Caray, Caray!

Flor's announcement that she is Alina Montellano makes perfect sense to Angel, it explains a lot. Emilio is not so easily convinced, no way is the light bulb going to go on over his head without a fight. "Anyway," he insists, "Mr. and Mrs. Loco clearly said Alina is dead."

Santos tells his hysterical sister, I mean very young mother, that he didn't mean to kill or hurt Don Max, he just wanted Rosita to be left in peace.

Emilio tells Flor she can't lie to him because he'll never forget the first time he saw Alina. He has an orange flashback to their meeting. He tells Flor, "It was a goodbye party..." "...of my friend Sophia," she finishes, "You sang and she introduced us." Emilio looks confused. She tells him more details of their time together and says that cruel destiny separated them. "No puede ser," cries Emilio.

Rosita runs into Santos' shack and tells Santos that he didn't kill Don Max.

Flor says the Emilio Valtierra that she knows in Sierra Escondido is nothing like the Emilio she met long ago. Emilio says she is nothing like the young woman he fell in love with, how could she be so different? Flor says she might look different but she's the same inside whereas Emilio has no heart. He was going to marry Flor only to get out of his responsibility to 'that woman' (points to Thelma who has somehow materialized in the room). She tells Emilio she doesn't even want her heart necklace anymore because she doesn't want to remember a man she detests. She throws the necklace to the ground and runs out. Emilio and Flor will have this argument many times.

Thelma laughs, "what a surprise, Flor turns out to be a good girl after all. Why such a sad face Emilio? You, the conqueror of ingenuous young women, repudiated. Ha!" Emilio tells her to shut up or he'll throw her out. He stomps out of the room and Thelma hugs herself and laughs.

Orlando sees Flor as she leaves. She says she's never setting foot in La Rinconada again. Orlando says in that case he will come to visit her in the country. He kisses his fingers as she dashes out.

Doña Loco and Adela wring their hands over what Don Loco might do to Alina.

Vera tries to put an ice pack on Don Max's head but he says all he wants to do is kill that damned Santos. Vera is shocked by his words. "Don't be stupid," he says, "it's only a figure of speech!" He stomps out in a rage.

Emilio enters and wants to talk to Vera. She has lived her entire life in Sierra Escondido, right? Is it true that Flor is Alina Montellano? Vera is impactada.

Flor sobs to Tonki, she had to tell the truth because Emilio was so cruel to her. For him Alina is dead. Flor del Campo is filthy and despicable. She IS Alina Montellano even though her father doesn't want to believe it.

Vera confirms for Emilio that Flor is Alina. She and the others couldn't admit it because they were afraid of the powerful Don Loco. She doesn't know why Don Loco suddenly and for no reason turned against the good and lovely Alina. Emilio tells her "I want you to know that around here Don Loco doesn't give the orders. I give the orders here!"

Doña Loco wanders into their parlor and Don Loco scolds her for not being in her room. She wants to know about her daughter. He accuses her of feigning loco-ness. If she is...boy will she be sorry. Yawn.

Padre Cristobal is playing dress-up with his Virgin Mary statue when Emilio arrives. He asks the Padre if Flor is Alina and the padre confirms it. Emilio says Flor insulted him last night. Because of the pain she inflicted on him he wants to know the whole story and the padre is going to tell it to him now.

What's the secret for silky smooth skin in the mountains? Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! We get a close-up of Thelma moisturizing her shapely gams as Orlando slinks into her room. He wants to know why Flor left La Rinconada in such a rush the night before. "Oh, you're referring to Alina Montellano, the real daughter of Alvaro," Thelma answers, "Yep, she confessed everything last night, her father has been hiding her for who knows what strange reason." Orlando is impactado, then smirks, "Emilio's 'great love' reappears when he can no longer be with her."

Nurse Susi arrives to attend to young master Angel but young master Angel wants to be alone. Angel reasons that Alina was Emilio's great love but now Emilio is married and expecting a son. Angel on the other hand has no compromises and sincerely loves Flor so he, Angel, will conquer Alina Montellano.

The padre tells Emilio that Flor is the victim of revenge, the revenge of Don Loco against Doña Loco. Padre says that Emilio preferred to believe that Flor deserved Don Loco's sentence, Emilio's heart was insensible to the truth.

Luba sends Gaspar off to get branches for the fire. She tells him not to be be late. "No ma!" he promises. Luba tells Flor to stop pining for that devil Emilio. Flor says Luba is right. Emilio isn't worth it, he still treated her badly even when she told him the truth about her identity. "You what?!?!?" Luba is impactada and horrified. She paces the cave in circles and rubs her forehead. Flor says she's giving up on love once and for all.

At the highway construction camp Elias interrupts Emilio's meeting with the foreman. He tells them Don Loco has organized his workers to protest against the highway construction and he can assure them it will be a real hindrance. Emilio says, "That man is crazy. It's time for us to settle our business." He jumps on his horse and rides off.

What a surprise, the sultry and sex-starved Thelma is paying a visit to the studly yet scabby Castulo. He tells her he did the job (kisses her shoulder), yeah sure, he killed Gaspar (kisses her neck), uh huh, he opened Gaspar's throat in two and left him bleeding in the field, can they have sex now? Thelma has another favor to ask, could Castulo please eliminate another person? (Ooooh, she's gonna be pissed off when she finds out Gaspar is still alive!!)

Coral and Granillo argue about her dance moves. She tells Edelmira she's in a funk because of unrequited love. Edelmira says "No way! You're such a hottie you can get anyone." Coral says Ed is right, starting now she's going after the one she loves, Emilio Valtierra! Ed is amused at Coral's lofty goals.

Castulo tells Thelma that killing Gaspar was a lot of work because Gaspar was stronger than he, but killing Coral will be easy, like killing a butterfly with a swipe of his hand. Can they have sex now? First Thelma wants to know how he plans to take care of that tramp. He says it will be easy, she'll leave alone, he'll take charge, he knows how to handle that kind of woman. This talk excites Thelma and they finally get down to business. I hope Castulo enjoys it now, because when Thelma finds out he didn't kill Gaspar, Castulo will become Castrado.

Cut to Gaspar with a large machete venting his frustrations on a tree. I'm not sure, but I think he says that in one easy blow (as he whacks the tree) 'you' (Thelma?) would end his life. He slumps down on the ground. "I'm not as bad as she but I still love her. Someday you're going to return to me, you'll see, some day you'll return to Gaspar!"

Emilio visits Don Loco. He says they are building the highway by order of the governor and there is nothing Don Loco or a thousand men can do to stop it. "We'll see," says Loco, keeping cool. Emilio says they will bring in the military and Don Loco will lose control of Sierra Escondido. Furthermore, there is that business of Alina; he knows what's up and it has to stop. Loco tells 'Capitan' Emilio to stay out of his personal business. Emilio says he intends to defend Alina and then they will have a confrontation. "Any time you want!" answers Loco. It's amazing, they conducted this pissing contest without changing their expressions at all.

The Central American paramilitary dudes have interrogated Jose all night but to no avail. The Sergeant says no matter, they will use Jose to negotiate. They will tell the leader of those delinquents that Jose has opened his mouth. I guess the Sergeant thinks using Jose as bait will flush out the leader of the drug runners.

At the drug camp the men tell Jacinto that they looked for Jose everywhere. He has escaped. Jacinto figures Jose started the fire as a diversion. He orders the men to put together a search party to recapture Jose. If they find him they are to kill him. Jacinto throws his machete into a tree trunk. Felicia begs Jacinto not to kill Jose, she is expecting his child. "QUE?!?!?!?" explodes Jacinto.

Don Loco tells Sergio that Flor would never be stupid enough to accept help from Emilio. She knows her mother would pay dearly. He has a plan to get rid of Emilio. He'll make sure Capitan Emilio will want nothing to do with that girl.

Mexico City - Marianita calls Dr. Love's clinic. In her puny-chipmunky-little-girl voice she leaves a message for the doctor, "Tell him it's Sra. Mariana Montellano (kiss kiss), I love him a lot and I want to be his girlfriend." Uh, right. But then again maybe Dr. Love and his creepy puppet get calls like that all the time.

Mariana enters the room and scolds Marianita for calling Dr. Love 'papi' the day before. Marianita says the other girls tease her for not having a father. "But you DO have a father, he's traveling and someday he'll return," answers mama. "He's forgotten us," sobs Marianita, "I want to have a father!"

Gaspar is pouting by the river when Castulo approaches. Gaspar jumps up holding a big log. He asks if Castulo intends to kill him. No, Castulo only wants to advise him to leave the muñequita alone. She is the patron's wife. (Not that that stopped Castulo, but I digress.)

Castulo sits next to Gaspar so they can talk man to man. He tells Gaspar not to have illusions about Thelma. But Gaspar loves his muñequita and he is nothing if not single-minded. He has a hole in his soul and it needs filling. This is Gaspar's poetic way of saying the heat is turned up high downstairs. Gaspar saved Castulo's life and Castulo owes him a favor. He wants Castulo to bring him his muñequita.

Don Max visits Elias to tell him he heard Elias hired one of his best workers. Santos was especially valuable because he preferred dangerous, life-threatening tasks. Elias is pleased to hear it, he has an excellent OSHA unapproved position that is difficult to fill. It sounds like Don Max's man Santos will be perfect for the job.

Carmen tells Santos to stay away from Don Max, he has no idea with whom he's dealing. Santos says he does, he's dealing with a repugnant old goat who abuses his power and who is after Rosita. (OK, I'd say Santos DOES know.) "No Santos," replies Carmen, "you have to know the truth. Don Max is your father!" Santos is impactado.

Luba and Flor are gathering herbs when Emilio rides up. Luba brandishes her knife and tells him to beat it. Emilio wants to ask Flor's forgiveness. If she forgives him he would like to once again be the Emilio that she fell in love with. Um, dude, this is how it works, you prove that you've become a better person and THEN the babe forgives you.

Emilio sweet talks Flor, he says he loves her, he kisses her. Luba hisses, "Flor, don't you remember all the things this pig-head did?" Flor says Luba is right, how can Emilio say these things when his wife is expecting his child? They argue. Luba stabs the tree branch and digs her knife around for effect.

Santos goes ape-shit at Carmen's news. He can only imagine what Don Max did to Carmen, no doubt the same crap he's pulling with Rosita! "That guy is a misery, I'll never accept him as my father!" he yells.

Back at bicker central:
Alina - "You're a liar!"
Emilio - "You're a bigger liar. Why didn't you tell me who you really are?"
Alina - "I was going to tell you on our wedding day."
Emilio - "You're a disappointment!"
Alina - "You're a bigger disappointment!"
Emilio - "Everybody says your mom's a cheat and you're the daughter of a foreman."
Alina hauls off and slaps the hell out of Emilio. It looks like she really slapped him too! I wonder...

Alina - "You'll never change."
Emilio - "You'll never change. You used to be sweet and malleable, now you're strong and have a mind of your own. What happened to you?
Alina - "Call me Flor, I'm no longer Alina."
Emilio - "Fine then, forget what I said about being good Emilio. I'll return to being the Emilio you hate."
They glare and a horse whinnies oddly in the background.

Santos rides his horse and thought bubbles, "Damn the luck, how could I be his son? Gross!"

Elias sees Santos and tells him he has an excavation job for him. It's dangerous but it pays well. Santos is ready. Suddenly it thunders overhead. A terrible storm has arrived. Elias says they should wait for a better day but Santos insists they go right away and rides off to the pits. "No Santos," yells Elias, "it's too dangerous!" A huge thunderhead with lightning looms ominously overhead.

Soledad is alone in her room having a flashback to when she and Elias were young. Young Soledad says he is her best friend. Young Elias tries to pick a rose for her and pricks his finger. Back in the present she sighs, "Elias, my friend."

Angel sits at his window and watches the storm. He tells Nurse Susi it will be a bad storm. "What about the people who have no homes? What about Alina?" he asks.

It is now pouring rain and Emilio and Flor are STILL arguing. They have incredible stamina for this mindless drivel. On the upside, a treat for the gentlemen, her clothes are so wet and heavy they are starting to slide down her body.

Lightning strikes a tree next to them, a branch falls, and they wind up in each others' arms.

Thelma runs in out of the rain. She looks happy and satisfied. She tells Orlando she hasn't seen Emilio and she doesn't really care. Orlando says he needs to conquer Flor now that Emilio is out of the way. "Whatever," chirps Thelma, and happily runs upstairs. Sounds like Castulo's toolbox still has its screwdriver.

Don Loco talks to himself and wonders if Soledad is faking her craziness. She's gonna pay, yada yada yada.

Emilio and Flor are arguing goodbye. She says he can't tell her what to do and don't expect her to thank him for saving her life (from the falling branch I suppose). "Someday you'll be obeying me all right, and that day will have been worth the trouble of saving your life. Goodbye Flor del Campo!" Oh ick, who writes these lines anyway?

Emilio leaves Flor standing in the rain, her shirt sodden and unbuttoned.

Previews for tomorrow: Angel tells Emilio he wants to marry Flor, Don Loco tells Luba he's come to take Flor away, a big rock teeters over Santos, Emilio is wet and impactado.

castrado - castrated
desconocer - to not know
energúmeno/a - lunatic
se puso hecho un energúmeno - he went ape-shit
empapado/a - sodden, soaked

Labels: duelo