Caray, Caray!

Margaret left us with Don Loco surprising Malena and Dr. Love at Malena's apartment. Loco walks in the door and Malena and Dr. Love look as guilty as hell. Loco asks, "and Mariana?"

Soledad tells Elias that she wants to escape that very night, (quite sensible if you ask me), but no, Elias has contracted SESID and says they need to wait, to plans things out and to include Alina. Soledad, the local Typhoid Mary of SESID says he's right, gives him a peck on the cheek, and leaves to escape back into her prison. (God help me, how stupid did that sound?) Elias is deeply affected by her kiss.

Dr. Love must have apprised Don Loco of Mariana's condition. "Quadriplegic? Poor Mariana, I wish to see her," Don Loco says in a rather bland, unfeeling manner. Dr. Love agrees to escort Loco to the hospital while yellow-belly Malena stays behind to cry on her sewing machine.

Vera tells Jaime that the witch Luba gives her the willies (actually, I think she said Luba gives her ladybug skin but I'm not sure. "Se me ponga la piel chinita de susto." **Help anyone?) Anyway, Vera is afraid that Luba will do something horrible to Flor such as turn her into an animal, make her fall on nails, or make her cross-eyed forever. She prays to the sainted Diosito that the witch do nothing bad to Flor.
Correction: chinita = kinky hair, so Vera is saying Luba is scaring her until her hair gets kinky/curly, i.e. stands on end.

Malena cries over her sewing. There is a knock at the door. It's Arcadio and he wants to speak to Jose's woman, he has bad news. Malena tells him to tell her. She, with the track record of proven reliability, will convey the message. With hat in hand Arcadio tells her, "Jose is dead, he was killed in Sierra Escondida." Margaret is right, Malena does wide-eyed impactada really well.

In the hospital - Don Loco asks Dr. Love about his unusual interest in his sister. Dr. Love, to his credit, tells Loco he loves Mariana, maybe she told Loco of their plans to marry? Loco accuses Dr. Love of wanting Mariana for her inheritance. Dr. Love says they never discussed it, he is starting to figure out he's dealing with a nut case here. Loco accuses Dr. Love again of having more than a love interest in his sister. Dr. Love looks at Loco like "What is your damage s**t for brains?" I'm liking Dr. Love a little more tonight. I hope he doesn't buy another puppet.

Alina tells Luba if Emilio really loves her then she will forgive him for everything. She twirls around happily. Luba doesn't look quite as happy, but assures Flor that Emilio will leave Thelma, "You know, when a man discovers he's tied to a poisonous serpent, he squashes it and throws it to one side." Luba doesn't mince words.

Creepy time. Don Loco and Dr. Love are talking by saucer-eyed Mariana's bedside. Loco tells Dr. Love that money is no object, it's his obligation to his sister. Dr. Love looks like he smelled something nasty, says it's not a matter of obligation or money, he loves Mariana and he'll stay by her side. Loco says he's leaving in the morning but then he'll return. He pats Mariana's head. She looks frightened and horrified.

Santos tells his young voluptuous mother that he's not afraid of Don Max. If it's a fight he wants, it's a fight he'll get. (Talk is cheap, wuss.)

Luba tells Flor that any moment now Emilio should be professing his love to her, that he wants to separate from the viper and marry Flor instead. [Tocan a la puerta.] Vera is at the door and freaks when she sees Luba. She tells Alina that El Patron Emilio wants to speak to her. Luba gives Florina the "I toldja so" look.

Nasty Castulo is in his room putting bullets in his gun when Thelma enters. He's mad because he didn't get enough money for her necklace. He wants more dough, pronto. I wonder who the bullets are for?

Emilio tells Alina he wants to apologize for many things but especially for accusing her of being bought by Thelma's broche. She has flashbacks of his transgressions as he apologizes for them. She forgives him (SESID again). She smiles when he says that a Valtierra would be proud to make her his wife. She's happy because she thinks he's talking about himself. Nobody has told her yet that they are all planning to marry her off to Angel.

Alina smiles and fantasizes about having the last name Valtierra like it's some big gift or something. Emilio the ass goes on to say that things are going to change between them. When love is sincere it cannot be obscured and now is the time to formalize that love. Do we blame her for thinking he's about to propose? Gosh, she looks so happy she's about to bust.

Sleeping Angel dreams he's marrying Alina. He's wearing a white suit and except for his greased back hair he's looking pretty good, and best of all he's not wearing a silly bandana. Uh oh, as the bride and groom prepare to kiss he gets a nosebleed. He looks around and Flor is gone! He awakes, "I can't marry Alina, I'm dying." Cough, cough.

Thelma comes into his room looking for Emilio. She looks a lot more pregnant than she did yesterday. Maybe I just didn't notice before. Angel tells her to get Emilio, he needs to speak to him immediately.

Thelma interrupts Emilio and Alina. Emilio must see Angel right away. He asks (tells) Alina to wait for him.

Thelma tries to get Alina to tell her what she and Emilio were talking about. She accuses Alina of talking behind her back. (Well duh, it's not like she and Emilio can talk in front of Thelma's face, is it?)

Loco asks Malena why she didn't tell him about Dr. Love. I think he infers that he thought Malena was a snitch/gossip and thought she would have told him (Loco) about Mariana's business. But no, he should have known not to trust her ever since he found out she got married (and didn't tell him?). And God only knows if she (Malena) really did get married or just acted like it. Did her husband die or just abandon her? Speaking of which, where's the kid?

Luba paces the floor of Alina's room and talks to herself. She hopes that Emilio is thinking of divorcing that wretch Thelma and will hand her over to the devil, getting her far away from here.

Thelma accuses Alina of hiding something. Alina says Emilio apologized for calling her (Alina) a thief, their conversation was just getting started when Thelma interrupted them. Thelma puts her hand on her hip and exhales sarcastically.

Angel tells Emilio that his dream was a sign, he can't marry Alina when he could die at any moment.

Malena tells Loco that her daughter is with her dead husband's mother. Loco says it's probably best, this Mariana thing could really impact a kid, these things can cause irreperable damage. He says this like he knows about irreparable damage first hand, then he rudely lights up a cigar in her apartment. Give a hoot, don't pollute a-hole! Loco says he hopes Mariana recuperates quickly. He's already carrying a heavy load and he doesn't need one more worry.

Emilio convinces Angel to give it a couple of days, when Angel feels better he'll feel differently about marrying Alina. Angel agrees to see the Dr. in Puebla. Emilio will make plans for the trip.

Thelma tells Alina that if she (Alina) gets between her (Thelma) and her husband she will do a lot of damage to Alina. Thelma grabs Alina and shakes her hard. She says neither prostitutes (Coral), not maids (Flor), nor beggars (Flor) are going to steal what belongs to her. They scream at each other until Emilio show up.

Gaspar is in the cave flexing his biceps and talking to himself. He can't believe he opened his big mouth to Thelma. If Luba finds out she'll really give him the stick (he rubs his behind). But his fairy promised not to say anything. "She loves me," he says, hugging himself,"then she kissed me."

A strange woman cries to Adela that Gaspar treated her badly. Adela calls her Nora. Hey, it's a new Nora! OK, if they start replacing actors I'm going to get confused. I can't keep all the servants and field hands straight as it is. Wait a minute...I wonder if they will get a new Emilio? Wow, that would be great! Be still my beating heart.

Sergio comes in and insults "Nora." He says to get Gaspar to like her she'll have to be crazy like him. Yeah, yeah, sticks and stones.

Alina tells Emilio that she was telling Thelma that they weren't talking behind Thelma's back, their conversation was just getting started when Thelma interrupted them. "Actually, it was just ending," Emilio says. Alina looks confused but says "Fine, I'm leaving." Thelma smirks but asks Emilio, "What gives? I heard you tell her to wait for you." Emilio admits that Angel wanted to propose to Alina but he changed his mind.

Orlando and Don Max have a conversation about Alina marrying Angel instead of being with Orlando. They talk about her like she is a piece of meat or property. I wonder if anyone ever plans to tell Alina about these plans?

Adela brings Soledad some dinner. While they talk Sergio discovers that the cellar door is unlocked. He locks it unbeknownst to Soledad who thinks she'll be sneaking out later that night to visit Alina. Personally, I think she deserves this nasty surprise as a punishment for her stupidity.

Don Loco is in his hotel hallway and thinks he sees Soledad wish some paunchy old dude. He busts into their room and of course it's not Soledad but some other blonde hottie that the paunchy dude is about to boink. Paunchy dude is not pleased to have a madman busting into his room and yells for hotel security.

Thelma tells Emilio she doesn't believe he would step aside to let Angel marry Alina. Emilio says he promised at the altar that he would give Flor up to Angel if God allowed Angel to live.

Two security goons have a hold of Loco. He insists it was all a mistake. Paunchy dude, a very bad actor, agrees to let Loco go. Loco has a tantrum in his room and blames Soledad. Everthing bad that happens is her fault.

Thelma tells Emilio to kiss her, kiss her to prove to her that everything will be like it was before.

Alina tells Luba she's going crazy. She thought Emilio loved her, that he was about to propose marriage, not break her heart. Boo hoo.

Oh ick!! Emilio actually kisses Thelma. We know he doesn't love or even like her because it's a normal kiss, not his usual lamprey wide-mouth face sucking kiss. She says that confirms it, now he knows she loves him and is expecting THEIR child. He looks like he has a very bad headache.

Malena visits a sleeping Mariana. Dr. Love tells her that Don Loco is a weirdo. She agrees, he cares more for his cane fields than he does for his sister. Mariana has only them.

Soledad is unable to open her secret escape hatch and frets that she won't be able to leave, she'll go crazy(er).

Orlando has a big hissy fit in front of Thelma. How could Emilio "give" Flor to a frail misery like Angel instead of to him, Orlando? Thelma tells him not to worry, after they all go to Pueblo Flor will be putty in his hands.

Luba is still going off on Thelma in front of Alina. Vipers like Thelma don't deserve any consideration, she's worse than a demon, she has no heart, boy oh boy could she ever tell Flor a secret about Thelma... "A secret?" asks Flor, "You know a secret about that woman?" Uh oh.

Orlando thinks Thelma is right, he can use his mighty sex power to conquer Flor. But what about Don Maximo? Thelma says Don Max couldn't care less about this business, besides, once they leave this horrible place they are never coming back. Orlando tells himself this could work out very well without Emilio or Angel around to defend Flor.

Emilio tells Angel he's certain his illness can be cured by the Dr. in Puebla. Thelma interrupts to say she needs to know exactly when they're leaving tomorrow, she has so many things to arrange... Emilio breaks the bad news to her. She's not going, she has to remain at La Rinconada.

Thelma is pissed off beyond words, but she does her best to spit a few out. No way is her baby going to be born in this God-forsaken place! Emilio says the roads are too bad for a pregnant woman to travel so Thelma will remain with her Tia and Don Max. So his weak sickly brother can take the journey, but robust barely-pregnant Thelma is too delicate?

Flor tries to wheedle The Secret out of Luba.

Angel tells Emilio that it's best if Thelma goes with them. Emilio should keep his little family together. Emilio looks unhappy. Why doesn't he admit to Angel that he's trying to get away from that skank Thelma?

Oh. My. Gawd. Don Loco is talking to Gasca (from Alborada) on the telephone!!! Wait, Loco calls him Hugo. Did they replace Hugo too? They replaced the hunk who played Hugo with the creepy Gasca? Estoy muy impactada!!

Loco says to himself, "Poor Mariana, what am I going to do with her? And to make matters worse there's this pauper that says he loves her. Problemas problemas."

Thelma and Auntie are in Thelma's room doing a slow burn about having to stay in Escondidaville. Suddenly Emilio enters and tells them they are all going to Puebla in the morning. Hooray, joy and rapture!

Alina asks Luba why can't she hear The Secret, doesn't Luba care about her happiness? Luba says Flor has plenty, a big room, cool new clothes, she doesn't need to hear a secret. Better that Luba shut up and beat feet.

Alone, Alina is joined by Orlando. He takes her hand and offers his friendship, but Alina says she wants to be alone. She leaves. Orlando scowls, then smells his hand and smiles, "She's wild, but I will tame that little flower."

Thelma tells Auntie not to tell anyone, especially the servants, that they are going. She wants to leave La Rinconada forever so she'll never have to see that maldito (Gaspar?) again.

Luba makes her way back to the cave and mutters something about that maldita Thelma opening her big fat mouth and causing them to get thrown out of Sierra Escondida. She has to see Macario. She's going to request that once the child is born he cause that wretch Thelma to be released from Sierra Escondida, never to return again.

Aunti brings a bottle of hooch into Don Maximo's office. He's not in the mood to drink...with her. She's says it's a goodbye drink. When she tells him that Emilio, Angel, Thelma and she are leaving in the a.m. he perks right up. "Yes, let's toast!"

Macario and Luba stand next to a small fire in a cave, she holds her head in her hands as Macario speaks and throws fairy dust on the fire to make it flare up. He chants, "Go, go from Escondidaville! You cannot rest while you are here, go!" Then he tells Luba the deed is done. "Good, I hope she goes and never returns," says Luba, cut to a sleeping Thelma with Luba voice-over, "Thelma, I wish that you pay dearly for all the bad you have caused and that you never have peace!" Cut back to Thelma's dream, her baby cries and she and Auntie look into the crib. They are horrified. Is it a little baby with long black hair and bulging muscles wearing overalls and teeny tiny Jethro boots? Ah, we'll not know tonight because Thelma wakes, horrified and crying, "My son, my son!"

Next morning Don Max tells Emilio he had no idea they were leaving until Auntie Rebeca told him. He promises Emilio that Alina can stay at La Rinconada and will be treated like a guest of honor. Emilio tells him that Angel wants to get better and return to marry Alina (still not knowing that every one is planning her fate). Max promises not to let Don Loco mistreat Flor. Emilio tells him that he has signed over to Don Max the investment of the harvest. He leaves and Don Max cackles and throws his hat in the air. He is the absolute boss of La Rinconada and Alina can go to the devil for all he cares.

The word is out, Vera tells Jaime that "they" are all leaving this morning. "The viper too," he asks? Yes, says Vera, all of them including the viper Thelma. But Vera feels bad for Flor, she'll be sad when she hears.

"Hear what Vera?" Foralina has walked in and heard their conversation. Jaime the wimp leaves. Vera hems and haws but finally tells Alina that the patron, his wife, her aunt and Angel are all leaving this morning. Alina is super slow-mo impactada.

SESID = Sierra Escondida Stupid Idiot Disease
bizca = cross-eyed
alcahueta = snitch, gossip-monger
mendigao/a = pauper
arisco/a = surly, wild
hocico = snout
abrir el hocico = to open one's big fat mouth

Labels: duelo