Caray, Caray!

[Again--comments and additions welcome. Sorry for the lateness all you guys who love to read recaps with your wheaties. I didn't get home until 10 pm last night.]

The show opens with Uriel and Mateo in Jorge’s office talking over how they will handle the contraband. Uriel will sell it at his store and to make contact with Romero Castillo to tell him that Juancho will be his supplier now. Jorge emphasizes that nobody is to know that he is involved. Uriel and Mateo give eachother long looks but agree. Jorge tells them not to forget that they are involved with pirates, who kill without thinking too much about it.
At Ric’s, Eustaquio, the court official rolls up and tells Ric that Camila is called to the court to answer the summons for the inheritance case. Ric tells him right away that she’s out of town. Eustaquio says all well and good for him to show up instead but she must be there for the hearing.

At Pirate central, La Paisana is giving the boys the bad news that most of them are being laid off. She tells them that it’s not her decision, it’s Foreman’s. They are not happy. One guy wants to know why they can’t just continue robbing caravans. She says she doesn’t know. Juancho wants to know why they are getting rid of people if they are going to continue robbing caravans and she tells him that they are but they just aren’t going to need that many people. As a symbol of her authority she carries a stick with ribbons tied to it. El Chino (AKA “Jo-si-he”) shows up and says that whoever has family to support can come with him to work The rest can climb aboard his ship “the manderin—la manderina” and he’ll take them as far as the coral islands. He’s still dressed in Eastern style clothing and his second in command is as well. (If he wants people to know he’s Japanese and not Chinese, he’s probably not helping by calling his ship the Manderin). The men still don’t like this outcome. One guy shouts the question of what they will do there. El Chino says they can find another captain or other work. Juancho isn’t happy. He says that it looks like Foreman is betraying them. He blames El Chino who he calls (again) a “Chinese pig.” El Chino tells him to shut up and urges him to respect him, even if he is of another race, he’s still a captain. Juancho spits at him in response and says make me. Paisana intrudes to say that it’s not Chino’s fault. The business has always belonged to the Englishman and he’s chosen to do things this way and has chosen El Chino to carry out his wishes (a decision which she agrees with). Juancho won’t back down and El Chino asks him how he wants to settle it. Juancho immediately pulls out his long knife or short sword and the men draw back to watch them fight. El Chino has a Katana and fights Samurai style. He makes short work of Juancho, slitting his throat.

Next we are at the forge where the twins are talking to eachother. They think that the Don Jorge connection could help the business. Santiago is explaining to them that he doesn’t want to have anything to do with Don Jorge. Ofelia shows up and greets them. She takes Santiago aside and asks what Dona Sofia wanted. He explains that she tried to convince him to take his place as Jorge’s heir because it would be good for the people. Ofelia asks him what he told her and he says that he told her he wasn’t interested. They turn to talk about the baptism of his daughter. Santiago tells her that he hasn’t decided who the godparents should be. Ofelia smiles, probably pleased that it won’t be Jorge and Sofia. She kisses him and leaves.

Next, at the Mill, Vasco is getting paid by a customer when Ascanio comes up and asks to speak with him. Ascanio asks how the mill is going. Vasco says great. And he asks after Santiago. He thinks his brother in law is a dork for trying to start a lantern business when he could be the next lord of San Fernando. Ascanio tells him that he’s not really there to talk about that—rather he’s there to tell him what an idiot he is for fooling around with (that whore) Ursula. Vasco starts to ask what business is it of his but Ascanio cuts in to say that he couldn’t care less about him, but about his father and his wife, he does care. Vasco accuses him of being sent by his father. Ascanio says he’s not there because of his father. He says that Justo talked to him about it because he was upset and afraid. Ascanio brings up the letter again and tells him that Ric has sent his sister abroad. Vasco figures out that he must have done it because she is in danger. Ascanio returns to the discussion of Vasco’s skirt chasing by saying that he doesn’t understand why he allows himself to be a plaything of a woman who wants him only because she has nothing better to do. Vasco replies that Ascanio is the one who doesn’t understand he turns around to face him and yells “Haven’t you ever had passion in your life?” Just then Ric rides up on horseback. Vasco runs up and asks if it’s true that Camila has fled and if so why. Ric confirms it. He tells him that his “stupidity has born fruit” and that LaFont turned the letter in to the judge. You condemned your own sister.” He hauls off and slaps Vasco so hard he falls to the ground. Ascanio steps in and asks for restraint. Vasco gets up and says he sure that something can be done. Ric flips him off and gets back on his horse and rides away. Vasco tells Ascanio that he was soooo sure that the letter had been destroyed. Ascanio says archly that it seem that he was wrong and walks away. Vasco is left standing there forlornly contemplating his guilt.

In an odd bit of editing after the commercial, Vasco is now following Ric back to Justo’s house and trying to argue with him that it may not be all that bad but Ric has no patience for him and tells him to just shut up or he’ll kill him. Justo spreads his arms out like a martyr and says “Kill me then. I deserve it.” Ric looks at him in surprise. Pirates don’t often get that offer. Just then Paco runs out and affectionately greets his Uncle Ric. Ric pats the boy’s head and greets him and then turns and gives Vasco a dark look and walks toward the house. Paco takes a look at Vasco and asks “What’s wrong Daddy? Vasco says “Nothing.” Paco insists “Why are you crying?” Vasco hugs Paco.

Next we are in the town square with La Font talking to the Eustaquio, the judicial official who is briefing him on the fact that Camila has left San Fernando. They discuss how this seems to be too much of a coincidence. Eustaquio tells him that Ric said that he will be at the hearing and LaFont asks if that’s legal and Eustaquio says that as her husband, it’s fine for him to be there but she will have to show up at some point. He doesn’t like it and this new twist is worrying to him. He leaves LaFont standing there, looking like he’s planning his next move.

At the forge, the twins, Ascanio and Santiago are looking at the new wagon, the twins are elated and one of them remarks that it’s very fine looking and will help them sell a lot of lanterns. When they take the wagon away, Santiago turns to Ascanio and asks him why he looks so glum. Ascanio explains that the ED letter has surfaced and Camila is being hauled into court. Santiago is impactado. (Or else he has an attack of dyspepsia—hard to tell.)

LaFont fills the ladies in on Camila’s disappearance. Fran is sure that Ric loaded her on one of his ships with the inheritance and managed her escape. LaFont says the hearing is tomorrow. Lis immediately panics that she’ll have to face Ric and LaFont is quick to suggest that she’s afraid of him, working the pirate angle. Lis counters that she isn’t really afraid of him, it’s just that she’s known him a long time and it will be painful to confront him. LaFont asks if he’s really her cousin. Lis says he’s not—he’s just been a long time friend of the family. LaFont asks if he’s a friend of Ricardo de Salamanca, the pirate. Lis says, yes, they knew eachother. LaFont says they have nothing to worry about, he’ll be with him.

At Justo’s, Petronella the servant is pouring the watermelon juice and Ines, Vasco, Paco and Ric are all at the table. Justo says he’s a little upset that Ric has sent Camila away alone. Ric says that’s why he came to explain. Ines asks if she’s alright. Ric pauses and Vasco asks Petronella to take Paco away. Paco complains but Vasco insists. He complains some more and Justo brings the hammer down and Paco obeys. After they leave Ric brings them up to speed—LaFont killed Bernabe, took the ED letter and gave it to the judge. Ines is shocked. Ric says that Camila didn’t tell him because she was worried about his health. Justo says no way, he wants to know everything that’s going on. Ric tells them he wants them to get it from him that Lis is trying to break the will with the letter, making Camila’s marriage null and void. Vasco tries to explain Bernabe stole the letter from him. He was about to destroy the letter when he ran away. Ric shuts him up and continues that he sent Camila out of New Spain in order to protect her. He tells Justo again that Camila was afraid that Justo couldn’t take the news but Ric reiterates his belief that Justo is a man of strong will who can deal with the realities, whatever they are. Justo says with tears in his eyes that Camila has had to flee because she spent her money trying to save the family fortunes. Ric says, no, that he never thought that they would have to leave. It’s just until he can get together the money to pay Lis back. Ines expresses surprise that he doesn’t have them money. Ric explains that he’s been robbed. Justo turns to Vasco and tells him that he wants him out of the house. Vasco begs for forgiveness but Justo says he’s tired of his son’s lies and false promises. He pleads with his dad but Justo is firm in telling him to GET OUT! Vasco tearfully gets up from the table. Ric puts his hand on Justo’s shoulder. Ines looks miserable and nervously twists her lip.

Over at Ofelia’s, the family is doing some housework and Ascanio is filling them all in about Camila. Ascanio hopes that Ric and Lis can reach some kind of agreement. Santiago blames Vasco, Rita blames Camila for marrying the old dude. Santiago defends Camila saying that it was her only hope of returning home. He tells her he doesn’t understand her lack of empathy, her unjust hatred for her own sister. He tells her that he never wants her to utter Camila’s name in his presence again. He storms off. Ascanio excuses himself and follows. Rita, is all full of ‘tude, comes over to Ofelia and says “Mother, she asked for it.”[It’s also possible that she said “he asked for it”—I couldn’t hear it well, in which case she meant Santiago started the fight] Ofelia says nothing and slaps her across the face. [Works in either case!]

Ascanio runs after Santiago. Ascanio tries to calm him down but Santiago pulls away and heads off in another direction. Ascanio looks exasperated.

Justo is laying across his made bed, fully dressed when he hears a knock at the door. It’s Ines, with his medicine. She asks if when Justo kicked out Vasco, if he meant her too. Justo says no, this is her house. Justo muses that Vasco will probably just stay at the mill. And since Dad’s an old softie, eventually, he’ll let him come back to live at the house. It’s just at the moment, he’s so angry at him, he doesn’t even want to look at him.

Ric rides up to his house. He pats his two trusty pirates working the gate, on the back but says nothing, clearly dispirited. [The handsome one who played Frank on Duelo de Pasiones, whose name here escapes me and another one.] One guy says to the other that the boss is clearly feeling down. The other guy remarks that it may be because his woman is gone. The other guy says “no, it’s more than that.”

Inside the house, Ric takes off his jacket and sword and plops in a chair, then on the bed. He flashbacks to his promises to Camila as she was leaving that he would fix everything. He swears aloud in the present that HE WILL fix everything, come what may.

At the tavern, a plump tavern wench is singing, a band is playing, soldiers are drinking and playing cards and Uriel is waiting for Don Jorge. The wench flirts with Uriel and Don Jorge while singing and as they watch her Jorge tells Uriel that he wants him to carry Santiago’s new spring collection of lanterns at his store. Uriel asks why, since Santiago has dissed him and Jorge just had him thrown in jail. Jorge says that he wants to help him and his wife persuaded him that it was the right thing to do. Uriel says that he’ll send for him. Jorge says it would be better for Uriel to go to see him. Uriel isn’t happy with this and wants to know why he should do the stooping. Jorge says he’s asking him to and Uriel relents. Jorge brings up the subject of Manuela and Uriel admits that Alberto is against it. Jorge suggests that he’s open to his marrying Ursula. Uriel is surprised but gladly accepts the idea. Jorge ever the ladies’ man, turns to look at the wenches who are taking their bows after the singing.

At Justo’s, Ines is crying at what looks like a combination sideboard/family altar (there is a saint statue and a pitcher of water). Ascanio comes in and she hastily turns away to leave mumbling something about getting Paco a glass of milk. Ascanio notes that she is a blessing for this family. [I couldn’t catch the next thing she says either] He asks about Vasco and Ines said that he left the house last night. She cries and tells him about the letter—Ascanio says he knows. He gets a chair and sits down with her. Ines says she was surprised that Ric didn’t have the money to pay Lis and Ascanio explains that he lost it all when the caravan was robbed. Ines is horrified and asks how could Vasco have done such a thing. Ascanio reassures her that he couldn’t have known the extent of the complications that would come in the wake of doing …this stupid thing. [he hesitates on the words, like he’d like to use stronger ones but for Ines’ sake.] Ines cries some more. Ascanio tries to reassure her some more that Ric will fix everything eventually. Ines says she knows but she’s worried about Vasco. His Dad told him he never wants to see him again. Ascanio says he’s sure that they will patch things up eventually. Ines cries that Vasco is like a little boy. Ascanio parts company with her on that—“Paco is a little boy. Vasco is a man.” Justo comes in and Ascanio makes to get up and go but Justo motions for him to stay and asks Ines if she’s told him. She nods. Justo says that he’s happy that he’s there and puts a hand on his shoulder. Ascanio agrees and looks at Ines, a bit wistfully. [Coulda Shoulda Woulda, lady. You’d be married to Santiago’s good-looking future employee of the month once those lanterns start flying off of Uriel’s shelves. ]

At Mansion Mancera, Fortunata and Ursula are drinking coffee while Sofia is sorting her jewelry. Ursula happens to mention that on a previous occasion she overheard Lis complaining about how neither she (Ursula) nor Camila were going to take Ric away from her. Fortunata remarks that Camila managed to do it. Ursula continues laughing about how instead of a young, virile guy, she’s going to have to get used to old LaFont. Fortunata disagrees and counters that LaFont is a gentleman and still has some charms. Ursula says fresh meat (carne) is not the same as old skin (pellejo). Sofia looks disapprovingly. Just then Jorge comes in and notes that the younger women seem to be having a good time but not Sofia, who rolls her eyes. Ursula says they were talking about Lis and LaFont. “Speaking of weddings,” says Jorge, “I’ve got a husband for you.” She looks stricken. He tells her it’s Uriel. Fortunata says “but he’s young and not ugly.” The only thing that Ursula can think of to complain about is his facial hair. Jorge says no problem, we can order him to shave. He shakes his head at her and leaves. Ursula pleads with her mother to stop this wedding. Sofia says that she told Jorge that they needed to find a husband for her immediately. She wants her to stop her whorish ways. If she doesn’t get married, she’ll tell Jorge that she’s taken up with Vasco again. It’s either that or the convent. Ursula flees the room in tears. Fortunata tells Sofia that calling her daughter a whore was a bit harsh. Sofia says she knows she’s bad enough. Fortunata says that Uriel isn’t such a bad catch. He’s a widower and his two children also died. Sofia says although he’s kind of a scoundrel, she noticed that he was kind to Tita. Fortunata says that if the only thing that’s not pleasing about him to Ursula is his mustachio, getting him to cut it off, like Jorge says, will solve that problem. Sofia looks at her a bit skeptically; she knows that a mustache isn’t the problem.

Ursula crashes into her room and flops on the bed sobbing. “I want Vasco!” (yo quiero Vasco) she says aloud. Meanwhile, over at the mill, Vasco is also crying, but he’s praying too. It’s really hard to understand without closed captioning but I think the gist is that he’s trying to make a deal with God that if God can repair the damage with his family, he’ll never touch another woman who isn’t his wife again.

It’s the next morning and we see the townsfolk opening their shops, stalls and doing their other morning business. Ric rides up on horseback to the lawyer’s office. Ric asks for the original of the will that Eustaquio gave him. Ric tells him they are going forward. The lawyer says that if the ED letter was bought with a bribe, it will be easy to challenge it in court. Ric says, we’ll see. The lawyer goes to his cabinet to get it.

La Font is also getting ready for the hearing. The ladies come in and LaFont compliments Lis on her looks. Manuela is hidden, listening at the door. La Font reassures Lis but Lis says she’s nervous about being around people she doesn’t know and she’s worried that the judge will not like her. La Font says the judge is a gentleman and a friend of his, she has nothing to fear. Fran tells her to calm down. LaFont says not to worry—the ED letter is their ace in the hole. It invalidates the marriage and the will. And with no will, she is the only legal heir.

At the courthouse, Ric hands the will over to the judge along with documents showing the monies spent by Camila since she came into the inheritance. The judge asks him to sit down. There’s a knock at the door. It’s LaFont and the ladies. Lis calls out to Ric and he answers that he is there. La Font helps her to a chair. The mood is tense.

Over at the forge, Ascanio is loading the wagon. Ascanio fills Santiago in about the Ric—Camila—letter situation and that Justo now knows too. At that moment, Manuela shows up tells them that her Father and the Salamanca women are suing for their inheritance. Ascanio is surprised “so soon?” Manuela is surprised that they know about it at all. Ascanio nods, that yes, they know all about it. Manuela nervously suggest that Lis may have her reasons but Camila is in danger. Ascanio thanks her but tells her to go back home. If her Dad finds out they’ve been talking…Manuela agrees. Ascanio climbs down off the wagon and stands beside her. She tells him that she is worried because she likes Camila but Lis is going to marry her father. Ascanio is surprised at this news which he did not know. Her urges her to leave quickly before somebody notices. He’s afraid that her father will punish her. But he makes sure to thank her for risking it and smiles at her. She tells him she knew he would want to know, and Santiago too, for Camila’s sake. After she goes, the twins and Santiago remark on how Lis could be going after Camila, that she seemed so nice when she was visiting them at the forge. They discuss how her marrying LaFont has changed things—he’s bad news, even if she is an angel. One of them suggests that maybe LaFont convinced her to do it. Ascanio says “told ya so” (about Lis being secretly evil). Santiago nods an admission. He asks if he thinks Ric can do something. Ascanio says “He’s a man with many resources.” Santiago says “but you told me he was robbed of his wealth.” Ascanio replies that that’s not what he was referring to.

Back at the hearing, Ric is confronting Fran about the nature of the ED letter. He announces that she admitted to him that she paid the doctor to write a false letter. Fran tries to make it sound as if she paid the doctor to write a letter—that doctors charge for everything, even writing letters. Ric says that she knows what she said and meant. Fran does not relent. Ric moves on to Lis and starts out yelling at her until LaFont tells him to cool it. Tears stream down from her cheeks and she is shaking but stands up and says what’s true is that he accompanied them to recover the inheritance and instead he married that whore, Camila! “He promised! He promised!” She screams and reaches out for his coat until she’s pulled away from him by Fran and LaFont, who guides her back to her chair. Ric calmly tells her that regardless of who or what Camila was, it was the will of her father (to disinherit Lis). Lis screams at him that he promised to get the family fortune back to his mother on her deathbed. LaFont looks impactado and the wheels are definitely turning on the Salamanca family relationships. Ric looks nervous that he probably knows way too much now.

At the Mancera Mansion, Manuela, Fortunata, Ursula and Sofia are in the great room. Manuela is telling them the gossip. Manuela thinks that Camila isn’t a fortune hunter like Lis alleges. Sofia agrees. She’s known her since she was born and her family. Ursula disagrees. She thinks that if she was desperate enough, she could have resorted to anything. Sofia disagrees. She says that she would do anything to help her. Ursula angrily shoots back that Sofia will do anything for anybody except her own daughter. Fortunata thinks that Ric will be able to bail her out in any event, since he has money. Ursula suddenly turns on Manuela and asks why she hasn’t been to see her. She slaps her with her feather twice. Sofia shakes her head.

Ascanio and Ines are walking in the town square and see Fran and Lis out walking, with LaFont trailing after. He mildly asks if the hearing is over. Lis suddenly turns on him and bitchily laughs and says that he “along with that prostitute Jimena” are going to go back to being servants very soon. She is led away by Fran. This scene is witnessed by Ines, Ofelia and Justo. Justo clarifies with Ascanio that he had been a servant but that Camila set him free. Ascanio goes to look for Ric. The woman confer that Camila had freed Claudio, Ascanio and Jimena and all of them will go back to being servants. Ofelia remarks on the hatred of Lis, that she could return Ascanio and Jimena to servitude as well. Justo says he doesn’t know. He hopes to God, no.

Meanwhile, Ric is with the Judge. The ED letter perjury is his word against theirs so there’s no getting around it. The Judge says that he’s looked at the sum total of the inheritance both in monies and in jewelry, furniture etc. and Camila will have to repay the value of all that stuff. Ric says he will repay it. The judge says that’s not enough—she has to be present. Ric looks grim. He goes out and is immediately set upon by the nervous family outside. Justo asks if they reached an agreement. Ric says no and walks on. They follow him. As they walk by Santiago’s the twins announce that they are out to their boss. Justo reaches for Ofelia and asks that maybe she or Santiago could talk to Don Jorge or Dona Sofia. Ric says no, there’s no need for that. Ascanio asks if Ric brought up Fran’s participation in the Bermejo affair but Ric tells him that that’s done with, Bermejo confessed and he shuts him up before he can say that Ric has been cleared, of the incident with the dead hooker. Ric says that Bermejo confessed to having acted on behalf of a “deceased person.” Santiago is overhearing some of this.

They get to Ofelia’s and Justo sits down at the table while Ofelia gets out the watermelon juice. Ric says he will need to know the exact amount that must be paid. Camila must stay away until it’s been satisfied or she risks going to jail. Ines and Ofelia are shocked. Justo asks if they can visit her but Ric says it’s a bad idea. He reassures them all that she’s safe where she is, guarded by his people. Ines asks about Ascanio and Jimena’s liberty and Ric says he doesn’t know but he will ask. He asks again for their discretion in spreading too much of this info in the town. Justo adds that Camila is well liked in the town but even so…As if on cue, Rita shows up. Ric bows and excuses himself and leaves. Ines, gets in her face and says “I don’t know how much you’ve heard but if you squeal to anyone, I’ll break your teeth.” Rita claims not to know what’s going on. Justo similarly threatens her, that if she talks, he’ll disinherit her. Everybody leaves except Rita and Ofelia. Rita complains that everybody treats her badly. Her husband won’t even sleep with her. Ofelia says nobody wants to tell her anything because they know she’d be happy if Camila died. Rita claims that’s not true. Ofelia ignores this and tells her that she should examine her conscience and figure out what she’s done wrong.

LaFont, Lis and Fran are back at LaFont’s. LaFont has given her a glass of water and is calming her down. He says that the worst is over. When Camila arrives, he can ask that Ric not be present. She thanks him. But he just wants to know one thing. What does Ricardo’s mom have to do with this. Lis tries to create a story about Ric’s mom being her godmother but LaFont looks sharply at Fran and keeps asking questions. He pushes them on whether Ricardo is their cousin (the pirate). He points out that in spite of her anger at him, she continues to protect him. Lis says no, while it’s true that she has affection for Ricardo, that it’s only because she feels betrayed by him that she is pursuing her rights so vigorously. Fran, is cool as a cucumber and says that if it were the case, they would have told him. They have no reason to lie.

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Next time: LaFont talks to the Judge who tells him that the problem looks like it’s going to be that Ric isn’t going to allow Camila to present herself. LaFont asks if Ric can be arrested for obstruction of justice. A romantic island getaway for Camila and Ric? Will Lis be able to control her rage or will she spill the beans to LaFont?

Labels: Pasion