Caray, Caray!

The mean people in Fuego have an eve of New Year's Eve marathon going on to see who can out bedevil whom. Let's check the score. If we could raise funds to feed orphans and other unfortunates on the number of devious deeds this group is committing we could make a fortune and wipe out misfortune in a good sized pueblo:

Feo locks Abuelo in the elevator and nearly hangs him by his tie sliding the elevator down just enough that Agustín can't get loose.
Ricardo tells his evil spawn Root that she seems more like Gabriela than wiggy Raquel.
Santi is bride left waiting at the church with only Sofia the slow to help reason out what to do.
Abuelo asks Feo what kind of Rosario nightmares he is having.
Ruth tries to talk to Feo but he's not interested. He'd rather do something unbelievably mean.

As they replay the elevator hanging, we hear growls from Feo, How do you feel now?? Coward, coward, counters the choking Abuelo Agustín.

Sweet as can be Feo tells Fatima to go directly to the church, taking the cup of tea she was carrying and shoos her off before she can see Abuelo stuck by his tie.

He casually inquires about what Gabi is doing in the office when she could go off and relax with him. He doesn't relent until she agrees to go out of the house with him also bypassing. But, Gabi sees Rosendo waiting for Abuelo and Feo begins shoving her in the SUV. But wait, Raquel approaches and distracts Gabi with the demand to hear her out. Feo tries again to get Gabi to ignore her, they don't have time. Oh, he hopes that no one will discover Don Agustín. Speaking of him the old gentleman is nearly losing consciousness as he struggles to hang on the tie.

Raquel begins to tease Gabi with her news that she has been waiting to tell her so many years.

At the church Santi notes that something must be really wrong, Agustín is always so punctual. Maybe he regrets his decision to marry her? Sofia says Abuelo is incapable of being foolish and he truly loves her, there is nothing to worry about. But we see the blurry world through Abuelo's eyes so we know that he is losing ground with choking .

Well, Sofia is not your daughter. She tells Gabi how she entered her bedroom the day she came to take Ruth who Gabi had sold to her, and saw her innocent newborn in the bed and she decided to switch them to get back at her for all the humiliations she had suffered. Gabi says you are lying, this can't be true. No, Raquel is happy to tell her that she left her with the pitiful daughter of Eva. She has been raising Eve's daughter and Raquel took her daughter just to spite Gabi even though she kept it to herself all these years. But, to Raquel's surprise, Gabi says this is the best news in my whole life. Ruth is my daughter! Not missing a beat and to burst Raquel's momentary bubble of happiness in outdoing Gabi, Gabi reveals, the truth is that Ruth is not old Bernie Elizondos' daughter. With great glee she puts together the disparate facts: Ruth is my daughter and the daughter of Ricardo Uribe!! My but she is pleased with herself.
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Santi is sure something bad has happened, Agustín wouldn't be late for his own wedding. Everyone fidgets and tries to assure her.

Feo watches Rosendo and waits. Ruth watches from her room and replays Agustín's warning to Ruth to beware of Feo in her head. She decides she has to rescue Agustín and finally rushes to the elevator to untie Agustín just before he passes out. She roils him out toward her room looking around furtively instead of taking him down stairs.

Raquel is suddenly crushed by the full meaning of this news. This can't be true she whines, does Ricardo know you had his baby? Of course not but if I knew that Ruth was mine and his he would never have gone from my side. Almost taking to herself, Gabi suddenly realizes why she hates Snofia, Snofia is just like the stupid Eva and her stupid father and not like her at all.

As Ruth is rather gently cleaning up the uniform and combing Agustín's hair. You have won a thousand battles this isn't going to defeat you it's just an inconvenience. he says don't ruin my medals that Porfirio Diaz gave me, but then he thanks her, you saved me. I won't ever forget your kindness, I owe you my life. She says no one else has ever been so kind to me and sympathetic with me until I met you.

Gabi carries on with he theme of how much she has always felt for Ruth and now she realizes what in her always rejected Sofia because she is the stupid spawn of the stupid Eva. Soon her tune turns to: Its all going to be mine, all mine, the hacienda, everything is mine.

Sofia appears and says she has heard that thanks to Ruth, Abuelo was saved. Ruth assures her she did it for him no one else.

Feo curses as Rosendo's SUV pulls away with Sofia and Agustín safely inside.

Ruth feels proud that she just helped Augustin (her real grandfather we suddenly realize).

Ricardo is on his horse swearing he must continue searching for the little chest with the most important documents and swears he will rip it out from where ever it is hidden. (Eeeek, Pablito run, run)
As the scene fades of Ricardo riding across the field on his horse thinking about the chest, we see Coyote drawing a bead on the back of Ricardo's neck through the cross-hairs of his rifle scope. (Eeeek, Coyote aim, aim)
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The shot is fired and Ricardo's hat flies off. But the hidden Coyote says this was only a warning and drives off in his pickup. Ricardo looks startled and angry, (well, he always looks angry.)

After revealing to Ruth that she has loved Ricardo Uribe forever and Ruth is all interested in hearing more. Gabriela tells Ruth with more tenderness than she seems capable of, we need to have a big talk, ALONE, she says in front of Raquel. They go off. Raquel says this is complicating things too much, but doesn't seem to have the brain power to think just how. However, she does have enough sense to add that she needs to get out of here and soon!

At the church, Agustín makes light of his difficult situation that made him late, but not to worry he will fill her in later.
Franco sings "Ave Maria" this time with the church organ accompanying so he stays pretty much on key. (I loved this moment actually so I could catch up describing the hot stuff going on at the hacienda.) Now we see everyone get on knees that can get on their knees.

Juan comes into Oscar's room with a meal on a tray. Of course, Oscar wants Jimena. She's gone off to her grandfather's wedding to Santi. Juan tries to cheer him up by reminding him of how he almost shot grandpa and ended catching him as he fell from his chair down the stairs. (I didn't go back and sort this silly little memory lane scene out so someone can be more accurate if they care). Oscar says it's too bad we didn't get a chance to say goodbye to Agustín. Juan reminds him that Franco represented them.

The holy water gets sprinkled on the coins and the rings. Don Agustín Oceveda. Santa Margarita Roberta Federika Lorenzo ....and Widow of and Padre names about ten or twelve dead husbands. Augustin interrupts the listing to declare, I accept! Everyone gets a giggle as he promises to be the soldier who stays in the battle and Santi assures all that the others died in the field of love with honor. The lovely ties (lazos) of roses are laced around the couple by Sarita and Sofia . The Padre pronounces them married and everyone yells Vivan los novios. The couple are congratulated by the crowd outside and wished much happiness.

Rosendo wants to take them back to the hacienda to get their luggage for the trip but Agustín says he has some business in town to take care of, so he will wait for them there. Santi throws her flowers and Sarita catches the roses and then catches a big romantic kiss from Franco. We get a hold that thought freeze frame like a snap shot of the beautiful couple.
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Agustín shows up at the bakery. Juan tries to hug him with floured hands to congratulate him on the marriage, and they speak of their friendship and fun, with some arguments and disagreements in point of view but Agustín is grateful for how they have loved his granddaughters and he will never forget the Reyes brothers. He rolls off to talk to the recalcitrant Oscar both seated. Horses neigh to remind us of the stubborn Oscar.

Meanwhile Santi is in the girls' artisan stuff store and says she hopes they don't seem sad for her and Agustín. NO, they are happy for them but sad for themselves.Abuelo has been their pillar, their protector, their accomplice even their cupid and after the death of their father he has been both father and grandfather. Santi assures them that they are not losing a grandfather but gaining a grandmother who will love and defend them always. Santi is gracious, they will go off to make up for lost time, but she assures them they will stay in touch and when they are settled, the girls could come see them. (What a concept , they might escape Mexidoon for a little R&R.)

Agustín says men are strengthened by their trials and tribulations. He knows that Oscar can go on. Don't fool yourself you should recognize that JImena loves you truly and you should love her back. Don't be defeated. This old general wants you to remember that we never loose a battle you must carry on no matter what. Now young general, never forget your mission. Oscar has been trumped on his infirmity by the courageous Agustín and reluctantly smiles and promises not to forget.
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Feo tries to engage Gabriela with slimy cuddles and soothing assurances of aren't the team to be reckoned with. She has work to do in the office. Feo rushes up the stairs to grab Ruth's arm and tell her she needs to discover who is the heir of Gabi's fortune. She gives him a wet kiss and tromps down the stairs to Gabi's office. Gabi fixes her usual large brandy snifter and assures Ruth she has important information to impart. Ruth for a change is all ears.

Agustín takes leave of Juan in the bakery, while at the store, Eva shows up to see Santi with the Elizondo sisters and they all laugh about the successful wedding.

Oscar says to Juan and Franco that he hasn't been fair with this brothers. I promise that is in the past and I am going to try to be better. I need your patience and help. (Whew, we were all being worn thin having to accept Oscar as a whiner) when Tio Vincente sweeps in with the doctor who is the specialist he promised, Oscar looks on bemused.

Gabi doesn't reveal all about Ruth's true family, but rather assures Ruth she is more important to her. If Ricardo and she had married as they should , they would have been happy and She is to be her sole heir.

Next episode which will be Friday night: Feo thinks he has it made in the shade when he learns that Ruth will inherit. Ruth looks like she just won the lottery. Gabi will reveal all. Lastly we get a glimpse of Coyote in his usual courtly pose holding the hand of a lovely, frail blind lady whom he addresses as MOTHER.....

Labels: Fuego