Caray, Caray!

Happy Columbian Independence Day!

And tonight on Ley y Orden: Veracruz…

Assume that the gallery is as rowdy as ever and that the judge bangs his gavel every few minutes and threatens them all with being thrown out and/or calling a halt to the proceedings. It will save me the trouble of having to say it over and over again.

Captain Bretón gives his testimony: He was told to apprehend Juan and turn him over to the authorities. He locked him and his crew up in his hold, but there was a storm and he was injured. The engines messed up and they were in danger of shipwreck. The first mate freed the prisoners and they helped the ship survive the storm. Juan wasn't threatened or bribed to take charge of the ship. He got on deck and gave orders to save the ship. Juan's men obey him blindly. He never feared that Juan would double-cross him because Juan is a man "con palabra" and he's never known a more "audaz" captain as Juan, who saved all their lives.

Regina beams proudly at Juan.

MdR senses something bad is happening to Juan. Jimena and Jacinta calm her down and encourage her to rest. Jimena offers to go to town and gather intel. MdR feels danger around Juan. She prays to the Virgen.

Renato points out that Juan hasn't always been so generous to his enemies. Juan says he doesn't feel any obligation to be and that he is just as capable of returning blow for blow. The judge threatens for the millionth time that people need to behave themselves. Noel begs Juan to chill out.

Phillipe tries to be an ironworker. Results are predictable.

Mariela prays to the Virgen for understanding. Fifi comes in and prays for forgiveness for being a sinner. She just wants a chance to prove her love to Remigio. Mariela notices Fifi praying and crying and asks her what's wrong.

Aimee paces her room and fusses to Celia. She hopes the captain gives Juan her message. Celia asks what it said. Aimee said she reminded him how much she loves and misses him…especially his "abrazos" his "besos"…and also she begged him not to say what happened between them. But she didn't sign it and she asked him to destroy it after he reads it. She's afraid of being killed.

Bretón leaves the stand, shakes Juan's hand, and passes him the note. The Judge gripes at Bretón for speaking to Juan and touching him. Bretón gives Renato a dirty look. Juan starts to sneak a look at the note, but changes his mind.

Mariela's parents wonder what's going on with her. Grandma thinks she's just confused after so many years of searching. Salma eavesdrops. Grandpa hopes that Salma, uh, Angela doesn't leave. Grandma says they need to show Angela their love so she won't leave.

Mariela and Fifi sit in the café. Mariela notices the dirty looks and says loudly that everyone makes mistakes, they're all human. Mariela asks if she's really sorry for what she did. Fifi is upset about what happened to Remigio. She doesn't want to leave the port until she has his forgiveness. Mariela says she'll give her a chance. She'll give her a job. Fifi kisses her hand in gratitude. She goes to get her stuff and says she'll meet Mariela back at Sr. de Marin's house. Mariela gives a dirty look to the people at the next table and walks out.

Salma comes in crying that Griselda abandoned her and now she's all alone. Grandma says they're her family. Grandpa says they have no doubt that she's Angela. They beg her to be patient with Mariela. Grandma says they'll make it up to her and Grandpa says they'll go buy her lots of clothes.

Gabe testifies that Juan took care of him after his parents died and was like a friend, advisor, and parent to him. He taught Gabe to be a good man, an honest man. Gabe doubts many of the men present care about law and justice.

Leonarda testifies that Juan's a big creep and has been offensive to all the decent families in port. He's a threat to society, so they shouldn't have any consideration for him. The fishermen object.

Pedro testifies that Juan always helps those in need.

Santos objects to them wanting to lock Juan up for getting justice.

Eusebio asks how long the law will always side with the rich instead of the poor.

Salma enjoys her shopping spree. She lays it on thick about how she never had anything and now she wants to take it all. Of course the grandparents insist.

Clemencia testifies that Juan has always been hurt and rejected by his own family. She says he's a generous man, as good as his parents. He's innocent, and if they punish him it will be as unfair as it was when they punished his father.

Philippe discards his dreams of being a fisherman or an ironworker and moves on to cake-maker.

Federico testifies he both witnessed and suffered Juan's violence and aggression. Juan deserves to be locked up for the rest of his life.

Eloisa (why the hell is she on the stand?) testifies that Juan's very rude and the proof is him riding into Aimee and Renato's wedding on his horse!

Fully testifies that he was impressed with Juan at first, but then he realized that Juan's passion often blinded him. He's always thought that men who are ruled by their passions are weak and not trustworthy.

Doc Miranda testifies that Juan has just ideals and he understands how angry he gets at exploiters.

The judge makes a little speech about no one being above the law, i.e., using violence, even in the name of justice, or justice loses its good name and becomes revenge. Renato smarmily agrees with the judge. He makes a little speech about needing to make an example of Juan. Regina tells him to shut up already. She tells the judge it's time for her to talk and tell everyone who Juan really is. She makes puppy dog eyes at the judge. The judge tells her to come on down…she's the next contestant on The Pescador is Right!

She grabs at Juan's hand, gets pulled away by Renato, gets griped at by the judge, Juan yells at Renato for touching his wife…the judge says one more outburst and the trial will go on without Juan's presence. Reggie begs the judge to listen carefully to her.

Jimena and Mariela run into each other, literally.

Reggie says she doesn't want them to commit another act of cruelty against Juan for being generous, taking pity on others, defending those who have nothing…those are his crimes? Reggie also believes in justice.

Mariela and Jimena hug and cry. Turns out neither one left town after all. Mariela feels some kind of pull toward the town. Jimena is living down on the beach since after her aunt sold her to a tavern owner.

Reggie says they can't condemn Juan for taking in a defenseless child, for defending himself against those who attacked him, for trying to give things back to their proper owners. Renato asks for permission to question Reggie. Damnit, people, quit calling her señorita already! It makes me want to chew on my fan while sitting in a bathtub fully clothed! Renato asks if she agreed to marry Juan because of his generosity. "That's not important." The judge says she wanted to testify, so she's got to tell the truth now. "No. I didn't marry him because of his generosity. I had another impression of him when I met him." Renato asks what that impression was. "I looked down on him." And how did that turn into love in such a short time? "I married him because I was forced to." Did he know you didn't love him? "Yes." Did he love you? "No. He didn't love me either." And even so, he made you marry him to make you suffer, to punish you, to get revenge on the family through you. Noel objects. The judge agrees. Renato asks if this isn't enough to show Juan's alleged generosity. Juan asks to speak. He says he needs to tell the truth, a truth that's been a secret, but that he can't hide anymore. He wants everyone to know, even if it's going to make people uncomfortable. They all need to know so they don't judge people so lightly, because most of the time appearances are deceiving. Reggie gets weepy and gives Juan puppy dog eyes.

Aimee stews and paces some more. She finds a watch and bitches that it's taking too long and she doesn't know what's happening. She hopes Juan won't say anything about the two of them or the jig is up for her.

The judge won't let Juan talk until he gives permission. He says Juan will speak, but not until the Judge says he can. Renato says it's painful for him to have to make Reggie talk about intimate things. Bastard. And dumbass. If she testifies that she and Juan haven't slept together, that makes Juan look like a pretty decent guy. Or kind of a dumbass. Anyway…in the middle of his supposed "interrogating" Renato, I guess, keeps moving for the jury to just throw the book at Juan already, which probably makes perfect sense in a lawyerly kind of way, but also sounds like he's heading straight for closing arguments without having finished interrogating all the witnesses or having given Juan's side a chance to defend. I find it annoying. Society has to be protected against Juan, he needs to be made an example of, etc. If Reggie insists on being a loyal wife to Juan, then Renato asks the judge to help him fix his mistake. Juan looks worriedly at the judge.

Salma thanks the fake grandparents for all the swag they bought her. They see Jimena and Mariela sitting in the square together. Jimena tells Mariela that Grizzy always treated her badly and Salma never lived with Grizzy. They only met her in Veracruz. Salma goes to make a scene about Mariela talking to Jimena.

Noel and Renato conference with the judge at his table. Reggie whispers to Juan to please not accuse Aimee or Renato will kill her. The judge tells Noel and Renato to go back to their places. The judge gives Juan permission to talk or to have Noel talk for him. Noel says he has a few things to say about Juan so that everyone can hear them. Juan can be locked up, chained up, but his soul, his character, and his indomitable soul will never be broken. Juan is a victim of the lack of values that some families have, who know the price of everything and the value of nothing, as is the case of Leonarda and Rodrigo Montes de Oca. Real honor and justice need to go to who deserves it. How can you ask a man to behave in accordance with the law and principles when he was abandoned as a newborn by his own family? They denied him his rights, and still Juan has shown that he has more values than those who are accusing him. Juan deserves an apology and forgiveness and for them to repair the damange they have caused him by turning him into who he is. Juan deserves to be reintegrated into the society he's been kicked out of because of the "maldad" and "avaricia" of his own family. Juan thanks Noel, but asks for the opportunity to defend himself.

Juan says he's not going to deny the truth. A lot of people here don't care why he did what he did. A few minutes ago, when he asked to tell the truth, he only wanted to clarify to Renato that if all of this is necessary to take away from Juan what is his by law, what's legally his--his wife--he won't do it. He won't take her away from him. That's all. Reggie thanks Juan for taking pity on Aimee after having done him so much harm. The judge tells the jury to go deliberate. Then he yells at Reggie for talking to and touching Juan. She screams and won't let go when the soldiers take him away. The judge tells them to go wait outside while the jury deliberate. Reggie makes it as far as the door where Juan was dragged off. She finds the note from Aimee and snatches it. She recognizes the handwriting and cries. Oh, for pity's sake, woman, turn your damn sister in already!

Con palabra: of his word
Audaz: daring
Abrazos: hugs
Besos: kisses
Maldad: evil
Avaricia: greed

Labels: salvaje