Caray, Caray!

We start with Vasco pleading with Camila to stay put, to not try to leave her family, as angry as she is with Justo and Santiago—there are the rest of them that love her and besides, she should stay and wait for Ric. Vasco’s certain that he will return for her. [If Cami were rational, she would probably be thinking that Vasco’s skill as a prognosticator is not all that great, re: the Letter, Bernabe, etc. Then again, she has no place to go really and she’s still weak.] She agrees to stay.

The next scene is the poignant graveyard scene. It’s clarified to her via Sofia that the reason that there was no name on the grave is because the baby couldn’t be baptized as it was stillborn. [There’s been some discussion in the comments about this and I think that was the thinking at the time, with regard to the theology, as practiced in the Catholic Church. No baptism for stillborns, (or last rights for someone dead more than an hour.) You had to have hope of the breath of life within you or no sacrament. And with no sacrament no Christian burial and no burial on holy ground. (Usually there was some place nearby reserved for infants who died this way.) It was a harsh view but as you can see by the attitude of the people toward religion in this town, it had its affect in encouraging people to live their lives within the rules, or pay a terrible price.] Everybody is in tears. Sofia starts to lead a prayer, the Anima Christi.

Sometime later, there is the dramatic meeting between Santiago and Camila, dressed in mourning. He says he’s sorry her baby died, that they were just trying to do what was right, to keep her from a life of sin with that man. Cami has none of it, she says that if they hadn’t taken her away, the baby wouldn’t have died. It is HER LIFE to decide what she wanted to do. She tries to cut him off by saying “Is that all you wanted to tell me?” Santiago says he came to ask forgiveness (even though he’s not sorry—because he continues to say he did what he thought was best—he’s just sorry it turned out causing her pain). Cami says that she wishes that he had killed her instead. Santi continues on that he has something else to tell her—Cami is like, whatever, we don’t have anything else to talk about. Santiago says that they were all waiting to tell her until she recuperated but ….Cami panics here and blurts out “DID something happen to RICARDO?” Santi says no. Rita. She died 3 months ago. After being impactada, Cami buries her hands in her face and nearly faints. Santi guides her to a chair and explains the riding accident. Cami goes into another crying and screaming frenzy and demands to know why she wasn’t told, that she had a right to know—it was her sister. Santiago can only offer excuses about her wellbeing and Cami angrily storms out of the room leaving Santiago looking deflated.
Night falls. Over in La Coralina, Ric is with Paisana, talking about his feelings. Ric says that ever since he heard that Camila was pregnant, he’s wanted even more to be at her side, helping her, watching his child grow inside her. Paisana asks when the Salamandra will be ready to go. Ric says in a few days but it’s going to seem like an eternity. He wants to be back with Camila, happy as Ricardo de Salamanca, not el Antillano the Pirate, raising their child. Paisana grasps his hands and tells him she’s sure he’ll achieve his dream, as long as he puts his head before his heart. Ric says he’ll try but it’s hard. He asks her about her and Pablo. Paisana says that little by little he’s accepting her and she thinks he will eventually. Ric says he’s happy to hear it.
Back in SF, Santiago is talking to Don Jorge in the Great room of the Mansion Mancera. [He’s learned to pour brandy from a decanter with one hand—quite the gentleman now.] He tells Jorge that Camila hates him now. Jorge says he’s sure it will pass. Santiago downs his double brandy with one glup and Jorge notes it, saying that the discussion must have been rough. Santiago says he’s tired and wants to go to bed. [He already sounds drunk—maybe he had a few before we came on the scene.] Jorge says no, he should go out—that’s the ticket when you are feeling low. Santiago protests at first but Jorge demands he go and Santiago has no resistance at this point.

And yes, Jorge’s idea of a good time for a man down in the dumps is the brothel! Next we see an even drunker Santi with a girl on his lap and Jorge on a couch with another one, with her head in his lap. Santi doesn’t seem to be having that good a time, so Jorge tells her to go with her friend and take him to a private room. The girl and her co-worker take Santi to a room and when the other girl leaves, she undresses the weakly protesting Santiago who is flopped on the bed. She gleefully insists that he has nothing to worry about (in his state) she’s capable of “raising even the dead.” She tells him to tell her what she wants.

Over in Garbancillo, the beatific Conchita is nursing baby Ric. She doesn’t know of course, that it’s not her baby—that’s she’s just a wetnurse. Dona Auxiliadora shows up with a basket of food and Conchita is all smiles about how she wants to make sure that Conchita has enough to eat while she is nursing the baby and she’ll make her some other home remedies too. Conchita calls her her guardian angel but Auxi reminds her that she’s only going to be doing this for the first two months, while she and the child recuperate from the birth. Conchita looks worried and asks what will she do when she’s still nursing in the 3rd month. Auxi says she’ll have to see what she can do for her. She leaves, with an ominous feeling in the air.
Justo and Cami are at church and he knows that she now knows about Rita’s death and is not pleased about how long in took them to tell her. “I never thought that I would never see her again,” she says. Justo says—but wait—there’s more! Before Rita died, she told us that YES the letter did arrive from Mariana island, telling us you were a captive there. (Camila is impactada). She was the one who received it, and she tore it up because she knew that if we rescued you, Santiago would never have married her. Camila nods through her tears. “You know, she must always have been in love with Santiago. She must have suffered a lot when we were together.” Justo agrees. “She was always jealous of you.” He tells her that she asked for her forgiveness and Cami replies that she had long since forgiven her…since she met Ricardo. Justo sighs at the mention of his name and tells her that she said some other things…Cami is curious. “What other things?” She asks. With tinkling baby music in the background, Justo gets down on his knees in front of her and actually gestures to her abdomen. “That you take care of Anamaria as if she were your own daughter and that you marry Santiago, who has always loved you.” Cami smiles and says she’ll be glad to take care of her niece. But marry Santiago? NEVER. She gets up and walks out of the church, past Inez who is sitting a few pews back. Inez reaches out to her and holds her back for a second. Cami turns back to her dad and asks where Anamaria is, and Justo tells her that she’s not at the Mancera Mansion, but with Ofelia at her house. She picks up her veil which has fallen and leaves.

Next we are at Ofelia’s house where Ofelia is playing with the baby. She tells her that she was just at the church praying and that she just found out that Rita had wanted her to take charge of the baby. Ofelia looks nervous. She tells her she already knows about it. Cami assures her that she isn’t going to take the baby away, she just wants to visit her from time to time. Ofelia smiles at this news and tells her she’s free to come whenever she wants for as long as she wants. Ofelia admits that she’s felt lonely, even though Ascanio and Jimena live there, they are gone most of the day. Jimena is helping out a lot. “But this little girl is my reason for living,” she says sadly. Cami smiles sadly in return.

Next we are in La Coralina where an 18th century version of a sound truck (a horse drawn wagon full of soldiers, with one guy yelling out an announcement) is blaring that in La Coralina, a quarantine is being announced against an outbreak of the plague. The crowds are not happy to hear this news and there is much wailing and gnashing of teeth. Meanwhile, inside the brothel where the pirates are holed up, Ric and Mario are still smiles. Mario has recovered and they are all ready to go. Pablo isn’t ready for a few weeks yet because his shoulder wound did hit a bone. Mario asks where he’s going (Ric is putting on his sword) and Ric says he’s going to check on the readiness of the Salamandra.

Back outside, we are getting the rest of the health and sanitation department bulletin. The plague outbreak in the Island of Our Lady of the Coral Reefs happened in the neighborhoods of La Tortuga (the turtle) and St. Brigida. Ric and Mario arrive just in time to hear that the port is closed to all ships indefinitely. Ric is floored. (Other quarantine procedures are announced, like rounding up of infected animals and their killing and disposal; plague victims are to be taken into specified areas to be separated from the general population.) Ric is cursing his luck that they didn’t depart yesterday. Mario suggests that they could run the quarantine but Ric takes a responsible attitude and says that he doesn’t want to risk one of his men being infected and spreading disease all over the place.

Back at the brothel, Ric’s public spiritedness continues and he announces that they are all going to chip in to help with the plague activities. Guero complains that he’s scared of catching plague and Ric says that’s an order. Magdalena, who is falling out of her dress as usual is similarly afraid of opening up the house to plague victims. Ric reminds her that the plague victims are Christians, and other pirates like themselves who live here with their families. Paisana says that she’s ready to help but she’s not sure what to do. Ric says that they are going to need lime (cal) and vinegar (disinfectants) and rags, to cover their faces to keep themselves from getting sick. Magdalena is still afraid and doesn’t want to get with the program. Ric asks her if she knows how to kill rats. She can stay in the house, if she agrees to kill rats since rats carry the plague. She doesn’t look happy with her new job. Mario asks Paisana if she knows were they can get lime and she says yes, of course. They all get up to find help and the supplies. Paisana looks over at the weepy Magdalena and tells her to start killing rats. “By myself?” she asks. Paisana says “where are the servants?” in disgust.

Outside, the plague is creating a panic. People are falling down in the street, stricken with it and it’s terrifying the populace. The victims have huge pustules. It seems to be striking down rich and poor alike. Ric and Paisana are helping people get out of the street and others are spreading lime everywhere. A plague announcer is ringing a bell, which is a little superfluous at this point.
Meanwhile, on quiet SF, Sofia and Camila are talking over all the recent events. Sofia explains that they couldn’t tell Camila about Rita under the circumstances and it happened so fast. Camila understands now but the only thing she cares about is that Ric return soon. Sofia is concerned that she seems paralyzed, she wants to see her happy again, with a desire to get out and do things again. She suggests working with others, teaching children in an orphanage or working with underprivileged women. Camila smiles and says that she’d like to help out and her smile returns.

La Font seems to have recovered mostly and now sports a brown eyepatch. He is chatting over possibilities with Jorge, that there’s a new caravan on the way and that they could make plans to rob it. Jorge sounds skeptical. Who would they sell the silver to? LaFont says they could melt it down. He pauses and suggests that they could involve Santiago this time. “You said that your relationship with him is going well.” Jorge gets up suddenly and says no. He doesn’t want to involve him. La Font says that Uriel and Mateo are interested in doing another job. If Jorge doesn’t want to melt the silver, he could try to find another way to get rid of the contraband. Jorge says he doesn’t want to know. He’ll leave it up to them to get rid of it. LaFont asks if that means that he doesn’t want his share. Jorge says of course not. He’s owed a part as Lord. LaFont pauses and asks about Santiago and Camila. He laughs and wants to know if they are going to get back together. Jorge says non-commitally that “He always loved her.” LaFont opines that he doesn’t think that’s going anywhere and he again suggests his daughter. Jorge says that he’ll talk to Santiago, as he eats an apple. He asks after LaFont’s wife and LaFont says that Lis has been very understanding about the whole lost an eye thing. Jorge asks if she knows that it was Ric that did it. LaFont says no. He prefers that she not know that he is still alive. Jorge nods thoughtfully.

In Church, Camila arranges some gladiolas in front of a statue of the virgincita. She prays for the soul of her child and for Ric to return ASAP.

Meanwhile, in la Coralina, Ric has his hands full with the hysterical population. He helps a soldier lead a woman away from her dying husband as he’s loaded up in the plague wagon.
Camila and Ofelia visit again, with the baby and Camila remarks at how much Santiago has changed. It was Santi who saved Ric’s life on the fateful night when he was stabbed and shot but now he’s determined to kill him. Ofelia says she knew it all along. Power corrupts. She asks about Camila. She tells her about her helping in an orphanage as suggested by Dona Sofia. Ofelia thinks this is a great idea. She asks about her relationship with her father and Camila’s smile vanishes. Ofelia suggests that she try to patch things up with him. She says that when Camila was sick, he had second thoughts about whether he should have let her leave with Ricardo. Camila is impactada and smiles and returns to playing with the baby who has Ric’s watch in her hand.

Camila goes to talk to Justo. Justo is praying in front of a statue of the virgincita. She goes to him and they make small talk. Then she closes the door and says she forgives him and that she wants peace between them. He says that she should never doubt that he loves her. She tells him that she is a woman and she deserves to make her own life. And she wants him to understand that if Ric comes back, she’s going with him, wherever he goes. He cries but nods his head in understanding. She leaves and he turns back to the home altar to mutter a prayer of thanks.

In Garbancillo, Auxi is holding the baby at Conchita’s while she is drinking some soup. Just as Conchita holds the spoon to her lips, Auxi drops the anvil on her—“This baby isn’t yours.” She’s impactado and then freaks out. “How can it not be mine!” She screams, putting the spoon down and rushing her for the baby. Auxi relays the story of how the night that gave birth—there was another woman there who was dying and that Conchita’s baby died and she switched the babies. But as it happened, the other woman didn’t die and that she wants her baby. Conchita isn’t buying it. She cries and screams that she wants her baby. Auxi tries to tell her repeatedly that this isn’t her baby but she’s upset and won’t listen. The baby wails in the background.

Over at Jorges’ Santiago is eating with his Dad. Jorge points out that if this thing with Camila isn’t working out, there are other fish in the sea. Santiago says that right now they’d be living happily as man and wife if he hadn’t intervened long ago. Jorge says that they’ve already covered that ground and he agreed to let it go. Jorge shifts the topic to tell him that LaFont is offering him his daughter Manuela. Santiago says no way. Jorge says why not, Manuela’s pretty and well behaved. Santiago says no, he’s not giving up on Camila and anyway Manuela is in love with Ascanio. Jorge says that that can’t go anywhere seeing that Ascanio is a servant. Santiago points out that Ascanio isn’t a servant, he’s a bureaucrat now. Jorge is like, whatever. Santiago says he’s a blacksmith. Jorge says, yes, but you are my son. Santiago turns to talk about LaFont. Who is he, after all? All he knows is that he arrived there quite a few years ago. Jorge says he really doesn’t know that much about his past. All he knows is that he arrived with money. “And you made him into your general administrator” continues Santiago by which he made even more money. “Much more” agrees Jorge. Santiago asks “what happens if I make Santiago into the new administrator? “ Jorge says you can if you want to. “But Alberto isn’t going to like it.” Santiago asks if Jorge always does what pleases his friends. Jorge looks at him sharply and says “You are not going to have an easy enemy.” Santiago complains that he’s already got a hard enemy, Ricardo de Salamanca. Jorge is surprised that he is still thinking about going after him. Santiago says of course he is. He turns on his heel and leaves. Jorge says to no one in particular that his son has more guts than he does, but then again, he’s a lot younger. He takes another swig of wine.

At LaFonts, a well dressed little boy rings the bell and the porters come running. After clarifying that it is indeed Don Albertos, the boy asks for Clotilde. He says that he’s her nephew and he’s bringing her a message. He tries to sneak in while one of them checks but the other guy keeps him from going in. Clotilde comes out and tells him that she knows he’s not her nephew so what’s the deal? He tells her that he’s come with a message from Auxi that the baby is ready and to have her money. Clotilde says to wait right there and she’ll return.

And speaking of babies, over in plague ridden Coralina, Paisana and Ric are bathing a baby boy at the brothel and look like they are having fun. Paisana and Ric talk over the plague developments. Pablo says things are really bad over at St. Bridgida. And they took the mother of this child. When Paisana asks if he thinks she’ll make it, he shakes his head. She asks what he’ll do with the baby and Ric says he promised the mom that he’d look after him and he will. Paisana says that he can count on her. She worries that he will get sick. Ric says that’s why they all have to help. He leaves and she tells the baby that the Capitan is a good man, while she finishes bathing him.

Meanwhile, Lis is with her doll when Fran and Clotilde come in with the baby. They hand him to her and she asks how he is. Lis’ eyes fill with tears as the baby cries. She bounces him up and down. She says that he’s her little piece of heaven, that she’s going to keep him with her always. Fran wants to know how she is going to explain the baby to LaFont. Fran says that she’ll tell him that he’s a nephew of Clotilde’s who was orphaned. Fran thinks LaFont will suspect something. He’s not stupid. Lis makes plans to bathe the baby and get it new fancy clothes. Clotilde says she can do all that. Fran says, OK, she’s held the baby, now better give her back to Clotilde. Lis is reluctant to give the baby up. She asks if the baby has been baptized yet and apparently it hasn’t. Lis says this is what they will do—it will be baptized and she will be the godmother. And they will call the baby Ricardo. Fran doesn’t like the sound of that. Lis says they will name him for Ricardo’s father.

Later Fran and Clotilde are out with the baby picking out fabric for clothes when Camila happens by and Clotilde gets nervous. Fran tells her not to even look at Camila. Camila walks on to greet the twins at the forge. They exchange pleasantries but after the small talk, they admit that things are a little uncertain since Santiago never comes by the forge anymore. One of them backs up and explains that they understand that he has more important things to do now. Camila shakes her head and says that what needs to happen is that people need to see you as the heads of the shop, not Santiago. She leaves.

Back in La Coralina, Ric is directing the plague relief, with a corpse over his shoulder.
At LaFont’s, Lis is checking out the baby’s new clothes. She things they are good but could be better. Fran thinks they are sufficient, since the baby is not a little aristocrat. Clotilde suggests her niece as a nanny/wet nurse since she’s already suckling a child. Lis agrees. Manuela comes in and makes a fuss over the baby. Fran gives her the story about it being a child from Clotilde’s family that was left an orphan and that they will baptize it Pedro and she’s going to be the godmother. Just then LaFont comes in and wants to know what’s going on. He tells her that being a godmother implies responsibility and he doesn’t want her to get involved. He picks up the baby hands it to Clotilde and tells her to take it away. LaFont tells Manuela he wants to talk to her and they both leave. When they are left alone, Fran tells Lis that she told her that this wasn’t going to be easy. Lis is not happy.

La Font is tossing Manuela around in her room. Manuela pleads with him that she hardly ever sees Santiago even though she goes to visit Ursula daily. He never even looks at her when he’s around. He yells that she needs to try harder. She asks if he offered her hand to Don Jorge. He says yes but he hasn’t said anything yet. Meanwhile, she needs to try harder. He leaves. She gets up and sits at her desk and writes.

In la Coralina, The plague continues and the dead and dying are lying in the plaza. It’s horrible. Priests are giving last rights, en masse. Ric carries a wheelbarrow full of corpses.
Next we see what Manuela was writing—a letter to Ascanio which he receives. In it she tells him that her Dad offered her hand to Jorge (for Santiago). Ascanio looks stricken. He gets his coat and leaves. He tries to go see Santiago but they have both taken off. He leaves the doorman with a message to tell him that he was there.

We go to where Santiago is, under a canopy in a wooded area, partaking of food and drink with Dad and his cronies, minus LaFont. La Font rides up at that moment and they all laugh. When he asks why they are laughing, Mateo says that with the patch, he looks like the last pirate left in San Fernando. LaFont doesn’t think this is funny and goes to draw his sword. Jorge tells him to cool it, it’s just a joke. He cracks further that now he can’t cry even if he wanted to. Uriel thinks this is so funny he chokes on his wine and spits it out. LaFont is even more ticked. Mateo says he doesn’t think that he should care, since his wife can’t see him anyway. Now LaFont is really mad and draws his sword and points it at Uriel who is standing the closest to him. Jorge tells him to cool it, they are all drunk. Besides, he should talk to Santiago. He did and Santiago seems to be fixated on Camila. LaFont asks if he rejected his daughter. Jorge says, not exactly but since he’s so concerned about marrying her off, he’d like it if he married his daughter to ….Ascanio. LaFont is not happy at all at this news. “A servant?!” Santiago stands up at this point and says that he’s no longer a servant but a public functionary and that he has Dad’s authorization to make him “Intendente” of San Fernando. LaFont is furious and asks for his horse to leave. Mateo complains about Ascanio getting this plum job and wife but Santiago tells him that he’s his friend and a decent man. Jorge looks at him and says that’s the way it is.
Back in Coralina, Ric and Paisana confer about the Plague developments (Bad). Pablo’s still gone. She asks him how he is and whether he thinks the baby has been born. He thinks so. He takes off his plague infected clothing and puts it in a basket—stopping to think of Camila and the baby far away.

LaFont arrives back at home in a fury. He kicks the door open past the frightened porters and asks for his daughter. She’s with her Nanny talking about Ascanio when he blazes in and slaps her screaming “where did you meet this man?” Nanny Agata is freaked out. He slaps her and brandishes his whip. She’s already got a few marks on her face. When he goes for Agata, Manuela tries to hold him back but he whips her face and calls her a whore. Fran comes in suddenly to find out what’s going on and he runs her out of the room. LaFont announces that he’s going to kill Ascanio and when she pleads with him, he grabs her by the hair and puts the whip at her throat, screaming at her that she’s going to marry who he wants. He tosses her aside and stalks out. Manula screams that she loves him and cries to Agata.

He walks into the room with Fran and Lis and says that his “daughter has gotten involved with that lowlife Ascanio.” Lis laughs and says “the servant?” LaFont isn’t in a laughing mood and holds a whip to her throat. He tells them not to let Manuela leave the house and that if anyone asks, she’s sick. He storms out and Fran and Lis confer about Manuela. Fran thinks that he will kill her if she isn’t dead already from the beating he gave her. They agree that LaFont is very dangerous. Lis thinks aloud that if he finds out that the baby is Ric’s he’s capable of killing it with his own bare hands. “Us too! says Fran.”
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Next time:
Santiago pleads his case with Camila and asks again why Camila slept with Ric but never with him. She’s again not happy with the question but he has to go there and asks if she thinks he’s less of a man than Ric. He grabs her face and acts like he could have her if he wanted. Cami spits back at him that she agrees with Ofelia—every day he seems to resemble his father more.

Labels: Pasion