Caray, Caray!

Well, the upside of coming home to no Dueña on my DVR is that I can devote all my attention to Corazon Salvaje tonight. I only pray it's worth it.

Mariela lets Jimena know that she knows what's up between her and Gabe. And she won't take that whole "he's White, I'm a Gypsy" crap for an excuse. Well, Jime says that's because she's never been hated for being who she is, had rocks thrown at her, had to be for a little tenderness or understanding. Mariela agrees, but says she's suffered the loss of a daughter who would be about Jimena's age and maybe would even have looked like her. So she'll talk to Jime as if she were her own daughter: "Don't let love and happiness go, my daughter." Jimena likes being called her daughter. No one has talked to her as sweetly before. If she'd had her mom, she figures mom would have talked to her like that. Well, Mariela is willing to call her daughter as much as she has to for Jimena to feel like she has a mom and for Mariela to feel like she has a daughter--even if they both know they're faking it.

Gabe runs into Branko. He refuses to give him the address where Jimena's working and suggests that Branko just wait for her to go home. He refuses to answer Salma's accusations, since he doesn't even know her. Gabe says he's got to get back to work. Branko reminds him a white boy can't date a Gypsy girl. Those Gypsies like to keep it pure, ya know. Gabe says he loves her and if they decide to be together no one will keep them apart. Branko says Jime already picked him and it can't be undone. Ever . EVER. Gabe winks at him insolently and leaves.

Rod figures the sheriff won't do anything because he hasn't been paid, so he will have to kill Juan himself. Seriously? After all these years he's going to get his own hands dirty? I'll believe that when I see it.

Rod talks to a couple of shady characters about attacking Juan at 10 outside the casino. Um, Rod, that's not doing it yourself.

Aimee fusses and fumes in the Love Cave. Juan wants her to break up with Renato already. He laughs at the idea that Ren would kill her. Aimee repeats his threats. She says everything is on his side and she'd rather let Juan kill her himself than throw herself on the rocks by breaking up with Ren. She says her only sin is her love for Juan. Juan calls BS and says all she has is fear. He didn't think she was so cowardly. Aimee whines. Juan says if he leaves with her it won't be in secret. If he takes her, she's going to have to be willing to face every danger and if not, he's no longer interested in her.

Rosenda cogitates. She's sure Juan DD's mom is alive, and if so that's a valuable secret. She wonders where MdR could be.

Sobbing over her dead baby doll, pondering her own mortality. She decides to go looking for Juan de Dios to leave with him. She kisses the baby doll and gets up. She tells JDD she wants to go with him. JDD's face appears in the moon.

Arcadio realizes Juan is MdR's son. He realizes the jig is up for the Montes de Oca's, but that also means he's in danger himself. He wishes he hadn't told Rosenda anything. He wonders how to keep her quiet.

Rosenda visits Rod. He's bitchy. Rosenda is happy about the easy access to Juan. He brushes her off and she actually says "but we love each other." He reacts predictably and then throws her out. And still she begs for a little of his fallen wood. They suck face and Leonarda busts them.

Regina talks to Clem about Juan. She gets it now. She lets Clem know that she went to visit her aunt's grave and tell her that Juan is alive and ask forgiveness on behalf of her dad. She hopes MdR can rest in peace now. Clem says she just went to remind Aimee about her promise to watch over them always and that even though she loves Juan, she won't let them betray Renato. Regina says she should have been married to Renato, damnit, not Federico. She's sure she'll be unhappy with him. She'd run away if she had more spine, but she doesn't want to put daddy's health in jeopardy. Reggietells her that Leo confessed to always being in love with Rod. Clem says that's been the cause of every bad thing that has happened in that house. True dat. Well, halfway true at least, the other half being Rod's "love" for MdR.

Leo calls Rosenda a "mujerzuela" (slut). Rod tries to calm her down, but she's on a tear. Rod asks if she wants the whole world to know. He tells Rosenda to leave and holds Leo back from going after her. She rants that she's given him everything and this is how he repays her. Rod asks who she thinks he is to disapprove of him. "I love you!" "Yeah, well, I never loved you and I never will. It was only pity sex." Well, that's basically what he says. She's brokenhearted. "You can't imagine what I've done for you." He doesn't care, and threatens to leave and go back to Europe with Reggie's money. The stupid bitch begs him not to go and to stay by her, even if he doesn't love her.

Juan tells Gabe the dinner was good for all. No one has to lie about who they are anymore. Juan thinks Noel and Renato are the only noble ones in the family. He says he refused to take the half of the finca that Renato offered. Gabe asks about Aimee. Well, about that. Juan is confused. He was just with her and she insisted on running off. He doesn't know if he will or not. His feelings haven't changed, but he doesn't want to betray Renato. Gabe says he hopes whatever Juan decides, it's what's right for him. Not like Gabe, suffering over Jimena because she's engaged to Branko. Juan is agitated by this news. Gabe declares he'll fight for her. Juan likes this news. Gabe says if Jimena accepts him, they'll run off together. Juan supports this. Gabe is grateful for everything Juan has taught him. Gabe tells Juan that Jimena is keeping Mariela company. Juan hopes she finds her daughter because it's an incurable pain, losing a parent or a child.

Branko tells Jimena she's prettier than the moon. She doesn't like it. He says she'll learn to love him. They just need to pick a wedding date. Jimena doesn't want to rush things. Salma spies on them as Branko kisses Jimena. She imagines it's Gabe and gets into it, but then she opens her eyes and freaks out. She says she needs time, she can't marry him until she's sure about her feelings. Then she runs off. Branko and Salma are grumpy.

Leonarda finds Rosenda in the kitchen. She smacks her around some more. "I warned you and you ignored me! You betrayed me! Get out now!" She refuses. But the secret isn't worth anything anymore. Rosenda says she knows about Juan's mom. Leo goes ballistic. Rosenda starts gagging and runs off to throw up. Leo realizes she's pregnant. She uses "preñada" which I was told in my college Spanish classes was a rude way of saying it, because it's how you say that an animal is pregnant. She realizes it's Rod's little woody.

Rosenda goes running to Rod and tells him they've got to talk. He brushes her off, but she says she is someone to him--she's his baby mama. Rod doesn't believe her, or so he says. He says she's always been a slut and she's not going to pin the baby on him. Rosenda claims he's been the only one. Rod throws her out despite her pleading. My, my, that Rod's certainly got a way with the ladies. Rod looks intrigued by the idea of a child.

Jimena thinks about Gabe. She can't love Branko! Her heart belongs to Gabe. Salma comes to bitch her out for leading Branko on. She wants her to leave Branko, but she can't. "We're engaged and I have to keep my word." "Even at the cost of your happiness?" Salma flounces off.

Rosenda goes to Arcadio for help. Um, yeah, that's going to go over well. She wants to know MdR's whereabouts so she can keep blackmailing Leo. Arcadio says she was stupid to throw the secret out like that. She begs some more. He says he doesn't give a crap about her or her fate. She's boring him already, so he throws her out.

Rosenda cries in the hallway. She asks God why he's abandoned her. I'm not touching that one. Then she asks for help.

MdR is having a hard time leaving the dead baby doll. Rosenda finds her cell and lets herself in. MdR shows her the dead baby doll. Rosenda asks "Who are you? Are you Arcadio's wife?" MdR says she only had one love, Juan de Dios. "He was a humble fisherman, but Rodrigo had him thrown in jail and Leo locked me up here for years." MdR asks for help to escape. Rosenda realizes she's Juan del Diablo's mom and…we'll find out what she does after the commercial break.

Or not.

Leo gripes Rod out some more for sleeping with the help. And impregnating the help. Another bastard in the family, she laments. Well, Rod says she can't prove anything. "People won't care!" Leo reminds him everybody hates him right now anyway, so of course people will talk. She wonders how Feddy will react to the scandal. Will he still want to be part of the family? Rod says they've got to keep Rosenda quiet the same way they kept the old Dr. Miranda quiet. He says she's got to be kept from opening her mouth. Leo says she'll help, for everyone's good. They'll get rid of her, definitively (oh? As in, not the way I "got rid of" Maria del Rosario?).

Clemencia asks Rosenda, in the kitchen, what she plans to do. Rosenda says she'll leave the finca. Clem says "I told you so." Rosie takes that gracefully. She doesn't feel so bad. She's got a way to destroy the Montes de Oca's. Clem will find out how soon enough. Rosenda doesn't know what to do right at the moment, though, but she's not afraid of anything. Clemencia gives her an encouraging smile before she goes. After Rosie leaves, Clem ponders her words and wonders what she means.

Arcadio is shocked at being asked to kill Rosenda. He grudgingly admits he doesn't have an objection. But he reminds them it's the second murder they've asked of him, the first being the old Dr. Miranda. Leo says he'll be well compensated. Ew. Arcadio says he's faithful, and as such, they'd better not forget it. He leaves and Leo holds out her hand for Rod to shake. They both avoid each other's eyes.

Gabe finds Jimena walking through a field in the middle of the night. He puts his hand over her mouth so she won't scream. Then he puts his mouth over her mouth. Oh, there was some talking, but who cares. He suggests they get out of there, like now! Somewhere no one will judge them. Go, you idiot. She hesitates. He tells her to pack. No, no packing, just leaving please. She agrees to go wherever he wants. More kissing. "No one will stop our love." Famous last words, kids. More kissing. Um, if they don't stop that they'll run out of night to run away in.

A dude reports to the sheriff that the Luzbel is back in port. The sheriff says for the guy to round up the crew of the boat that was attacked so they can identify Juan del Diablo. Hench dude figures Rodrigo will pay good money for that. Um, have these guys not heard the news? About Rod's wood?

Rod sits in his carriage, checking his watch. He expects that his hired thugs will off Juan at 10.

Rosie walks along the road with her giant suitcase, getting scared at every noise. Arcadio smashes her from behind with a rock. So far, she's got blood running out of one ear. He goes through her suitcase and extracts everything of value he finds, then tosses the clothes out. He figures his job is done and tells her "dead" body he's sorry and he did like her. I bet she's not dead. Amnesia, maybe?

Tomorrow: We're getting to a "decisive" chapter. Whatever. Wake me up when we get there. Although, ok, Rosenda and Rod getting busted was marginally exciting.

Labels: salvaje