Caray, Caray!

Tonight’s competition begins in the underground parking lot, where Patricio has brought a giant bouquet of roses to give to Candy. (I wonder if flowers are cheaper in Mexico. They’re always giving these gigantic bouquets. As someone who just gave my beautiful wife a dozen roses for Valentine’s Day (and we’re also planning our daughter’s wedding, for which the flower bill is humongous), I know flowers aren’t cheap here, but who knows what it’s like in Guadalajara? Ed’s bouquet from the other day must have been about 6 dozen).

Oh, sorry, almost forgot we have a show to recap. Anyway, Santi throws a bucket of water on Pat, to douse his flames, and after Candy says she had it under control, Pat returns the favor, and they’re both wet. Pat’s not upset about being wet, ‘cause he’s an eagle, and eagles can be happy when they’re wet from head to toe (in Spanish they say de la pie a la cabeza). Turns out this is the symbol of the Américas fútbol club, and when Santi realizes that both he and Pat are Américas, they high five and jump up and down to the consternation of Candy, who as we know, likes the arch rival Chivas.

Back at the mansion, Paulina confirms by cell that there are two tickets ready for New York, including one for Rocío. She then continues with her plan to get Rocío to come to live with her. Rocío is upset that her Dad and Mari are going to have a little boy, when she wanted a sister. Paulina uses dollhouse furniture to show how she’s making a pretty room just for Rocío, when Rocío comes to her house. Rocío wants to bring her dog, Pau is allergic to animals, but says the dog can come. Rocío wonders if her Dad will let her go. Sure, responds Pau. You know that once that little hermanito is born, your Dad won’t have any time for you. So of course he'll be happy for you to go with me. But remember, let’s keep this all a big secret.

Meño wondered why Gregoria wasn’t at dinner last night. Gregoria was with an amigo (which of course means a MALE friend), and Meño is surprised. He notices that Greg is quite content today. Well, she has her health, her grandson is healthy too, it’s a pretty day. Right, but yesterday you had all that, too. Did something happen? Meño assures Greg it’s not a sin to have a partner and make love! Gregoria is shocked, and points out she’s a widow and would you please stop talking about disgusting things (cochinadas).

In the parking lot, Pat has gone to change. Santi doesn’t have anything to change into, so he’s going home, but he also wants Candy’s help with the patient who was hurt by the quack doctor. Candy reminds him that her sister Verónica died from a guy who was Santi’s friend, and Santi reminds her that as soon as he found out, he reported the guy. Anyway, he’s cold now, so he goes to change.

We next see them in Santi’s clinic, and the patient with the botched surgery is in a hospital bed, her daughter by her side. Santiago introduces Candy, who has an Institute to help people with their emotional problems. Candy tells her not only will they help with emotional support, they’ll help sue the quack doctor, just give her the doctor’s address and she’ll start investigating.

Pat arrives home to a friendly Alicia, who says she’s much calmer now (then when he left her after sex, telling her he didn’t love her), and everything’s fine. No, responds Pat, your little plan didn’t work. The plan with the photo. Yes, Candy criticized him at first, and that wasn’t “sexy”. But now she has agreed to be the model, so ha ha. So everything’s fine, right, coos Alicia. No, snaps Pat. It’s not fine. I’m angry. He drops her photo face down on the desk, and says “Goodbye, louse” (his other favorite word, piojosa).

Bárbara enters Candy’s office to find that Candy is still upset about the patient with the botched surgery (whose name is Elvira). Barb sees Candy is working on her column, and inquires about this week’s theme. It’s infidelity, but not with men, with women. What does a woman do when she likes two guys (sound familiar?). Barb has the answer. She suffers. When a man has two women, he celebrates. When a woman has two guys and can’t decide, she suffers. Speaking of suffering, Barb implores Candy to be nicer to Cecilia. Candy says she really can’t think about that now, and besides, she has a matter to take care of. She wants to check out a doctor who is disfiguring patients.

You may recall the other day, Hortensia tried her mighty best to keep someone (can’t remember who) from bothering Santi, but when the person burst in anyway, Santi acted thrilled to see them, scolding Hortensia (in a playful way) for not admitting this person Santi was just dying to see. Well, they repeat the joke twice tonight. Paulina is stopped by loyal Hort, and they have a little tete a tete, with mutual insults (e.g., when Pau calls Hortensia señora, Hort correct it to señorita, and Paulina says, oh, still?) Anyway, Hort is firmly insisting Pau needs an appointment, but Santi enters, and of course he’ll see Paulina, what was Hort thinking? As Pau goes off to the office, Hort begs Santi not to ring the bell, and he tells her no way, I’d first ring it with you, which has her dreamin’of bliss.

So what did Pau want? She SAYS she wants him to operate on her, but he’s not falling for this, first recommending another doctor who was second in Santi’s class (we know who was first), then suggesting a padded bra (brassier relleno), which Pau doesn’t find too funny. Santi’s phone rings, and it’s Marissa, whom Santi proceeds to sweet talk for Pau’s benefit. The banter continues as Santi talks about protecting himself from snakes (like Paulina), but Pau says he seemed to like her when they were IN BED the other day. Not any more, and close the door on your way out. He claps his hands, Hort appears to usher Miss EX out.

Back in Candy’s office, it’s time for another visitor, this time Soledad, who feels pretty bad. She knew Pat was a married man, but he didn’t love his wife, so she thought….Candy points out that the majority of women who go out with married men think the guy will divorce, but it almost never happens. Soledad sadly relates how things were going well until Pat discovered Candy was alive. Candy consoles her, noting how strange it is, she’s still married to Pat, so she’s the wife, consoling the lover! They laugh and hug.

Ed thinks they’re losing money, first with Natalie leaving, and now Santi is going to operate for free on Doña Elvira. Santi says it’s not that much money, they have 25 patients a day, and it’s getting him in good with Candy. Into her bed? Inquires Ed. No, no, he just wants to help Candy stop the charlatan who disfigured Elvira, Ed is for that, since these guys give the good doctors like them a bad name.

Candy, meanwhile, has found the guy’s address. The man who answers the door says the doctor (Doctor Hurtado, how appropriate!) hasn’t been there for a few days, and he doesn’t know the guy’s home address. Candy is about to leave when the guy (apparently wowed by Candy’charm) calls her back, adding that Dr. Hurt is in jail. He’s had tons of lawsuits by women on whom he operated and left in horrible conditions. Candy is impactada.

Meño is giving his salsa class to about six happy young ladies, with Gregoria observing in the back of the room. The class ends, and he’ll see them next Tuesday, reminding them to “loosen their hips”, but only with dancing, please! They leave, and it’s Gregoria’s turn! At first she resists, but he charms her into letting go of some of her inhibitions.

In the restaurant, Patricio gives Toño a wad of bills. T excitedly goes over to Zamora to let him know they’ve been hired to give a serenade for Candy at 10:00 tonight. Zamora quickly makes sure he gets all the bills, and tells T that they can do a double serenade, because he’s just been hired, too!

Bárbara is back in Candy’s office, having made the decision to adopt the baby from Renata’s friend. Candy is happy for her, but Barb is sad and frustrated, because she lost contact with the woman. Barb had been contacting the pregnant woman through Renata, the woman who had been injected with oil into her body. But Renata has died! It was massive organ failure. Candy is stricken with sadness, but hopes that at least something good will happen, because that woman’s story prompted Candy’s column last week, warning women NEVER to inject anything into their bodies, without real medical supervision.

We go to commercial, and it’s for tonight’s Christina, which is about (you guessed it) the horrors of plastic surgery done by incompetent or fake doctors. Good timing, no?

Gregoria’s dance lesson is over, and she’s happy, but exhausted and a bit sore. Meño reminds her to come again next week, and tries to get her to have fun, he’s sorry he jumped to the conclusion about her male friend, but she should enjoy herself. She says she dances alone (but I’m not so sure).

Santi consoles Candy about Renata, saying it was a lost cause, but Candy’s column did some good. As they hug, he sneaks a little kiss on her head (and she doesn’t recoil, as she did with Ceci). He then thanks the Virgencita de Zapopan. Candy wonders why. Well, he prayed he wouldn’t rip off Candy’s clothes and make love to her right there on the sofa! Candy pushes him away, and he cries out, “It’s a miracle! Thank you for separating us. Thank you Virgencita”, as Candy gives him a look and he gives a guilty little boy look back.

It’s a late dinner at Candy’s house. Chava and Charly are eating, Gregoria is serving, Meño is cooking and Candy is in her bedroom. We get ready for the central scene of tonight’s episode. The doorbell rings, Chava and Charly rush to answer, and when they and Meño see who it is, Chava is dispatched to get Candy at top speed. Candy runs down to see a romantic band of mariachis enter the house, led by Zamora and Toño, but followed by a smiling Patricio, as they sing Solamente Una Vez Ame en la Vida (you only love once in your life, which is of course Pat’s song). This goes on for a few bars, until the song changes to Shark in View, and Santi sings his way in, bearing another large bouquet of roses. He stops the music, and tells Candy he is not going to marry Marissa, because he loves Candy. At this, Meño and Charly look happy, Gregoria looks sad. Santi says now let’s shout the song Prisionero, but Zamora needs some more money for that. Santi pays they start singing, and PAT stops the music. He wants his song again, which requires more payment. Then back to Santi with his song (and more bills). But Candy flashes to Marissa showing her the sonagrams, and decides this has to stop. She asks Santi how can he DARE to serenade her, when she is here with her HUSBAND (she grabs Pat’s arm). Santi doesn’t believe her. She told him she had broken up with Pat, didn’t love him anymore. He doesn’t believe her. Oh no?, she challenges, and lays a big wet kiss on Patricio! Zamora wants Santi to fight back, but he’s a gentleman, and he gracefully exits, telling the guys they can sing Solamente Una Vez. But after he leaves, Candy is affected by his actions, and stops the singers.

A distraught Santi is sitting in his car in the dark, telling himself he’s an idiot, when he sees himself sitting in the other seat, and his other self tells him he should definitely be with Marissa, raise her child, Rocío likes her, what was he thinking? But he loves Candy, responds good Santi. Oh what is love, says the other Santi. It’s really overrated. No, love is hard work, and you have to keep fighting for it every day, responds the true Santi, who thinks he’s going nuts. He calls Marissa, though, and tells her he loves her and misses her.

Cut to Marissa, telling Raúl she doesn’t believe a word of it. Santi is just saying these things because he wants the baby to develop properly. Santi just loves the baby, and once the baby is born, Santi won’t want anything to do with Mari. Raúl promises he won’t let anything happen to Mari, since he once lost his wife and child, and he can’t permit any harm to come to Mari. He’ll take care of her. Mari says don’t worry about my health, maybe you should worry about my future husband (and we hear an ominous sound effect). What are you saying, replies a concerned Raúl. Well just imagine a man who has to be married to a woman he doesn’t love, she answers.

Back at Candy’s, she tells Pat that the kiss she gave him was a lie, she just did it to get rid of Dr. Plástico. Pat says it wasn’t a lie, she loves him. Candy then grabs Zamora and shoots back you’re not going to make me kiss Zamora to get rid of you, are you? Zamora puckers up, but Chava comes downstairs, wants a goodnight kiss from Pat. He gets one, and one from Candy, who then tells everyone that’s it for the kisses. Pat disagrees, and says he’ll keep coming back and coming back and coming back, which prompts the guys to sing Volver (to come back, or return), at which point Candy says okay, leave the house. Of course they sing Volver y Volver again.

Candy, Meño and Gregoria discuss what happened. Meño thinks she was crazy to kiss Patricio when she doesn’t love him. Gregoria thinks it was okay. Meño cautions Candy that she made a big mistake with Pat the first time, don’t do it again. Now Gregoria agrees with Meño, saying Pat is the husband of Alicia, and is still married to Candy, and is the father of Candy’s child, and is also the father of Soledad’s child, and she’s getting a headache, she’s going to bed. She leaves, and Meño implores Candy not to let her true love for Santi slip away. But she can’t get the ultrasound pictures out of her mind. Okay, fine, he’s washing his hands of it, says Meño. In her bedroom, Candy screams her name into the pillow, over and over.

Back home, Santi can’t take it anymore, and dials Candy’s number. He immediately tells her not to hang up, please just hear him out. He knows he left like a rat abandoning a burning ship, but the truth is this: When she hears him say “I do” in the church, don’t believe it. When she sees him put that ring on Marissa’s finger, don’t believe it. When she sees him acting all happy, don’t believe it. Because that kiss of Pat killed him. It just killed him. On the other end of the phone, MEÑO apologizes for answering Candy’s phone, but he understands very clearly that Santi will never kiss him (hah!).

After the commercial, we have a funny segment in which Candy is taking the “before” pictures of Zamora and Toño for her image design project. Zamora is worried that he doesn’t look too good (he doesn’t), but Candy (with Soledad, Chayo and Lulu looking on bemusedly) tells him he should just look natural. So they all have great fun posing for Candida’s camera.

Over to our recurring joke with Santi telling Hortensia not to let anyone in, even family and friends, after which Patricio rings the bell, walks into the office, Santi greets him warmly, and Hortensia has to do a 180 and act as if she meant to welcome him in all the time. Santi begins by wondering if Pat is convinced to have plastic surgery, since he’s Santi’s worst client, already having a perfect face, but actually Pat is serious, and he came to apologize, as he didn’t realize that Santi cared so much about Candy. Pat thinks that changed everything. Santi negates this, saying that Pat is Candy’s husband, he can reconquer Candy, Santi is going to marry Marissa, there’s nothing else they can do, and he and Pat should be friends. They shake hands.

Charly spies a hot motorcycle. Lucía is worried about the danger. Charly pooh poohs that, he’s tough, and in response to Luc’s concerns about the money, Charly simply states he’ll just ask his Dad, who owes him. Why does Meño owe Charly? Because of all those years of no gifts, after Meño left, this’ll make up for that. Lucía is still worried about an accident (and we telenovela fans know this worry is justified).

We see a close up of Zamora, with a hand squeezing his cheeks. It’s Chayo, who’s getting ideas for the makeover. Zamora is afraid. Toño says Zamora is afraid of losing what little hair he has left. Candy and Chayo whisper in each other’s ears their plans, as Zamora and Toño cower in fear. It doesn’t help when Chayo says they’re going to look “divine”. Uh oh!

Paulina tells Santi that Rocío has to study in the U.S. She can’t understand why Santi would want Rocío to study in Mexico, when everyone wants to go to the U.S. No, counters Santi. He lives here, he studied here, he’s done very well. Rocío will study here, period. Well then, why don’t the two of you come to my house in New York for a while, hisses back our sneaky snakette. Then we’ll let our baby girl decide. No way, says Santi, and besides, what about my wedding? Well, I wasn’t even invited, says Pau. Okay, fine, I hereby invite you, but remember, I am the father of our daughter and I have custody. And until she’s 18, I make the decisions, and she’s not going to live with you period. Aren’t you going to listen to your daughter? Shoots back Pau. She’s a person, she can talk, and here she is! Rocío enters on cue, and Paulina takes her into her lap, and smugly says “Okay, baby girl. Tell your Daddy that you want to live with your Mamá!”

Next time: Pat begins his reconquest with a gigantic heart, made of roses.

Labels: Tontas