Caray, Caray!

Rehash: We see Mili and Al in the hallway outside his room where Flor languishes, and Mili is blaming herself. Al hugs her to comfort her and guess what, Marisela walks into the hall right then. She tells Al that this is why Flor slashed herself. Everything is his fault! Mili runs off. Mari tells Al that Flor is not alone. He says he doesn’t owe her any explanations, but he will do everything to make sure Flor is okay.

New hash: Mari enters the darkened Room of Crushed Dreams where Flor is asleep, recovering from the loss of less blood than you get taken for a blood test. Mari swears that she won’t let that monster destroy her sister’s life.

Karla sneaks into the kitchen at night and dials up Fernando, who is sitting astride his shiny motorcycle, waiting for her call. He tells her too bad she’s getting married tomorrow because girls like her aren’t thick upon the ground and he misses her. Karla flutters. He says how great she called exactly at the appointed hour and can she come out and play? Karla says it’s dangerous, and also it’s late for going out. But she says okay, when can you come get me? I’m here out front, he says. Karla is stoked, says she’ll go change and be right there.

In the foyer, Al is standing about like Hamlet, looking tragic, tears standing in his eyes. Nestor says you couldn’t help what happened. Luci agrees. All says leave me alone, you hypocrites. Nestor takes it patiently, saying well we’re all tense. He goes on upstairs. Mat and Connie are there too. Luci leans over Connie where he is sitting on the couch and softly says she needs to talk to him later in the study. She touches his ear and massages his shoulder - a clarinet is playful in the background. Luci goes upstairs.

Oh! Andrea is there too. She leaps over to the couch and asks Connie what Luci said. Look out, says Connie, you look like a suicide attempter yourself. Andrea curses Luci, then gets seductive and says let’s go up to bed. I’ll be up in a bit, he says smiling and rumbling.

By now Al’s tears have reached his chin. Andrea pauses on her way to the staircase and says I’m glad your wife is better. Al just keeps staring straight ahead.

Connie stops at Al too and says and you call ME an assassin? Don’t keep putting on airs that you are a better person than me. You are trash and you know it. Connie walks over to Mat who has been sitting there feeling awkward and tells him, please feel at home. You’re a great guy! If Al had been like you I would’ve taken him on like a son. Al in the background looks even more pained. Connie leaves.

Mat is standing, briefcase in hand, uncomfortable, and Al is still standing glued to the spot by the stairs. Mari comes down and tells Mat that she’s going to stay with Flor, she doesn’t want to leave her alone. In the background, Al says don’t worry on my account, I can sleep here on the couch. Mari can’t be bothered to even acknowledge that he has spoken. She goes upstairs.

Mat says to Al, well, I’m going now. Please greet Flor for me when she wakes up. He walks out. Al looks like he’s going to sob, but instead he runs upstairs. Oops, Mat isn’t gone, he’s lurking behind a wall.

Lina and Gloria are in twin beds (what happened to the bunks?) chatting when Karla comes in dressed to go out. They ask if those are her new jammies. Karla scoffs and says she’s going out with friends for her stag party. The girls say you don’t have any friends. I have tons of them, retorts Karla.

Mat sneaks into Connie study and plants a manila envelope in the desk drawer. Uh oh! Somebody coming! He dives under the desk, which is spindly-legged and doesn’t provide much cover. Connie and Luci come in and start telling the other how unscrupulous they are, and they laugh and flop on the couch, necking big time.

Karla is happily getting on the motorcycle with Fernando.

Vale is in her little Taco Naco hat at the Rodeo food bar (we see Morgan slinging hash in the background) and she’s talking to Al on her cell. She tells him to get some rest, as he seems really off. She says she knows Mili is having a hard time and that she’ll talk to her.

Vale tells Morgan that Flor seems to be in the clear now, but she’s really worried about Al. Morgan says no wonder, what a shock for him. Vale says when she’s pregnant with Morgan’s little Morgancito, she’s going to be very careful and not do anything to harm the child. Morgan says he can’t wait to have a miniature Vale in his arms. They decide they have to wait until they’re married because that’s the right thing to do. They cuddle endearingly.

Chamuco comes up and tells Vale to go fix up something for him. She goes off and Morgan is annoyed Chamuco is giving food orders to Vale. Chamuco says he has to talk with him – he needs a job because well, Gloria may be pregnant. Morgan says Que? He remembers Gloria has felt urpy. He tells Chamuco that Horacio will kill him. Just then Horacio comes up in his Taco Naco hat and razzes them about standing around talking.

Braulio is really styling as he turns out all the lights downstairs. He twirls and his coattails fly. Nestor comes up and asks if he’s seen Luci in the kitchen. Luci told him she was going to get an aspirin, but she’s taken awfully long about it. Braulio says he was just in the kitchen and no Luci. Now here comes Andrea in her slinky bathrobe. Has Braulio seem Connie? He went for an aspirin and now where is he? Braulio says he doesn’t know. Andrea says she’ll check in the study and Braulio says no!

Nestor and Andrea look at him oddly. Braulio says I mean no, they are not in the studio. They? says Nestor. Andrea just asked about Connie. Braulio says Connie is not there nor Luci either. What are you trying to say, Braulio? asks Andrea. Nothing, says Braulio, just that they’re not in the studio. Nestor says well, we’ll go find out. He and Andrea head off, and Braulio follows, his arms flailing.

Al knocks at Mili’s door. He says he saw the light on. Where is Hugo? Mili says he’s in his studio painting like very night. He never comes to bed with her. Al lights up and walks over to her bed. Mili gets out of bed and tells him that divorcing Flor will make Flor miserable. Al says he’s miserable and Flor would never be happy with him that way, and what’s more, Hugo will never be happy as he waits for Mili to actually fall in love with him.

He tells Mili that he won’t mention divorce until the baby comes. He says it’s not good for him or for Flor the way things are now. Al says he doesn’t want to end up like his mother or his father, resigned to a life without love.

He tells her that he has a suspicion about Connie and he doesn’t know whether to say something or keep quiet: He thinks Connie had Flor’s daddy killed, which would mean that Mili’s daddy is an assassin. No puede ser! says Mili.

Al explains that right before Domingo was killed, he had told Connie he was going to wipe out his business. Al and Damien heard with their own ears Connie furiously telling Domingo that he would destroy him.

Mili says no, Connie is a liar and a coward, but not an assassin. Al says I want to be mistaken. Because even though I’m not his real son, I still love him despite his always pushing me away. I wanted to be important to him, but I never managed to be. Mili says she understands exactly because even though Connie won’t say he’s her father, and even though she hated her father for abandoning her mother and her, still she has come to love Connie.

Don’t say anything, says Mili. Let’s ask Padre Manuel. She leans against him for comfort and naturally in walks Hugo. Mili says if I told you this is just a friendship hug, would you believe me?

Andrea and Lestor are striding quickly through the mansion toward the study, but an impressively agile Braulio is springing over furniture to get there first. He blocks the study door and says loudly that no one is in there. Nestor threatens to slug him, so Braulio steps aside. The door is locked! Nestor demands the key. It’s a ring of keys and Andrea is trying them all.

In the study, Luci is frantically trying to get her necklace on over her head and find her shoes. Connie is quickly tying his tie. Luci says Nestor will be furious. Connie says Andrea will kill me. Luci says I’ll kill her before she can. Connie seems to admire that.

Mat springs from under the desk and announces he can save them both. They are astonished, but he rushes to a chair and opens his briefcase. They will look like they are in a meeting. Nestor and Andrea burst in, demanding to know what’s up and why are they locked in? Mat says they were discussing very private points about the divorce. Nestor and Andrea are abashed and ask for forgiveness.

Mat says he has one more point to discuss with Connie. Luci tells Nestor that she is very sorry to think he doesn’t trust her. They leave. Andrea says she’ll see Connie in a little bit. Braulio gives Connie and exaggerated goodnight. Everyone is gone and Connie pops his eyebrows at Mat – well? What were you doing hidden under my desk?

Al is telling Hugo that they were just talking. Hugo tells him to get out.

Hugo says why did you let him into our room so late? Mili fakes that she didn’t realize it was late. She tells him not to be so jealous. She says Al is important to her and she intends to keep him as a good friend, and she will talk to him whenever she wants, not when Hugo gives permission. She says I am your wife, but you didn’t buy me. Hugo says I see. He’s more important than me, than our marriage. If only Hugo read advice columns! He’d be able to fling around the term “emotional infidelity.”

Mat tells Connie that since Mari was going to spend the night with her sister, he came in looking for a book. Yes, that’s it! A book! And then Connie and Luci came in and started kissing and he assumed it would be less embarrassing for them if they didn’t know he was there, so he hid. And then they got all passionate… Connie says not a word to anyone, understand? Of course, says Mat, I’ll see you tomorrow morning early. Con permiso. He runs out like a girl.

Braulio comes in like a girl. He asks if there will be anything else. Connie says no. Braulio starts to leave but then says I never thought you’d like a trio. Connie looks puzzled, then angry. Stupid, he says and leaves. Trio, says Braulio holding up four gloved fingers and waggling them.

It’s the morning of Damien’s wedding day and Braulio is straightening the gloomy landscape that is back in its spot which had been usurped by the Mili/Mama painting. Mili in a nice yellow dress walks in and regards it gloomily. Nestor comes up and says I’m sorry about your painting, Luci does crazy stuff when she’s been drinking. Mili says she drinks up every bottle in the house. Nestor says he doesn’t agree with everything she does, but she’s not a bad person, just lost. Try to understand her and pardon her.

Mili says you do the understanding. You live in this house with a drunk who makes my life miserable. Nestor says do you have a little time? I’d like to explain something. They sit and he says you and Al are close and when I talk to you, I feel like I’m getting closer to him. He’s pushing me away and I accept that, but I’m not giving up. Please be my friend, I want to know Al better through you. Mili is touched. She tells him that the photos of her mother are her greatest treasure and invites him up to see them.

Flor is in bed, face smeared with glycerin tears, contemplating her bandaged wrists. Mari comforts her. Flor says she so much regrets what she did, how impulsive and stupid she was. Mari strokes her hair and tells her that she isn’t alone and Mari will take care of her. Mari says Flor and the coming baby are all the family she has left. And if Flor does herself in, then Mari has no one. Flor reassures her that she won’t do anything stupid.

Flor asks where Al is and Mari says forget him. Pack up and I’ll take you home to the apartment. Flor says no. Al is the man she loves and her place is there with him. Just then Al comes in. Flor smiles bravely. He asks kindly how she is and Flor asks Mari to leave. Mari rolls her eyes and warns Al to treat Flor right. She leaves.

Al puts his arms around Flor and she weeps and begs forgiveness. He says nothing to forgive. Flor says it’s just when he asked for divorce she thought for a moment she’d rather be dead. Al says don’t worry, I won’t leave you or the child. Huh?

Damien is getting into his tuxedo and Hugo is helping. Hugo is surprised that Damien is taking his upcoming nuptials so well. Damien says he’s okay with it. Hugo says he doesn’t think Karla is the right person, not because she’s a servant but because he doesn’t think Karla truly loves his father. She might be untrustworthy. Like Mili? asks Damien. Have you talked to her about you not voting her shares at the company?

Hugo says no, I’ve been waiting for the right moment. Damien says are you part of the problem, or part of the solution? You have to protect your marriage and your inheritance.

Nestor and Mili are sitting on the couch in her brightly colored bedroom looking at photos. Nestor says Mili has inherited the beauty, openness and good heart that he sees in her mother in the pictures. Nestor says he can’t understand why she and Al didn’t stay together, they would make such a lovely couple. Mili doesn’t want to talk about it. Nestor says Al is a hard worker, honest, noble and he has a huge heart, just like her. Mili says she’ll help Nestor and get Al to pardon him.

Hugo comes for Mili and Nestor says he’ll put the photos away. Hugo and Mile leave and Nestor looks fondly at all the photos in her box. Oops, he finds the taped-together one of Mili’s ma with Connie. No puede ser!

People are gathering outside the church. Socorro is scared Damien won’t show up. Horacio prays he does. And here comes the groom! Meantime, the girls are wondering where Karla is. She went out last night late. Chamuco asks Gloria about her period and she says not in front of the house of God, it’s some kind of sin. Chamuco says he needs to know if she is, because if she is, they’ll get married. Gloria is thrilled that it could be so soon.

Vale and Morgan wish it were their wedding but they will stick to their plan and not look like they’re together.

Bobby is telling Lina she pretty much blew him off. She doesn’t want him to think that. So he mentions about her needing more time. She runs over to Vale who tells her men think girls are easy if they agree too quickly. Lina is worried because she really wants to go with Bobby. She goes back to him and tells him she needs to think a little more. Bobby says why don’t you be honest with me? If you don’t want to be my girlfriend, just say so. He walks off.

Luci and Nestor, Connie and Andrea show up. Did they share a ride? Luci insults Mili’s taste in clothes and Nestor tells her to stop. Mili tells Connie he looks good, but what about his conscience? She says he can go to confession for all his sins since they’re at the church. Connie looks puzzled.

Oh wow! Karla’s still in bed with Fernando. He tells her she better hurry, but she says Damien can wait after all he’s made her wait. Fernando says he never believed in love at first sight before. She says she can tell by his kisses and she smooches him some more. He surreptitiously looks at his watch.

In front of the church, Nestor is asking the padre if he can talk to him. Al comes up and doesn’t even acknowledge Nestor’s presence and asks the padre if Mili and he can talk to him. The little padre says seems like everyone wants to talk to him, but make it after the service, for heaven’s sake.

Socorro tells Mili she’s worried about Gloria and it takes a while for Mili to get the drift. Mili points out that you can’t get pregnant without doing a certain thing. Socorro says yeah, well, they’ve done it. Mili is super impactada.

People are wondering where the bride is. Damien paces a bit. He says she’s probably still at the beauty salon. And here she is, running up. She has on her bridal gown and has a spray of flowers, but her hair is loose. She tells a story about not being able to get a taxi. Off she and Damien go arm in arm.

Mili calls Gloria a traitor for not keeping their pact about telling about their first time. Lina did, Mili reminds her. Gloria says she didn’t want to say because of how it was going with Hugo. Mili hadn’t had her first time and Gloria felt bad about it. Gloria says how lovely it was and Mili looks sad. Mili asks if she’s pregnant and Gloria says she doesn’t know, she never keeps track of her periods, but she thinks she might be two weeks late. Mili is excited and says she’s going to be an aunt. Sor Cachete comes and herds the girls into the church.

The couple is kneeling at the altar. We see various other couples: Flor clutching Al’s arm as he sits next to Mili, Connie and Luci making eyes, Vale and Morgan wanting to kiss, Lina smiling encouragingly at Bobby who smiles back. Damien at the altar smiles and Karla is smiling too and nodding her head with each line of the wedding ceremony as if she’d written it herself.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one: the padre comes to the part about if anyone yadda yadda speak now or forever hold your peace. A voice from the back of the church says “Yo!” Heads turn. It’s not Silvester Stalone, it’s Fernando striding down the aisle in what I swear looks like a pink shirt. Freeze frame.

Avances: Padre Manuel tells Nestor that Connie is Mili’s true father and that Luci let Al and Mili believe that they were brother and sister. Mili and Hugo have words.

Labels: guapos