Caray, Caray!

Doña Bárbara is carried out of the church completely unconscious. Santos follows along to see what’s the matter.

Sapo gives orders to have the body completely disposed of. He tells one of his henchmen to give a good quantity of money to the beauty queen and to also threaten her she’ll end up like the corpse herself if she doesn’t keep quiet. He tells one of his guys to call Facundo Laguardia. He needs him right away.

When alone he mutters that DB is challenging him. Doesn’t she know what happens to those who do that? He says that what he gave her 20 years ago will be a caress compared to what he’ll do now.

Genoveva is washing dishes and Pajarote approaches. He’s being very, very sweet. He admires her hands, holding one in his two. He offers to help with the dishes (boy, he’d have me right there!). She continues being stubborn. If he wants to stay, she’ll leave. Pajarote just smiles and says: clearly the girl is dying to be with me.

DB comes to in the doctor’s office and says she’s very dizzy. She sees Santos standing there and says it’s all his fault, all her problems are his fault.

Pernalete, Josefa, Federica and Mujica are discussing the events in the church. Josefa says sapos y culebras came from her mouth (toads and snakes).

Marisela and Cecilia discuss the events in the church. Cecilia thinks she’s faking, but Marisela reminds her of how pale she was.

Sapo is meeting with Facundo Laguardia. He tells him he’ll give him Fausto’s job because he’s the only one he trusts. He tells him DB was the one who did Fausto in. He says he wants her to die in the same cruel way that she kills, and soon, because it’s either her or himself. Fausto asks what’s the first step. Sapo tells him to get 3 bullet-proof SUV’s and the best guys you can find. He’ll let him know the rest later.

The crooked Governor shows up at Sapo's house asking for help.

The Shakespeare plotters are laughing on the front porch of Casa Sandoval, saying Pajarote fell into the trap beautifully. Genoveva shows up and they stop talking about that. When they ask where he is, she tells them she sent him off with a flea in his ear. She thinks he’s pretending to be interested, treating her well so that he can make fun of her later. After she walks off, they grin conspiratorially and say: “It’s working! We only need to give her the same treatment!”

Sapo and the Gov again. Gov says “they” are going to appear at any moment. Sapo is exasperated. “Who?” The Gov says there's an expediente (investigation or beginning of disciplinary action) against him for extorsion, fraud, and who knows what else. He thinks they’re going to force him to resign. Facundo approaches and says that everything is prepared. Sapo says to wait.

Santos and Marisela have an argument about DB. Marisela is worried. Santos thinks DB is fine. Marisela says: “What if she dies because of me?” Santos tells her to stop feeling guilty.

Eustaquia fusses over DB. She seems very weak. Tigre and Leon show up chortling over dropping Fausto into Sapo’s bedroom. They tell her Melquiades is watching the pez gordo (literally fat fish, but is used to mean big shot). She tells them to round up all the weapons and ammunition. Mount a guard. There’s going to be war. She faints again, and when she comes to dismisses it as lack of food.

Sapo is talking to someone on the phone: “the National Police?” After he gets off the phone he tells his henchmen they have to take everything and leave right away, leaving no trace behind. He says things are heating up.

We’re back to the argument between Santos and Marisela. She says DB is still her mother. She also feels terrible because Santos has to leave Altamira and all his projects because of her. She doesn’t want to leave. She missed los llanos terribly when she was in the city, and now that she’s home she wants to stay. Santos says OK we’ll stay. But they still argue.

The Gov accuses Sapo of leaving the battlefield without a fight. Sapo tells him it’s a strategic retreat. He needs to wait a while, find new allies. Facundo asks about DB. Sapo says she’ll have to wait also.

Melquiades watches the house with a puzzled look on his face while Sapo’s guys fill the vehicles with boxes.

Cecilia is walking the delightful Toñito in a baby carriage in the park. Arias approaches and lifts the child, smiling delightedly. Antonio walks up with a face like a thundercloud and tells him not to touch his son. He says Arias just wants to get to the mother through the child, but he won’t permit it. Cecilia is furious. She says she's the mother, Arias is the child's doctor and, by the way, when is he going to grow up. Arias tells him he must have amnesia because he’s forgotten that Cecilia and he himself are free, while Antonio is a married man. He then asks Cecilia if he could come by for some of her delicious coffee, and they walk off together leaving Antonio fuming.

The loaded cars leave Sapo’s vulgar house. The valiant Sapo waits until a guard opens the car door, looking all around with a gun in his hand, before he darts from the house and jumps into the backseat.

Leoncia brings DB some soup, and Eustaquia goes into a tirade about how horrible Leoncia’s food is. DB gets sick of the squabbling and goes to bed.

Lucía tells Antonio that she has an appointment the next day with Arias, but Antonio is behaving like a petulant child and refuses to let her keep the appointment. He says he’ll take her to San Fernando.

Arias is in Cecilia’s house. He says “How I wish Antonio had a reason to be jealous, but I know you’re not interested in me.” Cecilia says it’s not him; she’s given up on love. Arias tells her how wonderful she is and that she deserves to have a family. Cecilia reminds him that she already married a good friend, had respect, but felt very alone. She's not going to marry again for only friendship.

Melquiades sneaks into Sapo’s house and finds it deserted. He thinks to himself that they left as if there had been a plague.

Bartolo tells Mujiquita, Pernalete, Josefa, and Federica that the Gov has resigned and fled the country. Pernalete says it’s his duty to tell DB.

Santos is in his room alone, reading, thinking about Marisela and wondering why she isn’t with him. Marisela is in her room wondering why he hasn’t come for her. She says she’s dying for his kisses. Santos gives in first. He tells her: “What kind of couple would we be if the first argument you go to another room? What happened to the brave girl I fell in love with?” Marisela says that all that remains is a coward. Then she smiles and says “Your room or mine?” Santos grins devilishly, bouncing a bit on the mattress, saying why not try this room that I’ve fantasized about so many times.

DB is still very weak. Eustaquia tells her she’s green. Eustaquia is not giving up on complaining about Leoncia. She says she’s not surprised the way the Mondragones turned out, considering what they ate growing up. Melquiades shows up. DB is very surprised to find out they’ve all gone from Sapo’s house. Melquiades says they ran as if the devil were after them. DB says: "or the police".

Mujiquita tells Santos about the Gov leaving and that the new government is embarking upon a program to clear up corruption. There will be a commission to investigate. Santos is very pleased to hear this

Dr. Arias shows up in DB's bedroom. She calls him a matasanos (a quack). Eustaquia tells her she has to put up with him because he’s the doctor for humans, or Eustaquia could call the vet so that he could treat a mule like her. It’s her choice.

There is another Shakespeare production. This time Genoveva is the victim. She’s with a ternera whose name I forget, and they stop and overhear Gervasia, Altagracia and, I think, Melesia, who are behind sheets hanging on a line. They emote in ringing tones that Pajarote is in love with Genoveva. Then why does he treat her so badly? Gervasia says this is how he hides his love; it’s what he told Carmelito. Since they’ve spent so many years fighting like cats and dogs, he’s afraid to tell her he loves her. Melesia says that someone ought to tell Genoveva he loves her. Gervasia says it would then be worse because she’d make fun of him forever. Genoveva looks confused, but interested.

Santos and Marisela are in the sala. She tells him of the Shakespeare plot, incidentally pronouncing the bard’s name better than any other Spanish speaker I’ve ever heard – congratulations Genesis! They have a teasing talk where she accuses him of jealousy, reminding him of how he was about Gonzalo. He tries to say he was only a little jealous, and that he was only looking out for her best interests. (Right!) He says Gonzalo Zuloaga was never his rival. He always knew Marisela loved only him. Gonzalo, in a nice suit and Panama hat, speaks up nearby: “Don’t be so sure, Santos Luzardo! I’m still your rival.”

DB argues with Arias. She doesn’t want him to treat her. He tells her at least let him do a blood test. He has a suspicion. Has she considered her symptoms: weakness, dizziness, wanting to sleep a lot, nausea? When was her last menstruation? It’s possible you’re pregnant. DB looks stunned and Eustaquia looks delighted.

Labels: barbara