Caray, Caray!

Alternate Title: MP Gambles That Anto Will Keep Her Secret; Lucia Gambles That Ivan Will Choose Her Over Alex; and Everyone Gambles That MP Actually Gives a Damn About Anyone Else—They Will All Lose

Lucia has just thrown down the gauntlet and threatened Maripaz that if she tries to fight for her parental rights (patria prostestal), which may land their dad in jail, she will go to the police and tell them MP ran over (atropear) and killed a woman! Lucrezia does not like that one bit, but MP is undaunted. David has taken the car and is having it fixed, and the camera phone and the pictures have been destroyed. As far as she’s concerned, there’s no evidence to accuse her with. Lucia learns about the blackmail plot for the first time, but Lucrazya denies it and says Carlota’s bonkers. Carly slaps her a good one, which just leads Lucrazya to say this confirms Carly needs to be put in the nuthouse (manicomio). She leaves the room with her demon seed, while Lucia comforts her grandma. Carly assures Lucia that what she said about the blackmail is true. Lucia believes her.

In her bedroom, the demon seed thanks her mama for backing her up. This earns her a bigger slap than the one Carly just gave Lucrezia. (Maybe this is the way the Curiel women show their love?) Lucrezia tells MP that she’s just returning (devolver) the slap (cachetada) her mom gave her because of MP. She demands that MP come to some financial agreement with Ivan, and that she forget about any legal battle that would cause scandal. “Sí mama.” (Haven’t we seen MP renege on things she’s agreed to do before?)

At Casa Lomeli (sin Curiel), the Lomeli men are on the couch chatting. Alex is telling Gerry all about dolphins. Antolin calls to update Gerry on Carolina’s condition. They’ll stay a few days in a hotel in D.F. so that Caro can rest up, and then they’ll take the bus back, since Caro can’t fly. Alex begs to speak with Caro. He wants to see her. He’s happy to know that in a few weeks she’ll be able to see his face for the first time. Once she’s off the phone, Caro thanks Anto for all he’s done for her. No thanks are necessary since she’s his princess. He kisses her hand, tells her to rest, and tells her he loves her before leaving.

At the lawyer’s office, Ivan and Camilo get the lowdown on the possible outcomes of a custody battle. The lawyer confirms that yes, Gerry could go to jail. But they could get him out on bail (bajo confianza). And even though MP is a drunken whore, that fact that she’s moved back in with her family would show the judge that she wants to change her life for her son, and mothers have more rights to children than fathers. Camilo calls b.s. on MP’s supposed change. All MP wants is money. Ivan doesn’t give a damn about the scandal, or that Gerry might go to jail. He wants his son! Ivan’s lawyer thinks it’s best for him to first meet with MP’s lawyer to see what she wants. Ivan calls Lucia to have her find out who MP’s lawyer is. Lucia is disconcerted that Ivan was so cold to her on the phone (seco=dry). She tells Carly she has a bad feeling (mal presentimiento) about it all.

In Casa Galvan, Carmen reports to Celia that Lechita’s fever is down. Celia wants an update on Carmen’s unsuccessful job search. She points out this is the reason Carmen should have taken her studies more seriously and gone further in school. Anyway, her brothers are ensuring that she and her daughter have a roof over their heads and food on their plates. Carmen still says she wants a job so that she can have money and a sense of self worth (I’m not sure if gold digging and blackmailing qualify). Celia tells her to go back to school and get some more skills, like computer classes (computación). Carmen is not so keen on the whole working and studying thing.

Camilo busts in before the two Galvan women can get into a real argument about it. He wants to know who Carmen wagged her tongue (soltar la lengua) to about Alex being MP’s and Ivan’s son. He’s about to smack her lying face a good one when Celia jumps between them. Camilo explains what’s going on and Celia starts laying into Carmen too. Carmen doesn’t give a damn what’s happening to Alex and Ivan because of her big mouth. She finally admits that she told Saul.

At Casa Curiel, Lucia is trying to get information out of MP. What does she really want from this? Money? Who’s her lawyer? Who’s paying for the lawyer? Their mother? Why does she want to hurt the people who care for her? MP’s not spilling any info. Lucia can’t believe her unfeeling selfishness. MP doesn’t think that Lucia is so pure and innocent (blanca paloma) since she STOLE Ivan from her. Lucia tries for the millionth time to explain to MP that Ivan wasn’t MP’s and she didn’t steal him. Failing to make MP see reason on this topic, Lucia tries another tactic. Doesn’t MP care about Alex, a child that she will be hurting with all of this? And if MP thinks she can try the same trick she did last time, blackmailing Lucia to dump Ivan, then she’s wrong. MP plays the “maternal feelings” card. Lucia’s not buying it. She gets in MP’s face and lays out a picture of the future—she and Ivan will get married, have lots of babies, and be happy ever after, while MP will be stuck all alone with Alex. MP thinks that Ivan loves Alex too much to give him up. Lucia thinks his love for her is bigger. (I wouldn’t be so sure of that Lucia.) She walks out of the room, leaving MP in deep thought (if that’s possible for her). Once on her own, Lucia looks a little less certain of who Ivan would choose.

Ivan gets off the phone with his lawyer who has found out the name of MP’s lawyer. Seems the guy is an expert in family law. Tony’s not worried. They have enough money to get a fab team of lawyers too. Ivan thinks this whole thing will be hard on Alex and wants to avoid him going through a scandalous custody battle. Tony suggests they instead pay MP whatever she wants. Ivan says they’ve worked too hard to earn their money to just give it to some greedy woman. Lucia calls him and wants them to meet to talk about everything happening. Ivan decides to head over to her house right now.

Just as Lucia hangs up, Gerry comes in. He’s willing to go to jail to keep Alex out of MP’s clutches. Lucia is sure they’ll find a way to make sure neither of those things happens. Further inside the house, Carly scolds Lucrezia about the things she said to her about imagining the blackmail threat. She’ll call the bank tomorrow to confirm Lucrezia withdrew 5 million pesos. Lucrezia then tells another lie to cover up the last lie. She says she withdrew the money from their family account to put it in her own account. Since Carly’s always taking Lucia’s side (what is she, 5 years old?), she thinks at any moment Carly might throw her out on the streets with nothing. Carly says she would NEVER do something like that. Lucrezia is her daughter. Lucrezia says she can’t be certain and has to take precautions. (She’s even crying during this farce, so we know where MP gets it from.) Carly doesn’t believe a word of this tale. She knows the money was to pay the blackmailer, and that Lucrezia just made up this story to take away Lucia’s only weapon to make MP drop her custody battle—the threat of jail. Lucrezia admits it, but can’t believe that Carly would let her own granddaughter go to jail. (Hell yes she should!) Carly says she doesn’t want that, but she wants Lucrezia to pressure MP to put an end to her plans. Lucrezia calls Carly heartless for allowing the possibility of MP going to jail. She’s her granddaughter too, like Lucia! Carly’s done arguing and leaves Lucrazya standing there.

Out in the living room, Ivan, Lucia and Gerry discuss the situation. Ivan is explaining to Gerry that if MP states that Gerry took the infant at her request, then that would invalidate any kidnapping charges. There would only be a little trouble because of the false birth certificate, but nothing jail time worthy. (They do realize that all this hinges on MP going along with this plan, right?) Carly comes in and joins the conversation. Gerry continues to be naïve and tells them MP would allow Alex to keep living with him and Caro. (See my last interjection.) Ivan’s not having it. He wants HIS son to live with HIM. Lucia reminds Ivan about the importance of not hurting Alex. Ivan agrees, but sooner or later Alex has to know the truth. He’s not backing down and Lucia seems worried. Ivan thinks the Curiels have done him enough harm and that this is just one injury too much. Carly agrees. Ivan hopes that Lucia can see things from his point of view. She doesn’t look so sure.

In MP’s bedroom, Lucrezia is trying to convince MP to drop the custody suit and just get whatever money she wants out of Ivan. Lucrezia doesn’t think MP can bank on Carly not turning her in to the cops. She reminds MP that the news of the hit and run victim was published in the papers, and if Carly and Lucia tell Ivan, who tells the police, it won’t be so hard for them to connect the dots. MP swears that Anto is trustworthy and wouldn’t betray her. She doesn’t look so sure though.

Ivan and Lucia see Gerry off. Ivan once again tells Lucia he does not want to give up on getting his son. Lucia admits part of her supports Ivan, and part of her supports her family. Ivan understands. But he wants Lucia to understand that the ONLY blood family he has on Earth is Alex. (He’s got a point.) He tells her he loves her and doesn’t want to live without her. He wants her to understand him and he wants them to get married and have children. Lucia says she’s with him and they start making out.

Inside Carly updates Lucrezia on the conversation with Gerry and Ivan, and Lucrezia updates Carly on her conversation with MP. No one knows what MP will do. Lucrezia wants Carly to get Lucia to convince Ivan to give MP whatever she wants. (Is that clear?) Carly reminds her that Ivan does not consider them friends, and all the reasons why. She even mentions the tidbit about Gerry impregnating Alicia. This is news to Lucrezia. “But he loves Lucia, right?” Yeah, but likely not more than he loves his son, Carly says.

Ivan is having the same love Lucia-love Alex conversation with Tony. How can he leave his child in that woman’s (MP’s) hands? But he doesn’t want to put Gerry in jail either. He raised his son well and gave him a home and love. Tony says Ivan HAS to speak with MP! Ivan agrees. Tony tells Ivan about JJ making reconciliatory moves. Ivan can’t be bothered with JJ’s foolishness right now. Tony chats with Bruno about how complicated everything’s become. He’s still trying to figure out what the Curiels spent so much money on. He decides to visit Carly in the morning.

The next morning in Casa Galvan, Camilo is talking to Celia and calling Carmen inconsiderate and stupid for telling Saul about Alex. The fact that she told him something so important means there’s intimacy between them. It further proves his theory that Saul is Carmen’s baby-daddy. Celia tells Camilo that she doesn’t want any problems/fights since the Mondragon family is powerful. Camilo doesn’t give a rat’s patoot. It’s about time that people of that class learn they can’t just mess with women of their class with no consequences. He makes no promises to leave Saul alone, and even threatens to tell Antolin. Celia begs him not to, but Camilo will NOT put his hand in the fire for Saul Mondragon. If Anto kills him, so be it. He deserves it! Anyway, he wouldn’t be the first person (cristiano) Anto has killed. Celia can’t believe her stupidity in admitting the truth to Camilo.

In Mexico City, Antolin brings Caro a gift to her hotel room—Romeo and Juliet in Braille. He tells her that he loves her and she’ll always be in his heart. She returns the sentiment. He starts to kiss her passionately (oops, I wrote “me” instead of “her” at first…Freudian slip). But before they fall all the way back on the pillows, she puts on the breaks by offering to read to him. He stares at her in adoration as she reads. (Sigh!)
The mechanic tells David that it looks like his car ran over someone, not a dog.

In the internet café, Lucia gets help downloading the vacation pictures.

Camilo admits to Ivan that the culprit who spilled the beans was Carmen, and that he now knows about Saul being Lechita’s daddy. They talk about Lucia and her allegiance to her family. Camilo doesn’t see what’s so hard to understand, since Ivan’s obsessed with Alex simply because he carries his blood. Ivan is also worried about how Lucia will take it if he takes MP to court and airs all the Curiel family dirty laundry. Camilo tells him he has to choose. Lucia or Alex. Ivan’s scared to lose Lucia.

The lawyer calls Ivan and tells him that if he’s going to take his case, Ivan has to tell him everything. He’s not happy with what MP’s lawyer told him about Ivan fleeing the country to escape murder charges. Once Ivan’s off the phone, Camilo says he’ll fess up to the killing. Ivan thinks they may be able to get out of it since he doesn’t think any charges were ever brought. But this makes it clear to him that MP is willing to do anything to win.

MP slinks up to Casa Lomeli as Lucia, Alex and the maid look over the vacation pictures. “Hello family!” Alex doesn’t even remember who she is. LOL! Lucia explains. MP says she came to see Alex. When he asks why, she comes right out and says, “Because I’m your mother.” (That’s got to be a worse shock than when Luke Skywalker learned who his daddy was.) “Yeah kid. I’m your mother, Ivan is your dad, and Gerry is your grandfather.” Alex is impactado.

Lucia hustles MP out the door. Alex tries to understand it all. His mother died when he was little and Gerry is his dad, right? Is he the child that Ivan lost? Lucia calls up Gerry. She tells him what’s up and to come home immediately. Lucia explains to Alex what happened years ago, in the gentlest way possible. Ivan and MP were novios as youngsters. MP got pregnant and Ivan had to go to the States. Because people spoke badly of a girl who got pregnant without being married, Gerry took responsibility for the baby. Alex refuses to believe. His dad is his dad and this is a lie! “Yo no quiero! Yo no quiero!”

Gerry calls Ivan who runs out to see Alex. Camilo tells David what’s going on. David already knows the part of the story about Alex’s real identity, but he’s baffled as to why MP is going after custody. Camilo lays it out—“Because she wants money, and because she’s a bitch.” (Yep, he said it). Camilo continues the tale about the dead worker and MP’s accusations. Well, David’s got some juicy gossip about her too—the car that most likely hit someone, not a dog. The boys put their thinking caps on. Camilo asks for newspapers from the last two weeks to see if there have been any hit and runs.

In Casa Lomeli, Lucia is beside herself as Ivan tries to comfort her. Gerry goes to Alex’s room to speak to him. Gerry tells him this isn’t the end of the world. He’s a strong intelligent kid and he will survive this. Ivan is good and Lucia adores him. Ivan will be a good father. “But I love YOU!” Alex falls into Gerry’s arms bawling. Gerry tries to put a happy face on the situation. They’ll continue to see each other. He’ll sometimes be with Ivan and Lucia, and sometimes with Gerry and Caro. Alex wonders if he’ll have to spend time with MP, because he does not like her and she scares him. (Me cae gorda. Me asusta.)

In the living room, Ivan tries to raise Lucia’s spirits. “We will survive this!” He can’t believe his stupidity at getting involved with MP in the first place. He tells her about the beat-down he received on her mother’s orders which resulted in the death of the ranch worker. It’s MP’s secret weapon in the custody battle. Lucia decides to give Ivan his own secret weapon. She tells him about the woman a drunk MP ran down and killed some days ago. Ivan is beyond impactado.

Avances: Saul tells MP’s lawyer to bring murder charges against Ivan. MP says she wants the kid, the money, and OTHER things. Ivan and MP face off.

Labels: Fuerza