Caray, Caray!

In the coffee room, where Beto’s devouring some chicken, Jerry enters, gives Beto a sealed envelope to deliver to Professor Nuñez, along with some cash as Beto’s fee. Beto burps, starts asking what’s in the envelope, and Jerry says you don’t need to know. Beto then has second thoughts, he likes Mauricio, doesn’t want to mess things up for him. Jerry threatens him, he could have Beto fired, no job, no wedding, so shut up and do your job. Beto’s not scared, thinks Jerry would come out worse. Jerry’s fed up, grabs the envelope, and demands the cash, too. Nope, that’s payment for my silence, now get out! Jerry’s messed up again. He gathers up the chicken as a consolation prize, but I think Beto has proven who’s the wiser. As soon as Jerry gets out of the room, he dumps the disgusting (to him) chicken in Paula’s trash cart. Back in the room, Beto’s not upset about the chicken, with this money he can buy a hundred more chickens, and still have money left for a few sticky buns (chongos).

We begin today's happy misunderstanding with Pau informing Moni that Mao is aware of Moni's, till now, well-guarded secret...she is, indeed, a boxer. As they speak the somber king of Rome summons Moni to his office for a little chat. "We need to talk." (Who is not always thrilled or comforted to hear those very words?)

Well, Mao informs Moni that he knows what her dark secret is and is fully aware of her other vocation. Now it is quickly clear to us, the audience, that they are each talking about something entirely different so we look on in amused horror as she tells him that she is pursuing a childhood dream, her passion, and is not in it for the money though someday it will make her rich. That she's good at it, aspires go to Las Vegas to be the very best in the world. She, of course is talking about boxing while he is thinking...table dancing.

Outside the school, Jerry,wearing the clever disguise of an incongruous mustache, is making good on the bribe he offered the school official to assure Aldo's successful performance on the entrance exam, and Jerry doesn't want just success, he wants a perfect score. This is of course the professor's first time. "Yes, you seem like it's your first time," Jerry notes. (It's good to see that academicians in Mexico cling to high ethical values, much as do doctors and judges of that country.)

Mauricio is stunned. He and Moni are from distictly different worlds but who could have guessed their moral values would differ so much. Moni thinks that he is ashamed of her. He is. "I'm not," he lies. Mauricio pouts. Moni leaves and seeks solace from Pau.

Mao mopes. Sal offers comfort, Mao is having none of it. "Moni is a table dancer." Sal is likewise stunned, but recovers nicely. "It's a job like any other," he points out. Mauricio relates that she's done since she was fifteen years old, it's her passion and she wants to go to Las Vegas and become the world's best. "Well, it's no different than you pursuing your dream as auto racer and becoming the world's greatest." "You're right," Mao concedes. This philosophical discussion is interrupted by Connie who has brought along Luisa and Aldo. ¡Buenas noticias! Both did well on the exam and are slated for admittance to the exclusive school. Luisa is beaming but Aldo seems less than thrilled. Mau congratulates and hugs both.

With a long, sad face, Moni is back in the 'hood. Glowing, and none the worse for wear, Estrella welcomes her with the news that her acting career is back on track. She has a part in a period telenovela, with a great costume with a narrow waist and showing lots of cleavage.I'm on board with that. Things aren't so cheery for Moni. Mao has found out that she is a boxer and is scandalized. He is ashamed of her, thus they can never be together.

At Mao's place it's time to toast the successful scholars. Connie breaks out the Champagne. Aldo is not in a festive mood. He is puzzled as to how he could have possibly passed the exam since he made absolutely no effort. He retreats to his room and Mao follows. There is no possibility he passed this exam much less with a ten, since he answered the questions alternating A and B. Someone must have bribed the professor. Couldn't have been Mao or Connie...hmm. "Well, Connie was very confident and even winked..." This father-son conference is interrupted by a phone call from Estrella. She is on the telenovela set dressed in a eighteenth century French finery, complete with big tall hair. She can't believe that the prince, of all people would hurt Monita like he did. He wants to talk to her but not on the phone. "What's the address?" Of course Aldo wants to tag along. After all he definitely has a dog in this fight.

Jerry, who it looks like has gotten some new shoes, touches base with Oscar. Success. The professor approved the brat's (esquincle, I love this word) application, so Oscar can go ahead and tell the judge. Uh oh.

On the telenovela set, Mao and Aldo spot Estrella. She tells Mao how wonderful it was that Moni came to the club and joined her dancing on
stage while she convinced Estrella to return home...wait a second! Mao is struck by a sudden flash of clarity and revelation. So Moni isn't a
teibolera after all. But why then was she so enthusiastic about it and wanting to be the best and go to Las Vegas? Aldo explains that...sort of. So let's get Moni up here and straighten this mess out. Estrella calls Moni. She needs her to bring her the black dress out of her closet. Right now! Hurry! OK, I'm on my way." Mau, whose normally lame lethargic brain seems to be really clicking now, has an idea.

At home in the girl's room, Luisa pumps Dani for information. "Where did Mauricio go in such a hurry?" "Well, Estrella called about Monita and..." Connie overhears "...Monita," and has a little different style of interrogation. Taking a firm grip on little Dani's shoulders, she literally attempts to shake the truth out. Luisa objects with an old reliable, "¡Suéltala!" and Teresa comes in an puts a halt to her brutal questioning. I think there must be a great trust between the two actresses that play Connie and Dani.

Monita arrives, dress in hand, to find there's been a change in plans. Turns out that another extra is needed, Moni is here, and well... Moni emerges from the dressing trailer decked out as a French noblewoman of the era. Even has on lace gloves. Nice touch. Estrella positions her in the center of the courtyard and leaves her standing there all alone. Gee, I wonder what might happen next.

Ximena is in the barrio to invite Paula for another night of clubbing. Paula is not up to it this time. Then they will eat here with your papuchis (Ximenese for dad), she adores his virile voice.

We didn't have to wait long. Prince Mauricio decked out in period costume including flowing blond hair neatly secured in a masculine ponytail and sporting a rather jaunty mouche beneath his lower lip (you can see how it got it's name which is French for housefly), lopes up on a beautiful black horse with a white blaze, using suspiciously modern-looking tack including Mexican-style saddle, much to the surprise and delight of Monita. We the viewers, not quite so surprised but certainly are delighted. He dismounts and swaggers up to Moni offering her a single rose and pleading for forgiveness. She gives it though neither fully understands what the other is saying,(who really cares?) and then...payoff. A full-blown, steaming hot, telenovela slow-spin, bochornoso beso, complete with dizzying, vertiginous camerawork. Well it's about time. She's trembling, she saw colored stars,"I love you." "I love you, too." "I'm the happiest man in the world..." OK,OK, now go get a room, you two. Whoops, they're not done. She asks for another kiss and he gives it, then another. Don't make me have to turn the watering-hose on you guys.

At the office Gabi is contemplating a flower imprisoned in a glass case that Oscar, hoping for another chance has sent. She is fretting over her short-lived romantic interlude with oily Oscar. The hostage bloom apparently is not sufficient. Sal offers friendship and comfort.

Back in Renaissance France the happy couple are still at it, but suddenly harsh reality grabs Moni. They can't be doing this, both have novios... Nope, now that he has her he's staying with her for the rest of his life. "Really?"

OK, now we're really getting somewhere. Connie has arrived in the barrio and is looking for Beto. She is clad all in black with a wide-brimmed black hat, short little black dress, but with what looks to be black Spandex biking shorts which can only get in the way. She is cleverly disguised in dark glasses (fooled me).Shocked, Nieves looks on from across the patio, peering though the legs of a pair of jeans hanging from the clothesline. Connie knocks and a sleepy Beto appears at the door. He escorts her across the patio as Nieves looks on dumbfounded.

The gallant Sal offers to take Gabi to someplace pleasant to help her get over Oscar. Once bitten, twice shy, she accuses him of trying totake advantage of her vulnerability. No he's just trying to help out. No matter. The phone rings. It's Teresa. Crisis. Gotta go!

Well, once he's tasted her, the French nobleman can't keep his mouth off the pretty maiden as he escorts her arm in arm across the courtyard. He even invites her to dance for him sometime. You rascal!

Back at Moni's apartment... Hold on just a stinkin' minute! What the heck are Beto and Connie doing in Monita's apartment? This is apostasy. Well, we're here now, might as well watch. He pushes her back on the bed and even as she objects, she just wants a consoling hug, she is taking off her little jacket. "Whose place is this, anyway?" she asks even as she suspects the answer. "This is Monita's room," she observes as she discovers a rather capacious bra on the bed. "It doesn't matter," he replies as he asks for a kiss. "Not on the mouth." "Then where?" As he caresses her thighs stares at her nether regions. Is it getting hot in here? She wants him to bite her as she exposes her neck(pescuezo). He does, and is now ready for just about anything. "Now bite me!" They wrestle on the bed, groping each other and cavorting like little rutting rodents, and are kissing each other on the mouth after all...dang, I'm needing a cigarette in the worst way, and I haven't smoked in thirty-five years.

Nieves is listening at the door trying to figure out what is happening to her little Beto as Pau and Ximy approach. Ximy recognizes someof the amorous moans emanating from Mointa's apartment.

They are wrapping up the shoot at the telenovela set.Estrella runs in front of a carriage shouting "Here they come!" She was great. Aldo is impressed. Jeez, if only he weren't so young.

Outside the door of Monita's apartment, suspicions are high, but Ximy doesn't want to betray a friend. They prepare to enter, and Ximy readies her pepper spray. Oops, for the second time, she maces herself. You gotta hate when that happens. Good thing she didn't choose a pistola for personal protection. As Nieves and Pau push in, Beto pops out. He's been watching a noisy movie. Well, that certainly explains things for me; and for Nieves as well. "Nothing's happening here," as she shoos away the other two.

The aristocratic French couple are still pitching woo as Estrella and the precocious Aldo approach. Moni and Mau have never been better.Everyone is happy.

Undaunted by the rude interruption, Beto is back pressing his case with with Connie, but her ardor has diminished somewhat. Beto relents, but, "We're not finished here," he cautions. By the way she acts, she is in full agreement. Nieves barges in, Beto introduces his little friend, Nieves is not amused. Connie leaves Beto with a bit of 'splainin' to do. She bumps into Ximena on the way out. "I knew it was you!" But, a little more venal than I would have thought, she suggests that a deal could affect her memory. She wants full access to Connie's extensive and expensive wardrobe. Everything.

In Mao's SUV, he and Moni are in front and Estrella and Aldo are in back. He's brought Moni and Estrella home, but the mood is still alive as he says goodbye. Noticing the couple in the backseat, mood broken, restrained goodbyes all around. After Mao and Aldo pull away, the two of them share a bonding moment while Moni proclaims her happiness to Estrella.

Mao is cheerfully greeted by Luisa who asks about Moni. Nice. Not so nice... Sal is there with the judge's toady, inquiring about Aldo's miraculous performance on that pesky entrance exam. Unfortunately the judge is aware of the bribe. Mauricio is not, however.

Meintras tanto (everyone knows by now that means meanwhile), back in the barrio, Nieves is berating Beto. She thinks Connie was hooker, but Beto explains that he never has to pay for sex (he actually said that to his mom). She lays in again saying that she had to stop up her ears. "She sounded like a cat in heat (una gata en celo)." Hmm, Moni thought the samething previously. There's more. An excerpt: ...in Monita's house, much less in Monita's bed." You get the picture. She chews his butt even more and of course, just as Moni is walking in, "...and what if Monita finds out you are frolicking in her bed with another woman?"

Carlos

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