Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Llena de Amor #92 (Mex. 97) Tue 12/21/10 Oliver spends the entire episode naked. Other stuff happens, too.
Eugenio drops by Netty’s pensión late in the evening with some bad news. He beats around the bush for awhile, stalling the inevitable, asking her for some coffee, or maybe a cookie or concha. “Concha es la que está hacienda usted!” she says. {She could maybe mean he’s trying to hide in his shell like a turtle, or that he’s being obnoxious. These slangy nuances are over my head.} Finally he gets it out: Tomorrow, the bank is going to auction (subastar) the mortgage on the pensión. Netty is aghast that she may lose her home.
Fedra and her loyal henchman are back at the house, wondering why, out of all the tequila joints in all the cities in all the world, that nasty poli happened to be in La Mala Noche. They don’t know, but they do agree that it was good to run into Oliver, because now they know that Gretel isn’t with him. So where the demonio is she? Spidey teases that maybe she never even left the house, and she’s been here around them all this time. But that gives him an idea. What is the only place they have no access to? Fedra knows immediately. The basement. That old coot must be hiding Gretel! Nereida brings Fedra an envelope which was delivered from the bank. She reads the contents and loudly chortles and gloats. Ha ha ha! She’s going to throw out all those stupid pensión people! Can’t wait to see the tragic look on the actress’s face! Emiliano happens to be on the stairs to hear this.
Netty’s frantic. She’s got to find the money by tomorrow, some way, any way! Eugenio suggests that she contact Marianela for a loan. Apparently not that way! Netty says she’ll go live under a bridge before she’ll ask her niece for a single peso.
MariVicky and Brandon come home, MariV still gasping asthmatically. Netty comments that this is just like what happens to Marianela! Brandon mentions that they saw Emanuel at the restaurant. Netty mentions that those Ruiz y de Teresa bunch are like weeds; they just turn up everywhere. No one mentions the possibility of inhaled drugs to open up airways.
Speaking of those RydT weeds, one is upstairs in Oliver’s bed. Oliver is nekkidly asleep, and Gretel (no signs of Manolo now) is nekkidly draped over him, murmuring to his unconscious face that she doesn’t know how long she can stand to hide who she is and not be with him openly, but she can’t tell him, because Fedra will kill him if she knows Gretel and Mari are here. Brandon comes down the hall hollering for Oliver, and Gretel scuttles into her own bed and hides under the blanket just in time. Brandon fans the air and comments on the guarapeco (liquor smell). He is disgusted that Oliver’s drinking again, and dragging Manolo down with him! “You’d better stay away from my sister, you lousy drunk!” he says. Oliver sleeps through all this.
Emanuel and Ilitia arrive at home, arguing about Victoria. Ilitia can’t stand her and wonders why she interrupted their wedding so dramatically. Emanuel isn’t sure, but she’s probably just there to annoy them, at Marianela’s request. “She hates me. I have no idea why, but she hates me.” Ilitia doesn’t care for his wondering about other women, and he assures her that he married her because he wants to be with her and make her happy. She turns sweet and gooey at that, and says she wants to make him happy, too, even if she’s been acting totally weird. “Oh, no, normal, totally normal,” Emanuel gallantly though unconvincingly assures her. They agree it’s time to get started on the honeymoon. Smoocheroochy in the driveway, for all of a few seconds until Ilitia imagines it’s Malicio there and tells him to get away from her. Emanuel is mightily confused. When she won’t even tell him what’s going on, he gets frustrated and stomps inside. Fedra swoops in to nosily ask Ilitia why she and Eman aren’t sleeping together.
MariVicky staggers around her room and finally gets out her inhaler and uses it. She pep-talks herself, saying she’s not weak Marianela who’s in love with Eman, she’s Victoria, and she’s here for revenge. “You are going down, Emanuel Ruiz y de Teresa. You and your demon mother, I swear!”
Demon mom is busy telling Ilitia she’s an inadequate woman who doesn’t know how to get her husband to fall in love with her. Her job is to please her husband twenty-four hours per day; doesn’t she know? Ilitia is hurt and offended. She says Fedra has no idea what stress she’s suffering. Fedra callously tells her to work off her stress in bed. “Who taught you how to be a woman? Your pathetic mother, who has never been able to thrill Lorenzo?” Ilitia says to leave her mother out of this. Fedra orders her to consummate her marriage, or her life will be hellish. Ilitia’s looking at her like it already is. “Stop crying and do your job! I delivered you to my son on a silver platter, and I can take him away from you the same way!” Fedra hisses. I’m not sure what she means by that, but if it’s on a silver platter, it must be classy.
After the break, the viper still vipereth. “I set you up with my son so you’d make him happy and he’d forget about la gorda. If you’re not going to do your job, let me know and I’ll replace you!” Ilitia sobs that Fedra has no idea what’s going on. Fedra has never cared about that before, and she doesn’t care now. There are hundreds of dames who’d be happy to fill the position, so Ilitia had better pull herself together. Got it?!
The next morning, Emiliano breakfasts in the garden and opens the newspaper. Front-page story about Fedra again. The headline on this one says she’s mixed up with white-collar delinquents. He reads “I know dark secrets about La Reina Fedra Curiel, which will be revealed gradually in this column.” “La Reina? Why La Reina? Queen of what?” Emiliano wonders.
MariVicky arrives at her office to find Agent Orange sitting in her chair. He invites her to breakfast. When she declines, he orders her to have dinner with him. She says she doesn’t want to mix work with her personal life, and she’ll only meet with clients in the office. He says he’s making the rules here. She says he isn’t her boss. Malicio claims Emiliano said she has to do what Mau wants, and his project is very important to Muñeca, the other shareholder, so therefore she must succumb to his sleazy seduction. MV gives him her best cold-dead-eyed stare and he orders her to be at his house later.
GretelMan is up and back in disguise, tidying up the room. Oliver wakes up with a heck of a hangover and moans that he’s never going to drink again. Then he remembers that he had a really awesome dream and smiles. He starts to get out of bed, GretelMan gasps, and Ollie suddenly realizes he is naked. “What happened?! WHAT HAPPENED?!! Who was here?!”
Kristel is at the office, not giving up on her top model future, and smooching on Malicio and wondering why he’s in a suit and at an office. He tells her he’s working on a new campaign. Kristel wants to be the model. MV strolls up and tells her this one is for street children, but when they do an ad about street women, they’ll be sure to call her. Kristel gets all “Do you know who I am? I could snap my fingers and have you thrown out of here in a second!” MV blandly tells her that her novio wouldn’t like that, because she’s working exclusively on his project. She gives Mau the proposal. Kristel is not having it; she’s getting rid of this dame right now! She yodels for Emanuel, Daddy, and Lowrenzo, and they all slide out of their offices and stare at her.
Oliver is still freaking out. GretelMan swears s/he just brought him home and dropped him in bed, that’s all. “Then who undressed me? WHO?!”
Emanuel complains to Emiliano about Malicio’s vile existence. He doesn’t want them working on that lacra’s project. Emil agrees that he’s a skunk, but the project is important to Muñeca and they’re going to give Agent Ogre a chance. Eman asks him if he read the paper. That Lirio de Plata is saying that the mafia meets at their house! They must be talking about Mauriciodious. Emil says Kristel picked him, so they’ll have to put up with him. They have no proof that he’s mixed up in anything dirty. MV walks in and says even if they have to deal with Mr. Fonskanka, the benefit will help lots of needy children so it’s worth it. Eman says there are lots of ways to raise money, and he’d rather not be used for money laundering. MV says they may as well take that money to use for good, the way el Lirio de Plata does. She says she’s going to eat at Malicio’s house today, so they can discuss it. “No. NO. NO!!!” says Emanuel.
Malicio is in Lowrenzo’s office on the phone, asking for two more weeks and offering his help with anything. Lowrenzo listens intently as Mau casually mentions that he heard they were looking for a kid, and he can help with that. He’ll contact Maldonado. He hangs up and reports to Low that they have no clues about the kid’s whereabouts. Low makes Mau promise to give him any news he hears. Muñeca comes in and talks about a meeting she’s planning to go to, but Mau insists that she go to the orphanage and get the kids ready for the camera crews to film them tomorrow.
Emiliano agrees with Eman, that in absolutely no way should MV go alone to Malicio’s house. They each offer to go with her. MV says Eman can’t go, because Ilitia will get all jealous again. Emil wonders about that, and MV says if Ilitia’s always jealous, there must be a reason. She leaves and Eman admits to Emil that things aren’t going well with Ilitia. Speak of the celosa, and she appears. Emil flees his own office to leave them alone to talk.
Back at the Meany Manor, Paula sympathizes with Delicia. Nereida insists it was all Delicia’s fault, because that dreamboat Spiderus only has eyes for Nereida herself. Delicia just looks disgusted. Axel comes into the kitchen and throws his laundry at Delicia and tells her to wash it immediately, and she’d better be careful because those clothes are expensive and it will come out of her salary if they’re ruined. Delicia is even more sad.
Ilitia tearfully apologizes to Emanuel for the distance between them. He says the lack of physical intimacy isn’t the problem, it’s that she won’t tell him what’s wrong so he doesn’t know how to help. She cries that he can’t help her. She wanted everything to be so fabulous, and nothing has gone as planned. Things will never be the same as before. He’s still confused, but laughs that as soon as the post-nuptial stress passes, everything will be fine. She tells him it’s actually much more serious than that. On her way to the wedding, she was abused. Cara impactada de Emanuel.
Oliver’s still naked, and wondering why Manolo won’t look him in the eyes. GretelMan insists that Oliver took off his clothes and threw them all over by himself, then fell asleep and seemed to be dreaming of a woman, even saying her name, Gretel. Oliver wants more information. GretelMan claims to have fallen asleep. “Look me in the eyes and swear you didn’t take advantage of me! Tell me, are you gay?” GretelMan slowly turns around and says, “Well, yes… I am gay.” “No! And I’m standing here showing you all the goods!” Oliver shrieks, wrapping his comforter tightly around himself.
Paula tells Axel not to be rude. Axel continues to be rude. “What is your problem?” Paula asks Axel. Nereida snipes at her for daring to question one of the patrons and threatens to throw her out in the street. “If anyone’s getting thrown out in the street, it’s you, Nereida! You hear?!” Axel grouches.
Emanuel apologizes for being so impatient and insensitive with Ilitia. He thinks she should report the pig to the police, but she doesn’t want to be humiliated even more. He asks her to tell him who did this to her, so he can break the jerk’s face.
Brandon is at work, obsessing over catching El Lirio de Plata. Comisario Tejeda assures him that all criminals make a mistake sooner or later. Tejeda thinks the culprit either is or was a police officer, because he’s impeccable. Brandon swears he won’t rest until the scoundrel is locked in a cell.
Oliver congratulates himself on having divined that Manolo is gay. He could tell, the way he’s always checking him out! Of course, he is super guapo, so how could Manolo not? GretelMan asks if maybe the reverse isn’t true…maybe Oliver likes Manolo? Oliver swears he’s into the ladies. GretelMan suggests a pact. They’ll each just stick with what appeals to them. “Fine, as soon as you convince me that what whets your appetite is not this hot bod!” Oliver says, gesturing to his fine self and sending Gretel into a bit of a tizzy. “You see?! You see how you look at me?!” “Well, how about you stop making me look at you?” Oliver makes Manolo turn around so he can sneak off to get dressed, un-leered-at.
Emanuel will not calm down, despite Ilitia’s pleas, and swears he is going to kill that rat. Ilitia begs him not to ruin his life over some trashy guy. “He ruined your life, so I am going to make him pay,” Eman growls. ”Who was it?” Ilitia claims she doesn’t know; it was some guy who attacked her in the car and had a mask. Emanuel says then he will help her in any way possible. He thinks she should get professional counseling. Ilitia refuses and makes him promise not to tell anyone.
Malicio is once again spiffing up the blechelor pad and telling himself that no woman says no to Mau Fonseca. MariVicky strusts in in her marshmallow minidress and wonders what is all this. “Welcome to my palace,” Mau smarms.
Muñeca holds little Cristián and tells the rest of the orphanage kids that tomorrow, some people with cameras are going to come and film them for a fundraising campaign, so they need to fix themselves up nice and wash their faces. Brandon walks up and asks her if she’s received more donations from El Lirio de Plata. She lies and says she hasn’t. He asks about the new campaign and she tells him it’s for a children’s hospital, funded mostly by herself, Emiliano, and Mauricio. “Fonseca? You really like taking money from the mafia, huh?”
MariVicky is mad that Mau is trying to turn their work meeting into a personal party. He insistently oozes his oily substitute for charm all over her and tries to serve her champagne. She reluctantly takes the glass and starts, “Look, Mr. Fonseca,” but he object to that and wants her to call him Mauricio, or, even better, an intimate nickname like Super Mau. She smirks. He wants to hear about her, but she says there’s nothing to tell. SuperMauron smarms that by the second glass of champagne, she’ll be telling him all her secrets. So she throws the first glass in his face.
Brandon hassles Muñeca about her shady sources of funding and tells her if she receives more money from El Lirio, she’d better report it. Muñeca says she isn’t at all sure that Mau is a delinquent, but anyway, this benefit event is a legitimate way to raise money.
Netty emphatically declares she is going to put up a fight against the bank. Consuelo jumps on her bandwagon, but Gladiola rains on the parade a bit, saying going to the bank without money is like going to war without a gun. Netty says she’s going to use her best weapon, her talent. She will play the role of a desperate, sickly woman, all alone, and maybe that will buy her more time to come up with the money. Gladiola encourages her to really sell it, so maybe they’ll also forgive the interest. Netty and Consuelo make it as far as the door, where they’re met by Fedra and Spiderus. Fedra tells her the bank guy is a friend of hers, so, long story short, get your things and your dwarves out of here. “You can’t do this!” says Netty.
Malicio turns vicious and grabs MariVicky. She struggles to get away but that just excites him even more. He throws her onto the couch and she misses a prime opportunity for a castration via stiletto heel. Horror ensues.
Mañana: Kristel throws a fit because all the guys are fighting over Victoria. Iltia flounces out of the house with a suitcase. Eman’s secretary figures out that he’s interested in Vicky, and says Ilitia will have a cow.
Concha es la que esta hacienda usted -- You’re hiding in your shell? Update: Jarocha says "conchudo" means moochy. "You're being a mooch."
Subastar – to auction
Guarapeco – boozy stench
Charola de plata – silver tray
Lacra – (noun) blight, degenerate
Fusil -- rifle
Labels: llena
La Verdad Oculta EP70 12/21/2010 – Susana pulls a Gaviota
* Yesterday’s cruel cliffhanger: David died. Today, two seconds after the cliffhanger: David lives, the defibrillation saved him! The doctor takes a deep breath, wipes his forehead and outside tells the anxious family the good news. However, Blondie is still in a fragile state of health. FaustiMario tries to comfort Gaby but she’s inconsolable.
* It’s family time in Leonardo’s flat, however, Lionheart Who’s Just Been Shot can’t stay at home to enjoy Paulita’s and Julieta’s company because he has many things to do in his office.
* Juan José is waiting for the call from the blackmailer. He doesn’t dare alert the police: right now that letter is the most valuable thing on Earth.
* Adolfo is on the edge of nervous breakdown when Ramón shows up in the condo looking for Carlos. He needs to ask him a few questions, does Adolfo know where he is now? No, he has no idea, but he’s very curious about the connection between the police and his son. What are those questions Ramón wishes to ask? No, no, if Adolfo’s interested he should Faidella about them. After Ramón leaves the condo Dolphie calls Yolanda and orders her to ask Carlos about this mess.
* Susana manages to get in touch with Marcos and tells him what happened lately. Although she really wants to help him to get out of the prison, Marcos knows there’s no hope for him, so he sadly breaks up with her. She’d better leave Mexico City. Susana objects, she loves him and she’ll wait for him! No, don’t do that. After Marcos hangs up the phone heartbroken Susana starts to cry.
* Garnica calls JJ to tell him in exchange of the letter he wants 10 million pesos. When JJ starts to get inquisitive about that mysterious letter and the blackmailer’s trustworthiness, Garnica spills some beans: there were more culprits, and one of the is called… Ávila. Okay, Juan José is all ears now. Garnica tells him his conditions: first, no police. Second, put the cash in a trash bag. Third, next morning leave the house and while he’s away Garnica will call JJ’s contact (in this case: Asunción) and he’ll tell him the location and the details of the transaction. All JJ has to do is to call Asunción and then bring the money to a specific place. If everything goes well, he’ll receive the letter next evening.
* Carlos visits Yolanda who asks him why the police looks for him in Sagitario and in Adolfo’s flat. He doesn’t know. Yolanda is flustered and worried, too many awful things happened lately… And Carlos is sure that his dad sent the goons to kill David.
* Ramón gives Leonardo the list of the actors who was working in Adolfo’s theater when Marta was murdered. Comandante Faidella is in a hurry, Julieta and Paulita are waiting for him at home. Ramón smiles and implies there’s something between Leo and “the other sister”… Oh, if Leo’s eyes could kill, Ramón would be burning on a stake.
* JJ calls Alejandra and they plan to have dinner together.
* Garnica is at Ávilas, and he politely tries to convince Adolfo why he wants to become his associate: he has been working for him for ages, he has earned him mucho dinero, and so on. NO WAY! In Adolfo’s eyes Garnica is just an employee, and he doesn’t intend to either make him his business partner or give him more money. Anyway, he doesn’t believe Garnica has anything he could use against him. If that letter exists, then tell him who wrote it. No, Garnica can’t tell him anything. Then get out of his house! Fine, Garnica leaves but while he’s putting on his Horatio sunglasses, he says they’re not done yet. I’ll be back. *Viewerville: badass*
* Bertha tells her sister she’s leaving the house, she’ll live in Adolfo’s house. Alejandra’s head almost explodes.
* Yolanda arrives at Dolphie’s home and immediately start to drink her favourite green goo. The two nervous wrecks talk about Carlos and how are things going… How, how? Badly! What about Carlos, asks Adolfo. The boy has no idea what the policemen want from him. Does Adolfo believe the Genovéses may be able to prove he killed Marta? Has he forgotten something? Adolfo stutters he might have. But don’t worry, he’ll fix the problem.
* At the hospital Abelardo sends tired Gaby home, he’ll guard David. Juan José and Alejandra take the tired woman home.
* Adolfo shows his blonde handmaiden her new home. Btw, did her uncle tell her something about their last conversation? No, nothing. While they are upstairs Leonardo shows up and asks the maid about Félix. Sorry, she doesn’t know about him, he disappeared. Leo sits down in the living room and notices a woman’s handbag on the couch. Adolfo tries to kick him out, he says he has enough problems now, but Leo tells him he has to identify the cadaver of Félix Méndez. Of whom? The guy who tried to kill him. Adolfo repeats he doesn’t know that man. And what about the cuff-links? Or a special trefoil shaped ring? Adolfo says he has no idea what Leo is talking about. Really? What a coincidence, his son has a trefoil ring. Nevertheless, if Adolfo remembers anything about those things or Félix, please call him.
* Dora shows up in the hospital. She wakes up Adolfo and asks about David. Please, help her, she needs to see her son!
* Bertha, who was eavesdropping the whole conversation with Faidella, now assures Adolfo she wants to help him and he can tell her everything he wants. Now who’s the prey and who’s the hunter?
* While having dinner Alejandra and JJ are talking about the blackmail. She says he should tell everything to Leonardo but she can’t convince pumpkinhead. She’s afraid something may happen to him, what if the blackmailers are the same guys who attempted to kill him before? He doesn’t know but please calm down. Oh, come on, how could she not be worried about him! Why, asks JJ. Because I love you. JJ melts. I love you, too, muchísimo. Kiss.
* Dora has five minutes to visit David. When she sees her wounded child she breaks into tears.
* In the morning JJ is ready to leave and Asunción can’t dissuade him from going through with this madness.
* Fausto, Gaby and Alejandra arrive at the hospital and they meet Dora who apparently has returned from the other end of the solar system. She warmly greets and hugs the señorita and the señora but when Alejandra mentions JJ’s problem she becomes Snow Queen and swears she won’t say anything. Anything! *Viewerville: Oh, someone slap her. Please?*
* JJ calls Asunción from a phone booth. Any news? Nothing yet, JuanJo.
* Alejandra tries everything to convince Dora, but she’s afraid to death. She can’t risk David’s life, those people are capable of doing anything!
* Garnica calls Asunción and tries to tell him the location of the transaction, but anxious Limón quickly gets on his nerves. Since he can’t write, Caramelo draws a simple map.
* Juan José drives to the location, and while Garnica is spying on him from a distant spot he’s hiding the money. Viewerville don’t like Garnica’s content smile.
* When he arrives at home he scolds Asunción for getting the little girl involved in their business, but when he sees Caramelo’s map he breaks into a smile and says the kid is smarter than Limón. Both of them are nervous, however, they can’t do anything but hope and wait.
* After admiring his 10 million pesos, our newest Iago calls Juan José – this time as Garnica, the lawyer. He’d like to visit him to sign the contract. However, JJ wants to see the project first. *Viewerville: Wow, he developed new brain cells.* Then he calls Medina and they agree to check the project.
* Susana calls Adolfo but it’s Bertha who answers the phone. Who’s looking for Darth Ávila? I’m Susana. Bertha’s eyes almost pop out of her head: SUSANA? Oops. Sue nervously hangs up, then she tries to reach Adolfo on his cell phone. They agree to meet in a crowded place later. Then she rushes to the kitchen, hides the diamonds in the margarine (nice) and puts on The Shoes.
* JJ invites Alejandra for a trip to the beach. Next Saturday? She’d love it! No, she doesn’t mind if he has to work, she’ll be waiting for him on the beach wearing nothing but a SMALL bikini. Great. But there’s something important he must know: Dora’s returned. QUE? Oops, I’ve just given 10 millions to the blackmailer. Anyway. Where the hell is she now? In the hospital.
* Adolfo and his goon discuss the details of his next transaction which contains a pair of shoes, the photo, 2,5 million pesos and a girl called Susana.
* JJ storms into the hospital and greets Dora. It’s great that she returned, let’s visit Faidella right now. No, Sir, I don’t go anywhere. My son has been shot, and look what happened to Don Mario. JJ can’t believe his ears and begs her. Sorry, but she can’t talk, she can’t let something bad happen again. Please, understand her. *Viewerville: headdesk*
* The stage is set: it’s a sunny day, Adolfo is waiting for Susana in a café, his goon is bringing the money in a bag, El Marrano (or what’s his name now) is following Susana in a car, and Susana is summoning up the courage to meet Darth Dracula. But she never reaches the café, and Adolfo, who doesn't care about the screaming and shouting, doesn't understand where that silly woman is.
***
Merry Christmas to the Insomniacs Club!
Aribeth
Labels: verdad
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
La Fea Más Bella #137-138 12/21/10 Ruled by the bridle or ruled by the bit.
Capitulo 137.
Read k-Fuego’s original recap, then come back here to discuss it.
There is an old proverb, “He who will not be ruled by the bridle will be ruled by the bit.” A bridle tells a horse what to do, and a good horse will obey it. But a rebellious horse can ignore the bridle, in which case you use a bit, a piece of metal in the horse’s mouth. If he ignores the commands of the bit, it hurts his tender mouth until he obeys.
1. Yuri says Fernando sure will be surprised when he discovers his true feelings because he’s in love up to here. Fern sees Ali, and he couldn’t care less about the dancers, he just wants to find Lety.
2. Alicia orders Lety to find Fernando, and she insults Lety like street punks would, but then she spots Anais and switches to high class mode. Anaís avoids her like a bad stench. Anaís tells Lety to change her inside first, and the outside will follow. She had no fashion sense but she found a fairy godmother. Lety says, “They turned off my light,” but Anaís tells her to change and let her inner light shine.
3. Lola sees Efren, but she’s too jealous to talk to him. Remember Paula was jealous tonight too. I guess it’s a jealous night. Saimon that this serenade will make Paula his forever, but she’s not home.
4. Yuri starts the show. They sing Te quiero así whose basic theme is, “I love you so much, more and more.” Alicia tells Fernando that she found Lety, but Lety said he could cool his heels. Yuri and Mijares sing Y llegaste tú. The key lyrics are, “I didn’t know a world like this existed, nor that I could be so happy. You arrived, turned on the light. I floated through life without opening myself, you arrived and everything changed.”
5. Lety tells Fernando she’s leaving; Tom came to pick her up. He’s not happy. Suddenly his world is not a stable place anymore. He says, “I don’t know what your game is, but we had a date, and you’re going to keep your commitment!” She says she forgot her commitment with Tom. He orders her to stay with him and manhandles her.
6. Fern asks Lety what’s wrong, and again she answers, “What could be wrong?” He says he’s behaved well all night. HA! He asks which is more important to her, being with him or being with Tom. He claims that it’s always most important to him to be with her. (He will pay dearly for the untruth of that claim.) The dancers come in, Lety ducks out, and Fernando follows but he allows the dancers to delay him first (evidence against his claim a second ago), and by the time he leaves it’s too late.
Capitulo 138.
Read Julie’s original recap, then come back here to discuss it.
1. None of the dancers are fooled by Tom’s “Call my chauffer” schtick, but Alicia buys it, and she introduces herself to him. She flirts seductively and he flirts breathlessly.
2. Alicia introduces Fernando and Tomás and they glare at each other (if they were dogs they’d snarl right now) and give intimidation handshakes. Tom finds Lety and they leave. Fernando follows but too late. Yuri says, “I told you so.” He looks like he’s going to cry. This might be the first time we see this expression; it won’t be the last.
3. Paula is mad and doesn’t believe Saimon’s serenade story until she sees the roses he threw in the gutter.
4. Lety scolds Tom for flirting with Alicia, and Tom debriefs Lety on his confrontation with Fernando. Tom asks what’s next, and Lety says that very soon, she’ll throw it in his face, what a liar he is about the romance. She doesn’t know what she’ll do about the embargo; she knows revenge is wrong. What she’d love to do is just run away, but she can’t because her name is wrapped up in it.
5. Tom thinks that she’s going to keep letting them make a fool of her. To the contrary, she’s going to test to what extremes Fernando will go to save his company and keep her at his side, in love with him. Marcia calls Fern, and when he has to tell her he loves her, it tastes like acid in his mouth.
6. In the morning Alicia cries to her papi about losing the true love of her life, the Mercedes. She spends her little remaining money on bonbons when what she needs is a case of ramen.
7. Fernando tries to talk to Lety and gets worse than nowhere. “Didn’t it bother you to stand ME up? Am *I* not important to you?” (After all, I’m important to me!) She answers, mysteriously, “Love makes me forget things.” And now that Marcia’s back, she says they’ll have to wait another week. After all, those were Fernando’s rules.
8. Fernando begs Lety for the truth, what’s bothering her? She asks, “Are you going to break your engagement like you promised?” He tries to weasel, “I wish I could but I can’t.” He concludes that that’s what has Lety upset and acting strangely.
9. Lety asks Fernando to sign another promissory note. He’s reluctant to become even more indebted to FI. She says, “If you don’t trust me..” He immediately denies that and signs it. “No, I trust you completely. Don’t ever again think I distrust you.” PIGDOG!!!
10. Lety asks what happened to today’s card, and he’s stuck. Fernando tells Omar the horrors of last night. Omar says, “It sounds like you’re jealous. Don’t tell me you’ve fallen in love with her?” Lety hears it and hangs onto a last ray of hope. “God, if he says yes, my life will return to me.” We all hope he’ll say yes and dodge the 2-ton anvil over his head. But he thinks to himself, “It’s an honest love and doesn’t deserve Omar’s burlas.” So since it’s such an “honest” love, he says, “Of course not. I’m furious at her. And not because of Tomás.” PIGDOG!!!
Read k-Fuego’s original recap, then come back here to discuss it.
There is an old proverb, “He who will not be ruled by the bridle will be ruled by the bit.” A bridle tells a horse what to do, and a good horse will obey it. But a rebellious horse can ignore the bridle, in which case you use a bit, a piece of metal in the horse’s mouth. If he ignores the commands of the bit, it hurts his tender mouth until he obeys.
1. Yuri says Fernando sure will be surprised when he discovers his true feelings because he’s in love up to here. Fern sees Ali, and he couldn’t care less about the dancers, he just wants to find Lety.
2. Alicia orders Lety to find Fernando, and she insults Lety like street punks would, but then she spots Anais and switches to high class mode. Anaís avoids her like a bad stench. Anaís tells Lety to change her inside first, and the outside will follow. She had no fashion sense but she found a fairy godmother. Lety says, “They turned off my light,” but Anaís tells her to change and let her inner light shine.
3. Lola sees Efren, but she’s too jealous to talk to him. Remember Paula was jealous tonight too. I guess it’s a jealous night. Saimon that this serenade will make Paula his forever, but she’s not home.
4. Yuri starts the show. They sing Te quiero así whose basic theme is, “I love you so much, more and more.” Alicia tells Fernando that she found Lety, but Lety said he could cool his heels. Yuri and Mijares sing Y llegaste tú. The key lyrics are, “I didn’t know a world like this existed, nor that I could be so happy. You arrived, turned on the light. I floated through life without opening myself, you arrived and everything changed.”
5. Lety tells Fernando she’s leaving; Tom came to pick her up. He’s not happy. Suddenly his world is not a stable place anymore. He says, “I don’t know what your game is, but we had a date, and you’re going to keep your commitment!” She says she forgot her commitment with Tom. He orders her to stay with him and manhandles her. 6. Fern asks Lety what’s wrong, and again she answers, “What could be wrong?” He says he’s behaved well all night. HA! He asks which is more important to her, being with him or being with Tom. He claims that it’s always most important to him to be with her. (He will pay dearly for the untruth of that claim.) The dancers come in, Lety ducks out, and Fernando follows but he allows the dancers to delay him first (evidence against his claim a second ago), and by the time he leaves it’s too late.
Capitulo 138.
Read Julie’s original recap, then come back here to discuss it.
1. None of the dancers are fooled by Tom’s “Call my chauffer” schtick, but Alicia buys it, and she introduces herself to him. She flirts seductively and he flirts breathlessly.
2. Alicia introduces Fernando and Tomás and they glare at each other (if they were dogs they’d snarl right now) and give intimidation handshakes. Tom finds Lety and they leave. Fernando follows but too late. Yuri says, “I told you so.” He looks like he’s going to cry. This might be the first time we see this expression; it won’t be the last.
3. Paula is mad and doesn’t believe Saimon’s serenade story until she sees the roses he threw in the gutter.
4. Lety scolds Tom for flirting with Alicia, and Tom debriefs Lety on his confrontation with Fernando. Tom asks what’s next, and Lety says that very soon, she’ll throw it in his face, what a liar he is about the romance. She doesn’t know what she’ll do about the embargo; she knows revenge is wrong. What she’d love to do is just run away, but she can’t because her name is wrapped up in it.
5. Tom thinks that she’s going to keep letting them make a fool of her. To the contrary, she’s going to test to what extremes Fernando will go to save his company and keep her at his side, in love with him. Marcia calls Fern, and when he has to tell her he loves her, it tastes like acid in his mouth.
6. In the morning Alicia cries to her papi about losing the true love of her life, the Mercedes. She spends her little remaining money on bonbons when what she needs is a case of ramen.
7. Fernando tries to talk to Lety and gets worse than nowhere. “Didn’t it bother you to stand ME up? Am *I* not important to you?” (After all, I’m important to me!) She answers, mysteriously, “Love makes me forget things.” And now that Marcia’s back, she says they’ll have to wait another week. After all, those were Fernando’s rules.
8. Fernando begs Lety for the truth, what’s bothering her? She asks, “Are you going to break your engagement like you promised?” He tries to weasel, “I wish I could but I can’t.” He concludes that that’s what has Lety upset and acting strangely.
9. Lety asks Fernando to sign another promissory note. He’s reluctant to become even more indebted to FI. She says, “If you don’t trust me..” He immediately denies that and signs it. “No, I trust you completely. Don’t ever again think I distrust you.” PIGDOG!!!
10. Lety asks what happened to today’s card, and he’s stuck. Fernando tells Omar the horrors of last night. Omar says, “It sounds like you’re jealous. Don’t tell me you’ve fallen in love with her?” Lety hears it and hangs onto a last ray of hope. “God, if he says yes, my life will return to me.” We all hope he’ll say yes and dodge the 2-ton anvil over his head. But he thinks to himself, “It’s an honest love and doesn’t deserve Omar’s burlas.” So since it’s such an “honest” love, he says, “Of course not. I’m furious at her. And not because of Tomás.” PIGDOG!!!
Labels: fea-2010
Eva Luna #32 Mon 12/20/10 THE SECRET IS OUT
While Daniel and Eva are still enjoying their romantic evening together at the restaurant, Renata finds Victoria sleeping the sleep of the near dead and a near empty bottle of sleeping pills on the night table. Renata can't wake up Icky, panics, and screams for help. Mad Manipulative Marcela has been waiting for this and calmly sets down her tea. Renata races into Marcy's bedroom to give her the shocking “news”.
At the restaurant, Eva and Dano are dancing alone in the gazebo under a moonlit sky. They kid about each other having been annoying and Dan says he thinks it was a defense mechanism since the truth is that they both were interested in each other since the first time they met. Eva smiles at him and says she won't deny it.
Marcela and Leo walk into Icky’s room together. Marcy gives a stellar performance of the frightened and worried mother. They both start screaming at Icky to wake up and about Icky’s being dead. Marcy tells Ren to call an ambulance.
Dan's cell keeps ringing. He checks the number and ignores the continual calls. He asks Eva to hug him tight so he can feel that it's all true. She obliges. (I'm sure Eva feels a little "something" too!) They profess their love for each other, kiss, and then Dan turns around to the crowd and tells them that he is “truly in love with this woman!” The crowd claps. (I guiltily wonder what would have happened if some drunk had decided to boo.)
At the same time, Francisco and Marisol are in a major lip-lock at the penthouse. She chases Alicia away with her hand.
The ambulance arrives and Icktoria is driven away to the hospital where the family doctor, Rivera, will be waiting for them. (Viewerville eagerly wishes that Marcy for once would have gotten the dose wrong and put us all out of our misery.) In the ambulance, on the way, Marcy gives another performance. She gripes at the attendant to make sure her daughter doesn't die. He gets irked cuz he knows what he’s doing and probably just wants to be let alone to do his job. Dano drives up and watches the ambulance race by out of the gate. He peels off to the manse and asks Ren if something's happened to Don Julio. She tells him that Icky tried to off herself with sleeping-pills. He’s suddenly conscience-stricken-impactada. Ren tells him they’re taking Icky “to the hospital” (note: Ren didn’t tell him the name of that hospital, but he automatically knows exactly which one) and races off to join the family there.
Back at the penthouse Mari and Franc are still going at it on the couch. Suddenly Franc hears keys jingling just as the owner walks in on them in-lip-licious dilecti. Ruh-roh! Busted! The owner is obviously pissed and yells at them to tell him who they are and what they're doing in his apartment!!
At the same time, Eva is now ready for bed and wearing the nightgown and robe that Dan bought her while she was in the hospital. She thanks the virgencita for her night in Paradise. (Naw, a night in paradise would have included a birthday-suited Dano in bed, champagne, and chocolate covered strawberries.)
Back at the penthouse again, Mari tries to greet the owner as if he was her cousin Horacio, but he yells at her that he doesn't know her. Ali tells him to join her in the kitchen and she'll explain everything. He heads for the kitchen and says he's calling the police. Ali races after him. Franc is pissed and says he's not sticking around for the police. He suspects Mari is up to no good and has been lying to him. Mari then has to admit it’s not her cousin and his name isn't Horacio. Mari lies to Franc and gives some sort of convoluted explanation that it’s because he has multiple personalities and that's why he doesn't recognize her. (Now that's thinking on your feet, girl! Damned creative, too!)
In the kitchen, Ali stops the guy from calling the police when she explains that Damian loaned out his penthouse to Marisol for the evening. He's excited knowing that this is The Marisol! He thinks Franc must be a client, but Ali tells him he's not a client, just a regular guy she's in love with. He goes out to tell Franc the truth but Franc plays along thinking he's talking to a different personality and trying to humor a “dangerous” crazy guy. Marisol keeps trying to get Franc to leave. The man tells Franc now that he’s glad he’s gotten a chance to speak with him because Mari is a fraud–a woman who hasn’t got a cent to her name and he needs to know the truth! Mari laughs like he's just acting crazy-cute. Franc tells him thanks for the heads up, that he hopes he recuperates soon, and, though it breaks his heart, he really has to go. Franc gives a secret thumbs up to Mari and leaves. Mari and Ali, relieved, each give the penthouse owner a slap across his face and get their things to leave. The owner is just as confused as when he arrived.
At the boarding house over a huge piece of chocolate cake, Eva tells Justa she's on cloud nine after the wonderful evening she spent with Daniel. (Oh for the days I could eat a huge piece of cake like that and not worry about the calorie count!) Yes, Daniel declared his love for her in the most romantic evening of her life!!
Marcy keeps up the concerned mother act for the doctor and Leo once they get to the hospital. She tries pumping Leo to see if he knows the reason Icky would try killing herself. He says he doesn't know but figures it was something really seriously upsetting. (No duh!) He comforts his anguished mama. Claudia arrives right after and asks what happened. Marcy tries pumping her, too. Claw keeps mum since she remembers Icky asking her not to tell anyone that Dan had dumped her at the dinner. All she admits to is that she knows Icky and Dan argued about something.
Leo and Claw leave for a minute. Dan arrives right after and Marcy screams at him for not answering her calls and she wants to know why. He tells her he doesn't have to tell her a single thing about what he does or when. She screams that she's certain he's the reason her daughter tried to off herself and if Icktoria dies it will be all Dan's fault!! She demands to know what the two of them argued about because after their dinner date Icky was crying and locked herself in her room after guzzling down three glasses of wine. Dan says this isn't the time. He'll tell her everything once things have calmed down and Icky's all right. She accuses him of not having even the least sense of guilt. He says he's not that heartless. The doctor comes in to tell Marcy that Icky's out of danger and that the dose she took wasn't that bad. It helped that Ren found her and they got her to the hospital in time, too. Marcy hisses at Dan and then leaves with the doctor to make sure she's there with her when Icky regains consciousness. Dan manages to keep his cool. (Is the guilt trip she's laid on him working???)
Merciless Marcy now wakes up Icktoria and sends the nurse away. She tells Icky that she's there because Icky tried to OD on sleeping pills. Icky is woozy and says she remembers everything but taking the pills. Marcy tells her that what's important now is that she has a chance to keep hold of Daniel by laying a major guilt-trip on him. Icky gets Mama’s drift and asks for Dan to come in and speak with her.
Eva is back in her bedroom thinking wonderful thoughts about Dan. Then she remembers her aunt's reading her fortune about tragedy leading to her meeting the man of her dreams who will cause her to experience both Heaven and Hell. She prays to the virgencita to make sure nothing wrecks her happiness now. (Viewerville's telenovela afficionados all know it's way too late for that. The virgencita will be taking a siesta and won’t get the message.)
Dan enters Vicky's hospital room. As Marcy listens from the back of the room, Icky gives her own Oscar-winning performance as she whines about how much she loves him. She whimpers something about doing it all because of him and because she couldn't live without him. Dan gives out a sigh but keeps his distance. He tells Icky she shouldn't have done something like this. Marcy jumps on him for "complaining" to Icky when it's his fault for destroying her life by leaving her. He hisses at her that it still doesn't justify what Vicky did to herself.
Back at the boarding house meanwhile, Eva and Ali kid around about Eva's fairy-tail love life. Ali wonders what Eva will do about her job. Eva figures she'll have to resign because of the shame when Don Julio and the others find out the truth. Ali says she'd be better off worrying about Victoria's reaction than Don Julio’s. Eva feels guilty about destroying Icky's life this way.
Back in Vicky's hospital room, the whimper act continues. Dan tells Icky he never thought she'd do something like this. Vicky tells her mama to leave the two of them alone. Marcy exits. Icky begs him to spend the night with her there, “even if just for compassion's sake”, like he did that time with that stranger. Dan is not in the mood, but Marcy’s guilt-trip has begun to work on him and he’s too nice a guy to say no.
The next morning at the manse, Ren tells Don Julio about Icktoria's suicide attempt. Don Julio is madder than a hornet because nobody bothered to tell him immediately. He decides to go to the hospital.
In the kitchen at Dano's, Laurita wonders if Jackie managed to make Franc jealous. Jackie says it seems he could care less if she's got a boyfriend. In walks Franc and he's talking up a storm about his love conquest the night before. Franc gets carried away with his racy description of the night he had and Jackie tells him to cut it out. He accuses her of being envious of him and he continues with all the great places he's going to travel to after marrying money. He'll send postcards. (¡Ya, basta! Even I'm sick of listening to it.) FF>>
Eva comes in to check on D. J. and sees him dressed. He tells her he's going to the clinic to visit his daughter because she tried to kill herself the night before. Eva is drop-jaw impactada (natch). Ren comes in and says she'll take him. He tells her he's having Eva go with him instead. They leave Ren standing there. Sour-puss Ren is pissed as usual at Eva's always being preferred over her.
Back at the boarding house, Ali and Mari are discussing the fright they had over the owner returning unexpectedly like that. Mari wonders what Damian must have been thinking to loan her the penthouse the night the owner was due back. Ali suspects that he did it on purpose to wreck Mari's game with Franc once and for all. Mari then gets carried away telling Ali about all the kissing that went on. Ali thinks he's going to propose very soon. Mari says fine with her—and with all that money! "--About time a poor girl gets her turn."
Don Ricardo and Adrian have another chat about trying to convince his father to move back to the boarding house. Adrian hopes his daddy might have changed for the better. Don Ricky knows better but decides to spare the kid the truth. FF>>
Meanwhile, in the coffee shop at the hospital, Marcy pumps Claw for the truth about the argument between Dan and Icky. Claw falls into her trap and Marcy tells her she knows the truth, tho’ she at first thought it was only another one of their spats, and now she knows that Claw knew also.
At the boarding house, Tony is still trying to get into Alicia's ...er...tights. She reminds him nothing doin' till Carlos is out of jail. FF>>
Back in the hallway outside Vicky's room, Dan runs into D. Julio and Eva who are both just arriving and chatting with Leo. Dan and Eva share a guilty look when Julio asks Dan if he knows why his daughter would have done such a thing. Dano sidesteps an answer and tells Julio it would be best if he goes into cheer up Vicky ASAP. D. Julio says fine and leaves with Eva. Leo shoots dagger-eyes at Dan and walks off without a word. Marcy’s guilt-trip is taking its toll on him.
Out in the waiting area, Marcy tells Leo that Claw confirmed that the reason Icky tried to off herself was because Dano cancelled the wedding. Leo is pissed that Claw didn't tell him before. Marcy says not to gripe at Claw, the one who's responsible for all this is Dan and he can complain to him! She is going to give him a piece of her mind first, though, and she leaves. Leo grabs Claw by the arm and demands that Claw tell him everything she knows about this.
Vicky and Julio chat a bit, then she says hello to Eva. Eva says she hopes she gets better. Of course Icky doesn't miss a chance to claim Daniel again. "How could I not get better, especially since Dan spent the whole night here with me?" Marcy barges in and is surprised to see Julio up and around. Julio tells her that he won't forgive her for not letting him know last night about Icky but they’ll discuss that later. Marcy says he's right, but for now she'll let him chat with Icky. She really only came in to speak to Dan. Dan follows her out into the hallway. She shoos Eva out of the room also.
When Marcy gets Dan alone, she asks if he knows why she wants to talk to him. He has her methods down pat, though and won't give an inch. "--No, I have no idea. You always ask a question, investigate something, and then have something to complain about." She upbraids him for his impudence. "--That's out of place right now." He agrees that it probably is. She accuses him then of acting the innocent while he's the reason her daughter nearly killed herself. He insists he was just as surprised as Marcy was. "--Don't play dumb, Daniel! I know you broke off the wedding engagement!" He tries to say something but she interrupts. "--What? Didn't you think I'd eventually find out?" He explains that Icky wanted more time so that she could tell her herself, but he never dreamed she'd try something so crazy! Marcy goes off on him and asks how he thought a woman would act after being told scarcely a month before her wedding that it was off and that he really didn't love her? Who told you that you could leave her like that? (Guess she suspects some new babe he'd been two-timing Icky with had suggested it.) He explains he decided this himself. Well, she's got news for him! He's going to marry her daughter no matter what and whether he wants to or not!!! Dano hears this and his jaw is set; his eyes zero in on her.
Dano obviously doesn't know he's dealing with a vengeful homicidal maniac here. Will Dano give in to Mad Marcy's threats? Will he stay true to Eva? Will Eva understand? What will Ick-toria and Marcy do when they find out Eva's the new competition? Stay tuned.
Labels: eva
Llena de Amor #91 (Mex. 96) Mon 12/20/10 Oliver and Gretel in each other’s arms, kissing! Oh, yeah, and some other stuff happens.
Where we left off Friday: MariVicky is stuck being the artistic rep for Mauricio’s fundraiser project. Mauricio invites her to dinner and she refuses, saying she has a date, and adding that she didn’t give her permission to call her “tu.” He says he’ll call her “tu” if he wants and in addition he calls her “preciosa” and tells her to break the date and be at his place at 9:00. He makes kissy lips at her. Ewww, I need a shower. Or better yet, sheep dip.
So here we go: Axel was apologizing to Netty Friday and now she graciously accepts his apology. He wants to know where Mari is and if he can get in touch with her to apologize to her too. Netty tells him she was so wounded she blew town, and sorry to be blunt, but it was his mother who made her life hell. Netty fills him in on the Paris/husband story, and says apparently Mari wants to forget everything and all of them.
Oliver has been sent by Brandon to pick up Manolo at the magazine office. He’s embarrassed, and drops comments about Mano not being manly enough to take on the city alone. Mano takes him by the arm, creeping him out, and suggests they go knock back a few shots like manly men, then suggests someplace with great ambiance. Oliver says it better not be a gay club.
Doris has turned Andre into The Man with the Dragon Tatoo to the applause from Eman and MariVicky and others. Doris is hired on permanently! Andre’s girlfriend whose name I can’t remember is a bit nervous about Doris getting so much attention, and figures she better come to work with him because of all the hot babes who work there. MariVicky says her she’s being inappropriate and tells her to wait outside. Time to film the commercial!
Oh, yay, we’re at the Mala Noche! That’s always interesting. Mano has brought Oliver, who’s plenty relieved it’s not a gay bar. Mano tells him he can see the best ever, La Reina.
Axel comes home and finds Delicia scrubbing while being watched by Nereida. He asks her why she’s working so late, and why is she so glum? Nereida explains that she’s paying for her mistakes, and if he knew who Delicia really was, he wouldn’t feel sorry for her. She caught her in the sack with Bernardo! Delicia, true to time-honored telenovela tradition, doesn’t defend herself, but just glares.
Oliver hopes La Reina has an hour-glass figure and lovely longggg legs. Mano jabs him for being so low-class. Oliver orders up some more shots of tequila, saying that the best way to make friends is to get drunk together. Mano thinks that’s not such a red-hot idea. Is he drinking to forget a woman maybe? Oliver tells him to back off; a good friend knows where not to go. Mano says maybe he could help him find that woman, but no thanks, Oliver doesn’t want to find that ingrate.
Axel doesn’t believe Nereida. She says yeah, she and Bernardo are an item, but she found Delicia in bed with him. Delicia is tearful and says Bernardo came to her room and forced himself on her. Nerieda then claims Delicia’s always after high-class men and Axel stupidly buys into this, saying he thought she was different. This from a guy who just a few days ago dragged a girlfriend he couldn’t stand to his bedroom and afterwards threw cash at her. Our lovely Delicia weeps, making viewerdom reach for their pitchforks and torches. That fuzzy head would look real good on a pike right about now.
Back to the Mala Noche where Oliver, loosened by tequila, suddenly gushes forth with his story – he fell in love with a woman, she was his everything, the best thing that ever happened in his life and he gave up everything for her, career, university, everything, and for what? He gets tearful. I’ll never forget that day – her eyes, how she looked at me and told me that I was just a pastime for her. Mano surreptitiously brushes away a tear. Oliver rants on about how she was a rich girl who just liked to play with guys to aggravate her mother. He doesn’t want to see her ever again.
Andre with his tattoo is striking odd poses in front of a huge Komodor vodka sign that dwarfs him, and they’re shooting the commercial. OMG this is a complete hoot, it’s so horrible. I hope MariVicky wasn’t the art director on this one.
Without having even looked at the footage, they all toast the splendid production which of course only included a giant sign and a guy with a dragon painted on his torso, all shot under glaringly bright lights. Eman congratulates MariVicky (horrors – was this her creative work?) and goes to hug her, but she holds up a hand to distance him. Eman steps back and says despite their differences, he thinks they’ll make a great team. With a blank face that says “big whoop” she says she’s glad to work for the company and offers him her hand to shake. The others try to revive the mood by toasting again with their multi-colored drinks which must be different kinds of martinis made with Komodor vodka.
Mano tries to talk Oliver into not having any more shots, but instead he pours one down him/her. He’s staying until they see La Reina, sez he, all sloshed. How soon until Mano’s wig comes off in some drunken tussle? Let’s see if that happens….
La Reina is there, luckily enough, though not yet in costume. She comments to Bernardo that there’s that policeman who kidnapped her daughter.
Eman suggests they all out to go out to celebrate and boy, do the gals throw ice on that idea. MariVicky says she has a date, and Doris, risking hr new job, says it’s one thing for her to work there, but it’s another to assume they can be friends after all the hurt he caused Marianela. He tells her it’s not true, and he’s gone through a lot because of it. Alone, Mari asks gone through what? but he says he doesn’t want to talk about it.
This is a surprising turn of events: Fedra in her regular clothes and Bernardo have come over to Oliver and Mano’s table and she’s telling him to leave. Oliver refuses and wonders what a supposedly high-society lady is doing in a club like this. Does she maybe own it?
Bernardo grabs him by the lapels and tells him to watch his mouth. Fedra recognizes Mano as the journalist and grabs her/him close to get a look. Mano insists he’s not there on a story, just to hang out with his friend. Fedra says he better not be writing about her, then she turns her attention on Oliver and says he wasn’t man enough to keep Gretel, that’s he a big loser, and if he’d tried to stay with Gretel he’d be six feet under right now. You’re the one who should be dead, says Oliver, pulling a gun and directing it at Fedra while Mano freaks out.
After the ads, all of which looked like Pulitzer material after that Komodor shoot, we lose the captions. Andre asks Doris if he can take her home, but Doris reminds him his girlfriend is waiting outside. He says they’re not serious, and he keeps coming on her to her. She waves him off, but he tries to kiss her. She slides away, saying she likes serious guys, not skirt-chasers. She leaves and Andre has struck out. He smiles, though.
Back to La Mala Noche, where Mano manages to push Oliver’s gun-holding hand upward. Oliver hands him/her the gun, and challenges Bernardo to a fistfight. Fedra and Bernardo just watch him, then Bernardo pulls his own gun on him. Oliver takes his from Mano and they’re pistol point to pistol point. Oddly, the patrons in the background don’t seem concerned.
Mauricio in his digs has even spread rose petals over his bed and is thoughtbubbling how he’s going to get what he’s wanted since he laid eyes on MariVicky and she’s going to weep with pleasure. Indeed, we see some strappy high heels coming in to his room, and long legs, then the camera pans up and we see it’s Kristel who furiously demands who he’s waiting for.
In a nice restaurant, Ilitia is telling Eman how perfect everything’s going to be, but he’s distracted. She wants this night to be perfect! They kiss a little and just then Mari and Brandon walk in and neither like what they see.
This is a hoot: Bernardo and Oliver are still threatening each other with guns, Oliver taunting him to shoot, but in the background, the patrons order drinks, and the men behind the bar carry on as if nothing is happening. Right behind Oliver and Mano, directly in the line of fire, are a frightened couple who watch wide-eyed and cling to one another, but don’t have the sense to step away and make a run for it. Finally some employee in pirate costume comes over and throws Oliver and Mano out.
Back to the restaurant…. Good evening, says Brandon. Ilitia is horrified to see MariVicky and Brandon there. Eman tries to defuse things by saying they all have the good taste, but MariVicky says what they all have is bad luck. Ilitia throws a few barbs about how expensive the place is, have they seen the prices? but Eman tries to be gracious and asks them to join them. MariVicky says Ilitia’s barbs would put her off her feed. More of the same, but you get this gist. MariVicky and Brandon end up at a table not far from Eman’s.
Kristel keeps up her fit, but Mauricio manages to get a word in edgewise, telling her all this, the rose pedals, the candles, the wine, was for her. She melts and says how romantic and pulls him down onto the bed. She covers him with smooches while he throughtbubbles that if Vicky shows up, he’s a dead man.
No fear of that though, because we’re back at the restaurant watching Brandon and her toast, and Eman and Ilitia are watching too. The four eye each other and drink their wine. Eman thoughtbubbles that MariVicky looks more beautiful than ever. Ilitia suddenly decides he and she ought to leave and go dancing.
Eman sends the waiter over with a bottle of champagne for MariVicky and Brandon, who takes it as an insult, that Eman is trying to suggest he can’t afford to buy champagne his date. Brandon is ready to take the bottle and crack Eman over the head with it.
Delicia shows up in Axel’s room to try to explain. She’s distressed that he might have a bad opinion of her and sure enough he does. He tells her he thought she was all pure and innocent, but she really disappointed him - maybe she was interested in his money. She tearfully denies it, saying she’s never had money, so she doesn’t care about it. She tries to tell him what really happened, but he, also following the strict rules laid out by the Telenovela Handbook of Cliches, cuts her off and tells her to get out. She begs him not to do this to her, but he takes her by the arm and chucks her out. When she’s gone, he leans on the door and agonizes a bit, but sorry, no pity here. Cry all you want, dude, nobody cares.
Now Brandon and MariVicky are standing by Eman’s table, Eman trying to convince Brandon that the champagne was just a thank-you to Mari for her work. Mari coldly says it wasn’t anything special (you got that right, sister!) and she was just doing her job, so she doesn’t need any gifts.
Mano has brought stinking drunk Oliver home. Oliver is amazed he was in place like that and then actually got thrown out. Mano is amazed Bernardo didn’t shoot him, and Oliver wonders how Mano knows Bernardo’s name. Mano weasels out of that, and tries to put Oliver on the bed, but of course they both fall on it, Oliver on top of him/her. Oliver flails a little bit, knocking off Mano’s glasses and moustache, and it looks like Mano’s wig is a bit askew, but he (Oliver) falls asleep.
Ilitia strokes Eman’s face, telling him that she’s here, look at her. He tells her that’s she’s been different since their wedding day, kinda cold and distant. Is there something he should know? She says no.. well, yes. It’s just that she’s afraid of letting him down, of not making him happy. He tells her that she’s always been a champ in the female department. She asks him to just be patient, that she needs him more than ever.
They kiss and MariVicki thoughtbubbles that Eman has always loved Ilitia, that he was a big fake, all of which makes her grip her wineglass so hard it explodes. Brandon wonders if she has feelings for Eman, but Mari swears she hates him. Brandon’s not buying, he says her eyes say Eman has hurt her badly. She decides to go to the bathroom to wash the blood off her hand. Eman suddenly decides he needs to go too. That leaves Ilitia and Brandon peeking at each other.
Mano thoughtbubbles that Oliver needs to get off, then, because let’s face it, Oliver isn’t a giant guy, she easy shoves him off her. The wig is off, though she still has the sideburns, and she cuddles him and thinks how he’s so near yet so far away. She wishes she could kiss him, just once! How she desires him!
By the ladies’ room, MariVicky leans against the wall and tearfully realizes she still loves Eman. She’s got to rip him out of her heart, root and branch. Just then he comes up and insists on knowing why she’s crying.
Back in the darkened bedroom, somehow Gretel’s sideburns have disappeared and she’s giving Oliver tiny kisses, thoughtbubbling (out loud!) how her passion is stronger than she is and how it’s been so hard being so close to him but not being able to touch him. Oliver awakes and thinks maybe it’s a dream, he’s in paradise. Is that you, Gretel? It is, she says, come to be with you. She kisses him passionately. Hot stuff!
While the other two are on bathroom break, Brandon has approached Ilitia’s table so she can insult him at close range. Why, she always thought guys like him took their dates to taco joints. Etc. Besides, look out for that Vicky! He sits down and says maybe she’s jealous. Certainly not of him, she laughs. He says of Eman, who goes after all the girls while she messes around with him and also Mauricio. Oops, he’s taken it too far. She’s furious and tells him to pipe down. What’s wrong? he says. Don’t you want the people to find out what kind of woman you are, playing around with Mauricio types on your wedding day? She throws wine in his face.
Eman isn’t having any better luck. Mari has swatted him away sharply and asks how many times she’s told him not to touch her. He tells her he just was concerned because she’s crying, so she tells him to butt out of her business. He asks why she wants to fight all the time.
Brandon and Ilitia both show up and want to know why Eman and Mari are talking in private. Eman in turn wants to know why Brandon has wine all over his face.
What a sweet, steamy scene – Gretel kissing Oscar tenderly and telling him she loves him, and him pulling her close and saying if it’s a dream, don’t let him wake up. Love me, if it’s only for tonight, he says. Is it really you?
Brandon thinks maybe he and MariVicky better leave. Everyone except Eman tosses barbs, but it’s getting a bit wearing, so I’ll just skip over them. The upshot is that Mari suddenly gets an asthma attack from all the emotion and Brandon hustles her out. After they’re gone, Ilitia demands to know what Eman is doing with Mari.
Avances: Ilitia tries to kiss Eman, but Mauricio flashes in her mind, and she has to shove him off. Finally she tells him somebody raped her. He wants to know who. And, in a plot turn that defies all credibility, Mari actually goes to Mauricio’s place and it looks like he’s going to try to rape her too.
So here we go: Axel was apologizing to Netty Friday and now she graciously accepts his apology. He wants to know where Mari is and if he can get in touch with her to apologize to her too. Netty tells him she was so wounded she blew town, and sorry to be blunt, but it was his mother who made her life hell. Netty fills him in on the Paris/husband story, and says apparently Mari wants to forget everything and all of them.
Oliver has been sent by Brandon to pick up Manolo at the magazine office. He’s embarrassed, and drops comments about Mano not being manly enough to take on the city alone. Mano takes him by the arm, creeping him out, and suggests they go knock back a few shots like manly men, then suggests someplace with great ambiance. Oliver says it better not be a gay club.
Doris has turned Andre into The Man with the Dragon Tatoo to the applause from Eman and MariVicky and others. Doris is hired on permanently! Andre’s girlfriend whose name I can’t remember is a bit nervous about Doris getting so much attention, and figures she better come to work with him because of all the hot babes who work there. MariVicky says her she’s being inappropriate and tells her to wait outside. Time to film the commercial!
Oh, yay, we’re at the Mala Noche! That’s always interesting. Mano has brought Oliver, who’s plenty relieved it’s not a gay bar. Mano tells him he can see the best ever, La Reina.
Axel comes home and finds Delicia scrubbing while being watched by Nereida. He asks her why she’s working so late, and why is she so glum? Nereida explains that she’s paying for her mistakes, and if he knew who Delicia really was, he wouldn’t feel sorry for her. She caught her in the sack with Bernardo! Delicia, true to time-honored telenovela tradition, doesn’t defend herself, but just glares.
Oliver hopes La Reina has an hour-glass figure and lovely longggg legs. Mano jabs him for being so low-class. Oliver orders up some more shots of tequila, saying that the best way to make friends is to get drunk together. Mano thinks that’s not such a red-hot idea. Is he drinking to forget a woman maybe? Oliver tells him to back off; a good friend knows where not to go. Mano says maybe he could help him find that woman, but no thanks, Oliver doesn’t want to find that ingrate.
Axel doesn’t believe Nereida. She says yeah, she and Bernardo are an item, but she found Delicia in bed with him. Delicia is tearful and says Bernardo came to her room and forced himself on her. Nerieda then claims Delicia’s always after high-class men and Axel stupidly buys into this, saying he thought she was different. This from a guy who just a few days ago dragged a girlfriend he couldn’t stand to his bedroom and afterwards threw cash at her. Our lovely Delicia weeps, making viewerdom reach for their pitchforks and torches. That fuzzy head would look real good on a pike right about now.
Back to the Mala Noche where Oliver, loosened by tequila, suddenly gushes forth with his story – he fell in love with a woman, she was his everything, the best thing that ever happened in his life and he gave up everything for her, career, university, everything, and for what? He gets tearful. I’ll never forget that day – her eyes, how she looked at me and told me that I was just a pastime for her. Mano surreptitiously brushes away a tear. Oliver rants on about how she was a rich girl who just liked to play with guys to aggravate her mother. He doesn’t want to see her ever again.
Andre with his tattoo is striking odd poses in front of a huge Komodor vodka sign that dwarfs him, and they’re shooting the commercial. OMG this is a complete hoot, it’s so horrible. I hope MariVicky wasn’t the art director on this one.
Without having even looked at the footage, they all toast the splendid production which of course only included a giant sign and a guy with a dragon painted on his torso, all shot under glaringly bright lights. Eman congratulates MariVicky (horrors – was this her creative work?) and goes to hug her, but she holds up a hand to distance him. Eman steps back and says despite their differences, he thinks they’ll make a great team. With a blank face that says “big whoop” she says she’s glad to work for the company and offers him her hand to shake. The others try to revive the mood by toasting again with their multi-colored drinks which must be different kinds of martinis made with Komodor vodka.
Mano tries to talk Oliver into not having any more shots, but instead he pours one down him/her. He’s staying until they see La Reina, sez he, all sloshed. How soon until Mano’s wig comes off in some drunken tussle? Let’s see if that happens….
La Reina is there, luckily enough, though not yet in costume. She comments to Bernardo that there’s that policeman who kidnapped her daughter.
Eman suggests they all out to go out to celebrate and boy, do the gals throw ice on that idea. MariVicky says she has a date, and Doris, risking hr new job, says it’s one thing for her to work there, but it’s another to assume they can be friends after all the hurt he caused Marianela. He tells her it’s not true, and he’s gone through a lot because of it. Alone, Mari asks gone through what? but he says he doesn’t want to talk about it.
This is a surprising turn of events: Fedra in her regular clothes and Bernardo have come over to Oliver and Mano’s table and she’s telling him to leave. Oliver refuses and wonders what a supposedly high-society lady is doing in a club like this. Does she maybe own it?
Bernardo grabs him by the lapels and tells him to watch his mouth. Fedra recognizes Mano as the journalist and grabs her/him close to get a look. Mano insists he’s not there on a story, just to hang out with his friend. Fedra says he better not be writing about her, then she turns her attention on Oliver and says he wasn’t man enough to keep Gretel, that’s he a big loser, and if he’d tried to stay with Gretel he’d be six feet under right now. You’re the one who should be dead, says Oliver, pulling a gun and directing it at Fedra while Mano freaks out.
After the ads, all of which looked like Pulitzer material after that Komodor shoot, we lose the captions. Andre asks Doris if he can take her home, but Doris reminds him his girlfriend is waiting outside. He says they’re not serious, and he keeps coming on her to her. She waves him off, but he tries to kiss her. She slides away, saying she likes serious guys, not skirt-chasers. She leaves and Andre has struck out. He smiles, though.
Back to La Mala Noche, where Mano manages to push Oliver’s gun-holding hand upward. Oliver hands him/her the gun, and challenges Bernardo to a fistfight. Fedra and Bernardo just watch him, then Bernardo pulls his own gun on him. Oliver takes his from Mano and they’re pistol point to pistol point. Oddly, the patrons in the background don’t seem concerned.
Mauricio in his digs has even spread rose petals over his bed and is thoughtbubbling how he’s going to get what he’s wanted since he laid eyes on MariVicky and she’s going to weep with pleasure. Indeed, we see some strappy high heels coming in to his room, and long legs, then the camera pans up and we see it’s Kristel who furiously demands who he’s waiting for.
In a nice restaurant, Ilitia is telling Eman how perfect everything’s going to be, but he’s distracted. She wants this night to be perfect! They kiss a little and just then Mari and Brandon walk in and neither like what they see.
This is a hoot: Bernardo and Oliver are still threatening each other with guns, Oliver taunting him to shoot, but in the background, the patrons order drinks, and the men behind the bar carry on as if nothing is happening. Right behind Oliver and Mano, directly in the line of fire, are a frightened couple who watch wide-eyed and cling to one another, but don’t have the sense to step away and make a run for it. Finally some employee in pirate costume comes over and throws Oliver and Mano out.
Back to the restaurant…. Good evening, says Brandon. Ilitia is horrified to see MariVicky and Brandon there. Eman tries to defuse things by saying they all have the good taste, but MariVicky says what they all have is bad luck. Ilitia throws a few barbs about how expensive the place is, have they seen the prices? but Eman tries to be gracious and asks them to join them. MariVicky says Ilitia’s barbs would put her off her feed. More of the same, but you get this gist. MariVicky and Brandon end up at a table not far from Eman’s.
Kristel keeps up her fit, but Mauricio manages to get a word in edgewise, telling her all this, the rose pedals, the candles, the wine, was for her. She melts and says how romantic and pulls him down onto the bed. She covers him with smooches while he throughtbubbles that if Vicky shows up, he’s a dead man.
No fear of that though, because we’re back at the restaurant watching Brandon and her toast, and Eman and Ilitia are watching too. The four eye each other and drink their wine. Eman thoughtbubbles that MariVicky looks more beautiful than ever. Ilitia suddenly decides he and she ought to leave and go dancing.
Eman sends the waiter over with a bottle of champagne for MariVicky and Brandon, who takes it as an insult, that Eman is trying to suggest he can’t afford to buy champagne his date. Brandon is ready to take the bottle and crack Eman over the head with it.
Delicia shows up in Axel’s room to try to explain. She’s distressed that he might have a bad opinion of her and sure enough he does. He tells her he thought she was all pure and innocent, but she really disappointed him - maybe she was interested in his money. She tearfully denies it, saying she’s never had money, so she doesn’t care about it. She tries to tell him what really happened, but he, also following the strict rules laid out by the Telenovela Handbook of Cliches, cuts her off and tells her to get out. She begs him not to do this to her, but he takes her by the arm and chucks her out. When she’s gone, he leans on the door and agonizes a bit, but sorry, no pity here. Cry all you want, dude, nobody cares.
Now Brandon and MariVicky are standing by Eman’s table, Eman trying to convince Brandon that the champagne was just a thank-you to Mari for her work. Mari coldly says it wasn’t anything special (you got that right, sister!) and she was just doing her job, so she doesn’t need any gifts.
Mano has brought stinking drunk Oliver home. Oliver is amazed he was in place like that and then actually got thrown out. Mano is amazed Bernardo didn’t shoot him, and Oliver wonders how Mano knows Bernardo’s name. Mano weasels out of that, and tries to put Oliver on the bed, but of course they both fall on it, Oliver on top of him/her. Oliver flails a little bit, knocking off Mano’s glasses and moustache, and it looks like Mano’s wig is a bit askew, but he (Oliver) falls asleep.
Ilitia strokes Eman’s face, telling him that she’s here, look at her. He tells her that’s she’s been different since their wedding day, kinda cold and distant. Is there something he should know? She says no.. well, yes. It’s just that she’s afraid of letting him down, of not making him happy. He tells her that she’s always been a champ in the female department. She asks him to just be patient, that she needs him more than ever.
They kiss and MariVicki thoughtbubbles that Eman has always loved Ilitia, that he was a big fake, all of which makes her grip her wineglass so hard it explodes. Brandon wonders if she has feelings for Eman, but Mari swears she hates him. Brandon’s not buying, he says her eyes say Eman has hurt her badly. She decides to go to the bathroom to wash the blood off her hand. Eman suddenly decides he needs to go too. That leaves Ilitia and Brandon peeking at each other.
Mano thoughtbubbles that Oliver needs to get off, then, because let’s face it, Oliver isn’t a giant guy, she easy shoves him off her. The wig is off, though she still has the sideburns, and she cuddles him and thinks how he’s so near yet so far away. She wishes she could kiss him, just once! How she desires him!
By the ladies’ room, MariVicky leans against the wall and tearfully realizes she still loves Eman. She’s got to rip him out of her heart, root and branch. Just then he comes up and insists on knowing why she’s crying.
Back in the darkened bedroom, somehow Gretel’s sideburns have disappeared and she’s giving Oliver tiny kisses, thoughtbubbling (out loud!) how her passion is stronger than she is and how it’s been so hard being so close to him but not being able to touch him. Oliver awakes and thinks maybe it’s a dream, he’s in paradise. Is that you, Gretel? It is, she says, come to be with you. She kisses him passionately. Hot stuff!
While the other two are on bathroom break, Brandon has approached Ilitia’s table so she can insult him at close range. Why, she always thought guys like him took their dates to taco joints. Etc. Besides, look out for that Vicky! He sits down and says maybe she’s jealous. Certainly not of him, she laughs. He says of Eman, who goes after all the girls while she messes around with him and also Mauricio. Oops, he’s taken it too far. She’s furious and tells him to pipe down. What’s wrong? he says. Don’t you want the people to find out what kind of woman you are, playing around with Mauricio types on your wedding day? She throws wine in his face.
Eman isn’t having any better luck. Mari has swatted him away sharply and asks how many times she’s told him not to touch her. He tells her he just was concerned because she’s crying, so she tells him to butt out of her business. He asks why she wants to fight all the time.
Brandon and Ilitia both show up and want to know why Eman and Mari are talking in private. Eman in turn wants to know why Brandon has wine all over his face.
What a sweet, steamy scene – Gretel kissing Oscar tenderly and telling him she loves him, and him pulling her close and saying if it’s a dream, don’t let him wake up. Love me, if it’s only for tonight, he says. Is it really you?
Brandon thinks maybe he and MariVicky better leave. Everyone except Eman tosses barbs, but it’s getting a bit wearing, so I’ll just skip over them. The upshot is that Mari suddenly gets an asthma attack from all the emotion and Brandon hustles her out. After they’re gone, Ilitia demands to know what Eman is doing with Mari.
Avances: Ilitia tries to kiss Eman, but Mauricio flashes in her mind, and she has to shove him off. Finally she tells him somebody raped her. He wants to know who. And, in a plot turn that defies all credibility, Mari actually goes to Mauricio’s place and it looks like he’s going to try to rape her too.
Labels: llena
La Verdad Oculta #069: A still-hidden truth
Santiago visits Leonardo at home, where they chuckle over his junior detective ratting out Santiago's white lie; and Leonardo assures him he'll square it with Paula. They are just discussing who perpetrated the shoot out and who the marks were when the bell rings, and it's Juan José interested in the same topic.
Leonardo reports his plans to question a prison inmate from Adolfo's organization about the two dead goons. Speaking of goons, at Garnica's he's drawn one of his out of hiding to protect him while he accomplishes a couple little jobs for Garnica. He wants the goon to follow Susana with the object of offing her.
An angry and desperate Adolfo bursts into Roberto's condo to rough him up over not receiving the shoes and photo yet. Impressed and chastised Roberto phones Susana at Mario's immediately urging her for the items, with news Adolfo will fork over additional cash. Susana blows him off claiming she'll call him tomorrow.
Then she makes an excuse to the cook to exit with her bag of blackmail goodies and snags a taxi, with Garnica's goon already tailing her. Up in Adolfo's condo, Yolanda's taking a powder room break when he arrives in a huff, and she then eavesdrops on a call from Pablo reporting the surprising death of Félix.
She overhears Adolfo's horror that his right hand man is dead! Startling him, she insists it matters to her who is dead, who he had killed. There were two dead: who is the other, she demands. Adolfo shouts at her to shut up as he exits, while she screams -- Did he have Mario killed?
Across town, a manager lets Susana into her new apartment, with no luggage other than her shopping bag. At Santiago's, Juan José returned with him and agrees to take Gabriela to the hospital next day. He explains the objects of the shoot out as himself and Leonardo, with David taking stray bullets while protecting her.
Next day, Ramón phones Leonardo at home with bad news that Adolfo's inmate, Pedro Cordero, was found murdered in his cell, convincing Leonardo of a link between him and Félix. He intends to investigate the murder through the warden, and Ramón reports Pedro was a friend of Marcos and thus connected to the jewels.
Alejandra sadly greets Gabriela and Juan José at the ICU waiting room with word only that David is stable, nothing more. When Gabriela exits to check, Alejandra hassles Juan José for being cozy with Gabriela, which he denies; and when he begs forgiveness again, Alejandra plays hard to get, tongue in cheek.
In his ICU, David lies still as death while a crushed Gabriela gazes from the window separating them, palm on the glass in a gesture to touch him. At Mario's, Abelardo is surprised to hear from the cook that Susana hasn't shown; then he tries to dissuade Santiago from taking Adolfo's visit, to no avail.
In Mario's office, Adolfo notes the odd darkness and launches into a tale meant to deny David's accusations of the other day, still blaming either Mario or Santiago for Márta's murder. He has no luck interesting "Mario" in blaming Santiago, who put them in contact with Leonardo -- looking for evidence against Adolfo.
"Mario" claims he could present the crime-scene evidence or testify about Adolfo's blackmail and larceny; but essentially a peaceful man, he'll let that slide -- when Adolfo signs the end contract! His attitude is not adding up for Adolfo, though; and he doubts "Mario" has evidence, until "Mario" dials Leonardo's number.
Adolfo must angrily take the bluff and grab the phone, remarking how much "Mario" has changed. Satisfied "Mario" agrees he's done with submission, reminding Adolfo that "he with the most fear loses." "Mario" notes Leonardo linking Márta and Gabriela both as unwitting mules for jewel smuggling.
When "Mario" won't agree to give up the purported dressing-room evidence before a signed contract -- and points out they have extra security now to make sure he doesn't die before that happens, Adolfo is relegated to angrily sweeping the desk corner clean and exiting in failure.
The moment Abelardo enters, Santiago jumps to his feet, furious David neglected to report he'd braced Adolfo about the cuff link. Beyond in the hallway, Bertha greets Adolfo and pulls him out to the patio, where she lies that David begged her to come home; but her uncle still treats her shabbily and she's disgusted.
Adolfo explains he's not angry she left the hotel without a word, and that he'll stand by her -- but she must level with him in return. Back inside, now Yolanda urgently visits "Mario," frantic that David was hurt, and reminds "Mario" of her previous warning. She frantically wishes she could turn Adolfo in, but she can't.
Yolanda insists she's protecting Carlos, which "Mario" shoots down, claiming the son is as bad as the father. They're both murderers! Back on the patio, Adolfo explains that Carlos moved out of the house -- and he tentatively offers Bertha to move into the vacancy, to live at the house just as friends; and Bertha agrees.
In the office, "Mario" pressures Yolanda more on her defense of Adolfo, angrily including her complicity in implicating Santiago. If she's not as bad as Adolfo, then what to do with him is she hiding? Yolanda rushes from the room, sobbing that what she's hiding is awful -- unspeakable!
At Juan José's Mirador office, he meets with Garnica, agreeing to invest in the beach project, where they will visit at the weekend. Back at Mario's, Abelardo presses Santiago to visit his "son" at the hospital; but Santiago's nervous about the light-filled location revealing his disguise.
Then Santiago confesses he's mystified at Yolanda's curious exit, that she is hiding something to do with Adolfo that apparently is personal and not about money. Before their departure for the hospital, Bertha catches "Mario" and infuriates him by slamming that faker, Gabriela, for souring her on visiting David.
"Mario" is so angry he nearly sweeps off his feet but for Abelardo's arm clamped around his chest. His objection is all it takes for Bertha to call him a crazy old coot and shout that she's leaving again. Meanwhile, Susana phones Adolfo, cutting out Roberto, and extorts $2-1/2 million pesos for the lot.
She hangs up on Adolfo, whereupon Yolanda enters, saying she hasn't located Carlos yet. This prompts Adolfo to fill her in on Bertha's arrival, and she delights in razzing him that he's thrice Bertha's age. Affronted Adolfo warns Yolanda not to go too far -- that she well knows why he puts up with her!
At the hospital, Alejandra explains to "Mario" that David's spinal injury may leave him paralyzed -- or just as well not. It could go either way. In Mauricio's office, Garnica surprises him revealing Juan José as an investor; but he's grateful to have the project on track.
Later, Elsa greets Mauricio with a kiss and is excited they're traveling to the beach as planned -- a little mystified Juan José is investing, but insisting it makes no difference to her. With a sweet touch to his cheek, Elsa assures Mauricio warmly not to worry. They're going to have a business trip.
In Michoacán at Jorge's store, the fateful headlines of the day's newspaper from the D.F. finally make it under Dora's nose, and Jorge must hustle to keep her from fainting dead away into the floor. Meanwhile in the ICU, David begins convulsing while Gabriela watches in horror; and his monitor is screaming he's coding.
The doctor rushes in with a crash cart and begins defibrillating David's chest; but the bedside monitor screams a flatline unabated -- right through the end credits! Instead of the theme song!
Labels: verdad
Monday, December 20, 2010
La Fea Más Bella #135-136 12/20/10 Tonight, Tonight won’t be just any night.
Capitulo 135.
Read Amanda’s original recap, then come back here to discuss it.
Do you remember the “Tonight Quintet” from West Side Story? If not, but sure to look at the clip. The Jets, the Sharks, Anita, Tony, and Maria each had different hopes and dreams for the same night. Today’s cap’s have their own version of the Tonight Quintet, Region 4.
1. Fernando explains to Rocío that Alicia refused to listen to sense, and now she has to learn the hard way. He’s actually describing himself too.
2. Saimon tries to comfort Ali, but she throws a fit because he dared to hug her. He says after her, “After all I did to help you? Que mala compañera eres.”
3. Fernando reminds Lety that the Yuri event is tonight. They’ll make an appearance there, and then they’ll go somewhere alone. She wipes off his kisses, reviews how his behavior lines up with the letter, and goes home for lunch. Tom tells her she should give Fernando what he deserves, but she doesn’t know how. Fernando tells Omar he doesn’t want to continue deceiving Lety.
4. Lola is falling apart because the lawyer said Efren might take 50% of her house. In the baño Paula suggests that Lola get a boyfriend to boost her ego and to show Efren her worth. She says nothing makes a man madder than to see his ex happy with someone else. In that, Lety finds her course of action.
5. Lety remembers that Fernando promised he wouldn’t tell Omar about them, and in the letter Omar told Fern to not take Lety to his apartment anymore. She is humiliated because Omar knows every detail of her intimacy, so she torments Fern, asking to go to Omar’s tonight. Zinger! He would’ve preferred his house but his back’s to the wall so he agrees. Besides, he says their night at Omar’s was very special, like no other night he spent with anyone else.
6. Lety has another revenge fantasy. Fernando compliments her looks, and she grabs him by the necktie and says, “This is the same face you and Omar mock. No more lies!”
Tonight, Tonight. Fernando sees that Lety wants to be intimate with him tonight, and that’s a change for the better. But she seems so cold and distant. He determines, “Tonight I will be entirely sincere / honest with Lety. I will show her how much I feel for her. And I will not lie to her.”
Tonight, Tonight. Saimon tries to arrange a serenade for Paula, one he can afford. He’s excited because she’ll love it. Paula thinks he’s arranging to see another woman.
Tonight, Tonight. Alicia uses Marcia’s insecurity to get what she wants, use of Marcia’s car and invitation for the Yuri event tonight. She prays, “God, tonight let me win a rich novio, but most of all, that I meet the man who will rescue me from this Hell. I need him now more than ever.”
Tonight, Tonight. Lety develops her plan for tonight. In The Letter, she sees Fernando’s Achilles’ heel, his fear that Tomás will manipulate Lety and take the company. She says, “Let’s see just how jealous you are, Don Fernando!” She tells Tom to dress well and present himself at the event as her beloved novio.
Tonight, Tonight. Tom says that tonight he finally meets that desgraciado, Don Fernando, face to face. He’ll let him have it, square between the eyes.
Tonight, Tonight. The witches find Alicia’s invitation. Celso wants to return it to her, but Sara tears it up. “Now let’s see how you get in the event.”
In his car, Lety remembers the early days of the betrayal, and she starts to cry. Fernando asks her what’s wrong. See the transcript.
Capitulo 136.
Read Amanda’s original recap, then come back here to discuss it.
1. Fernando is excited to meet Yuri. He fusses over her and forgets Lety, but when Lety fusses over Yuri, Fern gets embarrassed and pushes her aside. Lety jokes with Yuri, Fernando has to enjoy his last night of freedom because Marcia gets back tomorrow and the party’s over.
2. Lety retrieves Fern’s cell because Marcia will kill him if he doesn’t answer her calls. Lety says, “We don’t want a dead president, at least not tonight. Maybe tomorrow. Har, har.” Fernando follows Yuri because he’s excited to see the dancers, and he behaves just like in the old days.
3. Paula is mad because she thinks Saimon’s meeting another woman tonight. Saimon is excited that she’s jealous. Alicia can’t enter the event because she lost her ticket, so she leeches onto two guys and they take her in, but they ditch her quickly.
4. Lety sees Fernando is flirting with the dancers, and talk turns to the wedding. Luigi says it’s better that he marries and only makes one woman suffer (as Lety suffers). Luigi mocks Lety and the dancers join in, but Fernando barely protests. Finally Yuri stops them and sneers at Fern. Lety excuses herself and tells Fern to continue in his paradise, plucking the blossoms.
5. Lety privately asks Yuri to arrange to let Tom in the event. Three times, Fernando asks Yuri what Lety said. Tom arrives and he looks great. Lety orders him not to flirt since he’s supposed to be her novio, and Alicia is here. Tom hyperventilates.
6. Cute scene. Fernando spots Alicia and orders her to collect the dancers’ names and numbers so he can hire them for the Cannes event. He emphasizes that Ali is his secretary, despite her protests.
7. Lety tells Tom that his job tonight is to make Fernando jealous, the kind of jealousy that will really kill him, the financial kind.
8. Paula tells Lola that Efren dares try to take her house because she’s a doormat. She threatens but never follows through. Paula convinces her to confront him and Paula goes along.
9. Yuri introduces Fernando to Mijares. Fern says he’s looking for Lety, and Mijares asks who that is. Fern says she’s his assistant, he depends on her opinions, and she always helps him make the best decisions in his life (yes, friends, that is a foreshadow!).
10. Yuri says, “If I didn’t know you had a novia, I’d swear that Lety is the most important woman on earth to you.. because of the way you look at her.” Fern admits that she’s his friend and guardian angel. Yuri asks, “What are you to her?” He almost says, “Her novio,” but stops himself. Mijares says they seem like a couple. Yuri says he’s obviously in love with her.
Spanish Lesson. In the car.
As Lety gets in the car, she remembers a similar scene early in the deception when Fernando avoided her kiss, and she cries.
F: Lety, what’s wrong? It feels like you’re different (rara). Something’s bothering you. Tell me. What is it?
L: I’ve always been strange (rara). Or no?
F: No, you don’t have the same enthusiasm you usually have when we go out. I feel.. I feel.. Don’t you want to go out with me? Is that it? (Pleading.) Tell me. (Turns on the charm.)
L: Nothing. What could be going on regarding you? (Que me podría pasar con usted?)
F: (Worries that Lety knows about the engagement ring.) Nothing. Nothing. (Do you remember he promised himself to be honest with Lety tonight? That lasted about 10 minutes.) You should tell me. Maybe I did something to upset you and I didn’t realize it. I’ve been behaving lately. I haven’t flirted with anyone for some time. I was good with Rocío. I behaved. I didn’t even (?) so we didn’t have a repeat of what happened with Paty M.
L: That made me VERY jealous.
F: Yes, I was chatting with Paty, and I got angry at you. But I asked you to forgive me, remember?
L: Yes. It was.. unforgetable. Don’t worry. Lately you have acted very well.
F: Lety. Mi Lety. Do you know, you’re beautiful? (He tries to kiss her.)
L: No, we can’t kiss, Celso will see us.
F: I feel like this all happened before. In this same place. With Celso.
L: That was probably in a past life.
Read Amanda’s original recap, then come back here to discuss it.
Do you remember the “Tonight Quintet” from West Side Story? If not, but sure to look at the clip. The Jets, the Sharks, Anita, Tony, and Maria each had different hopes and dreams for the same night. Today’s cap’s have their own version of the Tonight Quintet, Region 4.
1. Fernando explains to Rocío that Alicia refused to listen to sense, and now she has to learn the hard way. He’s actually describing himself too.
2. Saimon tries to comfort Ali, but she throws a fit because he dared to hug her. He says after her, “After all I did to help you? Que mala compañera eres.”
3. Fernando reminds Lety that the Yuri event is tonight. They’ll make an appearance there, and then they’ll go somewhere alone. She wipes off his kisses, reviews how his behavior lines up with the letter, and goes home for lunch. Tom tells her she should give Fernando what he deserves, but she doesn’t know how. Fernando tells Omar he doesn’t want to continue deceiving Lety.
4. Lola is falling apart because the lawyer said Efren might take 50% of her house. In the baño Paula suggests that Lola get a boyfriend to boost her ego and to show Efren her worth. She says nothing makes a man madder than to see his ex happy with someone else. In that, Lety finds her course of action.
5. Lety remembers that Fernando promised he wouldn’t tell Omar about them, and in the letter Omar told Fern to not take Lety to his apartment anymore. She is humiliated because Omar knows every detail of her intimacy, so she torments Fern, asking to go to Omar’s tonight. Zinger! He would’ve preferred his house but his back’s to the wall so he agrees. Besides, he says their night at Omar’s was very special, like no other night he spent with anyone else.
6. Lety has another revenge fantasy. Fernando compliments her looks, and she grabs him by the necktie and says, “This is the same face you and Omar mock. No more lies!”
Tonight, Tonight. Fernando sees that Lety wants to be intimate with him tonight, and that’s a change for the better. But she seems so cold and distant. He determines, “Tonight I will be entirely sincere / honest with Lety. I will show her how much I feel for her. And I will not lie to her.”
Tonight, Tonight. Saimon tries to arrange a serenade for Paula, one he can afford. He’s excited because she’ll love it. Paula thinks he’s arranging to see another woman.
Tonight, Tonight. Alicia uses Marcia’s insecurity to get what she wants, use of Marcia’s car and invitation for the Yuri event tonight. She prays, “God, tonight let me win a rich novio, but most of all, that I meet the man who will rescue me from this Hell. I need him now more than ever.”
Tonight, Tonight. Lety develops her plan for tonight. In The Letter, she sees Fernando’s Achilles’ heel, his fear that Tomás will manipulate Lety and take the company. She says, “Let’s see just how jealous you are, Don Fernando!” She tells Tom to dress well and present himself at the event as her beloved novio.
Tonight, Tonight. Tom says that tonight he finally meets that desgraciado, Don Fernando, face to face. He’ll let him have it, square between the eyes.
Tonight, Tonight. The witches find Alicia’s invitation. Celso wants to return it to her, but Sara tears it up. “Now let’s see how you get in the event.”
In his car, Lety remembers the early days of the betrayal, and she starts to cry. Fernando asks her what’s wrong. See the transcript.
Capitulo 136.
Read Amanda’s original recap, then come back here to discuss it.
1. Fernando is excited to meet Yuri. He fusses over her and forgets Lety, but when Lety fusses over Yuri, Fern gets embarrassed and pushes her aside. Lety jokes with Yuri, Fernando has to enjoy his last night of freedom because Marcia gets back tomorrow and the party’s over.
2. Lety retrieves Fern’s cell because Marcia will kill him if he doesn’t answer her calls. Lety says, “We don’t want a dead president, at least not tonight. Maybe tomorrow. Har, har.” Fernando follows Yuri because he’s excited to see the dancers, and he behaves just like in the old days.
3. Paula is mad because she thinks Saimon’s meeting another woman tonight. Saimon is excited that she’s jealous. Alicia can’t enter the event because she lost her ticket, so she leeches onto two guys and they take her in, but they ditch her quickly.
4. Lety sees Fernando is flirting with the dancers, and talk turns to the wedding. Luigi says it’s better that he marries and only makes one woman suffer (as Lety suffers). Luigi mocks Lety and the dancers join in, but Fernando barely protests. Finally Yuri stops them and sneers at Fern. Lety excuses herself and tells Fern to continue in his paradise, plucking the blossoms.
5. Lety privately asks Yuri to arrange to let Tom in the event. Three times, Fernando asks Yuri what Lety said. Tom arrives and he looks great. Lety orders him not to flirt since he’s supposed to be her novio, and Alicia is here. Tom hyperventilates.
6. Cute scene. Fernando spots Alicia and orders her to collect the dancers’ names and numbers so he can hire them for the Cannes event. He emphasizes that Ali is his secretary, despite her protests. 7. Lety tells Tom that his job tonight is to make Fernando jealous, the kind of jealousy that will really kill him, the financial kind.
8. Paula tells Lola that Efren dares try to take her house because she’s a doormat. She threatens but never follows through. Paula convinces her to confront him and Paula goes along.
9. Yuri introduces Fernando to Mijares. Fern says he’s looking for Lety, and Mijares asks who that is. Fern says she’s his assistant, he depends on her opinions, and she always helps him make the best decisions in his life (yes, friends, that is a foreshadow!). 10. Yuri says, “If I didn’t know you had a novia, I’d swear that Lety is the most important woman on earth to you.. because of the way you look at her.” Fern admits that she’s his friend and guardian angel. Yuri asks, “What are you to her?” He almost says, “Her novio,” but stops himself. Mijares says they seem like a couple. Yuri says he’s obviously in love with her.
Spanish Lesson. In the car.
As Lety gets in the car, she remembers a similar scene early in the deception when Fernando avoided her kiss, and she cries.
F: Lety, what’s wrong? It feels like you’re different (rara). Something’s bothering you. Tell me. What is it?
L: I’ve always been strange (rara). Or no?
F: No, you don’t have the same enthusiasm you usually have when we go out. I feel.. I feel.. Don’t you want to go out with me? Is that it? (Pleading.) Tell me. (Turns on the charm.)
L: Nothing. What could be going on regarding you? (Que me podría pasar con usted?)
F: (Worries that Lety knows about the engagement ring.) Nothing. Nothing. (Do you remember he promised himself to be honest with Lety tonight? That lasted about 10 minutes.) You should tell me. Maybe I did something to upset you and I didn’t realize it. I’ve been behaving lately. I haven’t flirted with anyone for some time. I was good with Rocío. I behaved. I didn’t even (?) so we didn’t have a repeat of what happened with Paty M.
L: That made me VERY jealous.
F: Yes, I was chatting with Paty, and I got angry at you. But I asked you to forgive me, remember?
L: Yes. It was.. unforgetable. Don’t worry. Lately you have acted very well.
F: Lety. Mi Lety. Do you know, you’re beautiful? (He tries to kiss her.)
L: No, we can’t kiss, Celso will see us.
F: I feel like this all happened before. In this same place. With Celso.
L: That was probably in a past life.
Labels: fea-2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Sat. 12/18/10 Who's Watching India?
A very entertaining, colorful telenovela is currently airing nightly on Telefutura at 10:00 pm EST/9:00 pm CST. Several of those commenting on Caray Caray have expressed an interest or indicated that they have been watching this show. It is produced by a Brazilian company and therefore filmed (I presume) in Portuguese although here in the US it has been dubbed in Spanish and carries closed captions in both Spanish (CC1) and English (CC3).
First of all the dubbing is very good. It is well-coordinated and spoken with amazing clarity with voices that seem to match the characters represented. Secondly, the Spanish captions are by and large well-timed and accurate. I have only watched very briefly using the English captions and my experience is that they are done with much less care than those in Spanish, often woefully lagging behind the spoken words. If this is the usual case it is unfortunate and shame on Telefutura for this.
The action is fairly equally divided between India and Brazil, and more recently some of the action takes place in Dubai. It is a visual feast. There are stunning outdoor scenes
in all the venues and the indoor settings are lavish. Do people really live like this? I guess they must. Wow!
There is lots of color and in HDTV almost every scene is breathtaking. I recently saw Slumdog Millionaire and believe me, this is an all different India that is portrayed here. The Brazil we see in this does not suffer by comparison and the Dubai that is depicted is an Arab's wet dream; an indoor ski slope in Thursday's episode for goodness sakes.
The show itself is fairly standard telenovela fare with intricate interwoven plots chock full of cliches and familiar plot devises, situations, and characterizations.
There are four primary characters whose lives are intimately and inextricably intertwined. Like many of our familiar Mexican telenovelas, they are impossibly beautiful, exasperatingly shallow and self-absorbed, and not nearly as interesting or entertaining as the myriad supporting cast.
Maya is the drop-dead gorgeous favorite child of a merchant family
who has had the misfortune to fall in love with Bahuan (more about him in a moment) a Dalit (member of the untouchable caste). Of course her family is aghast when they discover this relationship. Her parents, Manu and Cotchi, arrange a marriage between her and Raj, the favored though younger son of another merchant family. She intended to run away with Baguan but he is ambitious nd has lots to prove so instead of eloping with his true love, he decides that he needs a year to pursue his internet business unencumbered by Maya. This does not prevent them from consummating their burning passion in some extremely steamy love scenes
with predictable results. On the day that he is leaving for America, she attempts to go with him but he leaves her in a rainy street with tears streaming down her cheeks as she chases his departing cab, suitcase in hand. "I'll stay in touch! It's just a year." Jerk. Shortly afterward, she, cómo no, discovers that she is...¡EMBARAZADA! Unable to convince him to return to give him the good news (such information in TNs... as you well know... can only be delivered in person). Soooo... she marries Raj in the strangest wedding I've ever witnessed and let me tell you, I've been to several New Age weddings, a number of Czech weddings, a Vietnamese wedding, and even a wedding of dogs... they don't compare... and the dancing!
Duda is a dangerously thin Brazilian lass
who has fallen in love with Raj. She is a self-sufficient liberated woman who falls for the darkly charming Indian business man. She is no stranger to the mysteries of passion and before long they are actively bumping their own little cars (Beto's... of un Gancho... way of putting it) with, once again, predictable results (protected sex is not a feature of TN's in Brazil, either). This time it's his family that objects, while she discovers that she is ¡EMBARAZADA! he's busy marrying Maya., who tells him that she is not a virgin, but leaves out the part about being pregnant.
Bahuan's parents were murdered for touching some upper class Indian (this caste stuff is really difficult for me to stomach)
and their hovel was burned to the ground (I don't think it met building codes, anyway). He was then adopted and reared by an enlightened religious thinker (Brahmin),Shankar, who just happens to be Opash's (Raj's daddy) daddy, though no one, including Opash himself, other than the holy man and of course Opash's mom, is aware of this.
(See? The usual TN stuff). Bahuan is a social climber (no place to go but up), surprisingly self-centered, impulsive, and volatile. He has become Raj's bitter enemy. He made a valiant attempt to abduct Maya on horseback but captured her servant instead... a mistake anyone could make.
Raj is a rather sanguine, moody Indian
with a very traditional family which shares the same values as that of Maya. Thus they are the perfect match except for the fact that they are both in love and expecting a child with another person. Well, all young newlyweds have their problems. After wedding Maya he vows to make a go of it and forget what'shername. Up until now, he has no idea of his son that Duda is carrying.
As I said, the main characters aren't all that compelling, but...
We also have Raul, whose in love with his wife's (Sylvia) best friend (Yvone) who just happens to be a physician with flexible ethics. The two of them recently faked Raul's death and are currently cavorting about Dubai looking for someone to recognize him and expose their charade.
It's looking more and more that Yvone does not have Raul's best interests in mind.
Meintras tanto Sylvia is feuding with Raul's brother Ramiro
who loved but didn't trust his sibling (he had his reasons). I really don't understand fully (nor care to) the details of the Cadore business. Daddy Cadore is a amiable old fart who is always the last to know. 
He likes to dance and hangs out with a free spirit shrink, Dr. Castaño,
who seems mostly lurk in a dance club sipping mojitas or whatever it is they drink in Brazil. He comes in handy, however, because Cadore's nieto, Tarso, is a pretty sad sack who is hounded by voices and is prone to violence when he's not crouching under his desk in the dark listening to Megadeath on his MP3. He somehow has managed to latch on to Tonia, a sweet, frumpy girl. 
Runaway! Runaway! Sweet frumpy girl, this kid is bad news. He does look like Rick Nelson. Anyone remember him? Anyway, his mom (a flighty, superficial New Ager)
and dad don't want to face the fact that their kid is... well... unique. Daddy wants him to eventually head up the family business. They do have a well adjusted daughter who is into body modification... piercings, tattoos and the like.
The other schizophrenic, Ademir, is more likable and involved in the world around him. He has his moments, but, when he takes his meds, is a relatively normal dancin' fool, and I mean competitively. If that weren't enough, he plays in a band made up of guys from the funhouse. Dr Castaño, of course, is his psychiatrist.
There is also a family that is pretty rough around the edges.
Not sure what the dad, César does, but it's clearly shady. He has two pleasant daughters from a former marriage and from his current marriage, a son, Zeca, who is an unlikable bully. Nacos with cash. Actually, I wish we'd see more of them.
Back in India, the fun is mainly provided by household intrigues and sibling rivalry... Borrrring... but everything is so pretty... so.... who cares? One persistent aspect that is vaguely troubling for me are a couple of little girls, Anusha and Chanti,
aunt and niece, always seem to be dancing in diaphanous colorful outfits... apparently for the amusement of the old folks who always seem to be lounging about drinking tea. Not exactly kiddie-porn, but for me, just a bit too suggestive for such little girls. They are very talented, lithe, limber, and seemingly tireless. No doubt perfectly normal for an Indian household, nevertheless it makes me a little uncomfortable... I think that playing with dolls might be more age appropriate. On the other hand, the exercise is certainly healthful and on the plus side, not a TV in sight.
The thief of hearts in this is a little waif named Hari, who helps his mom, Puja, keep the street clean. They are members of the untouchable caste and Bahuan is his hero. Unfortunately, Bahuan is not always an exemplary role model.
There are countless other characters who are in and out. Raj has a younger brother, Ravi, who is following in his brother's footsteps with a cute little Brazilian novia, Camila, the sister of Zeca.They have an ongoing Internet romance. He met her in person when he accompanied Raj on a trip to Brazil and she is now planning a trip to India. No cositas between them... yet.
Raj also has an older brother, Amithab, who is borrrring,
mired in the old ways and extremely jealous of Raj. He is married to Surya, who already hates Maya, and they are Anusha's parents.
Opash, their dad, is trying to negotiate a settlement with Duda without Raj discovering that he's going to be a daddy. There is a palpable sexual tension growing between him and Duda's older friend... He has traveled to Rio de Janero to meet with them and is experiencing quite a bit of culture shock.
A cute couple in Brazil is Abel, a street cop who mostly directs traffic, and his fiercely jealous and possessive wife, Normiña who has a roving eye, herself. She is especially fond of Indra, a youthful India immigrant. Her nemesis is Suellen,
who is Ademir's vivacious dance partner and who enjoys taunting Normiña by flirting with Abel.
Camels and cattle share the packed streets with automobiles and lorries, bicycles and pedestrians. Opash's fabric shop has a pretty bovine that comes in each afternoon for a snack and socializing.
Though we in Texas are accustomed to having livestock wandering about our stores, some of you might find this odd or even unsettling. India is very different from here. Young women take their problems to Lord Ghanesha, much as the ladies in Mexico consult with la Virgen de Guadalupe. You know what she looks like; he looks like a elephant. The results are similar.
If you have a favorite character or situation that I haven't mentioned and would like to discuss... this is the place and the reason for this posting. I want to hear what others are thinking and experiencing with his show.
Well, there you have it. Basically a standard telenovela with a mega-budget. If enough of you are interested and leave comments for discussion, we may do this again sometime.
Carlos
First of all the dubbing is very good. It is well-coordinated and spoken with amazing clarity with voices that seem to match the characters represented. Secondly, the Spanish captions are by and large well-timed and accurate. I have only watched very briefly using the English captions and my experience is that they are done with much less care than those in Spanish, often woefully lagging behind the spoken words. If this is the usual case it is unfortunate and shame on Telefutura for this.The action is fairly equally divided between India and Brazil, and more recently some of the action takes place in Dubai. It is a visual feast. There are stunning outdoor scenes
in all the venues and the indoor settings are lavish. Do people really live like this? I guess they must. Wow!
There is lots of color and in HDTV almost every scene is breathtaking. I recently saw Slumdog Millionaire and believe me, this is an all different India that is portrayed here. The Brazil we see in this does not suffer by comparison and the Dubai that is depicted is an Arab's wet dream; an indoor ski slope in Thursday's episode for goodness sakes.
The show itself is fairly standard telenovela fare with intricate interwoven plots chock full of cliches and familiar plot devises, situations, and characterizations.
There are four primary characters whose lives are intimately and inextricably intertwined. Like many of our familiar Mexican telenovelas, they are impossibly beautiful, exasperatingly shallow and self-absorbed, and not nearly as interesting or entertaining as the myriad supporting cast.
Maya is the drop-dead gorgeous favorite child of a merchant family
who has had the misfortune to fall in love with Bahuan (more about him in a moment) a Dalit (member of the untouchable caste). Of course her family is aghast when they discover this relationship. Her parents, Manu and Cotchi, arrange a marriage between her and Raj, the favored though younger son of another merchant family. She intended to run away with Baguan but he is ambitious nd has lots to prove so instead of eloping with his true love, he decides that he needs a year to pursue his internet business unencumbered by Maya. This does not prevent them from consummating their burning passion in some extremely steamy love scenes
with predictable results. On the day that he is leaving for America, she attempts to go with him but he leaves her in a rainy street with tears streaming down her cheeks as she chases his departing cab, suitcase in hand. "I'll stay in touch! It's just a year." Jerk. Shortly afterward, she, cómo no, discovers that she is...¡EMBARAZADA! Unable to convince him to return to give him the good news (such information in TNs... as you well know... can only be delivered in person). Soooo... she marries Raj in the strangest wedding I've ever witnessed and let me tell you, I've been to several New Age weddings, a number of Czech weddings, a Vietnamese wedding, and even a wedding of dogs... they don't compare... and the dancing!
Duda is a dangerously thin Brazilian lass
who has fallen in love with Raj. She is a self-sufficient liberated woman who falls for the darkly charming Indian business man. She is no stranger to the mysteries of passion and before long they are actively bumping their own little cars (Beto's... of un Gancho... way of putting it) with, once again, predictable results (protected sex is not a feature of TN's in Brazil, either). This time it's his family that objects, while she discovers that she is ¡EMBARAZADA! he's busy marrying Maya., who tells him that she is not a virgin, but leaves out the part about being pregnant.
Bahuan's parents were murdered for touching some upper class Indian (this caste stuff is really difficult for me to stomach)
and their hovel was burned to the ground (I don't think it met building codes, anyway). He was then adopted and reared by an enlightened religious thinker (Brahmin),Shankar, who just happens to be Opash's (Raj's daddy) daddy, though no one, including Opash himself, other than the holy man and of course Opash's mom, is aware of this.
(See? The usual TN stuff). Bahuan is a social climber (no place to go but up), surprisingly self-centered, impulsive, and volatile. He has become Raj's bitter enemy. He made a valiant attempt to abduct Maya on horseback but captured her servant instead... a mistake anyone could make.
Raj is a rather sanguine, moody Indian
with a very traditional family which shares the same values as that of Maya. Thus they are the perfect match except for the fact that they are both in love and expecting a child with another person. Well, all young newlyweds have their problems. After wedding Maya he vows to make a go of it and forget what'shername. Up until now, he has no idea of his son that Duda is carrying.
As I said, the main characters aren't all that compelling, but...
We also have Raul, whose in love with his wife's (Sylvia) best friend (Yvone) who just happens to be a physician with flexible ethics. The two of them recently faked Raul's death and are currently cavorting about Dubai looking for someone to recognize him and expose their charade.
It's looking more and more that Yvone does not have Raul's best interests in mind.Meintras tanto Sylvia is feuding with Raul's brother Ramiro
who loved but didn't trust his sibling (he had his reasons). I really don't understand fully (nor care to) the details of the Cadore business. Daddy Cadore is a amiable old fart who is always the last to know. 
He likes to dance and hangs out with a free spirit shrink, Dr. Castaño,
who seems mostly lurk in a dance club sipping mojitas or whatever it is they drink in Brazil. He comes in handy, however, because Cadore's nieto, Tarso, is a pretty sad sack who is hounded by voices and is prone to violence when he's not crouching under his desk in the dark listening to Megadeath on his MP3. He somehow has managed to latch on to Tonia, a sweet, frumpy girl. 
Runaway! Runaway! Sweet frumpy girl, this kid is bad news. He does look like Rick Nelson. Anyone remember him? Anyway, his mom (a flighty, superficial New Ager)
and dad don't want to face the fact that their kid is... well... unique. Daddy wants him to eventually head up the family business. They do have a well adjusted daughter who is into body modification... piercings, tattoos and the like.
The other schizophrenic, Ademir, is more likable and involved in the world around him. He has his moments, but, when he takes his meds, is a relatively normal dancin' fool, and I mean competitively. If that weren't enough, he plays in a band made up of guys from the funhouse. Dr Castaño, of course, is his psychiatrist.There is also a family that is pretty rough around the edges.
Not sure what the dad, César does, but it's clearly shady. He has two pleasant daughters from a former marriage and from his current marriage, a son, Zeca, who is an unlikable bully. Nacos with cash. Actually, I wish we'd see more of them.Back in India, the fun is mainly provided by household intrigues and sibling rivalry... Borrrring... but everything is so pretty... so.... who cares? One persistent aspect that is vaguely troubling for me are a couple of little girls, Anusha and Chanti,
aunt and niece, always seem to be dancing in diaphanous colorful outfits... apparently for the amusement of the old folks who always seem to be lounging about drinking tea. Not exactly kiddie-porn, but for me, just a bit too suggestive for such little girls. They are very talented, lithe, limber, and seemingly tireless. No doubt perfectly normal for an Indian household, nevertheless it makes me a little uncomfortable... I think that playing with dolls might be more age appropriate. On the other hand, the exercise is certainly healthful and on the plus side, not a TV in sight.
The thief of hearts in this is a little waif named Hari, who helps his mom, Puja, keep the street clean. They are members of the untouchable caste and Bahuan is his hero. Unfortunately, Bahuan is not always an exemplary role model.There are countless other characters who are in and out. Raj has a younger brother, Ravi, who is following in his brother's footsteps with a cute little Brazilian novia, Camila, the sister of Zeca.They have an ongoing Internet romance. He met her in person when he accompanied Raj on a trip to Brazil and she is now planning a trip to India. No cositas between them... yet.
Raj also has an older brother, Amithab, who is borrrring,
mired in the old ways and extremely jealous of Raj. He is married to Surya, who already hates Maya, and they are Anusha's parents.Opash, their dad, is trying to negotiate a settlement with Duda without Raj discovering that he's going to be a daddy. There is a palpable sexual tension growing between him and Duda's older friend... He has traveled to Rio de Janero to meet with them and is experiencing quite a bit of culture shock.
A cute couple in Brazil is Abel, a street cop who mostly directs traffic, and his fiercely jealous and possessive wife, Normiña who has a roving eye, herself. She is especially fond of Indra, a youthful India immigrant. Her nemesis is Suellen,
who is Ademir's vivacious dance partner and who enjoys taunting Normiña by flirting with Abel.
Camels and cattle share the packed streets with automobiles and lorries, bicycles and pedestrians. Opash's fabric shop has a pretty bovine that comes in each afternoon for a snack and socializing.
Though we in Texas are accustomed to having livestock wandering about our stores, some of you might find this odd or even unsettling. India is very different from here. Young women take their problems to Lord Ghanesha, much as the ladies in Mexico consult with la Virgen de Guadalupe. You know what she looks like; he looks like a elephant. The results are similar.If you have a favorite character or situation that I haven't mentioned and would like to discuss... this is the place and the reason for this posting. I want to hear what others are thinking and experiencing with his show.
Well, there you have it. Basically a standard telenovela with a mega-budget. If enough of you are interested and leave comments for discussion, we may do this again sometime.
Carlos
Labels: synopsis-cast
© Caray, Caray! 2006-2022. Duplication of this material for use on any other site is strictly prohibited.
