Caray, Caray!

Soledad comes in after the brothers have reached an agreement to fight for her love. Alcides is annoyed that she found out about the meeting and blames Hugo for not fighting fair. Hugo asks Soledad how she found out that he and Alcidew were meeting. She says that doesn’t matter and launches into her attack. She asks how many times have they teamed up to hurt her? Now they are treating her like a trophy they will compete for. Hugo tries to speak to her but she says that it is her turn to speak. She lets Alcides say that he doesn’t know what she overheard but it’s not what she thinks. Soledad replies that she knows perfectly well that they have agreed to a duel to win her love. “How ironic,” she says, “the two people who have hurt me most in the world.” Hugo says that it would be better if he took her home but she responds that she isn’t going anywhere until they hear what she has to say.

At the frontiers of medical science, Dr. Dan tells Michelle that thanks to the little piece of paper, he now understands everything. Old Dr. Chirac was experimenting on her when he injected her after she was dug up. It could have killed her or cured her. It worked and she is cured. The secret is that the flower plus a special substance in her blood equals a cure for catalepsy.

Boris asks Marina from whom or what is Eloisa protecting her? Eloisa replies for her and says that she is terrified of going to jail as an accomplice of Hugo. She says that they found Marina walking around alone and helpless in a dark alley and brought her to the tavern to calm down. They were trying to convince her to go back to Boris when he came in. Eloisa says that Marina told her that she regrets leaving him because she still loves him in spite of all that has happened. Paquito supports this tissue of lies. Poor stupid Boris asks if she really said that. Eloisa takes Marina aside and pulls out some money from her garter stash and says that Marina can have more but she has to return to Hugo’s house and be her spy. The evil duo leaves Boris and Marina alone.

Soledad says that she won’t allow it. She won’t fall into their traps again. They can both forget about her. To Hugo, she says that between them, there is nothing more to say. She tells Alcides that she isn’t the naïve girl she was before. “Even though the law says that we are man and wife, we never have been and never will be,” she says. Even if he forces her, she will die first. Alcides assures her that he has changed too and he will never force her to do anything against her will. He says that he has told her a thousand times that he has loved her since she was a child. He was stupid. He didn’t know how to win her heart but now it is different. Hugo loudly clears his throat. He says that he doesn’t think this meeting has purpose. Soledad disagrees. She tells Alcides that she doesn’t know who he is and she doesn’t care. She doesn’t care what he does to win her heart because she doesn’t believe a single word he says. Her heart is empty. His brother, Hugo, destroyed what was left of it. Hugo tries again to suggest that he take her home. Soledad responds coldly that she is talking to his brother and asks him to leave her alone with Alcides. (Poor Hugo, you are paying for what you did now.) Alcides winks and gives him the ‘scram’ gesture with his head. (This was funny.) Poor Hugo has no choice but to be sent outside like a naughty child.

Michelle says that she knew it. She knew she was cured. She is thrilled that now they can help Hugo and his daughter. Dr. Dan says that she doesn’t get it. The flower doesn’t work by itself. Only catalepsy sufferers who have the same substance in their blood as Michelle can be cured. (I’m making a prediction here. Aurora will have the mysterious substance in her blood and Hugo won’t. We already know the flower extract nearly killed Hugo and I’ve always believed that Soledad is Hugo’s cure. I believe the flower will cure the baby, though.)

Paquito asks Eloisa where she has been. She won’t tell him and he believes that she is hiding something from him.

Boris says that he found Marina because he wanted a drink and someone told him where she was. Marina says sarcastically that it is nice that his master let him go out. Boris says that she is just angry that he wouldn't let her steal the money in the briefcase that he is in charge of. (Paquito hears this.) Boris asks Marina why she hates Hugo so much. She says that Boris only has time for Hugo and doesn’t care about their child. Boris says that he loves her and he can’t wait for their child to be born. He promises that everything will change. Marina says that he is lying. Boris says that he is faithful to Hugo but he loves her with all his heart and begs her to return to his side. He promises nothing bad will happen to her. Marina hears the voice of Eloisa ordering her to be her spy in Hugo’s house. She agrees to return.

Soledad thanks Alcides for throwing the party in her honor. His arrival was unforgettable. Thanks to him, she found out that Hugo had been impersonating him. Alcides says that he is sorry for what happened. He didn’t want her to suffer. He only wanted to give her a lovely surprise but he realizes that it was a mistake. “Your latest mistake, you meant to say,” responds Soledad sarcastically, “You’ve made so many mistakes, Alcides.” Soledad says that she no longer fears him. Alcides says that he suffered while he was gone. Soledad says that she doesn’t care. She can’t change the disgust she feels for him. Once again, Alcides says that he is going to dedicate every second that remains of his life making her fall in love with him.

Arturo tells a very drunk Hercu-less to have everything ready in the morning to serve the summons on Hugo. He also wants Hercu-less to find out where Alcides is living. Gladis tells Arturo to stop concentrating on getting revenge on Hugo. He should find a nice girl and settle down. Arturo says that his relationship with Eloisa was a disaster. She was a tramp who was only after his money. Gladis repeats that she wants him to marry and produce an heir so she can give him his inheritance and die in peace. Arturo has a memory of Michelle and says, “why not her?”

Michelle asks Dr. Dan what the next step is. He says that they have to examine Hugo and the baby. If they don’t have the stuff in their blood, he can’t cure them.

Soledad asks how Alcides could ask her to believe him after all he has done to her. He manipulated her mother to make her marry him and when they were married, he beat her even though she was pregnant. Alcides tells Soledad not to exaggerate. He only slapped her once. He admits he was a jerk. He couldn’t stand it when he realized that she wouldn’t forget his brother, Hugo. “So that’s why you decided to kill him,” responds Soledad, “Because I know that you let him be buried alive.” ”Is that what Hugo said?” asks Alcides, “and you believed him?”
“Are you going to deny it?” asks Soledad.
“No, I won’t deny it because it is the truth,” responds Alcides, “because I did it for love. I did it for you. I was sick of not having your love. I was wrong, terribly wrong but I swear to you that I have paid for my sins. I was abducted while I was away and savagely tortured.” (He shows her his scar.) He says that he almost died and he suffered the same pain as Hugo suffered when he almost asphyxiated in his coffin. (So now they are even? I don't think that excuse would fly before secular or divine justice.)
Soledad says that if he wants her to feel sorry for him, he’s wasting his time. Alcides responds that he isn’t asking for her sympathy. He wants her to know that he is a new man. He has grown up. He will wait all his life for her. His heart tells him that one day she will love the man that is before her. Soledad says that she doesn’t believe him.

Eloisa plays with money. She will begin lying to Soledad and become her friend. She will have to separate herself from Paquito and Rebeca.

Poor Hugo can’t stand it anymore and he comes back into the cabaña and says that it’s getting dark and he should take Soledad home. She looks at him like a bug and asks what he is doing there. Hugo asks Alcides to leave them alone. Hugo tells her that he was afraid Alcides would hurt her. She replies that she doesn’t need his or anyone’s protection. Hugo says that they made love today. They were together body and soul. If he tells her that she feels nothing for him, he will leave her forever. Soledad says that was an act of weakness. Hugo responds that he doesn’t believe her. “Answer me honestly,” he says, “Don’t you love me?” (Don’t ask questions like that when you don’t know what the answer is going to be, Hugo.)
“You killed my love with your vengeance,” replies Soledad and leaves. Hugo looks up at Alcides who has overheard their conversation and he leaves too.

Michelle, Dr. Dan and Andres are having breakfast. Michelle feels sorry for Soledad. What happened at the fiesta is in all the papers. She also thinks Hugo is a good person in spite of all that has happened. Dr. Dan says that he hopes so since they are going reveal their secret to him. They need to be careful. San Marino is a dangerous town where his father was murdered. Dr. Dan says that he didn’t have a chance to tell Soledad that he is son of Dr. Chirac. Dr. Dan says that Soledad is beautiful and Michelle says that she sees that he likes her.

Hugo is at breakfast. Boris tells him that it was good that Alcides didn’t have him arrested. Hugo says that he would have been better off in jail. Boris doesn’t understand. Being locked up brings on a catalepsy attack. He would die. (This is starting to irritate me. A catalepsy attack won’t kill Hugo. He appears to be dead but eventually he wakes up. The danger is that someone will assume he is dead and bury him. Since lots of people know now that Hugo has catalepsy, that isn’t very likely.) Hugo tells Boris about the bet and that Soledad hates him and won’t see him. He asks about Marina. Boris lies and says that it was just a marital tiff. Hugo goes right back to his own problems and curses the stupid Plan of Vengeance.

Arturo and Hercu-less barge in and serve Hugo with a demand for restitution of their investment. Hugo says sure and sends Boris for the money. Arturo says that he and the investors want more than their investment. They want damages.

In the orchid garden, Soledad tells Ursula that she feels a burden has been lifted from her. She will go out on her own and get a job. Ursula says that Soledad still loves Hugo. Soledad replies that the previous evening she almost told Hugo the truth that he is the only man who will ever be her life. She vows to get him out of her heart. Eloisa slithers up and shows Soledad the newspapers stories about the fiesta. She offers her support to Soledad and says that she can count on her (gag).

Hugo yells at Boris to hurry up with the money. He wants the vermin out of his house. Boris comes back ashen. The money is gone! Hugo is impactado. It’s not possible. Arturo applauds and says that was a great performance. Hugo assures him that he will repay the money. Arturo says that if he and the investors don’t receive the money by noon, he will return and burn the house down. When Arturo is gone, Boris tells Hugo that he thinks Marina took the money.

We see that it was Paquito who took the money. He overheard Boris and Marina and went to Hugo’s house where they leave the doors open and large sums of money in unlocked armoires.

Alcides is making a withdrawal at Treasure R Us. He is doing this in broad daylight and the entrance to the treasure place appears to be right on the side of the house where those careless Obragons have never noticed it. Hauling his bag of treasure out, Alcides encounters Lucas. Lucas tells him to get out. Alcides asks Lucas to forgive his bad acts in the past. Lucas refuses. He sees Soledad in the distance and says how pretty he is. He also sees that Eloisa is at work. Soledad tells Alcides that she was clear that she doesn’t want to see him again. Eloisa pretends to support Soledad and yells at Alcides and gives him a couple of those fake slaps. Alcides says that he came to give Soledad her a summons to go to judge’s office. Soledad is curious. Alcides drives off in Vlad’s old donkey cart (it looks a lot like Enrico’s cart.) Couldn’t he get a better carriage with all his money?

Marina is sweeping at the top of that big flight of stairs into the Hacienda. Boris accuses Marina of taking the money. She insists she didn’t take it. Hugo says that his life depends on returning the money. He steps toward Marina saying, “If you have the money, please return it to me.” Marina steps backward and falls down the stairs. Dr. Dan arrives and takes charge.

Paquito tells Rebeca that he hasn’t seen Eloisa around. He believes that she is hiding something; Rebeca wonders where Alcides got all his money.

Los Burque are broke. Elena says she wants to work in mine but Guillermo says that a woman can’t work in the mine. She might have go back to robbery.

While Dr. Dan treats Marina, Michelle chats with Hugo. Hugo apologizes to Michelle about being rude her the previous day. She tells him who is Dr. Dan is and the story about her cure, the flower, etc. Hugo is excited and happy that there might be a cure for him and his daughter. Michelle tells him that they found the flower, too.

Dr. Dan examines Marina (it looks like he has a much more modern stethoscope than Dr. Max did.)

Eloisa overhears Antonia tell Ester that the orchid can cure catalepsy. (Nice going Antonia. You cause trouble when you speak and when you refuse to speak.)

Boris comes in and tells Hugo that Marina is ok but she lost her baby. Boris is destrozado. He and Hugo cry, hug each other and Hugo tries to comfort Boris. Boris says that Marina needs him and Hugo says to go to her. Hugo tells Michelle that Boris is more than faithful servant to him. He is his brother. Hugo blames himself for not being able to catch Marina before she fell (would have caught Soledad if she had fallen?)

Marina tells Boris that if he hadn’t brought her back to the Hacienda, she wouldn’t have lost her baby. It’s all Hugo’s fault.

Michelle tells Hugo that they found the flower at Soledad’s house. Hugo tells Dr. Dan that he is ready to have any tests that will help cure his daughter of catalepsy.

In a Darth Vader cape, Eloisa sprinkles an accelerant on the flowers and sets them on fire.

At the Judge’s office, Soledad asks why she is here. Alcides gives her a divorce decree and a waiver of the baby’s paternity. She is impactada. Alcides says that from today on, she is free and can follow her heart. The credits roll.

Tomorrow: Hugo’s back in jail and having a catalepsy attack.

Labels: la traicion