Caray, Caray!

We begin with a flashback to Florencia and Miranda as little girls. Miranda is telling her she’s going to go to work and will take care of Florencia and Renata. Florencia interrupts her daydream and asks what’s wrong. Miranda returns to her room and calls Alejandro to ask about her father. Naturally, this leads to Alejandro asking her out on a date. She acts like a giddy little girl and gets all dolled up for her big night out.

They go out for drinks at a spinning restaurant and Miranda expresses doubt that she will be able to handle all the problems that are coming her way. Alejandro says pshaw (and cue the inspirational strings) assuring her that she has everything she needs to take care of this. The conversation moves on to other topics, like Bertha, and then they go dancing.

The guys are talking about their aunt and how psyched Mamá Amparito is with her new jewelry peddling endeavors. When the boys ask their dad how he is, he admits being bummed out but that Amparo’s energy is infectious. Finally we get to the real point of the scene, Lisania’s phone call to Raul. Despite Lisania’s numerous social gaffes (standing him up outside the church and calling his neighbor’s house so late at night) Raul asks her out on a date, promising not to rob her. (who knows, though, about his buddies).

Back at the swiftly spinning restaurant and with their dance over, Miranda tells Alejandro he must think she’s selfish having such a gay old time while everything with her family is going to pot. What’s even worse, she adds, is she’s having fun with a guy she disliked from the moment she met him. Alejandro assures her he doesn’t think she’s bad for having a little fun. He adds (much to his credit) that in regards to not liking him the moment she met him, the feeling was quite mutual, thank you very much. Then she asks, why did you let on that Daira & Lisania was your wife & daughter. Oh, just because I’m an imbecile (I really love that word). Then begins the litany of questions (someone didn’t read The Rules for dating) in which we learn that Alejandro has never been in love, that he’s a man, not a saint and he is really just a hopeless romantic.

Renata is laying on her bed, thinking about her brush with the law earlier in the day. She flashbacks to her humiliating experience and draws parallels to how she treated poor Juan.

Bertha is on the phone with Veronica, her secret jewelry-planting thug and Renata’s BFF (or at least until she finds out). Bertha is pleased with the report and asks Veronica to spread the gossip about Renata’s ‘kleptomania’ and she’ll blame Adriana for spreading the news. Bertha tells Lucas to “Stay.” (apparently he speaks English). The conversation ends with Bertha promising payment to Veronica.

Tomasa comes in, and Bertha asks her if Florencia took the medicine she had given her since it will help her to feel better (yeah, right). Tomasa asks again about her granddaughter and Bertha snaps back to be patient and stop whining already. Finally, Bertha asks if Miranda is already in bed. No, Tomasa answers, she went out with Alejandro. Once Tomasa sees Bertha’s discomfort at this she animatedly describes how happy, young and beautiful Miranda looked (you go Tomasa!) At this insubordination Bertha tells her she can just forget about her granddaughter.

Bertha goes in to wake up Renata and acts wronged and offended by the news she heard from Adriana, that there is a thief in the house.

Alejandro and Miranda return home from the date. They banter back and forth about knowing more about each other, not getting married tomorrow, Miranda’s obsession with Fabricio and Alejandro’s recently conferred degree in psychoanalysis…the usual pre-smooch chit-chat. They start kissing and Bertha and Lucas walk in and interrupt. Alejandro & Miranda make plans for tomorrow’s departure to Tabasco. Miranda will stay in the city finishing up some business. Miranda hams up their new flirtation for Bertha’s benefit and Alejandro leaves.

Miranda goes into her bedroom only to find Bertha & Lucas waiting for her. Bertha insists that Alejandro is hers, Miranda retorts it’s too bad he doesn’t think the same and while she might have left Fabricio for her dying sister, Bertha’s crazy if she thinks she’s going to the same for her. When Bertha says I’ll do whatever it takes, Miranda says didn’t you say that same thing to my mother and the man she loved ended up dead. Miranda asks if that’s what she did, if she killed when she couldn’t have him and continues pressing Bertha, asking her if she’s planning to do the same to Alejandro. Rubbing her forehead (a sure sign of stress) Bertha leaves a gleeful Miranda and, crying in the hallway, says that she hates Miranda and will make her pay the same price as Fernanda.

Daira and Alejandro are debriefing from Miranda & Alejandro’s date. Daira says she knew they were in love and Alejandro acts like a silly school girl, saying he’s not sure why he’s so scared and happy when he sees her. He feels like he could forget about the whole vengeance thing. Daira says, finally, Alejandro Luque knows love and I’m glad to know you are the most romantic man ever.

Back at the hospital, Juan and Fernanda are talking about Julio’s condition and Pamela’s tests. Alejandro shows up to announce his love for Miranda.
Pamela and Miranda are waiting for a test, discussing Julio’s condition and Bertha’s reaction to Miranda’s confrontation the night before. Juan approaches and asks Miranda if she is related to Renata San Llorente (and if she is, he figures, he better tread carefully).

Fernanda says she knows Alejandro is the perfect guy for Miranda and to “keep her posted”. Alejandro is going to spend more time with Florencia but promises not to say anything about Fernanda or the fact they are siblings. As a clever segue, after Alejandro leaves, Fernanda, talking to herself, says she can’t imagine Gonzalo in jail, treated like a criminal.

Cut to Gonzalo in jail, feeling sorry for himself while trying to make the transition from gourmet food to prison fare. His concerns about Florencia are interrupted by a FIGHT! This is a great scene to contrast the way he wears his prison-issue attire with the way the other prisoners wear theirs. If he stays much longer, he may have to petition for a prison-issue tie.

Nuria and Luis Alberto uncover the fact that Cesar’s accounts are being investigated. Cesar dismisses their concerns. The P.I. comes in and Cesar commissions him to investigate Nuria.

Back at Casa San Llorente, Renata and Bertha continue their discussion about Renata’s thieving ways. After she learns that Miranda knows about the theft and that she helped Renata, Bertha apologizes for her previously irrational behavior. She then plants a necklace asking herself if Miranda will have time for Alejandro if she’s busy saving Renata.

Pamela is in Fernanda’s office, crying and worried that her upcoming clinic stay for tests is similar to the way her mother’s affliction began. Fernanda & Miranda try to calm her down and then she goes off with Juan to complete the paperwork. Fernanda & Miranda continue to discuss her case. Miranda begins complaining about everything going wrong in her life and Fernanda promises to help.
Lisania and Raul are on their outing. Lisania is talking about her travels and Raul is impressed that a girl like her would be with him. She shares her mom’s theory that the eyes are the mirror of the soul and that she couldn’t forget his eyes. Lurking in the background are a couple of nogoodniks.

Returning from a hard day at the taco stand, the brother and sister discuss Raul and his girlfriend and the guys’ earlier conversation about her enthusiastic endeavors.

After reading the story of Cain and Abel, Padre Buenaventura meets Bertha, who is inquiring after Miranda’s philanthropic activities at the parish. To say the least, PB is not pleased to see her. He reminds her of all the bad stuff she’s done and despite her best efforts to sweet talk him, he maintains a bad attitude. Not until she blackmails him with information about his sister Sofia’s killer is he willing to start listening, but, playing hard to get, she leaves him until she can recover from his previously impolite behavior.

Back in the prison, an elderly gentleman approaches Gonzalo with some sage advice about adjusting to prison life. First rule: adapt yourself. Second rule: no names, just nicknames. Appropriately, Gonzalo is given the name, the Duke. “The Magnate”, his new friend, warns him that someone is going to try and kill him.

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