Caray, Caray!

One of Lafont's guys catches Clothilde nibbling on pumpkin seeds outside Lafont's door as the Colonel questions him about the amazing coincidences that have occurred. She she claims she was on her way to Lis's room. (I hope a little anvil has been set aside for this woman.)

Lafont tells the Colonel that life is made out of coincidences. He changes the subject to the highway robberies. He says there's a guy who came to town, a pirate using a false name, who is embarrassingly related to Lafont's own wife. The Colonel looks thoughtful and mutters to himself there's a black sheep in every family. Lafont says the man was educated, likable, and made friends with both Uriel and Mateo. He speculates that perhaps he got them to do "that." The Colonel looks a bit skeptical. Lafont reaches for his medicine bottle.

Meanwhile, out in Garbancillo, Ines, Vasco, and Camila approach the midwife's place. Vasco warns Cami to be ready for the possibility that her baby really is dead.

Ric gets there first in his borrowed clothes. Camila & co. arrive just as he is kicking the door down. After a hello kiss, he tells her he escaped. He doesn't have time to give details, however. A neighbor comes by, and they ask what happened to the midwife Auxiliadora. The neighbor says she left several months ago, supposedly she received money from some relatives (heh, yes, relatives of Ric's, LOL) and planned to go to Cuatepec in Veracruz.

Ric asks if she had any visitors - not the usual, but someone of another class - someone from out of town. She doesn't remember anyone like that, but she does remember this poor girl named Conchita who always came around crying that Auxiliadora had stolen her child.

The neighbor seems nervous when she sees Ric and Camila exchange stunned looks!

The Colonel goes back to San Benito, grumbling over the way those townsfolk all stick together. He thinks Jorge's wife lied to him, too, about not being Puerto Paraiso during the pirate raid. He wonders if Salamanca was involved. Then the Captain, Ursula's previous conquest, comes in with the bad news that their favorite prisoner has escaped, and he stole one of their uniforms and a gun. They've sent out patrols to look for him.

The Colonel seems kinda mad. The Captain's great excuse is that he was in his office and didn't know until later. The Colonel muses unhappily that their fugitive will have had time to change his clothes by now.

In San Fernando, Justo and Sofia meet in town for tea. She tells him she's not doing so well - first there's Jorge's mysterious dizzy spell and goofy pulse. And then there's and Uriel and Mateo's deaths - and some whispering that they were involved in the caravan assaults. She fears her husband was involved as well, and surely Lafont. Justo starts to tell her that he was unhappy with the way Ricardo tricked them. Sofia interrupts and says she's sure he's a good person. Justo continues and says that Ric once told him that he actually came to SF to investigate the caravan attacks - on behalf of someone "very important." He didn't have proof, but he was sure that Jorge and Lafont were the ones who organized the thefts. "Would you believe me if I said that doesn't seem so strange to me?" Sofia replies. They both sigh.

Clothilde is briefing Lis and Fran on her spy mission; she admits she got caught. She says Lafont told the Colonel that he did NOT go out with Uriel and Mateo, because he went out to see a woman. Lis chuckles at this. Clothilde says the Colonel remarked on how odd it was that his other two friends went out to attack the caravans - Fran seems shocked by this - and those two ended up dead and Lafont injured the same night. That's when she got caught and she didn't hear any more. She asks them not to fire her. Lis assures her and sends her out of the room.

Fran tells Lis this means she's married a thief who's at least as bad, if not worse than, her cousin, because she saw him go off with his friends. Lis thinks this puts her at an advantage so he can't boss her around, humiliate her, or kick Pedro out.

Blackmail, Lis? Really? You think you're going to blackmail Alberto Lafont? You don't think it's more likely that he'll bludgeon you with his peg leg? Because I think you'll be dead before the next commercial if you try to beat this guy at his own game. Please do it anyway, though.

Fran agrees with me - in fact she thinks he'll probably kill both of them, plus the baby. Lis looks thoughtful, but I think she's just listening to the "on-hold music" that plays in her brain when someone's saying something she doesn't want to hear.

Ric, Camila, Ines, and Vasco go to find Conchita. Camila introduces herself. Conchita doesn't remember much about Camila from that night, but she remembers Ric. She tells them that Auxi treated her well at first, helped her and fed her so she'd make good milk for her baby, but then she told her that the baby belonged to the other woman. (More impactados looks between Ric and Camila.) Auxi had given her the baby because she thought the other woman would die, but she didn't die, so they had to give the baby back.

"But I know it was mine, and she took it away!" she cries. She begs Camila to give it back to her. Camila says she doesn't have it. Ric asks if she'd recognize it if she saw it again. Conchita says of course she would - she nursed and bathed him for two months! Cami asks if there are any birthmarks, etc. but Conchita says no. Jimena asks if she has any family. Conchita says her father kicked her out when she got pregnant, and she's been living in this guy's barn.

At the palacio after the funerals for Uriel and/or Mateo, softhearted Fortunata is telling Ursula and Sofia that she doesn't believe that Mateo and Uriel were robbers. Ursula, who is now an expert in such matters, says why not - pirates aren't the only ones who steal.

Sofia finds Jorge gloomily contemplating the chessboard in his study. She tells him people noticed, and murmured about, his absence at the burial. She advises him to try to right some of his wrongs. He denies doing anything and asks if she thinks he was mixed up with "them." She asks about Lafont. He plays innocent about this too. She reminds him of what he did to Justo and his family and other people. She thinks it's time that he address some of these things so that God will take them into account when Jorge is finally called away. He just gives her a sulky look. She gets up and leaves. "By the grace of God," he tells himself.

The Lost Baby Brigade goes to Safehouse #1, where they are greeted by Bartolome, the Sunday-morning-wine-sippin' caretaker. He's quite impactado to see them, but invites them in. He tells them that his wife, Juliana, took off on him. Camila asks if she went with her aunt, Auxiliadora. "How would I know?" Bart answers in disgust. He doesn't know anything about their having any relatives in Cuatepec. Ric gives Bart a sweet little bag of coins and tells him there's plenty more where that came from if he can find out where Auxi and Juliana are. Bart smiles with newfound interest in his wife's whereabouts.

Outside the safehouse, Jimena is telling Conchita that no, Camila didn't get the baby as Conchita had been told. Conchita wants to know why they're so interested in finding her baby. Jimena says Camila is also looking for her own. Conchita is still confused!

Jorge visits Santi and the twins at the forge, or should I say "Faroles 'Я' Nosotros" since there are lanterns everywhere. Santi sends the twins on an errand for privacy. Jorge says he had some sickness that sent him nearly to his grave. (Santiago doesn't go for the bait.) Jorge says he needs Santi's advice. He says he supposes Santi knows that Mateo and Uriel are dead, and there are lots of rumors. "Yes," Santi replies curtly. Now that the mercantile concession is again ownerless, he's thinking of giving it back to Justo. "What do you think?"

"You're the señor of SF, you can do whatever you please." Santi begins packing lanterns away as Jorge says he's tired and needs someone to talk to. He says the that the other day, when he went to San Benito, Ines and Vasco were there, and they said they were there to see a relative. Santi says they were surely going to see Ricardo - he's imprisoned there. Jorge is surprised. He was there to identify Mateo and Uriel, and no one mentioned Ricardo being there. Santi gives him the stink-eye and continues packing lanterns.

Ursula is washing up when Jorge comes up for a chat. (I swear her hairdo is even hornier than it was last week.) He asks if she's heard the gossip. She says yes, she's heard that U and M were behind the carjackings. Jorge says that there's also some speculation that he was involved too. She snickers and asks if he was. He tells her this is serious and that he needs her help. She is skeptical, but intrigued. He says Colonel Valencia is coming over; he wants her to chat him up and find out what's on his mind. Like does he suspect Jorge, Lafont... whatever she can find out.

All she wants to know is whether he's married. He doesn't know. "Ask him," Jorge suggests. She laughs and fans herself in anticipation.

Santi, now washed up (as in clean, not past his prime), is at church, explaining his confusion to the padre. He doesn't want to turn his father in, but on the other hand he doesn't want to participate in a cover-up either. The padre reminds him of the story of the good shepherd who leaves his flock behind to look for one lost lamb. (I actually had to look up this Bible story to confirm that I had translated this right - it seems like a good way to lose 99 loyal sheep - but I get the point - hopefully Jorge will be willing to sacrifice something to win Santiago back.) The padre says this could be Santiago's chance. Santi doubts that Jorge will give in - he doesn't want to admit his sins. The padre points out that Jorge's willing to give the store back to Justo when he could have sold it. Santi doesn't feel that's enough. The padre tells him not to judge (TATTOO THAT SOMEPLACE, SANTI!!), just help. Honor his parents and be patient and don't dismiss Jorge's offer.

The doctor and the prosthetic specialist, i.e. peg guy, are fitting Lafont's new leg. One of them is saying it's too soon, but Lafont - even between growls of intense pain - says he'll support his weight on crutches. He is told that the damaged tissues could swell dangerously, but he demands that they continue. He tries to stand on it, and immediately flops back on the bed howling in intense pain. "I told you it was too soon," the doctor protests weakly. Lafont screams for his laudanum. The doctor tells him again that the stump needs to be completely healed first.

Jorge shows up at this opportune moment. (Lafont is now hastily ordering them to remove the peg.) My screen's small, I'm not near it and my eyes are watering with a bad cold, but I'm pretty sure I see a hint of a smirk on Jorge's face. The doctor and the peg guy excuse themselves.

Jorge tells Lafont that he just found out Ric's at San Benito. He finds it odd that the Colonel didn't mention it when they were talking about Ric. Lafont thinks Ric gave another false name, so the Colonel wouldn't even know who he had on his hands. Anyway, Ric's got no proof against him and Jorge. Jorge reminds him that Santi and Ascanio know the truth about them, at least with respect to the contraband goods, but he thinks he can handle Santi; he reminds Lafont of what he has to do about Ascanio. Jorge leaves. Lafont takes another sip of his delicious, delicious laudanum. He moans woozily as the stuff kicks in.

Manuela is doing some kind of needlepoint of lovebirds, or peace doves, or something, when her nana comes in to tell her that her dad wants to see her. He tells her she's going to marry that jackass she likes so much. "Ascanio?" she asks, I guess to distinguish him from all the other jackasses she likes. "But don't think I'm going to give him a dowry or anything," he adds. She doesn't care. He tells her to send him a message to come see him.

Out on the dusty trail, Camila is asking Ric how he thinks he's going to find Auxiliadora without an address or anything. He says he'll ask just around for a midwife named Auxiliadora - he thinks she'll continue her profession. He has to figure this out, because the baby Lis has now might not be theirs - it might be Conchita's. Theirs could be dead. Camila says she understands, but she's afraid for him.

Ric says he understands, but Mario will be bringing the proof (about the caravan attacks and/or the contraband... I've lost track) he needs to the Colonel in a few days. As for his true identity, he's sure they already know who he really is, but their baby is more important.

Cami says she's more and more sure all the time that her baby was born alive, but why did she tell her it died? Did it maybe die later on? Ric says he'll find out, and she should go back to SF, don't do anything foolish, and don't let Lis suspect anything. He says Vasco gave him some money. He tells her he loves her with all his heart, and he'll do the impossible to return to her.

Manuela is off on her mission, followed by her nana, who nervously protests that Lafont told her to SEND a message, not deliver it personally!

Jorge is already up in Ascanio's office - he is aghast that Ascanio is turning down the offer of Marcelino's job, which will mean more money, the woman of his dreams, and a higher position in the community. "You know why," Ascanio tells him. Jorge is about to explain to him how the world really works, when a knock on the door spares us all from another cynical speech. It's Manuela. Jorge warns Ascanio to think it over carefully - it would mean his fortune, or his downfall.

He greets Manuela with "Convince this moron, because either he marries you, or he dies." Then he stomps out. Impactada, Manuela falls into Ascanio's arms.

Ric, Camila, Vasco, etc. come to a fork in the road. Ric says it's time for them to split up. Vasco offers to go along. Ric turns him down. Jimena wishes Ric luck and adds a word for Mario. One big quick kiss from Camila, and Ric rides away.

"Do you have any idea how many dangers Ricardo has confronted?" Vasco asks the women. "No, but many, I'm sure," Camila answers. "Then have faith," Vasco tells her.

Ascanio tries to explain himself to Manuela. He wants to marry her, but the reason her father's allowing it is because Jorge and her father organized the caravan attacks, plus Ascanio has proof of their participation in the sale of contraband merchandise. They're letting him marry her to buy his silence. He has special loyalty to Camila, and if he turns those documents over to the authorities, Ric can be pardoned for his crimes, clear his name, and marry Camila legally. "And my father goes to the gallows," Manuela concludes. "Do what your heart tells you, but don't forget that I love you," she says. "I love you too. Kiss kiss hug]. (Snif!)

Santi is whining to his mom that he's sick of everyone telling him to follow his conscience. Which conscience - the one of his religion, or the one of his blood? He's going to be his father's own executioner? He demands Ofelia's opinion.

She says that if he turns him in, he'll be complying with the laws of God and of man, but he'll never forget that he sent his father to the noose. And if he doesn't, he'll feel like a crooked, miserable sinner. He asks her which is worse.

She asks what the padre said; she agrees about the good shepherd story and giving Jorge the chance to make it right.

Half a blink later, he and Ascanio are at a pub, and Ascanio is scoffing at the notion of giving Jorge a chance. He thinks it means Ric will get busted. Santi says he doesn't care about that pirate. "Fine, we won't talk about him - what about Camila? She's suffered more than any other woman. Doesn't she have the right to be happy?" Santi insists that Ric will never make her happy.

Ascanio tells Santi that hate has poisoned his heart, and that hate comes from jealousy. "Maybe," Santi says noncommittally, lifting his wineglass at Ascanio, who replies that even if Ric dies or disappears, Santi will never have Camila.

"I prefer to see her with that wretch" is what the captions say and what it sounds like Santi says before he stomps out of the bar, but that doesn't make any sense. Maybe he says "you'd prefer" or something.

Now Ascanio is visiting with Ofelia. He grumps that Jorge didn't bother recognizing Santi until he needed him. In order to protect him, Santi will be sacrificing innocent people. (Notice that Ascanio hasn't even mentioned Manuela to either Santi or Ofelia that we know of!)

Jimena comes home. She gives a quick (much quicker than mine) recap of their trip and says they brought back the woman who gave birth the same day and says her baby was stolen. Ofelia and Ascanio are impactados to hear of Ric's escape from San Benito.

Night falls. Manuela tells her poor old nana that she's disowning her father (wait, now that I think of it, did she say she was disowning him, or that she was turning him in? dammit, I've deleted the episode already, I thought I was done and I needed the disk space!!) - and not even because of her love for Ascanio. "But he gave you life!" Manuela says no, GOD gave her life. If it's true that people reap what they sow ("hizo lo que hizo"... "what's done is made"), then it's too bad that her father has hurt so many people and is so cruel because now he deserves to pay, no matter what ("sea quien sea"... this literally means "whoever does it" but doesn't really refer to people). Poor Agata is horrified.

Camila shows Conchita to her room. She explains that this was her sister's old bed. (Oh, the irony.) She tells her to unpack her things, and promises to find some clothes for her tomorrow. Conchita sits, but she looks very suspicious. "Why did you bring me here?"

"We both gave birth the same day, and only one baby survived. My father buried the other. Auxiliadora lied to both of us, but we don't know which is which." Conchita is pretty sure hers is the one that survived. Camila firmly says that Auxi knows, and the important thing is to find out the truth. She brought her here so that she could know the truth too. Her husband will find Auxi, who will tell them. They could have left Conchita in Garbancilla, and she never would have known. Conchita agrees that this is better. She tells Conchita to rest.

Vasco comes home and Ines pounces on him and showers him with questions, not to mention her own little self, before he can manage a word. He goes straight to bed, with her on top of him. He's too tired to talk. Or even take his clothes off, apparently... he's asleep.

Next day: Ric encounters a traffic jam on his way to Veracruz. On hearing that there's a roadblock at the border, he turns around and goes back. (One of the extras in this scene makes the most of his three seconds of fame, shrugging elaborately at his traveling companions.)

Jimena has a restaurant meal with Ascanio. Jimena says, and I agree with her, that he should marry Manuela and put the screws to Lafont later on anyway. He protests that he's her father, and it'd hurt Santiago too. She's not happy about what this means for Ric. He angrily agrees - he's between the sword and the wall. She asks him where the Documents of Doom are hidden. He says they're in his room, and to her next question, yes they all think Marcelino destroyed them. He quickly changes the subject to ask how Ric was able to escape from San Benito.

The Amazing Ric has found his way around the roadblock and is now questioning random people and women with babies about a certain midwife. (Giant parrot sighting!) One of them tells him she doesn't know Auxi, but the midwife (midhusband?) she goes to is a Don Jacinto who lives over yonder.

Conchita is telling the inhabitants at Justo's that she's sure the baby is hers. She wants to know when they can go see him. She's sure she'll recognize him right away. Camila asks Ines if she's seen Candida, but Ines hasn't, and she's not sure it's a good idea to go looking for her. (Didn't Ric tell Cami not to let on that she's suspicious of Lis?) Justo suggests going to Sofia, but first Cami wants to... er... she asks Conchita to step out for a moment so she can speak to her father alone. Ines offers to introduce her to Paco. She actually steers the poor girl out of the house with both hands!

Cami says she doesn't want anyone to know anything about this until Ricardo comes back. He's looking for the midwife. "They let him go?" "No... he escaped." Justo is impactado. She tells him they're all desperate to know the truth.

Justo says he understands, and he swears that if he had known how horribly this would all turn out, he never would have sent her away. He wouldn't have cared if people saw her [pregnant] or knew. "Forgive me," he says many times as they hug tearfully. His eye twitches.

Back in Veracruz, Ric's questioning of random persons leads him to a man who tells him that Auxiliadora goes down to the beach each morning. Ric is gone before you can say "Ron Jon Surf Shop."

In San Benito, a fancy coach rolls up. The horses are draped in purple, there are escorts carrying red flags, and the coach is covered with gold cloth. A train of red-cloaked attendants lead Don Gaspar into the offices. The Captain tells him that the Colonel is in San Fernando for a dinner date at the palacio; he won't be back till late. Gaspar says that's fine; be a pal and have them fix me up a room because I'm worn out from this trip.

Then he makes himself comfortable at the Colonel's desk while he waits. He's got a room before you can say "La Quinta"! They prepare his room, and an attendant takes off his shoes while he sits on the bed. He asks what they've found out about the caravan assaults. The Captain says all they've discovered is that there were two high-ranking friends of Jorge in San Fernando that got killed in the last raid who were probably the heads of the group.

Gaspar takes a drink from a tray and tells the Captain that if he's got bad news to give it quick, because he's not in a good mood. The Captain says he caught a group of men who he's sure are pirates, and that they were part of the group that attacked the caravans. They insist that they're commercials shippers, however. The Colonel spoke to the one who, in the Captain's opinion, is their boss - a guy who went to SF to see relatives. Gaspar plays dumb. "Oh really? Who is he?"

His face is a blank when the Captain says the man's name is Darien. Then the Captain says that one of the women was named Camila, and Gaspar practically launches himself off the bed. "Camila? Go find that man! Bring him to me!" "I'd love to, your Grace, but he's escaped." Gaspar is beside himself with anxiety. He asks for a description. The Captain answers that he's dark-haired, powerful, with a strong face - an elevated (superior?) man - and in the Captain's opinion, a pirate.

"And you didn't let him go??" Gaspar asks. The Captain is confused. Gaspar tells him to send for the Colonel immediately!

Santi tells his mother he's going to make up with Jorge. He's not going to move back into the palacio, but he's willing to be near his father. Also, he wants to make sure that Jorge follows through on his promise to give the store back to Justo.

Baby Ana cries, knowing there are only four more episodes left.

Jimena tells Ofelia she's going to clean Ascanio's room. Apparently, however, she merely wants to clean it of its dirty documents. She finds a locked drawer; when she jiggles it, a hidden folder falls out from underneath. She reminds herself regretfully that she can't read as she thumbs through the doomsday documents.

Lafont is trying on his shiny new leg once again, this time with his valet rather than that nagging peg guy and the know-it-all doctor. He quickly discovers that it doesn't feel good at all to stand on. "Help me, you idiot!" he yells at the valet. "Help you take it off?" the valet offers, reaching for the peg, but Lafont says he'd rather die. With determination fueled by insanity and an undoubtedly now-heavy laudanum habit, he tries again and makes it to the hallway, where he finds Manuela. He asks if she sent the message to Ascanio - why hasn't he come to see him. She says she doesn't know why. He tells her to tell him to do it, before he (Lafont) changes his mind. "Yes father," she says meekly. (I guess the renouncing/disowning didn't take.)

Tomorrow: Pedrito is indiscreetly reunited with his two moms!

Labels: Pasion