Caray, Caray!

Episode 69 (Excellent!) – Seriously though, so far Santi, Mario, Ric, and now Cami have landed in the slammer (granted, Ric & Mario have committed actual crimes, but not in SF – even Mario’s killing of Gonzo was in defense of others). Meanwhile, Jorge, Al, Lis, Grita, Whoresula, etc. are all still walking around free as birds – Just sayin’

Anywhoo, we begin our tale as Cami asks La Paisana what her name is. LP tells her she doesn't feel like telling her and then they start talking about why LP is going to SF, and the fact that Ric is Cami’s hubby and he’s locked up because of her.

Justo’s visiting Ric @ the pen telling him that if Lis asks, they can put Cami under house arrest, perhaps at his place. Ric doubts Lis will go for it because she hates Cami. Justo tells him Vasco went to tell her to stay put, in case the news of his arrest has already gotten to her. Ric assures Justo that as soon as Cami is safe, he’s gonna skip town and go get Lis her dough. Justo asks if he plans to escape and Ric says he doesn’t know, but he’s getting out.

LP and Chino’s entourage arrive SF, right by Santi’s foundry, and Cami says goodbye to LP. She asks Cami to tell Ric that if he needs any help, he can contact her and Chino. Cami thanks her and leaves. Chino asks what the chisme was and LP informs him that Ric’s locked up on non-pirate charges.

Back at the pen, the friendly guard (don’t know his name) brings Ric a journal and a quill. He asks Ric if he’s gonna write a letter and he answers that it’s for distraction. The guard asks him if he’s a lettered man (which is silly ‘cause any man who can write a letter is a lettered – a.k.a. educated – man). Just then, another guard brings the friendly one a rope and whispers something. He returns to Ric and informs him Don Eustaquio needs him. Ric asks why and the guard doesn’t know. He ties Ric’s hands and bring him over. Ric is escorted to Eustaquio’s office and is impactado to find Cami there. She runs to hug him but he’s not exactly happy. We move unto the new portion as Ric asks Cami what the frill she’s doing there. He told her to wait for Mario and leave! Don E tells his guards to untie the angry Ric. (You sure there? He looks a little hot under the collar and who knows what he’ll do?!). As Ric yells at Cami that she did made a mistake, Don E unwraps Ric’s sword and tells him that his wife did the correct thing and Ric yells back she didn’t. Don E informs Ric that he’s free and Ric says he doesn’t care. He would have preferred to stay in jail and Cami says she wouldn’t have. They keep arguing and Don E tells them he’ll leave them alone to talk. Cami already knows what the situation is. Ric is pissed and asks why Cami didn’t trust him. She says she does, but she must pay for what she did. Ric says she didn’t do anything. If anyone’s to blame it’s him for taking her to La Mariana and surrendering her to Bermejo. She says that might have been her destiny and he says, yeah right, I was an idiot. Cami tries to console him saying Don E told her about the possibilities. They have a passionate kiss.

Back at the foundry, Chino goes to the twins and asks where they can find lodging and where they can find Jorge. They tell him to go to “La Posada del Rey” (The King’s Inn) and that the SSF palace is the really big one right across the street from the inn.

Jim arrives at Cami’s door and gets no answer. She goes inside and finds nothing. She then goes outside and asks the boys if they’ve seen her. A light bulb turns on in her head and she wonders if Cami took off. They ask where and she says “Duh! To San Fer!” They start scrambling around looking for her. Vasco says he failed again and Jim reminds him that Cami fooled them all. Vasco calls out for horses to nobody in particular and the crew starts covering ground.

Al arrives at Don E’s office answering to his message. He asks what’s up and Don E tells him that Cami turned herself in. Al asks what they will do with Ric and Don E tells him they will set him free. Al asks if it can be prevented and is told that the law won’t allow it (even for Al) since they have nothing wrong to pin on him. Al says he does and Don E asks what, they can talk and work it out. Al asks what deal they made and Don E tells him that Ric promised to bring the rest of the money. Al doesn’t buy it, and is sure Ric will just take off and stiff them, but E tells him that Ric wouldn’t leave his wife in jail. Al isn’t convinced. Don E wants to know if Al has any proof since he keeps hinting that Ric is a bad man. Al then asks if Cami will be imprisoned.

At E’s office, Cami confirms she will go to the pen, but “E” told her that it wouldn’t be for long, only until Lis agrees to house arrest. Ric doesn’t think Lis will go for it and Cami asks why not? She will get all her money and she wouldn’t dare piss off Sofi who likes Cami so much. Ric goes back to his “you shouldn’t have come back” and she says she had no choice while he was in jail. He says he’s dealt with worse and she reminds him so has she. He reminds her that once Mario had dropped her off at La Iguana (they were currently staying near a bay, not too far from SF) he would have come back and they would have found a way to get Ric out. She says that would have involved killing and risking his life. He explains that there are other ways (bribery, etc) and that even Sofi could have helped. Cami covers her face and cries. He finally decides there is no point in rehashing, they need to move on. She says she can wait in jail even if Lis won’t agree to the provisional freedom (the house arrest thing). She asks how long he’ll take and he thinks 2 weeks should do it. Cami says 2 weeks is nothing and he says they will seem like hell (Awww!). He tells her he promised he wouldn’t let anything happen to her and she assures him he will keep that promise. He’s worried, but Cami says it was her choice. He says it was the wrong choice because he loves her and has seen his future around her. He says he won’t give up and she says neither will she. Don E walks in and asks if all is set. Ric says yes, but he’ll talk to Lis anyway about house arrest. Don E says he thinks she’ll agree, but reminds them that no matter what Cami will be a serf again. Ric says he knows and plans to buy her. Ric asks for permission to have her family visit Cami and it’s granted.

Back at the beach they can’t find Cami. They figure she went back to SF and decide to go back there. Jim packs and a handful are asked to wait for Mario. They get ready to pack Jim’s carriage.

A sniffling Cami is escorted to her cell with Ric by her side. She figures that this is the right time to tell him that Chino and LP are in SF in case he needs them (‘cause this sort of news is always best told when surrounded by guards in an enclosed place that could echo). She asks who they are and he says they’re friends. Nice guard tells them that she’ll be fine in her cell that has a “catre” (cot), a chair, and some blankets. Ric swears by the Virgin and all saints that he will get her out. She says she believes him and loves him. She asks when he’s going and he says he’s gonna talk to Lis, give the news to Cami’s family, and then take off. She gives him a blessing and the guard tells them this is where Ric has to go. Ric tells her it breaks his soul to leave her behind, and that he’ll get her out if he has to make a deal with the devil himself. She tells him to take care. The guard tells Cami not to worry. It’s obvious that Ric is a gentleman and the kind of man who gets what he plans. He offers to bring food or water but Cami says not now. He closes the door and she crumbles in tears. For what it’s worth, IMHO it’s not that Cami doesn’t trust Ric. It’s everyone else (Al and such) that she doesn’t trust. Although it wasn’t nice of her to ignore Ric’s wishes, AGAIN, it’s probably for the best, as Al would just keep trying to kill him.

Ric wastes no time and arrives outside Chez Al, grabs a guard and drags him into the house telling him to show him to way to Lis and Fran’s room. The guard says Al will kill him and Ric asks “what do you think I’m gonna do?” Manuela arrives and an apologetic Ric tells her he needs to speak with Lis. Mani sends her nana, who objects at first, to fetch Lis. Mani tells the guard he can go and if Al asks, he can blame it on her. She says she heard he was in jail and he tells her now it’s Cami. Lis and Fran come in and Lis starts feeling him up. She asks how he was released and he says Cami turned herself in. He says he has to go get the money he owes Lis. Lis tells him he owes her nothing and he reminds her that Cami’s debts are his. He asks her to ask for Cami to get house arrest. Mani interjects that it’s a great idea. Lis asks if so, what would be Cami’s punishment? Ric tells her for the thousandth time that Cami did nothing wrong (this would be a great time to inform Lis that the little chest of coins came from Cami!!!! Wonder if that’s in the ledger he gave the judge?...). He also reminds Lis that even after the money is paid, Cami will continue to be a serf. He says please, please, pretty please and Lis finally says yes. He asks when and she says once the judge says so. He then asks her to promise not to sell Cami to anyone until he gets back. She promises and he gives her a thank you hug.

Over at the Mancera house, Don E tells Sofi and Jorge that he’ll issue the ruling the day after tomorrow. Sofi asks why not tomorrow and he explains that there is paperwork and they still need a face-to-face interview between Lis and Cami so Cami can have a chance to defend herself. Once Cami is found guilty, she will a) have to pay back – Sofi says Ric will pay, and b) go back to being a serf since that’s what she was before the will and as Lis will become the heir, Cami will become Lis’ serf. Sofi says she’ll buy Cami and give her freedom and Jorge interjects that Ric will probably do that.

Back at Chez Al, Lis and Fran discuss how all’s going well. Fran asks if Lis will let Cami out of jail. Lis says yes. Fran asks if she’ll sell Cami to Ric when he comes back and Lis says she wouldn’t sell Cami for the crown’s treasure. She wants Cami to be her serf for the rest of her life. Big Surprise....

Ric visits Justo; and Paco runs up to Ric showing him the boat he just made with grandpa’s help. Justo asks Inés to take Vasco away and he whines his usual “why do people keep sending me away when they want to talk?” Ric tells Justo that Cami came back and is in jail. Justo starts to complain about Vasco, but Ric explains that Vasco tried to convince Cami but she ran away in the middle of the night. Inés runs back and asks what’s up? Justo tells her Cami’s in jail. Ric tells them that he had Lis promise to let her go under provisional release and that he hopes they’ll let her go to Justo’s. He now needs to go off and get the rest of the money and should be back in 2 weeks. Justo thanks Ric for not leaving his daughter high and dry and Ric says he never would. Inés asks if they can visit and he says he got permission from Don E so they could. Now he’s gotta go. Inés goes to prepare a basket of food.

Back at the palace, Sofi tells Ursu and Fortunata that Don E has to put Cami vs Lis in a cage match to the death...J/K just arbitration so Cami can argue her case. Sofi doubts Cami will win. Fortu asks what will happen and Sofi says they’ll have to pay the money back. Also, Cami will be a serf again. Fortu asks why and Sofi says it would take too long to explain (the audience is grateful as we’ve heard this many times already). Fortu asks for how long and Sofi says they can let her out under house arrest if Lis chooses to be benevolent. Ursu doubts that will happen and Fortu can’t imagine why Lis would want to keep hurting Cami once she gets her money. Sofi says Lis will have to take it up with Sofi if she keeps trying to hurt Cami. Ursu aks what Sofi can threaten Lis with, the silent treatment? She doubts Lis will care.

Mani arrives at the foundry looking once again for Ascanio. The twins tell her that he and Santi went to the fair to sell their lamps and they (the twins) don’t know when Santi and Ascanio will be back. They then discuss how Mani’s smitten and that it’s the luck of those that can read and write (unlike themselves who preferred to be donkeys, a.k.a. dunces). Ofi sees Mani walk by and asks what brings her around. Nana encourages Mani to tell Ofi the news. Mani tells Ofi that Cami’s in jail. At the kitchen, Mani explains to Ofi that Lis promised Ric she’d let Cami go under house arrest. An eavesdropping Rita asks what Lis is doing at Al’s. Mani tells them that Lis and Al are engaged. Rita looks annoyed and shocked. I’m not quite sure why Rita would care, but maybe it’s just part of her judgmental nonsense.

Ric meets LP and Chino at the inn. Chino says “I thought you were in jail!” Ric explains it’s because he wouldn’t tell them where Cami was. Now that she’s returned, she’s taken his place. LP offers to spring her out, but Ric is concerned with all the guards. He asks why they’re there and they tell him they’re here to see Jorge about the contraband. Ric says he has to run to raise some dough. Chino offers to give him the money but Ric says it’s a lot of money. He’s pretty sure he can raise it in 2 weeks though. He offers them his house in the meantime and he can take them. Chino says they have to see Jorge first, so he tells them to just ask around for the house of Ricardo Lopez de Carvajal. He will tell Esteban his porter to let them in. LP asks if Pablo’s there and Ric says no, but he’ll send him over. He and LP do their pirate arm in arm thing. He recommends that they don’t tell Jorge, or anyone, that they know him. Kind of moot since they’ll be asking for directions to his house and then staying there, but go figure. Chino wishes him luck, though Ric always has it. Ric says lately he hasn’t. He leaves and Chino remarks to LP that he’d never seen Ric so disconnected. LP comments that love is the poison of man, and woman. She asks Chino if he’s ever been in love and he says once. She asks if it went badly and he says yes, like everyone else, you too. She says, “don’t remind me.” They arrive outside the palace and Chino tells the guard to announce Mr. Yosihei. I think it's funny that, although he got all pissed early on with one pirate who called him "El Chino" when he's Japanese, he seems ok with his friends and business associates doing it.

Back at the palace, Al asks Jorge what the big deal is since he’s no longer interested in Cami (that one is news to me!). Jorge says it’s a matter of Al causing him problems. Guard walks in and tell Jorge an oriental and a woman want to see him. Al figures its Chino and tells guard to let them in.

The jail has magically been transformed into a woman’s prison (even though the setup is the same, maybe it’s another wing) and nice guard escorts Justo and Inés to Cami. We see a tearful reunion through the bars.

Over at the palace, Jorge greets Yosihei and marvels at how nicely LP cleans up. She remarks her dress was probably meant for a queen in France or Flanders or Spain. The important thing is it fits. He asks for her name, as he doesn’t want to keep calling her Paisana. She tells him her name is Maria Julia (probably made up) and Al wants to get down to business. They have some pleasantries.

Ric makes a pit stop at his house to get a horse and warn Esteban the porter that an Oriental man and an older woman will be arriving. They are to have the run of the house as they please.

At the palace Chino tells the gang that they already told Romeo Castillo he’s not the middleman anymore. Jorge asks if he agreed and Chino remarks he had no choice. Jorge regrets having sent Uriel and Mateo, and also shows concern he might talk. Chino tells him it’s been dealt with and that he wont speak. He’s more concerned about getting the documents so they can pass the goods as legit. Al eyes as LP (or should we call her MJ?) piles pastries on her plate and tells Chino the document still needs to be drafted. Chino is concerned with all the guards that might ask for papers and start checking the cargo. Jorge tells Al to get him the documents ASAP. Chino also asks Jorge to demilitarize the area where they will be distributing the merchandise. Jorge asks why and Chino tells him that they plan to cover the territories outside of Jorge’s domain themselves. Al is annoyed they don’t have exclusivity and Chino explains they can’t have it for all of New Spain!

Back at the pen, Inés tells Cami she brought her some needlepoint to keep her distracted (this was before the days that needles and scissors were considered weapons). Cami thanks her and Justo is sure that Lis will keep her word and that Ric will be home soon and all will be well. Inés insists that if Santi talks to Jorge something can be done. Cami doesn’t want him involved. Inés reminds her Santi cares for her but Cami declines. Justo says this can’t last very long. Either way, he will visit her every day. Inés says so will she. Group hug.

Vasco and Ric’s crew bump into Ric on the road. Ric tells them that Cami’s arrived and they let him go. Vasco assures him she escaped and Ric says he knows. Jim asks if Cami’s in jail and Ric says yes. He hopes Lis will keep her word and let her go under house arrest, then asks about Mario and they tell Ric he hasn’t arrived. He says he’ll go over to the bay to wait for him, and then head off the “La Coralina” (probably another island). He asks who’s left and they tell him el Güero, Samuel, and Miguel. He tells the crew to take Jim home and he’ll see them in 2 weeks. Vasco asks how Cami is and Ric shakes his head in disgust.

Back at the palace, Chino and LP/MJ leave and Jorge tells Al that Foreman is an “aborazado” (doesn’t share with other), Al wonders if it’s that Foreman doesn’t trust them. Jorge wonders if they can ditch him, but Al thinks it could be dangerous. He could send an anonymous letter that would place them under suspicion, etc. Jorge complains he doesn’t want to dance to Foreman’s tune. Al says he’ll talk to Chino and LP to find out what the scoop on that is. Jorge suggests splitting them up. He also wants Al to talk to Lis about letting Cami out of jail. He’s uncomfortable and fears the town may rise up against him. Al thinks he’s exaggerating. They did nothing when he went against Justo, much less now. Jorge says regardless, he wants Lis to grant Cami her freedom under a good deposit (not quite sure what that means, other than perhaps the right conditions?). Al is pissed.

Back at Chez Al, Fran puts some leaves on Lis’ forehead and tells her she has a headache because of the incident. Lis wonders how Ric will get the money and Fran figures he’ll kill some folks and take their dough. Al knocks on their door. Lis doesn’t want Fran to answer, but Fran knows there’s no option. He tells Lis he heard about the visit. Lis says Mani let him in. Al wants to know what they talked about and Lis tells him Ric wants her to let Cami out of jail. Al asks if she’ll do it and Lis says yes. He tells her he’ll see them for dinner. Meanwhile poor Mani’s finishing her prayers. She tells Nana that she doesn’t think what they’re doing to Cami and Ric is fair. She feels she dislikes Lis more everyday, and thinks Lis might be a hypocrite (not something that usually comes out of her mouth). Al storms in the room and starts hitting her. He asks her why she let Ric in, She says he had already come in and she couldn’t stop him. He says the next time he’ll kill her. Nana cries in horror as Al drags poor Mani through the halls into a storage room. Mani begs him not to take her there because she’s afraid of the dark. He tells her to shut up and throws her in an armoire that he locks. Mani beats at the door and begs for Al or her Nana to let her out. See what I mean about the good being locked up?

Cami’s clan gathers around Ofi’s kitchen and Ofi asks if they can see her. Justo says he doesn’t think visits are forbidden. Jim asks if she can go. Inés interjects that Lis told Ascanio that she’d see him and Jim turned into serfs. Jim calls her a damned bitter woman and asks if she can do that. Justo doesn’t know. Vasco tells Jim it’s probably best if she stays under wraps for a while. He apologizes again to his dad for not stopping Cami. Jim tells Justo it wasn’t Vasco’s fault and he tells her his problem is not about this, but about other things that Vasco knows. Rita comes in and tells them she left the baby sleeping in Inés’ bed. She asks Inés if that bothers her and she says no. She asks what they are talking about and Justo says Cami. He tells them that Lis promised Ric she would let her out and they’d soon have her around them (if he only knew...) Jim excuses herself, but it’s late. Vasco offers to walk her home since the mill is on the way. Jim asks the family to keep her posted about Cami, and that if she asks about her, to tell her that Jim loves her a lot, and that she should trust Ric. Vasco then walks over to Inés and tells her that she misses them. He asks her to meet him in the mill if she can and she nods yes. He and Jim leave. Ofi wishes them well. Rita tells Justo he should forgive Vasco, but he says he doesn’t want to talk about it.

Over at the fair, Santi and Ascanio walk into a restaurant. The host tells them the specials (including foot tostadas, eek!) and that they have a really good mezcal. They order some and ask if he knows a man named Molinar Pastor (I think he’s the same guy that Ric and Mario were asking about Jorge’s stolen goods) and the host tells them he’s not there at the moment, but he’s usually in. Santi tells Ascanio that Mani’s very pretty, and nothing like Ursu even though they are friends. Ascanio doesn’t know why she keeps looking for him, telling him about her things, etc. Santi asks if he doesn’t like her and Ascanio says, of course I like her! But what can a guy like him offer a girl like her? A flashlight and a skeleton key come to mind. Santi tells him he can offer her love, caring, respect, the most important things a man can offer a woman. Ascanio says yes, but one can’t live on that. Santi tells him “ye of little faith” maybe this business will make them rich. Ascanio’s probably also thinking of the possible serfdom that hangs over his head. Jim might actually be safe since Cami bought her with money (albeit not hers). They can add it to Cami’s tab, but I’m not entirely sure they can make Jim part of the payment. Ascanio on the other hand, was Tim’s serf. As such, he will become Lis’ property again.

Over at the beach house, Ric greets his posse and asks about Mario. They say he’s not there yet and ask if he knows about his wife. He says yes, and asks for one of his men to go straight to the bay and come get him the minute the Salamandra arrives so they can ship out. He goes to his room and broods. I wonder if he would have done better to keep more of his crew for this one.

Cami holds a diary in her cell and cries. We see women in the next cell scratching their heads (remember the lice the guards warned about?) and we then see Ric splashing water on his face and grabbing his sword. He’s worried.

Back at the restaurant, Don Molinar Pastor arrives with some buddies and requests a table. The host tells him they’re all taken, but two men were asking about him, so maybe he can share their table. Don MP introduces himself to Santi who introduces himself and Ascanio. Don MP introduces his buddies: Agustin Melchor and Ricardo Lopez de Carvajal. Swelling music plays as Santi mentions the coincidence. He knows another Ricardo LdC. The real LdC asks how they know him. Santi says SF and he replies it could be a coincidence, or it could be the darned pirate that attacked the ship he was on last year. They took their propety, the cargo, and even the documents. Santi asks for details and LdC tells how they were going to New Orleans when a pirate ship attacked them. It was a cruel encounter.

We get a little flashback sequence in which two ships shoot cannonballs at each other. We see the cargo ship fall apart. A bunch of pirates throw ropes and board the cargo ship. Sexy Mario starts fighting and Ric goes up to the captain and tells him to surrender or die. The captain prefers surrender and yells at his crew to drop their weapons ‘cause they’re surrendering. We forward to him giving Ric all the documents. He passes them to Mario and tells the captain that Florida’s not too far. With the current they should arrive in no time. The captain asks if he’s pardoning their lives and Ric looks at Mario and then replies with his trademark “cierto” (true, certain, etc). He tells his crew to load the survivors unto the lifeboats and give them some water and food. He asks about the cargo and then tells the captain to leave. A woman crosses herself and they begin boarding the lifeboats. One of the pirates holds unto LdC and tells Ric that they should hold on to them for ransom. Ric tells the crew there’s plenty of merchandise that they can split up amongst themselves. The pirate replies that ransoms bring a lot of money and Ric tells him that he owes his captain obedience, if he doesn’t like it, how can they fix it? The pirate says why not? Ric’s not the best swordfighter in the brotherhood. He draws his sword and Ric reluctantly also grabs his. He says he’s ready if he wants to try his luck. The pirate runs at him and Ric simply grabs him and slices his throat. He throws the pirate overboard and asks if anyone else has a problem. They all shake their heads and he tells them to tie the boat onto the Salamandra ‘cause they’re taking it. I wonder if this is the boat that became “the Camila.” We return to present time and Santi asks what the pirate looked like. LdC says he had fire in his eyes, tall, strong, with a Moorish appearance. Santi glares at Ascanio who looks down. He asks LdC if he could recognize him if he saw him again. LdC says one couldn’t forget a demon face like that. Santi looks pissed. Ascanio looks worried. I really hope Santi has a talk with Ascanio before he starts trying to make a court case.

Next up: Al yells at the judge that he wants the verdict ASAP! Al tells Lis that she has a face-to-face with Cami tomorrow. On a little boat, Ric tells Mario that Cami has to go free. Lis tells Cami (who’s obviously back to being a serf) that she also has to pay for the betrayal on her.

Labels: Pasion

Permalink posted by Margarita Chilaquiles @ 3:01 PM