Caray, Caray!

Reruns from Friday: Raquel says she hopes they can be a family again, but doesn't sound so hopeful. Fatima tells Abuelo and Santa she's not sure what Gabi and Darth Ricardo were arguing about that led to gunplay, and Abuelo confides to Santa that he's sure Gabi knows Ricardo killed Juan's parents. Sofía confronts Ricardo about the murder.

Rigo tells Juan that he can't make babies. Juan mysteriously offers to take him someplace tomorrow that will cheer him up.

Go-away-and-don't-come-back #1: "Where did you come up with the idea that I had anything to do with the deaths of the Reyes' parents?" Darth Ricardo asks Sofía. Sofi says he knows more about that than she does, but tells him to get off of her property. He says she's too late; Gabi already kicked them out. They'll leave. He warns, though, that Sofía will pay for what she did to Ruth when they were kids. "Her pain is mine, so prepare yourself, girl - you're going to get what you deserve. Now let me finish packing." She defiantly promises to come back early tomorrow and make sure they're gone. Thunder crackles ominously.

Maria Caridad is eating what's left of the cake with Tio, Quintina, and Franco. MC is obviously hot for Tio, and Franco teases him about needing a woman. MC indicates her interest in marriage. The other Maria (Esperanza? Fe?) shows up with a cake of her own. The two sisters are mutually surprised to see one another - one of them had told the other she was going to a rosary service, the other was supposed to be visiting at the old folks' home. No, no, she didn't lie - she was just going to drop off this cake for Oscar. (Franco and Q know better, and leave so that Tio will have some privacy with the ladies.) Tio offers them some hot chocolate. Maria #2 asks him to sing them a song. I still can't tell from the look on his face whether he finds the sisters delightful, repulsive, or merely pitiful.

Next morning, Juan takes Rigo to the orphanage, which has been restocked with a new batch of children. The two men hold the babies and get squirted with baby bottles. Juan tells Rigo to see how easy it is to love a child that isn't of his own blood.

Oscar looks at a fresh-looking photo of his parents and has a flashback to when Jimena tried to feed him like a baby and he lost his temper. (Does he used to eat with his legs, or is there some other reason she thinks he can't feed himself?) He regrets treating her and Juan and others as if what happened to him is their fault... then Jimena comes in, dressed to inspire good health, and offers to shave his dimples. He wants to do it himself. Jimena says she just wants to help him. He scolds her for tormenting him and not bringing him a mirror. He orders her out of the room. He also tells her not to dress so provocatively while she lives with his brothers and his uncle (he doesn't mention the pubescent boy). Jimena leaves, looking like a wounded little puppy. Oscar cries and does not shave. Maybe he should let Franco borrow his brush and mug and razor.

At Crap From Afar (no customers in sight), Franco and Sarita discuss how sad it is for Oscar and Jimena. Sarita says that Oscar should learn from Abuelo's example - he didn't let his disability hold him back, and now he's remarrying. Franco hopes that Oscar will be able to walk again soon, hopefully before Jimena's patience runs out.

Sarita also tells Franco that Ruth found out about Eva being her mother. She didn't take it well, and Ricardo found out too, confronted Gabi, that didn't go well either. Franco wonders if they'll ever be able to be happy. They kiss.

Sofía goes back to the cottage to kick the Uribes out. They're all dressed in their gettin'-outta-Dodge clothes. Gabi shows up and says they're not leaving. Sofi says oh yes they are, because she's the boss of this place and she said so. Gabi tells Sofi she's not the boss of anything, because the time limit (plazo) on Bernardo's will has expired without Sofía proving that one of those girls is her child, so Gabi gets all of her stuff back and the Uribes can stay at HER hacienda whether Sofi likes it or not. She mocks Sofi for being so kindhearted as to put the girls ahead of her fortune.

Raquel looks stricken. Ruth congratulates Gabi on her victory. Gabi grins back at her with unrealized maternal pride.

Juan is at home now and he and Oscar are trying to feed one of the baby Marias, I believe this is Maria Libia, who clearly doesn't want to be fed by these gigantic loud men. Tio thinks it's funny, so Juan tells him to stop laughing and help out. Tio is like, um no, I'm a bachelor, you guys are the daddies, you have to do it. The child is not tempted by hairy pastries, either.

Go-away-and-don't-come-back #2: For unexplained reasons, Sofi is alone in Gabi's room, looking at a photo of the Robles couple that looks as though it came out of an inkjet printer ten minutes ago rather than a Fotomat 20+ years ago. She wonders why her mother is protecting Ricardo, and if she should keep quiet or tell Juan. She prays for enlightenment, but all she gets is a visit from her crummy mom who refuses to explain why she's been keeping a photo of Juan's parents. Gabi threatens that if Sofi doesn't behave, Sofi, her sisters, and her children will all pay the consequences. Also, get out of her room and don't come back without permission.

Oscar angrily slaps his still-numb legs and asks why Jesus sent him this misfortune. "If you're so powerful, lift me up from here!" (indicating his wheelchair). He looks at the photo of his parents again and cries.

Darth Ricardo tells Ruth he's staying at the hacienda to keep his eye on all their awful enemies - Sofía, Gabriela, and Feonando. He's noticed that Gabi is impressed with Ruth, and maybe they can use that to their advantage.

Ruth asks if he still loves her now that she's not his daughter. He says yes, she's still his princesa, his masterpiece; they're so much alike. She's nothing like Bernardo, much less that idiot Eva. She's strong, like himself, and her manner is like Gabi's. Anyone would say that they were her real parents!

Raquel tells Gabi what Gabi must have some deep dark reason for wanting to keep them at the hacienda. Gabi plays innocent. Raquel tells her to stop faking - Gabi's always had the advantage over her, but soon all of Gabi's blows will come back to haunt her.

Sofi and Sarita visit with Abuelo and Santa. Sofi tells them she tried to get rid of the Uribes, but Mom let them stay. Abuelo is nervous and doesn't want Ricardo around. He declines right now to say what his one big reason for that is, but promises to tell Sofía later. Sarita shows no curiosity about this (she would make a great telenovela character... oh right) and wants to plan the wedding. Santa says they're all set to catch a plane in Puebla right after the wedding for their honeymoon. Abuelo says they'll travel the world, but if they need him he'll be there right away. (How will they contact him? Is there an Abuelo-beacon?) Sofía says life is giving him a second chance with a lovely woman and they'll be happy.

Abuelo privately tells Santa he's worried about them. But he's got a big surprise for Gabi before he leaves. She won't see it coming!

Gabi tells Feo she let the Uribes stay and that Bern's will is voided because Sofi wouldn't prove that she has a child. Therefore she is again the owner of the majority of the Elizondo fortune. (Remember, Abuelo still has 20%.) I still think there are way too many holes in this storyline about the will, not to mention the sheer insanity of Bernardo imposing such a dubious condition on Sofía when he couldn't even have known whether she was fertile or not. Anyway. Feo congratulates his dear wife on getting everything back. He thought-bubbles that he'll have to get Gabi to reinstate him as her heir. Then he'll rid himself of her forever.

Rigo tells Juan (over the screams of the little Maria) that he and Eugenia have decided to adopt a child.

Go-away-and-don't-come-back #3: Oscar is still clutching that photo of his parents when Pablito enters without knocking. He offers to show him the little box he found in his room where he will hide all of his secrets. Oscar tells him he's not interested, get out. He coldly calls the boy "Pablo" and tells him not to come in without permission. Pablito replies, "yes, Papa." Ouch!

Raquel warns herself that Gabi is probably plotting against her right now. Coyote drives up, immediately improving the episode. He gazes intently into her eyes, kisses her hand, says "I didn't mean to startle you, but I saw you looking so distressed. It pained me and I came over to see if I can help you somehow."

Well, darn. I guess he says that to all the girls!

Darth Ricardo tells Ruth that Raquel inherited a lot of money - a fortune that he helped build. (I wonder if one of the ways he helped to build her inheritance was by killing her nephews' parents?) She still owns all of it because they married with "separate goods." If Raquel knew that, she'd kick them both to the curb.

I'm not sure what "separate goods" (bienes separados) refers to, I don't think we have something this in the US unless he means that he signed a prenup with Raquel's father that Raquel never was told about? Anyway, that explains why he has no clue about all the money she's given to Feo.

Ricardo wants all of Raquel's stuff. He asks if Ruth would mind helping him with that. First, he needs to get those papers that he hid in that box with the false bottom at the Reyes' house. (It doesn't look big enough to have much more than two or three folded pages hidden away, false bottom or not.) Ruth would love to help.

Eva and Rosendo observe Raquel and Coyote from afar and wonder what's going on.

Coyote tells reluctant Raquel that he knows all that happens around town, and she's yet another victim of Ricardo Uribe and Gabriela Acevedo. He's Raquel's friend, and she can count on him should the need ever arise. Hand-kiss, "con permiso," you know the drill.

Juan catches Pablito crying over Oscar's rejection of his offer to share his cofre de secretos. (Laughing, Juan notes that Pablito wouldn't show it to him.) Juan says it's too bad the way Oscar is treating people, but they need to be patient and understanding. Pablito says he's not crying for himself, but for Oscar and his suffering. Juan says don't worry, they'll stay united, Reyes siempre juntos. Juan wants to know what's in the box. Pablito won't say!

Sarita tells Jimena about Gabi regaining control of the hacienda. She reminds Jimena that the three sisters will be maids of honor at Abuelo's wedding and offers moral support to Jimena. Jimena says she wants Oscar to get his happiness back.

Sofía and Abuelo have their follow-up talk as promised. Abuelo says Ricardo killed Juan's parents, which Sofi already heard from her mother. She promises to let Juan know if they're in danger, but she's worried how he'll react to the news. Abuelo thinks they shouldn't tell him. She tells Abuelo not to worry about anything. She'll take care of everything. He says he's not just worried over Ricardo, but Feo too.

Feo tells Gabi the old folks set a trap for him and he fell into it, but they'll pay. Gabi says why bother - they'll get married and then they'll be rid of them anyway.

Feo says Padre Tadeo managed to get his marriage to Sofía annulled, so now Gabi's beloved daughter and that stupid baker can get married in a church. (Eavesdropping Ruth vows that it won't happen.)

Juan hops the balcony to Sofía's room and they update one another on things, like Maria Jose is getting better, Oscar is still disconsolate, and Gabi owns the hacienda. Juan still agrees with the decision not to find out which child is "the one." He wants her to move herself and the kids into his hacienda. She says they're going to be soooooo happy. Kiss kiss kiss and they profess their undying love. Then to bed! Slightly longer version here, not much more to see.

Ruth tells herself that if Juan can't be hers he can't be anyone's, least of all Sofía's. She won't allow their wedding. Feo comes along and asks her to find out who Gabi's heir is, since she's Gabi's dear friend and all. Abuelo shows up in what I assume is a general's uniform, wanting to know why Feo wants to know this and what he's planning.

Meanwhile, the sisters are at Crap From Afar helping Santita (in pink) prepare for the wedding. (Santa didn't want to deal with Gabi or Feo at the house on her happy day.) The sisters are wearing baby blue. It's not unflattering, but in my opinion all of them would look better in one of the basic crayon colors. Sarita has matching glasses. (She must have some kind of interchangable glasses-and-frames kit.)

Feo cusses Abuelo out for meddling. Abuelo says Feo's the most selfish person he's ever met and Gabi will pay dearly for having married a snake like him. Feo says they just made up, so she's not going to believe anything Abuelo says. She totally believes in Feo's love and that he will protect her. Abuelo promises to disabuse Gabi of this misconception. Feo messes with the General's uniform and holds his wheelchair. Ruth looks worried. Abuelo tells her that he lieks her and thinks she's not a bad person inside, so she needs to watch out for Feo. He's a traitor and a backstabber and she shouldn't trust him for anything.

Ruth tells Feo to let Abuelo go. Abuelo leaves, but makes a crack about Feo's nightmares about Rosario.

Feo whispers to Ruth not to interfere and chases Abuelo to the elevator. He ties both ends of Abuelo's necktie to the safety gate and pushes the button to send it down. (Amazing, how many elevators have a control on the outside that lets you send the elevator away from your floor?) Abuelo chokes as the elevator descends slightly. Feo stops the elevator, but doesn't bring it back up. "How does it feel? How does it feel?" he taunts.

Ruth watches as Abuelo struggles to free himself from the tightened noose. He tells himself to be calm, and yells for Rosendo to help him.

Mexico airdate: 5 de septiembre
Next time: Gabi tells Raquel that Darth Uribe is Ruth Skywalker's father, and only she will be able to bring balance to the Force. Raquel tells Gabi about the baby swap. Meanwhile, Santa wonders why her groom is late to church. Will the wedding bells be drowned out by clanging anvils?

Labels: Fuego