Caray, Caray!

Gaspar tried to dash off to La Rinconada to see his baby, but Luba forcibly stopped him. He whined, "Mama, I want to see him!" Luba, as always, warned him that the people at La Rinconada would kill him if they found out he was the baby's father. She pleaded with him not to go, but he charged out of the cave.

Meanwhile, at La Rinconada, Emilio told the servants that Santos would be in charge while he was gone, and revealed to the servants' surprise that Santos was his cousin, Maximo's son.

At Coral's house: Coral showed her stage costumes to Soledad, who admired them and asked if Coral intended to go back to dancing. Coral said no, it was time to change her life. She suggested that she and Soledad should start designing clothes. Soledad seemed to like that idea.

In Alvaro's jail cell: The psychiatrist Aida -- or Dr. Loca, as Margaret called her -- told Alvaro he was a tormented man. She asked him to tell her about his relationship with Soledad. He refused, saying it was personal. Aida said she was a professional.

Alvaro admitted, "Yes, I am suffering." She asked, "Soledad deceived you?" and he said, "Yes. She was unfaithful with a foreman."

Aida asked him how many times he had cheated on Soledad with other women. They bickered and Aida decided to leave. Alvaro stopped her and asked, "Have you had your heart broken some time?" She didn't reply.

At La Rinconada: Gaspar found Thelma alone outside and grabbed her, shouting, "You already had my little cub. I want to see him!" Thelma tried to run away but he followed, shaking her and yelling. Thelma began to yell, "Auxilio!" ("Help!")

Emilio arrived and shot Gaspar, who fell to the ground. Thelma screeched at Emilio for not killing Gaspar, but Emilio said he wasn't a murderer and besides, Gaspar was sick. Thelma screeched some more and then was led away by Singing Aunt.

Angel came along and saw Gaspar on the ground. Emilio explained, "He tried to attack Thelma. I don't understand his obsession with her."

Elsewhere: Orlando went to see General Ochoa, who said Orlando deserved some rest after working so long on the mountain.

Meanwhile, Alina and Elias also arrived to see the general. Alina said she was very nervous because she might encounter Emilio. Elias assured her that Emilio was still in Sierra Escondida.

Alina became dizzy and Elias took her away to get some water, narrowly missing Orlando as he came out of the general's office. In the hallway Alina bumped into a handsome man and apologized.

They went to see General Ochoa. Alina told him her father was sick and needed help, and she was afraid. Elias said it would be safer for people to continue to think Alina was dead, and the general agreed. He said he would assign his own nephew, Captain Rodrigo Ochoa, to protect Alina. Of course, this later turned out to be the same man Alina bumped into in the hall.

Orlando went to the Devil's Cave and asked the bartender, Tony, if he'd seen Lucas. Apparently Tony said no. He took some money from Orlando. A young woman approached Orlando and told him Lucas didn't work there anymore. She said she would give him Lucas's address.

Orlando went to Lucas and asked for the name of the retarded man who used to work at the Devil's Cave. Lucas said he'd already told Tony that. (I don't know if this was all filler but it sure seemed like it.)

Finally he told Orlando that the retarded employee's name was Gaspar, and he lived in Sierra Escondida with his mother Luba. Dohlando mused that it had to be the same Gaspar (how does he figure these things out!) then said to himself, "Thelma, Thelma, I have you in my hands," chuckle smirk.

Back at Coral's house: Soledad told Coral how much she had sacrificed for love of Alvaro. Coral said maybe Soledad would fall in love again one day. Soledad said, "No, Coral, love was not made for me."

Alina arrived with Elias. The phone rang, Alina answered, and a man said, "I already know you're here and you're not going to escape!" After hanging up, Alina told the others she had been threatened but didn't know who the caller was.

At that moment, Dario was walking toward Coral's house, telling himself Coral wouldn't live there in peace.

Inside, Elias said the call was probably from Alvaro's lawyer. Coral told Alina she wasn't alone; they were all there to defend her.

Meanwhile, Dr. Aida insisted to her supervisor that Alvaro needed special care. She mentioned a DNA test -- I'm not sure what that was all about -- and said she was sure Alvaro had celotipia (pathological jealousy).

In Sierro Escondida: Emilio brought the unconscious Gaspar to Luba's cave, saying he was only sedated and would wake up tomorrow. He told Luba that he, Thelma, and the baby would soon return to Puebla.

General Ochoa's office: The general received a message from Emilio, read it, and said, "Pronto! Order the detention of Lt. Orlando Villasenor!"

At Dr. Aida's house: Her doorbell rang and she answered it. It was Rodrigo, the general's nephew. He kissed her cheek. She said she needed to talk to a friend.

At La Rinconada: Thelma was sitting on her bed, cooing over the baby, when Luba appeared. She insisted on holding the baby, saying, "He is my grandson!" Thelma said OK, if Luba would leave her in peace.

She gave the baby to Luba, who started to cry and said, "How beautiful he is. He's just like my Gaspar." Thelma tried to throw her out, and Luba warned her not to make a scene or Emilio would learn the truth. Of course, Emilio came in just then and asked, "What truth?"

Thelma ordered Luba, "Give me my son!" and said Luba should tell Emilio her secret. Luba said it was her business, not important, butThelma told Emilio that Luba was hiding in Sierra Escondida because she'd been accused of a crime.

Luba admitted that she'd been accused of killing a boy with a potion, but said she was innocent. Emilio more or less said if no one had brought charges against Luba, that was the end of it.

Luba repeated that she was innocent, said she wouldn't come near La Rinconada again, then left, pausing only to repeat that Thelma's baby looked "just like his father."

Elsewhere, Orlando told himself that Thelma had betrayed him but he would have revenge!

Meanwhile, Vera and Jaime and Ifigenio discussed whether Luba and Gaspar would try to escape from Sierra Escondida. Vera snarled something about getting revenge for all Luba and Gaspar (supposedly) did to Alina.

At the jail: Alvaro was put into a cell with another prisoner, who looked at Alvaro and laughed, "Fresh meat." Alvaro promptly beat him up.

Later a guard lectured Alvaro a little about the fight, but Alvaro gave him money and the guard left. Another prisoner stared at Alvaro threateningly from a nearby cell. Later a group of prisoners got together in the yard and talked about Alvaro, obviously planning something.

At Coral's house: The general's handsome nephew Rodrigo arrived. He and Alina mooned at each other. Alina apologized for bumping into him earlier. Soledad introduced herself, then she and Coral disappeared to make coffee.

Alina apologized AGAIN (talk about overkill), and Rodrigo flashed back to some blonde woman also apologizing to him. In the flashback, he forgave the woman and kissed her.

Coral brought the coffee to Alina and Rodrigo (that was awfully fast). Alina asked Rodrigo if he wanted sugar, and he had another creepy flashback about the blonde woman offering him sugar. Is he another Don Loco??

Meanwhile, Dario -- who must walk very slowly (the timing on this episode didn't make sense) -- finally reached the gates of Coral's house and unlocked them, saying it was good that he still had a key. He said, "Prepare yourself, Coral," then ran toward the house.

(If the gates were locked, how did Rodrigo get in? Why do I keep expecting this show to make sense?)

When Rodrigo said goodbye to Alina and left the house, perky music played, so I guess that means he's not a psycho like Don Loco, after all. Alina said to herself, "Ay, Emilio. No matter how I try, I can't forget you."

Rodrigo apparently went right back to Dr. Aida's house, because suddenly there he was again, telling her he had been put in charge of protecting a beautiful girl. Aida was pleased. She mentioned that his wife had died (the blonde in the flashbacks, no doubt).

She questioned him but Rodrigo said he couldn't tell her anything about the girl he was protecting. (You know he will eventually, and she'll go right to Don Loco with the news that Alina is alive.)

At night: Soldiers sat in a jeep across the street from Coral's house. About time they got there. Inside, Coral told Adela that she and Soledad were going to open a boutique. Adela said she was grateful for all Coral had done for Soledad.

The phone rang and Coral answered. It was Dario. He asked, "Why don't you understand that I'm serious? Leave the house tonight." Coral refused and told him the house was being guarded. Dario said, "Too late. I'm already in the house."

Coral freaked out, telling Adela, "It's the man who tried to kill me!"

Meanwhile, Rodrigo went home, found his young daughter watching TV, and told her to go to bed. More cute music played. (Too bad he's not a psycho -- this show really doesn't have enough villains.)

Back at Coral's house: Coral and Adela ran and told Soledad about the phone call while Alina entered another room and was grabbed from behind by Dario, who told her, "Quiet! Who are you? Where is Coral?" Alina said, "I am a friend of hers."

Somehow -- I'm not sure how? -- she managed to call Rodrigo, then dropped the phone. Rodrigo was still able to hear what was going on.

Coral, Soledad, and Adela came into the room and saw Dario holding Alina. He pointed a gun at them. Coral said, "Your problem is with me!"

And meanwhile, a group of prisoners cornered Alvaro in the bathroom. They pulled knives on him. END OF EPISODE, FINALLY!

mareada = sick, dizzy
moneda = money
pócima = potion

Labels: duelo