Caray, Caray!

Soledad is choking from the smoke in the burning house. She can't get out. (the door is a rattan screen that you could easily kick a hole in but whatever.) Outside, Henchman #1 wants to open the door but Raul, evil chief henchman, says to wait until the house burns down and they won't even have to kill Jose's woman. That will send Jose a message. Soledad calls for help. She coughs. She passes out.

Rebeca returns home to find Paquito waiting. She says she has been to visit Soledad and she got the answer they were searching for. "Jeremias did have an affair with Ester," says Paquito. "Exactly," says Rebeca. "The only question," she continues is whether Enrico knows about this." Paquito says that Enrico lived with Jeremias for a long time so he supposes that he does know and since he is living with Soledad now, she probably knows it too. "If so, we're in serious trouble," says Rebeca. She tells Paquito to find out who knows what but he wants to know what she will give him to do so.

The Cabinet of the Dead Wife doesn't seem to have any magical powers because once Margot sees that the only thing inside it is a dead woman, she is grossed out and slams the door closed. Elena explains what happened to her to Guille and Enrico. She opened the cabinet, saw the dead woman floating there and screamed. Doctor Max came and hypnotized her into being Eva. Dr. Max and Hercu-less are now tied up together. (Hercu-less is not having a good day.) Dr. Max wants them to go find the Cabinet and Enrico agrees saying who knows what Margot has done with it.

Two policemen encounter our diminutive trio and ask what they are doing with the Cabinet. Elena tells the officers that her lover is in the cabinet and if they open it, she'll be in big trouble. Maybe the police just don't want to deal with these three anymore but they let them continue on.

In the Love Nest of Perversion, Beatriz screams at Alcides, "You remembered everything, right. You remembered that damn Soledad?" Soothingly, Alcides says, "I'm Hugo, Hugo, I'm your Hugo. It was just a memory of a woman. It's irrelevant. Come here, let me love you, let me love you Beatriz." "Are you serious?" asks Beatriz. "I'm Hugo," repeats Alcides. "I love you." Beatriz puts down the gun and they embrace.

Eloisa is about to drive off in the carriage when Lupe notices that the hut is on fire. Soledad may be in danger. Eloisa tells her to not even think about going inside. She might make the situation worse. Soledad may have set the place on fire herself to fool those men. Lupe doesn't buy these excuses and to prevent her from returning to the house, Eloisa goes herself. Hugo crashes into the burning house like the hero we know he is. "Is there anyone here?" he calls. He crashes around for a few minutes and eventually finds a woman on the floor, "Senora," he says and turning her over he sees that it is Soledad. He picks her up (with some difficulty, it looks like).

Outside the hut, Hugo is sitting down coughing, holding the unconscious Soledad while Boris and Arturo look on. Eloisa comes running up and asks what happened to Soledad. Hugo sends Boris for Dr. Max. Arturo drags Eloisa off asking what she is doing here. Hugo tells Soledad to wake up. "Try hard," he says, "You have to wake up. Do it for your daughter." Soledad coughs and wakes up. "What happened?" she says. "You were trapped in the hut and it caught fire," responds Hugo. "The little girl that was with me, where is she?" asks Soledad. Eloisa tells her to relax; the child is safe.

Arturo offers Hugo his apologies. He says that his men didn't know that Soledad was inside the hut. Hugo responds that Arturo is only an investor in the mine. He has no right to give orders to Hugo's employees. "You mean I've invested all that money and I don't have any say over these people?" says Arturo angrily. "Don't argue any more," says Soledad choking and at that moment Lupe comes running up saying that the little girl has fainted.

Boris returns to say that Dr. Max is not at home. Hugo decides to take the child to the clinic. Eloisa wants to go along and Arturo tells her no. She responds that his actions today have endangered his investment in the mine and she needs to go along to show that his finacé doesn't have any problems with the Medina family. She jumps in the carriage and an exasperated Arturo calls her a spoiled brat. At the last moment, the little girl's father, Jose, shows up and he gets in the carriage too. They all drive off leaving Arturo alone next to a ruined hut.

At the Obragon house, Ester has discovered that Lucas has a briefcase of money and deeds. She asks if he is giving their money to 'that woman.' Lucas says that he is going to meet with Alcides to invest in the mine (at the suggestion of 'that woman'). Ester asks if he is completely crazy. Antonia is listening at the door.

At the clinic, Hugo comes over to sit with Soledad. He completely ignores Eloisa who is covering her nose and mouth in fear of infection. "How are you feeling?" he asks. "Fine. Thanks to you nothing bad happened."Hugo strokes her cheek and says, "You shouldn't have taken the risk." "I know. I rushed in. I should haved asked for help but the family needed me," she responds. Hugo removes something that was tangled in her hair. She thanks him. "If it hadn't been for you. If you hadn't rescued me, I'd be dead by now. Thank you." She thinks, 'My God, his gaze is just like Hugo's.' Hugo smiles at her (God, we haven't seen Hugo smile like that for so long! So sweet.) "What wrong?" he says. "Something tells me that you are thinking about me," he says. "What is it?" "Uh, about the suffering of a mother," stammers Soledad, "and I'm so thankful about little Aurora." Hugo says, "I spoke to little Aurorita a few days ago and do you know what she told me? She told me that you named our daughter Aurora as a tribute to my brother Hugo. Did you love Hugo that much? That much? Did you really care about my brother Hugo's luck?"
"Why do we always end up talking about the same thing?" says Soledad wearily, "Let's not talk about Hugo. Let's respect his memory."
"Answer me," says Hugo.
"Hugo and I were going to be married. We were engaged, Alcides," responds Soledad.
"Right," says Hugo as if she has just confirmed what he has believed all along, "and you ended up married to me, to Alcides. You lied to my poor brother."
"Shut up," says Soledad desperately, "I won't let you speak to me like that . Respect me. Leave me alone."
'You never loved me,' thinks Hugo, 'never'.

Ester says that Lucas cannot use the little money they have left to invest in the mine. Lucas asks why. Ester says that it is too risky. Lucas says that the proofs show that the gold in the mine is of high purity. Antonia puts her oar in. She agrees with Ester but for different reasons. She thinks Alcides is evil. Too bad, says, Lucas, I'm going to do it anyway. Ester lets him take the money but not the deeds.

At the clinic, Soledad asks the doctor what the child has. The doctor says that the child's fever is down but he's still not sure. He need to do more tests. Several other patients have come today with the same symptions. "Are you saying it is an epidemic?" asks Hugo. At this point, Lupe faints. Soledad wonders if she has the same illness as her daughter. Eloisa manages to look horrified behind the lace handkerchief she holding in front of her face.

In the tavern, Paquito gives a youth a letter he wants put under the door of the Obragon house without anyone seeing. A guy comes into the tavern and announces that there is a terrible illness attacking the city. Many men are already dying in the forest and many are infected with the virus. We have to do something. Paquito gets out his notebook. Is he going to blame this on the Medina family as well?

Hugo sends Boris to Dr. Max's with a blood sample. If Dr. Max isn't there, he has to wait for him. "Is the situation that serious?" asks Boris. "It appears to be an epidemic," says Hugo, "we have to find out where it originated?" (Don't we need to find a cure? or find out what it is?). The nurse announces that 6 more people have arrived with symptoms. The doctor says that they don't have enough beds. Soledad (in her off-the-shoulder frilly pink gown) volunteers to help, so does Hugo and of course Eloisa says she will help too, but the disease is contagious, right? (ha ha)

The doctor says that they will take all necessary precautions. Soledad looks wonderingly at Hugo. She says to herself, 'Alcides has really changed. He seems to be a different person.'Hugo, in a surgical mask, is with little Aurora (who seems to have private room). Naturally, Eloisa is there too. Hugo is giving the kid moral support. The kid asks if she is going to die. Hugo has to take off the mask so the kid can see his cuteness. He says that won't happen. Everything is going to be fine. He promises it. Then he kisses the kid. Hugo leaves Eloisa with the child and says he will be right back. Little Aurora says to Eloisa, "He is a nice man." "Too nice, I'd say," responds Eloisa, "Alcides has changed a lot." "That's not Don Alcides," pipes up the kid, "that's Don Hugo." Out of the mouth of babes. Fortunately, Eloisa thinks the child is delirious and pays no attention.


In the Love Nest of Perversion, Alcides and Beatriz are going at it when Dr. Pablo peeks through the door. "What is going on here?" he asks. (Looks pretty clear to me.)

Marina tells Lucas that Alcides is not at home. Ursula comes down and Lucas asks for Soledad. Ursula says that she isn't home either but Lucas can see his granddaughter while he waits. Marina takes a few steps and keels over.

Ester finds the note put under her door. She opens it and it says, "I know that Soledad is the daughter of Jeremias. If you don't want your husband to find out, put 20 big ones in an envelope and leave it next to the trash on the south side of the square this afternoon." Ester is impactada.

The diminutive trio puts the Cabinet of the Dead Wife back where it belongs at Dr. Max's. They are going back where they left Dr. Max tied up but he bursts in and threatens to kill them. Boris' arrival lets them escape.

Boris gives Dr. Max the blood sample and says that it is from Dr. Ortiz. Dr. Max says that he doesn't do charity work. Boris responds by saying that there is a plague in the city. Alcides/Hugo sent the sample for him to analyze. If Dr. Max discovers what it is, Alcides will reward him. Dr. Max agrees to analyze the sample because Alcides asked him too. He tells Boris to leave. He'll let him know if he has any results.

Hugo and Soledad work side by side helping people at the clinic and mercifully have no dialog. Finally, she sits down to rest. Hugo brings her some tea. Hugo says to Soledad, "You look tired, you should rest a little."
"No," says Soledad, "there are so many people to take care of still."
"It was beautiful to see you helping so many people with love and dedication," says Hugo looking at her lovingly.
"I'd say exactly the same thing about you," laughs Soledad. "I never imagined that I could see you with such a united interest. I never should have stopped doing this. The truth is that there are many people who need help." "You did it before," says Hugo, "you did it with Hugo."
"How do you know that?" asks Soledad. "I used to follow you guys," says Hugo, "I never lost the hope of making you my wife, never."

Ester makes the drop. Paquito is watching. "Very good, madam," he says to himself, "You got the message." He picks up the money and says that now Ester is in his hands.

At the Hacienda, Marina says that she was just dizzy. She feels better. Ursula suggest that Boris take her to the doctor when he returns but Marina insists that she is fine. (is it plague or pregnancy?). Lucas suggests that she not get up so soon but Marina insists. Ursula tells Lucas that Marina is stubborn and does not merit his concern.

At the tavern, the diminutive trio tell each other that they have to keep quiet about what is in the Cabinet otherwise Dr. Max will kill them.

An exultant Dr. Max tells the Cabinet that he has discovered what is causing the epidemic. Now Alcides will owe him and he'll be able to experiment on the baby and find the substance that will bring Eva back to life.

Ester is at Jeremias' grave. She says the horrible lie she made up when they were young has now caught up with her. "Someone discovered that lie. I thought that since you were dead, no one would ever find out what I made you believe when you were alive. Who did you tell that Soledad was your daughter? I was your lover without loving you. I wanted to abandon Lucas. All he did was drink. He was always a loser (still is) which is why I was horrified when I discovered I was pregnant. I needed money and a house, security. Everything a mother needs to raise a child. That's why I told you that you were the father of Soledad. Soledad can't find out about this. I would die if she found out that I had made you believe you were her father for mercenary reasons. (The spanish word she uses is "interés." She used the same word about why Soledad would marry Alcides when Hugo heard her conversation with Manrique at his velorio.) Soledad wouldn't understand and Lucas would never forgive me. I couldn't stand that shame. Someone is blackmailing me. Who did you tell?" Rebeca comes up behind Ester and asks what she is doing at her husband's grave.

At the clinic, Soledad tells Hugo that she wants to go home and take care of her baby. Boris appears and says that he delivered the blood sample to Dr. Max but on the way back he heard people saying that the epidemic was caused by the curse on the Medina family. Hugo says that they will have to wait this out. There is no superstition in the town that isn't related to his family.

Back at the Hacienda, Hugo tells Soledad, "You helped people at the clinic that you had never seen before." "I don't have to know them to want to help them," responds Soledad. "Yes, but you did it with so much love, lots and lots of love. That makes me remember the Soledad that my brother loved. You are special, very special." "You surprised me today also," says Soledad. "You did a great job with all those people. I'm discovering a great person inside of you. Gracias" "You're welcome," says Hugo. They get closer to one another and Soledad takes Hugo's hand and they start caressing each other a little. Hugo says, "Do you know why I've changed? Because now I have a reason to live. You have given me the best gift a woman can give a man. You've given me a daughter." Soledad moves to kiss him but pulls away at that last moment. Hugo keeps her from moving away. She tells him to let her go. "Look at me," he says, "Look me in the eye." She looks, "I don't plan on giving you up," says Hugo. "I'm going to get you back even if it takes an eternity.""I don't like to hear you talk like that", says Soledad, "you sound like Hugo. Please, don't say that."

At this moment, Dr. Max interrupts. He says that he has good news. The epidemic has been controlled. (that was quick!). He discovered that the cause was the water in the river.

Ester tells Rebeca that she came to visit her family's tombs and noticed that Jeremias' tomb was uncared for, without flowers (a dig at you, Rebeca). She wanted to pray a little. Rebeca says that it is true. She hasn't visited her husband's tomb lately. She has found out things in his past that hurt her. He had affairs both before and after they were married. He had an affair with a married woman. Ester tells her not to believe the things that people say. Rebeca asks Ester. "Is something wrong?" "I'm exhausted," says Ester. Rebeca says that she will escort her home.

At the Obragon house, Rebecca presses Ester to tell her what the matter is. Ester says that she has problems and she doesn't know what to do but she isn't going to tell Rebeca about it. She goes to lie down. Rebeca says to herself that Ester's conscience bothering her. Antonia pops up. She has things she wants to talk to Rebeca about. Antonia asks Rebeca how she can come to this house and pretend to be Ester's best friend after all she has done? Rebeca plays innocent. "What are you talking about?"
"You are my brother's lover," responds Antonia. "You are the Mysterious Lady he's been with all this time." Rebeca is impactada. "How dare you accuse me of being your brother's lover," she says, pretending to be outraged."That's what I say", responds Antonia, "and I'd rather not tell my sister in law about it. You know exactly what I am talking about. I warn you. You had better not come back here or there will be serious problems because I will talk."

Ester comes in, "What will you talk about?" she asks. Rebeca takes the offensive. She says that Antonia has accused her of the most horrible things. Things that could only be in the mind of a sick person. "You don't have to tell me," says Ester. "I know this woman. She likes to judge others and she only knows how to talk." Antonia tells Ester not to listen to Rebeca. She has been lying to you the whole time. But Ester says, "I know you Antonia. You see sin everywhere." Antonia tells Rebeca to get out of the house. Ester says that Antonia has no right to say that. The only one who is going to be leaving the house is her! (What irony! Antonia is punished for one of the few times that she tells the truth!)

Hugo, Boris & Dr. Max are in his study. Hugo thanks Dr. Max for all he did at the clinic. Dr. Max says that science is his passion. Hugo says that Dr. Max can study the baby to help find a cure for her disease. Dr. Max thanks him. Hugo puts conditions on what he does, though. There must always be someone present. He says, "Listen to me carefully, there must be nothing, absolutely nothing done behind my back. I want to know everything.""So it will be", says Dr. Max.

Boris asks Dr. Max to look in on Marina. She hasn't been feeling well and he is afraid that it is the disease that has been going around. Dr. Max says he will do it right away. He leaves and is barely out the door when Boris addresses Hugo by name and says that he is ok with Dr. Max treating an adult but does Hugo think it is ok for him to treat his niece? Hugo says, "Soledad is suffering so much that anything we do will make her feel better. You don't know how much I wish Dr. Chirac Jr. were here." (us too!)

Soledad tells Lucas not to worry. She is fine. Alcides has changed. Every day confirms it more. (I guess she has forgotten the Alcides who was at the cemetery.)Lucas say, "Don't be fooled. He's just pretending to gain your trust."Soledad responds, "No, you haven't seen him. Everything he does is with so much love. Really, Dad, it's as if he really cared about people. Sometimes I look at him and I feel like I'm looking at Hugo." Eloisa is outside the door listening to this. (Why is she roaming around the Hacienda?) Dr. Max comes up on Eloisa in the hall and says that he is going inside. She lets him pass.

He enters the room and conveniently leaves the door open behind him for her to hear the conversation. He tells Soledad that her husband has finally permitted him to treat Aurora. Soledad says, "Good. All we are concerned about it the baby's well being."Dr. Max tells her that Hugo put some conditions on what I do that I accepted. He wanted to let her know. He leaves to examine Marina. When he is gone, Lucas tells Soledad that he has come to ask her husband to let him invest in the mine. Soledad thinks that is a bad idea. She doesn't want him to do business with Alcides. Lucas says that it's not that he doesn't care about her opinon but he's made his decision. He thinks it would be an economic help for the baby's illness. (Pathetic attempt to get Soledad on your side, Lucas. Hugo has the financial responsibility and means to take care of the baby's illness.) Soledad says she doesn't want him to have problems in the future. Lucas responds that neither her mother or aunt are in favor of this. Don't make it unanimous. He knows what he's doing.

Dr. Max tells Marina that her symptoms having nothing to do with the epidemic. Marina seems extremely obtuse as to what condition nausea and dizziness might indicate. DM tells her that she is preggers. Marina is impactada.

Lucas leaves. Ursula says that she doesn't understand. First Soledad says that Alcides has changed and then she says that she doesn't want her father to do business with him. Soledad responds that money matters are always complicated. She says that once she heard Alcides talking about revenge. She didn't what he was referring to but she thinks it had something to do with the mine.

At the Love Nest of Perversion, Alcides is chained up again and Beatriz is dressed. Alcides and Beatriz are having a post coital nap together when Dr. Pablo bursts in. "What's going on here?" he asks. Beatriz jumps up and gets her gun. "You have no right to be here." she says. "This is too much," says Dr. Pablo, "I was worried about you thinking that you were with a bad man and here you are with Hugo de Medina." "I'm not Hugo," says Alcides quickly, "I'm Alcides and she has kidnapped me." "What?" Dr. Pablo is confused.

Eloisa goes downstairs. She has a flashback to little Aurora's id of Hugo and Soledad words about how sometimes Alcides looks like Hugo. She has to resolve her doubts right away. She goes into Hugo's study. Eloisa says that Alcides has changed so much. Every day she sees it more. Hugo says that during his recovery he had time to change the things he didn't like about himself. "I'm not so sure about that," says Eloisa. "I don't see the passion in your eyes that the old Alcides had. "I think that Hugo didn't die, that he was rescued and took Alcides' place after the mine collapsed." "And I think that you have a wild imagination," responds Hugo with an amused smile. "You think so? It that's true, show me that it is otherwise," says Eloisa.
"How?" asks Hugo.
"Kiss me, let me feel the fire that drove me crazy from the first moment," demands Eloisa. They kiss passionately. Eloisa say, "It's not the same." Hugo answers, "How so?" Eloisa says, "What really happened to you, Alcides?" Hugo says, "Listen to me. You don't love Arturo. You shouldn't marry him. He will just make you suffer."
"You're worried about me," exults Eloisa. "I love it that you think of me, Alcides." She falls into his arms and he is holding her when Soledad comes in. (What happend to Lucas? Did he get lost? Is he drinking Hugo's liquor somewhere?)

The credits roll. Tomorrow: Hugo and Soledad have a passionate kiss?

Tomorrow's summary will be posted later than usual. I have a class on Thursday nights and I don't get home in time to do the Summary. I have to do most of it during work!

Labels: la traicion