Not exactly what she had in mind. She was thinking along the lines of an entirely new face. Jero balks, pointing out that he is after all a very handsome man who is quite happy and comfortable is his current face, thank you very much. She visualizes him as ending up even more handsome, otherwise he will end up in prison. She tells him with money, anything is possible, "What do you say Jerónimo?"

Now M&M are alone in the boardroom at opposite ends of the long conference table. He tells her what a liar Jero is, "You know what class of person he is." She thinks that he sounded sincere. He reminds her that Oscar implicated Isabel and that Aldo overheard her admit to drugging him and Estrella. He thinks that this recording is a ruse. She points to the inescapable fact that Jero is comatose and besides, Aldo admittedly was dabbling with drugs. "My mamá is dying, why would she lie?" Another Mexican standoff. Mao stands up, "The first thing we must do is go see Jerónimo in the hospital." Good idea.

Meanwhile, Isabel is wrapping things up with Jero. She still has plans for Valentina. He must remain in coma since surely Mauricio, Valentina, and his sister Ximena will be coming to check on him. She has arranged for this Dr Isquierdo, a plastic surgeon who will explain everything and take care of all the details. "This is the last time we'll see each other, our debts are settled." She waves bye. He looks troubled and doubtful.

Mao takes a moment in his office to chew out Iván over his little dalliance with Alejandra. Out of respect for Teri, he won't fire him, but he forbids him to come sniffing around Luisa. "Understood?" Iván meekly nods. He storms out, catches up with Moni and tell Ximena, who is still there, that they are on the way to the hospital to see Jero. Ximena is thrilled and insists on joining them, "Hospitals are very entertaining!"

Meintras tanto, Isabel is taking care of last minute arrangements with Dr. Isquierdo. She hands him a check, "I talked with Jerónimo Sermeño, he's expecting you. You know what to do." She abruptly leaves as he inspects his check.

In his room, Jero is practicing his coma skills as Dr. Isquierdo enters and introduces himself. Jero has doubts. As he draws up an injection he tells Jero not to worry that he is in good hands. Worried, Jero demonstrates with several poses how handsome he is. "You think that you can improve on this?" The Dr. reassures him all will be well as he injects a drug into the IV line. He tells Jero, "When I'm done, even your own mother won't recognize you." Jero ponders this. At least now he can free himself from his idiot of a sister. He tells the Dr. that he hates Drs. and hospitals though nurses are another matter. Dr. Lefty (notice that he wears his watch on his right wrist as do many southpaws including yours truly) tells him that Sra. López thought it would be prudent to wait a bit before the surgery but that he would not have to worry any longer about faking coma because he just finished initiating a temporary coma. Jero has questions but the deed is done. The Dr. counts, "Quatro, tres, dos, uno," as Jero drifts away.

Back at Moni's place, Isabel is packing as Lobo comes calling. He's there to say goodbye to Moni. She wants to know why he's leaving Valentina in Mauricio's hands. He tells her that Mao saved his life and besides, Monita has him stuck firmly in her heart. She can't believe that he's giving up so easily. If she wants something, if she can't have it by doing things right, then she will resort to less noble tactics. She would not take no as an answer. She accuses him of not being much of a man(without pants). She agrees to tell Moni he came by. It bears repeating, this lady is very good at this evil business. Lobo is wounded. She is pleased with herself.

Well great! At Mao's penthouse, Andres has arrived, guitar in hand, to minister an injured dove. Luisa thanks him for coming. Well of course, she was crying when she called him. She tells him about Iván's betrayal (a kiss for goodness sakes!). "¡Imbécil!" Andres is outraged, but hey, "Now you and I can be novios." Clever lad, you little creep. Well how convenient. He moves in for a kiss as we go to commercial. She doesn't resist.

At the hospital another Dr is checking on the now genuinely comatose Jerónimo as Mao, Moni, and Ximy enter the room all gowned up and masked as is the medico. Mao asks the Dr. to check Jero carefully. He does and confirms the obvious. "Yep, he's in coma alright with weak vital signs and barely detectable reflexes." Not quite a dead parrot, but pretty darn close. Ximena checks by loudly clapping her hands directly in Jero's face. The Dr. leaves. Now for a little hospital horseplay. Ximy wants to demonstrate how well Jero obeys her in this state. She picks up the paddles, charges the defibrillator and orders Jero to jump as she applies the paddles to his chest. He obeys. I can't help it, she could do this a thousand times and I would laugh. Mao, however, is appalled and snatches the paddles out of her hands and replaces them. Moni rests her case.

At Nieves' apartment, Coni is warmly welcomed by Marcos who was just about to keep Nieves company as she cooks for him. Beto is in a jovial mood, though Nieves is a little less cheery. She grudgingly gives Coni a chilly welcome, "Buena." Beto urges her to give Coni a kiss, she's fresh out of jail (botellón). Nieves admits that she is glad that Coni's not a criminal. Beto observes that Marcos gave his soul brother a penthouse. How about setting him and Coni up in a nice place. Marcos gets serious. He gave Beto a job so that he could support Coni, but they both must prove themselves to him. Beto as a responsible man, and she must prove that she has given up her hate and become an honest noble woman. Then they will have his unconditional support and not before. Until then they must get by as best they can. He offers to send his chauffeur to pick up Coni's clothing. Beto coughs and says, "Then welcome to your new home (morada)!" Now Nieves objects, she doesn't want this lazy girl (fodonga), who doesn't even know how to pick up a broom, around. Coni tells her not to worry,"I won't mess with your transportation." "Are you calling me a witch?" "I don't see anyone else." Beto restrains Nieves as the two continue to trade insults. Actually both seem to be enjoying the exchange. This arrangement should work out nicely.

Aldo appears at Estrella's. He wants to get married. She doesn't. She lists a number of reasons that this is not a good idea. Depressing as well as borrrring...next!

At Monita's place things are no better. Snake Woman is packing as M&M arrive. Moni tries to dissuade her. Mao is losing patience and biting his tongue. Moni begs as Mao seethes. Isabel thinks it over and agrees to stay on one condition, Mauricio must apologize and ask her forgiveness. Uh... sure. Closeups of serious faces all around. Who thinks that Mao will agree to this? I thought so.

An injured Wolf is drinking beer in the cantina as Issy's belittling words rattle around in his canid brain. He has a flashback to an even less happier time. He is confronting his wife with her betrayal with his manager. She tells him that he is not at her level. His manager is a real man who makes her feel like a woman. (Sara?)
Ouch. Lobo tells her that she is still his wife and moves in for a bit of canine aggression. We mercifully cut away. Back in the cantina he stands up and smashes his beer bottle to the floor. Now he's getting angry. Uh oh.

Over at Moni's Mao is ready to render a decision. "I won't swear to a lie." Moni reminds him of Jero's tape. He says that Isabel knows Jero. Isabel scoffs, "I haven't even met him." He reminds Isabel that in his office to his face she admitted to injecting him and Estre, removing their clothes, and placing them in bed together. "What an imagination!" She reminds Moni that she took a bullet for her. Mao's tired of this. He tells Moni to decide who she believes, "I'm telling you the truth." "I'm dying..." Now it's decision time for Moni. Place your bets as we head for commercials.

A happy couple joins a brooding Lobo in the Cantina. Coni is clinging lovingly to Beto as they take seats at Lobo"s table. An unsuspecting Beto goes off to get Tequila leaving Coni alone with Lobo.

Aw man, more Aldo and Estre. More reasons why it's best that he forget her and get on with being a teen. More protestations of profound love for her and his child. Protestations from me that they are wasting perfectly good time. He finally gets her to agree to reconsider once he has grown up. Next!

A drunken Lobo asks Coni, "What is a beautiful chick like you doing with that goodfornothing Beto?" He preens and poses offering Coni a feel of his muscles. She politely admires his body as he insists that she touch is arms and belly and thigh. She reluctantly does. He suddenly goes grabby and begins invading hr personal space in a big way. She protests and resists, he insists as Beto returns and forcefully urges him to desist. A scuffle ensues with the furniture being the biggest loser. Bad Wolf.

Moni is also in a protesting mood, "Why are you putting between the sword (espada) and the wall (pared)?" She pleads with both to reconsider their positions. Hasn't she been listening? Mao decides to help her out, "You know what Monita? I'm tired. All or nothing, chose her or me." Nobly, Isabel offers to make it easy by leaving, as she had planned, to go home and die alone. Well played, you evil harpy.Monita runs to her, "Don't go, mamá!" Mao's had enough, 'You've made up your mind Monita, I'm outta here." "No Mauricio, wait!" He looks back for a moment, shakes his head and leaves. Moni casts a hard look at mom, then hurries after Mao. Isabel smiles a satisfied smirk.

Moni follows Mao onto the patio. "Wait!" She wants to talk. She asks him to give her support. To give just a little. He tells her that he has knocked himself out for her and their. If she can't believe him now, it's useless. She gets angry and tells him to leave. She can always find a man who will give her support, she can't get another mother. Wow! Is this it for our lovebirds? Have we stuck by them all these months for it to end like this? Ouch!

Lobo has found his way back to Moni's. She's not home but the Viper invites him in.

Beto, who is battered and bruised, and Coni, who looks oddly pleased, are home. Nieves wants to know what happened to her baby. "I was defending my woman's honor." "¿Qué? She doesn't even have any honor." This sets of another spat with insults exchanged, but Beto decrees that the the three of them will live together in peace.

Too bad Isabel has no coffee to offer the snockered Lobo, but she does have some wine and suggest they have a glass and chat. He admits that he's angered by her questioning his manhood. She agrees that he is every bit a man but doesn't understand why he doesn't fight for Valentina since she's dying with love for him. "She told me so, and she's through with Mauricio."She tells him that she broke it off with Mao because she is in love with Lobo. She tells him that when Moni returns she will leave them undisturbed. "Moni will play hard to get, that's how women are, but she wants it. Pressure her and I promise she will desire to be with you." He drinks up. Yikes!

At Estre tries to convince Moni that she is making a mistake. She's persuasive but Moni is being... well... Moni. Xime shows up at Estre's door,"Ding dong." She needs Estre's assistance with the joke she has planned for Arnie and Rolu. "See you later, Moni." Moni heads home as Issy slithers by, unseen.

Andres is helping Luisa with her math homework. Thanks to him she should do well on tomorrow's exam. Have we gotten this young man all wrong? They bathe in each other's eyes for a lingering moment, then he pops the question, "Will you be my novia. I've always been in love with you." What the heck, why not?" They kiss as the front door opens and it's an already unhappy Popa Mao, "What's going on here?" He's not gonna be getting any lovin' anytime soon, so by golly, no one else will either.

Moni's home and our soused cur-wolf asks if there's anymore wine. Moni is not happy that he's in her house, drunk. He knows that she is sweet on him. "Why haven't we tried something more serious?" "The past is in the past. Get out!" Lobo turns predatory, "Why not recognize that you want to be with me?" He stalks his prey, "I'm crazy about you."He approaches her with a loco loopy loony lascivious look of lupine lust.

Dr. Judy. Help! Tell us something sweet and happy.

Carlos

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Monday, April 26, 2010

OK bloggers, what do you want to do about Univision and its crazy schedule?

Gancho bloggers, your show is about to end. We could sure use some of you on Dinero - we have no Monday blogger and if they're going to run two hours a night it would be nice to have more coverage!

Corazon Salvaje people, do you want to dump your midnight madness and become the new Dueña team? You'd get Colunga and Lucero and that magnificent villain David Zepeda (we loved, loved him in Sortilegio).

Pecado team, are you happy as you are?

any other takers?

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El Clon 50, Mon., April 26 - Bad matrimonial choices: Leo makes one; Nariza wants Ali to make one and Said wants Jade to relive one

Daniel hangs up on Albieri without saying anything more.


Albieri is all happy that his son has found him. The next day he pretends to be sick so that he can stay at home and wait for Daniel to call him again. [I guess he doesn't know about Google Voice where he can have calls on his home phone transferred to another number like his cell phone that he carries with him.]

Luisa brings Alicia to the office and she asks to help out.

Luisa calls Albieri and he can't get her off the phone soon enough. [I guess he doesn't know about call waiting where he would know if Daniel called while he was talking to Luisa and he could just disconnect her call.] Then Albieri thinks about how awkward it will be if the clone just shows up in front of everyone. What justification will he give for cloning Lucas? [You've had 20 years to think about that Frankenalbi - no ideas yet?]

Leo tells his new squeeze, Sofia, about his old girlfriend, Cristina. When Sofia asks if his ex was in the business world, Leo says that she is in charge of a very important entertainment project. For her part, Sonia has been too busy, busy, busy with business to have a relationship. But she's made time to see Leo. What better proof of devotion could you get? Leo proposes and Sofia accepts by saying that marrying Leo would be a very good deal (negocio). If Leo tried he couldn't have found anyone less like Cristina and that's the point, of course.


Leo announces the news to Lucas, Roberto and Enrique. They're surprised but they congratulate him. Lucas has a flashback to declaring eternal love for Jade.

Jade's at the ruins (of course) where Jadiya finds her. She tells Jadiya that she was happy there a long time ago.

Abdul is chewing out Nariza for her behavior in front of Ali. She goes through her usual diatribe about being badly used by her brothers, their wives and their children. Abdul says that Nariza can forget about being Ali's 4th wife. '¡No puede ser!' wails Nariza in the best novela tradition. She begs to be given another chance.

Ali tells Jade about his escape. He says that Nariza's temper was revealed. ('La sangre caliente de lala Nazira se hizo sentir,' literally, 'the hot blood of lala Nazria made itself felt.') Said comes in and wants to speak with Ali alone.

Ali asks Said why he is putting his happiness to the test. Said asks if Ali thinks that Jade still has feelings for the Westerner. Ali replies that intense feelings like that are never forgotten. He advises Said to leave the past alone. He says Said wants revenge for what happened years ago but that was when they were young and acted on impulse. Said acknowledges that Ali might be right but he needs to put Jade to the test. His marriage won't be perfect until he is sure that Jade isn't with him out of obligation. Ali warns him not to put ideas in Jade's head for fear of what might wake up inside her.

If we didn't have enough reason to know that Leo's plan to marry Sofia is a big mistake, we are sure of it when Marisa thinks it is a great idea.

Rosa is dubious about Leo bringing Sofia to live with them. She wants Leo to keep Sofia out of her kitchen. Already, Sofia has sent Rosa cookbooks with trendy organic and 'hydroponic' foods - nothing but a big plate of seeds (nada como un buen plato de granos'), she says in disgust. Leo tells her that he and Sofia are getting married in a month. We see Cristina arriving at the airport.


The clone calls again and says that he needs Albieri very much. When Albieri offers to go get him, he says, not yet and hangs up yet again.

Cristina returns home to much squealing and admiration from her friends.

Leo and Sofia have an engagement party but Sofia tells Leo that she will be too busy to go on a honeymoon.

Andrea advises Natalia to give up studying and get rid of her virginity problem. Natalia says that she will study or have a boyfriend. Guess which one Andrea recommends?

Rosa wonders why Albieri hasn't come to the party. He's waiting for the clone to call and won't leave the house.

Alicia is some kind of weirdo stalking Leo.


Lucia isn't given to subtlety and she can't understand why Marisa hasn't confronted Lucas about his illicit affair. Marisa tells Lucia that someday she will tell her about her plan of vengeance against Lucas.

Rosa tells Lucas that she doesn't like Leo's intended. She sticks her nose into everything, she always uses hifalut'n language (un lenguaje rebuscado) and Marisa is crazy about her. 'Entre brujas se entienden,' says Lucas drily, 'Witches understand each other.'

Said's family takes leave of Ali for the States. But Nariza isn't going. She has to clean up Said's house or something. Evidently Abdul has decided to give Nariza another change to snag Ali. He asks Ali to let Nariza stay in Ali's house in a way that Ali cannot refuse.

At their romantic dinner, Sofia tells Leo that eating salmon prevents Parkinson's disease. "How interesting," says Leo. Evidently, they are eating in TORIM because in sashays Cristina. Leo sees her right away, pretends to have eaten a bad caper and heads for the door with Sofia in tow. But the waiter says Leo's name and Cristina goes after him. Sofia decides this is the moment to stop and tell Leo where she wants to get married [probably not the Vizcaya Palace - maybe a Kinko's or something equally romantic]. This allows Cristina to find out that Leo is getting married. She puts on her usual scene.


Said and family arrive in Miami. Jadiya is shocked at the flesh on display.

Sofia asks who that vulgar woman was and assumes that it couldn't have been Leo's girlfriend. Leo tells her that Cristina's is Enrique's ex girlfriend.

Cristina swears that she won't let Leo get married.

Enrique asks Carolina out to a concert and dinner.

Leo abandons Sofia in the lobby of his office so that he can brief Enrique about his new role as Cristina's ex. Just in time. Sofia barges in, tells Enrique that intellectual men are always attracted to vulgar women. She will lend him an magazine article about it.


In the hotel, Jadiya is already being seduced by the evil ways of Westerners. She's watching the Telemundo novela, Zorro. Said tells Jade that he hasn't told the investors about their arrival. He wants to scope things out first. Jade looks out at the beach and remembers her last meeting with Lucas there.

Mohamed and Latifa put their plan to spend more quality time with their children into action. They go to a place where their Muslim dress will be as conspicuous as possible - a pool.


But the point of this scene is for Latifa to see Lucas (I thought it was the clone at first but no) with a babe in a bikini. This must be the only public pool in Miami (TOPPIM). Latifa is shocked, shocked.

Back in Morocco, Nariza goes on a shopping spree.


Zoraida tells Ali that Nariza has arrived with enough luggage to stay a month. Ali tells Zoraida that she has to help him avoid another trap (emboscada) set by Nariza. Nariza's stay at Ali's house has tongues in the medina wagging and Zoraida tells Ali that she will counter with a disinformation campaign.

Nariza gets all gussied up even challenging Cristina for most makeup. She arrays herself seductively on the couch and when Ali comes into the sala, she asks him to sit down by her. Ali asks what she is playing at and retreats. In the kitchen, he tells Zoraida that she has to stop cooking and be his shadow so that he is never alone with Nariza. Zoraida says that Karima must join them too so that she can tell everyone in the medina that Ali was never alone with Nariza. Ali is impressed with her cunning. In vain does Nariza try to get rid of Ali's escort.


Said and family arrive at Mohamed's house. Everyone clears out leaving Latifa alone with Jade. Jade asks if she has heard anything about Lucas. Latifa tells her about what she saw at the pool. Jade looks for excuses for Lucas' behavior - maybe he got divorced. Latifa pours cold water on that. She says that Lucas has changed a lot. He isn't the same happy go-lucky guy as before. He is a bitter man. For Latifa, this is the proof of what Ali said, Westerners change. Jade says that she can't imagine a different Lucas and flashes back to young, carefree Lucas.

Roberto says that in the last 10 years, Lucas has changed into a bitter man. [who wouldn't, living with Marisa?] Roberto says that Lucas is still vindicating his nature though (ya te estás reivindicando con el género) pointing out what one assumes is a lipstick stain on his collar. He suggests that Lucas get rid of it or Marisa will kill him.

Jade tells Latifa that time changes people but she is sure that deep inside she and Lucas are the same.

The clone calls Albieri's house again but Luisa answers. She hears Lucas' voice and assumes that he dialed their house by mistake.


Dora and Assvaldo dance at the club.

At the lab, Alicia finds Albieri's office empty. She starts rummaging through his stuff and finds a picture of the dead fiance and assumes that Albieri is cheating on Luisa. Then she finds a journal entitled, 'My Cloning Diary'.

The credits roll.

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Sunday, April 25, 2010

THANK YOU for supporting my son's American Cancer Society "relay for life" run

Hey,

I know it's odd to put this here, but there was a big donation left for my son by the "Caray Caray Team" on his personal donations for Ezra's run for life page and I don't know how else to thank you! so, THANKS!

FYI, my son was a week or so past his 13th birthday when he was diagnosed with a brain cancer which had had, not many years earlier, a survival rate of 0% - so he, almost 11 years later and about to graduate from college, is acutely aware of the benefits of cancer research! Now, weeks from (we hope, knock on wood) graduation, he finally decided to 'come out' with his friends as a cancer survivor. He wrote
I've got some big news today, something that I've never shared online before.

It all started years ago, when conclusive and stunningly expensive neural imaging exams discovered a tumor riding on my cerebellum (according to an oncologist, as overheard while pretending to sleep: "medulloblastoma... it's a tricky sucker"). Treatment and removal was, predictably, a pretty poor year on the Ezra calendar, but that's not what I'm talking about today. Soon after diagnosis and surgery, some of my Dad's athlete buddies joined an ultra-marathon out west in my honor, under the name "Team Ezra." I hadn't thought about it for years, but now Team Ezra is back, and it's me running this time in a 16-hour Relay for Life fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Here's why:

I've always been reluctant to accept the "war on cancer" metaphor. I just sort of decided that my hell was over and I didn't want to think about it anymore. But the thing is, as I realized in my course last semester ("metaphors and illness") that there really is no such thing as a survivor. Your "success" is measured in terms of *probability of remission*. If your scans are clear one year out, the gauge of your "survival" is based on the percentage of "survivors" who've suffered a remission more than one year out. So your risk of getting sent back into the "war," for another tour of duty, dwindles year after year, approaching zero, but who's to say you won't be the statistical outlier?

So I guess I had those thoughts in my head and the idea that maybe setting cancer within the warlike metaphor is more appropriate than I'd thought. I'd never participated in any kind of fundraising and outreach, keeping my story mostly private, but this year, when I saw the posters for the Relay for Life, I wanted to "go public" with my experience more than ever before.

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Saturday, April 24, 2010

Salvaje 04/23/10 --The Wilding: A Neanderthal in Crisis


Capítulo 46

[CS2009 fans- It looks as if CS has been added to the 12 midnight/11 PM Central time slot beginning next Monday. Set your dvr’s. –ed.]

First, the redux deluxe in brief: In the bedroom, Aimee is lost in thought and tearfully worrying if she’ll be able to resist her irrisistable Juan once she finds herself alone with him now that he’s agreed to become the new administrator at Finca del Mar. Renato walks in on her and tells her they’re having dinner out because it’s their last night before returning to the finca. He explains that he needs to return because there was an epidemic among the workers, though, thanks to Dr. Pablo and Regina, it was contained. Aimee allows the adoring Renato to hug her and resigns herself to eventually having to meet up with Juan and face him as back at the hilltop casota, Juan informs Gabriel that he is going to work at the Finca del Mar for Renato Vidal because….deep down he needs to know why Aimee made a cuckolded fool of him. He’s told Noel and Renato that he no longer works for Aldama. Gabe will now be “Aldama’s” official representative. Gabe warns him that it’s like walking into the lion’s den [boca del lobo = literally the mouth of the wolf] to work there. Juan explains–almost as if trying to convince himself as well as young Gabe-- that one has to be close to his enemies, aka, Rodrigo Montes de Oca and Leonarda Vidal, to know what they’re planning and thinking.

Back at said finca, PE (personal enemy) #2, Leonarda, ventures into the bowels of the basement to dig out her stash of Maria del Rosario’s old jewelry to find something else to give Arcadio to buy his continued silence with. She takes the necklace Rodrigo once gave to MdR and gritches over it. As she passes by MdR’s cell, MdR begs her to have pity on her and tell her something about her son. Leona takes the opportunity to again mentally torture her half-insane sister by telling her how he’d been abandoned as a newborn in the jungle. She taunts her a bit more by saying that apparently he survived because one day Noel brought him to claim his rightful place in the family “--As if the bastard had any right!” This sets off Rosie, (Viewerville instinctively goes for the mute button.) “Of course he had a right because he is my son! My s-s-o-n -n-n!”

Juan instructs Gabe to buy Devil’s Rock and all the surrounding land under the name of Juan Aldama de la Cruz. He’s decided to build a large mansion, he explains, in memory of his father who lived and died on that land loving his mother. Juan will live there in his suffering from his betrayal, and because it’s the place where he was transformed into Juan del Diablo.

Leona continues her tormenting tale about Rosie’s long lost son: “When I ran him off he left and we never heard from him again. I suppose he could be alive, but most assuredly by now he’s dead.” Rosie cries out in anguish and refuses to believe he’s dead. Leona purposely provokes her again by saying she pities poor Rosie because now Rosie’s got nothing where, on the other hand, Leona has a son who loves her and lives with her. She also has Rodrigo (What a peach!) who is close to falling in love with her. And why? Because Leona is determined that he will be hers and only hers. Leona laughs evilly. She asks Rosie if she realizes who in the end has won, and then walks off leaving MdR wailing yet again in her misery. (Thank gawd for a mute button! Even with the mute on, we all know what Rosie’s screaming.) “Mi hijo!!! My son! My so-o-o-n-n-n! He has to be alive! Al-i-i-i-ive” FF>>

Upstairs in the kitchen Clemencia thinks Regina, smiling sugary-sweet and forever looking like Glenda, Good Witch of the North in those cotton-candy gowns of hers, has lost her mind for formally accepting Federico as a suitor. Regi says she had no choice because continuing to deny and defy Feddie only gets her more grief from Papa. Clem says she deserves better. (Viewerville tends to agree, but who pray tell? Who should it be?) Regi, with stars in her eyes, says there’s nobody better than Renato! Unfortunately, she adds, he’s somebody else’s now and she’s got to begin to accept her fate. FF>>

Gabe is back meeting up with Jimena again and trying to explain that he can’t love a gypsy because they’d be so different from him, and anyway, he only loves Estrella. Mena changes the subject and gives him one of her bracelets to thank him for giving her the mantilla which allowed her to enter the church. The dunderhead tells her he’ll keep it as an amulet in hopes that Estrella will return to him. (Just what the girl wants to hear –not!) He abruptly changes the subject and asks if she heard about the kidnapped little girl. Mena explains that she was the one who returned her and that it was Servando and her aunt who had taken her. Gabe wants to turn them in immediately, but she begs him to keep it just between the two of them. Otherwise she’ll lose the only other family she has, she pleads. If it happens again Mena swears she’ll turn them in herself. Gabe eventually agrees to keep mum.

Back in their cell, Mirta has brought Rosie some thread to embroider with apparently. Rosie has embroidered (you guessed it) “Juan de Dios” on an old rag of rag-baby’s. She remembers our Juan talking to her during her delirium and in her crazy way thinks it was JD Sr. and that somehow, some way, he’d said he’d come back for her. Rosie rambles on again that they’ll be together for eternity. She then tells Mirta that sometimes she can remember things. She remembers when her baby was born that Leonarda told her he was dead, but then right after she heard her say that he was alive. Now she’s telling her he’s dead again, but she doesn’t believe Leonarda. She thinks he’s alive and will soon come for her. FF>>

Back at the hilltop casota, Gabe hands Juan a cablegram which confirms that it’s unavoidable that the price of wood will fall. Juan is muy pleased to think that now nothing will be able to save Rodrigo Montes de Oca from financial ruin. Gabe and he agree that there would be no better punishment for the likes of Rod MdO than absolute poverty. “He will soon suffer the same fate he caused others to suffer.” Gabe is down with that.

Rodrigo, meanwhile, is getting a shoulder rub from his lovelorn Leona. She wants Dr. Pablo to have a look at him. He rejects the idea and says it’s not that serious. He’s just upset because of the sh!t fits [hacerle pasar corajes] Regina gives him. Leona tells him she only mentions it because she couldn’t stand for anything to happen to him. Rod the Rammer takes her hands in his and asks if she truly loves him that much. She pulls away from him, reminding him that she would never discuss that subject with him again. Rod says Noel wouldn’t appreciate her giving him this much attention. She sneers that she could care less what Noel thinks. In fact, the only thing Noel was good for was giving her a son.

Speaking of Nerdly Noel, he’s at the office paying Raul for the shares of the wood business that Raul sold off to Rod. Noel says Rod is now the sole owner of that enterprise. He only hopes that Rod isn’t sorry for not selling his shares when he told him to. Raul doesn’t fault Rod –an excellent businessman-- for believing in the wood enterprise, but adds he was told by somebody who knows even more about business dealings than Rod to sell out. Noel wants to know who that person might be. Raul realizes he’s just run off at the mouth and clams up. He hurriedly tells Noel that he’d prefer not to say, for safety’s sake, and then leaves in a rush.

Juan shows up at the gypsy camp asking (but at knife-point?) to speak alone with Jimena. When they’re alone Juan asks her how long she plans to keep up the ruse about the supposedly dying “Estrella” with Gabe. He cautions her against continuing to lie to somebody she loves. “It’s the same as double-crossing him!” Mena says she just hasn’t found a way yet to make Gabe forget about Estrella. The only reason she dreamed up the illness, she explains, was because at the time Gabe told her he was leaving there for good and she didn’t want him to suffer. When they decided to return everything backfired [voltearse contra] on her. Juan says Gabe will be furious with her if he finds out. She admits she truly loves him and simply doesn’t know what to do about it now. Gabe is such a dream come true for her. Juan understands, but insists she has to tell him the truth. He urges her to use the goodness of her heart and her love for Gabe as her weapon. That way she cannot fail to win him over. Mena insists Gabe will never fall in love with a gypsy girl. Juan believes that she can win him over if she is just herself with him.

Meanwhile, Gabe presents himself at Noel’s office as Juan Aldama’s new representative. When Noel asks about Juan San Roman, Gabe says he was fired. Noel says it doesn’t especially make him happy to hear the news, but he can’t say that the guy didn’t ask for it. Gabe then tells Noel that Aldama wants to buy Devil’s Rock and the surrounding land. Noel wonders what he wants with that God-forsaken place. Gabe says he hasn’t any idea. He is only following orders and doesn’t question.

Regina comes in to see how Papa Rod’s doing. He gripes that if she truly cared she wouldn’t be so rebellious, and then he complains to her that she doesn’t appreciate his efforts in getting her a decent husband. She tells him she finally has agreed to give Feddie a chance for the two of them to get to know each other better. Rod’s attitude changes for the better.
Across town, Fulgencio tells Feddie that he made a mighty nice profit from selling the guns up north as Feddie suggested and then hands Feddie his share of the loot. They figure there’ll be more where that came from, too.

Rosenda of the ever-bulging boobage brings Rod (a definite boob-man with a budding bulge of his own) dinner in his room. He wants her to feed him, he says. (Sort of gives the old saw “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach” a nifty, gut-wrenching new twist.) She serves him a few sensual mouthfuls. (Needless to say, my supper turned a few somersaults in my gut just watching those two.) She tells him that she made the broth herself and this excites him even more.

Regi pays a visit to Leonarda and gets a lecture about obeying the Ten Commandments--in particular, the tricky one about honoring thy father and thy mother--for her trouble.

Rod and Rosenda make moves on each other. Clemencia walks by and happens to see them close to kissing through the French doors. She suspects she’ll need to warn Rosenda about the what-comes-next.

Rosenda’s mama, Marlene/Magda, meanwhile, has put together a basketful of presents and ordered Phillipe to deliver them to Rosenda. He tells her she shouldn’t expect to buy her daughter’s love with gifts. Marlene, though, thinks if she showers her daughter with nice goodies she can keep her from coveting [ambicionar] what others have. (Nice try, but about 10 years too late and totally off the wall.) She ignores his advice and sends Frenchy on his way.

As soon as Rosenda returns with the empty tray to the kitchen, Clemencia tells her she saw her a bit too close for comfort with Don Ram-Rod in his room a bit ago. Rosenda is caught-redhanded impactada.

The newlyweds return to the finca. Leonarda greets Renato and Aimee who have returned from their honeymoon. Ren is happy to be back and makes a big to do over how Aimee loves the country as much as he does. Aimee grits her teeth and pretends to agree.

Back in the kitchen, Rosenda tries to pretend it was all innocent, but Clem says she saw her, so Rosenda cannot deny what was going on in there. Clem says she’s not trying to scold her, only trying to get her to think it through. Don Ram-Rod will entertain himself with her for a bit, but when he’s tired of her he’ll throw her out into the street --if Doña Leonarda doesn’t first. Rosenda gets huffy and pretty much tells Clem to keep her advice to herself. Clemencia ignores her and suggests there are other ways of getting ahead in life, but that the one she’s obviously chosen will only lead to trouble.

Aimee leaves to go upstairs while Ren and Leona continue to chat. Yes, Mama, he’s very happy with Aimee and feels very blessed. (Starry-eyed dolt!)

Juan, meanwhile, is visiting Santos and the gang. He tells them that he’s going to work as the administrator at Finca del Mar in order to find out why Aimee betrayed him. They tell him he must have lost his mind or something and nothing good can come of it. Remigio isn’t buying it either and says Juan only wants to get close to Aimee. He tells them that he’s not trying to get close to her again because he loves her, but because he hates her. (Ok. So it’s supposed to be more believable the thousand and first time he says it or what?) Juan insists that is not the case. Santos warns him that his crazy obsession will be his undoing. Pedro tells him it seems that he is in love with her even though he keeps saying he hates her. Juan still insists he only wants to know the truth about why she lied to him and made a fool of him when she told him she couldn’t live without his kisses….. “Don’t you understand?” Apparently none of them do.

At the same time, the object of Juan’s misplaced desire, Aimee, is pacing in her room. The narrator starts in: “Aimee is distracted, uneasy and unable to control her nerves. She begins to contemplate her next encounter with Juan. Will she be able to retrain her fluster when she sees him? Will he betray her with his look? His words? The impatience in his voice? Thinking about it all becomes a torture for her, a torture that robs her peace of mind.”

Juan tells the guys that in the end he’s going to be close to his enemies and that’s enough for him. Vengeance is his destiny and sooner or later it will come to that. They all know this. He cannot put it off [postergar] any longer. He leaves. Remi says the truth is Juan is only fooling himself. Pedro agrees. “Juan just won’t give up.” In any event, they’ll have to respect his decision, he says. Nobody there is smiling. Juan seems doomed to self-destruction.

Clemencia comes in to Aimee and Renato’s room to greet her. She is ecstatic to have her back and thinks that Aimee must be the happiest woman in the world with a man like Renato at her side. Aimee smiles wanly and then complains that she misses the city and feels like a prisoner there. She begs off for a nap before dinner. Clem agrees that’s best and leaves. Aimee can only look out at the sea and worry about what comes next now that Juan is going to be working there.

Regi greets Ren near the stairs. He thanks her for helping out during the epidemic. He embarrasses her by telling her they now call her the Angel of Paradise and by telling her that that is what she is to him, too, an angel. So he changes the subject and mentions that he’s hired a new man to be the administrator for the finca. The man is energetic and determined and holds the same ideals they do. He’s perfect for the place. She asks who the man is. Ren says he isn’t sure if he tells her whether she’ll be happy or disgusted and so he’ll just let her be surprised next morning.

Juan finds out that there is nobody home at the MdO mansion in Veracruz and takes the opportunity to climb up the trellis and sneak in. (Will somebody wiser than I tell me the purpose of having him climb in FF>> mode?)

Ren surprises Aimee while she’s looking out at the sea again. They get a bit frisky on the bed. Ren then asks her the obvious, why she was looking out the window. He doesn’t seem to believe her when she says she was only trying to breathe in the sea breeze. He says her face had that far away look on it and he suddenly felt jealous. “Jealous?” She giggles nervously. He says yes, and he hopes he never has reason to be. It would be more than he could handle. He just felt that she was busy thinking about something –or someone—else. Aimee lies and tells him nobody else but he could ever be in her thoughts. (Yawn. How much longer will she be able to lie with a straight face? I’m counting the hours, the minutes, the seconds.) She brattishly whines about leaving her alone for too long and asks what kept him. He explains he was chatting with his mother and then with Regi to thank her for helping during the epidemic. (Aimee hides a major eye-roll.) Eventually Ren lets the testosterone kick in and they begin that newlywed kissy-face stuff again……

Back inside the Veracruz mansion, Juan gets his macho-maniacal cave-man thing going. He just has to see the bedroom where the two consummated their marriage and where Aimee eventually betrayed his love. He finds the bedroom and enters. “This is where she promised him eternal love, the same as she did with me!” He curses her and then takes his knife and starts ripping up the bed in a fit of uncontrolled jealousy. He doesn’t stop there. He turns over the furniture and throws it around, breaking whatever he comes across. The last thing he breaks is the mirror after imagining seeing Aimee’s face reflected in it. (OMG! 7 years more bad luck. --Does anyone care?) He stops and stares at himself in the broken mirror. “The time has come for my revenge! This damned Montes de Oca family will find out who Juan del Diablo is! I didn’t throw the first stone, nor did I spill the first drop of blood! They turned me into what I am! I stopped being Juan de Dios to become Juan del Diablo!”

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Gancho Friday April 23rd Tender Hugs, a Fervent Kiss, But Not all is Bliss (the Serpent can still Hiss)


Alternate Title: Snakes Rattle and Roll

With at least a week left to go before the Gran Final, we shouldn’t delude ourselves. Sure, Isabel’s been unmasked. Salvador has returned from the dead to be joyously reunited with Gabriela, and Estrella found her cachorro. Paula and Cristian tied the knot. Coni may have learned her lesson after all, by losing everything, and spending a night in jail. But Jerry’s still alive and kicking (well, not so much from his hospital bed). Rolu and Arnie are fighting like dogs for a very lovely, but loopy, bone. And what about our canny, coiled cobra? Can Hissabel really be defanged yet? No way. Our slithering serpent is just too sly. She’ll twist, she’ll turn, she’ll slide, she’ll hide, she’ll trick, she’ll plot with all she’s got, until Marcos, Valentina and all the others who’ve made her the way she is, suffer. A lot. If it’s the last thing she does on this Earth!

But first, let’s rejoin our other characters. Xime’s been charmed by her dueling Man-Joe’s, Rolu and Arnie, singing up a storm to charm our tipsy gypsy. Mau and Moni arrived at the hospital to check on Hissy, who instead of checking in as a patient, has donned blue hospital garb, visited Jerónimo, and made some kind of a deal with him.

After a few supportive hugs from Mauricio, Moni demands the nurse check again, are you sure there’s no Isabel López here? She’s sure. Mau figures she may have gone to another hospital, and since there are so many (really Mau, this is a novela, you’re in the only one), they might as well go home and wait. Moni reluctantly agrees.

Beto’s kidding Nieves about all her curlers (she has quite a bunch, to go with her pink robe), when there’s a knock on the door. It’s Marcos, and Nieves, appalled to be seen like this (she shrieks mis fachas, or my unsightly appearance), slams the door right in Marcos’s face! She rushes back to change, as Beto greets Marcos, who’s rubbing his tooth. A few seconds later, Nieves makes her grand entrance, no more curlers, hair wild, wearing a tiger print dress with the strap in her teeth. Rowwwlll!

Marcos has great news. Constanza’s innocent, and she’s getting out of jail in the morning. Turns out she couldn’t have killed Salvador, because Salvador just happens to have appeared! Alive? questions Beto. He and Nieves are having trouble getting their heads around this one.

It’s time to award the prize, a bottle of wine, for the best karaoke singer, and it’s between Rolu and Arnie. Both receive ovations, and our pugnacious pair try to get the crowd to pick them. Fair Xime can’t understand why they’d fight so much over a bottle of wine. No, says Lalu, they’re fighting over you, for your love. This is a bit much for Xime in her state, and she says she has to say farewell now. You’re going? asks Lalu. No, I’m gone, she says, falling directly backwards off her chair, dead drunk, out like a light. As her boys rush to help, we see Xime’s dream. Rolu’s smothering her with hot kisses, saying the hours he spends with her are driving him mad, he wishes time didn’t exist. Guess not, as Xime lifts up an hourglass, and there’s only one minute left. Then 50 seconds, etc., until (10 seconds early), Arnie bursts through the door, a rose in his teeth, big bouquet in hand, it’s time for HIS ten hours. Xime flips the hourglass, and Arnie’s ready. He lifts her into his arms, howls like a coyote, and up the stairs they go!

Back in reality, Lalu makes sure the two lovers don’t tear Xime in two as they carry her out of the bar.

Estrella is telling Aldo how great it is that the lies are over, she’ll finally get her best amiga back. Aldo agrees, but he also understands how disillusioned Moni must feel about her mother, the person she loved and trusted more than anyone else in the world. He felt something like that when he thought his Dad had betrayed him with Estrella, but it’s probably worse for Monita.

Mau and Moni arrive in the vecindad, she still shaken. Nieves comes out, and Moni asks for a hug. Nieves gladly hugs her. Moni is sorry for all the mean things she said to Nieves, but Nieves understands, and never stopped loving her. She also says Moni will be very happy with her handsome Mauricio, and the three of them hug. Next to enter are Aldo and Estrella. Moni says Mau should go home to his kids, so he and Aldo say goodbye. Moni looks at Estrella, can we talk? Of course, she says with a smile. As Nieves thanks the Virgencita, Moni and Estre go inside to rebuild their friendship.

They start with a hug, and Moni begs for forgiveness. Don’t worry about it, says Estre, I understand, with my reputation, but I’d never rob your boyfriend, although I did get to see him naked, and he sure is hot, you know

(she jokes, Moni smiling, playfully fake punching her). Seriously, says Estre, if I caught you with my puppy, I’d be super mad, too. Yeah, says Moni, I can just imagine your cachorro, just coming out of the shower, all fresh and clean….Hey, shut up, says Estre, but Moni was just joking, giving as good as she got, and they point at each other. Moni’s still sad, though, upset about her Mom, and also worried about her. Estre says she’s just tired, and they fall asleep comforting each other.

A new day dawns, and Coni, head on the ground, is awakened by the sound of Cristian’s voice. Time to move. Are they transferring me to the main prison? Negativo, says Cris, all charges have been dropped. You’re a free woman. She can’t believe it, and lights up when Beto, wearing a green “Soy verde” (I’m green) tee shirt, enters to give her a hug, declaring her macho cabrio has returned. She kisses him, filled with need and emotion. Marcos arrives and she tearfully hugs him. Coni still feels guilty about letting Salvador die, she knows she must pay for her crimes. Maybe not, because here’s Sal too, not dead. Coni cries tears of joy and relief.

In the vecindad, Moni is wistfully going through the photos of her Mom, when Isabel enters, hair strangely askew. They glare at each other a few times, and Moni finally asks where she’s been. Hissy says she went to a different hospital, and spent the whole night in the emergency room, “as if you cared”. Yes, she lays on the guilt trip. Moni confronts her about the trap she did to Mauricio and Estrella, Aldo told her about it, but Hissy says she never lied, everyone else lied. And who are you going to believe, a drug addict like Aldo? Well, says Moni, Oscar also said you were working with him. And Constanza also accused you. Oh, shoots back Hissy, you believe a killer and the woman who hates you despite the fact that you’re her sister, more than you believe me? (Oooh, she’s good).

We have another hug, this time a Coni sandwich, with Beto and Marcos as the bread.


Hissabel continues, don’t you remember I took a bullet for you? And you still believe all those others? Moni calmly tells her, Salvador isn’t dead (of course Hissy knows this, but she pretends not to), and he told me he did argue with you in Mau’s office. Well, yes, Sal had just found out how Mauricio helped me fake my death, and didn’t like it, but you know all about that, and I assure you when I left the office, Salvador was fine. Moni’s still not buying it, you still haven’t explained the thing with Mau and Estrella, you took the pictures. Hissy goes back to the martyr strategy, whining that Moni is hurting her, making her sickness worse. I just hope when you cry at my tomb, you’ll be sorry! She walks out.

At Grupo Sermeño, Paula, now the office administrator, is imparting her wisdom to Alejandra, you have to work hard to move up the way I did, don’t just look at the guys. Ale assures her she isn’t looking at any guys, but when Ivan walks past, her head turns and the eyes follow. Ivan goes to prepare coffee, and Ale offers to help him. No way, Paula has her make some copies. The elevator opens, and it’s Gabi, looking around nervously. Paula wonders why. Gabi’s worried about Lorenza. Paula isn’t up to speed, so Gabi fills her in (after Pau beams about how she finally had her wedding night, on the Highway Vieja Cuernavaca). Gabi explains that Sal’s alive! Paula wants all the gossip with every juicy detail (con pelos y señales).

Meanwhile, Alejandra sneaks into the coffee room, and starts sexually assaulting Ivan. He tries and tries to stop her, they have to work. Fine, she says, you work at making the coffee, I’ll make the crackers with jelly (mermelada). She dips her finger in the jelly (apricot, chabacano), rubs it on her lip sensually, then goes to feed him, and when he moves, she gets it on his suit. Then she LICKS it off. Well, that’s it for Ivan, resistance is futile, and the lip-locking begins.

Of course, at this point, Mau arrives at the office with Aldo and Luisa. Gabi and Paula are happy to see them. Then Moni arrives with a downtrodden look, she’s feeling guilty about her argument (agarrón) with her Ma. As Mauricio comforts Moni, Aldo and Luisa go to get them coffee, and I think we’ve had just about enough tender hugging and happiness for this episode. It’s time for some drama!

Well, first a little more of Moni moping, Mau comforting, saying she’s noble, but also intelligent (as if he would know). She shouldn’t let her heart rule her mind. Let the chips fall where they may, you’re not alone, you have me, and all the people who care about you. Gracias, she says.

Okay, NOW for the fun. Luisa and Aldo are shocked to see Ivan kissing Alejandra. Ale smiles sneakily, and leaves to let them work it out. Ivan wants to explain, but Luisa won’t hear of it, and SLAPS him! She runs out, he tries to follow, but then Aldo defends his sister, and starts fighting with Ivan. They take it out to the main office, and the fists are flying. No sooner have the boys been separated, than Luisa and Ale start, too, grabbing each other’s hair,


until Mau and Moni, rousted from their sappiness session, move in to restore order.

We now flip over to Xime’s house, as she gingerly takes the last step down the spiral staircase, wearing sunglasses, holding her head, mightily hung over. Rolu and Arnie have prepared a wonderful breakfast for her, replete with all sorts of hangover remedies. Rolu has mineral water with lemon and salt, Arnie orange juice. She wants coffee. Rolu has chilaquiles and aspirin for her. Ah, Rolu, you made chilaquiles? Well, no, it was Arnie. Oh, well, Arnie how nice to bring me aspirin. Ummm, sorry, that was Rolu’s idea. Doorbell rings, and Xime, holding her head, gets it. It’s a strange envelope. After telling the delivery man her name is Penelope Cruz….Perez, she signs for it. It’s addressed to Jerónimo Sermeño, not to be opened by his sister Ximena under any circumstances. Of course she immediately opens it. It’s a dvd, and of course they’ll watch it. Arnie’ll get the popcorn. Both boys rush to make the popcorn, but Xime says I also want…..tomato juice. They rush to the kitchen, as she says, I also want (they rush back in together)…..a soda with just a few bubbles. They rush out, she says, I also want (they rush back in)

…..two onion tostadas with a little avocado and a pair of flautas without cream but with lettuce. They rush out again, but she yells after them, Just kidding boys. I only wanted the popcorn. And the soda and the tomato juice. They rush out again. She’s loving this, in fact, she’s so happy, her hangover (cruda) is gone!

Aaaaoooooooo! The wolf is back, Lobo’s in the vecindad, runs into Estrella, who informs him that he might as well leave, Moni’s reconciled with Mauricio, it was cleared up that Mau and she never did anything. So hit the road, Jack. Lobo say he loves Valentina, and he’s not the type who gives up easily. He glares at her, and walks off, setting us up for some more trouble.

Mauricio orders Ivan to wait for him in Mau’s office, they need to have a serious discussion. Aldo is ordered to take Luisa home, he’ll talk with her later. Moni comforts her, telling her love is not so easy (that’s for sure!). As they get in the elevator, Paula pulls Gabi, Moni and Mau aside, and says they should fire that hussy Alejandra. Mau says he’ll talk with said hussy later, too.

Coni is just happy to be in the open air (al aire libre), with all the people moving around, the noise of the cars, she knows she’s made so many mistakes, she really wants to change. Ah, THAT’s the word I wanted to hear, says Beto, smiling, kissing her hands, he’s there to help. Coni’s made a decision, too. She’s going to return the vecindad to him, to Valentina, and to all the neighbors. All right! Beto kisses her, this is the best! She continues, she has nothing left, sold her boutique, her house, cleaned out her bank account, for the first time in her life she has nothing, she’s okay with that, but she doesn’t have anywhere to live. Don’t you worry about a thing, honey, says Beto, you have me, and I’m going to work night and day to buy you all the things you like, your fashion sunglasses, your expensive perfumes, your clothes, your handbags, everything. By the way, though, what about Monita, can you stop fighting with her? Coni needs time. Don’t worry, reassures Beto, step by step, with time, with saliva, and with muchas ganas (desire)….oh, speaking of that,…. Let’s get it on (he says porqué no vamos a lo oscurito a verle el esternon al peluche de mono huelo, which is something like why don’t we go to the dark to see the sternum of the smelly stuffed monkey, but you get the idea). She’s ready.


Okay, is Mauricio going to have all those serious discussions with everybody about responsibility and office procedures? Course not, Xime’s here, envelope in hand, and when Xime calls, duty stalls. She cries out Mao Tsé Tung, Monu, Gabirú, Pao, we have to watch this video, it’s urgentísimo, ajá! Mau protests, but he’s no match for Xime’s three things. Una, I came running here to bring it to you, Dos, it’s not going to win an Oscar, because he doesn’t exist anymore, and Tres, it’s very important you all watch it with me. Mauricio wants to watch it later, but Xime says it has to be “now, Mao”,

and Mau finally gives the green light. Into the meeting room they go. Paula tells Ale, whom she calls besucona, or Miss Kissy, to bring the coffee and cookies, and hers gets two sugars, so move it!

Xime promises it’ll be super revelador (revealing) and aterriguau (combination of terrifying and Wow). Cue movie, and it’s Jero talking, saying


Hello, dear Oscar. If you’re watching this video, then surely I’m taking a plane to a paradise beach where I’ll be waited on by beautiful and delicious women, enjoying all the money I’ve robbed from you. I’m really sorry your vacation has to be in jail, since I sent a copy of this video to my dummy sister. Hola Ximena. (she says, Hola Jero, how ya doin? We’re all watching, dumb-bro’, and gives him an air kiss). If I’m not wrong, my idiot sister answered my question and surely will show this recording to my cousin Mauricio and he to the police. Oscar, my betrayal of you won’t be complete unless I list all your crimes such as, for example, the death of Licensiado Araujo, of Detective Bocanegra, although I had no participation, of course. Gabriela, Gabriela, if you’re there, Salvador, your old man, smells like puke, but he’s not dead. Oscar has him hidden in a cabaña, the address is on the envelope in which I’m sending this video (thanks for telling me now, you creep, says Gabi). I also had nothing to do with this, right Oscar? Same for the time that you hid in the hovel of that saucy Estrella to sedate her and Mauricio, with the idea of extorting my dear cousin, and who is, by the way, not as handsome or clever as I am. I don’t know how Isabel López found out about that. Well, she went to the cabaña to scold you for besmirching her daughter. And for sure, you looked very bad, threatening that poor woman with killing Monita if she revealed your plans!

(You could hear a pin drop in the room. Wow!)

Yes, Hissy’s not dead. She’s just getting ssssssssssssstarted!!!!!!

Previews: Hissy manipulates Jero, manipulates Lobo, and manipulates Moni. The rattlesnake is on a roll.

Vocabulario:

Facha – appearance, look
Con pelos y señales
– with all the juicy details

Mermelada de chabacano
– apricot jam, chabacano can also mean vulgar

Agarrón
– an argument or fight, literally, a grabbing

Al aire libre
– in the open air, outside

Besucona
– a gal who likes to kiss


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El Clon, Fri., April 23 - And where are the clones? There ought to be clones. Well, maybe next episode... (apologies to Stephen Sondheim)

Roberto tells Lucas that the Arab businessman's wife is named Jade. Lucas claims that he doesn't know her. Roberto is inviting Lucas to have a drink in a new bar with a hot chica when their women come in. "Later," ("Para la próxima") says Roberto quickly.

Marisa sweetly asks Lucas if he had a good afternoon and displays a huge diamond ring she has bought.

In their room, Lucia is surprised that Marisa is taking Lucas' betrayal so calmly. If it were her husband... Marisa replies that Roberto probably has strayed - he's a man (es hombre). She says that Lucas has no idea how she will make him pay for this (cómo me lo cobraré) and all the other insults to her in their marriage.

Alone with Lucas, Roberto tells Lucas not to play dumb (no te hagas). He knows that look. Lucas acknowledges that he was with someone. He says that he is trying to live life like his dead brother, Diego, would have with no attachments or suffering. He says that his marriage with Marisa ended long ago if it ever began. "No justification is necessary," says Roberto, "Flesh is weak (la carne es débil). Don't fall in love." Lucas says that won't happen. He fell in love once and it turned out very badly.

Meanwhile, Jade tells Zoraida that post Lucas, she will never love again. Said is a nice guy but she doesn't love him.

Mohamed finds Prince Amin (PA) at the girl fight. He says that they will leave immediately - as soon as they find out who wins.

Things are not going too well for Karla in the fight until she finds out that her opponent is Alej's ex.

After the fight Karla is furious with Alej and accuses him of knowingly arranging the fight with his ex-girlfriend. Alej apparently doesn't belong to the Leo/Lucas/Roberto school of dealing with women. When Karla demands that he look her in the eyes and tell her the truth, he does. Does this honesty help him? No, Karla is still furious and says that she never wants to see him again.

Mohamed hustles PA back to their apartment. Mohamed is in the liars group. He tells Latifa that PA was helping the Red Cross collect money. Zamira tells Latifa that Mohamed is covering up PA's sin. Latifa forbids her to slander her father.

Latifa tells Mohamed that it wasn't her fault that PA ran away. She says that she is afraid PA is heading down the wrong path ("el camino del mal").[Considering how he reacted to cage-fighting women, you'd better worry about Mohamed on that camino, too, Latifa, remember, el carne es débil.]

Lucas asks Marisa how much the ring cost and says that she shouldn't make such large purchases without consulting him. Marisa says that she tried to contact him but he wasn't in the office and his cell phone was turned off. Lucas mumbles that he was at a business meeting at a bank. Marisa replies that she deserves the ring for all she has had to put up with in her marriage with him.

Said tells Jade that he wants to talk about Lucas. He says that the trip to Miami will be a test of their marriage. Jade was honest with him from the beginning about her her love for Lucas. He hoped that over time, she would come to love him and he thinks that he has succeeded. The trip to Miami will be a test of this. Jade begs to stay in Morocco with Jadiya and leave her past behind. Said insists that she come with him to the US and go to his business events. He won't encourage her to meet Lucas but he won't prevent it either.

Lucas tells Rosa that the Jade from his past is coming to Miami. He asks Rosa not to mention this to Marisa and says that everything was in the past and he has thrown her out of his heart (ya la saqué de mi corazón). [And we believe that, right?]

Mohamed has a dream about boxin' babes and wakes up yelling, haram! He tells Latifa that it was a terrible nightmare (pesadilla horrible) It was so terrible that he can't tell her what it was about.

At the club, Osvaldo tells Miguel that he is going to meet Karla the next day. I guess Karla didn't think the boxing match was good for her career. She told Osvaldo that she had to take care of her grandmother. Miguel asks Osvaldo how he is going to make Karla believe his tall tale ('cuento chino') about being a talent agent. Osvaldo says that he has that under control. Dora and Vicki come into the club, Miguel warns Osvaldo, "It smells like death and it's not me," ("huele a muerto y no soy yo"). Dora is looking for Daniel. Osvaldo says that he has things to do and leaves without saying a word to Dora. She tells Vicki that Osvaldo is over her.

Natalia is all happy. She tells Rosa about how Fernando kissed her yesterday and went over to his house and they play music. She is going to meet him at the beach (without Andrea.)

Natalia arrives at the beach and the odious Fernando is with another girl.

Ramon invites Karla to Gloria's restaurant for empanadas that evening. She accuses him of spying on her for Alej. Osvaldo arrives with flowers for Karla. He dodges her questions about her contract and his fancy car and invites her to come dancing with him. She in turn invites him to a party. Up comes Mohamed and tells Karla that Mohamed is his sister's boyfriend. [Wasn't that like 10 years ago?] He tells Osvaldo that his sister will be pleased when he tells her that they ran into one another.

Zoraida tells Ali that Nariza has come to hear him read the Koran. She warns him not to let Nariza deceive him. "A person doesn't change change overnight like that," ("no puedo creer que lala Nazira se duerma como aceite and se despierte como miel," literally, "I can't believe that Nariza went to sleep as oil and woke up as honey,") says Zoriada. Ali thinks that he would be better off with a witness and takes Zoraida with him to hear the the Koran read.

Nariza tells Ali how much better she understands the Koran when he reads it an interprets it. She tries to send Zoraida off to make tea but Zoriada says that she is staying for the reading. At that moment, Said and Abdul arrive. Abdul tells Nariza that he wants her to come to the States with them to babysit Jadiya. Nariza throws a fit demonstrating how far from 'submissive' she really is. She says that she refuses to leave when she is so close to happiness in Morocco. Said and Abdul ask what happiness she is talking about and Nariza runs out of the room. Zoraida's and Ali's reaction:

Escobar complains about his son and tells Albieri and Julio that they are lucky not to have children. Albieri says that he didn't want to have his own children because they were already born. He lost one to death and the other to life. Julio is happy with his pet iguana and doesn't have a wife or children.

Lucas' assistant, Carolina, runs into Enrique (literally) again. Clara gives her the lowdown: not married, not gay. Perfect!

Marisa is apparently paying for sex. [Can't she get it on with the pool boy or her tennis coach?] She meets a gigolo (is that what you call these guys now? male escort? male prostitute?) in a hotel room. She is wearing the ugliest of her many ugly dresses. She actually looks vulnerable in this situation.

Poor Natalia. She tells Rosa about Fernando on the beach. She says everything in her life is bad. Her friends think she is a nerd. She doesn't fit in anywhere. She has no one. [God, how I remember this teenage agony.]

Luisa's long lost cousin, Alicia, is coming to stay with her and Albieri.

The party is on at Gloria's restaurant. Mohamed and Latifa watch from their house with disapproval. Zamira is dancing to the music with her friends. Mohamed orders her back inside the house. Zamira wants to dance and go to the movies with her friends. Latifa tries to tells her that confrontation is not the way to get what she wants from her father. 'I'm not going to wear a veil after I get my first period, either.' announces Zamira. 'We'll talk about it when that happens,' Latifa replies.

Ramon tells Alej about Karla's new boyfriend and then Karla and Osvaldo show up at the party.

We meet Alicia, Luisa's cousin.

Marisa comes home and tells Lucas that she has found a way to be happier.
'Is that so? replies Lucas, 'That's nice.' He tells her that Rosa was trying to reach her but her phone was turned off. When Lucas leaves, Marisa says that this is just the beginning. Her ring is just the first example of all the money she is going to spend. [How exactly is this taking revenge on Lucas? Isn't there plenty of money?]

Escobar has a fight with Clara. He is of the opinion that his job is more important than hers and she should spend more time cooking and cleaning for him. Clara says that she is his wife not his servant. She is tired of picking up after two men who can't do a thing for themselves, etc. etc.

Alej cuts in on Osvaldo and Karla dancing. Karla tells him to get lost (esfumate). Osvaldo says that the lady is connected to his chest (pecho). "The lady," replies Alej, "is my girlfriend. Get out or I'll break the connection and your chest." Osvaldo splits and Alej pretends to call his ex. Karla is jealous and they seem to get back together.

Zamira tells Latifa that she doesn't care about the customs of their religion. She was born here and just wants to be like other girls.

Mohamed tells Latifa that they have made a lot of money living in the US but as the expense of their tranquility and the ability to raise their children as good Muslims. Latifa suggests that they spend more time with the children going to malls, parks and the movies so that they don't hang out in the street.[Brilliant idea - the kids are going to love to be seen with their parents who look so different than anyone else.

It's late. Albieri is reading a book. The phone rings. It's the clone on line one. "Dad?" he says.

The credits roll.

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