Caray, Caray!

We start with *lots* of rehash from Thursday, so I'll spare you the leftovers and get to the goods.

An ever-tearful Matilde tells Jeronimo that his brother Rafael is dead.

Jero: No puede ser! How did he die? Why did no one tell me?!

Mati: We didn't have your phone number, so we had no way to tell you that Rafael died because of a woman!

Jero: A woman killed him?!

Mati: In a way, yes. Rafael killed himself because of a woman!

Lazaro cuts into the conversation and introduces himself as the capataz (foreman, overseer) at the hacienda. He tells Jero the straight truth: Rafael committed suicide yesterday morning. Dr. Nesme said they should give Rafa a decent burial right away. Jero asks to talk to the doctor as soon as possible. Matilde tells Jero how much she loved having Rafa for a boss and leaves him to grieve on his own. Jero crumbles.

Roberta is still clutching her pillow and sobbing over Rafael. Fina waltzes into the room and notices Rob's luggage sitting in the corner. Roberta tells Mommie Dearest that she had plans to run away with Rafa the night before but he stood her up. Fina jumps at the opportunity to make Rafa look like the bad guy. "He stood you up because he knew I was going to disinherit (desheredar) you if you married him! He only wanted you for the money and the status." Roberta sobs because she doesn't want to believe it. Fina comforts Rob and tells her that in time she will realize that Rafa was only playing her for a fool the whole time (burlarse = to mock, make fun).

Ines and Isidro drop by Regina's place. The three of them plus Doña Cata and Antonio are getting together to celebrate Gina and Tony's budding relationship. Tony gives Gina a bouquet of flowers and a kiss, which makes her uneasy. A little while later, Antonio claims he doesn't want to pressure Gina but would love to make her his wife. This makes Doña Cata and Ines happy but Gina leaves to check on the food without commenting on Tony's proposition.

Continuing their tour of the town, Matias buys a necklace and a new bracelet for Renata. They eat lunch and flirt with each other some more. They romp around a fountain and encounter a group of Mariachis. Matias dares her to sing with them, which she does with lots of enthusiasm. In the throws of post-singing excitement, Renata pulls Mat close and they kiss.

Roberta is wallowing in her PJs still, so now it's Selene's turn to try to get her to snap out of it. "What if something happened to him?" Rob wonders. "Tomorrow morning I am going to the hacienda to find out what's going on once and for all!"

Matias is bowled over by how strongly he feels for Renata. She pulls away to clear her head. "We're step-siblings! We live in the same house, we work together, we are so attached (apegado) to each other already..." Matias doesn't share her misgivings but he understands. They'll get to know each other a little better before rushing into anything serious.

Antonio tells the lunch-party about his plans to return to the world of taurino (bullfighting). (No doubt a reference to Guillermo Capetillo's own history as a bullfighter.) Ines can't stand that they hurt the animals, but Tony manages to convince her to come to one of his fights with the group.

Renata escapes into the bathroom to let her feelings out. "I dreamed of this moment for years and now that it's happened...I felt nothing when he kissed me." But she certainly felt something when Jero kissed her, since we're treated to a flashback of it. "Why won't you (Jero) get out of my head?! You mean nothing to me! But your kiss was...incredible." *Cue Enrique and Juan Luis*

A solemn Jero asks Mati how she knew that Rafa killed himself over a woman. She shows him the pinnacle letter from La Bonita. Jero gets increasingly worked up as he reads it aloud.

Jero (furiously): Who is this woman?! What is La Bonita's real name?!

Mati: Nobody knows! The boss never brought her here. They talked a lot on the phone and we only just found out about their wedding.

Jero: I need to find out (averiguar) everything about this woman!

Mati: We don't know! Just that the last time Rafa talked to her, they were fighting. But then Rafa told the Padre that he wanted to get married here next Sunday. La Bonita is from the capital, Rafa was supposed to go pick her up last night but must have gotten the letter just before he was going to leave.

Once Jero sends Mati away, he cries as he holds a family portrait from when he and Rafa were kids.

Renata and Matias stumble home and are greeted by Gonzo and Fina. Ren asks if she got any messages and Fina pointedly says that Rafa never called to explain why he stood her up. Gonzo pulls her aside to question her relationship with Rafa yet again and warns her about spending time with guys who are so undependable and dishonest. Poor Rafa. He's barely even cold yet and it seems like everyone wants to make him the bad guy.

Dr. Nesme meets Jero and laments Jero's loss. Rafa was like a son for Dr. Drunk. Jero want to know all the details about Rafa's death. Doctor paints himself as Rafa's best buddy and explains that Rafa's novia spurned him and he killed himself over it. Jero pops his top. "My brother was much more valuable than the life of any woman!" Doctor agrees but Rafa obviously didn't feel that way. "I feel guilty that I couldn't have done more. I did what I thought was best by burying Rafa quickly. To save him the embarrassment of an autopsy and the humiliation of town gossip about his death." Doctor says.

"He was so young and full of life." Jero grieves. "He didn't deserve to go out that way."

After the commercial, Fina sets in on Renata for flirting with Matias. "I wasn't born yesterday! (No nací ayer!) I saw how enthusiastic you were to have Matias out with you. What's your angle? Are you trying to lure him like so many others?" Renata denies wrongdoing and precariously asks, "What if I were interested in Matias?"

Fina cackles. "Gonzo's money isn't enough for you, huh? You have to seduce his son to secure your future." Of course not! Renata doesn't care about social position and if she got married it would be for love. "Be careful, Renata." Fina warns. "Mat is Gonzo's pride and joy. If you toy with him like you do with other men, Gonzo will have to choose between his son and you. If that happens, I assure you he will pick Mat. Do not risk the stability of the family."

Meanwhile, a decidedly happier conversation on the same subject is happening downstairs between Gonzo and Mat. Gonzo thinks there's something special between Mat and Ren. Mat admits it's true. "I am fascinated by her. It is so easy to fall in love with her. Renata has all the qualities I looked for in a woman." Gonzalo is overjoyed. Matias and Renata are the two people he loves most in the world, he wants to see them happy.

Jero tells Matilde that he plans to visit Rafa's grave with Padre Severino the next morning. He wanders alone in the dark hacienda with the letter in his hand. Finally arriving at Rafael's room, he asks Rafa to forgive him not knowing how desperate he (Rafa) was. "I'm sorry I didn't protect you like I promised Mamá that I would." (The song in the background is beautiful. I think it's Cuando Un Amigo Se Va, but I don't know the singer...)

Dr. Nesme gives Agustin a debriefing on Jeronimo. He didn't seem at all interested in an autopsy or the money or the crops. But he is a business man, so they'll have to tread lightly for a while. Agustin is going to make sure no one "interferes with his plans". All of them nefarious, no doubt.

At Empresas Monterrubio, Adriana squeals when she finds out that Matias kissed Renata. She tells Ren not to worry what Fina says about Mat, what matters most is Ren's happiness.

Roberta narrowly makes it out the door but makes the mistake of telling Fina that she's going to the hacienda. Fina stalls Roberta and tells her to wait a couple days. Conveniently, a letter arrives from Rafael! Fina feigns surprise as Roberta rips it open happily.

Jero kneels at Rafael's grave.

Jero: Hermano, in front of your grave, I swear I will find that woman who rejected and toyed with you. I swear that woman will suffer for what she provoked you to do. I swear to avenge your death through her.

Avances: Jeronimo finds a picture of Renata and Roberta in Rafael's stuff. "Adriana?!" He says confusedly. Let's hope for fewer tears on Monday.

Labels: Cuando