Caray, Caray!

We see once again the sealing of the deal of two of the MANY plots to separate Rafa and Ale. Beltran and Marian have agreed to get Rafa in her clutches through the pretext of selling the remaining used trucks, after bidding Urdiales farewell. Marco and Chavez have just agreed to throw Leonor in jail, so that Rafa won’t dare approach Marco’s woman again.

At Casa Alvarez del Castillo (aka Marco’s Pad), Ale has resisted the urge to slap Tia Rosario after she played the blame game with Ale and voiced her opposition at her plan to divorce Marco. Instead she reasons with her. “Me obligas estar con alguien que no quiero?” (You’re going to obligate me to be with someone I don’t love?) Rosario quickly sees the light, or at least recognizes her niece’s anguish and the truth of her words. She apologizes, admits Ale is right, and attributes her harsh words to being upset by Jorge’s disappearance. She then gets back down to the business of wringing her hands and doing nothing to help the situation.

Ale tries to assure her that everything will be ok, and doesn’t accept Rosario’s suggestion to call Marco for help. When Ale’s cell phone rings, Rosario’s heart goes pitter patter, thinking it’s her hero Marco. Ale breaks the sad news that it is not, but looks shifty eyed guilty when Rosario asks who it is. The phone continues to ring. Ale finally decides to put her big girl panties on and tell tia the truth—“Es Rafael Medina.” Rosario and Asucena look like Ale just said Beelzebub was on the phone.

Two very real devils have just brought our Papa Perdido, Jorge, into a lively, colorful barrio apartment complex. Apparently it’s a child’s party and the kiddies are having fun breaking open the piñata. The Good (Jorge) wants to know why they’ve brought him here. Bad and Ugly remind him that he said he was hungry, and they’re serving up some taquitos and frijoles at this barrio party. Never has the offer of delicious food seemed so menacing. Jorge’s looking mighty confused, and more than a little nervous and suspicious. He tells them the taquitos and beans will give him indigestion (me va a dar molestias), he’s not hungry anymore and that he has to go. Bad and Ugly insist and move in a little too close for comfort. Jorge may be senile, but he has a few marbles left. He stealthily removes his nice watch and puts it in his pocket. They drag him kicking into the vecinidad courtyard.

I’m now starting to wring my hands and worry as much as Rosario. She, meanwhile, has ordered Ale to answer her phone in a huff. Rafa asks Ale for an update on her papa. When she tells him they have not found him and have no clues, he insists on coming to help with the search. Ale, knowing Rosario won’t exactly roll out the welcome wagon, tells him she’ll meet him downstairs and the two of them will search. She can’t suppress a big goofy grin as she hangs up, but turns serious to tell Rosario the plan. She reacts predictably. The crying and wringing of hands begins in earnest.

We are transported to an equally disturbing scene at Julieta’s work cubicle. A newly leggy and professional looking Julieta is once again telling Cesar that she needs time to think about his proposal that they be novios. Cesar believes that this isn’t something you think about, it’s something you FEEL. (No es cosa de pensarlo, es de sentirlo.) He moves even further into her personal space and begins to lay a kiss on her. Luckily, Chepis walks in just then to put a stop to this impropriety. Another Medina caught kissing at work today! Chepis gives them a clear understanding of the repercussions for fraternizing with a co-worker- firing for Julieta and being reported to Marian for Cesar (doesn’t seem very fair and balanced to me, but ok). Cesar mocks Chepis behind her back, but Julieta assures her it won’t happen again and looks pensive.

At the bar, Pascual, our opera singing, Italian waiter, is starting to worry about Marco’s intensified drinking habits. (But he’s not worried about skinny drunk guy??) He doesn’t want Marco to become another statistic. Marco promises to take a cab home if Pascual calls him one. He continues to contemplate his whiskey when Carmela sneaks up from behind for a (final) squeeze and kiss for her biscocho. She drains his whiskey and orders up a few more. The proximity to her biscocho and the news of the sale of the hacienda have made her so happy, she’s nearly wriggling out of her seat with excitement. He hands over the check with her cut of the supposed sale. She gives him a lamprey kiss in exchange and they toast the end of their partnership. Carmela thinks it’s a shame that they could never seal that other part of their deal due to his little problem, and Marco does not inform her of his miraculous cure. He gets ready to leave, but she thinks they should take their leave the way God (or Carmela) intended. Marco is feeling generous, or he is giddy from finally being done with Carmela. He takes Carmela’s face in his hands, leans her head back, and lays a very Carmela-worthy kiss on her. She is left breathless and begging for more as he runs out of the bar. “Licensiadoooo!!!” (The actress is having the hardest time not cracking up.)

Rafa has arrived to pick up Ale at her (Marco’s) place. He suggests they ask people on the street nearby if they have seen Jorge and follow the leads. They start with the newspaper seller on the corner. “Have you seen an old guy, half bald (medio caldo)?” Turns out he did, but it was a while ago. “He went that way.” The hunt is on, but Ale isn’t wearing her hunting shoes. She can barely make it across the cobble stones of Marco’s driveway in her black stilettos. But between his trusty steed (Pantera) and their inappropriately shod feet, Rafa is sure they'll find Jorge.

Rafa and Ale are on the right track, but Dandy is about to derail his relationship with Susana. He announces to the Sales Team that he’s cutting out a bit early to take his Nonicita on a hot date. Ever the effective school yard bullies, the sales crew start to make fun of the bland meatless meal they imagine the two will have. They all (except Bebe) think that he has adjusted to Susana’s lifestyle, it’s now time for her to adjust to his. It’s time for her to eat meat! (There are all sorts of things wrong with this argument. The first being that Susana never demanded that Dandy become a vegetarian. Another being that she doesn’t eat meat for ethical reasons that she can’t just change those on a whim. The next being that once you have stopped eating meat for a long time, it is harder to create the enzymes needed to break it down in your digestive system.)

Bebe doesn’t think he should risk such a wonderful relationship. Marino, providing the best advertisement for vegetarianism with a bloody piece of meat covering his black eye, insists that the flacita needs to show her love for Dandy by making this sacrifice. They all decide that they’ll throw a barbeque with lots of meat during which Susana’s love for Dandy will be tested. Dandy, like a fool (or perhaps like a carnivore looking for any excuse to sink his teeth into some animal flesh), agrees to this plan.

Rafa is also salivating over the thought of some carne. The hotdog/hamburger vendor provides another clue to Jorge’s dondeabouts, but unfortunately there’s no time for Rafa to sample his wares. They continue on the search for Jorge, who surprisingly has not been mugged by Bad and Ugly. They’re actually feeding him and taking in the fiesta. The mother of little birthday boy Juanito, comes over. She scolds Bad and Ugly and wonders where their elegant friend came from. She asks Jorge how he got there. He lets her know he’s lost and can’t remember his address, but he’s sure his hija ROSARIO, and his hermana ALEJANDRA must be very worried. Bad and Ugly say their farewells to “Don George” and leave him in the nice lady’s care. And I feel much better now.

At the Salon, Jaime has tripped in. They’d know the sound of his fall anywhere. Ovi and the boys wonder if he needs help with another Vicky problem, like their wedding caper. Nope. What Jaime wants is, “una cambia de look y de aparencia.” (A change in look and appearance.) “Qué?!!!!!!” The Salon trio are impactados. After getting over the shock, they tell him he needs a radical change of mannerisms and clothing (cambia radical de conducta y ropa). They poke, prod and turn him, examining the raw material they have to work with. They’re going to pull him out of that corner (rincón) he’s been hiding in. Extreme Makeover- Jaime Edition has begun!

When Marco returns home, he is shocked to find Rosario still there. She has continued her worrying and hand wringing (why stop doing something you’re good at?). She spills all to Marco about Jorge being missing and Ale going off alone with Rafa to find him. Marco predictably flips out.

Jorge, meanwhile, has settled in comfortably in the barrio. He’s chatting up a young lady named Hortencia when Juanito’s mom returns to continue their talk. She wonders how he can remember that he has a hija and hermana, but can’t remember his address. He tells her he’s got that thing that gives you problems with your memory. Yeah! She’s heard of it. Alz, alz… “Demencia senil” (senile dementia) Jorge interjects. She thinks she’s getting it too! Hortencia comes back with a tasty dish for Jorge. Unfortunately she’s put too much salsa and chiles in it. Jorge’s mouth is on fire, and he requires water immediately, but he can’t seem to stop eating.

Just outside on the streets, Ale is getting desperate and worried. Three punks appear and start taunting and harassing them. Rafa shields his licensiada and takes all three of them on. One breaks loose and goes for Ale, who starts whipping him with her purse. Sensing the danger to his love, Rafa gains the strength of three men, shakes off the two hoods, and takes care of the one attacking Ale. Suddenly Bad and Ugly roll up, and it looks like things will go from bad to worse for Ale and Rafa. But Bad and Ugly are more interested in playing mediators. They don’t think it’s fair that their three barrio buddies are picking on two people. Rafa and Ale agree. Well, the barrio boys don’t think the pair of them should be in their neighborhood. We learn that Bad’s name is Don Chorizo (Mr. Sausage). He wants to know what they are doing slumming in their hood. Ale explains she’s looking for her papa and starts to describe him. “Hey! That’s Don George!” It’s all good, fist bumps and smiles all around. Chorizo takes them to Don George.

Rosario is still fretting and Marco is still fuming. He decides to tell her that Rafa and Ale are lovers and Rafa is seducing and swindling Ale. Rosario is sufficiently scandalized. Marco claims that he’s just an innocent victim in all this, and he wonders, as she does, what sin he committed to deserve this. (Where shall we start Marco?!) Rosario feels his pain, but wants them to concentrate on the most pressing problem at hand- Jorge’s disappearance. Marco says she’s right. Jorge is what’s most important. But internally he plots to put Leonor in jail, tomorrow!

Marian and Muskrat celebrate Marian’s small victory in her quest to steal Rafa. She’s sure she’ll be successful, since her competition, Ale, is married. Muskrat doesn’t think that’s an impediment, which leads Marian to wonder whose side she’s on. (I’m wondering that too.) Muskrat claims she’s just playing devil’s advocate. Marian claims that Rafa is her #1 priority. “Then you wouldn’t mind if my brother looked elsewhere?” “Of course not!...Why? Do you know something?” Muskrat keeps mum about her brother’s plans, but admits he also has a challenge on his hands.

Speaking of challenging. Vicky is continuing to lose it, saying to herself that she’s afraid (tengo miedo). The brothers want to know who she’s afraid of and who’s been threatening her. They’ll take care of them for her. The sit her down and beg her to confide in them. The brothers draw close, she makes them promise not to tell Don Gaston, then shares the whole tale of the Gran Mololongo, the love potion drunk by Marco, and the curse of dark forces and consequences to come. “Tengo que esperar lo peor!” (I have to wait for the worst to happen.) Felipe immediately sees the easy solution—stop her quest for Rafa. Vicky doesn’t like this answer. They both hug her and Pancho assures her nothing will happen to her as long as she has them. Awww! Now let’s go downstairs and you head to the kitchen, since papa is really hungry. Vicky pushes her brutish brothers away, accusing them of just trying to butter her up to get some food. They assure her that they love her and always will. Now they want her to forget about this witchcraft nonsense. (Will this talk snap Vicky out of it?) Big hugs from the Bros and continued poutiness from Vicky.

In the barrio, Ale and Rafa enter the courtyard, and…..my cable goes out for a few minutes (storms rolling through). I sit and stare at my blue screen for a few minutes and then a MIRACLE! I see the last minute of the show.

Juanito is blowing out the candles on his cake, surrounded by all the neighbors and Jorge, Ale and Rafa. Smiles and cheers all around. Jorge then turns to Ale and asks, “Éste joven es tu novio?” (Is this young man your boyfriend?) “Sí papa, y nos queremos mucho.” (Yes dad, and we love each other very much.)

Tomorrow: Rafa and Ale aren’t hiding their relationship anymore. Marco retaliates by having Leonor thrown in jail.

Labels: dinero