Caray, Caray!

How nifty is this? We begin tonight's romp, not in DF, but in a dive on the Vera Cruz waterfront with a young pre-rictus Bernardo looking after the health of his much-adored Capitán ,

"No one touches my Capitán Sevilla as long as I'm alive."

as he takes down a ruffian who dared to defy and attack the youthful sea-dog.

An adolescent hooker is impressed,

" ¿Así que eres Capitán (So you're a captain)?"

"José Maria Sevilla, a tus pies (at your feet )."

Well, there you have it, Maggie, they've just met... haven't eaten off of each others' plates... and tutearing like old chums. We're not in El Salvador anymore, Toto.

Turns out that she's just been hanging out waiting for the man of her life, and Shazam! Here he is! Juana Felipe welcomes the man of her life with a beso.

Fedra remembers, "Ay, Chema, I surrendered to you like to no other man."

An old Captain remembers too as he shares a Tequila with his old friend.

Meintras tanto, well actually, many years ago, the young captain and an even younger trollop are basking in the afterglow as Juana F continues Fedra's thought,

"Te di, Te di mi amor (I gave myself to you, my love)."

"You're the only woman, Juana, there is no other."

"Make love to me Chema, amamé, leave your mark on my skin, I want to be yours now and forever."

Yikes! Mind if I smoke?

Chema tells his friend that this memory is all he has.

Netty is certain that the poison has left Mari so thin and that she is responsible since it was her duty to watch over her. Marianela assures her that she slimmed down for health reasons and at the moment, she is smiling for a change. Thanks to Netty's adoring attorney's less than noble self-sacrifice she now holds in her perfectly manicured bony little talons the forged documents that will enable her to recover the creepy castle and considerable fortune her mother left her. Let's hope she has the good sense to bulldoze that malevolent mausoleum of misery and replace it with a Chucky Cheese franchise or perhaps a Bob's Big Boy. Netty is happy for her but wants to resurrect the chunky cheery cherub that this scrawny screwloose Spaniard once was. She thinks that a good start would be to get in touch with Emanuel and level with him.

"Buenas noches."

Right on cue.

Manzanita is feeling her sugar rush from all that ice cream our Judy allowed her to eat during Wednesday's episode. She bounds into the parlor and begins springing about the furniture like a Mexican jumping bean about to be refried... someone forgot to take
her Ritalin this morning. Poor Ilitia is discovering that perhaps this little adoption scheme might not be the best plan after all. She raises her voice,

"Don't jump on the sofa (sillón), especially with your shoes on! Sit down!"

In a desperate attempt to take control of the situation as she snatches away the dish that the little apple has now targeted for destruction.

"Don't stick your tongue out at me!" .

"Don't scold (regañar) me! You're not my mother!"

Ilitia smiles a conspiratorial smile and suggests that if she plays her cards right, however, Emanuel could be her daddy. This is where Muñeca joins the conversation,

"Ilitia! What are you proposing to Manzanita?"

Manny wants to know what truth he needs to hear. Netty tells him that Marianela and Jorge will be divorcing, Vicky confirms this as they are joined by Jorge who proclaims his love for Victoria. Eman doesn't like this betrayal of Marianela by her husband and best friend. Helpfully, Netty points out that Marianela's only true love has always been Emanuel. Unfortunately Marianela has destroyed any love that he once had for her although Netty doubts that he could fall out of love so easily.

Now... it's looking as though this could all work out, Victoria + Jorge ... Marianela + Emanuel... Just one tiny problem:

MARIANELA = VICTORIA

Paging Dr. Solomon!

Manzanita is not in the market for a new momma.

"My mamá is in heaven!"

Muñeca tells her no one is wanting her to forget her mother and the sugar appears to have worn off because our familiar sweet little apple has replaced the hellcat that was here just moments ago,

" I want you for my mamá, Muñeca."

Awwww.

Meintras tanto, little Cristian is consuming his own MDR of sugar as he spreads sticky around the parlor with a large lemon lollypop.

Kids... gotta love 'em.

Flora rounds them up and hurries them off to bed.

Ilitia reminds Muñeca that she has Cristian,

"...that piojo (louse)."

"That piojo is your brother."

A fact that Ilitia is painfully aware of. Muñeca observes that Ilitia is trying to utilize Manzanita to shore things up with Manny. Well duh. More importantly, she wants to know why, if Ilitia loves Emanuel so much, did she deceive (engañar) him with Brandon?...
don, don, don.

Meanwhile Netty's pleading a powerful case for Marianela and Emanuel to pick up where they left off two years ago,

"A love so great (un amor tan grande) can't be allowed to die."

but Manny, in so many, many, many words tells her that his love for Mari was killed by none other than Mari herself. Vicky helps him out by pointing out that he is married. Eman tells her that he plans to fight for love as she suggests... his love for Victoria that is.

Poor Netty. Vicky stomps off, closely followed by Netty who still thinks this can be worked out, leaving behind George to declare to Eman that he too will be free and is prepared to fight (luchar) for Victoria's love... and win (ganar).

Ilitia wants to know who put such an idea into Muñeca's head.

"He did!"

Ilitia is now worked up and shouts,

"How can you say that I'm involved with this ignorant penniless nobody (pelado) who is so beneath me (no me llega ni a los talones)?"

This is met with a slap from Muñeca. A little late, but...

"You shut up! Have you already forgotten where you come from?"

Courtesy of a boozy Fedra we are treated to another flashback of the dashing young capitán fighting to preserve the honor of the teenage slutlet, Juana Felipe.

Her toast to her youthful protector

" 'Una dama (a lady).' He's the only man who ever made me feel as though I am... a lady ."

is interrupted by Bernardo who has developed a sudden concern for her level of alcohol consumption. He attempts a solo intervention without much luck. She is already deep in her cups, but at least she is using a glass.

"No, I'm a lady. leave me in peace."

She pouts. She tears up. She cries.

"It's because of him, verdad? Emanuel?"

"¿Huh?"

He asks again and she tells him that Emanuel is all that matters to her.

"Because you had him with the only man you ever loved, Capitán José Maria Sevilla, verdad?"

She remembers....

"I will never forgive him for denying (negar) his own son, Bernardo... never."

another flashback...

A youthful Juana F. announces her pregnancy to a less-than-thrilled Capitán Sevilla
who observes that it could be just about any other sailor's child.

Gee, and he seemed so gallant.

"I brought you aboard ship to be my woman, not to impregnate you (preñar)."

They tussle on the bunk.

"¡Suelteme!"

Fedra tells Bernardo that the two things she will never forgive Chemo for were that he allowed her to be miserably poor and that denied her child."

Back in Vera Cruz José M tells his old friend Santiago that God wouldn't give a son to someone condemned to die such as he. Santi encourages him to drop anchor (tirar ancla) here, where he's loved and adored, among the people he's helped. Nopis. Cap'n Joe is indulging in a major pity party and plans to leave this all behind and return to the big city where it all began, la Ciudad de México.

Well, of course you are, and we're all bettin' that you end up in la Mala Noche on a night that the Reina is performing. Later Cap'n.

Ilitia tells Muñeca never to slap her again. Muñeca's sorry. What's in a person's heart is more important than what's in his pocketbook. Actually Ilitia knew that all along. They make up. Do a little bonding... Huggies!...Next!

Cripes, now it's Marianela (or is it Victoria? Who cares?) and Netty talking in Vicky's room. Basically, Netty thinks that to be fair, Emanuel needs to know that Vicky and Mari are one and the same. After all, Jorge has the advantage of all the facts. Manny's getting a divorce and will be free to... at this point Marivick delivers a low blow.

"How long has Emiliano been saying he will divorce Fedra?"

"It's not the same thing... oh crap... you're right ... it is."

Maybe those weren't her exact words, but let's see a show of hands of those of you who think that Netty is right... that Emanuel should get a look at all the cards as well.

And now for a little dose of Delicia and Axel. We've been missing you guys. This is cute. Delicia is worried that Fedra is drinking so much. She's gone through all the decanters (licoras) and is working on the whisky.

"She's already asked me for more ice."

Axel thinks that she must be hatching another evil plot but Delicia hits him with a dicho,

"Where I come from they say, 'Madre es madre aunque sea vinagrera (your mom is mom even if she's pure vinegar, ie, a bottle of vinegar).


Just one more reason for Axel (and us) to love her. What a sweetie!

Manny drives up and Fidel is awaiting him. He's brought Ilitia back from her parents' place and stuck around to give Emanuel a heads up. Strange comings and goings of shady looking people at Fonseca's place. He dropped Lorenzo by there and thought that el Lirio de P might like to know. Emanuel grins a sincere Cheshire Cat grin.

OK, first Bernardo tried now Axel is prepared to launch his own little intervention for his mom. He gets right down to it... just in case, he's brought the ice.

"No matter what the problem... alcohol is not the solution."

And he is correct. Water is considered the universal solvent.

She politely tells him to get the Hell out. Not easily deterred, he invites her to open up to him,

"I'm your son."

"No, my son is Emanuel."

He reminds her of the problems alcohol caused for Aunt Eva. Of course she resents being compared to Eva and tells him so. This is starting to get ugly. He raises his voice, whether she likes it or not,

"I am your son!"

"For me, my only puppy (cachorro), my only son is Emanuel. Now, why don't you run along and pluck your little guitar strings or play with the little servants? Por favor, I don't want to look at you."

Poor Axel, he wilts and exits.

"Thanks for the ice."

And that's why we love her.

In tears, he runs into Manny,

"Hey bro, are you OK?"

"Our mother is in the study drinking out of control and I'm an imbecile for thinking I could approach her ... and get a little affection."

Not exactly Wally and the Beav.

Manny's turn.

"Mamá, please stop drinking."

"Leave me alone. I'm fine."

Well, actually, Axel got off light. She accuses Manny of turning her back on her in favor of first that fat girl and now the little Spaniard. Then in an amazing display of lucidity, puts two and two together and discloses to her puppy that Marianela and Victoria are one and the same. Now here's some information he could really use...

Manny, haven't you heard it said that children and drunks speak the truth?... Guess he hasn't.

Half-heartedly he tells her to quit drinking as he leaves.

Fedra mutters,

"Marianela Ruiz y de Teresa, I'm going to unmask you, you filthy (inmunda) ex-fatso."

Gladiola is upset that Brandon and Oliver are working late preparing for an operation tomorrow. She's vexed that Oliver and Manolo, who is really that young woman, carry on with their merry-making (jolgorios). Netty wants a word, alone, with Jorge. Gladiola asks Doris to join her in going up to visit Victoria, who she now knows is really Marianela.

"Next thing I expect to learn is that you are Jairo disguised as my Doris."

Jorge would like a chat with Marianela but must settle for a frank talk with Netty. She tells him that Mari loves Emanuel and she wants Emanuel informed of the truth about Marivick.

"You told me, you should tell him. Do it."

He promises to think about it. He leaves. She consults with San Antonio.

Daybreak.

Yippee ki yea! Police action! The SWAT team moves into place just in time. The bad guys arrive at an apparent municipal structure. A young man gets out of a black SUV and approaches a black car. He and two men from the SUV begin removing wooden crates from the back of the SUV. Oliver checks with Manolo,

"Are you taking photos?"

"Sure thing!"

Well I'll be switched! El Lirio de Plata gets out of the SUV...Hey! I recognize that stance,... it's Lorenzo. Oliver and Brandon rejoice.

"Gotcha!"

Not sure exactly where, Dandy and Mau await Lorenzo's return. Dandy frets. He hopes that Porta López does his job. Mau is confident... Lo needs the money. Dandy has a briefcase filled with money. They rejoice over the dollars and joke about how all the police are going to end up with are bottles of water. Ha ha... Lorenzo joins them... he sure got back quickly... oops.... that voice....sounds like the real Lirio. He picks up the pistols and deftly drops out the clips.

Lorenzo de Plata is wrapping up the phony deal, the cops are waiting for Brandon to give the go-ahead... Oliver looks around...

"Venena? Manolo? ... Where is Manolo?"

"Brandon gives the order,

"Move out!"

"Put the guns down! There's no escape. So here you are, Lirio de Plata."

Well, here's Manolo. He emerges from behind the SUV with a pistol pointed at his head. Brandon reacts,

"Guns down! Don't shoot!"

The bad guys, including Lorenzo de Plata, begin escaping. Oliver manages to move in from behind and pulls Manolo free, shooting his captor in the chest as they fall to the ground.

Brandon checks the downed bandit, as Oliver checks Manolo.

"This guy's fried, Oliver. El Lirio de Plata escaped again."

Super Mau is not happy to see el LdP but recognizes his skills and offers him a job. Mau doesn't work for the likes of Orangy and tells him so. Mau then suggests that he seek employment with either St. Peter or Satan because he's about to ship him off to one of those other worlds. Sadly, Mau is more clever with words than physically nimble, nevertheless he attacks el LdP, When this doesn't work out as planned he decides that talking might be best after all.

Garduño and a pistol arrive. LldP grabs Mau and uses him as a shield. Gard orders the masked one to release his associate. eLdP replies,

"Better drop your gun if you don't want to lose your friend."

No problem for Garduño, he'll just shoot them both.

Clara Bella (the corrupt judge's secretary) bursts into licenciado Pacheco's office just as he is

about to have his way with with a plump donut. He didn't hold up his end of the bargain. As he looks on in horror, she crushes the innocent pastry with her bare hand and says (I promise, I am not making this up),

"If you're not going to eat me, you'll eat nothing!"

She leaves one donut intact as a prop for Judge Pantoja who awaits in the outer office. She ushers him in and leaves. The judge wants his documents back or he'll,

"... leave you exactly like this donut."

Super Mau is disappointed that he means so little to Garduño. El LdP tosses the pumpkin at Garduño, takes his pistol and drops the clip.

Brandon, Oliver, and Manolo have returned to the station and are debating what just happened. Brandon says that this proves that the lily is dirty. Oliver says that things don't square since the bottles contained water, not alcohol. Manolo says that wasn't the true lily.

Three blind men feeling up an elephant.

Brandon answers the phone, looks puzzled , then announces,

"That was el Lirio de Plata... he says that the site of the sale (venta) was elsewhere,
that he is with those who are truly guilty."

Oliver gives him his best "well there you have it" shrug.

Netty and Marivick are seated on Netty's sofa doing a little strategic planning, when in strolls Pacheco... he's not alone. He brought Judge Pantoja along. No coffee and cookies for you. Victoria asks the obligatory,

"¿Qué hace aquí?"

Somehow, Garduño, Mau, and Dandy are all securely tied as el LdP inexplicably wanders about the premises tidying up and hiding the briefcase full of cash. Can someone explain why he isn't already out of there? Crikey, he takes the opportunity to give his captive trio a lecture on morality when we spy a shadow on the stairway behind him. It's...

el Lirio de Plato

who sneaks up behind...

el Lirio de Plato,

conks him on the head with a pistol and is suddenly Lorenzo sans mask. As he unties his pals, he negotiates a promotion with Garduño. Since Fonseca has proven his ineptitude, Lo thinks that now he should be number 2. Garduño agrees as he kneels to unmask...

el Lirio de Plato.

The judge wants the papers which betray Fedra's guilt. His secretary assured him that it was Pacheco who robbed his office.

"Your secretary is crazy. Didn't you see what she did to my donuts?"

Victoria argues with the judge but he vows that he'll recover his papers... whether they wish to return them or not.

The police interrupt the unveiling of...

el Lirio de Plato.

Lorenzo frets over the money, he really needs it you recall, but Garduño says screw the money and they flee. Super Mau takes the opportunity to deliver a kick in the ribs to a a prostrate youknowwho. For some dark reason, I find this oddly satisfying.

Crooks vanish. Cops squeeze in with weapons drawn. Brandon orders everyone else to search the place and examines the dark figure on the floor.

"He's alive!"

he shouts to no one in particular since everyone else is off searching the place as he ordered. As he goes to remove the mask a gloved hand grabs his wrist,

"Not so fast, amigo."

Brandon orders him to surrender but of course his foe is much more agile and pushes him away, leaping to his feet. They are face to... umm...mask.

Victoria apparently doesn't understand the negotiating power a loaded pistol confers and orders judge Patoja to get the Hell out. She admits that she has the papers that he wants so he pushes Pacheco aside.

"So you know where those receipts (pagarés) are, eh, eh?"

"I've got them, so what are you going to do about it, shoot me?"

He cocks his gun and to my horror I find a part of myself thinking, ummm... OK... why not? Just make it quick and merciful.

Brandon and el LdP have a brief debate over morals, Brandon is slugged and el LdP picks up his pistol and briefly points it at Brandon.

"Are you going to kill me?"

Nopis... he ejects the clip and hands him the pistol.

"No, I would be incapable of harming anyone, much less one of the most honest people I know. Ordinarily, I dump the bad guys guns into an oven, but not yours, you need it to trap criminals."

He reaches into his belt then poof! he vanishes in a cloud of smoke.

In the other room, Manolo has found the money. El Lirio de Plato tells him that he needs to take it where it'll do some good. He trades a machine gun for the briefcase.

He tells Manolo to say hey to his sister Victoria for him.

"Tell her I'm anxious to be with her again... On second thought, don't say anything..."

"I know what I have to do."

Carlos

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