Caray, Caray!

Alejandro is pretty roughly questioning Maria Jose about her relationship with Bruno. The man himself shows up and tells Alex to quit mistreating the goods. He's doing a good job of making himself look good and make Alex look like a complete ass. Alex says as long as she's got his last name, he owns her. Nice going, caveman. MaryJo gets between them and says she's had it with them both, she's not anyone's property and she's getting the hell out of there. "And don't try to stop me," she says to Alex. Well, there's one for the drinking game--drink every time MaryJo says she's leaving; and twice every time someone talks her out of it. After she leaves, Bruno tells Alex to leave her alone, that it's not very manly to keep a woman who doesn't want you. But Alex is going to see if that's really true. They have the whole conversation at almost-kissing range.

MaryJo is frantically packing as Alex comes in (without knocking!) and says he's not going to let her leave. MaryJo says it makes no sense for her to stay if she's a complete stranger to him. She's already told him she made a mistake, she doesn't love him, so why won't he give her a divorce, already? He wants to find out why he married her. She resents the idea that she should stick around so he can study her. "If I'm not an object, I'm certainly not a slave, and you can't keep me from leaving here whenever I want to!" He dares her to try leaving and says she'll never make it past the garden gate. Then he leaves. MaryJo takes a bunch of deep breaths and tries to stop crying.


Papa Pedro is in the bar with the white haired guy whose name I seem to have forgotten again. He's telling WWG the story. WWG thinks this is a great opportunity for Pedro, but Pedro is upset because MaryJo doesn't want to go along with it. "A lo hecho, pecho," says WWG, which means something like there's no use crying over spilt milk, it's a done deal, etc. Pedro thinks that MaryJo is too good and pure and she'll crack under the pressure and spill the frijoles. It's no big deal if he or WWG get busted for something, but MaryJo is still young, blah, blah, blah. Pedro says "tanto peca el que mata la vaca como el que le detiene la pata," meaning, the one who kills the cow sins as much as the one who holds its leg.

For a brief moment, we see Alejandro behind Maria Jose and Bruno as they begin talking about what just happened. MaryJo tells Bruno that Alex doesn't want to divorce her, he wants to sleep with her. She's tempted to sleep with Alex to teach him a lesson. Bruno is incensed, "Stay away from him! Don't go to his room if he invites you again! He can end up with everything, but not you!" MaryJo is tired of hearing that Bruno loves her after he's screwed up her life this way. She runs upstairs and Bruno goes outside. We see Alex emerge from behind a wall, but it's unclear how much of this he heard, or what he made of it. I usually find it annoying that a lot of times the plot advances because people having private conversations without checking to see if they're being overheard just miraculously aren't overheard until three episodes from the end. I like that they're attempting to keep the story going without resorting to "ah, but the dimwitted hero didn't hear the villain expounding on his evil plot out loud in the garden for no apparent reason while he twirled his villainous moustache."

From his house across the fake river, Roberto sees Bruno come outside and have a conversation with Paula. He wants her to convince MaryJo not to sleep with Alex. "Are you freakin' kidding me? Any woman would jump at the chance to bed that stud! And she sure won't want fast-food burgers after she's had prime rib, you know what I'm saying?" Bruno roughly grabs her by the arm and tells her to keep her sister virginal and he'll take care of the rest. Now how the hell does he think she's supposed to accomplish that?

As Raquel is leaving the house to go meet Maura, Roberto stops her to tell her the gossip. She wonders if Bruno is trying to get with Paula, but Roberto doesn't think so, since Bruno looked angry. He thinks there's too much "confianza" (in this context, familiarity) between them and he's suspicious. Raquel jokes that maybe Bruno's jealous because Roberto took Paula out. She bids him goodbye and flirtily says she'll be out late in a way that makes me think the subtext is "I'm gonna hunt down a young stud, wish me luck!" Strange relationship, but it seems to be working for both of them. I'm intrigued to find out what exactly their arrangement is.

As MaryJo puts her clothes back in the closet, there's a knock on the door. See, boys, really, the door can take it. Alex has come by to talk, but this time about himself. He's confused and he doesn't like feeling this way. MaryJo encourages him to get his head checked out, which he's perfectly willing to do. He supposes he may find out that there's a part of his brain that's damaged, or even that he's gone completely nuts. He sits by her on the bed and asks her to help, but she doesn't know how. He wants her to talk about "them" and invites her out to dinner. She tearily agrees and he kisses her cheek and then rests his forehead on it for a minute before walking out. She's got some willpower!

Vicky is typing on her fancy little laptop in her office and shuts the lid as Alex comes in. She reminds him about the testing with Hernan tomorrow (can't blame her--since he seems to have forgotten his wife, there's no telling what else he could potentially forget). He says he's taking MaryJo out for a nice dinner and wants her dressed appropriately. Nothing doing…Vicky will get Florencia to bring over some dresses from her boutique. She's happy that Alex has remembered. "Yes, I have, and I'm absolutely sure that I've never met her before, therefore she is not my wife." Then why continue the charade? Because he wants to know. Vicky is confused because MaryJo seems like such a nice girl. Alex reminds her that when she saw him for the first time, she looked terrified. "Obviously she thought I was dead and had come to collect my money." Vicky remembers that MaryJo was truly sad when she first showed up at the house. Alex's theory is that either MaryJo is a brilliant actress or a puppet that someone else is manipulating. But he doesn't say who. Wow…a hero with a brain? Is this even possible?

MaryJo and Paula argue for the umpteenth time. No new arguments are advanced here, just that MaryJo feels sorry for Alex because he thinks he might be crazy. She can't help him without telling him the truth.

Vicky can't believe anyone would do such a thing. But Alex has his itinerary for the last several days and there's nothing about a trip to MaryJo's village or even calls there. "Well, you don't always tell us where you're going, you know," says Mami. Alex points out that he doesn't need to inform the world every time he takes a potty break and besides, usually when he can't be found it's because he's with Fernando looking at land or whatever. Also, his secretary says he was in San Felipe on the day of the supposed wedding. And if he's been lying about his whereabouts for the last 3 months, which is when he's supposed to have met her, then he's been crazy since then and isn't just going crazy now. He's sure it will all come out eventually, but he asks her to please keep this between them, specifically not to tell Bruno, and to just fake it around MaryJo.

More of the same argument between MaryJo and Paula. "Lío" being big fat mess. "Enamorada" being in luuuuuurve. "Cárcel" being jail. "Transa" being con artist. Vicky knocks on the door, so Paula shoves MaryJo in the direction of the bathroom with instructions to splash cold water on her face. Since MaryJo isn't immediately accessible when she comes in, Vicky asks Paula what size her sister is.

Fernando and Alex talk on the phone. Fernando has checked out San Felipe and the "cuidador" (caretaker) wasn't there, hasn't been seen in days, and his "choza" (hut, shack) was cleared out. Dum, dum, dum…I bet Bruno got to him to cover his tracks. Very clever. That means no alibi for Alex on his supposed wedding day.

Vicky has a serious talk with MaryJo about her job as a society wife. Starting with wardrobe, as in, the inadequacy of MaryJo's. "Ademas, no es ninguna vergüenza que el marido la trate a uno como reina, es su obligación" ("Besides, there's no shame in a husband treating one like a queen, it's his obligation.") Hear that, fellas? In a little bit, the dresses from the boutique will be here, and so will a makeup artist and a hair stylist. Come on, who could turn down that combined with the hotness of Alex? Principles, schminciples. Vicki leaves and Paula says she'd like to smack MaryJo. Bruno definitely picked the wrong sister. The usual argument commences. Paula angrily suggests that MaryJo wear her usual clothes, shame her husband, and make him sorry for asking her out.

Vicky reports back to Alex that MaryJo didn't want to accept the clothing. Alex adds to his mental list about MaryJo (pretty, has "cáracter") that she's not "ambiciosa" (in this context, "after my money"). Vicky thinks she seems like a nice, innocent girl and tells him her eyes were all red from crying.

Paula goes outside and starts a conversation with Erick. She thinks she saw him before, back when they first met Bruno, but he denies it. Paula complains that she's bored there and Erick offers to take her out in his off time. Ew. That guy is skeezy. But I'd bet his soft spot for Paula is going to get him to turn against Bruno in the end. They've already planted the seeds for it. Bruno comes outside and asks Paula where MaryJo is. "In her room getting ready 'cause her husband's taking her on a date," she says happily. "And too bad," she tells him as they walk past each other on the stairs, "you should have gotten her a less handsome husband!" Bruno now conferences with Erick. He's not willing to let Alex keep his life AND Bruno's woman. Erick starts to say "But if she wants…" but Bruno cuts him off, insisting MaryJo is in love with him. Bruno wants Erick to use his good relationship with Paula to his advantage. "Take her out and get her to spill her guts." Erick is practically glowing at having this assignment. Bruno also wants Erick to call all the fanciest restaurants in town and find out where Alex will be taking MaryJo to dinner.

Despite telling Alex she'd keep things quiet, Vicky confides in Felipa. Felipa thinks that MaryJo is just upset because Alex lied to her about being rich. Vicky says that if Alex's suspicions are right, they've got someone among them with the face of an angel and the soul of a demon. Felipa thinks Vicky should try talking to Paula. Vicky agrees. She also says she's been so upset, she hasn't wanted to write. But Felipa encourages her to write, since it's her only distraction. It's a big secret, but Vicky used to write very popular books and just hasn't written one since Samuel died. Felipa swears she won't tell the secret "on the day's saint, may my tongue be ripped out first." Pleasant. Vicky sits down and puts on her glasses, saying, "Yo soy el amor enardecido con el amor del amor," as Felipa sighs. (Meaning "I am love burning with the love of love," so…could be poetry or could be bodice rippers.)

MaryJo is all dressed and made up and coiffed for her fancy dinner. Paula thinks she looks great, but MaryJo feels weird. Paula suggests she either pretend she has her normal crappy clothes on or pretend she's going to a costume party. Paula advises MaryJo to make Alex fall in love with her, and not even to worry about Maura, 'cause MaryJo is WAY prettier. MaryJo whines that she was (note the past tense) in luuuuuuurve with Bruno. "Well, forget that loser!" She reminds MaryJo that "un clavo saca otro clavo" (one nail gets out another) and Alex is the golden nail! As Paula herds her out the door, we get a look at the whole length of the dress and I am not loving that flounce. If it went straight down to the floor, it would have looked better. MaryJo plans to just be herself at dinner. Paula reminds her to smile and then, hilariously, tries to boost MaryJo's boobs a little higher, which is pointless if she's wearing a high-necked dress. As MaryJo goes downstairs Paula collapses into a chair in the hallway, begging God to please, please, please, send her a guy like that, "come on, what's it to you?"

MaryJo descends the stairs without tripping and Alex is overcome with her hawtness. That big toothy Tontas grin is out in full force now. Alex claims she made his heart skip a beat and she recommends he see his cardiologist. He pulls her earrings out so he can replace them with bigger, more expensive ones. As she grins and laughs and thanks him. She asks about his sling, but he says the doctor gave him permission to take it off. He tries to put a ginormous necklace on her, but she refuses, verbally, as she turns her back to let him put it on her. She agrees to accept it as a loan and they head out the door. Outside, he tells her again that she's pretty and she must be used to people falling all over her. She says where she's from the compliments are usually kind of rude, so she didn't really like them. There's lots of smiling and laughing as he helps MaryJo into the car. She won't tell him what she thinks of him so she doesn't feed his vanity, har, har, har. He leans over her and puts his face in hers just a little too long before he pulls out the seat belt and buckles her in. They drive off as Bruno watches menacingly from the front, uh, porch? Balcony?

They get to the restaurant and are led to a table. On the way, they run into someone who knows Alex and says he read in the paper that the reports of Alex's death were greatly exaggerated. He congratulates Alex on his beautiful wife. Which, nice and all, but it's not like Alex hunted her down or something, "Hey, nice wife! What'd you use to catch her? Good work, kid!" As the guy sits back down at his table, the host asks Alex and MaryJo what they'd like to drink and Alex orders them two martinis, despite MaryJo saying she doesn't want anything. They take seats at the bar. Alex compliments her yet again, and she says it makes her uncomfortable. She likes the restaurant and is happy to hear they serve good food there, cause she's starving, ha, ha, ha. The martinis arrive and Alex toasts "Que el futuro venga a anunciarnos lo que verdaderamente somos" (May the future come to announce to us what we really are).

Vicky and Paula sit down to dinner together. Vicky thanks Paula for saving her from having to eat alone and asks if Paula and MaryJo are used to sitting down to dinner together. Paula says the two of them almost always did, but dad sometimes got home too late.

Alex continues getting MaryJo drunk by serving her white wine at the table…"it never does anyone any harm." MaryJo has been telling him about herself and has come to the part where she graduated "la prepa" (the three years before college) and then had to get a job because of dad's bum knee. She explains that he buys and sells "old stuff" and the two commiserate about how hard it is for older people to find jobs. Bruno walks in looking for them. Alex spots him and excuses himself from the table. He confronts Bruno, who claims to be waiting for the Caleros. Alex wants him to get lost. Bruno refuses, so Alex calls the "capitán" (probably meaning the head waiter, as opposed to "host" as I'd identified him earlier) and asks him to tell the Caleros when they get here, that Mr. Albeniz is waiting for them at La Fogata. Bruno gets upset, but Alex tells him to leave before they get into a fight and cause a scandal. Bruno leaves. Alex may be as arrogant as Bruno claims, but I'm thinking that's the product of too many years of being picked on by Bruno. Alex isn't letting him get away with a damn thing now.

Alex comes back to the table. He doesn't care that his food has gotten cold, he's content just to look at MaryJo. He takes her hand and tells her he's sure he's going to fall in love with her again, and soon. She looks uncomfortable as they toast.

Paula is telling Vicki about how MaryJo was sooo in luuuuurve with "Alejandro" and how she was jealous that MaryJo snagged a guy with, like, an actual job. Paula supposes it all turned out ok, you know, since Alex didn't die after all. Cause MaryJo sure was upset. "And then when we got here and we saw this huuuuuuge house…." Vicky wonders if Paula knows why Alex lied about his income, but Paula doesn't know, and she doesn't think her dad knows either. She remembers that she still hasn't been able to get hold of Dad to tell him that Alex is actually alive. Not that she hasn't been calling, but no one is answering the phone at the apartment. Vicky encourages her to call right now. Paula barely lets it ring once before announcing that Dad isn't home and is probably out with his buds. Vicky sips her coffee and looks concerned. I agree, I think it's a little weird not to have already gotten hold of the guy to tell him his son-in-law isn't really dead.

MaryJo and Alex leave their table and agree to walk around for a little bit and come back for the car later. Just walking out of the restaurant they can't keep their hands off each other. Which, combined with the goofy looks, is at odds with the story Alex is telling, about how he and Bruno used to be sent on trips together all over the world, and how he and Bruno never really got along and Bruno used to take advantage of playing sports with Alex to smack him around. Alex supposes that Bruno took it hard when his mom married Alex's dad and that Bruno was taking it out on him. In response to MaryJo's question, he says that neither parent showed any preference for any of the kids. MaryJo really seems to be enjoying having Alex hang all over her and smooch on her…we're seeing a lot of gums tonight.

They get back to the house and sit awkwardly in the car outside. They both agree they had a nice time and enjoyed the evening, and each other's company. Alex says he really really wants to kiss her and asks permission. Like an idiot, MaryJo doesn't answer him, but that's okay. After an eternity breathing in each other's faces, Alex finally kisses her. While Bruno watches…dun, dun, dun!

MaryJo's really getting into it. The finally make it into the house, giggling. MaryJo says she feels light, as if she were floating. Uh, she didn't seem this drunk in the car. She says she's not used to drinking. Alex debates whether he's going to take advantage of her or not. She keeps giggling and stumbling, including stumbling on the stairs so that Alex, broken rib and all, picks her up and carries her up the stairs as she giggles and tells him not to drop her. He drops her off at the door to his room and she skitters away and asks him to help her take the jewelry off, "It was only a loan." "I lied," he says. Now she gets weepy and says she doesn't like lies. Alex doesn't either. She cries and he asks her to trust him and tell him why she's upset. "I can understand anything." She says everything that's happening hurts. He assumes she means that he's lost his memory. He assures her that if he loved her before, he'll love her again, but she doesn't want to talk about it. Alex agrees they shouldn't ruin a beautiful night. He opens the door to her room so she can walk in. He tells her he doesn't know what to think about her, but he's really starting to like her. They kiss again and he says good night. Phenomenal will power. In split screen he stands outside her door for a minute as she walks into the room, throws herself on the bed and cries. He goes into his room and starts getting undressed (nothing to cry about there!). He downs some pills as he muses that he's not wrong, she was deceived and is scared. "And I think I know who it is."

Pedro throws some stuff on a big fire outdoors. The white haired guy thinks this is stupid, but Pedro says if Bruno does decide to call the cops on them, they're busted for sure. So they're getting rid of the merchandise and they'll figure out what to do about Rufino later. Pedro stops short of throwing a picture of the Virgen on the fire. He's sure the Virgen will bring him luck. He kisses the picture. WHG agrees to continuing the bonfire, but suggests that since MaryJo is a rich widow now, they ask her for the money to pay off Rufino.

Back in MaryJo's room, of course, Bruno came in while she was getting into her pj's in the bathroom and he's waiting for her. He bitches her out for going out with Alex and gets really nasty, calling her a slut and saying he bets Alex "metió mano" (meaning "got a hand in"). He smacks her pretty hard across the face and I'm thinking he just keeps compounding his stupidity with more stupidity. She can't be walking around with a bruised-up face. She screams at him that he's going to have to beg forgiveness on his knees and this is all his fault. The house must have good soundproofing if Alex is practically next door and isn't bursting in to see what's wrong. Bruno maybe says he's sorry, I don't really care at this point. MaryJo tells him she knows that he's always hated Alex and he cooked up this whole scheme thinking Alex would actually die. Bruno accuses her of being brainwashed, but MaryJo has a working brain of her own, thank you very much, and she's figured things out on her own. Bruno is worried that Alex suspects him, but MaryJo is only sure that Alex knows he didn't marry her. Bruno warns her that if she sleeps with Alex, all he'll do is send her to jail. MaryJo begs him to get her out of there, along with Paula and her Dad. Bruno agrees, but piles on a new threat--that if she doesn't stay away from Alex, "tell him he grosses you out, say no," then Bruno will be the one to send her to jail. Bruno leaves as MaryJo cries and cradles her face. Yeah, she's pretty much screwed. I still think just telling the truth is her best bet. Of course Alex is going to believe that Bruno engineered this whole thing.

Tomorrow: Alex still thinks he never really met MaryJo and starts looking for proof; MaryJo says she can't remember when they took the faked picture on the mantel, fueling Alex's doubts.

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