Caray, Caray!

Paula is feeding the slowly recuperating Roberto his hospital din-din and chattering on, giving him the gossip about Raquel. She mentions that Raqhell is back home and back on the booze; neither Alex nor Vicki can stop her from drinking. Bobo mentions he's being released the next day and will be living in the main house. The big guy sort of likes the thought of having a place--make that a space--of his own. He's curious to know if Ulises has come to see Raqui and Pau sniffs that she doesn't think so. On the other side of the city at Casa de los Lombardo, Mary Jo tells Alex that she'd like to go visit her daddy in the clink. Alex tells Mary Jo that he'll work things out with the lawyer and see what he can do to get permission. He also reminds her they agreed to get remarried and that it's high time they get hitched again, especially before Tony gets baptized in the Church. Mary Jo isn't up for it right now since Papi Pedro's still in the pokey. Alex tells her life goes on and that, God willing and the creeks don't rise, Pedro will be freed and will be their guest of honor at the reception.

Across town, Elena is having a drink with Ulises in the apartment Raqui leased for him. He explains to her that he hasn't been back to the Lombardo's and made contact with Mary Jo because the whole family probably knows now about his affair with Raquel. Elena calls him a pig and smirks. He says hey, Raquel offered him money and because he needed it he took it. Even the apartment, he says, is something she rented for him. Elena looks at him and laughs, no doubt admiring what an accomplished man-whore he has become. She mentions that Horrible Jorge's treatments with electroshock on Sandra haven't gotten any results. Sandra still has brain damage.

Uli suggests that they should kidnap MJ's baby and force her to impersonate Sandra for Porferio's benefit and just be done with it. Elena says not so fast, especially if MJ and Alex are the kind of people he's told her they are. She'd have to get it past Jorge first anyway, and the last time she brought up something he told her to go to Hell. She does have a plan in mind, but she first needs to be convinced that Mary Jo is really identical to Sandra. She wants to see her. Uli says that'd be difficult because MJ never leaves the compound and he's not exactly able to visit there any longer.

In the city at Lombardo, Inc., Alex is telling Maura he's getting married to MJ again. She says he's got to be crazy since the woman has caused him nothing but trouble ever since he met her and now he's stuck with trying to get her father out of jail. He reminds her that the divorce was only a countermeasure against Bruno's plotting. Meowra insists that it's silly to get remarried since the two of them are like water and oil and have nothing in common. (Tony might disagree.) Alex gets a bit perturbed at Mau and says he and MJ share a child and their love together. He lays down the law to her saying that he appreciates her buying stock in his company and helping him to retain the presidency, but when it comes to his private life or his sex life, she needs to butt out!

A bit later, still hot under the collar and red in the face, Meowra is griping to Uli during a lunch date about the dust up with Alex. Just like Lisett, he tells her the obvious: that now the baby is born she doesn't stand a chance with Alejandro. Mau can't understand it because they've always gotten along together; they had the same tastes, and they come from the same class. Suddenly this piece of filth comes along and she takes it all away from her! Bruno happens to walk by the restaurant patio as Mau and Uli are chatting. They don't notice him. He eavesdrops from behind a post while Uli tells her that MJ's mama is back in town to find out if MJ really is identical to her twin. Uli explains that she's planning something but that they haven't discussed it yet. The two discuss the possibility of Mau helping him to get MJ out of the house for a while or maybe even taking a snapshot of her using the baby as an excuse. Mau wants to know what's in it for her. Uli has a couple of thoughts along that line, but Viewerville is beamed away before they hear the details.

We are teleported to another part of the city as Bruno is meeting Katia for lunch or a drink or something. They stop at the bar while they wait for a table. He orders them a couple of apple martinis--a great chic drink, the way a Tom Collins used to be in the 70's. (I wonder if Katia will use her tootsie pop to stir it with.) Bruno mentions that he saw Uli and Mau together. Could be they've hooked up, but he thinks it's more likely something Mau has cooked up. He wants the Crotchya to find out for him what that is. She's happy to oblige once she gets her bit o' sugar from the sweet-talker in chief. Smo-o-o-ch-h!

That night, at the Casota de Lobos y Locos de los Lomabardo, MJ asks Alex why he's leaving for Saqui in the morning but not taking either Paula or herself with him. He says this time there's no reason to take them for what he's got to do. Wrong answer! She breaks down into tears. He admits finally that her daddy had a pulverizing run-in with one of the other inmates but is now doing better and that he simply didn't want either of his daughters to have to see their papi that way. MJ cries but Alex promises he'll get the ol' guy out of their somehow. Kiss-Kiss. Hug-hug.

Uli brings Maura back to the apartment to chat with Elena. Elena tells him she wants to chat with Mau woman to woman so Uli leaves the apartment. Elena tells Mau she's known Uli for a long while and that Uli is a blabbermouth, so she'd rather they talk alone. Elena starts by saying that she knows Mau still has a thing for MJ's husband and wonders what she's prepared to do to get him back. Mau says with the kid and all that it's not really likely and besides, since MJ is her daughter, she wouldn't think of doing anything to hurt her. (Guess Mau had all her fingers and toes crossed while she told Elena that whopper.) Elena says she thinks there's a way that everyone can be happy, but if a word of what she says gets out she will deny it and deny ever meeting Maura. Mau's all ears.

It's now bedtime for Alex and MJ. She's crying. His rather simplistic solution: make love and suddenly all the ugly thoughts turn into happy ones. Alex tells her that they can't allow the mistakes of other's to bring them down. She's got her own family now to worry about and to take care of. He's able to separate the problems of daily life from his relationship with her and she needs to learn to do the same. She figures he's right and she relaxes a bit with him. They hug and smooch and start turning those ugly thoughts into happy ones......

Meanwhile, across town, Uli is now sending Elena off in a cab. He walks over to Mau and asks her for a rundown of the big pow-wow she had with Elena. Mau plays dumb and innocent. All the woman talked about were her husband and her daughter. Uli isn't buying it and wants the truth. Mau says the only other thing Elena mentioned was that she wanted to have her take a picture of MJ. Other than that she only asked questions about Mary Jo and her husband. Mau says she's tired and drives off. Uli isn't convinced.

The next day Meowra drives over to Casota Lombardo. MJ is with Felipa and the baby out on the grass. Felipa (along with Viewerville) lets out with an eye roll and an "Hijole!" when she sees who's walking towards them. Meowra gushes effusively over little Tony and hands over MJ a couple of obligatory gifts for the baby (although deep down, Viewerville is convinced, she'd really rather be tying MJ in a bag with snakes and dumping her into the nearest lake.) Meowra says she's dying to take a snapshot of the little snook-ums. "He's so cute!" She snaps a pix of Mary Jo and Baby Tony on her cell, then quickly makes her exit by saying she's heard Raqui's back and that she needs to visit her a bit too. As she races off, Felipa tells Mary Jo that the woman gives her the willies. Suddenly an ambulance drives past and they see it's bringing Bobo back from the hospital.

Everyone rushes out to greet Bobo and help him inside. Raqhell sloshes her way over to the chalet's front porch. She twitches and bitches then bitches and twitches about it to Maura. (Man! Just watching her do the twitch thing gives me hives.) Mau looks a bit concerned. She asks how long till the baby comes. Raqui thinks about two months but isn't sure. Raqhell asks Mau if she's heard from Uli recently but Mau lies and says no. Raqui twitches and blinks a few times. "The coward!" Mau asks if Raqhell knows who the baby-daddy is but she doesn't and could care less. She is more interested in getting a lawyer through Mau to help with her divorce.

Back at her hotel a while later, Elena receives an envelope via messenger with Mau's photo of MJ holding little Tony in it. Elena draws in her breath. "She's identical!!"

Alex returns home from Saqui with good news for Mary Jo about her scrappy papi. There's a good chance to get Pedro out on bail. (Viewerville's male population are in awe. It's got to be a real upper being able to be a Macho-Man 24/7 to your woman like that.) Vicki walks in and tells the two of them that she's gotten Dr. Hernan and Bobo together for a meeting and wants Alex and MJ to join them for it.

Back with our loonies in the boonies, Elena shows Jorge the Horrible Mary Jo's photo. Success! "--It's Sandra!" She corrects him. "--No, it's Mary Jo." Mexico's Dr. Mengele is excited as visions of experiments dance in his head. "She is exactly the same!" Elena sighs, relieved, and smiles.

In the study back at the Casota de Locos y Lobos, Vicki and Hernan explain to MJ and Alex the problem they've got with Raqhell's continued drinking. "The baby will be born with all sorts of problems. It may even die!" Bobo interjects here that that is exactly what Raqui wanted--to kill the baby. Caras de impactado [looks of shock] bounce around the room. MJ and Alex express the obvious: there needs to be a way to stop her from getting off the property till the baby is born. (Viewerville scratches its head and asks how about just finding her latest stash and dumping it, then firing the next employee who smuggles a bottle in to her? That should put a split-second stop to everything!) Everybody's stumped as to how to achieve the nigh impossible here.

In the boonies with our favorite goonies again, Jorge says they could take samples of MJ's brain cell tissue and transfer it to Sandra. The brain damage would be cured, but Sandra's addictions would not. She'd return to the same bad habits so that idea wouldn't work for their purposes. Elena suggests Uli's plan to kidnap MJ. Jorge says nope, because Uli's a worthless hustler. He doesn't want Elena having anything more to do with Uli. Elena seems fine with that. So she moves on to suggest Maura because Mau is still in love with Mary Jo's husband. However, Horrible George says he doesn't trust a woman. Women are useless chatterboxes. Elena figures there's nobody else who can get close to Mary Jo. "No. It's got to be a man." He'll have to think on it a bit more. He asks her for the name of the family's company. "--Lombardo Construction." Horrible George walks off with the photo of MJ to ponder the possibilities and to plot their next diabolical move.

That night in his lab office, Horrible is researching the Lombardo's and comes across the stories in the newspapers about the recent trial, the fight between the two half-brothers for the presidency of the company, the affair between Vicki and Antonio while she was still married to Samuel Albeniz, and the two illegitimate children--Bruno and Raquel--who were never told about their true father till only recently. The papers mention that this has served to sully the family's public image and to hurt the company's financial stability.

Meanwhile, at Don Porferio's, he and Fernando's Tío Abuelo, Emiliano, discuss Porfi's distrust of both Elena and Horrible George. He also cannot understand why he hasn't seen hide nor hair of his granddaughter in six years, especially with the amount of money she stands to inheirit from him. Porfi suspects that Sandra might even be dead and it's a shame because he took to the little girl right away. He liked her spunk and wit. He's certain she became a nuissance to Elena and her husband and that's why they sent her off to Spain to school. Emiliano remarks that many parents simply send their kids off to school in Spain because they think they'll get a better education and fare better once they return. Fernando did just fine in Mexico, though, so he doesn't necessarily agree with that practice. Emiliano suggests it could be that Porfi was too much of a curmudgeon and scared her off. Porfi says he now thinks maybe he should get married again to keep Elena and Jorge from getting his money when he dies. It could be the maid or the washer woman. It doesn't matter.

The next day Horrible tells Elena what he found out about the Lombardo family. He thinks Bruno would be the perfect one to deal with since he's probably filled with hate and resentment at losing his legal challenge to become the company's president even though he's the older son. "Bruno should be resentful enough to stop at nothing to get back at his half-brother."

In the meantime, Raqhell has gone into labor pains. She races down the lane towards the main house screaming that her water's broken or something. (What is that ugly red thing the wardrobe department put her in for this scene--something from E. Gad?) Vicki races out and screams for the servants to call an ambulance.

At Lombardo, Inc., Maura overhears Mari discussing Alex's intended move with him. (Damn! Could that mini-skirt be any shorter? Mau better have on panties when she crosses those legs of hers. On the other hand, maybe she could bring in a bit more business that way.) Mau asks him why move from a house he's lived in his entire life? Alex says Bruno's living there too and it's best they be as far apart from each other as possible. She can't argue with facts and offers to find the perfect house for Alex and MJ as a show of friendship. There's a call on Alex's cell just then. He finds out from Felipa that Raqui's gone into premature labor. Mau races off with Alex to the hospital and forgets her purse in the reception area.

Meanwhile, Pau runs in to give the news to the convalescent Bobo. She races around to help him get ready to go to the hospital with the others. He is a physical mess still and struggles to get off the couch and out from under his meal tray--a totally unnecessary scene. FF>>

Outside on the grounds, Erick observes the chaos and gives the low-down to Bruno as he drives up in his Zzzz-4.

Back in Reception at Lombardo, Inc., Katia and Mari are discussing the premature birth situation when they hear a cell ring. It is coming from Maura's purse. The Bratia answers it and is surprised to hear Elena on the other end. Elena says yeah, Uli is a friend they have in common. Katia explains that everyone left in a hurry due to Raqui's going into premature labor. Mau happened to forget her purse and cell there. Elena decides not to leave a message. Fernando walks into the room looking for Alex. Mari explains what's going on with Raqhell and Fer races out and off to the hospital as well.

Raqui's baby girl is born weak and with under-developed lungs. She will have to be put into an incubator. It's not clear if she'll live. Raqui is fine, though. Bobo worries that the baby may still die. Fer arrives and comforts Vicki.

In the kitchen at Casota Lombardo the servants are eating dinner. Pau has joined them. Felipa mentions their need to put the baby in an incubator. Zeke says it's to be expected with premies. Pau isn't as charitable about the situation. "The only reason that baby is sick and in an incubator is because its mother was stuck sucking her own bottle all these months and drank like a fish! [beber como un cosacko = drink like a fish/ literally it's to drink like a Cossack] The one who deserves to be in serious condition is its mother!" (Viewerville gives 10 points to the Pugster.) Felipa scolds Pau for not being more sympathetic. "You need to be understanding with alcoholics and diabetics and the like." Pau says she doesn't feel a bit guilty when it comes to Raqui and she sticks to her guns. She tells the group that she doesn't have the slightest bit of sympathy for Raqhell. (You go, girl!)

That night Alex gives the rundown on Raqui and their new little niece to MJ. He says Bobo's bummed and bothered about the birth of the baby as well as Raquhell's situation. That's what happens when someone faces up to the mess they've made, he adds. (Bobo has apparently and it ain't purdy.) Mary Jo says she actually likes the guy now, though she didn't trust him at first. She asks Alex if he thinks Uli's the baby-daddy. He says he doesn't know, but Bobo wants to keep her even so. MJ thinks it's a terrific gesture on Bobo's part. She changes the subject to postponing the wedding. Alex says no way! He wants the whole world to see her dressed in white at the church. She reminds him she isn't a virgin and can't use white. He says then she can choose whatever color she wants. "The wedding only signifies a contract, and gives an official stamp to the proceedings. It's not just for the witnesses, but for the couple as well." (What is this? Sociology 104: marriage contracts as a part of the social contract?) Toni burbles his two cents worth, too. (I almost like Tony better than Cuco. Just wait till he graduates from gurgle to bark!)

Downstairs, Victoria cries on Fer's shoulder. She of course blames herself for Raqhell's situation and the problem with her grandbaby. Fer's a bit more forgiving and sympathetic than I would be with her, but then he's looking to get another meaningful roll in the hay. Fer says Raquel is all "growed-up" now and responsible for her own behavior, the same as everybody else in the world. It was her decision to ruin her life this way. He's sure the baby will recover. Vicki and Bobo will be able to raise Raqui's baby and he'll be there as well to help. He stares deeply into her eyes and tells her he's amazed at how much she cares for others; that he admires her for it. Each time he admires her more. He loves her and her huge heart touches him deeply. He feels so lucky to claim the love of a Victoria Lombardo, to have been permitted to even get close to her. She says she's luckier having him love her. They share another funky priss-kiss. (Blechhh!)

Back at the hospital, Dr. Hernan runs into Bobo and tries to make him get some rest. Bobo can't because he's too upset about the baby's condition. He asks to see her. Hernan takes him to the premie part of the nursery. Bobo is in awe. (Viewerville can definitely relate.) "Will she live?" Dr. Hernan says they trust that she will.

The next morning Bruno and Crotchya are having breakfast out. Crotchya mentions the possibility that Raqui's baby might die. Bruto says it's just as well. Crotchya is naively impactada to hear him admit it. El Bruto is being practical. "With an alcoholic mother and Roberto--why lie about it? If Uli's the father, it's just as bad because then it will have the genes of a worthless hustler." Small talk changes to the phone call Mau got that Crotchya intercepted. She says that it turned out to be Elena. Bruto doesn't remember her mentioning the woman before. Crotchya explains about her and her ogre of a husband who's always stuck in his labs, and mentions their daughter, Sandra, "that nobody ever sees because she's always off studying." Bruto pricks up his beady little rat-ears.

"Sandra" is the magic word here. Bruto has flashbacks to Alex asking him who Sandra was and then to his overhearing Alex mentioning to Vicki that MJ has a twin sister named Sandra living with her mother outside Toluca, and that Uli mentioned it to Bobo who mentioned it to him. Bruno gets up, leaves Crotchya some cash to pay for breakfast, then races off to find out what Maura's got going with this woman.

Bruno now shows up unexpectedly at Uli's door. He pushes his way in and sits down to eat the guy's untouched breakfast. (What a charmer.) In between shovelled mouthfulls Bruno tells Uli he should know that his kid was born the night before and that now he's daddy to a diseased kid with rickets. Uli asks how Raquhell is. "--I didn't come to talk about her. I want to know everything about Mary Jo's twin sister and her mother." Uli pretends not to know what he's talking about. Bruno warns him not to pretend because Alex told him himself about Sandra and that she and her mother, Elena, live outside Toluca somewhere. Uli says he's partially right, but Sandra's been out of the country studying for years now.

Bruno warns Uli not to lie because he says he's got the woman's phone number and will be checking his story. Uli asks how he got the number. "From Maura." Uli says he introduced them but didn't know they'd become such close friends. Bruno says something's going on between Mau and her 'cause there's got to be a reason the two are calling each other. "Let me have it in detail!" Uli asks why it matters so much to Bruno. "--It matters to Mary Jo!" "-- MJ has nothing to do with you! She's your brother's wife!" "--Alex took the presidency from me and then he stole a woman who ought to have been mine! I am not eager to see things to go on like they are!"

Uli takes a different tack and tells Bruno to calm down because MJ's having a twin sister doesn't change the facts. "--Maybe not, but I don't like all the mystery. I want to know what's up." Uli says he's sorry but he hasn't anything more to tell him. "--We'll see about that!" Bruno storms out of the apartment to gawd knows where now.

Uli immediate calls Mau to get an explanation while the not-so-innocent Crotchya the Bratia eavesdrops. Uli yells at her to tell him what Elena called about. Mau plays dumb and says there's nothing. He reminds her of that private chit-chat the two women had the other day at his apartment, then threatens her not to try anything behind his back. Click! Mau turns around and asks Katia if somebody named Elena called there the other day. Katia apologizes for not telling her how she took the call for her since she'd left her purse the day before when she raced off to the hospital because of Raquel. Mau want's to know how Ulises found out about the call. Katia blames Mari. Mau says Mari wouldn't know Uli, much less have a reason to tell him about Elena's phone call. Katia plays dumb and insists it had to be Mari.

That's enough for Mau. (It's always the hired help with this broad.) She races out to Mari's desk and lites into her for being a gossipy busybody and too loose with the intimate details of her private life. Mari is completely-bewildered-impactada. She swears she has no idea what Mau's talking about and would never dream of doing such things. Alex and Fernando come out of their offices to see what the din is about. Maura tells Alex that he's got a big mouth for a secretary and that he needs to look for a new one.

In Alex's office a few moments later, Mari swears that she would never stoop to something so unprofessional and that she has no idea even who this Ulises guy is. It wasn't even she who took the phonecall. It was Katia! Enough said. Fer and Alex exchange looks. They immediately know what--or rather, who--the problem is here. They let Mari go back to her desk after apologizing for the mixup. (Alex, give the gal a major raise, too. It's not exactly like you couldn't sell a property or two to pay for it. She deserves it with everything she puts up with working for you!!)

Mari leaves the office. Fernando admits, redfaced, that it was Katia. The two now want to know what Maura has to do with MJ's mother. Alex goes in to speak with Mau. He asks her point blank about Elena. Mau admits Uli introduced them and that she met her, but only a couple of times. The first time was when she showed up with Roberto. The second time Elena mentioned that she was with Uli and that the woman said she'd like to see Paula and Mary Jo. Mau explains, innocently enough, that she didn't have any reason to think it was strange since the woman was their mother and, after all, it wasn't really any of her business. So she really didn't pay much attention to her. That is why she never bothered mentioning it to him.

Alex accepts her answer and walks out of her office.