SNIPPET: HERCULES' SECRET

Silvia is shocked at Lorenzo’s news but he reminded her it was what she had wanted. She painfully agreed, congratulated him and listened to his proposal about her and other small clothing factories she knew in the area subcontracting the order he’d been given, he didn’t have enough labour and she would be well paid. Silvia liked the sound of it, especially as she would be co-coordinating the whole operation.
After a lot of pressure, Hercules finally admitted that the letter had been written and sent by Silvia’s father. He had known him because he’d been the one who introduced him to Silvia’s momsie in the first place. He had denied it because he wanted to protect Silvia from her father; the man had fled Mexico because he had been involved in illicit dealings and went to live in Venezuela and dealt in precious stones. He had no idea what he was doing with his own now. Nattie and Conan asked why he had lied, and he told them that on her death bed, Mechita had made him swear an oath he’ll always look after Silvia and must never tell her about her father, not ever. But Nattie doesn’t agree, Silvia is unhappy because she doesn’t know who her father is, his name or how he even looks like. But Hercules insists it was better if Silvia remained ignorant of the whole thing and was determined to keep his promise to Mechita.
Gloria gives Orlando the documents sent by the bank, he remarks Laura won’t be pleased to hear the house is to be mortgaged before asking her why she had asked him that strange question the other day- Gloria told him about the cop that came to see Isabella.
Silvia told Lorenzo she’ll have to talk to E.P and consult other people in the area, to see if they would be willing to take on the project; Lorenzo asked her to give him feedback as soon as possible. Silvia looks uncomfortable when he talks over the phone with Laura, wanted to know if he’ll be home for lunch. As he’s reluctantly about to take his leave, he obviously wants to kiss her but she sits down, preventing him.
Nattie doesn’t agree about keeping such an important secret from Silvia but Conan insists it was their duty to keep their promise they’d made to their father. Alex comes up wanting to know what they were talking about, but was coldly told to mind his own business.
Mimi persuades Tony to submit his video clip to the competition she’d heard about on the radio. Gloria gives the bank documents to Laura to sign, which surprises her as Lorenzo never said a word about it.
Nattie is told by Silvia about Lorenzo’s reconciliation with Laura. Silvia notices her cousin didn’t seem surprised by the news, She admitted Orlando had told her. Silvia admits it hurt and shocked her; she now regretted she had made Lorenzo go back to Laura. Changing the subject, she also told Nattie about the business proposal, which Alex overhears but feels E.P wouldn’t go for it and tries to discourage her.(he doesn’t her and Lorenzo make eyes at each other again!)
Isabella is furious to hear from Lorenzo that he’d chosen Silvia to do the job. She immediately starts bad mouthing her but Lorenzo defends his ex-girlfriend and angrily orders her to keep her opinions to herself, what he says goes and he was still CEO of the company. Isabella insolently assumes Silvia must have been so happy but when he tells her Silvia is thinking about it, says the ‘little vixen’ was playing hard to get. Lorenzo tells her to leave his office.
Laura talks to her doctor and calls the inspector to tell him she had a vital contribution to make in the case.
Silvia has good news; the other entrepreneurs are enthusiastic about the project. But she asked Nattie to be the go-between as it’s hard for her to be around Lorenzo. Nattie reluctantly agrees as she doesn’t want to cope with Orlando and Horse-face Gloria again.

SNIPPET: ANOTHER SHOCK FOR POOR SILVIA!

Silvia tells her uncle that she’d overheard something Conan and Nattie had said relating to him and her father, but Hercules insist he knew nothing about him, her mother never liked talking about him, her cousins were taking rubbish. Silvia is horrified to see it was E.P’s picture he was hanging up. Laura thanked horsy Gloria for her help that fateful day and ask if the police arrested Isabella. When Gloria says no in a surprised tone, Laura pretended she was joking. Mimi told Conan that she’d made up with Tony, but does not know she’s happy, she only knew she owed it to their baby to give him a second chance. Lorenzo asks Isabella why a policeman came to the office, she lies it was about Giacormo’s case which has reopened. She gives him the fax containing the agreement between them and Estephano. E.P models the restored dress for Alex, still planning on exercising and going on a diet (a daft idea to wear the dress she’d worn when she married Alex and Mimi’s father for her second wedding). She’s annoyed Silvia treats the workers ‘too nicely’. Tony visits Laura, with a message from Giacormo and asks her to come back to the boutique when she’s better, as he feels he could do better without Conan. Lorenzo decides to ask Silvia for her help, but Orlando doesn’t feel it’s a good idea since she doesn’t know he and Laura were back together. Orlando is annoyed when Gloria still hesitates to give him Estephano’s web address; she surprises him with a sudden question, did he think Isabella was capable of killing anyone?
Nattie is furious to see E.P’s framed photo on the living room wall, Conan is merely amused. Nattie wishes she could save their father from that woman, but Conan reminds her that you don’t choose who you fall in love with, did she choose Orlando? Changing the subject, he tells her about Mimi and tony; they’ve both matured although he still didn’t like Tony.
Hercules ask his kids why they put ideas in Silvia’s head, they had actually told her he knew her father after he’d already told her a long time ago that he did not. Nattie however said Silvia had heard part of a conversation between her and Conan but they had cleared it up; in turn she reminded him about a letter she’d found in his drawers when she was a little girl. He had told her them it had been a letter from Mexico from a friend who was in love with his sister, Silvia’s mother, Mechita. That man was Silvia’s father. Hercules was silent, he couldn’t deny it.
Laura assures Tony that once she’s cleared by her doctor, she’ll help him and Conan at the boutique (more like harass Conan since she never liked him); much to his relief since he doesn’t know much about the business and he and Conan don’t really get along. Laura also asked about Mimi and her pregnancy, sending her regards.
Silvia receives a surprise visitor, Lorenzo and is about to tell him again she can’t continue their affair. But he assures her it wasn’t like that, he only came about a business proposition and to tell her, before she heard it from anyone else, that he and Laura had reconciled. Silvia’s face is stunned (you asked for it, you silly girl).

SNIPPET: MISMATCHED COUPLES

The police handling Laura’s case pays a visit to Isabella; telling her of what she’s accused of and asks her to come to the station to have her fingerprints taken. But she insists she’s an old friend of the family who visits the house often, there was no evidence against her, and she was a respectable businessman who has never had a problem with the law. The detective promises to return with a warrant since she refuses to have her prints taken. After he leaves, she drops the jaunty attitude and looks worried. Horsy Gloria asks her who it was, but Isabella told her to forget about it. Alex gives his mum’s wedding dress to Nattie, asking her to repair it, since she had torn it after forcing herself into it. Nattie is still disgusted at the idea of E.P marrying Hercules but Alex doesn’t seem to mind the idea. Nattie is shocked to find out from him that Lorenzo and Laura were back together again, forbidding him to tell Silvia after he said it was the best thing for her as she’ll finally forget Lorenzo and go back to him. Lorenzo urges Laura to eat; Laura asks him if he was still in love with Silvia and whether they’d broken up at her bedside, as she didn’t want anything to interfere with their ‘happiness’. Lorenzo informs her they’d broken up a long time ago. Laura wants to organize a reunion party but Lorenzo is not enthusiastic about it and leaves the room again, to her frustration. Gloria warns Isabella that the only thing she’ll never support her with is committing murder, but Isabella arrogantly tells her she was not a murderer, that the detective was merely someone sent by Laura to harass her. Mimi visits Tony at the boutique; she’d been doing some thinking and decided to give him another chance, which he’s happy about it. They hug but Mimi’s face has an expression of doubt.
Silvia asks Hercules if he really didn’t know anything about her popsie, making him hit his finger with the hammer he was using. Nattie meets with Orlando to confirm what Alex had told her; refusing to stay and have lunch with him when he asks her. When she leaves, he’s full of confidence she’ll come back to him, since she preferred to ask him in person
(Can gays get therapy to enable them sleep with women instead?)

Actor and comedian Bernie Mac dies at age 50

Islam and Christianity preaches that no matter who we are in this world, death is a certainity. But it truly came as a shock to me to hear of Bernie Mac's death, such a funny and talented man! Hollywood is still mourning Heath Ledger who was just 28 when he died months ago, now this. We just have to hope there won't be another mourning any time soon, Morgan Freeman was in a ghastly motor accident in Mississipi last week, we all have to pray for him to pull through. As for Mr. Bernie Mac,May Allah rest his soul and comfort those he left behind. Amen.

R.I.P Bernie...

SNIPPET: IT'S NOW LAURA'S TURN

Tony and Conan begin to disagree. Laura’s doctor gives the pills to the policeman called to the house; Laura names Isabella as the person who probably switched them since she was obsessed with her husband. She asks him not to involve Lorenzo in any way until the investigation is over. The doctor insists she remain in bed just as Lorenzo enters. He promises to look after her; she in turn promises they’ll stay together and keep it that way. Lorenzo visibly looks bleak as she says that.
As she rummages her drawer, Silvia finds an old newspaper clipping about the publicized wrestling match between her and Titan (the cheating opponent). She remembered how Lorenzo had saved her and punched Titan out, (That had been the night she’d been aware of him as a man instead of a friend for the first time) as well as their first date when they’d shared their first kiss- she begins to cry, poor thing.
Lorenzo helps Laura to bed, the maid expressing their happiness they were back together. Alex finds Silvia crying but she struggles not to. Alex tries to console her.
Isabella phones Estephano to inform Lorenzo has swallowed the bait and he should fax the agreement. Gloria is still nervous about the whole thing but reminds Isabella of the promotion she’d promised her. Nattie discusses Silvia’s missing father with Conan, and certain Hercules was lying when he said he’s never met him. Conan is more worried at the idea of their father marrying that cow, E.P. Hercules stops E.P’s workout as she’s overdoing it and suggests she ask the girls at the factory to alter the dress.
Silvia is very unhappy, going over what’s been happening and moves away from Alex when he tries to kiss her, asking him to go outside. She almost tears up the newspaper but changes her mind and finds what she’s looking for. Orlando is given the fax by Isabella who is aggressive when he expresses his suspicions about Estephano and his company again.
Laura asks Lorenzo to puff up her pillows for her, using it as an excuse to kiss him (a waste of time, since he’s now in love with someone else).
Lorenzo doesn’t return the kiss; he pushes her away and tells her to rest, emotion wasn’t good for her and makes excuses to leave the room. But Laura is convinced, little by little, he’ll love her as before.
TO BE CONTINUED...ran out of time.

SNIPPET: 2 VERY,VERY ANNOYING EX-BOYFRIENDS

SNIPPET: IT’S NOW LAURA’S TURN…

Orlando was totally unrepentant; he admitted he had definitely asked Hercules for his help to win her over and was surprised that he had told Nattie he’d been the secret admirer all along, which she is really disgusted about; as well as trying to use her father to get what he wanted, but Orlando stubbornly insisted he would do it again if he had to because he was in love with her. Nattie snapped that it still didn’t give him the right to do what he did and from now on, he must never speak to anyone in her family again. In reply, the idiot told her to get used to the idea that sooner or later she’ll come back to him, be his wife and have a family with him, which made her more furious; how could he be so arrogant? He wasn’t being arrogant, he insisted, just informing her of the inevitable. Nattie lost her temper completely, asking him to leave because she could no longer stand being around him when Lorenzo showed up. Orlando left, telling her to remember what he’d said. Lorenzo told Nattie Laura wanted to see her and she reluctantly entered her room. Laura weakly said she’d been afraid Nattie wouldn’t agree see her, she badly wanted to apologize for her behavior towards her the last time she’d been to the office; Nattie reminded her she’d also treated Silvia badly too. Laura replied she was aware of that and had spoken to Silvia and hopes she and Nattie will find peace with each other and have her forgiveness. Nattie watches her with pity.
Lorenzo informs Isabella he’ll be taking time off work for a while to look after Laura and Orlando will be in charge in the meantime, which Isabella arrogantly agrees with(she’s been more disagreeable since Lorenzo found out what she’d shown poor Silvia), asking about his level of commitment since Laura was capable of looking after herself once she’s discharged. Lorenzo tells her they’ve decided to give their marriage another chance; Isabella personally thinks he was making the biggest mistake of his life. He replied that the main reason why he was moving back in with her was to monitor her medication, so that she won’t take the wrong pills again. Isabella feigns ignorance but Lorenzo tells her she knew what he was talking about, he wasn’t insinuating anything but if Laura fell ill again he’ll be forced to get suspicions and link it to someone who wants her and the baby dead. Isabella felt he was saying she had something to do with Laura’s anemia and he should have realized he’d been wrong in marrying Laura in the first place; perhaps she attempted suicide since she knew the tricks of the trade. Lorenzo snappishly reminded her it was a private matter and he didn’t want her poking her nose into it; their relationship was now strictly professional.
Tony informs Conan his father has made an appointment with a specialist in New York, to treat his leg. Conan begin to show him the orders and balance sheets, which Tony visibly finds confusing and complicated.
At the meeting, Isabella tells them her contact in Italy, Estephano, wants his order tripled- which confuses Lorenzo. Horsy Gloria gives Isabella a meaningful look. Lorenzo said it’s impossible; currently they were working at maximum capacity, 3 eight hour shifts a day, no day off, they were even busy on Sundays! Isabella calmly said they’ll just have to hire more workers. Lorenzo isn’t sure the bank will give them another loan, but Isabella insists it was a huge opportunity; they will be the biggest textile exporting company. Gloria suggested they do subcontracting to another company to lighten the load, but Lorenzo feels uncomfortable as they have a cash flow problem; it was risky to put their eggs in one basket, but Isabella insists it was worth the risk, and Estephano wanted an answer the soonest so he didn’t have time to think about it. When Lorenzo leaves the room to go talk to Orlando, Isabella smiles evilly. Gloria demands to know what she was up to now.
Hercules gave Nattie and Silvia startling news; he and Empetriz have decided to get married! His niece is stunned and his daughter absolutely furious, loudly refusing to accept ‘that witch’. Silvia asked him if it was merely an idea or they’ve set a date already. Hercules replied they were both serious about it as they were no longer youngsters; they wanted to have each other for the rest of their lives. Nattie isn’t happy at all, why did he have to choose, of all women, that big gossip that always fought with anyone she meets? Her father replied she made him happy and content, he felt alive with her and she was full of fun and wants to marry her. Silvia calmly said if he felt it was the best decision for him, they wished him well, to Nattie’s anger. Hercules is happy as he’ll be grandfather to Mimi’s baby (being her stepfather), which is a role he’s looking forward to; Nattie declares he’s completely mad but Silvia reproaches her. She points out neither of them like E.P, but the person who will be dealing with her most often is Hercules and they have to be supportive now. Hercules pleads with Nattie for her and Conan’s approval as he won’t be able to get married in such circumstances, but she accuses him of trying to make her feel bad, which she won’t allow and tells him that under no circumstances should E.P EVER think of trying to be her mother. Hercules promised he won’t stop loving Nattie and Conan once they are married. To change the subject, Nattie asked him why he’d told Silvia he didn’t know her father. He replies his late sister, Silvia’s mum, had met him in Mexico, someone had introduced them. But Nattie insists she remembers him mentioning his sister’s husband when she was a kid, he’d said he was his friend and a very funny guy. But her father replied she was mistaken and left abruptly.
Laura gets an unwelcome visitor, Alex. She tells him to get out, he says she shouldn’t talk to him that way; he only came to see how she was. Laura didn’t want Lorenzo to find him there, since they have reconciled. Alex receives this news with a stupid smirk on his face; Silvia will now return to him (yeah, in your dreams, gigolo).
Empetriz tries on her old wedding gown she’d worn on her first wedding, which no longer fits- Mimi advises her to just go and buy a new gown. Orlando agrees they should use their properties as collateral, in spite of the risk involved, a bank has agreed to give them a big loan.
Alex interrupts Silvia and Nattie in the middle of work; Alex asks to speak to Silvia alone, he wanted to tell her what Laura had told him.
Gloria asked Isabella if the sudden upping of production was part of her revenge on Lorenzo and is told not to ask questions since she wouldn’t want to be involved in the matter. But Gloria feels she was making a huge mistake, as setting a trap will only push Lorenzo further away from her. Isabella arrogantly tells her her opinion did not count; she was just there to follow orders and is told Orlando has been asking questions about Estephano and his company. Isabella calls Orlando an imbecile who is incapable of adding two and two together and is certain her plan (whatever it was) will succeed. (Oh, Lorenzo, you are a total idjit!)
Alex was on the verge of telling Silvia what Laura had said but her harsh tone when he hesitates discourages him. She asks if Laura had had a relapse but he replies she was much better and will soon go home. She’s annoyed he’d sent Nattie out for such a trivial thing.
Lorenzo tells Isabella he and Orlando have agreed to up production and would get smaller companies to help them. Empetriz begins to work out, in order to fit into her wedding dress. (Miser can’t spend money on a new one, nonsense!)

HANCOCK, THE X-FILES AND EFURU...

The new movie to see besides Will Smith's new venture, HANCOCK, about a superhero who is more of a nuisance and a liability than the new Sueprman, is THE X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE, about the further adventures of the two FBI agents, open minded Fox Mulder(DAVID DUCHOVNY) and stubbornly sceptical Dana Scully(GILLIAN ANDERSON), whose cases always have scientific and supernatural under tones. The two obviously care deeply for each other but have always remained platonic friends... until much much later. I think it was because Mulder was too wrapped up to solve the mystery of his younger sister's abduction by aliens and reserved Scully respected his preoccupation enough not to press him. It also stars Alvin Joiner, better known as rapper ''Xzibit'' as FBI agent Mosely Drummy. This is the second X files movie, the first one came out in 1998, THE X FILES: FIGHT FOR THE FUTURE, (which some people unkindly said sucked), set six years after the events of the original series and directed by the series' creator, Chris Carter.
By the way, one of the weekly story lines of the X FILES SERIES, (which started in 1993 and ended in 2002) was not used, instead the script was used to create the supernatural thriller film, FINAL DESTINATION. I found it more fascinating than creepy but the person I really detested in the whole show was the cigarette smoking man, who held all the answers Mulder and Scully almost got killed to find. For those who are X files fans like myself, it's a must watch.

Now a very pressing suggestion, since there is a movie adaptation of Prof. Chinua Achebe's classic

THINGS FALL APART, does'nt any one feel there should be a movie adaptation of Flora Nwapa's classic novel EFURU? Nollywood should consider making a movie adaptation of this fantastic book, especially since they've been improving lately with the use of 35mm, which Hollywood use, why not? Pls, Nollywood directors out there, consider adapting this book into a movie, at least as a tribute to Madam Nwapa, who was the very first Nigerian woman to write a novel. Visitors, pls air your views on this.