Caray, Caray!

Special thanks to the heroes of YouTube, without whom this recap would not have been possible. Or at least not as thorough. I still didn't get everything, so please feel free to fill in the bits that I missed.

(Selected scenes consolidated for narrative/reading convenience)

Rerun of the end of Venus's interview, and Esteve being coy with FrEd about his plans for her.

In the Elizalde kitchen, Florecita tells Fernanda about the bizarre accusation against her. She was the only one with the keys to the files. Of course she didn't give them to anyone. Nanda thinks it must have been a horrible mistake. She trusts Florecita.

Santi comes into the kitchen and, seeing Florecita so weepy, asks what's going on. Flor says it's nothing. Fernanda promises Flor and Margarita that she'll look into this.

Flor and Marg leave Santi and Fer in the kitchen with Tomasa and another woman. Santi wants Fer to come to his studio to talk. His wish for privacy worries Fer. "It's about our father," he explains even more worrisomely.

Esteve has just told FrEd his plan. Whatever it is (we don't know yet), FrEd thinks it's truly crazy. Esteve triumphantly says that FrEd's reaction just proves that it's a brilliant idea.

(I don't get what FrEd says here - is it something about TV? And Esteve says, "not you.")

FrEd still doesn't like it. Esteve says to let Venus decide. She was clear with them that this is the only thing she's known how to do in her life. What they can offer is more dignified. FrEd says it's more dangerous, too. Esteve says it's not much more dangerous that what she did in Jairo's cantina.

FrEd reluctantly agrees to let Esteve pitch the idea to Venus. He takes out his bag and tells Esteve that he's going to investigate the secret that his mother took to her grave. Esteve is intrigued.

In his studio, Santi is telling Fer about his talk with Gonzo. He's never heard his dad talk that way before. He was saying that Santi's siblings are becoming strangers to him and he doesn't consider them trustworthy. Fer says that things are changing - for the worse.

There's a knock at Aurora's door. It's a sour-faced maid I don't recognize. She has some towels and asks to come in to leave them. All smiles, Aurora thanks her and says it's no bother - she'll take the towels herself. The maid leaves, seemingly miffed.

Aurora takes the towels into the bathroom. The camera pans down to the floor as Aurora stoops to the cabinet to put the towels away. She stands, and this is the first she or we see of the mirror over the sink. She shrieks and jumps back - a drippy, blood-colored cross has been painted on the mirror! Aurora is bien impactada.

Fer tells Santi that she's noticed that a lot of strange things have happened since her wedding, and now she's got a bad feeling, like there's a storm coming. Santi presses for details, but she can't offer any. It's just conjecture and impressions; not something specific. She doesn't want to poison his mind with things that might not be true.

Santi says their father told him that Franco Santoro isn't trustworthy. Fer says, "I'm going to tell you everything." He has to promise not to tell anyone else in the family what they've discussed. She says she'll tell him, but not now.

He asks her if she trusts Franco. She says she'd trust him with her eyes closed. She's sure he's an honest person.

She asks what's up with him and Aurora. He says it's like a story from a telenovela. Just then, Aurora comes to the door totally freaked out, babbling about the bathroom mirror. They run to look.

Camilo is riding a horse around and screeching at it in his usual charming way. (Supposedly, he has a reputation as a great horseman. Maybe they call him the Horse Screecher.) Babs shows up and demands to know what he was discussing with Jacinto earlier. He tells her it was nothing important. She makes a sarcastic comment about him having heartfelt chats with employees. Camilo is defensive.

Babs tells Camilo, "in case you haven't noticed, we're in danger." Camilo thinks she's exaggerating. Babs says no, Jacinto is totally on Team Franco, and Franco's been going against them at the company. And she thinks Camilo's conversation with Jacinto looked suspicious.

Camilo admits that Jacinto found Dad's car. Camilo himself has no idea where it is. Babs is sure Franco is behind it. However, Camilo thinks that if that were true, Franco would have canceled the deal with Grupo Lactose Intolerance. Babs says something about Franco being strange? Camilo says Jacinto said he'd leave him alone if he told him why Barb took the blame for the theft of the car. She thinks Santoro is interested in more than the Elizalde fortune. She's sure he's looking for something else too. That's why he's so dangerous. For now, they need to play along with his game and do what they can to convince Gonzo and the others without coming off as paranoid.

And he's going to need to continue humoring Jacinto, too. Camilo isn't happy about this. She reminds him that whatever he says to Jacinto, it will be like they're saying it directly to Franco Santoro.

Not surprisingly, the bloody cross has already been washed off of Aurora's mirror. Fernanda asks Aurora if she didn't just see a reflection or lights or something, but Aurora insists that it was a cross of blood. She realizes that someone must have painted it and then washed it off. Fer chalks it up to yet another bizarre happening. Santi says it was a very tasteless joke.

Aurora says it was no joke. Someone's wishing evil on her. Fer agrees, but Santi says it was only to frighten them. Nothing's going to happen. It's just a bad joke. Some employee must have done it. Fer says she'll talk to Tomasa and find out if she knows anything. She reassures Aurora that nothing will happen to her. Santi tells Aurora that no one in the family would play such a mean trick. They're not THAT awful, he laughs.

FrEd is discussing Artemio Bravo with Padre Bosco. FrEd thinks Bravo must be a very powerful man. He moved his office just to avoid meeting them. Bosco doesn't think that means he's powerful. If Bravo took the trouble to move his office, it's because he was afraid he'd be recognized.

Franco hadn't even thought of that! He asks if his mother ever said if she (or he?) was related to Bravo. Bosco says he can't repeat things that were discussed in a confessional. (Ah, so they DID discuss it?) All he can tell Franco is that Soledad lived in torment.

I miss the next part of the conversation (help!! I think it's important! something about "the man of her life"?? I had a lot of trouble with this scene.) Franco says he has a right to face this enemy. There's an enemy involved who wants to do away with both of them., without compassion. They can either wait to be victimized, or find them. He thinks he knows how to do it. He asks for a blessing. Bosco says he can have it as long as he doesn't hurt anyone.

Fernanda tells Tomasa to make sure that no one goes into the bedrooms except Tomasa and Berta. (I don't know which one Berta is; did she bring the towels?) She also asks if the doctor has come to see Pris; Tomasa says he's with her now.

The doctor is telling Pris take it easy for a few days and not make any sudden movements. She can get out of bed, but no exertion, no driving, and no exercise. Stay as calm as possible. Call if something new happens, and keep taking her medicine, he adds.

Pris talks to the baby. The danger has passed, and she can't wait to hold the baby in her arms.

Vladi has wasted no time with those filing cabinet keys. He's already looking through everything, and is crouched behind the main desk when Gonzo comes off the elevator and begins speaking to Florecita. (He takes her so much for granted that he doesn't even notice that she's not standing there.) Vlad pops up with his nose in a notebook. Gonzo asks where Flor is. "I fired her," Anyballs says as he enters the lobby. "I've been waiting for you so I could tell you," he says.

Before Gonzo can reply to that, Fernanda shows up and asks Gonzo why he fired Flor. "I just found out about it this moment," Gonzo says. Vlad has a guiltier than usual look on his face.

Fernanda is chewing Anyballs out in his office for accusing this girl who's worked for them for so many years. "How can you think she sold it?" she asks. "Giving it away is even worse," Ani jokes. Gonzo tells him he shouldn't have made this decision without consulting him. Fernanda says they should investigate whether it's even true or not. (Vlad is listening at the door, not that it's hard to hear all of the yelling.) But then what would you expect from a guy who isn't even worried about his wife and baby being in danger, she adds. She insists that they do an investigation.

Vlad ducks into his office to call Damian to warn him that Fernanda is going to investigate Flor's firing which Vlad never agreed with anyway. Damian says it can be fixed with Pris's help. Vlad doesn't want her to be involved, but Damian says Pris's family will find the proof that will implicate Florecita.

Next, Franco goes to the Palafox home. The woman who answers the door tells him that Mrs. P isn't out of bed yet. "Tell her it's about the patents," he says. The maid scurries off with the good news.

Ciro's wife and son want to hear all about the patents. FrEd admits he only mentioned patents to get their interest. What they're really going to talk about is money. Mrs. Palafox says they're the same thing. She wants to know how much. 100,000 dollars, he says. They seem happy with this figure. The money's all in his bag. All they have to do is give him whatever they found in the box.

Mrs. Palafox asks Franco if he knows what was in the box. He doesn't. Simon comes back with her handbag. She hopes he won't feel cheated when he sees it; she doesn't think it's worth anything. He says that's okay; it's his risk to take. She hands over the birth certificate. "Artemio Bravo," Franco breathes.

Can you get anything out of this picture I grabbed off of YouTube? Near the bottom, I see "Artemio Bravo," and the rest of his name (his mother's last name) is inconveniently out of frame.

In the upper corner, the last two lines are "Bravo" and "Artemio," but I can't read the rest of what's up there either. It would be nice if Ed would read it to us, but no such luck.

Fernanda checks in with Pris on her office phone and promises to see her later. She hangs up, and then whacks her shin against some part of her desk. (Unscripted, I presume.) She picks up her cell phone and says out loud that Franco needs to know what's been happening. Then she decides not to call him.

Gonzo has a guest in his office - his lawyer. "I never thought it would come to this point," Gonzo says. He's come to the painful realization that he needs protection from his own children.

Fernanda ends up calling FrEd after all. She wants to talk. He agrees to meet her at the bungalow in a few hours.

Barbara finds Aurora admiring some statues and says she'd expect an artist like her to appreciate art. She expects Aurora will invite the whole Elizalde family to her next exhibition. Barb strokes Aurora's bangs and thought-bubbles "pathetic loser, you're no more a sculptor as I am a nun." Aurora tells her that Santi is painting in his studio. Barb says it's a pleasure to see her face around here and she's glad she and Santi have something so solid.

Barb asks Aurora to call her by her name and confides that she's not Santi's favorite person, but he's her favorite of the stepchildren. Camilo interrupts and tries to flirt with Aurora. Barbara reminds him that she's Santi's girlfriend. He just wants to welcome her to the family. He plants a slimy kiss on her cheek which fails to delight. "Santiago just brought you here and now he's abandoned you? Very bad," he clucks. Aurora is uncomfortable. Barb enjoys the awkwardness.

Camilo tells Aurora how glad he is that she came back. Hopefully she'll stay longer. "It was Santiago's idea," she says without enthusiasm and excuses herself.

"You like her, right? Barb asks Camilo. He giggles stupidly.

Gonzo wants to know how to protect Barb's future if something happens to him. The lawyer is shocked. Well, just imagine how I feel, Gonzo says. The lawyer says the family's always been so harmonious. Gonzo says money's come between them. Surprised, the lawyer says they've always had "resources." Gonzo says there was this economic matter, and a new investor named Franco Santoro involved in the company.

"You're thinking of disinheriting your children?" the lawyer asks. Gonzo says no, he's just protecting his wife. The lawyer says it's just that Gonzo seems very upset, and he shouldn't make a decision now that he'll regret later. Gonzo angrily says he won't regret it. Otherwise he'll die, and she'll be helpless. The lawyer says he can dispose of his things however he pleases, but asks him to think about it for a few days.

Gonzo wants to leave 75% to his wife, and the rest to the kids. The lawyer thinks that's drastic. "I'm aware of that," Gonzo snaps. The lawyer says that once he signs a revised will, his wife could leave him or the kids practically in the street. (Doesn't Gonzo have to die first? Did I miss something?) Gonzo insists that she's moral and honest and loyal and would never do such a thing.

Mrs. Palafox tells Franco there wasn't anything else in the box except for that piece of paper. She asks if that paper tells him anything. He repeats that he doesn't know if it's worth anything. Mrs. Palafox wonders why he paid so much for it, then. He says he's okay with it for now; he believes it was a good deal.

Simon asks about the patents. FrEd says he doesn't really know anything about any patents, but he knows that Ciro was a great chess player. "What does that have to do with it?" Mrs. P asks. Something like he was the king of the chessboard... the king has limited movement and very little power, but it's the most important piece in the game.

(The Palafoxes stare at him blankly. Their total lack of recognition in this conversation tells us and FrEd that Ciro never gave them any clues to the inheritance and definitely did not intend for them to get anything.)

In this game, FrEd says, if you lose the king, like in this case the white king lost his head, then that's the end of the game. Surprising, eh? He leaves.

Simon is worried. Mrs P. tells him, "that man's even crazier than your father." Then they admire the money.

Erika comes back from a jog. Her mother is loafing around outside on a cloudy day in sunglasses and a dressing-gown. It's only by the grace of God she was able to get up today, she says. Yesterday she was the happiest woman in the world, believing she would have a baby, and it was all a lie. She's feels like a worthless decrepit old woman. Erika tries to cheer her up, saying millions of women experience menopause. Dolly doesn't care about millions of women. Her life has become a drama. Erika says the doctor said she'd feel fine with hormone therapy. Dolly thinks the doctor is totally wrong. The problem is that her husband is going to dump her in favor of a younger woman.

Vlad calls Pris to make sure she's okay and find out if she needs anything. She doesn't want to be called Gordita and is impatient with his questions about her medicine and sleep. "I was sleeping so soundly until your call woke me." "Really?" asks the gullible dupe. He's sorry. He wants to know about her dreams. Damian walks in on Vlad and asks for the phone. He wants a favor "for us - all four of us" (him, Vlad, her, and the baby). He wants her to put some confidential information about Grupo Lactos in her brother's desk.

Santi and Aurora are outside. "I hope they last," Camilo says. Babs disagrees. She tells Camilo that Gonzo doesn't like Aurora. "Since when does my father have an opinion about Santiago's girlfriends? Please!" Babs says he always worries about his children, but this time she's inclined to agree. She hopes their relationship is disrupted. Camilo's face turns a darker shade of orange as he relishes the prospect of being the agent of this deception.

Camilo asks Babs if she really wants Santi and Aurora's relationship to end. She's not right for the family, Babs says. Camilo says he can help open Santi's eyes. Babs says even more important, make your dad feel better. "I'll help my little brother," Camilo says and leaves.

Babs snickers privately. "Like always, you took the bait."

Next time:
Babs sees Fernanda kissing FrEd.

Bonus avances from the youtube version (I'll be obnoxiously vague to avoid spoiling): Barb helps an old man make a difficult trip. Venus tells Esteve she'd do it for free. Vlad worries about Pris.

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