Caray, Caray!

Alternate Title: Yolanda Spends the Night in the Big House

From yesterday, kind-hearted Gabi buys Susana’s sob story about her husband leaving her and needing a job. When Bertha takes Susana to the kitchen to get settled, Adolfo bulldozes his way into the Genovés house. He pins Gabi against a wall and hurls threats at David if he doesn’t stay out of his way. He then proves that his lips are looser than Bertha’s when he lets slip for a second time that David isn’t even really Mario’s child. Gabi is left impactada by this, but recovers quickly to let Adolfo knows she doesn’t take threats to her husband and family lightly. She refuses to believe this is true (no es cierto) and puts distance between them. Adolfo doesn’t care what she believes. Either Mario controls David, or Adolfo will take it into his own hands. “Esta claro?!” Gabi seems to understand that this is a threat to take seriously, as Adolfo makes a hasty retreat through the door.

In the kitchen, Dora is making polite small talk with Susana. She asks about her recent return from the States. Dora tells her what a great household it is to work in. She’ll only find that Bertha is very bossy (exigente). Susana tries to describe the man who recommended she come to the house to ask for work—gordito, medio peloncito, con barba (fat, half bald, with a beard), and in the house around the corner. Not the most flattering description of our dear Abelardo, but Dora figures out who she’s talking about. Susana exaggerates her years of domestic service (more like years of creating work for hotel maids), and Dora takes her to get a uniform and shows her to her room.

Bertha meanwhile, is stuck in whine mode and is already complaining about Susana to Gabi. Gabi is still standing by the door digesting Adolfo’s inauspicious visit. She ignores Bertha’s complaints and asks about Abelardo’s whereabouts. As she can provide no useful information, Gabi ignores her and walks right past her in deep thought. Bertha is left yelling at the furniture about whose fault it will be when Susana turns out to be a thief (ladrona). She decides instead to speak to someone who will listen to her poisonous words and calls David’s office to see if he’s there. Upstairs, Gabi also makes a call to David. He tells his secretary to tell her he’s not there. However, he seems more open to interruption when his secretary informs him Bertha wanted to speak to him.

After striking out trying to talk to David, Gabi calls up JJ at the hotel. She wants to meet to talk some more. They both smile from ear to ear as they make plans for him to pick her up on the corner near her house in half an hour.

At her apartment, Leo’s putting the screws on a freaked out Yolanda. She insists she needs to call her lawyer. Leo insists she can do that, from the police station. She tries to stall some more, but Leo’s not having it. He’s got a warrant for her arrest. She calls out to Juana her maid, and asks her to inform Carlos and Adolfo. She must have sent out the Bat Signal, because by the time Leo and Ramon get her downstairs, Adolfo is pulling up outside her building. Yolanda taps into her old showgirl/actress skills and yells suelteme a few times. She calls out to her galan Adolfo, clearly letting him know what she is (and isn’t) being charged with—purchasing stolen gems, without realizing of course. Adolfo is shocked, shocked! Surely she must have checked that the gems had a factura (bill of sale). Leo’s had enough of this little play, and puts her in the squad car. “Please Adolfo! I don’t want to go to jail!” (You know what they say about lying down with a dog with fleas Yolanda…)

Gabi calls Leo to confirm their appointment to meet and chat about the Marta Mystery. As his hands are a bit full right now, they decide to talk tomorrow to try to reschedule another time. Susana does the job she does best. She hovers in the background picking up information that might be useful to her at a later date. She approaches Gabi, looking more clean and respectable than we’ve seen her so far in her spiffy maid’s uniform. Gabi asks if she’s settled in, and asks her to please listen to and get along with Dora, as Gabi’s reputation is also on the line for hiring her. Susana tells her there’s no need to worry (yeah, right). Gabi lets her know she’ll be at her father’s house, if anyone asks and leaves just as Bertha descends the stairs. Princess Bertha’s departing words for Susana are not so kind. She wants Susana to clean her room, make her bed, and put the clothes she has scattered across her bed where they belong. Susana- “Si señora.” Bertha- “Señorita!”

At Adolfo’s, he speaks to the family lawyer on the phone about Yolanda’s situation. He wonders if they can get her out on bail (bajo confianza). The lawyer informs him that in order to do that, they’ll have to turn over the diamonds in question. “Porque?!” Adolfo looks like he’s weighing what’s worth more to him- Yolanda or the diamonds. It’s a close call but Yolanda appears to win. He tells the lawyer it was Leo who nabbed her. Adolfo sends Felix on the errand to deliver the diamonds to the lawyer. He also wants them to suspend the current archeological artifacts smuggling until things cool down. “Por ahora, no puedo correr riesgos.” (Right now I can’t run risks.) Mad Eye Moody agrees.

Smiling Gabi meets a waiting JJ around the corner. He’s like an excited school boy. Well, he HAS gotten to spend a lot of quality time with three of our lovely ladies- more than any other guy. He invites Gabi to his house, which gets an unsure and suspicious look from her. He explains he wants to show her where he found the treasure. She doesn’t look suspicious anymore, but clearly doesn’t think it’s a good idea. JJ tries to sell the idea to her. “Come on, treasure, adventure, history!” (tesoro, adventura, historia) He tries cajoling, begging, and then finally some good old fashioned trickery- the “hey, look at this” distraction trick. While she tries to figure out why he has just handed her a leaf, he hustles her into his car and drives her the one block (cuadra) to his house. Gabi’s nervous, but seems eager for some adventure.

Gabi is as impressed as we are by the transformation Ale and her crew have made to the house. It’s spectacular and sparkling new. She’s also excited to see the spot where JJ found the treasure (he never got that kind of wide eyed excited response from Ale). Gabi quickly exits the house after the tour of the first floor (propriety or instinct telling her going upstairs to the bedrooms is not a good idea). JJ follows her and keeps telling her about the exciting renovations to some of the other rooms. Gabi turns serious and wants to know if he contracted Ale because of her relation to Mario, and if he really wants revenge. JJ admits that Mario is good peeps (buena onda). It’s those Avilas he really wants to bring down. He remembers about her working at Sagitario and asks about Carlos. Gabi has a few choice words to say about Carlos- a hypocrite, who tried to take advantage of her. And now he’s lied about a photograph she supposedly gave him to make David angry at her. JJ thinks that’s just like those yellow-bellied cowards (mendigos). Gabi is worried that JJ’s plans for revenge will get him in worse problems, but JJ feels that this is the only way to be free of this weight and to clear his name. Gabi understands. The Avila aren’t good people. She’s even feeling uncomfortable (incomoda) living at the Genoves house. JJ understands. He and Gabi are simple folks, good people, who don’t care about money. Not like those stylish, snobbish rich people. They’re not ALL the same, but…Gabi agrees and they reminisce about their first meetings in much humbler circumstances. JJ thinks destiny has put them on each other’s path and gives Gabi a meaningful look. She doesn’t look too convinced.

The man who she believes IS her destiny and the love of her life, David, has just allowed the Serpent to waltz in to his office. Bertha uses a mix of feigned concern (Gabi told us about your fight; can we talk), false sincerity (it’s true I’ve never liked Gabi; it’s true I thought there was something between us; but I continued to care for you; Gabi’s an attractive girl; I understand), and pure venom (this woman is from a different/lower class; she’s not for you; she just married you to better her social position; she only married you and not Carlos because you were the first to ask her; there is no doubt there was something between them as the invitations to dine, the trip to the beach house, and the photo prove), to convince David that the way to solve the Gabi problem is to divorce her. Don’t wait till things go too far, like Gabi turns up pregnant. David the Dummy seems to agree.

JJ, like a gentleman, sees Gabi to her father’s door. Faustiago answers the door, and doesn’t act his typical gruff self when he sees his daughter at the door with a “strange” man. Instead, he is politely introduced to JJ for the “first” time and invites him in for coffee! JJ declines and bids them farewell. As he walks away, Gabi looks like she’s contemplating this “destiny” thing.

Back at JJ’s home front, the hotel suite, Limon is enjoying all his favorite pastimes- wearing a toupee and ascot, sitting on the couch, eating peanuts, drinking beer, and watching tele. Cute as always Caramelo, does not look as amused. She’s bored doing homework since she’s doing it all by herself with no help from him. Since she’s the one that has to do homework, and not him, Limon doesn’t see any problem with this. Well, Caramelo is working on “ortografía” (orthography/spelling) and wants to tests Limon’s knowledge. Does he know a word with “h”? “Pistola?” Caramelo knows that’s not right and wants to know where’s the “hache”. She’s treated to a lame joke from her Tio Limon—“Hache boom!” (Kaboom!/Pow!) Caramelo is not amused. She gives him a little lesson on the silent (muda) “h”. Our little Einstein is starting to realize the limitations of her tio’s book learning, and asks him about his past. “Tio Limon, have you always been poor?” Limon tells his tale of his parents once having lots of money, but one day they lost it all and were poor from then on. Caramelo Drew continues her interrogation of one of her Hardy boys. Up until when did he go in school (meaning what grade)? Limon blusters some more, and gives our tiny tot with little handle on the meaning of decades, an answer that will keep her guessing for a while. He went until 1962. Caramelo gives her best “What you takin bout?!” face. Limon quickly changes the subject and tells Caramelo he’s going to buy some “chescos” (slang for refrescos) for their meal. He gets rewarded by being corrected by little Miss Manners.

At the Guillen apartment, Gabi is wondering why her father was so unusually chummy with JJ. Faustiago tries to play it off. That’s just the polite thing to do, right. Gabi knows her cranky pants papa isn’t usually like that and calls him on it. He can give no reply. She asks for her sister, who is not at home, and it quickly becomes obvious to Faustiago that something is wrong. Gabi tells him that David has left her and wants to divorce her. He sits her down and hears the whole story. When she mentions the pictures his look of concern grows (as it should, because it’s his fault for mentioning them to Yolanda). Gabi is sure that it’s someone who is trying to harm (perjudicar) her, likely one of the cousins. Faustiago immediately throws out Bertha’s name as the probable culprit, surprising Gabi that he knows the cousins well enough to know which one it would be. He tries to play it off, saying that Juli has told him about her troubles with Bertha. He then goes into “I told you so” mode. Gabi knows he wouldn’t have allowed her to marry David, and that’s why she did it without his permission while he was away. Gabi looks at him from downcast, teary eyes. Her obvious heartbreak softens Faustiago’s tone. He tries to reassure her that it was just a newlywed lovers’ quarrel (pleito de recien casados) that will blow over soon.

JJ arrives home and is greeted by his Number 1 Mamacita, Caramelo. She skips into his arms for a kiss and a squeeze, before starting her second interrogation of the evening with Hardy Boy #2. They sit down to chat. She asks JJ if he has parents. He explains sadly that his parents are dead. Caramelo understands this distinction that he HAD parents. He talks about what good people they were. His father died when he was around Caramelo’s age. And his mother passed away recently. “But why does everyone else have parents, and I don’t?” JJ tries to hold back tears and tells her that she has her Tio Limon. But he’s her uncle, what about her parents? JJ and Caramelo look at each other through a well of tears. He tells her that her parents are in heaven, with his parents. “Then, I’m never going to have parents?” JJ can only stammer a reply. “Es que..es que..”

Gabi and Faustiago are at the dining table, still waiting for Juli to show. Faustiago is sure always in the clouds Juli has lost track of time at the market, looking at clothes. Faustiago is eating dinner, but Gabi is holding out hope that David will return home and wants to wait to have dinner with him. It hurts her so much how little trust he has in her, and she hasn’t given him cause. Faustiago tells her that’s the way it is with jealousy. If one can’t control it, it ends up ruining/finishing everything. (That’s the wisest thing Faustiago has ever said.) “When it’s not one thing, it’s another. David always finds some reason for not trusting me.” Faustiago thinks that she should leave things in the hands of Destiny (there’s that word again). If David really is the right man for her, things will work themselves out. If not, then it’s best she makes a definitive decision before things go too far. Gabi knows, but she just loves that big stubborn jerk (my words, not hers) so much. She would never be capable of cheating on him. She just feels so horrid. How could he believe that she has something going with Carlos?

Gabi changes the subject and tells her father what Adolfo said about David not being Mario’s child. Faustiago doesn’t do a good job at hiding his horror that this secret is out. Gabi must take his look as surprise at this bit of news. She asks if he thinks it’s true and should she speak to her father-in-law about it. (No need to have the same conversation twice with the same person Gabi.) Faustiago tries to discourage her from pursuing this. But Gabi won’t be deterred. What if Adolfo uses this information to try to hurt David. It’s best that if it’s true, Don Mario tell David himself. (She’s right.) A look of panic comes over Faustiago’s face. He wants to know why Adolfo would tell her this. She explains that he wants David to back off, and if he doesn’t then he’ll tell David about things he’s not supposed to know. Like about that woman- MARTA.

Faustiago gets flustered under Gabi’s steady gaze. “Who told you that?!” She explains the conversation she overheard between Adolfo and Mario. It got her wondering if this wasn’t they same Marta that he knew. “I already told you that I don’t know any Marta! Why would you believe Bertha over me?” Gabi points out that it’s precisely because he gets so flustered and angry when she brings it up that she doesn’t believe him. Faustiago continues to bluster, demands not to speak about it again, and leaves the table. Gabi looks like she doesn’t believe a word he said.

At AFI, Yolanda is in Leo’s office and trying to spin a tale about how she mistakenly bought stolen jewels. The jeweler assured her he would bring her the factura later. He informs her that she will need to retrieve the diamonds from her safety deposit box (caja fuerte) and return them to the police since they were part of a robbery. She agrees to anything. Just get her out of here! Leo’s not done yet. He shines his laser beam of intelligence on her and asks her how she makes her (obviously good) living. She gives some vague answer about living off her savings (ahorros), and she takes care of a few “things” for Adolfo Avila. Leo’s interest is piqued. He circles her. “What things?” Yolanda is sweating bullets by this point. She tells Leo that she helps him with the restaurants, with his personal dealings, with decorating,…

Leo’s next question nearly knocks her off her seat. “Are you friends with Fausto Guillen?” Yolanda chooses her words carefully. Yes, she met him through his daughters who used to work at the Club. “Are you sure you didn’t know him before?” Yolanda pulls her best poker face and assures Leo she didn’t know Fausto before. They’re interrupted by Ramon who informs them Yolanda’s lawyer has arrived.

Juli arrives home to find a depressed, red-eyed Gabi on the couch. Juli immediately knows something is wrong. Gabi explains that she and David are on the outs, again. She is tired of so many intrigues and problems. Before she can go into detail, a repentant Faustiago emerges and kindly suggests that Gabi spend the night and tomorrow Juli accompany her home and stay with her a few days. Juli agrees. Gabi is unsure, since she believes Don Mario should get a say in who stays in his home. Besides, if David decides he wants a divorce, it is she who should leave the house. Juli is impactada to hear the “D” word mentioned.

At the Club, Carlos is bored and asks the bartender to let him know if he hears from Roberto. He decides to leave for the evening since all is quiet (and he’s not getting into a brawl with David).

Medina is seeing Elsa to her door after their day at the high security prison. To avoid her nosey neighbor friend who’s eyeing the delicious looking Medina, Elsa drags him in to her apartment. (Her neighbor must be wondering where Elsa finds these hunks.) She invites him to a coffee, but he politely declines, noting she must be tired. (It also seems he thinks he might not be able to hold back if he stayed.) Elsa thanks him, and apologizes for causing him so much trouble. Mauricio assures her it’s no bother at all. In fact, it gave him great pleasure to accompany her. He intends to have his lawyer study her brother’s case and see if they can get him a reduced sentence. It will be difficult since Marcos is accused of two murders, escaping from prison, and trafficking stolen jewels. (Yikes!) Elsa doesn’t want him to trouble himself since he’s already done so much for her. Plus, she admits sadly, Marcos will never change (no tiene remedio). Mauricio will still do all he can. He comes in close as she says thank you. He rewards her with a sweet gentle kiss on the mouth. She looks down shyly, and he obviously thinks he’s moved too fast for her. He smiles bashfully, asks her pardon, and bids her good night. He does not see what we see—Elsa with stars in her eyes, touching the smiling lips that were just kissed by Mauricio.

At Casa Genoves the next morning, Gabi and Juli have arrived, with Juli’s suitcase in tow. Bertha is none to pleased to see not just one, but two of those low class waitresses returning to stay in HER home. Gabi ignores her sour face and goes to find Abelardo, so Bertha turns on Juli. “So the whole family is moving in! Is your father going to move in too?!” Juli chooses to ignore her and walks off, leaving Bertha complaining to the furniture once more.

Gabi asks Abelardo when Mario will return. She tells Abelardo about Adolfo’s visit. Not knowing how much Abelardo knows, she only hints at Adolfo’s threats. She begs Abelardo to find Don Mario. If he doesn’t control David, Adolfo will tell David “things he shouldn’t know”. Abelardo appears to understand, so Gabi discreetly asks him if he knows what it’s about. He claims ignorance. He has to wait until Mario calls him since he doesn’t know which hotel he’s staying in. Gabi asks him to also tell Mario her sister has come to stay with her a few days. Abelardo is pleased by this. As soon as Gabi leaves, he gets Faustiago on the phone and demands that he come. TODAY!

At the hotel suite, Caramelo is chatting up her friend Angie on the phone, while hanging out behind the bar. JJ (looking nice in a black turtleneck) is bemused by his little executive networking over the phone so comfortably. Caramelo is happy to announce that Angie had invited her to her birthday party (fiesta de cumpleaños). JJ (who has obviously been out of the loop) wants to know who this Angie is. Caramelo, who is firmly in the loop, knows by now that any mention of Medina drives JJ crazy. She gingerly tells JJ that Angie is the Architect’s niece. This earns her a fun mini wrestle with frustrated JJ. There are going to be lots of kids there and it will be really fun, because…her Tia Elsa is going to take her, right? A put out Limon thinks that perhaps Elsa will be too busy to take her, and in that case, he’ll take her. Caramelo is arms-crossed insistent that it’s got to be Tia Elsa, or no one. JJ promises to talk to Elsa, leaving Caramelo free to plan her party outfit. After she runs off, Limon chastises JJ for encouraging Caramelo to continue to be attached to Elsa, when JJ is in the midst of changing girlfriends as often as he changes socks. JJ’s philosophy for Limon-- Don’t worry, be happy!

At Genoves Manor, Gabi is showing Juli her impressive guest room. Juli wonders if David is really going to divorce Gabi over that photo (sounds idiotic to us too Juli). Gabi doesn’t know. Juli thinks it strange that all their L.A. photos disappeared, and even more strange that one of them ended up in Carlos’ office. Gabi suggests they go out to eat- all the better to avoid that drag (pesada) Bitter Bertha. She heads to her room to change and finds David who has come to get more of his things. She tries to reason with him calmly once more. She never gave the photo to Carlos, she doesn’t know how he got it, and she thinks it’s absurd that he wants a divorce over this. He claims it’s not just this, but many things (you know, the same old stuff he long ago claimed he forgave her for, forgot about, or understood). He yells at her some more about how he doesn’t trust her and that their marriage isn’t working. She asks sadly if he wants her to leave. He tells her to do what she wants! She tells him she wants to be with HIM. He sarcastically asks her if she wants to be with him or his MONEY! Gabi looks whipped and defeated. He blows past her, down the stairs, and ignores Bertha’s demand to be listened to. Leaving her talking to the furniture, yet again. LOL!

The phone rings and Bertha goes to answer it. Surprisingly, she actually informs Gabi she has a call. Gabi pulls herself together enough to stop sobbing and makes an appointment with Leo to meet the next day. When he hangs up, Ramon brings him a file and the two leave his apartment. He decides to stop in on Faustiago before leaving. He asks Faustiago point blank when he met Yolanda Rey. For the second time in 24 hours, Faustiago has been put on the spot. This time he manages to lie with less shows of anger and frustration. He tells the same tale as Yolanda. They met because of the girls. Leo then asks if Faustiago mentioned the photos from L.A. that he wanted to Yolanda. “Claro que no.” (Of course not.) Leo thinks it’s very strange that they happened to disappear. Faustiago manages to keep his poker face, until Leo tells him that Yolanda Rey has been arrested. “Qué?!! Porqué?”

“Seems she bought some stolen jewels. The same ones that were in Gabriela’s shoes.”

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