Ladrón de Corazones       August 5, 2003 – December 10, 2003     [gran final]

 

Argos/Telemundo co-production.

 

Telemundo.  5/19/03 – 12/10/03

These summaries are from Telenovela-World. / Estos resúmenes son de Telenovela-World.

 

You may distribute this information freely but must give credit to this Web site (www.telenovela-world.com) and the authors. / Puede distribuir esta información, pero debe acreditar esto sitio Web (www.telenovela-world.com) e los autores.

 

Please retain all the information about the source. Por favor, conserva todo la información sobre el fuente.

 

Please send additions, changes, corrections to diane@telenovela-world.com/ Por favor, envia adiciónes, cambios o correcciónes a diane@telenovela-world.com.

USA, 8/4-8/03:

     summary for Tuesday, 5th August 2003 Author: B. Date:   08-06-03 16:49 PDT

    sorta summary TUESDAY 05 AUGUST 2003

    if anyone sees something i've forgotten, please don't hesitate to jump in, but i think this is pretty much all of it...!

    *to the EXTREME disappointment of everyone, Gus does, in fact, go all the way with Inés the Ultraratfink, and apparently does NOT gratify me by calling out Vero’s name at the most inopportune moment (or indeed, at any moment. damn). after the deed is done, they fall asleep all tangled up in her Pepto-Bismol pink sheets as foristas give Gus many negative points on their LdC scorecards and get out their ItUrf voodoo dolls and straight pins...

    *the Big Bad Powwow... with cocktail hour out of the way, the meeting gets down to business as the Big Bads all take seats around a table. DIddy Dearest pretty much takes control of the meeting right away, and as he talks, he gets up and starts to pace around, fidgeting with a heavy glass something that might be an ashtray, and speechifying in a vaguely menacing tone about how it’s vitally important, now more than ever, they keep their profiles low and strictly follow established Big Bad procedures in all their dealings with each other. the way to ensure they can continue to operate with the least risk to the group is by not attracting attention to themselves individually with flashy purchases, blah blah blah. all throughout his speech, the other Big Bads nod sagely in agreement, and a guy in a Tom Sellack mustache who is ostentatiously smoking a cigar actually speaks up several times, agreeing with DD in a very toadying fashion. DD continues to pace around, mostly behind OC and Frosted Blond Bad Guy’s seats, and to fidget with the glass thing. through the open double doors behind him we can see Junior and Ex-Yellow Tie standing in the next room, listening to his little speech. DD goes on, pointing out (but not naming any names) that there is one among them who has not been respecting these rules and is thereby endangering their whole group. FBBG, who is sitting next to Ostentatious Cigar, tries to look as unconcerned as the rest of the group as more and more of DD’s casually-barbed remarks on this them would seem to be directed at him. DD goes on and on, and i wonder when he’s going to get to the point and actually accuse someone (probably Ostentatious Cigar, since they’re trying so hard to make us think it’s going to be FBBG...) when i notice in the background that Junior is quietly, unobtrusively closing the double doors. no sooner have the doors been closed then DD pounces, thwacking the obliviously smug OC in the back of the head with the heavy glass thing. OC slumps forward, face-down on the table (and thus with his head just out of the camera’s “eye”) and DD continues to pound on his head until there can be no doubt OC is dead. the other Big Bads try to look impassive at this summary execution. after this, DD coolly does some wrap-up speechifying about the elimination of threats to the group as it pertains to OC, before expanding on this theme. he says that the recent elimination of “Pisces” and his Pisceslets, means that the Big Bad Council is one step closer to rendering Gus and his information virtually useless (the way he says it indicates they've already managed to make most of Gus' information useless). but, DD warns, they should not take this as a sign they should relax. then he moves on to a related topic, stating that he’s sure they’re all aware that he has an appointment with the President during which the President will ask him to assume the position of Public Security Secretary only recently vacated by the late unlamented Corrupt Government Secretary. having seen what happened to the only one of them who spoke up, the other Big Bads mostly just nod and wait for DD to get to this latest point.

    DD states that if he accepts the position, he will become their very. worst. enemy. he will dedicate himself to hunting them all down and eliminating them. and, given what he knows about them, he will probably be able to do a very thorough job. (and i should warn you that i wasn’t paying complete attention at this point so i might be wrong but i THINK what he says next is this): HOWEVER, DD states suavely, if i am elected the Chief Big Bad here, i will decline the President’s offer to be the new Public Security Secretary. he suggests they vote. the other Big Bads agree. FBBG speaks up, saying something about he knows that most of them were thinking about electing him (FBBG) the new Chief Big Bad but he, for one, thinks they should vote for DD. or something like that. later, they’ve apparently had two rounds of votes. one was on whether DD should decline the President’s invitation to be Public Security Secretary –which was a unanimous vote “Yes” (he should decline)— and the other as to whether DD should be their new Chief Big Bad –which he “won” with but one dissenting vote. they all congratulate their new Chief and the meeting breaks up. as everyone files out the reopened double doors past DD (who is trying and not quite managing to conceal his glee), DD tells FBBG in an undertone that it was very clever of him to vote against his being Chief. or something (i did say i wasn't completely paying attention during this part...). FBBG has a smooth reply ready that sounds very reasonable (well, reasonable by their standards, at any rate), but we can tell that although they are pretending all is still hunky-dory between them, both FBBG and DD are now very much on their guard against each other.

    *over at Mummy María’s, Jailbait is trying to see Tony the Brat, but MM won’t let her in. nor is she terribly gracious about refusing. Jailbait pleads, politely, but with a desperate tone. finally, TtB, probably having heard the noise, turns up and tells MM to let Jailbait in. with very bad grace, MM does so and leaves the two kids alone in the living room. TtB again accuses Jailbait of “abandoning” him, saying she clearly values her father’s $$ over his love. Jailbait protests that that wasn't it at all -- they didn't even have anything to eat or any way of getting it. there is more in this vein but i'm sure you get the idea. bottom line: TtB won’t accept her attempts to apologize or explain herself, and he won’t let her try to hug and kiss him and make up. firmly, he tells her he wants her to leave, and not to try to contact him again. they're through. he doesn't even know what he saw in her in the first place. miserable, she finally agrees and leaves. later, TtB gets together with Greasy Mustache, the scuzzy guy he went to to get in on the drug dealing so he could get some money. TtB tells GM that he faithfully followed his advice with regard to Jailbait --apparently GM has assured TtB that the way to get Jailbait to come crawling back is to reject her... i think GM also gives TtB some more romantic advice, but the idea of taking any sort of advice from GM has me so revolted i don’t pay any more attention. they head out to a club.

    *when FBBG gets home, he and Ex-Yellow Tie discuss the fact that DD has gotten even more powerful now, and they are going to have to be very very careful. FBBG tells E-YT to double the guards on the house and to have guards following Jailbait any time she goes out. the guards on Jailbait are to be very trustworthy and VERY discreet, however: FBBG does not want her realizing they are there. then Jailbait sticks her head in and tells FBBG she’s going out to a club with some of her girlfriends. he asks if she has enough money and other parental-type things, then tells her to have a good time. later, we see Jailbait and said girlfriends going into a club that looks like the one she went to with TtB the first time they went out together. Jailbait seems to be looking around as if looking for someone, and her girlfriends tell her to get with the party program. Jailbait pretty much "yeah, yeahs" them and keeps looking around. and soon she is distressed at what she sees: over at a table is GM, the other guy who was part of the robbery, and TtB, who is busy macking with some random girl. uh, oh...

    *as i believe we saw in Monday’s episode, MatAAo, after giving it a lot of consideration, has agreed to (try to) give Auntie Ditz a child altho he continues to have reservations about this whole plan, given the risk to AD’s overall health. but she is adamant about wanting a child. i only mention this because it might have been in last night’s episode instead of Monday’s and i'm just getting the eps confused. but anyway... later, MatAAo joins Tarta at the taller, where he helps him dispose of the drugs they got from “Pisces” (which reminds me: how does Gus plan to explain not having the merchandise he was sent to get? does he plan to say that “Pisces” refused to give it to him and it got blown up along with the cash and the shack and the gang?). Tarta is clearly miserable. with very little prompting, he joins the ever-lengthening list of people pathetically moaning to poor MatAAo about how miserable it is to be in love with someone who loves someone else and/or who you can’t have. MatAAo makes sympathetic sounds until they are interrupted (and is that a relieved look i see on MatAAo’s face? i sure couldn't blame him...!) by someone knocking loudly on the door. they hastily try to hide the evidence of what they’re doing, then invite the knocker to come in. it’s Vero, looking for Gus. both MatAAo and Tarta deny any knowledge of Gus’ whereabouts, and Vero, who is clearly too distracted to notice details, seems unaware either of Tarta’s woebegone expression or any imperfectly hidden evidence lying around (i'm not sure there was any, but in the state she was in, Vero would probably have missed an elephant in there unless Gus was riding it). after Vero leaves, they finish dumping the dope down the drain and MatAAo pours a big bucket of something (water? chemicals? oil? who knows...) after it to wash it all down.

    *Grandma is over at Mom’s as Mom and Auntie Ditz are setting the table for themselves. they ask if Grandma is going to stay as well but she tells them she has a date with one of the shopkeepers in the barrio (don’t remember who). from the way Mom and AD are teasing Grandma, i’m guessing this is a former flame or someone Grandma has dated in the past. Vero, looking preoccupied and a bit haunted, turns up looking for Gus and as usual Grandma immediately starts to yell at her, telling her to get out, she’s not wanted there, etc. Vero is so intent on her own thing that she pretty much ignores Grandma as Mom and AD try –with very limited success— to hush Grandma. they do shut Grandma up enough to tell Vero that they don’t know where Gus is or when he might be back. Grandma follows Vero out, haranguing her all the way. meanwhile, AD continues to lie to everyone –specifically Mom— about the true state of her health. the operation to remove the lumps in her breast is on “Thursday” and she is hiding it by announcing she is going to the beach for a few days to “celebrate” the doctor’s report saying the cancer was gone. Mom is suspicious and cross-questions AD on it, and when AD asks why she’d lie to Mom about something this serious, Mom points out that AD lied the last time and only just told her about it now. AD gets all indignant, saying surely she wouldn’t try the same trick twice now that Mom knows about it, and threatens to bring Mom a postcard from the place to prove she went to the beach. Mom laughs and tells her it’s not necessary. however, further discussion on the topic is forestalled by the unexpected appearance of Suave Owner. he’s there to take Mom out to dinner. Mom doesn’t want to leave AD to eat alone, but AD gaily assures her she’ll be fine and all but pushes her out the door with SO.

    *in her car, Vero calls Chino and asks him to get her Inés the Ultraratfink’s address, and not to let anyone else know he’s doing it for her. Chino tries to protest, but she pleads him into doing it.

    *back at home after the Big Bad Powwow, DD is on a high from his “victory.” he smugly crows to Junior all about how everything is working out just as he’d planned. he makes a point of telling Junior he’s (Junior is) the only one who knows all DD's secrets and all his plans. he needs and expects Junior to be similarly open with him, ultra loyal, blah blah blah. Junior’s smile looks a little forced as he almost mechanically assures DD that he is that man, DD can count on him –clearly Junior is thinking about Suzy, hidden away in the loveden— but DD’s too full of himself to notice. before Junior leaves for the night, DD reminds him about the meeting with the President, first thing the next morning. later, MM has evidently been invited over for a celebratory dinner (tho she doesn't know about the celebration part), which has seriously put Repulsiva's little nose completely out of joint (obviously, Repulsiva was hoping for a repeat of what happened the last time DD was similarly pleased with himself and now she sees it's likely her part is going to be played by the woman she clearly considers her unnecessary understudy). as a result of her snit, she is even more insolent toward MM than usual. MM clearly wonders why DD keeps her around; he knows this, gives her some sort of half-assed excuse, and MM lets the matter drop. DD is so giddy, he makes the mistake of alluding to how everything is going his way and turning out just how he wanted, which of course prompts MM to ask him what he's talking about. oops. DD hastily has to invent some lame excuses. fortunately for him, he gets a partial reprieve when Repulsiva re-enters the room. she glares briefly and resentfully at MM before pointedly turning her back on her to almost rudely tell DD that someone's at the door looking for him. she simpers at him in a smirking sort of way and slithers out. DD hastily excuses himself and goes to see who it is, trying not to look too relieved at the interruption.

    *Mom and SO are having an intimate dinner at his restaurant when one of the waiters or something comes over to SO to tell him someone's asking for him. SO glances over toward the bar, then excuses himself to Mom, telling her he just has to go take care of this. Mom is ok with this, and SO hurries off toward the bar (which we can see in the distance behind Mom's back) where he is accosted by a dark-haired woman in a blue evening dress. they appear to be having some sort of discussion or possibly an argument. Mom, having nothing better to do, looks around not long after SO has left and has already caught a glimpse of SO and Blue Dress Woman. but because she doesn't want to be (or at least, she doesn't want to appear to be) vulgarly curious, she quickly turns back facing forward. only she is curious, so she sneaks another quick glance or two behind her at the pair near the bar. Mom's face starts to lose some of its sparkle and we begin to wonder if we are going to be disappointed in SO as well...

    *Gus wakes to find himself alone in a Pepto Bismol sea. before he can get up and get dressed or poison ItUrf or anything, we hear that someone is at the door, insistently ringing the doorbell. as Gus hastily pulls on his jeans and his jacket (no shirt), ItUrf finally emerges from another part of the house (the kitchen, maybe?) and answers the door herself only to have Vero burst in looking for Gus. although Gus is clearly pretty hastily dressed and ItUrf is in a shortie bathrobe, Vero doesn't seem to notice or even care. ItUrf totally loses her cool and angrily informs Vero she has no right to be there, she has no right to interfere with Gus any more, blah blah blah. as she has the others who are not germane to her mission, Vero pretty much ignores ItUrf and tells Gus she has to talk to him, he has to come with her so they can speak privately. Gus tries to look surly as he toes his self-imposed party line, saying he's not going to go. Vero's desperate at this point and she pulls her gun and trains it on Gus. this only makes ItUrf amp up her pointless remarks. Gus tells ItUrf to calm down and Vero to put her gun away, he'll go with her. they leave and Vero tells Gus to get into her car. he does so, as if he thinks they're going to sit there to have a conversation the way they did once before on a street outside ItUrf's old apartment. only Vero buckles her seat belt, starts the car, and drives off. Gus, looking bewildered, hastily buckles his own seat belt.

    *Junior arrives back home to find Suzy staring, with a rapt and wistful expression, at the computer screen. we don't see what she's looking at, but can guess --as Junior clearly has-- that it's the video e.mail from Gus. as if he can't stop himself, he accuses her of it. although she admits to it, she hastily closes the computer. in any event, it's too late. in a fit, Junior grabs the laptop and smashes it, ignoring Suzy's frightened and rather pitiful cries. still in the grip of his jealousy, Gus grabs Suzy and demands she admit she's still in love with Gus, and has been all along.

    *DD's inopportune visitor was, of course, ItUrf, come running to tattle on Vero and try to get her in trouble (altho she disguises it as concern for what Vero --clearly a madwoman-- might do to Gus). impatient at the interruption and annoyed with ItUrf for being there without his having summoned her, DD matter-of-factly asks if she knows where Vero took Gus. his attitude does seem to have an effect on ItUrf and she makes herself calm down. a bit less angry/hysterical, she tells him she doesn't know. she tried to call Gus on his cel but he didn't answer. DD pretty much there-there's her and tells her to go home to wait for news of or from Gus. for his part, if he locates Vero, he'll contact ItUrf. he hustles her out of there before MM comes looking for him, sees ItUrf, and asks awkward questions. not a moment too soon. no sooner has ItUrf exited out one door than MM enters through the other. she asks what the interruption was and DD lies that it was business.

    *Vero has taken Gus to the house where her kidnappers held her prisoner. at first Gus is trying to play his part, asking if this is where the O-Team takes their prisoners to torture a confession out of them or what. Vero baldly tells him it's where she was tortured almost to death... the torture which ultimately caused her to lose her baby. their baby. from the look of shock / horror / grief on his face, Gus is clearly unable to keep up the part any longer, and isn't even going to bother to try. Vero is oblivious. she raves about how, in spite of everything he's done to her, in spite of all the misery he's put her through, in spite of everything bad that's happened to her since she met him, and especially in spite of all her best efforts to feel otherwise, she's still in love with him. she can't seem to help herself, and it makes her crazy. desperately, she pleads with him to tell her something --anything!-- that she doesn't already know that will make her stop feeling this way, that will put an end to her misery and pain. but every time Gus starts to open his mouth, she talks right over him -- accusing, berating, bemoaning, you name it. everything she says, the naked pain in her voice and on her face, it all just twists the knife more in Gus's heart. while on the one hand he surely can't help being glad to know that she's still in love with him in spite of everything, on the other there she is telling him how much pain that love has cost her, how she hates herself for feeling the way she does, and how desperate she is to tear this feeling out of her heart and stamp on it until it never bothers her again. and there's the wretched Party Line... when he finally can get a word in edgewise, all Gus can do is choke out a short question: what if i told you it was all lies? we never find out if he was going to say more --and if so whether that more would have been to put a new spin on the Party Line to try to make her definitely fall out of love with him this time, or if it would have been to tell her the truth-- because Vero pounces on the part about "lies" and immediately jumps to her own conclusions: that he was lying about having forgotten his plan to avenge his father at any cost, and how his supposed feelings for her were just what she'd once accused him of: all a pretense so he can use her to pursue his revenge. that means that all this suffering, all this pain she's been put through was for NOTHING! Gus is utterly despicable and she despises him now even more than she did before, something she had not thought possible. they're both sobbing brokenly. softly, but almost menacingly, Vero tells Gus she's going to do whatever she has to to tear her love for him from her heart. as she says this, she takes one of his wrists and locks it in one of the cuffs that are still attached to the bed frame and that once held one of her own wrists. Gus does not protest or try to resist -- it's as if he's letting her do this as penance for what he's had to put her through, and maybe so he can share, albeit in a very tiny degree, some of what Vero felt when she was imprisoned there herself. Vero, looking grim, leaves the room and then the house, but even though she's accomplished what she meant to accomplish, she doesn't look as if she's gotten even a morsel of relief from this whole exercise; Gus has still not made the slightest attempt to get away or even to try to get her to come back to him....

 

Summary - Thursday 07 August 2003 Author: B.  Date:   08-11-03 02:19 PDT

    Robin, was this the one you missed the beginning of? THURSDAY, 07 AUGUST 2003

*as we know from the previous episode, DIddy Dearest is peeved with Junior for not showing up first thing in the AM, all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and ready to take DD to see El Presidente so DD could have the pleasure of turning down EP’s offer to be the new Corrupt Government Secretary only to have fun tantalizing the press by not telling them he’d already turned down the offer. as practically the only person to Know All, it was very ill-mannered of Junior to absent himself at DD’s current Big Moment and so cheat DD of his audience. in retribution, one of DD’s other henchmen has discovered that Junior is at a restaurant, all set to eat with WigSuzy, so DD goes to the restaurant and confirms with his own little two eyes that Junior is there. while standing outside he calls the restaurant and has Junior summoned away from the table to answer his phone call. after addressing a few very caustic remarks to him, DD tells Junior to hold for him, ordering him to under no circumstances hang up. as Junior waits with growing impatience by the hostess desk, DD stalks in and sits down with a rather disconcerted WigSuzy, telling her he’s Junior’s “best friend.” so, as this episode starts, DD repeats that he’s Junior’s bestest bud. he makes out like Junior had invited him there to eat with them, but then says he only stopped by to tell them he couldn’t stay because he had something important he had to do (DD doesn’t seem to see the illogic in this, and in any event Suzy is too freaked to comment on it). all forced affability the way DD is, he introduces himself to WigSuzy, who is still fairly stunned and looks a bit like she’d like to disappear into the seat cushion. she tells DD that Junior hadn’t said anything about anyone joining them and DD laughs it off, saying with the barest hint of acid in his tone that lately Junior has been forgetting about everything.

    *Nancy continues to present her arguments to Gus as to why she thinks it’s time and past that they tell Vero the truth. she points out that all the lie is doing is making Vero weaker and more obsessed. Gus is clearly attracted by the of not having to lie to Vero any more, but has been fixated on The Plan for so long it’s hard for him to agree to change directions mid-stream like this. he keeps insisting he can’t.

    *Vero promises Esteban the Unstable that she will try to fall back in love with him again, but he has to be patient with her and give her time, although she knows she doesn’t have any right to ask for that (and why not?! it’s not like she lied to him when she fell in love with Gus! but whatever). EtU tells her he’s given her the right to tell him whatever she wants or needs to. she swears she doesn’t want to hurt him, but neither can she guarantee that she’ll be able to make him completely happy overnight. he’s in full-on Understanding Mode, and tells her that he knows she’s confused and can’t promise him anything right now. she can always tell him anything... he doesn’t want to put pressure on himself, or on her, because he is certain that, given time, they will be able to recover what they once had. all he’s asking for is the chance to try.

    *Inés the Ultraratfink is continuing to demonstrate exactly how little she deserves anyone’s sympathy, never mind Tarta’s seemingly unshakable devotion, by making it abundantly clear how inconsiderate, selfish, and self-centered she is at the breakfast that he has brought for them. she’s got her pouty mulish look on and is telling Tarta, in a tone that leads me to think he’s been trying, in his own hesitant way, to get ItUrf to stop obsessing about getting back together with Gus, that even though he’s Gus’ shadow and best friend, she thinks she knows Gus much better than he does. That Woman (Vero) stole Gus, but that relationship is over now and Gus is going to come back to her. Tarta asks if she isn’t worried that Gus will just hurt her again. Why do you ask? she asks in a cold, almost dangerous tone of voice. Tarta stammers to explain even though Gus is his best friend and he loves him a lot, he knows that Gus will hurt ItUrf. ItUrf’s follow-up to this honest statement comes in sharp, angry questions: Did he tell you something? Did you overhear something? and when Tarta says No to everything, she practically screams, Well, then [why]?? Tarta tells her that he’s just saying it for her own good – he doesn’t want anything to happen to her. ItUrf is annoyed and tells him she wants to change the subject. she thanks him for worrying about her in a voice that shows how little she appreciates it, then states she doesn’t want him to ever tell her again that Gus wants to hurt her unless he finds out that Gus is just playing with her, she wants Tarta to tell her. Tarta again nods his agreement, then tells ItUrf he’s sorry and he won’t open his mouth [on the subject] again.

    *back at the restaurant, DD is showing no sign of rushing off to whatever important business he’s claimed to have and instead has started interrogating WigSuzy. he asks what she does and she says she’s in public relations. he enthuses about this and states that he has a number of companies that could probably use her services. DD looks at his watch and comments that Junior really has been delayed and WigSuzy tries to make him go away by stammering that if he has to go, she’ll be happy to give Junior a message from him. alas, poor WigSuzy! DD says no, he’d rather give it to Junior personally – provided she doesn’t mind his staying there with her until Junior gets back. he’s enjoying himself. WigSuzy asks him what he said his name was again, and this gives DD the opportunity to ask hers in return. “Margarita Gonzáles,” she replies. he compliments her, saying he likes her name. meanwhile, over by the reception desk, DD’s cel phone has finally decided it’s tired of being on hold and has cut the connection. Junior stares at the phone in annoyance for a moment, then asks if he can make a call from the restaurant’s phone. on being told he can, he calls DD’s house. Repulsiva answers and is her usual rude and snippy self with him, berating him in an extremely unhelpful manner and telling Junior he would know where DD was if he’d bothered to report for duty that morning. as Junior returns to the table, he is a bit shaken to see DD there. WigSuzy is all scared eyes and she touches Junior’s hand for support. DD stands and is all oily smoothness, complimenting Junior on his lovely girlfriend and saying he’s sorry that he can’t stay and chat with Junior as he’d promised to do. But we can chat this afternoon at my house, ok? he continues in what passes for his affable tone. Junior does not mistake the underlying message and almost shamefacedly agrees. We can clear up some unfinished business, ok? DD continues. Junior just agrees. as DD finally leaves, he pauses to pat Junior on the back and tell WigSuzy that Junior “vale oro” and he wants him working for him immediately. the hint is very clear, and after he’s gone, Junior sits down, stiffly, almost as if he’d been stuffed.

    *Gus and Nancy are still disagreeing about whether or not Gus should tell Vero the truth – Gus thinks that they’ve told so many lies now that Vero won’t believe him, and won’t forgive him, and then he’ll have ruined The Plan for nothing. Nancy makes the same argument that has been made here on this board: why not give Vero the opportunity to decide for herself? yes, it won’t be easy, but the longer the lie goes on, the harder it’s going to be to convince Vero that Gus has done everything because he loves her. Gus wavers at this one, asserting that he is doing all this for love. but he still isn’t convinced he should tell Vero the truth, so Nancy brings out the heavy artillery: crossing her arms, she looks at him and asks: What is the point of finding the man who killed your father and bringing him to justice if you’re not going to end up with Vero? If to accomplish your goal you end up destroying both her and your own hearts? What good will it do?

    *Vero goes to see Chepe and basically invites him to bawl her out for having left Gus chained up in the kidnap hous, tho she tells him she will allow him three seconds in which to do so. Chepe tells her he was worried about her, especially when he couldn’t find her after he released Gus. Vero tells Chepe that she honestly thinks she’s cried all she can possibly cry over this. Chepe points out that she cannot do something like this again – it puts everything they’ve accomplished in danger. Vero tells him she knows that and promises it won’t happen again. almost wryly, but with a smile, Chepe says he’s not so sure about that. Vero tells him the three seconds he’d been allotted for yelling at her are up and leaves, saying he knows where to find her.

    *Suzy and Junior are still at the restaurant and she has clearly been trying to get info out of him about DD. just as clearly, all he will say is that DD is someone who wants him to work with him. then Suzy asks why he didn’t tell her they were meeting someone for breakfast and Junior, clearly feeling rattled, tells her because he forgot. he gets up and tells her he’ll drop her off at home – she’s to wait for him there. she wants to know where he’s going to go. he tells her he’s going to go to DD’s house to see what the devil DD wants. he tosses some cash on the table and they leave.

    *MattAAo is at the hospital with Auntie Ditz, in her room. she’s in a gown and her hair is all in a surgical cap – obviously, she’s about to be operated on. she makes a few jokes about how unflattering her current ensemble is and MattAAo laughs gently. Cancer Doctor comes in, accompanied by a Random Nurse pushing an empty wheelchair. he tells her they’re there to take her to pre-op and asks who is going to sign the permissions, etc. AD tells him that MattAAo is going to do it and has to explain that even though he’s not family, he might as well be: they get along so badly, she says, it’s as if they were married. MattAAo’s holding her hand this whole time and has a very protective attitude about him; everyone laughs a little at her joke. before she gets in the chair and is wheeled away, MattAAo tells AD he’ll be there waiting for her when she gets out of the operation. they share a tender moment, he gives her a kiss, and off she goes.

    *ItUrf and Tarta are still having breakfast and her phone rings. since ItUrf has her mouth full, Tarta goes to answer, but she practically snatches the phone away, insisting on answering herself. it’s Gus calling, and he says he was just checking to see how she was doing. she’s all happy, as if the call is proof positive that he’s in love with her, and tells him how Tarta brought breakfast and is there with her (it should be noted that she turned her back on Tarta as soon as she realized it was Gus on the phone, and she keeps her back to him during the call. she also signs off telling Gus, “Besito,” managing to make it sound as if she’s saying it back to Gus when all he said was basically, See ya later. bitch). Gus tells her he wants to talk to her about something and she suggests he come talk to her at her house. he says he has a few things he has to take care of first, but he’ll be by after that. she looks smug after she hangs up the phone, and in her self-absorbtion doesn’t seem to notice that Tarta is looking subdued again.

    *Chepe calls all of the O-Team together (even the ones we don’t know) in the Squad Room. he tells them that, on balance, the operation (presumably the one to get “Pisces” and his Pisceslets) went very well and he wants to congratulate them. even though they only captured some “low-level delinquents,” it doesn’t matter, because the fact that the Narcos seem to be killing each other off means that the O-Team is damaging the Narcos. and if it has anything to do with the death of Corrupt Government Secretary, which Chepe feels it obviously does, then that just shows how desperate the Narcos starting to get. Chepe tells the team they have to stay on top of things, and especially on anything that has to do with the new Secretary of Public Safety, since that person is of great interest to the Narcos and they will definitely try to get some sort of hold over whoever the guy is so they can manipulate him the way they must have done CGS (he looks at Vero as he says this, tho not pointedly). after this he makes as if to leave, having finished his little pep talk, then stops and asks if there are any questions. EtU wants to know how the O-Team is supposed to know when the Narcos are going to try to approach the new secretary, and Chepe replies that he doesn’t know. it’s possible the Narcos will simply look into all likely candidates, to see how they might be suborned, but that’s something they (the O-Team) themselves are also going to do, so they will be aware of the most viable approaches. when there are no other questions, Chepe asks Vero to come see him in his office. once there, she tells him she’s pretty sure she knows what he’s going to say. Chepe chuckles and tells her that’s why she’s his “secret weapon:” because besides being an excellent cop, she’s also a mind-reader. Vero replies that it doesn’t take any superpowers to know what he’s going to warn her about: that DD is certain to be the next secretary, and they’re going to have to investigate DD to see what weaknesses the Narcos might try to exploit in order to suborn him. Chepe tells her she’s half-right, and then baldly states that DD doesn’t want Vero on the team any more. Vero points out that it’s not really DD’s decision to make. Chepe replies that since the O-Team is under the mandate of the secretary, if her father wanted to, he could, with the stroke of a pen, disband the O-Team just in order to get Vero out of the business. Vero doesn’t think that her father would take things to that extreme. DD would not make the mistake of confusing his personal desires with his professional obligations, she states with the conviction of one who would never herself conceive of doing such a thing. And moreover, she continues, DD needs the O-Team to do his job efficiently. Chepe points out that a father never ceases to be a father and if he doesn’t want her there, risking her life, he likely would do nearly anything to get her out. in addition, it’s no secret that DD and he don’t get along, so there is likely to be a big fight if Vero insists on staying and Chepe backs her when DD wants her off the team. Vero needs to be aware of, and prepared for that.

    *Gus goes to talk to Father Anselmo. he tells FA that his life has become completely unreal, almost nightmarish, to him, and he would give anything to get rid of this ongoing bad dream. not mincing matters, FA tells him if he truly feels like he’s living a nightmare, Gus should just wake up. “That’s just my problem, Uncle: I’m living this nightmare wide awake! Every day, every moment, it shows me everything I’ve lost – [I’ve lost] practically my whole life: I lost my father, I left the country, I lost my friends, I lost everything.... Now Veronica, a child, love, my tranquility, my happiness...! Do you believe I’m happy right now, Uncle? No! No, I’m not! And I ask myself: Does this make any sense? Does all this make any sense? You tell me – vengeance, does it make sense to you?? FA interrupts this impassioned flow to tell Gus of course vengeance is senseless. Gus pleads with FA to tell him what to do – he’s practically around the corner from discovering who “Escorpión” is. FA tries –again!— to talk Gus out of his pursuit of “Escorpión” by pointing out that he doesn’t know who the man is. and since he doesn’t, what will happen if “Escorpión” gets to Gus first and kills him – who will avenge Gus? who will look out for his people then? Gus remains unconvinced. FA asks if Gus will go with him to MattAAo’s cantina to continue their discussion.

    *Junior reports in to DD, who immediately asks for reassurance that Junior has not told “Margarita” about him (about DD and who he really is). Junior assures DD that of course he hasn’t. then DD wants to know what Junior told her he does, and he replies that he told “Margarita” he works for a security firm as a bodyguard. DD seems appeased, commenting in an ironic way that the truth is always the most convincing. he comments that Junior didn’t seem to appreciate that he’s had someone watching him. Junior doesn’t reply, but neither does DD really seem to expect a response. he continues, pointing out that Junior ought to be fully aware that they –especially they— need to be ever-vigilant, and these days more than ever. not that he distrusts Junior –he would never do that!— but he himself is going to investigate “Margarita” to make sure she hasn’t deceived Junior, and that she really is who she claims to be. Junior is trying so hard not to look worried at this that he once again manages to look stuffed. DD continues, saying if Junior is so crazy about this woman that he actually forgot <small smack on Junior’s chest with the back of DD’s fingers> about DD’s appointment with El Presidente, then this woman must be investigated. viewers were all relieved to hear DD add that he wasn’t going to ask Junior for the gory details like how he and “Margarita” met (which, much tho i’m glad Junior isn’t going to be put to the test of making up a convincing lie on the spot, i would have thought would be fairly pertinent to this sort of investigation, but again: whatever) or if they “do it” or not, nor how often they do and in what positions (!!) because he’s going to find out for himself (shudder). he’s going to do this because they need to know. and it could be, he adds in a tone that manages to combine admonishing, regret, and menace all at the same time, that “por inocente ese “Margarita” nos de la sorpresa y... y resulte ¿qué sé yo...? alguien incomodo... alguien de quien tengamos que deshacernos. Y por tu culpa, ya sea demasiado tarde...” Junior is beyond stuffed at this point. he doesn’t know what to say.

    *back at the hideaway loveden, Suzy is putting the smashed laptop back together as she listens to, but doesn’t watch, the news on TV. a random reporter is speculating about the likelihood of DD’s having been offered the secretary’s position during his meeting with El Presidente that morning. they cut to a video/soundbite of DD’s little impromptu press conference after his meeting during which he so coyly refused to confirm or deny anything (and i note that prominent among the little bouquet of microphones clustered around DD’s closeup are not one but TWO with Telemundo logos... real subtle, guys...!), and the sound of DD’s voice makes Suzy look up from her labors to confirm that he is the same man who all but forced himself on her at the restaurant, claiming to be Junior’s best bud and would-be-employer. she starts to think furiously and we can see things starting to fall into place in Suzy’s mind.

    *MattAAo’s cantina. Gus and FA are in a booth having drinks and snax. FA continues to be very disapproving of Gus’ stated course of action (the whole vengeance thing) and all but accuses him of having a death wish when he asks Gus if he wants to end up as his father did. Gus replies, prefacing his answer by telling FA that he will not understand because he is a priest. “Mi vida me vale,” Gus states. “Neta: Me me vale muchísimo menos mi vida que haber perdido a Veronica.” and now that he knows what “esos desgraciados” are capable of, does FA seriously think Gus is going to forgive and forget everything they’ve done?? ”Nel.” Gus answers himself, baldly. (“nel” being the negative form of “simón,” one supposes. Gus uses it several more times during this conversation, and always as if it’s much more forceful, much more permanent, than a mere “no.”). at some earlier point in their conversation that we didn’t hear, Gus must have told FA he intends to Tell All to Vero, because now he points out that even Nancy, who he describes as a friend of Vero’s that FA doesn’t know, thinks that Vero will understand and forgive Gus. “Veronica vale todo,” Gus states flatly. FA, knowing what he knows about DD and “Escorpión,” DD and Dad, DD and Vero, DD’s feelings about Vero and Gus, and especially the lengths to which DD will go to get his way, almost frantically tries to talk Gus out of telling Vero the truth, and indeed, out of approaching Vero at all. instead, he suggests, Gus and Vero should just forget about each other. not too surprisingly, Gus seizes on this last bit, pointing out that in the past FA had supported his relationship with Vero and asking why the change? FA replies that things didn’t work out between them. Gus should forget about finding “Escorpión,” return to the US, and stop risking his life and the lives of everyone around him. Gus just says that FA doesn’t understand because he’s never been in love. “Cuando ames a una mujer, te vas a dar cuenta y sabrás lo que es entregar el alma. Y sabrás lo que es que se te meta el alma de esa persona. Eso es lo que me está pasando a mi en este momento. Yo amo a Veronica. Le voy a decir toda la verdad, pase lo que pase.” Gus adds that that doesn’t mean he’s going to give up his vengeance, and perhaps that means Vero will just hate him more because of it. but he’s going to tell her what’s in his heart. he needs to speak with her. he needs to be with her. he needs to feel her. he needs her. he needs her.

    *DD, still a bit on his high horse, reminds Junior that at the Big Bad Powwow all the Big Bads had decided he would not accept the secretary position if it were offered. still, he’s going to keep everyone on tenterhooks a for a few days. “Con eso pretendo que lleguen y llamen los que tienen que llegar y llamar.” he looks at Junior and says he figures Junior knows at least one of the people of whom he is referring. Junior nods and says he imagines DD is referring to Chepe. DD is pleased with his protégée, and, having given Junior this brief respite, relentlessly returns to the topic of WigSuzy. “Lo único que no entiento, es por qué querías ocultar a “Margarita” de mí, ¿eh?” Junior smiles a bit, almost fondly, and looks as if he’s going to make a pleasant reply, but DD doesn’t wait for a response. with his tone getting a bit more cranky, DD continues “¿Por qué esperaste que fuera yo el que averiguara su existencia...?” (DD seems to have rather conveniently forgotten that he’d gotten all snippy with Junior the other day and told him he didn’t want to know from WigSuzy...). Junior’s face reflects his awareness of DD’s changing attitude, but he is spared having to answer by the opportune arrival of Repulsiva, who could be heard petulantly calling for DD throughout the house during this last question and who now bursts into the room without even bothering to knock to complain in the most childish way possible (really! about the only thing she doesn’t do is stamp her foot!) that his “gata” is at the door looking for him and it seems she really likes the house. DD smoothly replies that if Repulsiva is referring to Mummy María, to tell her to come in. Repulsiva snarkily replies that he can tell her himself, because “¡¡yo no voy a hacer reverencias a esa... mosca muerta!!” she stamps out of the room through the far door, ignoring DD’s annoyed shout. DD tells Junior they’ll continue their conversation tomorrow morning and asks him to show MM in on his way out. relieved, Junior goes to make his escape, but he doesn’t get off completely scot-free. “¡¡Ah!! ¡Saludos a ‘Margarita’!”

    *Cancer Doctor tells a relieved MattAAo that the operation was successful and were able to remove all the cancerous tissue. however, he reminds MattAAo, there is a very high chance the cancer will return unless AD has the other operation (to remove her ovaries). he asks MattAAo to help him convince AD to give up this idea of getting pregnant and have the operation as soon as possible. he feels the whole pregnancy idea is “una locura.” no sooner has he left than AD wakes up. she groggily, but happily, tells MattAAo she was dreaming about their child.

    *Vero is in the squad room at a computer terminal when Nancy approaches. she tells Vero she was worried about her and asks what happened. Vero is surprised that Chepe didn’t tell Nancy, and says he wanted to know stuff like was she happy to see Gus, if they’d exchanged words of love, etc. Nancy says it must have had quite an effect on Vero since she still seems to be so “sensitiva.” Vero ruefully agrees, but doesn’t elaborate. Nancy tells Vero that she’s her friend and she just wants to help. Vero says the problem is that while it’s difficult to recognize one’s mistakes and even more so to accept them, it’s even harder still to confess those mistakes to someone else, no matter how good a friend that person might be. but really, Nancy already knows anyway: from the day Vero saw Gus on his motorcycle, she knew she was making a mistake, that she should not fall for him. but it happened and that’s all there is to it. and even though it pains her and it pisses her off, she just has to accept it. and all she can do now is to ask Nancy, as her friend. to help her to forget. Nancy agrees. (and what is it with those clear plastic-looking bra straps of Vero’s?? this is the second time i’ve noticed her wearing them and they look both weird and uncomfortable!)

    *FA is still hanging in there, trying to talk Gus out of telling Vero the truth, but Gus, who is starting to look a bit mulish at this point, just keeps repeating that he loves Vero. he tells FA that, altho she said it “con rabia y con dolor,” Vero told him she still loves him, and that gives him hope. “El amor lo puede todo, ¿no?” he asks, but FA replies bluntly that their love could mean death, not happiness. Gus says he’s willing to take that risk, and points out that FA himself was the one who taught him that “el amor es el acto primordial del ser humano.” FA is getting cranky at Gus’ continuing refusal to listen to reason and almost snaps that it’s all nonsense. Gus wants to know who is talking – the messenger of God, the God of love, of peace, of... FA has finally lost all patience, and angrily interrupts, saying that it’s his uncle talking, the one to whom Gus has recounted all his woes and potential troubles. pointing his finger at Gus, FA all but orders him to leave Vero alone. Gus just stares at him and flatly states, “Nel.” FA realizes he’s lost this particular round and, still annoyed, tells Gus he has to leave for an appointment, but if Gus wants they can continue this discussion later. Gus says thank you, but no. he is going to tell Vero the truth that night, and “que pase lo que tiene que pasar.” FA leaves without saying anything further.

    *MM is all dolled up in a slinky black number with a twin-set sweater over it. she smiles coyly and thanks DD for the flowers. DD is glad that she liked them since he picked them out himself (he claims, tho personally, i rather doubt it). she asks why he sent her the gift and points out he still hasn’t told her why he wanted her to come over. DD tells her that he was thinking that he was a little bit brusque with her the night before, that he hadn’t given her the attention she requires. he kisses her lightly and takes off her sweater in a sensuous sort of way. she tells him it’s ok, she knows he was very nervous about his meeting with El Presidente, and asks how it went. DD admits he didn’t give EP an answer yet, saying he’d see if he felt like [taking the job.] MM tells him she’s very proud of him but i’m not sure he’s really listening since he’s in his El Gran Seductor mode. he tells her he’s happy to have her there, and that he has a surprise for her – “una propuesta. Ya te lo digo después.” he starts to seriously mack on her but she pulls away, worried that Repulsiva might come in. And what of it? asks Antonio. ¿Qué no eres mí mujer, eh?” as usual, she capitulates and they start to neck.

    *back in the squad room. EtU brings Vero a cup of coffee as she continues to study whatever she’s been studying on the computer (presumably, the files they got from Gus). she asks him if he wants to know what it says there, and he pulls over a chair and straddles it, ready to work. she says, We know who “Pisces” is, and who “Orión” was, but, what position did CGS occupy in the organization? EtU reminds her that while supposedly he was “Escorpión,” Chepe feels certain that “Escorpión” isn’t really dead. or if CGS was “Escorpión,” then there is likely already a new person in his place. they discuss the whole desperate Narco idea. Vero ruminates on how you never really know about the people around you and how hurt DD was to discover that his life-long friend was really a traitor. Gabriel approaches and says he has additional news about “Pisces:” his someone (didn’t catch who) was about to leave the country (or had been out of the country, not sure which – i don’t have closed-captions and no matter how many times i replayed this, i still couldn’t make it out completely), so his death is practically assured. the O-Team needs to grab him (her?) before he arrives and find out what he knows. Gabriel adds that he’ll get the address and keep them posted. as he leaves, Vero smiles and tells EtU, taking his hand in hers, that she’d forgotten what a good team they made (and since it was all Gabriel just telling them stuff, and before that it was Vero basically recapping what they already knew, i don’t really see any evidence of their supposed teamwork, but as usual: whatever). she says she’s going to go find Gabriel to follow-up on his news and see what other “sorpresitas” they might discover.

    *ItUrf happily leads Gus into her living room. he tells her he’s glad to see she’s looking so well [after being grazed by a bullet the day before]. she invites him to have something to eat, but he tells her he’s in a hurry and just wanted to tell her something really quickly. he starts to say his piece, but she immediately interrupts him, saying she doesn’t want him to tell her the same old thing again, that he’s not the same, that his life has changed, that he doesn’t want any commitments right now, that he doesn’t want to hurt her – she already knows all of that. she doesn’t know where he got the money for the cocaine, or whether he really killed those people, she doesn’t know what he’s going to do with the drugs – and she doesn’t care. the only thing she wants him to know is that she’s with him, unconditionally. Gus appears moved, and he strokes her cheek as he thanks her.

    *Unsympathetic Obispo again reminds FA that while he understands FA’s rush, FA needs to understand that the ways of the Vatican take time, and FA needs to contain himself until the Vatican gets back to them with their decision on his fate. FA says he can’t wait for the laws of God to catch up to the laws of men – he needs to avert a tragedy, and needs to retire from the priesthood as quickly as possible so he can do this. he begs UO to help him, warning him that he is going to betray the seal of the confessional with or without the Vatican’s approval. “Usted no entiende el tamaño del monstruo,” he tells UO firmly but in some desperation. “Ni siquiera lo puede imaginar.”

    *DD’s study. MM is primping and from DD’s partially-untucked shirt and the couple’s rather pleased looks, we are left to infer that we are rejoining them post-sex. DD walks over and kisses MM, telling her he’s a truly fortunate man. doesn’t she agree that it’s marvelous that after so many years they still feel so passionately about each other...? MM suggests that that might be because they’re truly in love (and boy, is this woman deluded or what??). between kisses, DD does his suave apology routine, saying that he’s sometimes been very unfair to her and how he sometimes doesn’t realize he’s unintentionally hurting her. he hopes to make up for that now. And the surprise...? she asks? he tells her it’s something he’s thought about very hard, and hopes that it will compensate for the mistakes he’s made with her and with Tony the Brat. it’s something they’ve both deserved (MM and TtB have) for a long time. as he’s said this, he’s walked over to a shelf or something and appears to be getting out a piece of paper or an envelope. MM gets this big stupid grin on her face and asks if what he’s trying to tell her is that he wants to marry her? DD just looks at her over his shoulder, a bemused expression on his face.

    *Junior comes home and Suzy doesn’t even let him close the door before pouncing on him in a tizzy. she states that the man who joined them at the restaurant was DIddy Dearest, the country’s next Secretary of Public Security! she saw it on television, all day long! Suzy wants to know how it is that someone so important is interested in seeking out a humble bodyguard to offer him a job. You didn’t invite him to join us this morning, did you? she asks. His appearance this morning took you by surprise! she demands Junior tell her who this guy is, but gets her answer from Junior’s lack of response: He’s your boss, isn’t he? The one who ordered you to kill me,” Suzy states. Junior, his back literally to the wall, admits she’s right.

    *MM is just gushing on about how wonderful their being married will be for her and especially for TtB, how it will help build TtB’s sense of self-esteem, how it will--. but DD interrupts, stating clearly, “It’s two tickets to Paris.” he hands her an envelope. MM isn’t willing to give up the dream: Two tickets to Paris... Are you saying that we’re going to go to Paris? And we’ll get married there? DD is relentlessly cheerful even as he tries to conceal his pleasure at breaking her illusions yet again, telling her the tickets are for her and for TtB. that’s his surprise: he wants the two of them (MM and TtB) to take a nice long trip around Europe, since they’ve never been. <DD is buttoning up his shirt and putting on his tie in a very businesslike fashion as he says all this, further reinforcing the unspoken subtext that he’s finished with MM. MM just looks more and more stunned, and not in a nice way.> the tickets are open-ended, DD tells her, so she and TtB can stay as long as they want. in fact, he’s already making arrangements for them to live there for a few years. wasn’t she just saying that TtB has been behaving himself lately? well, this is his reward, the Present from His Father! DD seems very pleased with himself.

    *in what is presumably Greasy Mustache’s seedy apartment, the television is on and a random newscaster is going on about how DD is all but named the next Secretary of Public Security. TtB walks over to the set and bangs it on the side, presumably to get better reception, but possibly in an expression of frustration. GM tells him not to hit the TV. in explanation, TtB tells GM that DD is his father. GM can’t believe it. they watch the news for a moment or two until TtB can’t stand it any more and turns it off.

    *Gus is giving ItUrf a big hug. he is the first to let go, of course. ItUrf whines that she doesn’t understand why he has to leave. instead of answering, he tells her he really appreciates knowing he has her support. he goes to leave, and ItUtr says she knows where he’s going – to look for Vero. that’s why he’s in such a rush, isn’t it. when Gus doesn’t answer, she demands he tell her if he is or not.

    *Vero is in the O-Team's spiffy co-ed locker room, brushing her hair and apparently getting ready to leave for the day. EtU comes in, saying he was looking for her. Vero tells him that it appears that the guy who took “Pisces’” place in the organization was the one who changed his name and left the country. whatever. she shrugs and turns back to her locker. EtU tells her that he’s been thinking about what she said earlier, about how they work well together. he tells her that he thinks he knows how she can rediscover that man that loved her and desired her so much. Why don’t you let me reintroduce him to you, let me remind you of him...? I want you to remember how happy your body was next to mine, and how it can continue to be... Vero shifts around a bit uncomfortably as he is saying this. he puts his hand up to caress her face, and although she doesn’t try to walk away, neither does she lean into the caress. but when he steps a bit closer, she tries to turn away, only to be stopped by his other hand on the other side of her face, gently but firmly making her look at him. he moves in for the kil— er, kiss. she permits it, and even appears to be returning it. argh.

 

what i remember offhand... (very mini partial summary 08/08/03) Author: B. (---)Date:   08-12-03 19:00 PDT

    all i can think of right now is that Gus, after much prodding, admits he's in a rush to get away from ItUrf because he's going to see Vero. naturally, ItUrf takes this opportunity to try to prove to herself that Gus really loves her and not Vero by trying to keep him with her. then, after finally escaping from ItUrf's rapacious tentacles, Gus motorcycles over to Vero's and parks out front to wait for her. her is nervous, but all happy because at least he won't have to lie to her any more.

    unfortunately for all fans of the Interesting And Not Cliché Novela Plot Not Taken, Vero arrives with EtU. even more unfortunately, instead of driving up to the front of the house, they for some incomprehensible reason park partway down the driveway so they can get out to talk before walking up to the house. and of course, as they're talking, EtU puts his arms around Vero and kisses her, and in the spirit of her newly-found and ill-advised (ok, fine, given what Vero knows it's probably sensible, but still) decision to give their relationship another chance, Vero kisses him back. it's not a big ol' passionate kiss, but it is on the lips and it is at least moderately loverlike. predictably, Gus chooses that particular moment to approach (i don't remember if he'd seen the headlights or what), arriving just in time to witness The Kiss. he's upset, but is intelligent enough to know that Vero is operating on less than all the facts. she rather heatedly tells him she doesn't want to see him any more and demands that he leave, with EtU chiming in in his most officious way. Gus rather frantically asks to speak with Vero alone, but she gets on her high horse and tells him that anything he has to say to her he either says in front of EtU or she's not interested in listening. EtU of course chimes in with his agreement (not that anyone asked for it, and i am rather annoyed with Vero for not telling him to stay out of it and let her handle this. one of the things that always annoys me about her relationship with him is that he never seems to think she can do anything for herself. and worse, even when she does assert herself, he will rarely back off. because of this, i think she rarely bothers to assert herself with him any more. argh). Gus pleads, but EtU is all over Vero and Gus ends up leaving in disgust. he tells Vero, very sarcastically, that it was a good act she put on, by which we are presumably to understand that he thinks she was faking it when she told him she still loved him in spite of her best efforts not to...?

    about the only other thing i remember offhand from Friday is that Suzy made Junior admit that DD is his boss. Junior tells her what DD said about investigating Suzy himself and she totally freaks. she opens up the laptop, which Junior is a little surprised to see she has repaired --as i recall, Suzy just brushes off his comment about this because she has way bigger things to worry about-- and immediately sets to work getting her "Margarita" identity spread around online as much as she can -- on voter rolls and at the DMV and so forth. he goes to sleep as she works. later, she tells him that she's done what she can. but she's worried that it won't stand a really thorough investigation because there were places she just didn't have the necessary materials to set it up or something (like a childhood school history, that sort of thing). she knows that if DD really looks, he is going to figure out that she's a fake in a hot second. she asks Junior first why he can't just quit. from Junior's reply, he clearly feels himself under an obligation to DD, in addition to it being dangerous to quit. then she suggests they just leave. get on a plane and go to Europe or somewhere else far away and just live the rest of their lives there. Junior says that won't work either as there isn't anywhere they can go where DD won't find them. bluntly he tells her the only way they can get away from DD and stay alive is if he kills DD. for all Suzy is worried and wants to get away, she does not want Junior to have any more blood on his hands than he already does -- even if that blood is DD's. she tells him she doesn't want him to kill DD. later, after she's fallen asleep, Junior gets up and quietly checks his gun, then loads a bullet into the chamber. he sneaks out and goes over to DD's, where we see that DD has already found some of the records Suzy planted and is looking at them. he has his back to the door, and Junior trains his gun at the back of DD's head. DD seems to have sensed his arrival, though, and tells him it's about time he showed up. Junior lowers his gun and puts it away.

    oh, and MM, after DD makes it very clear that marriage to him is NOT any part of the "surprise," stomps out, disgusted with DD. i think she goes to see Father Anselmo to tell him some more about what an idiot she's been, but i really don't remember for certain. but the whole "reward"/kiss-off thing probably made her additionally reluctant to tell DD about Tony the Brat's latest misdeeds.

 

USA, 8/11-15/03:

what i remember from yesterday (sorta summary 08/14/03) Author: B. Date:   08-15-03 13:20 PDT

    a what i remember summary for THURSDAY, 14 AUGUST 2003 (it is somewhat out of order, tho)

    *Tony the Brat gets taken off to a real jail (from the holding cel at the delegación; the guards who transport him have a little fun at his expense, mocking his plaintive pleas to Mummy María to get him out of there) where he gets processed: they give him a jail jumpsuit, inventory his stuff (wallet, amount of cash in it, lighter, etc), make him take out his earring(s) and give him a close-cropped haircut. the next day, he's making his bed when a gang of toughs comes in with a message for him from Greasy Mustache: TtB had better not name any names (specifically, GM's) or he and Jailbait will regret it. before they have a chance to say any more, some Random Guard-type approaches and chases the toughs off. he tells TtB to accompany him -- he has a visitor.

    *Mummy María comes home to find DIddy Dearest sitting in the dark in the living room, waiting for her (and if i were her i would have the locks changed PDQ!! not that that’s likely to keep him out for long, but still...0. he again tries to excuse his actions by not really taking responsibility for them (altho he *does* refer to TtB as "nuestro hijo" and not "tu hijo" for a change) and pulls out all the stops to try to get MM back on his team. but she's pretty angry (as well she should be!) and is resisting. he tells her he's already made a call and arranged for TtB to get preferential treatment (tho i can’t see any signs of this, at least so far. he’d apparently already made the call BEFORE GM’s guys got to TtB at the jail...), but when she begs him to get TtB out of there altogether, he reminds her that "she knows he can't be seen to be involved." only then he all but contradicts himself by telling her that if she promises to tell Vero exactly what he wants her to, word for word, he will get TtB out of there immediately. we don't hear (or if we did, i wasn't listening) what is is he wants her to tell Vero, but we do hear MM's reaction: she is shocked that he wants her to lie to Vero like that. it sounds as if whatever it is he wants her to do, she is --reluctantly-- refusing to do. we are left to guess what it is he wants her to say, but must assume it’s something pretty damn nasty if the so-desperate MM is even considering not doing it.

    *TtB's visitor is Jailbait. she's very distressed to see him there and tells him it's all her fault. if she hadn't been so stupid and demanding and instead had been more supportive, he wouldn't have done something to land him in jail. she tells him she really misses him. TtB is cold: are you telling me if i get out of here, you'll come back to me -- knowing the conditions will be the same, or worse? it's clear he doesn't think so, and he wants her to go away and leave him alone, tho i can't tell whether it's because he's a) hurt and lashing out; b) still following GM's romantic "advice;" c) trying to protect Jailbait (and possibly himself?); and/or d) really doesn't want her any more. she doesn’t reply, just sits there with tears dripping unheeded down her cheeks.

    *Vero tells Esteban the Unstable (apparently off-camera, because i don't remember hearing this, either. nor do i know whether they were at the HQ or at her place or at his place when she told him this -- i was in the kitchen making dinner at this point and was listening more than looking. sorry) about TtB being her brother and how she feels totally betrayed to by DD. as he can be sometimes (which is why, no matter how much i often want to, i just cannot despise and detest EtU the way i totally do Inés the Ultraratfink), EtU is supportive and consoling without trying to advance his own agenda, and does not try to either excuse or attack DD's actions. after pretty much telling Vero he'll support her in whatever she decides to do about this, he leaves her alone. Vero is either already at home or goes home at this point and looks around her apartment. as she's getting stuff packed, DD calls from his cel as he's driving. Vero doesn't pick up, and doesn't seem particularly moved by his apologies and pleas for her to forgive him and to wait for him to get there so they can talk and he can explain. when she's done packing and goes to leave, Repulsiva appears and states in her usual snarky way that DD gave her explicit instructions not to let Vero leave. Vero tells her she doesn't care about DD's explicit instructions – she’s going. she stomps around Repulsiva's very half-hearted attempt to block her way and leaves. later, when DD gets home to find Vero gone, he berates Repulsiva, but when she defends herself, saying truthfully but without much elaboration that she did try to stop Vero leaving, for a change his heart doesn't really seem to be in it. i guess he knows his Vero well enough to know that she would not let Repulsiva deter her if she really wanted to do something. either that, or he’s too busy feeling really sorry for himself.

    *Junior continues to insist to Suzy that the only thing he can do to keep her safe is to completely separate himself from her. he is very distraught about this and actually breaks down sobbing. Suzy is the only woman he's ever loved and he can't stand even the thought of living without her. but he'd hate it even more if something happened to her: she has to leave. Suzy doesn't want to go and keeps insisting there has to be some other solution. or that he should come with her. but Junior tells her there isn't, and he has to stay with DD. it’s not just to protect her, but because he just can't abandon DD. at least, not now (the unsaid implication, "maybe sometime later," hangs heavy in the room). Suzy is still protesting – she doesn't know anyone or have anything there, except him. but she also seems to be starting to accept the idea of having to live without him. one thing, though, states Junior: you have to promise me you will not try to see or contact Gus.

    *Auntie Ditz gets all dressed up and goes over to MattAAo's for a nice, intimate, romantic dinner (which apparently she prepared there) as a prelude to commencing Operation Get Pregnant. they're both nervous and awkward -- you'd never know they've slept together many many times before. the next morning when they wake up, AD tells MattAAo that she knows it worked, she is pregnant. not too surprisingly, he's a bit disbelieving: we only made love 8 hours ago – you can't possibly know whether you're pregnant or not yet! but AD is certain anyway. the two are much more relaxed and at ease with each other, joking and being tender. they make a good couple, and remind me once again how much i don’t want AD to die so that Mom can end up with MattAAo.

    *consumed with how sorry he feels for himself, DD goes and has another sobby, poor-little-me conversation with Father Anselmo. he wants to know if FA really believes what he told him, that he believes God’s mission for him (for FA) is to redeem DD, and does FA really think he can help DD achieve the peace that he so desperately wants but which has eluded him all his life? FA just looks stern –even a bit fed up, if you ask me— and not terribly sympathetic.

    *Gus has a meeting with Chepe in that big ol’ empty space they like to use and tells him that he’s been officially accepted into the Narcos now. there is some discussion –i think initiated by Chepe (i was in the kitchen again, i’m afraid)— about how Gus loves Vero but i’m not sure what the point of it was. altho now i think of it, i’ll bet it laid the groundwork motivation for a later scene. eep.

    *apparently EtU tells Nancy about TtB’s being Vero’s brother, and Nancy tells Chepe, who isn’t all that surprised, since he already knows from EtU that TtB is the guy who turned up wanting to see his sister when Vero was in the hospital. so all Nancy’s done is confirm to Chepe that TtB is, in fact, Vero’s brother and that DD had been lying to Vero about him until this time. once again, Chepe’s busy little mind goes into overdrive...

    *back in the taller’s little office after his little conversation with Chepe, Gus is records another vid-mail to DeadSuzy, which presumably he’s going to send to her e.mail account that must be either paid up months in advance or a Yahoo/Hotmail-type thing since no-one seems to worry about messages being bounced as undeliverable. Gus tells her he doesn’t really know why he keeps doing this, or why he even logs on hoping to see a message from her, since he knows she’s dead and can’t see this or send him messages in reply. he figures it’s just because he misses their chats so much, misses being able to talk to her. he tells her how unhappy he is, how he’s done a lot of things he didn’t want to do but had to do, things that have even cost him the woman he loves – and he tells her Vero’s full name and that she’s a cop (“did i tell you that already? well if i didn’t...”), and how he had to do these things so that what happened to Suzy because of him would not happen to Vero as well. and how it very nearly did anyway, since she was kidnapped and tortured almost to death, and how she’d been expecting their child but lost it because of the kidnap. he’s kindof a mess with the whole thing, and recording the message both seems to do him good and no good at all at the same time, if that makes any sense. and we are left to assume that Suzy must not have sent the vid-mail she recorded a few episodes ago, because otherwise he would have gotten it, since he said that he kept logging on hoping for a message from her even tho he knew one wouldn’t be there. so my guess is that Suzy will send it if/when either Junior completely “divorces” himself from her or she gets Gus’ current message (unless she’s still with Junior when she gets it).

    *after leaving home, we all wonder where Vero will go to live now, and especially where she would go to spend at least tonight. i was kinda hoping it would be “Cíntia’s” place, even tho i knew that really wouldn’t make any sense for Vero to live there. but instead –and as probably could have been predicted— she went to EtU’s. we don’t see whether they slept together, but i’m kinda guessing not. at breakfast the next day, she tells him she was dreaming all night that she was somewhere (i think their old country house?) and kept going all over the place opening doors looking for Tere, but instead kept finding Gus and DD, mocking her. she tells EtU how everyone who tells her he loves her lies to her and hurts her. EtU somehow doesn't seem to grasp how picking that moment to tell her he loves her might be just a bit ironic, and perhaps not really in his best interests.... Vero seems tired, and jaded.

    *Vero is in her car, parked in some sort of underground garage (not sure where, probably at HQ?) but she just seems to be sitting there, as if thinking or recruiting her forces to either get out or drive off. Gus dashes up, opens the door, and gets into the passenger seat before she can get away. of course, Vero isn’t very happy about this, altho she doesn’t do anything to actually try to make him leave, such as trying to scream the place down. she tells him there is no point in their continuing to meet and have conversations like this – all they do is cause pain. he tells her not to worry, he’s there to definitely say good-bye. Gus again tells her he loves her, and he always has loved her, truly and sincerely. he never wanted to cause her any pain – all he ever wanted to do was to love her and be loved in return. but now he believes that they just met at the wrong time and place. she tells him that loving him has only brought her pain, only terrible things have happened to her. Gus protests: does she think that this is the kind of life he wanted for them?? not a chance!! if only they’d been able to meet “normally,” without all this baggage attached, things would surely have been different. he asks her if she doesn’t think they had some happy times together – on the beach, etc. altho she doesn’t say so, we can tell she remembers the good times. but she keeps telling him that she’s trying to get over their love and doesn’t want to know from him. in reply, he tells her that he loves her more than he’s ever loved anyone, and more than he thinks he ever will love anyone, kisses her on the cheek (she sortof tries, but not too hard, to move her head away), gets out of the car, and stalks away without looking back. mournfully, she more mouths than whispers, “I love you, too.”

    promos for today’s show include Chepe giving El Presidente a report of some kind which EP says is very damning, if true. Chepe replies that he has backup for everything there...

 

[Summary of 8/14/03]Quick and Dirty summary  Author: g   Date:   08-15-03 13:52 PDT

    If anyone else wants to write a better one, please do, as I'm sure I will miss stuff, and some is probably out of order:

    We start with the end of the scene from yesterday- DD tels TtB that he'll never love him as much as Vero, then leaves a devastated TtB to run after V, who tells him "ya no tengo padre" (which, btw, is true...)

Vero than goes home. EtU is there, and she apparently has told him everything. She is feeling guilty also for blaming TtB, as the situation wasn't his fault. EtU leaves, and she starts to pack her stuff. DD tris to call, but she doesn't pick up- he leaves a message on the machine-

"please forgive me, I'm a weak man, blah, blah.." Vero looks pained, but doesn't pick up. As she leaves, Refugio tries to stop her, but Vero almost knocks her over and walks out (which was pretty fun). She ends up spending the night at EtU's.

    Gus and Chepe have some sort of Midnight meeting- all I really got out of this was that Gus told Chepe that he is now in The Organization (really, lame name for your evil criminal group- they might as well sell insurance). I wasn't paying close attention here so I may have missed something.

    When MM gets back home from the jail, DD is waiting for her. He tells her he will help TtB, but then tries to get her to lie to Vero (they don't really tell us what he wants her to say, but something to help him get her back) MM really does not want to, but DD threatens to not help TtB. We can see where this is going....

    Nenena goes to Mateo's apt. They set up a romantic dinner, but I don't think they get around to eating anything.

    Fraulein and Susy are talking. He tells her he is starting to make plans for her to leave, she objects, but he tells her the only way to keep her safe is for her to stay away from him (hmmm, where have we heard that before?)

    At some point there is the day to night montage....

    TtB is sent to the prison- he has to give up his clothes and stuff, and get his hair cut, etc. The only interesting this that happen to him are that he gets assaulted by a group of guys who tell him that Greasy Mustache guy sent them and if he opens his mouth but he and Jailbait will get it (Question- if GMG has this many friends, why was he letting TtB hang out with him anyway?) Later Jailbait comes to tell TtB she misses him, etc... He asks if this means she's ready to leave her father for him when he gets out and she doesn't answer.

    Vero and EtU have breakfast, and she tells him that she had a nightmare- she was looking for her mother, but all she found was her father and Gus, laughing at her. She says everyone who says they love her end up hurting her. EtU, of course can't help piping up "not me!"

    Gus is recording a message to Susy- he misses having her to talk to. He ends up telling her the whole Vero story including her name. I don't know if he sends it, since he thinks she's dead. It doesn't seem like he ever got her message.

    Nancy and Chepe talk, she tells him about the whole Toni scandal (she's apparantly talked to EtU) and he starts thinking about how many secrets DD has.

    Mateo and Nenena wake up- she says she's sure she's pregnant already, but if he doesn't believe her, she's not leaving the bed till she is. Of course, he doesn't believe her at all.....

    DD ges to see FA. I didn't really get this conversation. He is asking FA about his big revaltion (the day they tried to kill him). He asks FA if God is ready to tell him (DD) what he wants from him...

    Vero is in her car in a parking lot. Gus gets into the car before she can react and starts to talk. He doesn't really tell her anything useful (like, say, the truth), just that he loves her and has never stopped loving her. She says that he should stop looking for her since it only hurts both of them, that she hates him, and that soemday she will forget him. As he leaves, she whispers "I love you too"

    That's all I remember. hope this helps! If anyone else has something I missed or screwed up please tell me.

 

Author: B. (---) Date:   08-17-03 21:49 PDT   summary Friday 15 AUGUST 2003

    my home connection keeps cutting out, so this may end up being posted in pieces, but here goes...

    oh, yeah, i almost forgot -- be warned: the weak-stomached should probably not eat before reading this as Inés the Ultraratfink unfortunately features rather prominently –and really at her most revolting— in this episode...

    <in the parking garage>

as usual, we start out with a little bit from the preceeding episode, just to refresh us, so we're back with Gus in Vero's car in the underground garage. with total sincerity, he's telling her, "...pero quiero que sepas que en mi corazón jamás, jamás he equivocado respecto a lo que siento por ti – ¡jamás! – porque te amo... como creo que jamás he amado a nadie, como creo que jamás voy a amar a nadie. Te amo." Vero stares at him wordlessly, clearly conflicted. this is the Gus with whom she fell in love and she wants to believe him. but so much has happened, so much has hurt her... Gus leans over and, somewhat awkwardly, presses a gentle kiss on her cheek. almost reflexively, Vero makes as if to turn her head away, but the intent doesn’t really seem to be there – she doesn’t move out of range. without another word, Gus gets out of the car and walks away, not looking back. Vero heaves a deep sigh, but does not make a move to stop him. looking after him almost longingly, she more mouths than says, "Yo también te amo..." she heaves another sigh as if trying to collect herself, then gets out of her car. shutting the door, it's as if she's trying to shut the door on the Gus chapters of her life. but she again looks in the direction Gus went when he left, just for a moment, then turns and heads off in the other direction.

    <in the church>

DIddy Dearest is still in massive self-pity mode, dumping it all over poor Father Anselmo, who looks far less tolerant of DD's crocodile tears than ever before. DD pleads, Give me some sign that God can hear me -- you told me you had a Revelation that you have to redeem me! but FA just tells him he doesn't want to listen to DD any more, for his own spiritual health. and in any event, he's going away, out of DD's reach. this briefly stops the pity train as DD wants to know where, and when FA replies he's going to the Vatican, DD starts to panic, telling FA he can't leave him alone, he doesn't have the right (!!). with growing desperation at FA’s lack of response, DD insists that he needs FA with him, begs FA not to leave him like this, and states that FA is obliged to listen to DD, blah blah blah. FA looks completely unmoved and, almost coldly, tells DD that the only person to whom he is obliged to listen is God. FA adds that he thinks what's happening is a sign from God, and, just as happened when DD tested his (FA's) faith, seeing DD like this tells him that DD’s punishment is beginning. DD is still begging FA to help him, but FA just tells him it's God's will that DD be without him for a while. FA is sure that God is going to help him to prepare for the final great battle, and he urges DD to pray – pray, and plead for his (DD’s) soul. FA stands and walks away, leaving DD sniveling. we have a hard time not cheering audibly: take that, DD!

    <in the visitor’s room>

Tony the Brat is on the attack. he tells Jailbait, See?? you can’t even give me a straight answer!! You know why I’m in here? Because of you, because of money for you! Jailbait whimpers that money doesn’t interest her anymore and he just shoots back – Oh yeah? Now it doesn’t matter to you?! But isn’t that why you left me – because you needed your mansion with a pool and your jewels?? Don’t lie to me, don’t tell me that you’re going to get back together with me when I get out because you won’t! Jailbait just cries. TtB backs off a bit and, in a gentler tone asks her how she knew he was there. she collects herself a bit and tells him that Greasy Mustache told her and gave her a message to give to him. almost sharply TtB asks her when she saw GM, and what he said. she says it was nothing, just something stupid. she doesn’t seem to want to tell TtB, but he persists. finally, she says that GM said that if it should occur to TtB to denounce him, TtB would regret it. and, she adds almost in a mumble, that TtB was in jail because of her. TtB is leaning his head on his hand as if he was afraid of this. Jailbait asks TtB why he doesn’t just denounce GM anyway. TtB ignores this and asks her if GM said anything else. she tries to dodge the question but he won’t let her. finally she ‘fesses up that GM also threatened her, but she adds that she’s not afraid of him, she can defend herself. TtB starts to get a bit frantic and tells her to go away, to get her father to send her back to Canada, but Jailbait just sobs that she won’t leave him. the guard announces that visiting time is over and practically has to drag TtB from his seat. the whole time TtB is insisting that Jailbait has to get away.

    <hideaway loveden>

Suzy’s alone, watching Gus’ latest vidmail message. VidGus tells her that a lot of painful stuff has happened [since they last talked]. he’s had to lie to the woman he loves and make her believe he’s a murderer in order to separate her from him so that what happened to Suzy would not happen to her too. “She’s a policewoman,” VidGus continues, “I don’t know if I ever told you. Her name’s Veronica. Veronica Vega....” VidGus is still talking, but Suzy’s not listening any more because a penny has just dropped. she can’t believe it, and thinks it has to be a coincidence. but a little searching on the net is all she needs to confirm this nasty suspicion: the woman Gus loves is the daughter of the man who ordered Suzy’s death, Junior’s boss. she sits there, thinking furiously. (and let me just say that this is the FIRST time on a novela when i’ve seen someone typing furiously at a computer keyboard and actually believed they were really typing something for real (everyone else has just looked like they’re moving their fingers randomly, probably because they are. Manolo as Gus is a serious case in point. i’ll bet in real life Manolo’s from the hunt-and-peck school of typing...). nicely done, Teresa!!)

    <Chepe’s office>

and speaking of Vero the cop, Chepe’s having a little chat with her, telling her the O-Team is going through a critical time and he cannot permit her to leave the squad. Vero clarifies that she’s not talking about leaving permanently, she’s just asking for some time off – time for herself, for Tony the Brat, for her father; time to see if she can resolve her life. she feels as if, if she makes any mistakes, they will have unintended repercussions on those around her. she suggests a compromise: how about if Chepe only calls her in for the big things, the things for which he needs every available team member, but leaves her out of the things that don’t strictly require her presence. Chepe doesn’t look happy about it, but tells her if that’s what she wants, to take all the time she needs.

    <the garage>

Tarta is underneath a car and, from propped-open hood, we can deduce that he is working on the engine somehow. Inés the Revolting Ultraratfink, dressed in a schoolgirl-type miniskirt and Oxford-type shirt tied to reveal her midriff, and eating potato chips that she does not deign to offer to share with Tarta, is whining because Tarta has apparently told her he doesn’t know where Gus is or when he’ll be back and she doesn’t want to believe he’s not holding out on her. Tarta tells her she can wait for Gus in the office if she wants, but instead of taking him up on this offer and relieving me of having to watch this whole scene all the way through, ItRUrf decides to stay. she seems to notice him for the first time, and looks at him consideringly for a moment. I’m not bothering you, am I? she asks Tarta a bit coldly. he asks why she should. Because I keep looking for him, you know? she replies. we all know that all she wants to do is make sure she’s not alienating her best source of Gusformation, but Tarta is too smitten to realize this (or if he does, to care). Tarta says No, after all, Gus is his best friend and if she can help him (Gus) then he’s (Tarta is) happy to help her. ItRUrf comments rather petulantly that she’s trying to help Gus but he shuts her out. Tarta misses the petulance completely, and agrees with ItRUrf that he doesn’t know why Gus should do that. he tries to cheer her up by telling her that Gus really cares for ItRUrf and she immediately gets all high-school girly gossipy: “He does? Did he tell you something??” Tarta fumbles a bit, then finally picks the answer he knows she wants to hear: “Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes...” he’s rewarded with a creepy big ItRUrf smile, but now she wants to know exactly what Gus said. Tarta stammers a bit, then says that Gus didn’t exactly say it in so many words, but he’s pretty much said that ItRUrf is great because she puts up with all his moods and stuff. predictably, ItRUrf is all gratified and my stomach is churning. Tarta tells her he’s going to get back to work on the car as i head for the medicine cabinet for some antacids. ItRUrf can hang around if she wants to. before he gets back under the car, ItRUrf gives Tarta a kiss on the cheek and tells him he’s a sweetie. she announces she’s going to stay there to wait (parked against the car). pathetically, Tarta seems pleased.

    <Chepe’s office>

Nancy comes in with some files in her hand, telling Chepe she’s got all the information on the “famosos” delinquents (? (Nancy uses a word here that i can’t make out clearly and so can’t find in my dictionaries, so i’m guessing...) who had anything to do with Father Anselmo – The priest sure manages to attract them...! she adds, he’s been involved in some really heavy stuff! opening one of the files, she tells Chepe it’s all there –names, methods of operation, the problems the bad guys have had with the priest, etc. Chepe doesn’t seem to be paying a whole lot of attention, telling her he’ll look at the files later, and, a bit put out, she asks if this isn’t what he’d told her to get. bringing himself into the moment with an effort, Chepe tells her yes, he did ask for it, but right now he’s thinking about “a battle” he has to get to, “perhaps the most important” [battle]. he picks up another file from his desk, and shows it to her. he tells her it’s a history of the O-Team – who they are and aren’t, what they’ve done, what they’ve found out... and what they haven’t been permitted to find out. “I’m going to fight for it all, Nancy,” Chepe tells her. “I’m going to see El Presidente.” he walks out, leaving Nancy looking stunned.

    <on the street>

Gus is cruising along on his motorcycle. reminiscent music plays as he flashes back to: being at Vero’s bedside when she was in a coma at the hospital; in her bedroom the first time he lied to her as part of The Plan and Vero’s tearstained face after he’d done so; the time she’d come to look for him in the barrio and he’d glimpsed her through a store window, but when she’d turned back to look again, he was already gone; Nancy and Vero witnessing him blowing up the car that supposedly had a guy in it who’d crossed Gus; Vero holding a gun on him when she tried to have him arrested for Grand Theft Auto; Vero’s heartbreak and his own when she took him to the place where she’d been tortured. by now he’s stopped driving, and has been sitting on his idling bike as he recalls these things. he stares consideringly off into space for a moment more, then revs the engine and resumes his trip.

    <garage>

Tarta eagerly goes to greet Gus as if he has things he needs to tell him, but doesn’t have a chance to say anything more than Hello before ItRUrf barges in and takes over, all syrupy sweetness. (and again i will say it: this woman has ZERO consideration or sensitivity (and that is really one of the least of her faults!). she knows how Tarta feels about her, but when Gus is there she is all about Gus to the exclusion of anyone and anything else. and she plays on Gus’ guilt for not having appreciated her years of devotion to him. i’m definitely going to need drugs of some kind to get through this for this summary, since when i first watched this i actually fast-forwarded through most of the scenes with ItRUrf – and there are a LOT of them in this ep. batten down the hatches, my friends...) Gus doesn’t look all that gratified to see her. in a not-totally teasing way, ItRUrf accusingly tells him that it would seem it she doesn’t come to him, he won’t go to her since he hasn’t called her. unnoticed by either of them, Tarta does an abrupt about-face and returns to the car he was working on while Gus tries to claim he was just going to call ItURtf. she doesn’t buy it (as well she shouldn’t, really. unfortunately) and he ends up apologizing, adding that he seems to be really bad about staying in touch with the people he loves and who love him. she coyly asks him what he’s been up to and he says not much, and diverts the topic by asking what she’s been up to. she tells him she’s anxious to get her life back together, to recover what she’s lost. “Before your thing with Veronica, I had a life,” she tells Gus (and isn’t that an interesting, and subtly nasty, turn of phrase, people? “Antes de que pasara lo tuyo con Veronica, yo tenía una vida. Estaba haciendo cosas, estaba estudiando...” see how she’s doing that?? and Gus doesn’t even seem to notice that she’s essentially accused him and Vero of stealing her life...!). I want to study, I want to work, I want to better myself, I want to travel... Gus smiles and says he thinks that sounds good. he’s happy to see her getting on with things, having hopes. he puts his arm around her and starts to walk her towards the door as if seeing her out so he can get on with what he has to do, but of course she doesn’t want that at all. she suggests they go get something to eat and he tells her he can’t, he has to work, but she won’t accept that. she basically jollies him into going to get something, and we can tell her earlier dig is already starting to have its effect as he doesn’t really try that hard to resist. she hustles Gus out of there, laughingly clinging to him like a leech so he can’t get away, leaving Tarta forlornly looking after them, completely ignored.

    <entry gate to FBBG’s house>

Jailbait pulls up to the gates of FBBG’s house in her lemon-yellow newBug and the guard on duty approaches to make sure she’s alone in the car. as he turns to open the gate, Greasy Mustache rushes up to the open driver’s window. Random Guard goes to strong-arm GM away, but Jailbait tells him she knows GM and to leave him talk to her. he asks if she’s spoken with her “noviocito,” and in the same sarcastic baby-talk tone of voice she replies that she has, and asks if he’s satisfied. he tells her no, he won’t be satisfied until she comes over to his house. I have friends inside, he reminds her. You wouldn’t want anything to happen to your ‘angelito...’ she isn’t falling for it. Go to Hell, she snaps, and, revving her engine, drives through the gate with an annoyed spurt. GM looks after her, first surprised that she didn’t immediately buy into his threat, then smirking nastily.

    <sanatorium>

Tere is in a wheelchair, head propped on one hand, staring vacantly at nothing; Vero is gently wheeling her around the verandah. she stops the chair next to a spot with a nice view of the gardens and, even though she knows she won’t get any answer, asks if Tere likes this spot. walking around so she can lean on the railing more or less in front of Tere (even though Tere doesn’t make the slightest sign she even knows Vero is there), Vero continues talking to Tere as though she is listening and can understand. Vero apologizes for not having come to see her in so long, saying that so much has been going on. and she also hasn’t wanted to, because she didn’t want to believe that Tere had deceived DIddy Dearest, although now she really doesn’t know who to believe anymore (remember, Vero’s bought into DD’s story that Tere hurt DD by having an affair with his own brother, Felipe, altho now that she’s found out about how DD lied to her all these years about TtB, i’m a bit surprised she’s not more aggressively questioning DD’s version of the “affair” with Felipe, too...). crossing her arms, Vero continues, telling the still completely unresponsive Tere that what DD told her [about TtB being his son] was so terrible, and that what it did to Tere, to Mummy María, and to Tony the Brat, just doesn’t even have a name. And here she’d always thought of DD as such an honest, noble man – she still can’t believe it! It’s just so hard for her to accept. all Vero wants to do is disconnect herself from her feelings – she just doesn’t want to suffer any more. she doesn’t even want to think any more, she’s just so tired... in the background, we see Dr Slime edge into view, warily watching Vero and Tere.

    <Chinese restaurant>

a Chinese waiter gives ItRUrf and Gus menus, telling them the special that day is Chop Suey. full of heartiness now that she’s got Gus all to herself, ItRUrf effusively thanks the guy as she eagerly starts to look at the menu. Gus stares unseeingly at his for a moment, then decisively shuts it, telling her that he’s not really hungry. he suggests he keep her company while she eats something, but she chivvies him into ordering something, reminding him, even as he continues to insist that he really doesn’t want to eat, that he told her he hasn’t eaten anything all day. she pushes back open the menu he’d closed and tries to make him look at it. (we later see that he ends up ordering something, probably in self-defense, since looks like it just sits in front of him, virtually untouched. but this is typical of their interaction for much of the time together this episode: ItRUrf playing the guilt card to get Gus to stay with her, do things he doesn’t really want to do, and in particular to feel like he owes her something. and if you wonder why i’m telling you all this now, it’s because i really don’t know if i’m going to make it all the way thru the scenes with ItRUrf this time, either. they’re just too revolting and make me really glad that i wasn’t also watching this episode in real time, as i often do... gag. oh yes, and GAG.) he closes the menu again and tells her that now he thinks about it, he doesn’t think it’s such a good idea that he’s there right now. he really doesn’t feel well and he’s not very good company. Gus goes to get up and leave but she grabs his hand and, holding it in a loverlike fashion, tells him that she’s now got even more reason to stay with him all day long, just the way he once did for her. completely ignoring the fact that the situations are not the least bit comparable, she reminds him how he refused to leave her alone after that time when they were teenagers when the police killed [her boyfriend] Mario and raped her. Gus tries to say that anyone would have done the same as he did, but she says no they wouldn’t – she had lots of friends (is that so?? and if she did, how is it that she managed to lose all of them so that Vero became her only friend?? oh, yeah, because they couldn’t any of them stand her for long...) and none of them did that for her. You didn’t leave me alone for an instant, and you kept me from committing suicide... And that’s why I love you, Gustavo! ItRUrf tells him. And I think I’ve told you this before, but... thanks. Gus stares at her.

    <sanatorium>

Vero is bent over Tere as Dr Slime approaches. he greets her, and she stands and turns to watch him as he walks past and comes to a stop behind her. Vero asks him how come she feels like he’s always spying on her every times she comes to visit Tere. Dr Slime tries to act all innocent by saying he’s only there because it’s time for Tere’s medications, but this only gives Vero the chance to ask him, rather accusingly, why he hasn’t given her the list of her mother’s medications that she requested. Dr Slime tries to protest that they’re only giving her “lo... usual en estos casos, cómo antisicóticos y tranquilizantes...” Vero tells him firmly that she wants the list so she can seek a second opinion, and Dr Slime reminds her that that’s exactly why he’d shown her the reports from the other doctors who had examined Tere and agreed that Tere was receiving the correct treatment (and i note that Vero didn’t then and doesn’t now tell him that she wanted a second opinion from a doctor or doctors that she’d chosen. i wonder why she hasn’t tumbled to that yet...?). is she accusing him of mistreating her mother or lying to her? Vero is temporarily silenced by this, and then Dr Slime is given a reprieve in the form of DD, who Vero is clearly annoyed to see approaching. as DD says Vero’s name, Dr Slime quietly makes his escape.

    <Chinese restaurant>

they’ve both got a plate full of stirfry (maybe Chop Suey?) in front of them, but although ItRUrf is eating, Gus’ looks untouched. she asks if he’s going to tell her what’s going on with him. he replies that he feels responsible for everything, he’s got a lot of things to be blamed for. and now that ItRUrf’s told him this (about taking care of him as he once took care of her), he feels like he’s behaved really badly towards her. ItRUrf has a hard time hiding how pleased she is to hear this – her plan is working perfectly! – as she tells him (not very convincingly, not that he notices) that he hasn’t behaved badly. Gus has now completely bought into ItRUtf’s little ploy and insists that he has behaved badly, he’s been very selfish – and people tell him he’s being selfish and he doesn’t listen. now that she’s got him firmly on the hook, Vero lets the line play out a bit, telling him “ya pasó,” only to be further gratified at how deeply he’s caught when he says it’s NOT ok. and he doesn’t want it to keep happening. nor does he want her to idealize him: he’s got defects. lots of defects. ItRUrf is getting a little annoyed at this – after all, if he goes too far overboard he’ll run away from her because he’s too flawed. she tries to put an immediate halt to this: “Gustavo, yo te conozco perfectamente, y así te quiero,” she practically snaps. Gus tells her he knows that – she’s the only woman he’s ever known who’s cared for him regardless, and he’s “agradecidísimo” to her for it. “Pero eso no quiere decir que algún día me ames, ¿no?” she asks with some bitterness. Gus replies that all he knows is that right now he’s closer to her than ever. and he thanks her for that. clearly, ItRUrf doesn’t want his thanks... i head back towards the medicine cabinet.

    <sanatorium>

Vero angrily demands to know how he knew she was there, and DIddy Dearest fumbles to explain how he guessed she might be there, so he checked with Dr Slime. he begs her to listen to him, but Vero just ignores him and briskly pushes Tere past him. although he calls after her, begging her with barely a shadow of his usual arrogance not to leave him standing there talking to himself, he does not try to follow her.

    <El Presidente’s office>

seated side-by-side at a desk with a big picture window and a panoramic view of the city behind them, Chepe is going over his files with El Presidente, pointing out the O-Team’s organizational chart and how they’ve been very careful to only recruit people of indisputably unimpeachable honesty – something that has not been at all easy, he adds pointedly. And here, Chepe continues as he hands EP another file, are graphs showing what we’ve done – they’re a sort of balance. We’ve had the good fortune to have practically no “debits” (losses) so far in the pursuit of our duty. EP finally speaks up, telling Chepe that, as Chepe knows, there have been many rumors circulating about the O-Team recently. EP asks Chepe for a brief summary as to why the O-Team should continue. Chepe replies, “Digamos que la Brigada ha logrado marchar paralela a los mecanismos de control y seguridad del Narco, así como a sus influencias en el sistema judicial sobre desde... chantaje, y soborno.” he continues, telling EP that in a very short time they expect to have uncovered the head of the most serious criminal threat the country has ever known. EP wants to know just what Chepe is talking about: How high have they managed to reach? very somberly, Chepe tells him, So high that they have ears, a voice, and a vote in every one of your cabinet meetings. EP’s expression and voice does not change in the slightest as he asks if Chepe has proof of this. Chepe tells him he has a lot of proof – some of it vague, some more concrete, but the O-Team is definitely on the right track. I can substantiate everything I’ve told you, he concludes. EP looks troubled: This is serious, very serious, he says in a worried tone, tapping the file against the fingers of his other hand. Why do you think I asked for this meeting, Sir? asks Chepe. There is no-where higher-up to go... EP heaves a deep, troubled sigh.

    <sanatorium>

DD is still pacing around on the verandah. clearly, he has been waiting to catch Vero as she leaves. and here she comes out the door now... she looks annoyed to see him and doesn’t even acknowledge him as she tries to walk right past him: “Vero, mijita, es que necesito que hablemos por favor.... Por favor, Vero...” he says, finally resorting to catching one hand and swinging her around to face him. jerking her hand out of his grip, she angrily retorts that she doesn’t want to talk to him, and even less so right there. he pleads with her not to be so hard on him, saying he can’t stand it, but she just asks him what he thinks she’s supposed to feel after what he’s done to “us,” after having lied not only to her but to everyone for so many years. putting on his best, most pathetic looks, DD tries to claim that he was afraid that she would react just the way she has reacted, that she would hate him, and he didn’t want that (ok, and it apparently hasn’t occurred to him that if he’d been honest from the beginning, there would not be any need for this at all...?? or to Vero to call him on this point). What? and you think that makes me feel better?? Vero retorts. You’ve abandoned Tony, put him aside for his whole life, you got María pregnant and weren’t even capable of admitting it!! What kind of person are you?? Yes, yes, I know I made a mistake, DD whines (not terribly sincerely), but I swear to you that this is the only thing I have not been truthful about to you. Vero just looks away as if she can’t even find the words with which to answer him. DD tries to press his point, promising her he will do everything he can to make it up to her for “this mistake” (and this man doesn’t even see that she’s not just fighting on her own behalf. she’s not just mad for herself – she’s mad for everyone involved. she keeps saying “us,” and “we;” but he keeps just talking to and about her), “pero por favor... por favor perdóname. Eso es lo que más quiero en el mundo, mi amor. Es que... es que tienes que ayudarme porque si no, me voy a volver loco si no me perdones, mija.” he even achieves a broken sob or two as he gets his self-pity mode back online for the second time that day. but our Vero comes through with flying colors. she looks right at DD and coolly tells him, “Pues, yo no sé si en un futuro pueda hacerlo, pero... por el momento, no.” she turns and walks away, leaving him standing there. yay!!

    <El Presidente’s office>

EP and Chepe are back with the files again as Chepe tells EP about the basic organizational structure of the Narcos. he points out that it is not the usual power pyramid, but instead designed so that if one of the Big Bads should fall, the rest are still protected. he goes on to explain how they’ve all given themselves code names of various constellations, and how the Chief Big Bad is code-named “Escorpión.” he tells EP that the Narcos have recently started to circle the wagons and eliminate some of the excess baggage, which indicates that they’re really starting to feel pressured by the O-Team. But unfortunately, Chepe concludes as he idly tosses down the file he’d been holding and leans back in his seat, our work will be endangered if Antonio Vega should become the Secretary of Public Security. EP thinks perhaps Chepe is borrowing trouble, but Chepe just replies that that’s what EP pays him to do – to know where the enemy will attack. EP wants to know what Chepe means by that – does he think that DD is on the side of the enemy? (and we all shout what we know Chepe is thinking, “YES!!!” alas, EP apparently doesn’t hear us...) No, Chepe replies quickly as he buys himself time to formulate a diplomatic yet truthful answer by shifting a bit in his seat. “No... no tengo ninguna prueba, ni... ninguna sospecha de eso,” he continues. he points out that DD was a comandante just like him, and one of his (Chepe’s) best agents is DD’s daughter, and she continues to work on the O-Team in spite of “Comandante Vega’s” insistence that she resign. “Sacándonos [a la Brigada] de circulación sacaría a su hija del peligro de arriesgar día a día la vida en la Brigada...” Chepe points out. EP gets a very thoughtful look hearing all this. Now do you understand what I’m trying to say? Chepe asks.

    <visiting room>

Mummy María is at the jail to visit TtB, and from the crowd of toughs the guards have lined up waiting to get into the room, i’d say it’s regular visiting hours. the toughs jostle for position, pushing TtB out of his place at the front of the line. he doesn’t bother trying to protest. MM doesn’t make things any easier for TtB by practically breaking into tears when she sees him. she asks him if they’re feeding him ok, if he’s sleeping well, if they’re treating him ok – just as if he were 5 and coming back from his first week at boarding school and not 18 and in jail because of trying to hold up a pharmacy with a gun. TtB tries to stem the flow by telling her he’s ok, they’re treating him fine. he’s putting a much better face on it than she is, clearly trying to reassure her and ready to lie through his teeth about it in any case if she’ll just get off the subject. “Well, it was really hard to get here because they didn’t treat me at all well, it was very humiliating,” MM complains obliviously, as if there were anything TtB could do about it except to feel even worse than he already does. “But anyway, I’m here now,” she continues, sniffling. “I brought your flan that you like, and I brought you food from home but they took it away from me – I don’t know if they’re going to give it to you...” TtB tells her not to worry about it, and thanks her, and when she shows signs of getting back on the whiny “I miss you” track, he tries to get her off it by reminding her that they don’t have much time. as he’s saying this, we see Vero coming into the room behind MM. she says hello to MM (who hasn’t seen her arrive) first, and this causes TtB to look past MM to see who’s there, as Vero then greets him. he looks to one side in annoyance and doesn’t return her greeting (neither does MM, who seems not to have even noticed anyone said anything to her). I’m really glad to find you both together because I have something really important to tell you, she says.

    <Chinese restaurant>

the meal is over. Gus seems a bit distracted. trying to sound casual, ItRUrf asks him if he has a lot of stuff to do, and when he tells her no, not really, she eagerly invites him over to her house for a drink. Ah, but with one condition, she adds. That you don’t think about anything. That you don’t think about Veronica. That you just try to be with me, ok? she smiles at him as he regards her consideringly.

    <DD’s house>

Repulsiva is trying to rally DD’s spirits. she’s standing in front of him as he’s sitting hunched over on a staircase of some sort, drink in hand. obviously referring to Vero, she tells him to give it some time, to wait until the anger has worn off. but DD isn’t interested in patience, snapping angrily at Repulsiva: Can’t you see that Vero’s my whole reason for living?? I don’t need time! I need to have her near me, to have her love me, to have her respect me, [to know] that she continues to consider me her father!! throughout this diatribe, Repulsiva’s been gazing at him in that way that she does, with her head cocked to one side almost as if looking at a mildly interesting, but not very attractive, zoo exhibit. never one to let him have his illusions, she snaps back, What you want is for her to continue being lied to for the rest of her life! Antonio, that’s just not possible! Sooner or later she was going to find out what you really are...! in a gentler tone she points out that most children “matan la figura de su padre” when they’re teenagers and, she snorts slightly, you’re not going to be able to continue to be her idol any more. DD disagrees, saying sharply that he can too [be Vero’s idol for her whole life]. they’re just starting to yes/no argue about that when the phone rings. to DD’s evident disgust, Repulsiva ignores the argument to go answer the phone (in a tone very unlike her usual snarky way). when she finds out who is on the phone, she is even more polite – almost deferential, as she hands the phone to DD, telling him it’s EP’s secretary calling for him. intrigued, DD puts down his drink, stands, and tries to pull himself together before answering, “¿Bueno...?”

    <visitor’s room>

MM has scootched her seat over and Vero is now sitting as well. she starts off by telling TtB that this whole situation has been very difficult for her, too. None of us (meaning her, TtB, and MM) are to blame for what’s happened, Vero states. And although you might not believe me, she says, looking right at TtB, I have also been very alone all my life. Vero goes on to say that she always wanted a brother or sister. but the main reason she’s there, she says, is to tell him that she cannot be closer to him than she is right now because she has to “reacomodar” some things in her life “que mi vida también merece.” that does not mean, however, that she is going to abandon TtB, no matter what happens. and in time, when she can look at him without remembering her father’s deception, and without remembering that because of her father she and TtB were on the brink of doing each other irreparable damage, then she and TtB will have a lot of things they will have to discuss. TtB has listened to this whole speech in sullen, almost disbelieving silence, but now he speaks up. “Reacomodar tu vida...” he says with slightly lifted brows as if trying the phrase on for believability, and she answers him, Yes, even though he hadn’t really made a question of it. Because of your father’s deception... How self-centered you are, Vero! Look, when you realize who it was who was abandoned, who it was who was not recognized [as legitimate], who it was who was hidden away his whole life – then you can come look me in the eyes and talk. he lightly punches the glass separation in front of Vero for emphasis, tenderly but briefly says goodbye to his mother, and gets up to leave. MM tries to call him back, but Vero tells her to let him go. “Al final de cuentas él tiene toda la razón...” she states.

    <Mummy María’s>

Father Anselmo has come over (tho we don’t know whether it’s of his own accord or because MM called him) and MM has obviously been telling him the whole TtB saga. she’s reached the point where TtB tries to pressure DD by threatening to tell Vero he’s her brother, so DD beat him to it by telling Vero himself. FA asks how TtB took it, and how Vero took it. MM tells him they both took it very hard (and why), and how Vero has promised to do what she can to help, but she can’t say when. MM tells FA she’s really desperate to do something to get TtB out of jail. as expands on this topic, FA gets a sort of faraway look in his eyes and MM has to attract his attention back to her. she asks him what he was thinking about, and he replies he was thinking about God, and the strange paths He takes to fulfill His will. MM asks him to explain, but FA tells her not to pay any attention to him. dragging himself back to the here-and-now, he tells her his best advice for the moment is that she be patient. he suggests she go rest for a little while, while he fixes something for them to eat. she decides to take him up on that and heads off to her room. as she leaves, he again gets that faraway look on his face.

    <Inés the Revolting Ultraratfink’s house>

we seem to be in a room i don’t remember having seen before. Gus is kicked back in an armchair of sorts, while ItRUrf is curled up on a small sofa sort of thing. they both have glasses of wine in their hands (and i notice that that seems to be ItRUrf’s drink of choice now that she’s got the house and the cash. before it used to be tequila all the way...). ItRUrf is rabbiting on, clearly recalling old times. she’s saying something about some girl (not paying much attention) and Gus and how embarrassed she (ItRUrf) was, and Gus says that now that he thinks about it, that was his first official date with a girl. she laughs and pretends to be embarrassed still, but her little ploy has worked: it’s gotten Gus thinking about how they first got together as a couple as he continues, saying he was so happy and proud when she (ItRUrf) agreed to be his girlfriend, and how he went and told Dad and everything. he tells her that Dad really liked her, and she says she really liked him, too. now figuring it’s safe to back off a bit, ItRUrf smiles and says it’s getting late, maybe he needs to be getting back to the barrio, but of course Gus does just what she’d hoped (and we were horribly afraid he would do) and, looking at his watch, pooh-poohs this suggestion, saying Tarta can manage on his own. he thanks her and they clink their wine glasses in a silent toast. she sits back and says the important thing is that he had a good time. I’m HAVING a good time, Gus corrects her, and launches into another round of “Remember when...?” of course, she happily joins in. laughing at the memories.

    <some living room or dining room somewhere>

Vero walks into some sort of living/dining room type room somewhere that i don’t remember having seen before. she pauses to look at what would appear to be commendation plaques on one wall, and a bevvy of pictures on the mantle below. the camera closes in on one, a photo of Esteban the Unstable and Vero in happier times. she turns and walks slowly toward a nearby staircase and looks up it consideringly, then sits down on one of the lower steps.

    <EP’s office>

EP’s secretary ushers DD into EP’s office, which appears to be full of big black leather sofas and has no sign of the big picture window we saw him at with Chepe earlier – perhaps this is the anteroom to the office, or some sort of outer office?. DD greets EP cordially. EP tells DD he’s happy they were able to locate him so quickly, and says “they” have a lot to discuss with him. he invites DD to come in and be seated as DD looks puzzled at the plural. not for long: Chepe walks into view from another part of the room (or perhaps the inner office with the picture window?) and stands at parade rest. he does not greet DD, nor does DD greet him.

    <hideaway loveden>

WigSuzy is seated at the table, writing a note. “Me voy, Froylán. Si de todas maneras vamos a separarnos, prefiero que sea así, sin despedidas. No sé qué voy a hacer, ni a dónde voy, pero creo que es mejor para ti ya no tener que seguir protegiendome. Voy a intentar salvarme y espero que tú hagas lo mismo. Me voy amandote con todo mi corazón y con la esperanza de que algún día todo esto termine y podamos volver a estar juntos, pero sin horror, sin miedo. Deséame suerte, mi amor, y yo núnca voy a dejar de pensar en ti. Susan.” she sighs unhappily, picks up the laptop and puts it into her suitcase, closes it, puts her purse over her shoulder, and picks the bag up off the bed. on her way past it, she stops briefly at the table and picks up her house keys. she looks at them in her hand for a moment, then them roll out of her hand back onto the table, on top of the note she wrote. she leaves.

    <EP’s inner office>

EP is seated on one black leather sofa, with Chepe and DD uncomfortably seated next to each other on the sofa facing him across from a low table. they’ve been served coffee and cookies, and EP seems to be wrapping up a rundown of what Chepe told him earlier. he’s saying that what Chepe’s told him gives him hope that all is not lost and something can be done about the Big Bads after all. they’ve already gotten close enough that the Narcos have taken steps to restructure themselves. he asks DD what he thinks of the death of Corrupt Government Secretary. DD’s on the spot, and since he hadn’t rehearsed this one in his head already, he’s floundering a little bit. he falls back on the line he used with Vero (one which he should have realized wasn’t the best since it only worked with Vero because of how much she is in the habit of trusting him unquestioningly, and even at that she had some objections), that beyond being the death of a party functionary, for him it was also the death of a friend. EP pounces on this, the death of a friend who unfortunately was seduced by corruption, and who even allowed himself to be passed off as “Escorpión,” EP points out. unnoticed by EP, DD makes another mistake, pretending to be surprised at this. trying not to look worried, he asks if there is proof. Chepe calmly, almost smugly, informs DD that there are witnesses that have assured him CGS was not “Escorpión,” and that “Escorpión” is most definitely still alive. of course, DD wants to know what witnesses. Chepe briskly replies that he can’t tell DD and DD makes yet another slip, demanding to know why not, as if it were the most reasonable thing in the world to expect that Chepe would tell all to someone who is no longer on the force. not the least phased, Chepe calmly replies that there are things he cannot reveal. all he asks is that DD keep the information he’s just been given to himself, and that he collaborate with Chepe to help uncover the *real* “Escorpión.” during this whole exchange, DD keeps looking first at Chepe rather in the manner of someone looking at a particularly stupid child who has suddenly started speaking like a middle-aged man, and then over at EP to try to see if he can get any support from that quarter. obviously, he’s not going to get it, and DD doesn’t look happy at being sandbagged like this. EP picks up where Chepe left off: If the death of [CGS] was a ruse, and the bad guys made him try to pass himself off as “Escorpión,” we are obviously very close to unmasking an enemy who is both able and powerful, and who managed to get access to this office for a time, he states. DD doesn’t say anything. he looks first at EP, then over, rather nastily, at Chepe. Chepe blandly stares back, then looks over at EP, who looks back at him.

    <ItRUrf’s>

Gus and ItRUrf seem to have gone from playing “Remember When...?” to her telling him about why she started going to see Witch Doctor. they appear to have gone for refills and to have returned to yet another room we haven’t seen before. this one has sofas with lots of pillows running all along two walls. Gus sinks down in the middle of one sofa, and ItRUrf sinks down next to him as she lies to Gus by saying the reason she started seeing WD was because the strange noises and everything made her start to think it was Sugar Daddy (RIP) trying to communicate from beyond the grave. The things you do out of love, she concludes, adding that she even felt part witch. Gus looks at her and says she is part witch. she tries to make a joke of it, striking a pose and asking why he says that – does she look bad? he says, No, no, in fact, she looks really good. he’s saying she’s part witch because she managed what he had thought impossible: get a smile out of him. ItRUrf smiles at him invitingly and tells him he made it easy for her. she puts her glass down and he scootches closer and, a bit awkwardly, gives her a kiss on the cheek. then he starts kissing her on the lips. of course, ItRUtr eagerly kisses him back.

    <a bedroom, looking out thru the open door into the hall>

Vero is in the hall outside the open bedroom door, and when we hear EtU’s voice calling for her those of us who weren’t paying strict attention in earlier episodes when she was at EtU’s realize she’s definitely at his house. she calls back that she’s there, and clarifies that she’s in his room as she walks into the room and sits down on the end of the bed. meanwhile, we see EtU coming up the stairs two at a time, calling out that he’s on his way. he pauses in the doorway and asks if it’s true what Chepe told him, that she’d asked for some time off. she tells him it is, and he asks why. she explains that she wants to rest, she wants to look after her mother, she wants to look for somewhere to live... he interrupts, saying that he’s already told her she can stay there as long as she wants, but she says no, she can’t keep making him sleep on the sofa indefinitely. he tells her it doesn’t matter – he’s happy just to have her near him. You know what? he continues, as I was driving here, I started to think about asking Chepe for some time off myself, in order to be with you. Vero tells him no, he doesn’t need to do that, but he says yes he does. he comes in and sits down next to her, telling her he wants the time to spoil her a bit. she thanks him, but says she’s sure Chepe won’t give him the time off because he really needs EtU on the O-Team right now. and besides, she reminds EtU firmly, you love your job too much. I’m fine, she says. getting serious, EtU tells her that it doesn’t matter how much he loves his job – I love you more, he says as he gently pushes her hair off one shoulder. And what’s more, I promised you I wasn’t going to leave you alone, and I mean to make good on that promise, ok? Vero concedes, thanking him and admitting that she doesn’t know what she would have done without his understanding and support. she’d’ve been lost. “En realidad,” she says, “eres el único hombre que no me – bueno, la única persona – que no me ha traicionado y te lo agradezco mucho” (oh yeah? and what’re Nancy and Chepe then?? chopped liver?? ok, yes, they’ve lied to her too, but she doesn’t know that right now!!). there’s an almost awkward moment where they look at each other before EtU almost hesitantly leans in to kiss her. almost as hesitantly she kisses him back, but as he continues, kissing other parts of her face, she seems to draw back a bit and, putting her fingers to her lips, appears as if she might be reconsidering.

USA 8/18-22/03:

 

 

COMPLETED SUMMARY - WEDNESDAY 8/20/03 Author: B. (---) Date:   08-21-03 03:04 PDT

    a likely somewhat random summary for WEDNESDAY 20 AUGUST 2003, since the first part done was rather late at night while watching the video replay and the rest from memory and notes...

    fair warning: i am full of Kung Pao Chicken, Kung Pao Shrimp, Pinot Grigio, Irish Coffee, water, cantaloupe, and Häagen Dazs Chocolate and Peanut Butter ice cream (not necessarily in that order), and it’s kinda late at night. i might be a little opinionated.

    as usual we rejoin our story where we left off last night, with Gus pounding on Suzy’s hotel room door and Junior trying to decide who to shoot – Suzy for supposedly betraying him by calling Gus and telling him where she was after all, or Gus, thereby eliminating his main rival. as Junior has the gun pointed at the door and Gus threatens to enter, Suzy is a mass of indecision. she is spared having to make any, tho, by Gus breaking the door down and bursting in to confront her, now suddenly apparently alone in the room, except that Junior is actually hiding in some sort of closet or corner or something, more or less behind Gus. Suzy desperately tells Gus to leave but of course he doesn’t listen, or even seem to notice that her eyes keep moving back and forth between looking at him and looking at someone off to one side behind him. Gus babbles urgently at Suzy to leave with him and tell him who “Escorpión” is while before Gus can twig to it, Junior jumps out from his hiding place (which, really, is in plain sight if only Gus had had eyes for anyone but Suzy) and clocks Gus on the back of the head with his gun. this fails to knock Gus out, but Junior takes care of that problem by getting him in a headlock and half-strangling him until Gus sortof passes out, with Suzy crying No! No! all the while (and have i mentioned how very much i like that sweater Gus has on...? well, i do. i just thought i should mention that. you know, in case anyone is interested. rrowrr... oh, ok FINE. back to the summary...). as soon as Gus is unconscious enough to not be a hindrance to their leaving, Junior drops him, picks up Suzy’s bag, grabs her hand and hustles her out of the room. Gus recovers enough to answer a cel phone call from Chepe wanting to know if he’s got Suzy and Gus is forced to admit (well, more gasp, really) that he hasn’t. at this point Nancy enters and as soon as she determines that Gus is not going to die, she talks to Van Dyke, who i am now certain is going to be renamed RedShirt since it just seems SO certain he’s going to die. anyway, RedShirt is reporting in to Nancy and he tells her he’s in the parking garage. Nancy tells him to make sure that no-one leaves (and now you see why i’ve renamed him...? he’s sooooo toast, i’m sure of it). Gus is on the floor still trying to recover. Nancy tells him to stay there, she’ll be right back, and dashes off down the hall looking for Junior and Suzy, who by this time have –i think— gotten onto the elevator. Nancy thinks this too and she starts running down the nearby staircase.

    Junior and Suzy arrive in the parking garage and without even really seeming to, Junior sends Suzy on ahead while he stays behind, just out of sight. as could have been expected, RedShirt approaches her and asks where she’s going. Suzy looks so spooked, i would have been on my guard, but apparently RedShirts are picked for their lack of perception as, without waiting for an answer or seeming to notice her somewhat freaked-out state, our would-be hero goes ahead and tells Suzy she can’t leave. Junior doesn’t give him a chance to say anything more and at this point i’m not sure i blame him (tho i probably will in the morning...). he moves out of his hiding place and point-blank shoots RedShirt in the forehead from close range (and did i call it or what?? oh. sorry. right, back to the summary). as Suzy covers her face in horror, Junior fires a second shot down, presumably into RedShirt’s prone body (we later see it is in his chest), just to make sure he’s definitely dead. Nancy, still dashing down way more stairs than i think she should have to considering Suzy’s room was apparently on the third floor (even if that means the 4th floor for those of us from the US) and there is an underground parking garage to consider, spares a moment during her frantic dash in heels (at least they’re not spike heels!) to call Chepe and tell him she hears shots coming from the parking garage. meanwhile, back in the garage, Junior puts his less-burdened arm (the one with the gun, as opposed to the other one, which has Suzy’s bag) around Suzy’s shoulders –she still has her face buried in her two hands— and guides her off toward a car. Nancy finally arrives in the parking garage and sees the now-deceased RedShirt lying on the ground near the entrance. she goes running over to him, and so misses seeing Junior bundling Suzy into the passenger seat of a nearby car before getting into the driver’s seat, or, apparently, hearing him start the engine. however, she does notice when he backs the car out of the parking space and races toward the exit. she runs after the car, calling out Suzy’s name, and when it doesn’t stop, fires off a couple of shots after it that apparently completely miss (which is strange, considering her marksmanship, which we saw amply demonstrated in some early episodes. but whatever). Junior and Suzy make good their escape in some gold-colored sedan that may or may not be stolen, just barely failing to run down some random pedestrian as they leave the garage and barrel onto the street. and by now Gus has recovered just enough to stagger down to the parking garage (tho i’ll bet he took the elevator) and is approaching and staring down at RedShirt’s prone body just as Nancy returns, holstering her gun. Gus is distraught to see RedShirt and looks like he wants to vomit; Nancy is distraught, angry, and frustrated.

    Vero is still visiting Tony the Brat in jail. she tells him that Mummy María told her he went to see her when she was unconscious in the hospital and wants to know why he did it. TtB tries to be offhand and says he doesn’t know. Vero suggests that it might be for the same reason that she’s there to see him – because they’re family. he doesn’t answer. almost tentatively, she asks if he ever would have liked it if they’d been raised as a family, if they’d known each other since they were children. TtB rather prosaically points out that it doesn’t matter anyway, because he’s only now meeting her. he didn’t grow up with her and he never knew her before, never lived with her. he spent his whole life, he says, thinking that the reason he didn’t know her was because he’d done something wrong, and so deserved not to know her. he’s not all emotional or anything as he says this, more matter-of-fact, and almost detached. he’s not blaming Vero, he’s just stating the way it is. Vero tells him he didn’t do anything wrong or deserve not to know her growing up. So why did my father never acknowledge me? asks TtB, still in that calm way. he goes on to say that sometimes he used to try to figure out what Vero had that DD loved her more than him. he tells her that the only –the only!— thing he used to wish for when he was growing up was to be like her. Vero looks like she feels consumed by guilt and doesn’t know what to say. TtB continues, saying that as he got older he realized that his dream was further and further away from becoming reality, he was further and further away from being like Vero, and DD was further and further away from him. that he is the problem (TtB is), that he’s the one who is useless; that compared to Vero, he is worthless. maybe that’s why DD loved her more than him, TtB concludes – because she’s better than he is. Vero quickly interjects that that’s not true and he is not to repeat it. TtB just stares at her for a moment, but not angrily or self-pityingly or anything like that. just calm and collected and measured, as he’s been during this whole speech. he sighs briefly, and so does she. then, almost as if she’s passed a test with him, he admits that he did go to see her in the hospital because he didn’t want her to die before he’d had a chance to meet her. Vero sighs again, almost happily.

    we’re on some street somewhere. DD has parked his towncar-type car and gets out. he starts walking around the front of it toward the sidewalk and we see FBBG getting out of his car, parked behind DD, and walking toward him. as DD nears the sidewalk, he turns and acknowledges FBBG, who says he got DD’s message about Chepe and he has an idea for eliminating (killing) him; he wants to know what DD thinks of it. DD parks himself comfortably on the hood of his car as he replies there’s a “complication:” El Presidente has involved himself now and has given Chepe all the support and authority necessary to dismantle the Narcos. this apparently takes FBBG by surprise, which gives DD yet another chance to lord it over him a bit by displaying his superior knowledge and strategizing skills by himself acting “surprised” that FBBG hadn’t foreseen something like this as a possibility (altho he doesn’t phrase it quite like that. more like, “What do you mean, “Eh?”” hee). Chepe’s given EP all the information he has about the Narcos, don’t you understand? demands DD. Asi que vamos a estar bien, he continues. Que verdaderamente parezca un accidente... DD orders FBBG not to do anything about Chepe without his (DD’s) supervision. FBBG is still staring at DD in much the same disbelieving way as if DD had suddenly turned into a giraffe.

    back in the parking garage at WigSuzy’s now ex-hotel, Esteban the Unstable and a team from the O-Team swoosh up to the scene of the crime in his shiny black StealthUV, stopping in the middle of the ‘road’ not far from the scene with a dramatic squeal of brakes. Chino and Gabriel are with him. looking grim, and wearing an intensely blue shirt which i guess he hopes will bring out his eyes and makes me wish i had sunglasses on, EtU barely gets out of the car before dialing Chepe (and i note he has to dial all the numbers – he doesn’t have him on speed dial!! i don’t think that says too much for EtU’s team spirit!!) to tell him they’ve arrived. EtU is pacing around by the StealthUV while he’s on the phone, while Chino and Gabriel go to check out the actual scene. Chepe, who is slumped in his customary slump in his chair at his desk but looks more depressed than usual, tells EtU to load RedShirt’s body into the StealthUV (and won’t EtU have some explaining to do the next time he has it detailed...!) to bring to HQ, then to go carefully check out the room Suzy was using. He (meaning Junior, tho of course Chepe doesn’t know who Junior is just yet) took her away with him, states Chepe, Master of the Obvious, and he may decide to kill her. We have to find her before that happens. but EtU is, of course, fixated on the really important issues: he wants to know why Chepe didn’t send him as Nancy’s backup (obviously, he hasn’t been reading ahead in the script. if he had been, he’d’ve worn a red shirt, ordered RedShirt to stay back at HQ, and we wouldn’t have to worry about either of them any more. rats. pay attention, kids: this is what you get when you don’t do your homework...! ummmm, where was i? oh, yeah, with EtU and his ridiculous pronouncements. heh). What I don’t understand, he whines to Chepe, is why you didn’t send me to back up Nancy. If you had, you’d have Susan Estévez in your office right now. Chepe (my MAN!!) doesn’t even dignify this ridiculous statement with a reply and instead just hangs up in disgust, leaving EtU looking at his cel as if he doesn’t believe, or understand, what just happened. pocketing his phone, EtU again dons his most officious mantle and finally deigns to stalk over to the scene. RedShirt is now covered with what looks like a tablecloth (it’s white, it’s table-sized, what do you want...?) and a number of the hotel’s junior staff (chefs, busboys, doormen, etc) as well as what looks like some guests, are all standing around staring. as if no-one would have bothered making that statement before, EtO&U pompously announces to no-one in particular that they’re with the Federal Police, then crouches down to lift the tablecloth and view Junior’s handiwork for himself. straightening up (Nancy is still crouched by RedShirt), EtO&U tells Gabriel and Chino to wait for the next consignment of squadmembers from the O-Team, currently en route to take charge of RedShirt’s body, help them out with loading for transport back to HQ, and then come join him later so they can also do all his work in Suzy’s ex-room. he then raises his voice (not like anyone there couldn’t already have heard him anyway...) and asks if there were any witnesses. Nancy actually raises her hand, saying “I, Esteban,” in a resigned tone of voice. he looks at her as if he’s only just now realizing she’s there, then draws her off to one side saying he has some questions he wants to ask. unnoticed by anyone, Gus –who has apparently been watching from a concealed place a short distance off— turns and quietly slips away as Gabriel and Chino finally seem to realize that there are Outsiders there, and Chino starts herding them away with the usual line: Please stand back, there’s nothing to see here. and these guys are the elite squad...? if i didn’t know this was a story, it might make me seriously wonder about the regular cops in Mexico...

    Mom’s. MattAAo is on the phone, looking worried. he tells whoever he’s talking to –ah, it’s Tarta— that he doesn’t have any news, so i guess he’s talking about Gus. MattAAo goes on to say he urgently needs to locate Gus and asks Tarta to let him know if he hears anything. as he’s concluding the call, Auntie Ditz arrives. she takes one look at him and asks, Celia already talked to you, assuredly about my pregnancy..., in a tone of voice that shows she already knows the answer. she asks how Mom took it. MattAAo says Mom isn’t too happy about the situation and AD apologizes to him for not being there when the discussion took place. she goes as if to go speak with Mom, but MattAAo detains her, briefly running down Mom’s main objections to the whole Having My Baby plan. he suggests that AD leave Mom alone for a while until she’s had a chance to chill (Mom has, not AD). but AD rejects this suggestion, saying she’s going to go talk to Mom now and leave her to chill later. But if she’s still angry and says even the teensiest thing against either you or me, AD states mulishly, I will put her in her place. It will be the first strong disagreement I’ve ever had with her but it will be worth it.

    and we have some new tags in from commercial – this one’s got EtU looking all Stealthy in his Stealthgear, waving his megapistola out the passenger window of the StealthUV and barking into his StealthHeadMicrophone...

    back on the street with DD and FBBG. DD reiterates that he will let know FBBG when he’s decided the best way to proceed against Chepe. FBBG tells him there’s just one [other] thing: he knows that TtB is in jail. DD tries to dismiss the subject right away by saying that it doesn’t have anything to do either with the two of them (FBBG & DD) or with business, but FBBG corrects him, saying that it does have to do with the two of them. he knows that TtB is in jail because in spite of them both prohibiting their respective offspring to see each other, they’ve gone ahead and kept seeing each other anyway, and Jailbait has even been to see TtB in jail. FBBG tells DD he (DD) needs to take a hand on his own side of the matter since the first thing TtB will do when he gets out of jail –and he knows that DD is going to get TtB out of jail— is to try to see Jailbait. not looking at FBBG, DD informs him that right now he hasn’t the slightest intention of getting TtB out of jail, but rather is going to let him spend a nice long time there. he tells FBBG to take care of Jailbait (and make sure she stays away from TtB). annoyed, FBBG asks DD what he expects him to do – keep Jailbait locked up 24/7?? in a tone that shows he can’t believe DD would seriously expect him to do any such thing. DD is irritated himself and snaps in return, Don’t you remember why your wife left you?? Why do you always let yourself be controlled by women?? stalking over to the door of his car, DD dismissively suggests FBBG send Jailbait out of the country or something, but he must forbid her to have anything more to do with TtB. his parting threat: Or do you want me to take care of your daughter myself...?? altho he doesn’t reply, FBBG is Not Pleased.

    and i’m pooped, gang, so i’m going to have to leave things here as far as the summary goes. however, i plan to watch the rest before i actually turn in so hopefully i can come up with the rest of the summary –or at least, some part of it—tomorrow sometime, provided someone else doesn’t beat me to it. g’nite...

    ok, i’m back, fresh off of about 3 hours’ sleep, so who knows how coherent this is going to be. but i did watch the rest and even scribbled (well, more scrawled) a note or two. so here goes...

    we’re back at the jailhouse visitor’s room with Vero and TtB. after regarding TtB for a moment, Vero asks him if he knows why she was in the hospital. he replies that he assumes it had to do with her job – all he knows was that she might die and he wanted to at least see her before that happened. Vero tells him it was not because of her job, it was because she fell in love with the wrong guy. she made the wrong decision and it ended up nearly costing her her life. it did cost the life of her child. altho TtB tries to keep his face relatively impassive during this whole thing, we can tell he’s moved. he asks Vero why she’s telling him all this. Vero tells him it’s so he understands that she’s been alone, too, that her life hasn’t been the perfect fairy tale he seems to think it was. but she’s not telling him this so he’ll feel sorry for her or anything. nor is she trying to apologize for her part in putting him in jail – she doesn’t feel at all guilty about that (and TtB looks like he would have rejected her overture if she’d gone on about feeling guilty for putting him in jail). she does, however, feel guilty for not having been there for him all along. at this point, she’s got the odd tear slipping down her face and he looks like he’s only barely managing not to do the same.

    Auntie Ditz goes to talk to Mom. while we all know Mom’s only real objection is that the father is MattAAo, of course she doesn’t tell AD that. instead, what she is all over AD about is that she thinks it’s irresponsible of her (and MattAAo) to go having a child without being in a stable, loving relationship with the father. AD tries telling Mom that she (AD) has never had the good fortune Mom did, to fall in love with a wonderful man who fell in love with you. she really wants to have a child and knows that even if it isn’t the conventional arrangement, she and MattAAo really care for each other and she thinks they will make good parents. Mom continues to be pettish and petty and to narf on about this until AD finally (and in my opinion, with more than enough reason. i am sooooo tired of Mom. she’s just cranky because MattAAo has seen the writing on the wall and is trying to get on with his life. even if AD does die –and i really hope she doesn’t— i absolutely do NOT want Mom to end up with MattAAo) snaps. in no uncertain terms she tells Mom that she (Mom) really has no say in all this since she (AD) and MattAAo are both adults. she’s sorry if Mom doesn’t like it, but she and MattAAo are going to try to have a child. Mom can just lump it. AD comes as close to slamming out of the room as i think she is capable of, leaving Mom to sit there in a cranky, self-pitying slump. boo hoo. Mom soooo needs to get over herself already.

    Nancy is back in Suzy’s former hotel room, trying to do her job but pretty effectively being hampered by Esteban the Pompous, Officious and Unstable so it’s just as well that Chino and Gabriel have arrived to assist. as the latter two efficiently move around the room looking for any traces left by Suzy and Junior (and apparently not finding much), EtPO&U, who is all put out and acting like a spoilt child denied a treat because he’s just discovered that someone on the O-Team clearly knows something he doesn’t, continues to pester Nancy for information about what she was doing, who this woman they’re looking for is, blah blah blah. poor Nancy, unfortunately, doesn’t have the option Chepe had (of hanging up on him), so she is stuck trying to answer his questions while not telling him anything. EtPO&U also asks her why she didn’t have him as backup and Nancy rather brusquely tells him it’s because she was following orders from Chepe – EtPO&U will have to take it up with him. EtPO&U looks dissatisfied with this, but seems to realize he’s not going to get her to give him any other answer. she offers a sort of backhanded explanation for her curtness by saying she’s going to have to go tell the family and isn’t looking forward to it. Chino and Gabriel report back that they’re finished with the room and unfortunately there really wasn’t much there to collect. you can tell they’re both curious, too, but unlike EtPO&U, are not so full of themselves they can’t figure out and accept that if they weren’t told what’s up, there’s a reason for it. alas for my rapidly-evaporating shreds of patience with EtPO&U, he continues to harumph about being left out. i’ll just bet Nancy wants to smack him or make him go stand in the corner or something (i know i sure do!).

    unfortunately, Gus is still in Frantic Mode. he calls Chepe and vents all over him. when he doesn’t get any satisfaction from him, Gus loses it so far as to actually accuse Chepe of not caring whether Suzy dies or not. that does it. Chepe angrily snaps that he cares so much about Suzy that he risked the lives of his team trying to rescue her, and reminds Gus that one of his team members actually died in the attempt. this verbal slap has the desired effect, and Gus finally gets off the hysteria train. Chepe tells him again that they’re doing everything they can and he’s just going to have to sit tight and wait for news. however, he suggests that if Gus does decide to go out, he leave someone watching the computer at all times, in case Suzy should try to contact him again via vidmail. Gus agrees, and tells Tarta and MattAAo. frustrated, he keeps looking at the enlargement of the ear they have from Suzy’s last vidconversation with Gus when she was in San Diego. they all agree that finding out who this guy is is the key.

    DD is once again annoyed because he can’t find Junior anywhere and Junior is not answering his cel. he snarks about this to Repulsiva, who we can see is pleased that yet another of DD’s favorites is in trouble with DD. continuing with his list of woes, DD goes on about how he’s going to have to find a “nice” way to get TtB out of jail, which he doesn’t want to do either. after yet another unsuccessful attempt to get Junior on the phone, DD is about ready to start having a temper tantrum. jealous, Repulsiva slyly suggests that maybe DD should start having Junior followed. considering how peeved he is with Junior at the moment, i’m a little surprised when DD doesn’t pounce on this idea.

    and speaking of Junior, he has dragged Suzy back to the hideaway loveden where he’s throwing his own little temper tantrum. the gist of it is, he loves Suzy but is convinced she’s still in love with Gus and has been all along. Suzy still can’t get over the fact that he killed RedShirt. he looks at her and says, What you saw is what I am. Suzy says yes, but it’s one thing to know it and another to see it happen in front of you like that. Junior seems just a bit non-plussed at her reaction but he doesn’t try to back down, apologize, defend, or excuse himself for what he did; his attitude is pretty much that he did what he felt he had to to protect Suzy and himself. poor Suzy is really having a crisis. she falls across the bed, sobbing. in spite of her horror at what he did, she still loves him. she can’t help it.

    back at HQ, Chepe again watches the copy of Gus’ most recent conversation with VidSuzy, lingering over the bit where VidSuzy asks VidGus if he’s still involved with Vero. he hastily turns it off as EtPO&U arrives to report that “El cadáver de Sebastián lo sacaron con toda discreción,” as ordered (and if that was the least bit discrete, i’d hate to see EtPO&U’s idea of indescrete!!). report over, EtPO&U returns to the really important stuff, finding out why he wasn’t told about Nancy’s little mission and sent as her backup. he pesters and pries about this so much that Chepe finally reaches his limit and snaps, “¡¡Porque ni tú ni nadie podía enterar que estoy trabajando con Gustavo Velasco!! ¿¡Ya estás contento!?” EtPO&U is stunned. and of course, he’s not the least bit contento.

    Gus, MattAAo and Tarta nervously wait in the office at the garage for any news from Chepe or Nancy. or to see if Suzy tries to contact Gus again by v.mail.

    EtPO&U is arguing furiously with Chepe. EtPO&U shouts that he doesn’t understand anything. Chepe tells him that he couldn’t tell him he was working with Gus because they have to keep Vero from finding out. because if she does find out that Gus is still one of the good guys, everything they’ve been trying to do to keep her away from Gus and safe will all have been for nothing. is that really what EtPO&U wants? for Vero to get herself killed because she got back together with Gus because she found out he really isn’t a crook after all? of course, we all know EtPO&U’s dilemma: for one thing, he’s been completely left out of the loop and he hates that since he’s convinced he is indispensable at all times and in all situations. plus, he’s been left out of the loop because of Gus, who he has never respected even when he wasn’t busy being wildly jealous of him. he was delighted when he was apparently proved right about Gus’ true character and Chepe apologized to him for failing to listen to him. and now here’s Chepe telling him that not only was he NOT right about Gus’ true character after all, but Gus has been far nobler and self-sacrificing than EtPO&U could ever even conceive of being. that Gus really didn’t kill anyone and he, Chepe, has been helping Gus all along. AND that Chepe’s been doing this behind his back because he didn’t feel EtPO&U could be trusted to deal with the situation appropriately (which we all know is totally true). others here may feel sorry for EtPO&U, but not me. i scared the cats doing a victory dance around the bed. EtPO&U tries to make Chepe grasp the enormity of his wrongdoing by shouting that everyone should have been told and says he’s going to do so right now. Chepe, no fool, asks him in a marginally more moderate tone, if he’s really thought this one through. sure, EtPO&U can go and announce to everyone that Gus really isn’t a criminal and Chepe’s been hiding the fact from everyone and helping him if he wants, but does he realize what will happen? Vero will go running back to Gus, and very likely get herself killed by the people who are after Gus. and EtPO&U would have effectively handed her to Gus on a silver platter – is that really what EtPO&U wants??

    while this huge fight is going on in the Tac/Ops room, Vero comes trotting down the stairs into the main squad room. the argument is loud enough that we can faintly but distinctly make out EtPO&U’s voice, as well as Chepe’s, and i definitely heard Gus’ name mentioned, although it’s not quite loud enough for everyone to be able to hear exactly what is going on – more the odd word or phrase here and there. looking troubled, she heads for Tac/Ops.

    Junior is on the phone, rather desperately (tho he’s trying not to let it show in his voice) trying to arrange for one of his criminal contacts to smuggle Suzy over the border, since he’s apparently realized that even if the cops don’t have Suzy’s pic all over all the more usual methods of egress, in any event DD would find out about her leaving and put a stop to it. he’s telling his guy that he’s asking him to do this as a personal favor to him, not for business reasons, and that the boss doesn’t need to know. but either fear of DD is enough, or he’s already gotten to anyone that Junior might call for this sort of favor – whoever Unknown Crook is, he won’t do Junior this favor. Junior angrily hangs up in disgust. only to have to answer again in a second because DD is again trying to call him. when he gets him on the phone, DD spends a few moments yelling at Junior, who (rather lamely) excuses his earlier unreachability by saying he’s had his phone turned off and only just now turned it on. DD orders him to report in immediately. for what i imagine is probably the first time in his history with DD, Junior asks to be excused for the rest of the afternoon. when DD wants to know why, Junior falters something about “Margarita” being sick and he’s been taking care of her – he doesn’t want to leave her. if DD will give him the rest of the day, he promises to report in first thing tomorrow morning. sounding marginally mollified, DD agrees to this and sends his regards to “Margarita.” when he hangs up, Repulsiva asks what Junior’s excuse for not reporting in is. crankily, but in a tone that shows he really doesn’t question its validity, DD tells her about Junior’s sick girlfriend. Repulsiva, however, is not so easily snowed. she repeats her suggestion that DD start having Junior followed, and when DD again pooh-poohs this (altho a bit more dubiously this time), she accepts it but adds, Well, just don’t say I didn’t warn you...

    then comes a scene with EtPO&U in the spiffy unisex locker room all pissed off, but i don’t really remember much about it except that Vero comes in at some point and wants to know what he and Chepe are fighting about. i don’t really remember what he says, but he manages to put her off somehow. i think he does tell her about RedShirt getting killed. i think. after he leaves, leaving Vero alone in the locker room, Gabriel and Chino come in. they don’t notice Vero is there and are talking about RedShirt, how he had only just gotten out of the Academy a few months before and how he was so thrilled and proud to be invited to join the O-Team. they briefly wonder why / what was going on that he ended up in a position to be shot, and Vero finally stops eavesdropping and reveals herself. but when she asks them for more details, they tell her she’ll have to ask Nancy – Nancy’s the only one who knows who the woman was she and RedShirt were there to get, why they were at the hotel at all, etc.

    having had the chance to give the matter some “thought,” EtPO&U goes to see Chepe and very grudgingly agrees to work with Chepe and Gus. he won’t tell everyone after all. he demands to see what they have on Suzy.

    Vero finds Nancy in the squad room and asks her why EtPO&U and Chepe were arguing. Nancy says she doesn’t know. her cel phone rings and she hastily moves to answer it. unfortunately for her, it’s Gus, wanting to know if they’ve found any leads to the guy with Suzy and/or where he might have taken her. well aware of Vero being right within earshot, Nancy does her best to answer Gus’ eager questions while not saying anything to rouse suspicions. as soon as she manages to get the frustrated and disappointed Gus off the line, after promising to keep him posted, Vero pounces, wanting to know who called. looking harried, Nancy fobs her off with a story about it being RedShirt’s brother. Vero keeps asking her questions and she keeps not really answering them, to the frustration of both women. Nancy tries to excuse her attitude by saying she’s just back from notifying RedShirt’s family and she’s really beat emotionally. Vero suggests that it might help Nancy if she talks about it to a sympathetic ear, but Nancy, getting more distracted and desperate by the second, kindof hastily turns down the offer and makes good her escape leaving Vero standing there looking put out. she totally knows they’re keeping something from her and she doesn’t like it.

    back at DD’s home office, Random Minion (who i think is the same guy who told Junior what hotel “Margarita” checked into) reports in to DD, hading him a list of Junior’s cel phone calls –incoming and outgoing; a list of Junior’s activities up until DD had had surveillance on Junior stopped; and some photos of the outside of the hideaway loveden, at least some of which apparently include Junior and “Margarita.” DD asks RM to get him the address of the hideaway loveden, saying he wants to pay a surprise visit...

    meanwhile, at the hideaway loveden, Junior is parked in one of the chairs at the table, thinking furiously, while Suzy is still flopped miserably on the bed. Junior appears to have reached a decision, and he gets up and goes over to Suzy’s bag. opening it, he tosses out the Overgrown Dead Chia Pet and pulls out the laptop and all its attachments. as Suzy protests, Junior puts everything on the table, telling her in a brisk tone that stops just thisshort of being an order, that she is going to call Gus. Suzy is still protesting, but Junior just talks over them. Suzy is to contact Gus again. she’s to say she escaped, and she’s alone now. she’s got to find out what Gus plans to do, what he knows, and especially what the police know.

    Gus is just leaving an urgent vidmail for Suzy, pleading with her to contact him and let him know she’s ok when Suzy’s ‘call’ comes through. Gus plies her with questions and statements, mostly of the ‘Tell me where you are so I can come get you’ variety, and all of which Suzy dodges, saying she’s ok and doesn’t need him to come get her. although her tone is firm, she looks fairly miserable as she's saying this so it's hardly surprising Gus doesn't pay much attention to her repeated requests to stop trying to find her. she dutifully says she’s alone, but Gus guesses Junior’s there with Suzy, standing out of camera range but listening in on their conversation. altho he still can’t see him and doesn’t actually KNOW for certain that Junior is there, Gus starts talking to Junior directly anyway: “Quienquiera que seas, si me estás escuchando, óyeme muy bien: Yo quiero lo mejor para Susan. Sé que tú también. La has protegido y si la has protegido, es porque realmente la amas. Sálvala, por favor -- ¡sálvala!”

    Chepe and EtPO&U are still in the Tac/Ops room. Chepe tells EtPO&U that if Junior (altho they are referring to him as “that guy,” or “this guy,” since they have no idea who he is) can’t get Suzy out of the country he will certainly kill her. he can’t risk her falling into the hands of the police – she knows too much. she likely even knows who “Escorpión” is, and whether or not he is in love with Suzy, ThatGuy/Junior can’t risk her telling the police what she knows. he won’t have any other choice but to kill her. EtPO&U looks aggrieved about this, but as i recall, he doesn’t argue with the point. he asks to see the vidmail Gus gave Chepe and Chepe prefaces playing it by telling EtPO&U there’s a part where Suzy mentions Vero that puzzles him since he can’t think why she would have brought the subject up. he starts to play the vidmail and the two men are so focused on watching it that they don’t realize that Vero has entered the room behind them. she overhears Suzy talking and immediately either recognizes her voice or guesses who it is. “You didn’t tell me!!”

    previews for today’s show try to make it seem –and maybe it’s true— that Junior has to kill Suzy...

 

how EtPO&U learns the truth (dialogue / summary 08/20/03) Author: B. (---)

Date:   08-23-03 00:31 PDT

    Chepe's in the Tac/Ops room with his stern face on, watching the vidversation between Gus and Suzy as it plays back on a laptop.

    VidGus <urgently>: Tú sabes quién está detrás todo esto, ¿verdad?

    VidSuzy <almost wearily>: Si, Gus. Si, yo sé, pero no te lo voy a decir jamás. No voy a poner en peligro al hombre que amo. Perdóname, pero no lo voy a traicionar ni por ti, ni por nadie.

    VidGus: ¡Déjame ayudarte, tú estás con un asasino!

    VidSuzy: ¡Bueno, pero aún así lo quiero! ¡Y no lo voy a traicionar!

    Chepe hears a noise and quickly shuts the computer, moving away just in time to be casually no-where near it when Esteban the Pompous, Officious, and Unstable barges in without bothering to knock. he hands Chepe a folder, telling him it's the report on what they found at the hotel (fortunately, he has enough decency left not to say "we"); they're already checking on the fingerprints. he adds that RedShirt's body has been taken away "con toda discreción, cómo tú querías, y ya Nancy se fue a avisar a su familia..."

    EtPO&U <hands on hips>: Y ahora, Chepe, me gustaría que me explicaras qué es lo que está pasando.        <Chepe, buried in the report, cocks an eyebrow at him cynically. however, EtPO&U does not take the hint and barrels on while Chepe again resumes his study of the report, trying to ignore his questions.> ¿Qué es lo que está sucediendo? ¿Quién es la mujer que sacaron del hotel, eh? ¿Por qué no estuvimos allí nosotros para impedirlo?

    Chepe <dismissively, not looking up from the report>: Quiero que te encargas del análisis de las huelles...

    EtPO&U <starting to lose his temper>: ¡Y yo quiero que me digas qué es lo que nos estás escondiendo!

    Chepe <coldly>: ¡Limítete a cumplir tu trabajo, Esteban!

    EtPO&U <cranky, ignoring Chepe's order>: ¿Por qué nadie sabe nada de este operativo, eh?

    Chepe <even more coldly>: ¡Porque no podía mandar a nadie! ¡Porque tú ni nadie podían enterarse que estoy trabajando con Gustavo Velasco -- ¿ya estás contento?! <They glare at each other for a moment while we have a commercial break.>

    Chepe <evenly>: Esa mujer que fueron a buscar al hotel es Susan Estévez.

    EtPO&U <trying to follow>: Esa mujer es la que ayudaba a Velasco a descifrar los archivos, ¿no?     <Chepe makes an assenting sound. EtPO&U's tone takes on just a hint of sarcastic disbelief.> ¿Y no se suponía que la habían matado en San Diego?

    Chepe <matter-of-factly>: Si, eso se suponía, eso creíamos, pero no. Resulta que está viva. Además, parece ser que al hombre que mandaron asasinarla se enamoró de ella y en vez de matarla la trajo a México. Y estando aquí, ella se comunicó con Gustavo -- estaba sola. Nosotros rastreamos la comunicación, mandé a Nancy y a Santiago (RedShirt) que fueron por ella. Pero alguien. se. nos. adelantó.

    EtPO&U <on his high horse>: ¡¿Y por qué a mí no me dijiste nada?! ¡Yo tranquilamente podría haber ido con ellos!

    Chepe <starting to lose patience, can't believe that EtPO&U still doesn't get it>: ¡¿Pero que no entiendes que es fundamental que mantengamos en secreto nuestro colaboración con Gustavo?! Hacer creer a todos que Gustavo es un delinquente es la mejor manera de mantenerla alejada a Veronica de él, ¡y de evitar que sus enimigos vuelvan a atentar en contra de ella!

    EtPO&U <unwilling to give up his delusion of Gus as a Bad Guy; in a tone that combines the statement of known facts with a shade of desperation>: ¡Sí, pero Gustavo sí es un criminal! ¡Veronica lo vió matar a dos personas!

    Chepe <firmly, but with a bit of a tone as if explaining the obvious>: Veronica ya estaba empezando a sospechar que le estabamos mintiendo. Gustavo pensó que la única manera de convencerla era que pensara que es asasino. Y en cuanto a los dos muertos, todo estaba preparado. ¡Y los otros delitos fueron cometidos para convencer a la Organización (los Narcos) de que forma ya parte de ellos! <EtPO&U is looking very unconvinced, as if he thinks Chepe is trying to convince him that 1 + 2 = 7,234. Chepe clarifies his point> Gustavo se ganó el odio de Veronica para protegerla. ¿Ahora entiendes porque no te podía decir nada?

    EtPO&U <who has been trying to look intelligent and as if he's given due consideration to Chepe's statements before discarding them; now just annoyed he was left out of the game>: No. No, Chepe, no entiendo. ¡No entiendo nada!

    it is at this point that EtPO&U starts to seriously raise his voice to Chepe. we don't hear what he's saying at first, because we have cut to a shot of Vero coming down the stairs into the squadroom. so, along with her, we hear EtPO&U's clearly argumentative shouts without being able to clearly distinguish what is being discussed. trying not to attract any attention, Vero walks a little toward the Tac/Ops room where the two men can be seen having a heated discussion. she surreptitiously tries to eavesdrop, tho it would seem without much success.

    EtPO&U <heatedly, starting to pace around the room and wave his arms for emphasis, as if he thinks if he can just shout Chepe down, Chepe will admit he's been trying to play a cruel joke on him>: ¿...y sabes por qué? ¡Porque no te creo nada, Chepe! ¡Porque tú y Velasco, lo único que han hecho es manipularnos como si fueramos títeres, como idiotas!

    Chepe <unfazed, in a well, duh! sort of tone>: ¿Qué esperabas? ¿Que seguiera exponiendo a Veronica? Gustavo tenía razón: Veronica ya estaba muy quemada con la Organización, y su vida no valía nada si seguía ligada a él. Los que la torturaron piensan que está muerta. Cuando se enteren que fallaron, van a volverlo a intentar.

    EtPO&U <angry and incredulous>: ¡¡Ya no, ya!! ¡¡Ahorrate tu discursito protector!! ¡Veronica es policia y lo va a seguir siendo! Y a tí lo único que te interesa es seguir metiendolo a la Organización a Velasco para que siga trabajando contigo, ¡¿no?!

    Chepe <shrugging almost dismissively as if tired of talking to this moron, then sighing heavily>: Si eso quieres pensar, no te voy a convencer de lo contrario.

    EtPO&U: Entonces, ¿por qué no nos mantienes informados de lo que está pasando, eh? ¿Por qué, cómo idiotas, no nos tomas en cuenta?

    Chepe <laying it on thick>: 'Tá, 'tá! 'Tá bien, tienes razón... ¡No tenemos por qué mantener el secreto! ¡Reúneles a todos para decirles que Gustavo no es traidor! Incluido a Veronica -- ¡ya es tiempo de que ella sepa la verdad! <he adopts a more confiding tone with just a hint of sarcasm underneath...> Claro, en cuanto ella se entere de todo, lo más probable es que arregle sus diferencias con Gustavo. Y... ¿sabe lo que eso significa? <EtPO&U fidgets and sighs heavily without saying anything; he's finally starting to get half a clue.> No solamente por el peligro a que la vamos a exponer sino lo que implica para ti.

    <Chepe lightly pokes EtPO&U on the chest with this last word. then, wrapping up his point> ¡Piensalo! Voy a dejar que tú decidas: Abrimos las cartas en frente de todos y Veronica y Gustavo arreglan sus diferencias..., ¡o! te incluyo en el secreto y me ayudas a seguir adelante...

    EtPO&U can't take it any more. he stomps out of the room to go sulk in the spiffy co-ed locker room.

 

     [dd] 8/22/03 - Susan commits suicide [she walks into the street, drops her purse, turns around, waits for Froilan to start his car, waits for him to hit her] while Gus, Vero, Nancy and the others just stand and watch. She dies in Gus’ arms. Froilan stops his car, gets out, cries, asks why. Gus is taken to the control center where, of course, Antonio is asking Chepe for the witness. Chepe tells him that somebody killed the witness. Then Chepe, of course, spills the whole story, how it was Susan Estevez, how the killer fell in love with her, etc. Antonio asks if she told Gus anything, asks why he wasn’t told. Chepe tells him that working together doesn’t mean telling him everything.  Antonio demands to be present during Gus’s interrogation, wants to read the entire file. Chepe, of course, shows Antonio the video. Then he tells Chepe that he is incredibly inept. Antonio tells him that every time he has a witness, the witness gets killed, it’s awfully suspicious. Antonio tells him that either Scorpion is making fun of him or he is one of them. Vero and Nancy bring Gus to the center, run into Antonio who says that Gus knows everything.

     Froilan drives to a dump to get rid of the car, puts a gun to his chin but can’t kill himself. .

     Nenena announces to Doña Francisca and Celia that she is, indeed, pregnant. Then she tells Mateo. She glows, he smiles a bit. Nena tells him the doctor says everything is fine. Then Mateo goes into a kind of shock at the realization that he is going to be a father. Then he asks her to marry him, wants their child to have a family. She tells him her child will, that’s why she selected him to be the child’s father. She asks him why he wants to take care of her. He admits he is afraid. She tells him nothing will keep her from having and caring for her child. Nena tells him she will marry him in an instant if he asks her because he loves her, not for the sake of  having a family. Francisca doesn’t understand why Mateo and Nena won’t marry.

     Chepe questions Gus who demands to be let go. Antonio wants to stay, but Chepe doesn’t let him. Chepe turns off the video and sound, tells Gus he is sorry. Outside, Antonio tells Esteban and Vero he wants to hear everything. Esteban tells Antonio that he turned off the sound. Chepe tells Gus he must continue to lie. Antonio goes out, tells Vero he’d like to kill that murderer Gus, feels pity for the poor woman who died, pity for himself for not being able to do anything. Inside, Gus tells Chepe he doesn’t care what happens to him as long as Vero is safe. He tells Chepe he doesn’t care if they kill him.  

     Chepe, Esteban and Vero debate how to handle Gus. The men decide that only Vero can convince him to turn over his insurance policy.

     Maria tells Anselmo that if Vero retracts her charges, Toni will go free.

     When Antonio gets home, he finds Froilan in his office, with a gun in his hand.

     Vero interrogates Gus, says she knows everything, that he is working with Chepe, has been protecting her, etc., etc. He denies it all. Vero tells him she won’t leave the room until he tells her the whole truth.

     Toni calls Vero, leaves a message. After he hangs up, a siren goes off in the jail.

     Froilan tells Antonio he betrayed him, gives him his gun so that Antonio can kill him.

USA, 8/25-29/03:

sorta summary for Tuesday's show 08/26/03 Author: B. Date:   08-27-03 18:06 PDT

sorta summary for TUESDAY 26 AUGUST 2003

    *Gus and Vero are in the entrance hall at Mom’s, trying to talk. Gus has admitted everything and told Vero that it was all done to protect her, because he loves her so much and could not bear to see her hurt again. but the decision on where they go from here is up to her – he’s waiting for her to tell him if she can forgive him. they don’t get any further than that because Mom comes barging in to yell at Vero for being there, for “engañando” her son and making him miserable, blah blah blah. Gus rather weakly tries to shut Mom up and make her leave them alone, telling her he wants to talk to Vero and he can handle it, but Mom pretty much ignores him and vents all over Vero. she repeats that she never wants to see Vero in her house again. Gus realizes Mom’s not going to leave them alone, so he tells Vero they’ll have to go somewhere else to finish their conversation. and Mom is mad that he’s leaving with Vero!! (that woman seriously needs to get a hold of herself!! she’s starting to lose points with me almost as fast as CAMB...).

    *as Junior dutifully watches and reports in to an annoyed DIddy Dearest (who told Junior to see where they went, report back to him, and then to go home -- !!), Gus and Vero leave Mom’s and walk over to the garage, which, tho open, appears to be deserted (!!). there he reiterates that it’s up to her, and that he loves her. he tells her he’s been miserable lying to her but when he saw her lying there in the hospital, near death, and the doctor told him there wasn’t anything more he (Dr Tries-to-have...) could do for her, and he (Gus) knew it was all his fault she was there, he made a vow to her that he would never let anything hurt her ever again because of him. and that is how this all started. he begs her to forgive him, to give him a chance to show her how desperately he loves her, in a tone and with a look that shows he’s hoping she’ll believe him and give him that chance but is afraid she might not forgive him even if she does. it’s as if, now that he’s so close, the thought that his dream of a life with Vero might yet slip away from him is even harder to bear in potential fact than it was when it was still more of an abstract (during the lying). he kisses her and she lets him, and even kisses him back a bit. but she’s the one who puts a stop to it, after only a few moments. as Megui posted: ‘There was no yelling, no recriminations [on Vero’s part, just] an acceptance of reality.... Vero tells Gus 1. that what Gus did was not a matter of making a mistake and asking forgiveness –because she knows that had the situation been reversed she would have done the same thing; 2. that Gus gave up the fight when he decided to lie to her in order to protect her, and she gave up when she believed the lies (the one about his being an assassin particularly bothers her. when she actually believed Gus was a murderer, it was as if something inside her died, too. but worse, she can’t believe she believed the lie, even for a second. she goes on more about this, but i’m sure you get the gist: her own lack of faith in Gus and their love bothers her almost as much, if not possibly more, than merely believing he was a killer...); and 3. that neither of them deserve to betray each other again, and she knows that given their situations and how much they love each other, [if either were threatened again,] they would undoubtedly betray each other to protect each other once more.’ they're both crying. Gus tries to keep them together even though he already knows it’s useless. Vero quietly leaves, pausing in the doorway for one last, lingering look.

    *meanwhile, the prison riot continues. i wasn’t paying strict attention, but it looks as if the warden and the guards manage to get most of it under control, except for one area where Goon Prisoner (actual name on the show: Piojo. it couldn't be better, so i'm going to go with it after all...!) and his half-dozen or so cronies have barricaded themselves, along with Tony the Brat, who apparently happened to be in the area or was swept there along with the rest of them or something (i.e., i don’t think he willingly went along with GP & co, but was more carried along accidentally by the ebb and flow of the riot, or was brought along on purpose by GP or one of his guys. i don't really remember. in any event, i doubt he's there all that willingly, tho he's trying to play it out the best he can). they have two guards as prisoners and GP has appropriated the guards’ pistols. one of the guards is seriously injured. TtB tells Piojo that Wounded Guard needs help or he will die; Piojo doesn’t care and forbids anyone to help him (not that any of the cronies give a rat’s ass). TtB goes and sits down next to Uninjured Guard, who tells TtB, somewhat desperately, that he has to get out of there – his wife is pregnant. he asks if TtB has a girl. TtB says yes, and when asked, tells UG Jailbait’s name. UG comments that she has a pretty name. later TtB makes another attempt to help WG, who is moaning and crying in pain. TtB tries to suggest that maybe they should try to make an exchange or let a doctor in or something because otherwise WG will die, but Piojo snaps that if they open the gate at all then the rest of the guards will rush them and that will be it, they'll all be killed. he doesn’t care if the guy dies anyway, and he goes over and stomps on WG’s wound, making WG moan and cry out even more. TtB practically yells at Piojo to stop it, it won’t help them if they kill the guy. at some point there's an exchange where TtB shouts at Piojo that if they're all going to die that he'd rather Piojo just shoot him right there and then and get it over with already. disgusted, Piojo tells TtP if he wants to help WP, he can. not that there’s a whole lot TtB can do, of course, but i think he gets points for trying. there is a news report on TV about the holdout prisoners that shows mug shots of all of them, including TtB (more on that later). one of the people to see the news report is, of course, Mummy María. she is so shocked she drops her coffee cup. she races out of the house – i’m sure you can all guess where she is headed...

    *and speaking (well, sortof) Jailbait, we see her and her Tatty So-Called Girlfriends have gone out to a party somewhere. she looks miserably around the party and one of the TS-CGs rather unsympathetically tells her to cheer up already then heads off to find herself a drink. Jailbait is as displeased as he is pleased to find that Greasy Mustache is at the same party. she rudely asks what he's doing there, and he basically asks her why all the hostility when he only wants to be nice to her; she doesn’t seem to have a good answer for him. plus, he has drugs and she wants some (i guess Daddy FBBG has been making sure she doesn’t get any at home...?). later we see her headed upstairs with GM and know that he’s agreed to give/sell her something. she passes her the same TS-CG on the way up the stairs and tells her she’ll be right back. a little after that we see Jailbait back at the top of the stairs, obviously quite stoned. GM is with her, looking very pleased with himself. she tries to go downstairs, saying she wants to go home, and GM leads her off toward a bedroom instead. she protests she has to talk to that TS-CG, and GM assures her he’ll tell TS-CG where she is. he parks her on the bed in the bedroom and hurries off to find some Sleazy Pal of his. he tells SP that he’ll be busy in the bedroom (i guess the party is at GM’s friend’s house and it’s SP's bedroom he’ll be using?). they leer at each other knowingly. GM heads back up the stairs and carefully closes the bedroom door behind himself. still later, we see him come out, looking lecherously smug. he leaves the door open and heads back to the party, passing SP on the way down the stairs; SP is headed up. back in the bedroom, Jailbait writhes miserably under the sheets, whimpering softly. the next morning, the party is over and a mostly sober Jailbait comes down the stairs. GM is in the living room, sitting on the floor with his back against the sofa (where someone, possibly SP, appears to be passed out, asleep), watching the news report of the prison riot where they show the photo of the holdout prisoners including TtB. he notices Jailbait coming into the room and quickly changes the channel. she wants to know what he was watching and he tries to claim that he was only channel surfing. she doesn’t believe him, but when he insists he wasn’t watching anything, doesn’t press the point.

    *Vero finally shows up for DIddy Dearest’s romant— er, reconcillia— er, special dinner à deux. she looks exhausted and not at all in the mood for dinner. DD oozes on in a gently reproachful tone about how much he’d been looking forward to eating with her, how he really misses having her in the house, how he feels so alone, how he wants to get them back to the way they used to be. blah blah blah. he tells her he knows she’s unhappy –she can’t hide anything from him; since she was a little girl he’s learned to read *all* her slightest gesture or expression— and presses her to confide in him. at first Vero only answers that she’s been to see Gus and she doesn’t want to talk about it. later, however, she ends up admitting that she’s just back from “definitively” ending her relationship with Gus (altho if i remember correctly, she phrases it more like she let him go, or something less like “i asked for a divorce” and more like “i gave him the separation he wanted.” but not that, either. but anyway...). DD manages to contain his pleasure at hearing this, altho the state Vero was in it’s doubtful she’d’ve noticed anyway. she tells him she’s moving back into her apartment in the house but stops short of telling him all is forgiven and will be the same as before. instead she tells him she thinks they need to concentrate on working things out with Tony the Brat. DD pretends to agree to this, telling her he needs her to help him “get close” to TtB, but then quickly shifts the focus back onto how much he wants and needs her, how miserable he's been since she left (seriously!). he says that they’re all each other has (oh yeah? and what’s TtB, then??). he’s kneeling in front of her, and petting her hand and kissing it, and calling her all sorts of endearments, the least loverlike of which is “mi princesa,” so you can get a pretty good idea how really creepy and icky this whole scene was to watch. he tries to get all the gory details of the Gus situation by reminding her how she always used to feel better after telling him her problems, but thankfully she stops short of that. she apologizes to him about the dinner and says she’s not really very hungry, she thinks she’ll just go to bed. later we see her going into her apartment. she flashes back to Gus kissing her and her kissing back, then gently pushing him away. she gives a little sob. icky DD has crept into the room behind her and when she turns she sees him. she gratifies me by not looking entirely pleased to see him. he blah blahs some more in a very sickening fashion about how he can’t stand to see her upset and when she starts crying, as he knew she would, it gives him the opportunity to hug her (eeeewww!) and pet her and tell her There, there, go ahead and cry, Daddy’s here (or WTTE. whatever, it was really gross). as she sobs brokenly on his shoulder, DD smiles in a totally Grinch-Who-Stole-Christmas way.

    *Gus walks the streets of the barrio in the rain, miserable outside and in. presumably at some point he finally goes home, because the next morning we see him at the breakfast table. Mom makes a sortof half-assed apology that Gus is too unhappy to bother challenging, and then undoes any good it might have done by reiterating, again, that she doesn’t want to ever see Vero set foot in her house again. at this, Gus tells her she won’t need to worry about it because he and Vero are definitely over. he looks so utterly wretched i am again annoyed with Mom for letting her annoyance with Vero override any sympathy she might feel toward her only son whom she professes to love above all else in the world. whatever. Gus knows he’s poor company and apologizes to Auntie Ditz for being such a downer right now when she needs to be focusing on happy things, but AD waves it off – she’s obviously assuming that Gus' state is caused by Suzy’s death. Mom asks what’s up with Suzy and Gus says he's to go to pick up her ashes that morning. he tells her that years ago he and Suzy were having one of “those” conversations, where you end up talking about what you want to happen after you die, and Suzy had said she wanted to be cremated and her ashes buried under a pretty, flowering tree, one that gives pleasure to the eyes. so that was what he was going to do. Mom asks if he wants her to come along, but he tells her no, he’d rather do it alone. it would be his last chance ever to be alone with Suzy. at some point we hear someone knocking at the door, and Mom (? AD? i don’t remember which) goes to answer. we hear muffled voices, then whoever it was reappears, carrying Gus’ computer bag and looking slightly non-plussed. i think it was Mom: They sent it back, she tells Gus flatly.

    *Esteban the Unstable turns up at Vero’s apartment. before she can talk, he rushes to speak, telling her he knows she’s been to see Gus and he can guess what they talked about. he tells her that he’s not going to importune her any more – he loves her and he wants her to be happy, even if that means she is with Gus. Vero surprises him by telling him that while she had gone to speak with Gus, the outcome was not what he's thinking. she and Gus are not going to get back together. Vero wants to try to get her life back, and she hopes that he (EtU) still has a space in his life for her. i throw things at the screen.

    *DD is in his study as Repulsiva unsuccessfully tries to stop MM from barging into the house to speak with him (well, in the state she's in, more to rant at him, but whatever). unable to stop MM from entering, Repulsiva rather desperately makes her final stand: she blocks the door to the study and snarks to DD to tell MM she’s not allowed in, like he promised. DD ignores this and tells Repulsiva to let MM in. MM yells at him that he has to get TtB out of prison, now.

    *the Comandante of the Guards is going over the prison floor plans with some of his guards. they point to the parts of the prison they’ve successfully retaken and show him where Piojo, his cohorts, and TtB are still holed up with the two guards –one of whom may already be dead by now, they add— as prisoners. the Lieutenant Guard who has been doing most of the talking starts to suggest ways they can storm this area and retake it without hurting anyone, but CotG is angry and not in the mood to put up with the Piojo & co’s crap any more. he tells LG that the only people he wants coming out of that section alive are his two men. period.

    *Gus is under the requisite tree in an area that looks too country to be a park, so it's probably somewhere out of town. he’s holding a wooden box that presumably contains Suzy’s ashes and talking to it. he says he never thought he would ever find himself actually having to follow through on that conversation they had so long ago, and swears that if he does end up finding out who is responsible for everything, he will make that person pay for everything Suzy had to go through. he looks like he’s about to say more, but we hear a car driving up. as feared, Tarta and CABM get out. Gus doesn’t look overjoyed to see them. CAMB, in a voice that hardly sounds apologetic, tells Gus she’s sorry for barging in but when she stopped by his house to check on him today (entromedida!), Tarta told her where Gus was and she insisted they go to support Gus. he shouldn’t have to be alone at a time like this (never mind he’d specifically told Mom he wanted to be alone, and we must presume he told Tarta the same thing...!). she puts her clingy arms around him on one side, as he's standing there still holding the box with both hands, and Tarta hugs him from the other side. Gus lets go of the hand on Tarta's side that's holding the box and puts his arm around Tarta, but the hand still holding the box is fortunately trapped by CAMB's hug and so he can't put it around her. Gus rather grudgingly agrees it's good to have friends there.

    previews for today's show would seem to indicate that Vero has enlisted EtU's help to rescue TtB from the situation with the holdout prisoners, and GP giving TtB the gun so he can shoot EtU. or something.

 

    [USA, 8/27/03] Re: A little help please Author: g Date:   08-28-03 10:08 PDT

    Surprisingly little actully happened (or maybe it isn't surprising, I guess these kinds of hostage situations just taKe a long time). Anyway EtU is ok (even his hair sadly). The biggest thing is that Toni got them to bring in Anselmo as a negociator (who, for reasons that completely escape me, let Gus come with. Gus now knows about Toni, btw, as he was there when they called PA). Anyway, PA's negociting isn't going much better than EtU's, but at least they are holding off the scary commander guy who wants to just attack. There is also a cute little Maria/Chepe scene :)

 

 mini-summary for Wed 8/27/03  Author: B.   Date:   08-28-03 11:00 PDT

    very briefly (mini-summary for Wednesday 27 August 2003):

    *Vero tells EtU she wants to get back together with him, she sees that as the way to get her life back. she wants to forget about the past and just focus on the future. EtU is, not too surprisingly, pleased. he suggests they maybe take some time off, just the two of them. Vero tells him that, much as she's eager to move on with her life, there is one thing she can't just forget --he knows what she's referring to-- so they will just have to stay on and keep working until that is taken care of.

    *after saying a few more tender words, Gus opens the box of Suzy's ashes and buries them at the base of the tree. he breaks down, sobbing. Junior is watching, unnoticed, from a distance. in a rare burst of tact, CAMB walks away from Gus and Tarta, out of earshot, to give them a few moments alone together with Suzy's ashes. watching her walk, Junior has an hallucination that she's Suzy and it disturbs him. Tarta, foolish boy, urges Gus to give CAMB a chance. Gus asks him point-blank if he's in love with CAMB. after a stunned moment at having his secret discovered, Tarta emphatically denies this, but he's stammering so badly i know i would have been suspicious. hopefully Gus was as well...

    *DD bursts impetuously into Vero's room with his "desperate concerned" face on and tells the two about the prison riot, the holdout prisoners, and that TtB is one of them. along with Mummy María, they all race over to the prison.

    *MM pretty much spends the whole episode in hysterics and is not of much use.

    *Father Anselmo reappears and checks in with his loving family. it seems he has been in Monterrey getting some paperwork taken care of for his trip to the Vatican, and then they are going to send him to a parish in Los Angeles where he will mostly work with poor immigrants. Auntie Ditz gives him her good news and he reacts similarly to Mom re the MattAAo being the father thing, and also because of the threat to AD's health. he is also dismayed to find that AD has still not told Mom the truth about her cancer. AD comes as close to yelling at him as she is capable, insisting that she is fine, she'll be fine, that this child is giving her a reason to live and he should be happy for her and support her efforts. if not entirely convinced, FA does put a good face on it and toe the party line in front of Mom, who has rejoined them, and Gus, who is back from burying Suzy's ashes. MM calls FA and has hysterics all over his cel about TtB and the prison riot. it seems that TtB has convinced Piojo (the Goon Prisoner leading the gang of holdouts) to let FA come talk to them or something. FA tells Gus that TtB is Vero's brother --Gus is stunned to learn Vero has a brother she never knew about until just recently-- and he escorts FA to the prison. (by the way, when Gus asks FA why DD never knew about this half-brother until now, FA vagues that he guesses DD was afriad Vero would be "mad" or something. he volunteers the carefully-worded opinion that DD is very strange (or WTTE, i'll have to check it). Gus looks at FA consideringly and rather rhetorically asks why he has the feeling that FA knows a lot more about DD than he is telling... heh.)

    *Vero, EtU, and DD appear at the prison. predictably, DD starts throwing his rather dubious authority around and when the sheer force of his personality isn't enough to make them all grovel to him, he starts invoking his pal El Presidente's authority instead to make them do what he wants. the Warden tries to tell DD that Commandante of the Guards and his crew have things in hand, but DD overacts all over Warden saying that his son is one of the holdouts and if one single hair on TtB's head is harmed then Warden, CotG and all his peeps are going to regret it. Vero has to calm DD down, telling him his tactics are not helping matters. mostly DD and a bit Vero and EtU convince Warden to make CotG let them (Vero and EtU) go check the situation out. meanwhile, Piojo has given TtB one of the captured guards' guns but it doesn't have any bullets. Piojo tells TtB he has to "earn" the bullets, presumably by proving he's a tough guy and on their side. unfortunately, all TtB's resultant posturing with the empty gun --all mostly done so that TtB can keep exercising what limited, more or less rational influence he can over the increasingly erratic Piojo-- lead CotU and his crew to jump to the conclusion that TtB is the leader of the gang, when any idiot paying attention can see he's at best a lieutenant.

    *EtU approaches and tries to convince the gang to surrender or at least to let Wounded Guard be treated. he gets no-where, except i think that's when TtB asks for FA.

    *at one point, Uninjured Guard tells TtB that CotG is a mean bastard who will stop at nothing --including killing him, UG, and Wounded Guard-- to get his revenge. he begs TtB to protect them.

    *Nancy brings Chepe a folder with information she says Vero asked for. as Chepe flicks through the papers (several times flashing what is obviously a photograph, but never in such a way that we, the viewers, can actually see who it is), Nancy gives him a verbal rundown of the highlights. she says the guy (who i don't think was ever named) is extremely dangerous, was an assassin for the Narcos, etc -- rap sheet as long as your leg. why he's not locked up in maximum security for life is probably due to influence from corrupt, highly-placed officials. accompanying psych reports basically say he is a total sociopath who ought to be on serious medications. what with one thing and another i originally thought they were talking about Junior and had identified him through fingerprints they found somewhere, but now will bet that it was Piojo instead since Chepe takes the folder with him to give to Vero when he heads over to the prison. when Chepe gets there, DD demands to see the folder (Vero and EtU still don't know Chepe's there). DD doesn't look the least bit shocked or surprised at its contents, so now i'm even more certain it WASN'T on Junior, tho it might not have been on Piojo, either (watch it was about CotG or something...!). DD hurriedly introduces MM and Chepe, but they say they've already met, at the hospital. Chepe looks at MM that way that he does; DD doesn't seem to notice.

    *FA and Gus arrive at the prison. FA tries to get rid of Gus by thanking him for accompanying him, but Gus says he's not leaving, in case he can be of help. DD has the predictable hysterics on seeing Gus (Vero and EtU are back in the passageway with CotG and his crew so are unaware of Gus' arrival with FA) but FA smartly smacks him down (it was masterful! yay!!) and i think DD shuts up as much from surprise as from the rebuke itself. in any event, Gus stays, but is relegated to the visitors waiting room or some place, along with MM. Gus introduces himself and tries to help her keep calm. eventually DD appears and hauls MM off with him to some other place, leaving Gus alone in the room, waiting.

    *FA goes to talk to the holdouts and Piojo gives him their demands (the usual: water, money, getaway car, and no-one hinders their escape). FA tries to get them to exchange WG at least, but Piojo's not having it. they run him off again, but he later returns.

    *for some reason i don't remember, Vero leaves EtU with CotG and his increasingly edgy crew and goes looking for DD. as she arrives in the visitor's waiting room, yet another squad of guards in full riot gear goes trotting through. she watches them in consternation. as the last of them passes, she sees Gus is there and is shocked. she asks him if he knows where DD is and he tells her how DD and MM went off somewhere. he tells her he heard about the situation from FA and came in case there might be something he can do to help. is there something i can do to help? he almost pleads. Vero looks at him.

    *back in the hallway with the edgy guards and jumpy holdout prisoners, EtU and FA are only barely managing to keep the guards from getting trigger happy and rushing the holdouts. to show he's not kidding around, Piojo fires off a couple of rounds in the general direction of the guards, which does nothing for anyone's nerves. FA again approaches the holdouts. Piojo points his pistol right at FA, threatening him. FA continues to plead, and is not afraid. Piojo shoots...

 

“Tony the Target” -- LOL, Megui!! (another somewhat summary / Thurs 08/28/03)

Author: B. Date:   08-29-03 12:27 PDT

    yes, TtB does take a bullet --actually TWO bullets!-- for Vero.

    Megui, how frustrating!! did you call / write the station to find out what happened? or maybe it wasn't Telemundo's fault at all but your cable or satellite provider getting their "wires" crossed? at any rate, per your request, herewith an off-the-cuff and probably severely out of order mini-summary for Thursday, 28 August 2003.

    basically:

    *the entire O-Team arrives to deal with the holdout prisoners, Chepe having invented (pretty much out of thin air!) some excuse that gives the team "jurisdiction" over the prison but really mostly because DD, chewing the scenery with gusto as Concerned Father and once again relying upon his former authority as Big Top Cop as well as the dubious authority granted him by his possible appointment as Secretary of Public Security and El Presidente's order that he try to "help" the O-Team discover and bring down "Escorpión," continues to rant on about not hurting a hair on TtB's head. it's DD, more than anyone else, who originally forced Vero and EtU down the Warden's throat, and Vero in turn asked Chepe for the whole O-Team's help.

    *Father Anselmo does not get shot. that seemingly point-blank shot in last scene on Wednesday night was actually only a "warning." but if FA messes up again (in Piojo's not very rational opinion), the next one will be right into FA's chest. FA does not seem fazed by the threats.

    *Gus tells Vero he accompanied FA there so he would be there if there is anything he could do to help. he practically begs her to give him something to do. it looks like Vero's weakening and starting to consider the idea when EtU turns up, is annoyed (but doesn't rant) to see Gus there, and drags Vero off, again leaving Gus in the visitor's waiting room. eventually, Mummy María returns and has more hysterics all over Gus. he does what he can to calm her down and reassure her (this is why she was thanking him).

    *Comandante of the Guards is very snarky about the O-Team's involvement and makes it very clear. he eventually becomes so disruptive that Chepe has to all but order the Warden to kick CotG out. but it's almost as clear that the Warden is starting to buy into some of CotG's "concerns." after kicking CotG out, he tells Chepe that if the O-Team's first attempt fails, he is going to let CotG go ahead and do things his way.

    *Vero goes looking for a medical-type overcoat and bag so she can disguise herself as the doctor Piojo has grudgingly agreed to let in to treat Still-Dying Guard (formerly Wounded Guard). she again runs into Gus alone in the visitor's waiting room. she tells him the plan and he again pleads to be at least let in with the rest of the team, in case there's anything he can do to help. Vero is touched by his obvious desire to help, but, it appears with some regret, insists that they can handle it and he should stay there. he reluctantly agrees.

    *when Nancy arrives (later than everyone else, she was held up at HQ by some paperwork or something), Gus renews his pleas with her, and even tho she, too, is sympathetic, she apparently also ends up telling him he has to stay in the visitor's room.

    *Chepe snaps at the Warden that Piojo ought to be in a maximum security prison. the way he says it, you could read it either as merely a comment on Piojo or as Chepe implying that the Warden had a hand in making sure Piojo stayed out of maximum security. hee -- i love that man.

    *at some point FA offers to exchange himself for S-DG. i think Piojo agrees to this.

    *preceeded by FA, Vero finally gets in to "check" on the S-DG. she's tricked out like a doctor and has a sort of fishing tackle box that was the best they could find on such short notice. it has a false bottom with a gun concealed in it. the team tells Vero if she doesn't give them "the signal" (?? not sure what that was) after five minutes they are going to storm the place. or something. i wasn't really following the whole plot. meanwhile, EtU, Chino, and Gabriel are all tricked out in their black StealthOps tactical gear but seem to have problems deciding whether to go with the masks pulled down over their faces or not since they pull them down to race thru deserted halls but then have turned them back into hats for the actual raid where the prisoners will see them (go figure).

    *after admitting Vero, Piojo suddenly gets all suspicious of her. she stammers a lot and insists she is "Sylvia González" and that no-one "sent" her -- she's just there to see to S-DG and she would sooooo much rather not be. there is something of a power struggle between Piojo and TtB just trying to get PIojo to let "Sylvia" do her "job" but eventually he does. TtB goes to help Vero with S-DG, who keeps writhing around and moaning a lot. then, after she's "examined" S-DG and pronounced that he needs way more help than she can give him there, Piojo changes his mind again and starts waving his gun around and making ridiculous threats and issuing counter-productive orders. the O-Team guys are apparently in position, Vero manages to get her gun out and with Piojo again behaving irrationally, she pulls it on him. i think she lets off a single shot (not at anyone, or they loaded the first chamber with a blank. in fact, now i think about it, i seem to remember something about a blank, so maybe her firing was the signal?). he aims at her and, TtB realizing that Piojo will have no qualms about pulling the trigger, frantically jumps in front of Vero. as a result, he takes both shots that were intended for Vero. they hit him in the upper right side of his chest. he collapses in Vero's arms. the O-Team guys storm the area where the holdouts are (having somehow snuck around behind them. it involved ropes and sliding down them head-first in a very showy fashion into more empty halls. don't ask -- you're probably better off not knowing the details). DD, hearing the shots, becomes, if possible, even more over-the-top frantic than before. MM cranks up the hysterics again (having been more or less calm after her conversation with Gus), and having been let further into the prison than Gus has so far been permitted -- she's now hanging with DD and Chepe, which is how Gus came to be alone in the visitor's waiting room again). Chepe keeps demanding over the phone link that EtU tell him what is going on while EtU, inexplicably, does not say ANYthing (!! whatever, but totally typical of EtU. and it's not like he was doing anything where he couldn't have talked. he was just standing over one of the holdout prisoners with his gun trained on the guy's head!!). the O-Teamers manage to disarm all the prisoners -- end of standoff. i'm not sure, but i think one of the prisoners might have been killed, but apart from that the only injuries are TtB's and S-DG.

    *TtB is gravely injured and unconscious. a real medical team, apparently called in from outside the prison, takes him off to the prison clinic as it is supposedly the only medical facility nearby (??!!). DD rants about this, clearly feeling that his valiant son will not get the sort of treatment he undoubtedly needs at this pathetic excuse for a clinic, but goes off to speak with the doctor anyway. MM thanks Gus for letting her rant all over him. Gus tells Vero again how he is there for her if she needs him for ANYthing, then doesn't press the point but retires back to the visitor's waiting room. as the guards haul off Piojo, he sees Vero and DD and threatens them both, especially Vero. DD totally loses it and threatens back. why has NO-ONE yet noticed his very over-the-top behaviour?

    *oh, yeah: in all the excitement i almost forgot (well, i did until i read another post that reminded me...!). Ex-Yellow Tie gives FBBG some kind of letter from someone and FBBG after reading it says they're going to have to go to Miami. he doesn't really want to because it means leaving Jailbait alone in Mexico and they have some thing with some Colombians they were going to be doing instead, but whatever the Miami thing (something about a millionaire with financial problems) is apparently takes precedence. E-YT asks him, what about Gus? and FBBG says he'll see / talk to Gus in a few days when he gets back. FBBG reminds E-YT that this Miami thing is *his* deal only -- DD doesn't need to be knowing about it. E-YT yessirs his understanding.

    *and speaking of E-YT, Junior --still looking wretched-- checks in at DD's and is told by Repulsiva that DDs orders were for him to wait there for further instructions. Junior just agrees and parks himself.

    promos for today's ep do not let on whether TtB actually survives or not, but i'm guessing he probably does. and i think EtU is going to have to apologize to Vero for believing that TtB had truly gone over to the dark side. before the "operativo" was put into effect, he had been warning Vero about this. Vero basically replied that even if he had, she would never forgive herself if anything happened to TtB since she all but put him in prison to start with, and that that was part of the reason she was so insistent in being involved in ending the standoff.

USA, 9/1-5/03:

     USA, 9/1/03 - LOL, Senior X, but not quite accurate... (partial summary 09/01/03) Author: B. Date:   09-02-03 13:17 PDT

    partial mini-summary for Monday 01 September 2003

    *Gus foolishly not only reiterates his request to CAMB that he wants her to stay at the party, but he expands on it and says he wants her to stay in his life. he doesn't specifically say so, but the meaning is clear: he wants her to be more than just a good friend. as i posted previously, at this point it's hardly fair to blame her for his mistakes, so, with a sinking heart, i watched her smilingly accept this.

    *the party continues over at O-Team HQ. the core team (Marcela the Pushy, who does look very nice with her hair straightened, by the way; Chino, Nancy, Gabriel, EtU, Vero, etc) is in Chepe's office where he, in a choked-up voice no doubt intended to disguise the case of incipient laryngitis which appears to have attacked the actor recently, almost tearfully describes his pathetic childhood -- parents dying early, he was the sole support of his many brothers and sisters, walked ten miles uphill in the snow to school, blah blah blah (i'm sure you get the picture -- big sob story, very heartwrenching). everyone listens in silence, but Nancy walks right into it. she tries to cheer Chepe up by pointing out how much he has to be proud of and everyone laughs. Vero points out that Chepe's been telling them a story, he's the cossetted only child of professional parents (Dad's an attorney or something, i wasn't really paying attention). later, Nancy takes Vero off to one side and admits that she was in on the whole Lying To Vero thing from the start and is sorry. Vero tells Nancy that she's over it, that she's realized if the situation were reversed she likely would have done the same, and that she's not dwelling on the past now, she's totally future-focused. Still friends, the way we were before? asks Nancy hopefully. Still friends, says Vero.

    *the going-away party for Father Anselmo is still going full-blast over at Mom's, too. CAMB finally says she has to go home, she's too tired from all that dancing. Gus asks her to wait until he's said goodnight to a few people and he'll take her home. FA corners MattAAo and sternly asks him if he's sure he knows what he's doing. MattAAo assures FA that everything will be fine. there is some conversation about MattAAo ever being able to put his old love behind him, but i'm not sure if it's with FA or someone else. he again renews his proposal to AD and she again refuses it, saying she's fine with things the way they are. a mariachi arrives and starts to play, to everyone's delight but mine. however, mercifully for my ears (since they sounded rather tentative and screechy), Telemundo quickly cut to a commercial.

    *Gus asks Mom why she never told him anything about the whole Suave Owner affair. she replies that she didn't want him to think that at her advanced age she was capable of acting like a silly teenager. Gus tells her she's not old -- she's young and gorgeous and should be falling in love if she wants to. and in the spirit of their new disclosure policy, he tells her he intends to try to make his life with CAMB. he notes Mom's determined lack of a reply and encourages her to voice her opinion. Mom stammers that, as he knows, she has never been happy about CAMB's, er, profession and didn't feel she was the right choice for Gus, but anything that makes him forget that wretched Vero is fine with her. but perhaps there are times when a mother's opinion is best left unvoiced, she adds.

    *as feared, Gus and CAMB end up in bed together (thankfully, she's changed the sheets to a nice brown-and-beige check instead of that Pepto-Bismol pink she used to have...). after doing the deed (which we are spared seeing), she has fallen asleep but he is sitting up awake, looking pensive. she rolls over and notices, comments that "one day" she's going to be "very rich" so she can afford to buy all his thoughts. i don't remember his reply but i do remember hers. she tells him, "quiero ser tu mujer."

    *FA is at his church, contemplating. DD turns up. FA tells DD he's really about the last person (DD is) that he is in the mood to listen to at this moment. i'm not much in the mood to listen to DD either, so i miss what he says to FA (sorry!). whatever it was, it's brief, and DD leaves right afterward, leaving FA looking at the religious painting on the upper wall / ceiling.

    *Mummy María tends Tony the Not-Such-A-Brat in the prison hospital. he fretfully asks if she gave Jailbit his message. she almost snaps that she did and repeats that she's sure Jailbait will come "when she can." TtNSAB says he really misses Jailbait, he wants to make his life with her when he gets out. MM rather peevishly complains that he never told her anything about his "life" with Jailbait (the whole two or three days he wasn't living at home!!) and snarks about Jailbait's drug use, trying to get him to say he will live with her (MM) forever and give up on this Other Woman (Jailbait) who is clearly not very good for him. all it does is exasperate TtNSAB, who reiterates that Jailbait's problems are mostly due to her parents: Mumsy Jailbait doesn't give a rat's ass about her and Daddy FBBG is mean. or something (he refrains from telling MM Daddy FBBG is a crook and a drug dealer). after some more on this topic, MM finally gets the hint and drops the subject.

    *meanwhile, Jailbait has hit up Greasy Mustache for drugs. she tells him how TtNSAB wants her to visit him at the prison but GM, after asking what she wants TtNSAB for anyway when she has him around now, opines that even if they let her see him, TtNSAB probably won't be getting out of jail anytime soon anyway. they'll probably add 15 years for his part in the riot, he adds cheerfully. Jailbait whimpers that TtNSAB wasn't one of the ringleaders of the riot, he just got caught up in it, it wasn't his fault. Who told you that? his mother?? GM asks in feigned amazement with more than a touch of derision. we can tell his comments, and the lure of the drugs, are starting to have an effect on Jailbait.

    *DD snarks to Junior about how he can't get FBBG on the phone (we cut to a scene where we see Jailbait frantically tossing pillows everywhere as she looks for the phone, only to find it after DD has hung up in disgust). Junior offers to try to reach Ex-Yellow Tie on his cel to see if he knows where FBBG is. DD looks a bit surprised that Junior would have E-YT's cel phone number but doesn't say anything about it. Junior suggests maybe they should get going to the Big Chief Narcos meeting but DD says not yet, he likes to arrive last. while they're waiting to leave, he comments that Junior is looking a bit peaked and encourages him to open up about his troubles. Junior insists he's fine, nothing's bothering him. DD again remarks that he considers Junior his true heir. he talks about how proud he is of Vero and now even of TtNSAB and how, when he was with the pair of them at the prison, he was very aware (in a nice, fatherly way) of how much he liked being there with his whole family together. but that he noticed that he really really felt that he has three children, and not just the two who are supposedly his children -- the child of his heart (Vero) and that of his actual blood (TtNSAB). Junior should have been there too. Junior doesn't really know what to say to this, but fortunately DD doesn't seem to expect much of a response. i guess he figured Junior was overwhelmed into silence. and it was actually kinda touching, in an icky sort of way.

    *FBBG arrives late to the Big Chief Narcos meeting, which doesn't win him any points with DD, who makes a pointed comment about how, since they weren't sure he was going to show, they started without him. as the Grand Pooh-Bah Big Chief Narco, DD pretty much orders everyone to lay low for five months. he'll toss the cops a few bones in the form of some rival cartel chiefs to keep them happy and off the scent of the Narcos. after the meeting, FBBG tells DD about the Miami trip, saying it's a "vacation." DD clearly isn't happy about it and his grudgingly-granted "permission," which FBBG hadn't asked for, only pisses FBBG off all the more. DD orders him to not draw any attention to himself, saying it will go badly for him if he disobeys.

    *we are treated to an extended day-to-night-to-day montage that includes scenes of Vero and EtU together at HQ, Gus and CAMB in bed (same sheets, tho...), TtB working out and sleeping in prison, Jailbait and GM and drugs, etc. at the end of it we rejoin Gus, Mom, MattAAo, and Auntie Ditz at Mom's. there's a chyron on the bottom saying "Five Months Later" and AD is noticeably pregnant. also, Mom's hair seems to be longer and she has it drawn back in a ponytail (it looks very nice on her). everyone seems to be happy. AD is saying how the pregnancy is going very well, she's just been told by the doctor. they're watching a video of her latest sonogram and she's pointing out where the feet are, etc. of course, she seems to be the only person who can see anything other than black-and-grey blobs (as usual with sonograms) but everyone is playing along. there is some joking about the baby taking after its father and being born bald (But i hear you can get wigs for that now, says Gus, mock-seriously, They've made a lot of advancements in that field lately) and MattAAo telling him he's not really in a position to be throwing that particular stone. everyone seems very happy, and Mom seems to be pretty much over her snit about MattAAo being the father of AD's child. AD gets up to go somewhere and has some sort of an attack. she doubles over as if in pain or trying to get her balance, and as everyone rushes to help her sit down, she reassures everyone that it was a passing thing, she's fine. we're all sitting there thinking, as i'm sure MattAAo is, "Uh-oh...!!"

    i was going to continue this after lunch (hey, i'm hungry) only i see that Megui has posted something pretty complete so maybe not...

     very very brief recap Author: Megui  Date:   09-02-03 13:15 PDT

     In no particular order

    + CAMB and Gus get together at the party at Gus's request (poor Tarta)

    + Anselmo talks with Mateo re:Nenena. Agrees it's better Nenena is having the kid with Mateo who reassures him that his sole purpose in life will now be to make Nenena and the kid happy, he is determined to forget Celia. Anselmo asks Mateo to please not cause Nenena any pain.

    + The O-Team party continues. Chepe tells some sob story which Nancy totally buys only it's all lies and everyone bursts out laughing. Chepe claims to have picked up many women with said sob story.

    + Antonio calls a meeting and orders all the members of the organization to take a sabatical for 5 months. In the mean time he will hand over some of the heads of the other cartels to the cops. The attention will be diverted away from the organization and they will be able to get more power from the fallen heads. Ramiro is not happy to be taking a forced vacation

    + Vero and EtU get to her apartment and EtU makes to leave. Vero tells him she's not asking him to leave

    + CAMB and Gus are in bed. Gus is very pensive. CAMB wants to be very rich to buy his thoughts. Gus doesn't share. He calls her "mi niña bonita" she says she wants to be his "mujer."

    + Jailbait getting more drugs from greasy mustache. The girl is spiraling down fast.

    + Mateo once again asks Nenena to marry him. She says he knows the answer to please stop asking. He says "what if I told you the only thing I want right now is to be with you." She knows he doesn't love her so she says no. He says if he has to fight to be with her, then he will fight. Celia has been watching the interaction and after Mateo leaves she asks Nenena what he said. Nenena tells her he said he was going to fight for her. Nenena asks Celia if she thinks Mateo will ever forget the other woman and fall in love with her. Celia tells her yes.

    Montage of scenes. 5 months later

    + Time for Little Brother Tony trial to get out of jail. Chepe goes to testify because it's no good for either Vero (as an often undercover agent) or DD (as a public figure) to go. Chepe testifies very favorably for LBT. The judge tends to agree with Chepe. MM launches herself at Chepe for a big hug. She made Chepe's day :o)

    +Vero and Esteban bring some Narco's in. They're congratulated by Chepe. They have a date later where EtU has something important to tell her.

    +Nenena, Mateo, Gus and Celia (with long hair that looks really good on her) are looking at a sonogram of baby. Nenena gets up and feels dizzy. she goes to lie down. The doctor is called. later we see Mateo comforting her, apparently her white cells are a little low but it doesn't look like the cancer has returned. The incident scared the crap out of poor Nenena. The scene with those two was very sweet as usual.

    +Gus is impatient because nothing is happening with the organization so he decides to go confront Ramiro. At Ramiro's house Gus Rants and threatens to go out on his own. Ramiro begins to tell him about the business in Miami, but before he goes into details wants to know if Gus is in. EYT overhears and jealously asks if Ramiro is going to leave him out of the deal. Ramiro screws up by snapping at EYT and telling him to get them some drinks (should've comforted the dude here).

    +EtU asks Vero to marry him and Vero is very shocked. (EtU needs to learn that before proposing marriage it's a good idea to have talked about it with the other person as this increases the likelihood of getting a positive response and reduces the risk of shock and disbelief from the other person).

    that's all I remember

     Re: Could someone please give me a mini summary of what happened last night... Author: g

Date:   09-02-03 13:25 PDT

    Well, as I said earlier I didn't watch that scene, but here is the CAMB-free summary:

    We start with a sillly little scene from the O-team party: Chepe is telling some sob story about how he grew up so poor his brother and he had to go too school in shifts as they only had one pair of shoes. Nancy is almost in tears, but Vero and EtU are in the back trying not to laugh. Finally they call him on it- Chepe is not only the son of a lawyer, but an only child (and spoiled). As the party breaks up Nancy and Vero have a little chat- Nancy apologizes for the whole lying thing, Vero says they are still friends.

    Junior and DD are in his office, getting ready to go to the big meeting. DD tells Junior that he is his true heir, blah, blah. Junior looks uncomfortable. At the meeting DD makes an announcement: They are going to stop all drug movements for 5 months, while things with the cops cool down. They will let the other drug dealers take the heat when they resume operations not only will the cops be off their trail, but they will have kindly gotten rid of the competition. FBBG doesn't look happy.

    Jailbait is still hanging out with greasy mustache guy, doing drugs (she is, I don't hink he is) She is worried about Toni, but apparently not enough to actually try to call him or anything. Toni (do we have a new name for him, btw?) talks to his Mom, who tells him not worry about Jailbait.

    At Gus's house, Gus tells mom he is getting back together w/ CAMB. Mom isn't too thrilled, but figures if it keeps him away from Vero.... Later there are Mairichis, and MatAAo asks Nenena to marry him (again). She says no (again). Mom, listeining, is even less thrilled now, but manages later to tell her that MattAAo will forget the other woman someday. Back at the church, DD pays a goodbye visit to PA, but i don't think he says anything important.

    *MOntage*Montage*Montage- buyin baby clothes, Gus and ines together (Ick) nothing too exciting

    5 meses despues

    The Fam is looking at a sonogram of the baby- its a boy. Later Nenena has a dizzy spell (Uh-Oh). The doctor comes, but doesn't think its anything to do with the cancer. Nenena is scared, but MattAAo comforts her.

    The O-team is going like gangbusters (no pun inteded), arresting drug dealers (although, presumably not from "The Organization")

Vero and EtU are working together. After a sucessful mission they come back with the bad guys. CHepe congratulates them. EtU leaves, but tells Vero to meet him, he has something important to tell her (Gee, wonder what that could be...) Chepe tells her he is going to Toni's hearing. Vero wants to go, but he says its not a good idea (I admit I don't really understand this) Anyway he goes and convinces the judge to take Toni's accions in the riot into account. Maria is very grateful...

    Gus is restless: He has spent the last 5 months robbing cars and isn;t getting anywhere as far as finding out about escorpian. MattAAo advises patience, but Gus syas he is going to visit FBBG. Operation Shutdown is still in effect and the other Jefes are starting to complain. One comes to DD, and tells him he is restarting shipments anyway. FBBG tells Gus about the "vacaciones", but says he isn't waiting anymore- he has a contact in Miami, and if GUs will stay with him they can control the whole east coast of the US. Ibañez is mad because he isn't included, and goes off to sulk. Avances imply that he is going to sell FBBG out to DD.

    To the surprise of no one (except, for some reason, Vero, who isn't supposed to be an idiot) EtU proposes.

    That's all I remember- if someone else thinks of something, please add.

 

USA, 9/3/03 - Re: I forgot to change the video tape (sorta summary 09/03/03 - updated) Author: B. (---)

Date:   09-04-03 10:48 PDT

    (sorta summary for Wednesday, 3 September 2003)

    FBBG had to set Greasy Mustache straight because he found out that GM has been supplying Jailbait with drugs. an added crime is that because he (Daddy FBBG) has been trying to keep Jailbait on a pretty short leash these days, he's aware that she's been stealing money from him to give to GM to pay for the drugs, and that pissed him off, too (altho i do think he'd be pissed off even if GM had been giving them to her for free). even tho he can often be pretty heavy-handed and arbitrary about it, i rather like FBBG in his role as father -- it's like he doesn't really know what to do with it (and particularly as father of a teenage daughter with no maternal figure in her life!), but he definitely does take it seriously. kinda cute.

    meanwhile, Jailbait finally puts in an appearance at the prison, but she looks really woebegone and unhappy, stays well back from the wire that the prisoners can stick their fingers through, and has a hard time meeting Tony the Not Such A Brat's eyes. he tells her he'll be out in a few days (having heard this from his lawyer earlier that day and been sternly warned to make sure that from that point onward he had better keep his nose really really clean) but she doesn't seem to be glad. in fact, if possible she seems to be even more distressed. TtNSAB is all concern for her --is her father hitting her? is she ill? is she ok?-- and she just keeps sniffling, saying no, she's fine, and stammering apologies. she finally manages to tell him not to try to call her any more and, over his increasingly desperate pleas, leaves. outside she runs into (natch!) DIddy Dearest, who suavely suggests she'll feel better if she tells him all her problems (and to be tentatively fair to DD, until proven otherwise, he IS aware that TtNSAB's continuing inability to contact Jailbait is upsetting TtNSAB, and we should remember that ever since TtNSAB saved Vero, DD has been taking a considerably more paternal interest in TtSNAB so MAYbe... then again, maybe not). inside, the prisoners who have been taunting him about his mother and about his unanswered calls to Jailbait now taunt him about her visit. i think one of them is GM's friend or something, because even tho i don't remember him naming names, he definitely suggests in a very nasty way that Jailbait has found someone she likes better. TtNSAB loses it and attacks the guy. prisoner fight -- uh-oh!!

    in other news, yes, Vero managed to get Chepe to send her to Miami, to Marcela the Pushy's quiet annoyance and Estéban the Unstable's extreme irritation. naturally, his first reaction was to insist that Chepe send him as well, but Chepe reminded him he's the head of operations there (EtU is) and as such has to stay home to manage. or something. there was also a fun little scene where EtU accused Vero of only wanting to go so she could be with Gus, which even i could see was unfair (granted, that may be a good part of her subconscious reasoning, but i think we can safely acquit her of consciously wanting that). Vero smacked him down for that and that was the end of that. of course, now that she's in Miami and he's still in DF, i'll be he endangers her a half-dozen times calling her the way he has been known to do, but perhaps i am a bit overhasty to judge at the moment...

    Vero goes home to pack and DD invades to invite her to go to dinner or visit some friends or something, saying they never do anything together any more. Vero agrees, but says she can't go to whatever it was because she'll be out of town. of course, DD is all about wanting to know details and at first Vero just tells him she can't tell him anything --not where she's going or what she's doing or how long she'll be gone. DD cajoles and pries in that way he has with her that just makes me want to smack him and finally she laughingly gives in and says she doesn't see the harm in his knowing. i am about to throw things at the TV when Vero tells him she's going to Sinaloa for a few days, to check some records or something. so he doesn't need to worry, because she won't be that far away or doing anything dangerous. not that i'm always in favor of lying to one's parents in this barefaced manner, but Vero being what she is, DD shouldn't be asking in the first place. it's nice to see she's finally learned (not that she's doing it for the reasons i would be doing it for, tho -- she's doing it so that he won't fuss. but at least it's an improvement).

    Nancy is working on the computers and Gabriel goes over and asks if she wants to go out to dinner. Nancy kindof hedges, saying that even tho she really cares for him, she can't get into all that again. Gabriel says he's just asking her to dinner is all. she says she knows what will happen, they'll end up back at his place. our place, he corrects her -- remember, we got it together...? he says he misses her -- misses them. they hug, and are so cute together i'm totally getting a sinking feeling...

    CAMB of course gets Gus to agree to take her to Miami and is all happy. she packs, like, EVERY article of clothing she has ever owned, as if they are going to be moving there instead of just going for a brief visit. she's as giddy as if Gus had volunteered to take her and they were going on a pleasure trip. they get to Miami and check in at the hotel, meeting up with Crooked Millionaire and his pal Token American Partner in the lobby. CM tells them about some party on his yacht and of course invites CAMB as well. Gus, instead of firmly telling CAMB that she cannot go because this is business and this is dangerous so she must wait for him back at the hotel, doesn't even bother to make a token attempt (i guess he knows if he forbade her to go she'd just show up anyway). later, i am nauseated by the debut of the "grrkini" (which will continue to appear through tomorrow and likely Friday's eps as well, so you have been warned).

    Vero and Gabriel also arrive and meet up with their contact, Undercover Girl (Renata), the DEA agent who has already infiltrated as CM's sortof girlfriend. UG tells Vero her cover for going on the yacht --she's a friend of UG's from high school in San Jose and they met again recently at a strip club where Vero's been working. her name is "María." she will be bringing Vero on board to be the "date" for TAP. she warns Vero that it's a really really sleazy, dirty situation in spite of outward appearances. she will likely be shared, and should expect to have to sleep with the guys. Vero says she's fine with that only, could her name be "Susan" instead. fine with UG. however, there is absolutely NO way she can get Gabriel on board. Gabriel protests, and rather strongly, but Vero sides with UG and overrules him. she suggests he stay on shore, take pictures of the people on the yacht, get them developed and send them back to HQ for the gang back at home to start working on in the meantime. Gabriel unhappily agrees.

    UG takes "Susan" to the boat where she meets CM and TAP and soon goes off with TAP (who really does seem to be a gringo and not just someone playing one on TV -- yay!). Ex-Yellow Tie, who has grudgingly reported in to FBBG and received orders to basically do whatever Gus tells him, notices Gabriel, disguised as a tourist with a big ol' camera, hanging around the dock area, trying to look like he's innocently taking pictures of everything. but E-YT hasn't been who he is all his adult life for nothing, and he clearly thinks there's something suspicious about Gabriel. Gabriel notices him notice him and tries to casually saunter on, but we already know from the promos for today's ep that he gets caught.

    back in DF, Mom and Grandma are having a chat about something (wasn't paying attention). for some reason, Grandma goes to the door (maybe she was leaving? i did mention i wasn't really paying attention, didn't i?), then comes back and tells Mom she (Mom) has company. it's.... Suave Owner. he is looking a bit unsure of his welcome, as well he should be after the smackdown Mom gave him earlier this wee-- i mean, five months ago! at Father Anselmo's going-away party. he's there to apologize and to explain what was going on that Mom found him with a woman in what can only be called an unmistakably compromising situation, and to ask her to give him another chance. but because i wasn't paying attention at that point, i missed his excuse for why the woman was there. probably an ex or something. anyway, as i recall, Mom hasn't bounced him out on his ear yet, so he may get that second chance.

    Gus and CAMB's "grrrkini" arrive on the yacht. now that Gus is there, CM suggests they all go below (Gus, CM, TAP) and get business out of the way right away so that then they can spend the rest of the time partying. Gus tells CAMB to stay out of trouble and heads off with the guys. CAMB sees Vero.

    other promos for today's ep have CAMB cattily threatening Vero with telling everyone Vero's a cop. and really, just once i wish she could show a little maturity...

 

[USA, 9/5/03] A quick summary of the main points Author: Robin N (---)  Date:   09-08-03 06:55 PDT

    First: Gabriel did not die, thanks to Gus and Vero following the launch with the 2 killers and confronting them at sea. A gun battle broke out, Vero killed one one the boat (not Roberto) and Gabriel, trying to knock another overboard took a knife swipe to the gut and was pitched overboard to drown. Gus dove in and did the lifeguard routine.

    Afterwards, Vero told him that there was no need for him to jeopardize his part with Barrientos and she could handle the cleanup with Renata. The couple took the time to talk further about their relationship: Gus asked her again if she could forgive him but she told him that too much damage has been done. She loves him and he loves her but it is best to think of everything in their lives as a series of good and bad memories. He's clearly devastated, but he lets her go.

    CAMB, meanwhile, has left in a huff, after she couldn't persuade Gus to not go a-rescuing with Vero.

    Claudia took a whole bottle of sleeping pills at DD's and exited the bathroom saying that she felt better and was going to leave. He offered her whatever assistance (didn't he actually look sincere?) and she takes off, popping more pills along her way on foot. DD gets concerned and discovers she took the pills and he and Fro take off in search of her. Eventually she collapses in a disco and is brought to the hospital. DD and Fro can't find her and they go tell FBBG that she's wandering somewhere, ODing on pills and he goes to find her. He ends up at the hospital, where she's had her stomach pumped and he has a tender scene where he tries to convince her that he's there for her, loves her, and life is worth living, but Clau only wants to die. Her doctor warns FBBG that Clau needs treatment and it begins at home (no more drug parties, Papá); she needs to go into detox cause she's an addict.

    DD calls a council session for noon and he's decided: FBBG is out. He's a traitor and a rat and you know what they do with them. Fro is making the calls to set up the meeting.

    Tony's still in the hole, and his guard is enjoying it.

    Well, those are the main things, Reader's Digest fashion! Someone will fill in the gaps if I forgot any major details.

    *A buen entendedor, pocas palabras bastan.*

[USA, 9/5/03] Re: A quick summary of the main points Author: B. (---)  Date:   09-08-03 10:22 PDT

    *Tony the Not-Such-A-Brat WAS still in the hole, but at the very end the mean guard let him out.

    *though Junior did say that he thought they should notify FBBG, DD insisted that they try to find Jailbait first. i suspect this was both because of his icky lust for her as much as wanting to have one seriously up on FBBG. however, when they couldn't find her, they eventually went and told FBBG. FBBG went immediately to find Greasy Mustache and he forced GM to tell him where Jailbait was likely to have gone. when FBBG and Ex-Yellow tie race off after getting the info from GM, they don't notice that DD and Junior are following. then, right after she collapsed on the floor of the club, FBBG rushes in to find her. he's actually the one who takes her to the hospital. and i'll say it again: FBBG may not really have much of a clue as to how to be a good parent, but he clearly loves Jailbait and wants the best for her. what a refreshing contrast with DD. you just know that while FBBG might talk trash about TtSNAB to Jailbait, he would never trash Jailbait to TtSNAB the way DD did about his own kid to Jailbait. yeesh.

    *Gabriel is in critical condition in a hospital in Miami but, at least as of Friday, is expected to live.

    *Junior is not to tell FBBG about the meeting with the other guys, and DD intends to reveal not only FBBG's attempted side deal in Miami, but also his personal problems with Jailbait, etc., as proof of how unsuitable FBBG is to be a member of their little club. what do you want to bet that he makes out to the rest of the Big Bads like FBBG was told about the meeting but chose not to show up because he's putting his personal life ahead of the needs of the group...?

    *for what it's worth, Vero is just as devastated at letting Gus go, but she's firmly on her "This Is What's Best For Us All" high horse right now and doesn't see how she can get off (in my opinion, she clearly has a lot of unresolved guilt issues re both CAMB and Estéban the Unstable that she really needs to learn to factor out of the equation. i'm thinking a good part of her continued insistence on not getting back together with Gus, apart from being afraid to be hurt like that again, is that she feels like she "owes" CAMB for "stealing" Gus --even if it was not with malicious intent-- and "owes" EtU because he has always been so faithful to her).

USA, 9/8-12/03:

summary, Monday 08 September 2003 Author: B. (---) Date:   09-11-03 02:14 PDT

    SUMMARY, MONDAY 08 SEPTEMBER 2003

    *Auntie Ditz is a little worried about her pregnancy. she promises her unborn baby she won't let anything happen to it. Mom comes in and presses AD to tell her if everything is really all right, since she doesn't remember being as tired or subject to fainting spells during her own pregnancy. AD assures Mom she's fine. (by the way, even tho i like Mom's hair back in a ponytail the way she's wearing it ALL the time right now, it is nonetheless also completely obvious she's wearing it that way in an attempt to disguise the 'fall' (hairpiece) they're using to make her hair look longer from the passage of time. and that damn fall is starting to annoy me... sorry, i just had to mention it.)

    *MattAAo visits Cancer Doctor, unconvinced that the cancer has not returned. CD concedes that AD is at a high risk of a recurrence of her cancer, but for right now there are NO signs of it. if it comes back, they will deal with it then. MattAAo is not reassured. he asks CD if AD and the baby both could die; CD's silence is his answer.

    *Gus returns to the hotel room looking for CAMB, who has left in a snit, leaving a brief and snippy note: "Me regresso a México. No quiero volver a saber de ti núnca más." if only it were true...

    *Vero returns to her room and turns on the local Telemundo station (Channel 51) where a reporter is reporting from the marina about the boat chase and shooting, including some video of the Narco's boat speeding along, saying it was drug dealers but they don't have any details yet. Vero looks worried that the news media apparently already has so many details. she mutes the report as her cel rings. it's Estéban the Unstable calling of course. he's in a bit of a snit himself because Vero hasn't called to check in and hasn't answered her cel (and did i say that he would doubtless be calling her every 3 seconds?? looks like she learned from experience, tho, and left her cel turned off so he couldn't endanger her. again. heh...). she tells him she had her cel off because she was taking care of having Gabriel transferred to a hospital in DF. He's in bad shape, she tells EtU in a worried voice. EtU praises her for being so brave and facing all those bad guys alone. with the air of someone setting the record straight, Vero confesses to EtU that she wasn't alone -- Gus helped her and in fact, had it not been for Gus, Gabriel would probably not be alive. of course, EtU immediately goes off track. hearing that she was actually with Gus in Miami, EtU accuses Vero of using the mission as an excuse to be with Gus 24/7. Vero replies that she doesn't think this is either the time or the place and asks him to pick her up at the airport. he agrees, annoyed.

    *DD and Mummy María are in his office. he tells her that on the way over to the office he talked to Tony the Not-Such-A-Brat's judge again -- DD claims he's been bugging the judge daily and it's finally showing results: the judge agreed to a conditional release tomorrow. MM is ecstatic. DD reminds her there will be some formalities, etc., but she can pretty much take it as a given TtNSAB will be out tomorrow. and tonight, she should wait for him at home, because they are going to celebrate this in the style it deserves. in a gracious and expansive mood because of MM's enthusiastic thanks, DD adds that, much as he hates to admit it, Chepe's input at the hearing really helped.

    *prison. TtNSAB is on his bunk, reading, when Mean Guard and a few of his subordinates come and chase the prisoners out, saying it's Inspection Day. MG tries to rattle TtNSAB but since he knows he has nothing to hide, TtNSAB refuses to play along. but he keeps a wary eye on MG and catches a glimpse of him as MG quickly slips something out of his pocket. then MG pretends to discover the bag of marijuana he's just planted under TtNSAB's mattress. so much for TtNSAB's conditional release tomorrow. MG and the other guards haul TtNSAB off to see Warden, TtNSAB protesting his innocence the whole way.

    *Nancy is pacing around Chepe's office. Chepe suggests she go home but she says she'd rather wait there for news about Gabriel. Chepe tells her he's there for her. Nancy confesses that she feels kinda bad about Gabriel. Chepe doesn't understand why, since he's out of danger now. she reminds Chepe how she'd always told him (Chepe) that Gabriel just started staying away from her, without giving her an explanation why. well, the truth was that after she was kidnapped and raped, their sex life just didn't exist. she never slept with Gabriel again, nor did she really discuss things with him. Gabriel tried to do everything he could to fix things between them but she kept pushing him away, and eventually, bit by bit, Gabriel started staying away, without saying anything to anyone. she asks Chepe if he thinks that Gabriel can forgive her. Chepe tells her he doesn't know -- that's something she will need to ask Gabriel. (and by the way, tho it isn't in this scene, i figured out at least some of what's on that painting of Chepe's. it's not the number "13," it's stylized forms of the letters A (many look like inverted "V"s), B (the "13") and C. and some wierd wheel things. whatever. but i remember someone asked.)

    *MM has got that annoying runaway giddiness trick of hers going in high gear, just like that time in DD's study when she thought he was going to propose and had already accepted and had them on their honeymoon in France before he could get a word in edgewise (not that he tried all that hard, but still). she finally notices that he's looking a bit pained, and asks what's wrong. with a show of reluctance, DD breaks the happy news about how Jailbait tried to kill herself with pills she got from his house. he severely minimizes his part in the whole thing (and completely omits stuff like how he trashed TtNSAB to Jailbait, for example), and tells MM he doesn't know how things turned out after he went to tell FBBG after he'd discovered what happened. But one thing I am very certain of, he concludes firmly. I don't want to see this girl anywhere around TtNSAB. It will be hard, because I know he's crazy about her, but she's not good for him. DD warns MM that they have to be very vigilant: he is sure that at the first opportunity TtNSAB will slip off and try to see Jailbait, which is why they have to make sure the two kids never have the chance to get together again. MM is torn, but as usual she ends up agreeing with DD.

    *FBBG appears not to have left Jailbait's side. he gently caresses her hand and forehead, then goes to take a break outside the room for a moment, looking tired and shattered. after he's gone, Jailbait wakes up. she sees she's alone in the room and takes off the oxygen feed in her nose, then pulls out the IV. she shakily gets out of bed and staggers to the door. she manages to open it, but FBBG immediately notices her. he rushes over to her just in time for her to mumble something indistinct before more or less fainting away. he catches her and carries her back to the bed, tenderly tucking her in as the nurse belatedly arrives and tells him reprovingly that he has to be more attentive. FBBG accepts the reproof.

    *EtU's SUV. he's again wearing that blinding blue shirt and i make an abortive search for my sunglasses only to remember i left them in the car. Vero apparently hasn't been very chatty since he picked her up and he wants to know what's wrong. looking out the window as if she's busy with the passing cityscape, she says almost offhandedly that she's just worried about Gabriel and would like to see him. EtU reassures her that Gabriel made the trip safely and is recovering well at the hospital. but he seriously doubts the hospital will let him and Vero in to see Gabriel, adding as a palliative that Nancy and Chino are there looking out for Gabriel. and anyway, EtU doesn't really think her worries about Gabriel are what's really bothering Vero. Vero still doesn't look at him, or say anything. EtU pulls over and stops the car. It's what I said to you about Gustavo on the phone, isn't it? he asks. at this she finally turns her head, looking at him in an almost detached fashion but not saying anything. EtU sighs and apologizes, but in a tone that sounds as if he doesn't really think he should need to that is only reinforced by his explanation that "me saqué de honda" because he couldn't stand to think of her in Miami with Gus for "todos estos días." (which rather begs the question: weren't they there barely two days? or were there some missed 'novela' days in there we didn't hear about? i kinda don't think so, which would only further weaken EtU's excuses, but YMMV...) as if he weren't already digging a hole for himself, EtU has to go dig faster by blaming it all on Vero: And when you told me what he did... but you said it in such a way--! EtU gropes for the right words, but at this point Vero finally cuts him off. she tells him she didn't plan for things to happen the way they did -- they just happened. she had no intention of meeting up with Gus; her only goal in Miami was to fulfill her mission. EtU informs her that he can't just "tragar" how he feels. things hurt him, things bothered him, and he has to tell her about it. Pero bueno, he says with another sigh and the air of one making a big concession, If you tell me that you didn't feel anything on seeing Gus again, I believe you. Vero nods tightly to show she understands what he said, but doesn't say anything. Right, did you talk to him about the divorce? asks EtU, once again amazing me with his utter lack of professionalism where Vero is concerned (i don't think i even need to comment on his question, do i??). Vero looks at him for a long moment as if she doesn't believe he asked that. finally, No, she almost whispers.

    *CAMB's place (which by the way i SWEAR is not the house that Sugar Daddy bought for her. for one thing, it seems to be smaller and totally has the feel of an apartment. for another, i have yet to see a single room that looks like any of those we saw at the SD house. and for a third, that front door and entry hall are TOTALLY different from the one at the house. conclusion: they rented a place together. eeeewww...! but anyway...) Gus lets himself in with his keys, towing his suitcase behind him. he's in a Mood and comments sarcastically that it's nice to see her there, to know that she's ok. ¿Se puede saber por qué regresaste? he concludes. CAMB's had plenty of time to get herself thoroughly worked up and snits in reply, What?? Did you think I was going to stay for the wedding?? Gus says that he would have thought she could at least let him know she was leaving, then continues in his sarcastic mode: Claro, regreso, no hay ni un beso, ni un abrazo... CAMB snaps that she figured he would have used up all his hugs on Vero. Gus reiterates, with the air of one thoroughly sick of repeating himself, that he didn't know Vero was going to be in Miami, but CAMB isn't appeased. Well, to judge by your face I can tell you were really upset about it...! she snarks from her side of the room. she stalks toward him with an angry, challenging glint in her eye and, as she starts to unbutton his shirt and slither against him, tells him she wants him to show her she's still his "mujer," Because I am, aren't I? she asks him with an ugly edge to her voice. Gus is clearly not in the mood and turns his face away from her. she starts pressing kisses all over his chest while he wearily tells her to hang on a moment, he wants to talk. CAMB tells him she doesn't want their relationship to be just tenderness, she wants it to be all about passion, and love. she wants the full package, or she doesn't want any of it, she tells him a bit desperately, then stalks off in a huff.

    *EtUmobile. EtU is haranguing Vero about asking Gus for a divorce. It's simple: You just say, 'Gustavo, I want a divorce.' And that's it! he fumes, exasperated. Vero reminds him that she was in Miami on a mission and had a lot of other far more important and distracting things to deal with --like finding crooks, not blowing her cover, and rescuing Gabriel-- that kinda took priority over asking Gus for a divorce. the only times she and Gus talked, she says, it was about business. EtU is completely unconvinced, asking if Gus and Vero said goodbye in Miami after everything was all over. Vero admits they did. EtU feels she should have asked Gus then, but she almost snaps that the timing wasn't right. EtU yells at her (rather unfairly) that she asks him to trust her but in returns all she does is "¡¡contestarme con puras evasivas!!" Vero tells him that's not true -- she asked for time and he agreed to give it to her. he asks her if she really thinks, the way they are right now, that they (EtU and Vero) can build a life together? instead of answering his question, Vero reminds him they've discussed this many times before, and wants to know why he's asking again. he says he's asking again because he had thought they were doing well, and he'd managed to win back her heart and affection. but then Gus turns up and all her old doubts return. he doesn't know what she's feeling or thinking, how to act around her. Vero states that her decision is unchanged [i.e., she's not getting back together with Gus]. Fine, says EtU impatiently. Then let's get it over with once and for all. I've already spoken with my friend the lawyer about taking care of this and he's happy to do so. All you'd have to do is sign a petition for divorce and that's it. He'll deal with everything else. looking distressed, Vero tells him she's thought about it already and doesn't want to do it that way. EtU is exasperated, but Vero is firm: ¡Porque esto no es una demanda! ¡Porque esto no es un asunto legal! Es una relación que terminó. ¿Cómo te explico...? Gustavo y yo planeamos casarnos. Gustavo y yo tenemos que terminar con esto. I can't just send a lawyer and stay out of it -- that's not my style, and I'm not going to do it! EtU is incredulous. Before, it was [because] you didn't want to see him. Now, you have to see him! Explain it to me, because I don't understand anything! Do you really think you're being fair to me??

    *Big Bad meeting without FBBG. all the Big Bads are bitching at DD about how they're losing money and things can't continue like this. DD makes out like how that's the whole reason he called them together. he goes on about how one of them hasn't been obeying the rules and has been acting on his own. DD calls Ex-Yellow Tie into the room, reminding everyone who E-YT works for. several who recognized him already are shocked to see him. DD asks E-YT to tell the rest of the Big Bads about "las actividades secretas de tu jefe." E-YT tries to start by stating that he's not a traitor, but DD interrupts this and briskly asks him to just tell them what E-YT told him at his house, and then goes on to "remind" him of the various points he wants covered by saying things like -- Go on, tell them about the magnate Leonardo de la Lamas with whom Ramiro was doing a deal. E-YT looks uncomfortable at being put in this position in the spotlight. seeing his hesitation, and wanting him to get on with it, DD rather impatiently adds that E-YT's "loyalty" to the Narcos will be compensated.

    *hospital. Chino is standing behind Nancy with his hands on her upper arms, as if bracing her or giving her strength, as Nancy looks miserably down at Gabriel lying unconscious in his hospital bed. Chino reminds her that they need to be strong for Gabriel and not show him worried faces when he wakes up. Nancy says she knows, but she just can't stand to see Gabriel like this. and Gabriel does look pretty thrashed -- he's got bruises and scrapes on his face along with a two-day growth of blond stubble, and his hair is all scruffy and curly from his dunks in the water. as Nancy gently takes his hand, he sortof wakes up and realizes she and Chino are there. Nancy tells him he's in Mexico and is going to be fine. Gabriel says in a thready voice that he doesn't remember anything. Nancy tells him that Gus saved him. Gustavo Velasco? Gabriel asks weakly, as if not quite sure his ears are working correctly. Nancy replies yes, Gus got you out of the water. she tells him again that he's going to be fine. Gabriel starts stating things he remembers, saying that "they" beat him and wanted to kill him. he seems to be getting a bit agitated and says that he let Chepe down, he completely blew the mission, it's all his fault it failed. Nancy soothes him, while Chino tells him that it wasn't his fault at all -- Gabriel walked into a trap. They knew a member of the O-Team would be there and were waiting for you, Chino says.

    *Chepe's. Chepe's got DEA Guy there and is not at all happy about the trap his team walked into courtesy of DEA Guy’s misinformation. We fell into it like little kids! he fumes. DEA Guy points out that his people were also in danger, but Chepe just snaps back that he (DEA Guy) didn't lose anyone from his team. HE (Chepe), on the other hand, has lost one of his best agents (yes, he's lying to DEA Guy that Gabriel is dead). DEA Guy says he was told that Gabriel was rescued alive from the water. But he died en route to the hospital here, states Chepe coldly. Chepe applies all kind of pressure to get DEA Guy to cough up his source for the information about "Escorpión," but DEA Guy insists that he can't reveal his sources. All I can assure you is that my informant is an unimpeachable guy, he states. DEA Guy adds that he would put his hand in the fire for the informant, and he's certain Chepe's got hold of the wrong end of the stick -- the source of the bad information / trap is not his guy. I wouldn't put my hand in the fire for anyone, Chepe snarls. Are you completely certain of what you're telling me? Think about it well and get back to me with your answer. You know where the door is, Chepe concludes, and stalks out, leaving DEA Guy sitting in his office, looking worried and absentmindedly starting to bite his nails.

    *Vero's. EtU puts down Vero’s suitcase next to her bed and briskly tells Vero that it would probably be best if she checked in with HQ right away -- Chepe will want to hear her report about Miami. EtU tells her he'll be at HQ if she needs him for anything and makes as if to leave, but Vero stops him, saying she doesn't want them to fight [about Gus]. EtU seems to have taken a Rationality Pill at some point that would appear to be kicking in. making an effort to control himself, he tells Vero that until she is definitively separated from Gus, the only thing he can think is that she wants to be with Gus, wants to be connected to him. (and he has a point!) EtU says he's done his part -- now it's up to Vero, and leaves. Vero considers this for a second, then picks up her cel phone.

    *CAMB's. Gus is slumped in a chair, head in one hand, looking weary. CAMB stalks back out from wherever she’d gone, attempting to look reasonable but not really succeeding. in a tone that makes it more of a statement than a question, she asks if they can start the conversation again. she takes a seat across from him, saying that she will try not to get upset, but to listen and be understanding. What do you want? she continues. What do you want from me? What do you want from Her (Vero)? I don't understand. Please explain... CAMB’s spate of questions is interrupted by Gus' cel phone. she snaps at him to please not answer it but Gus just snaps back that he's sorry but he has to (leaving unsaid, but very evident, the implication that it might well be work-related. in any event, CAMB ignores things that don't have to do with her like undercover work and life-and-death situations involving other people, so i don't really know what he was expecting, but whatever...). not even bothering to check who is calling, Gus barks a hello into the phone, but as soon as he hears Vero's voice his weary exasperation disappears. he stands up and makes as if to turn so CAMB can't see his face, then realizes that would only give him away for sure and stops himself. in a tone that strives but doesn't manage to be casual he asks if anything's wrong as he watches CAMB stalk away in annoyance as if to give him some privacy. Vero asks if they can meet in "Cíntia's" old room at MattAAo's cantina. Yes, I'll... I'll see you there, Gus stammers. Vero hangs up without saying anything else, and so does Gus. hearing the phone snap closed, CAMB returns. Who was it? It was Her, wasn't it? she fumes. Gus fumbles for words: I'm just going to see her, that’s all. CAMB isn't having it: Of course! She's the only one that has this effect on you! You're going to see her -- humph!! Gus tries to suggest that they talk, but she cuts him off. No, we can't talk. Get out! she turns on her heel and stalks away again.

    *Big Bad meeting. E-YT has finished his report. DD makes wrap-up comment or two and dismisses him. as E-YT leaves, one of the Big Bads comments that he thinks FBBG merits execution but DD rejects that idea as stirring things up too much, drawing too much unwanted attention to them just when they've made the police more or less forget about them. instead he suggests they marginalize FBBG until he just shrivels up into nothing and disappears. DD states that he'll take care of it. they all nod in agreement.

    *park from which Vero was kidnapped. Gus is walking along a pathway and stops as he remembers the kidnap: Vero in a summery dress, all smiling; the kid giving her the picture; Vero holding it up to for him to see from across the street; the van; him realizing something was wrong and racing around just too late... Gus keeps walking.

    <day to night transition>

    *Jailbait's hospital room. FBBG, his back to the door, appears to be crouched or sitting on a low chair next to her bed, his head hunched over her hand, which a later shot from a different angle shows is gently clasped in both of his. E-YT enters softly but without knocking. he pauses almost awkwardly in the doorway and tells FBBG that the people at the house told him FBBG was there. FBBG lifts his head with an audible sniffle and we see his face is red and tear-stained. looking like he feels a bit awkward and/or uncomfortable, E-YT asks how "la niña" is (i’m guessing, as an assassin, he prefers to avoid all these mushy, emotional family ties things). turning his head, but not turning around –E-YT would see FBBG more or less in profile-- FBBG baldly states, in a broken voice, She tried to kill herself. E-YT says he needs to give FBBG his report about what happened in Miami, but FBBG just tells him, Later. I can't deal with that right now. he tells E-YT to go back to the house and wait for him -- they'll talk there.

    *Mom's. MattAAo comes out of Auntie Ditz's room and tells Mom that AD's just fallen asleep. Mom thinks it's still awfully early for that, but MattAAo says AD was pretty tired. Mom says she's worried about all AD's mood changes, her fatigue, her 'mareos.' MattAAo tries to make light of it, saying it's just pregnancy, but Mom replies that she had more energy than ever when she was pregnant, making me point out the obvious that MattAAo seems to have completely missed: that not only are pregnancies about as varied as snowflakes (mind you, this is not based on personal experience, but observation), but more to the point, Mom was probably around 20 when she was pregnant, whereas AD is likely in her late 30s at least, and that age difference often does make a real difference. whatever. MattAAo assures Mom that the doctor says AD is doing just fine. Mom doesn't look completely convinced, but sees that’s the only answer he’s going to give her so she drops the subject.

    *O-Team squad room. Chepe tells the assembled team members that Gabriel is out of danger and recovering, but the party line is that Gabriel is dead. now he will have to be taken out of circulation on the O-Team and given another identity. "Escorpión" has to think that he achieved his objective, Chepe states, and asks if they're all clear on that, but EtO&U has got his officious hat back on and immediately pipes up, saying he doesn't agree at all (and through the blinding glare of his shirt i can't help but notice Marcela the Pushy is standing right next to him! i thought she quit?! in fact, i distinctly remember her giving Chepe her gun and badge and stomping out of his office. what's the deal?!). EtO&U snarks that he thinks now is the time to declare war on "Escorpión" and get rid of him once and for all. we all know Chepe knows the real reason for EtO&U's snarky desperation, but he calmly replies that what happened in Miami only proves "Escorpión" is feeling the pressure. now is not the time to be impetuous. Sooner or later, "Escorpión" is going to make a mistake, and we will be there to catch him, Chepe concludes. he looks around the room, almost as if daring them to disagree. fortunately, they don't.

    *Vero's. DD's parked in a casual attitude on her demi-couch thing, asking how things went for her in Sinaloa. Vero says things were fine. DD changes the subject by telling her he has some very good news, that it's extremely likely TtNSAB will be released from prison tomorrow. Vero is pleased to hear this and agrees that it is good news. evidently still feeling magnanimous, DD tells her that it seems the judge was influenced by Chepe's statement in support and adds that he and MM are going over to the prison to give TtNSAB the news. he suggests Vero come along, saying TtNSAB would be happy to see her. Vero says she would love to go but unfortunately has something else she has to do right away. DD can't believe she's got work to do already, since she just got back from her trip, but she tells him it's not work, it's personal. he assumes that it has to do with EtU and she dodges an answer by telling him she's in a hurry. she asks him to tell TtNSAB she sends her love, she's excited about his getting out and she'll see him tomorrow. without waiting for DD to say anything more, she rushes out, leaving him looking after her with a puzzled expression on his face.

    *prison. TtNSAB paces restlessly around his cell as Mean Guard swaggers up holding a piece of paper which, he informs TtNSAB smugly, is TtNSAB's release order. he goes to tear it in half as TtNSAB lunges at it through the bars, trying to snatch it away from him. unfortunately, he is not successful. i can't tell if MG actually does tear it, but suspect it doesn't matter. If not for the drugs being found in your cell, MG taunts TtNSAB, you would be sleeping snug at home tonight with Mommy. he turns and swaggers away again, quite pleased with himself, as TtNSAB yells after him in frustration.

    *Jaibait's hospital room. FBBG is now sitting in a chair across the room, watching Jailbait sleep. she stirs, saying ¿Papi? ¿Sí, mi amor? he replies in a gentle voice as he stands and re-approaches the bed. she wants to know when they're going to go home -- she doesn't want to be there any more. he tells her he's been talking to the doctor and "we're" (meaning, he and Jailbait) aren't going to go home, they're going to go to a detox center recommended by the doctor. so she can get better. Jailbait whimpers that she doesn't want to go anywhere but home. he soothes her, telling her he'll be there with her, and encouraging her to rest. she drifts back to sleep.

    *AD is dozing in her bed. the door opens quietly and we see a man's legs tip-toeing into the room. he goes over and gently shakes her awake. Surprise!! it's Father Anselmo -- yay!!

    *prison. MM and DD are at some sort of area where i guess people can pick up newly-released prisoners. MM is impatient, sure if things are taking this long, something must have gone wrong. DD assures her it's just paperwork and everything is going to be fine. wrong. Warden comes out holding the baggie of marijuana and breaks the news: because they found this package of drugs in TtNSAB's cell yesterday, the conditional release has been rescinded. MM and DD are stunned.

    *DD's study. Repulsiva is petulantly stating in a tone that implies she's well sick of repeating herself, that DD is not at home – it appears that DEA Guy didn’t believe her and she has been showing him all over the house so he can see for himself that she’s not lying to him. DEA Guy wants to know where DD is. Repulsiva snarks that DD is out on important business and she doesn't know when he'll be back. Fine, says DEA Guy briskly as he strides into the study and sits down, I'll just wait for him. Repulsiva protests, but it's useless. DEA Guy all but orders her to call DD and tell him that he's there, waiting for him, and has something very important to discuss with him.

    *CAMB's. Tarta lets himself in and softly closes the door. she's curled up miserably on the sofa that i SWEAR was not there in the scenes with Gus earlier in this episode. sniffling, she unhappily tells Tarta that Gus went away with Vero.

    *"Cíntia's." Vero cautiously walks down the hall, looking around her almost thoughtfully, and enters the apartment. it's clearly not been lived in since "Cíntia" left five months previously and is now a bit of a shambles, as if it were searched and no-one cleaned it up, or as if people have just been tossing stuff in there whenever they didn't know what else to do with it. what looks like a purse is even parked on a sortof table in the foreground and i think that has got to be a mistake on the part of the props people, since Vero's just entering now and already has a similar purse in her hands, but whatever. Vero looks around and smiles a sortof tender, reminiscent smile, then sits on the edge of the bed, smoothing it in a friendly manner. Gus arrives, taking her a bit by surprise. she’s still wearing a small, fond smile. keeping his distance, his guard up, Gus asks her what she wanted to tell him. for a moment, she can only stare meltingly at him. then, a bit hesitantly, Vero makes an attempt to say what she wants to say and finds she can't while she's sitting there on the bed. she stands up, putting herself on an equal footing, and seems to brace herself. I've come to ask for a divorce, she says. I'm going to marry Estéban. Gus looks like he's been pole-axed

 

Khatiba - summary Tuesday 9 September 2003 (partial, for now)  Author: B. (---)  Date:   09-12-03 01:53 PDT

    operating on the Better Late Than Never Theory, we herewith bring you:

    SUMMARY - TUESDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 2003

    where we left off: Vero wants a divorce, Gus looks poleaxed.

    *"Cíntia's." Vero repeats that she needs a divorce because she's going to marry Estéban the Officious & Unstable. Gus doesn't get it: "¿C- Cómo que te vas a...? ¡Tú eres mi esposa! Tú y yo estamos casados y eso va a ser hasta el resto de nuestras vidas, ¿verdad? Digo, yo-- yo-- ¡yo te amo! ¿¿No te has dado cuenta que te amo?? Y yo sé, ¡yo siento que tú me amas!" he continues on in this vein, begging her to forgive him, telling her he loves her, that he didn't realize how much he hurt her, that he's never loved anyone like he loves her, etc. Vero ineffectually tries to halt the torrent of words, but Gus' growing desperation at the thought of definitively losing Vero easily overrides her feeble, half-hearted protests. "Yo no conocí el amor de verdad, hasta que te conocí... ¡No sabía lo que era! ¡Le huí al compromiso, le huí a--! ¡Te amo!" he begs Vero to tell him what he can do to get her back. Vero, feeling herself weakening as she invariably does in Gus' presence, is starting to show signs of getting anxious to leave before her resolution fails her. she tells him she doesn't think there's any point in talking about it and goes to walk past him, but Gus stops her by the simple expedient of standing in her way so she bumps into him. he tells her to look him in the eyes and tell him what she sees -- it's love, just like what he sees in her eyes. "¡Tú no te puedes casar con Estéban...! No te vas a casarte con Estéban, ¿verdad?"

    *CAMB's. she's still a miserable, self-pitying lump on the couch we haven't seen before yesterday. Tarta enters from a door we weren't previously aware existed (it's the magic changing apartment!! doors, sofas, walls, windows, chairs... all appear and disappear at your slightest whim!!) carrying two glasses full of what is probably either expensive whiskey or some sort of tequila. he tries to get CAMB to take one but she refuses so he sets them down on the coffee table. CAMB sniffles that she's an idiot. Tarta tries to reassure her she's not, but she's apparently having one of those rare flashes where she doesn't lie (much) to herself. I believed him, she says with rueful bitterness. I believed him just as if I were the same stupid kid I was ten years ago. Tarta tells her not to get ahead of herself, but CAMB is already certain that Gus is going to get back together with Vero -- she can feel it. Tarta insists that she can't be right, pointing out that Gus and CAMB have been getting along so well, and Gus adores her. he doesn't think Gus would get back together with Vero -- it doesn't make any sense. but CAMB knows better. Ay Tarta, she says tearfully, ever since they saw each other, everything has changed! He has changed... If you had seen them in Miami, together, you would think the same as I do. Tarta wants to know how Gus has changed. "¡En todo! En su manera de estar conmigo, en sus palabras, en su manera de tocarme... Él la quiere, ese es la verdad. Y ella lo vuelve loco, ¡y contra eso yo no puedo hacer nada... nada!" she starts to cry in earnest and almost crawls into Tarta's arms, which fold comfortingly, if a tad hesitantly at first, around her. "¿Qué voy a hacer...?"

    *"Cíntia's." Gus asks how Vero can think of marrying EtO&U -- she'll ruin her life because she doesn't love him. Vero tries to insist that her life is not any of Gus' business, but Gus insists that it is. she's his wife! Vero tries on sarcastic indignation, to see if this works against Gus: Humph! I'm your wife whenever it suits you!! (a pretty unfair remark, considering... she's clearly getting desperate if she's resorting to this.) almost pettishly, Vero plays the CAMB card, then changes tactics. shaking her head, she tells him it's not easy for her to forget that he lied to her. Gus again apologizes and tells her he felt like the biggest idiot on the face of the earth while he was doing it, but he did it to protect her, as she well knows, because he loves her, because he couldn't bear the idea that anyone might hurt her. since that apparently didn't work the way she'd hoped, Vero's trying out yet another tactic: That doesn't change anything, she snaps coldly (and another unfair remark! but Gus loves her enough not to call her on this one either.) It doesn't change anything at all, she repeats. Gus, quietly: Is that what you think? Is that what you really feel? Vero won't look at him. she stares at some point on the floor and tells him, Yes. sighing heavily and pacing away from Vero, Gus turns and admits defeat. "Muy bien..." he says with soft resignation. "Mándeme... a tu abogado o quien quieres, y yo firmo el divorcio." Vero is startled and a bit disbelieving. Isn't that what you want? Gus replies. I'll sign whatever -- I want you to be happy! it's clear that now that she's got it, even less does she want it, but Vero also seems to feel she's come too far to turn back now. she doesn't really seem to know what to say, and is making a rather disorganized exit, but slowly, as if either she's not sure Gus is really going to let her go this time, or perhaps hoping some miracle would just appear out of the air to change things now that she's actually got what she came for even if she totally doesn't want it. she's almost at the door when Gus' voice stops her. she won't turn around -- she can't. she knows she'd lose the last shred of what's left of her resolve. "Los días más hermosos de mi vida los pasé contigo -- eso es un hecho," Gus tells her quietly. "Y no sé que vaya a pasar en mi vida ni en el futuro, pero jamás voy a amar a nadie como te amo a ti -- jamás. ¿Sabes qué? No cometí ningún error. Todo lo que he hecho lo hice por amor. Y amar no es un error -- no para mí. Quiero darte las gracias por cada segundo que compartimos, por tu paciencia, por tu entrega, por todo. Por tu amor. Cómo dices tú, lo mejor solamente queda en los recuerdos, pero para mí van a ser los mejores momentos de mi vida. Te amo con toda mi alma y quiero que no lo olvides nunca. ¡Nunca! ¡Te amo!" silent tears are rolling down Vero's cheeks by now, and Gus is looking awfully unhappy and damp as well. she turns and stares at him for a long moment, then can't stop herself. as if impelled, she walks quickly toward him and gives him a hard, desperate kiss which he returns with equal fervor. with a little sob, she breaks off the kiss and turns quickly to leave, but he catches her arm and pulls her back into another kiss, as desperate as the first. this time when she breaks it off, she doesn't stop holding him or try to leave. "¡No puedo vivir sin ti -- no quiero vivir sin ti!" she tells him in a throbbing undertone. "Yo tampoco," breathes Gus in reply before they start kissing again. well, of course, we all can guess how this ends up but for those were in doubt there is a montage to show us. and as someone has already pointed out on this board, the music in this scene was new, and rather nice. it's not the swelling violins sort of thing you'd expect in certain novelas of another stamp (yay!). instead, it's a stark, almost somber piece done with a piano carrying a simple, slow melody in a minor-sounding key, with spare chords every now and again for emphasis, over a very soft violin sustenuto. later the piano is joined by the rich, melliflous tones of a single cello, echoing the melody only. it's the sort of piece you could easily hear as background for the slow-motion scene of an inevitable yet tragic happening, or possibly a funeral montage and yet it totally works for this scene as well, seeming to highlight the inevitability, the desperation, the tenderness all at once.

    *prison. Tony the Not-Such-A-Brat has been brought before Warden to explain the baggie of marijuana Mean Guard "found" under his mattress. Warden is very disappointed in TtNSAB, who points out that Warden knows he's not into drugs and hasn't been since he's been in jail. Warden repeatedly asks who the marijuana belonged to and how it could have gotten there if they weren't TtNSAB's and he didn't put it there, but TtNSAB won't accuse anyone. all he will do is insist that the marijuana isn't his and he doesn't know how it got there, altho at one point, he does cast a rather meaningful glance at MG. Warden either doesn't see the glance, or doesn't interpret it, so he tells TtNSAB with a note of regret in his voice that, given TtNSAB's conduct over the past few days and now this... things are not looking good for TtNSAB's parole hearing.

    *Mom's. Father Anselmo and Auntie Ditz are now sitting at the dining table chatting away happily. Mom comes in and FA says he's sorry for showing up so late but he just couldn't wait to see the two of them. (and Mom still has that damn Toni Pony thing on!! i'm starting to wonder if it's surgically grafted onto her head!!) Grandma the Party Animal turns up, still dressed (Mom and AD, having both already gone to bed, are in their bathrobes), all happy to see FA is back in town. FA tells them he left the Los Angeles parish in the able hands of a young but very enthusiastic priest and he's very happy to be home again. the four happily settle in for a nice gabfest.

    *Mummy María's. DD and MM come in, mid-heated discussion. naturally MM is upset and indignant about the TtNSAB situation. DD keeps telling her to calm down and to let him take care of it. MM is sure someone planted the drugs and it had to be someone inside. DD insists she should let him take care of it. just as he's saying he'll take care of it now --shortly-- his cel rings. he's annoyed to hear it's Repulsiva. she tells him how DEA Guy is there and how he says he won't leave until he speaks with DD personally. DD tells her to tell DEA Guy he'll be over shortly.

    *"Cíntia's." Gus and Vero are in bed under what looks suspiciously like the goldy-bronzey satiny sheets and matching pillowcases we last saw at Marcela the Pushy's (which totally begs so many questions, i hardly know where to start: first and foremost, if no-one's lived there since "Cíntia" left, who changed the sheets? 'coz i'm nearly positive the ones "Cíntia" got from Grandma weren't bronzey-goldy-satiny. and if they are the same sheets as we saw at MtP's, does this mean she's been having secret amorous rendezvouses there and if so, with whom? and did she wash them since the last time she used them?? enquiring minds want to know...). but Gus and Vero aren't thinking sheets, they're just happy happy happy. he's stroking her skin and tells her she has no idea how much he missed her. Vero chuckles happily and says she missed him too. sometimes she thought she would die when she thought about him. she turns her head to look at him and, suddenly serious, tells him that now they're back together, she doesn't want anything to separate them. Gus agrees, but says the only thing is, he doesn't want anyone to hurt her. when she tells him not to say that (since it could be a prelude to suggesting they break up again, for her safety), Gus points out that it has to be said: she well knows that any woman who gets close to him is under a death sentence. and as far as the bad guys are concerned, "Cíntia" is supposed to be dead. Vero doesn't want to talk about this, but Gus insists. they have to be careful, and discrete. they can't be seen together, it can't be generally known they're back together... Vero tries to hide under the sheets, saying she knows, she knows. she just wants things to be different. Gus agrees that he, too, would like things to be different, he wants to live with her openly and without fear, but she knows they can't do that right now. Destiny has to be on our side this time, she says. but right now, make love to me as if we were completely free.

    *DD's study. DEA Guy practically pounces on DD, demanding to know who told DD that "Escorpión" would be on the boat in Miami. he tells DD how Chepe sent a team to Miami, they walked into a trap, and one of them was killed. and now he's caught in that same trap. DD pretends to be astonished at the news. DEA Guy points out that whoever DD's supposed informant is, he obviously set the trap for DD, too. DD plays dumb and says he can't understand what could have happened. and now we have pretty much a repeat of the earlier scene with DEA Guy and Chepe, only with DEA Guy in the Chepe role. except that in this scene, DD has clearly decided to pull another one of his elaborate schemes to further muddy the waters while at the same time getting this no-longer-useful guy off his case. he tells DEA Guy he will arrange a meeting for him with his informant so DEA Guy can arrest the traitorous informant and take him back to the US to interrogate (and at this point i'm thinking that DD is going to present FBBG or Ex-Yellow Tie to DEA Guy as the informant...). DD paints a glowing picture of how DEA Guy will be covered in glory and honors and will finally get that promotion he so richly deserves. DEA Guy allows himself to be convinced to let DD set everything up. DD tells him he'll contact him later with details, and as DEA Guy leaves, DD calls encouragingly after him, We're going to turn this mistake into our triumph!! Junior comes in after he's gone, and upon being reassured that DEA Guy is definitely out of earshot, DD waspishly informs Junior that he (DD) was about to get his fingers caught in the door, and all because of that imbecile (DEA Guy)! but our DD always looks for the silver lining, and this time is no exception: DD adds that nothing is irreparable and now he has until tomorrow to figure out how to get DEA Guy out of his way.

    *"Cíntia's." Gus and Vero are still cuddling when her cel phone starts to ring. Vero just stares at it but makes no move to pick it up. Gus asks her if she isn't going to answer it. No, she replies briefly. But don't you even want to know who is calling? Gus persists. No, she repeats, I know who's calling.

    *O-Team Squad Room. Estéban the Presumptuous and Unstable is still in his blinding blue shirt (i have GOT to remember to bring in my sunglasses!!) and he catches up with Chepe as Chepe zooms by on his way out. EtP&U tells Chepe he wants a couple of weeks off. Now, Estéban?! Chepe protests, pointing out that the O-Team is already short a man with Gabriel out. EtP&U yeah-yeah's Chepe, telling him rather impatiently that he wouldn't ask if it weren't "important" (EtP&U's word, not mine, or Chepe's). Chepe wants to know what's so urgent and is frankly incredulous when EtP&U replies that he's going to marry Vero. crossing his arms and not bothering to mask his disbelief, Chepe says, "¿Así de repente? ¡Ella no me había comentado nada...! EtP&U, impatiently: "Bueno, yo la estoy tratando de convencer de que nos casemos lo antes posible." ("trying to convince??" RAILROAD is more like it! you really aren't at all sure of her, are you??) "Inclusive ya compré dos boletos para París. Yo creo que sí va a aceptar," EtP&U concudes in a rush. Chepe is still having serious doubts: "Estéban, no se necesita ser clarividente para--" but EtP&U totally isn't interested in having Reason enter his little illusion. Look, Chepe, I'm going to marry Verónica. Can I have the time off or not? Chepe can tell EtP&U isn't going to listen to sense so doesn't bother fighting it. Chepe tells EtP&U that if he's that sure, he should talk to Vero. if she accepts him, they can have the time and he'll just find a way to manage. somehow. then Chepe hurries off before EtP&U can think of something worse, leaving EtP&U grinning to himself in a pleased way, thinking happily of the surprise he's going to give Vero (and i will say this for him -- he has a cute smile when he's pleased like that. not cute enough to make me take the P out of his name, but cute all the same. and with dimples, too. i almost feel sorry for him.)

    *"Cíntia's." Gus is leaning up against the headboard, Vero is sitting up against the footboard, and they're holding hands across the bed. Vero's looking somber and Gus wants to know what's bothering her. she tells him that now she's come to the tricky part: facing EtP&U and her father with the news that she and Gus are back together. Gus says he wants to be with her when she tells DD. at first she tells him it's not necessary, but he insists and she relents, pleased. Gus tells her he so wishes things were different. Vero looks thoughtful for a moment and then says, I would like to ask you something. You remember what I said before about how I think what most influenced our breakup was our fear of losing each other? I want us to be even stronger now than ever because I don't want that to happen to us again. Gus replies that he thought she didn't want to talk about that, and Vero just says that she's really very scared, but she doesn't know why. Gus tells her not to be afraid. the only thing that matters is how they feel for each other, today, this night. and that every night be like this one -- just for them. Vero tells him she loves him, and he replies that he loves her. more kissing ensues. (and i'm sorry if that last bit sounds flip, but i'm tired and starting to get a bit punchy. and anyway, you all know what i mean...)

    to be continued tomorrow night (unless someone else gets to it first!) as i have GOT to get the dishes done and get myself into bed... still to come:

    *more AD & FA

*more Gus and Vero, including the bronzey-goldy-satiny-sheets

*Chepe and MM (he sees her in her white satiny bathrobe!)

*FBBG and a new character, Caring Lady Shrink

*more Chepe and MM in her white satiny bathrobe

*Gus, Tarta, and CAMB

*Vero and EtP&U, the tickets to Paris, and a champagne bottle with a napkin wrapped around it that is still miraculously dry and pristine in spite of having spent the night in a bucket of presumably-melting ice

*more Gus and CAMB

*more Vero, EtP&U, and the tickets to Paris, and the shocking end of one of these

*more Gus and Tarta

*MM and TtNSAB

*more Tarta and CAMB (warning: sobbing and hugging involved)

*Junior and DD, and the surprise arrival of Vero and Gus

 

rest of summary Tuesday 9 September 2003Author: B. (---)  Date:   09-14-03 03:28 PDT

    ok, i'm back, and --in theory!-- less punchy. so here we go...:

    a brief cityscape shot establishes that it's morning.

    *Mom's. Father Anselmo must have left at some point because he's not in his collar any more, just a plain shirt and jacket. since the two of them are alone, he is finding out from Auntie Ditz how she feels. she tells him that Cancer Doctor says she's fine, but confesses that she's a little worried. she can't stop thinking about what will happen if she gets sick again. she really wants to see the baby, cuddle it and nurse it and so forth. AD looks a bit somber and says she really wants to be healthy for the baby, but she's got this feeling that's not going to happen. then, typical AD, she finds the humor: You're the one with a line to the Man Upstairs, you should put in a good word for me...! they both smile and chuckle a little. I have been, every day, FA replies, but you should too. AD chuckles again, then says they should change the subject, she doesn't want to talk about this any more. plus, Mom could come out at any moment and she doesn't want her to hear. FA again tells AD that he thinks Mom should be told everything -- if anything should happen to AD Mom will need to be up to speed. he points out that now more than ever it's important they be united as a family -- What happens to one of us happens to all of us, he says. AD doesn't reply.

    *"Cíntia's." Gus, now dressed, enters the apartment carrying a plastic bag full of stuff. he puts it down next to the sink but is unsuccessful at quietly unpacking it: the rustle of the plastic wakes Vero. Gus hurries over to sit on the edge of the bed and kiss her good morning, telling her he's brought some breakfast -- orange juice, coffee, bread, and other things she likes. he says he was thinking on the way back to the apartment that, now that they're back together, they will need a place to be together, and why not just "appropriate" (Gus makes little air quotes as he says the word) this place...? all we'd have to do is fix it up a bit... he continues, looking around at the boxes and other stuff just piled around the place. but Vero immediately nixes the idea. even though it's been the scene of some very important moments in their life together, she doesn't feel comfortable there. Gus accepts this, saying they'll figure something else out. anyway, right now they have to relax, he's going to fix them some breakfast, and then they have to get ready, because she has to go to work (leaving unsaid but definitely hanging in the air: and see EtP&U), while he has to... go talk to CAMB. somberly, Vero remarks that she probably shouldn't be saying this to Gus, but, although she knows the damage they're about to do (to EtP&U and CAMB), from here on out she doesn't care. she is going to fight for their love (hers and Gus'), no matter who it is opposing it. Gus kisses her, saying he will, too. then he tells her to lie back because he's going to bring her breakfast in bed, and heads off toward the bag, leaving Vero obediently lying back in the bed but looking a bit preoccupied.

    *Mummy María's. MM is in her white satiny robe thing and slippers and opens the door to Chepe. she's surprised to see him and invites him in. he tells her that he'd called the prison that morning to verify TtNSAB's release and was surprised to be told it had been rescinded. as he's saying this, he seems to be going back and forth between looking directly at MM and covertly looking around the place, making me think he expects to see DD turn up at any second from the bedroom or something, and is looking around for signs of him. MM tells Chepe about the drugs that were planted in TtNSAB's cell. Chepe gets a "so that's it, then/puzzle pieces falling into place" kind of look on his face as MM continues saying that the drugs had to have been a plant because TtNSAB is not into drugs. Chepe says he's not trying to worry her, but to help her, and he'll do whatever he can. he's still doing the covert-glancing thing and finally just asks directly if DD is there. MM says no, DD stayed at his house. Chepe masks his feelings well, but those of us who know him can tell he's pleased (plus, i think he likes it that there don't seem to be any overt signs that DD is there at all regularly. and no, i don't think i'm reading too much into it). in an I'm-getting-ready-to-leave sort of tone, he tells MM to let DD know that he's happy to help out if there's anything he can do. correctly interpreting the tone and body language, MM hurriedly assures Chepe she will, but he doesn't need to rush off. she invites him to stay and have a cup of coffee. no longer looking around, but instead right at her, Chepe accepts, but almost warily, as if he's not sure he's reading the situation right. still, he looks pleased, in a guarded, Chepe sort of way. MM smiles happily at him.

    *an office, presumably in Jailbait's hospital. a young, nice-looking professional woman with long dark hair, a red shirt with one of those big loose turtlenecks that came into fashion a few years ago, and a tight, just-below-the-knee-length black skirt is seated in her desk chair that's turned around to face a comfy armchair sort of thing opposite her. on the orderly desk behind her we see some books, a lamp that's lit because the blinds over the window that faces the desk are closed, and a computer that is turned off. the woman looks composed, has her legs crossed and her hands folded over the upper knee. FBBG is seated in the comfy chair, trying but not quite managing to look at his ease; he can't quite help a certain almost defensive wariness and he's fidgeting a bit. Caring Lady Shrink asks FBBG in an even, non-accusatory tone, if this is the first time Jailbait has attempted suicide. FBBG says that it is. Jailbait has always been rebellious but he never dreamed it would go so far, he remarks. CLS tells FBBG that she's going to be very direct with him -- from the little conversation she was able to have with Jailbait, she could tell Jailbait was in a very bad way. FBBG frowns as she continues, saying that Jailbait has a serious emotional "disfunction" that has been aggravated by her excessive drug use. she asks FBBG how long he's been aware that Jailbait has been using drugs. his tone overly even, FBBG says he's only known a few days. CLS comments that that's strange, because from what she read in the file, Jailbait's been using drugs for some time. CLS's tone througout is very non-confrontational -- she wants information so she can best treat Jailbait; she's not there to accuse anyone. FBBG makes a non-committal "hmm" sort of sound in response to her statement about using drugs for some time. it's clear he's completely out of his depth here and isn't sure how to play this. on the one hand, he wants to help Jailbait. on the other, he doesn't want to reveal too much about himself to this woman who's been trained to "read" people. he's having a hard time finding the right path (mostly because there isn't one! heh), and it's starting to show. CLS, still in the same professional tones, asks what sort of relationship FBBG has with Jailbait -- does he pay enough attention to her, does he talk to her? FBBG says, waving one hand a teensy bit dismissively, that he does what he can. she asks for clarification: Well, I give her everything she asks for, everything she wants, but Jailbait has "un carácter del demonio." She won't even let me get close to her, or talk to her. "¡Por favor, sáquela de esto, doctora!" he says, a bit desperately. drawing a deep breath, CLS tells him it's unfortunately not going to be easy. it won't be enough to just heal Jailbait. they have to discover and deal with whatever problem or problems Jailbait has in her life that are causing her dependence on drugs, which in general "es de carácter afectivo." Jailbait will need to start therapy and enter a detox center, and she will have to do it voluntarily. if she doesn't, she will very probably attempt suicide again. FBBG frowns at CLS, worried.

    *Mummy María's. Chepe and MM are sitting at the table (Chepe's in DD's usual seat -- hee!), coffee cups in front of them. Chepe is asking MM if TtNSAB takes drugs. MM, rather defensively, wants to know why he's asking. Chepe clarifies that if TtNSAB has a history of, or problems with drug use, it could well affect how quickly they can get him out of this current problem. starting to show just a hint of her trademark hysteria, MM restates, to make sure she's understood: You mean, if TtNSAB has a history of drug use, no-one will believe the drugs were planted in his cell and he'll be stuck in jail for years and I won't be able to do anything about it, right? Chepe reassures her that he will help her, he will help TtNSAB, and to trust him. he gets up, saying he doesn't want to, but he has to go to work. she smiles and puts out her hand to shake his, thanking him again for everything. he takes her hand to shake it, but then gently raises it and kisses it instead, smiling. then he leaves.

    *CAMB's. there is a tray on the table with breakfast things on it. Tarta takes a single flower out of the arrangement in the vase on the table and lays it across the tray before pickiing it up. the flowers, Tarta and especially his shirt, and the food on the tray are the only color and life in the room -- everything else is white or crystal clear, and almost antiseptically pristine. yeesh.... Tarta is carrying the tray into another room when the doorbell rings. he calls out that he'll get it and, after carefully putting the tray down on a chair, sprints toward the door, asking Who is it? as he goes. although he gets no answer, he opens the door anyway and finds Gus standing there. it's awkward. Gus asks if CAMB is home, Tarta says, Well, yes, but... his voice trails off, he doesn't really know what to say. Gus walks in as CAMB appears from somewhere, hostile and aggressive: Here I am. What do you want? How did it go with Verónica, eh? Obviously pretty well, right? That's why you didn't come back to sleep, or bother to call. she sees Tarta standing uncomfortably behind Gus, looking like he doesn't know what to do with himself, and in a gentler tone asks if he will leave her and Gus alone for a moment. he agrees and effaces himself. as soon as she hears the front door shut behind Tarta, CAMB speaks again, telling Gus in a tight tone that she wants him to tell her the truth -- no more lies or evasions. she looks directly at Gus. Did you get back together with Verónica?

    *Vero's. the camera pans across the low coffee table on which we see a vase with bright red tulips, a red box, and a dry, shiny silver tray bearing two champagne glasses and a silver ice bucket --shiny and dry-- containing an unpened champagne bottle wrapped with a miraculously dry and pristine napkin (note to the set dressers: melting ice makes the bucket "sweat" and would have soaked the napkin!). it continues on to show us EtP&U seated on the daybed couch sort of thing, dressed in a bright white shirt suit with a suit jacket in a kind of dark plaid/check pattern. he's holding some sort of envelope and papers in one hand, staring at them. as the camera settles on him, he sighs heavily and tosses the papers onto the coffee table. he looks unhappy, and even a bit grim. Vero comes in, and, seeing him, stops in the open doorway. without looking at her, he quietly says, I was waiting for you all night, Verónica. I wanted to give you a surprise. And look at how things turned out -- you're the one giving me the surprise...! Vero walks in slowly and puts her purse down on a chair behind him as he continues saying, with a small gesture toward everything on the coffee table: This was to celebrate, although now I'm not sure exactly what. he sighs again and stands up, turning to face her. he asks her where she's been, where she spent the night. Vero just looks at him, then looks away for a moment. she knows how much she's hurting him, and is going to hurt him. EtP&U starts to get angry and demands to know if she's going to answer him or make him guess. Vero looks back at him and says, quietly, that he doesn't have to guess -- he knows perfectly well with whom: With Gustavo. EtP&U's face has that tight, mulish look that he gets.

    *CAMB's. CAMB has her arms crossed and is fidgeting from foot to foot. she's looking around the room like she doesn't want to start crying as Gus swears he and Vero were just talking, but... "En fin, no... no tengo explicación, no tengo perdón. Las cosas fueron más fuertes que yo, fueron más fuertes que los dos... Perdóneme, Inés. Jamás ha sido mi intención hacerte sufrir -- ¡jamás! De hecho, siempre he querido que seas felíz. Te he querido muchísimo, muchísimo de verdad, y te agradezco por tu ternura, por tu paciencia, por todo tu amor, por todo. No tengo vida para agradecerte todo lo que has hecho para mí, pero... perdóname." CAMB, making a pathetic try at offhandedness: "Y entonces?" "Entonces... La amo. La amo." now that Gus has admitted it, CAMB decides this means that Gus and Vero were just making a fool of her -- Once again you've played the same trick on me, she concludes bitterly. Gus tries to tell her that they weren't, they didn't, but CAMB has had enough. she interrupts Gus: "¿Sabes qué? ¡Cállate! ¡Cállate, Gustavo! No quiero saber nada. No quiero saber nada, ni de tí, ni de ella. Te lo juro que te voy a borrar de mi cabeza, hasta que desaparezca tu rostro, hasta que para mí no hayas existido más, ¡te lo juro! Ya. Ya no voy a hacer ningún drama de esto... Ay, ¡pero lo sabía, lo sabía, lo supe, lo supe desde que los ví en Miami, lo supe! Me voy a meter a bañar. Y espero que cuando salga, ya no estes tú ni tus cosas." Gus has not interrupted her, nor made the slightest sign he's going to. he just stands there, looking as guilty as he feels for hurting her like this, and lets her have her say, then watches silently as she stalks off

    *Vero's. now we have EtP&U as CAMB and Vero as Gus... EtP&U is pacing about the living room part of the place, telling Vero it would have been much easier for him if she'd told him the truth from the beginning (meaning, five months ago). he invested in the relationship, and what did she do? -- ask him for time and tell him to believe in her (he makes a mocking little dance as he imitates Vero saying this). And that was exactly what I did, Verónica! Why? Because I wanted this to work... because you asked me to! What happened then? 'Estéban, I don't love Gustavo anymore, I love you now.' That's what you told me, Verónica, and you deceived me! You tricked me like an imbecile!! Vero heatedly retorts that she never tricked him, he always knew the truth about her. she couldn't have tricked him because tricking someone is something deliberate, planned, and this wasn't like that. I believed that everything would work out, trying to get Gustavo out of my head. Abandoning him, trying... trying to stop loving him didn't work! I made a mistake! I made a mistake, Estéban. (EtP&U, sarcastically: Oh, you made a mistake...!) And it cuts me to the core, and I hate myself for hurting you like this, but I can't do anything more.... in a quieter voice, Vero continues, "No puedo seguir luchando en contra de mis sentimientos. Y tampoco te engañé cuando te dije que te quería." "Sí, ¡pero tampoco me dijiste que me amabas, y el único imbécil que lo creyó fui yo!" Vero tries to tell him that she really tried to love him, but he shouts her down, saying she never tried at all. "Ahora, por favor, deje de tener compasión y lastima por mí, ¿sí? Vero starts to respond, but he again interrupts. and at this point my cat changed the channel for a minute or so, but i imagine things must have gone on in this vein because when i managed to get it changed back, Vero is saying that she wasn't with him because she felt sorry for him or to trick him, but EtP&U is firmly on the self-righteous indignant self-pity track. he's swiped the envelope and papers off the table and tucks the papers into the envelope before holding it up to Vero. These are tickets to Paris, he tells her, for our honeymoon. "Qué tipo tan imbécil, tan estúpido, ¿no?" deliberately he tears the envelope up into pieces, then holds the pieces out to her with two contemptuous fingers. "Toma, Verónica. Nuestra luna de miel en París." he lets the pieces fall and turns to stalk out, slamming the door behind him, leaving Vero standing there. she touches the torn pieces (which fell onto the daybed thing) briefly, then lets her face fall into one hand. like Gus with CAMB, it's over, and it had to be done, but it was as bad or worse than she'd thought it would be.

    *street outside CAMB's apartment building. Tarta is sitting on the edge of what looks like a planter with bushes or flowers in it. Gus comes out, looking wrecked, but also as if he's closed a chapter in his life. Tarta looks up at him and asks how CAMB is. "Mal," Gus replies briefly, "Mal. Está... Volví con Verónica, Tarta." Tarta looks away and almost rolls his eyes, shaking his head slightly. Gus seems to need to explain himself, so he starts to tell Tarta that Tarta knows that Gus never meant to hurt CAMB, he knows that, but after listening for a minute, Tarta just stands up, shaking his head. "No. Francamente, no lo sé," he tells Gus soberly, then he walks around Gus and into the building. Gus is startled, but doesn't try to go after him. instead, after a moment, he walks away down the street.

    *prison visitor's room. even though TtNSAB was supposed to be incommunicado, Chepe managed to pull some strings for MM to see him. TtNSAB swears to MM that the drugs weren't him but she tells him he doesn't need to -- she believes him. he tells her not to worry and she asks how he can expect her to do that: the injustice of it all is making her nuts. TtNSAB changes the subject, asking if MM has spoken with Jailbait and told her he's going to be out soon. MM reluctantly breaks the news about the suicide attempt. TtNSAB looks stunned, and frustrated.

    *CAMB's. Tarta lets himself in, calling CAMB's name. she doesn't answer, but soft sobs can be heard coming from the bedroom, where CAMB is crouched down on the floor beside the bed, her knees to her chest and her face buried in her hands. she's really wrecked, and right at this moment, even though she did kinda bring it on herself, it's hard not to feel sorry for her. Tarta walks over and squats down beside her, telling her he's there and putting one arm around her to gather her to him. CAMB leans miserably into his embrace, brokenly pleading for him to help her stop feeling this pain, to please take it away, please.

    *DD's office. Junior hands an open file to DD, telling him that the subject is DEA Guy's mistress in Mexico. she's a "table dancer," and DEA Guy and she recently had an argument so it wasn't at all difficult for him (Junior) to "proponerle el negocio que Ud. planteó." DD comments that it's a nice, sentimental touch, a good addition to the "crónica roja." still looking at the file, he remarks that the mistress is very pretty, and it won't be difficult to believe DEA Guy lost his head over her. he closes the file and puts it on his desk, kicking back and making ready to move on to the next item of business. however, he's interrupted by a gentle knock at the door. it's Vero, and Gus is with her. DD greets Vero, but ignores Gus' greeting. Vero tells him they would like to speak with him alone, and DD dismisses Junior with a curt nod of his head and a significant flicker of his eyes toward the door. as Junior walks out, DD says, in an annoyed tone, "¿Y qué es lo que quieren hablar conimgo tú y este individuo?" Vero calmly but firmly replies that they've come to tell him that they're back together again. as she says this, Gus puts his arm around Vero and rubs her upper arm gently as she leans into him with a small smile. DD just stares in disbelief.

 

Rachelle -- a stab at a sorta summary for Thursday, 11 Sept 2003 Author: B. Date:   09-17-03 01:21 PDT

    some kind of something summary for Thursday, 11 September 2003

    UPFRONT DISCLOSURE: dentristry was uglier than anticipated. don't ask. but as a result, right now i am under the combined effects of antibiotics and painkillers and i make no promises about not glossing over a few sections here and there. but i hope this helps, at least.

    *taller. MattAAo keeps telling Gus about his feelings for Mom, concluding by saying he can tell Gus about this now because of how he now feels for Auntie Ditz. he does not make the mistake of actually drawing the parallel i was half afraid he might (MattAAo = Gus / Mom = Vero / AD = CAMB. or some combination of this. Robin, i think, suggested an alternate scenario that made a lot of sense when i first posted this fear, it's gotta be around somewhere...) but i'm still not completely convinced he wasn't trying to subtly make that point. maybe not, since it's also possible he's just happy because he's made up his mind and heart about AD and wanted to share, altho if that were the case, he could easily have shared without mentioning it was Mom he was mad for. but whatever. MattAAo suggests Gus give Tarta a few days to chill before trying to talk to him.

    *DD's study. DD's got some government guy over who i am guessing is Corrupt Government Secretary's replacement. New Nameless Official Guy tells DD he has been buried in paperwork going through files since taking office, but he's suspicious of DEA Guy's "suicide." fortunately for DD, CAMB arrives to interrupt.

    *park. MattAAo and Auntie Ditz are walking along enjoying the beautiful day. AD says it all reminds her of the first piropo (compliment) she ever got from a guy. MattAAo asks what it was ("Gracias por alegrarme el día," when she was like, 13), then, looking into her eyes, tells her "Gracias por alegrarme la vida," and kisses her gently on the lips. Auntie Ditz: "¿Y eso?" "Para decirte que te quiero, que te necesito," MattAAo replies. "Nenena, yo no sé mucho de palabras bonitas, pero mírame los ojos y te vas a dar cuenta que es verdad. Yo ya no quiero besar a nadie más, ni abrazar a nadie más, ni despertar con nadie más que no seas tú. Cásate conmigo. ¡Te juro que ya no hay nadie más!" AD is so happy she's almost crying and her grin reaches both ears. "Mateo... ¡Estás enamorado de mí!" "Sí. Estoy enamorado de ti." he kisses her again, but a nice loooong kiss. it's a nice nice scene. we all applauded.

    *DD's study. more DD and CAMB (he seems to have hustled NNOG out of there). he tells her he'd rather expected to see her earlier than this (he thought she'd rush right over as soon as she heard the news about Gus and Vero, instead of waiting so many hours). DD sits just a leeetle too close, and paws CAMB's knee, just a bit. she looks at him speculatively.

    *prison. Tony the Ex-Brat and big sis Vero are meeting in some sort of communal room with tables and stuff that i'm guessing is the prisoner's rec room (Vero having been allowed to see TtE-B there instead of in the regular visitor's room because she's a cop and/or one of the heros of the riot..?). TtE-B tells Vero how frustrated he is about not being able to find out anything about Jailbait. then Vero asks who planted the drugs. he was reluctant to tell her, but finally does.

    *DD's study. DD tells CAMB that her anger against Vero for "stealing" Gus is misplaced. Vero's just another one of Gus' innocent victims, just like CAMB is and Suzy was. who CAMB should really be mad at is Gus. Gus never cared for CAMB because he's not capable of caring for anyone. he only thinks about himself. CAMB doesn't look completely convinced.

    *Mom's bedroom. Gus comes and compliments her on her looks, and then starts asking all sorts of leading questions about whether she's ever been in love with someone else besides Dad (he's trying to get her to 'fess up to how she feels for MattAAo). at first Mom is flattered, then suspicious (well, he was being pretty ham-handed).

    *prison. some sort of dingy locker room sort of place. Mean Guard is watching what i assume is a soccer game on the TV. Vero comes in to "visit," asks if he remembers her from the riot (he does). she's all sugar-sweet until they're alone in the room together, when she slams him up against a wall of lockers and asks him what his problem is with her brother (who she calls "Tony Vega," by the way. and what do you want to bet that TtE-B finally ends up getting the Vega last name because Vero keeps using it when referring to him, and possibly pressures DD into making it official...?).

    *Mom's. Gus keeps pressing the matter, Mom keeps dodging his questions and wants to know what has brought all this on. fortunately, they're interrupted by AD, who says that a "very handsome" gentleman has arrived looking for Gus. they troop out to the entry hall/patio area to find DD waiting. Gus suggests Mom and AD leave him to speak with his visitor and they do leave, but not before DD introduces himself. Mom doesn't look happy to see Gus' father-in-law.

    *prison locker room. Vero's still trying to make MG tell her his problem with her brother. we only see one of her hands, which has his shirt collar twisted uncomfortably tightly around his neck and continues to twist ever tighter every time he gives her an answer she doesn't like, but from the motions and general positioning of her other arm, it's pretty easy for us to guess we are to assume that she's literally got him by the balls with her other hand and is twisting there, too. MG first tries to insist he doesn't know what she's talking about, then makes the mistake of saying that he doesn't know who put the drugs in TtE-B's cell. but since Vero hadn't actually asked him about that, she's totally got him with that one. continuing to twist the screws (as it were), she tells him she can easily have him suspended and that's just the start of the trouble she'll make for him. MG doesn't look happy.

    *Mom's. walking into the living room, DD tries to do the pleasant social thing by making complimentary noises about the house, but Gus tells him to cut to the chase already. DD tells Gus that he's realized he's only going to alienate Vero if he continues to be hostile to their marriage, so he has decided to make the best of it. he wants Vero to be happy, and since Gus is the key to her happiness, Gus now has DD's support.

    *prison. now we're in what i guess is Warden's office. or something. Warden and Vero are there, and a half-dozen guards and other prison official underling types are scattered around the room, some of them looking like they're there to listen, others because it's their job to guard the door. looking a bit stuffed, MG confesses to Warden that he never saw TtE-B involved with drugs and in fact, TtE-B always rejected them. on one occasion TtE-B had even told him (MG) that he was aware staying away from drugs would help him (TtE-B) get out of prison faster. the thing about the drug pushing was only a rumor -- he (MG) doesn't know who started it. they (the guards) knew TtE-B was about to be released so they decided to blame him for it (the pushing, not the rumor). they (the guards) thought TtE-B was uppity, so they planted drugs on him to teach him a lesson. MG admits he did this on his own initiative; no-one (he enunciates clearly) ordered him to do it. Warden stares at Vero in dismay. Vero shrugs, looking just a bit smug.

    *Mom's. DD goes on about how he had believed that Gus was a criminal, not a double agent. he compliments him on how well Gus and Chepe played the game. Gus tells him he did it all for love, to protect Vero. blah blah blah. DD warns Gus that he's playing a very dangerous game, "esa gente" don't have any mercy. he asks Gus to imagine Vero's reaction if the same thing that happened to Dad should happen to Gus.

    *prison. back in the rec room. a guard tells everyone it's time to go back to their cells and hustles everyone out as Vero hustles in to speak with TtE-B. she triumphantly hands him a folder with his release papers in it. he's getting out later that day. TtE-B can't believe it. they laugh and hug. it's nice.

    *Mom's. Gus asks DD if he is going to tell Vero about this, or does he want Gus to do it. DD says he will. he adds that Vero's right when she says they (DD and Gus) have a common enemy and should be working together to defeat it. DD tries to plant a seed of doubt about Chepe and/or the O-Team by pointing out that this common emeny has eyes and ears everywhere, and saying that Chepe can get so focused on his own ideas that he can lose sight of the true goal. in the spirit of this new leaf he's decided to turn over, DD wants Gus to know that he (Gus) can count on him (DD) for any help he might need in his quest to get to "Escorpión." if Chepe won't give Gus what he needs, DD will get it for him -- men, guns, whatever. Gus is pleased that DD is no longer opposing his relationship with Vero. they do one of DD's trademark man-hug-with-two-back-slaps things, rather awkwardly (Gus looks just a bit puzzled). as DD goes to leave, Father Anselmo arrives. he looks less than pleased to see DD there and is pretty curt in his greeting. DD ignores FA's brusqueness and continues in his oily Benevolent Parent/In-Law / Hail-Good-Fellow-Well-Met role and leaves. FA frowns at Gus

    *street outside Mom's. Junior is waiting in the car to drive DD to wherever he wants to go. as he looks around at the street, he sortof frowns and blinks, as if it looks familiar and he's trying to figure out where he's seen it before, or as if he's seeing someone he's not sure he recognizes. the passenger door opens and Suzy leans in and tells Junior, "Lléveme a mi oficina." Junior flinches away from this apparition and tells it it doesn't have an office. of course, it's DD and he's peeved. What do you mean I don't have an office?!? What are you talking about?? Take me to the office!

    *Mom's. entry hall/patio. Gus happily tells FA about DD's astonishing change of heart, although he doesn't quite believe DD's 100% on his and Vero's side -- yet. but he appreciates the gesture, since DD didn't have any reason to make it. when he saw how DD was acting towards Gus, FA clearly had a horrible suspicion that Gus and Vero are definitely back together and he asks Gus if it's true. Gus confirms it and tells him that this time nothing is going to separate them, then adds that it's a secret -- no-one is to know they are back together for now. FA promises not to say anything. he still looks pretty grim, but Gus doesn't seem to have noticed.

    *Mom's. Mom's bedroom. Mom is ranting to AD about how she can't guess what DD wanted. this must mean that Gus is thinking about returning to Vero, after all the misery she put him through. AD tells Mom to calm down, points out that Gus has never stopped being madly in love with Vero, and reminds her that, whether Mom likes it or not, Gus and Vero are still married. AD tells Mom to look on the bright side: her "consuegro" is "guapíssimo." Mom impatiently rejects the suggestion they find out if DD is single -- she's too focused on being annoyed at the idea of Gus going back with Vero and getting his heart stomped all over again, altho from her exaggerated, almost hysterical overreaction i'm guessing Mom is indulging in more displacement, this time trying to vent some of her frustration with the pushy questions Gus was asking about her love life. AD tries to cheer her up by telling Mom her big news about how she accepted MattAAo's proposal. yup, that'll really help Mom's emotional state right now... (heh).

    *CAMB's. she's back to sulking on the couch. Tarta shows up with bags of what is probably food. he tells CAMB that, if she wants, he can stay for a few days so he can be there for her. he'd do anything -- anything! -- to make her feel better. CAMB, consideringly: Anything...?

    *Mom's. entry hall/patio. Gus wants to know what FA's problem with Vero is, and he wants a straight answer. but without waiting for that answer, Gus goes on, saying he figures that maybe it was because FA was afraid DD would hurt him but now FA needn't worry about that. Gus babbles a lot about how DD is probably really just a sensitive, vulnerable guy worried about his daughter, like any father, blah blah blah and all of it supposition and guesswork and none of it bearing any real resemblance to DD. FA finally can't take it any more and interrupts, telling Gus, "Mira, no estoy muy seguro de eso, Gustavo." Gus asks him to clarify and he continues, "Mira, solo te pido que no te fies de él. Yo creo que, que él no es un buen hombre -- eso es todo." Gus pounces on this and wants to know if FA believes, this, or he knows it. is there something about DD that he should know?? What could be so serious that I can't know about it? he demands. FA tells him he knows how Gus feels about Vero and all he's asking is that Gus not let that love blind him -- Gus should keep his eyes wide open and be alert.

    *Mom's. Mom's bedroom. AD is chatting about the wedding, not really noticing her news hasn't had quite the effect she'd hoped. Mom is not quite able to completely conceal her dismay at this development, and asks if AD is really sure about accepting his offer. she all but says she thinks MattAAo proposed not because he's finally put his old love out of his heart and fallen in love with AD, but because of the baby. AD speaks very movingly about how MattAAo convinced her he's finally fallen in love with her. not that he's forgotten the Other Woman, but he's put her in the past and now she, AD, is the first woman in his heart. in the end Mom manages to stump up some sincere-ish sounding, if not entirely whole-hearted congratulations.

    *DD's office. MM tells DD she's going to see Jailbait, but DD reiterates that Jailbait is bad for TtE-B and they have to keep the kids apart. he orders MM to destroy any paperwork that connects him to FBBG and tells MM that FBBG is a bad bad man, probably guilty of all sorts of horrible crimes. MM is shocked. Vero arrives and gives MM TtE-B's release papers and tells her he'll be out later that day. MM thanks Vero and hugs her before rushing out.

    *Mom's. Gus and FA are joined by Mom and AD, then MattAAo arrives. MattAAo and AD announce they're getting married (Gus: "Again??"). everyone needs to get a move on -- the wedding's going to be soon (AD doesn't want to be going into labor at the altar). everyone is happy. even Mom stumps up a smile.

    *Cancer Doctor's office. Cancer Doctor is comparing two reports, one in each hand; he doesn't look at all happy. he calls his assistant in and angrily asks how she could have possibly been so careless as to mix up the reports. he's just assured AD that she's got nothing to worry about when in fact her situation is quite serious. how is he going to explain this to AD??

    *DD's office. he's pulling on his jacket and asks Vero if she's sure she doesn't want to come along to get TtE-B. she tells him it's not that she doesn't want to, it's just she'll see him later. DD guesses she doesn't want to come along because she's still mad at him and tells her about his conversation with Gus. Vero is all happy and hugs him. MM comes in saying the car's all ready. Vero decides to go along to the prison with them.

    *Mom's. that entry hall/patio area is getting a real workout. MattAAo is assuring FA that he's never been so sure about wanting to marry AD. FA is delighted to hear it. AD bustles out and tells MattAAo they have to get going, and FA says he needs to get back to the church. the three leave.

    *Mom's. living room. Gus and Mom are now alone again and Gus returns to the earlier topic of Mom and Is She Happy / In Love. seeing she's going to keep dodging his questions, he tells her that MattAAo Confessed All to him. Mom is outraged -- how could MattAAo dare?! that was private!! she's extremely upset. Gus tries to soothe her but Mom isn't having it. she tells him how much she despises herself for being jealous of her own sister. Gus doesn't get it -- he can't understand why she renounced MattAAo. Mom is almost indignant. was she supposed to have just let herself be carried away by love like some irresponsible teenager and ignore her sister's feelings? Gus says she should focus on herself, but Mom rejects that scornfully and tells him the subject is completely closed. period. she stomps off.

    *prison. TtE-B is now in the civvies he was wearing when he was arrested and is being walked out of the cell area by a guard (not MG). they open the last door and TtE-B looks around almost disbelievingly before walking out the door (into the sunlight! really!!) and MM's waiting arms. DD, rather stiffly, gives his trademark Guy Hug thing, then Vero warmly hugs him. final tableau: MM again with her arms around TtE-B, totally content, DD with his arm around Vero. TtE-B unsmilingly stares at Vero, who smiles warmly back at him.

------------------------------

     9/12/03 -  Antonio, Maria, Toni and Vero go to Maria’s home. Then Vero leaves for the brigada. Antonio goes into Tony’s room, finds him on the phone and forces him to hang up, reminds him of the rules re his release. Antonio tells him he was arrested because of Claudia, and he isn’t going to see her again, doesn’t understand how hard it was to get him out of jail. Antonio tells him it is over. The three sit down to dinner a bit later. Antonio tells him that he and Maria agree that it isn’t good for him to see Claudia. She’s an addict. Maria starts to serve. Antonio tells her to wait for Chepe. Antonio gets a call; Chepe arrives. Antonio apologizes, says he has to leave, business problem. Chepe admits he feels uncomfortable. Maria tells him that Antonio spends little time there. She asks him if he lives with his family. He tells her he’s lived alone for 12 years, bad luck with women. Antonio says he’s going to his room. Chepe says he has to leave. Maria goes for coffee. Antonio has an odd smile on his face, but goes to his room. He puts on the DVD of the tape showing Antonio and Ramiro, looks at it.

     Claudia’s psych talks again with Ramiro, reminds him of her professional ethics, asks again if he takes drugs in front of his daughter. He becomes offended, walks out, tells his daughter to get dressed. The doctor tells him she will call the police. He threatens her.

     Gus talks with his mother again, starts to apologize. She asks about Vero. He says they have reconciled, he loves her. She reminds him what Vero did. He tells her there is an explanation which he can’t give her. He tells her that Vero is his woman. Celia tells him that all she knows so far is that Vero has made him suffer. He tells her that’s because she doesn’t know Vero, one day she will.

     Ines tells Tarta she’s been thinking that it wasn’t Vero’s fault. They were friends. Then Gus came. She tells Tarta she doesn’t want to talk about him, needs to be alone. 

     Vero talks to Nancy about Gus, the usual stuff. She notices something going on. Nancy tells her that Esteban is in charge. Vero demands to know why he didn’t notify her. She asks if this is what their relationship is going to be like. He asks her what she expects.

     Ramiro and Claudia return home. Claudia asks him why he brought her home, she was feeling better, it isn’t right. He tells her she looks awful, she’ll be watched. Then Ramiro finds a statuette of death on his desk. Ramiro demands to know who put the statuette there, who is a traitor. They go out, Gus comes in. Ramiro tells him that if they don’t move fast, Scorpion will kill him. Ramiro tells Gus he will take him to Scorpion. Gus asks for his name, will do away with him. Ramiro, of course, doesn’t tell him.

     Froilan tells Antonio that Ibanez complied with his orders. They agree that Ramiro knows he is a dead man.

     Nena’s doctor comes to Celia’s house looking for her, tells Celia that he gave Nena the wrong test results, told her she was fine but, instead, it appears that the cancer has returned. Then he realizes that Celia didn’t know anything. The doctor tells Celia it is a recurrence of the cancer Nena had before. He tells her that Mateo knows, talked with him, he decided to support Nena, must love her very much. Celia asks him if they can do something without Nena’s knowing. She is going to be married and is so happy.

     When Gus gets home, Vero has wine ready. He tells her about his meeting with Ramiro, explains that he didn’t give him a name yet because he had to make some calls and appointments first. They drink to each other, talk about what they’ll do next, have another of those inane, trite conversations about their love, the hell they have lived through, etc. etc. In bed, again they swear eternal love.

     Antonio goes to a restaurant, meets Ines. It was she who called. Ines tells him that she wants Gus to be very unhappy at Vero’s side. Antonio tells her he has a plan. She tells him he doesn’t understand. He says that he does, once gave himself  totally to a woman, Teresa, the mother of Vero, who destroyed him. He tells her people accused him of becoming cold, calculating, without sentiments and the truth is that he has never again believed in love, has dedicated himself to Vero and his work. Antonio tells her he is telling her this so she will become aware of the power of anger, tells her that she has to make Gus pay for every tear. She rejects another drink and dinner. She tells him she wants to go home. He tells her that with her beauty she could go far, if she would let him help her. She gets up to leave, lets him convince her to let him drive her home.

     Celia visits Carlos who seems to be packing. He tells her he plans to close the apartment, travel a bit. She says she shouldn’t have come. Then she says she needed to talk to somebody not from her family, walked, found herself at his door. Then she tells him about Nena, had this terrible idea that having a child was another foolish wish of Nena’s. Now she realizes that it was important enough for Nena to risk her life. All she sa2 in Nena was her frivolity, thought she got pregnant only to trap Mateo. Celia says she feels guilty. Nena is her only, her best friend, is so afraid of losing her. Carlos tells her that he knows a top oncologist in Chicago, they are very close friends, he can arrange a consultation. He tells her to count on him.

 

 

USA, 9/15-19/03:

     USA, 9/19/03 - Antonio doesn’t understand her question. She asks him what he has to do with Ramiro, there are people who can testify that he has a relationship. He tells her to guard her words, he has never had anything to do with Ramiro, asks if he is talking to his daughter or a cop. She says his daughter.

     Nena, Celia, Tarta find Mateo very drunk. Nena gives him another bottle. She tells Mateo he isn’t going to get pity if that is what he wants. He tells Nena he is a porqueria, can’t stand to lose her, she makes him feel happy, has never felt like this before, only loves her. The others leave the two alone. He tells her he will die if she leaves. Then Mateo laughs at the fact that he is begging her to love him. She accuses him of cowardice, of having self-pity. She tells him that she isn’t going to let a lying drunk get near her child. Nena leaves. Celia tells Nene that her place is next to Mateo, tells Nena to blame her not him. Nena tells her it is too late, she is going to start her life over, walks away.

     Antonio tells Ramiro that Claudia didn’t want to come home, says she is ok for the moment, but needs medical attention. Ramiro says he will take care of her. Anselmo tells him she needs to go to a clinic, tells him that she is frightened, he hasn’t a right to interfere with her getting better. Anselmo tells him he isn’t there to judge him, he is there to say that there is no time. Claudia wants help now, has to get it now. He tells Ramiro it is his choice: if he brings her home, she will fall into an abyss.

     The reporter tells Gus that Susan talked to her of him, if he doesn’t trust her, she will go on her own. She starts to walk away, he asks her to stop, says there are few people in whom he can trust.

     Antonio takes Vero into a room and shows her his copy of the tape. He gives her the tape, asks if it condemns him. Vero says that all she wants is an explanation. He asks her what is her conclusion from seeing the video, has she condemned him on the basis of it? Then he asks her if she thinks he is an imbecil? She says no. He asks her if she thinks he would let himself be filmed if he had known. Antonio tells her that they investigated Ramiro and his businesses before they took him on as a client. Antonio tells her that he is getting older, there were mistakes, he ignored some details. He swears to her that he knew nothing, investigated Ramiro and found nothing. He names all the kinds of people who have turned out to be narcos, in every profession, at every level. He accuses himself of being an imbecil, realizes that Ramirr wanted to use the video to blackmail him. Antonio tells her that he has destroyed everything that tied him to Ramiro, knows it is illegal, but he doesn’t want to lose his business, his reputation. [It is quite a performance.] Vero asks Antonio how a man with his experience could be taken in. He tells her that she thinks he has a double-face. She denies that. She tells him to put himself in her place. She tells him she doesn’t doubt him, that’s why she is here. He cries, says he would never doubt her. She asks him to forgive her. He tells her there is nothing to forgive, but the lack of confidence, trust, hurts. He gives her the video, tells her to do what she thinks is right. He tells her it will be hard to prove his innocence but will. She tells him it isn’t necessary, drops the video, begs him to forgive her. She leaves the room. He wipes away his tears.

     Mateo thanks Tarta, asks him to take him out of the bar. Mateo tells Tarta that he bought the cantina to prove to himself that he could stay dry. Tarta tells him it was just one slip. Mateo asks him why he should stay sober. Mateo tells Tarta that he needs a drink. Tarta thinks he is joking, but Mateo stands up and starts walking, followed by Tarta..

     Antonio tells Froilan that in this business, the smartest win. He tells Froilan that he can’t let such a thing happen again. Froilan asks if he should destroy the cassette. Antonio says no, he has a better idea.

     Vero barges into Chepe’s office, asks why they don’t go after Barrientos, is tired of obeying the rules that let him stay in business. She asks him if they are waiting for Ramiro to discover the truth about Gus, kill him, leave the country.

     The reporter and Gus walk. She tells him how Susan helped her when she first came to this country. She asks him why Susan was killed. He tells her it was his fault, but he can’t explain why. She tells him that if he doesn’t give her information, she won’t give him hers. He tells her that the people involved are very powerful, everywhere, her being with him is dangerous, she would have to promise not to publish anything. She tells him she can’t accept his terms, not for Susan, not for her profession. He tells her he will tell her something that he shouldn’t, tells her that he has infiltrated the organization. She promises not to use his name, won’t put his life in danger, asks that he tell her everything. She gives him the last letter that Susan wrote her.

     Antonio tells Refugio and Froilan that he is going to be investigated, wants them to make sure there is absolutely nothing in the house that associates him with Ramiro.

     In their house, Nena recalls Mateo’s proposal. Celia begs her not to leave, asks where she will go. Nena tells Celia that she will miss her, too, but living together now would be hell. Celia suggests that they talk things out. Nena tells her that she can’t think of the past, has to concentrate on the future. Celia tells her that her love for her has always been what mattered most.

     At the center, Vero looks at a picture of Ramiro, wonders. Antonio bursts into Chepe’s office with the video, demands that Esteban be present, turns over a video proving that he is associated with Ramiro, asks that he be investigated. He tells Chepe that Ramiro made the video to blackmail him. He tells Chepe that when he learned of Ramiro’s real business, he cut all his ties to him. He leaves the office and runs into Vero. Antonio tells her that he gave Chepe the video, tells her that he has nothing to hide. Vero tells him it is dangerous. Antonio tells her he knows there is a doubt in her heart, he knows her. He tells her that he is clean, isn’t a crook, much less a narcotraficante. He tells her that nothing matters more to him than she.

     Anselmo tells Claudia that her father accepted, believes that he loves her a lot, just doesn’t know how to show it. Anselmo tells her that her father wants to say goodbye to her. Claudia says no. Anselmo tells her she has to, he is her father. Toni promises Claudia they will be together after this is all over.

     Tarta and Mateo go to an AA meeting. Mateo tells Tarta he had promised himself never to come to a place like this again. 

     In the church, Toni and Anselmo sit with Claudia. Her father enters from the back. They leave her alone. Ramiro walks toward her.

     Jetas tries to put all of Nena’s things into one car when Tarta runs up to her, grabs her, takes her away.

     Chepe tells his people that Gus is in New York, they don’t know if it will bear fruit. In the meantime, they are going to investigate Antonio Vega.

     Antonio barges into Ines’ apartment, asks if she has gotten pregnant yet. She says no. He tells her he has had a very bad day, grabs her, pulls open her top, starts to kiss her breasts. She just sort of hangs there, saying and doing nothing.

 

USA, 9/22-26/03:

[USA, 9/22/03]

aaack!! now i am the one pleading for a summary Author: B. (---)  Date:   09-22-03 23:33 PDT

    or at least, part of one. my cable company has been playing with "upgrades" (or som they claim) and as a result there have been a few "problems." well, one of those problems wiped out all the pre-programming on my cable box. this would not be a problem if i were going to be at home, but since i knew i wouldn't be home until well after it had started, i was counting on the programming of my cable box to change to the right channel, and my VCR to tape the show. fortunately, i got home earlier than expected, and i immedately figured out the VCR was busy taping totally the wrong show for some reason, but by then it was already half-way through. so. i have only got the second half of the episode; i've completely missed the first half.

    of course, based on the second half i can certainly guess at least some things:

    1. Auntie Ditz was not swayed at all, or at least not enough, by MatAAo, that she is willing to get back together with him, and she still hasn't forgiven Mom (by the way, why didn't Father Anselmo point out to AD that she's sortof in a glass house herself since Mom isn't the only one keeping secrets around there? i mean, i know AD's cancer is her problem, but still -- she's been lying to Mom about it from the start. or did Mom tell AD she Knows All sometime in the first half of tonight's show?);

    2. Jailbait went into detox, but did she actually talk to FBBG first or did she end up blowing him off?

    3. CAMB let, or was forced to let, DD have sex with her, and now she thinks (or is sure) she's pregnant (or, best case scenario right now: she just said it to make DD go away). the words clichéd, trite, hackneyed, old, tired, overused and abused, Televisa'd, and generally sucky all spring to mind and they are only the start of the problems i have with this particular plot line. those damn guionistas diabólicos over there at Argos/Telemundo had better get their rears in gear and do something interesting with this plot PDQ that does NOT involve CAMB pretending to be pregnant with Gus' child, because right now the DGDs are haemorrhaging points over this plot line and CAMB herself is thisclose to being back on the Hit List (so far the only thing that's keeping her off it right now is her apparent attempt to make it up to Tarta (altho she did lose some once again trotting out her same old, lame old "you're my only friend" bleat), subject to my rewatching that scene again, because i was too distracted with other, i've-just-recently-gotten-home things, to be certain i caught the whole scene correctly).

    but i would love it if someone could take pity on me and give me the straight dope on what i missed. i managed to get all of the show from just about the straight middle, starting with the scene between FBBG and Ex-Yellow Tie where FBBG is talking about how Jailbait should not have to pay for his mistakes and he wishes the earth would just swallow him up now because he can't do anything for his daughter, and E-YT, a bit lost in this strange parental territory, tries to tell him that Jailbait will get better.

    pleasepleaseprettyplease??

     Okay, here's the Reader's Digest version summary...  Author: Robin N (---)  Date:   09-23-03 07:06 PDT

    First, Tarta dragged Nenena to see MatAAo giving testimony at an AA meeting, but she stood out of sight. There, MatAAo spoke of how he'd been an alcoholic almost half of his life and how he'd challenged himself for the past 10 years not to drink, but last night he lost that challenge and drank. He explained how he drank as a way to erase the pain of hurting the woman who is the only person to truly love him, instead of being a man strong enough to go after her and help her, and he also drank as a way to make her pity him. He talked about how he recognized now, that by drinking he proves that he is indeed a man who's worth nothing. He spoke of his profound love for that woman (notice he hasn't named names yet, and although Nenena must be sure he's talking about her, she may have some small doubt yet) and how she's given him love and a great gift, a child. (Now she knows it's her he's talking about, but although she's moved, she doesn't relent, leaving when he finishes, without him even knowing she was there.) MatAAo ends, and is awash in misery, with a strong yen to drink, but firm in his resolve to begin another day without alcohol. To that end, he tells Tarta that he's going to stay in, avoiding the bar.

    Chepe tells the Brigada that they're going to search DD's house and office (interestingly, not Maria's casita) and the gang is understandably surprised, particularly Vero and EtU. She tells Chepe that she thinks this will cast a shadow on her father's good name and she can't be part of it. EtU comes to her afterwards (eavesdropping on her call to Gus who's checking in from NY at the airport, coming home -- there were only scenes of he and Elena in NY walking and talking, but not anything we could hear) and tells her he thinks Chepe is making a mistake. He suggests that Gus could have something to do with this, as, after all, he's been working undercover with FBBG all this time, surely he'd know about the taping of DD by FBBG. Vero denies it, but he's planted the seed of doubt. Later, she talks to Nancy in the locker room and tells her about EtU's attitude/suspicion and Nancy tells her it's just because he's jealous, there's nothing in it.

    As for FBBG and Claudia, they have a teary, heartfelt, tender scene in the church. He apologizes to her for not being a very good father and she tells him she behaved badly too. He promises to always be there for her if she needs him (not if DD has anything to say about it). There time together is brief: Anselmo tells them it's time for him to take Claudia to the facility. FBBG asks Anselmo what he owes him, he's deeply grateful, but Anselmo tells him he owes him nothing, he owes God. The father and daughter embrace tenderly and part.

    CAMB did try to avoid having sex with DD, but he insisted that as she was the one who came to him asking for help, she can't back out now. He continues to hold her aggressively close and remind her that it's the only way to make Gus pay, and she wants to see him suffer, doesn't she? Finally, she closes her eyes and gives in and he paws at her, roughly pulling her shirt down.

    Those are the highlights: I hope this helps.

    *A buen entendedor, pocas palabras bastan.*

 

    USA, 9/23/03 Re: the very end of yesterday's episode Author: B. (---) Date:   09-24-03 10:16 PDT  Chepe tells Gus that in spite of the home and office searches not turning up anything the least bit incriminating, he still has very serious doubt about DD -- something just doesn't ring true about DD to Chepe. he wants Gus to help him continue to investigate DD, but it will have to be handled strictly outside the O-Team offices; NO-ONE else can know about it. if Gus agrees, this will mean lying to Vero again because a) Vero is already up in arms about the investigation they just did AT DD'S OWN INSTIGATION AND INSISTANCE; b) she is totally not ready to believe anything against her father, and particularly now that the investigations have apparently not turned anything up; and c) she would almost certainly either tell DD he's still under investigation or let it slip, either to DD or to someone else who would tell DD.  we can tell Gus is torn: while he wants to help Chepe, he and Vero have agreed not to lie to each other any more (altho i note that he is already doing so -- he didn't tell her why he didn't answer her calls last night!). in the promo it appears that Gus decided to refuse and Chepe is putting pressure on Gus to convince him to help anyway.  the very last scene in the episode was a white van swooping up on someone we can't make out (or at least, i couldn't make out) walking along the street, kidnapping him or her, then speeding away. we don't know if it's FBBG's people going after someone else he now suspects ratted him out to the cops, or DD practicing some new revenge tactic for putting him to the trouble of having to permit his office and home to be searched (and by the way, why hasn't anyone had lip readers in to see what FBBG and DD were saying to each other on the tape?? that was the first thing we all thought of; i can't believe Chepe's that dumb. and i'm also curious to see what the financial review turns up. since they're taking so long about it, i can't help but suspect that's going to turn out to be Significant somehow...). or DD just making sure that CAMB goes to the damn doctor and gets a pregnancy test so that if she isn't pregnant after all, he can again do his duty to make sure she becomes so. and much as i dislike CAMB, i sincerely hope and trust it isn't this third possibility because she's waaaay too messed up as it is. something like this is bound to put her right 'round the twist.

 

USA, 9/24/03: ok, let's try this again... (summary Wed 24 Sept 2003)  Author: B. (---)  Date:   09-25-03 22:40 PDT

    this time i'm going to do it in pieces, and keep going back in and re-editing to add new pieces. that way, hopefully! this time i won't lose everything (again!) if my computer decides to crash...

    summary / Wednesday, 24 September 2003

    *some downtown park sort of place. Chepe insists to Gus that this isn't anything personal, but DD just gives him a really bad feeling. he tries on just about every argument, from every angle, that he can think of--including that DD might have ratted Gus out to FBBG, thus provoking the attack on Gus-- to convince Gus to secretly pursue an investigation of DD's ties to FBBG and discover how deep and how far back that relationship goes. even though Gus admits Chepe's arguments have a certain validity, he well remembers what happened the last time he lied to Vero and no way he wants a repeat. in fact, Gus' unwillingness to consider that DD might be a Bad Man begins to border on the sort of hysteria Vero is showing -- it's as if Gus is so afraid of what will happen to Vero should DD in fact turn out not to be the clean, upstanding citizen Vero wants to believe he is that Gus wants to stay as far away from that can of worms as possible.

    *O-Team squad room. Nancy, as a friend, warns Vero she should be prepared for the off chance that the financial investigation, which is still ongoing, might turn up something incriminating. Vero reacts by accusing Nancy of being a traitor and wanting to find something against DD. she implies that a true friend would have stopped this ridiculous investigation yesterday, and never mind what her boss orders her to do. Nancy is totally reasonable and trying to be understanding while getting Vero to see her side of things, while Vero is practically hysterical insisting DD is innocent, they're not going to find anything, and they should just stop this whole thing NOW. it seems pretty obvious that Vero's panic is caused at least in part because deep deep down inside she KNOWS there's something to find and is terrified of the implications, so she just wants it all to go away.

    *Mummy María's. Tony the Ex-Brat tells MM that he suspects Chepe's motives for investigating DD. specifically, he thinks it possible Chepe is pursing DD in order to remove DD from his (Chepe's) path (to MM). MM pooh-poohs this idea of such an insidious ulterior motive and reminds TtE-B that Chepe is a friend of DD's (wow, what planet is SHE living on...?) who helped TtE-B get out of prison sooner. Chepe's investigation has nothing to do with her. TtE-B snorts at this. he tells MM that if she wants to continue her flirtation with Chepe, fine. but he's still convinced that the only thing Chepe wants to do is 'perjudicar' DD.

    *O-Team's spiffy co-ed locker room. Estéban el Bruto Imbécil comes in and reminds Vero that, as the man with whom she lived for a couple of years (who knew??), she can't hide from him that something's upset her. Vero asks him if they really made a thorough search of the house and DD's office, and he assures her they did. she tells him it really hurts her to walk the halls and know that people she cares about are talking about her behind her back, certain she's the daughter of a crook. maybe it doesn't seem important to him, but it matters to her because it's about her father.

    *some apartment or hotel room somewhere. Father Anselmo is over seeing Auntie Ditz, who apparently has just told him that she is going to move away, immediately, to some tiny tiny village whose name she can't immediately call to mind. FA asks if she even knows anyone in this tiny tiny village and she replies that she has a friend who lives in Morelia, an hour away, but even she seems to realize how lame that is. FA points out that she has responsbilities right now, both to herself and her daughter, and she cannot just simply run away to some small town that might not even have a hospital. AD doesn't deny she's running away, but insists she has no other option.

    *Mom's. MattAAo comes over to talk to Mom. he tells her he's trying to get his life back, and is starting by admitting his mistakes. he apologizes for failing to realize that she would have never done anything to hurt AD. MattAAo tells Mom he really did care for her, but she became an obsession, and because of that he pressured her and put her in an impossible position. Mom tells him he wasn't the only one to make mistakes -- she allowed herself to be ruled by her fears and insecurities. the important thing now is that he is in love with AD and that he forge ahead with her. MattAAo tells Mom he needs to know that she forgives him and that she's going to be ok. Mom assures him she, too, is trying to learn from her mistakes and move on with her life. what she wants him to do is to find AD and not leave her alone until AD consents to come back with him. MattAAo says he hopes he can find her, and that AD will forgive him. I hope she can forgive us both, Mom replies.

    *Dr Slime's House of Fun. DD is visiting Tere. see my earlier post on this. (or click here: DD & Tere; Tere & Vero)

    *Chepe's office. Chepe and EeBI come in to find Vero impatiently pacing around, fuming. she's found out Chepe's investigation of DD includes an investigation of Tere and she's livid. EeBI interjects, almost apologetically, that Vero does have a point. Chepe points out that it's nothing personal, it's just part and parcel of the investigation and he'd be remiss if he didn't include Tere. Vero throws a hissy fit and asks if Chepe thinks her mother has been drugging herself all these years. she tells Chepe if he wants she'll hold the gun on her poor, helpless, sick mother herself while Chepe interrogates her. Chepe snaps and practically shouts at Vero that he's not a torturer and she knows it. he is conducting an investigation that was instigated at DD's own insistence. Vero's just about losing it and she snarks at Chepe, telling him she forbids him to mess with her mother, before stomping out in a fit.

    *the office at the taller or maybe at MattAAo's cantina. Gus has brought MattAAo up to speed on what Chepe wants him to do. Gus is still looking for excuses why he should believe in DD's innocence and not investigate any further, and postulates the tape was just some attempt by FBBG to incriminate DD. but for once, MattAAo actually agrees with Chepe 100% and he insists this whole matter of DD and FBBG needs to be thoroughly investigated. Gus continues to be in a state of denial. the biggest sticking point for Gus is that DD's being a Narco would imply he was a mover and shaker in the very organization (since they all agree DD would never be a mere footsoldier) that ordered Vero be kidnapped, tortured, and left for dead. DD adores Vero -- he might be a lot of things, but he would never be part of something like that, Gus insists.

    *Chepe's office. now EeBI is the one pacing around. if you investigate anyone thoroughly enough you will always uncover something that looks suspicious, he fusses. using Chepe as an example, EeBI asks what would happen if an investigation of Chepe were to turn up a photo of Chepe and Gus -- how would Chepe explain that?? Chepe rather lamely tries to insist that it's not the same thing while trying not to let on that EeBI's point has struck a bit of a nerve. EeBI snarks some about trusting civilians --and especially civilians with criminal connections!-- to do police work, then slams out without really giving Chepe much of a chance to reply.

    *Dr Slime's House of Fun. Dr Slime asks what's going on that DD has suddenly decided to honor them with a visit for once. DD warns Dr Slime that in all likelihood the O-Team will be out to ask questions about him. Dr Slime should not resist the investigation but not tell them anything except how worried about and attentive to Tere he's been all these years.

    *city street. a sedan driven by a woman, with a girl in the passenger seat, screeches to a halt to avoid hitting a red van that has suddenly turned in front of the car and stopped, blocking the road. as the woman leans on the horn in annoyance, a white van swooshes up behind the sedan. armed masked men pile out of the white van and kidnap the woman and the girl at gunpoint, stuffing them into the white van which then races off with a squeal of tires, the red van following closely.

    *park. Gus tells Vero about how FBBG's drug-induced paranoia led to his temporary kidnap the night before, and that's why he didn't answer her calls. Vero rants some about how upsetting this whole investigation thing is, how she's sure FBBG is just trying to smear her poor, squeaky-clean father by trying to falsely implicate him in something criminal. she admits how guilty she feels for being the cause of this whole investigation thing, by doubting DD when she never should have since she knows DD is innocent: DD would never do something against his principles, Vero states flatly. but it terrifies her to think of the consequences if a false accusation were to be believed. meanwhile, we're all watching and thinking she doth protest waaaaay too much, and by so doing is only trying to convince herself. Gus reassures her that DD loves her and understands why this investigation has to happen. DD doesn't blame Vero for it. Vero whines to Gus that she is tired of all this. she doesn't want to investigate anything anymore, she just wants to get away from all of this. she wants peace and tranquility. she pleads with Gus to just go away with her, but Gus reminds her they'd both hate it, knowing they'd left so much undone and unresolved back at home. Vero reluctantly agrees.

    *street. Brie, apparently having one of his firmer days, is chauffering DD around (DD is in the back seat this time). he takes a call from someone, then after a brief conversation reports to DD that the kidnap went off without a hitch. they didn't even have to fire a shot. DD gloats that the kidnap will distract the attention of the O-Team, not to mention swaying public opinion (hello?? was the public at large even AWARE DD was being investigated?? i don't think so!! more of DD's typical overreactions...): this kidnap of the wife and daughter of the director of the most important and influential newspaper in the country, La Republica, will be all over the news media by morning. DD will have said Influential Newspaper Director eating out of the palm of his hand. I'm a GENIUS! DD crows. that topic over with, DD confirms that Brie has spoken with CAMB and arranged to pick her up and bring her by to see him later. Brie has and he will.

    *Chepe's. EeBI bursts into Chepe's office and breaks the news about the kidnap. they rush out to get right on it.

    *park. Vero thanks Gus for letting her rant a bit. Gus is glad she feels better. he doesn't want to leave her, but he has to go see FBBG, to show him he's not afraid and to try to work his way further into FBBG's confidence. will he see Vero that night? Vero says she's not sure -- she has to go see Tere. she'll call him later.

    *an apartment that looks suspiciously like "Cíntia's" but might actually be MattAAo's (if his is also over the Cantina?). MattAAo is making the bed (some sort of orange/olive/white plaid sheets) and if it IS "Cíntia's," has clearly been doing a lot of tidying, which is why i'm inclined to think it must be his own place there. but anyway. FA knocks and comes in. he starts to lecture MattAAo (in a rather self-righteous, smug way) on the evils of MattAAo resorting to drink until MattAAo tells him to cut it out -- FA isn't telling him anything he hasn't already told himself. FA cuts him a break and instead asks if MattAAo truely loves AD. when MattAAo assures him he does, FA tells MattAAo about AD's planned move to the tiny tiny no-name village. she's leaving on a bus that very afternoon. he insists that MattAAo go after her and not let her leave. MattAAo rushes off.

    *kidnap scene. the place is swarming with cops, the O-Team, and a pretty aggrieved bald man who we discover is the very IND whose wife and daughter were kidnapped. he huffs about how the O-Team didn't do anything to prevent this, which in my opinion and even allowing for him being justifiably upset, is a rather unfair accusation to make unless he'd been receiving kidnap threats and the O-Team had been ignoring them (which we are left to assume is not the case). we learn the kidnap vans were abandoned a short ways away, and there are no immediate clues as to where the kidnappers and their hostages went after that. Chepe and EeBI assure IND they are doing and will do everything in their power and beyond to get his wife and daughter back safely.

    *Vega country house attic. damn, that place is a real trysting site anymore... DD seems to have it all set up for a rendezvous-d'amour. CAMB comes strutting in with a model-on-the-catwalk stride (which she does do pretty darn well, i must say), wearing some sort of slinky top. DD tells her she's perfect, just what he needed. she disagrees, saying she thinks she's awfully imperfect. DD says he shouldn't say it because Vero is his daughter, but Gus is an idiot. he's totally in lecher mode, the way he always gets when he's pleased with himself. Repulsiva is not going to be happy to find out she missed out on the action...

    *bus station. AD walks in, towing a small suitcase that makes me wonder where the rest of her stuff is (remember, there was too much of it to fit into a single car and the guy moving her out of Mom's had to make at least two trips?). she dejectedly, but with a muslish look on her face, sits down on one of the benches. MattAAo enters, sees her, and comes over, sitting down on the same bench. AD looks at him wordlessly.

    *Dr Slime's House of Fun. Vero is visiting Tere. see my previous post on this. (or click here: DD & Tere; Tere & Vero)

    *more Dr Slime's. Nancy arrives to talk to Dr Slime as part of the investigation of DD which Chepe ordered her to undertake.

    *FBBG's. FBBG is stretched out on a sofa reading a small comic book. Ex-Yellow Tie ushers Gus in. FBBG asks if Gus didn't have enough punishment last night. Gus says if FBBG was going to kill him, he'd've done it already. he's come to talk business. FBBG wants to know what's on Gus' mind. Gus tells him that FBBG is clearly in a bad way -- his business is going downhill, he's paranoid and surrounded by people he doesn't trust. FBBG is unpleasantly startled when Gus concludes by asking how he (FBBG) could have entrusted the security of his various businesses to someone like DD...

    <end>

USA, 9/29/03 – 10/3/03:

[USA, 10/2-3/03] Re: Summary for Thursday & Friday please??  Author: B.  Date:   10-06-03 01:17 PDT

    i don't remember much off-hand (this whole CAMB-"pregnancy" plot is so distasteful to me that i am not paying as much attention as i might otherwise and am not sure i can make myself re-watch these eps), but here is what i seem to remember:

    *Mom tells Auntie Ditz that she wants AD & MatAAo to have the house after they get married. she says it's too big for just her and Grandma anyway. AD is surprised and pleased, but declines. Mom gets AD to promise to think about it, at least. AD mentions it to MatAAo. for right now they appear to be veering more toward the idea of getting their own house, rather than 'dispossessing' Mom (who i think may be thinking of going to live with Suave Owner anyway, tho i don't recall her saying so).

    *DD bawls CAMB out for telling Gus she's pregnant with his kid (Gus' kid) before she actually IS pregnant. but then he throws her a bone, admitting that CAMB's performance with Gus was 'masterful.' DD sleeps with her again. Tarta continues to be ultra-attentive to CAMB, who hates herself more and more all the time.

    *Gus can't bring himself to tell Vero about CAMB and the pregnancy, and the knowledge is making him crazy. he spends the night with Vero at her apartment at DD's, but is up early in the morning, having spent a very restless night. Vero tries to call him back to bed, but he is almost relieved when Chepe calls him at the crack of dawn (just as Vero is trying to get him to come back to bed) and crankily orders him to come to a meeting in a hour. while Gus is meeting at some secret place with Chepe, Vero is having breakfast with DD. she tells him she's very happy and in all likelihood Gus will be spending many more nights at her apartment. DD pretends to be ok with this.

    *Chepe totally hauls Gus over the coals for having shown the material FBBG gave him to DD and Vero. regardless of what was inside, Gus should have broght it to Chepe first. Gus only barely admits that Chepe has a point. he gives Chepe a few reasons that sound weak even to him, but concludes by saying that he's already lost Vero once before to lies and evasions. as far as he's concerned, Vero Comes First with him from here on out. he gives Chepe the envelope then has practically the same reaction to Chepe as FBBG had to him when Chepe doesn't open it then and there. Chepe tells him he wants to wait to look at it carefully, back at the office. Gus also tells Chepe how FBBG wants him (Gus) to get rid of DD for him (FBBG), and that the plan is to completely discredit DD by transferring huges amounts of cash into DD's accounts, cash that DD won't be able to explain.

    *Chepe looks at the papers and sees why Vero and Gus --both of whom want to find DD innocent-- immediately jumped to that conclusion. the papers are such a perfect vindication of DD's innocence that Chepe is immediately suspicious. he tries to explain this to Vero but of course she's not listening. so he explains it to Nancy instead, who seems more willing to at least hear him out.

    *FBBG gives Gus the account number of one of his many false identities. this account has a zillion dollars in it, all of which FBBG is prepared to lose in the cause of bringing DD down. there is also some talk about a Ferrari, but i wasn't really attending at that point so i'm not sure what it was all about. FBBG likes it that Gus would choose a black one, rather than red or yellow, but why -- who knows?

    *Jailbait does not die. she has a vague memory of drowning or asphyxiating somehow, but everyone writes it off as a dream.

    *DD sends Brie (formerly Junior) to capture / harass / not sure what Influential Newspaper Bobo himself. Brie waits until INB is alone in the men's room at the newspaper then puts a gun to his head. hmmmmm.

    *Mom apologizes to Gus for being so nasty and unwelcoming about Vero. she says she wants to try to make amends and wants Gus to bring Vero over for a family dinner. apparently, as another part of this spirit of making amends, she also decides for some reason to seek out CAMB, and does. in theory on Monday we'll learn what that's all about (since i don't think Mom knows about the "pregnancy" yet). perhaps she's feeling guilty for not having tried to maintain ties with CAMB / not being too welcoming to her, either? AD told everyone how she ran into CAMB in the church and CAMB seemed a bit strange.

    *Mummy María really seems to be going off DD. good, if it's true. but DD, after being asked point-blank by Vero at their breakfast together about when he was going to formally recognize Tony the Ex-Brat as his son, announces that he is already taking care of that and it should be very soon. later, he tells MM that he's actively taking steps and it's all but a done deal. he clearly thinks that MM will fall all over him and be all happy the way she would have done in the old days but is so caught up with himself and his own plans that he barrels ahead as if not noticing her distinctly lukewarm reaction to this once so-desired news. he announces something about a family dinner or something, that night at 9p (which no doubt is going to conflict with TtE-B's new "job...").

    *Tony the Ex-Brat, courtesy of his school pal, finds a job at some bar/nightclub where of course Greasy Mustache hangs out. TtE-B can't seem to keep his hands off GM, which does not bode well for his keeping this job in the long run (plus, the guy who runs the place doesn't give off a very good vibe, to me). at one point, TtE-B runs off some girl on which GM is trying to pull a similar stunt as the one he pulled on Jailbait at the party a long time ago (get her totally stoned, then take advantage of her). she is grateful, but GM is pissed off.

    *plans for the wedding are proceeding apace.

    there's probably more, but that's what i've got off the top of my head. perhaps someone else here can fill in a bit more...?

USA, 10/6-10/03:

    [USA, 10/6/03] quick and dirty: Author: g Date:   10-07-03 13:36 PDT

    My timeline is probably way off

    Mom talks to Ines, tells her that just because she and Gustavo broke up that doesn't mean they (Mom, AD and Anselmo) don't care about her, that she can count on them if she needs to talk, etc... Ines has a sort of enigmatic expression that I can't really decide if it is guilt-ridden or calculating or both.

    Gus and Chepe meet in some dark alley. At first Gus is all snippy and yells at Chepe, but recovers himself and apologizes. He tells Chepe about the money he is supposed to be putting in DD's bank acct. Chepe looks at the amts. and thinks that they are in pesos, but Gus corrects him: it's dollars. Chepe looks kinda shocked and Gus explains that FBBG wants the amts to be high enough that no one would think that it could anyone would spend that much just to make DD look bad. Chepe tells Gus he'll try to hink of a plan.

    DD is talking to the new govt secretary, who he wants to force the brigada (well, Chepe to make a formal apology) This whole converation is a little odd, as he seems to drift between playing the woun

ded innocent, and threatening him. NOw that i think of i he reminds me of Iago (he who takes form me my good name...)

    Junior, meanwhile, is at Newspaper guy's (house? office?) He "persuades" NG to go along with using the newspaper to attack the O-team. He later goes to see DD and they gloat about how well everything is going. DD tells junior he is going do do MM the great favor of marrying her.

    Vero actually shows up at work, and then proceeds to make herslf totally useless by re-interrogating the kidnappers that EtU had already interogated. She calls NG down to offer him the brigada's protection, and try to get more info, but Junior has clearly gotten to him (not that Vero realizes) At some point she and Nancy chat, and Nancy agrees with her idea of leaving the Brigada to try to lead some sort of normal life with Gus.

    Chepe shows up at DD's office. When Maria tells him DD isn't there, Chepe tells her he came to see her. She looks gratified, but a little worried, and he tells her he'll be in the cafe on the corner if she wants to come by. Of course she does, and they have acute little conversation, and she tells Chepe that of course he can come by... (btw was anyone else wondering if his charming childhood story was another one of his white lies?) Later, DD finds out that CHepe was there, but she covers, saying he was there to see him (DD)

    SO tells Celia he has an oppertunity to start a swanky mexican restaurant in SF (if only! we really need one), but he won't go without her...

    TExB and his friend start work at the bar. Gus and Matteo chat- Gus is being all whiny "how could this happen" Matteo: you know how (ha!)

    DD goes to MM's. She and TExB are both there, and he tells them the "wonderful" news- he is going to recognize his son. Ignoring their totally nonplussed expressions he barrrels on to the even better news- he is going to get an annulment and marry Maria! Dead silence....

    Vero and Gus are in her apt. V is babbling on about how happy she is to have him, blah blah... Gus looks guitly for a while but finally (much to all of our relief) guts up the balls to tell her the truth (well, ok, not really the truth, but he thinks it is) Vero just stands there....

    SO's restaurant  Author: B. Date:   10-07-03 14:19 PDT

    if i recall correctly, what he actually told Mom was that a friend of his who has $$ but no experience running a restaurant wants to bring him, a man with no $$ but lots of experience running a restaurant, in as partner on the swanky Mexican restaurant in San Francisco. SO says he thinks he would like to specialize in mariscos, and doesn't Mom think that sounds like a good idea? Mom says yes, but it's clear she's torn between showing enthusiasm and support for SO, getting this chance to do something he'd love to do and be great at doing, and snapping at SO that he can't leave. but then SO tells her he's already told the partner that he will only be able to be in SF part time for now, because he's started a relationship in DF that's very important to him (Mom) and he has no intention of messing it up. Mom is relieved. and gratified. understandably! but it unfortunately doesn't make her tear off that wretched Tony Pony. grrrrrrrrr......

    Re: Great summaries one question  Author: B. Date:   10-07-03 17:02 PDT

    it ended with Gus, consumed with guilt, blurting out to Vero that CAMB is pregnant with his child, and Vero's face falling. as i mentioned in another post, previews make it look as if Vero pushes Gus away, telling him, with tears streaming down her face, that their love is not more important than a child's life (or words to that effect. this whole plot is just so revolting i am having a hard time paying much attention to the details). later it shows a stony-faced Vero going to see CAMB.

    i could be mistaken --it's hard for me to pay much attention to CAMB once she starts ranting-- but i don't think Gus has actually asked her for a pregnancy test yet (or if he has, he has quickly backed off it), even though he's been strongly advised to do so. but CAMB is busy laying it on really thick and in a pre-emptive strike that effectively bought her some time, has already suggested bitterly that now she supposes he'll demand she prove it with a pregnancy test, acted so insulted he'd think she was lying, and was so generally aggressive about it that i think he abandoned any thought of taking her up on it.

    Re: Great summaries one question  Author: g Date:   10-07-03 17:06 PDT

    We didn't really see her reaction, just a stunned sort of expression, then fade to black (well, fade to avances) From the previews it looks like she doesn't take it well, but then what would be the point of this whole idiotic plot if she did? They couldn't irritate the viewers nearly as much if she just shrugged her sholders and said "ok we'll deal with it" or something actually mature like that (end rant)

    No Gus doesn't ask for a pregnancy test- I guess Ines' guilt trip "you don't trust me" line has worked (so far)

    And yes, the sad lack of demise of Mom's ponytail was noted (sigh)

btw, thanks for helping out with that scene, B

    Gus did ask to take her to his doctor friend  Author: Robin N  Date:   10-08-03 06:57 PDT

    ...for an examination ('un hombre de todo confianzo'), but she got all huffy and handed him a piece of paper that supposedly held the results of the exam she 'did' have (in actuality, it was something else, and DD called her on it after Gus left because if he had read it, the game would have been over).

    *A buen entendedor, pocas palabras bastan.*

 

10/10/03 -  Inés tells Gus that she still loves him, needs him. She tells him that she thought she could raise her child alone but doesn’t want the child to lack a father, he doesn’t know what it is like. He tells her the child will have his love. He tells her it would be nice if things were different, but this is all he can offer for now. She apologizes. She asks him if he isn’t happy to think about having a child, tells him how she dreams how he will look, becomes upset when he interrupts her. Inés suggests that Vero won’t let him be a father, hates her. Gus repeats that he will be with her during her pregnancy and give his son all the love he has but he doesn’t want to hear her talking about them getting back together again, doesn’t want to hurt her. She cries. He says he is sorry. Inés tells him that he will come back to her, she is sure. He leaves. She keeps on crying.

     Antonio explains to Vero that men can’t be alone, women are much stronger. He asks her what she is going to do. She says she will think about a more radical solution. Antonio tells her to forgive Gus, says that the same thing could have happened to her, must realize that Inés will be part of their lives. He tells her that men may have many women in their lives but, he tells her “from experience”, there is only one special one. He says that her mother has been only “the woman” in his life. After she leaves, he smiles contentedly.  Antonio tells Vero it isn’t a good idea to separate. She tells him that she can’t be with Gus but doesn’t want to give him up. Then she asks her father how he was able to hide the existence of Toni for 10 years. Antonio says that he was trying to protect her, that it is something in Gus’s favor that he hasn’t hidden the truth from her.

     Nancy asks Chepe what he is doing with Maria, doesn’t believe he really likes her, says she doesn’t deserve to be played with.

     Celia explains to Nena all about the doctor’s visit, how she found out by accident, asked the doctor not to tell her until after the wedding. Then after talking with Carlos, she realized how important another opinion was. Nena says that she will go but doesn’t want to talk about it any more. Later, Nena tells Celia not to worry.

     Mateo tells Carlos that Celia is a special woman, but fragile. Carlos tells him to cut it short, what he is saying is that he will pay if he hurts her. Carlos tells him that he loves Celia, would never hurt her, hopes that things will work out in San Francisco and she will go with him.

     Tarta goes shopping, sees a crib, checks his wallet.

     Maria gives Antonio some papers to sign. Antonio apologizes for his earlier behavior, reminds her that he gets upset when things don’t go as he had planned. He admits that he had expected her to say yes, says she is more beautiful than ever. She remains cool, tells him that she has work to do.

     Gus signs some kind of paper, gets two sets of keys.

     Maria confesses to Toni that she had coffee with Chepe. He grins, asks if she’s thought what his father would say. She tells him she said she went to the pharmacy. He asks her if she likes Chepe, if he is why she doesn’t want to marry Antonio. She starts to tell him that she has discovered things with Chepe.  He cuts her off, says that’s too much. Toni warns her that Chepe might be using her to go after Antonio.

     Nancy visits Gus in an apartment. He tells her he got this apartment for him and Vero, asks her to help him with Vero.

     Nightfall. Antonio enters his office, kisses Inés after telling Froilan on the cellphone to keep an eye on “her”. Antonio tells Inés that the love of the two is almost over. Vero has decided to separate from Gus for a while. Antonio tells Inés that Vero might accept the child, but right now she is very hurt and anything could tip the balance. Froilan calls him, says that Maria has left the house. Antonio tells him to follow her. Then he gives Inés an envelope and a kiss. It is full of money, part of the inheritance he stole from her. She tells him she said she didn’t want it, but she takes it after he leaves.

     Nancy is late to a meeting. Esteban demands to know where she was. Nancy says that she apologized, it was a personal matter. Esteban tells them there is a big shipment to L.A., that the DEA doesn’t want to participate (thinks there is a spy inside). He says that there is an agreement between the governments that they can work in the U.S., but without their support. He says he needs volunteers, says it will be for several days. Vero says she will consdier it.

     Maria enters a restaurant, gets a call from Chepe who says that he doesn’t want to take any risks, tells her to buy a movie ticket. Froilan follows her.

     Mateo tells Celia he is afraid. Celia admits that she feels the same way. But they need to follow Nena’s example. Mateo tells her that Carlos has been wonderful, doesn’t want to interfere in her life, but he is a good man. She says she understands, thanks him. Then Francisca and Gus walk in with her reprimanding him. Gus tells her, with all due respect, that he has his own feelings which she should respect. Francisca becomes angry. Gus says he is tired, learns they are leaving the next day.

     Inés visits Anselmo, tells him that her life is a disaster, wishes that she were dead. He reminds her that she has a strong reason for living, would she like to talk about the child she is expecting? She tells him she feels as if the whole world thinks she is trying to hurt Gus and that isn’t true. He tells her she has always been strong. Inés tells him she knows that Gus doesn’t love her, but she can’t accept it, thinks at times that she would do anything to take him away from Vero. Anselmo asks her if she wants to confess. She says no, she has talked to God. She leaves him the envelope full of money, for the church.

     Tarta asks Mateo to loan him some money, promises to pay him back. Mateo asks Tarta why he doesn’t ask Gus for an advance. Tarta explains that it is for a crib. Mateo gives him the money but warns him not to involve himself too much with the baby, doesn’t want to see him get hurt. Tarta tells him not to worry.

     Antonio asks Refugio why she thinks Maria doesn’t want to marry him. Refugio tells him he is dumb, Maria is thinking about another man.

     Maria buys a ticket, goes into the theatre. Chepe meets her, takes her hand and asks her to go with him.Outside, Froilan calls Antonio, says that Maria went into the movie alone. Antonio tells him to wait there until she comes out.

     Nancy takes Vero someplace. There are no lights. She makes an excuse to leave for a moment. Vero walks around, sees more candles and finds Gus waiting for her. He asks her to give him one more chance, tells her that he loves her.

USA, 10/13-17/03:

 

    sorta summary for Friday 10/17/03 and a partial response  Author: B. (---) Date:   10-18-03 01:55 PDT

    to partially answer your question: based on a brief conversation she had today with Father Anselmo, i think Mom is starting to have some serious doubts about CAMB. unfortunately, they were interrupted before she could really expand upon this theme.

    as for a summary, lessee... what i remember from today, and probably pretty wildly out of order. and i'm sure i'm missing a thing or three here and there, but, well, here goes...

    fairly haphazard summary, Friday 17 October 2003:

    *DD meets with FBBG and insists FBBG kill Chepe. FBBG is somewhat dubious about DD's sudden interest in a truce after everything that's happened between them recently, and also wants to kow why DD can't take care of it himself. DD replies that he can't do it because under the current circumstances (the investigation), he would be the first to be suspected -- that's why he wants FBBG to do it for him. DD seriously swears, on his honor, that he will promise him anything --FBBG's safety, the safety of Jailbait, whatever-- provided FBBG does this for him. at FBBG's insistence, DD swears it and they seal the deal by slashing their palms before shaking on it, blood brothers ("the old way," says FBBG). afterward, DD goes home to his house in a total state and completely trashes his study in frustration, rage, jealousy, and possibly --possibly!-- even a touch of actual heartbreak. Mummy María has another guy!! (Repulsiva was right!!) he can't believe he was so blind!! he keeps ranting that Chepe won't dare go near MM ever again, but Brie (f/k/a Junior) is frankly dubious and we can see that at least some of DD's rage is because he knows Brie is right and he is wrong, since there is nothing to stop Chepe from approaching MM (well, nothing until he gets killed, of course). after DD's calmed down some, he tells Brie that he needs him to kill someone for him. but this will be the hardest kind of assassination, he warns Brie. he's going to have to kill someone he knows: Repulsiva. DD says he just can't take her any more and she's outlived her usefulness.

    *FBBG, after going home and thinking about it, goes to see Father Anselmo at his church. he's carrying a big metal briefcase. he's awkward, and uncomfortable, but as respectful as his nature will let him be. he tells FA that although he doesn't believe in God, FA is the only person who not only helped Jailbait, but who had no ulterior motives for doing so. Jailbait cannot stay in rehab forever, he tells FA, but even though it'll only be six weeks until she gets out, it's possible he (FBBG) won't be around to see it. if that is the case, Jailbait will be all alone in the world -- her mother is a completely useless tramp who doesn't give a rat's ass about Jailbait. FBBG admits that he knows he's not a good father, but he loves his daughter. he gives FA the briefcase and asks FA to give it to her if his fears are realized and he isn't around when Jailbait's time in rehab is up. he opens the briefcase to show FA it's full of money. before FA can say anything or protest, FBBG turns and walks out. (i've said it before and i'll say it again: the compare/contrast between FBBG's genuine, if often mishandled love for his daughter and DD's almost pure self-interest-only dealings with Tony the Ex-Brat is just so stark. FBBG may not have much of a clue about how to be a father, but at least he does carer about Jailbait's well-being; when the chips are down and she really really needs him, FBBG is willing to suck it up and do what needs to be done, if perhaps in his own rather arbitrary way. DD, on the other hand, has several times shown himself to be completely willing to abandon his own kid at the first sign of trouble.)

    *rodeo. Chepe turns up after the shootout is over and is so rattled from his encounter with DD and Mummy María that he totally forgets all the rules about his staying behind the scenes. he displaces some of his own frustration by trying to yell at Gus for not following FBBG when he went to meet "Escorpión" but instead, because of Vero, choosing to follow the gunmen back into the club. Gus basically tells Chepe to stuff it, points out that he saved Vero's life (which he did), and stalks off. someone on the O-Team (i forget who) bawls Chepe out for his exposing himself so unprofessionally. meanwhile, Vero/"Erica", EeBI/"Bodyguard", Marcela the Undercover Hussy, and her Skanky Narco Mark/"Boyfriend" all escape and go to some big ol' mansion that i think, based on subsequent comments, Vero/"Erica" says is some safe house of her Deceased Narco Supposed Hubby's. there they continue to discuss the deal they're going to do for the drugs SNM/"B" wants to unload at cost. eventually they come to some sort of an agreement and Vero/"Erica" and EeBI/"Bodyguard" and their "goons" leave, saying they'll be back in the morning to finalize things. they offer to give MtUH a ride home or something but she seems to be totally getting into her undercover role and so turns down this perfectly innocuous chance to safely leave, saying she'd rather stay with SNM/"B." she snorts coke right in front of them while they're doing the deal (and i think i remember seeing her do that last night at the club, too), and when Vero and EeBI return the next morning to finalize the deal with SNM/"B," MtUH is dressed in only a long t-shirt. SNM/"B" tells Vero/"Erica" and EeBI/"Bodyguard", in so many words, that he and MtUH had sex in just about every room of the place, and MtUH looks pretty pleased about it. Vero manages to get MtUH alone and expresses her concern. MtP gets a little bit huffy and insists she knows her limits; Vero tells her she's not so sure about that any more.

    *Tony the Ex-Brat gets MM to tell him what happened and is shocked when he hears that DD actually hit her. but then he tells MM that even though he knows he owes Chepe a debt of gratitude, he really worries about Chepe's motives in approaching MM now. he seems to be convinced that Chepe is doing it all as another way to try to get at DD, and it's particularly slimy since it's using MM to do it. his friend comes over to pick TtE-B up so they can go out to work, but TtE-B says he's not going because MM is upset.

    *Chepe goes back to the office, has a chat with Nancy during which he pretty much admits he's off his game. he's in love with MM, but he totally mishandled things that evening and put MM in a very bad situation. and he threw down with DD. he tells Nancy to cover for him -- he has to go see MM and make sure she's ok after everything that's happened.

    *Gus goes to meet with FBBG and tries to convince him to tell him who "Escorpión" is by pointing out how terribly suspicious it is that no sooner does FBBG get a phone call that confirms he's at the rodeo, than all these armed gunmen turn up and start shooting. but FBBG knows he's temporarily got the upper hand with "Escorpión" right now and he calmly insists the shootout was not an attempt by "Escorpión" to kill him. and he still won't tell Gus who "Escorpión" really is.

    *SO turns up (this was what interrupted Mom's conversation with FA about CAMB), and tells Mom he has to leave for San Francisco in a few days on restaurant business, and he really wants Mom to come with him. Mom is pretty pleased at the invitiation.

    *Auntie Ditz and MatAAo are sightseeing in Chicago as they still have three hours before their appointment with SO's friend the doctor and they're trying to distract themselves.

    *Chepe shows up at MM's to talk to her. TtEB tries to tell him to leave MM alone, but MM comes out and tells TtEB she needs to speak with Chepe. once they're alone together, he apologizes for exposing her to such a nasty situation with DD, and that he loves her. she tells Chepe that she doesn't really know what she feels, but this had made her realize there is something that she should have done a long time ago. Chepe and we all realize she's referring to confronting DD. Chepe begs her to let him come with her when she sees DD, to protect her, but she insists she has to do it by herself. unhappily, Chepe agrees.

    *TtEB goes off to work, but he's still upset about MM. some guy offers him a joint. later we see that he accepted it and took it and a couple of pills home with him. the next morning, when he realizes he's alone in the house, he takes them out and looks at them consideringly.

    *Vero calls Gus and thanks him for saving her life, but then hangs up without letting him engage her in conversation. Gus has been doing a lot of work on his computer (maybe trying to break the code on the old Narco tapes?). now that he has the Swanky Penthouse, he's no longer sleeping at Mom's. but the next morning after he's had some coffee and the too-brief call from Vero, he does head over to Mom's, presumably to check in or something. before he gets to the front door, however, CAMB detains him by getting out of her car. she's still wearing the same clothes she had on yesterday when she ranted at Mom that she was Gus' REAL mujer and not Vero, and her makeup's a bit smeared. Gus is shocked when she confirms that she spent the night in her car waiting for him to come back (but fortunately he seems to have had enough sense not to tell her he's got a new place now -- let's hope he keeps that sense!). she comments bitterly that he didn't come home to sleep, then tells him she's come to say good-bye. after this he's never going to see her again. ahhhh, if only....

    *Repulsiva (mostly), aided sortof by DD and Brie, has been trying to tidy up DD's wrecked study when the doorbell rings. DD snaps at Repulsiva to get the door. of course, it's MM, who comes in over Repulsiva's vehement protests.

    in the promos, we see MM facing DD down and telling him she's come to do what she should have done a long time ago: break up with him. DD belts her across the face.

 

USA, 10/20-24/03:

 

          10/24/03 - ULTIMOS CAPITULOS

     The limo stops, Froilan calls Antonio, tells him Chepe is dead, they are arranging the bank accounts. Antonio tells Froilan to use his ingenuity, wants Chepe’s reputation dirtied beyond repair. Antonio starts to get out of the car, recognizes Vero before she recognizes him, gets back in the limo and leaves. Vero is left alone, with her gun in her hand. 

     Gus tries to convince Ramiro that he can’t count on him if he is going to keep doing stupid things like this. He goes to the bar where Mateo is reading the paper.  Gus says it will be hard to go on without Chepe, hasn’t been able to talk to Vero who is bound to be destroyed. Chepe was like a second father. Mateo tells Gus the murder was a declaration of war and he is in it up to his neck. Mateo tells him to give up his revenge, take Vero and go away. Gus says that’s what he most wants, but what about Inés, his child. Mateo tells him that he’s no good to anybody if he is dead. Mateo tells Gus that Chepe can’t protect him. Gus says he never could. Gus tells Mateo that he appreciates his concern, especially because of Nena - which makes Mateo sad. He tells Gus he doesn’t know if he can be what Nena needs, wants. He can’t stand to see anybody he loves suffer. He’s afraid of failing. Gus tells him he won’t, he loves her. Mateo says “more than my life”.

     Ezequiel calls Esteban, says the gringos are thrilled, gives his regards to the woman, says he is having a good time with his woman.

     The blonde guy, Charles, barges in on Inés again. She tells him to leave before she hits him. He calls Antonio to complain about Inés. He tells him to leave her alone, has to talk with him in the bar. Charles leaves, joins Antonio in the bar. Antonio says nobody is to touch her, she is a cop, but they can use her. Charles starts to call to order her murder. Antonio takes the phone. Charles tells him this is his territory. Antonio tells him he reached an agreement with his bosses. Charles agrees, says he needs an explanation. Antonio tells him he will take care of matters, says that he wants the woman for himself, period. Antonio tells Charles that she can be useful. Antonio asks Charles to put a present in her room.

     Nena tells Celia about the surgery, says that Rafael treated them well. Celia suggests that she and Mateo move in after the surgery until the baby is born. Celia says she doesn’t want to bother her. Celia tells her they are sisters. Nena starts to remind her of the past. Celia tells her that was the past. All that matters now is her recovery. Nena says she won’t be able to feed the baby. Celia reminds her that she couldn’t feed Gus. It was sad, but there are lots of ways to show one’s love. Nena tells her that she is terrified of the surgery. Nena tells Celia she is afraid that Mateo will no longer love her, want to make love with her. She doesn’t want his pity.

     Chino tells Nancy that Esteban and Vero are ok. Nancy doesn’t know what will happen, especially the situation of Gus with Ramiro.

     Vero tells Esteban that just as he was getting out of the car, he got back in and went off. She is sure it was Scorpion. She feels stupid for letting him get away. Vero wonders if he recognized her. Esteban says she would be dead if that were true. Moreover, she doesn’t know it was Soorpion. He asks her what Chepe would say. Each time they get closer.  Esteban tells her to rest. They have one more meeting with Ezequiel’s people. HE hugs her.

     Antonio goes to Inés room and she demands to know what he thinks she is, an object to be handed around. He tells her to pack, they are leaving. She wants an explanation. He grabs her, tells her that she is there with him, to do what he wants, with whom he wants. She tells him he is the most terrible man she has ever known. He tells her to be packed in 15 minutes or he will leave her here.

     Maria asks Anselmo if he knows any more, if Antonio could order the murder. Anselmo doesn’t answer. Maria tells him that Antonio called from L.A. to offer his sympathy. She asks Anselmo if she is crazy. The last time they spoke, Antonio was very understanding, but, and she rambles on and on. Anselmo holds her to calm her down. She tells him that Toni is with Claudia, explains.

     Toni and Claudia go back to the clinic. He promises he will wait for her. She reminds him that she didn’t wait for him when he was in jail. The doctor appears. Claudia hugs Toni.

     Dr. Leyva receives an envelope. It contains a threat: publish the contents to pay for the lives of his wife and daughter. IT is documentation calling Chepe a narco. Leyva calls the paper, tells them to stop the presses, has an important article about Chepe.

     Gus and Mateo walk in on Celia and Nena. She offers Gus her sympathy re Chepe.  Nena leaves with Mateo. Gus tells Celia his aunt is wonderful. Celia asks about Vero, tells Gus not to let Inés separate them.

     The nesxt morning Nancy and Chino read the paper. Gus and his family read the papers, too. He says they are lies. Celia says maybe he wasn’t what he seemed. Francisca says it is the truth. Nena tells him all the papers say the same thing. Mateo says it was all planned. Francisca says all cops are pigs. Inés walks in. Gus asks where she was. Inés says she has to talk to him, isn’t well. She tells him that there is something important he must know about their child.

     Claudia wakes up in the clinic, sees Toni asleep in a chair.

     Antonio tells Froilan that if he hadn’t called him, Vero might have seen him - all Chepe’s fault, even after death. But Antonio is pleased with the papers, congratulates Froilan. Antonio says it is wonderful how people believe everything they read, can change their minds over night. Anselmo barges in. After Froilan leaves, Antonio asks Anselmo if he wants him to say he killed Chepe the way he told him about Domingo.

     Vero finds a tape and flowers on her hotel bed. Antonio, in a heavily disguised voice on the tape, says that he is Scorpion, apologizes for standing her up, says that she is a beautiful woman. He tells her she probably knows that they killed a supposed enemy of theirs in Mexico. He was, in reality, working for him. He congratulates her.

 

[USA, 10/24/03] Tape recorded message for Vero Author: Rachelle (---) Date:   10-26-03 21:45 PST  I had trouble understanding the tape recorded message from Escorpion to Vero at the end of the episode. Could someone please tell me basically what he said?   Re: Tape recorded message for Vero Author: B. (---) Date:   10-26-03 22:08 PST  he apologized for standing her up. but more importantly, he gloated that Chepe was one of his guys and how Chepe was so good at being a double agent that no-one even suspected.   About that "recorded" message... Author: Liza~ (---) Date:   10-26-03 22:25 PST  U would think that w/all the technology around someone would get the bright idea to "dig" into the recording to see if they can get a clearer voice since they already know that the voice is muffled....too bad, though, since the most likely one to do that sorta stuff would be what's her name that is staked out w/the drug dealer.....anyway, surely someone could think about doing something like that....ok, so I'm asking too much....:o)  Liza   LOL I had similar thoughts, only... Author: Robin N (---) Date:   10-27-03 06:48 PST  DD would probably have "disguised" his normal voice too! Of course, the sound waves and vocal inflections of even a disguised voice can be matched up with a normal voice, the only problem is that they would have to have a tape of that voice for comparison purposes.  My question is, was Vero's look one of disgust at the slandering of Chepe, or was she horrified to learn that it was a possibility?  Her real name Author: g (---) Date:   10-27-03 10:32 PST  Did anyone notice that he called her Veronica, not Teresa or whatever her "Viuda Reina" name is supposed to be. However the rest of the recording didn't really seem to imply that he knew she was a cop (or did I miss something?)  As for her look I think she is considering the possibility that Chepe was corrupt- I can see her and Gus arguing over this.  i thought he said “Viuda Reina,” not “Verónica...” Author: B. (---) Date:   10-27-03 10:58 PST  i'll go back and check my tape again, but given she's sooooo wound up about the meeting and missing him and so on, if the voice on the tape HAD called her by her real name, i really doubt she would have missed it.  and anyway, that sort of thing is hardly the kind of mistake that DD would make on something he's pre-planned (maybe something done in the heat of the moment, but this would not be one of those things...).  Pretty sure I heard "Veronica" and that it was on purpose Author: Nancy (---) Date:   10-27-03 11:52 PST  I thought Escorpion had used her name on purpose to prove that Chepe was working for him ... i.e. to show her Chepe was informing the narcos about their operations and that's how Escorpion knew she was working undercover.   I hadn't thought of that Author: g (---) Date:   10-27-03 12:33 PST  I don't think it was a mis-hearing because I went back and watched it with closed captions. I didn't really think it was a mistake, really, as DD seemed pretty rational and he usually only makes mistakes when he is upset.  so the closed-captions definitely said “Verónica”...? Author: B. (---) Date:   10-27-03 12:50 PST  my TV model is a year too old to be able to get them, and i was pretty tired when i watched my tape.   Yes, but Author: g (---) Date:   10-27-03 14:37 PST  They aren't always correct themselves, at least in the wording, so who knows. Maybe it will become clear later on.  I think we deserve to be in the Brigada! Author: Robin N (pc) (---) Date:   10-27-03 12:53 PST  Wow! Fine detective work here!  You know, every time I see someone post (in other forums) about how this novela doesn't have the storylines, yadda yadda yadda, I look at the nuanced details that show up, like this and just think they don't know what they're talking about!  Chepe and Antonio Author: Sonia... (---) Date:   10-28-03 07:51 PST  Now that would make sense, that he would know everything if Chepe had told him...like Esteban told VEronica, Chepe had shown them to distrust everyone or is it ...inocent til proven guilty? but here Chepe is as guilty as sin, according to everyone...but that is weird that they would put all that information in the papers, without getting the stuff supposedly found in his home? Veronica knows something is up and goes to talk to the newspaper fellow, the ones his family had gotten kidnapped that time before...like he is going to tell them about antonio or escorpion telling him that they would kill his family or himself...if he said anything ....cant wait to find out what happens, how everything gets untangle here..if Inez would mention to gustavo or veronica that she was in L.A. with Antonio, maybe veronica would put two and two together? or her good daughter ...my dad doesnt do anything bad ever would come up and blind her??? Cant wait to find out what happens, and since you guys are putting all the details for our friend who is going to be in mexico for a few weeks, I will be able to read that also, since my daughter is getting married, and will miss it on Friday...and like what happens when you watch a good novela, usually the good things happen when you dont watch it...right???

          he doesn't say “Verónica,” he DOES say “Viuda Reina.” and no matter how much... Author: B. (---) Date:   10-27-03 22:47 PST  ...earlier arguments make sense for his saying "Verónica" (to further confirm that Chepe was a traitor to the O-Team), in the context of the whole tape --where he does NOT reveal that he knows her for an undercover cop but instead continues the game by acting as if he believes she's who she's pretending to be-- it makes sense he would not call her Verónica. i listened to my tape multiple times, and he definitely says "Viuda Reina." as further support for my view, i will point out that had "Escorpión" said "Verónica," either Vero or EeBI (if not both of them!) would certainly have commented on it and discussed what to do about things now that their cover has been blown, since there would be every reason to suspect that "Escorpión" would not hesitate to warn his underlings and American confederates (if not Vero panicing over what she should do to protect herself and the mission, then EeBI over what they should do to protect Vero).  but in fact, i think this is a case of DD's once again overthinking and thus overplaying his hand, while at the same time underthinking everything because he was doing it on the fly. on the one hand, he wants to punish Vero for not really being who she was supposed to be and therefore denying him the night of pleasure he had so carefully set up and was so greedily anticipating, and he wants to smirch Chepe's name to Vero, because at one time she actually seemed to believe more in Chepe than in him. so he sends her the tape out of spite and on it names Chepe as "Escorpión's" top double agent. but on the other hand, if he reveals that "Escorpión" knows who Vero is --which he would do if Chepe really WERE his top spy-- then she'd almost immediately wonder why he didn't immediately take steps to deal with her (after all, he's already nearly killed her at least once!). in other words, DD's gut reaction --to kick and hurt back-- caused him to, once again, leave a gaping hole in the rationale of his whole game (now, whether that is going to occur to anyone who hears the tape is another story, alas...! and another thing strikes me as typical of DD indulging in his typical overkill: when, if ever, will it occur to someone to start questioning how, within the space of less than 24 hours and well BEFORE the police found the "proof" of Chepe's "guilt," did the news media manage to have all this information about Chepe's being crooked?? but that's a whole 'nother theme, i guess...). 

        anyway, for anyone who's interested, i herewith reproduce the text of the tape (as you'll see, there was only one word/phrase i couldn't make out):  "Hola Viuda Reina. Advina quién habla... Soy Escorpión. Primero quiero pedirte disculpas por haberte dejado plantada. Dirás que no soy un caballero pero tuve asuntos más importantes. Quiero comunicarte primero que nada que le haces honor a tu fama: Eres una mujer hermosísima. Y seguro que tendremos oportunidad de vernos de nuevo. Seguro que ya te enteraste de que asasinaron en México un supuesto enimgo nuestro, una muerte que a ti debe haberte dado muchísimo gusto: la del Comandante José Salvador Martínez. Debo confesarte que el [unintelligible] difunto era mi socio. Mejor dicho: Empleado de confianza y me cubrió las espaldas. Es una lastima que se haya muerto, porque era bastante eficaz en su papel de doble agente. Núnca nadie sospechó que José Salvador Martínez trabajaba para mí." (laughs a little bit, but because of the distortion it's hard to tell if it's sardonic, rueful, or amused. but on the whole, i'm inclined to think it is meant in typical DD/ironic fashion, especially given the finale:) "¿No me felicitas?"  (translation: Hello, Widow Queen. Guess who's speaking... I am Escorpión. First I would like to apologize to you for standing you up. You would say I'm not a gentleman, but I had more important matters [to deal with]. Before anything else, I would like to tell you that you do honor to your reputation: You are an extremely beautiful woman. And we will certainly have another chance to see each other. By now you have surely heard that a supposed enemy of ours was assassinated in Mexico -- a death which must certainly have given you a great deal of pleasure: that of Commandant José Salvador Martínez. I have to confess to you that the [unintelligible] dead man was my associate. Or better put, he was a trusted employee and covered my back. It's a shame he has died because he was very effective in his rôle as a double agent. Nobody ever suspected that José Salvador Martínez worked for me. Don't you congratulate me?)  now substitute "Verónica" for "Viuda Reina." the rest of the message simply doesn't make as much sense.   I figured out what happened Author: g (---) Date:   10-28-03 09:48 PST  The CC people just messed up- I re-looked at Friday's tape and the CC definately says Veronica, but the CC from the repeat of that scene on yesterday's show says Viuda Reina (and you can tell if you listen). And here I thought reading them would help clear up if i'm not sure what I heard....

 

USA, 10/27-31/03:

 

 

[USA, 10/27/03 - part] Chepes house  Author: Sonia... (---)  Date:   10-28-03 07:44 PST

    One guard put the things in one of the drawers, then called the other guard who was supposed to be searching, trashing the place and told him to open the drawer since it seemed to be stucked, there were papers from homes, money somewhere else, a pack ofsome drugs, and some other stuff...he took it to the president who is very upset...you did not missed much..Antonio tells Maria that he is very upset because she would rather believe Chepe than himself, and she left crying, and ended up in church telling the priest that she felt bad for being like that to Antonio (who is supposed to be godlike...) they showed the priest with Antonio who told the priest that he is supposed to safe him from even himself..and was not doing a very good job...that he had nothing to do with Chepes death...of course not, he did not killed him, was supposed to be his partner in crime...and they showed Nenena talking about her baby, and telling Celia that Inez was not a bad person just a little confused.. we see tears in Inez eyes after this, and she goes for a walk...then she meets with nenena to talk about babies and pregnancy....Gustavo tells his garage friends to stay away because he was worried about things happening to them, and they said they would stick to him in thick and thin, and would keep an eye on his home and family...when he told them if something happened to him to take care of his family, including INez...Tarta jumped sky high and said that Inez was his responsibility if something happened to Gus....

     My impression was that  Author: g (---) Date:   10-28-03 11:23 PST

    The cop guy who planted it (who was the leader of the group of cops) was doing it behind the backs of the other cops, but clearly on someone's orders. Whether it was direct from Escorpión, or though the Gov. secretary guy (who was acting way suspish) is unclear.

 

[USA, 10/28/03] once again... i need a summary of about 2 minutes in the middle of the show  Author: B. (---)

Date:   10-28-03 22:09 PST

    tonight the local Telemundo station again broke in with more fire coverage. this time it happened in mid-sentence right as the coroner was about to tell Nancy and EeBI who ordered him to summarily and illegally rush to cremate Chepe (and ok, i do know from subsequent conversations that it was supposedly done on order from El Presidente's office) and resumed in mid-sentence as the New Corrupt Government Secretary is telling DD that the O-Team is no longer the same brigade it used to be.

    so, did i actually miss anything to the point the way i did yesterday (one of the Korrupt Kops planting the evidence in Chepe's apartment)? someone please tell!!