Caray, Caray!

Romina spots Emiliano and drags Paloma toward him. She’s decided a good pick up line would be to ask to bum a cigarette. There is one flaw in her plan, and she quickly finds it out when Emiliano tells her that he doesn’t smoke. “Pity” she replies. He answers with a “see you” when she and Paloma head off. Emiliano goes back to what he was doing, which was purchasing some red roses. The flower vendor gives him the price and Romy turns and asks if the flowers are for a girlfriend. Emiliano smiles and gets back to his transaction. Paloma is shocked at how bold Romy was with E. Romy thinks that spending time with her aunts has made Pal behave like a nun. Pal realizes that she’s late for dinner and she’s going to get scolded by Carlota (Cruelota). E is ready to leave and he hands each girl a flower and says “good-bye”. Romy practically swoons over his gesture.

At home, Cruelota is unwilling to stall dinner because of Paloma’s being late. Cruelota launches into a diatribe about how Pal knows to head home right away after school. This is another reason why she needs to be vigilant with Pal. That girl is so much like Macarena, this isn’t intended to be a compliment to either Mac or Pal. Cruelota is called away from the kitchen by the arrival of Ines. She’s there to make plans for the parish charity fair (la kermesse de la parroquia). Ines would love to have Paloma help out. Cruelota is happy to pledge Paloma’s time and talent to the fair on Sunday. Pal comes home and learns that she’s been promised to help at the kermesse. She tries to tell her aunt that there is a test for which she needs to prepare. Cruelota will hear nothing of this. Pal heads up to her room to change. Mac follows her and Pal complains about Cruelota not asking her before she commits her to something. Pal questions why her father chose Cruelota as her guardian (la tutora), as it is obvious to her and the rest of us that her other aunt would have been the better choice. Mac says that she’ll talk to Cruelota about the kermesse. Mac notices the rose that Pal brought home and she asks questions. Pal says she got it from some young man. This interests Mac and Pal tells her that she’ll never see him again, but he was good looking. Pal switches subjects and asks Mac if it would be possible to study at Romy’s that evening. Mac reminds her that Cruelota wouldn’t like it. Pal tells her that her homework is impeded by them not having internet access. Mac agrees to let her go.

Emiliano makes it home and gives his mother the flowers. She’s delighted at his thoughtfulness and happy he’s home from Monterrey (apparently he’s not made it back all these years). Rafael, E’s father, is also happy to see his son, but he’s quickly assigned the job of bringing in the luggage.

Meanwhile, Romy is discussing her classes with her mother, she’s at risk of flunking (tronar – to flunk :colloq. in Mexico). Camila is urging her daughter to put a little more effort into school. Romy tells her that Pal might be coming over tonight to help her study if the witches (las brujas) let her leave the house.

Across the street, Pal is discussing her courses with her aunts. She really likes her art history and restoration class. Mac says she’d have liked to take those classes too. She really likes antiques (las antigüedades). They discuss how Pal can help Camila with her business. Cruelota insults Camila and both Mac and Pal defend her. They discuss how many women now need to be self-sufficient (autosuficiente). Pal talks about getting a job and going to college. Cruelota questions how she’ll afford school. Pal says that money from a job and possibly a scholarship (la beca). Cruelota’s face scrunches up more than usual at the turn of this conversation, I think this means she's displeased.

Back across the street, Camila is telling Romy that it is important for her to learn some domestic skills. She’ll probably live on her own someday, and she should know how to do things around the house. I say that this conversation should have taken place earlier in Romy’s life, perhaps about three episodes ago, when she was 9. Camila tells Romy it is very important to be able to take care of yourself, to not have to depend on another person. Romy wonders if her mother not needing her father might be one reason he left. Ouch.

Diana is so happy to have Emiliano back home. She wants to know if he plans to stay. That’s his plan. She pushes Rafa into helping E get a job at the factory.

Cruelota questions where Pal went after dinner. Mac tells her she went to study at Romy’s. Cruelota is not pleased. Mac gives the internet story. Cruelota says with a house full of books that isn’t an excuse. She launches into everyone wanting the easy way out of things….kids today would rather look it up on the internet than search for it in a book.

Diana is looking at a painting that Camila has for sale. She’s got to have it; it will look fantastic in her living room. Cam and Di talk about Emiliano’s return home. Cam tells her that Romy is thinking about going away to school and Cam doesn’t know what she’ll do when her daughter leaves. Di urges Cam to take back her life, find a man, find someone to pamper her (apapachador). Di comments that it must be horrible to get old and be alone. Ouch again.

Rafa is at work and talks to Joel, a co-worker, about how they are losing customers. There has got to be a reason why this is happening. Joel suggests that they need some new ideas. Figuratively a light bulb goes off (encendió la bombilla), Rafa says they should develop a new line of ceramics.

Upstairs, Pal is doing all the school work while Romy talks about Emiliano. He’s sooo good looking and she wonders what it would be like to kiss him.

Meanwhile, Emiliano goes to meet a friend, Germán. Now here is a bombón, Germán is quite the looker. The friends share a tequila, to toast E’s return home. E tells his friend how he’d like to open his own business. They talk about how bad Rafa’s boss is, apparently quite a tyrant. Germán knows someone named Orlando who could be able to help E. He’ll see what he can do. E’s happy to hear this. The men talk about women and E kind of mentions that he saw some good looking girls earlier that day.

Mac, working on some sort of sewing project, talks to Ines about having Paloma work at the kermesse. She tells Ines that Pal has a test coming up and won’t be able to help out. Ines is ticked and she leaves. Mac talks to anther woman, and this woman shows her a dress: very good price and the latest style (última moda). Mac thinks she should buy it for Paloma, but then worries that Cruelota won’t like it. She decides to get it for Pal anyway.

Yvonne is visiting Natalie. Yvonne questions if Natalie has gotten over Cristobal. It was a very passionate love, but quite different from what she feels for Alonso. So, I take it to mean that Natalie’s moved on? Yvonne wonders if Natalie ever saw Cristobal again, no never she answers.

We are now taken to Cristobal, he’s become a priest and ministering to the drunks. While making coffee to help sober them up, he preaches about walking down a similar road himself.

Emiliano goes to pick his mother up from Camila’s house. Romy answers the door and she’s shocked to see the boy from earlier on her doorstep. He comes in and Di introduces him to Camila and Romy. They all comment on how everyone’s changed through the years and how they’d have never recognized each other (proven earlier for Romy and E).
Pal returns home and Cruelota scolds her about going to Romy’s and not using the library in the house. She reminds Pal that all permission in the house is to be granted by her and only her, so Pal shouldn’t be asking Mac for anything. In addition, Cruelota adds, that Pal will be working the kermesse on Sunday. She warns Pal not to go against her. Pal tells her that she has no right to make decisions for her. Cruelota says au contraire, you will work the kermesse. Mac arrives home and tries to intervene. Cruelota warns her if she doesn’t want problems then she should be quiet. Mac tells her sister she’s too hard on Paloma.

Romy and Camila discuss E and how she used to be afraid of him when she was little and that she really didn’t like him.

Mac goes to see Pal in her room and gives her the dress.

Romy takes a peek into her mother’s address book and gets Di’s phone number.

Pal tries on the dress and thinks it might be too short. It is a dress more suited for Romy, Pal says. She then compares her home life to Romy’s. Mac makes excuses, perhaps they are a little more conservative, but one day Pal will be free and the ruler of her own destiny, she’ll be happy. Cruelota darkens the door and lets it be known she hates the dress, it is too short and there is no way in Hades that Paloma will be allowed out of the house in it until it is altered.

Emiliano brings Di home and they talk about the goings on in town. Some jazz musicians are playing (?). E heads off to bed and Rafa tries to tell Di about the new line of ceramics. Di isn’t interested in that, she just wants to brow beat Rafa for not securing a job for E at the factory. She wants her son to become the head of a company. She belittles Rafa, calling him a little man who is unwilling to take risks. She comments that Pablo gets rich, while Rafa remains mediocre. Rafa defends himself, he may not have the ambition that Di wishes he would have, but he is hardworking and honest. She lambastes him for keeping her there for twenty-five years, all the while keeping her dreams unfulfilled.

At the school there is a new teacher. She’ll be teaching psychology and college prep courses. She’s happy to be there. The girls get a break and Romy pulls out a cell phone. Pal is nervous, they could get in trouble with a cell at school. Romy convinces Pal to call Emiliano’s house, she’s afraid to do it because Di might recognize her voice. Di answers and Pal asks for E. Di wants to know who’s calling and Pal says “una amiga.” She quickly gives the phone to Romy, who talks to Emiliano. She tells him that since he’s been out of town awhile, perhaps she can show him some of the new hot spots. She gets him to agree to go out with her that very evening. When E gets off the phone, Di pushes to find more information, but E isn’t very forthcoming.

Romy tells Camila about her date with E. She wants a new outfit and her mother tells her she’s got a closet bursting with clothes. Romy says she’s lacking the right outfit, and does her mother want her to look like a “pueblerina”/ so provincial? Camila agrees, on the condition that Romy study harder.

Pal watches from her window when Emiliano comes to pick Romy up for their date. Mac catches her at the window and they talk about Romy’s date. Mac wonders if Pal is interested in Emiliano. Pal assures her “no”, but she’d like to meet someone like him. What’s the use, she adds, there is no way Cruelota would let her have a boyfriend.

Romy and E exchange the proper getting to know you info. They talk about his former schooling and what he want for a job. They talk about her school and her plans for the future. He tells her that he promised her mother she’d be home by 11, so they’ve got to go.

Di and Rafa discuss E’s date. She wants to know who he went out with….what if it isn’t the right kind of girl. Rafa looks disgusted with how much of a snob his wife is. Di tells Rafa she’s going to need some money to buy the painting from Camila. Rafa reminds her that money is a little tight. Di doesn’t care, it is an investment, she wants the painting and she’ll have it.

E escorts Romy to her door. Pal is back watching out the window. E and Romy exchange phone numbers (she does the very modern thing and calls his cell phone to give him her number). Romy notices Pal watching and decides to give her friend a good show. She kisses Emiliano and he kisses her back.

Mac takes a peek at the stuff in her mystery box. Looking at the photograph, she comments that “after so many years, I can’t forget you. Your memory hurts me.”

The next day at school, Romy wants to tell Pal about the kiss and the girls get in trouble for talking.

Germán calls E and tells him that they are going to have a party that night in honor of his return to town.

E goes to meet Romy after school (he figured out which school was hers, based upon her uniform---good powers of observation). He tells Romy about the party and invites her and Pal to join in on the fun. Romy agrees right away, and she wonders if Pal would ever get permission from the aunts. Pal doesn’t answer. Romy kisses E and says to Pal, “come to the party with me and mi novio.” To Emiliano, she says “we are novios, right? You don’t think I kiss everyone that I go out with?” All of this is being observed by the new teacher and she doesn’t look too happy. END OF EPISODE.

Labels: amor