Caray, Caray!

Vera and Alina discussed Thelma's attempt to have the dog Tonqui shot. Vera said Thelma had watched out the window with "the face of a vampire," hoping to see Tonqui's blood.

She warned Alina that Thelma was jealous of her, hated her, and was capable of killing her. Then she showed Alina her burned arm and said Thelma had done it because Vera said Emilio had always loved Alina. She called Thelma a demon.

Elsewhere: Carmen asked Santos who had hit him. Santos said "nobody" and distracted Carmen by announcing that he and Rosita were planning to get married, and that Rosita was expecting his child. Carmen was pleased.

Susi told the unconscious Angel that she didn't want to lose him. Alina arrived and Susi asked her to let Angel hear her voice because it would help him. She told Alina that Angel loved her. Alina said her heart belonged to someone else.

Susi revealed how much she liked Angel, saying he had "the most beautiful smile I've seen in my life." Alina said, "You are in love, Susi."

Thelma stormed into the room and told Alina to leave, "Angel is nothing to you." Alina said, "He is my friend." Thelma asked if Alina was hoping Angel would add her to his will.

Alina said she didn't have to explain herself to Thelma. Thelma said, "I am the lady of this house!" but Alina said Thelma's position and jewels meant nothing to her, what mattered to her was "human quality, and you have nothing of that." Alina left and Thelma ordered Susi to leave, too.

Emilio chewed out Maximo for not helping the storm victims. I think he implied that Maximo wanted to keep the money for himself. Maximo blustered and said, "Your father put me in charge of this hacienda because he trusted me!" Emilio said, "If my father believed in you, I'm not going to doubt you, Uncle." He ordered Maximo to make a donation. Emilio said, "As you wish, patron."

After Emilio left the room, Maximo threw down his hat and yelled that he did all the work and had as much right to the money as Emilio did.

Luba had another flashback about Alvaro's dying mother giving Luba a box for Alvaro. Luba said to herself, "I must give the coffer to the patron," but that she was afraid Alvaro would kill her. "Better that I guard this terrible secret."

She caught Gaspar trying to sneak out of the cave and they had their usual argument about whether or not Gaspar should forget Thelma.

Soledad visited Elias. He told her that he missed Blanca every minute of the day, that life hadn't been fair to him and Soledad because he had lost his wife and Soledad didn't have the love she deserved. Soledad asked him not to talk about that, saying her heart was withered and empty.

Singing Aunt Rebeca visited Maximo's office, supposedly to console him about Angel, and invited herself to go to Edelmira's club with him.

Emilio went to see Angel. Pretending to be sympathetic, Thelma told Emilio to prepare himself for the worst, saying they had to go to Puebla and arrange Angel's burial. "You know he's going to die very soon." Emilio said, "It seems you've thought of everything."

Thelma claimed she was only thinking of Emilio, then tried to convince him that Angel's illness was all Alina's fault. Angel, although still apparently unconscious, overheard this and thought, "What are you saying, Thelma? This isn't true."

Unaware that Angel could hear her, Thelma continued telling Emilio that Alina had deliberately provoked his fight with Angel. Angel thought, "No, Emilio, defend Alina! She's not to blame for anything!"

Emilio dismissed what Thelma was saying, took Angel's hand, and asked Angel to forgive him for their argument. Angel clasped his hand and thought, "Thank you for not condemning Flor. I go in peace."

His hand dropped and Emilio ran from the room yelling for the doctor. Thelma thought, "He is dead. He finally died."

Dr. Vasquez took one look at Angel and announced that he was in a coma. Emilio, Thelma, and Orlando agreed that overhearing Emilio and Thelma's conversation about Alina had sent Angel into the coma.

The doctor said all they could do now was wait for Angel's death "or a miracle." Nurse Susi began crying and left the room.

Meanwhile, at the hospital in Mexico City, Malena asked Ricardo/Dr. Love if Mariana would be OK after her suicide attempt. He said it was too soon to know.

At Edelmira's tavern: Alvaro/Don Loco tried to kiss a prostitute and, predictably, hallucinated that she was Soledad. (Hasn't this happened 900 times before? Why does he bother?) After coming to his senses (as much as he ever does) and realizing it wasn't Soledad, he gave her some money and told her to leave him alone.

Elias took Soledad in a carriage to see Alina outside La Rinconada. Alina told Soledad that Emilio had changed a lot and was "more sensitive" now. (Notice that she didn't say "more intelligent.")

Soledad falsely told Alina that Don Loco had permitted this visit with Alina. She urged Alina not to try to see her, "Better I come to see you."

At Edelmira's club: Aunt Rebeca "sang," ie screeched, for the customers. To get rid of her, Granillo applauded and told her how fantastic she was. (I hope Aunt Rebeca marries Maximo and yodels in his ears for the rest of his days; Evil Mr. Mustache Twirler deserves it. Maybe Alvaro could lock them into a barn together.)

Somehow Alvaro and Maximo survived Singing Aunt Rebeca's performance. Alvaro told Maximo he intended to start a new life without Soledad.

At Elias's office: Elias tried to convince Soledad to finally escape from Don Loco. Soledad, as usual, refused, saying if she did Alvaro would kill Alina.

Elias asked why Soledad hadn't told Alina the truth about how Alvaro was treating her. Soledad said, "I don't want to worry her. She's suffered enough."

Elias called Soledad incredible and marvellous. He put his hands on her arms and asked, "When am I going to see you again?" Soledad squirmed away and said nervously, "Soon, soon," then left.

Back at La Rinconada, Dr. Vasquez and Emilio conversed in the hallway outside Angel's room. The doctor said only God could save Angel now, he probably wouldn't survive the night. After he left, Emilio crouched against the wall, crying.

Meanwhile, in the chapel, Nurse Susi told Alina that Angel was dying. Angel promised to pray for him all night. Susi went back to Angel. Alina prayed for Angel to live and Emilio to be given "a little faith."

While talking to Orlando, Thelma let it slip that she was responsible for someone else's death but refused to answer his questions about it. Orlando wondered what other death she had on her conscience, then smirked to himself.

In Mexico City: Another doctor told Doctor Love that Mariana would be a quadriplegic for the rest of her life. Later Dr. Love cried to Malena that it hurt his soul to see Mariana like that and not be able to help her.

At Don Loco's hacienda: Maximo told Alvaro that all women were damn traitors. "Soledad is still laughing at you in her fantasies, in her dreams." Alvaro agreed, "You are right," and wondered how he could stop Soledad from continuing to betray him.

At La Rinconada: While Orlando was having a drink with Dr. Vasquez, Luba sneaked into the house.

As Soledad was returning to her nice cozy barn, Maximo and Singing Aunt Rebeca drove by in a coach. Soledad hid behind a tree. Maximo stopped and peered in her direction, saying he thought he saw something, then said he didn't see well at night. Rebeca said, "Ah, but you are very handsome!" and they drove on.

Meanwhile, Alvaro mused that he was dying inside and it was all Soledad's fault, bla bla, boo hoo.

Back at La Rinconada, Emilio cried and told Thelma that Angel was all he had. Thelma told him to ask God to end it. Emilio remembered Alina telling him to pray for a miracle, and the doctor also telling him to pray. He said, "I have to do it."

On his way to the chapel, he encountered Orlando, who asked where he was going and offered to accompany him. Emilio said he needed to be alone. Orlando followed him to the chapel anyway, then watched and gloated as Emilio prayed.

Alina also saw Emilio praying. She thanked God.

Emilio cried and told God he would give up the thing most important to him, "I will renounce Alina so Angel can marry her. I promise you I will forget her forever."

damnificados = victims
cofre = chest, coffer
calidad = quality
condenar = to condemn
trago = a drink, shot, or swig

Labels: duelo