Caray, Caray!

Capítulo 56

[Warning: Passion ahead! Carnal caution advised! This is not a night for the kiddies.] As we return to the mad, mad, mad, mad world of one of early Mexico’s finest finca families, Dr. Pablo comes to check on the scheming Leonarda who really needs a shrink instead. Rosenda helps feed the lie per her “madrina’s” orders. Renato is forced to dutifully listen as Mama kvetches about being ignored by her son and treated like yesterday’s news. Meanwhile, Juan enters Maria del Rosario’s new and improved dungeon digs and sees a new and improved MdR literally decked out and dressed in white --like an ailing Mexican version of Dickens’ Miss Havisham. Juan calls to her and asks if she recognizes him. She focuses on the rosary beads around his neck and thinks it’s JD Sr. come back for her as promised. She begs him to take her with him far away from there and then promptly falls into a drugged sleep, courtesy of one of Leonarda’s mighty fine Micky Finn’s. At the same time, upstairs, Clemencia begs Regina to never ever mention Juan’s real name, Juan de Dios, to anybody, especially to anyone in the family. Regi can’t imagine why it needs to be kept a big secret, but eventually she promises to keep mum for the bum.

Arcadio asks Juan why “his wife” would be asking Juan to carry her off with him. (Excuse me? She’s been locked in a dark, dank, basement dungeon for twenty-five years with only Mirta the Mute and his ugly mug for company. I’d beg to be taken as far the hell away from there as possible too!) Juan admits he doesn’t understand it either. The only thing he can think is that she must be confusing him with somebody else, but he wouldn’t know who. Orca then complains that the one thing he understands is that Juan entered everyone’s life there under the strangest of circumstances; and first he takes his job and now he wants to take “his wife” from him. Juan tells him to can it. (Cue the harps and cherubs.) “Whatever feelings the woman has awakened in me,” says Juan, “it’s much deeper than your thoughts go and is something I’ve never felt before. It’s something maternal.” (It’s the call of the blood, fool!)

Arcadio continues the charade and pretends to be worn down by “his wife’s” constant lamentations and demands for the cadaver of their dead child; he’s been suffering lo these many damnable years to the point of nearly going crazy himself. Only his love for her has given him strength to carry on. (Damned if the Orca doesn’t rate a major Premio for this acting job!) “Despite my rudeness, I love my wife deeply.” (Sob, sob, sniffle!) He gets on his knees, lets loose with a flood of crocodile tears, and begs for Juan to intercede with Sr. Renato, not for him, but for his kindly, invalided wife. Juan falls for the ruse and says he’ll do it for her sake, not his. Juan then wants some time alone with her. Mirta and the Orca leave Juan alone with MdR. Juan is so moved by pity for her that he takes her hand and gently kisses and caresses it.

Back upstairs, Dr. Pablo has finished examining Leonarda. He tells Renato that she’s not serious, only suffering from overwrought nerves. He recommends rest and avoiding anything upsetting. Ren thanks him and sends him on his way. Aimee comes in to the hall and asks Renato why he’s not left for Paradise yet. He explains he had to see about his mother’s fainting spells first. Aimee promises to look after her while he’s gone. Ren agrees and heads out. Aimee giggles mischievously to herself that she will take advantage of his absence to spend time with Juan.

Clemencia waits for Juan in the garden to tell him that she has a bad feeling about everything that’s going on there. She’s afraid that if he doesn’t leave right away everything will come to light and there’ll be trouble. He says fine. Better that way. She wants to know why he took the job as administrator of the finca--if it was just for a better chance to get even with Ren and Aimee for what they did to him, he’d have done that by now. She suspects there’s something else at work here. Juan confesses to Clemencia, as Aimee passes by them on her way out, that he hasn’t left the finca because of the passionate desire that continues to torment him “-- And it’s killing me!” It was the passion that at one time made him think that there could be a world filled with love rather than hate, of pardon rather than vengeance. (We luhhv this poetic mush, don’t we? Admit it!) Well, he blew it and now he’s paying the price for it. Clem says he’s a fool for not taking Regina’s advice and leaving well enough alone. She begs him to leave before another misfortune happens to the Montes de Oca family. He stubbornly refuses, saying his fate was forged in this damnable family although they rejected him twice before: once when he was newly born and the second time when he was hired by Renato. He’s not leaving before they pay for that!

Upstairs again, Rosenda keeps Leona company. Leona says self-confidently that her plan has worked and that Renato will think twice before going against her wishes. She’s sure that little by little he’ll listen to her and get rid of that miserable wretch of an administrator. Rosenda smiles and agrees with her. “He’ll have to choose between your health and the new administrator.”

A bit later, Juan arrives back at the love cave. Aimee has purposely left the mat they used to lay on during their love-making sessions out in the middle of the entrance for him to see. Juan spies it and thinks sadly back to their steamy, X-rated lovemaking, his confessions of love for her and Aimee’s XXX-rated passionate promises to be his and only his. (Hot Damn! --And I do mean H.O.T.!) Juan looks up and finds Aimee standing there. (Nothing like a bit of 1870’s style sexual harassment to keep the juices flowing.) “I knew you’d be coming here. We’re tied to this place, you and I. We’re tied to… the passion that makes us…burn.” She takes off her shawl provocatively. Juan laughs and walks away. She tells him he might deny it, but she’s always on his mind. “I am inside your head and in your heart, Savage.” She kisses him passionately and Juan, poor boy, still suffers from a weak spirit and a very willing body as the steam factor rises. He pulls away and gripes at her for seducing and bewitching him again, then kisses her a bit more, then pushes her away for good. No. He just doesn’t desire her as much as before. (Sure had me fooled!) She laughs and says she doesn’t believe him because his eyes give him away [delatar]. “They shout just the opposite to me.” She giggles seductively again and mocks him. “You and I are twin souls, Juan. You know it. I am yours because you are mine.” He finally gets some traction and tells her a woman who sleeps in another man’s bed isn’t his. “You are Renato’s. He is your owner, your master! He and only he!” He leaves her there and walks out. She laughs to herself that he almost fell this time. “It’s only a question of insistence and being patient.”

That night Rosenda has been sent by Leona to ask the Orca how the business that day went. She wants to know what Leona is talking about. He tells her it’s between him and the Sra. and none of her beeswax. “Just tell her that things turned out better than we hoped and all is fine. She can rest assured now.”

Upstairs in her bedroom, conniving Aimee preens in front of the mirror and spritzes half a bottle of perfume on herself while thinking of the passionate encounter she and Juan shared earlier in the love cave. Just then Clemencia comes crying to her in her room about leaving Juan alone. In the second Premio-worthy performance of the evening, Aimee swears three ways from sundown that Juan’s yesterday’s news and she hasn’t gone near him. Why, if anybody’s messing around with Juan it’s Regina! Clem cannot believe that because Regi isn’t capable of something like that. Aimee swears she is. Clem says she sees how Aimee acts around him. Aimee says there’s nothing wrong being polite to the servants. (Tell it to the hand!) Then she turns on the fake waterworks and whines that Regi’s been lying about her and it’s just so cruel and unfair. She cannot understand it at all! Boo-hoo! “How could you doubt me, Nana? I couldn’t be so merciless as to toy with two men’s hearts!” (Viewerville chokes back a gag.) No, judge her if she wants, but gee whiz, why doesn’t anyone ever believe her? “It’s Regina! With her supposed gentleness and prudish ways! She a lying hypocrite!! Nana, I’m not deceiving you! I’m not! It’s Regina!!” Clem, after this grand performance, is left not knowing who or what to believe anymore.

On the lighter side, we beam over to the casino for more can-can’t and Lulu, still ever the working girl, tells her dancing partner that tonight he definitely can—if he’s willing to pay extra for private lessons. On the other side of the dance floor, Philippe gets carried away with the crowd and the music and dances a bit with Mme. Marlene. FF>>

Back at the finca, Aimee congratulates herself on the progress of her plan to destroy her sister’s rep and figures Clemencia is now full of doubts about Regi. She heads upstairs to gossip a little with Leonarda and sprinkle a few well …er…fertilized seeds of doubt in her MIL’s mind as well about sugary sweet Sis. (Will somebody slap that sh!t-eating grin off Aimee’s face, puh-leeeese?)

Up in Leona’s lair, Rosenda gives Leona Orca’s message and gets permission to “go to church” (to worship at the golden altar of Almighty Rodrigo) in town the next day. Aimee walks in at that point and greets her. She asks why Rosenda’s not wearing the medallion. Rosenda says she’d rather not cause any more problems with Sr. Renato because of it. Good thinking, says Aimee. You’re always looking out for “the family.” (Wink, wink.) Once Rosenda leaves, Leona gripes about Ren’s defiance since hiring the new administrator. Aimee commiserates and says it irks her too the way he’s always defending that rude savage. He’s tearing the family apart! Even her father left because he couldn’t stand the guy! Ren simply won’t listen to her, and Regina even less. Leona asks what Regina has to do with all of this. “She’s always defending him too, as if she’s interested in him or something!”

Outside, thunder and lightning hit and drenching rains begin to fall, emphasizing Leona’s new-found concerns. (Cue the narrator.) Juan enters the tack room to get out of the rain and feed the horses. The narrator tells us that Juan’s blood is boiling with passion for the woman who now belongs to another man, a man who has all rights to her, a man to whom all has been handed (on the proverbial silver platter) from the day he was born, even the woman who awoke Juan’s savage heart….. Just then Regi races in to wait out the rain. She asks him what’s wrong. He says nothing’s wrong. She says she can see it in his face. He gets snarky with her and asks what’s wrong with his face? Perhaps his face doesn’t have the same handsome features that Renato’s does? (Milking for sympathy are we here, Juan?) Regi refuses to be insulted and starts to leave. Juan stops her and tells her not to be a fool. She’ll get wet. “What’s the matter? My presence is so odious you can’t spend a few moments out of the pouring rain with me?” She warns him off her. “You’re just as much a fool as I, Juan del Diablo –or should I call you Juan de Dios?” (Oops!) Juan is dagger-stare impactado.

Aimee continues with her tall tales about Regi’s strange behavior and stubborn defense with everything concerning the new administrator. Leona asks if she’s insinuating that Regina would be romantically inclined towards him. No, says Aimee, she’s not exactly saying Regi is interested in him, but her melancholy, her nervous outbursts, everything sure points in that direction….. Leona can’t believe that of Regi. Aimee says Regi puts on a good front for everyone, but… Leona starts to wonder if it could be true, though she says it’s just too hard for her to believe something like that about her. Aimee says that perhaps she’s been misjudging Regi. “God forgive me for thinking ill of my sister.” (Viewerville can’t deny itself a snide “Amen to that!”)

Back in the tack room, Juan demands to know why Regi called him that. She tells him not to worry because she promised Clem she wouldn’t tell anyone he’s Juan de Dios. He asks if Clemencia told her and she says she cannot reveal who told her. “Don’t call me that!” “—Why? It sounds better than Juan del Diablo.” He smiles evilly at her and she asks why. He says he’s smiling like the Devil at her because he has realized that she is just as deceptive as her sister. He’s angry as hell and ready to give people sh!t. “Go ahead and unsult me! Right now I am sure you’d like a lightning bolt to strike me, right?” She tells him to cut it out already and tries to leave again. He prevents her and says she’ll get wet because it’s obviously pouring buckets out there [a cántaros = literally pitchers’ full]. “—Oh, since when does what happens to me worry you? Such a gentleman…you…you—“ “—Go ahead, insult me! I’m a savage, an animal, a wild beast, right? You never stop insulting me! I’m a devil and not a gentleman only because I choose not to be one. Don’t forget that. I’m used to doing whatever I have a mind to, so I’m a wild man, just like you say.” She tries to apologize and he tells her she shouldn’t be sorry. He needs her scorn so that he won’t regret what he does. So, he’s still going to carry out his villainous plans, she says, and warns him again not to think about carrying her sister off with him.

Juan insists that it’s Aimee who’s hot to be trotted away. Regi refuses to believe it. He says yes and at least with him she’s an honest woman. “--With everyone else she’s a lying cheat! [embustera] Ask her yourself. She will tell you that I am hounding her, that I’m pursuing her, all to avoid admitting that now she begs for what she ridiculed before! Don’t mistake it. She is in love with her Juan del Diablo!” Regi insists he’s wrong. It’s impossible for Aimee to be like that! --No, he says. She’s a flesh and blood woman, unlike you, who are made from the cake of heaven. “--You have no right to talk about me that way!” “—Of course not! You’re irreproachable! So perfect! So noble! So good! Such a pity you’ve set your sights on the wrong man!” The taunt hits home and he pushes the advantage. “A-hah! The truth hurts, doesn’t it? Well, don’t worry. I don’t care at all about your agony. Renato is the one you fell in love with, right?” She yells at him to shut up. “I’m only pointing out you’ve got a glass house [tejado = literally, roof] too. So don’t be throwing stones.”

She warns him that Ren would kill him if he tries taking Aimee. He taunts her again. “Ah, so you think Renato loves Aimee so much that he would threaten to kill me?” He takes her by the hands and he tells her that she is very beautiful and probably capable of something naughty herself for all her purity [manos tan limpias]; for that he receives a right nice slap in the face. “Don’t touch me!! I warned you!!” He fingers his red cheek. Uni --to placate a few crass commercial interests of the sponsors—breaks in the middle of what appears to have been a subconscious and muy intense attempt at foreplay.

After Viewerville returns with a fresh bucket of ice to cool off with, it's back to the casino where a lovesick and confused Gabe overhears Fulgencio inviting Rodrigo and the rest of his friends to his home for Eloisa’s birthday bash. (That's sure to be a snore-bore.)

Once again in the tack room, Regi tries to leave. Juan grabs her and says, on second thought [viéndola bien] she seems to be a much more interesting person now. “You are quite beautiful when you’re angry.” (That one’s as old as the hills. Don’t tell me that old saw got started here with him!) “—because your eyes shine somehow!” “—Don’t ever speak like that to me again!” Juan laughs at her as she finally races away into the downpour. “Hot diggity! She does have a personality!”

Back at the casino, Philippe finds Gabe mooning around and chats him up. Gabe’s bummed because he hasn’t received another letter from his beloved Estrella who is gravely ill. Frenchy, still carried away with all the hubbub and gaiety, slips up and says something about Jimena being slow off the mark but the letter’s sure to come. Gabe asks suspiciously how he knows Jimena brings him her letters. After stumbling a bit, Frenchy says it’s because she’s friends with the working girls there and he’s overheard her chitchats with them. Even so, says Gabe, why would she tell them something so personal. (Get a grip, Gabe!) You are one sheltered shlub not to realize women go gaga over love, says Frenchy. “Jimena is no exception on that score.” Frenchy the fey says he’s spent long enough with women to be an expert in this area and Gabe should just accept that they are an indecipherable mystery. “Just loving them is enough.” Gabe says well, she’s at least lucky to have some friends to vent with. I, on the other hand, am sadder and more exhausted by it every day.” He leaves the casino in a funk.

Speaking of Jimena, Tia Grizzly Bear starts browbeating Mena for not bringing in the money she used to. Mena explains she can’t get anyone to let her read their palms because ever since the kidnapping of that little girl they don’t trust the gypsies anymore. “Everyone says now that we gypsies are child-stealers!” Grizzy says wash of hogs! “They just don’t like us, but we still need money [parné] to survive.” She orders her to beg money from Gabriel or Juan. Jimena wishes that Griz would treat her better. “Why are you so mean to me? It’s as if you’re not really my aunt at all; and that you’re not really my family!” “—Oh stop playing the victim!” Grizzy says since Servando won’t share his take with them, if Jimena doesn’t produce they will have to leave for some other place. Jimena begs them not to leave and promises to do her best. She heads out and Grizzy ponders the possibilities if Jimena (duhn-dun-duhn-duhnnnn!) ever finds out that her real mother’s family lives in Puebla and that she kidnapped her when she was a very little girl.

Speaking of Jimena’s real family, her abuelo tells her real mother that the private investigator still has had no luck, but he’ll continue to look in Veracruz because that’s where she was last seen. Mena’s mother has another crying fit thinking she’ll die before she ever sees her daughter again. Her grandparents tell her mother that surely once “Angela” is found she’ll be right as rain. In fact, the abuelo has a friend there named Raul de Marin with numerous contacts, and surely if they ask him to he will help them look for her. Mena’s mama shrieks “¡Ojalá! God willing!” in ear-shattering angst.

It’s dinnertime at the finca now, but Leonarda is “too ill” to eat with the rest of the family. (Yeah, spare me!) Noel tells Ren and Aimee that he’ll go up after dinner to chat with her before he leaves for the casino. Aimee is shocked that he would be going to that den of iniquities. Noel says he wants a chance to see Rodrigo and talk him into changing his mind about things. Aimee doesn’t think there’s a chance in hades he’ll succeed in getting him to return to the finca. Celestina comes in to tell them dinner’s ready at that point. They decide to wait for Regi to come down first. Aimee says nobody knows where she’s gone off to “so mysteriously.” Just then Regi comes in and she’s soaked to the bone. She explains she got caught by the downpour and had to wait for it to die down a bit first. Aimee asks if she was alone or not. Regi says no, that the new administrator kept her company. The three of them are aghast. Ren exclaims, “Juan? Juan kept you company???” Regi says yes, “--and he can even be quite nice and witty when he’s a mind to.” She goes up to change. Aimee races over to Ren and says she told him so! “Regina and Juan are involved!” [entenderse = slang for having a sexual relationship]

In her tent at the gypsy camp, Jimena says she cannot bear to stop seeing Gabe. Even though he doesn’t give a whit about her, she loves him with all her heart. She thinks back to their fun times together and the way his kisses sweep her off her feet. She thinks to herself that it’s high time she sees Philippe again for another stellar Estrella letter-writing session.

Gabe, meanwhile, returns home and asks Juan for permission to leave and start his own business. Juan wants to know if he’s not paying him enough or has mistreated him somehow. Gabe says no, he just has aspirations and doesn’t want to lose the chance to do something on his own. Juan is sad to see him leave the nest, but wishes him well. Although, he does worry what’s really behind this sudden need for independence. Juan says he sees in Gabe’s eyes that there’s something else the matter. Could it have to do with “Estrella”? Gabe says he does miss her. Juan suggests it’s just something he’s hiding behind because he’s noticed how interested he is in Jimena these days. Gabe admits his interest, but insists that Estrella is like him whereas Jimena is totally different. “Good golly!” says Juan. Gabe says they are from different worlds. He will not and has no intention of loving a gypsie! Juan tells him he’s disappointed to hear him say something like that. He thought he was trying to be an independent thinker. Juan admits that right now he’s not the best advisor to the lovelorn considering the all-consuming passion he himself has been dealing with lately. However, Gabe not only is consumed with love like him, but remains blind to it. Gabe had better decide soon or he will lose Jimena. “Haven’t you noticed what has happened to me? I lost Aimee thinking she was a sure thing and now she’s married to Renato!”

Labels: salvaje

Permalink posted by Jardinera654 @ 12:53 PM 34 comments

Tonight, Angelica Maria and Angelica Vale star in "Julia, Encubridora" (Julia, who covers up). But as they're both named Julia, I don't know who's the encubridora. Yep, it's a two-for-one night!

A black SUV rolls up and the DIEM team get out in slow-mo. They go running into a house, Aranda's curls looking gorgeous as ever. She walks up a flight of stairs past Julia the Younger, looking absent, and into a room occupied by Julia the Elder and some poor dead schmuck. Neither Julia's looking too present at the moment.

Gloria says it's gonna flow tonight. Las Angelicas are gonna bring it! From the credits, it would appear that our younger Julia will be doing the encubridora-ing.

Julia the Elder gets dropped off in front of some place with a marble lobby by a reasonably good-looking young man. He tries to ask about a second date, but she tells him he's only providing a service and to keep to his place. Julia walks in, and whatever this fancy lobbied place is, it at least includes a gym. A gym where what's supposed to be a hot trainer, who really just looks kind of sleazy, is coaching a woman on her form at one of the machines. He sees Julia walk in, but she pretends not to see him. He goes off to talk to her and another guy smiles and laughs at him. Trainer #1 is Marco, played by Eduardo Santamarina, whose work I'm not familiar with…I mean, I know what he's done, but I've never watched a show with him in it. The guy who laughed at him is Trujillo, played by Mauricio Aspe, who Mr. 5ft will remember from Dos Caras de Ana as the guy who originated the unbuttoned-shirt-as-crazy-meter. Julia sits down at a beach. Marco comes over and introduces himself and she immediately asks him to address her as "tú." She says she's just planning to walk today and (I suspect) fakes neck pain to get a massage from him. He comments on her tense muscles and says she should forget about the walk and they should do some stretching instead. "But I want to burn calories!" He tells her she can't burn calories if she's stressed. Julia smiles at him and says what would de-stress her is to be able to laugh like he does.

She takes him home, where he tells her he likes women like her, you know, women. She asks about his age and he evades the question. He tells her he likes her a LOT and proves it by getting it on with her on her couch. Julia the Younger looks on from outside and starts giving Marco instructions. His lips are on the Elder Julia, but his eyes are on the younger.

Present: Trujillo tells Det. Capellan that he warned Marco that there was something weird going on. "Do you know if he had 'relations' with both of them?" Marco says that was the plan, at first.

Past: Marco and Trujillo work out. Marco brags about having two new girlfriends. He's actually not sure that the younger one is her daughter, though. He announces that she watched them doing it. He says he likes them both and it was like having them both at the same time. He calls Julia and asks to see her again.

At her house, Julia the Elder tells him she'll be waiting for him. She notices flowers in her foyer and calls for Efren, the driver. She finds him in the kitchen with Julia the Younger, getting it on on the counter. She (JE) yells at Julia (Y) and Efren runs out of there. Julia (Y) sits down and picks a piece of fruit out of the bowl on the counter, saying she thought Julia (E) was at the gym. Well, Julia (E) thought Julia (Y) was at a meeting. Julia (Y) doesn't think it's a big deal that she was getting it on with the chauffer. Julia (E) thinks Julia (Y) was being disrespectful. Julia (Y)'s solution is for Mami to quit bringing young studs to the house. Julia (E) doesn't want to be opening doors and finding Julia (Y) behind them…"Oh, so now you open doors and get scandalized. Why didn't you open the door when you were married to Javier?" Uh, oh. Julia (E) gets upset and walks out.

13 years ago: Javier (played by Agustin Arana, aka Omar from Fea, aka Jerry from Gancho) walks into young Julia's room. She's smoking a cigarette. He starts macking on her as she says "open the door mom, open it, please."

The driver lets Marco in to see Julia (E). She offers her cheek for a kiss, or rather, avoids letting him kiss her on the mouth. She needs to be held and he obliges. Julia excuses herself for a moment to get cash to pay him for yesterday.

Present: Capellan asks Trujillo if this was something Marco did all the time. Trujillo balks at calling it "prostitution" but Capellan is all for calling a spade a spade…or a man-whore a prostitute, as the case may be. He took money from the ladies at the gym to go home with them, but they called it, you know, "escorts." Capellan smiles. "'Escorts'. And in Spanish, we call them 'prostitutes.'" Trujillo shuts up.

Past: Marco refuses the money. Julia gets uncomfortable. Marco starts checking out Julia's record collection and asks permission to put on one of the records. "Ooh, you like old stuff. You were in kinder when I listened to that record every day!" Marco calls the record "a jewel" and pulls Julia up to dance. Julia asks for a kiss and Marco obliges. She gets uncomfortable again after the kiss and goes back to get her drink. They confirm that neither one is married, at least not at the moment. Marco starts kissing her lap and then puts his head in it. Julia lies to him and says she doesn't have any kids and lives alone, except for her household staff, who are all men. She claims to be the only woman in the house, because she doesn't trust women. "They're hateful, betraying, and they're all crazy." Marco informs her that he's pretty sure yesterday he saw…. She cuts him off and says it was the ghost of her dead daughter. Damn. I wouldn't have figured the chauffeur for a necrophiliac, but whatever. Marco freaks out a little, but he holds her again and says he hasn't been this way with someone in a long time. Julia says that he'll be like that for a while, because he's all hers. He sees Julia (Y) again and gets quiet.

Present: Gerardo informs Moran that the kill shot went to the heart and the other shots happened after that. "Oh, so that's why there was no bleeding from them?" Exactly, boy wonder.

Past: Julia (Y) brings in a breakfast tray to Mami, throwing open the curtains and telling her it's time to hit the gym. Julia (E) looks up, startled, looking for Marco, but Julia (Y) says he left early. Ugh, they're wearing matching nightgowns and robes. This just keeps getting sicker. Julia (E) says it's late and she doesn't have time for breakfast, but Julia (Y) opines that Mami needs to eat because she got way too much exercise last night. "Who's the giant? You hired a 24-hour trainer? Wow!" Julia (E) reminds her that, like it or not, she's still her mother, so watch it. Mami refuses to tell Julia who the guy was.

Flashback to last night and Julia (E) and Marco getting it on. It's a testament to the high quality of this show that it looks a lot more believable than the May-December stuff on Sorti. Just saying.

"Well, that 'no one' is hot. I saw him when he left. He's young, isn't he? But that's how you like them." Julia (E) says that Julia (Y) is still angry, and not about Efren either.

13 years ago: Julia (Y) smokes a cigarette and asks Javier if he liked it. "More than my mom? Why don't you leave her?" Javier is tired of hearing his from her. "If you don't leave her, she'll find out everything." Javier says no one will believe her, because everyone knows she's crazy. Julia grabs him from behind and says "What about your kiss?"

Julia (Y) laughs over the look on Efren's face when Julia (E) opened the door. Julia (E) insists that Marco is just a good looking guy from the gym. Julia (Y) says she's not sure that the good looking guy from the gym is right for her. Julia (E) looks alarmed.

Marco tells Trujillo about Julia (E) saying it was just the ghost of her daughter. He goes on to say that what got him even more hot and bothered was the thought of the "ghost" listening to them.

Flashback to Marco and Julia (E) together. Julia had told him to be quiet or someone would hear. "Who's going to hear? The ghost?" Julia (Y) stands outside the door.

Trujillo tells Marco that's some kinky shit. More or less.

Present: Moran tells Gerardo that both Julias tested positive for gunpowder residue. With his eager puppy look, he asks Gerardo if they both killed the guy. Gerardo mulls that one over.

Past: Marco lets himself in the front gate of the Julias' house. Efren, busy buttoning up his shirt, goes to answer the front door, but tells Marco that Julia (E) isn't there. Julia (Y) practically runs to the door to see who it is and says "Ah, it's Mom's 24-hour trainer." She snaps at Efren, "Don't you have anything to do?" She introduces herself to Marco and asks if they haven't seen each other before. "Like you were a ghost," he replies. "Oh, my mom must have told you I was dead. It's one of her fantasies, like finding someone like you at the gym. I see it went well for her. Maybe I should join the gym too, what do you think?" Marco says that would be a good idea. He gives Julia (Y) her mom's necklace and asks her to return it. "Ah, right, it must have fallen off when she was doing some exercises." She keeps trying to put the moves on him and he's trying to shut her down. She ends up pouting, "Oh, that's right, you're a human being and you hate being treated like a sex object." She cackles as she shuts the door in his face, saying "Well, you came to the wrong place! Ciao!"

Marco and Trujillo hang out at the pool. Trujillo found the "sex object" thing funny. But he also thinks Marco needs to date a normal woman, not a crazy one. Marco objects that it's only the daughter who's crazy. Now, Julia (E), on the other hand is sweet and tender and blah, blah, blah. Trujillo calls him "cursi" (cheesy, sappy).

Marco and Julia (E) are out somewhere when Marco is effusively greeted by an attractive, though younger, woman, Yolanda. He kisses her in greeting and then introduces both Yolanda, and her date Juan Carlos, to his "girlfriend" Julia. Julia doesn't know what hit her. She gets kissed by Yolanda and Carlos and just looks shocked, but tries to laugh at Yolanda saying it's funny they all met up.

Marco drives her home, but he wonders what's wrong, she's been quiet. Julia (E) tells him there's nothing wrong, but he persists. She wants to know if she's his girlfriend. Marco laments that he shouldn't have said that without asking her first, but he loves her. Julia (E) returns the sentiment and calls him her "boyfriend." She asks him to close his eyes because she has a surprise for him. It's apparently his birthday and he's surprised that she found out. Inside a polished wooden box with a bow is something that he says is beautiful, but instead of answering whether he likes it, he says he likes her.

Julia (E) walks into the house and Julia (Y) is setting the table, walking around in a robe. She tells Mami that the cook prepared something really tasty for them. Julia (E) notices the necklace on Julia (Y) and Julia (Y) says Mami's "boyfriend" brought it over the other day. Oh, ok, fine, he's not your boyfriend, your trainer, then. Julia (E) says she ate late, so she's not interested in food, but she'll keep Julia (Y) company. She asks if Julia (Y) didn't have a meeting, but Julia (Y) says she cancelled it. Julia (E), however, knows that Julia (Y) got fired a month ago. Julia (E) seems threatened when Julia (Y) turns the conversation back to Mama's new boy toy, and alarmed when Julia (Y) declares that Mami is in love with him. "You don't have to be ashamed! Besides, I give you permission to sleep with him." Julia (E) says she knows things have been difficult between them, that they aren't exactly normal, but she'd like them to get along, you know? "No." Well, Marco's a very special friend, and Julia (E) would like Julia (Y) to respect him. Julia (Y) gets upset. "You don't want to share him do you? You're afraid he'll like me more? I'm younger, prettier. I've taken them all away from you, haven't I? Do you remember when you found me with the gardener?"

Five years ago: Julia (E) busts Julia (Y) with the gardener and smacks her around, yelling "How many gardeners? How many chauffeurs do you want me to bring you?"

Julia (E) tells Julia (Y) to forget it. Julia (Y) is upset that Julia (E) has already forgotten it and doesn't think about it.

Present: Aranda informs Capellan that she's turned up some stuff. Javier killed himself in Julia (Y)'s bedroom 13 years ago. There was no investigation and he was buried immediately. Capellan assumes money changed hands to bring that about. Javier killed himself with the same gun that appears to have killed Marco.

Past: Julia (E) and Marco wake up in bed together. Julia wants him to hightail it out of there before Julia (Y) sees him. Marco isn't concerned. He asks her why she told him Julia (Y) was dead. "Because I feel like she died a long time ago."

13 years ago: Julia (Y) sits at the foot of her bed, crying. Julia (E) calls out that she's home. She opens the door to Julia (Y)'s bedroom and sees Javier lying on the floor, shot in the head. She goes over to Julia (Y) and asks her if she's ok.

Past: Julia (E) feels like everything happens too late. Marco says he loves her.

He gets himself dressed and is heading out when Julia sees him and doubles over, crying out like she's in pain. He walks her back into her room, where she attacks him, kissing him and asking him to want her. He says he doesn't want anything to do with her. "But you did get hot when you saw me in the window. I want to be a client too!" He says her mother's not a client. She insists that this is nothing, she and mom always share men. He calls her sick and tries to pry her off him. She says he's on the payroll of the house. Julia (E) walks in and busts them. And the way you know this is not a novela is that he didn't experience paralysis when she kissed him and did make an attempt to disengage her.

Present: Capellan questions Julia (E). She asks why Julia never told her about the suicide of her second husband. Why did things happen so quickly? Julia (E) says her husband abused her daughter and his own guilt killed him. "Did you ever think your daughter provoked it? Did anyone ever tell you?" Julia (E) says "once."

5 years ago: After she smacked Julia (Y) around for getting it on with the gardener, she accused her of seducing her husband. Julia (Y) says she hates her and walks off.

Present: Capellan posits that Julia (E) still thinks that Julia (Y) seduced Javier. "Mothers tend to blame their daughters in cases of abuse, but it's never the case. What happens is that we blame those who are weaker for our own faults." Julia (E) asks them to leave Julia (Y) alone. "I fired, I killed Marco!" Capellan asks her to tell her what happened. "I was in my bedroom. I heard noises, yelling, I got scared. I went running into her room, I opened the door, and he was forcing himself on her. I was only defending her!" Capellan: "With the same gun your second husband used to kill himself?" Brief flashback to Javier. Julia (E) doesn't answer.

Back in her office, Aranda gives Capellan the psychiatric report on Julia (Y). The verdict is severe Bipolar Disorder. Capellan asks to see her in interrogation.

Someone lays the gun on the table. Capellan asks if Julia (Y) recognizes it. Julia says it's the only inheritance from her father. "Your mother declared herself guilty of the death of Marco Rodriguez. Do you have anything to add to this?" "Nothing. If my mother already confessed, what do you want me to tell you? That she killed her lover in an attack of jealousy because he wanted me?" "What do you mean, he wanted you?" "He harassed me all the time, he wanted to touch me, caress me, sleep with me. My mom couldn't handle it." They're interrupted by Gerardo.

Behind the glass, he shows her some lab results. They both fired, but only one is the killer.

Capellan gets the mother-daughter act into the interrogation room together. She arrests Julia (E) for false testimony and covering for her daughter and asks why she's doing it. "I'm the only one responsible for everything. In spite of everything, I'm her mother and she's my daughter." Capellan has them take Julia (E) away. She gives Julia (Y) a kiss on the cheek. Julia (Y) has a hard time letting go of her hand. Capellan arrests Julia (Y) for being the first one to fire on Marco, and therefore the one who actually killed him. She asks her what happened that morning at the house. "Marco wanted to separate us. But my mom and I love each other a lot. Nothing can separate us. Marco wanted my mother, but he didn't want me.

Past: Julia (E) walks in. Marco tries to explain, but Julia (E) doesn't want to hear it. She says he's trash, just like all men. Julia (Y) asks what the problem is and Julia (E) and Marco turn to see her pointing the gun at them. Julia (E) tells her to calm down. "He said you were pretty and that he loved you, but he didn't tell me any of that. Do you remember what I had to do with Javier so he wouldn't leave me alone?"

13 years ago: When Javier was walking out of the room after refusing to leave Julia (E) for the millionth time, Julia (Y) came up behind him, asked "What about your kiss?" reached around, and shot him in the head.

Julia (Y) shoots Marco in the heart. He collapses against Julia (E), and Julia (Y) is now pointing the gun at her mother. "Again!" says Julia (E). "You loved him a lot mom. More than me. You love all of them more than me. That's why you didn't open the door when Javier touched me and…. It wasn't my fault, mom. He told me he was going to buy me a doll if I gave him kisses so that I wouldn't tell you because you were going to get mad. You wouldn't love me anymore. And I got scared, mom, scared that you wouldn't love me anymore. Don't you love me anymore, mom?" Julia (E) says she does. She gets the gun from Julia (Y) as Julia (Y) collapses against her and cries. Julia (E) shoots Marco a few times. She kisses Julia (Y)'s hands and tells her to go wash her hands really well. Julia (Y) looks back from the door and asks if it's true that Mami's never going to leave her alone.

"Miss Julia Espinoza was condemned to 18 years in prison where she receives psychiatric therapy. Her mother, Julia Laviada completed a sentence of 1 year and visits her daughter regularly in prison."

Labels: asesinas

I hope we are getting prepped for the clone's appearance:
Dora tells Estela that she is going to Houston and coming back with Daniel if she has to tie him up. Estela replies that Daniel is so strange. It's as if he didn't belong to this world. Dora doesn't agree. She says that Estela is saying that because Daniel wasn't black like them and wanted to be with Albieri. Estela hopes that when he comes back, Daniel will stick around and not go wandering. "It's as if he didn't feel comfortable in his own body," says Estela.

More clone teasers:

Albieri is at home writing in 'My Cloning Journal' (What could be writing more than 10 years since he saw the kid? Why is he writing longhand in a bound book instead of on a computer? Well, we know that one - the better for Alicia to get a hold of it.) Alicia comes up behind him to bring him some juice (that's all she seem to do - serve beverages and there's the same cake that is always on the counter in Albieri's house.) She startles Albieri and he overreacts so much it would make anyone suspicious about what he was doing, much less the nosy Alicia.

¡Viejo idiota! Ahora sí estoy segura de que está occultando muy importante.
Stupid old man! Now I'm sure that he is hiding something really important, says Alicia when she pretends to leave the room because she is so upset.

Now back to the Lucas/Jade/Said story.

Lucas has gone to see Cristina. She asks if he has told Marisa that he was with Jade. Lucas says no. She tells him not to open his mouth,

Porque por lo que me cuentas, tu mujer es un avión supersónico de maldad.
Because from what you've told me, your wife is a supersonic airplane of evil. [You got that one right, Cristina.]

Lucas asks if Cristine thinks that Marisa is capable of telling everything to Jade's husband. "Of course she is," replies Cristina. It's the most educated, snobby (pipirisnice) ones that are the most devious (solapadas). They aren't like Cristina: an in-your-face (frentera), transparent person who doesn't mince words (sin pelos en la lengua, literally, without hair on the tongue).
Cristina advises Lucas to bring Jade to her place so they can discuss things.

Cristina calls Jade who is at Mohamed's and puts Lucas on the phone. He tells her that he wants to talk to her to resolve the situation quickly. He says that he has asked Marisa for a divorce. He doesn't want to wait any more and says that he loves her with all with soul. Cristina is way more on the ball than Lucas. She has to tell him that when Jade stops speaking (se queda muda, literally, becomes mute), it's because someone might overhear. They decide to call Jade after Lucas leaves work. Lucas thanks Cristina for her help. Now, no one can separate him from Jade.

Marisa and Lucia arrive at Latifa's house. When Lucia admires the decoration, Jade asks if it is she who wants to redecorate with the help of Said. No, it's me, says Marisa and launches into battle:
Estoy destruyéndolo todo, eliminando lo que no me sirve y empezando todo de nuevo.
I'm destroying everything, eliminating what is useless and starting anew.

Lucia, who at least compared to Marisa, seems to be a nice person, tries to make small talk and says how much she likes belly dancing. Latifa says Muslim women dance to keep their husbands looking only at them. Marisa apparently has been checking Wikipedia. She asks if it isn't true that the penalty for a woman who betrays her husband is 100 lashes. She notes that there are countries where the guilty couple are stoned to death (apedrean hasta morir). Jade counterattacks with the four witness requirement, otherwise the accuser is guilty of defamation, for which the penalty is even more severe. Marisa wins the battle by saying that in a time when detectives who have tiny cameras can be hired, a husband doesn't need four witnesses - he will believe a photo.

Natalia gets another pitch from her drug pusher. She (see below) asks why Nati hasn't been online, did she get ticked off (sacaste de onda) because she had talked about drugs? No, replies, Nati, that's something very normal. ¡Es a todo dar! It's awesome, says the pusher. On her last trip, she (she uses a feminine adjective, despierta, - of course online, it could be anyone) stayed awake for three days dancing and laughing and she totally forgot her problems. This sounds good to Natalia but at this moment, Rosa comes into her room and admires all her gifts. Nati displays no enthusiasm for the books, money and the new laptop that she was given for Xmas.

Here in real life is the kind of sentence you get in grammar class using the pluperfect and imperfective subjunctive tenses:
¿Qué te hubiera gustado que te regalaran?
What would you have liked for them to give you?

Nothing material, says Nati, affection, understanding, stability. She says that she feels a deep emptiness inside her (siento un vacío muy hondo dento de mí) as if nothing makes her happy. Rosa tries to cheer her up by suggesting that she go out for a drive with Alej but Nati says that she will just do schoolwork.

As soon as Rosa leaves, Nati sneaks out and takes her car. She drives to the hot dog stand that Alej took her to before. Alej is there fending off Diana's advances. Nati does not keep an eye on the road and runs into the back of another car. [PSA against distracted driving.] The guy whose car she hit gets ugly and Alej jumps up and rescues her. He scolds her for going out without him, calls her stubborn (terca) and then takes her home leaving Diana in the lurch.

Back at little Morocco, Jade decides to retreat from the battlefield and announces that she is leaving. Marisa says that she is leaving too. Marisa seems to want to follow Jade to either launch more verbal assaults or catch her with Lucas but she has made a big mistake bringing a non-vengeance dominated person with her. Latifa gives Lucia a belly dancing outfit and Marisa cannot get her out of there.

Once they are in the street, Lucia insists at stopping at Gloria's for some water. Marisa looks like she wishes she had a giant bottle of hand sanitizer. Marisa tells Lucia that Gloria looks like the cook in a brothel. She says that this is Jade's world and she can't believe that Lucas was attracted to it (she conveniently forgets or doesn't know that Lucas first saw Jade in the very exotic world of the women's quarters in a house in Fez). Where are you going with all this? asks Lucia.
A los 100 latigazos. Dados por mí a ese par.
To those 100 lashes. Given by me to that pair, replies Marisa. Ramon brings the water and some pork ribs. They smell wonderful, I'll try them (Rico huelan. Yo las voy a probar.) says Lucia while Marisa looks on in disgust.

Nati tells Rosa how nice Alej was to her after the accident and how he defended her.

At the gym, Alej tells Diana that Nati is sensitive, vulnerable and needs affection. He says that in addition to being pretty, she is fragile and sweet.

Back at Gloria's. Lucia is ordering take out when Said returns home. Marisa undulates over to him while Gloria, Ramon and Latifa watch. Marisa tells Said that she came over for tea with Latifa. Jade was there but she left as if somone were waiting for her. Latifa enlists Zamira and Jadiya to run interference for her. Marisa finds out that Jade is going back to Morocco and is trying to set up a time to meet with Said at his hotel when the girls run up. 'I'm talking to your father,' says Marisa. 'Then you should talk to all of us,' replies Zamira. 'When a woman wants to talk to a man, there has to be another woman present,' chimes in Jadiya. Marisa retreats.

Latifa finds the Naz primping.

If Osvaldo won't come to her, she will seek him out at the dance club. In vain does Latifa protest that it is haram to go to a place that sells alcohol and that Mohamed will be angry. Nariza leaves and when Mohamed comes in, she lies and says that the Naz wants to be alone. She distracts Mohamed by offering to dance for him in the black dress.

Tio Abdul tells Zoraida that Ali is returning to Morocco.

Ali tells Jade that they are leaving for Morocco as soon as possible. He hopes that it isn't too late. Jade protests that she never wanted to come to the States in the first place. Ali says that he will say goodbye to Albieiri. Jade tells him that Said has taken Jadiya to the jewelry store in the hotel. Ali states the obvious. Jadiya is more like Latifa's daughter than Jade's. He says that he is worried about Zamira - she is too much like Jade was when she came to Morocco. Jade replies that it will be different for Zamira because she won't have to live in Morocco like she had to. 'Nunca se sabe,' (You never know) says Ali. He leaves. Jade sighs and says,
Si olvidé una vez, puedo olvidar de nuevo.
If I forgot once, I can forget again.

Lucas comes to see Leo and tells him that he is divorcing Marisa and marrying Jade. As usual, Leo asks if he has gone crazy. Lucas says that he doesn't want to argue with Leo, he is just telling him because it might affect their business negotiations in some way. Ya think? Leo points out that this is their big opportunity to enter the Middle East market. Lucas replies that this isn't about money. It's about his life and happiness. Well, we know how much Leo cares about that. Grow up! yells Leo. Enrique comes in and tries to calm things down. Lucas says that he has always done what Leo wanted. He married the woman Leo wanted and he followed the career that Leo wanted. Leo refuses to take responsibility for Lucas' decision to marry Marisa. Lucas reminds Leo that they discussed his marital problems earlier.

No me vengas a reclamar tu falta de pantalones.
Don't blame me if you aren't man enough (literally, 'lack pants'), says good ol' Leo. He says that at least Lucas could wait until he is dead to destroy the company. Lucas walks out. He tells Rosa that he gave up everything and did everything his father wanted so that Leo would accept him, so that he would be more like Diego. He tells her that he is fed up, bitter and has lost the desire to live. Rosa blames Jade for this. Lucas says that he is going to do what he should have done 20 years old. Marisa comes in. She says that she wants the four of them: Lucas, her, Jade and Said to talk. Leave me alone, says Lucas.

Said tells Jade that he ran into Marisa and that she wants to meet with him. Jade tells him not to do it because Marisa only has bad intentions toward him. 'Who knows,' says Said, 'maybe she wants to take vengeance for all the harm her husband caused because of you.' He says that Marisa hasn't told him anything but he thinks that they are in a similar situation - they have suffered a lot feeling that they have been set aside (en un secondo plano). Jade says that Said enjoys torturing her. He isn't the nice guy everyone thinks he is.

Ella todavia no se ha olvidado de Lucas.
She still hasn't forgotten about Lucas, says Said to himself. That is the understatement of the year.

Osvaldo is telling his troubles with Diana to Miquel, the bartender. The Naz tries to come into the bar, which is closed. At first Osvaldo wants to hide. Then Miquel suggests that Nariza's supposed 'petrodollars' could help him out with his Diana problem. The Naz asks if Osvaldo would like to get to know Morocco. Osvaldo is up for anything that will get him away from Diana and isn't on his dime.

Lucas is at Cristina's. She calls Jade and tells her that she knows that she can't talk but the man that loves her more than ever is with her and they are waiting for her at the house. Jade replies that she loves Lucas too, more than ever.

Alicia gets an opportunity to look into Albieri's journal.

Luisa sends Albieri to find an old photo of him and Albieri as students.

Jade is a no show. Cristina calls the hotel and gets Said who tells her that Jade has left for Morocco. Lucas is impactado.

The credits roll. FYI- Monday's episode starts a half hour earlier in some time zones.

Labels: clon

Hola, queridos! Thanks for your patience. The storm, thankfully, ended up missing us for the most part. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Ale does not want Nurse Rubi to stay in their house, even if (according to Marco) Urdiales recommended her. Rubi takes Jorge off to get him ready for bed. Ale softens a bit when she sees how content he is under Rubi’s care. Later, Ale stops Rubi in the hallway to put her on notice; she is to be a family servant and not a friend.

Vicky interrupts Julieta and Jaime’s makeout. She coos about how cute they are together and makes them all around uncomfortable. Rafa gets home which gives Vicky something to do with her lips other than pout and talk endlessly. She plants one on him but Rafa has to get some work done. VVV isn’t pleased and warns him he better fulfill his promise to marry her.

Rafa sits alone in his room, glances at one of the fiesta pictures of Ale, and wonders when he will forget her. Meanwhile, Ale is doing the same.

A daily meeting for Autos Siglo in the usual form: Ale scolds the employees for their awful sales, they blame Rafa for it by claiming he already got to all of their clients, Ramirez gives a long winded speech, Marino is smug, and Ale makes everyone swear they will put an end to Rafa by crushing CloAutos. Said competition is also revving up for business and plans to squash Autos Siglo. Let’s get ready to rumble!

Dandy delivers some paperwork to Susana but Ale makes it impossible for him to say a word to her.

Pepeto answers the phone for Rafa because he’s afraid Vicky is calling again. Turns out it’s Marino calling to threaten Rafa; he is going to steal all Rafa’s clients and end up on top again. Rafa is determined to not let that happen.

Ale is on the phone with a former client of Rafa’s and encourages him to continue business with the Siglo. Rafa calls the same client and finds he already talked to Ale. They’re in an all-out battle to get to the clients first.

The doctor has come to check up on Jorge. If he leads a healthy lifestyle and stays under Rubi’s excellent care, he should make a full recovery. Rosario is dubious about Rubi but the doctor sings her praises.

Vicky barges back into Rafa’s house. Just her luck, Jaime is still around but Julieta and Leonor have left. “We’re all alone. Just you and me. Are you afraid?” Jaime most definitely is afraid of VVV and tells her how happy he is with Julieta. Vicky doesn’t believe it and smooches him. Jaime pushes her away but she gets hold of his shirt and rips it open. She flips out when Jaime yells at her to stop.

Rafa gets home just in time to divert Vicky’s attention. Rafa asks Jaime what the deal is with his shirt. Jaime says he opened it because his tie was too tight, even though he wasn’t wearing one.

Rubi asks Azucena to fix the dinner she made for Jorge because it isn’t healthy enough. Azucena is steamed; she has been preparing meals for years and only takes orders from family members. Azucena is so offended she’s ready to quit and go back to her house. Ale and Rosario try to convince her to stay but it’s no good.

Chavez and the Naughty Cop from a few weeks ago are wandering around the hacienda grounds at night. They run into Chucho, the groundskeeper, and Rosendo, another worker. Rain, thunder, wind, lightening, creepy laughter, and a huge shadow on the wall scare them into thinking the hacienda ghost is out for revenge. A headless horseman rides past and scares the daylights out of everyone.

Rubi feeds Jorge soup and gives him his medication. Rosario and Ale want to get rid of Rubi but are afraid for Jorge’s health without Nurse Feelgood.

Ale has to put on the apron and do the dishes herself now that Azucena is gone. She and Rosario complain to Marco about Rubi. Marco stops Rubi before she leaves to talk about her attitude with the women of the house. Rubi says they have no medical knowledge. “Well, neither do you!” Marco suggests she dress more appropriately but takes it back when she gives him a view of her, uh, medicinal properties.

Julieta gets home to take Jaime on a movie date. Rafa admits he didn’t really have work to do; he just wanted Vicky to leave. It’s driving him crazy that he can’t get Ale out of his head. Rafa is still set on making a business deal big enough to settle all his debt. He finds a bottle of tequila and downs some shots alone in the kitchen. “You are the love of my life, Alejandra.”

Marco and Ale chat with less coldness between them. He gives her a kiss on the cheek to say goodbye. Ale pours herself a shot of tequila and drinks to Rafa’s health. “Medina, you are the love of my live."

The next morning, Ale drills the employees on increasing their sales. Claudia heard a rumor that CloAutos wants to start a war with Autos Siglo and obviously Rafa is behind it. Beltran joins the Siglo meeting and Ale explains that CloAutos has been trying to persuade Siglo clients to change companies. She defends Rafa when Marino and Ramriez say Rafa is a ruthless traitor. Enticing clients is a common business strategy. Ale wants to compete by offering better prices.

Meanwhile, Rafa is briefing the CloAuto club about Ale’s counteroffensive to their sales tactics. He wants to change their strategy by offering lower prices and more promotions. Lic. Gomez likes Rafa’s enthusiasm but company profit margins have continued to fall; they don’t have the economic strength for a new plan. Rafa is still determined to succeed and joins the CloAutos chant.

Jorge gives Rubi a history lesson as he shows her around the around the garden. Rubi gleefully kicks off her shoes and does a little dance on a pole in the yard. Jorge questions what she’s doing and Rubi says she’s reliving old times.

The Siglo meeting marches on and Beltran singles Zetina out. Instead of sitting in silence, Zetina stands up for himself and says he is a hard worker who wants to lead by example. “Then why do you never talk?” Ramriez asks. “Because you never let me!” Zetina yells. (Right on!) Marino tells Beltran he has a meeting with a very important client and will singlehandedly beat CloAutos. Ale rallies them all to get selling. They file out of the room and leave Ramriez singing the Siglo anthem by himself.

Rafa gets another call from Marino; the war is on. He also gets a call from VVV, who has her usual complaints. Rafa gets tangled up talking to Vicky and a client at the same time but finds out Siglo already got to his client. Rafa leaves Vicky on the line and sets the phone on his desk to please her.

Dandy pours his heart out to Susana. Her silence and indifference have been worse than a life sentence. He isn’t going to give up and dreams of the day she will listen to him again. He loves her and misses her very much. In full view of Susana, Dandy makes a big show of demonstrating how he’s changed. The other employees mock him for becoming such a softie. Instead of going out to the trancazo with them, Dandy has a salad and juice delivered. He sits cross-legged on a table and starts to meditate. Ale notices and thinks Dandy has lost his mind. Susana is amused and has definitely softened to him.

Ale cheerfully answers a call from Marco. He lets her know if there’s anything she needs, all she has to do is call him. Chavez teases Marco for looking so love struck. Marco just needs to get back in Ale’s good graces. He doesn’t even have to worry as much about Rafa since he is in an all out business war with Ale. Chavez tells Marco about the headless horseman at the hacienda but Marco doesn’t believe it and says Chavez needs to stop drinking.

Rafa is at a loss when yet another client is lost to the Siglo because of Ale. Pepeto asks why they don’t challenge a different company. Rafa gives three reasons (a trend lately): 1) Defeating the Siglo is the objective of the month. 2) Because the Siglo is their closest competition. 3) Rafa wants to show Ale that he isn’t a poor devil she can tear to pieces.

Ale is delighted when she secures another client for the Siglo. Susana isn’t so sure they will be able to meet their goal for the month but Ale is certain. Ale hands over some paperwork to Marino and begs him to get the sale. He promises to have a signed contract on her desk by 4 PM.

Rafa tells Gomez that the Siglo has started strong and already stole two of his clients. But Rafa has a plan: he wants to offer special deals only to important clients and he needs permission to buy company bonds. Rafa wants to give the bonds to people who could help them secure business, like the secretaries and receptionists. They would be very impressed with the company, which could give them an edge on the competition. Rafa agrees to have the money taken out of his commission; he has to have the bonds because he is on the verge of a very important business deal. Gomez likes the idea and pulls Rafa into his office to go over the details.

Monica saunters into CloAutos, greets Rafa, and tells him that she works there. She handles social services and relationship management. Monica slithers a little too close for comfort and Rafa says relationships between employees are forbidden. Monica knows better, though. “Weren’t relationships prohibited when you were at the beach with your jefa?” Pepeto interrupts and Monica takes off.

Marino sits in the waiting room of a prestigious company. None other than Rafa comes running down the hallway to ask the secretary for an appointment. Marino and Rafa exchange words; Marino is not going to let Rafa take his client. Rafa gives a packet of bonds to the secretary and she agrees to let him go in ahead of Marino to see the Licenciado.

Avances: “Something. Totally. Unexpected.” Vicky finds one of the fiesta pictures of Rafa and Ale! Uh oh…

Labels: dinero

Jade and Lucas fall into each other’s gaze, into their arms, into their bed.

At the party everyone wonders where Lucas is. Nati gives Fernando his present, a shirt. He thanks her and heads to the door. Andrea heads him off; what about his gift for Nati? Fernando didn’t get a gift for Nati; he got a gift for his novia Aisha. Carolina announces to her friends that Enrique is perfect in every way. Chipper Marissa says he must just be hiding his flaws well.

At Little Morocco Latifa frets about Jade being missing. The kids and the Naz are on the balcony watching the rowdy neighbors. Gloria tells Pablo to go invite them all to her party. Mohamed at first refuses, but Tio Ali counsels that Christmas is a time of peace and harmony for the westerners, and we should at least accept their kindness. Gloria proudly presents them her suckling pig, but Ali refuses because he can’t eat pork. Meanwhile Nariza proudly presents herself in dance to one of the party guests who has seen half as many new years as Nariza. Mohamed hustles her away under protest.

Ozzie sees Dora and remembers how happy he was with her, and wonders if he’ll ever be able to forgive her. Psssssst! Ozzie! Yes! In the final week of the series.

Enrique has been enjoying the wassail and is feeling no pain. Leo tells him to stop drinking. Enrique blows him off and dances with Carolina. Marisa implies to Leo and Nati that she’s sure Lucas is with a woman.

In the love nest, the fire quenched, Jade is thinking clearly again and says, “What am I doing? I shouldn’t be here!” A little late for that idea, Tutz. I decided to transcribe their whole conversation because it’s very significant. Not necessarily for what they said, but simply the fact that they said something more than, “Jade?” “Lucas?”

Lucas: You’re the same Jade I knew in Morocco, who escaped to be with me. Back then, I thought that the woman I would love for the rest of my life didn’t love me.
Jade: I was also wrong about a lot of things. I thought you were tender, romantic, happy, but I found a man who was cold, distant, and bitter. Who lives an empty life, and maintains an apartment to meet with women.
Lucas: When you didn’t want to run away with me, when you rejected me, I promised myself that I would never love anyone that wasn’t you. There wouldn’t be anyone else.
Jade: Tell me the truth. Was I just a fling for you?
Lucas: No, don’t think that. You are the most important thing to me. I still feel that way. Remember when I told you, no other woman would ever have me the way you do? You hold my heart and my soul. Why didn’t you run away with me when I was ready?
Jade: I panicked. Said found out and was going to kill you. That day I swore an oath that if Said didn’t kill you, I would never look for you again.
Lucas: I would have rather died than live without you.
Jade: I started a divorce but then I got pregnant. I stayed so I could be close to my daughter.
Lucas: I’ll never separate from you. I’ll never let you go. (yeah, where have we heard that one before?)
Jade: I’m more scared than ever because I have more to lose. I should go.
Lucas: No. Let’s leave together right now.
Jade: No. I can’t lose my daughter. I have to go.

At Leo’s party, Carolina can’t find Enrique. Marisa implies that he’s catting around with Lucas. Actually Leo and Rosa are wrestling him into bed. They’ll keep him hidden until he sobers up. Rosa tells Carolina that he was tired and left early. Marisa repeats her refrain, Lucas will pay for what he did to me.

Jade exits the taxi and Ali is waiting for her. She claims that she was visiting remembered places, and he speculates that she was not visiting places but people. He says Allah has been patient with her but his patience will run out. “You were with Lucas, weren’t you? He woke everything that was sleeping in you. ‘Lo que quedo atras.’” I think he means, “what you left behind,“ but I’m not sure, maldita falta de acentos! Ali continues, “It’s like a mirage. The closer you try to get to it, the farther it moves away. When you committed your error with him back then, you had your whole life to correct it. Not anymore.” He goes to leave and she asks for a blessing. He replies, “That God protect you from yourself.”

Lucas sneaks into his bedroom while Marisa apparently sleeps. He realizes that he still has Jade’s necklace. Marissa realizes it too.

In the morning, Rosa wakens Enrique and scolds him for treating Carolina that way. Carolina wonders what really happened to him last night. Andrea teases Nati about paying so much attention to Fernando, and Nati denies it. Then Nati plays with the bracelet that Andrea thinks is ugly, and she divulges that she likes Alejandro.

Said returns from his trip and greets his family in the hotel. Jade thinks to herself, “I want to tell him everything. It will be so hard to be at his side after what happened.” She goes to the bathroom and cries. When she comes back, he asks, “What happened while I was away? You’re different.” Jade begs him to take her back to Morocco. They have their usual argument, “You still feel for him.” “You never stop talking about him.”

Marisa lays into Lucas. “Where did you spend the night? Who did you spend it with?” She goes into her usual rant. Lucas says, “It’s finished. I want a divorce. I can no longer endure a relationship that doesn’t exist.” Marisa asserts, “You slept with her.” Lucas’s request for a divorce is what convinces her. She threatens to tell Said.

Leo is his usual encouraging self. He tells Enrique he always gets drunk (yeah, like, last night, and also 20 years ago). He says Carolina deserve better than to be with an addict. Enrique insists it was just a relapse. Leo says that as an addict, a relapse will result in Enrique either turning worse than before, or dying. Leo wouldn’t make a very good Dear Abby. On Leo’s advice, Enrique calls Caro and tells her he overslept because he took a sleeping pill last night. She’s glad to hear it. He says she’s special to him and he invites her to his house for dinner tonight. She’s even happier to hear that. Hanging up, she tells her friend that she can’t take wine because Ric doesn’t drink. Her friend speculates that’s because he’s a recovering alcoholic. Caro is sue that’s not true.

Lucas tells Rosa, and Jade tells Latifa, that they were together last night. Jade says the emotion was as strong as ever, and she never stopped loving him. Latifa has her usual panic. Anyone want to guess what she says? You guessed it. “Mohammed will leave me!” Jade assures her that no one will find out. (Jade, here’s a hint. If you want to keep a secret, don’t tell anybody!) Jade swears she’ll never see him again because she doesn’t want to lose her daughter. Meanwhile Lucas swears to Rosa that he won’t lose Jade again. He wasted his life pleasing everyone else, and now it’s his turn to enjoy love. He’s asked for a divorce.

At Casa Morocco, Ali announces that he’s going back home tomorrow, and he asks if he can take Jade along. Said looks at her suspiciously. Said says she can go with him. Meanwhile Marisa tells Lucia that Lucas asked for a divorce, but she won’t stand for it. She calls Said and says she wants his advice in decorating her house Moroccan style. After all, who knows more about interior decorating than a macho Muslim? He tells Jade what the call was about. Lucia warns Marisa not to do something she’ll regret. Marisa says that Said is a very important card in her game.

Latifa worries that Marisa will tell Said that Jade and Lucas were together. Latifa whines, all together now, “MOHAMED WILL LEAVE ME!” They decide to invite Marisa over to their house so they can discover her motives.

Lucas goes to Cristina’s house to tell her that he’s divorcing Marisa to be with Jade. Ozzie follows Karla with a K, and begs her to drop charges. He gets down on his knees and offers her anything she asks. What she asks is $,000 per month, and that he’ll be her manager and get her lots of multi-million-dollar international contracts.

Dora tells mama that Daniel is with a friend in Houston. She’s going to see him, and she won’t return without him.

Labels: clon

We were last left at the impactado moment of Susana approaching an unsuspecting Dandy who is reluctantly hugging Lucia goodbye. “Nelson!” Dandy turns around and finds Susana, with tears already making their way down her cheeks. He says those classic telenovela words, “Susanita! Que haces aqui?” “You’re worse than I thought. How could you use me like a carnival prize? Were you just going to dump me after you won your bet?” Nelson looks horrified and stunned silent. Not only has Susana caught him with Lucia, she obviously knows all about the bet. Just then Lucia butts in, and draping herself all over Dandy, asks, “Who’s she?” Susana has had enough and starts to rush back to her (surprisingly un-environmentally-friendly) red SUV, with Dandy hot on her heels. Instead of just explaining, Dandy begs, “Let me explain.”

Frankly, it would take a lot of time to fully explain what happened, and Susana’s not sticking around long enough for that. She tells him she never wants to see him again, and then in a very un-Susana-like manner threatens, “You don’t know what I’m capable of!” She drives off, leaving Dandy speechless, but luckily not robbing him of his resolve to be gone with Lucia. He shoves her into the cab and sends her on her way to Miami, but the damage has already been done.

Susana calls Ale and tells her what she saw. Ale is horrified and says Susana found Dandy with his hand in the cookie jar (“en la masa”- in the dough). Just then Dandy enters Siglo looking panicky and searching for Susana. Like a fool he runs into Ale’s office inquiring where Susana is. The sales crew outside marvel at the fact that he just went right into the lion’s den (“boca del lobo”- mouth of the wolf). Ale is not pleased to see him. “Why? Do you need more money?!”, she yells at him. She then rips him a new one in classic sarcastic Ale form, and starts slapping him: the first slap for what he did to Susana; the second for what the whole sales team did; and the third for being like Medina. “Get out of here or I will kill you with my bare hands!” She chases him out of her office and he trips and falls over furniture on his way out.

Dandy returns to the sale crew and his desk in a daze. Ramirez is sure they’ll all be fired and gets the rest of the crew worried. Marino’s more concerned that Dandy allowed himself to be slapped by a woman and demonstrates his technique for blocking a slap (he’s had a LOT of practice). He also points out in the newspaper the way that crooked politicians and businessmen get out of trouble- deny, deny, deny. This is the tactic he suggest they all use. All of this is going over Dandy’s head. He’s destroyed. He’s crying and talking about suicide. Even his ever present pompadour has gone flat. Dandy is in a bad way. He tells the crew that he loves Susana. None of them can believe their ears and decide the best way to snap him out of this madness is to take him out for some drinking and dancing at Dona Dolores’ (Dodo’s) place. They drag the lifeless Dandy to Dodo’s where a broken chair collapsing under him; a bottle of the best tequila; Claudia giving him a private dance on the table top; and the entire restaurant dancing a conga line around him, are not enough to rouse him.

The crew is stumped. Rosaura asks Dandy what he expected to come of his relationship with the Vegetarian. He wistfully answers, “Everything.” And describes a beautiful vision of the progression of his relationship with Susana that ends with him asking for her hand in marriage. Claudia, the romantic (NOT!), discounts love and marriage. She points to the married crew members and pointedly asks them about their marriages. Ramiro, who seems to be drinking his and Dandy’s tequila shots, is boorishly talking about how much he used to love his wife and then they got married and she changed. Now he’s happy that he’s moved out! This bravado lasts just until his phone rings and “Dios mio!” It might be his wife. Claudia has made her point, but Dandy is not convinced. He is thinking about Susana’s kisses, her caresses. Susana’s not like other women, like Rosuara or Claudia. She’s special. Claudia is offended and calls Susana corny. Dandy sees all of her idiosyncrasies as good points- even her love of all things Indian. He starts an Indian meditation chant. He doesn’t want to drink alcohol; he’s craving one of Susana’s health drinks. Marino has heard and seen enough. He drags Dandy out and tells everyone he’s taking him to a place where he’ll remember how to be a man.

At Ale’s house, Jorge is still being a drama queen. Apparently he is depressed and everyone is concerned this will lead to a relapse and a major heart attack the next time. Manrique offers Tia Rosario help in finding a nurse for Jorge. Which is just the same offer Chavez has made to Marco, except I’m pretty sure Manrique’s nurse actually has a nursing degree and experience. Marco is, however, getting a chance to see what Chavez’s nurse CAN do. Marco and Chavez have a front row seat at the strip club when Ruby, the Love Nurse (La Enfermera de Amor), comes out to administer a little shock therapy on all the patrons. She is wearing a “Naughty Nurse” costume- nurse’s cap, white go-go boots, white stockings, red garter, and a white “uniform” that is so short that the censors had to work overtime to blur out her lower set of cheeks. Marco is impressed, but not with her nursing abilities. She is more used to pleasing clients than to caring for patients, and she has no idea how to even give injections. Chavez thinks Jorge’s problem is more one of emociones (emotions) than injeciones (injections), and Ruby is just the cure. When Tia Rosario calls to say Manrique has found them a nurse, Marco sees his opportunity to play the saving angel diminishing. Ruby’s in!

Ruby’s back on stage providing visual stimulation therapy to the club’s clients...uh, patients, when Marino drags Dandy in and plops him down in front of the stage. In case Ruby isn’t enough to snap Dandy out of his depression, Marino has brought over three additional working girls…uh, therapists from the club to help out. When this doesn’t work, Marino tries to shake some sense into Dandy. Dandy (channeling Xime from Gancho a bit) tells Marino three things: 1) Don’t mess up the suit; 2) I’m not the same man. I’m in love; and 3) I’m worthless without her. He leaves.

In the vecinidad, Rafa is still working hard on his master plan for revenge. Leonor is worried and so is Pepeto. Calling him by his full name (you know a mom is serious when she does that), Leonor orders Rafa to go out and have a drink with Pepeto. They head out to the local bar/restaurant and all Rafa can think about his revenge, Ale and Marco. He doesn’t know if Marco drives him crazy because of the horrid things he’s done, or because he’s Ale’s boyfriend (I vote both). He’s deep in melancholic thought when he hears a voice from his past. In fact it’s a voice and memory from way back in episode one. It’s the guy who took Rafa’s merchandise to sell in his store, but never paid Rafa, and then had his goons beat Rafa up when he came to take his merchandise back. This caused Rafa to need to pawn most of his family’s possessions in order to pay their bills and Julieta’s tuition, which he could not purchase back when he shortly after had the fateful accident with Ale. But later Julieta’s black market sale of whiskey was enough to buy back their things from the pawn shop, even though she got ripped off in the end (hope that helped you newbies).

Rafa, already ticked off from thinking about Marco, goes after the guy. He is not the same pushover Rafa Medina he used to be. “You will pay for what you did to me!” The guy gets ticked off and makes some threats of his own. But Rafa is not alone. He has friends that include the skinny drunk guy who’s always at the bar- he hangs his barely 100 pound frame on the bad guy and the bad guy hardly notices. But he does notice when our friendly Italian/opera singer waiter pulls out a shot gun and points it at his face, and he leaves pretty quickly. Free drinks on the house for everyone!

(Wow! There’s a lot going on in this one night.) Over at Ale’s house, a very sad looking Susana has just been let in by Rosario, who is shocked to see the usually bubbly Susanita so down. Ale lays Susana’s head on her lap and tries one of the head massage and meditation exercises Susana usually does on her to get her to calm down. In fact Ale’s coaching herself at the same time she’s coaching Susana: “Nelson no existe. Medina tampoco.” However, all they can both visualize is the Siglo crew in their true form (devils and witches), taunting them. For Ale this gives way to memories of Rafa on the beach. Which is exactly what Rafa is remembering as he tries to forget: “Dios mio! Get out of my head!” Feeling a bit better, Susana thanks Ale and starts to leave. They hug, kiss, and remind the other that they love them. (Aren’t girlfriends great?!) Marco enters as Susana is leaving to continue his angel of mercy act and to make Ale feel guilty. It works, but Ale still sends him home with no promises to get back together with him.

The next morning (finally!), Rafa is swearing revenge (again) over breakfast as he clutches his completed sales plan; Jorge is still depressed and refusing to eat, bathe or change his clothes; Marco is playing the victim to Tia Rosario that Ale is being unfair to him; Bebe’s giving us a Ford commercial; Beltran had breakfast with the shareholders and they’re not pleased with the sales; Marino’s many women and sons have come for their monthly payment and Marino’s reinstatement as Salesman of the Month has left him feeling generous. They’ll all see an increase in his payment this month; and Nelson is desperately seeking Susana and she is refusing to acknowledge his presence. “Don’t touch me! I only stayed because Ale asked me.” “Please don’t leave here Susanita. I would die if I couldn’t see you again.” (Awww)

Nurse Ruby arrives. She’s changed her tight, short low cut white dress, for a less tight, less short and less low cut white dress. No garters nor go-go boots though. Rosario is dubious, but as soon as Jorge meets the Love Nurse he is ready to hop out of bed to get bathed and gussied up. Ruby immediately offers to help him bathe, and Rosario just as quickly shuts that idea down. A newly energized, suited and perfumed Jorge hops over furniture to get close to his new friend with the name that is so easy to remember since she is such a shining jewel…Perla (pearl), right? (Both Marco and I are starting to think that Chavez is a pretty astute dude.) She can’t give him injections or provide any other real medical service, but she assures “Georgie” that she is here to please him. They can take walks together and she can bring him his meals. Gorgie would love to share her favorite meal with her, and wants to know what it is. Unfortunately, Ruby doesn’t eat much. She’s got to stay in shape ‘cause the pole (tubo) is hard work. Uh…the pole? Ever the quick thinker, Marco explains that Ruby really works that exercise pole/bar at the gym pretty hard. Right….

Back in the two sales team rooms, both Ale and Rafa are presenting their strategies for increasing sales. And it’s the same strategy- go after the institutional market. Both the CloAutos team and the Siglo team wonder isn’t that the market that Ale covers. Well, Rafa feels it’s a big enough market for them to go after, without stealing any of Siglo’s clients, and Ale feels it’s time for the rest of the Siglo team to step up and start handling institutional sales. They both fire up their respective teams. The Siglo crew all chant “money, money, money”, and at CloAutos it’s “vamos a vencer, vamos a vender!” (We’ll conquer, we’ll sell!/Let’s go conquer, let’s go sell!) As Rafa and Pepeto leave the meeting, they run into Monica. Remember, the Refri guy's niece who had the hots for Rafa at the beach? Well, she’s pleased to see Rafa, pleased to hear he’s no longer at Siglo, and tells him they've got unfinished business ("comer un pollito"). She parts with Rafa to go see Lic. Gomez, but not without sending a few more flirty looks his way.

Tia and Marco are talking about Jorge and his nurse. In the background we see him and Ruby giggling together like school kids at the dining room table. Earlier her boobs nearly fell into his soup as she tested its temperature for him. She also gave everyone a good view of what may or may not be under her dress when she bent over to pick up her napkin. Tia is sure Ale will have the same reaction to Ruby as she did, and tells Marco so. She thinks Ruby looks like an adult film star. Marco, who always focuses on the important things, wants to know if Tia has ever watched one of those types of films. Ale arrives home at the end of the day to the good news that Jorge is doing much better. She is knocked out of her shoes impactada when she is greeted enthusiastically (with a polite kiss and all) by the reason for Jorge’s miraculous recovery- The Love Nurse.

Next episode: Georgie and Ruby continue to play. Vicky continues to sexually harass Jaime, and Rafa wonders why Jaime is in a state of semi dishabille.

Labels: dinero

Ep. 55

Orca is begging for his life and his job--again. How many times has he been fired anyway? It’s not his fault. He was drunk. Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard that one before. Let me guess, it’s Renato’s fault because he wasn’t there to stop you from drinking. Uh huh. He snivels and grovels like the dog he is. He talks about his “wife” and the loss of his son. Juan looks like he is softening. Renato tells him that he should have thought of that before. Amen brother! He wants him to get the hell out of Dodge. Juan asks him to wait. His actions are difficult to forget but it is not his wife’s fault and she should not be out on the street. It’s not fair to her. She is suffering the loss of her son. Leo is looking like “huh? Where is that story coming from.” But she rolls with it because she is good like that. Renato insists that he tried to kill him. Well yeah, but I repeat it is not his wife’s fault because Orca is a drunk, homicidal dumbass. Renato is not sure what to do. Leo says it is his decision. I don’t think she knows what to do either. Juan asks Renato if he knows this woman? (Good question Juan.) Stamp me stupid but wouldn’t you know if one of your long-time employees had a sick wife and lost a child? Renato says no. Juan says he knows her He tells how one night he came across her wandering with a mute woman. Leo doesn’t look happy. Juan tells how he brought her home and took care of her all through the night. When I came back I couldn’t find her. She had disappeared. Please Renato, her life is in your hands. Don’t have her thrown out on the streets. Renato says before he makes his decision he would like to see this woman. Juan would like to see her also. Arcadio and Leo look unhappy.

Rod and the sheriff are plotting to oppress the masses blah, blah, blah. FF>>

Arcadio tells the group that he needs to get his wife ready for their visit. He exits with his tail between his legs. Leo says she hopes he has some heart for Arcadio. Renato just doesn’t get the whole thing with Arcadio. He owes his life to Juan though. Leo thinks he will make the just decision. She holds his hands. How much I love you son.

Meanwhile, down in the dungeon, Orca is yanking Mirta around and screaming at her that she needs to get the place cleaned up right away. And they better keep their mouths shut or he’ll kill them both.

Renato and Juan are still discussing Orca and his wife. Renato has some stuff to do first. He wants to see his wife. She is like a little girl. No, she’s like a snot-nosed spoiled brat. It will only be a minute. Juan reflects on what Renato says and gets angry and breaks the vase of flowers. Regina enters and wants to know what the heck that is all about. She’s not happy that he just goes around breaking things. It’s all her sister’s fault. She wants to look at his hand. For a big guy he sure acts like a girlie-man sometimes. She grabs him by his arm and drags him behind her.

Renato is up in their room and Aimee is giving him a neck rub. She thinks he works too much. Whiner. It will be a long time before I see you so just go. Abandon me. Renato isn’t falling for it. What a terrible word. He promises that he will be back as soon as possible. He says when I get back maybe we can have a little action. Uh no. She’s furious and she is very bored. Just go. Are you going with the new administrator? Renato says no. He’s got other things to do. They get all smoochie face, FF>> All she can think about is Juan. He will come back to my arms.

Regina drags Juan into the tack room. He yells. He runs around straightening things up. Regina watches him thoughtfully. And who wouldn’t? She tells him to calm down. He rants and raves. She asks him why he always thinks of Aimee. She looks disgusted with him. She doesn’t understand why he hates the Montes de Oca. He doesn’t have to tell her his motives. She feels compassion for him. He says you don’t have to feel compassion. She says she doesn’t understand his motives for his vengence. He doesn’t need her compassion. She tries to get him to listen to her and good luck with that. She tells him he has more dignity and is more noble. Just forget it. Just forget the whole thing. See, you don’t understand. Your sister said she would be mine. Only mine. Renato had nothing to do with it. Renato, Renato, Renato. Juan makes his scrunchy face. She said she loved me. She tricked me. She grabs his hand and he winces--wuss. She’s trying to look at the cut.

Leo gives Orca a bottle of her special sleepy time tea potion. Only one drop for sleeping. That way she will be asleep when Juan and Renato come to see her. Be careful.

Regina wants to know what happened. Juan says nothing important. I was only working. Forget it. No. Let me look at it. She grabs his hand again. He makes a Ewwww face. You surely need a good woman. (Anyone particular in mind?) She says she is convinced that her sister is not worth the trouble (no vale la pena). Renato walks past the door and witnesses the scene. He stops to listen. Juan says that for sure there are lots of women in the world. Regina agrees. Juan smiles that smile of his. He wishes he could find one like Regina. Renato has a funny look on his face. Juan leaves.

MdR is sitting in her cell. Orca comes in with a basket of stuff. He wants Mirta to change and get MdR dressed. MdR remembers all the dresses she used to have. Now she has nothing. Everything is gone.

Leo is thinking to herself that they are running a big risk letting Renato see MdR. She is trying to figure out what to do. There is a knock on the door. It’s Rosenda Leo needs her for something. She has a very delicate situation and needs her help. Listen to what we are going to do. We don’t get to hear the Plan.

Arcadio walks into MdR room and there is a bed, food, water, everything. He doesn’t like it very much. In fact he’s kind of freaked out. He eats an apple.

MdR is spinning around the room with her dress. She is very happy. She thinks Rod is helping them. She remembers Juan dD and how much she loved him. She didn’t care whether he was a fisherman. She loves him and that is all that matters. He asks her to marry him. She is very happy. FF>> She cries. Where is my son?

Juan is thinking over his and Aimee’s last meeting. She wants him to kill her. He wants her to just go away already. He gets up and has a small tantrum.

Noel and Gabe are meeting. He hands Gabe some papers. Gabe thinks he has done a great job. Juan is now the administrator at Finca del Mar (duh you live there.) Gabe says yes. Noel says that he believes that Juan is doing a bang-up job at the Finca and has his admiration. Gabe is happy to hear that. My son Renato thinks he’s THE MAN and they are both doing a great job as administrators. Gabe thinks it is strange that Juan is having so much trouble with Don Rod. Noel thinks it is strange too. His son Renato really thinks he’s great and he’s sure they will become great friends. Noel thinks he and Gabe have a lot in common.

Rosenda encounters Renato as he is about to go see his mom. She tells him that Leo left strict orders that she was not to be disturbed. Renato is upset and wants to know what is the problem. Oh, she’s not supposed to say anything to anybody but she thinks Renato should know. She suffered an attack. Renato looks upset and hisses why didn’t she get the doc already? Leo didn’t want a doc. She’s upset about the new administrator.

Juan and Gabe are meeting. He’s still whining about his hand. He thinks Noel is a great notario. Juan says now “young man in love” what do you want to ask Juan del Diablo (?). Gabe starts to ask questions and Juan gives him THE LOOK. Which isn’t quite as effective as the MOM LOOK which can strike fear and submission into the hearts of children everywhere. You moms know what I’m talking about. Ok, ok, no more questions. He tells him that Noel thinks he’s doing a great job as the administrator. For real, dude? Yes. He thinks you and Renato make a good team. Without a doubt Renato and I will be good friends. Unfortunately we were separated when we were children. He looks sad.

Regina is confronting Celestina with the fact that she knows more about Juan than she’s telling. Duh! That’s one of the top 10 of the TN Rule Book. Why don’t you tell me? I can’t speak about it. You have to understand. I know a few things about this man. First, he thinks highly of my godfather Noel. The second, his name is not Juan del Diablo. It is Juan de Dios. Dramatic music. Nana looks uncomfortable. Who told you this? Curly told me this. He said that is Juan’s real name. Nana looks to the Virgincita for help. Good luck with that.

Aimee is in her room doing, what else, thinking about Juan. She convinces herself that Juan will come back to her--only her. She chews on a rose and remembers her times with Juan.

Juan tells Gabe that this afternoon he is going to see the sick woman who stayed with us. Remember? Gabe thinks about it and oh yes, I remember. How did you find her? She is the wife of Arcadio at Finca Del Mar. It’s a big mystery. Do you think she will talk to me? Gabe thinks you can’t really count on what she says. She has many problems. They talk some more about her and Gabe remembers to give him a cablegram that is very important. The wood industry sucks big time and Juan just finds it funny. We’ll lose a little money but you and I know that it won’t be a problem because of my fortune. It’s not important. All that is important is that Rodrigo MdO is in ruins. Juan can’t wait to see that damn bastard’s face when he has to work to pay his debt (?). Bwaaaah, bwaaaah!

Orca is back in the dungeon decorated by Martha Stewart fixing up some of Leo’s magical sleepy time tea. Instead of a drop he pours that puppy in there. This can’t be good. He orders MdR to lie on the bed. Mirta looks nervously on. Her rocking from side to side makes me dizzy and gives me a headache. He makes MdR drink the potion. Don’t do it, don’t do it! Too late. Mirta keeps rocking. He covers MdR’s face with the veil and she lies back down. He explains things to Mirta and threatens her like always that if she screws up they are toast.

Renato is visiting his Mami who is having a case of the vapors and is in bed. Faker! Renato is very worried. She plays it up pretty good and blames everything on Juan. She tries to make Renato feel guilty about it. He’s not really falling for it. He mentions Juan and she forgets to fake it as she rips him a new one. She goes back to being weak and helpless. She wants to rest. How about 6 ft under? Renato wants to go get doctorcito. Oh no, I don’t need a doctor. I just need to rest. Renato goes outside and Rosenda comes in. Leo motions her over to the bed. Go for the doctor. It sounds like she says she needs her support in what she tells the doctor. Then it sounds like Rosenda says got it--don’t worry. Renato goes downstairs where Juan is waiting and tells him he can’t go on the visit because his mom is sick and they need the doctor. Speaking of doctorcito, he must have gotten the tweet because he’s here jiffy quick. Renato tells Arcadio that Juan will go with him because he wants to stay and talk to the doctor. Orca is worried about Leo. Renato and the doctor leave and Orca and Juan head for the dungeon. Rosenda is tending Leo with cool rags when the doc and Renato come in. We almost have a wardrobe malfunction with Rosenda. How does she keep those things in those tops anyway? Leo acts so pitiful it makes me sick. She can’t get air. Rosenda plays it up.

Juan walks in to find MdR in bed with Mirta hovering nearby. He walks in slowly. Mirta--still rocking. Juan says good afternoon. She stirs. Do you know me? She reaches her hand to Juan. You have returned. You returned to me like you promised. I want to go with you. Please. Juan looks like he is going to cry. She says you are very far away.

Tomorrow: Juan and Aimee run into each other at the love cave, Clemencia is upset about Juan, Regina calls him by his real name.

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