Caray, Caray!

Things are looking up tonight. Chava accepts Santiago, Rocío is on the verge of accepting Candy, Pau and Ali have been essentially neutralized, Pat is reconsidering his battle, Candy is ready to get married, and Santiago has been ready to get married for months. With 16 episodes left, we know the contentment can't last, but let's enjoy it while we can. Carpe capitulo!

From Friday, Pat overhears as Chava throws another tantrum, telling Candy that she loves Santi more than him. He runs away and crosses a boundary line (literal and figurative) into the path of a falling limb. Candy runs and pushes Chava out of the way. Because “the greatest mom on earth” raised a boy who ignores limits, the limb falls on Candy and knocks her out. Pat displays more intelligence than all of Mexidoon combined; he calls an ambulance immediately.

Isabel and Jaime are trying to revive Sven. Isabel says, “Say something!” Jaime says, “Don’t say that. He’ll send me to the devil!” Jaime is scared that Sven will hate him, but instead Sven just wants to give him a sweet hug, to a duet of “Frijolito!” and “Papa!” Fred, Luc, and Roc walk in. The girls are happy for them; Fred just looks constipated.

In a restaurant, with a flower vase that looks like a cauldron, the two witches are plotting. Ali says she can’t leave Pat because she loves him. Pua thinks she can manipulate Ali as easily as she pulls strings with the children, but she’s way out of her league. To drive that fact home, Ali stiffs Pau with the restaurant tab.

In their dining room, Jaime and Sven rehash their story with the family. Jaime tells how afraid he was that Sven would reject him. Sven tells his memories from childhood. They promise they will make up for all the time they’ve lost.

Pat is consoling Chava at the hospital. Santi runs in, followed by Meño, Greg and Charly. Santi dashes off to check her condition but not before thanking Pat for contacting him. In her hospital bed, a delirious Candy mumbles, “Nobody is going to take my son from me.” Santi skims her chart and looks worried. In the waiting room, Chava tells Abue that it was his fault. Pat confirms; Candy got hit while she was saving Chava. Pat says Candy could give her life for Chava because she loves him so much. Go Pat! He’s proving to Chava that he’s wrong to think his mama doesn’t love him, like he claimed in his tantrum in the park. Big contrast to how Pauline treats Rocío.

Santi reports to the family that Candy suffered a serious blow to the upper back. If it had been a bit higher, it would have.. He pauses, looks down at a scared little Chava, and detours his report: she’ll be able to return home soon. Now it’s Pat’s turn to give Santi a heartfelt thank you. They may be rivals but they honestly respect each other. Anyone want to join the Santi/Pat Admiration Society?

The office staff gets the call from Meño. The girls want to rush to the hospital, but Barb advises that now is the time for them to focus on their work, and it’s the time for the family to be together at the hospital.

Raúl takes Beto out for burgers after school. Notice that Beto is cheery and chattery when he has someone’s full attention. I think Chava and Roc usually overshadow him. Raúl wants to talk man-to-man. He’s going to ask Beto’s mom to marry him, and he wants Beto’s help with a surprise. The boy couldn’t be happier with the news. Raúl takes Beto to help select a ring. When they get back to the apartment, Raúl confesses to Beto that he’s terrified that Sol will say no, so they think good thoughts together.

Santi takes Chava to Candy’s room. He sees the machines, the neck brace, and the tubes, and he hugs Santi for strength. Santi answers his questions about the tubes and whether she’s conscious. Then Chava cuddles up to his mama, thanks her for saving him, and tells her how much he loves her. I’m surprised that, in true novela fashion, Candy didn’t waken at that moment.

Gregoria, Meño, and Charly join for a meeting of the Candy Admiration Society, as they tell each other how wonderful she is. Anyone want to join that society? Don’t all yell at once.

Pat goes to talk to the unconscious Candy. He tells her he still loves her and he wishes he had been the one to be injured. He allows himself to reflect on what a loss he suffered when he lost Candy. Getting ready to leave, he strokes her face. Then he kisses her forehead gently, looks at her up close, struggles with himself, and yields to the temptation to take advantage of her unconsciousness and kiss her on the lips. This is when Candy awakens at just the right moment. She tells Pat not to kiss her.

Out in the waiting room, Greg knows something happened between Pat and Candy. Pat won’t answer. Pat says Chava can stay with him while Candy recovers. While Santi listens, Chava asks if his dad would mind if he stayed at Rocío’s house instead. GOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!!! Chava has moved onto Team Santi. One down, one to go. Pat says they need to ask Santi first. Santi pokes his head around the corner and says that’s fine with him, but the decision is Pat’s. Then Santi retreats around the corner again to give Pat the privacy he needs with his son. Note the difference in how Santi respects the space of Pat-n-Chava, in contrast to how he dealt with Pat-n-Patito at the baptism party.

Now it’s Santi’s turn to visit Candy. She’s glad Chava is okay, he loves her endlessly, blah, blah, blah. She’s worried that Pat will take Chava. She thinks he was following her to gather evidence against her.

Ole shares Sven’s joy at finding out that Jaime is his father. He can’t believe that now he has a complete family. Ole recommends that he tell his mother. Meanwhile Jaime tells Isa how glad he is that Donato interfered. Chava arrives. As he tells Roc about his eventful day, isn’t it nice to see that Rocío is not Miss Centro Universo? First she’s concerned that Chava got hurt, then she feels bad that Candy got hurt. Roc, the smart one, concludes that Candy is not a bad person. Chava says she’s like an angel. Pau is listening at the door and doesn’t like this development.

Soledad arrives home and finds her apartment filled with flowers and a beautiful table laid, but the room is empty. She sees the jeweler’s box on her plate. She opens it and sees the ring, and she starts crying. Beto enters in a suit and asks her if she wants to marry Raúl. Raúl enters, also crying, and repeats the question. She accepts, he puts the ring on her, and they kiss while Beto watches. He’s patient with all that kissing stuff, but when it goes too long, he interrupts them with, “She accepted!” Then we have a grammar lesson on the conjugation of aceptar.

At work the next day, Sol shows off her ring to the staff. She says they intend to get married within a month. Lulu asks if she’s pregnant and everyone is embarrassed about such a delicate question. Sol doesn’t answer and they don’t know how to react. But then she laughs and says, “Of course not!”

Over breakfast, Raúl tells Ed that he’s getting married. Ed tries to talk him out of it. Marriage is the loss of your freedom and the end of your life. Ed got married because nobody warned him. Raúl asks Ed what’s really bothering him. It’s that things aren’t getting any better with Chayo.

Candy goes to the Family Court judge to ask for a meeting with Patricio so they can discuss these matters directly. She’s tired of the uncertainty. The judge says that if she does that, she risks losing custody. At least I think that’s what was said. She begs for an appointment as soon as possible. He tells her things are not done that way. She tries to explain that doesn’t matter. She’s Miss Centro Universo and things must be done her way. At home, Pat reflects on Candy saving Chava.

At school, Beto reads his essay to the class. It says he loves his mother and he wants her to be happy. She has been happy since Raúl came, and Beto likes playing with him too. Last night they got engaged and they cried from happiness. Then Chava reads his essay about how his mother saved him from the limb and how much she loves him. All this is working on Rocío and it looks like she’s about to switch sides too.

At the office, Candy prays that she gets custody and Pat gives her the divorce. I have several serious problems with her prayer, but I’ve complained enough about Candy for one recap.

The office staff updates Candy on what’s happened while she was out.

Raúl gets an e-mail inviting him to a conference in Vienna. Afterwards he would continue to “Asia” to investigate new technology and consider updating his equipment. (To do list: flight reservations. Destination airport: Asia.) The problem is, he has to leave next week. When he tells Sol that they have to change their plans, she’s afraid he’s backing out. Quite the contrary. He wants to get married in two days, and the trip will be their honeymoon.

Agent Rossini calls on Santiago. His friend has located Marissa and they are just a step away from finding his son. But when Rossini shows Santi the fees, Santi is truly stunned. And that’s only the initial payment! (The statement lists a numbered account into which to deposit the payment. Does this sound fishy to anyone?) Santi fumbles a bit but he knows that finding his son is worth any price. He’ll shift funds tomorrow to cover it. When he tells Candy, she’s also astounded at the cost. They joke about having to live in sleeping bags in the park.

Gregoria is cleaning house and flirting with Art on the phone when a process server brings a summons to family court for Candy. Candy goes into a panic that she’ll lose Chava. She says if that happens she’ll die. Gee, imagine how Pat must feel, having his son taken from him for all those years. Not that that matters.

Pat gets a summons as well. When he realizes it’s for today, he’s stressed. He knows he can’t delay his decision any longer, and he prays for direction.

Candy snipes at Pat in the lobby of Family Court. She tells him she doesn’t care what the judge says, Pat’s not taking Chava. Oh, that Candy. She’s such a card, bless her heart.

The two witches chatter as they go get the kids from school. Ali’s just glad she’s not at the house changing diapers and listening to the brat cry all day. When the kids come out, Pau tells Chava that his mom is in court to see who he is going to live with.

Santi tries to talk to the secretary at the court, but she blows him off. He tries good manners, then humor, then friendliness, then charm. Nothing works. A regular Nurse Ratched. Then he makes noises in his chair just to annoy her.

No previews for tomorrow.

Labels: Tontas