Caray, Caray!

Episode 127

At Raúl's, Noel asks Alberto's permission to take his daughter for a stroll; and he assents, noting after they depart that what's going on between them seems like more than simple friendship. Inéz has reservations, though, and grants Noel is a really good man; but with discomfort points out that he's married.

Raúl agrees, with caveats: he's married to a woman who never loved him and that only ever made him unhappy; Leonarda has always been in love with Rodrigo and cheated on Noel despite him being an exemplary person. When Raúl contends that Noel deserves love with a good woman like their daughter, the parents remain hesitant.

Noel and Mariela stroll companionably, with her just saying she sees a glimmer of light in her life now, when they spy Rodrigo and Leonarda approaching from the opposite direction. Noel deliberately removes his sunglasses and calls Rodrigo out again. "You're a coward," he says. "A fraud!"

Noel waited on the dueling ground, and Rodrigo never came, Noel accuses. When Rodrigo claims the death of his daughter so devastated him that he couldn't get out of bed, Noel's not having any of that. Rodrigo's always looking for the perfect excuse, Noel says. But nothing justifies his cowardice!

That's enough! Leonarda spits out; they don't need to be arguing in the middle of the street, she says, glancing around. She cattily adds she sees Noel's going around with "widows" now, a shot at Mariela -- who warns she's well aware of Leonarda's depravity and not to mess with her.

Leonarda and he don't live together, Noel says, nothing ties them together, and Leonarda clearly flaunts her lover -- cane pointed at Rodrigo; so he doesn't mind telling her that he's started the legal process to remove every entanglement still binding them. Leonarda heaves a great, facetious sigh; and Noel and Mariela walk on.

The two of them reach a solitary park bench; and Noel is about to apologize, but Mariela needs none. They sit together, where Noel must capitulate and declare his love, under the onslaught of Mariela's warm, seductive ways. He's very serious, he insists; since they met he's not stopped thinking about her.

And he'd like to know whether she feels anything for him and if he could expect... he stammers; well, she knows he's arranging his affairs so that he can be free to offer her something serious and proper, he begins. Mariela takes pity on his discomfort, intrigued by this turn of conversation.

Noel, she says, smiling shyly; he must know that she feels something special for him, too. Noel's face lights up with joy and relief. She knows his story, Mariela continues; that he's never been loved. Haltingly, she reveals that she'd like it to be she who shows him what true love is -- because he deserves it.

Realization and pleasure dawns on Noel's face as he concludes that this means, that she means, that she agrees... he runs on. Mariela places her fingers over his lips and finishes, that she agrees. With a tender smile, she agrees to join together with him and find love again. Taking up Mariela's hand, Noel lingeringly kisses it as his black eyes blaze at her from under his top hat.

At the finca on the entry landing, Leonarda must remove a muslin dust cover to sit on the settee. Glancing around, she bemoans that her family is in shambles and nothing is the same; she's lost everything! Even her son; but one thing she will not lose is her freedom, she vows. She will not go to prison; she'll never let them lock her up. Never!

And at his townhouse, Rodrigo dwells on Noel berating him. With a big gulp of cognac, Rodrigo realizes that he trusts no one now, not even former friends, like Noel. He's sure that any of them would be happy to do him harm, and that Noel will probably show up there; so he'd better high himself out to the finca, he decides.

Another lightning storm engulfs the finca, as a pair of boots enters the straw-strewn catacombs, greeted by a resident rodent. Leonarda sleeps in her chamber, now gazed upon by a shadowy figure outside the door. Lit by a sudden flash, the boots enter the chamber; and Leonarda awakens, asking who goes there.

But before she can strike a match, she drops the box in surprise when the storm reveals the familiar face of her true lover. You? she asks breathlessly. But that's impossible! The huge, leonine head of Arcadio peers back at her in the flashing light.

At the cottage, Regina's stumped at Juan accusing her. She didn't seek out Renato; he found her! What's more, she was looking for Juan, she effuses excitedly. Regina has a wonderful surprise... she begins. But Juan interrupts, shouting instead that he has a surprise for her!

What an idiot he is, he grits out, jabbing a finger at her; when will he ever learn that as a Montes de Oca, Regina is his worst enemy! Regina is completely mystified; what is he talking about? Why does he doubt her love? Pushing the wad of Aimee's annulment letter at her, he says Here! This is what he's talking about!

She started annulment proceedings on their marriage, did she not? Juan accuses. Regina, in shock, takes the paper, as Juan nastily charges that now Aimee is dead, the way to Renato is free, isn't it? Hearing this, a furious Regina instantly hauls back and lays a blistering smack against Juan's face.

How dare he say that; and how dare he malign her sister with her not here to defend herself! Regina shouts. Looking down in desolation at the crumpled paper, Regina thinking of the baby, regrets this could have been a wonderful day; but now it's destroyed by his doubts, she says.

Bitter tears coming, Regina also regrets that he will always be Juan del Diablo! Sobbing, she exits the room, leaving Juan with his big face hanging out. He follows, sounding contrite, begging to speak with her. He just wants to know the truth, he says; he wants to know if she started the annulment procedure.

But the stunned and silent Regina only inflames Juan's ire. Why does she keep silent? Her silence makes him think it proves the damned letter is the truth! he shouts. Regina turns to him and tearfully points out it's not her silence, crumpling the paper again; it's his stupidity!

She's forgiven him before, Regina says, but this is too much -- too many times he's doubted her love. And does he know why he doubts? It's because he still hasn't learned what it is to be loved! He resists it! Resists love. Regina can't fight his doubts any more, because she can't win.

She can't convince him of her love, and she prays to heaven that the day he's convinced doesn't come too late. Juan looks a little abashed and confused; but when Regina tells him she doesn't want to have anything to do with him anymore, it's a blow.

In Leonarda's bed chamber, Arcadio confirms she can believe her eyes; it's really him. Hypnotically, he explains he's the only one who never abandoned her; he's always tied to her and what happens at the finca. He heard a rumor the Montes de Oca were in shambles, and that's why he's here.

Leonarda seems entranced, and when Arcadio assures her he's there so she doesn't have to worry, she cries in relief. Referring to himself in third person, he continues his mesmerizing recitation: Arcadio has returned to protect her and take care of her, as always.

Leonarda goes to him and whimpers gratefully that he's returned to protect her. He was gone so long, she thought he'd gone far away, she says. But no, he continues soothingly, he was not so far away -- he was always close by to stay informed. He heard what happened. Appealing with open arms, he explains he's the only one she can trust. Leonarda wrings her hands and nods assent.

Everyone has abandoned her, Arcadio points out -- including her son! At that moment, Renato sits drinking cognac and remembering the horseback scene earlier. Shaking his head, he tells himself derisively that Juan will always be the savage, and he can't allow Juan to mistreat Regina. Renato's going to proceed with the annulment right away, he determines.

At Fulgencio's, Eloísa can't sleep and carefully rises from bed so as not to wake her husband. She's sure Fulgencio is lying to her; he doesn't trust her. Much better she grabs the money and jewelry and runs before he offs her, she decides. Under the fluffy peignoir, Eloísa is fully dressed, and she slips out into the hallway.

At the cottage, Regina can't believe Juan demands she answer yes or no to whether she started the annulment. Can't he see he's offending her? He's never going to understand her feelings, and she always falls for believing they can weather anything, which is sadly untrue, she says. Juan disappoints by insisting Aimee must have known something to send that letter.

In her bedroom, Arcadio distresses Leonarda, pointing out he warned her about Rodrigo, but she wouldn't believe him. He, Arcadio, was always everything to her! he insists. It's true, and she has no one to turn to, she admits. When Leonarda begs Arcadio to stay with her, she tries to take his hand; but he pulls away.

She takes it again and pleads that he not abandon her. He'll stay, he says; but only on condition that she split the secretly hoarded fortune from all these years. And moving to the bed, he adds that she'll belong to him and nobody else! Everything will go his way. How about it? Arcadio says with an outstretched hand.

Back at the cottage, Juan allows that Aimee was a liar and fooled everybody; but there was always a kernel of truth in her lies. And when Regina won't answer the simple question, it makes him wonder if she doesn't think much of him. When Juan posits that maybe she wants her freedom start a new life, Regina can't believe it.

Why would she do that? she asks. Juan throws up his arms -- how does he know, to dream that Renato loves her? Now that he's a widower, Juan says, jabbing a finger at Regina's nose, all she needs is an annulment. Regina maintains it's his imagination, and he has no proof at all. Everything he's saying stems from his pride, she insists.

Regina begs him not to fall back into that. Juan doesn't like it, but she won't give him his answer; so he shouts Whatever! and strides out of the house. With Juan standing at the window outside, Regina moves to and fro inside. She almost follows him, but doesn't. They each stand in the aftermath of their argument alone on their own side of the wall.

At Fulgencio's, Eloísa nearly backs out, but decides she must move forward with her plan. Entering the study, she gives herself a fright knocking something to the floor; she doesn't want Fulgencio to awaken and find her. Eloísa's just beginning to crack the safe when she's startled by the squeak of a hinge, and the door opens behind her.

Worrying in the cottage, Regina gets a twinge of morning sickness and is momentarily joyful about becoming a mother; but then gets sad again remembering how she hoped Juan would go crazy at the news, too. Cradling her abdomen she smiles and resolves to fight for her baby, even if it has to be alone.

Eloísa nearly faints from relief it's not Fulgencio coming through the study door, but instead a black cat. Apparently not superstitious, she sends the cat back out and returns to safe cracking. She laughs thinking of Fulgencio finding his loving wife has left him, carrying away all his fortune.

Now he's going to pay, Eloísa says grudgingly, for all those years she had to put up with him. With a click, the combination works, and she stands back to enjoy this portentous moment. Behind this door, she says, are the hopes and dreams that will give her a new life! Pulling it open, Eloísa gets a bullet between the eyes.

Awakened by the gunshot, Fulgencio enters the study, kneels to kiss his dead wife's hand, and closes her staring eyes. Regretfully he recalls he always warned her that the price of betrayal was death. With a last longing gaze, he orders Servando to put her with Federico and clean up every drop of blood.

At the bluffs above the surf, Fulgencio stands as Servando lugs two body bags to the edge. Fulgencio always thought he'd die before Eloísa, he says, looking up; and be buried on such a night full of stars. Tossing a red rose on her shroud, he tells Eloísa that he truly loved her and that it's too bad she couldn't appreciate him.

To Federico, Fulgencio says he got what was coming to him for betraying Fulgencio, poor bastard. The man hasn't been born who can get away with that, he vows. Fulgencio orders Servando to heave them over the edge, but be careful of Eloísa; she's a lady -- and his wife, after all. And they tumble down the cliff.

Turning to Servando now, Fulgencio repeats that whoever betrays him dies; and Servando tries to talk himself up, but Fulgencio skewers him, too. Who knows, perhaps we'll see each other in hell, Fulgencio says; and Servando joins the two body bags at the shore line.

Leonarda lies with Arcadio in bed, where she agrees to share everything with him and be his woman. He promises to spoil her, give her whatever she wants -- as long as she's faithful to him, of course. Meanwhile, Rodrigo has arrived at the finca and looks for Leonarda. He startles them by knocking at her bedroom door.

At a bonfire on the beach, Juan tortures himself over the annulment; he can't believe Regina would start it, but she wouldn't deny it! He fills Remigio in on their argument, and Remigio has lost patience. Why doesn't Juan see Regina's telling him he's got it all wrong?

But Juan needs to know for sure, because he intends to let her do what would make her happy. If she really did start the annulment and wants to be free, he won't keep her -- as much as it would break his heart, Juan says.

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