Caray, Caray!

Thanks for waiting, and Happy New Year!

This episode shows the creaking, groaning effects of an "extension" being grafted onto the plot. As Elvis says later, "whenever it looks like those lovers will get together, something happens to separate them." We've seen all this before - we just have to endure it again so that the show can take up a few more weeks or months...

After a replay of Suzy's delicious dismissal and Gav's warning to Isa that the non-aggression pact is broken forever and "you'll now discover who Gaviota really is," and her wish to see the Montalvo harpies eat dirt, we have a rerun of Rodrigo insisting that Isa's dad bring in the supposed guy who's willing to take over his debt [what an idiot you'd have to be...] and Videgaray's warning that Rod had better not leave Isa until after her dad pays his debt. If he welches, there's a lot to lose, for Daniela and Sofia as well as the whole family, and if Rod divorces, Ricardo would enjoy watching the hacienda's whole year's production of agave fall to his creditors. [I don't think Ricardo feels any "moral obligation" as it is! -- Ed.] "Treat the situation with kid gloves, Rodrigo, in order to save the hacienda."

Rod is furious and says he doesn't care, but Videgaray reminds him he's promised to support his sisters and preserve his patrimony. He can't leave the family in chaos.

Big Tequila Boss (no, I can't spell his name either) tells Gaviota that Dr. Blondie is sick and she will have to handle today's meetings alone. "He's not taking your resignation well." [In other words, he's holding his breath till he turns blue. --Ed.] She feels prepared. Big Boss asks if she's got permission to go to the Montalvo estate, she says she's asked Nancy to get written permission from Rod.

At the hacienda, Isa, wearing a leopard kerchief skirt showing off her lovely legs, is pacing furiously while Sofia, in yet another unspeakably ghastly blouse, is rocking little Ricky, who is sleeping again. Sleepy Frankie Sr. arrives, newly turned out of bed. Sofia: "He had an important meeting again last night till the wee hours." Isa, who had aroused him with promises of silken favors when he arrived from his "meeting" and then dumped cold water on his [...], says ironically, "It seems your work is constantly getting more arduous."

He taunts her with a recount of his luxurious soak in the jacuzzi and reminds her that little Ricky is, like him, a sleepyhead. She says she's going back to the city next day, but will wait up for him tonight.

James calls him to the office. "I see the copper sulfite arrived, when were you planning on applying it to the crop?" "Next week." "No, tomorrow." "I don't like taking orders from you." "This is Rodrigo's order." Frankie makes a crude gesture in response and leaves. James wonders rhetorically (since there's nobody there): "Why did Rod hire this inepto?" Heh.

Suzi calls Isa from the car and describes her debacle, and that she was forced to give up Isa and Minerva to Big Boss. She gives Gaviota's message (see above). Isa calls Minerva in Miami and says "They'll crucify us! It will endanger my matrimony!" "Aaron and I are coming to town for the festival of new tequila, and we'll be around for a while since he's going to dog all the organic producers - all Rod's contacts - he is looking to expand his business. So I'll be there with you."

Isa tells Sofia, who is her disciple but doesn't know the whole story about anything: "For some odd reason, Gaviota has now declared herself my enemy." Sofia can't understand why Gaviota would be so angry. She reminds Isa: "You promised Pilar to act with class. Don't endanger your relationship to the family." "What do I care at a time like this, when my marriage is at stake!" [That didn't make much sense, did it?!]

I will not bother recapping the two exceedingly dull meetings, except to say that all are awed by Gaviota's competence and "impeccable presentations."

Rod recaps his problems to Daniela, who says he deserves it for his habitual boneheaded decisions. He says he promised to provide for his sisters, and that Sofia and her husband depend directly on the hacienda's production. "I care about sis, but that cretin, no!" Rod says he's an inoffensive parasite, like a cockroach. "No, he's worse - he's a fraud - he married Sofia por interes - since he treats her like a slave, it's obvious he doesn't love her." She tells Rod the most sensible thing is to hang with Isa for three more months: "It's the price you pay for your stupid decisions. Besides, Gaviota has waited three years, she'll understand."

Then he admits he asked Gav to quit her job, and even if he can't be with her he doesn't want her working with that Dr. Blondie. "What an egotist you are, Rodrigo! Call her immediately and tell her not to quit."

Frankie calls a sleazy guy who wants to buy copper sulfite. They take a meeting. Frankie will sell half of what the hacienda receives. The guy will send four guys in a truck, they will sneak in the side door, Frankie will get cash. It has to be tonight.

Gaviota has finished with her second presentation, just as brilliant as the first. All the secretaries of state are impressed. And here comes Dr. Blondie, the picture of health, with smile at high beam again! He tells all the ministers Gaviota is quitting and they all say, "Oh Gaviota, please stay, you are so brilliant," and Dr. Blondie gives her puppydog eyes...

... and there's a call from Rod, and she looks stricken (can it be she knows what this call is about?) and he tells her to rescind her letter of resignation, and he wants to come pick her up, and she says: "No, tell me now, I'm sick of your excuses," etc. and blah blah we've heard this before.

... so she goes back to the meeting, where Big Boss has just told all the V.I.P.s about Mariana's problems, and they say she's so great it's no problem, they'll support her, and will she stay, and she says yes, and thanks everybody, and goes to Dr. Blondie's office (it turns out he had just pretended to be sick so she'd run the meetings and all would fall out just as it has) and thanks him in a deep sultry voice and says she loves working by his side.

Elvis painted a picture of Gaviota, "It was supposed to be for their wedding, but I guess I'll give it to Rodrigo now..."

... and Gaviota leaves the building and there's our favorite boneheaded stalker, and she gives the classic Que haces aqui? ("What are you doing here?") and he wants to talk and is so jealous of Dr. Blondie and blah blah and she gets in the car with him and tells about Isa's plot with Suzi, now happily foiled, and he is impactado.

Labels: Destilando