Caray, Caray!

Flor and Emilio are kissing by the very noisy waterfall. Flor asks Emilio why he wants to marry her. He says to be truthful, she reminds him of someone he loved very much and lost. Her name was...
"Alina Montellano," Flor finishes.

Angel tells the babe nurse how much he enjoyed Flor's visit. Orlando interrupts, he's looking for Emilio. He says everybody loves Flor...Angel, Emilio, him, everybody. The nurse, in her requisite telenovela cap, boob-squishing shirt and impractically short mini-skirt, leaves. Orlando whistles as she departs; so far he's the first guy to notice her. Don Maximo surely hasn't seen her yet or he'd be in there dropping tissues and making her bend over to pick them up non-stop.

Angel asks Orlando how he knows Emilio loves Flor. He goes into a fit of coughing as he always does when he becomes upset. In response Orlando salutes Angel and leaves the room. He waves the air as if to ward off Angel's germs. Very sensible if you ask me.

Over the cacaphony of the waterfall, Emilio tells Flor that Don Loco told him his beloved Alina died. Did Flor know Alina? Does she mind that he wants to be near her because she's like Alina? Flor asks would he mind if she kneed him in the nuts for asking such an insulting question? Oops, I added that last part.

What Flor REALLY says is no, she doesn't mind, the only thing that matters is that they marry. "Really?" he says. He actually looks happy. He's much handsomer when he smiles. He should do it more often.

He says he hopes she's not marrying him as a convenient way to move out of the cave. (Please, please knee him in the nuts!) He somewhat redeems himself by saying he will try to give her everything he would have given Alina. They decide to go to the cave to tell Luba, then hunt down the priest to schedule their marriage at La Rinconada in three days.

Elias and Blanca meet for fruity rum drinks with umbrellas in them. Elias tells her he didn't want to make trouble with Alvaro but he suspects something is up. Blanca doesn't believe anything Don Loco says, especially that Alina has forgotten them. She wants to go to the hacienda and talk to Soledad personally. Elias agrees it's a good idea.

After Elias leaves Thelma joins Blanca. She tells Blanca that in two days she will be on her way to join Emilio at La Rinconada. He's waiting for her and they will marry.

Luba, whittling with her gigantic knife, asks Emilio why he wants to marry Flor, and furthermore why in secret. He says he doesn't care for big celebrations. Flor tells Luba she wants what Emilio wants. (My mom would have said "Well if Emilio wanted you to jump off the Golden Gate Bridge would you want to do it?") When Emilio tells her the wedding will be in three days Luba stabs the table with her knife and asks, "So soon?"

Flor excitedly tells Rosita about her impending marriage. Soon all her suffering of the past two years will end. She admits he's marrying her because she looks like Alina, but since she actually IS Alina that makes it OK. Rosita's too sensible to buy this load and asks when Flor intends to tell Emilio the truth. "On our wedding day, at the altar, he'll be thrilled," she's got it all planned out. Emilio will defend her from Don Loco, save her mom and they will all live happily ever after. She and Rosita jump for joy.

Emilio breaks the news to Coral that he intends to marry Flor in La Rinconada chapel. Huh? I thought the marriage was supposed to be some big secret. Coral takes the news like a champ. The only thing is, since she quit her job she has nowhere to go. Can she stay at La Rinconada for a few days? Emilio says no problem, as long as she doesn't tell anyone about the wedding. I'm sure she won't tell a soul, except for all her girlfriends who are probably working at the local whorehouse and who will probably tell all their clients who will tell all their wives who will tell all their friends.

Thelma cries in bed, "Emilioooo, if only this baby were really yours."

I think it's the next day, Alina tells Luba that she wants to talk to Padre Cristobal before Emilio does. She runs off.

Gaspar enters carrying a huge load of wood...in his arms. Luba tells him to go to the hacienda and tell Nora that she needs to talk to Soledad right away. After he leaves Luba has a conversation with her picture of the virgin. She has a bad feeling about this wedding.

Flor asks Padre Cristobal not to spill the beans about her being Alina. He agrees and says he will also fix her papers so as not to reveal her identity. She sees Emilio and runs out the back door.

Adela tells Soledad that Nora said that Gaspar said that Luba said she needs to talk to Soledad. They wonder how they will get around the watchdog Santiago.

Padre Cristobal says he will happily marry Emilio to that poor girl Flor in two days at two in the afternoon. They repeat this information twice so it must be important.

Gaspar arrives home and announces he's bathed in the river. I notice they didn't do any lingering shots of him naked in the river like they did with Flor and Rosita. Luba sniffs him to make sure he's clean, which I found very amusing for some reason.

Gaspar reports he left the message for Soledad. Flor comes in and hears him. Luba sternly tells her that Soledad should know of Flor's marriage. Flor agrees and can't wait to see mom. Gaspar says Don Loco is away but Sergio is on guard. Flor coos, "Just imagine, in two days I'll be married to the love of my life!" Gag me.

Emilio tells Don Max of his plans. Don Max asks, "Do you know who she is?" Emilio says sure, she's the illegitimate kid of Don Loco who hates her, Emilio doesn't know why and doesn't care. Can he count on his tio to help with the wedding and keep the secret? After Emilio leaves Don Max twirls his moustache and chuckles, "Nephew, you're gonna have one helluva surprise when you learn the truth."

Thelma is packing for her trip. She's been packing for at least two days now. How many damn suitcases is she going to take to a dusty ranch out in the mountains? Auntie's not happy to hear that the trip includes a ride in a carriage.

Flor and Emilio are back at the waterfall. She says she has something important to tell him, but only at the altar. "Ah, a wedding secret?" He's intrigued. He says he also has a little secret, a surprise for her. Oh I'll just bet.

Adela tells Nora she has a plan to get Sergio out of the way.

Don Max tells Vera and her husband (can't remember his name) to get ready for a big fiesta. Clean up the chapel and put flowers in it. Get lots of wine, champagne and little sandwiches. Vera asks if it's a wedding but Don Max says it's a surprise. The husband, imitating Don Max, grumbles because he doesn't want to work for Emilio and his pals. Vera says the best surprise would be if they all went away..."but why the chapel, why the flowers?"

Nora brings a cup of cocoa to Sergio. She flirts with him until he accepts the cup. She's out the door to get Luba and Flor before he has even stopped drooling over her. Later Adela checks on him and he's passed out. Must have been a mug of cocolbosh.

Emilio is talking to Angel in the sickroom. Orlando interrupts, he wants to borrow a horse to go make "a conquest." Emilio says fine, but who are you going to conquer? When Orlando answers "Flor" Angel goes into a coughing fit.

Luba and Flor sneak into Soledad's room. Flor tells Soledad that she's the happiest girl in the world because she's getting married. "To Angel, right?" answers Soledad. "No, to Emilio," answers Flor. Soledad is impactada.

Angel admits to Orlando that he loves Flor. Emilio jumps up and asks "What nonsense is this?" When Angel says it's true Orlando responds that Angel will find that his brother is his rival. Poor Angel.

Rosita tells Santos about Flor and Emilio's big secret, which explains Don Max's party plans. Rosita is happy that Flor will be the owner of La Rinconada. Santos is happy because this will piss off Don Maximo.

Flor tells Soledad the story of her engagement and Soledad is happy if Flor/Alina is happy. Luba says she's worried about what will come later, she doesn't want to see Flor leave one wretch only to fall into the hands of another. Soledad asks Luba why she would say such a thing. Luba says "Mas sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo = experience is what really counts. I've learned to read the hearts of people through their eyes and faces, and this witch sees sadness, courage and fear in the heart of that guy Emilio. There is fear hiding behind his brave look. It is the fear of giving his complete heart and soul to love." Soledad thinks the fear in his heart will be replaced by love when he finds out Flor is Alina. Flor says everything will be fine and mom can I wear your wedding dress? Soledad whips the wedding dress out of the armoire where it has been taking up space for God knows how many years.

What luck! The wedding dress fits Flor perfectly! Much gnashing of teeth by Luba. Soledad gives Flor's papers to Luba so they can be delivered to the padre.

Susi is the name of Angel's nurse. Susi is worried because he's not hungry. Angel is worried about Orlando bothering Flor. Emilio says Gaspar will protect her. Orlando interrupts and calls them rivals. Angel is annoyed and so am I. Why is Orlando still there, I thought he was going out? Emilio tells Angel he will explain Orlando's words tomorrow. Angel coughs quizzically.

Shoot, I thought I would get a kid-free episode but I guess not. Marianita wants to visit her new friend Juanito at the hospital. She asks her mom if he's going to die like Estrellita. Mom says of course not. Seems to me this could end up being a lie. Marianita asks when is daddy coming home? "Soon, any minute now," Mariana lies. Marianita wants to go back to school and Mariana says she'll call the director. I wonder if this is a lie too.

We are in the drug runners' hideout. Jose tells the drug lord Jacinto that he refuses to rob the good, humble people in the area. Jacinto says Jose will do what he orders. Felicia, hungrily eyeing Jose, tells Jacinto to give Jose time. Jose says he won't get blood on his hands for Jacinto. Jacinto says fine, from now on Jose has to do all the crap work that would normally be assigned to several men. And with no sleep. He hopes Jose thinks it's worth it. Jose says he'd rather die of fatique than to kill innocent people. He wants to return to his family!

Orlando is STILL prancing around the hacienda trying to annoy people. He interrupts Emilio's thoughts to announce that he's on his way to Edilmira's whorehouse. Orlando suggests Coral should look for a job there. He pours a shot of booze and gives it to Emilio. He wants Emilio to tell him the secret that he's guarding so jealously. He tries to give Emilio another drink but Emilio says no way, not after what happened the other night.

Sergio wakes with a start and yells for Adela. She assures him Soledad is in her room and nobody has gone in or out. He asks her not to tell the patron he fell asleep.

Flor shows Donkey her wedding dress. (I know his name is really Tonky but I like calling him Donkey.)

Don Loco tells Hugo to send the chauffeur around early, he wants to return to the hacienda. Alfonsina walks into the office, sees them talking and excuses herself. Don Loco asks why she entered with such confidence, is there any hanky-panky between them? There had better not be, romance between his employees is strictly forbidden. (Naturally, because only he, the patron is allowed to boink the babes.) He tells Hugo that he's thinking of giving him a raise if he believes Hugo deserves it. Hugo thanks him, twice calling him Alvaro, not Don or Patron.

Orlando continues to press Emilio for information, "Aren't I your best friend? You're going to marry Thelma, right?" Emilio says not Thelma, but he is getting married tomorrow...to Flor del Campo! Orlando looks more irritated than impactado.

Orlando tells Ifigenio to go to San Mateo in the morning to pick up one Thelma Castelo. She is Emilio's fiancee. It is a surprise and he mustn't tell Emilio.

It is a dark and stormy morning. Ifigenio says it's too perilous to take the carriage to San Mateo and it will probably rain all day. Orlando gets angry, the rain has thwarted his plans! He has a mini-tantrum and whacks one of the chairs, amusing and annoying the staff.

Marianita goes to the hospital and finds Juanito the singing cancer patient. He has great news, he gets out in a few days and his mom says that he and Marianita will be at the same school. Will Marianita be his girlfriend? They hold hands.

Emilio has braved the storm to visit Flor at the cave. He says he'll send for her in the morning and she can get ready in the guestroom. "I love him Donkey, I love him," she gushes after Emilio leaves. Excuse me while I hurl.

Thelma and Tia Rebeca are near Sierra Escondida. They are told they have to spend the day and night in the local hotel due to the rain. They'll go to La Rinconada in the morning.

Thelma runs down the stairs of the hotel. She feels dizzy and staggers. Don Loco runs to her aid. When Thelma says she is on her way to La Rinconada Don Loco says he owns the neighboring ranch. They introduce themselves and he is surprised to hear she is Emilio's fiancee. He hopes they can travel together to Sierra Escondida tomorrow.

The next morning (I think) Flor gives her dress to Gaspar, (who is wearing a new, but mysteriously sleeveless, dress shirt) with orders to take it directly to the guest house. Then he is to borrow a horse, go to San mateo and keep a lookout for her father and warn them if he returns.

Gaspar tells Ifigenio he needs to borrow a horse to go to San Mateo. Ifigenio tells Gaspar he can go along with him, he's going there to pick up Emilio's fiancee. Gaspar scratches his head and is all "Que?????"

Flor and Donkey are ready to leave the cave. They hear a noise, it must be Luba! But no, it's Orlando. He says he's glad he caught her. He came to warn her about Emilio's intentions. She should NOT marry him! Flor looks at him like he is a disease instead of a man.

rabieta - tantrum
bocadillos - sandwiches, my dictionary says this is also a term for speech/thought bubbles!

lascivo (a) - lascivious
cachas - beefcake, hunk

Speaking of which, and I swear I will not make a habit of this picture thing, here is our beloved Gaspar (AKA "Intocable") when he's not wearing his Jethro uniform:

Labels: duelo