Caray, Caray!

The chapter opens with our star-crossed lovers, no, not Mao and Moni, Beto and Connie, frantically groping each other in a furtive attempt to fulfill their biological imperative, and what better location than the boss'/ fiancé's office? She is arched back over the desk with him atop smothering her pretty neck with lusty kisses when the spell is broken by the appearance of Sal and Gabi at the door. They are appalled as the tryst becomes an assault. Connie suddenly summons the strength to push Beto away, cries foul, and scurries to seek solace from the stunned witnesses.

Gabi invites Beto outside to cool off a bit and for a little job counseling. Sal remains behind with the shaken Connie, but his gaze suggests more skepticism and disapproval than heart felt sympathy. Oh well, she gave it her best shot.

There is unfinished business in the park. A breathless Mao (maybe a little less weightlifting and a bit more cardio is indicated) has caught up with the fleeing physician and questions him about the fraudulent physical. Dr. Perales, who seems to be in better shape than Mao (maybe a third opinion is in order), confesses that he did it for money (well, duh!) from...Rolando Klunder! Mao scolds him,and then, to Moni's chagrin, sets him free. We chased this guy down for that?

In Mao's office, Sal is politely listening to Connie's account of the incident on the desk. "I'm the victim here!" she insists. He gives her an indulgent "of course you are" look and suggests that Mao needs to know about this." Well, maybe not," she thinks.

Outside, Gabi is having a little chat with Beto about office decorum as they are joined Sal who warns Beto to stay away from Connie. Beto firmly maintains his position. "I didn't do anything!" He is sternly cautioned by Sal and then given an errand by Gabi. "I didn't do anything!" he emphasizes as he leaves to take some documents to Mao's home.

Mao and Moni are sharing an moment of intimate conversation over ice cream as (of course), his cell phone rings. It's Cousin Ximy who by now is quite paranoid as the whole world (well Rolu, Connie, and Jerry) pursues her in quest of her secret. "Necesito tu ayuda, porfis." She desperately needs to see Mao. "OK, where are you?" Moni shrugs , gives him a weak smile, and off they go. Conversation put on hold.

Connie, Jerry, and Oscar are lamenting the failure of their latest plan. At least Mao thinks that Klunder was behind it. Mao and Monita chased down the wayward doc. "Say what?!" erupts Connie. She is not happy. Always Monita. Oscar points out that Moni has the inside track in the stakes race to be the next Señora Mao. "If you say that again and I'll kill you." Oscar rebuts with,"Don't bite the hand that feeds you, save the violence for Monita."

Uh oh, Crazy Curls Lorenza is confronting Gabi. "You're not answering my calls." she chides menacingly. Clearly her meds need adjusting again. Lorenza Loca is counting on Gabi to out Sal's mistress, but Gabi's been too busy to gather clues. Well, when she discovers who it is, she'll simply off her, she announces to anyone who might be listening... Nice.

Mao accompanied by Moni has caught up with Ximy. Mao, vouches for Moni, who Ximena acknowledges as her new best friend, "Well, more or less (más o menos)", corrects Monita. Nevertheless, Ximy needs to see Mao alone. Moni, "annoyed but gracious, offers her apartment.

Mao wants to know what big secret Ximena knows that puts her in such jeopardy with Jerry and Connie. Ximy hesitates and as Mao goes down the list of whom it might involve, Estrella warns Moni that the big secret concerns her and Beto. Oops. "It's very delicate, and you're not gonna like it," Ximy warns Mao as Moni and Estrella rush in. If Ximena doesn't come on she will miss out on the food. As Mao tries to pry the secret out, Estrella furiously gestures for Ximy to zip it. Suddenly, Ximy points and shouts, "look at the divine poster!" With Mao distracted she makes her escape.

Well, this is great, Crazy Lady joins Jerry at an outdoor cafe as Oscar and Jerry are discussing their new plan which is clearly not well-developed. Oscar is just leaving, but lurks nearby. Jerry, after pointing out his high ethics, proceeds anyway to fan the flames of jealousy already full ablaze in this bundle of lunacy. Who is the amante? Surprise! It's Moni! Well played, Jer.

Beto arrives at Mao's place as Aldo is reading a not so age-appropriate story to Dani, which Luisa has put a stop to. Dani is delighted to see el Fantasmo Vengador, Teresa offers Beto a glass of water but he requests something a bit more substantial. As she goes to prepare his snack, Dani asks Beto to read to her and he picks up the book and resumes the same racy story that Aldo had begun. Once more Luisa puts a halt to storytime.

In full flight from her latest pursuers, Ximy accosts a tall bewildered hunk and engages him in a passionate kiss as Mao and Moni run on past, Mao huffing and puffing. He definitely needs a new personal trainer. Ximy invites the hunk to come with her, then offers her number, but heck, wouldn't you know, she can't remember. Drat! Off she goes.

Rolu arrives in the barrio with flowers and knocks on Estrella's door. ""I told you I don't know any Ximena," she lies. "I came to see you."

Beto , enjoying his snack in the kitchen has been joined by the pubertos (as Beto refers to them) Aldo and Ivan. He offers them advise about women and the art of the alpha male. He's out of his depth but the boys are enthralled. Teresa not so much, as he explains that they deserve some adult advise. "Where is the adult?" she wisely inquires.

Meintras tanto (meanwhile,remember?) Rolu is giving it the old college try with Estrella. She weakly resists. "Do you have a sweetheart ?" he asks. "No, but you do, and I have a rule not to mess with my friends' sweethearts." He points out that she doesn't know Ximena. She protests some more but ends up with the flowers. She gently rebukes herself as he leaves.

Back at Mao's big casa, Dani is displaying her artwork to Beto. Turns out one of her masterpieces features Mao and Moni. Uh oh." Why ?" Beto suspiciously asks. "Because they're getting married." Say what?! Impactado.

At the office Gabi is complaining to Sal about his unhinged wife. He needs to take some responsibility, give her a call. He does just that. "Where are you?" She's out for a drive. "On your way home," he asks, hopefully. "Not just yet." She spots Moni and Mao still searching for Xemi. We've been expecting this. She asks Sal's pardon, she has something important to take care of. She puts the car in gear, guns the engine and launches the auto forward toward Moni who is sprinting across the street. "¡Hasta nunca, Monita!" Fortunately, Mao tackles Moni, moving her from the path of the speeding vehicle. He hovers asking if she's OK. She is, but the knee is injured and hurts a bit. He tries to check it but she reproaches him for taking advantage of the situation. "I'll take you to the hospital." "No!" "Then how about some chocolate?" "Ah, you know me," she broadly smiles.

Beto continues grilling Dani about what she knows of Moni and Mao. "Do they kiss on the mouth?" "You mean like on the tele?" Well she hasn't actually seen them do that. She wants to work in the tele but without the kisses. Beto warns her of the drawbacks. You have to get up early , complaining actresses, neurotic directors... Luisa interrupts. Bath time. Beto is not done. He suggests just a change of diaper. "I'm not a baby and I don't wear diapers!" Off for the bath. Beto will just take the incriminating art, then.

Mauricio has phoned Sal to report the near accident. Hidden, Jerry looks on and listens as Sal fills in Gabi. Lori emerges from the elevator looking even more looney than ever. She says that she is a bit troubled and wants to go home with Sal. Well he has lots of work and this raises her suspicions once more. This lady does crazy pretty convincingly. Sal asks Gabi to entertain her while he attends to a few matters.

Jealousy makes Beto hungry so he's back in the kitchen looking for food and pumping Teresa for information about Moni and Mao. He checks the fridge as Teresa tells him basically that Moni doesn't come, stay three hours and make a huge pest of herself. She leaves him alone with some fresh baked bread. Uh oh,, she is replaced by Connie.

At the ice cream shop, Dr. Mao offers to examen Moni's injury. As he advances up the leg she gets nervous and suggests they return to work. He has a better idea. "I'll take you home." Now your talking, cowboy.

Meltdown back in the kitchen. Moni was right. Connie is a cat in heat. She puts up token resistance then yields to Beto's charms and caresses. Dang they're smoldering. Smelling the smoke in the kitchen, Teresa returns to extinguish the blaze. "The gentleman was just leaving," observes Connie. "I didn't do anything," Beto offers as Teresa shows him out. "The lady gave me some forbidden fruit, nothing more." He takes a bite of an apple for emphasis.

Back at Moni's door, Mao is trying to press his advantage when they are confronted with the damning portrait by Dani. Since Dani is of the impressionist school of artists he has to identify the various subjects in the drawing. He points to Moni, Mao, Dani, Aldo, Luisa, and he is especially proud of the rendition of el Fantasma Vengador, nicely muscled. Convincing evidence to be sure, but as Mao points out, "Dani is seven yrs. old and believes in los Reyes Magos... (Hey, I believe in los Reyes Magos! I got the baby Jesús in my piece of rosca de los Reyes this Christmas.

Back at the office, Pau is cleaning and Gabi is carping. Gabi drops papers and as she stoops to retrieve them she spots the bug that Oscar planted beneath the desk. Dumdadummdum.

In the barrio, well, why is Mao here with Moni, then? Simple , she fell at work and (Pau's wet floor) and he brought her home. Mystery solved. Nieves walks up and is less convinced of all this innocence.

Connie is worried when Sal arrives to fill Mao in on the events at work. It's an emergency and can't wait. Mao comes home and, over Connie's objections, insists on hearing what Sal has to say. Reluctantly Connie relents and leaves the room. The bombshell "Gabriela found a microphone in your office."

The three amigas are winding down in Moni's apartment as Moni fill the other two in on the days events. Who would want to hurt Moni? Who indeed? Well, there's la Guerrera..nah. The Mummy? Someone is outside. It's a man, probably a paid assassin The girls gird their loins so to speak... ready? They open the door and drag in this poor geek standing there with a package. The murderous Pau, holds a table knife to his skinny neck.

Sal and Mao are still discussing the bug. It explains a lot. To Mao's surprise, Sal reports that he replaced it. Why?( Must be residual effects of the accident because Mao is several pages behind.) To catch Klunder? Nope, Jerry and Oscar. "you'll see."

Keeping his cool, the delivery guy says that the package is for Estrella Falcon. Oh, well then, she'll sign for it. He leaves without a tip, but at least he's still alive and did get his pen back.. Once again, panic. They play hot potato with the potential bomb which ends up on the bed.

Teresa ushers Ximy in. Is Mao home? Teresa goes to summon Mau and Connie wanders in. What a surprise. The game of hide and seek is over. Now Connie will learn Ximey's great secret. Connie chases Ximey until Mao breaks it up. "You're crazy," points out Connie, "take your medicine." May I tell you three things, Consti? One, I'm medicated for stress, two, don't play dumb, and three Consti wants to know a secret that I know and she doesn't." Mao encourages Ximy to tell the secret. OK, but only because she wants to. "Robi, that is Beto"; here she hems and haws and finally reveals that Beto is el Fantasma Vengador. "That's it? Even Dani knows that." Gyp! "Oh OK, Connie wants to take Beto to bed. Yep, she wants to feast on his kisses and then sleep with him."

Wow! Did anyone see that coming?

Carlos

Labels: gancho