Caray, Caray!

Episode 44,

Thanks again to Jeri who is filling in for vacationing Cheryl

Starting with the new scenes, on the beachwalk Juan greets Renato and
Aimee to apologize for busting up their wedding, and Renato is
gracious. He understands there's a woman Juan was looking for, and
Juan agrees. A woman who toyed with his affections; but they can be
sure he will forget her just as assiduously as he cared about her,
Juan says in front of Aimee.

Renato forgives Juan, shakes on it, and as an afterthought introduces
his wife. Juan mentions they met shipboard, but don't worry -- it was
no big deal. And who knew she would turn out to be your wife? Renato
explains while nuzzling Aimee that they weren't engaged until she
returned, and Juan remarks what a beauty she is.

Shopping in town, continuing with Marlene's fright at being recognized
by Clemencia, Marlene begs her not to say anything in front of
Rosenda. As Rosenda approaches, Clemencia feigns they were conversing
about colliding on the sidewalk. Rosenda berates Clemencia for even
talking to this trashy woman, whereupon Marlene's three constant
companions set upon Rosenda for insulting their benefactress. Rosenda
continues unabated, insulting the girls themselves for good measure.

Marlene bids the girls back off and not make a scene in the street;
the girls relent but warn Rosenda she'd better not try it again. The
girls take their leave, and Marlene asks her daughter why she treats
them like that, when she doesn't even know them. Rosenda claims that
her mother was no good, but she never stooped to being a madame.
Rosenda would die if anybody knew Marlene was her mother, she says.

At the park, Gabriel is mortified at catching himself kissing Jimena
and apologizes profusely. Jimena loved it, but is also horrified
Gabriel will think ill of her. She rushes to explain it must be
because of the lovely romantic setting and conversation about love
that overcame them. Gabriel latches onto to that excuse eagerly; he
thanks her again for bringing the letter from "Estrella." Right; he's
so convinced that upon taking his leave, he rushes back and holds
Jimena's face in his hands and plants a very tender, lingering kiss
goodbye on it.

Back at the beachwalk, Juan repeats his congratulations and commends
Renato for picking the right woman -- unlike other dopes who can't
pick a good one, he says. Renato beams and declares he and his wife
were born for each other, which prompts Juan to laugh out loud. Oh,
everybody can see that, he says, glancing around. Renato expresses
how happy he is that Juan is freed from jail, and Juan declares it was
Renato's father's doing, who believed in his innocence. Renato agrees
that his father is a great warrior for justice; and Juan says Noel
saved his life, and he hopes he'll have the chance soon to repay him.
Juan is a man who doesn't enjoy being indebted, he says.

Again at the shops, Clemencia attempts to quell Rosenda's disgust of
her mother, but Marlene admits Rosenda has every right and begs
Rosenda most abjectly to please forgive her. Rosenda practically
spits on Marlene and won't listen, stalking away. Clemencia tries to
assuage Marlene's pain, but regrettably has to admit Rosenda seems to
be worsening -- and what's more becoming way too ambitious. Marlene
understands all too well, as she was the same.

It's what ruined herself; she couldn't take the misery and chose the
easy way out, forging a chain of mistakes that brought her down to
where she is now. Marlene is beside herself and weeping woefully.
She's so sorry she abandoned her daughter; it's why she came back --
to try to make it up and earn Rosenda's forgiveness and love.
Clemencia promises to come see Marlene at the casino and talk, which
brightens Marlene. Clemencia knows life throws lots of curve balls
and isn't there to judge people, she says.

Juan is leaving Renato and Aimee at the beach walk, and Renato
declares Juan should call on him should he need anything. Juan thanks
Renato graciously, so those two are all good now. After Juan departs,
Renato tells Aimee there's something so familiar about that guy. Juan
doesn't get far along the walk again before being stopped by
Fulgencio, who is walking with Eloísa.

Fulgencio takes the chance meeting to express his sincere admiration
for the kind of daring, entrepid fellow Juan is. Juan has to
chuckle. Not only that, Fulgencio also offers Juan a job, if he ever
needs one; one never knows. Fulgencio wants Juan to see him as a
friend and confidant. Eloísa is frankly nonplussed and insists they
continue with their stroll now. At their retreat, Juan marvels a bit
at this exchange.

Further on, Eloísa takes Fulgencio aside and berates him for talking
to this jerk -- and offering to be his friend! Has he gone nuts?
Fulgencio has his reasons, he says. Business reasons. Who else
should appear then, of course, than Federico -- who also begins shop
talk. Eloísa is fed up with shop talk; she's in a bad mood over
Renato and Aimee acting decent to the guy who ruined their wedding.
She can't understand it; Renato must have atole running in his veins,
she says. I have no idea what she intends, except that atole is a
comfort food. Maybe she thinks he's a namby pamby.

At the farm in the kitchen, Clemencia berates Rosenda for insulting
Marlene and the three girls; she can't know what might have made them
that way, she insists. Rosenda is mystified why Clemencia defends
them -- and asks if Clemencia already knows them. Clemencia says
pointedly that one mistake can ruin a life -- and she's looking at
you, kid. That's twice Clemencia has given a warning about something
bad happening to Rosenda, so I'm anticipating what it might be.
Meanwhile, Marlene weeps piteously at the feet of the Virgin de
Guadalupe figure in church, begging forgiveness and help to get her
daughter back.

Juan pays a sudden visit to Noel's office, startling him. He thanks
Noel for his help; but -- reminiscent of Spock's father, Sarek,
declaring "One does not thank logic" -- Noel says not to thank him;
he would help anyone who needed him. Justice doesn't distinguish.
Juan then mystifies Noel, insisting it's not the first time Nnoel has
helped him; but doesn't clarify. Juan merely exits the office on the
verge of tears, informing Noel that he doesn't forget his debts. And
that he's in debt to Noel forever.

At Juan's house, Gabriel reads Estrella's letter and rhapsodizes, then
immediately berates himself for kissing Jimena. He can't stop himself
thinking of her and wondering why he did that. Juan enters and
notices Gabriel's discomfort, whereaupon Gabriel admits what he did.
Juan coaxes, rather tongue in cheek, that Gabriel should pay attention
to what his heart is telling him. Gabriel must care about Jimena,
Juan says; but Gabriel insists he can't. She's a gypsy! They're
different! He can't be in love with her. He loves Estrella. No, no,
no. Juan insists no one commands the heart; take it from him. He
loves Aimee and wants to forget her; but he can't so far.

Meanwhile at their apartments in the townhouse, Aimee berates Renato
for offering to help Juan. If Juan came to work at the farm, her
father would go ballistic. Does Renato want to divide the family?
And then there's Regina, she says; but when Renato evinces doubt that
Regina is the woman Juan sought, Aimee insists she has to be. Who else?

In her own room, Regina talks to God. She made good on her promise to
see Aimee married to Renato. Now, when they have their first child,
she's going to try again to go back to the convent. Please, God,
don't abandon her, she prays. Meanwhile at the clinic, Ignacio waxes
effusive about Regina, who saved his life; and Dr. Pablo can only
agree what a good and beautiful soul she is.

Pablo thinks to himself, though, that it's a soul that suffers, and he
wants to make it better. He wishes he were the one to do so, but
Regina has someone else in her heart; and he wonders who it is. Again
at the townhouse, alone now Renato reviews the conversation with Aimee
and wonders -- what if the woman Juan sought indeed was Regina? Then
what? He quaffs his brandy and mulls it over.

Jimena also goes to church -- for the first time ever, and she thinks
it's beautiful. She watches another parishioner and makes the same
motions. Across town, Griselda and Servando discuss Jimena. They
reminisce how they abducted the little girl from a very rich family in
Puebla. Segue to a bedroom in Puebla, where a woman, Mariela, prays
wretchedly over having lost her daughter.

She wishes only to see her again before she dies. Another woman
enters who bids her own daughter take heart -- they might hear
something from the investigator her husband has hired to find news of
"Angela." So, apparently Jimena has at least a mother and two
grandparents in Puebla. I wonder who the father is. Back at the
church, Jimena prays about her mother and begins to tell the Virgin
all about her love for Gabriel.

At the club, the girls are outraged that Marlene wouldn't let them
pound that rude woman in the street. Who is she, they ask? At the
farm, Rosenda is helping Leonarda dress -- and she notes Leonarda is
strangely radiant lately. What's up with that, she wonders. Leonarda
will be off on an errand by herself and won't tell Rosenda where (but
we know it must be to ask Griselda to read more Rodrigo in the
cards). In passing, Rosenda rats out Clemencia for talking to that
bordello owner in the street, which enrages Leonarda -- who will just
see about that right away!

First, Rosenda heads to the catacombs to tattle to Arcadio how
Leonarda is glowing, how very long Leonarda is spending primping to go
out somewhere and how mysterious she was about it. She thinks Arcadio
should be more grateful for her tattling, but he's glum. Relenting,
he says if Leonarda doesn't return his foreman's job to him, then
he'll divulge the family secrets to Rosenda. When Rosenda doesn't
leave promptly at his order, Arcadio draws up a fist to convince her;
and she scurries away.

Down in the kichen, Leonarda tries to rake Clemencia over the coals
for consorting with trash, but Clemencia quotes the Biblical, "...Let
he who is without sin cast the first stone..." at Leonarda. Meanwhile
at the club, Marlene agonizes about her punishment and declares that
Clemencia is the only hope she has left. Back in the kitchen,
Leonarda complains bitterly that Clemencia always defends everybody
else and judges Leonarda instead. She'd better watch out, or she'll
be in the street one day, Leonarda warns. Clemencia is not impressed.

The Associates sit together at a table in the port cafe, discussing
Noel defending Juan. Noel pronounces the complete name: "Juan San
Roman," which gives Rodrigo a start, in recognition. Noel claims it's
a coincidence. Rodrigo doesn't want to hear about that guy anymore
and is going to stay away from him. Raúl mentions he intends to do as
Noel said and sell all his lumber interests.

When Rodrigo objects, Raúl says Noel's not the only person advising
that; someone else did, too. (Juan did yesterday, as Raúl was leaving
the blackmailing meeting. A handy crumb Juan tossed his way.) Raúl
will not be dissuaded, though, and Rodrigo declares ok, whatever Raúl
sells, he'll buy up. Nobody knows more about business than he does,
Rodrigo says. Famous last words. Over in his office, Juan notes that
all the news from Europe shows lumber prices down; if they plunge in
America, Rodrigo Montes de Oca will be ruined. Isn't that nice.
We'll find out tomorrow or sometime: same bat time, same bat channel.

Labels: salvaje