Caray, Caray!

But first: Guapos is the number-one rated Spanish-language show in the U.S! Which means here in the L.A. area that it’s probably in the top 5 of all TV shows.

A lot happened tonight, so on with the story:

First we watch the pub brawl from last night, and then see our rowdy bunch in jail. Here come Connie and Damien with Braulio, who, unlike the other two, knows that a gentleman always wears gloves to a jail visit. Connie is saying just what I need, a scandal. He sees Valeria and asks what she’s doing out in her underwear. He springs them all, except Claudio. That’s not one of mine, he says. Braulio protests that he won’t allow his nephew to be left in the street. His nephew has family now, after all. Connie says okay, him too.

The next morning Luci and Damien are sitting at a garden table having coffee. Damien wants to know if she spoke to the young ‘uns about their adventures last night. She says that Connie took care of reproaching them, and after her own scenes, how can she act ashamed of them and besides, you know Connie, he’ll use it to say it’s all my fault. Anyway, that is the least of my problems. You’re right Damien, Connie and Andrea are lovers – I caught then in the office.

Damien tells his “dear” sister that Connie ought to be the one who’s ashamed. Imagine! With his son’s fiancée! Tut tut, why, it’s just not done! He asks if she’s talked to Andrea about it.

Luci says yes, I tried to, but I didn’t get anywhere - she’s ambitious, a social climber. Do you believe that he was renting an apartment for her, got her furniture, a car, who knows what else? Damien says it’s obvious that she’s soaking him for money - you think she likes him for his pretty face? Luci swears she’s going to get rid of Andrea. Damien asks if she’s going to tell Alex the truth.

There’s no point in that, says Luci, I’ve lost credibility with my children. I’m going to get it back, but it’s going to take time. I did talk to Mili, that servant of Regina’s. Alex has eyes for her, even has her thinking that they’re novios. Can you imagine? I think it’s just a passing fancy for him, but it’s convenient for me. I have to win this one... I have to get Andrea out of the house and out of my son’s life.

Be careful, warns Damien, Mili’s even sucked my son in – remember New Year’s eve and him getting out of the wheelchair? Don’t let things get out hand – remember how things worked out in your husband’s past! [hint: pregnant servant] Don’t worry, says Luci, after I get rid of Andrea, I’ll get rid of the servant.

We’re in Regina’s room where Valeria, Alex, Mili and Claudio are lined up before her, literally called on the carpet, it seems. Regina starts “my four grandchildren in jail!” But Valeria stops here right there – what “four”? Regina explains: Mili is my adopted granddaughter because she’s captured my heart. Mili gives Valeria a little nudge and says suck that lemon! Regina continues: Claudio is your family, he has the same right as you to the family name. – Mili gives Val another little shove and says suck that lemon too. Valeria says she has a headache Regina lets her go.

Alex apologizes and asks for forgiveness. Regina, who didn’t seem too upset in the first place, grants forgiveness. Smiles all around. Regina asks Claudio for a hug. Mili asks for the day off –she’s cooking dinner for Alex. Regina says no problem, she’s going to spend the day with her new grandson. Mili leaves and Regina asks Alex when he’s going to talk to Andrea. Today, he says.
Regina tells Claudio sorry, but we have to go to the lab today. Claudio says gosh, he doesn’t know why there’s all this distrust, but if his father says so, he’ll go.

Now Alex and Mili are in his room. He gives her the key to Bobby’s apartment, and offers her money for groceries. They kiss and titter and look forward to the wonderful evening.

Connie comes in to Regina’s room. Regina asks Claudio to show Connie the medallion. Claudio: My mother gave it to me when I was born. Regina: Don’t you recognize it, Constancio? It’s la Virgen de la Soledad. You gave it to Rosario for her child. Connie is uncomfortable and skeptical: How did you get a hold of this? Regina: He has it because he’s your son. From the moment I saw him, I didn’t doubt a moment, neither should you! You don’t need a lab test. He’s your blood, your son, accept him. Connie looks doubtful.

We are in the girls’ dorm and Mili is getting ready to go out grocery shopping, stuffing her hair into her cap, and Lina is dreaming of what a great evening they’ll have, the music, candlelight, dancing cheek to cheek, the kisses, the caresses! And then he takes you up in his arms and off to bed. Mili protests No! Just the dinner and kisses. Lina: didn’t you get any sex ed over at the convent? Mili says, Sor Cachete told me that if you offer a man afters, he takes one bite and then leaves.

Lina when she finds out the dinner is at Bobby’s asks Mili to swipe something for her to have - even a sock and I don’t care if it’s dirty! Yum! Mili looks grossed out, and so does Karla who appears at doorway.

Alex and Andrea are in the foyer. Andrea asks how was the party last night? Why didn’t you take me? You wanted to meet with the servant and go dancing, huh? We have to talk. Alex agrees, but says not here and not now. I have to go to the doctor about my wound, and then to work. I’ll meet you between 7 and 8 at the cafeteria near here. We need to talk in a civilized manner. (Way to go, Alex! A cafeteria is the perfect place for a break-up! Puh-leeeze)

Hugo is working on his painting. Karla comes in and says, want to know what Milagros is going to do tonight and with whom?

Cut to the convent office: Connie is meeting with the padre. He says his mother is convinced but he’s not. Mili is your daughter, says the padre and you need to do that test. Connie shows the medallion to the padre – yes that’s Mili’s, says the padre, there’s no other like it. They wonder how the boy got it.

Foyer: Andrea is sitting in a chair, Hugo comes and asks her to come with him.

Happy music is playing. Mili is shopping, cooking, buying flowers, setting the table. Now she is dressed up, hair up, long earrings, sitting at the table, ready.

An orphan tells the padre that Mili said someone stole her medallion.

Alex is at the crowded cafeteria. Surprise! Hugo comes in and sits down with him. At Bobby’s apartment, Mili is ready. The doorbell rings! Oh joy! But…..it’s Andrea! Mili blows a great opportunity to say “Que haces aqui?” Time for dinner? asks Andrea smugly. Mili wonders where Alex is. He stood you up, he sent me to tell you. Andrea is enjoying this a lot.

Cut to some ads, and we’re back Mili and Andrea. Mili says she doesn’t believe a word, that Andrea lied before about having spent the night with Alex. Andrea says don’t be so naïve, but this doesn’t float, Mili won’t doubt him. Andrea flips out, pins Mili against the door and says how much do you want to get lost? It’s all about money for you, isn’t it?

Back to the cafeteria. Alex says Mili is waiting for him, but Hugo says they have to talk. One thing about Hugo, whenever he has issues, everybody is supposed to drop everything and deal with his stuff. Alex says okay. Heck, he came expecting to have a bummer of a conversation, so why not have this one? Hugo says they were best friends growing up, more than cousins, they were like brothers. Hugo trusted him more than anyone. And now – you kissed Carmen! Alex admits he did. Hugo yells at him that he’s trash, but Alex says, she’s not what you think. Hugo doesn’t want her smeared. Did you sleep with her? he asks. Alex’s eyes go this way and that, then he squeezes them shut and says yes.

Andrea and Mili are still at it. Andrea is trying yet another tack: She insults Mili’s taste – the candles, the flowers, the dress! Tacky tacky tacky. Why, you could work the corner in that outfit. Yes, and you could send me your customers, says Mili. Good one! Mili says she is like her mother who loved deeply and truly. Andrea just can’t believe this and asks if Mili is hoping to marry Alex – does she think the family would allow their golden son to marry so low? Mili says that both Regina and Luci support her, but Andrea laughs that off, saying Luci is such a crazy drunk that she is shoving her son at a servant. Mili tells her to leave and says Alex will be along at any moment. Andrea says you wish.

We’re back with Alex and Hugo. Hugo is telling Alex how Carmen was his future, she was to be the mother of his children, how could you? Alex coughs up the truth – she’s not what you thought. She flirted with me, she came on to me. Hugo says stop! Alex says, I wasn’t the only one. I’m sorry.

Luci is in the bedroom in her robe and has some face cream on. Connie comes in with a drink for him and one for her. She says no thanks, but he says alcoholism is incurable. So is hate, she says.

And now they have a conversation they should have had a good 20 or so years ago. Luci says now that the missing son has arrived, she is going to ask something she never asked before. The servant, did he love her? Yes, Connie says, he did. So that’s why you’ve hated me every since our parents arranged our marriage? Luci asks. Connie says I know why you married me – you were carrying the reason in your arms. Luci says please understand – I was alone in Paris with a child and without the man I missed. Did you love him? Connie asks. She says yes, but then I came to love you even though you were constantly running me down. Connie looks thoughtful. Luciana? Yes? She says. Is that cream for wrinkles? Yes, why? Take it off, it’s (somebody help here – the captions disappeared so fast going into the ad, that even after several replays I couldn’t make out the word. I’m sure it’s not nice).

Meantime, Alex and Hugo are still having their conversation. Alex says if he could turn the clock back, he’d do differently and says again he’s sorry, he regrets it, and that Hugo is his cousin and he loves him. Hugo says his father Damien saw them, and that his father was so upset he wrecked the car. But Hugo says he forgives Alex even if it is his fault that they both are dead. Come give me a hug! Alex is very confused by this, but slowly gets up and accepts the hug. While hugging him, Hugo says to him if life were fair, Alex and Carmen had been the ones in the car that night. But says Hugo, you are my cousin and I love you. You can go to Mili now. I’ll grab the bill.

Actually, I’m waiting for Andrea, Alex says. Funny, says Hugo, Andrea told me you were waiting for me. Alex takes off, and Hugo says liar.

Andrea is laying siege to Mili. She has ensconced herself on the couch and is taunting Mili about how late it’s getting and how Alex isn’t going to show up. Mili is getting tearful and is losing her tough-girl comebacks. Mili tells Andrea to leave, but this still doesn’t work. Andrea smirkingly notes how late it’s getting and Mili finally dissolves and runs out the door. Andrea snuffs the candles with her fingers. She doesn’t even lick her fingers first. Good thing she’s so heat resistant because we know where she’s headed in the great by-and-by.

Now we’re in the kitchen and Horacio is trying to get out of Socorro where’s she’s been, but she won’t say. He accuses her of having been talking to the gardener at the house on the corner (I thought Casa Belmonte took up a couple of blocks itself). He storms out and she is teary-eyed. Rorgan comes in with his psychiatry book and notices she’s sad and she runs out. Then Mili passes through, also tearful. Rorgan figures he’s going to be a millionaire when he gets into the psych biz.

Up in the girls’ dorm, Mili is starting to tell Lina about her crummy evening. No, Alex didn’t make moves on her, he didn’t even come, just that awful Andrea came. Karla comes in and gloats that Mili’s date flopped and tells her that she’s a fool. You’re the one to talk, Mili notes. As long as you’re in that uniform, you won’t be happy says Karla. No, Mili says, I’m happy and it’s not the uniform but who’s in it. She’s back to being our chin-up gal.

Back at Bobby’s apartment, Andrea is setting out the casseroles. Alex comes in smiling and then freezes. Just in time for dinner, mi amor! Alex wants to know where Mili went – oh, she left says Andrea. Then Andrea starts on a name-calling binge, thinking up insulting things to call Mili, working her way through the alphabet. Well, actually she only makes to C and then she jumps to Z – zorra! She wants to know what’s up, who is he making fun of, her or Mili? Or does he intend to marry her, and have the servant on the side? Alex tells her it’s over, but Andrea says only she decides when a relationship is over. Besides, he promised. Alex says they don’t have anything together, never did have, and that he loves Mili and will defend that love against the family or anybody else. Andrea is losing it – she is gishing her hand around in the casserole. She takes up a couple of handfuls of it and it looks like Alex might get a faceful, but he is out the door, trailing clouds of True Love. She flings casserole at the door. This last was very weird – maybe weirder than Hugo.

Rorgan is in the kitchen with Socorro. He wants to practice his psych. He asks her tell him something he can get his teeth into. Maybe something about her daughter and men. Socorro looks sad. Maybe she can tell something about how men violated her and she doesn’t trust them. Uh-oh, looks like he’s hit a nerve.

At the convent office, the padre is showing the MS the mediallion. Yep, that’s Mili’s all right. They decide to keep it there at the convent for the future happy moment when Mili finds out she has a family.

Ever wonder what Braulio is really thinking? Now we find out. He is sitting on the fountain in front of Casa Belmonte and Claudio is excitedly telling him that the abuela took him shopping and spent a bunch. Braulio tells him not to trust anyone, that all of this, house, business, todo, is to be his. Claudio says that Alex seems like a nice guy and Braulio says trust him least of all – he’s your enemy because he occupies the place you should be in. I will help you to destroy him. You have to be strong. Wow, Braulio. Who knew?

Alex slips into the girls’ dorm. Mili is in her jammies. Where were you? I’ll explain later, he says, but right now let’s save the night. He tells her to put on the gown the abuela bought her and fancy up. Next we see a limo, and a tuxedoed and pony-tailed Alex is waving the chauffeur away – no HE will open the door for Mili. She emerges in a lovely lavender number, makeup and hair perfect. He wants to kiss her, but she says no, she’s afraid of waking up from this dream. She looks up at the fancy building. Inside, it’s the best, and emptiest, restaurant in town, with waiters at the ready. She panics and wants to bolt, but Alex encourages her.

It’s not so lovely at Casa Belmonte. Once again, the foyer is the place that someone has stupidly picked to have a very private discussion. This time that stupid someone is Damien. Claudio is telling him how great everything is and how he’s going to tell his mother that he’ll be away for a few months. His mother was so happy to have the money. Damien asks where is his part, but Claudio says no, it’s for his mother. Damien grabs him by the hair and says they had a deal, and if he doesn’t stick with it, Damien will unmask him. You wouldn’t says Claudio, they would be after you too. This is overheard by Braulio. We see tears welling in his eyes.

At the restaurant, a quartet of violinists shows up at the table. Alex asks Mili if she wants to dance. They sway-dance. He asks Mili to imagine him at 80. She laughs. He proposes. She is amazed. He re-words it. Freeze-frame on her opened-mouth astonishment.

Avances: Looks like Claudio is busted. Braulio, Regina and Rorgan are at the gate to his very humble home, and his ma isn’t Rosario. Hugo has talked Mili into posing maybe nude. She’s in a bathrobe reclining on his bed when Alex comes in and is impactado. Looks like a set-up.

Labels: guapos