Caray, Caray!

We pick up where Gonzo is giving Rebecca ultimatums. She must find out the identity of Fernanda's protector. Rebecca is all nervous and begging him to forgive her, and for what I'd like to know. Get some backbone Rebecca! You're going to need it.

Flor and Gonzo are doing the wedding dance. She tells him he shouldn't be alone, he needs to get hooked up with a female companion, someone like... "Not Bertha," says papa. Flor whines, "But why not, she's been like a mother to us, dedicated herself to us body and soul. Who better? I implore you, marry Aunt Bertha! Now, stop making that face. I'm not asking you to marry the devil." Gonzo says there's not much difference between the two. Flor wonders is it because he loves another woman? He says there has never been anyone else, not since her ma abandoned them.

Bertha interrupts and Alejandro conveniently asks Flor to dance. Bertha says she's pleased to see Florencia so happy. Ahhh, what papa wouldn't give to see her smile more often. "Too bad Fernanda doesn't think like you," says Bertha, "she comes determined to reclaim her place among her daughters, didn't you know?" Gonzo says Fernanda would never harm her daughters, not like Bertha has done with her intrigues against Miranda. Bertha chugs a glass of champagne.

Alejandro tells Flor she can depend upon him for anything. She thanks him for being like a brother to Fabricio. Alejandro tells her he would like to be a brother to her too, and she looks so angelical. "Angelical? Are you ever wrong," she says, "this should have been Miranda's wedding, she should be wearing this dress." He tells her that Miranda will recover, there are no wounds that time cannot heal. Flor says he's charming and she wishes Miranda would pay attention to him. If only a man like him could make Miranda forget Fabricio then Flor would be happy. Alejandro promises her that he will do whatever is necessary to help Miranda forget Faby forever.

Fabricio and Cesar get into it. Faby calls Cesar a disgrace. Cesar retorts that the "quinta," the house in mexico, the bank accounts, they are all his whether Faby likes it or not. Mom is going to have to leave because that's the house that Cesar is going to live in with Miranda after they marry. "Mama's not leaving and you'll never marry Miranda, at least not as long as I live." Cesar tells Faby to stay out of his way. Faby taunts, "Whatcha gonna do, kill me?" "If it's necessary," hisses Cesar under his breath.

The two poor kids, Juan and Raul, are at home talking about their financial situation. Raul's great idea is to sell tacos to the students at the university who always arrive at school with empty stomachs. Juan says no way is dad going to let him. I happily noticed at this time that they have dressed this "Juan" actor in a shirt at least one size too small so that his biceps bulge out as he walks around. Nice bit of work that. Juan tells Raul the taco plan will interfere with his education and degree and the possibility of him finding better work in the future. "We're not stupid Juan, a university degree doesn't guarantee anything," snaps Raul. Juan says it's exactly for that reason that he's going across the border and he's not telling papa who will try to stop him. Once he gets to the border he'll tell them but they won't be able to do anything about it. Mama Amparito arrives from shopping and Juan goes into the kitchen to help her unpack. Raul thought bubbles that he will find a way to keep the family together.

Fernanda stands by a waterfall and has a flashback. Bertha is telling Fernanda's daughter that mommie is a "ramera", a whore. Fernanda asks Bertha to help her but Bertha the Uber Perra tells Fernanda that her own immorality has brought disgrace upon the family...so GET OUT! Gonzo yells from the background "If that woman doesn't get out I'll also kill her daughters!" Yikes! Fernanda begs Bertha not to let him hurt them, says goodbye to her daughter and leaves. Flash up to the present and Gonzo is in her face. The sadist coos "I like that, you tremble when you hear me." "You're wrong," snaps Fernanda, "I'm not afraid of you, I'm somebody else now and you don't know me. By the way, tell me when Florencia's illness began." Gonzo tells her it was the very night of her betrayal. After she left they went to the emergency room. Flor was never well again and it's all Fernanda's fault. Now leave. Fernanda says she doesn't take orders from him. She's waiting for her daughter, she'll leave after she says goodbye, and when she gets back it will be she, Fernanda, who takes care of Flor or Gonzo will really regret it. Gonzo's pissed, "Hey, nobody threatens me!" Fernanda shows some guts, "I do!"

The newlyweds are about to leave and are saying their goodbyes. Faby promises Alejandro that he will treat Flor like a queen today and forever. Alejandro is acting very protective of Flor. Naturally Miranda notices and jealously points out to Pamela Alejandro's new affection directed at Flor. "His attitude is not normal. He must be interested in her." Pamela tells Miranda to stop imagining things, enough already. Alejandro and Flor embrace. "See, I toldja," says Miranda unhappily.

Raul leaves the apartment. In the street he furtively looks around and then goes to visit a blonde chick, Carola. She looks like a ramera. Raul wants her help getting into a gang run by some guy named Samson. Carola doesn't want Raul to do this, because once you get in you can never leave. "You can't just go in and out like your own house." Raul must do this, otherwise his brother will head for the border. For them the most important thing is family so they must stay together. The logic in this eludes me but he's an adolescent, so there you are. Carola wisely points out that the family won't be together if Raulito ends up in jail or worse, so no, she won't help him. "Fine," says Raul, "I'll look for Samson on my own."

Weddings are tough on everybody and Fernanda is having a weepy night. Pamela joins her at the waterfall and says she doesn't know how to tell Fernanda this but Miranda feels that none of the three sisters are children born of love. Miranda is sure their mother left them to be with another man because she never wanted them. Fernanda assures Pamela that at the time of their births she and Gonzalo were infinitely happy. She swears she is going to fix things somehow. Miranda arrives and Fernanda tells her the sacrifice she made today for her sister will be repaid by thousands of blessings. Very soon there will be another man in her life, one worthy of her. Miranda says she doesn't want to love. "Love inflicts mortal wounds, and the worst of it is that we keep on living." Fernanda offers some dimestore philosopy, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."

Flor throws the bouquet and Bertha body blocks Lasagna so she can grab it and gloat in front of Miranda. "I hope it works for you." comments Pamela. "Flowers only serve to emphasize a pig's filth," says Miranda. Good smack-down, but I'm noticing that no matter what anybody says to Bertha, her expression never changes. Must be residual nerve damage from her face lift.

For the third time tonight Flor says her goodbyes to all, this time snubbing Fernanda. Miranda pouts and Cesar, getting progressively drunker, uses this as an excuse to suck up to her. Faby doesn't like this (I don't want you but I don't want anyone else to have you either) so he hugs Miranda and whispers in her ear "Wait for me, I'm going to return." What a jerk!!! Then she smiles hopefully at him. Somebody slap her! Cesar flashes back to when Faby said Miranda would never be Cesar's because she still loves him (Faby). Cesar thinks "We'll see, stupid, we'll see." Actually, Fabricio is being such a jerk I wish Cesar would off him this very second.

Fernanda, crying again, is approached by Squeaky (Renata) who reams Fernanda out for spilling the beans about Renata being a druggie. In a mouse voice and raccoon eyes she orders Fernanda to leave "her" house.

Faby and Flor leave for their honeymoon (finally!) driving down a road lined with giant sparklers that ignite as they slowly roll by. The bright sparklers display a weeping Miranda sagging against a column. (Miranda has a perfect Lucille Ball "Waaaaahhhh" mouth in this scene.)

Later she is seated and Alejandro joins her. He's happy to see her more calm. "Sometimes calm precedes the storm," she comments, just as Bertha approaches. Bertha wants Alejandro to escort her to her hotel but Miranda gets possessive, "No way, he's with me." Bertha scowls, or maybe she smirks, it's hard to tell because she only has one expression. Anyway, Alejandro wisely excuses himself from this potential catfight. Miranda says Bertha has much to explain and she, Miranda, will wait in her room for Bertha to join her. Bertha has no intention of meeting Miranda. "We'll see who gives the orders around here," she mutters to Miranda's back.

Gonzalo and Alejandro are talking business. Gonzalo is anxious about the fall of the stock market. Alejandro says a strong economic crisis is approaching and many business will fail. He knows it's a difficult time and he doesn't wish to press Gonzo, but they have a signed contract and have not yet begun construction on the hotel. Gonzo says his capital is solid. The delays have been bureaucratic, not economic, and he will honor the contract including interest for all delays incurred. Alejandro says that's spoken like a man of honor. He sees he has not made a mistake choosing Gonzo as a partner.

Pam tells Miranda to stop pacing. Bertha won't come to the room when Miranda wants, only when Bertha wants. Miranda wonders where the Doctora is. Tomorrow she's going to look for her. The Dr. doesn't know how good her words made Miranda feel. They have so much in common, she's so tender. "So maternal," adds Pamela. Miranda says the Dr. inspires confidence in her, yet there is a sadness in her eyes, a contained sadness, like a muffled scream. (Do people really talk like that?) Miranda is going to befriend her and when she finds out what has happened in her life she will help her. She's going to be such a good friend that she's going to investigate the Dr.'s past. Pamela looks worried at this revelation.

Gonzo asks Alejandro how his businesses are doing. So far so good, says Alejandro. All his capital is in gold reserves and precious gems. Gonzo says if complications ensue with the construction he can propose an alternate plan here at the hacienda, something to do with exporting cacao. He only has to convince Miranda to agree to the plan. (Aha! It's probably in her name.) Alejandro is surprised that Gonzo has to check in with his daughter, this isn't the famous Gonzalo San Llorente he's heard so much about.

Gonzo tells Renata that he is cancelling all her credit cards and when they get back to Mexico she's going to have a 24 hour guard. If she takes drugs again she's going straight to rehab. She bugs her eyes and tries to squeak but he shuts her up, thank goodness.

Rebecca is trying to worm the info out of Fernanda that Gonzo wants, i.e. who is Fernanda's protector. She tries to be sneaky but obviously Fernanda thinks she's a bad actress because she can see right through her. "You're so transparent Rebecca. Tell Gonzalo my protector is very rich and infinitely powerful." She's going to find Daira, Lasagna and Alejandro and have them take her to a hotel in town.

Cesar, looking very drunk and sweaty by now, is lurking nearby and speaks to Rebecca after Fernanda leaves. A typical loud drunk, he doesn't care which of his brother's guests hears him, he wants nothing to do with Faby. "Why do you hate your brother so," wails Rebecca? "Because he's an imbecile, a disgrace. Do you know what he did before leaving on his honeymoon? He whispered little hopefuls to Miranda, that he would return." Rebecca is stunned, "it can't be, my perfect Faby isn't capable of such baseness." Cesar threatens "we'll see what Gonzalo says when he finds out Florencia is his wife and Miranda is his lover."

Gonzo is drinking alone in his study. Miranda enters for a heart to heart. Gonzo says he doesn't understand Renata, why does she have to use drugs? She has a life most women dream of, a house, car, money, travel, clothing, what else is there? Miranda says Renata is missing a mother. "But you and Florencia turned out OK, you never used drugs." Miranda says it's not fair to compare them, they are different people. Anyway, Renata doesn't even remember her mother. She's not reproaching Gonzalo, just telling him the situation with Renata. She's very sweet to him.

Fernanda tells Daira that Gonzo will investigate her to find the identity of her protector, he will put the pieces together and figure out it's Alejandro. "But not until Alejandro wants," assures Daira. She says don't worry about Al, however they may have committed a grave error in telling Bertha that Daira was married to Alfredo. Alfredo Correction: Alejandro enters, Rebecca wants Fernanda to stay. Fernanda says she needs strength for all she hopes to do. Al says he's with her, but she should rest because it's been a long day.

Gonzo pours another drink. "Your third," says Miranda. He says she has no idea how he feels. "Whoa," she says, "and you think you know how I feel? Today was a wedding that should have been mine, Florencia is dying and Renata is out of control, that's why I don't want to drown my sorrows in alcohol." Gonzo says she's right, he's an egoist. He asks her how she really feels. Miranda says she feels there is a battle of feelings within her and she can't control them, not the least of which is Fabricio. Gonzo blames himself for all this, he allowed Flor to stay with Fabricio, made it easy for them to get together. Today he realized that he has been mistaken about everything. He wanted to do a good thing for them but he realizes that's no longer true. Miranda tenderly tells him not to torment himself, tomorrow they will think about fixing things. At day everything is seen in a new color. She comforts him and they leave.

Later she gazes out the window. Flash back to their goodbye embrace where he tells her to wait for him. "Why Fabricio...what did you mean?"

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