Caray, Caray!

A lot happened in the show tonight, so corrections and additions are extra welcome.


We see Flo, squeaky-voiced from crying, telling her sister that she’s going to fight for Alex with everything she’s got.

Back at Casa Belmonte, Braulio is showing the lawyer up to Regina’s room and Alex comes into the foyer and tells Lina he wants to talk to her. He tries to get out of her who that guy was with Mili last night. Lina ducks and weaves and finally tells him she saw the guy but doesn’t know who he was. Lina takes off and Alex does a lot of blinking.

Regina tells the lawyer that she’s thinking that the 25% she had planned to leave Mili is too little and that she wants to make Mili her universal heir. I’m guessing that means Mili gets 100%. Regina says she wants to leave everything to her “daughter” – she wants to adopt Milagros. The lawyer smiles and Regina twinkles.

Mili in her little dress and low heels is in the crowded blacktop schoolyard kicking around a soccer ball with some of the guys. Mat the teacher/guy from Rodeo comes out and greets her warmly. Here comes Mat’s fiancée, Rocio – she gives him a big hug and smooch. He says not at school, but she says he’s such a wonderful fiancé and he spends all this time at this job he gripes about so much.

Now we get a quick bit of his backstory: (Yikes! Somebody help me out here! I don’t think I got all this and it’s important) I think he says that he would rather have worked with his grandfather at the despacho (practice?) but the grandfather insisted he teach. She points out that he started out teaching in a little village and now look where he is. She says the grandfather wanted him to make it on his own. Mat says times have changed, he graduated with honors, he’s a great lawyer, this is not the place for him. Still, he says gazing over her shoulder at Mili, today hasn’t been so bad.

Take me for a coffee, Rocio says. I want to hear how you behaved on your bachelor night out. We went to a restaurant and then to another, he says. Mili is still fooling around kicking the ball in the background. Rocio is thrilled that he’s such a great guy and can you imagine – we’re going to get married in a week! He gives her a little smooch and says he is counting the days! Hours! Minutes!

Regina is explaining herself to the lawyer, how she had lived closed in for all those years and how Mili made her smile again, how Mili loves her. The lawyer says that’s great, but to go as far as adoption? Regina says that way when she’s gone, she can be sure that neither Constancio nor anybody else can mess with Mili’s inheritance. Regina says she wants the will set up so that Mili gets it when she gets married. The lawyer, taken aback, asks why. Regina says because she wants Mili to marry Alex. They love each other! (Oh, noooo Regina, don’t do it! This is the kind of will that causes rivers of tears and untimely deaths in other telenovelas!) Here’s Regina’s plan: When Luci sees that the only way for Alex to get his money is to marry Mili, she’ll support their marriage. Please understand, she tells the lawyer, it’s my only way to give them their day.

Braulio knocks at Connie’s home office. He wants to know if Connie got to see what’s in the box. Connie says no, but what he’s really concerned with right now is Mili’s desire to buy her mother’s childhood home. Braulio points out that Mili’s not in a position to buy anything. Ha! says Connie. You must’ve been born yesterday. All she has to do is tell my mother, and my mother will give it to her as a gift. What I plan to do is to buy it myself before she can. Braulio says the house is just a thing, it’s not what she’s seeking. It’s her history, her family, that you don’t want her to know. I’ll think about it, says Connie.

Braulio leaves and Karla knocks. She vamps in in her little pink maid’s outfit and wants to know if Connie needs…. anything? Like the anything she offered in her room? No, he says brusquely, and certainly not with an employee. Know your place. You may go now. She swishes out. Boy, is that skirt short – plus it has a little ruffle at the bottom.

Braulio is escorting the lawyer down the stairs and Connie comes into the foyer. They exchange some pleasantries and Connie tries to find out why the lawyer is there – is his mother changing her will again? The lawyer mentions client confidentiality and then says he’s following Connie’s political career with interest. Connie says he hopes he can count on his vote. We’ll see, says the lawyer smiling big, and he leaves.

When Braulio comes back from the door, Connie asks him if he knows why the lawyer was there. Braulio says he doesn’t know, Connie’ll have to ask Regina.

Montage of Mili in several classes. She is a big class participant, hand up a lot, apparently running her mouth some too. But she seems to be really going for her studies.

It’s night and Mat and his friend are getting on their motorcycles. Mat wants to know if his pal has the papers he wanted. Was he able to find out the financial situation of Rocio’s parents? It wasn’t easy, they know how to cover their tracks, says the friend. They’re in financial trouble, says the pal, and you are a great deal for them as you stand to inherit your grandfather’s fortune. Mat says, he keeps threatening to cut me off. What are you going to do about Rocio? asks the pal. I don’t think she realizes their situation. I know you love her. I do, with all my heart, says Mat, but I don’t like the idea that she would marry me for money.

Mili is coming out and sees them and exclaims over the motorcycles. She’s not thrilled to see the pal. She says she really liked Mat’s class. He invites her for coffee and tells her to jump on. She’s reluctant at first and then admits she’s always wanted to ride on one.

Regina is in a lovely rich-lady nightgown outfit and Connie is trying to pry out of her why the lawyer was there. I never thought you were paranoid before, she says innocently, showing she can lie like a good Belmonte. Connie then guesses that it’s the house – is she buying it for Mili? I already bought it, says Regina, it’s a gift for her for starting her studies. Connie starts to get mad, but Regina tells him not to talk to her that way. He says he’s fed up with her messing around with Mili’s life – Mili will get used to things that her life can’t provide. That’s the point, says Regina, to get her used to those things that life hasn’t given her. What’s wrong with that? What do you care?

You’ve done it before and wrecked someone’s life, says Connie. You mean Rosario? asks Regina. No, she says, you’re the one who wrecked her life. Connie comes back with you’re the one who filled her head with fantasies of belonging to a world far above her, who gave her the idea that she could marry me. Regina retorts: I didn’t count on your being such a coward. Look me in the eyes and tell me you didn’t love her.

Let Mili lead her life, and you lead yours, says Connie, and leaves. Uh oh! Looks like Regina’s having chest pains again.

Whew! A nice, relaxing ad. There have been a lot of revelations in this first chunk of our show and it’s time for a refreshing beverage. That’s better.

Oh, good! A Val scene. She is alone in her room, in front of the mirror saying she’d die of shame. No, she wouldn’t, so there. It’s what she wants. She says she’s all nerves, so she’ll just keep her eyes shut. There’s a knock. Come in! Don’t say a word! Besame! she says, but doesn’t sing it. Besame mucho – come si feura esta noche la ultima vez. Ohmygawd, it’s Bobby. Her eyes are still shut and he has her in his arms. I knew you’d return my feelings, says Bobby. Her eyes pop open. Morgan appears at the door. Adulteress! he accuses, and leaves. She shoves Bobby off and calls after Morgan. Bobby says Que?


In the foyer, Connie is on his cell. He’s beaming and telling the person on the other end that they can count on his full support. He ends the call and Alex comes in and Connie berates him for not telling him the news. What news? asks Alex. What do you mean what news, it’s amazingly important! says Connie. Alex says he has no idea what Connie’s talking about. Connie says Flo’s dad Domingo was just on the phone proposing the merger of their two big companies. They could dominate the whole Latin American market. (Power-proud Connie doesn’t seem to consider that he might not be head of anything if his partner is a guy with a gun shoved in his belt.) Alex is stunned, but Luci who has overheard the last bit, is thrilled.

Connie says the whole thing hinges on Alex marrying Flor. Alex says no way. Luci tells him he has to whether he wants to or not. (This is the downside of being a handsome prince – political marriage to gain territories and make alliances.) Think of it says Connie – we could rule the world bwaaahhaaahaaa! But you are sacrificing my life, says Alex. You are sacrificing me!

That’s idiotic says Connie. No it’s not, it’s my life, says Alex. It’s idiotic repeats Connie.

Mili and Mat are in the café, having cake. She is licking her fingers and she asks him why he’s staring at her, ‘cause he’s making her nervous. He says he’s spent the whole time thinking of her – he couldn’t even sleep last night. What a treat it was to have her walk into his class! She says all that wind from riding the motorcycle seems to have blown his brain loose, because he’s supposed to be giving her a pep talk about studying. He says he’s serious, that she’s helped him make a big decision – he’s not going to get married.
Mili pitches and bucks; she doesn’t like where this is going. No, he says, I just want to be friends, I’m not coming on to you. She wants to know why not, is she maybe too ugly?

Mat mentions that professors aren’t supposed to mess in with students. Those are the rules. She says he seems like a type to break rules. Not me, he says, I’m a lawyer. Mili says at the Rodeo he didn’t give the impression of being a professor, much less a lawyer. I work with my grandfather who has a business, he says. Mili tries to fake that she is a business woman who buys and sells… stuff. Import/export, he asks? Something like that she says and then she says how great the cake is.

Back in the foyer the battle still rages. Connie raves about the great future; Alex says they are playing with his life. He asks his mother how she can support such an idea. He says look me in the eyes and tell me that a marriage for money and position can work. She gets his point. I love your father, she says. Alex takes off up the stairs, but he turns and tells his mother that the one thing he can’t stand is hypocrisy. Luci runs after him.

The Val/Bobby/Morgan story tumbles into the foyer where Connie still is. Morgan accuses Val of being in the arms of another man. Bobby and Morgan throw insults at each other. Connie tells them to stop, and what exactly are they up to with his daughter?

At Flo’s apartment, she is thanking her dad for being the very best dad in the whole world because he proposed the merger to Connie. But the dad says I don’t know that Alex is the best guy for you – he told you himself he doesn’t love you. But I love him! says Flo. Alex’s judgment has been clouded by that servant and he’s confused, but sooner or later he’ll realize I’m the perfect gal for him. Her dad sensibly points out to her that this is what happened last time. She got her husband to marry her, and then he cheated on her. Her dad doesn’t want to see her suffer like that again. She says she remembers, but she’s sure this time. I love Alex with todo, TODO mi alma. Dad looks skeptical – he knits his brow and we viewers all knit ours too because this girl is nuts.

Connie has Vale and the two would-be lovers in his office. Vale says she had her eyes closed, and… Connie says there are two guys and you have your eyes shut? Go to your room! Vale leaves. The guys fidget. Connie opens his desk and gets out a box and opens it. There are cigars inside and the guys are relieved – maybe they’ll all have a manly smoke together. Connie gets out a cigar and then some clippers. Do you realize these can be used for other things? I was thinking of rabbis, but Connie says if you guys go anywhere near my daughter, I’ll turn you into sopranos. How? innocent Bobby wants to know. Connie clips a big piece off the cigar. The guys grab their crotches.

Mili is back at the girls’ dorm and her pals are wondering why she got back so late. She says she got invited for coffee. Karla scoffs and says she’s going for a glass of water. Mili tells the pals that it was that guy from the Rodeo – he’s her philosophy prof. The pals tell her how Alex is jealous and is asking who that guy was at the Rodeo.

Regina’s lawyer is talking to none other than Mat, telling him that this lady client wants to adopt her servant, and that it needs to be very discreet. Mat says the family might react very badly. Exactly, says our lawyer. Please get the papers ready for me before your honeymoon. Mat looks serious. Abuelo, he says, I don’t want to get married. I found out her parents are in financial trouble and I have to think of my future. You don’t pay me what I deserve and the pay at school isn’t great. Our lawyer tells him that you have to struggle to get ahead in the world. Why, he himself started out teaching at a school in a poor pueblo and it brought him closer to people.

And that’s why you threaten me with leaving everything to charity? asks Mat. I want to see you grow into a man who does good, says his grandfather. You misjudge me, says Mat. No, I think I see who you are. You find out your fiancée isn’t as solvent as you thought and right away you want to cancel your wedding. It’s not about money, says Mat. Oh please, says the grandfather, I’m older and wiser than you. When we die, we have only what we’re wearing, nothing more. You don’t understand me, says Mat, you never have.

It’s still the same night and Mili is in the kitchen. Alex is there too in his T-shirt. He’s grilling her about that guy at the Rodeo – who was he? She yanks Alex around a bit, but won’t tell him.

Now it’s morning and Mili is sitting with Regina while Regina has her breakfast. Mili has her books on her lap and is doing her homework. They chat about Machiavelli and power. Regina tells her she has a surprise for her later and meantime, did Mili ever look in that box? Mili says no, she wants Regina to look in it with her. For reasons unknown, the box is sitting in Regina’s room. They tote it over to the bed for a better look.

Mat is in an outdoor café talking to his about-to-be ex. She is surprised he would investigate her family’s finances. He asks her if she knew about the problems. She said she knew her dad was having some worries, but she didn’t know it was that bad. Mat says well, then the wedding is off. If you would lie to me about something so important, what can I expect when we’re married?

They made me promise not to tell you. I thought it was temporary, something that would pass. (Hands up everyone who thinks she’s completely in the right on this one.) Mat asks if their family expected that he and his uncle would be responsible for her father’s debt. She says money has nothing to do with it – please don’t do this to me. Mat tells her that he wants to get married, but she’s not at his level and he has to look for a better candidate. You’re destroying me, she says, not even shedding a tear. He tells her he doesn’t want to see her again, then he lays down some money and says it’s for the bill with some left over for a taxi.

Vale wants to go shopping, but Morgan is scared to take her. Connie comes in and Vale asks him what he said last night. He says he was young once, and he understands how foolish young people can be. He will drive her. Bobby comes in and wants to talk to Vale, but Connie fingers the cigar in his breast pocket and Bobby decides he’s looking for Alex and runs off.

Mili and Regina have found some dolls in the box. Regina starts to have chest pains. Mili wants to call the doctor, but Regina says no, but Mili could help her to the bathroom. Braulio comes in, and sees the three dolls on the bed. He is overcome with joy– “our dolls” he exclaims. He calls them by name and holds them to him. Just then Mili and Regina come back into the room. Mili tries to snatch them from him, but he snatches them back. Regina explains that they’re the dolls belonging to Mili’s mother. Braulio hands them over. Aren’t they pretty? asks Mili. Precious, says Braulio.

Next they find some photos. Braulio gets nervous. There’s Mili’s mom as a little girl and they marvel at her brother – so skinny. Braulio is not pleased.

Our lawyer walks in to where Mat is working at a desk. He reproaches him – Rocio’s parents are friends of his. I know who they are says Mat, they are hypocrites. Oh, says the lawyer, the money leaves and the love leaves with it? You’re the hypocrite. You’re just as ambitious as your father. Leave my father out of it, says, Mat, may he rest in peace. You don’t know what you’re doing, says his grandfather. Yes I do, says Mat, I killed our engagement and it was premeditated. This is no time for jokes, says his grandfather.

Vale walks into the foyer and Morgan is so excited to see her he runs into her and she drops the package she’s carrying. Connie is with her and Morgan backs up quick. He apologizes and she fake tells him off and tells him to help her pick up the package. They both bend for it and she slips him a note. She goes off up the stairs, and Connie heads up the other flight, holding up his wrapped cigar to make a point with Morgan who trembles. Morgan uncrumples the note and reads “I’ll meet you in the park nearby in 20 minutes.” He sniffs the note happily.

Regina is walking in the house, trailed by Alex and Luci. Regina says she hopes they don’t mind she’s come down to eat with them. Of course not, says Luci, this house is yours too. Actually, this is my house, says Regina. I’ve gotten used to having company and now Mili is at school. Regina says she doesn’t see why Regina blows her money on educating that stupid girl. What can she learn? Alex says if you gave her the opportunity, you’d see how intelligent she is. I agree with my grandson, says Regina, you should get to know people more, and judge them less. Alex gives them goodbye kisses and the two ladies phony smile at one another.

Mili, dressed in her Carlitos outfit, is in a barrio street, kicking a ball around with the kid Gamuza. They sit down and she shows him the photo of her mother and uncle when they were little. She asks how his father is doing. He says not bad, he’s working, but he complains a lot. Mili tells him that she hasn’t been able to go to the convent to show the Sor the photo and could he run by and tell her to come to the house tonight. He says sure and they say a sweet goodbye.

We’re in the park. Vale is waiting by a tree and here comes Morgan. She calls out to him and they run bounding to each other slow mo, her hair bouncing. Pretty soon he boings up into some branches, and she trips on some dirt, but they end up in each other’s arms doing some slo-mo kissing. Freeze frame.

Avances: Alex is apparently outside of the school, telling Mat to leave Mili alone. She gets mad, he says he’s defending her. She says she doesn’t need it, she has someone to defend her and she takes Mat’s arm. There were some more avances, but I didn’t get what was going on.

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