Caray, Caray!

Labels: eva

Friday: Bernardo is going through the trash at night, trying to fish out Fedra’s discarded things, when a man walks out of the greenery. Bernardo rubs his eyes – he can’t believe it! We gotta hand it to him, he recognized his captain in the dark, several yards away, whereas Fedra couldn’t recognize her old love just inches away in a brightly-lit jail cell. Bernardo falls to his knees in joy, then embraces his old friend. Eman tells Vicky that she ought to order dinner, since it seems she’s trying to take over the whole planet. Ilitia and Kristel get the same phone call: I need you right now, my love. Ilitia’s is from her mother, Kristel’s is from Lorenzo. They squeal and skittle off. The general comes abovestairs in his formal uniform to eat with the family for the first time in 27 years.

Whew.

Muñeca is distraught that Lorenzo has swiped the kids, and asks Brandon not to leave her alone. Brandon says the police have checked Lorenzo’s apartment and no luck. She clings to Brandon and begs him not to let Lorenzo make off with her kids, her son. (Always with the son! Poor Little Apple.)

When old pals haven’t seen each other in decades, you can bet there’s a lot to chit chat about, like right now Jose Maria is telling Brandon that that last night with Aristotle Curiel came off bad. Curiel didn’t want to pay. (I’m confused by the next part, so please jump in if you understood better.) Curiel wanted to give him something for the cargo, which was worth gold. They couldn’t come to an agreement, and that evening Curiel appeared on the deck of the Lirio.

Bernardo wants to know how the fire started, and JM tells him that Curiel was avenging the death of his wife Fedra. In turn, JM wants to know what really happened to her, and why the Curiel’s yacht sank. Bernardo, getting emotional, says he only remembers the Lirio on fire and sinking. I wanted to save you! he says, throwing his arms around JM. Okay, okay, says JM, peeling him off. You did the right thing, you saved Juana Felipa, as I ordered. Then I jumped and later a fishing boat picked me up and took me to the authorities in port.

(Golly garsh – an unexplained murder! Now, who could’ve done it? Who indeed!)

I was in prison for 27 years for the deaths of the Curiels, says JM, and I was innocent. Bernardo anguishes, then says Fedra will be ecstatic when she finds out he’s alive. JM tells him that she already knows, and she’s the same volcano as always. Both men chortle and share a hug. Bernardo is in seventh heaven – Let’s go sailing again! Let’s conquer the seas, let’s have rum and tobacco! They laugh and hug some more.

Brandon has kindly taken Muñeca’s hand and tell her she’s lovely inside and out, and that it’s a pity Lorenzo didn’t realize it. Muñeca says she’s always known what kind of man Lor was, but she loved him, plus she was afraid of being alone. She rants a bit about his having taken the kids. Brandon tells her she’s strong, and she must never go back to him (he takes her other hand too) and that Ilitia’s grown now, but Muñeca can be a mother to the kids.

She stands and he puts his hands on her shoulders, telling her she’s young and some good man will appreciate her. She thanks him and says whoever gets him will be lucky. He touches her cheek and Ilitia, who I thought would never get here, finally shows up and is shocked. Again? she says.

Kristel has showed up at Lorenzo’s apartment, where he tells her that he’s decided to leave his wife, he’ll sell the apartment because it’ll be too small for them, and he’s going to marry her. All this is delivered with little kisses while she looks calculating and wary. He promises her heaven and earth, and she makes a run for the liquor cabinet. Lor says that he wants to make up for Mauricio dumping her at the altar, and even worse, causing her to not be able to have children.

She says she’s cool with that, no biggie. Lo plants some smooches on her shoulder and tells her he’s going to give her the gift of motherhood – she can raise Christian. Fortunately he can’t see her jaw drop.

Maximo and Emil clink glasses and Max says he swore to stay in his basement until Fedra left (boy, that was showing her! so there!) and now she’s gone and it’s lovely to be up in the fresh air.

Jorge comes down and says Marianela will be glad to see Max with the family.

Here comes a vision in red – it’s Gretel, in a lovely Oscars-worthy dress, her hair styled and flowing. She says she’s glad too, now they can be a family. Emil rushes to embrace her. Max holds his arms wide for a hug, and she falls into his arms too. Smiles all around. Birdies chirp and there would be a rainbow, but it’s nighttime. Both of them out of the basement, awesome!

Emil comes down and is thrilled to see her and hugs her too. I just noticed he’s in a tux and bowtie and so is Emil.

Fedra in her cell grumbles that everyone must be in her house, celebrating her downfall. She blows a stray curl out of her face in disgust. Chema and her past have found her, and it’s dangerous for her, what with all her misdeeds, and drat, her in a cell not able to control what’s going on outside. She gets panicky thinking that by now Gretel must know she’s in jail, and will tell the truth about everything, about how she murdered Juan Felipe too, just to keep her in there.

And the gordita and Vicky – that two-headed monster, is going to destroy her. Bernardo, where are you? All is lost! Fedra feels frantic and claustrophobic.


Eman and Gretel gush over seeing one another again. She says Vicky invited her to an important family dinner. In comes Oliver also in formal attire, and Gretel throws him a severe look. Emil graciously pronounces that his daughter’s novio is very welcome.

Axel, also be-tuxed, arrives and says he has invited his novia. In comes Delicia, elegantly dressed. All the family smiles and hoots. She shyly says that it’s not one of Fedra’s dresses, Vicky gave it to her (obviously because it covers too much for Vicky to wear). Emil welcomes her graciously.

Vicky and Benigno arrive with festively attired Paula, who is balky and furious because she doesn’t want to see Max after he was caught with Nereida. All heads swivel to look at Max and have a whoo-hoo laugh at him. Gretel is on Paula’s side about cheatin’ guys. Oliver protests that it was all a misunderstanding. Paula and Gretel hug.

Atten…hut! barks the General and everyone stiffens. He walks toward Paula, saying he has before him the most beautiful woman in the world. I’ve waited over 20 years to offer you a life better than confined to a cellar. That promise is kept, and now I’m going to keep another one. He kneels before her and asks her to marry him. Paula doesn’t say yes and she doesn’t say no either. I have the feeling the church in the final episode is going to have to have a very wide aisle to accommodate all the upcoming nuptials.

Eman takes Vicky aside and thanks her for filling the house with good things. She smiles and Jorge looks daggers.

Bernardo has dropped by the comisario’s office, much to the latter’s surprise. The comisario tells him it’s too late to visit Fedra, and to come again tomorrow. Bernardo says he didn’t come for a visit, but to say that Fedra is innocent. I did it! I falsified the papers and Fedra didn’t know anything about it. He holds his hands out to be handcuffed, and when that gets no response, he turns his back and holds his hands behind him, hand-cuff ready. Arrest me! The comisario can’t keep a straight face.

Some ads, and then the comisario laughs that Bernardo isn’t capable of lifting a finger without Fedra ordering him to. Bernardo protests that everybody knew Eva was an alcoholic and Fedra, who is a great lady with a huge heart, gave her the money without ever asking her to sign anything. The comisario doesn’t believe it for one second.

Bernardo pulls up a chair and sits, telling the comisario that he’s a great forger, better than Rembrandt, and he holds a pen for the comisario to sign something so he can show him how he can copy the signature. The comisario laughs that Fedra could hardly have been unaware of the forgery. Bernardo says when Mari got her inheritance, the poor thing (that would be Fedra) had no way to prove that she had given Eva all that money, and she would have been out on the street.

I think I’m gonna cry, says the comisario.

Look, says Bernardo, I’m going to go to the judge and shout the truth from the rooftops, because you’re holding an innocent woman.

Ilitia is upbraiding her mother for having something going with Brandon and Muñeca defends herself, saying the one who had something going was Lorenzo. Ilitia scoffs that that’s it – Muñeca ran to Brandon’s arms. She says some ugly things, and Brandon tells her to knock it off, Muñeca is a great woman. Ilitia continues, accusing her mother again, and Muñeca tells her that she’s just made the worst mistake of her life. She arches an eyebrow at Ilitia and thanks Brandon and leaves.

Brandon tells Ilitia he’s going to give her and earful and she’s going to listen.

Fedra is setting her teeth on the jail bars like she’d like to chew them when Kristel shows up. Fedra is very glad to see her and Kristel sympathizes, saying it must be awful to sleep on that cot. Kristel tells her how happy everybody is that she’s in jail and how Emil threw a big family dinner. Fedra thanks her for not attending and for coming to see her instead. She tells Kristel that she’s all she has left, that she loves her, that they’re so alike, she’s a daughter worthy of her mother.

That’s right, says Kristel and I’m going to cheer you up. My love, come here! Lorenzo appears and Fedra’s smile evaporates. Tell her what you told me in the hotel, says Kristel.

Bernardo hands the comisario a written confession. Very good, says the comisario, but there’s something missing, namely a motive. This goes way beyond loyalty, it’s a declaration of love. I’m going to lock you up too, and not in a matrimonial cell.

Brandon tells Ilitia she was cruel to the most noble woman he’s ever known. She defies him to say he isn’t in love with her mama, she’s noticed it since the very first day. Brandon tries not to lose patience and tells her Muñeca is decent, wonderful, with a huge heart, always thinking of others.. and hopefully one day Ilitia will be a little bit like her. But she’s fake, pure plastic.

He heads off, and Ilitia tries to call him back.

Kristel tells her mother that she understands now why she was so hooked on Lorenzo, he’s the very best in bed! Fedra, speaking low and slow, points out to Lorenzo that he slept with her daughter. He mumbles around, then says he’s fallen in love like never before. Kristel excitedly tells her that Lor is going to do what Fedra always wanted him to – he’s going to leave his wife for her.

Fedra warns Kristel not to believe a word he says, he’s just saying things to get her into bed. Lorenzo, drooling on Kristel, says that he did just originally plan to have a little fling, but he’s crazy about her like he’s never been in his life, and besides Fedra could be in the slammer for a long time, so they’re over.

Fedra tells him he’s just making himself ridiculous, some old granddad after a young girl. Lor tells her to butt out, she’s going to be in jail forever, and she’s not young anymore anyway; she’s an old lady. Good thing she doesn’t have a mirror in her cell to see herself when she doesn’t have makeup to help.

Harsh, dude.

She tells him he’s a pig. He gives her Kristel a big kiss and says see that? It’s goodbye. He leaves.

Why are you doing this to me? Fedra asks Kristel quietly. Because you wrecked my life, says Kristel. If you hadn’t come between me and my punchunguito, none of this would be happening right now.

After organizing your wedding, after pressuring that pig to marry you, it wasn’t my fault that the coward left you at the altar for Victoria. Kristel tells her she didn’t insist enough wasn’t powerful enough, didn’t defend her enough against Vicky who turned out to be a thousand times bigger and stronger than the great Fedra Curiel. She even got the house away from her!

It’s your fault I lost Mauricio, and now I’ve taken your lover. We’re even! She bounces off.

Thank you for your visit, daughter, daughter worthy of her mother, Fedra says to no one, She breaks down.

At the pension, Gladiola tells Netty she should have gone to the dinner, since Marianela invited her, but Netty feels that even with Fedra in jail, Emil’s still married, and she’s a decent lady and doesn’t want to be the other woman. Gladiola laughs that she’s stubborn and heads for the kitchen. Netty soliloquizes that she hopes Fedra doesn’t do any more damage just as Jose Maria comes down the stairs to overhear her.

He says he couldn’t help overhearing – what did Fedra to do her? Netty says that she set out to destroy her (Netty’s) family, starting with her sister Eva. He wants to hear about it, so Netty, getting more and more worked up, tells him Eva lost her husband in a tragic accident and Fedra used her distress to turn her into an alcoholic, so that she could end up with everything. And then she started in on her daughter, Marianela, poisoning some chocolates because she knew Marianela loved chocolate.

Max and Paula are outside and it’s a full moon. Max is glad to see the moon after all these years, and wonders where the stars are. Paula observes that he’s been in a cellar for about half his life, they’ve been there all along, but they’re not visible due to the pollution.

He says he doesn’t need stars – she shines brilliantly for him. (Her sparkly top helps.) She says she didn’t think they’d ever live this again, the last time they were young and thought they had a future ahead of them. He says she was young, him not so much. She says it’s late now, all their time spent him in the cellar, her in the kitchen, and it’s too late for such foolishness. He hauls out that old chestnut “today is the first day of the rest of our lives” and sweetens it with “Señora Ruiz y de Teresa.”

She thinks they’re too old. He says there’s his love that has lasted all these years, and that he wants to live now that he’s out of the cellar. They have so many reasons to marry, they can recover their daughter. Our daughter! she remembers sadly. Gretel appears, out of focus, in the background.

Oliver comes up behind her and tries to talk her into making up like Max and Paula are doing, but she just gives him a cold look and says they’ll talk later and then stomps off. He gives himself a pep talk, saying if she drops her guard even a second, he’ll win her over again.

Axel is stealing a few kisses and Delicia is embarrassed saying that everyone is looking. Axel says nobody is, but so what? He wants them to see that they’re in love.

Nereida has probably seen, because she walks by, rolling her eyes. Benigno is telling Jorge that he misses Marianela, and when Jorge tries to escape, grabs onto him and asks him to tell him all about how she is. Poor Jorge, almost no lines tonight and all he gets to do is make pinched-face now and then.

Eman tells Vicky that he can’t believe a day that started off so horribly has turned into one of the happiest in all their lives. Max has asked Paula to marry him and look at Axel and Delicia! And his father and Gretel, hugging and hugging. Vicky says she’s sorry that for love to come into the house, Fedra had to go out.

Yes, says Eman sadly. He doesn’t want to talk about her tonight, he tells her, but Vicky, never good at social cues, says that she knows he loves his mother, and it must’ve been hard for him to learn about part of her, but there’s much more about his mother that he doesn’t know and she hopes that Fedra never comes back to wreck everybody’s lives. Vicky must’ve studied at the Lorenzo School of Tact.

He says that she caused so much pain, and it’s because of her that he lost Marianela. And look at what she did to Gretel, to Axel. I’m sure there’s a lot we don’t know about her, it torments me. He looks over to Emil and Gretel and says he’s worried that that man, who’s showing his daughter so much love, isn’t his real father. Vicky strokes his cheek.

Jose Maria asks Netty if she’s completely sure about Fedra. Netty says absolutely, and there’s her lap dog, Bernardo – the worst! – who sold his soul to the devil, namely Fedra Curiel, and who just lives to carry out her every little wish.

Jose Maria is astonished and says he finds it hard to believe. Netty says believe it, she’s a thief, she has no manners or morals, she’s destroys everything she touches, including her own children, she’s a witch, I hate her!

She can’t be everything you say! protests JM.

Still outside, Paula tells Max that the fresh air has addled his brain, but Max continues with his daughter point – their daughter is alive, and Paula saw her grow up, treated her like a mother, watched her running in this very garden.. Paula begs him to stop, but of course he doesn’t, dropping enough hints to bury her, then finally saying Gretel is their daughter and it’s time they both knew the truth. (It might be a good idea to tell Emil, too, Max.)

Eman tells Vicky he must love her a lot to tell her such private stuff. It’s just that it’s so hard to carry the load alone. Vicky smiles a wry smile, but a single tear courses down her cheek. She assures him that Emil is his father, that Emil was the one who loved him and raised him and was there for him always. He feels a little tearful too and apologizes for it. She tells him it pains her to see him suffer and he hopefully wonders why – is it because she cares about him? He knows that she’s fallen in love with him too – won’t she say it? It would mean so much to hear her say it. She lays her hand on his face, leans in a little and parts her lips as if to reply…

Avances: Mauricio kidnaps Vicky.

Labels: llena

Part I: In which Cruz gets told off, María M takes off, Vic and Bernie face off, and LindaHo gets stood up.

The FerBeast has had enough of the Cruz Robles Riding Academy for one day. She demands that Cruz help her down from her horse, (preferably without touching her). When she is finally out of the saddle and on her feet, he leans in as if to kiss her, then teasingly pulls away leaving her with nothing but air. Well the joke’s on him! He can walk back home, she tells him, cuz she’s not driving him.

María Desamparada watches Max at kayak practice. [Not that I’m not complaining, but a little of this goes a long way] He’s distracted. We’re distracted. She keeps her concentration like a champ.

LindaHo sets out to buy a dress for her tryst with OsvaldHo. She’s undeterred by Os’s failure to answer his cell, she tells Nathy. He must be with his witch of a wife.

Don Napo thinks it’s pretty funny that the FerBeast got the better of Cruz. But he warns him he’s playing with fire and if he’s not careful, he’ll get burned. (This cliché is a running gag, I think. Everyone will get a chance to say it before the novela is over.)

Cruz suspects that Milagros is onto Linda. He and Napo are unsure what to do. They’d like to warn JuanJo that Linda is a skank but they don’t want to break his heart.

The FerBeast laughingly tells Gaby how she put Cruz in his place. He needs to learn that social classes still exist. Gaby reminds her that classwise, ScuzzyBoy is lower than a pregnant ant. Fer corrects her. That was yesterday. Today his father has a cool depa, and he has invited her parents to dinner. How can her mother say no to the Padillas now? They are movin’ on up!

Max still has his shirt off. He paddles over to María, kisses her hello and introduces her to his coach, who now understands why Max seemed distracted.

Back in the barrio, Linda wiggles around in front of Nathy and admires herself in the new dress she picked up at the Skank Barn – a long clingy, blue polyester number with serious cleavage fore and aft.

Down the hall at Millie’s, everything is ready for Linda’s birthday party. The table is set with all manner of Jalisco specialties. JuanJo, his friends Sr y Sra Preggers, Cruz and Millie herself are all anxious for the guest of honor to arrive.

Max gets out of the kayak and he pulls María towards the manly expanse of his bare chest, water-dappled, lightly bronzed, and warmed by the sun… sigh… Oh. Sorry. He and María smooch while the other kayakers cheer them on.

As Os drives along, he thinks about Victoria and their amorous encounter. He still loves her but she doesn’t give him enough of her time. He sucks thoughtfully on his pacifier.

Vic stares in the mirror and thinks about Osvaldo. She needs to tell him the truth -- He doesn’t deserve to be deceived, she thinks. [Yes. Yes he does. He deserves that and much worse. But spit it out anyway, woman, so the damn plot can move forward!]

Os parks in front of his rented love nest. Just as he gets out of the car, Fer tools by in her little toy convertible on the way to the mall, spots him and runs up to him happily. She wants to join him but he tells her he has an audition and actors aren’t comfortable having anyone watch them at try-outs. No problem, smiles Fer. I’ll just wait for you in my car.

Now wearing her new blue Seduce-a-Shmuck nightie, Linda dances around the love nest, eager for Os to arrive. Too bad. No joy for you today, LindaHo. Os rushes in, explains that his daughter is waiting downstairs and he can’t stay, much less take her out. And he is out the door. Linda is miffed, with a capital P. It’s her birthday!

Max and María kneel in church before the image of the Virgen de Guadaloupe and promise each other fidelity and love.

At the Casa de Modas, Oscar and Vic are going over the preparations for the Miami show. Vic criticizes the design of the invitations for the event. Oscar explains that the graphics department was only following Toni’s instructions – and by the way, where the heck has she been all day? And there are still many details to be attended to. Vic brushes him off icily saying she personally will talk to Toni.

Before Oscar leaves her office, he asks if anything is wrong. He’s never known her to let anything get in the way of her preparation for a fashion show before. She will only tell him that she has something very important to take care of.

Fer and Os are doing lunch and she is sooooo happy to be with her daddy. It’s been a long time since he lavished any attention on her. Os and Vic spend so much time working that sometimes she feels very much alone. But they used to spend more time together as a family, she says.

It feels like something has happened, as if he and Victoria don’t love each other the way they used to. He tries to explain: love matures, it changes and sometimes it ends (se acaba). You mean you don’t love my mother anymore? (¿el amor se acabó?) No, that’s not it, he says. Like any couple, we have problems. But please know that whatever may happen, I’ll always love you, Fer, and I’ll always be there for you.

Max and María are still in the church. Osvaldo knows about their engagement, he tells her, and he is supportive. And Max repeats what he told his father: he is going to remain faithful to María, just as Os has been faithful to his mother. Uh oh. Let’s hope not. María can’t look Max in the eye. He asks what’s wrong. She will only say that whatever may happen, remember that she loves him.

[Well. Pase lo que pase, sea lo que sea, le pese a quien le pese, at least we’re learning a few subjunctives in this novela.]

María is on her way to Linda’s party. Max asks if he can come along.

Vic arrives at Toni’s and learns that María Magdalena walked away while Toni was in the shower. Victoria’s reaction? She flies into a rage and slaps Toni’s face. Whap!!! Seriously. She hauls off and slaps her only friend right in the kisser and wails: I’ve lost my daughter again because of you. Toni sobs. [And Victoria wonders why MaríaHo is afraid of her.]

María Magdalena is back with the scorpion guy in the pigsty, still spilling out of her gold supergirl corset. She doesn’t want anything to do with her new-found family. She’s afraid it’s all a trick to send her back to jail. But el Alacrán tells her these ricos are ripe for picking. And Doña Bernarda, being the priest’s ma and all, is going to be the easiest one to manipulate. And they’ll be rich! rich! [Wow. Turns out the scorpion is as stupid as he is mean. Poor MariaHo.]

Vic apologizes to Toni: I’m an ingrate; you’re my only friend. No worries, says Toni. We’re more than friends; we’re sisters. And we’ll find María Magdalena again. She’s probably back with that savage. They hug. They cry. We grit our teeth and soldier on.

The gang at the party takes Max in warmly. María D’s novio is always welcome here says Millie. Max corrects her. I’m not her boyfriend. (Yo no soy su novio.) The smiles fade. What the….??? [By the way, he attends the party bare-necked.]

MaríaHo – now spilling out of a hot pink corset – and el Alacrán are in St. Bernarda’s parlor. He’s eyeing up the joint. Bernarda, meanwhile, has been in her private quarters grooving to the Plastic Ono Band. Or maybe she’s been plotting Victoria’s complete and utter annihilation. I’m not sure, I get the two confused. Anyhow, now St. B rolls in with her posse, Fausto and Eva.

Back at Millie’s, Max lets the other shoe drop: He’s not María D’s boyfriend; he’s her fiancé (prometido)! And they’re getting married very soon! The chill in the room is replaced by a warm naco glow. Smiles and intros all around. (The small crowd has grown a bit even if the guest of honor is still conspicuously absent.)

Meanwhile Padre Juan Pablo arrives at Bernarda’s doorstep. Eva is instructed to hide MaríaHo and Scorpion Guy while Fausto goes to let in JP. (The padre is walking with a cane so apparently he suffered more than a little scratch on the forehead.) He’s come looking for the newly disappeared María M. Bernarda feigns ignorance and appeals to Eva to confirm her lie. No one here but us weirdos. Fausto lurks and listens.

Vic and Toni are in pursuit of María M. Vic is determined to protect her from the Scorpion. She gets a call from Fer – you remember, Fer, right? her actual daughter? – who is letting her know she won’t be home for lunch because she and Scuzzy are eating out. As usual, mother and daughter end up squabbling over ScuzzBoy.

Bernarda tells Juan Pablo that if María M has disappeared again, it’s God’s work. [That would be God spelled B-E-R-N-A-R-D-A]. Just one more proof that Vic is a bad mother. But JP’s not there to badmouth Vic. He’s only trying to find María Magdalena. Bernarda has one of her convenient Spells, clutching theatrically at her chest, but refuses JP’s offer to call the doctor. No no no no no! She’ll rest, she’ll pray, and she’ll drink some water.

Back in the Hood:
When he hears someone at the door, JuanJo rushes to open it, expecting LindaHo. My darling, my love, how wonderful you’re here he says. And then he finds himself staring at Nathy’s mortified face. Oh. It’s you, Nathy, says the big dumbo without even trying to disguise the disappointment writ large on his homely features . Come in. (Someone needs to smack him upside the head.)

JP asks one more time if Bernie is sure she’ll be all right. She’ll be fine, she tells him, with one hand still placed dramatically over her heart.

At which point we must pause, gentle reader, and we ask ourselves:
Which Juan is the bigger doofus?
a. JuanJo for believing in LindaHo?
b. Or Juan Pablo for believing in his sainted madre?

But I digress…

No sooner is Juan Pablo out the door, than María M and Scorpion are summoned back to the parlor for interrogation. Tell me why you escaped, demands B. MM confesses she was afraid Vic was going to send her back to jail. Don’t worry, says St B, you’ll be safe in this house. And MM says she trusts her. [And now we start to ask ourselves if maybe she really is Juan Pablo’s kid. She sure is dumb enough.]

Bernie wags a finger at el Alacrán, then takes a couple of hefty wads of bills out of a box on her table and hands them to him. He can visit MM, she tells him – MaríaHo’s pimp is always welcome in my home -- but he has to be discreet about it. El Alacrán is thrilled. María smiles and cracks her gum. And Bernarda turns away, seems to vomit a little in her mouth, and then rolls her eyes and executes a perfect eyebrow sweep.

JuanJo asks Nathy where Linda is. Uh… she’s not home, answers Nathy. Thinking fast, she says: I’ll have to give away her little secret – she went shopping for a dress for the occasion. The crowd relaxes while Nathy and María retire to a corner and fret about The Linda Problem.

Napo toasts María D and Max. Small talk about babies and weddings. Yada yada yada. And finally. Linda graces them with her presence. She is wearing the long blue polyester number, perfect for afternoon parties in the barrio. Or soirees in the Red Light district. JuanJo thinks the wait was worth it. It’s a minority opinion.

Max surprises everyone by formally asking them for María’s hand in marriage. They are, after all, like family to her. Milagros gives him her blessing.

Back at his church, JP tells the older priest that he’s surprised by his mother’s change of attitude. She’s left behind her thirst for revenge and now she wants to help María Magdalena. God works in mysterious ways, intones the older man.

Vic and Toni talk about how hard it is to be a mother – and how hard it is to be a woman.

María M is to stay in Bernie’s guest room. Fausto and Eva must make sure she doesn’t go out. Victoria’s daughter is a demon, she tells them. Bernie has to keep María in her house to save her soul. If she can’t save her soul, she’ll have to keep her locked up. Or even better, burn her alive. Fausto looks down and tenses his jaw slightly; Eva looks sideways at Bernarda.

Toni and Vic are back at the pigsty looking for María M. Vic knocks on the door, but no one answers. Then her cell rings. It’s Bernarda. Don’t bother looking for your daughter, she tells Victoria. I have her and no one will take her away from me.

Naturally, Bernarda’s words bring Vic and Toni to her doorstep. They muscle past Fausto and into the parlor where Bernarda and María M await them.

Oh my. In the brief time she has been in Bernie’s house, MaríaHo has been Bern-washed. She wants nothing to do with Victoria. She accuses her of abandoning her in the street – Doña B has told her all about it. Vic tells her it’s all a big fat lie. She didn’t abandon María, she lost her. (Yo te perdí -- Which sounds weird and misleading in English, as if she had misplaced her like a set of car keys. )

For once in your life, tell the truth, retorts Bernie. Tell your daughter that you didn’t want her because she was the child of sin so you threw her out in the street like garbage.

Now Toni speaks up. She is a witness that Vic never stopped looking for MM; she was mad with grief when the child disappeared. But the girl doesn’t believe a word of it. If Vic had wanted to, she’d have found her.

Vic begs MM to come back to her office where she has proof that she has been searching for her all these years. But Bernarda warns MM not to be taken in by Vic’s words.

How can you, a mother, be so determined to break the bonds between mother and child? asks Vic. You dare to ask me that, thunders B, when you’ve always tried to separate me from my son. Well you’ll never succeed. First, because I’m right. And second because God is with me.

Fausto puts a comforting hand on Eva’s shoulder, they look at one another, and Eva puts her hand on top of Fausto’s.

María M spits out her scorn at Vic and walks away from her. Bernarda repeats that this is Vic’s punishment for lusting after the wrong man. (Just like you did, huh Bernie?) Vic tells her she won’t get away with it:
Yo para recuperar a mi hija soy capaz de todo!(I’m capable of anything to get my daughter back!)
Leave and don’t come back, says B. Don’t come back here unless I ask you to.
(a menos que yo te solicite).


Part 2: In which LindaHo plays Os like an accordion – she knows how to squeeze him and exactly which buttons to press; and Nathy gives up her reputation to spare JuanJo’s feelings.
Millie’s party is still in full swing. She tells the gang she’ll soon be in business selling her famous tortas ahogadas. Applause applause.

Then JuanJo takes the floor. He has a big surprise for Linda. She closes her eyes and when he tells her to open them, there it is: a big, ruffly, sparkly white wedding dress. In fact, it looks a lot like the one she tried on for Millie, a real Linda La del Barrio number. Nathy’s the only person who seems to notice the furious look that darkens Linda’s face.

At Televisa, Os confides to Guillermo that Victoria was out all night. That fact combined with Bernarda’s phone call (she told him Victoria had a lover) makes him uncertain. A priest’s mother wouldn’t lie, would she? Well…

Pedro joins them and asks if Gui has told Os his plan yet…

Nathy covers her friend’s sullen silence by saying:
¡Le gustó tanto este vestido que se quedó sin palabras!(She liked this dress so much it left her without words/speechless.)
Milagros loves all the sequins (lentejuelas).
María says she’d be the happiest bride in the world if Max took the trouble to choose a wedding dress for her. It's a deal, he says – he’ll do just that!

¡Beso! ¡Beso! ¡Beso! the guests cry out and sour-faced Linda rises and permits JuanJo to place his lips on hers.

Sra Preggers announces that Nathy will be her baby’s godmother. More cheers and applause.

Back at Televisa, Os is surprised at Gui’s proposed plan:
¿Asociarnos para comprar un teatro?(We’d form a partnership to buy a theatre?)
Os thinks it’s not a bad idea but he’d like to talk it over with Vic. Gui mocks him, implying that only a wuss would need his wife’s permission. Os had better decide fast or Gui will find another associate. [Right. Like crowds of rich dudes are lining up outside Televisa begging Gui to take their money. Act now!]

JuanJo has one more big surprise for LindaHo -- A birthday serenade! Cruz enters singing and accompanied by a mariachi band! Linda sits and sulks. Nathy holds the wedding dress and tries not to cry. Everyone else sways and smiles and sings along with the music.

At lunch, ScuzzyBoy tells the FerBeast to make sure her parents are coming to Papa Padilla’s dinner tonight. He also keeps trying to sell her on a quickie wedding. So far, at least, she’s not buying.

Vic and Toni are back in the chauffeur-driven car. Vic is sobbing over Bernie’s latest dirty trick.

More singing and dancing at the birthday party. Linda blows out the birthday candles [which sparkle with pixie dust for no discernible reason] and they all eat cake, goof around and dance some more. Clueless JuanJo is ecstatic. Linda looks like she could use some PeptoBismal. And poor Nathy shuffles around holding the wedding dress.

Now back at home, Os phones Vic to discuss Guillermo's proposal. It would mean selling his shares in the Casa de Modas to raise capital to invest in the theatre. She shuts him down completely: it’s not a good time to talk about it and besides, it’s the wrong time to sell! He reminds her the shares belong to him and if he feels like selling them, that’s what he’ll do. He hangs up angrily.

When Vic complains to Toni that she can’t count on Osvaldo’s support when she needs him, Toni reminds her that Os doesn’t know about Vic’s troubles so it isn’t right to judge him.

Night falls in the barrio. The party is winding down and Max, like the other guys, is showing the effects of his tequila. They notice that Nathy is missing. Too bad, cuz Max wanted to say goodnight to her. María explains that Fabián invited her out for coffee. One final toast before calling it a night: ¡Arriba los bomberos!
Now Vic is back home too and feeling bad about the way she spoke to Os earlier. It’s not his fault she had such a terrible day, she says and then adds: Why don’t you come to Miami with me and I can make it up to you? He answers with some bitterness that he’d love to enjoy himself with his wife but he’s not interested in going as the lapdog (de perrito faldero) of the great designer, Victoria Sandoval. She can go alone!

Max and María are in the bedroom of her apartment. He wanted to see it because he wants to know everything about her. What was she like as a little girl? The days in the orphanage are a blur of sadness and longing, she says. As for her mother -- as hard as she tries, she can’t picture her mother’s face. All she remembers is a ragdoll she played with (una muñequita de trapo); and that she could say her name: María.

Victoria takes a small, worn ragdoll from a drawer, thinks of her lost daughter and asks the Virgen how long she is going to be punished for falling in love with the wrong man (de haberme fijado en un amor prohibido, lit. for having set her sights on a forbidden love.)

Now for any viewers late to the party, Victoria’s orgy of self-pity is an excuse to reprise the whole damn story, starting with the days of the giant braids. [OK. Deep breath. We can do this!]

♫♫ It was twenty years ago today ♫♪♪

Vic gives a small, carved crucifix to Juan Pablo as a farewell gift before he leaves for the seminary. [And we see how hot he looks when he’s clean-shaven.]
They do it.
He leaves the next morning as she watches and weeps.
Months later, Bernarda finds out Vic is pregnant, and slaps her around until she confesses that Juan Pablo is the baby’s father.
Vic appears to go into labor all alone, outside somewhere at night.
Her baby is born (perhaps in the Cruz Roja?). It’s a little girl and she names her María.
By this time, Toni is her BFF.
Toni has her own tsuris: her hair is a frizzy mess and she has no money for product.
Vic has no one to leave her child with so she brings the infant María to work with her in Padilla’s dress factory.
Even back then Padilla was pond scum. He rapes Victoria.

Three years later:Both Vic and María are nearly run over by a car that comes out of nowhere. We know that Bernarda was not only driving, she was aiming. But Victoria does not.
After the “accident” Vic wakes up in a hospital bed and Toni tells her María is gone.

Twenty years later:
Victoria meets María Desamparada at a benefit show for orphans.
Vic’s big braids are gone; interestingly, MD has little ones. (Braids. I’m talking braids.)
María D impetuously hugs Victoria and both are oddly moved. La llamada de la sangre. But the coverage must be lousy – maybe they use ATT -- because the call is dropped!

Now we’re out of Victoria’s head and back in María D’s bedroom. María, she repeats. She remembers that she knew her name was María. She turns down Max’s offer to help her find her parents. After all, they abandoned her so they must not have loved her. He tells her if she ever changes her mind, he’ll be there to help her.

Woo hoo! Nathy really is out having coffee with Fabián. They are both all smiles talking about the book she loaned him – he thought it was marvelous! [I love this scene. Tragedy-free. Well, unless you count Nathy’s hair.]

Max & María D kiss goodnight and he asks her to walk him to his car. This scene is doubly weird because:
a. Max is much too drunk to be driving (unless he and María spent waaaaaaay more time in that bedroom than I thought.)
b. Why would you leave your girlfriend alone in the street at night? There are some shady characters around. In fact, on her way back inside she bumps into one of them: Osvaldo. He takes advantage of their meeting to explain about that embarrassing scene with Linda in the apartment but she cuts him short. She knows all about it, she doesn’t approve, but she has no right to judge them. And she has no intention of telling anyone about their affair.

María goes inside the gate and Linda comes out ready for the real party to get started.

Unbeknownst to Linda, Milagros is heading her way carrying a brown paper bag and mumbling to herself about forgetting to buy bread for breakfast. Then Milagros sees something that makes her jaw and her shopping bag drop: Linda and Osvaldo making out in his black SUV parked at the corner of the block.

She leaves the bag on the sidewalk and walks away. She looks so dazed that a kind neighbor has to help her back to her apartment where JuanJo is waiting for her. [The jerk. Letting his old mother go out alone at night.] She tells him what she saw but he refuses to accept what she is saying. She must be confused. I don’t believe it, he repeats over and over. He walks out the door and meets Nathy in the hallway. Where’s Linda? he barks rudely. She stares at him. He kicks her apartment door open and asks the startled María: Where’s Linda? He repeats what Milagros told him. Do you know anything?

He then heads outside to find out for himself. If Linda is cheating on him, she’s gonna pay! The girls try to stop him. They delay him and tell him it couldn’t have been Linda that Millie saw. By the time he gets past them so he can see for himself, Os’s SUV is gone. And Nathy pipes up: It was me! I was the girl your mother saw, not Linda! I said I was going out for coffee but really, I was meeting my lover!

JuanJo’s homely expression changes from rage to scorn [or I imagine it would, if he had any facial expressions]: I’m disappointed in you, Nathy, he says. I thought you were different!

So let’s examine the weirdness of this scene:
a. Why keep JuanJo from finding out the truth about Linda? Isn’t it better to know BEFORE the wedding than AFTER?
b. What would be so bad about Nathy kissing a guy in a car? Millie doesn’t know the guy is Osvaldo. He’s just ‘un tipo’. And Nathy’s not the one who’s engaged to Dumbo. Are they all such prudes that kissing earns a girl a scarlet letter? If that’s the case, what are they going to do to María when she ends up alone and pregnant (as we all know she will)?
c. Why in the world does Nathy say she has a lover? Why couldn’t she say she had coffee with a boy and he kissed her goodnight?

Onward.

Os parks the SUV so he and LindaHo can talk. He doesn’t believe she’s really getting married. She’s just playing him, he says. She makes a show of reluctance when he suggests going to their depa, but shuts up fast when he says he has a surprise for her.

JuanJo tells Milagros that the woman she saw was Nathy, not Linda. Milagros is surprised but she then seems to believe the story. Gah!

In their apartment, María asks Nathy why she took the blame. Was it really to save LindaHo’s worthless skin or was to keep JuanJo from suffering?

LindaHo shows Os her engagement ring. It’s nothing special, she knows, but it was given with much affection. Then Os pulls out his gift, also a ring but worth, like, a gazillion times more, and tells her it is also given with much affection. And it proves he didn’t forget her birthday. Very nice, she says, but he can keep it cuz she’s not fooling around. She’s only here to tell him that it’s over between them. And it’s not for lack of love. It’s because he has no time for her, he won’t allow her into his life. JuanJo is prepared to devote himself to her. With you, someone or something else always comes first -- your daughter, your wife, your job. Well now I’ve had enough!

I never lied to you, says Os. You knew I was a married man. And you knew I was in the public eye and had to be discreet.

She replies: So divorce your wife and marry me. You’ve said many times that you’re unhappy with her. If you want me, you’ll have to leave Victoria!

In her bedroom alone, Vic recalls the earlier scene when María M allied herself with Bernarda and treated her with such scorn. Max comes to see her. Oy vey, he says, again with the crying! Tell me what’s going on already! She can’t bring herself to do it. The truth is so complicated and difficult, she fears it will only make them even more unhappy.

LindaHo is back in the barrio. She opens the apartment door with a big smile on her face and finds Nathy sobbing. Now everyone thinks I'm a slut, wails Nathy, because I told them I was the one kissing Osvaldo Sandoval in his car. Huh? Say what? Linda doesn’t know what she’s talking about.

Nathy explains that Millie saw Linda and Os and told JuanJo about it. Nathy took the blame so JuanJo wouldn’t know the truth. Then what’s the big deal? asks Linda. Nobody is really interested in what you do. It doesn’t affect anyone. Well it affects me (a mí sí me afecta) answers Nathy. They all think I’m the worst of the worst, especially JuanJo.

Linda flashes her feline smile. Ah, she says shrewdly, then you did it for him, not for me. Listen honey, it’s your problem, not mine. You fix it! [LindaHo is probably right, but it’s still ok with me if you hate her.]

For the last 12,894 scenes Victoria has been either very SAD or very MAD or both. Now she is very very BAD. She enlists the help of crazy, cheating Ximena in her plan to make Max as miserable as the rest of the Sandoval family. She asks Xi use the time in Miami to do whatever it takes to ensnare Max and get him to marry her. Ximena is happy to oblige.

Max calls María to say goodnight and they recite the lyrics of their song to each other: A partir de hoy… Smiles and sighs.

Cue the kayak and pass me the tequila!

Labels: triunfo

Adolfo runs to Yolanda's condo where the maid, Juanita, reports she left hours ago and without a customary note; in Yolanda's bedroom, he finds everything normal, except her cell phone remaining on the night stand. Using her speed dial, Adolfo gets Carlos, who jerks his chain with a chuckle, accusing Adolfo of some new offense to her.

In the kitchen at Mario's, Asunción practices reading, making Caramelo proud, who loves him regardless. On her way up to bed, Caramelo matchmakes a bit with Dora, enlisting her to help Asunción with his studies. Arriving back in the penthouse, Adolfo manhandles startled Bertha about spilling crucial details to crooks.

He throws Bertha out for stupidity, who shouts this is the last time that's going to happen as she exits; while behind, Adolfo agonizes over Yolanda's whereabouts. In Mario's kitchen, pleasantly surprised Asunción is tickled to have Dora help him with reading, over a cup of tea; while pint-sized matchmaker Caramelo nods in approval behind the door.

At the AFI, Leonardo's underwhelmed when Adolfo demands he find disappeared Yolanda, sure it's another crime of Adolfo; but at Adolfo's rough insistence and the doctored Hernández photo, Leonardo assures him he will investigate if she's really kidnapped. But he points out, such things are risks run by doing business with criminals.

Criminals such as Édgar Lopez, he adds. Leonardo disconcerts Adolfo by revealing he has the Juan José murder attempt weapon -- with Adolfo's fingerprints on it, bringing on a flashback of handing the weapon to Hernández. At Elsa's, she continues with her self-flagellation, maintaining nobody really cares about her.

She tells Ulises she won't take Mauricio's calls, certain he just feels pity for her; and Ulises assures her he himself really cares about her as a friend. But when Elsa contends her life feels out of sorts, Ulises divines she means out of sorts -- not with life, but with Juan José.

When Adolfo takes the doctored Hernández photo to Dante's, Dante wonders if Hernández hasn't conspired with Leonardo and turned Yolanda over to the Genovéses, which revelation makes Adolfo rise and swear to kill all of them: Mario, the son and that b**** waitress. Instead of rushing the house, though, he'll fight fire with fire.

At dinner at the Mirador, Carlos isn't buying it when Yolanda tries to impress him how proud his mother would be; he rejects justifying that she simply didn't want him, and that's it. Yolanda compares his mother's actions to her own, whom no one understands; but that she has her reasons -- that will come out at the proper time.

In the kitchen at Mario's, Gabriela and David have another escalating argument over his supposed secrecy and her indignation that everybody treats her like a dope; and things are worsening between them. Across town, Bertha pounds on Carlos's condo door begging to be let in, and he relents and does so.

She pleads for his help after being ejected for spilling the beans to Hernández, which amazes and distresses Carlos; and she must explain she was drunk, depressed and lonely at the time. Bitterly sobbing that all she wanted was a bit of financial security -- and what she got was everybody kicking her to the curb, Carlos thaws a little and exits to make her a cup of tea.

At Mario's, David and Dora promise each other to stay together from now on, no matter what. Back at Carlos's, teacup in hand, Bertha notes with self-deprecation that she behaved so badly to him and he so good to her; only Carlos would open the door to her, and she can hardly face him. She admits that she deserved the slap by Mina, in every way a better person than she.

When Bertha laments she's the worst person, Carlos points out there's no point in comparing herself; everyone is just like they are -- or rather like they want to be. She's suffering the consequences of her decisions. When he bitterly observes she'd rather marry his dad than have the love he offered, Bertha tries to explain.

She did it feeling threatened, she says, which Carlos dismisses. Didn't she think how deeply it wounded him to see her with his father? Confused Bertha offers she really had no idea why she accepted; she thought maybe it was a love she felt, which Carlos turns on her: yes, a love -- but for money.

Frustrated Bertha can't explain with words why she abandoned Carlos for Adolfo, and she must admit his accusation that she's ambitious; but when she cries that she's ambitious -- but not bad, Carlos has decided now that she is indeed bad -- and superficial and selfish! The worst is she didn't even leave Carlos for Adolfo, but rather for his money!

He strikes out bitterly that she left him for a load of cash and jewels! He's about to boot Bertha out again, when Bertha shakes her head and cries that no matter what, she still loves Carlos. He's still the love of her life, she swears.

Shocked Carlos is realizing Bertha has a more sinister weapon than he ever thought; and she takes up his hands and begs him to look into her eyes for the proof: they've both suffered and understand each other with just a glance. They've both been victims of his father and know the sorrow he's caused.

Bertha's begging him with her heart in hand, she says; and Carlos is watching and listening when she insists she truly still loves and desires him, despite all her damned ambition. And despite her shamelessness, Carlos admits, he still loves her, too; which makes relieved Bertha ecstatic, and Carlos kisses her.

In the sack at Juan José's, Alejandra frets that the ends of their current actions don't justify the means; and that if they back Adolfo into a corner, he's going to do something desperate. But Juan José blows off her concerns, insisting the three musketeers can handle anything he can bring.

Across town at a pool hall, Édgar explains to Valentín that the infamous shoes and murder DVD's are their life insurance against being next on Adolfo's list. Later at Carlos's, in bed with Bertha, he has now to consider Mina; who coincidentally phones while he's in the shower -- and gets some rude news from Bertha, who takes Mina's message that Carlos should go directly to hell.

Bertha conveniently fails to inform Carlos of her phone call. Presently, Alejandra is awakened by inconsolable Mina, informing her of that harpy b**** of a sister of hers and pig Carlos. Later, at the Mirador, Carlos catches Yolanda phoning Juanita and brusquely hangs her up, berating her for leaving a trail for Adolfo.

Carlos orders her to pack; while immediately in her condo, Adolfo reads the caller I.D. and discovers from the Mirador number with disgust that his suspicions about the kidnapping must be true. On their way out of the Mirador, Carlos anxiously reminds Yolanda that Adolfo already kidnapped her once, and she wonders when life will ever be normal.

But Yolanda is grateful Carlos loves her, and they embrace as they exit. Before long, Adolfo arrives and bribes a janitor to confirm a woman of Yolanda's description checked in, but just exited. Carlos deposits Yolanda at Juan José's and explains the situation; while at Dante's, Adolfo orders Édgar and Valentín to case Mario's neighborhood.

At Juan José's, he surprises Carlos with the bad news of Mina's reaction to Bertha; and Carlos promises to explain later. Carlos appears at Alejandra's architectural studio to apologize to bitterly sobbing Mina. She doesn't really want to hear it, but he confirms that although he'd been thinking his feelings for Bertha would be superficial -- they were not.

He assures Mina he cares about her a lot, and the last thing he wanted to do was hurt her; but he also doesn't want to keep her in the dark. Carlos asks her forgiveness, but Mina gives him a loud boot, leaving her weeping piteously and wondering to Alejandra why she was so stupid as to fall in love with him.

At a restaurant, Elsa confirms she can have nothing with Juan José, but also shouldn't go out with Mauricio for spite. Ulises counsels her to take time to figure what matters -- and assures her that she truly matters to Mauricio. Meanwhile, Édgar watches outside Juan José's house as Carlos enters.

Inside, Carlos explains to Alejandra and Juan José that he loves Bertha and that it's difficult when your brain tells you one thing and your heart another. He knows sooner or later he would have gone back with her anyway. Alejandra is happy if her sister is changing, but cautions against telling her their plans.

Carlos assures them that he may love Bertha, but he still doesn't trust her and won't say anything. Outside when Édgar reports Carlos arriving at Juan José's, Adolfo deduces his son is in on the kidnapping; and so feels better about it, knowing Carlos would never hurt her. Adolfo orders Édgar to wait for his instructions.

At the AFI, Ramón surprises Leonardo with news of Hernandéz's corpse encountered in a dumpster; and Leonardo exits immediately to speak with Adolfo, whom he suspects. Upstairs at Juan José's, Carlos insists to Yolanda that Adolfo's weak now and can't defend against his enemies, so she assents to another few days of hiding.

Carlos makes it much easier by offering to take Yolanda to Mario's to see the kids, whom she adores; they recall to her Carlos as a child. When Carlos mentions he can't take her to his place, since Bertha is there, Yolanda realizes Carlos loves Bertha a lot -- which he confirms, like no one else ever in his life.

When Yolanda points out she's his father's wife, Carlos assures her they are going to fix that right quick. Across the alley at Mario's, Gabriela's furious she once again can't raise David at work and drags Julieta with her through the tunnel to catch a taxi from in front of the tunnel house to confront David at the hotel.

Watching them and reporting their movements is Édgar, who follows in his car as the two sisters climb into a taxi; which we suddenly see is driven by none other than Valentín. They're wondering who the driver's phoning about their whereabouts when Édgar launches himself into the back seat, gun drawn, and making the girls scream their heads off.

Labels: verdad