Caray, Caray!

Rerun of Gabi and Darth Ricardo's happy reunion getting interrupted by Raquel, who seems to notice their rapport but doesn't seem particularly surprised by it.

Also rerun of Sofi confronting Feo with the evidence of his treachery. He agrees to work off his debt to avoid prison. (I'm not sure this was a brilliant idea on Sofi's part, but time will tell.)

Juan and Oscar are fantasizing about the great riches they'll be getting with that tractor. Someone comes in and says Juan is urgently needed at Don Clemente's hacienda; it's about Juliana.

Sofi and Rosendo talk about the crops. They've only lost the one so far, they don't want to lose the rest. They need to find a way to irrigate. Rosendo says he heard that Don Clemente just bought a fancy irrigation system; she should ask him about it. She asks him to take her over there right now. "From now on, things are going to change here at the hacienda," she says. Rosendo's happy that the hacienda's in the right hands now.

Gabi needlessly rehashes the situation with Feo (Sofi's in charge, she can put him in jail if she wants to) while he sulks. She says she knows he favors the dark side of the Force (okay, she didn't mention the Force by name) and she never reproached him for that because she's the same way. But she never thought that he'd turn against her too. He took advantage of her love, but that's all over now, and he's going to have to submit to Sofi now whether he likes it or not.

He denies everything and says he can't let himself be humiliated this way. Gabi stands her ground. "Prison awaits. You decide." She offers him some advice: He likes snakes, so act like one. When the time comes, attack. But this is not the best time to challenge Sofia.

Sofi arrives at Don Clemente's house, where Juan is already waiting. Don C. greets them both of them in a surprised tone; he didn't send for Juan. Juliana comes down the stairs and admits that she sent for him. She starts groping Juan. Sofi is visibly annoyed, but Don C. doesn't notice. She and Don C. talk in his office. Sympathetically, he says his irrigation system is way more expensive than Sofi can afford right now. He would love to help, but he's dealing with a tough family problem and needs all of his resources. Sofi says she only came to ask for advice, not financial assistance.

Juan is exasperated with Juliana. She doesn't understand why. He has lots of work to, he can't come see her whenever she feels like it. She says she can't stop thinking about him. She's never been in love before, until she saw him. She gropes him, he pushes her away, she reverts to the "fine, we'll go on being friends, right?" tactic, then "I want to know what it is to love, and to be loved." Then a kiss attack, just in time for Sofi and Don C. to walk in. Sofi glares at Juan but politely says goodbye. Now Don C. wants to talk to Juan.

Raquel is looking around in Grandpa's ex-cottage when Ricardo comes in and ignores her. Then Root shows up, and she and Daddy have a joyful reunion, ignoring Raquel. Root is excited that they'll be getting their property back soon and offers him a drink. "You're not going to offer me anything," Raquel half-asks. Darth Ricardo tells Root to give her mother a drink, but then tells Raq to finish it quickly and so she can start unpacking. He calls her useless. She says she doesn't know why he agreed to stay in this cottage - they would have been better off staying in a hotel. He tells her to shut up and not question his decisions, if he agreed to stay here it's because it suits him. "Mother, really, you never understand anything," Ruth adds. She says she's staying in Feo's room, but she'll come to the cottage some nights to be with them too.

"What are you waiting for?" Darth Ricardo barks at Raquel, who's holding some unpacked piece of luggage. "Hurry up!"

Sofi and the nuns play with the girls. Sofi wonders what will become of her and Juan and their love, but right now she's worried about bringing back the hacienda to what it was before.

Clem tells Juan that San Agustin is hitting the skids. They really need to be able to irrigate their crops. He asks Juan if he can't get them the water they need. Juan stalls and says he'll deal with that later, but first he wants to address the Juliana thing. He's in love with someone else, who he's promised to love forever. He wants to tell her about Juliana so that she won't misunderstand the situation. She's a decent person and won't blab. Clem agrees to this.

Eva tells Padre Tadeo that she wants to tell Root that she's her mom. Tadeo says he agreed with this at first, but after getting to know Ruth a little better, he's got some doubts. Eva should be cautious. If she rushes in, she'll probably lose Ruth forever. Eva's despondent than she's lost Rosario, hasn't heard from Luisito in ages, now her real daughter has shown up and she has no morals or principles. She can't be quiet! She's her mother - she has to "save" her!

Fatima is dusting in Ruth/Feo's room when Ruth comes in and slams the door. Fatima drops a perfume bottle, and it breaks. Root cusses her out and even accuses her of breaking it on purpose, out of envy because she can't afford such perfume herself; she's going to tell Gabi and have her take it out of Fatima's pay. Sofi hears them and tells Root that, however she's used to treating her own employees, when she's in Sofi's house she'll show respect or else she'll have to find someplace else to stay. Root says Sofi must be mad because she found out that Root was in Juan's bed. He's soooo macho, he's made for a woman like Root. Uh-huh. Sofi doubts Root's story, but says that's Juan's business.

Then Ruth brings up that old, as-yet unexplained incident from their past. Sofi says Root must be sick to still be thinking about that, it was a foolish thing, years ago. She's explained a thousand times that it hadn't been her fault, there were "others" who wanted to hurt Ruth, and she fell for their trap. She should forget it for her own good. Ruth refuses, she never forgets anyone who's hurt her, and that's the day her hate for Sofi began. "If you hate me so much, what are you doing in my house?" "I wasn't going to miss the chance to torment you." Sofi warns, if Root messes with Sofi or her peeps, she's outta here. Ruth mocks sulkily, but thought-bubbles that Sofi has changed.

Santa and Abuelo are in the hallway; he wonders if she isn't worried what people think of her being in his room. She says she's not Little Red Riding-Hood (Caperucita Roja), and he's not the big bad wolf. Anyway, they're engaged. Ruth runs into them; Grandpa introduces the women. Root is much more polite with them, and even tries to sit in his lap; he protests that he's a general, but he's never done rear attacks. Ruth comments on Santa's name; Santa says she's never let her name keep her from having fun. Ruth congratulates them on their engagement.

Grandpa asks Rosendo to move Santa's things into his room. Crabi complains that immorality has taken up residence in her home. Abuelo jokes that Gabi must be referring to herself, now that Feo's back. Root tells Gabi not to be old-fashioned (anticuada) and would also like to have Santa's room so that she doesn't have to stay in that nasty cottage. Gabi consents to this, but Santa says they don't need her permission. Abuelo says Ruth is invited to the wedding, but Crabi's not. Everyone laughs except Crabi.

Raquel is looking nervously at some snake sculptures (or one snake sculpture and one coiled whip) when Rico throws a fit because he can't find his snake belt. She says it probably got lost in the move. He threatens her, it had better not be lost or she'll pay! She says it's not her fault if he lost his belt. Anyway, she found it much too ostentatious (llamativo). "That belt has always brought me good luck! It was my favorite, I want it back. Go find it!" She tries to cajole him, he's got thousands of belts, he yells at her and shoves her. "You're useless, by God, you're good for nothing! Get out of here! Look for it!" He's serious about that damn belt!

Eva stops her en route (to wherever - perhaps the Crap from Afar shop to buy a new belt), "we have to talk." Raquel defensively tells her to leave her alone. Eva says, "It's about Root! Yes, it's about my daughter."

Raq says Ruth isn't Eva's, and for everyone's benefit Eva had better be quiet because Darth Rico is very violent and if Eva confronts him she'll be screwed. Eva's not afraid of Raq's threats, she'll get her daughter back no matter what. She'll tell Ruth EVERYTHING. Raq freaks out and runs away.

At Crap from Afar, Jimena tells Sarita she's going to stay married to Oscar. Sarita is aghast, Oscar's dating that Elena chick... Sofi comes in. They are about to tell her about the recent arrival of... (who? Maybe those two guys from last week?) when Juan jingles in. The younger sisters clear out to give them some privacy. Sofi doesn't want to listen to his explanation, but he finally tells her that Juliana's dying, and until then, he's supposed to not reject her, she's in love with him. Sofi says Juliana's situation is very sad, but he's a free man, he can do what he likes with her, or with Ruth in his bed... and by the way is Ruth sick too? She doesn't care to hear his side of the Ruth story, not that she could hear it anyway with Vicente Fernandez singing "Estos Celos" so loudly.

Ruth finds Feo's cologne and likes it. Feo catches her liking it and sprays some on himself and offers to let her smell it off of him. She's like, uh no, maybe some other time, thanks. "Don't tell me you're afraid." She laughs, but she doesn't look happy. "Don't touch me. Nobody touches me if I don't want them to. Learn right now that things happen when I want them to." She kicks him out of the room, it's hers for now, Gabi said so. He has things in this room. She says he needs her permission to come in.

He leaves, and she smells her cologney hand.

Raq is gulping Gabi's brandy and nervously worrying that Eva's going to blab. She wants Gabi's help to convince Ricardo to leave right away. Gabi is sure he won't leave until he gets his revenge against the Reyes. Raq questions whether he's really the one who wants revenge, or if Gabi's putting him up to it. Raq thinks Gabi's hatching a plot of her own. Gabi says they just need to keep Eva from talking. "We have to make sure Rico and Ruth don't know the truth," Raquel repeats loudly just as Ruth walks in behind her. "And of what truth are you speaking?"

Juan and Oscar discuss Sofi's hacienda problems. Oscar wants to help. So does Juan, but he's not sure how, since Sofi's angry and she thinks he likes Juliana and Ruth. Oscar teases him. Darth Ricardo comes up, I might add that his jacket is covered with snakeskins (come to think of it, he and Coyote may shop at the same snakeskin jacket mart), and after ascertaining that Oscar and Juan are the Reyes boys, he tells them that this land is his and he wants it back.

Ah, so finally you show up, Juan says. If you were so interested, why didn't you show up with the papers and defend this property with your wife and show that it legally belongs to you? Ricard replies, "There are other ways to get what one wants, laddie." Oscar says Reyes/kings only like justice and law. Darth Rico says "this hacienda is mine by right. I've come to get it back, even if I have to -"

"Kill us?" Juan cuts in. Ricardo gives him a poker face. "Like Bernardo Elizondo killed our parents?" Juan adds. Ricardo's face twitches. "Who told you that?" Juan explains that Gabi told them her husband killed them to get their land. Darth Ricardo tries to hide his rage behind his mustache, and all we can see is a pained grimace as he rides away wordlessly.

Gabi tells Root that she and Raquel were planning a surprise for Root and her father. Root doesn't buy this - for one thing, her mother knows she doesn't like surprises. Raquel is visibly nervous. Root says it wouldn't be the first time Raq lied, so for her own good she'd better be telling the truth. Root stomps out. Gabi just looks disgusted with her incompetent co-conspirator. She wants to know what else Raq has lied about. Raq won't say, and brings the conversation back to Eva's blabbermouth and the wrath of Darth Rico.

Rico wanders the highlands of Serdán and wonders why Gabi lied about killing the Robles. She's going to have to explain right now.

Juan and Oscar say Darth Rico looked surprised when they mentioned that Bernardo killed their parents - as if he didn't know about it. Odd. And if Bernardo killed their parents for the land, how did it end up with Darth Rico? (Pensive frowns.)

In the cottage, Root wants a real explanation from her mother. Raq sticks to her ridiculous story, but Root says she'll tell her father and then see what Raq tells him. Raq asks why she enjoys seeing her father mistreat her. Root says she hopes someday her mother will confront him. She can't stand the way she never defends herself. Raq says not everyone can be like Root. Root replies, too bad for them, huh? She's grateful her father taught her his strength. Gabriela is the same way. She's noticed that Feo is an abusive jerk, too, though attractive enough. "Isn't that right, Mom?" Raquel looks up guiltily.

Padre Tadeo tells Sofia that Eva's upset and is about to reveal all. Gabi bursts in, you'd better stop her, she slept with my husband, she is immoral and has no right to destroy any more lives. Tadeo shuts her down but does agree that this is not the time for Eva to talk. He asks Sofi to please get Eva to act prudently. Desperation makes us do things we regret later. Gabi turns to give Sofi a meaningful look, which Sofi ignores.

Eva tries to get support from Juan, like he doesn't have enough on his mind. Now that he's banned Root from the house, Eva may not get to see her ever again! Juan agrees to let her visit, as long as she stays away from the rest of them. Eva is grateful.

Sofi arrives with Tadeo. She wants to talk to Eva. Juan gets clumsy. Padre tries to talk him down and again tries to get him to quit the guilt trip he's holding over Sofia. "What would happen if you and your brothers found out that in reality, Bernardo Elizondo wasn't the killer of your parents? Would you ask Sofia to forgive you?" And what if she denied him?? Juan doesn't like the thought of that.

Darth Rico tells Gabi he was "disconcerted" to be told that Bernardo killed the Reyes' parents, but even more disconcerted that Gabi was the one who had told them this. She says she was protecting him. He says he can protect himself.

"What, you want I should have said that you killed them, so that when you showed up they'd finish you off? Juan is violent and impulsive..."

"No more than I, I assure you! I appreciate your having protected me, but you denied my great moment of vengeance when I proved that nobody laughs at Ricardo Uribe - nobody!"

Mexico airdate: 19 de agosto
Next time: Ricardo's got clocks to clean, wagons to fix, and hash to settle; and he doesn't have time for little reindeer games. Root disses Eva after Sofi hints that she should treat her as if she were her mother. Meanwhile, Juan gets groped by Root again and kneads bread with Juliana.

Labels: Fuego