Caray, Caray!

Happy Uruguayan Independence Day!

Barbie tells Damian that his mission is to infiltrate the convent and spring Aurora.

Lovely comes to visit Esteve and asks for a favor. She needs him to "encarrilar a" Camilo for her (get him back on the rails). She wants Esteve to pressure him to make their engagement formal.

Franco has his own parking spot in the GL garage, interestingly. Once he parks the car, Flor tells him not to worry, that she'll keep quiet. He asks if she'll also help him, but she thinks it's risky. He wants her to tell him if there's anything going on that could hurt him or Fer. But, duh, she was going to do that anyway. He opens the door for her. She comments that she's so amazed that the little "chamaco" (kid) she used to hang with is now this total babe. She tells him that he really does need to watch it with Gardenia because she could blow the whole plan out of "despecho" (spite). But, duh, he already knew that.

Gardenia seems to be having problems with the phone systems. She giddily transfers someone and says that she's not "mensa" (a dummy…gives a whole new meaning to the name of the club for people with a high IQ). Fer and Erika walk in. Gardenia's a little cold to them. She complains about Flor not being there and having to take messages. Fer mentions that Franco is driving her over in his car and she'll be there shortly. Gardenia prays to Chuchito that that "chismosa" (gossip) Flor doesn't tell Eddie about the "mentirota" (big fat lie) she told about him. Well, isn't that a little like the chismosa calling the other chismosa a chismosa? She worries Eddie will be mad at her.

Damian wants an explanation of his mission, but Barbie tells him that information is on a need to know basis. What he needs to know for now is that Aurora will have to be taken out because she won't leave on her own and the nuns are like "perros guardianes" (guard dogs). She tells him not to worry about Santi anymore, but Santi is the carrot that will get Aurora to leave with Damian--he's to tell her that he will take her to Santi, but will really bring her to Evil Barbie instead. He's to tell her that Santi knows about the baby and wants to marry her.

Flor and Franco walk into the GL Presidencia lobby. Gardenia tells them Fer is already there and in her office. She lets Fer know that Franco is there, but Flor has to dial for her. Franco looks really, really angry.

Damian complains that only Santi would be able to get her out of there. He wonders why she wants Aurora. They're just going round and round about the same issue.

Franco walks in on Fer and Erika and says he had an "atoron" (a jam; i.e., he hit traffic) which is why it took so long to get there. Erika tells him the "bad" news that Fer separated from Damian, and it's for good. Then she asks if Franco has any eligible friends, but Fer objects. Franco says he's sorry to hear the news, which is to say, he's sorry to hear the news now that he's not in a position to back out of his impending marriage to Erika. Erika, that kiss ass, worries out loud that the same thing may happen to her and her beloved Franco. He says they'll just have to work hard at their marriage and Erika beams. Franco asks about the fake plans, which she has, and Erika, being allergic to any kind of work that doesn't involve shopping, makes her excuses to leave. She magnanimously tells Fer that Fer don't need no stinkin' man and gives her a hug goodbye. Then she tells Franco "The closer we get to our wedding, the handsomer you get. Call me!" And finally she's out the door. Good. Now they can get busy on the desk. Franco repeats that he's sorry because it means a failure for her. She wants them to get down to the real business. He says, "Vi a Liliana" (I saw Lili). Fer is appropriately impactada as we go to commercials.

At Evil HQ v 2.0, Ciro continues to read from the diary. Ana Gregoria is afraid of what might happen to her and her child. And those are the last words she wrote. Lili is moved by the sad ending. "Pobrecita!" (Poor woman!) Ciro says now they understand Artemio's hate.

Franco has to shut Fernanda up before he can explain about Lili. Franco says her freedom depends on what they do. He says she is safe, but that can change. If the person who has her gets the wrong idea, everything could tank. Fer still thinks it was Obregon, but Franco says Obregon really didn't have anything to do with it, it was Evil Barbie. Now he tells her he made a "pacto" (agreement, pact, deal) with EB to gain her confidence and that's why he lied before. Fer wonders why he didn't tell her before--oh, to protect her and keep her from worrying. He swears to her that he's on her side and he's only screwing with EB to get to the truth.

Gardenia gripes at Flor for being in Franco's car. She accuses Flor of spilling the beans to Franco and to Fer. She's surprised that Flor didn't do it, but Flor says that unlike Gardenia she listened long enough to realize that Lili's life was at stake and she believes it's their duty not only to keep his secret, but to help him. "And that includes not jumping Franco Santoro OR Eduardo Juarez' bones!" Gardenia looks pissy.

Fer wants to know where Lili is. Franco says she's in "un lugar inacessible" (an place that's inacessible)but she's safe and surrounded by "comodidad" (comfort), treated with a lot of "consideración" (consideration) and is free to move around. Fer now understands about the recorded message. Franco now brings the name Artemio Bravo into play, and lets her know that he hates the family and will kill to get his revenge.

Camilo goes over to Las Animas.

Fer wonders how Lili got into Artemio's hands, but Franco doesn't know all the details yet. He does know that Artemio knows "milimetricamente" (to the milimeter) everything about the Elizalde clan. Fer wants to know why he hates them, but all Franco knows for sure is that Ana Gregoria Bravo has something to do with their family. Fer remembers the birth certificate. Franco asks her what she knows about her grandparents, but she didn't know them, only what her father told her: that they were a very united couple, generous to people in the region, her grandmother was "a saint". Franco says she's not going to like what he has to say, but according to Ana Gregoria's diary, she had a fling with Jeronimo and had his baby. Fer puts two and two together and comes up with Artemio. She is impactadissima!

Damian drinks and asks more pointless questions about Aurora. EB keeps telling him not to ask questions and get to work. Barbie gives him some cash and says she'll call him. She tells him this isn't a game. She asks why he called Prissy this morning.

The lady in question is sitting on a bench outside what I imagine to be a yoga studio crying as she remembers Anibal announcing that the baby's name will be Vladimir Elizalde. This poor woman. I mean, I know it's not the nicest thing in the world to pass another man's child off as your husband's but out of all these people, she seems so alone. The closest thing she has to a friend is her brother, who she can't tell what's really going on. Basically, she can't tell anyone what she's going through except for Vlad the Obsessed Impaler and Anibal, who inherited grandma Altagracia's mean gene.

Barbie and Damian talk and talk and say nothing.

Franco says he's allowed to visit Lili whenever he wants to, but he has to keep Barbie thinking he's on her side. He doesn't know what the relationship is between them, but he thinks Artemio is the only person Barbie really fears. He says to keep Barbie on his side, he at least has to make it look like he's helping her achieve her biggest goal yet--"acabar con los Elizalde!" (finish off the Elizaldes) More impactada-ness from Fer as we go to commercials again.

Lovely serves Esteve and Camilo coffee. Esteve asks her to leave them alone as she makes frustrated faces behind Camilo's back. Once she leaves, Esteve starts off by asking Camilo whether he (Esteve) speaks good Spanish. You know, whether it's understandable, like, Every. Single. Word. Of course, Camilo says yes, and Esteve accuses Camilo of thinking the Nortons are stupid.

Fer is still processing that Artemio and Evil Barbie want the family finished off. She says it's getting hard to pretend she doesn't know what's going on. He dangles the usual threat to Lili's life over her head. Fer wants him to call the cops, but Franco claims that Artemio will just kill Lili off. Franco tells her that it was Artemio who ordered Evil Barbie to kill off Fer's Mommy. Wow, we're just going to lay it all out now, is that it? Fer is impactada for the, uh, fourth time tonight. Fortunately, she's young and in good health, so she's not going to faint or die or anything. I don't think.

Esteve pulls out the big guns and informs Camilo that when someone "se atreve" (dares) to insult the Nortons, they pay…with their lives! That is so freakin' ridiculous coming from him. Maybe if he had literally pulled out a big gun I could take him a little more seriously. He wants to know if Camilo is screwing with them. If Camilo treats Lovely like he treats other women, that ain't good. Camilo tries to explain or ask questions, but Esteve screams at him to "wait here" and then leaves the room.

In the gals' room, Venus is folding laundry and pouting, yes, pouting because Esteve didn't let her stay and hear the gossip. "No exageres" (quit exaggerating) replies Martina, who thinks she's got Esteve so wrapped around her little finger that he'll do anything for her. Esteve comes into the room. Venus wants to know why he threw her out. Esteve gets all grumpy and says he's doing what she asked him to. But Venus doesn't think it's right for him to just tell her to get out like that "a golpe" (all of a sudden; literally, "with a hit"). Esteve takes issue with her description (thinking probably of the literal) and Martina has to step in and referee. "Ya bajale, Venus," (come down already, come off it) she says, adding that Esteve "te está cumpliendo todos tus caprichos" (is giving in to all your caprices). Venus, chastised, asks what happened. Esteve says Camilo wants to know what to do, but Esteve hasn't told him yet, so he can come in here and "la princessa" can tell him what to tell Camilo to do. Oh, hell, chuck Camilo out the house and get to work on international relations already.

Fer tells Franco she trusts him, but it's hard for her to be around this guy who's going to marry her best friend, but is trying to seduce her and "acoso a" (sexually harassed) Gardenia. Franco tries to say it's not what it looks like, but that never works. Fer wants a real explanation. Franco tries to remind her that what happens at the country house…. That doesn't work either. He says he doesn't have a way to explain what she saw at the house, but he's sorry for it. Fer cries and whines that she has to support him whether she likes it or not. Franco says he knows it's a lot to ask for her to trust him "ciegamente" (blindly). Oh, no, I think we've broken Fer. She's all upset that her whole life, basically, has been based on lies. Yeesh. There's really no way to deny that, is there? Even her spotless image of her grandparents is gone now. She's worried about how many more lies there are to discover and who else is going to "despojarse de su careta ante mi" (divest themselves of their masks before her) Franco says he understands. Fer says that trusting him blindly, she has a request. If he also has a mask to remove, she wants it off now! But will he take the bait? We go to commercials before we can find out.

Venus demands a big party, but she won't say why--she just wants him to take care of it. She wants everybody who's everybody to be there and for Camilo to announce their engagement. Esteve says that sounds fine, but why not get a wedding date out of him while they're at it. Venus says that will be dealt with later, just get him to throw the party. Their eyes, however, are reading from a whole different script that says something more like "Don't you like me? Haven't you had enough yet? No way, I can't make the first move--you might reject me! But I've got such a crush on you! Don't you want me?"

Fer asks if Franco is really what he looks like. "Te lo ruego" (I beg you) she says, "please tell me." And what does her respond? "Yo solo soy lo que parezco" (I'm only what I appear to be). Dude, I better not hear any whining about this later when she finds out the truth. You had your chance and you blew it. Fer asks him to get her sister back as soon as he can and to keep her informed, even if it's bad news. He promises. Fer says she hopes he gets to read the whole diary because she really needs to know how it ends. Franco picks up his visitor badge and leaves because if he doesn't he won't be able to resist kissing her. Only he says it with more words. After breathing into each other's faces for a minute, he leaves.

Fer explains the phones to Gardenia. "Cuando sea una conferencia tripartita…" (When it's a 3-way call)But Gardenia is already lost--she asks what you eat that with (wah wah wah wah). Flor, almost sexily, wishes the departing Mr. Santoro a very good day. Franco gives her a big smile and says he'll see her later. Fer, over the intercom, asks Flor to come to her office. Flor leaves and Franco and Gardenia give each other dirty looks. Franco gets into an Evil-Barbie-infested elevator.

Now Fer wants to know what Flor wanted to tell her before.

Camilo whines that the situation is absurd, waiting around for a verdict and sentencing as if he'd commited some horrible crime. Blah, blah, blah. Camilo says "virgin" isn't even a word in the dictionary anymore and he thinks the whole story about Abdul Hassan was a load of crap. Esteve says he'll take this out of the 1001 Nights context and put it in modern terms. Camilo is confused. Esteve promises an explanation.

Flor tells Fer about how she, Gardenia, and Margie (I think) are all on her side. Which is nice, but doesn't answer Fernanda's question. Flor apologizes for just showing up like that, which still doesn't answer the question. So now, Flor tells her that it was something Gardenia said about Fer's wedding and she just felt so horrible about it, etc. etc. She finally says that Gardenia saw Damian and Barbie doing, uh, things, in the car. Fer is impactada for the fifth time tonight. But really, but this point, can she summon up any more surprise about anything Dam or Barbie have done? I completely thought that Flor was going to rat out Gardenia for lying about that kiss. Oh well, you win some, you lose some.

Down in the garage, Barbie tells Franco to "neutralizar" (neutralize) Fernanda. She wants Fer's nose out of a certain business. Franco denies knowing what she's talking about, even though Barbie claims that only he and Flor knew about Villasana showing up that day. Franco laughingly asks if she wants him to ask Fernanda how she got the information. Barbie says, more than that, she wants to know what Fer is "tramando" (plotting). Franco says he doesn't think he can get the info, but Barbie says his path is "despejado" (clear) and he can freely seduce Fer. Franco says no way because he's marrying Erika. Barbie says if he wants to keep Lili alive, he needs to find out what Fer is doing and keep her from doing anything against Barbie. Franco glares.

Fer wonders why Gardenia never said anything. Flor makes excuses. Flor says Gardenia may be gossipy, and nosy, but she wouldn't make something up just to hurt someone else (ha!) so that's how Flor knows it's true. Flor laments this is quite a blow for Fer, but Fer says it's just one more added to all the other interesting news she's gotten today. Flor says she doesn't know how to help Fer, but she does want to give her some advice: "Have faith and trust in Franco Santoro."

Esteve reveals Gonzalo's car to Camilo. He says Camilo used it to get into Las Animas. Camilo wants to know what Esteve's getting at. Esteve says they need to get down to business, but Camilo thinks it's odd to arrange a marriage like a business deal. Esteve laughs and says he has "ternura" (tenderness) for Camilo. "Where I'm from, my people understand a marriage as uniting forces for a practical objective." He mentions marriages to consolidate royal families, end wars. Camilo says no one does that anymore, but Esteve corrects him--no one says it. Esteve says it's crap that people like Camilo marry for love. Esteve says Camilo needs to set a date to introduce Lovely to society as his fiancee and he's got one month to do it in. He holds out the keys to Gonzo's car. It's Camilo's choice--either he sets a date and takes the car now, or Esteve returns the car to Gonzo and explains what Camilo was doing with it. And we end on that note.

Tomorrow: Franco reads more of the diary; Barbie confides her suspicion of Franco to Artemio; and possibly Fer busts Barbie being mean to Flor.

Labels: manana