Caray, Caray!

I hope you all send good wishes, thoughts, prayers to Beckster who is stranded in the wintery mess in Tulsa with no power, therefore no "Pasión", the telenovela I mean... We are fine here in Albuquerque so I'm jumping in to lend a hand.

We open with the tia amarga, Francisca and the lovely blind Lisabeta and Ricardo's mom, Mercedes discussing the crafty old Timoteo wondering what tricks he is up to. Francisca wonders if there is any news of Ricardo, but Mercedes says no she suffers daily for news. Lisabeta, also fairly amarga, predicts that Ric's pirate life style will lead him to hell or worse.

Francisca and Lisabeta are arriving home still musing about old Tim and his old age dementia regarding this very young woman he has brought home. Francisca tells Lisabeta to go to her room to rest, asks the servant where Cami is and approaches her in the garden where Cami is making like she is drawing. She has homework the drawing teacher gave her. She assures Francisca she was raised well and only wants to go home. Fran wonders what Cami's intentions are. Cami only wants to go home and begs to have a letter sent out to her family who need to know her whereabouts. She has asked Ascanio but Tim caught them at it. Francisca tells her that her brother is a cadaver but still a man. He tried to have sons, two died but he keeps trying. He's funded 100 masses and 1000 rosaries but no varón. Cami insists that if her family knows where she is they will pay the huge sum Don Timi paid for her. Frani says, Tim doesn't need your family's money. Cami persists that she must be a nuisance perhaps even a danger to Fran and Lisa so they should help her get out of this. Fran has a bad feeling about this. Later when Fran and Lisabeta are discussing the letter, Fran points out that if Tim makes a son with Camila the two of them could end up begging on the streets. Francisca finally relents to Camila and says she will go to the main post office and send this letter. God will repay you for this kindness. [Did I mention, she wants to go home?]

On the ship, the pirates have been stalking this merchant ship since dawn, it's probably headed to New Orleans. Ricardo wants to overtake them so orders extra canon and barrels to be thrown overboard so they can increase speed. As they near the other boat Ric gives orders not to kill unnecessarily. On the pursued boat, the capitain is saying he doesn't recognize their flag but they are approaching faster. Pirates!, oh no! mayhem ensues as the fancy people on deck scramble in circles, the women get shoved below and we catch sight of a lace edged sleeve that is way too white to be on a pirate. Instead the real pirates clean their guns. Ric meanwhile is offering 10 gold pieces to the canoneer who can hit the main mast. It doesn't take long for someone to split the mast in two and as the pirates pull along side and begin to swing on ropes to board the victim boat, Ric yells, we can fight fearlessly but still with honor. Sword fights happen all over, the merchants lose hats and get white shirts dirty. Ric moves in to subdue the capitan with "surrender or die." The captain wisely chooses surrender and tells his men to lower their arms. Ric likes quick work, see. BREAK

Camila comes into a room in yet another sumptuous gown where Timoteo is stabbing a painting (I didn't catch an explanation of this, not even who is in the picture) He tells Cami to sit down, she whines that she has been there one month and hasn't been to church even once. He asks if she is pregnant. When she says no, he answers, too bad. She doesn't want an hijo from a rape. He knows many men are beasts and outcasts but doesn't really seem to care. She persists with going to mass tomorrow until the old man gives in. She is also so bored with the music and painting and asks for something more practical to do like the accounts (a little office work). He is sure just wants to see how much money he has. She denies, but he says do you read well or I'll teach you to play chess. He ends up worn out looking from her whining (actually he started the scene looking permanently worn out), tells her she has the soul of a maid, you don't know how to have fun. You're treated like a queen... He begins to choke and gag in a most disgusting manner and the kind Cami runs for water. He likes her temperament and says too bad my daughter is not like you.

Back to the business of pirates, Ric gets an assessment of the cargo which includes cotton, spices, silk and oil. Ric confirms that the passengers are to be spared. Someone shows up with all their documents and a particularly scruffy lad points out that they can be ransomed, many of them have buckets of money.. in fact he wants to challenge Ric's authority and takes Ric up on his offer to see who is the better swordsman. Well, you know who is... the scruffy one is headed to Davey Jones' locker in a New York minute (did they have New York minutes back then??) Anyone else? Ric asks with a smile.

Out of the church comes Ric's mom Mercedes as she is asking Aunty Francisca and Lisabet, who is the pretty woman? You mean the prostitute Tim brought home? Does she sleep with him? Well, the maids say no. Over to the side as Camila walks with Ascanio she spots Jimena and he lets her go over to greet her friend. Jimena is all cleaned up but in servant's clothes. She is a cook and isn't beat often in the house of Don Zaragoza. She is awed by Cami's deluxe garb. They chat about the young boys who disappeared. Cami insists that Antillano lied to them and didn't help the boys as he had promised. Jimena says she knows Antillano/Ric is from a good famly, they gossip about his family's past. Cami says she too is treated well, isn't old Tim's lover and has to take weird art classes but it could be weirder... BREAK

Back at Camila's home town nasty old Alberto is plotting with Uriel (I think) about their business plans to send caravans of goods to Veracruz. They are afraid but well armed and ready for the English or whatever. We spot our handsome leather apron clad Santi at his smithy bench looking fierce. Uriel asks who is that guy, oh some business guy says Alberto. At this point Santi looks apoplectic and in fact hurls himself in fury and lands on the ground. The twins Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, err, Crispin and Pancho pick up their furious boss and put him back on his chair. Later the family decides Santi needs regular physical therapy to strengthen his legs. Rita wants him to move on and accept Camila's disappearance. She is lurking by the portico later to hear Ofelia say she (Rita) would be a good mother for Santi to have sons with she would like her as a daughter-in-law. Justo isn't so sure. [think he knows his daughters?] Rita looks ecstatic if still a bit sourpuss.

The pirates land on the island and are unloading the booty, Ric seems to be sharing with the locals who carry off baskets and thank him. He an Mario agree that this is a much better boat with good wood, fat canons. Mario suggests he should rename it La Camlia. He saunters off with some wenches saying sirens here is your pirate...

Finally the ill-fated letter is brought to Justo's house by Don Manuel, but Rita gets her hands on it and then sneaks off to read: "Dear Papa, I'm well but worried that you would think me dead. I was abducted by the mill by these scuzzy pirates and now I am on Isla La Mariana owned by the queen of France and oh this old dude Don Salamanca paid a frightful sum, 4000 reales. but please come ransom me even though this is a lot of money. I pray to the Virgin that Santi has recovered and that you are all well." Rita looks stormy faced and oh surprise! she shreds the letter and buries the pieces under a tree.

Mario and Ric enter a pub, find John Foreman and Ric tells him about the swell new boat they just "found". Since they are going to be in the Sea of Florida he wants a greater percentage of the take, like 8%. Foreman reluctantly agrees. Later Mario says he may have made a very powerful enemy. Ric smiles, it's worth it, no? Serving wenches approach with offers of food and ..... Ric asks for food and we'll see later about the ..... Mario is all for debauchery time, not everyone is a saint.

Camila is sitting on a window seat fingering her lovely jewels and thought bubbling memories of times with Santiago when he gave her simple presents like a flower tiara and a leather bracelet with two little metal flowers. She hides the leather bracelet which she obviously still has. Later she asks Francisca once again if the letter was sent to her family. Fran tells her she put herself at great risk to send it. If Tim gets wind of it, it will be bad for me, but it will be worse for you.

Tim asks Ascanio if Camila has made friends with his sister and niece. Ascanio says he doesn't know but Tim threatens him that if he is tricking him, he will go back to jail and rot the rest of his days. BREAK

Santi is in his chair working his feet on the cloth ball, good boy doing his physical therapy. My but his teeth are pretty as he grits them in determination.

In parallel, Camila is painting in the garden. Old Tim comes by and acerbically points out that she has no gift for painting. They get into another argument about being tired of being locked up, she wants some fresh air. He is so bored he leaves with Ascanio. She throws her chair and screams until Francisca shows up wondering what the ruckus is about. She points out that she risked a lot to help Camila. She also stabs at her with maybe your family doesn't want to know anything about you. Camila really howls now. No never, never! They love me, they adore me.

Back to Santiago getting out of his wheel chair to stand on crutches with Vasco and another handsome lad helping him make his first stumbling steps.

Once more in the garden we see Camila praying to the Virgin in heaven and promising 100 no 200 rosaries and more if she can just find out that her family is coming for her.

An innocent bed scene with Rita rubbing Santi's calf picks up ominous music [not really sexy Carla, why this music?]. Good old Rita massages away with her own brand of physical therapy in mind and begins to work her way up to his knee and when he keeps his eyes closed she continues up and up until he stops her with a "you don't have to do this work". She only wants to help him. But Santi asserts that he will take care of himself. Rita keeps rubbing but back on the calf and the music doesn't get sweeter or sexier...

Mario gets a letter from a messenger and walks toward Ric who is writing a history of pirates from the sounds of it... "There have been pirates as long as there have been mariners, back in ancient Greek times. They got silk, gold, etc..." Mario has a message from John Foreman which says meet him in two weeks in the Bay of Pigs. Ric worries there are no messages from Ma or Lisabeta. Her life has been miserable. But Mario points out that she is going to be rich and Ric ought to pay attention. He could marry her and inherit Tim's fortune. Ric avows he will get his own properties back. They discuss the inheritance and how the risk now is if this mystery wench that old Tim is besotted with gets pregnant, and it's a boy. Wow they are all obsessed with this male heir. Mario seems to know that Tim has something to do with Ric's father losing his fortune that he worked so hard to gain. Ric snickers at the thought that the ancient Tim could impregnate anyone at his age. BREAK

The ancient Tim meanwhile is playing chess with Camila and suddenly announces he has been observing her and has decided to marry her. She freezes and he repeats did she hear him. She doesn't want to marry she is already engaged. She should be honored she can be the great Señora Salamanca. She is a fool, her opinions don't matter. She has no options. [oh you sweet talkin' sob]. She whines a lot but that's not surprising. She spouts she will only marry Santiago and that is her last word. She sweeps off in another stunning gown apparently not realizing this won't look as spectacular when she does it in maid's rags. Old Tim is unflappable and says to Ascanio my little dove went off to find the blind one and the bitter one. You better go listen to see if they are planning something.

She enters the room to plead more with Francisca and Lisabeta about needing to escape. He is a crazy old man how else can she explain what he wants to do. Help me, help me.

Later Lisabeta clutches her doll, wears a lacy night cap and childlike says can papa still breed? Why does he want to marry her? Why, she could inherit everything with a boy heir. I'm just a girl and then blind too. Aunty says, Tim has a sick mind, you need Ric to help you.

Next day Camila tries once more to reason with Tim but he isn't having any of it. Save your saliva he says. She hollers, I can't marry you I am already engaged. He leaves the garden telling her she is not going to refuse him. Then Camila turns on poor Ascansio and asks him if he is a stick. Help me. Don't you feel sorry for me. He comes back with the news that he is a slave too. Were you bought at an auction too? No, he got me out of jail. What had you done? I killed a man. [Now why is this gorgeous man constantly the toady of powerful ricos or going off on killing sprees, is this type casting?]

Mercedes is visiting Francisca and Lisabeta they are discussing Tim as a spiteful nasty piece of work, worried about the inheritance and that this wench may throw a monkey wrench [I know they didn't have them but it sounds rhythmic to me at this late hour]. Once again these stately ladies shock us with the detailed discussion of whether old Tim can get it up enough to get Camila pregnant. Sistah Fran thinks he can't get it up and he certainly can't raise the trumpets of Jericho. {Okay, so I looked it up and the seven trumpets were blown seven days in a row all around Jericho as part of Joshua's plan to raze the city and on the seventh day the people then screamed loud enough to bring the city walls down. I agree, I don't think old Tim can do any of that.] The ladies then calmly decide they may have to kill Camila to save the family fortune. Fran comes into Camila and says okay I will help you escape. They discuss the little side door she will have to use since the big gates are guarded. She adds that this is your only chance, take it or leave it. FIN.

Preview: Looks like Camila escapes dressed as a boy and back home Doña Sofia is asking Ofelia probing questions about her pregnancy that turned into Santiago. Could he be Don can't-much-anymore's only varón??

Labels: Pasion