Caray, Caray!

Friday: Carlota tells Paloma okay, Rufi can stay, but no more talk about your daddy is permitted. Paloma informs Rufi she can stay. Orlando takes Em to a BMW dealership and says pick out one. Em runs around the cars like a kid on Christmas day. Carlota finds out Chris may leave Real del Monte. Paloma tells Aron it’s best they don’t see each other anymore so he doesn’t get the wrong idea. Aron gets a wrong idea, gets all weird and crazy-eyed and grabs her like a rapist.

How charming is Real del Monte! Its picturesque little streets, its sleepy plaza, its sweet church tower, the sun bathing everything in a warm golden glow. Little would the casual visitor suspect the volcanic swirl of passions and deceits that roil and broil behinds its antique walls. The camera is our peephole… let’s press our eye to it:

Paloma screams and carries on, grabs a piece of garden pottery and breaks it over Aron’s head, then tips the big bird cage on him. Finally Rufi materializes. Aron desperately apologies and swears he meant her no harm. Rufi grabs a big stick and chases him out.

Carlota sees him slam out the door and comes into the little garden where Paloma is hysterically hanging onto Rufi. They tell Carlota what happened and Carlota says see what happens when you get a loose reputation? He must know you’re going with the guy who knocked up Romina. She stomps off and Paloma suddenly is worried about the birds.

Carlota huffs off to her car, cursing Aron for being so stupid. Just what I need, she grumbles, right when I’m tying to focus on figuring out how to keep Chris here. She has a little temper fit, but remembers to buckle up.

German comes by Dr B’s office. He wants to strike a deal – he’ll show Dr B the will in return for…

Diana has come to Rafa’s apartment. (When did he have the time to get it stylishly furnished and decorated, and appointed with flourishing arty plants? I’m surprised he has the time to water them even.) She smiles hesitantly and wants to talk. Rafa’s not keen. She tells him she’s not that bad a person – there were reasons she did what she did. But she swears that in one thing she never lied, she always loved him and Emiliano. She gets weepy and says please just listen.

Rufi is sweeping up the pottery shards, and Paloma calls Angie on her cell and says something bad happened and can they talk? Angie agrees to meet her in a café. Rufi says it’s good she has Angie to talk to because she doesn’t know what to say in a situation like this. Paloma tells Rufi how important to have her with her, that she doesn’t want her to leave her ever, ever, ever. Rufi says I’ll always be here.

Uh oh, those are the kind of fateful words that make an anvil slowly levitate.

Whammo! Carlota slaps Aron a good one – she’s at his house, handing out frontier justice. She tells him that he’s a flaming idiot. She welcomed him into her house and supported him and look what he did. He’s blown all his chances. Aron says I just got frustrated, I really really want to apologize. Tell me what to do – I’ve become obsessed and I just couldn’t stop myself.

Camila comes home and Romina is all slant-eyed smiley happiness. She shows her mother the orchid bouquet and says guess what? They’re from my papa to you! She reads the note: Camila, I still love you. Samuel. She flutters her eyelids. Camila looks stunned – not the happy kind of stunned.

Aron is still begging Carlota to tell him what to do. Carlota informs him that he’s a loser – he couldn’t even get Paloma to forget about Emiliano. She says she might need him though, so if she sees any possibility, she’ll call him. Aron says he was afraid she might have him thrown in jail. Carlota says and drag my family’s name in the dirt? She is all tight lipped mad and says you and your stupid passions – there’s no end to the sins people will commit En Nombre Del Amor.

On her way out, Carlota spies some keys hanging on a hook on the wall by the door. She flashes back to a time she saw Inez loan the keys to the priests’ residence to someone to do an errand. She grabs the keys just before Inez comes in. Carlota says I didn’t come to see you – ask your prize of a nephew why I was here. She sails out.

Romina is surprised that Camila isn’t thrilled. Quite the opposite says Camila. Romina says but he could come back and live with us. Camila says I don’t think that’s what he wants, plus I don’t love him. It would be wonderful if you could see him and talk to him, but that’s it. Romina says you’re just thinking about yourself.

That’s right says Camila, and high time. I revolved around him like he was the sun and he took off anyway. He didn’t care what happened to me. You were just a child and I took care of you. But now it’s my time.

Romina says maybe, but it’s best you two are together. Plus if there were a proper father in this house, Emiliano would behave more responsibly. Camila says we don’t need a man to stick up for us.

Romina says please stop ruining my life. It seems to me the least you could do for me is to give him a tiny chance. She flounces out.

Paloma and Angie are in a coffee shop and Paloma tells her what happened with Aron. Angie is astonished he’d do that. Paloma says she feels humiliated – she swears she didn’t do anything to lead him on, and she doesn’t want to ever see him again, or to let him do that to anyone else. Angie says the best thing would be to report him to the police.

Diana boo-hoos to Rafa that she was a victim of Ignacio – he stole the money and wanted to lay the blame on her. She had to flee. She had to think of her child! Rafa says why didn’t you just tell me the truth? Diana says I was afraid you would reject me. You don’t know what Orlando is capable of! Rafa says I’m starting to get the feeling that he isn’t as bad as you made out. Diana says you saw that he was willing to tell Em all that stuff without caring about the hurt it would cause him.

Rafa says I’m not defending him – I don’t like the guy. But I do kind of see his point. Diana wails Orlando is vengeful! Aggressive! He hit me! Oh, I can’t tell you everything – it’s too painful. Rafa says you mean he raped you? Diana says we have to join forces – we can’t let him turn Emiliano against us.

Camila has sought out Romina in her room and says let’s not fight. Let’s imagine if German was the father of your child – would you marry him? Yes, I would, proclaims Romina, for the good of my child. Camila says things like that don’t work without love. Sooner or later it all ends up in resentment.

Camila says she’s decided what to do – she loves Rafa. Romina is horrified – he’s going to be my father-in-law! Please, think of me! At least wait until I get married. Camila starts to say something, but Romina says talk to the hand.

Padre B is trying to talk Chris into accepting the Bishop position. Chris just wants to serve right where he is, but Padre B says you could spread a wider net of service. Having Mac die resolved your need to be in Real del Monte.

Carlota is furious that Paloma isn’t home and squeezes out of Rufi where she went. She’s livid to find out that Paloma is telling Angie what happened. You useless thing, she spits at Rufi. Dirty laundry gets washed at home. Rufi says don’t you even care how Paloma feels? Carlota says no backtalk! I told you you could stay only if you stopped contradicting me.

At Paloma’s door Angie, who has walked her home, gives her a pep talk, telling her that she’s strong and how much she respects her. Paloma goes in and there’s Carlota sizzling with fury. She tells Paloma she took care of things by dealing with Aron, that he wants to come apologize. Paloma says she never wants to see him again. Carlota says that it’s best to forgive others for their mistakes. Just turn the other cheek. Paloma says what happened to me shouldn’t happen to anyone, and she runs up the stairs.

It’s the next day and Paloma is in her school outfit, having breakfast and talking to Rufi who tells her she’s very brave, that most women wouldn’t say anything, even if it was something much worse. Paloma says that’s why she wants to speak up, and Angie is going with her. She didn’t want Carlota to know. She gets ready to run off and Carlota comes in, so she gives her a quick cheek peck and escapes. Carlota tries to get out of Rufi what Paloma said, but Rufi fibs that they were talking about tonight’s dinner.

Angelica tells Orlando she needs to take a bit of time that morning to go help a friend with a problem. He’s worried it’s Camila, so she says actually Paloma. Em overhears, and as she’s about to leave stops her and insists on knowing what’s happened to Paloma.

At breakfast, Inez tells Aron she couldn’t sleep all night, she was so upset by what he did. It could blow her long friendship with Carlota, plus the whole town will be talking. Aron says Carlota is going to get Paloma to forgive him. Inez says that better work, because if it doesn’t, you have to leave Real del Monte.

Paloma is waiting outside the police station and has a flashback of Aron’s attack. Angie arrives, and just a second later here comes a lawyer she called, Nestor (that would be Roja’s law partner) who she introduces as the husband of Vero who took temporary leave from the plateria. Small town, indeed! Paloma says she can’t afford a lawyer, but he says he heard what happened and he’ll defend her pro bono.

Aron is walking along a leafy lane, head hung low in appropriate shame, when up behind him comes Emiliano who grabs his shoulder, and decks him. Nobody touches Paloma, understand? Understand? he rages over Aron. Aron jumps up at him and they get in a realistic-looking fistfight. Two policemen on the beat spot them and go pull them apart and drag them off to the police station.

Paloma makes her report at the police desk. German for some reason happens to be in the background, listening.

Camila comes into the shop and asks Monica if Rafa has called. Nope. Monica gives her a boring pep talk that ends with her telling Camila to follow her heart. No wonder Monica’s storyline seems to have been dropped. Yawn.

Rafa is at his desk at work and is talking to Joel about Orlando’s ultimatum. If he doesn’t accept, Orlando will tell Em himself, in his way. Rafa says for the first time in his life, he doesn’t know what to do. He doesn’t want Em to pay for the sins of his mother. Joel says you shouldn’t have to pay for them either. Rafa says but Em is going through really rough times right now, and if he finds out the truth about his mother, it’ll blow him out of the water. He’s strong, but we all have our breaking points.

I’d rather give up Camila than have Emiliano destroyed. Joel says Orlando is taking advantage of your love for Emiliano. Rafa says I’d give my life to keep my son sane and on track.

Paloma and Angie and the lawyer emerge from the station. He compliments Paloma on her courage and says if everyone were so brave, the country would be a better place. The lawyer leaves and Paloma says she feels a little bit bad for Aron. Angie says he asked for it.

The cop car pulls up at the station with Aron and Emiliano in the back. Em spots Angie and Paloma and he calls out, but Paloma doesn’t hear him and walks off down the street with Angie.

Orlando looks up from his desk and does a double-take. Gudelia, ¿Qué haces aquí? Diana says please, don’t tell Orlando the truth about me. Because of course Diana didn’t close the door behind her, Angelica outside unwittingly overhears, wide-eyed. Well, she does everything wide-eyed, but she’s even more wide-eyed than usual. Diana says you’ll ruin our son’s life. Orlando says so now you say “our son.” Angie’s eye bug some more.

Orlando says I left it to Rafa to tell him, but if he doesn’t within a reasonable timeframe, then I will.

Diana tries a different tack – she slinks around his desk, slithers onto his lap and starts kissing his face. (Ewwww. Yuck! Patooee.) What if I drive you crazy like I used to? Orlando pushes her off and says you never loved me, you just used me. I can’t believe I used to love you. You should leave now, don’t make me throw you out.

Diana shoves him back in his chair and snarls at him Whatever you do, Em will never love you like he loves Rafa, even if your blood runs in his veins. She leaves, not seeing Angie, who is pressed to a wall like a firing squad target.

Angie walks slowly into Orlando’s office and looks at him goggle-eyed. He stares at her. Did you hear? She nods. He does some heavy breathing.

The MS calls Carlota wondering why Paloma doesn’t show up at school. It’s Carlota’s turn to bug her eyes. She says she’ll go find out where that girl is. Rufina! Rufina is in the kitchen stirring the beans and tells her Paloma went to the police about Aron.

Orlando apparently has just finished up telling Angie everything. He never thought when he came to Real del Monte that he’d find Gudelia and his son, right under his nose. Angie says nothing happens by chance. Orlando says Rafa is supposed to tell him. Angie says it’ll take him time to absorb the information, but he’s a steady young man. Orlando says you’re a psychologist, maybe you can help me know how to handle this. I’d be glad to, says Angie, with a starry-eyed smile.

Orlando goes to her and puts his arms around her shoulders from behind and kisses the top of her head. You can be a big help, he says.

Romina runs into Paloma on the street and is surprised that she’s not in school. Paloma hesitantly tells her that she reported Aron for attempted rape.

At the police station, we see Em with a mild black eye. The policeman behind the counter tells him that violence is never a solution. Then they call Aron, who looks much the worse for wear. He cops a little attitude. The police ask him to step into a separate room.

German comes out of the woodwork and asks Em what he’s doing at the station. Em wants to know what Paloma was doing there. German tells Em that she registered a complaint. Em is pleased and says that’s why he bloodied Aron. German offers to help get Em out, but Em says his father already said he’d come pay the fine.

German says Aron’s the one in big trouble; Paloma’s a minor. Em hopes he gets locked up. G: You still love her don’t you? E: I always will. G: And if Romina’s child is yours, then what will you do? E: Destroy my life.

Orlando calls Camila at her shop and wants to talk, to explain some things. Camila says that’s okay, it’s not necessary and Orlando says but for me it is. She says okay, she’ll go to dinner with him, just as friends. Orlando says did you like the orchids? Camila is surprised that they were from him, but she fakes that they came without a card. But you know what? It’s not appropriate if we’re just friends.

Rafa has sprung Em from the police and tells him that violence is never good, but what the heck, in Em’s place he would have done the same thing. Em thanks Rafa for paying the fine, and Rafa says you know I’m always here for you. He puts his arm around Em’s shoulder and they walk off down the street, happy.

Carlota is telling Paloma off big time for going to the police. Paloma says she’s tired of secrets. Carlota says don’t you know that you could wreck your reputation? Paloma says so what? My mother did so much to save hers and it made her miserable. Carlota says do you realize what class of woman your mother was? No, says Paloma. Because even though you and that “father” told me things, something inside of me tells me they’re not true. And I’ve had it with people abusing me.

Avances: Romina is going to succeed in tricking Em into marrying her. She sees Em kissing Paloma. Carlota uses a key to get into Chris’s room while he’s asleep. He awakes, shocked, and reaches for the bedside lamp. OMG! It looks like she’s disrobing! Chris is trapped like a rat.

Labels: amor