Tu O Nadie: The fourth version

Last year, a fourth version of Tu O Nadie (No One But You)  was made; Sortilegio, which means ‘Love Spell’.  Andres Garcia and Lucia Mendez's 2009 successors are  Alejandro ‘Alex’ Lombardo (William Levy) and Maria José Lombardo (Jacqueline Bracamontes) , the villain is called Bruno (David Zepeda).

The story line here is the same with major differences:



-The story is set mostly in Merida, in  the free and sovereign state of Yucatan, instead of Acapulco like the previous versions.


-Alex and Bruno have the same father. Victoria’s first husband, Samuel was friends with Alex’s father, Antonio. She and Antonio fell in love and had an affair, which Samuel found out about. Samuel, out of spite, refused to divorce her and they moved to Europe. She gave birth to twins; Bruno and his sister Raquel. Samuel died when the twins were six, so Vicky was finally free to marry Antonio, now widowed. 

However, Alex was made the principal heir to the estate, because- although Antonio tried very hard to raise the twins well- Bruno and Raquel, (Bruno especially), caused him and Victoria nothing but trouble. 

No one except Antonio, Victoria and the housekeeper Felipa  knew that Bruno and Raquel were not Samuel’s children. Victoria told a very shocked Alex years later; by then Antonio was dead and he and Bruno were enemies.

-Raquel grew to fall in love with her handsome stepbrother; not knowing he was actually her half-brother. She settled for a loveless marriage with Roberto, who is actually bisexual.

-Alex’s ‘accident’ was a car accident. Bruno paid his two accomplices to ram their truck against his car, causing it to somersault off the road. The car burst into flames after Alex was flung out.

Alex’s  best friend, Fernando,  in a sub-plot, fell in love with Victoria, Alex’s stepmother. At first she’s astonished that such a handsome, young man (he’s Alex’s age) was interested in her but fell for him too. However, they had to keep their relationship secret for a while. (Weird, but that’s what happened folks.)

-The scene where Alex and Maria José made love for the first time, was the most erotic of all the versions of Tu O Nadie; their subsequent love scenes all through the telenovela the same way.

-Maria José’s sister, Paula got a job in Alex’s company. They have another sister they knew nothing about at first- Maria Jose's twin Sandra. Their father Pedro was not a widower; his wife Elena  abandoned them years back for a rich man but took Sandra with her. In order for M.J and Paula not to think badly of Elena, Pedro made them believe she was dead, including having them visit a fake grave. Sandra grew up a spoiled party girl who later died from a drug overdose.

-Bruno murdered the judge before Alex and Fernando could question him. They were shipwrecked on an Island for months and it was assumed they were dead. But they made it home just in time. Maria José was already heavy with child and she fainted when he surprised her in their bedroom. He was right there in the delivery room when she gave birth to their son, named after his late father, Antonio.

-Alex appeared to be more religious than the previous heroes (Antonio, David, Tony); he constantly wore a rosary with a crucifix round his neck. He later took it off and slipped it under Baby Tony’s pillow in the cot, for protection.


-Bruno and Maura conspired to kidnap Maria José. Her memory was erased, which caused her to forget  Alex and their baby Tony. Alex patiently helped nurse her to health after dragging her back home until her memory slowly came back; thanks to pills given to her by the family doctor.

-Maura’s sister, Lisette came up with a joke to invent a fictitious name- Mario Aguirre-  and say he’s Maria José’s lover but repented after she was diagnosed with cancer. 

- Maura later ended up in prison for her part in Maria José’s kidnap &  for fraud.

-Bruno was shot to death by his accomplice, Erik when he was trying to kill Alex on the beach. 

- Bruno’s funeral was shown.

Alex formally asked Maria José to marry him.




They actually had THREE weddings;

A civil wedding at the mansion

The traditional Mayan ceremony

...and the formal church wedding! 

Honeymoon

-The last scene was of the happy couple making love on the beach, decorated like the Garden of Eden, complete with wooden animals.

                  

TRIVIA...

-William Levy is from Cuba, and the youngest actor to play the main character originated by Andres Garcia (who was 44 during Tu o Nadie), being 29 years old at the time. 

- Mexican actress and former beauty titleholder  Jacqueline Bracamontes is a year older than her co-star, William Levy. 

- David Zepeda is 5 years older than   Jacqueline Bracamontes and 6 years older than William Levy. 

- Guillermo Zarur- the actor who played the Lombardo family's head butler, Ezequiel- played the head butler of the Lombardo family, Ramon,  in the original version of this telenovela-  Tu O Nadie (No One But You) in 1985. 

- Chantal Andere- the actress who played Bruno's twin sister and Alex's half sister Raquel; played Aide who was  Lorena's rival for David's affections in a previous remake  of Tu O Nadie; Acapulco, Cuerpo y Alma (Acapulco Body & Soul) in 1995. 

That's all on Tu O Nadie, folks. Thanks for staying till the very end. Yours in blogship...

Honey 💞

Tu O Nadie: The English (second) version

 

The second version of Tu O Nadie,  released in 1995 is  Acapulco Bay;  a joint venture of Televista and Fox TV. The story is also  set in Acapulco but with both American and Hispanic  actors and actresses and the names anglicized versions of the Spanish names of the main characters. 

Here, Antonio is Tony Stockdale (Anthony Newman), Raquel is Rachel Swanson Stockdale (Raquel Gardner), and Maximilian Albeniz is Max Hauser (Ash Adams but credited as "Jason Adams" at the time). 

                                                         DIFFERENCES...

The false wedding between Max and Rachel was conducted by a clerk, not in Guadalajara but in San Francisco.

.

Rachel’s father, Peter Swanson, walked with a cane.

 Tony and Rachel nearly made love for the first time, on the night of their first date.

 

 

The night Tony confronted Rachel to tell him the truth; he had to stop her from committing suicide first- she tried to drown herself in the ocean.

 Tony and Rachel didn’t go out on the yacht, they had a picnic on the beach and went skinny dipping 

. 

Tony’s personal assistant  Charles was old enough to be his father.

-Tony and Rachel’s daughter, was shown sleeping in an incubator.

- Max was shot dead in the final episode, but NOT by Tony.  

Click here to read Episode 1's recap. 

Tu O Nadie: The third version

Tu o Nadie was remade twice in 1995, this one called Acapulco, Cuerpo y Alma- 'Acapulco  Body and Soul'.
 Here the couple is David and Lorena Montalvo, played by Saul Lisazo (Hector in Until My Last Breath) and the lovely Patricia Manterola respectively ; the villain is called Marcelo de Maris (Guillermo Garcia Cantu), and produced by the same production company that brought Tu O Nadie- TELEVISA.

  Differences:

-David was brought home by his rescuers after his  ‘accident’. 

- Lorena is not from Guadalajara but from Zithuatanejo, a Mexican town on the Pacific.

- David and Lorena’s first time happened in the family yacht. 

-David and Marcelo got into a fight (Marcelo, of course started it) Lorena moved out of the house, back to her place; upset that David didn't trust her completely.  

-David formally proposed marriage to  Lorena. They had a civil wedding. 

- There was no Roberto  Aguirre all through the story. 

-One of Marcelo's conspirators was Lorena's envious sister, Julia.   

-Lorena gave birth to a baby boy. 

-David's sister Cinthia gave birth to a girl, naming her after their stepmother, Elena. 

                             Check out the episodes here: SNIPPETS

TU O NADIE FINAL EPISODE!!!!

This is the grand finale of this fantastic, action-packed telenovela. The first time we watched the ending, my family and I were excited but also sad it was wrapping up.

Posting the recaps from the beginning to the end was a real challenge because they were mostly drawn from memory, but I was happy to do it because Tu O Nadie will always remain my favourite telenovela, and I’m glad I was able to share it in this blog. 

To the visitors who left comments and encouraging words and have been here to the end, I thank you all very much and as a treat, look out for the juicy trivia and additional posts attached to Tu O Nadie. Now for the concluding part of Antonio and Raquel’s love story...

Evil Max stepped into the elevator and saw Daniel passing by just as the doors closed. Having given the written confession, the judge began packing his things. He answered the door and got the shock of his life when Max barged in. At gunpoint, he admitted what he’d done but lied that his signature was forged. Alas, that didn’t help because Max shot him in the stomach, using a pillow to muffle the sound. 

Back at the mansion, Camilla suggested the room down the hall be fixed up as a nursery since Baby would be coming home soon but Raquel objected to the idea of Minerva sleeping far away from her. Ramon recommended his niece to be Minerva’s nanny- as Raquel would be ‘distracted’ now and then. Raquel sarcastically wondered who and what could distract her now. She asked Ramón if he had seen Martha around and was told no. Exchanging a peck with Camilla, she went upstairs. Camilla asked Ramón about his odd remark to Raquel, what did he mean by it?  He shrugged,  smiling knowingly and said, ‘Well… you never know, ma’am.’

Footsteps were heard and Camilla’s eyes widened. ‘Antonio…’ she whispers in disbelief, before walking into her brother’s arms. Ramón formally welcomes his boss home and Tonio thanks him. Camilla said  Claudio and  Andres had told her he was alive but she hadn’t dared to hope. Tonio asked for Raquel and was told she was in her room.

But before he could go, Mummy Vicky appeared and ran into his arms, weeping with joy. Meche came out from the kitchen, filled with astonishment.

Vicky asked anxiously, ‘What’s going to happen to Max?’ Antonio stopped smiling and made no reply. 

‘It was he…wasn’t it?’

At Tonio’s solemn ‘yes’, she burst into tears and Camilla took her away to her room. Tonio turned to Meche and assured her Gabriel was safe; he escaped with Martha, according to Luis. Filled with relief, Meche asked what was now going to happen to them and was assured they would be protected.  Ramón told Tonio Max wasn’t in the house and hadn’t been seen all day. With that, Tonio went upstairs to the room he shared with Raquel.

Raquel saw him through the dressing table mirror and turned round,  Tonio smiling at her amazed face. Slowly she got up, touching him. Tonio held her arms, saying, ‘It’s me.’ Raquel threw herself into his arms, crying ‘My love! Antonio, my love!’

They kissed and hugged each other passionately;  Raquel sobbing with joy, unable to stop staring at her husband, back from the dead.

'Can't you say anything?' he asked her.

'Well... I'm speechless!' Raquel stumbled over her words, took his hand, and pressed it against her cheek. 'My love.' she murmured.

‘Did you doubt we’ll ever be together again?’ he demanded and she nodded.

‘I never did, Raquel!’ 

They held each other again, kissing.

    

If only Evil Max wasn’t skulking around outside instead of behind bars at that moment! Moving on...

 At the guest bungalow, Daniel told Chucho what went on between him and the judge but Chucho still wasn’t pleased he’d promised not to turn him over to the police. Daniel decided to hide the precious document under the carpet, reminding himself to tell Meche when Chucho pointed out she may come to sweep the place. Chucho went back to the mansion and was very surprised to hear the good news from Ramón and Meche. 

'You swear on the Holy Ghost?' he exclaimed. Meche assured it was true, "the boss" was back. Ramón happily declared it was the happiest day for the Lombardo family. "Well... not for all of them. Poor Mrs. Victoria," he added soberly. The three servants looked sad as they thought of the unfortunate woman upstairs. 

Upstairs, Raquel gave the whole gist of what happened after Tonio’s disappearance to the day she had to go to the hospital. She tells him  Victoria begged her to let Max stay at the mansion and manage the business on her behalf, and how she found out he was Roberto Aguirre the day she was taken to the hospital. 

Tonio consoles Raquel as she sobs in his arms, assuring her it is all over. He tells her he loves her- more than he’s ever loved anyone; her and their daughter. 

She smiled, ‘You know about her?’

Smiling back, he says he went to see Baby Minerva at the hospital that morning. As she hugged him again, something hard pressed against her ribs. Pushing back his jacket, she saw the gun. Max, sheer murder on his face, entered the guest bungalow, but Daniel wasn’t there.

Andres and Claudio joined Vicky and Camilla in the bedroom. They told the two women that Luis and Rod were in custody, while Maura and Carla were presently giving their statements. The police were on their way. Vicky began weeping again, poor thing.

Martha and Gabriel finally get back, stopping at the guest bungalow first.  Daniel isn't there, and Martha is filled with terror over what might have happened to her father as they’d already seen Max on the grounds. Gabriel suggested she stay and wait while he go and find his sister and warn Raquel. Martha didn't want him to. Max would shoot him on sight, but Gabriel decided to take his chances. 

 Evil Max caught up with Daniel in the mansion and demanded for the written confession but for once the timid old man stood his ground and refused to tell him where he’d hidden it. Max started to punch him mercilessly. (Wicked Bastard!)

Ramón, Meche and Chucho found Martha at the bungalow. She is amazed at the news of Tonio's return but tells them Max is around and Gabriel has gone to the house as well. Ramón picked up the phone and placed a call to the mansion. 

Raquel pleaded with Tonio to let the police handle Max, not him. The phone rang and Tonio got the message from Ramón. After expressing his anger at not being told about Max immediately, he ordered everyone to stay where they were presently and hung up. Raquel watched as he locked the French windows and begged him again. Tonio assured her he wasn’t a murderer, but he had the right to be prepared to defend himself since Max was still bent on killing him.  He locked the door behind him over Raquel’s tearful protests; he didn't want Max breaking in and nabbing her while he was looking for him. 

Raquel bangs on the door, terrified and worried. 

 Downstairs in the living room, Evil Max was still demanding the document, this time his gun drawn. Daniel was now bleeding but still defiant. Gabriel appeared from behind and hit Max with his crutch, and both he and Daniel struggled with Max.  From the stairs, Tonio pulled out his gun, ordering Max to drop his. Without hesitation, Evil Max fired at him and Tonio dodged. 

They exchange fire, Max using Daniel as a shield, but Daniel struggles and pushes him right into the line of fire. Evil Max aimed at Tonio again but was flung over the couch when Tonio got him squarely on the chest. Tonio silently went down to bend over his step-brother as he bled.

The ruffian grabbed him by the shoulder and his last words were: ‘You’ll never love her ... as much as I did.’ He fell back and gave up the ghost.  You say such a thing at a time like that, you unrepentant sinner???

Chucho hurried in, exclaiming they had heard gunshots. He, Martha and Ramón gasped at the sight of Evil Max’s dead body on the floor, Meche immediately grabbing hold of her brother.  Mummy Vicky and the others came down the stairs and saw the gruesome sight as well. Everyone silently watched poor Vicky bitterly weep over her son after futilely calling his name, closing his staring eyes with her hand. Tonio stood apart from everyone, silent. 

Tonio went back upstairs to Raquel who embraced him, sobbing.

She looked at his pale face and asked, ‘You murdered him?’

‘I had to do it.’ was her husband’s reply.

'You shouldn’t have done that,’ she said and began to weep hysterically. Their marriage was over because of his action; they now both bore the guilt of Max’s death and how on earth would they be able to live happily when his death would always come between them? Tonio tried to console her but she continued to weep. Helpless, Tonio left the room, hoping she would calm down eventually. 

                   
                                       A YEAR LATER…

The scene opens in Guadalajara City. (to our amazement that night)

Raquel is feeding Minerva, a chubby-cheeked replica of herself, now a year old. After Daniel took the child to bed, the doorbell rang. It was Vicky and the two women embraced tearfully. After greeting Daniel, Vicky explained why she’d come; she could no longer bear watching Tonio suffer. He was devastated at what happened a year ago- time wouldn't let him forget- and in the present situation, he and Raquel are living apart. He couldn't bear the thought of losing his wife. Surely Raquel didn’t blame him for what he had to do?

Raquel replied she didn’t, she realised he had no other choice but she wished he had not been the one to do it.

Vicky said she had told herself the same thing... many times, but she gradually accepted it, and right now, Tonio was like a ghost of his old self; he loved Raquel and missed her very much- he couldn’t go on without her. Raquel said she loved Tonio too but reminded Vicky that Max had been her son, her biological son. Vicky took Raquel's hand, reminding her that Tonio was very much her son too. 

Raquel was still filled with guilt over Max’s death; if only she’d stood up to him at the very beginning and had the courage to tell Vicky and Tonio the truth on time…

But Vicky begged her to stop blaming herself, what was the point of wishing what could have been? She, his own mother, had been forced to accept long ago that the real person to blame for the whole tragedy was Max. But right now, she didn’t know what would become of Tonio if Raquel continued refusing to see him. Raquel asked if Tonio had asked her to come over to Guadalajara to talk to her. Vicky said no, he asks for nothing these days but goes around very silent and miserable; all he thought about was Raquel and their Minerva.

Tears running down her cheeks, Raquel told Vicky to tell Tonio to come for her, that she missed him and loved him very much; she could no longer live apart from him. The two women held each other, sobbing.

The next scene showed Minerva toddling around the garden. Raquel reads a magazine, keeping a sharp eye on the child at the same time; calling out to her, 'Don't go too far away!' She didn’t notice someone coming along. She did’t notice Minerva toddling up to her Daddy who picked her up, lovingly cradling her in his arms.

 

 Raquel finally looks up and sees the moving sight of Tonio (his moustache shaved off, enhancing his handsome face further) carrying their daughter.

There’s a look of peace in Raquel's eyes as she got up from the grass. Tonio puts the child down, picking up the doll she left on the grass, before moving towards Raquel. They regard each other for a second before Raquel placed her arms around her husband’s neck; his arms encircling her tightly.

Little Minerva Lombardo watches with innocent interest as her parents exchange loving looks and another  kiss.

What else can we assume, after the final shot? Tonio took Raquel and Minerva back to Acapulco and moved on with their lives, Max's ghost no longer between them. 

                                                            TRIVIA

- Dominican-Mexican actor Andres Garcia, who played the main character Antonio Lombardo, was 44 years old at the time- 14 years older than Lucia Mendez. 

- Andres Garcia was cast as Antonio after  Venezuelan actor,  Jose Luis Rodriguez, turned down the role. 

-The young actor who played Gabriel was Lucia Mendez’s (Raquel) real-life younger brother, Abraham Mendez.

-The soundtrack played at the final few minutes of the episode was sung by Lucía Méndez (Raquel), “El amour sin ti ni vale nada” which means, “Love is worth nothing without you.” Lucia sang most of the tracks in the telenovela as well, including the main theme song, Corazon Di Piedra (Heart of Stone). 

-Tu O Nadie currently has three remakes: Acapulco Bay, Acapulco Cuerpo y Alma and Sortilegio. 

-Tu O Nadie aired in Italy under the title, Cuore Di Pietra ( "Heart of Stone" in Italian) with Italian voice overs. Antonio was named Alessandro, Raquel named Elena, Victoria named Lorenza, Max's full name Massimo, Martha named Marta and Tonio and Raquel's daughter Minerva was named Melania. 

MORE TRIVIA IN MY NEXT POST! IN THE MEANTIME...

 A VIDEO BY A TU O NADIE FAN: 

                              

CRIMINALS' ROUND-UP!!!

Luis flings Martha down on the couch. Covering her with his gun, he called the mansion to speak with Max. Tonio had been told by Gato on the island that it had been Maura and Carla who had made up Roberto Aguirre as a joke to wreck his marriage.

Andres tells Tonio that Camilla and Raquel had gotten along like sisters since her and Claudio's return from Rome and formally congratulates him; his daughter was as beautiful as Raquel, making  Tonio grin happily. Andres asked if he would have preferred a son, to continue the family name.

Tonio replied,  their boy will come eventually. Andres isn’t pleased when Tonio still refuses to talk to his wife; when Raquel calls again, anxious for news, she is suffering. Tonio said he was more than anxious to see Raquel but he wanted to really surprise her- to be there and see the look of joy on her face. Pablo asks Pam to make up the guest room for Tonio to spend the the night. Max and Rod went to Maura's house to look for her but she still wasn't home. Carla had no idea where she'd gone she phoned most of their friends, but Maura wasn't with any of them.

Claudio returns to Acapulco with the judge, checking him in a hotel before going home. Max isn't home and  Ramon refuses to pass on a message, abruptly hanging up on him. Luis reminds Martha he's always been good to her; would she send him to jail? Martha reminds him that Tonio was her sister's husband, she owed them both some justice.

 At the house, Camilla tells Raquel the good news about the judge. At first she didn't want to tell Raquel in front of Ramon but Raquel said he could be trusted; Ramon in turn pleaded- he was loyal to Raquel and Tonio. Camilla told her the judge had been found and Claudio has brought him down to Acapulco. Soon, everything will be cleared! Claudio enters and  warmly welcomed by the two women. He tells Camilla she would have to pretend to be his fiancee, as the judge had been told he was conducting a false wedding.  While the three were talking, the phone rang. To Ramon's amazement it was Tonio! He warned him  not to react if Raquel or any of the family was around; he wanted him to bring some clothes to him to Pablo's place. Camilla asked Ramon who it was and he said, 'the gardener' and fled, much to their amazement.

Camilla and Claudio hesitantly asks Raquel if she would allow them help in any way they can in raising Minerva, as Camilla especially has grown attached to her.  Camilla sadly explains  that her doctor told her she couldn’t have children but she and Claudio hope to adopt later. 

The next morning, Ramon is filled with joy seeing his boss again- the two men exchanging hugs.
Raquel and Daniel go to see Minerva at the hospital's NICU; both smiling at the baby through the glass. However, Raquel’s face clouds as she thought of Tonio, whom she still thought was dead. She tearfully remarked how he wasn't with her to see their little girl,  her father consoling her.

 Andres went back to Pablo's apartment to find Tonio dressed and ready.

Vicky finds Meche crying bitterly. Meche begged Vicky  to believe her; Max was evil, he was Roberto Aguirre and he  kidnapped her brother- on the grave of her late mother, she was telling the truth. Upset by Meche's tears, Vicky went to Evil Max's room. When he tried to deny having a hand in Tonio's death, Vicky angrily and tearfully told him to tell the truth; Raquel and Meche were still bent on accusing him and she wanted to hear the truth from him.
Max,  at long last, confirmed it. He finally won, why deny it? Vicky looked at him in shock then burst into tears.
The police chief took down Tonio's statement, Tonio made sure that Raquel especially will not so much as set foot into the police station.  After he left, Andres hands Tonio a gun and told him Claudio was back,  with the judge. They were several steps ahead of Max.

Meanwhile, Daniel and Chucho go to a bar for drinks and Daniel was very surprised to see the judge at a table. He went over to talk to him. At first the judge didn't recognise him but soon the men were in deep conversation. Daniel tells him all that had happened.

Luis calls again and Ramon derives a lot of pleasure hanging up on him again. Raquel is exasperated at Andres' evasiveness but he assured her things will soon be revealed.

It turned out that while the  judge knew Max had taken Tonio's identity to marry Raquel, he  hadn't known he was plotting to kill Tonio. He asked Daniel how he could help, without incriminating himself. Daniel suggest he write a signed  affidavit- clearing Raquel, Martha and himself and the judge could leave Acapulco. Andres told Camilla and Claudio what Pablo had pierced together, Maura's silly joke and Max and Rod's conspiracy and the possibility that Tonio was alive.

Max brooded over what Vicky now knew but he was confident she would not turn her own son in. He went downstairs and ALAS!... overhears Camilla and Raquel discussing the judge in the study. He listens as Camilla tells Raquel where the judge was staying and dashed back upstairs. Camilla assured Raquel they'll all live happily from now on and formally asked for forgiveness for her past misdeeds and attitudes but Raquel brushed it off with a smile. 

Max calls Luis and ordered him to go to the hotel and kill the judge. Luis tells him he couldn't, Martha and Gabriel couldn't be left alone. Max decided to go himself. Martha begs Luis not to kill her or Gabriel, then suddenly suggested they leave Acapulco together, acting lovingly towards him and urged him to put the gun down... it scared her.  Luis was pleased at the sudden change of heart and put down the gun when she told him to. He went to the other room to make preparations and Martha picked up the gun. When he got back, she shoots him on the thigh and leaves, apologising. Gabriel braces himself to use a broken bottle he prepared on Luis as  he heard footsteps and the door unlocking  but saw it was Martha instead,  and they take to their heels!

Maura gets back to find Rod waiting for her. Gato calls,  and Rod orders her to lure him to her house. When he arrives, Rod shoots him but after overhearing him asking her if Tonio was where he told her he'd be. Tonio and Pablo ring Maura's doorbell but no one answers, so they go round the back. 

 Maura begins screaming and crying when Rod aims the gun at her, demanding to know where Tonio is. She didn't know, he escaped! Tonio aaappears andhoots him in the hand. As Maura runs to Tonio's arms, screaming her head off, Tonio instructs Pablo to call the police. 

Luis is tending to his wound when there's a knock on the door. He snarled, 'Who is it?'
'Max.' replied a voice. Luis staggers to the door and opens it, only to find a gun pointed at his face... by Tonio.  The jig is up Luis! 

The judge gives Daniel the affidavit, signed and sealed and assures him his signature can be verified. Daniel thanks him and takes his leave.

MAX'S JUDGEMENT DAY ROUND THE CORNER...

Max called Pam again, telling her to indicate if someone was with her, yes or no. Pam said he had the wrong number and hung up again. Andres and Pablo arrive; Andres and Tonio exchange joyful, brotherly hugs- Pablo received one, too. They sat down and immediately exchanged information. Andres assured him Raquel had been loyal and faithful and missed him very much when Tonio voiced his anger at Raquel for allowing Evil Max to live at the mansion and handle the company. Tonio just wanted to know who was on his side and who wasn't. He also told Andres what Maura had said about his wife, but of course hadn’t believed a word.

(I think?) 

Andres told him Gabriel had told Raquel Max was Robert Aguirre.  Tonio listened as Andres also revealed how Raquel was rushed to the hospital after confronting Max. Then her hysteria and insistence the police to be called until Oscar gave her a sedative. 

The phone rang and Pam picked it up. It was Raquel, demanding to know what the hell was going on. Meche was with her, sobbing. Andres urged him to talk to Raquel but Tonio shook his head; their reunion wasn’t going to be over the phone. (I should THINK not)

Pablo took the receiver; Raquel informed him that Meche had changed her story; Max was Roberto Aguirre and had kidnapped Gabriel, and she was certain Luis Trejo- his henchman- was involved in the abduction.  

Martha listened to the conversation before slipping away. Pablo promised to see to it. Raquel hung up and consoled Meche. Andres told Tonio about Gabriel and what Meche told Raquel. The men now knew both Gato and Max had used the name. Tonio vowed to make Max and his friends pay for trying to kill him... they will pay!

Evil Max informed Rod that Pablo and Andres had been acting strangely lately. Rod mentioned Maura; she, too, had been acting strangely, taking off on a trip all of a sudden. He suspected that Gato had wanted to give Raquel some info and probably went to someone else since Raquel was unavailable when he called. Max mumbled he would be finished if it turned out Tonio was alive.

 Oh...yes Evil Max. 

Martha went to speak to Luis again and, after some clever manoeuvring,  got the info she needed: Max was behind Tonio’s murder.  She suddenly fled from the flat, Luis chasing her. Gabriel heard her voice and banged on the door. Martha stopped when she heard Gabriel’s yelling her name and alas, despite a struggle, Luis dragged her back into the flat.

THE LION'S BACK IN TOWN!!!

A few days later, Raquel came home, still weak and supported by Camilla's hand on her shoulder; Daniel carrying her vanity case. Vicky warmly welcomed her back and she and Daniel helped her up the stairs. According to Oscar, Minerva will be home in 2 weeks as she was getting stronger in the incubator. Max sarcastically comments on how Camilla was all chummy with her sister-in-law. Camilla’s cold reply, she now liked Raquelas much as she now hated him. Max asks her if it was because of Raquel’s wild stories. Camilla said it was because of all his atrocities, calling him a coward and a murderer before storming out. Max realises Camilla is no longer his ally.  

Claudio is very fortunate; in Guadalajara, the judge had just returned from a long vacation! Claudio gets down to business.

Back in Acapulco, Pamela is startled at the sudden loud pounding on the door and goes to answer it, gasping at the bearded, sweaty stranger. It was Tonio! She lets him in after he identifies himself, telling him Pablo isn’t home when he asks for him. 

Claudio tells the judge he needs him to conduct a false wedding as he’d done before. The judge was offended at the insinuation until Claudio told him it was to take place in Acapulco and assured him the reward was very huge. The judge agreed to do it!

At the mansion, Andres and Pablo go up to Raquel’s room to see her and inform her of the recent developments, including Claudio’s trip but not the phone call, not wanting to raise her hopes. Andres advised them not to call the police, at least until Claudio got back with enough evidence- the judge. Raquel is worried about Gabriel, who is still missing, but alas, they have no proof that Max was holding him. When Raquel suggests she go to the police and tell them everything about Max,  Andres refuses. He reminds her Tonio didn't report Max in the first place, to protect her. If she went to the station now, she might end up detained there. Tonio will not forgive him and Pablo when he gets back, for letting her so much as set foot in a jail cell. 

Raquel sat up, frowning and was like, hold up... they speak as if Tonio is alive. 

Washed and shaved, his arm redressed, and in a borrowed robe, Tonio and Pamela waited for Pablo to get home; Pam served him coffee, offering to call a doctor since he still seemed to be in pain, but Tonio refused.  He asked for news about Raquel, and Pamela told him Raquel had given birth via caesarean, but the baby girl was in the incubator for now.

Tonio is overjoyed to hear he is now a father. ‘A  girl?’ he asked, stunned but very happy. 

(To tell the truth, I was very surprised at his reaction, I thought he was the typical rich guy who preferred sons).

 He was also pleased to hear that Andres was still around but NOT pleased that Max was living at the mansion, under the same roof with his precious Raquel and handling the business! He asked Pam to call the house, he had to speak with Pablo. Ramón answered the phone, Max nearby. Pam asked to speak with her brother. Pablo was still upstairs with Raquel and Andres, so Ramón dialled Raquel’s extension. Max asked who was calling but Ramón ignored him. He told his mistress that someone wanted to talk to Pablo. Pablo picked the other receiver when Raquel told him to. Max wanted to listen in but Ramón violently turned off the extension- it was none of his business who was calling Pablo! Max glared at him.

Pablo asked Pamela what was wrong and she handed the phone to Tonio. Tonio identified himself, warning him not to react if Raquel was nearby and to come over immediately with no one except Andres. Pablo managed to control himself- somehow-  and hung up. Pablo told Raquel it was Claudio, he had some news but needed to talk to him in private. Raquel was puzzled- why private? Pablo assured her all would be explained to her in time and dragged Andres out of the room, whispering that Tonio was waiting for him at his apartment! They hurried out; Max and Ramón watching them. After Ramón went back to the kitchen, Max phoned Pam to find out if she’d be the one to call Pablo, and why. But Pam,  wiser now,  hung up on him. 

Raquel slowly came down the stairs and confronted Max again; he had killed her husband, Gabriel probably too. He couldn’t insult her intelligence, she also knew why he wanted her locked up in a mental home- to get everything! She should never have given in to his foolish mother’s emotions but she was rectifying THAT mistake. She was calling a meeting of the board of directors very soon- she was bouncing him out of the company and hiring someone else to represent her. And she wanted him out of her house. Max warned her she could go to jail for Tonio’s murder if he decided to accuse her. Raquel, however, gave him a nasty smile;  and dared him to.   She walked away, leaving Max burning with fury.

Raquel is puzzled when Ramón tells her Pablo’s sister, Pam, has called to speak with Pablo, not Claudio. What were they playing at?