Caray, Caray!

In what is now once again Mama’s office at the Double E (Hacienda de las Elizondo y aún del Escandon) Ruthless Root has just been told by Gabi that because she is so much more like her and liked by her than is Sofia, Root gets the whole Elizondo enchilada when Gabi becomes worm food. (Yes, yes, Gabi also told her that Papa Bear and Gabi were lovers who should’ve gotten married and lived happily ever after with Root as their daughter but she conveniently skipped over the part that Root really IS their daughter.) Root is now Gabi’s sole heir.

At Trinkets R Us meanwhile, Augie is saying his good-bye’s to his granddaughters and Eva. He tells Eva that he hopes God rewards her for the great love she’s always shown towards his granddaughters. The old guy is heartbroken about Gabi (presumably by her not coming to his wedding). The girls tell him not to let Mama’s continued rejection wreck his big day, and they remind him that he’s got a new life full of love and happiness ahead with Santi now.

Back at the Double E, Root tells Gabi that she really liked Augie and by the way, he gave her a letter for Gabi. Root hands Gabi the letter from him telling her he still loves her despite her rejection of him, that he hopes God will pardon her for everything, and that he hopes she might see the error of her ways. “Eh! He shouldn’t have bothered. The best thing for me is that he married that old broad and got the heck out of my life!” Root asks why she hates her father so much. Gabi says (as she slurps down another brandy) because he was always a drunk and treated her mother badly, then also because he was forever against her and then helped turn her daughters against her. --But, she got even with him. For years she tortured him by making him and everyone else believe a big lie about him being the one who was driving and who killed her mother in the car accident years ago that left him paralyzed.

Root asks who was the one driving then and Gabi admits that she was, but she was driving because he was too drunk. So essentially he was to blame, and she told him and everybody else around that it was him. He was blackballed socially ever since. She admits that she has no compunction or regret for having condemned him to a wheelchair. Root seems uncomfortable (and just might not be quite as ruthless as her momma). She asks how Gabi could be so cruel to her own father. Gabi says Root should learn right now that nobody stops Gabi Elizondo and if they mess with her, sooner or later they pay for it. She and Root are just alike that way she adds. Gabi smiles cruelly then and says she’ll write back just to let him know it, too.

In town, mother superior informs Rigo and Eugenia that they can adopt a child from the orphanage and gives them a beautiful little boy about the same age as Sofia’s girls are. They of course give the virgencita her prayerful due.

In the office a bit later, Darth Rico is telling Gabi he’s upset and wants to know why the change in her attitude? First she runs the three of them off, and then she prevents them from leaving, and now she has named Root as her sole heir. “Just what are you up to?” He wants the truth and now. Gabi smiles smugly and tells him that Root really is his daughter. Rico is confused and angry because, he says, they just finished telling him otherwise. Gabi says to forget everything they told them before because she just found out herself. She smiles at him. “Root is our daughter. She is ours!” Ricardo Uribe is now properly wide-eyed impactado. He’s not sure if he understood her. “For once in your life, woman, could you be honest with me?” Gabi pours the two of them a brandy (dunno how many this makes for her OR why Gabi never ever seems to get the slightest bit tipsy from all those brandies) and she fills him in on the details.

Back at Trinkets, Rigo and Eugenia come in to show the three Elizondo sisters their new little boy and everybody oohs and ahhs.

We’re shunted back to the Double E office again. Gabi tells Darth that he always wanted a child. She was the only woman who could give him one. Talk turns to the “call of the blood”. He says he never could see Root as either Eva or Bernie’s and always felt there was some blood tie between them. Gabi admits to him that she never felt as if Sofia was ever her own, but the moment she met Root she sensed a special something. So, Gabi says, whether they like it or not, there is a tie that binds them together for life.

Upstairs Root meets with Feo in the bedroom and tells him that she is now Gabi’s sole heir. Feo gives her a huge hug and says they ought to probably get rid of Gabi as soon as possible. (Viewerville is left to wonder if Root realizes just how permanently and irreversibly he means.) Root says, well then he’s got to help her with Juan. Fernando says Juan’s become an obsession for her because Juan’s the first man to ever refuse her charms. Fer is quick to add that Juan is not the right man for her. (Do we need three guesses to figure out who he thinks is?) She denies Juan is an obsession and insists he’s just a means to get even with Sofia. They make-out.

Over at the Double R (Hacienda de los Robles-Reyes) after much persuasion from Tio V.O. for his rube nephews to give them some privacy, the specialist is FINALLY left alone with Oscar to examine him. He walks back out a bit later and tells the others that with therapy Oscar just might be able to walk again. Cheers all around.

Feo agrees to help Root with Juan provided that the two of them can come to an agreement that benefits them both.

Back across the way at the Double R, Juan and Sofia are again telling each other that they don’t need to know which little girl is theirs since they love all three the same. (Besides being ridiculous, this line is gettin' old!) Then Rigo and Eugenia come by so that Juan can get to see little namesake, Juan Diego.

A while later, Root walks down the big staircase and thinks back to Fernando’s telling her they ought to get rid of Gabi as soon as possible. Papa Bear appears at the foot of the stairs and greets her with a huge smile. They share a giant father-daughter hug.

Later, at Bungalow del Bruto, Darth is all smiles now that he knows he is definitely Root’s father. However, he’s not quite sure how great it is that Gabi also happens to be her mother. That means Gabi will be able to control him then and that makes him start to wonder who shot at him while he was riding earlier.

At the same time, said shooter, El Coyote, is hanging his hat in a dark hallway of a very nice house. He sits down next to a woman who appears to have been burned and blinded and that room is also dark. “How are you, Mother?” he asks her. (I just choked on my copa. Gasp! --OMG! El Coyote has a past!)

The whole Reyes clan meanwhile, including Esperanza and Caridad, is now visiting together and enjoying themselves in the warmth of the Double R’s kitchen. Rigo and Eugenia show off little Juan Diego. Hortensia and Quintina are elated. Afterwards, Sofia and Juan discuss their now being able to have a church wedding. They are also thrilled that that the specialist has said Oscar might be able to walk again.

Upstairs Jimena tells Oscar that she is very excited over what the doctor says, that if he makes a consistent effort he will probably be able to walk again. Oscar now apologizes to her for his rotten attitude before. Jimena says there’s no need to and that she loves him and only wants the best for him.

In contrast to all the excitement and laughter at the Reyes’s, Coyote’s mother sits in her darkened living room. She quietly tells him that she’s been fine. Coyote looks at her with tears in his eyes and fights the urge to touch the scars on her face. (Everybody take a deep breath now. And another...)

At the Double R, Juan and Sofia are all smiles and they run up to visit with Jimena and Oscar about the good news that the doctor gave them all earlier. (The director and editor are pretty much banging us over the head with this contrast thing, aren't they?) Oscar promises them to make the effort to successfully walk again. Sofia leaves for home. Oscar gives Juan the big hint to follow her so he and Jimena can kiss and make up. Downstairs, Franco and Sarita are now alone in the kitchen. Sarita tells Franco that she only came to see how Oscar was doing. Franco looks hurt and asks her why she doesn’t ask how he is or how he’s been suffering. He says he’s tired of asking to be forgiven and asks her how long till she’s going to forgive him. He tells her it’s been so obvious that he's loved her since the first time he saw her. He wants to know if she forgives him or not?

Meanwhile, Coyote’s mother asks him if Ricardo Uribe has really returned. Coyote says yes, he’s finally come back and so now it’s time to get even (ajustar cuentas). She reprimands him and says that he cannot. He must remember the man is his father. (Ruh-Roh! OMG x2! Viewerville is now both drop-jaw and wide-eyed impactado, not to mention this seems to be another interesting detail Gabi has conveniently left out.) El Coyote says he detests the man and will never accept him as his father because he’s to blame for what happened to her. His mother says no, Ricardo Uribe didn’t do anything to her. She was the one who fell in love with him and when he learned she was pregnant with E.C. he left her. She can’t complain about it and besides, she forgot and forgave years ago. Coyote says he hasn’t and he can’t because of the humiliation they went through all because of him, and especially because of Gabriela’s viciousness.

“You were left blind, mother. Why did she set fire to our house? She was crazy jealous and wanted to get even with you --but I’ve been waiting to get back at her all these years… for what she did to you.” She tells Coyote not to be bitter, because it all happened so many years ago. “It could be an eternity; those two will pay,” he insists. She says no, God wanted it that way. (I have just gone through my 3rd hankie. This is my first 4-hankie scene, ever!) Coyote swears they will pay for it. He says he’ll get Ricardo Uribe right where it hurts him most: his daughter will be his victim.

Said victim and half-sister, Root, meanwhile, is schmoozing Juan in the kitchen while he’s baking. Juan says he’s wise to her but she says that’s not why she’s there. She understands now that he’s not going to pay attention to her. Juan says that’s right, nobody and nothing will separate him from Sofia. Root says she just wants him and her to be friends. Juan asks how since she hates Sofia. She insists she’s not the nasty person they all think she is. He finally gives in as long as she keeps her distance. Root asks him for a favor afterwards (and gets to what she really wanted from him all along). Root fidgets and says she grew up in the hacienda and so she really would like to walk around through it again for old times’ sake. He gives in to her again, dumb trusting soul that he unfortunately is, and says fine, but only out of respect for Eva’s need to be close to her.

In Oscar’s room, Franco and Sarita tell Jimena and Oscar that they’re an item again. Jimena says that when Oscar can walk she wants them to get married in the church. Franco says he and Sarita will too.

Root has gone upstairs to root around in Pablito’s room for the little box but he walks in on her almost immediately.

Downstairs Juan kneads bread dough and thinks about making love to Sofia and finally getting married. Padre Tadeo walks into the kitchen and snaps Juan out of his mental flagrante delicto. Pad Tad says he’s got an urgent need to discuss something with him and that Augie had asked him to. It concerns the safety of his granddaughters.

Root tells Pablito that Juan gave her permission to walk around the place and they get chummy when she tells him it used to be her room. She charms him into telling her that he found something of hers, a little chest he keeps his secrets in. Just as he’s about to show her where he hides it Quintina shows up and chases Root out. Quintina warns Pablito that Root might be Eva’s daughter, but she’s not to be trusted.

That night Root returns to the Double E and goes straight to Sofia’s room to harass her about having made up with Juan. Sofia says she doesn’t believe her and kicks her out of her bedroom. Root taunts on her way out and says that many relationships start as friendships. “Today we’re friends, but who knows what tomorrow will bring, right?” Sofia shuts the door on her and frowns good riddance, then tells herself that if Root thinks she’s going to make her doubt Juan she’s mistaken. She knows Juan loves her and she will never, never doubt him. (We know, though Sofia still doesn’t, you never say “never” in Mexi-doom.)

At Bungalow del Bruto, Rico is reading Raqui the riot act about her switching the two newborn baby girls. He informs her that he now knows that Root is his and Gabi’s. Raqui sniffs and says if it bothers him that much despite his cheating on her, then she’ll leave. Darth grabs her by the arm and says Raqui’s not leaving there till he says; and she won’t be leaving because he’s got a nice little surprise cooked up for her. “You’ll find out in good time what it is, too, all in good time!” Raqui swallows big-time.

Sofia is saying good night to Eva, meanwhile, in the main hall of the Double E and she thanks her for taking such good care of the little girls. Fernando saunters inside. He sneers at the way the two are together so much and are always hugging. “Might as well be mother and daughter.” Eva emphasizes again that she would give her life for Sofia. (Not a good sign, here, Eva. This is the third time you’ve said this about somebody in the past few days.) Sofia says they do share a mother-daughter affection. Feo calls them a couple of prissies. Sofia tells Feo not to bother trying to harass them about it and adds that he doesn’t know how to love. She doubts that he has ever loved anyone in his life, or that anyone has ever loved him. He shoots back that Gabi loves him and he loves her. Sofia says yes, so much that he’s fooling around with Root. Feo stops chewing his cheroot in mid-chew. He’s impactado 'cuz Eva apparently saw them and just admitted she told Sofia.

Sofia threatens Fer then that she’ll tell Mama if he tries anything with Root again. Feo threatens back that he’ll have Gabi run Sofia off the place if she keeps talking to him in that tone. Sofia tells him to save it; she is not going to be there much longer anyway because she’s moving out as soon as she marries Juan. Fer sneers his way up the stairs as Sofia sees Eva out the door.

Sofia is about to go upstairs to bed when Darth enters the main hall. She tells him to get out of her house, but he says it’s not her house, it’s Gabi’s. She replies defiantly that it’s Bernardo Elizondo’s house, as in “her father’s,” and so she does not want to see him there again. He snaps back that whether she wants to or not she will see him, and continually. Sofia stares him down. “If I told you what I know about you, you’d be out like a shot.” He tells her to stop with the innuendos. “So, let’s see. What do you know, you foolish little girl? What?” Root eavesdrops from the balcony as Sofia takes a deep breath and lets Darth have it right between the eyes: “--that you… (Sofia! Spit. it. out!) That you killed the Reyes’s parents!”

Now it’s Rico’s turn to swallow big-time.