Caray, Caray!

(All this * business is because my computer at work restricts the use of certain words)

“¡No puede ser!” says Alcides in time-honored novela tradition as he sees Arturo, “It can’t be. You’re dead!” Arturo says that he has come back from hell to destroy Alcides. Arturo draws his weapon and aims it at Alcides. Alcides says reassuringly that he won’t draw his g*n. Arturo orders Dr. Max and Margot to get out of the room. They leave. Arturo says that Alcides will pay for what he did to him.

Poor Soledad is devastated that her daughter can’t be cured of her catalepsy. Dr. Dan tries to comfort her. “I don’t want to see you suffer like this,” he says and we all agree. He promises that he will do everything he can to find a cure for Aurora. Soledad wants to show him something that few people know exists and that might help her baby. She leads him out of the room.

Hugo asks Michelle if it is true that they kissed. She flashes back to the incident in question. Hugo asks why she doesn’t answer. Finally, she says that they didn’t kiss each other. Hugo kissed her in a moment of confusion. When he came out of his catalepsy attack, he thought she was Soledad. Michelle asks about the portrait in the living room. Hugo says that it is his father from whom he inherited catalepsy. Michelle says that their lives were so similar. She inherited catalepsy from her mother. Her mother died without ever knowing that she had been cured, just like Hugo’s father. Hugo says to Michelle that he has a lot to thank her for, a lot. He strokes her cheek. He says that because she came to San Marino, he is completely cured. He kisses her cheek. “Thank you, thank you,” he says, “now we have to find he cure for my daughter.” He tells her that Dr. Dan took a blood sample from Aurora. Does Dr. Dan have the results of the analysis? Michelle says yes, he is talking to Soledad about that now.

Eloisa tells the authorities where Hugo is. She says that Alcides owes her another one. In a few minutes, his brother is about to experience his worst nightmare.

Paquito is doing research on Vlad’s architecture projects in some office. He finds that the last house Vlad designed was the Obragon’s. The damned treasure must be there.

Alcides asks Arturo why he doesn’t shoot. Arturo replies that he will shoot when he decides to. He curses Alcides, says that he hates him and will give him the most horrible death anyone can experience. Alcides tells him that Arturo didn’t give him any choice. He offered Arturo money in exchange for his silence. Alcides asks Arturo how he escaped; he was chained up. Arturo says that when you face immanent death, you cling to life however you can, including giving up a part of your body. He shows Alcides his bandaged stump. Alcides flashes back to the hut incident. He says, “You cut off your hand to escape from the explosion.” Dr. Max, who has been listening, makes a noise. Arturo looks around and Alcides knocks the g*n out of his hand and draws his own two g*ns. Now he is in charge. Margot asks Dr. Max why Arturo drew his g*n on Alcides. Dr. Max tells her that Alcides k*lled Arturo’s sister, Beatriz. Margot is impactada. Dr. Max gets his own g*n out saying that behind his gentlemanly exterior, Alcides is a mur*derer.

Soledad takes Dr. Dan to the basement of the Hacienda and shows him the hyperbaric chamber. She says that this gizmo saved her daughter’s life the last time she had an attack of catalepsy. Dr. Dan says that his father designed the thing and had it built for Hugo’s father. Dr. Dan has to tell Soledad that the gizmo does not always work to save a person with catalepsy and it definitely isn’t a cure. Soledad starts to cry again. She says that if something happens to her daughter, she will die. Her daughter is the most important thing in her life. Dr. Dan tells Soledad to look into his eyes while he makes her a promise that from this moment on, he will devote every second of his life to discovering a cure for her daughter and he’ll find it no matter what it takes. Soledad thanks him and they embrace just as Hugo and Michelle come into the room looking for them.

Arturo asks Alcides why he doesn’t shoot and finish the job. Alcides flashes back to his conversation with Soledad when he told her he had changed and would prove it with deeds, not words. He tells Arturo that he can’t do it. If he k*lls Arturo, it would ruin his plans. He isn’t a mur*derer. Arturo asks what plans he is talking about. Alcides’ only plan is to destroy him and he has achieved part of it. He should finish the job. Alcides has made Arturo into a freak. He demands that Alcides shoot him and get it over with. Alcides says that if he shoots Arturo, Dr. Max and Margot will tell everyone that he is a mur*derer and that can’t happen. Arturo replies that Alcides should k*ll Dr. Max and Margot or better yet k*ll everyone in San Marino so that nobody can say that he is a mur*derer. Once again, he demands that Alcides sh*ot him.

Soledad tells Hugo that she was showing Dr. Dan the chamber that he used to save Aurora’s life. Hugo says that it saved his life on various occasions. Dr. Dan’s father had it built for Hugo’s father. Everybody remembers old Dr. Chirac fondly. Hugo asks Dr. Dan about the analysis of his daughter’s blood. Soledad tells him that Aurora’s blood doesn’t have the stuff that would enable her to be cured by the flower. This information hits Hugo like a physical blow and he has to sit down. “There is no cure for her,” he repeats and sighs, “It’s all my fault. She got that damned illness from me.”

Margot wants to do something about the Arturo-Alcides confrontation. Dr. Max tells her not to interfere. Margot decides that she should tell Hercu-Less. He could stop them from k*lling each other.

Hercu-Less is somewhere outside. He flashes back to his conversation with Alcides. Then he runs into Gladis. She asks why he has a suitcase. He lies and says that Arturo is sending him out of town for a few days. Gladis asks why Arturo has not come home. Herc says that he doesn’t know.

Arturo tells Alcides that he has two choices: he can k*ll everyone or he can k*ll him. Alcides refuses to do anything. Arturo attacks Alcides who pushes him away and Arturo gets his g*n back. Alcides draws his g*ns and we have a stand off. Alcides says that Arturo can have it the way he wants. Arturo says that of course he will have it his way and it will be like this: he aims the g*n at his own head. Alcides tells him not to do it. Arturo doesn’t understand. First, Alcides was going to blow him into a thousand pieces and now he doesn’t want him to shoot himself? (I’m with you, Arturo. Alcides is a little schizo here.) He says that he is a useless freak. He doesn’t want people to feel sorry for him. Alcides says that if he k*lls himself, everyone will believe that Alcides k*lled him and he doesn’t want Soledad to think he is a mur*derer. Arturo says that he understands and he is glad because now Soledad and everyone in San Marino will understand who he really is – a damned mur*derer. Crying, Alcides begs Arturo not to k*ll himself. He will give Arturo all the money in the world if he just doesn’t shoot himself. Arturo says that he isn’t interested in Alcides’ filthy money. He doesn’t want to live any longer. He pulls the trigger but nothing happens. He asks why the g*n didn’t work. Alcides sighs in relief and says that the g*n jammed when it fell on the floor.

The judge personally leads the party to arrest Hugo at the Hacienda. Marina confirms that Hugo is there and tells them that he is in the basement.

Hugo asks Dr. Dan how his daughter could have inherited catalepsy from him but not the blood stuff that enables the disease to be cured. Soledad tells Hugo that Dr. Dan has promised to find a cure. Dr. Dan says that he has sworn to devote his life to this and Michelle says that they can’t lose faith. God won’t abandon this child. At this point, the police arrive to arrest Hugo.

Eloisa says that by now, poor Hugo should be arrested while she is getting ready to see Alcides. Paquito comes in and says that in exchange for sex, he will tell Eloisa a big secret.

Soledad suggests that Hugo is ill and shouldn’t go to jail and Dr. Dan says that he is a doctor and confirms that. But the judge says that Hugo is an escaped prisoner and a fugitive. He can only prove his innocence in court. Hugo thanks Soledad and the others for defending him but the judge has his job to do. Hugo has no options. He has to face the consequences of his actions. Michelle and Soledad convince the judge that Hugo doesn’t need to be handcuffed. As he is led away, Hugo stops like he is dizzy, turns around and takes a long look back at Soledad while Michelle and Dr. Dan watch sadly. Soledad tells Michelle and Dan that they have to do something to help Hugo. Michelle says that she can lend the money to pay off the investors. Soledad reminds them that they also have to deal with Marina’s accusation that Hugo tried to k*ll her. Marina is watching them.

Back at the endless confrontation at Dr. Max’s, Arturo asks Alcides to borrow his g*n to k*ll himself. Alcides says that he came back to San Marino to win Soledad’s love fair and square and he isn’t going to let Arturo’s death mess up his plan. Arturo says that his beloved Soledad might find out that Alcides tried to k*ll him and caused him to lose his hand. Alcides says that Arturo would pay dearly if he did that. Arturo says that the mur*der of his sister can’t go unpunished. Alcides says that his sister was crazy. He describes what Beatriz did to him, tells Arturo that he is sorry but it was her life or his. He moves to leave. Arturo says that this isn’t over. Alcides says that the life of his mother and his own life depend on what he does and he warns Arturo not to confront him. As Dr. Max and Margot come back into the laboratory, Alcides salutes Arturo and says that as usual, he enjoyed doing business with him. He leaves.

Eloisa has put out and now she wants to know what the big secret is that Paquito discovered. He tells her that he found that the Obragon house was Vlad’s last architecture commission.

Lucas has fallen off the wagon. Ester guesses that even though she told him not to, he invested all their money in the mine. Lucas confirms it. They are broke.

Hugo is put into Boris’cell and there is a happy reunion. Hugo calls Boris his loyal friend and says that it is his fault that Boris is in prison. Boris says that he knew the PoV was risky. He stood by Hugo then and he will continue to stand by Hugo until the end. Boris tells Hugo how happy he is that Hugo has been cured of catalepsy. Hugo thanks him and says that he is the brother Hugo never had. Hugo says that they will get out of prison by selling the Hacienda to pay back the investors. Boris says, “Then you don’t know?” “Know what?” says Hugo. Boris tells him about Marina’s attempted mur*der charge. Poor Hugo – another blow.

Ursula comes to have it out with Marina. They exchange insults and have a fight. Marina throws things at Ursula and almost strangles her but there isn’t any resolution.

Margot tells Arturo that she knows he lost his hand because of Alcides. Arturo tells her not to repeat that. Only Margot and Dr. Max know what happened here. Arturo tells them that there will be consequences if they talk and they agree to say nothing. Arturo wants to go home with Margot.

Alcides meets Hercu-less. He gives him money to find a place to live'. Alicdes asks what Herc wants to be happy. It turns out Hercu-Less wants to buy a house settle down with his girl and have lots of pond sex. Alcides gives Herc more money to do that. Herc asks why Alcides is being so generous to him since he hasn’t done anything for him yet. Alcides says that he likes his employees to be happy and he doesn’t tolerate betrayal. He tells Herc that he was mistaken, Arturo is still alive. Herc can choose to be Alcides right hand man and messenger between him and Eloisa or go back to his miserable life with Arturo. Herc chooses the cash. Herc passes along the information to Alcides that Hugo is back in jail. Alcides says that he is not surprised.

Margot tells Arturo that she knows from Dr. Max that Alcides k*lled his sister. He should denounce Alicides. Arturo says that he will take “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” Margot is not familiar with the Book of Exodus. She asks if Arturo is going to k*ll Alcides. Not now, he says. He is going to start by k*lling the woman that bastard Alcides loves.

Soledad tells Michelle and Dr. Dan that she can’t believe they are going through all this suffering. Michelle says that Soledad is brave. Soledad says that she can’t take all this happening at the same time. She just can’t take any more! Dr. Dan says that she isn’t alone. He will be by her side to make sure that Aurora doesn’t have another catalepsy attack. Michelle says that she and Dr. Dan were present when Marina fell down the stairs. They can testify at the trial.

Arturo has a dream that Alcides k*lls Gladis. He swears that he will get revenge by taking action, not against Alicdes directly since that would k*ll mommy, but against those Alcides cares about: Soledad, her daughter and parents and Hugo. (So we are set up with the motivation for the final conflict of the novela.)

Ursula tells Soledad about her fight with Marina. Soledad tells Ursula that Hugo begged her to forgive him and he seemed very sincere. She still can’t get past the pain he caused her though. He thinks it would be a good idea if Hugo found someone else. Ursula is surprised.

In her bed, Michelle dreams that Hugo comes to her but she wakes up and is sad that she has fallen for someone who can’t be hers.

In their cell, Boris is asleep but Hugo is awake. He paces restlessly flashing back to seeing Dr. Dan embrace Soledad. He is stuck in jail while Dr. Dan has full access to Soledad.

Eloisa mentions the secret passage in the Hacienda. Probably there is a such a passage in the Obragon house as well. She suggest checking it out when everyone is at Hugo’s trial tomorrow.

Rebeca plies Lucas with liquor to get him to testify against Hugo at his trial. He doesn’t want to do it, it would devastate Soledad.

The wheels of justice grind exceedingly fast in San Marino. Hugo was arrested the previous night and the next day he is on trial. Everyone is there including Los Burque. The judge calls for Arturo to make the investor’s case but Gladis has to report that he isn’t available. Manrique will do it.

The credits roll.

Tomorrow: the trial

Labels: la traicion