Caray, Caray!

Luisa is chatting with her new school chum on the phone. Aldo is disgusted by her new way of talking and tells her as much. Mauricio interrupts and they both complain. Luisa needs a cell phone to facilitate her new persona. She calls her brother a resentful nacote. Mau sends her to her room to ponder what she just said. (Sounded pretty straightforward to me). He asks Aldo to be patient with his sister. For now, he has someplace to go. "With Monita?" Mau never wants to hear that name again. "We'll talk later."

Moni is wallowing in self-pity aided and abetted by her friend and confidant, our lovely Estrella. They are seated on Moni's bed, with Moni sniveling and Estrella dutifully dispensing tissues from a roll of toilet tissue with a small plastic waste basket situated between them to receive the damp discards. Apparently they have been at it for sometime as Estrella indicates that they've already worked through a whole roll. Phone rings. It's Mau, well actually it's Mau's voice. "I need you, Monita! Will you meet me for dinner?" "I accept!" Monita eagerly and enthusiastically replies. Unfortunately she is responding to a pre-recorded message (anyone else ever get one of those?) manipulated by the ever more loathsome and devious Oscar. All thus far occurred in Friday's episode. Now the table is set, let's begin tonight's fun-fest.

Estrella is as excited as Monita and urges that they hurry to make Moni beautiful as Jerry and Oscar congratulate each other on their clever plan and it's apparent success.

Beto and Cristian are now fast friends as Beto escorts him into the barrio courtyard regaling him with adventures of his short stint as head of security. He directs him to the bathroom as Nieves summons Beto to eat. Estrella peeks out, checks, and finding the coast clear beckons Monita out. Wow, she looks stunning in a little red and white dress. Very nice indeed. (The yellow sweater doesn't quite go with the outfit, however.) They hug and Estrella sends Moni on her way. Emerging from the bathroom, Cristian has witnessed this little scene, and being the ever vigilant policeman, his suspicion is aroused. "Ah ha ha," as he strokes his chin knowingly. Metiche.

Leaving nothing to chance, Oscar confirms his arrangements with the maitre d' at the restaurant, el Danubio Azul. (Seems like just about everyone in authority in these TNs has a price.) Mau and Connie, looking gorgeous in a black bibbed jumper with a very modest crisp, cool, white lacy blouse, are already seated and enjoying a glass of red wine. Moni, who has wandered in, looking like a child who has just stumbled into Willy Wonka's, is greeted by the bought-and-paid-for Maitre d' and ushered to her table. Connie spies her and smirks. Oscar's scheme is on schedule.

Our Deputy Dawg has decided to share his suspicions with his new BFF, Beto. He does not traffic in gossip but he thinks that Moni is deceiving Beto, and turns out that he knows the restaurant where she has gone. Off they go, but Pau has witnessed their exchange. a hazard of living in such close quarters.

As Connie and Mau are having a quiet serious discussion, Rolando with hopes high, arrives at Moni's table bearing an entire crop of roses. "¡Hola Bombón!" Moni is not expecting him. Feigning shock, Connie spots the two, "It's Rolando and Monita,"she whispers to Mau. Discreetly concealing his rage, Mau slams down his napkin (Yeah, yeah, napkins don't slam, but I'm telling this...OK?) and charges over to their table. Moni is legitimately (this time) all WTF? She was called by Mau to meet her here and... Unfortunately her pollos have come home to roost; Mau is fed up with her lies. "Let's go!" Connie wisely counsels. Rolu is confused but polite. "Hey good to see you Mauricio!" Mau and Connie storm out. To complicate the complicated, Moni's cell phone rings. It's Estrella, coached by Pau, code red, Beto's on his way...no, in fact Beto is here, flanked by Dudley Do-Right. Beto, choosing in this instance to be a man of few words, clips Rolu with a pretty good right cross. Cross words are exchanged as Rolu exits. "Naco de cuarto(restroom)." Rolu spits. "Naco, sí, de cuarto, no." Beto replies. Moni restrains him as a baffled Rolu exits. I certainly hope the maitre d' was well remunerated.

Back in the 'hood with Moni, Beto is miffed. He thought that she was going to the gym to train. She gives a partially truthful explanation, telling him that she went there to meet Mau, who called her... True. ...to deliver some papers. Not quite. "You were going to the gym dressed like that?" When things aren't going well in a relationship, cry. She does.

At home, Mau takes out some of his wrath on an always deserving Aldo. He suspects Aldo may have called Monita. Connie says that Moni was there to meet Rolu, simple as that, Monita is an inveterate liar (can't really argue with that). Aldo, trying to defend Moni is sent to his room. Connie offers consolation.

In the office, Sal is chatting up Gabi who is seated at her desk. He offers her candy. She suggests that he change his suit. He stinks of Anastasia. Wounded he leaves but catches a glimpse of her about to sample the candy. He urges her to taste them, they contain nuts as she likes. She smiles.

The three amigas are in Moni's apartment doing a post-mortem on the preceding night as the Lycra-clad Monita packs to head out for her fight with la Guerrera. Moni blames the whole thing on Rolando. They offer to go along but she needs to be alone before the fight. Group hug.

Meintras tanto (remember?), Satan's trio, Constancia, Oscar, and Jerónimo, are enjoying their own analysis of the previous evening. Thanks to the genius and wile (not to mention guile) of all involved, Connie now holds Mau in the palm of her tiny hand. As for her disdain for the kids, Oscar assures her that when they are done the kids'll be gone and the three will have him dancing at the end of strings like a marionette. For the moment, a formidable team.

Beto barges in on on Mau and Sal in Mau's office without bothering to knock. (Does anyone in this show ever bother to knock?) He's innocent. Everything last night was Rolando's fault. Oh, and by the way, Monita is innocent as well and has been crying her eyes out ever since.

Pau is tidying up Jer's office and comes across Oscar's little recorder. Curious she turns it on to hear Mau's voice, "I need you, Monita." just as Jerry and Oscar enter. "What are you doing with that?" asks Jerry. A fair question.

Rolando is surrounded by reporters interested in his private life. "Do you have a novia?" Rolu points out that important famous young men such as he always have someone. As he is holding forth he is confronted by Mao and Beto, a curious alliance. A bit of confusion follows as Beto demands to know what Rolu is doing with his future esposa. Now Mau needs an explanation which Beto nimbly provides, she's his sister. Then Rolu surmises that she is Mau's novia. "Que?" Beto demands. Novia, no, she's my employee," Mau counters. This cleared up, Mau proceeds to beat the snot out of Rolando. Beto occupies himself with the unfamiliar task of media control as the camera rolls.

Attempting his own damage control, Jerry confronts a nervous Paula. She was just wanting to listen to some music on the nifty little device. Oscar offers to buy her her very own radio if she will "Forget about this." Pau escapes. Jerry and Oscar ask themselves if she may know anything. in any event they need to destroy any evidence of their crime.

Pretty in pink and with her hair in beautiful as well as functional, no nonsense, neat cornrows, Moni is completing her pre-fight ablutions, troubled by recent developments with el Principe. Not a good thing for her concentration. Beto to the rescue. He gives her a blow by blow account of his and Mau's conference with Rolu. Moni seems pleased and uplifted, "You...and Mau?" as her ring man tells her to put a jerk in it, time to get ready. She puts on her serious face as he admonishes her that she must concentrate.

Pau is updating Monita by phone of things in the office but Monita needs to finish preparation for the fight. "Go on to your fight, Monita." Gabi overhears the words Monita and fight. She wants to know about Moni's fight (pelea). "No, no, no. Pelele, Monita's pelele (doll or puppet)." Gabi doesn't buy it for even a single moment. Busted, Paula spills the frijoles, Moni is a boxer and has a match right now. Intrigued and delighted, this Gabi must witness for herself. She and Pau will attend. It'll be a bonding experience. Skulking just outside the door, Jerry hears it all.

Badly beaten, battered and bruised, Rolu arrives at Ximy's apartment in his spiffy little sports car. As he steps out, he bumps into Estrella. She is appalled by his injuries, but not overly sympathetic. Must have been some of the women he deceived. He explains that Moni invited him to the restaurant for dinner. "A mangy dog like you? Sure." He tells her that he is going to report the assault by Mau and Beto. This news suddenly evokes her sympathy. As he moves in for some TLC and a kiss, she introduces his head to the door of his car with devastating results. He's out cold. This just has not been Rolu's day. Definitely should have checked with Walter before leaving the house. Panicked she phones Ximy. " I'm outside your apartment and I have an impressive package here."

"A boxer?!" Connie, on the phone with Jer, can't believe her ear. She is delighted. As if she would need it, Jerry offers up a plan of action. Lurking behind the door (lots of that in this episode), Aldo overhears Connie's end of the conversation.

Mao, Sal, Gabi and Oscar are critiquing Mao's little scuffle of this morning as presented in the afternoon television news. Gabi inquires , "Is this a gossip program or a boxing program?" Sal is impressed with his style. Very elegant. Beto not so much. "Leave it to me, I'll handle it," Oscar soothingly promises.

Pau and Ximy wrestle with a comatose Rolu, finally dumping him into a chair in Xmiy's living room. "Well, gotta go." Estrella is wanting out of there. Ximena had hoped that they could chat a bit. Estrella really needs to go, uh, she has a casting. Ximena decides to apply some makeup to the still unconscious Rolu. 'Hell hath no fury..." well, you know. Estrella loves the idea, "You do that...but...bye!" Left to her own devices, Ximy rudely jerks Rolando's head back and peers at his badly damaged (Really, shouldn't someone consider taking this poor man to the ER at this point?) countenance. She is appalled. She averts and shields her sensitive eyes.

Now Aldo is recounting to Ivan that he overheard Connie's conversation with Jerry. She knows...Monita is a boxer. As they enter, Connie is busy trying to convince Mao to accompany her. She has a surprise to present to him. Aldo does his best to divert them, but to no avail. Unfortunately, the best he can do is, "I have a premonition that something is going to happen." Indeed it will, my child.

All righty then, at last to the main event. We're center ring in the arena just in time for the ring announcer to present the combatants. Let's listen in...

"In the bantam weight division, to fight 8 rounds!

In the red corner, with 7 fights won by knockouts and 2 losses, weighing 53 kilos 300 grams, from the city of Nezahualciotl, state of Mexico, Ana Maria, la Guerreraaaaaa, Torresss!"

"And in the blue corner, with 12 fights won, 9 by knockout and 3 losses,

weighing 53 kilos 200 grams, Valentina, la Monitaaa, Lopezzz!"

Wow, the electricity in the smoke-laden air is palpable. One can almost smell the stale smoke, the spilled beer, and the pleasing aromas of fresh roasted peanuts and warm, buttered popcorn. Pau and Gabi, with ringside seats are pumped. The boxers meet center-ring for last minute instructions from the referee. He wants a clean fight. La Guerrera, instead of bumping gloves with Moni, shows disrespect by knocking Monita's fists down. Beto is trying to calm Monita shouting encouragement and Monita's ring man tells Beto to zip it. He's in charge here. And thus we begin round 1. (Gee, I wish my dad were still here to watch this with me. He loved boxing.)

Back home Aldo is still vainly attempting to detain Mao and Connie. Connie's growing impatient. Times awasting. She has a fight to get to.

Fight's underway and Moni is throwing a few good punches, looking good and...oh, ¡Jésus Lopez! She's thinking about last night in the restaurant. Pay attention! Too late. After three solid shots by Moni to her midsection, la Guerrera lands a good right, knocking our little monkey warrior down. She desperately clings to the ropes as somewhere off in the distance, a referee counts. There's Pau with Gabi, who hasn't even unwrapped her cotton candy and now understanding why Monita arrives at work all bruised up, cheering for all they're worth, Nieves, with the genuine monkey perched atop her shoulder, worriedly shouts encouragement, from her corner, Beto is urging her to standup. As the world refocuses, Moni struggles to her feet, and suddenly with renewed resolve resumes her battle. Now it's la Guerrara who goes down to a right by Moni.

Back at Ximena's dungeon, Rolando is still unconscious (was Mao even comatose for this long?) and is now dressed in one of Ximy's more stylish numbers complete with Ximena-style wig and high-heeled boots. Ximy applies the finishing touches to his makeup, then stands back to admire her masterpiece. The uncooperative near corpse falls forward but she restores him to his upright position. We're treated to a vicious vengeful side of Ximena as she converses with him, answering for him manipulating his head like a ventriloquist's puppet. Cold. (I've done that with Reggie, the skeleton hanging in my office, but not for years.) He looks divine. This is his lesson for crossing her. You don't play games with Ximy. Now she's going to get her camera to take pictures for the internet. Am I the only one feeling sorry for Rolu about now?

As she goes upstairs for the camera, Jerry and Oscar arrive. What is this? Looks like a transvestite. Jerry lifts the bewigged head. Looks like Rolando. Dang, it is Rolando. Oscar muses, "He must be desperate to have reached this extreme."

Back at the fight la Monita is holding her own, landing punches and...oh crap! She's thinking again, this time about Beto. La Guerrera knocks her back against the ropes, fortunately, the round ends and she retreats to the stool in her corner. Beto fusses and is shooed from the ring by her ring man sending him for ice. He questions her resolve and asks if she came to lose. "Say the word and I'll throw in the towel." She swears that she is going to win. The round starts and she rallies with newfound vigor as the Gancho theme blares. Looking good for Moni.

Things are looking up for Rolu as well. Under the ministrations of Jer and Osky, he regains consciousness and asks the obvious, "Who dressed me like this?" Rather quickly it all comes back. (Well, that's a good prognostic sign.) Hearing his disgraceful story, Oscar and Jerry insist that this heinous crime be reported. He pleads that he can't appear in public dressed as he is as Jerry and Oscar usher him out the door, while Jerry reassures him that he looks very attractive. Just then, Ximena appears with the camera. "Here's the camera. Where did he go? Ah, nooo!"

Aldo continues to agonize over Connie dragging Mao off to Monita's boxing match with Ivan. Can't call her on her cell phone, she's uh, busy. Teresa joins them and points out that Mao cares enough about Moni to overlook a little thing such as being a boxer. Suddenly Dani interrupts them with an important announcement. She presents, ta da! "The new rich girl!" Lucia has completely changed "the look". We are all stunned. She has even dyed her hair blonde. The "old" Ximena would certainly approve. Ivan likes.

At the offices of Groupo Sermeño, Cristian arrives accompanied by two extremely serious-looking uniformed officers to execute a warrant for the arrest of...Mauricio Sermaño and Roberto "Beto" Ochoa. Clearly he is a slave to duty. The complaint was of course lodged by one Rolando Klunder. Sal points out that neither are here at the moment and Cristian cautions against abetting fugitives and suggests that Mau surrender voluntarily. He's a likable enough guy, but he can, at times, sure be a prig.

The fight continues. Connie and Mao arrive. Mao spots Moni, "¡Monita!" Moni spies Mao, "¡Mauricio!"

Hey darlin', you're boxing! Keep your left up!

Carlos