Caray, Caray!

OK gang, this is the episode that we have longed for ever since this show began when we were all still young. Well, OK, I know it's certainly what I've been patiently waiting for for what seems like eons. So pour yourself a drink, sit back in a comfy chair, and let's observe this embryonic stage in the emergence of a new and improved Constanza. Still some rough times loom in her future (payback... well you know) but at least she is taking some hesitant first baby steps down the path of righteousness.

Paula and Cristian have elected to spend their honeymoon fighting crime. Thus we join them as together they explore a remote crime scene where the body of Federico Arauco, the lawyer hired so long ago by Salvador to investigate the various shady ventures of Oscar and Jerónimo, in particular their purchase and their planned disposition of the vecindad in which dwell the naco contingent of our cast of characters. As you will recall, he was murdered by Oscar in the parking garage of Groupo Sermeño and buried somewhere in the countryside. Paula is kneeling done and poking around the the open grave as Cristia asks her to join him in examining evidence recovered from the scene. From a cardboard box he has extracted a plastic bag containing bloody womens clothing, a cell phone, and a note. He reads the note out loud, "To whom it may concern, Constanza Lerdo de Tejada killed this man and Salvador Ulloa." Gee, how convenient is that? Might as well have been tied up with a bright red bow.

Back at the arena the boxers have returned to the ring. At ringside Nieves is worried to the point of chest pain. Estre reassures her that Moni will win the fight and recover the neighborhood from Coni's clutches. Xime meanwhile approaches Coni's corner, "May I tell you three things?" Coni's in no mood for Ximy's wisdom, "Go to Hell, Ximena!" Undaunted, Ximy proceeds with her three things which Hombre so ably translated for us Friday, " Una, having a sister like La Monu must be maraviguau. Dos, I wouldn’t want to be in your place, because your sister’s gonna blot you out (opacar, to make opaque) totally, and Tres, although she’s prettier than you, and better in every way, do your best (échale ganas), because you don’t have a chance (she looks at Beto, holds her nose), train her well, Robi, please." Over in Moni's corner, Mao takes advantage of the lull in the action to tell Moni, who insists that she doesn't want to hear it, that the only reason he rescued Lobo was for her, and that he still loves her. Thanks for that Mauricio. Yawn.

At the crime scene the two newlywed sleuths are still examining the contents of the plastic bag interred with the body. What they discover next is even more shocking that the corpse itself. "Salvador!" Immediately they recognize pictures of a deceased Salvador. Wow! Things are really starting to move.

Oh my, having returned to his grim, garish rat's nest, Oscar has elected to become a gangster movie cliché. Disheveled, battered, and bloody, yet strangely dapper in his all black ensemble, he stumbles and lurches into the drawing room. "I need a drink (un trago)." Well, I guess so you poor baby. Sylvia said you'd be thirsty. Nothing like being beat to a bloody pulp for whetting one's thirst. I'm guessing Scotch, although there's no label on the cut glass decanter he chooses. If it were brandy, it's unlikely that he would pour it over ice. Could be Bourbon or Canadian whiskey, but Oscar strikes me as a single-malt man. He mutters to himself that he needs to get out of there as soon as possible. Then, as he tilts his glass for a well deserved slug, Loriloca scurries up wielding a syringe tipped with an imposing hypodermic needle. Gasps of gleeful horror escape from delighted viewers all across Gancholandia as she plunges that needle to the hilt into his bare neck. Not very professionally done, yet effective. Well done, you lovable lunatic. He swats at his neck. As he staggers about and asks what she ha done, she explains that she has just injected him with the same stuff that he's been injecting Sal with these past weeks. She scolds him for having deceived her.

His right eye now patched, looks like Lobo's wounds have been tended. He is visiting a now incarcerated Jairo who is being kept company in his cell by his two toadies. Lobo gloats a bit. Jairo speculates that Lobo will soon join him behind bars, "Bet?"

Back at the arena a patient crowd awaits a resumption of the action. The fighters are back in their corners. Cesar pleads with Monita to suspend the fight, "You're sisters!" Moni firmly refuses. Across the ring, similarly Beto is pleading with Coni to stop the fight. He does not understand how she can continue with the fight knowing that Moni is her sister. Coni is also firm in her refusal.

Stretchers containing Aldo and Sal are wheeled into an emergency room. The ambulance attendant informs the Dr. on call that they were found at the scene of an accident along side the road, neither had any identification. The Dr. waves them in.

Meintras tanto, Beto is still trying to convince Coni of the senselessness of this fight and of the damage her hatred of Moni has already caused. She had the advantage of growing up with wealth as well as both parents while on the other hand, life for Moni wasn't so easy. "Her mother didn't want her. She lost her best friend and no longer has Mauricio. You've already won. Do you want her dead?" Coni is starting to tear up and she focuses on Moni's water bottle. Suddenly with an urgency she tells Beto to get rid of Moni's water bottle. Beto looks at the bottle and then at Coni and suddenly understands. Yes!Aldo comes to in the ER asking about Salvador who is unconcious on the adjacent gurney. Assured that Sal is alive, he wants to contact his papá, "Mauricio Sermeño."

The referee asks Cesar if his boxer is prepared to continue the fight. She is. She stands. An attentive mamá offers her a drink. She takes it. Across the ring, Coni also is ready as an efficient Beto empties the tainted water bottle into Coni's spit bucket. A sister saved... a sister redeemed. Beto gives her his blessing followed by a sincere kiss, "Te amo." "Te amo," Coni answers as she determinedly returns to battle. The fight resumes at the same pace as round one, the fighters gracefully circling with nary a punch, when suddenly their delicate ballet is interrupted by a uniformed Cristian and another police officer who have entered the ring and each take hold of Coni's arms. Moni protests,"what's going on?" Cristian gravely intones, "Constanza Lerdo de Tajeda, alias la Momia, you're under arrest, accused of homicide in the first degree in the deaths of Federico Arauco and Salvador Ulloa. Coni is genuinely distressed as we break for commercials.

"!Suelteme!" Coni is not taking her arrest gracefully. She struggles with the officers. Beto objects. Cristian tells him there is proof. Marcos objects. Moni holds Beto back as Nieves from outside the ring urges him to stand back as Coni implores Beto to do something. Ximena thinks it's just like a chapter of Mujeres Asesinas, Truculent Coni. Ximena seems to be enjoying this just a little too much.

At the ER, Aldo is restless. The Dr. assures him that he will call his dad. The nurse reassures him that though they are both seriously injured, they are in good hands.

In Moni's dressing room, Beto is wanting to go to Coni's side. He is impeded by a determined Moni and an adamant Nieves. Neither of them want him implicated in Coni's crimes. Nieves hugs him cradling his head on her shoulder. He is still insistent that he must go to Coni's aid (I must say, I am in full agreement with Beto on this). Monita is a little less gentle. As he tries to push past her she delivers a punch to the solar plexus. Beto doubles over. Tough love I guess.

In the ring Coni is still protesting her apprehension and pleads with Marcos to help. Marcos demands to know what proof they have. Cristian tells him of the photos and clothing accompanying the deceased lawyer, from outside the ring, Paula reminds Cristian that the clothes were soaked in blood. Thanks for that Paula. Coni protests that Oscar planted that evidence. Marcos stands directly before her and asks her to tell him that she had nothing to do with Sal's death. Coni admits that she was present when Sal died, of an infarction, and that she wanted to call an ambulance but that Oscar prevented her from doing so. Now Mao steps up and wants to know why she didn't call for help, why they hid the body, and why they made him believe tht Sal had perished in a plane crash, "Salvador was like a father to me."A livid Gabriela, eyes blazing, moves Mao aside and approaches Coni taking her face firmly in her hand and glaring directly into her eyes, "Maldita infeliz, you killed my Salvador." Coni is now hysterical as Cristian and the other policemen drag her out of the ring and off to jail. I would have wished for Coni to be a little more stoic about this, but at this moment it looks to her that everyone has abandoned her as her world comes crashing down around her.

Her protestations continue as she is placed in the cell across from Jairo who observes, "What a small world." She calms a bit and asks what he is doing here. "No, what are you doing here? shouldn't you be boxing right now?" She tells him that he fight was cancelled. She was arrested for murder. He asks if she killed Moni. She tells him that it was for the murder of a man. Coni is now more composed and tells Jairo that since the fight was cancelled, she expects to get the money back that she gave him to bet on the fight for her with. Nope, he has no intention of returning her money. Actually, she should get her money back since the fight was cancelled without a winner, but I guess when one deals with criminals... She tells him that she sold her house and boutique, that was all the money she had. Jairo is unsympathetic, "That's not my problem." Their conversation is cut short. Jairo's ride has arrived to take him to the Big House. Cristian unlocks the cell. Now both he and Coni look dejected.

A crescent moon is followed by a brilliant sun, it's morning. Mao has been with Marcos all night, waiting at the jailhouse for Marcos to have a chance to visit with Coni. He has borrowed Marcos' cell phone, you remember he lost his at Jairo's place, to check with Teri about the girls and inform her of what has transpired. Marcos complains that he has been there all night and has still not gotten permission to see his daughter. Mao reminds him that Coni has been charged with serious crimes. Marcos is appreciative that Mao has stayed with him. Irish setters may be dumb, but they're loyal. Cristian informs Marcos that he may visit with Coni now. "It's about time," he mutters.

At Gabi's place she thanks Estrella for staying with her. She can't quit thinking about Sal dying of a heart attack with Coni standing by and not lifting a finger to help him. She always doubted the story of the trip to Venezuela and the plane crash. Sal never called her. He was already dead. Estrella tries to get her to relax and think of something else. Of course Gabi can't. She still has things that she would like to say to Coni's face. "I'll go with you," Estre offers. The phone rings. It's the perky ER nurse. She is calling on behalf of Salvador Ulloa. Gabi is outraged, "Salvador is dead!" Perky nurse is frustrated, "She hung up on me and Mauricio Sermeño doesn't answer his phone."

Looking very tiny and very sad in her cell, Coni looks up as her dad approaches. She pleads with him for help and for him to believe her, but he has hardened his heart. He knew she needed a lesson but not this way. She tells him again that she is innocent, but he is outraged by what she has done. She will have to pay for her crimes. He tells her that now she is dead to him. I'm really not liking this one little bit. Bad dad, at least at this moment.

A distraught Beto is with Moni in the cantina. He is throwing back shots of Tequila as he drunkenly whines to Moni. He's upset about what Coni has done, but he can't help but still love her. He notes that Moni warned him but deep down he can't see that she is bad. Moni is trying to slow down his drinking and tells him that her situation is similar. She's managed to get involved with two brutes. She encourages him to be strong. Beto continues to drink.

Coni pleads with her dad to help her. He tells her he's hired a good lawyer but she must pay for her crimes. Once more she protests her innocence. "You'll have to prove it." Must not be like in our good old USA where one is innocent until proven guilty. Coni then throws a low but well-aimed punch. She notes that once she was his favorite daughter, but now that Monita is here, he is tossing her aside like an old doll. She says that she shouldn't be surprised that he is abandoning her. He did the same to Valentina when she was a child. He tells her that he will always love her. She coldly replies, "If you won't help me... get out." Not very pretty.
More Moni and Beto. He's tossing back Tequila shots. She is trying to stop him. Drunken talk.She's been there all night looking out for him. He wishes that all his feelings for Coni would be ripped from inside him. She wants the same for her feelings for Mauricio. Thank goodness the food has arrived. She urges him to eat his menudito.

A downcast Marcos rejoins Mao and tells him how he told Coni that he couldn't help her and that she must pay for what she's done. Mao asks how she responded. "She said that if I wouldn't help her, I should get out."
Coni's lawyer arrives. Mao excuses himself to go check on Beto who must be taking this hard. The lawyer tells Marcos that the case against Coni is very strong. The judge has denied bail and that she'll probably be tansferred to the prison until all the proof against her has been determined. Marcos tells him that his main concern is for Coni to pay for her crimes. Say what? What a dad. I had more faith in you than that you old buzzard. Too bad they're not in Texas. With Racehorse Haynes as her lawyer, not only would Coni already be out on bail, even if she were guilty she'd get off scot free and the jurors would be clamoring to have their pictures made with her.

Gabi and Estrella arrive as Marcos and the lawyer exit for Marcos to sign some papers. Gabi tell Cristian that she wants to talk with Coni. Cris sees no problem with this. "Take a seat and I'll come get you."

At the ER a police detective tells Sal and Aldo that a patrol car has been dispatched to the cabaña. Sal thinks that Oscar has likely escaped already. he advises them to come to the station when they are released in order to make their statements. Sal asks the nurse about the call to Gabriela Celorio and is informed that she must be very angry with him, she hung up on her. Sal shrugs his shoulders. Aldo asks about his papá and is informed that he didn't answer but that she left messages. He asks if he may make a call. "Sure," She takes him by the arm. Hey, pull up your pants, kid.

Beto and Moni are still in the cantina. She wants him to finish his menudo and drink some coffee.He balks. She says that they both need to go get some rest. He asks if she loves him. "Of course." "Then take me to see Constancia." I can't believe that I'm saying this. Thank goodness here is Mauricio. Beto is glad to see him as well, "Do you love me? Take me to see Constancia." He hugs Mao. Moni wants to go home, she's sure her mom is worried. You have no idea, my dear. Mao offers to look after Beto and see him home. He encourages Moni to go on.

Once more , perhaps for the last time, we return to Oscar's Happy Hoodlum Hideaway where he is securely tied to a chair and Loriloca is snacking on some fruit. She offers him some. He wants to know why she tied him up. "It was tie you or inject you and I need you awake." She wonders where Sal is and seizing upon opportunity, Oscar speculates that he is with Gabi. Lorenza is sure that he's right. He offers to take her to him if she will untie him. She eagerly agrees and is busy setting him free when we hear sirens. The cavalry has arrived. She is spooked and scurries off not wanting to return to the nut farm. He vainly pleads with her to finish untying him. Too late. Police with pistols drawn rush in and train their guns on the suddenly luckless Oscar.

Gabi confronts Coni in her cell. She insists that Coni look her in the eye, "Why did you kill Salvador?" Coni tells her again that Sal died from an infarction. "Was that before or after your clothes were stained with his blood?" Coni tells her... the truth. Oscar and Sal stole her clothes and stained them in order to frame her, planting the evidence. Gabi says that even suppose that she didn't shoot are stab him, but she stood by and watched him die without offering to help and that is a form of murder.

Estre's cell phone rings. "Estrella Falcón, actriz." It's Aldo, "Hola, Estrella." "¡Cochorro! Where are you?" He tells her that he's at the hospital but that he's OK. He tells her which one. "I'll take a taxi." She tries to say more but to her chagrin, he hangs up.

Coni tells Gabi that she tried to call for help but Oscar kept her from doing so." Gabi gives a sardonic laugh, "Do you think that I believe you? Not only did you kill Salvador, but slowly she has been killing me as well by taking away the one thing that I loved." Gabi won't listen to any more explanations, she just want to know where the body was hidden so she can give Sal a Chrisian burial and say a proper goodbye.

Aldo is telling Sal that he got ahold of Estre and that she is coming. Aldo asks if he can walk. "Of course." He asks if he is OK. "I feel more alive than ever." He then asks Aldo to help him walk out. This is a very moving scene and as they walk to the door, I'm reminded of the last scene from Casablanca.

Coni tells Gabi that Oscar did it all. The fake trip, plane crash, everything. He sent her out and she has no idea what he did with the body."You may not believe me but I swear I'm telling you the truth." "You're right, I don't believe you." She asks Gabi for forgiveness. "I? No Constanza, may God forgive you... I can't."
Carlos

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