Caray, Caray!

Replay of yesterday’s scenes: Horacio is trying to find out why Socorro is so sad – she says her past was lingering by the front gate. Braulio tells Luci that he will help rein in Connie’s cruelty if she lays off Mili, and that domination is the way to handle him.

On to the new stuff: Socorro is in her night clothes, praying sadly beside her bed. Someone knocks and she gets into bed and pretends to be asleep. It’s Karla, but Socorro pretends not to hear.

Braulio is laying out his plan to Luci. He points out that she is very capable and that her lady friends can manage their family businesses – why not her too? She agrees that she could. Braulio says what if she knew a secret Connie was hiding – Luci thinks of Rosario. She asks Braulio why, seeing that he knows the secret and that Regina is so sad about her missing grandchild, hasn’t he told Regina? He says it’s not the moment. He says that Rosario is dead – and it’s Connie’s fault. Regina’s a bit too, because she didn’t stand up to her husband and Connie when they decided Connie should marry Luci.

So you hate Regina too? asks Luci. No, I don’t hate her, says Braulio, but I’m not going to tell her until the very last day of her life. When I see her on her deathbed, then, and only then, am I going to tell her. Wow – cold, Braulio.

In the foyer, Vale and two of her giggly girlfriends are squished together on the weensy couch, talking to Alex. Pilar is there too. They are discussing the campout/stag/stagette party that everyone apparently is going to. They all think Alex should go – Pilar gets up and strokes him and says, let’s go on it. He snaps at her that she should go if she likes.

Mili walks in. Alex asks her if she wants him to come. She says of course not. So I’ll go! he says. No no! she pleads. Because I love you, announces Alex, and I’m saying it right here in front of everyone. Oy, say the girlfriends, laughing. Pilar gives him the stink eye. Vale asks him not to embarrass her in front of her friends. She explains to them that he loves to joke and he would never fall in love with a servant.

Pilar stands up for Mili – she’s not a servant, she’s the future wife of your cousin. Oh, no, she’s not says Alex. Pilar taunts him – you couldn’t get her into your bed and now you’re all obsessed with her. No, says Alex, she would be marrying without love. Of course without love says Vale, she just wants to get out of the serving class. It’s the money you’re going for, isn’t it? she directs at Mili. Most servants sleep with the patrons for free, but you’re going to get a stack of money out of it. Stop it Vale! says Pilar. Hey, chill, say the girlfriends.

Alex tells Mili, everyone is wondering and I want to hear myself: What are your actual reasons for marrying Hugo? You don’t get it, says Mili. I don’t love you any more. I’m in love with Hugo and I’m going to marry him. Alex is abashed, and Vale and the girlfriends giggle.

Mili flees to the dining room and cries. Pilar comes in and lays a hand on her shoulder. Mili grabs her and sobs tell me the truth, that there was nothing between you and Alex, because he told me there wasn’t. Let me go, says Pilar. She wanders to one side, looks tragic and works up a few fake tears. He spoke to me of love, and yet now he’s not going public with it. Don’t get mixed up with a guy like him – he likes to play with people’s hearts. Don’t leave Hugo for him. She wipes a tear from Mili’s face. Mili says I feel like I’m losing my mind. Vale comes in, sees them, and reproaches Pilar for comforting Mili.

Alex comes in and says I don’t believe you Mili. Why are you marrying him? Vale says, for money. It’s a lie says Mili. Vale says maybe Hugo buys your story, but don’t expect us to. Mili grabs Alex’s hand and pulls him out of the room.

She pulls him into Regina’s room. Tell him who’s inheriting from you, says Mili. Regina says Mili is. See? says Mili angrily I don’t need to marry for money - and she tells him off a bit. Regina tells her to cool it. Alex flees to his room and is anguished.

He calls Bobby and Bobby says if you’re upset it must be Mili. Alex tells him that Regina has made Mili her heir. Are you upset about her marrying Hugo or being the heir, asks Bobby. Looks like she isn’t marrying for money, so it must be love. She’s not marrying for love! says Alex and he hangs up. He blubbers a bit and Pilar shows up. She sits down close beside him on the bed and strokes his cheek. He thanks her for standing up for Mili. She tells him that Mili said she’s sick of him pursuing her all the time.

But she doesn’t love Hugo, says Alex. Accept it, says Pilar. She’s not marrying for money. She loves him. Pilar is closing in, giving him little smoochies while he cries. Let me help you get over her, she says. She keeps smooching on him and finally he smooches back and they fall out of the camera’s view onto the bed.

The girls dorm. Mili is in bed, staring into the dark. Gloria says I don’t like to see you like this. Lina gets up too. Mili is blubbering. I lied to Alex because he hurt me so much. But right in front of everyone he announced that he loves me. And I love him more than life itself. Go tell him, it’s not too late, say the gal pals. In her bunk, Karla listens.

Mili comes into Alex’s room. He is in bed, looks like nothing on. All that weight lifting has really paid off, muscles are bulging everywhere. Mili tells him she’s so sorry, etc., and he looks touched, but also keeps flicking his eyes nervously off at what must be the bathroom. Uh oh. Mili stutters on, about to blurt out that she loves him when Pilar emerges in a bathrobe and asks what she can do for Mili.

Mili runs out and has a mini-breakdown in the hall. Alex runs out and tries to explain (how?) but she calls him a liar and runs off. He pounds the wall and says he is an imbecile.

Pilar comes out and asks what’s up. Alex tells her to go, that what was between them was a mistake. Pilar doesn’t look too discouraged.

Mili is in full meltdown in the girls dorm. She tells the pals that she found Alex in bed with Pilar. The gal pals point out kindly that Mili rejected him and said she loved another so he’s not entirely to blame - maybe he felt driven into Pilar’s arms.

Horacio is having coffee and Morgan comes in carrying a fishing pole. He still has one little bandage on. He’s all pumped about the camping trip, but Horacio says he’s staying here with Socorro because she’s really down.

Luci comes into Damien’s office and asks him what position she could hold with the company, like office director or boss? He asks if she’s been drinking. She says of course not, and since she has 20% of the shares, with his and Alex’s support, maybe…. Damien says Connie would never allow it. She says Regina might support her. I sincerely doubt it says Damien. Why don’t you run along on home? You’ll be happier there.

Horacio is in the kitchen with Socorro trying to get her to tell what’s wrong, but she says she said too much already. Braulio comes in, sorting through the mail, and exclaims that a letter was misdelivered – it’s to Amparo Rodriquez. Socorro looks like she’s going to faint. Ooops! Down she goes. Horacio and Braulio fan her frantically.

The camping adventure is starting. Everyone emerges from a big black SUV and looks out over a pond the color of pea soup. I hope no one wants to go swimming. Everyone is ready to go have fun. Hugo kisses Mili, and Pilar hangs on Alex, posing with him beside the pond while Mili looks on. Alex’s sweater is the same pea green as the pond. He asks Pilar what she wants to do and they head off, looking like a couple.

Regina is in the foyer and the handsome young doctor emerges. Seems like Socorro had a case of nerves and he’s given her a prescription for a tranquillizer and told her she must have absolute rest for a while. Regina says such a scare, and almost no one in the house. Where did they go, asks the doctor. Regina explains they’re off camping – you know kids! The doctor says she should have gone along.

Socorro is in bed but thinks she should get back to work. Horacio tells her no, stay there and rest. She asks him to do a favor and keep a secret. She asks him to go get that letter. He says but it’s for Amparo Rodriguez. That’s me, says Socorro.

Morgan is fishing and Vale and her girlfriends are with him. Vale says it’s boring. Morgan hooks something and struggles mightily with it, maybe it’s a shark! This is a lake, she scoffs. He reels in a smallish fish. Vale scoffs some more and goes off, and the girlfriends take his picture.

Socorro is explaining to Horacio that she changed her name after Karla was born. She thought a new name would go with a new life. Actually, she says, Socorro is her middle name. No more questions right now, she says. Who’s it from? asks Horacio. You never talk about Karla’s father. Could it be him? Why did he stop loving you? [I hope I got that right] I didn’t deserve it, she says. Now go get the letter. He starts to go, then turns and says I don’t care about your past – for me you will always be Socorrito.

The campers are lounging on the slopes of Algae Pond, a few geese are swimming. The grocery guy tells a lame joke and only Gloria laughs. They speculate on whether there are any snakes around. Vale jumps up and says something bit her – on her rear. Morgan offers to draw the venom out.

Horacio comes into the kitchen and finds Braulio reading the letter. He sharply reproaches Braulio. Braulio says Socorro lied to them. He is aghast as only Braulio can be. He says Socorro must leave this house immediately.

Somehow Hugo has unglued himself from Mili and has left her alone. She is sitting on a bench pondside, enjoying the sun. Alex comes up and offers to look at his fortune cards for her. Of course when he lays them out he says that she is going to be very unhappy in her marriage because she isn’t in love. He says someone very near to her loves her very much.

So much that he was in bed with another woman, she says. I made a mistake – everyone makes mistakes, says Alex. I’m dying for you. Of laughter? asks Mili. How come you came on this trip? Because it’s your party, and because I still have hopes. You and I are very different (she agrees). I can’t stand to see you wreck your life like this. I’m not wrecking it she says.

Oops! Looks like Hugo was just off at the outhouse. He’s lurking behind a tree. Alex proposes to Mili that she pass a test – give him one last kiss and he will know if she’s in love with Hugo, then he’ll leave her alone forever. She hesitates and then agrees. They kiss briefly (and of course in view of the whole lake – there’s really no need for Hugo to lurk). A goose swims by during the kiss – I guess they couldn’t afford a swan. Hugo fidgets. Mili breaks off the kiss and says there, now go. Alex says sure – and I found out what I wanted to know. You’re not in love with Hugo. He leaves.

Hugo comes out from behind the tree. Why those tears, he asks. Is it about the wedding, he fakes. Are you scared? Don’t be. I’m going to make you very happy. He gives her a kiss on the cheek and holds her close, happy. She looks away, uncomfortable.

A montage of fun at the pond. Our gang are taking turns riding a pulley across the lake, are trying the climbing wall, and even are riding horses.

Back at Casa Belmonte, Karla is in the sack with Damien. He’s glad she didn’t go, but she’s kinda sorry. She says when they have their party, can it be a camping trip? He doesn’t like the mosquitoes and red ants. Why don’t we go ahead and get married, she says. We’ll see he says. Karla says I want to get out of this uniform! He lifts the covers. Looks like you’ve already gotten out of it, he says. That Damien, what a card.

Braulio apparently hasn’t given up the letter yet. Horacio wants to take it to Socorro. It’s full of revelations, says Braulio. She has quite a past – she’s not who we thought she was. If you want to know, read it yourself. He leaves, and Horacio pulls the letter from its envelope. What a skunk! Wait, no, he’s folding it up unread. He says when Socorro is ready to confide in me, then I’ll find out what’s in it. What a guy! A prince.

It’s campfire time, complete with a marshmallow roast. Bobby is singing – but unfortunately not kumbaya. Gawd, he’s bad. Apparently he’s singing a love song to Vale, who is sitting with Morgan, enjoying it. No one else seems to like it. Alex, because he’s an imbecile as he noted earlier, is sitting with Pilar, who is cozied up to him. Way to show Mili there’s nothing between them.

Socorro has noted that the letter has been opened and Horacio tells her Braulio read it but promised not to tell. Socorro says why didn’t you read it and Horacio says because I want you to trust me. She tells him that the man who sent it – she thinks she saw him in the street. He’s a man who just got out of jail. No, he’s not Karla’s father, but he knows the truth because he protected her at the time. Socorro says she told Karla that her husband, Karla’s father, abandoned them, but it’s not true. There was no husband.

Socorro says that she was a dancer in the red light district, and after dancing, she and her friends would… she breaks off. You mean you were a ….? asks Horacio. No! she says.

Back to the marshmallow roast. The grocery kid is about to say something important to Gloria, but Lina overhears and goes and drags him over to the fire, positioning herself next to him. Vale decides she’s having a good time. Morgan says hand the guitar here - he decides not to play it, but to use it as a drum. He does a half-singing, half rap number while everyone claps.

Socorro is telling her story. She and the dance girls were expected to have drinks with the customers, but the customers weren’t supposed to touch. One night a fellow in fine clothes came in, was nice (cue the Piaf song), then got drunk and wanted to kiss her. But nothing happened. She was walking home in the morning and a few blocks away he grabbed her and wanted to take her up to his room. She yelled, but no one heard her. She said no no no no – Socorro is crying and Horacio hugs her.

At the campfire, Hugo and Mili show up. Mili says she has a headache. He is happy, she is very subdued. A toast to the novios is proposed and cans of something are passed around. Alex looks sober and Mili glances at him. They toast. Alex suggests Mili sing, Hugo says she doesn’t feel well. Bobby says he’ll accompany on the guitar and he starts up without asking her what song. She sings a heartfelt song about a relationship that broke off who knows why, an eternal love, about goodbyes. It’s lovely and sad. Vale looks serious, Alex tears up, ignoring Pilar who snuggles up to him. I’m going to forget you, sings Mili, looking at Alex. The song ends, Alex looks stunned, Hugo, who seems to have missed the point, kisses Mili’s cheek. Freeze frame.

Avances: Luci is asking Andrea to help her control her husband by feeding her some information that is bad enough to send him to jail. In the girls dorm with the padre watching, Alex is reciting wedding vows to an astonished Mili. He asks the padre to marry them then and there.

Labels: guapos