Caray, Caray!

Update: If you're pressed for time, I've highlighted the most important stuff in blue. I'm not sure if that's really going to help or not, but I thought it was worth a shot.

That was just one of the many titles I considered this evening. Runners-up included:

• Dude, Where's My Chi?
• Dead, Dead, Dead, Dead, Dead, Dead, Dead, Dead
• In Which Ric Is Stabbed in the Pocket-Watch
• Golpes Aplenty

Yet again, I tried to be brief, but I couldn't help myself; this episode was bigger on the inside than it was on the outside.

In the junk room, Camila writes a tearful farewell to her father:

Dear Father,

I know you're not going to approve of what I'm about to do, and it hurts me deeply to cause you this kind of pain, but recall all that happened to me, and later the great sadness I felt when I returned and found out that Santiago had married my sister.

And then suddenly, a man came into my life. I will never stop thanking God for having sent him to me. I know you don't think so, but Ricardo is good, noble, and generous, and I love him.

I adore him; I need him; and if I lose him, I will be wretched until my dying day. Please understand me, and forgive me.

Ric is telling Ascanio, Jimena, Mario, and la Paisana that he doesn't believe all that Lis told him, but Alberto openly accused him of being a pirate, and then Jorge tried to downplay that against Ric's allegations of Jorge's dealings with Foreman. (Eh, something like that.) Ric says Jorge hasn't forgotten who Ric's godfather is. (Paisana is very impressed when he reveals that his godfather has friends not only in the court of Spain, but in Rome as well.)

Jimena wants to know what Ric's going to do. He says they'll get Camila and Lisabeta out of there. Jimena is in favor of leaving Lis behind, but Ric says if he wants Camila, he needs to take Lis too. He feels sorry for her, feels some responsibility for her and the crummy life she's had, which may have contributed to her poor character. They'll take the boat to La Iguana and figure out what's next. Pablo will be with them, so Paisana wants to come along too. She doesn't care about that dump she was running before - she'll take her money and go.

Ric says Jimena is welcome to stay with them too. Smiling at Mario, she agrees.

Ascanio doubts that Camila will like living with Lis. Ric says Lis has her money now and can go wherever she wants. Probably back to La Mariana.

Ric asks Ascanio to deliver a letter to Justo. He and Mario take off for an impromptu rescue of Cami and Lis; they'll meet at the house afterwards. He tells Paisana to hurry and get her things too - Paisana wants her wagon, her money, and to say goodbye to Chino.

Jimena hurries to pack, but asks Ascanio to stick around to say goodbye. Paisana takes advantage of this moment alone with Ascanio to recruit him as a pirate; he declines, and she's not offended. She asks if he knows Pablo; he doesn't. She wishes him luck and leaves.

Lafont runs into Santi on his way to the palacio. Santi tells Lafont he doesn't know why Jorge has summoned him. He continues to walk ahead of Lafont, not waiting for the older man to catch up.

At the palacio, there's a meeting of the Dandy Highwaymen - what's left of them, with Lafont psychotically smitten and Gonzalo dead. Jorge is trying to reassure Uriel about the legal paperwork regarding the black market goods he's to sell. Then Jorge asks el Chino about the acupuncturist; Chino says he found one in Veracruz. Jorge explains to Uriel that the healer will be for Santiago, and yes he does plan to recognize Santi as his son. Mateo is worried that Santi will find out what they're up to. Jorge says that if they're careful, he won't find out anything. (Famous last words!)

Chino says the healer can come over tomorrow; he left him at the inn because he didn't think it would be wise to bring him over right away. Uriel remarks that Chino is so intelligent that he finds it hard to believe that he's a pirate. Chino diplomatically answers that within the brotherhood of pirates, they have their own noblemen. Uriel asks if he's one of them. Chino says he didn't come here to talk about his life.

Santi and Lafont show up. Lafont asks how the baptism party was; Santi says there was no party, just some simple food because the family wasn't in the mood for a party. Jorge introduces el Chino by his proper name - Yosihei - and correctly explains that he's from "the island of Japan." Santiago apologizes that he hasn't heard of the place. Yosi graciously explains that most people don't know much about his folk.

Jorge says that the Japanese have a method of curing infirmities like Santiago's with needles. "Witchcraft?" Santi asks. Yosi chuckles and tells him about restoring the balance of the body's energy by inserting needles to open the channels and let the energy flow... something like that. Lafont asks if the needles don't hurt; Yosi says no, they're very thin.

Tia Fran is still banging on Lisa's door, saying if Lis doesn't open up, she'll ask a guard to bust it down. Lis answers in a pathetic, sickly voice that she's coming; however, when she opens the door Fran immediately takes note of the packed trunks and Lis's light traveling cloak.

F: Where are you going?
L: With Ricardo!
F: Where?
L: I don't know, wherever.
F: Have you lost your mind? What about Don Alberto?
L: I always told you I wasn't going to marry him.
F: You got engaged, you signed the contract.
L: I did that to buy time, but if he doesn't find me, he can't make me follow through.
F: ...THAT was your plan??

Fran wants to know what's supposed to happen to her. (Clothilde is listening at the door again. I am cracking up laughing because it appears that she really did stop at the concession stand this time - she doesn't have popcorn, but it's something small like peanuts or Raisinets!) Lis says she was going to leave her behind, but she'd have the house and some money.

Fran insists again that Lis has lost her mind and warns that Ric never has and never will love her. And what about Camila? Lis says they made a deal. (By the way Clothilde's working at her snack, it might be pistachios or something that needs to be cracked with the front teeth.) Fran seems very, very worried that Lis is literally crazy and begs her to "think" (in a getting-your-head-together kind of way). Lis scoffs.

Ric and co. are now on the trail with a couple of wagons and a small group of men. Mario says they should have a larger escort, but Ric doesn't want to arouse suspicion. Auntie and Lis will travel in one wagon, Cami and Jimena in the other - Paisana has her own, but if she doesn't use that she can ride with Cami. They'll take a back road so as not to have to cross the plaza.

Cloaked in black, Fran fearfully rings the bell at Lafont's house, but she's told he's not home.

Cami gives the pen, ink, and letter to Candida and asks her to deliver them in the morning. Candi says Lis and Fran had a big row earlier. She (I didn't see her!) and Clothilde were standing outside the room and heard the whole thing, but didn't understand it.

Santi is telling this large group of men at Jorge's house that he's not sure he wants to be healed. The wound reminds him of something he wants to remember. Yosi says the wounds we don't want to forget, we can keep in our hearts. The wounds on our bodies just get in the way.

Lafont has been looking bored through this whole conversation, but springs to his feet as Fran bursts in yammering about Lisabeta planning to run away with Ric. She's not sure what she said to convince him. Camila also had a long talk with him. The men all get up to hurry to the womens' house; Yosi tells Fran to stay behind because there are places where women shouldn't go. She begs them not to let Lis go.

Lafont rounds up some guards and tells them get ready for the pirates.

There's a guard at Camila's old house when Ric & Co. roll up. He is easily dismissed with a punch in the nose. I guess these "guards" are only effective when there's a bunch of them vs. one skinny woman who's already tied up, or one shackled man and a handful of malnourished prisoners. Ric tells Mario to go for Lis; he'll go for Cami himself. He reminds Mario not to tell Lis they're picking up Cami too.

Clothilde answers the door and is terrorstruck at the sight of Ric. He tells her that Lis and Cami are going with him, and she's not to scream, do anything, or try to leave.

Ric finds Cami in the junk room, and she tells him she wrote the letter to be delivered tomorrow. Cami takes the watch Ric gave her last night, and they sneak out together.

Mario tells Lis that Ric's waiting outside. He is aghast at all the trunks she's packed; she says she needs all of them. Auntie will not be joining them. She refuses to let Mario touch her to guide her out of the room and says she'll do it herself; she demands that he fetch her doll for her. He says, "if you can do that yourself, go for it." She begins groping around.

Ric and Cami reach the coach. Lis and Mario are not far behind. Clothilde asks Lis what will happen to her and Candi. Lis says Fran will take care of them. Then, Clothilde tells her that Ric just left with Camila! Mario looks ready to bitch-slap her all the way back to the Juan Querendón time slot, but he controls himself. Lis starts howling for Ric - why is he taking that tramp with them too? "I never said I wouldn't bring her," he says.

Lis screams for the guards. The town crier starts blasting away on a really cheap whistle; Mario chases him away. Ric scolds Lis, reminding her that she wanted to leave to avoid having to marry Lafont. "That was before I knew she was coming with us!" He tells her that Camila is his woman. "Let go of me," Lis pulls away in disgust. He asks if she's coming with them or not. She says sure, if Camila stays behind. "For the last time, she's not staying - are you coming or not?"

Mario warns that the guards are on their way. Pablo jumps onto one the guards from behind, causing the guard to fire his gun by mistake; another guard is hit by the shot. A full-blown battle erupts. At first, it appears that the pirates are getting the better of these poorly-trained men, but when the party from Jorge's house finally shows up, one of the guards makes a lucky shot, hitting Ric.

Camila tries to cover his body with her own; her cloak falls across him. The guard pushes her aside and stabs Ric, but the watch in her cloak gets in the way; it saves Ric from a lethal stabbing. Camila thinks he's been speared, though, and not spared; she screams disconsolately.

Santi rides in, yelling "Enough!" Yosi sees Ric on the ground and draws his sword. While Mario and friends tend to Ric, Yosi and the captain of the guard square off.

From the determined look in the captain's eyes, it seems as though there will be a real fight. Instead, Yosi defeats the guard captain with two simple moves, parrying the guard's limply held sword and slitting his throat. The kill is so effortless that even Yosi seems shocked when the man crumples to the ground. (I will skip a graphic description of the wound and accompanying sound effects.)

Lafont immediately calls for them to recover Ric's corpse. (Nobody cares about the dead guard, I guess.) Cami tells him he's not dead yet - they need a doctor. In that case, Lafont wants to send him to jail where he can die instead. He's more hysterical than Camila is at this point. She attacks him, calling him a wretch, but since he's up on a horse it's not as though she can hurt him. Nevertheless, he draws his sword against her. Santiago tells him not to dare! Camila begs Santi to take pity and not let them take Ric away. Lafont screams that he deserves the gallows.

Camila continues to beg Santi on her knees. With a seemingly detached air, Jorge asks Santiago, "What do you say?" Cami tries to appeal to Santi's Christian compassion. "You decide," Jorge prompts him.

"Let his men take him," Santiago finally says. "LISTEN TO MY SON," Jorge adds. "Gather up your wounded and get out of here before I change my mind. Leave town tonight and don't come back," he orders.

The pirates lift Ric into a carriage. Camila gets up to follow. Santi pulls her back. She says she wants to say goodbye. He won't let her. Jorge smirks to himself triumphantly. Never mind all that blood on the ground and the dead guard-captain; Jorge finally has a son to go to baseball games with!

One of Jorge's men says to another, "Gonzalo was right - that guy's a pirate."

Jorge congratulates Santi on his good decisions and notes that he's covered with blood. Yosi apologizes for killing Jorge's best guard; Jorge says "let's just call it an unfortunate accident." Yosi leaves gratefully. Santi asks Jorge if Yohi is one of the pirates. Jorge says it's some Oriental religious thing. He tells Santi to come back tomorrow so they can talk some more.

After Santi leaves, Mateo again expresses concern that Santi will not approve of their dealings with the pirates. Jorge says that's exactly why he doesn't need to find out. Or (with a tiny edge of menace in Jorge's voice) hear about it from someone else. Because he's his son.

Mateo and Uriel decide to go to the pub and listen to the gossip. People will be talking about how Justo's daughter married a pirate.

Lafont is screaming at Lisabeta. Apparently, she has told him that Ric was stealing her away. He says that's not what Fran told him - that she left with him on her own. Lis is crying and claiming that Fran was too flustered to explain herself properly. Lis SWEARS that Ric forced her to go, as a way to sneak Camila out!

Enraged, Lafont yells at her for going along with it; she could have told him, the maid, or anyone. She says she was too afraid. She asks him to stop hounding her!

She asks him what happened to Ricardo. He tells her that he died, and Jorge let Ric's people take his body away. She sobs loudly. With a calculating grin, he swoops in and asks, "he was your cousin, right? Ricardo Salamanca?" All she can manage is a confusing head-shake (it looks like a yes, or maybe a no) and a series of squeaks, "dead, dead, dead." He tells her she should go to bed, and he'll come back tomorrow. As for Camila, the guards left her there, under guard.

He leaves the room in a cheerful mood. Lis continues to squeak, "dead, dead, dead, dead..."

Clothilde is sounding pretty squeaky herself when she meets Fran at the door. Lafont tells her to get fix Lis a cup of Sleepytime (well, linden, aka tilia) tea. Fran tells Lafont that Jorge told her all about it. He barks at her and tells her to calm down and let Lis rest.

Fran meets with Lis in the living room and Lis says it's Fran's fault that Ric is dead. She tries to smite Fran with her cane, but she totally misses. "It was your fault!" She falls to her knees crying.

Camila is crying on her knees too, but in prayer; begging that Ric's life will be spared. She begins praying in Latin; but before long, she's curled up on the junkroom floor, "he can't die, he can't die, he can't die."

At Ric's house, some of the guys wait outside, sharing a bottle and waiting quietly for good news from the house, or trouble from the road. Pablo seems to have broken some ribs. Inside, Yosi's friend the healer works on Ric. He thinks the wounds are blocking Ric's chi, making it more difficult to balance his energy and heal him properly, etc. A bullet wound is bad enough, he says, but a shot to the gut is worse. (Ric's abdomen is already bandaged, and the healer seems to be applying a poultice to a lesser wound on Ric's chest.) Also, in order to save one, sometimes another must die. (Sorry, I don't know what that's in reference to.) Ric is at least semi-conscious and wincing.

Santiago has arrived home and is telling Ofelia about the battle. She is appalled by the cruelty. He says he's seen barbaric behavior before, but can't get used to it. Camila was desperate; he felt sorry for her, and for Ric's people, and for Ricardo; but he also felt that they were reaping what they had sown.

Ofelia asks what he's going to do about Jorge. He says he knows she's not going to like this, but Jorge's been pretty good to him. He's going to go for it. For better or for worse, they share the same blood. He'd like nothing more than to put it to good use.

"A wolf can change his hide, but not his evil nature," Ofelia tells him. "Miracles can happen, Mother." "As you wish," she says unhappily. He says he appreciates her support. She says he's the light in her eyes; but she's afraid he'll lose his way. He's had so many problems... he says she's had them too, with him. She says that's different. He's so young. He could get dazzled. (Or Bedazzled... remember that guy with the jacket in Mundo de Fieras?)

"That won't happen, Mom - I assure you."

Camila and Paisana are waiting at the weird-shaped table in the salon when Yosi comes out to tell them that the healer has done what he could. The rest is a question of time. Mario hopes this means they can go; Jimena says they mustn't move Ric yet. Mario is adamant that they need to leave immediately; Yosi agrees. Paisana is already looking for her coat and her Luckies, but Jimena won't leave. Mario asks her again. She says she can't leave Camila behind. "Sorry," she tells Mario, who looks crushed. Paisana wishes her good luck and good fortune; Jimena deserves it for being such a good friend.

Yosi confirms that they're going to La Iguana; he'll send someone with any news. He goes to look in on the healer.

Mario and Jimena are alone at last.

M: I'll miss you. A lot.
J: Me too. But write me about Ric.
M: I don't know how to write.
J: (tearful chuckle) I don't know how to read!
M: That's fine, I'll send someone... I'm not good at these conversations, nor at romance. But if life allows us to meet again, I would like to...
J: Make me your wife? Or your beloved?
M: Whatever you choose... Siren...
J: (Tugging at his beard to bring his face closer) I'll wait for that reunion with my Little Shark.
M: Me too.

A kiss. Not a big one.
He crosses the room and looks at her.
She lets out a big sob.
They are in each others' arms.
Then the kissing stops, and he hurries out. This time he doesn't dare look back. She kisses the skull ring and cries.

A moment later, it's morning at La Iguana. Mario rounds up some men to load up the boat. They're all goin' for a ride!

Back in San Fernando, Fortunata approaches the palacio, followed by a group of curious women. She motions at them to be silent, and goes inside.

I thought she was supposed to be on a fact-finding mission to discover whether Ric is alive or dead, but instead it appears that Sofia and Ursula are hearing of last night's battle for the first time. Fortunata tells them the word on the street is that Ric was a pirate, and his name wasn't Lopez de Carvajal; it was Salamanca, just like Don Diego (Gonzalo, I presume) told them.

Ursula is excited when she realizes that Camila wasn't legally married. Sofia tells them it's no good to dwell on what might just be malicious gossip. She asks where Cami is.

Santi knocks on the door of Frank/Lis/Cami's house (which really needs a name; maybe we should call it the Convent). Inside, Lis is still crying "it's your fault he's dead," but now she's directing it at Camila instead of Fran. Cami tells Lis that he was still breathing when they took him away, Lafont lied to Lis, and Cami doesn't care. It happened because LIS was the one who started screaming and drew all that attention to them.

L: Because I assumed he wasn't bringing you with us!
C: Why not, if he loves me?
L: Men don't love their whores!
C: Married or not, I am his woman.
(Lis strikes Cami with her cane; Cami wrestles it away from her.)
C: Don't tempt me. Don't think that because you're blind, I'll let you hit me.
L: (Struggling to her feet and softening her voice) Pardon, Camila. Give me my cane! Without it, I feel lost!
(Camila gives Lis her cane)

Lis calls for Clothilde. Clothilde is there to announce Santiago's arrival anyway. Cami asks if he has news of Ricardo. Lis tells Cami that she'll always be her servant, until the day she finds herself in the arms of her creator. Cami says that's fine with her, because she'll make Lis's life impossible. Or she could send her to jail - Cami would prefer that even more.

Jimena is at Justo's, describing what she knows of last night's battle, per Mario. She's still crying. She doesn't know if they'll be able to save him. "Well, where'd they go?" Ines asks. Jim looks at Ascanio; he shakes his head in warning. "I don't know," Jimena answers. Ascanio asks about Santi. According to Mario, Jimena says, he showed up with Jorge and allowed Ric's men to take him away. Lafont had wanted to send him to jail to die instead.

Justo asks about Camila. Jimena says she's not sure, but thinks she probably went back to that damn blind woman. Mario said it was all her fault, because when she found out Camila was leaving with them, she started screaming like crazy and the guards came.

Lis is dabbing at her dainty cruel face with a hankie as Santi apologizes for potentially bad timing and offers to come back some other day. She invites him to sit down. He says he just spoke to the judge, Eustaquio, who told him that Ricardo paid off Cami's debt yesterday. All that's left is for Lis to hand over Cami's papers so she can be freed; how much money does she want?

Lis stands and says sorry, she's not going to sell her. No money can pay for what Camila did to her. "I thought you were a compassionate woman," Santi says. "I am, but some things can't be forgiven." Santiago wants to know what Camila did to her. Lis gives the usual story about Camila being a tramp, seducing first Lis's father, then Ricardo.

In almost any other telenovela, Santiago would believe this. Fortunately, this is Pasión, so he shoots the story down. He says he knows Cami better than Lis does, and she's had some bad luck. Lis says she doesn't want to hear about Cami's problems because she's got her own.

He tries again to talk her into letting Cami go, but Lis won't change her mind. Santiago is shocked by her spitefulness. Lis insists that Cami deserves it. He tells her she should become closer to God. She says God abandoned her when she went blind.

Santi is done with this conversation. He finds Candida sweeping the ground outside. (I'm sure there's some manner in which sweeping dirt is a worthwhile pursuit, but I don't know of it. Maybe there's a compacted layer of dirt underneath the loose dirt on top?) She tells him Camila asked if he had any news about Ric. He answers, "No. Tell her... uh, no, nothing." Candi relays this non-information, including the unfinished message, to Camila, and also doesn't know why he came to visit. She gives back Camila's letter that she wrote last night.

Camila tells herself that Alberto must have been lying about Ric's death. He was there when they took Ric away, still alive.

Later, Ascanio is at the mill with Jimena and Vasco, trying to decide whether or not he should deliver the letter that Ric had given him to give to Justo. In light of how their plans have fallen through, it's not clear whether or not Justo should still read it. Since they don't know what's in the letter, they think it might be best to get it to Camila and let her decide what to do.

Vasco asks Jimena if she's going to stay at Ric's place. She says the rent is paid through the next two months, but she'll need to get a job, and it's tough that she can't see Camila.

Ines is venting to Justo about the situation as they stroll through the plaza, when they encounter the judge. He says he's very sorry about what's happened. "Everyone in the world knows," he tells them. "They know what?" Justo asks. "That your daughter wasn't really married to that man, and that he was a pirate."

"But she didn't know that - he tricked her!"

"Well, in any case I think he was a gentleman, because yesterday, an employee of his came by to pay off his debt." Eustaquio explains that at this point, they can now buy her freedom.

Santiago is at church, waiting for the padre.

Ines is delighted with Ric. Justo says he's "confused." They hurry to the Convent and ask to see Lis. Clothilde says Lis isn't accepting visitors, and nearly slams the door in their faces. Justo gets in the doorway and states his business: he's here to buy Cami's freedom. Clothilde tells them to wait and she'll ask. She bustles away.

A moment later, Camila comes out with some laundry. They have a happy reunion, and Ines lets her know that Jimena said they left with Ric alive. Cami is skeptical that Lis will let them buy her freedom, however.

Clothilde returns and says Lis is "indisposed," but left a message that she has no intention of selling her servant. And they're not allowed to speak with "la señora" because...

Ines is on top of Clothilde, screaming that that damn blind woman can go to hell. The whole world will find out what a harpy she is! Justo and Camila pry her off the maid and share a group hug. (Clothilde's fluttery hands are momentarily unable to flutter.)

On La Salamandra, Mario and Pablo check up on Ric, who is moaning on and off and not looking better at all. Paisana has been doing her best to take care of him, but she doesn't know which of the healer's herbs are which. (Remember, he was in SF for Jorge and Santiago, so he couldn't go along with them on their trip.) Mario decides to take a stab at preparing a new poultice.

They compare notes; none of them even knew this healer guy except through Yosi/Chino. They hope he's good. They remember he said that Ric would be like this for a couple of days, after which it would be in God's hands.

Paisana asks Mario about his love for Ric. Mario says "We all love our captain. All of us!"

Ines and Justo are on their way back from the Convent. Ines says her brother should talk to Jorge and fix this up, but he won't, because he's too full of himself. She was agreeing with him before that he shouldn't have anything to do with Jorge, but now it's the only way to help Camila.

Back to the boat. Ric's fever is not subsiding, and he's starting to ask for Camila. He wants to get out of bed and find her. They struggle to keep him down; he admits to being woozy. They tell him he's lost some blood. He thinks there are leeches and asks them to take them off. He doesn't believe them when they say there are no leeches. He becomes more agitated, until Mario has to punch him out to subdue him! Paisana says they need to get some cold water to bring down the fever.

---

Jueves
With Ric safely out of town, Lafont sheds the nice-guy act with Lis. He doesn't buy her story about Ric kidnapping her. They're getting married soon. He expects her to be obedient; she can be good, or he can be bad. And the first thing is that she's going to have to sell Camila to Jorge!

Labels: Pasion