Caray, Caray!

Capitulo 108 in which el Lirio de Plato reveals his true identity

Having learned that Oliver is knocking at Heaven's Door, and not in a good way, Manolo, our effeminate little newshound has passed plumb out in the hospital waiting area. During a brief examination, Brandon notices a couple of things that prompt him to conclude that a bit of privacy is in order and sweeps the little guy up in his policeman's arms and carries him to an examining room.

As Vicky allows a green-eyed monster to nibble at her psyche, Manny is coaxing a passable performance out of a pouty prima dona, the increasingly irritable Ilitia... Hey! Is it the camera, or has she added a few pounds? Isn't this a shampoo commercial? What's with those split ends? Oh well, it's done, "That's a wrap, good job, isn't she the best, Victoria?" "Uh... yeah... best model ever... but maybe you should be careful..." "Be careful?" Well, maybe a bit of dieting... looks as though you've picked up a couple of kilos." Meow!

"What the heck happened?" Manolito has come to and is confronted by a suspicious Brandon. "Impostor? ¡Para nada!" But even as he tries to slide to a safer spot, our clever policeman removes Manolo's wig, strips off his mustache (memo to Doris: get better glue), and holds them aloft... "Long time, no see, Gretel Ruiz y de Teresa!" Remember how much trouble the old Gretel used to have getting out the simplest sentence? Well, the two years in the wine cellar has done wonders for her communicative skills. She clearly and quickly explains the reason for the ruse, why it must not be exposed, and doesn't even reveal Vicky's true identity. Well done, Lass. She is in danger, others would be in danger... works for me.... works for Brandon... just fill Oliver in right away... Next!

"If they do see you, they will murder thee." "Alack there lies more peril in thine eye than twenty of their swords... my life were better ended by their hate than death prolongued, waiting of thy love.."

Porcupine boy has moved in on Javi's gig and taken over Romeo's lines. Didn't you just hate it when the older boys would move in and take over and... oh... that's right, I'm the only guy here... nevermind. Well, Javi was doing just fine, but actually doesn't seem to mind Axel's intrusion on his little seduction scene... just wait a couple of years, kid. Dee, however, does seem to mind... OK... no she doesn't , but she's gonna play hard to get, "¿Que hace Ud. aqui, joven Axel?" "The same as Romeo, fighting for you." Ya gotta admit it, Axel's got game.

He explains that he played Romeo in school. Javi is impressed. He even pleads Axel's case. "Now run along kid, don't you have some Borges to read or some flowers to arrange? Let the grownups talk." Axel doesn't actually say this, but you know that he's thinking it. Javi telepathically gets the message and scurries off to finish the sonnet he's writing. Improvising on the Bard's script, Juliet picks up her broom and threatens to sweep the young Montague out of her life.

Now our vain princess is critically evaluating herself in the mirror of her dressing room and is not pleased with what she sees. (Vicky, you should be ashamed of yourself.) "Ay sí, I'm fatter. No puede ser." It's OK, sweetie, Daddy's here... he'll make it all better. "Of course not, Princess, you look, look for youself, divine and gorgeous... like always." Oops... not workin'.
That splat you just heard was Lorenzo's charm falling flat. Seems as though the introduction of a little brother into her life and all that it implied has crippled the fatherly magic that Lo once so deftly wielded. Nopis, not only does his soothing words fail to heal, she inflicts a few wounds on him. "I don't want your hugs or anything you have to offer... go be with your new son... I no longer love you..." Ouch! ... "Ah... and liar... yes, I do look fat"

Back in Verona, Juliet is threatening Romeo with a broom. Hey, I'm rather enjoying this version. He admits to being a jerk. She agrees. He pleads with her to come back. She thinks it over.

Meintras tanto, Vicky stews. She sulks. She pouts. "He doesn't matter to me... Oh heck, yes he does. He matters to me... Get a grip, Marianela, you have to hate him and his mother." I think I speak for all of us in saying that we are wearying of this behavior. She decides to place a phone call.

"Sí, the family Ruiz y de Teresa residence," Bernie answers the phone. Fedra asks who it is. "Marianela... Marianela." She snatches the phone and asks Maianela, "Who do you think you are?" I'm your conscience Fedra." This triggers a flashback to a phone call from a pretty dark-haired woman, "I'm your conscience, Fedra." Help! I don't remember this. But Fedra does. She momentarily loses her composure, damaging a pillow while shouting, "I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" Bernardo encourages her to relax as Nereida escorts her to her room. Yikes!

Delicia declines Axel's request to return to his house and with endearing skill, sweeps him toward the door as she gently urges, "¡Sacale! ¡Sacale! ¡Sacale!" This is simply too funny and too cute for words. He understands if she doesn't want to return, but invites her to a publicity event for his daddy's agency. She's doubtful, "I'll be like a bean in a plate of white rice." She'll be his guest if she goes, but she rejects the offer and shoves him out the door... She sighs... She smiles... Oh no! She's charmed. Well at least get a haircut, Axel.

Doris is worried about Oliver. Andres is worried that Doris is more than a friend to Oliver. His cell phone rings. It's Jacki. She's worried about Andres. "Oops, gotta go. Hope your friend is OK. Doris looks thoughtful as Brandon approaches. "How's Manolo?" Oops. Jigs up. "Manolo? I know everything. I know what you did. You disguised Gretel as a man." Gulp!

Vicky enters Manny's office and seeing that he's absent, takes the opportunity to look for clues proving that he is squandering Marianela's fortune. Oh my! every time she bends over, her top falls open. Avert your eyes, Carlos, she's really not your type. Yikes! The safe is open and stacked full of cash. Double Yikes! We're not alone. Lirio de Plata has been here all along. Darth Lily speaks, "Here should be all the proof you need."

Vicky, look what you've done. Poor Ilitia is talking to the mirror. Oh, Nereida is there. "Do I look fat?" "Well sure, you put on weight, but it happens to all women when they get married." Thanks for that, Nereida, you've been a big help. "Well not me. I'm going on a diet first thing tomorrow."

Wellll, you can stop worrying. Here's Super Mau and he still thinks that you look spectacular. How sweet... he wants a kiss. OK, I know this isn't funny, but I saw the previews... and here she is, your BFF, now she'll see what a rapey-snake ole Rapey-Snake is. "¡Mauricio!"

But first, let's check on the Vickster and the Maninblack. Hey haven't we seen all this before. He seems to find it familiar as well. She always seems to be hanging around a safe. As she looks on, he sets about cleaning it out. After all, isn't she the one who suggested that he target Emanuel? She argues with herself as he busies himself loading his case with cash. There's a knock on the door. It's Lorenzo. The masked man gently covers her mouth and whispers, "Don't make me hurt this guy. If I have to, I'll lock you up."

"Kristal, tell your boyfriend to leave me alone because I can't stand him." Now, in her heart, Kristal knows what's going on here, but she asks Mauricio for an explanation anyway. "Hey, she threw herself at me." Well you little rat bastard. Kristal is desperate and turns on her friend. She slaps Ilitia, warns he ex-friend to stay away from her Bebe and warns that she will tell her brother just what kind of woman he married if she doesn't. Stunned, Ilitia rubs her jaw, but it's her heart that's in the most pain.

After having cautioned her to behave, eLdP drops his gloved-hand from her mouth and Vicky answers the door. At first surprised to see her, Lo softens a bit and asks why she's locked in his son-in-law's office. Initially uncomfortable, Vicky answers him with a sweetly seductive smile. Believing his luck may have finally taken a turn for the better, he flashes his best dirtyoldman grin, "Why wouldn't you open the door for me, eh?"

When we return from commercial break, Ilitia vainly wraps up her attempt to open Kris' eyes to her precious Bebe's flaws as a human being, "I tried to warn you, but the love you feel for this sleazeball has made you deaf. Mauricio is an imbecile, the worst scum on the face of this earth. And you can relax because if he were the last man on the face of the earth, I wouldn't go near him... never!" With that, she sweeps out.

Kristal turns on Orangy, "I don't like one bit this game that you have with Ilitia." His short rodential attention span expired quite some time ago, so seeking to end this unpleasantness quickly, Mau concedes a bit of guilt, and tells her that Ilitia offered herself, he's a man (I don't recall stipulating that) and was simply doing what men do. Shocked at his frankness, she wants clarification, "So you're willing to cheat on me with her then?" He reminds her what a choice hunk of lady-flesh her sister-in-law is. Harsh reality begins to set in as Mau goes on to confirm that he has no plans to marry her. "Why don't you respect me, Mauricio?" Fortunately, she is rescued from more self-inflicted humiliation by the appearance of Momma Grizzly, "Drop it Kristal, a woman of your class doesn't beg for the love of a man, much less of a man that's below you." She flees into the protective comfort of Fedra's arms.

Vicky tells Lo that she's just finishing up a project to be approved first thing tomorrow. He regrets that they haven't gotten better acquainted since she arrived and suggests that they go out for a drink. "Sure, but let me call Muñeca first so she won't be worried, because I'm not accustomed to going out with married men." Suddenly Lorenzo thinks another day might be better.

Relieved, she closes the door and is startled as she is once more face to mask with el Lirio de P. He flirts as best he can through the mask

but, for the moment anyway, she's not buying in. She doesn't want him to rob Eman so why doesn't he just run along now? He agrees to do just that, he'll give her the bag of money and leave... if she'll admit that she loves Eman.

Clinging to Fedra, Kristal whines that Mauricio won't marry her. He says that he loves Kristal but doesn't want to be tied down. "I'm going to die, Mama!" Fedra vows that Mauricio will be the one who dies if he doesn't marry her. At last, a voice of reason.

More tiresome, pointless, verbose foreplay between Vicky and the Lirio. She feebly tries to lift his mask. "Don't do that again." Blah, blah, and more blah. You guys settle this, we're going back to check on Fedra and Mau.

Basically Mau likes Kristal as a playmate but doesn't want a matrimonial noose around his neck and Fedra threatens to collect her loan right now if he refuses to marry her. He reminds her that he is the one holding the trump card. "Queen of the Night, remember?" As he leaves she shouts that she will have him at the altar on his knees, but realizes that he has already won this round.

An army of black ants toting guns swarms over the yard at Muñeca's mansion. The head ant, Comisario Tejeda, tells Muñeca that they are expecting el Lirio de Plata to show up and they want to surprise him. Yeah, a full SWAT team in combat gear? I'm sure he'll be surprised.

Over lunch in a barrio diner, Brandon (why isn't he with the SWAT team?) are discussing Gretel/Manolo. She tells him that it was necessary for everyone's safety and though peeved, he can't stay angry with his sister. He even admits that she did an excellent job on the disguise.

Finally outside, el Lirio de Plata has the suitcase of money in one hand and escorts Vicky with the other. They walk up to an appallingly inattentive plainclothes security agent who puts up no resistance as eLdP renders him unconscious with his magical zapper. He tells Vicky to ease up on Manny because he knows that she doesn't hate him. He handcuffs her to a lampost and places the key just out of reach. As he leaves he gallantly tells her that her eyes are the most beautiful he has ever seen. Vicky wonders how she'll ever explain all this.

Muñeca has called Ilitia to tell her that she needs her to look after Manzana and Cristian for bit since the cops have taken over her place. Ilitia can't believe that her mom thinks she even cares about those two. Undaunted Muñeca points out that it'll be an opportunity for her to get to know her little brother. Ilitia balks. Her mom says, "Like it or not, he's your brother." "Well, OK, but at the first tantrum, I'm shipping them back." Muñeca smiles along with us.

Andres rescues Vicky. She tells him that it was el Lirio de Plata and that he robbed Emanuel, "I tried to stop him but couldn't."

Licenciado Pacheco informs the ladies waiting that the surgery was successful and that he can only have one visitor at a time. Just then as they are squabbling over who it will be, Brandon struts in, and in a gesture sure to endear him to every woman watching, announces that it should be Manolo. I want to hug his neck. Manolo is grateful and hurries in. He approaches Oliver quietly, leans in, "I'm here, it's your Little Poison," and gently kisses his lips. Awww. I guess forgetting the one at a time rule, the others crowd in in time to witness the kiss. They gape. The silence is viscous.

At home with Muñeca, Manzana and Cristian are awaiting Ilitia who strolls in complaining. Manzana asks her, "Why are you in a bad mood?" "Why don't you shut up, Ciruela (plum)?" "My name is Manzana (apple) not Ciruela." They hear someone enter. "Flora, is that you?" a worried looking Muñeca calls out. Well, why not? I's el Lirio de Plata. What comes next stokes our worst fears. Iglitia swoons. Just like that... she faints. NOOO!

Gladiola tells Manolo,"Manolo, back up, you'll smother him. What lack of respect. Manolo, how dare you kiss Oliver?" As they all castigate him, Doris rushes in with the news that Brandon had to leave because there is a police operation in progress in which el Lirio de Plata is about to be captured. Before leaving, Netty chews on Manolo some more and then tells him that he is expelled from her guest house.

"Ilitia just passed out." It takes a moment for those low pitched words to reach Muñeca's brain, "Who?" He points to the crumpled heap at her feet. She finally reacts. eLdP kneels and gently lifts Ilitia in his arms, "Is her bedroom upstairs?" "Are you a hero?" the little Apple asks. "Yes, but it's a secret." As he carries Ilitia's limp body to the stairs he orders Muñeca, "Get my bag."She and the children follow.

Vicky paces, Andres calls the police. "Yep, it was el Lirio de Plata." As proof, Vicky holds up a silver lily.

eLrP settles a still unconscious Ilitia into her bed and instructs Muñeca to open the bag. He tells her it's to help with all those that she helps. He affectionately stokes her face with the gloved hand. This tender moment is jarred by shouts of Comisario Tejeda from downstairs, "We know that you're here, Lirio de Plato!" We see that Brandon ha put on his cop clothes and joined in the manhunt. The police begin their search as Fidel attempts to slow them up. Brandon sternly insists.

Señor Plata has Muñeca promise that she will use the money to build a hospital for the children. He contemplates an escape route. Manzana suggests that he open the window and fly away. He tells her that, unfortunately, he hasn't learned to fly... yet. He kneels before Manzana. She offers to hide him under the bed. He liked the idea of flying out the window better. As he is gazing at her, she lifts the mask gingerly and beholds his countenance,

"I know who you are," she whispers.

As the police are taking a report at the company headquarters, Fedra swoops in like a tornado. This is the second time that her family has been victimized. Andres apologizes for inviting her. Lo thinks it strange that he robbed Emanuel's office while Vicky was there and notes that Vicky seemed awfully nervous before he left to go to the restaurant. Andres jumps to her defense, "Of course she was nervous. She was confronted by the thief." Fedra also thinks it more than coincidental that that Vicky was a witness to both burglaries.

Ilitia suddenly comes and begins shrieking. "I saw him!" Brandon heads off in hot pursuit. Muñeca tries unsuccessfully to quiet and soothe her. "He's a good man and I won't let you do harm to him." "That man is a criminal." Manzana speaks up, "That's wrong, I lifted his mask. I know who he is." Uh oh.

Outside they've spotted el Lirio de Plata on the roof. He jumps off.

They surround him.

Carlos

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