Caray, Caray!

We left our hero Ric in somewhat of a predicament last night—he was with Pablo on board the Camila which was under attack by Spanish ships (Mario having gone on ahead to La Iguana on the Salamandra). The gunpowder caught fire and Ric urged them all to jump into the water to save themselves. Pablo protested but Ric ordered him and he dutifully went along too. Everybody off except for her Captain: Ric stood at the wheel of his burning ship. On board the Spanish vessel, the soldiers cheered to see the pirate ship fully engulfed in flames.

Back in San Fernando, Jorge arrives at LaFont’s and asks to see him. The major domo says LaFont can’t really talk, he’s been given a great deal of laudanum. Jorge says he doesn’t care, to let him in. Jorge comes in and greets the ladies in the great room, Fortunata, Fran and Lis who is holding BOTH the dolly and baby Pedro. Jorge goes in to see LaFont who is lying in bed. He wakes him up. LaFont stirs suddenly and reaches out to feel his leg. He sighs when he discovers it’s gone. Jorge continues “I am guessing that you feel pretty rough. But I need to talk to you. I’d like to know what the hell you did.” Al responds “About what?” Jorge says, “don’t pretend. You robbed a caravan. You lost a leg, Uriel and Mateo have disappeared. And not only that, my son has already discovered the falsified importation docs. “Kill him” says LaFont weakly. Jorge says “the one I’m going to kill is you.” “Ever since you got hooked up with the blind chick, you’ve done nothing but make mistakes. One after the Other.” LaFont tries to put it back on Jorge but Jorge will have none of it. He says he wants two things from LaFont. For him to make up a story about what happened to him and for him to give his permission for Manuela to marry Ascanio, so that he’ll shut up about the docs. LaFont is enraged by the latter but Jorge orders it and LaFont has no choice but to agree. Jorge asks about Uriel and Mateo. LaFont says that he doesn’t know about Mateo but Uriel “died.” (Uh, that’s an artful use of the passive voice, there Bouffy! We all saw you stab him.) Jorge looks disgusted. He asks about the body but LaFont says he doesn’t know. Jorge shakes his head.

And speaking of corpse-like objects, we see Ric floating in the water face up, hanging on to a piece of flotsam from the now destroyed ship.

Next, we are in a barn where the bodies of Uriel and the wounded Mateo along with all the other dead and wounded from the assault have been taken for identification. A guy IDs them for the Colonel and his soldiers and further tells them that they are friends of the Lord of San Fernando and the equally powerful Don Alberto LaFont. The Colonel looks thoughtful. He asks the name of the “regidor,” or crown official and the guy tells him “Don Jorge Mancera y Ruiz.”
Back to Ric who drags himself ashore to the cheers of his fellow surviving men. They are all really glad to see eachother.

In SF, Ascanio and Manuela have a joyful reunion in the park. They kiss. Ascanio tells her that he missed her. He notes that her Dad let her out of the house and she says that he’s in bed and while he’s out of it, she’s free. She asks him if he knows what happened and he says yes. She notes that they cut off his leg. She doesn’t understand what’s going on. First some robbers put out his eye and now this…She knows her dad is no angel but now he’s completely round the bend. Even Lis must be sorry she married him. “He treats her very badly. Especially since she had that child baptized.” Ascanio is puzzled too about why Al would be so pissed off about the baby. Manuela explains that her Dad thinks that the baby is a dirty urchin, plus he’s angry that Lis gave the baby her last name. Ascanio asks why she did that. Manuela says that the servant didn’t know the mother’s or the father’s last name so Lis said to use hers. Ascanio says that he’s not too surprised that Lis would do something like this, after all, she’s always been a little unhinged. “So what name did they give the baby?” he asks. “Pedro.” Replies Manuela. Ascanio is surprised “Pedro de Salamanca?” That’s Ric’s daddy’s name! Manuela says Lis always liked Ric and maybe she wanted to honor him in this way. “Or maybe….” says Ascanio trailing off but looking thoughtful.

And Pedrito’s daddy is on a beach eating fire roasted squid with the boys, talking over what happened. Lots of men were lost, although they might have washed up somewhere else. Pablo is still among the missing. One guy asks about the Camila and Ric makes a throat cut gesture and clicks his tongue. “Lost, sure” says the guy. Ric comments that they need to get together to go back to la Iguana but just then a posse of soldiers appear and the leader tells them not to move. He shouts at them that they must have been part of the gang of pirates that assaulted Puerto Paraiso. He asks if they have a captain and Ric starts to move but one of the men pipes up that No, their captain died when their ship was wrecked in the dogfight. The officer demands that they give up any weapons they have with them. All of them. And he orders his man to search the pirates in case they have any hidden weapons.

Over at Ofelia’s back in SF, Ascanio recounts the strange tale of Pedrito de Salamanca that Manuela has just told him. Ines (who just got some similar intel from the maid Candida) immediately jumps to the same conclusion that maybe…just maybe…little Pedrito is actually Camilia’s baby, who didn’t die after all! That Lis got the baby somehow. Vasco says he can’t believe his father would have lied to them. Jimena says maybe it was Santiago who set it up. Ines can’t believe her brother would have been so bad. Jimena is skeptical; she thinks that he hated Ric enough. He could have done it. Ines says regardless, he wouldn’t have done something like that to Camila. Ascanio says that if this child was Camila’s it could have been other people who took him. Jimena says that Lis was always in love with Ric and she could have had it arranged. Ascanio relates LaFont’s fury at having the baby there, with Ric’s last name. Vasco says that they should remain calm and wait for his sister to get back. They’ll tell her everything and decide what to do.

The pirate prisoners are tied together and are perp-walked to a prison. As they cross a bridge over a ravine, we spy Pablo hiding among some rocks. Pablo continues to follow carefully at a distance. The officer announces to the boys that they will be assigned rock breaking duties on a chain gang until they are tried. “For what? asks Ric. “For piracy” says the officer. Ric says that this is a serious accusation and where is the proof? Ric claims that their merchant ship was caught in a skirmish and they were shipwrecked. The officer says he doesn’t believe him. And he’s sure that the lashing they’ll get will force them to confess, even if they didn’t do it so no big deal. He locks them all in one big cell, still manacled and tied to one another. After the guards leave, one pirate asks Ric what they’ll do. They are like trapped like rats. Ric says that the officer mentioned that they’ll be working on a chain gang. That means that they’ll be outside. They’ll have to figure out the possibilities there for escape. Plus once they don’t show up in Iguana, the other guys will come looking for them. One guy asks what will happen if they don’t come. Ric shuts him up. “Or if they are late in coming?” asks another. Ric doesn’t answer. Instead he yells out the gate that the men need food and water, they aren’t in condition to be doing rock breaking.

The Ladies have finally returned home, in an open carriage this time. Before they get to town, Sofia tells them she wants to talk to them and gets them all out in the shade of some trees. She says that before they get back she wants them to agree that what happened in Puerto Paraiso stays in Puerto Paraiso. Ursula gets it right away. “You mean you don’t want me to tell anyone that Camila met her lover there.” Sofia says that she doesn’t want it known that Ursula slept with an English Pirate. Ursula laughs. Nor that she flirted with that Captain adds Ursula. (Cami at least has the modesty to be embarrassed. ) Sofia says she better not tell about Cami or she’ll rat out her catting around and for sure her Dad will put her in a cloistered nunnery. Sofia doesn’t have to threaten Romualdo who agrees also not to talk. Sofia says that they will say that they left Puerto Paraiso just before the pirates got there. All agreed, Sofia says,” let’s go home.”
The Colonel and his men ride into SF just ahead of the Ladies. Cami gets dropped off first and her family are excited to see her.

Don Jorge and Marcelino meet up and Marcelino says that he got the forged docs from Ascanio. He adds that nobody has seen Uriel or Mateo. Jorge tells Marcelino that it would be a good time for him to leave town. On vacation, for a rest. Or better yet, forever. Marcelino sputters and protests that he was only following Don Jorge’s orders. Jorge says “my orders?” Who do you think they will believe? You or me? Marcelino is practically in tears when he shakes his head. Clearly the Lord’s word is worth more than his. Don Jorge tells him to take his family and go—and never return to San Fernando. Marcelino, ever the loyal servant, sniffles and bows as he dejectedly leaves the office. As he leaves, the guard comes in and announces that Col. Jose Maria Valencia asks for an audience. Jorge asks where he comes from. The guard says that he’s from the barracks at San Benito. Jorge nods knowiningly.

Outside, the Col. and his men are met by Santiago coming down the stairs who wants to know why they are there. The Col says that they are there to see Don Jorge and Santiago says that he’s Jorge’s son. Just then Jorge comes out and asks their business. The Col says that he wants to talk about two men from the town, one dead the other wounded. Jorge invites them into his office and Santiago follows. We don’t see them tell the whole story but get Jorge’s (fake) reaction of shock and concern. He clarifies that Mateo is still alive and says he doubts that they could have been involved in the robbery. “They probably just happened to be in the area.” The Col says “at that time of night?” Jorge says “maybe they were looking for chicks and got caught up in it.” (We get a look at Santiago’s face which has a pretty incredulous look—not sure if it’s that he doesn’t believe his dad or he can’t believe that his dad would tell such an incredible whopper.) Jorge asks that Uriel’s body be brought back to SF for burial and that Mateo be transported as well so that his family can take care of him. Col Jose says he has no problem releasing the body but Mateo is to stay put. He’s got the barracks doctor looking after him. Jorge makes a caustic remark about the military doctor and Col. Jose cuts him off saying that the family can send a private doctor if they wish—but Mateo isn’t going anywhere. He gives a hard look and Jorge realizes that he’d better not push his luck with this guy. Col. Jose says that he understands that these two men were friends of Alberto LaFont and he’d like to talk to him. Jorge says that unfortunately La Font had “a riding accident” two days ago and had his leg amputated. So he can’t talk. Jorge goes on to lament how these guys could have gotten involved in the caravan robbery. Col. Jose says there’s no doubt in his mind. He was guarding the caravan and he fought them himself. Jorge then changes tack and says “wow, you can be friends with someone for years and not realize what they are hiding from you.” Col. Jose turns to Santiago and asks him if he was friends with these guys. Santiago chokes out a “No.” Next Jorge asks why they’ve sent a Colonel to a small barracks like San Benito. The Col. says that he’s come on a special mission. Jorge looks nervous. Santiago looks keen.

Sofia and Ursula finally made it home. They are just coming in when Jorge comes out with the Col. and Santiago. Jorge introduces them and tells the Col. that they are just back from Pto. Paraiso. The Col.’s eyes grow wide and he says “Pto. Paraiso just got attacked by the English Pirate John Foreman!” Sofia says casually that it must have happened AFTER they left. She gives her apologies leaves. Ursula follows but not before flirting with the Col. Jorge and Santiago exchange looks. ( Jorge is probably wondering if he can work the same magic with Ursula and this guy as he did with Ascanio and Manuela.)

As Camila unpacks, Ines fills her in on all the latest news. She tells her about the attack on LaFont. She asks after Ascanio and Ines says she thinks he is sad but she’s not sure, given how reserved he is. Just then, Paco runs in and gives his aunt Camila a big hug. He asks where Ric is. Cami says gently that he can’t come back yet, he’s still got some stuff to do. Paco pouts and Ines complains that Cami is going to think that he isn’t glad to see her. Paco says he’s glad to see her but he would like to play with his uncle Ric! Cami complains that he doesn’t want to play with her! And she runs out of the room trailing him by the hand.

Col. Jose rides out of San Fernando with his men. He chats with his lieutenant, remarking on the coincidence of LaFont’s “riding accident” with the assault on the caravan. The lieutenant asks if they are going to take it up with the government house. The Col. says no, here everybody is obviously connected. “And what about the daughter of the Lord (Regidor)?” The Col. laughs.
Cami recounts the tale to Ines, Jimena, Vasco and Ascanio of the pirate attack on Pto. Paraiso and how she met Ric. Vasco asks if he took part in the assault and Cami explains that he had to, because he had given his word to John Foreman. He had to borrow the money from him to pay off her debt to Lis. Jimena asks about Mario and Cami tells him YES and that he sent his greetings to her. Cami begs them all not to tell anyone else that she saw Ric. (The next bit I couldn’t get—something about sending a message with Ascanio) All of the sudden, Pablo appears. Tired and bedraggled. Ascanio and the rest run out to greet him. Pablo announces that Ric is a prisoner in San Benito. WHAT HAPPENED? Asks Camila. Pablo recounts the dogfight, the fire and shipwreck. He finishes up that if they don’t manage to rescue him, he’ll be hung. Camila is beside herself. The rest exchange stricken looks.

Jorge and Santiago are in Jorge’s office. Santiago is shocked, shocked that Jorge would use Ursula to gain the compliance of the Col. Jorge is like what is the big deal. Santiago is like but she’s you’re daughter! Jorge throws back in his face that Santiago himself isn’t exactly a model of purity. He’s enjoyed power and the booze and prostitutes that come with it. And besides,” if your beloved Camilia lost her baby it was your fault,” he throws in for good measure. Santiago is enraged and protests that that isn’t true. Jorge tells him that he went nuts when he discovered Ric was alive and well and he (Santiago) committed a series of stupid mistakes. Santiago claims that he did it to save her. “Save her from what?”asks Jorge. “From the flames of hell, for being a pirate’s concubine?” Santiago is speechless. Jorge continues “Or did you condemn her to a hell on earth?” Santiago claims that he did it for love. “And love justifies murder?” asks Jorge archly. “Because you killed her son and you would have killed Ricardo. “ Santiago tries to use the “will of God” explanation for the death of the baby but Jorge says yeah, whatever, console yourself with that. Santiago calls him a monster. Jorge says he’s not a monster, just a sinner like everybody else but now’s not the time to be talking about religion. It’s the time to be saving their skins, even if he had nothing to do with what Alberto and the boys did. Santiago says that he doesn’t believe that. Jorge replies that he doesn’t care what he thinks, he’s to protect the family name (which is also Santiago’s). Santiago says not to count on him. Jorge points out that he treated him well, he made him rich, gave him a position and even got LaFont to consent to letting his daughter marry Ascanio. What does he want, for him to go to the gallows? Santiago has nothing to say to this and flounces out of the office with his shaggy mane flapping in the breeze behind him. Jorge gives one of his now trademarked exasperated looks.

At Justo’s, Cami is now frantic to see Ric. Jimena points out that she isn’t going to be allowed to see him. Ines says maybe Santiago can help get her permission. Cami is like NO WAY. She isn’t going to ask him for anything. Besides, if he knows he’s there, he’ll do something to harm his case. She goes on a tirade about having to see him to help him. Pablo says, while stuffing his face, that the only thing they need to do is tell Mario. Cami says no, Mario’s too far away. She wants to talk to Ric first, to see what he says. Apparently Justo has been napping. Pablo says he’d better go before Justo wakes up. He’s got a tray of food with him. Ascanio suggests that maybe he could get them in to see the prisoners with a stamped permission from the government house. Cami asks if he can risk it. Ascanio says he will. In any event, he’ll help Pablo hide away at the mill. He leaves with Ascanio.

Fortunata, Ursula and Sofia are having tea and biscuits. Fortunata fills them in about baby Pedro’s baptism. She asks why LaFont wasn’t the godfather. Fortunata says she doesn’t know but she breathlessly goes on to tell about LaFont losing his leg. Sofia is grossed out. Ursula on the other hand laughs her head off. Fortunata has to join in. Sofia looks shocked but Ursula says “what a pair! She’s blind and he’s one-eyed and crippled!” Sofia yells at them to stop being vulgar. But the two women don’t stop right away. Finally when they do, Fortunata relates the disappearance of Uriel and Mateo. She thinks it’s suspicious that they disappeared the same night that LaFont was attacked and lost his leg. Ursula puts 2 and 2 together on the presence of the Colonel.

Ines is gtting Paco ready for bed. Paco wants to show Camila the picture of a ship he drew. Ines tells him that he can ask her tomorrow. He still wants to know why Ric didn’t come back with her. Ines tells him to quit asking and that furthermore, he’d better not ask in front of his granddad. Paco is confused. He’s also confused about why she told him that he was getting a new cousin and his granddad said that there was no little cousin. Ines looks thoughtful. Paco thinks that granddad lied or maybe Ines lied. Ines said no, she hasn’t lied. She doesn’t know what happened but when she finds out, she’ll tell him. She tells him again, not to tell anyone about this. He agrees and they kneel down to pray, a prayer to the guardian Angel.

Over at Ofelia’s, Santiago walks in. Ofelia is surprised to see him. Santiago says that he’s decided to return home. He doesn’t want to live at the palace anymore. Ofelia is surprised by this too. She asks why and Santiago tells her that he and his father no longer get along. Ofelia wants to know if something happened. Santiago says no, only that they have different ways of thinking. Ofelia doesn’t buy this explanation but doesn’t push it. She changes the subject to the fact that Camila has returned. Santiago said that he saw when Sofia and Ursula got back and supposed that Cami did too. He asks about her but Ofelia says she hasn’t seen her but Jimena and Ascanio have. He asks about Ascanio but he’s not back yet. Ofelia is worried about him. She thinks he looks unwell. Santiago says that’s so but it’s not his father’s fault, it’s his. He bids her goodnight and leaves. Ofelia looks after him worriedly and goes back to her sewing.
Next—a tender scene between Ines and Vasco getting ready for bed. Ines remarks on what they have learned about Ric and how awful it is that they can’t seem to have a moments’ peace. They hug each other.

In the prison, the pirates sleep all tied together and manacled. All accept Ricardo. He’s up praying to God that if he’s doomed, then please let him see Camila one more time!
It’s the next morning. Cami and Ines are out walking. They see Fran, Lis and Clotilde holding the baby. Cami remarks on the baby—how small it is and how it is about the same age that hers would have been. Lis tells Fran that she wants to bring the baby over to Camila. Fran thinks she’s crazy but she takes her over anyway. Camila makes a casual remark about her godson and Lis responds that it’s a shame that her baby DIED! She walks away. When they are away, Fran tells her she’s crazy to provoke Camila for no reason. Lis says she wanted her to SUFFER. Ines and Camila are still standing around and Ines wonders how she knew that her baby died. Camila says that LaFont must have told her. Cami cries.

Across the plaza, Ascanio hands Vasco a permission to visit the San Benito barracks. Vasco takes it to Camila and Ines and they get into a carrraige.

Manuela comes to Mansion Mancera to accompany Sofia to the Orphanage but she’s already gone. Ursula asks her to sit and visit instead. Manuela protests again. She’s sad and Ursula asks her if she’s worried about her dad or if her stepmother is giving her a hard time. She is worried about dad sorta but she says she hardly speaks to Lis. Ursula guesses that she is pining for Ascanio. Ursula works on her some more about jumping into bed with Ascanio. Just then Jorge comes in and notices her downcast demeanor. He asks about her father and she answers timidly and then beats a hasty retreat. Jorge asks Ursula what her problem is and she explains that she’s in love with Ascanio, Ursula says that she really feels sorry for her. She stops her father before he walks out and asks him if he were ever in love. He answers, yes, with your mother. “Unfortunately she couldn’t get over my failings and I couldn’t change.” He walks away and Ursula smiles to herself.

Back at San Benito, the chain gang is hard at work breaking rocks, under the supervision of the soldiers from the barracks. One of them collapses after hauling a cart full of rocks. Ric helps him up. The other guys complain that they don’t see any way to escape from this gig. After Ric goes back to work with his sledge hammer he talks to the prisoner next to him. Surprise! It’s Molinar Pastor, the crooked merchant who was the original fence for Jorge and Al’s little side business. He remembers Ric from his fake name Diego de Lujan Apparently he wound up there after getting into a dispute with a guy who owed him money. They fought and MP killed him. He was sentenced to 10 years breaking rocks. Ric asks him about LaFont. MP says not to remind him. LaFont gave him a few pesos for arranging the deal and then cut him out by working directly with the English pirate. He thinks he got screwed. Ric asks if he could denounce LaFont. “Why? What good would it do?” Ric starts to answer when a guard comes by and whacks MP for not working. Ric tells the guard to calm down, they are working already.

High above where the men are working, Col. Jose looks down at them. He asks one of the guards about the men, names? etc. The guard says they are some criminals that they rounded up but since they captured them they haven’t gotten their real names. Col. Jose is interested in talking to one guy, the one who they just beat up for talking. The guard tells him that he’ll get him.
Next thing, Molinar Pastor is in the Colonel’s office. The Colonel remarks that he is in for killing a man. MP starts to explain that it was a barroom fight, that the guy owed him money. Col. Jose isn’t interested in his story. He was already judged by the court and sentenced. He wants to know about the guy he was talking to. MP at first feigns ignorance but then admits that he was talking to a guy. He met him a long time ago in San Juan. His name is Diego de Lujan. He met him with another guy, a big bad looking dude. They were looking for some help to sell some stolen silver from an English Pirate. Col. Jose asks how they knew to contact him. MP feigns ignorance again and says they were probably just randomly looking for some merchant to help them. Col. Jose looks skeptical.

Vasco, Ines and Camila are still riding to San Benito. They try to figure out whether they should use Ric’s real name or a fake name. They decide on giving him the Darién surname. They arrive at the pit where the men are working. All of the sudden, the captain that Ursula was so friendly with rides up and recognizes her from the ship. He’s nice to her and they exchange pleasantries. He asks what they are doing there and she says that they are there to find a family member. She hands him the paper. The Captain calls out for “Manuel Darién.” Ric looks up, spies Camila and despairs about what she’s doing there. Ric starts shouting back and the guard gets mad and hits him with a rifle butt. Camila screams and all hell breaks loose. Col. Jose rides up and demands to know what’s going on. Later in his office, he demands to know what the captain was doing, messing with the prisoners. The captain explains that he was talking to the people on the ridge who he had met previously on a boat escaping from Pto. Paraiso after the pirate attack. The woman was with Don Jorge Mancera’s wife and daughter. Col. Jose cuts him off and says that’s all for now and dismisses him. He looks thoughtful.

Ric gets thrown in solitary.

Next Camila, Inez and Vasco go to see Col. Jose and tell him they are looking for their relative “Manuel Darién.” He begins to press them on all their family connections. Camila tells him that Manuel Darién is a merchant. He asks about Vasco’s line of work and Vasco tells him that he’ s the town miller. Ines helpfully adds that her (half)brother is Don Jorge Mancera’s recognized bastard. (I’d say he’s been pretty well recognized on this blog for being a bastard!) Camila pleads that they are decent folk and she really needs to see him because….he’s her fiancé. Col. Jose looks confused. “He’s your cousin or your fiancé?” Vasco asks what he’s been accused of. Col. Jose lays out the pirate charges and the attack on Pto. Paraiso. Ines’s voice jumps an octave in her protests that it can’t be. Cami falls apart. She cries. Col. Jose offers her his hanky.

Meanwhile, down in the hole, Ric is balled up in a corner. Suddenly, Cami bursts in and they kiss passionately.



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Next time: Ric tells Cami to prepare for the worst, but before then, he has to float his theory by her that their child didn’t die but was spirited away by Santiago and her Dad. Cami protests that her Dad promised her…could he have lied? She could have imagined the chid’s cry. Ric doesn’t think so.

Labels: Pasion