Caray, Caray!

Tonight's episode opens with Arcadio being intercepted by the Emilio's squaddies.

Don Loco, weeping, seems to have brought Soledad to the barn. He tells her he doesn't want to hear about her anymore. But his solution is not to kill her or let her go but to live in this stinky, cold barn. As before, Adela will bring her food but will be told not to talk to her. "It will be as if she had never existed" Or Alina either, for that matter. Soledad sits on a bale of hay and weeps after he leaves.

In the cave, Gaspar is just waking up out of his fever. Luba is all excited and happy. But Gaspar returns to the theme of waiting to see his child. Luba urges him once again, to forget his child. Then she orange flashbacks young Gaspar cutting firewood for somebody and she tells him that they are taking advantage of him, that he has cut enough.

Then that guy in the white caftan (Gaspar Sr.?) comes up and says "Why don't you get your son to work? He shouldn't be just lazing around." Just then another guy, wearing an all white cowboy suit runs up to longhair caftan guy and says "Compadre! Your son has gotten in trouble fighting with "Don Vicente" over a matter of love (un lio de amor). Apparently he killed one of Don Vicente's men and now they are going to come after him to kill him. What should we do? Should we take him away? Should we hide him?" asks the white cowboy.

Longhair caftan guy announces that his son is not going anywhere. He shouts at Luba to do something, make a curse, throw some magic his way, something, whatever!" Flash forward into the present and Luba is bending over Gaspar, saying that she will never leave him, that she will go before he does. The baby that Thelma is carrying isn't the same, "It's not yours." She tells him. Gaspar astutely tells her that he knows that she is only saying that so that he won't go and get shot again. He says nothing like that entered into his head. I won't even go near him, he says tearfully.

Elias bursts into Don Loco's office, followed by Sergio who is complaining that he told Elias he could not enter. (Don Loco, I might add is wearing a cream colored leather jacket with some kind of tooling on it and his white cowboy hat. It's as if now that he thinks he knows Soledad is guilty, he has moved from his black clothes to his white clothes…) Don Loco does the customary "what are you doing here?" Elias insists that he must talk to Soledad. He knows that Jose Gomez is in the vicinity and Soledad should be told. Don Loco huffs that the person who should be brought up to speed is him. Jose Gomez is already 6 feet under as of this morning. Elias is impactado.

Soledad is walking around the cold barn shouting for Adela. As she is walking around, she discovers a trap door in the floor—that leads outside! She starts sneaking off into the forest.
Back in Don Loco's office, Don Loco tries out his new strategy—pretending that Soledad never existed. He tells Elias that "once there was somebody with that name at the Hacienda but she left, a long time ago." This puts Elias into a fury. He yells, "what have you done with her?!" Don Loco gives the signal and Sergio grabs him and drags him out of the office, Elias kicking and screaming.

Over at La Rinconada, Thelma walks into Emilio's room. She's still wearing her fetching Purple maternity halter top, with the satin ribbon empire waistband. Emilio is in his civvies again, jeans, a white shirt and fawn suede jacket. Thelma feigns bashfulness---she tells Emilio that she didn't want to bother him and she felt bad about what happened. She felt it was her duty to inform everybody about what Jose Gomez said. "Even Flor wanted him to talk!" she finishes up. Emilio said it was right for her not to hide what the man said. "No, No she says, sometimes doubt is preferable." She's laying it on thick.

Emilio takes her hand and leads her over to a chair so that they can sit face to face. She continues—"Before this, Don Alvaro seems to have had doubts about whether his wife really cheated on him. Now he has no doubts at all." Emilio says, "We are not the ones to judge her, Thelma." Thelma appears to agree and adds that this has been a terrible morning. Emilio says, "There's still a lot to do." He's got to oversee the burial of Jose Gomez.

Thelma asks what he's going to do about Flor. Emilio looks up surprised. "You mean, Alina." Thelma goes on—"Now that Don Alvaro doesn't care about her anymore, why don't you ask her to leave?" "She doesn't need protection anymore."

At the Cave, Nora has arrived and is upset that Gaspar has been shot and could have died. Luba tries to calm her and has her sit with Gaspar. Nora wants to know why they shot at Gaspar. Luba tries to say it was an accident, but Gaspar blurts out that that is a lie. They shot him because he was choking Thelma.

Nora jumps up and says, "You were trying to kill Sr. Valtierra's wife?" "Why?" "Because she lied to me." says Gaspar. "She told me she had lost the baby that she was carrying." "That child is mine!" Luba cuts off the discussion by leading Nora away and not to listen to him. She sits Nora down and tries to explain his words by saying he has a fever, Nora already knows how much he wants kids, etc. Nora is having none of it this time. She tells Luba that she knows that Gaspar wants children with Thelma not with her and she's tired of his insults toward her.

Luba doesn't know what to say and nervously fingers her braids and pats Nora on the shoulder.

Back to Thelma and Emilio. Emilio has started at Thelma's suggestion that he give Alina the boot. "In this house, I decide who stays and who goes." Thelma starts having a hissy fit and Emilio points out that she's showing that she's the same old Thelma, always scheming, always trying to get her way. Thelma realizes she's over reached and backs down, tearfully. "You are right, she should stay, I don't know what I was thinking…" Emilio suggests she's been upset with the death of Jose. "yes, that's it," says Thelma. "I'll go take a nap."

She kisses her fingers and touches his lips before she walks out of the room. Alone, Emilio gazes off into space and says "Alina, I can't imagine being far from you."

In Mexico City, Malena, Mariana, Juanito and Dr. Love, wearing a black bowtie and black suit are hovering over the coffin of little Marianita. (I guess we can say she is well and truly dead now.) A closeup of Dr. Love's face reveals—he is wearing a windowpane check shirt! And the bowtie has pinstripes! ( Ewwww! Where are the fashion police? )Juanito kisses the coffin. Thankfully, this is a closed casket service. As he does, he peach flashbacks (I guess only adults have orange flashbacks?) himself and Marianita playing blind man's bluff. A guy comes and touches him on the shoulder, leading him away. Is this his dad? His agent?

And soon we see why—Juanito has a schedule to keep. He's on TV tonight! He runs up on stage in his cowboy get up. He dedicates his song to his friend Marianita "Who went to heaven." We are treated to a montage of Juanito singing his sad song and Mariana hugging Marianita's coffin. OH NO! Dr Love tries to comfort her WITH THE PUPPET. HE HAS BROUGHT THE PUPPET TO THE FUNERAL HOME! I'm sorry but I am at a loss for words.

While Malena is trying to pry Mariana off the little white coffin and Dr. Love is looking around nervously there is a woman just standing there expressionless. She's no more than 5 feet away but she just stands there facing away from all this commotion. Maybe she is some kind of paid attendant.

Dr. Love takes the puppet off his hand and lays it on top of the coffin along with the clown nose he used to wear.
Juanito is still singing, a tear rolling down his cheek. And he imagines her (with hair) smiling at him, wearing a white dress dancing in the front row of the studio. (Gotta say, she's a really cute kid.) He peach flashbacks asking her to be his girlfriend. The song finally ends and the audience goes wild. Juanito looks out with a somber look on his little face.

Back in Sierra Escondida, Elias has come back to his temporary house in the construction zone. He's dejected at not being able to help Soledad. But there she is! Right there in his cabin! And none too soon since there is some kind of storm starting up outside. They smile and grasp eachothers' hands.

Emilio has gone to see Alina. He asks her if she knows that Jose Gomez is about to be buried. She says yes, she knows, Orlando told her. She says she feels sorry that no one will be there for him. She also feels sorry for herself that with him died any hope of clarifying her situation. (Frankly, I thought this sounded a little cold). He suffered and all she was able to do was give him a glass of water.

Emilio starts at this piece of information. "Water?!" Yes, she says, Thelma told her he needed water so she gave it to him." Emilio tells her that Thelma knew not to give him water, that it was dangerous and that he could die. Alina is impactado right into the commercial break.

When we come back, it is Emilio who is incredulous and Alina who is screaming and crying. "She did it on purpose!" says Alina. Emilio is dumb enough to ask why and Alina screams that Thelma hates her. "Because she will never forgive me that once, you and I loved each other." She plops on the bed, head in hands and Emilio bends down to comfort her. He tells her not to talk in the past tense, as if they could not love eachother again. He starts kissing her but she pulls away and tells him to stop taking advantage. She kicks him out of the room. After he leaves, she starts crying again and flops on the bed.

At Elias' casita the two are at his little table drinking coffee (or tea, or chocolate, who knows? It's in a mug not a leaded crystal glass). Elias asks her if she has calmed down. And she answers yes. After she explains her escape from the barn, Elias says that he feels bad that he was not able to help her. He notes that things got worse for her when she went back to Alvaro (in the standoff at the church).

Soledad agrees but says there was no way he could help her. It was too dangerous. "Alvaro is capable of anything."
Elias has gotten up and has put his hands on her shoulders. He starts to talk about the affection they have always felt for each other. This apparently makes Soledad very nervous and she bolts for the door. She says that Adela has been taking very good care of her and she doesn't want to put him (Elias) in danger. It is her role in life to stay with Alvaro until God decides (hasta que Dios manda). (Lady, why don't you just shoot yourself right now and spare us all your misery???!!)

Back at La Rinconada, Emilio confronts Thelma about telling Alina to give Jose water. "Did you want that guy to die, or what?" Thelma is impactada.

Outside the thunderstorm rages.

Soledad is bent on leaving the safety of Elias' cabin. Elias feebly asks her to stay, given the fact that there is a storm outside. Soledad says no, Alvaro will find her with him, kill him, etc. Elias points out that he could find her wandering around outside and that would be dangerous for her. He says, "At least let me take you back on horseback." She agrees. Elias swears to her that he will find a way to get Alina and her away from there, forever. They leave in a hurry together.

Emilio and Thelma are still arguing. Thelma tries to make like giving water to Jose was a mistake that she forgot what the doctor said. "What, you are going to blame me for his death?" Thelma asks him. She points out all the help that she gave since they brought Jose to the house. Emilio agrees that she was helpful. Thelma feeling like she's convinced him, says "I hope you won't blame me again!" She flounces out of the room.

Emilio, hat in hand, looks confused. Then he orange flashbacks the big smooch he just gave to Alina awhile back. (This kiss is more like a lamprey than a Large mouth bass as he almost gets her nose and lips in his mouth. Not pretty). He stares off into the distance again and again addresses Alina---"Alina, I feel your suffering for the death of this man. I loved you at first sight."

Nurse Susi is giving Angel one of his many injections. She's wearing a short tight white skirt and a tight white sleeveless top today. Angel complains that he is tired of his affliction. Nurse Susi asks if Angel has argued with his brother again today. Angel complains that Emilio is obsessed with Alina. Nurse Susi replies, "She must be very special to him." Angel continues (between coughs) that besides having many wonderful qualities, she's the only woman who hasn't allowed herself to be used (no ha entregada con facilidad). Nurse Susi suggests that perhaps that's what has Emilio infatuated (her being a virgin) Angel says no, and besides, he's not infatuated, he's in love with her to the marrow of his bones. Even being married, he still loves her. Susi arches an eyebrow and says "He must be suffering a great deal." Angel agrees and says. "It's a punishment, a punishment for having broken the hearts of so many women." He who has made fun of love for so long, now is being tortured by an impossible love. Susi looks at Angel with an inscrutable expression.

Castulo is eyeing a diamond necklace that Thelma has brought him. Thelma wants him to go find out if Gaspar is dead. Castulo tells her that Gaspar isn't dead. He's alive thanks to his mother's herbal remedies. Thelma is ticked. Castulo argues that Gaspar is a good guy. He must have some reason for bothering her. Like that child she is carrying is really his. Thelma gets mad and tells him to shut up, whereupon Castulo figures it's time for a little game of grab ass. Thelma fights him off and leaves. Castulo looks at the diamond necklace again and pronounces it good.

Speaking of Gaspar, we are back in the cave where Luba is looking at his wound and telling him that he will be able to get up soon. She gives thanks to the virgencita. Gaspar tells Luba she's been good to him. "How could I not," asks Luba. "You are my son. You came from inside me." Luba says that something tells her that Soledad needs her help. She must go and see her. Gaspar sniffs the air and says that a rainstorm is coming. Luba assures him that she's just going for a brief visit and coming back. She leaves as the thunder rolls ominously in the background. It's Gaspar's turn to give a little speech, staring into space. He says out loud that he has to get better so that he can take care of his mom and the baby. "I will love them all "he says, hugging himself, smiling.

Alina is sitting on her bed, comparing notes with Vera since both of them brought water to Jose under Thelma's instructions. Vera wants to denounce Thelma to the police but Alina says no, "It wasn't Thelma who gave water to Jose." "It was us." "And anyway, Emilio will defend her, she's his wife. He loves her." Vera balks at the last assertion. She doesn't think that Emilio loves Thelma. "Why did I see them kissing eachother then?" "And why does he then come and try to say he still feels love for me?" "He's a liar!" finishes Alina. Vera just shakes her head.

Thelma is sitting on her bed eating melon while her Aunt Rebeca is scared by the lightning outside. AR is cheered by the idea that Jose Gomez is now in the ground and can't cause them anymore trouble. Thelma chuckles over the fact that Jose Gomez's actual lover was the sister of Don Alvaro but nobody knows this but her! AR speculates about what happened to Mariana and what would happen if Don Alvaro were to find out that Alina is his real daughter and his wife never betrayed him? Thelma cuts her off. That will never happen. He's very sure. She swears AR to secrecy.

Ifigenio and Jaime have returned from burying Jose. The report in to Emilio that the task is complete. Jaime adds that he knew Jose Gomez when he was foreman at Hacienda de Loco and he was already leaving when the rumor spread about his being Alina's father. Ifigenio adds that he went to Jose's old casita to see if it was available for his cousin Arcadio when he found Jose Gomez there. ( I think basically they are trying to explain their associations with him since after all, he was a wanted man).

Emilio sighs and says "poor Alina." She was so sure she was the daughter of Alvaro Montellano." The guys ask if Emilio feels pity for her. He confesses to feeling more than pity. The guys point out that she has had a life of suffering. (I thought it was just 2 years but maybe Don Loco made her life hell even before that?) Emilio says he wants to put a stop to that. From this day forward, Alina is going to be treated as a guest in this house, not a servant. The guys look happy.

Thelma is lying in bed. Suddenly Jose Gomez is there, with a bloody bandage wrapped around his waist. He puts his hands around her throat choking her. She wakes up screaming "I didn't kill him! I didn't kill him!"

Elsewhere, Santos and Braulio are talking. Santos is asking for permission to marry Rosita. Rosita has agreed because, in the end, she loves Santos. The plan is for both of them to stay there in Sierra Escondida. Braulio doesn't like that part. He is worried about what Don Max will do when he finds out since he is still infatuated with Rosita and wants to marry her. Santos claims he will defend her and won't let him beat him to a pulp again.

Back to Vera and Alina in Alina's room. Nice room for a servant, by the way. Alina is going over the details of what happened on Jose's deathbead. Why did Jose say that Alina was his daughter? "And do you know what pains me the most?" says Alina. "That everybody now thinks that My mother cheated on my father." Vera disagrees. She says nobody in the town believes that she would be capable of cheating on him…with a foreman!" "Emilio does" pointed out Alina. "But what I don't understand is who is this daughter?"

Back in Mexico City, Mariana is standing over the little white casket. Dr. Love is standing nearby and Malena is resting in a chair. Mariana asks "How am I going to overcome this loss?" Dr. Love chimes in "Time. Time will give you resignation. And in time maybe…" Mariana brushes him off and tells him not to ask anything of her right now. Bad timing guy. Mariana returns to her place with her arms wrapped around the coffin. She says she wants to stay with her princess, her little girl to the very last moment.

Thelma is up and pacing the room like a caged animal. Aunt Rebeca is there too. She tells Thelma that when she heard her scream, she thought that "That idiot had come back to attack you." Thelma says no, it was a horrible nightmare. Jose was trying to strangle her. "I didn't kill him" Thelma keeps repeating. "All I did was speed up his death." Then she decides that killing him was OK. She once thought about killing Coral, but then she decided that it wasn't worth the risk. Maybe she should kill Flor. Aunt Rebeca is a little disturbed by this crazy talk and leads Thelma downstairs to the kitchen to prepare her a nice hot cup of tea.

Luba and Adela are catching up in the kitchen of Hacienda de Loco. Luba is outraged at the developments that have taken place, since she was last there. Adela complains that now the Patron doesn't even let her talk to Soledad when she brings her food. Luba decides that they have to do something. She'll see if the Patron will allow her to talk to her. They have help Soledad before she goes crazy. Adela crosses herself.

Sergio bursts in and demands to know what "the witch" is doing there. Luba has his number though—he's superstitious. She tells him he better not mess with her or he'll be sorry. She's there to cure the Patrona. Sergio says her services are no longer required but if she wants to talk to Don Alvaro directly… Luba gives him more trouble. She tells him to treat her with respect and to call her "Dona" Luba. Sergio acquiesces and she heads out the door.

Thelma isn't the only one having nightmares this evening. Alina is lying in her bed dreaming that Don Loco has Soledad in her bed, with her hands and feet bound and a gag in her mouth. He's accusing her of cheating on him with Jose Gomez. Alina tosses and turns.

Vera is heating tortillas in the kitchen with Jaime. Rosita shows up and tells them that she and Santos are going to get married. Vera and Jaime hug Rosita and congratulate her.

Rosita was hoping to see Alina but Alina is already asleep in bed. She'll come back tomorrow to tell her. Jaime suddenly says, I have another piece of good news—I spoke to the Patron today and he says that starting tomorrow, Alina will no longer be a servant in this house but a guest. He will make sure she has new clothes and anything she needs. Rosita is surprised. Vera says "It's no surprise." "The Patron just came to the realization that he has always been in love with Flor."

Who should be coming into the kitchen for her calm down tea? Thelma. Thelma comes in and crashes the little party. She demands to know who has always been in love with Flor.

Floralina is waking up from her nightmare in a cold sweat. She prays to the Virgencita that her mother be alright.

Thelma is still insisting that they must tell her who is in love with Flor. Vera backs off. "Nobody, Senora!" Thelma goes ballistic she tells everybody else to shut up and tries to get Vera to answer. When Vera still won't tell her, she grabs the hot tortilla pan right off the flame and burns Vera's arm with it. She continues to demand that Vera tell her who is in love with Flor. She holds the pan inches away from Vera's face while Vera cries and begs her not to hurt her.

Finally, Vera tells her to ask Emilio. Jaime tells her about Emilio's plan to reinstate Flor as a guest rather than a servant at La Rinconada and to buy her new clothes. Vera throws down the hot pan and starts screaming that this is her house and that they should not be telling tales about her husband. She stomps off. Vera winces at her burnt arm. Jaime curses Thelma. Jaime goes off to fetch Luba. Rosita grabs a cut onion and presses it on the burn. Owieee!

Soledad has arrived back at the chilly barn, soaking wet from the rain. She is shivering but at least she's managed to find a blanket. She announces that she isn't going to die, she won't give Alvaro that satisfaction.

Luba and Don Loco are arguing or at least Don Loco is yelling at her and pounding the table. Luba wants to keep taking care of her. Don Loco doesn't even want to hear her name. He claims that Soledad no longer exists (could mean that she's dead too).

Luba then asks if she can stay the night given the rain storm. Even the mill house. (Maybe that is where Soledad is). Don Loco says that house wouldn't shelter anyone. He kicks her out.

Emilio's men, who captured Arcadio at the beginning of this episode have finally arrived at La Rinconada. They have him kneeling on the ground. He asks what is going to be done with him and they say, the Captain is coming. He will decide. Emilio shows up and says that nothing will happen tonight. He will stay the night here and in the morning they will interrogate him.

Meanwhile, Alina is sneaking by the window. I guess that the dream made her decide to check on her mom. Just as they finish up with Arcadio, Alina rides by on a horse, entirely covered with a rain pancho. Somehow, Emilio guesses that this is Alina and he jumps on a horse and rides after her in the pouring rain. They have a shot of Arcadio---There's a dog with him. Could it be? Tonki?

Anyhow, Alina is galloping way to fast for this muddy road and sure enough, she slips off her horse. Emilio finds her unconscious on the ground.

In the next episode, Don Max makes yet another improper suggestion to Rosita and she slaps him, Thelma makes a move to try to off Angel. This last development is kind of odd. You'd think she'd be trying to get him and Alina together. Maybe she is just turning into a homicidal maniac. Must be those raging hormones!

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