Caray, Caray!

Here’s schoolmarm Jeanne for Ferro, who is still enjoying a well-deserved rest.

We join Don Loco in his cell, glaring into Dra. Loca’s face. He turns away scowling [Ed. Note: my mommy always told me that if I scowled like that too much my face would freeze like that] and she follows him, saying that if he keeps thinking like this, the only thing that will happen is he’ll keep suffering. Better to face reality, his reality. Maybe Soledad has rejected him, but there’s another who might just want to love him. She lays her hands on this shoulders, smiling seductively. [It’s lost on him, sweetie, he’s not even looking]. We note that DL has a band-aid not quite covering his latest bobo, the result of him banging his head on the bars until he bled.

DL turns and gets in her face. “And that other person, by chance, might be you?” Perceptive, DL. “How do you dare to compare yourself with my wife?” Her seductive half-smile slips. “It’s your fault I’m locked up in here.” “I’m sure you and the judge worked it out so I couldn’t leave here, true? You had the force with you.” (A nod to Star Wars here, which is based way more in reality than Duelo). He grabs her around the neck and begins to choke her.

Dra. Loca, impactada that her seduction plan is going awry, begs him to calm down and not talk like that. She tries to pull his hands away. He calls her “damned,” chokes and shakes her by the neck while she gasps and whimpers. [What part of his treatment of Soledad did you not understand, Dra.? You haven’t done your homework. Tsk.] “You poisoned Soledad in order that she wouldn’t forgive me, didn’t you, damned traitor!?” [Sheesh. As if more than two years of cruel and unusual treatment wasn’t going to set the stage for Soledad to never forgive you!] She calls for the guards [Ed. Note: if you play this part back, you’ll see that his fingers aren’t actually pressuring her around the neck. Very convincing, DL.] He yells a question at her, asking if what she wants is that they throw him into the punishment cell (solitary?). The guard comes and he drops her and backhands the guard, who drops to the floor. [Well, we already knew the guards here weren’t too sharp]. Another guard runs in behind him, and DL elbows him back against the cell; two more guards finally come and drag him off, presumably to the punishment cell. Dra. Loca just stands there with her teeth in her mouth, crying and rubbing her throat.

In the nursing school, the students are lined up in rows of desks. Alina speaks to the nursing instructor while others pack up their materials. She apologizes for being distracted during class. She’s thrilled with the school, but has a lot on her mind and couldn’t concentrate. The instructor understands, but thought for a moment she found the lab work tedious. Alina assures her that the opposite it true, really. The instructor tells her if she needs anything, Alina can ask her.

Alina thought bubbles that she cannot let herself get distracted; this is too important for her. [Ed. Note: if one looks around the room, one cannot help but wonder why the other trainees in their perfectly clean, starched white uniforms have their tops zipped up to their eyeballs, but Alina looks like she got her uniform where Nurse Susy shops. Maybe the room’s hot? Her zipper’s stuck half way up? OTOH, this uniform meets all of Ferro’s requirements.]

Gaby is coloring on the coffee table in the living room. Tina comes in and asks her to “tell me about your drawings.” [Ed. Note: every schoolmarm on earth and most mothers know that you never remark on what a kid is drawing, because inevitably you’ll get it wrong and there’ll be a disgusted kid stare in return. Instead, you ask the youngster to “tell me about it.” Bravo, Tina!] Gaby tells her that this is a picture of the bad lady who “wants to kill me.” Gaby looks really afraid, and Tina is impactada. Gaby has another, of herself locked in a cage by the bad lady and she’ll never get out. Tina holds out her arms and asks if Gaby wants to tell her about it. Gaby runs off to her room, “no, I don’t want to talk about this!” Tina follows.

As the nursing class wraps up, [stereotypically, they’re all muchachas] the instructor compliments them on organizing their instruments perfectly. They’ll be moving into a sterile field (environment) as they continue their work. From the middle of the room there’s a cry of pain. One of the student nurses has cut herself. Alina, who read ahead in the book while she lived in the cave, applies a rubber band tourniquet perfectly and stops the bleeding. How fortunate for her fellow student! Equally fortunate is the rubber band tourniquet that just happened to be in pile of instruments they were learning how to organize today! Alina explains exactly what she is doing. Soon, she’ll be team teaching with the instructor. The instructor compliments her on technique and speed. Alina mops up the excessive bleeding. One wonders qué the heck the pile of instruments contained on the first day to cause such bleeding.

Gaby is lying on her bed, back to Tina, who is trying to talk to her and comfort her. Tina’s worried about Gaby’s preoccupation that someone’s coming back to hurt her, which isn’t going to happen. Gaby assures her it WILL happen and they’ll all die. Rodrigo comes in and says he’ll talk to her. [This dude looks good in uniform!] He holds her and asks about her fear. She doesn’t want to talk about it. He wants to know if someone threatened her. She lies and says no. She begs him to marry Alina fast and get them out of Dodge. He promises he will, but she needs to calm down.

Aha! Here we are at La Rinconada, where a uniformed Orlando is talking to Vera and Iffy. They exchange chitchat about breakfast and he gets to the point: he’s going to Luba’s cave. Vera is impactada. Luba’s not there. It’s her fault that Flor died, the police are looking for her, and she’s blown the joint with Gaspar. Orlando is PO’d.

Raquel is taking a lovely afternoon stroll with Hernán at her Rancho Viejo in Sierra Escondido. [Everyone already has noted that Raquel is really out-of-context given that we’re in Últimos Capítulos, so I won’t elaborate, but I’m just saying]. He remarks that the funeral was calm, and she notes that it was calm and quiet because none of the employees showed up. When the workers bailed from Montellaño’s ranch to work for her husband, he paid them a good wage. She doesn’t get this, why no one came, why this is how they treat him. She wipes a tear. “Why are they so ungrateful?” Some of the workers come running up to them, led by Fidencio, who has had secretive interactions with Hernán in the last couple of episodes. (They are apparently trying to get her to sell Rancho Viejo at a loss]. The workers want to talk with her. Hernán tries to send them away, but Raquel will hear them out. The workers are not confident that she’s going to follow through with the work they’ve counted on. They want a raise. She tells them the wages are fair and they won’t get a raise. They’re going on strike. The workers, led by Fidencio, yell “Strike! Strike!” (Huelga=strike or work slowdown) Fidencio stands there, quiet, and sneaks a glance over at Hernán. One wonders if this is a set up. I’m just saying.

Alina is talking in the small office with the instructor. She explains why she is so skilled at these things already. The nursing instructor notes Alina’s previous distraction again and offers to help. Alina tells her about Rodrigo’s kind offer of marriage and her doubts.

Back at Rancho Viejo, Hernán has Fidencio by his shirt, shaking him and asking how he dares to speak this way to Sra Raquel. Fidencio tells him that women don’t have the head for business. Raquel intervenes. She makes Hernán let Fidencio go, and the boys glare at each other. She asks Fidencio to have a little faith in her. She reminds them the ranch is important to her, too, and the one thing she has for the son she is expecting. He tells her that without a raise, they’re not going to have faith in her and she says, “okay, there’s no solution for this because there’s not going to be a raise.” Fidencio tells her “okay, we’re going on strike.” The crowd yells again about striking. One young man comes forward and tells her he’s going to have faith in her and work with her. She asks his name: Lauro Ramirez. She says fine, they’ll work together on the ranch. Hernán and Fidencio are mildly impactados and uneasy.

Alina has just finished telling her tale of woe to the instructor. She doesn’t think it’s a good thing for her to change her own future so Gaby can be calm. She just wants to start a new life and find happiness. The instructor encourages her to forget the past and points out all the obstacles to pursuing a relationship with Emilio, and that Rodrigo seems to really love her and will do everything in his power to ensure her happiness.

At the Boutique de Coral, she, Soledad and Elías are hashing over the jail visit. Soledad remarks that he was just so sure she would forgive him as if nothing had happened, but it’s not easy to forget all this. Elías asks if he really seemed sorry. Yes, and he seemed to think they would be reconciled, maybe if he behaved well, after he leaves jail. But, she has stopped loving him. Coral comforts her.

Emilio has arrived at his new post. Several workers are waiting for him, wearing ponchos in the rain. The lead muchacha has a grin from ear to ear. She likes what she sees (the Jeep? Frank?) They introduce themselves, shake hands, [what’s with the fat cigar in his other hand? Looks very professional], and he tells her they are going to make sure the locals aren’t in danger by stabilizing things. She’s Karla Sanchez, the head of Civil Defense in the area. They have everything ready, including stuff like insect repellant so no one gets Dengue Fever [Ed. note: this is very bad stuff. It’s prevalent in tropical zones, carried by mosquitoes. Once you get it, you can’t get exposed again for at least seven years because the second time can be truly life threatening. I had a friend in Hawaii who went somewhere in Polynesia and got it. She had lots of restrictions for a long time. Then, a hula troupe from Hana, Maui went to Polynesia and brought it back. There was a bit of a local scare. I have heard it called “bone break fever” because it makes one feel like all the bones in the body are broken. Here’s info from Wikipedia: “This infectious disease is manifested by a sudden onset of fever, with severe headache, muscle and joint pains (myalgias and arthralgias — severe pain gives it the name break-bone fever or bonecrusher disease) and rashes; the dengue rash is characteristically bright red petechia and usually appears first on the lower limbs and the chest - in some patients, it spreads to cover most of the body. There may also be gastritis with some combination of associated abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

Some cases develop much milder symptoms, which can, when no rash is present, be misdiagnosed as a flu or other viral infection. Thus, travelers from tropical areas may inadvertently pass on dengue in their home countries, having not been properly diagnosed at the height of their illness. Patients with dengue can only pass on the infection through mosquitoes or blood products while they are still febrile.”]

She tells the muchachos to walk this way. Frank grins at Emiliooooo and tells him she’s not just beautiful, she’s well-prepared. Not bad on the eyes. Emilio gives him the hooded-eyed-lizard look. They follow.

Alina thanks the instructor for listening, and the instructor tells her that there’s no need for thanks, they are friends. [Every schoolmarm knows it’s not good to be too close to your students, especially in a college situation. Tsk.] She’ll help Alina with things. She leaves and Rodrigo comes in. He’s taking Alina to dinner and will get her response. He gives her a single pink rose. She’s ready with a response.

At Mansión Valtierra, Rebeca is cuddling the baby and Thelma demands him. The doorbell rings and Rebeca runs to get it. There’s a document for Thelma, who rudely retorts that she’s busy with her son. She tells Singing Auntie to open it. It’s the divorce papers. Thelma apparently thought he wouldn’t file them. She is impactada. After the commercial break, she takes the papers to read them and hands the baby to SA. She’ll never accept this. She rips it up. She’ll get Alina married off to Rodrigo. SA asks what if this plan doesn’t succeed? Thelma will find another way to blackmail Emilio. [Well, it beats murder.]

Rodrigo and Alina haven’t left the nursing school. He’s going to take her to a lovely restaurant. He’s anxious for the reply. She needs to go by Coral’s store and change her clothes.

Dra. Loca busts into Vargas’ office. ;-) She has to tell him something very important. [She looks good in red. That cleavage, though. Sniff.] What’s up? She wants Alvaro transferred to a mental hospital. Vargas is impactado.

Karla Sanchez is making sure Emilioooo and Frank will be cozy in their tent. They talk about the difficult situation: dozens of families have been rescued from rising waters/floods using amphibious vehicles. But, there a still a lot of folks who haven’t been evacuated. Frank wants to know the plan (give Emiliooo a minute, muchacho, because he just sat down with the map. He doesn’t think that fast on his feet OR sitting down.) Emilioooo tells them they’ll organize a team and begin getting folks out of their homes. Karla leans toward E and grasps his forearm lightly but thoroughly; she’ll find the folks he needs. Emilioooo looks down pointedly at her hand, moves a little, and she draws back as he tells her he appreciates the help. She leans back to her chair, looking only slightly embarrassed. She stands to leave and hopes they’ll be comfortable. If they need anything, they shouldn’t hesitate to call her. She lets them know that her tent is just next to theirs, but she’s not talking to Frank. She’s got her back to him. She wonders if Emiliooo wants a little hot coffee, her hand caressing his back at the shoulder. [Ed. Note: What about Frank? Is he chopped liver?] Emilio looks evasive and thanks her. Frank grins at him slyly and says, “Well, a little hot coffee for your pleasure, Captain…..” Emiliooo looks down at his rolled-up map. Frank makes another crack about Captain Valtierra on attack. Emilio purses his lips at Frank.

Speaking of campers, Vargas is not a happy one. “Transfer him? What does this mean?” DL is not in his right mind and dangerous to have in the general jail population. [Ya think?] Vargas thinks this man is perfectly capable of faking loco so he’ll have a get-out-of-jail free card. He thinks this is ridiculous; she knows how clever this guy is. She points out that people with celotipia have a different reality than the rest of the world; it’s their fantasies. She knows he’s intelligent, but she wants this transfer because he tried to choke her. She wants off his case.

Back at Coral’s store, Elías is ready to leave. Soledad thanks him for talking with her; she’s calm now. He wants to remind her that not all relationships are so conflicted and destructive as hers with DL. She knows. He apologizes again because he’s never hid how he feels about her, and she tells him he doesn’t need to. She thinks that maybe….sometime…..she and he could….Alina and Rodrigo interrupt this moment. Elías compliments her uniform. She goes to change so they can go to dinner and Elías leaves. Alina wants to talk to her Mamá, so they go off to the changing room.

Vargas tells Dra. Loca that what she is saying is very serious. [Duh]. Yes, and DL will get worse if he doesn’t get the treatment he needs. [Ed. Note: One supposes that a good, hard slap to the chops probably aren’t part of the treatment, right?] Vargas still thinks DL attacked her to get sent up the river to the other kind of institution and lessen his sentence. Dra. Loca isn’t so sure of that. And almost getting killed by a patient is just one of the necessary risks of her profession. She’s just devastated because their relationship was so cordial. Vargas reluctantly agrees to the transfer.

Luba and Gaspar are with the doc, who tells them he has never seen a case like this, and he’s impressed with the inexplicable spontaneous healing. Luba waxes eloquent about miracles and how the Virgen works. She knows it in her heart. Gaspar tells him now he can see his cub. Luba puts her hand over Gaspar’s mouth to shut him up. She covers up a bit. The doc tells them he’s getting the papers ready for dismissal. Luba goes to hug him. She tells him how handsome he is and follows as he leaves. Gaspar gets a puzzled look on his face. He didn’t like Luba telling the doc that his “cub” was a puppy. She tells him not to be so foolish. He shouldn’t be announcing to the four winds about this child. He says the doc told him he could go look for the boy. Luba tells him to go already. She lays a guilt trip on him that she has to go to look for the cofre and they’ll kill her, but he doesn’t care. He’s bending.

In a police office, Orlando (in street clothes) is looking for info about Luba and Gaspar. The police aren’t giving it, but he flashes his military credentials. That’s a different story. They tell him about Gaspar fighting as “Intocable” and he had an accident; he’s been in a public hospital in Puebla. What good luck for Orlando!

At the Rancho Viejo, Hernán is angry that Raquel thinks she and this one employee can run the ranch. [So, where’s YOUR volunteer spirit, Hernán? Aren’t you like the jefe or something?] She argues back. She’s not just going to stand there with her arms crossed; something is better than nothing. He points out she’s about to pop. She tells him that she can do whatever is necessary for the sake of her son. He tells her that’s nuts. He wants to know why she just doesn’t sell this ranch. He can find someone interested (of COURSE you can, you scumbag!) She finds it strange that he’s proposing this. He knows how important this ranch was to her husband and is to her. She has no doubt that if she has to spend the rest of her life working her tail off, she’ll do it, but sell, NEVER. She tells Lauro they’re going off to work. Hernán protests and she tells him, “I have spoken!” Hernán mutters “damn you” to her as she walks off with Lauro. [Ed. Note: I like Raquel, even if her appearance is darn untimely. She’s got spunk.]

Soledad looks Alina over in her lovely outfit. She wonders if Alina seems nervous, or is it just her imagination? Alina admits she is nervous about the response Rodrigo wants. They hash over Emilio and Rodrigo, compare and contrast. Same old, same old.

Karla is seeing a patient, presumably who has Dengue. She’s giving the vieja something to lower her fever (important in Dengue). She gives her instructions. She notes that the woman has an elevated temp, body aches, and shivers. Emilio comes into the nursing station tent and has an orange flashback to when he was injured and unconscious in Luba’s cave (dunno how he can flashback to being unconscious, but that’s Emilio for ya), with Alina caring for him. Karla notes to the patient that she also has a bit of rash (captions spelled it “salpullido” but it’s “sarpullido m. noun- rash”). She gives her some papers to take to another place.

Karla sees Emilio, who tells her he was remembering someone who had cared for him. Karla notes “ella? “ She asks if it was a girlfriend and looks relieved when he says it’s not. She talks a little about Dengue, and the medical services bring much comfort to those who have it. She offers Emiliooo that cup of hot coffee, which he agrees to take while they talk about work. He sits on the cot and they eye each other while they drink. She looks hopeful.

Back at Coral’s, Alina and Soledad are stilllllll discussing Alina’s decision-making dilemma. She hasn’t forgotten Emilio but she cannot have him and will forget him eventually. Soledad reminds her that he’s divorcing, but she says it’s too late. She’s worried about Gaby and Rodrigo. Her mother tells her to think about it well. She doesn’t want to break Rodrigo’s heart; her mother points out that hers might be broken. Alina says the past has to be past. She’s going to accept Rodrigo. [Ed. Note: Alina’s enthusiasm here is underwhelming.]

At the Puebla hospital, the Lucha Meister is meeting Luba and Gaspar. He’s thrilled at Gaspar’s recovery and has such a deal for them. It’s for training the newbies, not to fight again. Gaspar doesn’t want it. The Lucha jefe wants to know why not? They’ll be in San Mateo and there’s less possibility they’ll be found. Gaspar wants to go with Luba to SE and make sure nothing happens to her.

Back in his lonely cell, DL is talking to himself and begging Soledad’s forgiveness. A guard brings a sedative med with a cup of water. DL doesn’t really want it, and flashes back to forcing meds down Soledad’s throat with her crying that she doesn’t want it. He just takes it. “Why didn’t the doc come?” “She’s dropped your case.” “Why?” “You don’t remember? You choked her.” The guard walks away, disgusted.

After commercial break, DL’s standing at the bars, yelling to see Dra. Loca. He mutters to himself, shaking his head, that he tried to kill her. He says they’re a bunch of damned liars and he never did anything of the kind. She’s the only one who understands and can get him out of there. He yells to see her again.

Claudia is offering a drink or snack to Rodrigo, who is still waiting for Alina to solve her life problems while she changes. Coral comes in to introduce Alina’s grand entrance. She and Soledad glide into the room. Alina and Rodrigo excuse themselves and Coral wants to know if Alina is going to give him a response. Soledad affirms it, and Coral is sorry for Emilio.

At Mansión Valtierra, Angel is talking to SA, who has the baby. Does Thelma know that Emilio is gone? Yes. She’s depressed, and the divorce papers arrived. Yes, Angel knew something about that, but she was just asking for it. SA wishes there was a way to save this marriage. She goes to put the baby in bed. (“My baby”) Angel is left to mutter to himself that he understands Emilio’s anguish at being so far from the one he loves; Claudia’s stepfather is keeping them apart.

Karla asks Emilioooo if he wants more coffee. She plays with her hair coquettishly. No, he needs to sleep well in order to work tomorrow. Karla tells him that she, on the other hand, has insomnia and if he can’t sleep, she’ll be waiting there to chat……she fidgets with her belt and sways a little. Frank comes in abruptly. “Captain, pardon me, but the General’s on the radio for you.” Emiliooo makes a quick an exit as he can, thanking her for the coffee. Frank smiles at Karla and tells her what a great guy his Captain is, and that she should get to know him better. She tells him that for sure she is interested in knowing him better……. She leaves. [What the heck is Frank? A yenta? Is that under “other duties as assigned?”]

At the boutique, Coral is talking to Claudia and Soledad. They invite Claudia to go to dinner with them. She has to work on the clothing displays, etc. Angel comes in. He came to see her and help. Suddenly, several guys wearing ski masks and carrying guns, burst into the shop. Angel pushes Claudia behind him. The gunmen yell “nobody move and be quiet!” Angel and Claudia are super impactados. Some of the gunmen move behind them, maybe looking for the day’s earnings. [Didn’t look like anyone was taking deposits to the bank, either, when Coral and Soledad left. Tsk.]

In Emilooo’s tent, he’s working on a map and notes. Frank comes in and asks about the call with the General. Emilio gives him details; they need reinforcements. The locals are in no condition to help, so Emilio asked the General. Frank makes a comment about Karla; she likes to see Emilio. Emilioooo tells him this isn’t a joke. The mission is serious, don’t forget it. He leaves. Frank smiles to himself and mutters that Karla doesn’t see it that way; she has another mission for Emilioooo. [Okay, maybe he’s not a yenta, he’s a panderer].

Angel hotly tells the gunman who is guarding him and Claudia while the others grab the money that the folks who work here work hard and honorably; they should do the same. The gunman tells him to shut it. [Good advice, Angel, he’s the one holding the gun.] One of the others tells him that instead of a sermon, he needs to look after his girlfriend and hope for the best. Angel settles and assures him everything’s cool. The guy holding the gun on them wants the cashbox open. Claudia can’t open it, she has no key. Angel lunges at him and they struggle. Claudia yells at them to leave him in peace, and the others rush to help their comrade. Angel takes a lot of punches. The gunmen grab what they can and run; Angel is bleeding and bruised on the floor. She kneels and tries to get him to respond.

Raquel finds Lauro working and asks how it’s going. Lauro tells her not well and lists the problems. There’s not enough food for the sheep and two of the machines don’t’ work. They need at least three men to help move things. Two aren’t enough? They make a decision and Raquel tries to pick up one of the bags that is propped near a wall. All by her pregnant self. She groans. [The bag must weigh at least 40 lbs.] She’s hurt herself. ¡Ay, Caray! [I guess there’s no need to point out we could have told her so.] He helps her sit. He’s going to try to get some buddies of his; she warns him to be careful and don’t let them turn on him [she’s smarter than we think, maybe]. He goes off.

Angel is sitting up and holding a cloth to the bump on his forehead. He just needs some air and he’ll be all right. Coral and Soledad come back in. Gee, that was a short trip. They are impactadas as they hear about the assault and robbery.

Thelma bursts into Mauricio’s office without knocking. She asks if he is the lawyer for Emilio Valtierra. He says he is. “Well, let me tell you I’m not accepting any divorce, and here’s what you sent me.” She throws the pieces of the paperwork down onto his desk as he stand up. “Listen, Sra.” “Listen, nothing! What is your name?” “Mauricio Rivera.” Thelma tosses this info around. “I know you from someplace else.” Mauricio just looks at her doubtfully.

Oh, my, here we are in Veracruz at the sugar plantation. Hugo and Alfi are “finally home!” Alfi asks if she can have HER cofre now. Hugo clings to it and smiles greasily. He asks her how much she thinks DL might give for this. She thinks a lot, much more than in the briefcase. They exchange veiled insults implying that neither trusts the other. Hugo looks uncomfortable and asks if they’re going to make the exchange—cofre for briefcase. She agrees and moves. He thought bubbles that she has no idea the surprise that awaits her.

Karla is in her tent, and Emilio asks to see her. She says “sure, come in.” We see her back, unclothed and dripping wet clear up to her hair. A small tub of bubble bath is in front of her on the ground. She gets up slowly and opens the drape, turning to face him. She asks him if he wants a bath. He stops writing notes, impactado. [Ferro, what a week for you to be on vacation! Timing is everything, lad. De ninguna manera can I do this justice the way you would.]

At the restaurant, Rodrigo is confessing to Alina that it’s been a while since he felt so nervous. She tells him that makes two of them. He tells her she shouldn’t be nervous. This could be the best day of her life. [Easy for you to say, Dude.] He asks if she is inclined to marry him? She touches her neck and looks impactada. [How come? Did she just realize she gave her heart necklace away?] She flashes back to giving it to Emiliooooo. What timing. She flashes back to when he gave it to her. Rodrigo gets up; he’s going out to the street to look for it. No, she remembers where it is. She tells him she’s always been honest with him, and she cannot accept the offer of marriage. He is muy impactado and sets his jaw.

Next time: (Tuesday) More about Thelma’s betrayals, and will Alina end up with Emilio or Rodrigo?

Jeanne

Labels: duelo