Caray, Caray!

We begin review with Pablo returning to Ric's sickroom, retelling how he had found Justo so unreceptive, rejecting the money and telling him not only was Camila gone and wanted nothing to do with Ricardo but he (Pablo) must be a pirate too and had better make himself scarce before the guards grabbed him. Margaret so ably described the interchange of Mario and Ric each trying for control while Mario pushed that Ric is still disabled (baldado) Rick accuses Mario of not caring enough for any women ever to understand his undeniable need to get to Camila. La Paisana sagely suggests to Ric that if he wants to achieve his objectives he better start thinking with his brain and not his heart.

The Mass for the deceased is planned. Ascanio goes to ask Jemena's boss if she can get off to go to the family gathering at Justo's. Meanwhile Justo and Santiago have jumped off their horses to have an afternoon snack (merendar).

Off in Garbancilla, Camila speaks really good baby soothed by mommy talk as she tells the bulge under her peasant skirt that it will be the best loved baby, health and strong and someday, someday they will find baby's Papa.

Back at the snack shack, Santiago at least acknowledges that he is bringing it up too soon, but how about me getting it on with Camilla. Uhhh, no Justo of the now and then vacant stare [Ed note, looks like those nasty little TIA's to me folks, seen 'em, know 'em] but he expresses his gratitude to Santiago for taking this interest in his wayward daughter. The two of them divide up this sweet pie and discuss her fate as though she were not a human being or at least not an adult, but would Don jorge approve? Santi on his moral, macho best says "it is written" that sooner or later he and Camila would be husband and wife. He doesn't tell us where it is written, like the men's room wall or ??? Justo does ask him about the baby. Camila expects to keep it and he has told her she can (shoot, should have told her she could have a puppy or pony instead). But Santi DECIDES that it is not the baby's fault that he is a pirate pup and he would raise it and love it along with Ana Maria who is pledged to Camila by the dying Grita as her last wish. Sounds good, let's eat!

La Paisana is tearfully telling Pablo about her troubled motherhood with little Diego, then Pablo then little Margarita. She was a single parent working as a wait person or maid, never enough money. Along came a spider, oops a rich widow lady who tricked her into abandoning her children and leading a life in a brothel. The woman kept tricking her into thinking she would get her children back soon. Pablo still furious with her for making him feel abandoned his whole life asked why if she knew where he was, she didn't come to find him long ago. She was so ashamed. Now she only wants him to know she loves him and wants him to know her truth. Pablo starts to soften then stomps out of the room. This has all been spoken near the bed of the prostrate Ricardo who LP now notices is awake and asks him if he heard everything. Sure did, he answers. Do you think he believed me adn that he will forgive me? Everyone needs someone special. He needs you and you need him.

The Mass for the Diseased gets underway with all the usual suspects in the lineup, make that front row. Notice how the damas are all in black dresses and veils except Lis who wears screaming Clorox white on every inch of her expensive dress and veil. Ascanio comes in a bit late and makes eyes at Manuela as he sits down. A prayer (plegaria) is sung and a sermon given about Rita being called to God;s side three months ago now. Afterward as the gentry pass outside first, Uriel catches up with Ursula and wonders if they might not start up seeing each other again... Oh no she is so not interested. [Ed.'s disappointment that they won't move to Upton and become undertakers and have children named Uriah, Uma and Umberto - oops sorry, back to the not so sad tribute to Grita.] Justo tells Santiago they will have a simple meal back at the house not to celebrate but to remember her, and heck they have to eat anyway. Santi says let me know and goes off rather detached. Jimena makes up for it by being very enthused about being at the gathering.

Speaking of meals and not celebrating, La Font whines again at Jorge that they need to have a dinner together so the families don't become enemies. Jorge returns this petulance with an okay so let's do it next week and Sofia will deal with it.

At the Justo table, the forbidden subject of Cami continually comes up. Vasco opines that Camila must be really lonely and they would all like to see her. Jemena is enthused and Justo looks like he is about to lose control even though the new Lord of the Manor is at the table with little Paco breaking through the most times with the voice of truth and reason like, well, where is uncle Rick, when is Camila coming back, aren't they both coming back when the baby comes??? Yeah, that's what we all want to know. Justo dashes everyone's hopes, Ric is far, far away and no he is never coming back. Inez finally helps quiet the child's quest for truth and Santiago is left looking pensive.

After that happy meal, Santiago comes back to the palace to face a weepy Ursula who is sure his family is so grief stricken about losing Rita and she knows everyone still blames her. Santi says no she's imagining things. But her mother won't speak to her. Santi grandly states that this was an instrument of God, we are all in his hands. She actually looks a bit relieved.

Back at Boufy's house, La Font is answering Lis's query about a date set for the dinner, Next week? Does that mean that Sofia is forgiving me and that she will now accept me? He sloughs it off and wants to talk about going to bed to pleasure him, like now. And he wants her to stop acting like a dead body in bed, to enjoy herself in pleasuring him {Ed. Oh please don't make me write more of this again this hour]. She doesn't want to feel like a whore, like acting like he was a pleasure is something only a whore could do well?? He leaves the room telling her to remember she is his wife and has to do what he says and she is to change her style by tonight. Ick!

La Font next walks into his daughter Manuela's room to cheer her life with the news that next week will be an important dinner with the Mancera's and she is to wear her very finest and the pearl choker he chucks on the bed near her. Now the other shoe drops as he mentions that Santi is a widower who needs a new wife and he means this to be her. Manuela looks shocked as he says yes, I want to be related by marriage (emparentar) to the Manceras, Visions of dynasties dancing in his head he slams the door behind him leaving Manuela to sink to her knees in prayer as she wails at her nanny that she now has to marry Santi.

Spotlight moment back to Ric and Mario who still argue whether Ric will stay in bed to heal or they will go to San Fernando tomorrow... Ric always gets the last word.

Back to the palace, Master Fukuda tells Santi that his work is done. Santi's limp is almost cured and that organisms must heal themselves at some point, he has done all he can. Santi is actually pleased about something, he has little pain and not much limp. Fukuda leaves with sayonaras and its been an honor and a pleasure to help Santi. After he leaves Santi tells Jorge he knows this treatment cost a fortune and feels sorry, Jorge dismisses the sacrifice, he wants to give things to his son. In fact Santi has been so helpful working on projects the books, etc. that Jorge says it is time to give him a monthly stipend (mesera) to cover all his expenses to maintain his mother, Justo, and all and Santi has earned it by his constant work. Here sign here, (what did Santi sign without reading first? Readers and recappers want to know.)

Then with a sideways look, Jorge adds that he is sorry Santi lost his wife (apparently doesn't even remember Rita's name after 3 months) however Santi needs a new life, er wife sooner or later and you need a male heir. Jorge has warmed up to Santi a lot and tells him he is glad he has come to live there. He believes Santi is an honorable Mancera. Santi answers, I'm grateful, sir.

The ship sail through the exotic pirate music and a cranky Ric is suffering the doctor to poke at him while he observes that the sword wound is a bit inflamed again. Mario hands a flask to the doctor after he takes a swig, the doc takes a second swig and the rest gets poured on Ric's wound. He starts to yell then warns Mario not to say anything.

The state dinner is underway with the La Fonts and the Manceras all in their finest trying not to act like the savages they all are under the silks. Santi is opining with his new lordly manners that the tax money they have brought in isn't being used to help the less fortunate and there are no building of roads, hospitals, schools, or improvements for the village. What are you proposing poses Jorge. La Font jumps to Santi's side and thinks his ideas are good, already practicing being a father-in-law. Someone switches subjects, I think Fortunada plays the Paco role and innocently asks how Camila is doing. Even Sofia joins in that she has suffered so much. Fran plays the ugly coin and opines that Camila always had the sole of a whore (furcia). Sanit rises from his seat at this one and demands she stop. Lis acts disappointed that it doesn't turn into a Camila roast (with real logs and flames). Manuela gets the last word in that Camila should only be judged by God. Santi is mollified, but barely.

Back in Lis' room, Lis fusses that now Sofia hates her and Fran acknowledges that calling Camila a whore isn't going to be acceptable at casa Mancera ever again.

La Font again orders Manuela to visit Ursula or whomever but get herself over to the Mancera house every day and to make sure she gets close to Santi as often as she can.

Justo lies to Camila again when she asks if there hasn't been a letter or anything from Ric. Justo lies that Ric has tricked her and isn't coming back and she should just resign herself to this reality. She screams that she will not resign herself to not seeing him again. Shortly after Santi opines that Ric is headed for the gallows. Ric is called a delinquent and an assassin. Justo who usually looks like Burt Lahr as the cowardly Lion these days feels bad that Camila is being treated as a prisoner. Having shifted roles day by day, now Santiago puffs his chest and says she will be fine when she has the baby and comes back ... to be controlled by him?

The baby is on La Font's mind too, but he has dastardly plans. We find out from the spy-midwife that Camila is seven month pregnant. We also find out that La Font is willing to pay a lot of money to make that Camila come through the birthing process DEAD on arrival. [Ed note, Thanks astute readers for showing me the error] The spymiddy smirks that first time mothers (primerizas) have a lot of trouble so it won't be hard to fake. La Font reminds her that failure to do it will result in her death! but lots of money will be her reward when it is all done. It will be as you wish she says as she clutches the first payment.

Back at Lis' cloak and dagger room, she first wants to know what La Font is doing with the midwife but is making counter espionage plans with Clothilde to steal the child. She explains that his child is her cousins and therefore is important to her, he/she carries her blood. (make that cold blood) and therefore, she deserves to have it. Clothilde licks her lips at all the money she is going to make and assures her that it can be done. Shortly after Fran freaks at Lis' audacious plan. Lis wants to know what she is afraid of and Fran says let me count the ways: your husband for one (scary dude honey), then if Ric comes back from the dead he will be full of devils and will kill them. Lis says I would do this myself but you might have noticed, I am blind, Fran you have to go to get this baby for me. Lis' plan is simple that she can seduce La Font by being really pleasing so she will have him eating out of her hand soon.

Mario tries to get Ric to stop at an inn a half day away from SanFran but Rick wants to push on no matter how bad his pain. The horses and a carriage stop outside the village. Ric is inside the carriage looking pained but sends Mario and Pablo on ahead on horseback to scope out the house and open it up. Mario lithely hops the wall and uses a key to open the door.

On the other side of a different door a knocking reveals Lis in a drop dead gorgeous beaded dressing gown (no chenille or curlers here) She slides in to an astonished La Font smiles and knowing her man, has him stammering and offering her a glass of wine she kisses him and very furcia like she looks like she is really turned on by him. His idea of foreplay is to poke her with her own cane and tug at her robe tie saying get naked (desnudar) get really naked I want to see every part of your body. She smiles and complies until she is left wearing only her ornate pearl necklace.

Back to casa Ric, the carriage arrives. Ric is helped in the horses and carriage are ordered to be hidden in the stable, the luggage taken inside and everyone else is to hide. The doctor orders boiled water and starts treatment while Mario gives a half hearted but futile argument that Ric can't even lift a sword but Ric is grim and determined.

Fran and Clothilde order the driver of the coach to head to Garbancilla early the next morning, guess we know that Lis won that argument. Shortly later Ric appears in his favorite old monk robes like old times.He and Pablo leave but Ric tells Mario to get the other men and get out of the house since if he is discovered, the guards will surely come immediately to his old house ot look for more pirates. Pablo and Ric walk right past Vasco in his wagon and later some curious looking guards but then Ric is doing his grim reaper look with the hood pulled way forward. Rick leaves Pablo to scope out the town and walks into Justo's garden. Justo jumps when he realizes it is Ric. He stays hard hearted and surly telling Ric that Camla realized the error of her ways and that he was manipulating her so she fled to a convent, oh yeah in the capital. Ric vows that he loves Cami, his daughter more than anything else. She doesn't want to know anything about you. Ric doesn't believe him but Justo plays his trump card of threatening to call the guards. Ric disappears but gets to the center and finds out from Pablo that Jemena is working at the inn/restaurant but Pablo hasnt' spoken to her. Ric approaches her and when she realizes who is under the hood, he warns her not to scream but to get to the church so they can talk. He gets to the church first and prays that he knows that he is a sinner but asks for God's pity. You know my soul. Let me see her and talk to her.

Out in Garbancilla, a very pregnant Camila tries to walk casually by the guard saying she just want to go to mass. He says she can't and he won't even take her. She has to wait for Santi or Justo, he isn't authorized to let her leave for any reason. She tries getting pst him but he restrains her and pushes, she falls clutching her belly in pain. The guard screams that he didnt' mean to hurt her as the maid comes in the room to help the writhing Camila. Oops, looks like labor may have stiarted as we end for this week of huge events.

Next Monday: Santi has really assumed his Lordly duties and with relish is ordering the guards hunt down the pirates like mad dogs...

Labels: Pasion