Caray, Caray!

I feel that the kind of enjoyment that we're receiving from this telenovela is the kind that shouldn't go on for too long, or we'll all end up like Grandpa. According to this Wikipedia article, it will be done some time in October. After that, we won't have Feonando and Crabiella to kick around any more.

(Anyone can edit a Wikipedia article, so take it with a grain of salt.)

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Feonasty searches in vain for his lady love. Is she hiding in the closet? Nope! And her clothes are all gone too!

Furd's apelike face contorts in deep thought. Finally, comprehension dawns: Sofia is not in this room. Perhaps she is in another. He goes to look.

It turns out that instead of running away to join the circus, she has simply run down the hallway to a different room, where she is already unpacking. She says she's asked him for her freedom, and he said no, so she's taking control of her own life from now on. If she can't split up with him, at least she's not going to sleep in the same bed. This is going to be her room from now on, and nobody's going to change her mind.

He grabs her and says he's been patient, but he's at his limit. She's going to sleep with him whether she likes it or not! She puts up a fight, and he tries to drag her back to his room.

Fortunately, Jimena and Sarita interrupt and get him to leave. He pretends to be hurt and bewildered by Sofia's actions, when all he's done is love her more than his own life. They tell him to be patient and give her some time. He says he's given her a year already. He's not a saint, he's a human being, he needs to give and receive love (yuck). Sarita says pressuring Sofia will only make things worse. He's going to have to stay strong.

Furd isn't sure he can. He says she already despises him with all her heart, as if he were responsible for her tragedy (rape). Jimena and Sarita hug him sympathetically. (If you watch carefully, you'll see him leering at Jimena, then when she looks at him he puts on a sad face!)

Juan and Oscar take unconscious Franco to the dispensario - a bare-bones health clinic run by the padre. It doesn't seem to have even one person around with any kind of medical training, but it's clean and roomy and isn't caked in flour and sweat, so it's already an improvement over keeping him at home. The padre is curious as to what happened, but they don't know yet.

While the padre searches for towels, Oscar undresses Franco and Juan swears vengeance on the unknown culprit(s). (I don't know how he has time for baking when he's got so many scores to settle with people.) Oscar feels sure that Rosario knows what happened - he remembers how nervous she was when they questioned her at the club. (They had this very same conversation last night at home while they were waiting for Franco to come home, I believe.)

Juan tells Franco to fight for his life, because they need him. Oscar watches almost-tearfully.

Over at the club, Rosario is still singing the Bonbon song, which was just beginning when they went over there earlier. (I'll charitably assume that this is her second show of the night, but she's still wearing the same outfit too.) After the show, she tells Ofelia she's worried that something happened to Franco. She wants to go look for him. Ofelia warns that Furd could find out. Rosario says she doesn't care about him right now, she has a moral debt to Franco because he loves her and she feels responsible for what could happen.

Sofia sees the rodeo trophy and begins daydreaming about the first time she saw Juan and fell in love with his scruffy self. She caresses the rider on the trophy and thinks to herself that it's an impossibility. (Why? She should just run away with him. I'm serious. He'd take her up on it in two seconds. And just wait till she finds out that he's the guy who makes that bread she loves so much, and that the secret ingredient is the stuff he wipes off of his forehead with the back of his hand. Just try to keep her away from him then. Just try.)

Juan and Oscar clean up their brother. Oscar puts his scapular on Franco (unless he just happens to have an extra with him), and they stay up with him.

(I guess it was an extra, because in a later scene, Oscar still has his. Or maybe it's Franco's, except I didn't notice him wearing one before.)

Feonando stares at a photo of Sofia. Gabi comes in and says she heard everything and wants to know how he's doing. She offers to speak to Sofia right away. He warns her not to overdo it and compromise her health! "You're all I have, my only family," he tells her. She is moved by his calculated words.

He says he tries to understand Sofia, but sometimes she gets upset about what happened to her and he doesn't know what to do or say. He blames it all on that guy who raped her. If he knew who it was, he'd kill him with his own hands.

Gullible Gabi, who has so much ugliness and cynicism inside her that she shouldn't be capable of trusting a mosquito to bite, is soothed by his smarmy words. Even he looks surprised at the relief on her face.

Eva puts Grandpa to bed. He offers to help her find her child. She says she would love that, but she doesn't know how that's possible. Speaking to Gabriela didn't solve anything; she said she'd never reveal what she did with her. Grandpa is indignant that Gabi would deny Eva the right to know her own child. Eve says she appreciates his interest, but she doesn't dare hope.

The padre promises to help the brothers and also mentions God's help. "God?" Juan asks sharply. The padre says yes, and excuses himself.

Juan tells Oscar again that the guy who did this is going to pay. Just then, Rosario totters in wearing her Cruel Shoes. "I want to talk to you," Juan barks at her. "Look what they did to my brother."

"What did they do to you?" she asks Franco, hunkering down by his bed, but then denies knowing anything when Oscar and Juan demand an explanation. Oscar throws her out, but tells Juan he's sure she knows everything. She cries outside the room.

Crabi is painting flowers the color of blood, jabbing at the canvas with her paintbrush the way Don Timoteo used to stab his painting of Ric's dad. Eva comes in to ask if she needs anything. Yes, she does! "A little peace and quiet, but that's impossible in this house." She complains that her daughters are ungrateful for all she's done for them (i.e., locked them up and married one of them off to a rapist who's going to spend the family fortune on gambling debts).

Eva says Crabi has three wonderful daughters, and Eva herself would fight tooth and nail to have just one daughter like that of her own. Crabiela laughs, knowing what Eva is hinting at. She says Eva's child is better off being far away from Eva. Eva disagrees and says she should never have let her take that baby out of her arms. She (Eva) was a coward, and she'll never forgive herself for that. Eva scoffs.

Anyway, Crabi would rather talk about her own kids. "Did you hear how Sofia spoke to me? God won't forgive her," she mutters, looking at her Bible (or some other gilt-edged tome). Eva suggests that Crabi be more affectionate with her kids. Crabi says she doesn't need her advice. She's been the best mother. She accuses Eva of trying to steal her daughters' affection as revenge for stealing her own child. Eva denies this and says no one can make a play a mother's love, the most sacred love one can have in life, as long as she acts like a true mother.

She excuses herself, leaving Crabi looking vexed.

Rosario is still weeping at the dispensario. Juan sees her and reminds her he told her to leave. She says he can banish her from Franco's side, but not from the church. She'll stay until she knows Franco will be okay. She doesn't care what they think or say.

Juan approaches a gigantic, graphic crucifix. He tells it that his mom said Jesus would listen. He begs that Franco not be taken away from him. (Repeat several times, with minor variations.) The padre comes by and says to trust in the Lord. Juan says he has a lot of anger and desperation. Why is this happening?

The padre says God is great and mysterious, and Juan shouldn't give up. Juan says he won't give up, but his brothers are important to him, he doesn't want them to suffer. Padre says let's pray, after which he'd like to talk. He has questions about the family. What happened to their parents? Juan says that's too many questions to answer right now. Padre says okay, but if he wants to talk, to find him, he'll always be there to listen.

Juan says he'd like to tell him his life's story, just not now. The padre tells him to have faith.

Franco is stirring, but not in a good way. He's shivering but also feverish. The padre says he'll find the doctor who usually helps them. He rides out on his little donkey, looking a bit ridiculous but determined, while the brothers mop Franco with cool water.

Later, Franco begins to babble. He's begging his brothers not to let Libia go. Then he starts telling Libia not to go. "We let her down."

Meanwhile, Padre meets with some people along the road. He's asking questions; they don't seem to have any answers. (I wonder if he thought to ask to borrow their cell phones.)

A half-moon hangs in the sky. I mean LITERALLY a half-moon... the stars are shining through the dark side. Amazing!

Franco is doing better now. Juan goes out and stares at Rosario for a while, then shrugs and lets her come in to see him for a minute. She holds Franco's hand and cries, but doesn't say anything.

It's dawn. The padre is sad that he couldn't find a doctor, and prays for help.

The brothers tell Franco they couldn't leave him. They try to wake him up. They can't avenge Libia without him. (Does anyone else think that Libia probably would not approve of their plan??) Oscar says he's been thinking of what Eva said - maybe only the widow is to blame, and the girls had nothing to do with it. Juan says it's too early to decide who's guilty or not - but someone has to pay. Oscar agrees.

At the hacienda, Crabi is complaining that the brick boys haven't arrived yet. She wants to fire them. Sofia reminds her that they came over and worked on Sunday. Crabi is offended that Sofi is taking their side against her!

Sofi apologizes for upsetting her last night. Crabi says she's not upset - she's hurt. Sofi, she says, is worse than a raven who can't wait to pluck out her eyes! Sofi tries to hug her; Crabi pulls away and accuses Sofi of saying things no mother can forgive. Sofi offers to go to Confession; perhaps God will be more understanding! This blasphemy shocks Crabi speechless. (Thank goodness!)

Jimena and Sarita and Grandpa wonder where the brothers are. He teases them and says they must have run across three pretty girls and taken off with them to frolic in a beautiful forest, or somesuch. (Sarita and Jimena do not like this idea.) Sarita says they're just worried because, um, er... because they wouldn't want anything to happen to them. He teases them some more about being interested in the brothers. They try to play it cool. Jimena says their mother says the brothers aren't good enough for them. Grandpa tells them to watch out, because he's going to be watching. He says he's old and crazy, but he isn't sucking his thumb and he knows how this stuff goes. He'll be watching.

Rosario is back, kissing Franco's hand. Juan shows up with some water for washing, and kicks her out. She has no right to be with him, he's sacred and her silence will be the death of him. If she won't say who did this, then he has no use for her. She says he's being unfair. Juan says he has to protect his younger brother, and it's dangerous for Franco to be around her, so scram, don't come back, get out or I'll throw you out.

Juan tells Franco he wants to know who hates him so much as to want to kill him.

Eva asks the Franco-hater if he wants breakfast. No, he wants Sofi. Eva says she went to Confession. Crabi says maybe the padre will talk some sense into her. She also says the workers didn't show up yet, and she's going to fire them. Furd acts outraged as he recalls the beating he gave Franco. Then he says maybe they had something more important to do that's keeping them away.

(Weird graphic transition to next scene)
Grandpa is looking for something in the office. Gabi comes in and scolds him for looking through her papers. She says there's nothing here that he needs. He says he's investigating a complaint, and therefore he has to review the Holy Office of Inquisition's (Santa Inquisición) files and there's a risk of discovering even more horrors that she's committed. Gabi rolls her eyes in disgust at his daffy talk and says she's never hurt anyone. It's everyone else who is hurting her. If he wants to know something, he should ask her directly.

He says no, she'll lie, so he'd rather investigate on his own. (The other night, I was thinking he had a Columbo-like approach with Furd, but I guess he doesn't bother with that when dealing with Gabi.) She says he'll be sorry if he goes poking through her papers.

He says sooner or later the past comes back to get us, and then we have to pay for what we've done. "Like what happened to you, right?" she asks, leaning in with a cruel grin. He tells her not to worry about him; she should worry about how life is going to settle its own scores with her when the time comes. He puts on his deerstalker cap and rolls out.

Sofia shows up at church with some donations for the dispensario and says she has more stuff to bring next time. He notes that she seems odd. She says she has a lot on her mind and would like to give a confession. He says first he needs to look in on someone who took a terrible beating - one of the bricklayers at her house. She asks which one, and even looks slightly relieved when he says it's the youngest! He says he couldn't get the doctor. She wants to go with the padre to see Franco.

Oscar sees them coming and tries to warn Juan, but he's not fast enough. Juan is impactado and suspicious. He says maybe it's not a good idea. Padre says she's really worried about him. Oscar convinces Juan to let her stay and pulls up a chair for her. Padre tells her (again) he couldn't find the doctor anywhere. (No phones?) Sofia sneaks a gratuitous look at Juan. Juan thinks to himself that he's finding it difficult to hate her.

Oscar tells Juan that she seems like a nice person, and he keeps thinking about what Eva said. (We know that, because he's already mentioned it at least once before in this episode.) Oscar says he's also finding it difficult to go through with this vengeance that the girls don't deserve. Juan says they can't fail Libi on their promise to avenge her.

Yeah, I'm sure she's just cackling with glee knowing that they're going to crush three women in her name.

Sofia gives her confession. She says she's overwhelmed by the vows that she swore on her marriage to Feonando; she can't go through with them.

(The padre listens with a faint smirk that I"m 99% sure isn't supposed to be on that character's face; he's not a bad-looking guy but I think he's not a great actor. Through this whole scene I thought he was a bad guy and was half-expecting him to have a cobra tattoo just like Feonando's, like they were twins or in a fraternity together or something.)

The padre says those vows are the foundation of family and children. She says it's greater than she is, she can't explain, she knows Furd loves her in his own way, but she can't give herself over to him. Padre he says it's natural considering what happened to her, but she has to try to forget what happened, or she'll never be happy.

Well, that is great advice. After more than a year of not discussing the rape with anyone, she's supposed to forget about it. I guess now we know where the doctor is. He's hanging out in the village that has the telephones and the rape counselors and the embalmers. That doctor is in no hurry to come back to Backwards Bonbon City because he can feel his brain losing five IQ points every time he crosses the city limits.

Franco wakes up. Juan hugs him so hard and Oscar pummels him so much that I'm afraid they'll kill him. Did they forget he nearly got beaten to death?? He asks what happened. They asks hiim the same thing - who did this to him? Franco grimaces in pain and passes out again.

Confession is over. The confessional is totally open; Furd strolls right up, and Padre nods pleasantly. Furd tells Sofia he knows they've had some bad times, but he wants things to change, to show her how much he loves her. Maybe then she'll change her attitude towards her. His actions will speak more than a thousand words. (He's going to give her a picture?) First he'll give his confession, to prove that he's willing to change.

She tells him again that she doesn't love him. He says he loves her, he worships her. He's going to get the padre's help to find peace and forgiveness in the name of God for the way he has treated her. He grins hopefully and goes to Confession. Sofia lights a candle.

Padre says I can't tell you what she just said, but just be patient. Furd replies, "Padre, I would like to tell you some things I've never told anyone." The padre encourages him to go for it, but Furd says that once the padre hears what he has to say, he's not going to want to help him. Padre says that would never happen - it's his responsibility to lead his flock. Furd says, well okay, if you insist, but it's at your own risk.

The padre says it's no problem - speak with the same confidence as if you were speaking with God. I'm listening.

"Okay, I'm going to start out by saying that I'm the one who raped Sofia."

The words echo like a nightmare in the impactado padre's head, and now I know he doesn't have a cobra tattoo. (Thank goodness for sound effects, or who knows how long I'd suspect him.) "I raped her," Furd repeats.

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