Caray, Caray!

I was really dreading this episode, but it wasn't so bad, because Destilando has been playing fair with us so far. People are suffering for obvious mistakes they themselves make. For instance, the mistake of judging by appearances: zombie granny Pilar prefers smarmy gigolo Francisco - who intends to squeeze snobby complacent Sofia dry and then dump her - to sweet devoted Elvis.

Rod and Mariana have been, and will continue to be, punished for the sin of not trusting each other. As one of our commenters pointed out, they'll say "I'll love and trust you forever," and then believe, without any proof, without even talking to each other, any preposterous calumny perpetrated by any old lying slime.

Their behavior would make more sense if they were actually in their teens or early 20s rather than their 40s. (I never really understood how Romeo and Juliet could be so moronically impulsive until I saw Zefirelli's film version of their story - the first to use actual teenagers as stars.)

Mariana/Gaviota is also being punished for her sin of lying to get what she wanted and the arrogance of thinking she'd get away with it.

That's what I mean by playing fair: it contrasts favorably with, say, Barrera de Amor or Alborada, shows in which the writers tirelessly, mercilessly, sadistically tortured blameless heroines.

Finally, a shoutout to Aaron and Minerva, who are heading towards hell with such gusto... On with the show!

Rod, sent to the hacienda by Aaron via a trumped-up agave disaster, gives final advice to Gaviota: "Keep your cellphone with you, and tomorrow leave after you get your check from Medina, and pay your debts."

She's worried but he says "tomorrow this time we'll be a-huggin and a-kissin', please, trust me, I love you with all my soul." "I love you more than my own life, I'll never forget you," she replies.

Smarmy Franky and Isa get out of the elevator. She: "Don't say hasta mañana (till tomorrow) cause there isn't gonna be a tomorrow. Now adios, my husband's waiting for me." "No, he isn't, I asked the concierge. Why're you so mean, wanna see me suffer?" More kreepy kissing of the neck. She doesn't respond. He: "OK, if I bother you so much I could vacate the building [his friend, the one who actually pays for the apartment, would like that.] but you'd miss me, I know how much you desire me." He leaves and she, expressionless as usual, calls him a miserable vividor (pleasure seeker).

At the hacienda Rodrigo is striding around, Roman in tow, figuring which farmers could sell him more agave. Jaramillo could sell them 10,000 more tons. Hilario goes on that errand, stopping by the chemists to pick up chemicals so they can test the agaves on site and be sure they're up to snuff.

Pointless scene of James yelling lousy Spanish at the jimadores. "Hurry and put those piñas in the truck!"

Pointless scene of Dani in bed and Sofia sitting on the side, worrying about this unusual family meeting. "We should find out what happened." "Yes." "OK, I'm going to the gym."

At headquarters, Gav asks Elvira if Oñate is around. Aaron sternly asks why she needs Oñate - she says she needs his report before the meeting. "Oh, you're so dedicated and professional," he sneers, "but Oñate is needed elsewhere." (He's elsewhere, snarling to someone on the phone that he needs the whole low-down on Mariana immediately!)

Roman's driving across the agave fields, Rod's in the truck with him, on his cell asking Medina if Gav's check is ready on time. Yes, it is, and it has the 20% increase Rod suggested. "Be very discreet, and give it to her before 1 pm."

At the distillery, James and Zarate watch a chemist check sugar levels. Zarate has been paid off by Aaron to say the agave Rod just bought is no good. Rod storms in with previous records of the sugar level, which in fact is just fine.

Zarate admits there has been a mistake. "A mistake? You know I've been all over trying to replace 80,000 tons you rejected! Who's behind this?"

Zarate thoughtbubbles No puedo balconear a Aaron which maybe means, "I can't hang Aaron out to dry." Zarate says he did it for his own gain.

Good guess! I found this online: "In Mexico, to put a person in a public situation of feeling embarrassed, for example, of looking ignorant, or ill-informed, is to embarrass that individual, since his or her weakness is being displayed publicly. In Mexico they use the term "balconear" to convey this behavior. "Balconear" comes from the word "balcón" (as in a balcony, literally), and in the old days leaders or young ladies would appear in balconies to be seen publicly."

Isa's dad isn't happy to hear Rod is out of town. Isa suggests that she may be about to get divorced and dad shouldn't count on Rod to countersign the new loans. She'll let him know later.

The vultures are gathering, hoping for a feast of flesh.

Gav knows something's afoot but reassures herself by hugging her plane ticket: "Soon we'll live our beautiful reality."

Aaron hauls Medina into an office and yells at him for telling Minerva the terms under which Mariana Franco had been hired. He snatches the check Medina is carrying (he's been carrying it face out so everybody can see - nice discreet move, Medina). "It's Mariana's final check, authorized by Rodrigo. I'm supposed to give it to her personally." "I remind you I'm the boss and pay your salary. Get out of here!" Aaron keeps the check.

Aaron looks like he'll stroke out with rage as he hisses, "Minerva wasn't wrong - Rod was planning to flee with Mariana."

Dani hears Pilar plotting with Aaron on the phone and asks what's up - Pilar chuckles nervously and says "Nothing, and wow, my shoes are killing me." Then she spills the whole story as per Aaron and says the least that can happen is that Gaviota spends the rest of her days in jail.

Dani doesn't believe any of it and tries to call Gav, but never gets through.

Oñate is very happy. He has found out about the false passport and has in hand the name-change form with Teresa Hernandez Garcia's signature. Mariana runs into him, he says she should go into Aaron's office.

Then the scene shown in all the advances: "Hello Mariana - or should I call you Gaviota - or Teresa Hernandez?" She's impactada into the commercials. Aaron knows about her fake "advanced degrees," etc. "Let me congratulate you - the time you spent working in Europe - as a whore - served you well. You learned French and English, but what particularly impresses me is your persistence - do you always get what you want?" He lets her tell the whole story - London, pregnancy, bus, flying up in the air, nuns, etc - but she's talking to the hand. "Leave before I call the police."

"I won't leave till you say who betrayed me." "Can't you guess? It was Rodrigo. He's tired of you, but didn't want to tell you to your face. He asked me to get rid of you. He's a capricious womanizer, obsessed till he gets what he wants, then his interest evaporates.

"He invented the agave problem so he could go to the hacienda and get away from you. This isn't the first time I've helped him. His strategy is to seduce the woman and say she's the only one. The whole family knows about it, Isa knows, she's very understanding, she realizes her husband has a weakness for easy women like you. He laughed telling me your stupid story, that stupid story about coming home 'intact' from Europe... "

At first she says she doesn't believe any of it. Then Aaron gives her the check he snatched from Medina, saying Rodrigo wanted her to have it for her 'services,' especially to him.

For some reason this suddenly changes her mind. She says she doesn't need the money or anything else from any of them, "You're the worst people I've ever seen in my life, your money makes me sick." Aaron grins uncontrollably, this is just what he hoped for. He taunts her with the car that she hasn't finished paying for. She throws the car keys on the table along with her datebook - and the cellphone Rod told her to keep with her all the time.

Aaron tells her to go away and stay away or she'll be arrested. She says she's going where she'll never have to see any of them, that the Montalvos are a "nest of potbellied vermin."

She leaves his office crying, Elvira gets a huge smile and reports to Minerva.

Gav says goodbye to Margarita. Margarita says Dani's on the line but Gav won't take the call. "This place is hell. The Montalvos are dead for me."

Having solved the agave problem, Rod rushes off to the airport - he tried to call Gav but got no answer (Aaron had her phone, of course, and read the text message - "I'm late, but I'll be in Manzanilla tonight - I'll be in your arms.")

Oñate congratulates Aaron on his handling of the situation - sending Gav away without involving the authorities means there will be no scandal, and also what Gav did was not legally so bad, and also it's better that the Montalvo's clients not mull over the fact that their contracts were signed by an imposter, and also it's better yet if the authorities don't poke their nose into Aaron's crooked dealings. And also - if Gav were to be jailed Rodrigo would be able to find her easily. Better she's just gone. Oñate asks for money.

Minerva is indignant that Gav has merely been run off and thinks the whole business could be better managed by - herself. She wants to storm the corporation with Isa and deal with everything. Isa says no, no more humiliations.

Rod arrives at the corporation. Elvira says Mariana is already gone, the family is waiting in the boardroom. Aaron talks to him first and gives him an earful, but Rod is steadfast in defending Gaviota and says he plans to leave the corporation and live with her.

Clarita is waiting in the empty apartment and Gav calls. "Ma, call a taxi and come get me, bring everything, the world has fallen in pieces."

Rod is leaving. Aaron is running after him, trying to convince him that Gav was an "easy woman." Finally he says: "Why do you think I hired her, why do you think she rose from receptionist to my secretary to manager so fast? You know I have a weakness for women! She was my lover!"

Vocabulary:

alimañas panzonas - potbellied bloodsuckers (my dictionary said 'vermin' but I like 'bloodsuckers' better - thanks, Jardinera!)

Labels: Destilando