Caray, Caray!

Episode 88:

When we last left our heroes, Inés and Ofi discuss Santi’s new Godson. Inés wants details and mom says Santi didn’t tell her much, other than it was a request from Jorge. Talk turns to how every time Ofi thinks of Santi hanging with Jorge she gets a knot in her stomach. They discuss Santi’s wish to marry Cami. Inés knows that Cami still loves Ric, but Ofi comments that he hasn’t shown, and Santi loves her. There’s also the little matter of GRita’s last wish. Inés decides not to comment on what she knows and talk turns to talk about married life with Vasco. Inés mentions that he’s all grown up and finally loves her. She wants to give him a baby, a girl to complete the set with Paco. Ofi says: “As long as it’s strong and healthy.” They now muse how sad it must have been for Cami to have hers die.

Fran berates Lis who claims she used Salamanca ‘cause it’s her last name. Fran says “yeah right, you also wanted to name him Ricardo.” Lis admits it was over Ric and wonders if Santi can intervene for her. Fran reminds her that it’s Al’s house, so she better find somewhere to stash lil’ Pedro. Lis says she’ll think of something.

Back at Puerto Paraíso, Ric, Mario, and Pablo hit the local pub. The innkeeper is terrified and bows as they order food and rum. Ric has no appetite. It’s not just the fighting and Cami’s leaving, it’s the death of his son. He tells them about Santi moving Cami and how it triggered early labor. Mario says in solidarity that he’ll kill Santi the next time he sees him.

On with the new: Over on the merchant ship, Sofi tells Cami she’s been afraid to sleep and when she does, she has nightmares after all the cruelty and barbarities of the day before. She asks Cami what’s Ric’s take and she tells Sofi that Ric wants to retire ‘cause he’s sick of it all. Sofi asks Cami if she still loves him. She says yes and Sofi mentions that it’s obvious Ric adores her. Whoresula takes a walk and spies a military chap drinking wine. Since Foreman’s not around, Ursu goes and visits. He says he’s Captain Enrique Cordoba Leon. He says he’s off to the San Benito barracks, near Veracruz. Ursu wants to know why he’s not on a military boat, and he explains there wasn’t one to put at his disposal. Ursu mentions that Veracruz isn’t too far from SF. He gives her every pick up line and finishes by handing her a seashell to “hear the ocean.” Sofi watches from the deck above and tells Cami that Ursula is always looking for a little “something something.” She got it from her dad.

Back at the not-so-Paraíso-like port, Ric goes back to the castle to see Foreman. On the way, we see a couple of soldiers being tormented by the pirates. Foreman decides to split up the loot right there and tells Ric they got much money from the treasures and ransoms. He asks Ric about his plans and he talks about retiring. Foreman asks Ric if he plans to get Gaspar to help him get a pardon. He muses that the Spanish crown won’t give something for nothing and asks Ric if he’s going to turn around and hunt them like pigs ‘cause he’d hate to see Ric on the opposite team. Ric tells him that he’d rather not fight on either side and that he has no plans to hurt Foreman ‘cause for better or worse, they’ve been his comrades. He asks if Foreman’s continuing and he replies he’s retiring as well, to a plantation he bought in New Orleans. Ric sees this as an opportunity to ask for one last favor. He wants the ledgers Foreman kept from the loot he bought from Al and Jorge. Foreman asks what for and Ric says: “You don’t need them anymore, but they could give me my liberty.” They shake on it. We all cheer at the thought of Ric getting his good name back!

In the brig of the merchant ship, Henry (Enrique) brags to Ursu that he’s going to be the commandant of the San Benito Barracks. They’re part fort, part prison. Ursu actually looks concerned about the treatment of the prisoners and asks if he flogs them. He says “when necessary.” False alarm, Ursu wasn’t worried, she was turned on. She tells him that she likes men with power and they kiss. Methinks her romance with Foreman might be in a little jeopardy.

Back at the Paraíso pub, team Ric discusses how there’s a Spanish fleet coming, so they have to leave soon through the same route they came. They got a very nice share of the booty. As Pablo makes out with a local wench, Mario comments that they’ll have to be careful ‘cause the local critters can be deadlier than the Spaniards. Alas, there’s no choice, as Foreman wants the captains to re-convene in the Coralina. Mario thinks it’s silly, but there’s some dispute with the Dutch over ransoms and there’s lots of red tape with the brotherhood. Mario will take the loot on the Salamandra back to the Iguana. Ric and Pablo will take the Camila to Foreman’s Kaffeklatch and pick up LP and the foundling. The armada will probably be chasing them, so splitting up is probably better anyway. Mario doesn’t like leaving Ric alone (What’s Pablo? Chopped Liver?), but Ric says they’ve done it before. He now confides that Cami heard the baby cry before she passed out. When she finally woke up two weeks later, they told her he died. Pablo immediately assumes they lied and Mario comments that if they hid her to hide the pregnancy, they very well could have given the baby away and told her it died. Pablo suggests they investigate. Ric says he didn’t say this to Cami so she wouldn’t get her hopes up.

Over at Chez Boufy, Lis goes to try to talk Al out of evicting her Godson. Al says no dice and Lis comes closer saying “please.” Her hand touches the gun and she asks what that’s all about. He ignores her and walks out of the room. A servant tells Al that Uriel and Mateo are waiting for him. Lis makes one final attempt and Al tells her that tomorrow, the maid and the kid will be gone. Lis is left very confused. Team Boufy rides off to meet with the rest of their posse. Looking from the window, Fran tells Lis that they look like a bunch of “facinerosos” (criminals) on their way to something. Lis wonders where, and at this hour?

Nothing good apparently! Team Boufy gets their hindies beaten as the troops are numerous and both Uriel and Mateo are wounded. Al fights pretty well for a guy with low depth perception. He runs into Uriel who asks for help. Al helps him by stabbing him in the chest. With friends like that...A soldier runs an axe through the back of Al’s leg and he drops to the floor screaming to his posse to turn back ‘cause it’s an ambush. Some of his men carry him off. And so the payback begins...

Post battle scene. There’s a new sheriff, I mean commanding officer, in town. He instructs his men to pick up their own. As for the others, take the living prisoner and bury the dead. Keep those in nice clothes separate. Looks like this one may actually have a clue...

Al gets home and a servant is sent to fetch the doctor while Al insults the rest as they get him inside. From their rooms, Fran and Mani poke their heads out and Al yells at them to get back inside. In their room, Lis asks Fran if Al’s wound is life threatening. Fran has no clue, and wonders how a man with a full escort keeps getting attacked by bandits. Lis says he must be up to something bad, like robbery or murder. Fran hopes not, but Lis hopes yes! She smiles musing he might not survive this one. The doc examines Al and explains that the cut hit a nerve and the tourniquet was too tight, cutting off all circulation. His only chance of survival is to amputate the leg, lest he develop gangrene. Can you spell irony? Al doesn’t want to lose another body part. Mani pleads that he do as the doctor says, but Al tells the doctor to do anything to keep the leg, or he’ll kill him. Doctor looks worried. Cloti fills in Fran and Lis on the happenings. We hear Al’s screams from his room and Lis placidly wonders if he’s dead.

Over at Chez Santi, Justo comments to Ofi how they haven’t chatted in a while, and so much has happened. Rita’s sudden death, Santi’s change, and Cami’s tragedy. He feels responsible and that he should have endured the shame and allowed her to stay so Ofi could have taken care of her and the child could have lived. Ofi says it must have been the will of God and Justo says he’s heard it before and tried to convince himself of it. But even though Cami forgave him, every time he looks at her he sees the pain and the reproach in her eyes. Ofi reminds him that Cami’s young and healthy and can have more children. He asks if Santi’s still set on trying to marry her. Ofi says yes, but doubts she’ll take him. Justo agrees, and Ofi feels sad because she knows her son will be miserable for the rest of his life.

Mani tells her Nana that Boufy will only become more violent with this new injury. She wants to talk to Ascanio and convince him to run away with her. Nana warns her that Boufy will just send the guards after them and Ascanio and possibly she will end up dead. She also comments that people will say that she abandoned her dad when he needed her most. Mani says she can’t live afraid anymore. She’s tired of getting beaten and wants to be loved and start a family and have kids. Nana makes her promise that she’ll wait to talk to Ascanio until Sofi’s back and sees what she can do for them.

Over in San Benito (SB), the HMG (Head Military Guy) talks to his men about how Uriel and Mateo are dressed like rich men. He asks what the nearest towns are and a soldier tells him SF, Ciudad Valle, and Salvatierra. Since he’s new to the region, HMG wants info on the mayors, regents, and military chiefs in those towns. The soldier tells him he’ll send some men to get that info and to find out where the dead and wounded come from.

Outside his palace, Jorge tells Santi he’s glad he wants to plan for the future, but not to get too impatient. Marcelino runs up to Jorge and tells him about Boufy’s predicament. Santi offers to come, but Jorge wants to go alone. Ascanio comes over and Santi asks if he’s heard. Ascanio says “yes, and they assaulted another caravan last night and many were killed or wounded.” Santi asks if he thinks that’s how Al got injured.

Back at Chez Boufy, Fran tells Jorge that Al’s asleep ‘cause the doctor gave him laudanum for the pain. Jorge wants details and Mani says they know nothing. Lis wants to throw some salt on the wounds and tells Jorge that Al left with Uriel, Mateo, and some other men. Jorge asks about Uriel and Mateo and Mani says they’re not the ones that brought him and they haven’t heard about them. Lis mentions that Al was packing. Jorge tells them to say nothing lest the people gossip about them doing something improper. Lis feigns innocence asking why and Jorge says to trust him. Lis wonders out loud (for Lis and Fran’s benefit) what Jorge could have meant by “improper.”

Over at City Hall, Ascanio shows Santi the fake documents. The seals look right enough, but the calligraphy is different. Santi says they could have been different staff people and Ascanio points out it’s all Marcelino’s handwriting. Santi asks if it’s for contraband and Ascanio says “what else?” He then tells him how Ric was looking into who was attacking the caravans and knew about the contraband and even asked Ascanio for help. Santi thinks it’s BS that Ric used to get Cami to trust him and that he was probably in on it. Ascanio says think what you want, but here’s the paperwork. Santi says this could implicate Jorge and Ascanio reminds him that he warned Santi he might not like what Ascanio found.

Jorge stomps through town murmuring what an idiot Al was. He looks for Uriel at the store and asks an employee to look for Uriel and Mateo. At the palace, Santi confronts Jorge about the doctored docs. Jorge says he suspected something was up and says everyone steals. He’s saved by a messenger telling him that Domingo, from the store, is here. Santi’s annoyed at the interruption, but shuts up when the Domingo tells Jorge that he looked for the guys everywhere, even the brothel. Santi wants an explanation and Jorge covers himself saying it was probably the other three. Santi asks if he knew and he swears he didn’t. Santi asks if Ric was their contact and Jorge says maybe. Santi likes the possibility of finding some mud to throw at Ric.

The traveling ladies are back on dry land and take a break on the road. Romualdo has materialized by their side. Sofi comments to Cami that she looks much better now. Cami smiles at finding Ric in the middle of the mess. Sofi says she’s glad Cami didn’t take off on her own and asks Cami if Ric’s really quitting. Cami tells her that he’d wanted to quit for a while, but he had to make a deal with Foreman and that piracy was a brotherhood where you were expected to keep your promises. Cami asks Sofi not to tell anyone they saw Ric. Sofi comments she must be dreaming of angels if she thinks they’ll be able to get Ursu to keep her mouth shut. Ursu runs up at this point and asks Cami if she’s sure Ric will come back for her. Cami’s positive he will. If Cami’s smart, she’ll get Ursu to stay quiet about Ric, lest Foreman comes with him for Ursu... Romualdo can probably be persuaded on the whole issue of Ric and Mario saving his life.

At the palace, Jorge wants Santi to cool his jets until they give Al and co. a chance to defend themselves. Ditto for Marcelino. Santi thinks Jorge wants to do nothing and Jorge tries to argue this sort of scandal could bring down the regency deal. Santi wants justice and insists the guilty must be accused and punished. Jorge reminds him that he’s still in charge and things will happen when he’s good and ready. He tells Santi to wait ‘till he’s spoken with Al and Marcelino and to get Ascanio to do the same. Santi looks unhappy.

Jorge confronts Marcelino about letting Ascanio find the forgeries. He should have at least disguised the calligraphy. He tells him to find all the fake docs and destroy them.

Back at SB, Henry arrives and tells the guard that he’s the new guy in charge. The soldier tells him that Colonel Jose María de Valencia is in charge. Henry hands him his credentials and tells him he was sent from Spain to take over.

Marcelino goes to Ascanio’s office and asks for the docs he’s been looking at ‘cause there were some mistakes and he needs to send them to Veracruz. Ascanio hands him a stack, but he keeps another stack, which he hides in his vest. Marcelino leaves and Santi walks in asking Ascanio not to tell anyone about the docs. Ascanio asks why, and Santi says please, don’t say anything for now.

The Colonel tells Henry that his papers are in order, but they’re from two months ago, and he was just transferred from México City to take charge. Henry tries a pissing contest by telling him his dad’s a general and his uncle’s a judge and his orders come from Madrid. Colonel tells him his orders are different and anyway he outranks him, regardless of lineage. That puts him in his place. Colonel instructs the lieutenant to assign Henry a bunk and tells him his duties will be the usual: inspecting a troop and patrolling. He dismisses Henry, then tells the remaining soldier he’s sick of guys from the peninsula (I’m guessing the Iberian one – Spain and Portugal) trying to use their family influence to get their way thinking they’re better than “us” (I’m guessing Mexican-born soldiers). Soldier tells him he seems to have gotten the message. Anyway, they found some locals that can identify the dead guys.

Lis plays with Pedrito and tells him they’ll run away at the first chance they get to Italy or France. She can’t appreciate the sites, but he can. She wants him to grow up with nicer, more refined people. Fran busts the party telling her it’s imprudent to have him there still. Lis says it’s no big deal ‘cause Al’s unconscious. Even if he wakes, they can hear him screaming ‘cause he can’t get out of bed on his own. She feels his death would solve all their problems. Fortunata arrives to check on Al. She comments how Pedrito looks like and angel and Lis says he IS an angel. Fortu comments how devastating the eye and leg thing must be for Al and how upsetting it is that people can’t go anywhere without fear of being assaulted.

Ric spies two Spanish boats coming their way. Pablo suggests running, but Ric says it won’t work ‘cause they’ve got the wind in their favor. He instructs the guys to ready the canons and prepare for battle. They are hit and Ric sends Pablo to check on the gunpowder. Pablo tells him the fire’s reached the gunpowder; they’ll sink or crash. Ric tells them to abandon ship. Pablo and some others try to stay, but Ric orders them to leave. If we didn’t still have a week to go, I’d venture to guess our hero’s a goner. I can see an image of him landing on an island, wet and shirtless, lying down in exhaustion...where was I? Oh yeah, end of episode. What a cliffhanger!!!!

On deck for tomorrow:

The Colonel’s at Jorge’s office. Jorge makes up a story of Uriel and Mateo probably looking for some women and getting caught in the middle of the battle. He asks to get Uriel’s body for his family and Mateo so he can get medical attention. Colonel says they’ll release Uriel’s body, but Mateo’s staying put. He can send the doctor over if he wants. Santi looks on as Jorge tries to get out of this one.

Labels: Pasion

Permalink posted by Margarita Chilaquiles @ 3:08 AM