SNIPPET: WHO IS THE FATHER?

Laura informs Alex and asks him to take a paternity test. Alex has his own plan, to blackmail her if it turned out he was the father. Tony prepares a tape for Mimi. Isabella takes over the running of Giacormo’s boutique until he’s better. Maximo, Mimi’s record producer leaves town with Mimi’s tracks; it turns out he’s a con man. Empetriz is really angry and is excited when Alex tells her about Laura’s pregnancy and the amount of money he’ll make if it turned out to be his child; she is warned not to tell anyone. Lorenzo has dinner with Isabella, not knowing that Isabella had hired a journalist to photo their date. Laura is told by Alcazar that the police are investigating the accident. He demands for his 30% share as he wants to leave the country, Laura accuses him of being a spineless coward but angrily gives him the check. Lorenzo checks on Isabella at the boutique, reminding her it was temporary until Giacormo comes back. Isabella criticizes Giacormo’s designs, but Lorenzo insists Giacormo will remain head designer. Mimi and Silvia come up with advertising ideas for her garments. Empetriz informs Mimi on what Maximo had done and drops a heavy hint to Silvia. Mimi listens to Tony’s tape.
Alone with Giacormo, Nattie slips her hand into his, tearfully asking for forgiveness for her unkindness towards him. He suddenly squeezes her hand and regains consciousness; asking her what had happened to him. Mimi is overjoyed at Tony’s recorded message; he’s now ready to take responsibility for their unborn child. Tony calls Mimi to tell her his father was now awake and apologized to her for his bad behavior towards her.
Alex informs Silvia on the good news, but she pushes him away, telling him not to touch her. Laura prays the baby is Lorenzo’s (nonsense, the last person you slept with was Orlando, who Lorenzo will kill D-E-A-D if and when he ever finds out). Nattie phones Lorenzo to inform him about Giacormo.
Silvia has a dream, where Lorenzo is kissing her passionately, but wakes up suddenly. Nattie asked her what was wrong but she tells her it was a nightmare. Nattie prepares to visit Giacormo. Laura receives the DNA tests.

SNIPPET: A SURPISING DEVELOPMENT

Orlando makes some investigations and told Isabella that the car that had knocked Giacormo down was found, abandoned and the police believe the drivers were hired men. Isabella insinuates that the accident could be linked with Giacormo’s decision to testify against Laura in court. Laura consults a doctor about her illness, who decides to run some tests. At the hospital, Silvia comforts Nattie who is still fretting over Giacormo’s condition, full of regret over their fight, refusing to go home at Lorenzo’s suggestion. He and Silvia exchange looks but do not speak to each other yet again. Isabella ‘accidently’ informs a shocked Tony that the accident had been planned and points out that Laura had a vendetta against his father. But when Tony voiced his suspicions about Laura being responsible for his popsie’s state Laura denied it, claiming that he was probably run down because he had refused testifying against her, insinuating Lorenzo or Orlando could be behind it. Mimi is scornful her statement about Giacormo being her best friend. Empetriz expresses her hope that Isabella and Alex will hook up, instead of him going back to ‘that stupid Silvia’ but Evil Isabella tells her to get that idea out of her head, Alex was in love with Silvia. Empertiz pointed out that if Alex and Silvia got back together, she’ll be able to get her claws into Lorenzo, whom she’s obviously in love with. Isabella coldly reminded her that she invested a lot of money in her clothing factory; therefore she should watch her mouth.
Orlando informs Lorenzo on what he’d found out before leaving. Nattie still refuses to go home and suddenly remembered Laura had called asking about Giacormo after he’d left the office. Conan finally convinces her to go home and rest. Lorenzo and Silvia look at each other as she left. Giacormo moves in his sleep while Tony is there, who begins to pray, with the promise that he’ll change.
In the morning, Silvia asks Conan to call Lysette to help her with an advertising idea. Tony treats Lorenzo coldly when he comes to the hospital, remembering what Laura had said. Laura is given shocking news by her doctor; she’s pregnant!

LA MUJER DE LORENZO IS BACK!

And thank God too, after being subjected to repeats from AIT and GALAXY for ages before it was replaced by the current Cuerpo Del Deseo. It’s now on MBI (at 8.30 pm on Tuesday to Friday) and a few things have happened since Lorenzo and Silvia’s breakup caused by that over made-up barracuda, Isabella, who had showed her a doctored photo of her and Lorenzo naked in bed. Silvia still refused to tell Lorenzo or anyone else why she decided to end the relationship, too full of pride. Her cousin Nattie, meanwhile, is devastated to find out her boyfriend, Giacormo, was gay.
For those who don’t know the whole story, it goes like this;
PLOT
Lorenzo is happily married to Laura. Or so he thinks. Laura is actually bored with her husband and has no plans of giving him the children he wants so badly. She then starts an affair with Alex, an opportunistic personal trainer and decides to divorce Lorenzo. But she remembered that if she did, she’ll lose any chance of acquiring half his estate, according to the pre-nuptial agreement. So she decided to make a way of Lorenzo to be the guilty party, by setting him up with the perfect woman.
First candidate was his personal secretary, Nattie but she was nursing a broken heart after her break up from Orlando, Lorenzo’s lawyer. At the same time, she didn’t want Isabella, Lorenzo’s vengeful old flame (and ex best friend) just returned from Europe to get her hands on him, so the final candidate was Alex’s own twinkle-eyed girlfriend, Silvia, a gym instructor several years younger than Lorenzo.
Laura constantly pushes them together, not realizing that Alex had been paid by Isabella to seduce her and break up the marriage. Silvia and Lorenzo, having a lot in common, become close friends meanwhile. Isabella sends Lorenzo photos  of  his wife in bed with Alex and he and Silvia are heartbroken at the deceit.
As the divorce proceedings begin, Lorenzo and Silvia give in to the attraction they’ve held back for so long, realizing they were in love after all. But evil Isabella has her own plans…

CHARACTERS
Lorenzo: Main character, Laura’s now ex husband, in love with Silvia
Laura: Lorenzo’s now ex wife
Evil Isabella: Lorenzo’s ex fiancée and current business partner, villainess of the story
Alex: Laura’s lover but the affair is now over
Silvia: Alex’s ex girlfriend, now in love with Lorenzo
Nattie: Silvia’s cousin & Lorenzo’s secretary
Conan: Silvia’s cousin and Nattie’s younger brother
Hercules: Silvia’s uncle, Nattie and Conan’s father and owner of the gym where Silvia instructs.
Empetriz: Hercules’ landlady, Alex’s mother and friend of Isabella’s late mother
Mimi: Alex’s younger sister and Conan’s best friend
Lysette: a model, Conan’s girlfriend
Orlando: Lorenzo’s lawyer, Nattie’s ex boyfriend
Giacormo: a fashion designer, Laura’s former best friend and Nattie’s current boyfriend
Tony: Giacormo’s son and father of Mimi’s unborn child
‘Horsy’ Gloria: Orlando’s former lover, Lorenzo’s personal assistant and Isabella’s Henchwoman/accomplice in her schemes.

SNIPPET: A CONSPIRACY….

Laura’s lawyer, Alcazar, succeeded in getting a huge settlement from Lorenzo by telling lies against him in court, although she had been the one to cheat on him with Alex, who is now trying to win Silvia back. Conan and Lysette on the other hand, have repaired their relationship, much to Mimi’s displeasure.
Out of anger and spite, Laura arranged with her lawyer to ‘take care of’ Giacormo, who completely knew of her affair with Alex and had threatened to testify against her (to pay her out for telling Tony about his homosexuality) but had a sudden change of heart and decided to end the operation as the time grew near, but it was far too late.
Giacormo showed up at the office to humbly apologize to Nattie, saying he didn’t want to lose her friendship but Nattie coldly told him to go away. After he left, she got a phone call from a frantic Laura, asking where Giacormo was. Laura managed to find him herself and called out to him but he turned his back on her angrily and got run over by the hired men. Before running away, she called an ambulance to the scene of the accident.
Nattie’s phone no. was found in his wallet at the hospital, so she was the first person who found out. Filled with fear for Giacormo’s life, Nattie sent Conan to find Tony.
Conan asked Mimi where he could find Tony; she and Empetriz were informed of the accident, the silly woman called Isabella to tell her about it.
At first Tony didn’t want to go with Conan (still feeling repulsed by his father) but his conscience got the better of him and followed him to the hospital where Lorenzo, Nattie, Silvia, Hercules, Alex, Empetriz and Mimi were already gathered. The doctor informed them that he was still unconscious. Evil Isabella showed up (merely to be with Lorenzo), glared at by Silvia. Nattie was so full of guilt over her last encounter with Giacormo, very afraid he’ll die. Empetriz criticizes her son’s solicitous behavior towards Silvia, wondering what he saw in her. Tony, who sat by his father’s side, begging his forgiveness for his behavior towards him. Laura is furious with Alcazar for not cancelling the order, but he shocks her by saying it would be in her best interest if Giacormo died. Alex confided in evil Isabella that he really didn’t care about Giacormo, but had merely used the accident to be around Silvia, whom he hopes will overlook his affair with Laura and reconcile with him. Evil Isabella informs him Laura had received half of Lorenzo’s estate, which interests him. Alcazar refuses to go with Laura to see Giacormo; Laura suddenly feels dizzy and decides to go to see a doctor. Although Lorenzo and Silvia didn’t speak to each other, the lingering looks they exchanged said it all; they missed each other very much. Nattie is frightened that Giacormo would die but Silvia urges her to be positive. Laura also appeared and exchanged unpleasantries with Evil Isabella. Tony arrives, insistent on seeing his Dad, who is unconscious. He begs him to forgive him for his bad behavior the past few days.

FUFILLING THE DREAM: BARACK OBAMA

Well, Well, Well, now for the first time in history, there is a black man representing the Democratic Party for the Presidential election- Senator Barack Obama, who defeated Senator Hilary Clinton (former First Lady) in the primaries. One thing, we have to remember is that he’s not just representing the democrats, he’s also representing the entire black race and for sure they’ll turn out en masse to pray he’ll win. And when he wins (Insha Allah), he would fulfill Martin Luther King’s ‘dream’ at long, long last.
This will come as a shock, but during the primaries’ battle, I sided with neither Obama nor Mrs. Clinton. Why, you may ask? For two reasons; as a black woman, I wanted a black man to finally emerge as the President of the U.S.A after years of oppression, racism and inequality but Mrs. Clinton could have become the first female President too, and show the male chauvinist pigs what she can do at the Oval Office. I’m black but also a woman, so I had no idea who to support. The second reason; I’m strictly anti racist, I don’t believe in taking sides with someone just because he/she has the same color of my skin, but because of how the person is within, that is most important. America was racially divided during the O.J Simpson murder trial, most of the African Americans were sure he was innocent.
Obama is now the democratic candidate for the presidential election (something I prayed will happen one day after watching HEAD OF STATE for the first time some years back, my brother never believed it would happen, just like he was sure there’ll never be a female African president, but look at President (Mrs.) Johnson of Liberia today) and I wish him best of luck in the election (which I hope will NOT end up being rigged) and pray there’ll be no more nasty stories or caricatures of him, I heard the story about the alleged photo of him in a website in full African dress, seemed like Mrs. Hilary played dirty as well as turning out to be a sore lose with the way she shunned him when he offered her the olive branch the day after she was defeated, but later so I heard, turned round and said she was behind him. Well, with that development, maybe he’ll choose her as his running mate.
PRAYERS AND BEST OF LUCK TO SENATOR OBAMA!

HAS ANYONE SEEN ''MISSION TO NO WHERE''?

I recently watched ‘MISSION TO NO WHERE’, which is with no doubt, the BEST Nollywood film I’ve watched in years and usually the only Naija films worth its salt in my own opinion are the ones directed by Amaka Igwe (FOREVER, VIOLATED, TO LIVE AGAIN, RATTLE SNAKE), Tade Ogidan (HOSTAGES, RAGING STORM, DAIMOND RING, OUT OF BOUNDS, DANGEROUS TWINS) and Tunde Kelani (O LE KU, TI OLUWA NI LE, THE CAMPUS QUEEN, ABENI, IRAPADA) and let me not forget a few exceptions like SITANDA, KEEPING FAITH and the unforgettable AMAZING GRACE directed by Jetta Amata , which starred British actor,
Nick Moran (LOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS).

Like AMAZING GRACE, MISSION TO NOWHERE was filmed in 35MM, directed by Teco Benson (DANGEROUS PROPOSAL 1 &2) who is a good director but I remember how his films’ plots dragged. But he did a very, very good job with ‘MISSION TO NOWHERE’; a very good plot, full of suspense, carefully researched, a dramatic twist in the end , plus a well themed soundtrack(not like the silly ones we are subjected to these days).

THE PLOT: A wealthy and well connected woman (Barbara Soky) is murdered in her study late one night and her body was later discovered by her daughter Pamela (Stephanie Okereke) on getting home from a party. The investigating officer is A.S.P Roger Williams (solemnly portrayed by Sam Dede) assisted by a very efficient partner(Yahseph
Ananaba) whose investigations lead to the discovery that the deceased had been a promiscuous woman and all evidence points to a tall man in a hat and black trench coat(seen leaving the scene of the crime) who turned out to be a gold digging lover she’d later dumped. After an important witness is killed, the trench coat guy was caught but though he admitted (under torture) he had killed the witness who had told the police who he was(the witness was the dead woman’s driver), he was innocent of Naomi’s murder. According to his story, he had gone to the house that night to kill Naomi for dumping him but she was already dead by the time he got there, so he’d turned tail and left.
The climax was the real culprit turning out to be the most unlikely suspect(personally, I thought Pamela had done it). For those who haven’t seen it, I WON’T tell who it was but I’ll tell you this; the viewers have to decide whether or not the person was justified in killing her or not. My Mum(who watched it with me that evening) said even if the person hadn’t done it, Naomi would still have met with a violent death from her jilted lover that night.
I’ve always loved Sam Dede’s acting but his time he surpassed himself- he reminded me of a less cold Daniel Craig(CASINO ROYALE), and Teco Benson deserves lots and lots of kudos for this FANTASTIC work. I STRONGLY endorse this movie, especially those who love detective stories. Congratulations Mr. BENSON!

A LITTLE TIT FOR TAT

Tonio acts coldly towards Raquel the next day, refusing to talk to her when she bids him good morning, to her distress. He confides in Oscar, angry she was still fooling around with Max after she’d told him she no longer loved him after discovering he’d lied to her and just when he was about to give her a present with all sincerity instead of obligation, like he’d been doing.

 Raquel finds her purse empty and accuses Martha of stealing her money, which she denied, the lying thief.





At the party, Maura openly flirts with Tonio, to Raquel’s disgust. Carla deliberately leads Raquel away to met some people, to give Maura a chance to be with Tonio alone. Max forcibly insists she leaves with him but, reluctant, she goes off to find Tonio and sees him talking with Maura. Jealous and hurt, she finally leaves with Max and a reluctant Martha. Tonio soon notices Raquel is missing and goes home but she isn’t there, nor her family. The guards tell him Max had left with a suitcase and much later Don Daniel with a small bag. Raquel and Martha’s things were still in their closets.
The four fugitives are at a hotel in Mexico City. Raquel and Martha quarrel when the former insisted Tonio only wanted her around to bother Max, then later sleep with her.

In disgust at her sister’s greed, Raquel leaves to have a bath. Martha in the meantime, calls Information for Tonio’s phone number...

Raquel confesses

Tonio and Raquel forge a  tentative friendship as the days go by during their trip, Raquel telling him stories about her youth and wanted Tonio to do the same, but Tonio was more inteterested in knowing more about her. Back in Acapulco, Maura persuades a broody/nervous Max to seduce Raquel away from Tonio when they return. Tonio gives Raquel money to go shopping, (in spite of her protests) and goes to the apartment building she had described and the manger confirms there had been an Antonio Lombardo living there months back, but went on business trips often.

Don Daniel is invited back to stay with them for a while and is put up in one of the guest bungalows Seriously, Money is good o!
Tonio assures a relieved Victoria that he and Raquel have ‘made up'. Camilla and Maura notice Raquel leading her father to the bungalow; Camilla makes a derogatory remark about it to Victoria, overhead by Raquel who brushes past Tonio in tears.

 Tonio forcibly takes his sister upstairs and forces her to apologise to his wife, which she sulkily does. Considering how she and that loser husband of hers is so reliant on Tonio, that bitch needed to keep her trap shut more often. 

 Martha is delighted to see her father, finding him breathing the fresh air on the beach.

Tonio tells Oscar, his father’s old friend and family doctor that he  initially thought Daniel had been the one to make Raquel do what she was doing but found him to be a sentimental and humble man.

Evil Max angrily asked Raquel what Tonio had done in Guadalajara  and if he did some investigating, when he finds her alone in the room. She said she didn’t know if he he did; Tonio's reason for the trip had been for business, at least that's what he told her.  She is furious when Max  demanded to know if she slept with  Tonio.  She asked what right did he have to ask her such a question, but he doesn't back down. 

 ‘What if I did? He’s a thousand times better than you!’ Then why haven't you told Tonio the truth yet, girl? 

Max threatened to tell Tonio everything and damn the consequences if she dared go to bed with him- actually pointing a finger at her in a ridiculously childish manner-  and is furious to see Daniel walk in. Tonio sees Max and Raquel leave the room to talk in private, he allows Daniel to entertain him and Martha with anecdotes. Max swears to Raquel that he hadn’t caused Tonio’s accident but she still doesn’t believe him.

The family go in to dinner as Raquel comes in, alone. She shyly shows off the fabulous long dress she has on to Tonio, asking if he liked it, feeling ashamed for spending all the money he’d given her but he assures her it was okay and the dress was pretty. He notices Max entering, then grabs a surprised Raquel and kisses her, to Max’s fury and refuses to join them for dinner. Later on, Max again tries to convince Raquel and Martha to leave Acapulco with him but Raquel refuses and stormed back into the house with Max and Martha close behind; Tonio is still in the room and barked: ‘who is chasing who?’

Raquel nervously said she was going to bed, Tonio ordered both girls to bed, but makes Max stay behind and confronts him finally. Max denies everything and called him crazy, then in a moment of intense anger when Tonio grabs hold of him and accused him of trying to kill him shouted, ‘I wish I did! Nothing could make me happier than to see you dead!’ 

WOW... talking about letting your mouth run off in the heat of the moment!

Mummy Victoria suddenly appears and is told but Max still angrily said Tonio was insane and goes upstairs. Tonio consoles Victoria then goes upstairs to Raquel’s room, guessing correctly that Max had been there earlier to warn her, probing her with questions, in particular if she and Max knew each other before.  Feeling pressured, Raquel ran out of the room, with Tonio chasing her, catching up with her in the living room, demanding to know what she was hiding. Bursting into tears, Raquel finally cracks  and told him Max had introduced himself as Antonio Lombardo when they met.  Consoling her, Tonio led her to his study, where Raquel told him the whole story; adding what she found out after Max came to her room after the memorial service and why she had left the following morning, Max coming to fetch her back after threatening her again. 

Tonio asked her if Max still loved her. Raquel replied he said so, but she didn't believe him, no man in love would do what he did. When asked if she still loved Max, she tearfully shook her head, her love for him was gone forever. 

Tonio then asked if she and Max had slept together, (as if it was any of his business). Raquel murmured no and Tonio sharply asked her to look at him. Raquel faced him and said no again, firmly this time. 

She pleaded with him not to send her or her family to jail, or at least let her take the whole blame for the lies. Tonio consoled her, urged her not to tell anyone about their conversation and sent her to bed. As the door closed behind her, Tonio's face wore a pensive look. 

The following morning,  Victoria suggests Max should go on an extended vacation.

 Maura’s younger sister, Carla, pays a visit to the house, curious to see how Tonio’s wife looked like and is introduced to Martha and Daniel. She invites Raquel to a party Maura is throwing, showing scorn when Raquel said she would have to ask Tonio first.

Carla urged her to come as she didn’t need her husband’s permission all the time. Martha and Daniel leave with Carla who gives them a lift to town. Max angrily grabs Raquel to find out what had happened the previous night but  Mummy Victoria comes in, giving her a chance to escape. 

Max sulkily  said he only wanted Raquel to go on a boat ride with him; Victoria scolded  him for asking Raquel of all people,  Tonio’s wife, such a thing. Tonio makes more inquiries, with Pablo’s help.

Mummy Victoria and Raquel talk about Tonio and Max; she advises her to ignore Max if he bothered her again. Easier said than done, Vicky.

Tonio returns from work and takes Raquel to the study to confab on the next line of action, Raquel tells Tonio Max asked her to run away with him, after Tonio tells her Max requested money to go on a long vacation.  Raquel nods resignedly when Tonio pointed out that while she was coerced, what she did, not telling him or Victoria immediately, was a punishable crime, but still hopes Tonio will not send her and her family to prison. She wanted to go home and leave the damned incident behind.

  Max comes in with some papers and asks where Tonio was. Victoria gets angry when he also asks her about Raquel, ‘why are you always asking about her?’ she demands. Max marched to the study, ignoring his mother's protests.

Max interrupts their discussion, for Tonio to sign a check. Raquel feels like a pawn between them after Tonio asks her to say goodbye to Max. She warns Tonio she won’t let him take advantage of her, as she was not like Maura or any of his other lovers, which makes him wonder if she was jealous.
Max annoys Raquel during lunch, which makes her leave the table in anger but Tonio follows her up to console her and takes her out to dinner again, where he admits he was sexually attracted to her but at the same time liked and respected her enough NOT to take advantage of her like she feared. Max and Maura come up with a plan.

Tonio and Raquel return home hand in hand and warmly bid each other goodnight, after Tonio told her someone was coming over the next day to bring her a dress for Maura's party; one for Martha as well.
 To Raquel’s horror, Max enters her room through the open French windows and manipulates her not to trust Tonio (not realising she had told on him).

In his study, Tonio opens a box and brings out a fabulous sparkling  diamond bracelet from a box. From the goofy smile on his face, we guess he's thinking about the beautiful lady he just left. Is this love already, Tonio? 

 Eagerly, he goes upstairs to present it to Raquel, but alas, sees Max leaving her room!