Caray, Caray!

Recap by Urban Anthropologist

Most of this is recitative, as there were only a couple of duets and only one short aria.


Casa McGuire: Ivan and Lucia get some private time while Alex is in school and Tony visits Carlota. Te amo, te amo, etc.

Ag Ass Office: Camilo and Antolin talk about security for their crop (or something), segueing into talking about Antolin's impending fatherhood. Antolin is excited at the prospect and tells Camilo there will be life after Lucia; he'll find another girl.

Casa McGuire: Ivan and Lucia talk about getting their own house although it bothers her a bit to be leaving her mother after everything that's happened.

Hacienda Curiel: Tony visits Carlota. They talk about Lucrezia.

Carlota: She doesn't say it, but I know she's destroyed.
Tony: The same as you, Carlota.
Carlota: She isn't getting over the loss. You never think that the young will be first to die. When they go first it's impossible to think about how to go on.
Tony: Don't keep thinking about this, Carlota; it doesn't help anything. As they say in the theatre, “The show must go on.” Make plans for the future.
Carlota: What plans can I make at my age?
Tony: I don't know about you but I have some.
Carlota: Tell me.
Tony: I always thought I would go back to the US to take care of my businesses. But, Carlota, when I think about that I realize it would be very difficult to separate from you. Carlota, I have much affection for you.
Carlota: And I do, too, Tony.

They move in closer for the kiss and Tony hides it from the camera with his hat. WTF???

Casa McGuire: Lucia takes her leave of the other men of this household to take her mother to the doctor. Benito drives Alex to Carolina's house, then drives off to buy something Alex reminded him about. Fausto watches, then calls El Gordo on the cell phone to tell him that the coast is clear because the servant is out and the chauffeur just drove off. El Gordo is en route, carrying his clown getup. He says he'll change right away and get there pronto.

Hacienda Curiel: Lucia tells her mother about Ivan's plan to buy a house. Lucrezia takes it very well and encourages her to go ahead. She has learned her lesson although it has been an expensive one. She even gives her blessing.

Casa Carolina: El Gordo – in his absurd clown suit – picks the lock on Carolina's house, then charges in at gunpoint. “Te mueves, si te mato! Sientete!” Poor Alex will probably have a clown phobia for the rest of his life.


Commercial Break that leads with a promo for La Que no Podia Amar.

Hospital / Casa McGuire: Lucia and Ivan talk on the phone about Lucrezia's reaction. He tells Tony, who is happy for them. After everything he will finally have his FPS (Felices Para Siempre) with the woman he loves. Although it looks like Tony would like them to live with him.

Casa Carolina: El Gordo grabs Alex and takes him out of the house with the gun to his head, threatening to kill him if he makes any noise. Alex is crying. Carolina is left tied up on the floor. Benito arrives in the white sedan. As he rings the bell Carolina tries to scream despite having been gagged. She moves around on the floor and knocks some things down. Benito hears the noise, but continues to knock on the door. He finally calls Ivan and tells him to come, then continues to knock.

Car: El Gordo holds Alex, who is now covered up with the clown costume, in the back of the car as Fausto drives. (How did he get change and get the greasepaint off so quickly? Placido Domingo would like to know). He orders Fausto to stop at a gas station so he can use the pay phone to call the boy's family.

Casa Carolina: Ivan arrives and Benito explains that nobody is answering the door. Ivan tells him to call a locksmith. [cerrajero] So they do exist in Mexico after all.

Pay Phone: El Gordo calls Tony from a pay phone to tell him that he has the boy and if they call the police they will never see him again. He uses a rag to handle the phone so as not to leave fingerprints. This is the first evidence he has any brain cells.

Casa Carolina: Antolin arrives just as the locksmith does. Benito offers the locksmith money for his trouble, but he turns it down. Antolin unlocks the door and they all go in to find Carolina on the floor. They untie and ungag her. She's almost incoherent, but we know she tells them what happened. Tony calls Ivan's cell and Ivan tells him that Alex has been kidnapped. Tony says that the call he got was genuine.


Commercial Break that leads with a promo for El gran Show de los Peques.

Casa McGuire: Tony sits on the couch, in disbelief.

Casa Carolina: Antolin and Ivan decide to investigate who bought the clown suit (disfraz de payaso). Antolin calls his mother to come over to stay with Carolina so he and Ivan can go out and look for Alex. She passes the phone to Camilo.

Costume Tienda: The shopkeeper explains that there was one clown suit that was rented a few days ago and not yet returned. He tries to hide behind the customer confidentiality thing (He's been watching too many episodes of La ley y la orden,) but Ivan and Antolin aren't letting up.

Street: Ivan speculates that the name and address given to the costume shop owner were false. Antolin realizes that El Gordo is the guilty party. It's all about money. This time he's dug his own grave.

Hermosillo Hideout: Gordo and Fausto arrive to a gloating Saul. El Gordo skimasks himself before removing the cover from Alex. He orders him to be quiet, then locks him inside. The second he's alone Alex prays for his dad, Carolina, and Bruno to find him.

Casa McGuire: Antolin, Ivan, and Tony start discussing next steps. Ivan only wants to get Alex back alive and well.

Casa Carolina: Carolina is freaking about what's happened. Arcelia tries to reassure and tells Carolina they will go to her doctor tomorrow; Carolina is worried about her pregnancy. They talk about Antolin having a heart of gold. Anvil watchers are getting antsy.

Casa McGuire: Continuation, with Camilo joining them. They conclude that El Gordo was the clown, Saul is behind this, and then speculate on who else is involved. Tony doesn't think JJ is involved. They talk about how kidnappers typically allow a family to stew for a couple of days before making the ransom demand. Ivan then says that someone has to be near the phone at all times.


Commercial Break

Casa McGuire: Ivan tells Lucia about the kidnapping.

Casa Carolina: Antolin finds his mother asleep on the couch. He swears on his father's grave that the criminals will pay with their blood. Arcelia tries to get him to chill on that.

Casa McGuire: Ivan is crying as he and Lucia talk.

Ivan: What terror he must be feeling. Tantas cosas pantosas. I can't stop thinking that they're hurting him, abusing him.
Lucia: We have to believe that the only thing that interests them is money. You pay the ransom, they release him, Alex comes home safe and sound. You think it was this El Gordo?
Ivan: Yes, but I know Saul has to be behind this. You know he's perverse and he hates me.
Lucia: Yes, he attacked me, but is he so perverse as to kidnap an innocent? It's too much.
Ivan: Saul doesn't have limits. Look at what he did to you. He tried to kidnap your mother. Killed your father in the process.
Lucia: We better go to the police.
Ivan: But if we go to the police....

Casa Carolina: Antolin reassures Carolina they will find Alex.

Casa McGuire, office: Tony says the same thing about the money motive. Ivan tells him to get some sleep while he takes the vampire shift with the phone.

Hermosillo Hideout: El Gordo snores as Alex grabs a box of cereal and a can of soda to keep up his strength. I don't know how well he can see in this light but he gets up to look at his captors' faces. Smart boy!

Casa McGuire, morning: Ivan sits by the phone; Tony tells him to get some sleep. Ivan tells him he needs to call David to find out if anyone gave Saul any money. Tony has decided to call the commandante de policia for advice. Benito informs Tony that Bruno is in Alex's room with his unwashed clothes and won't come out. He knows something is up.

Hacienda Curiel, breakfast table: Lucia – who can't eat for worrying – has to tell Lucrezia and Carlota. Son impactadas.

David's Office: David tells Ivan he hasn't seen Saul in a while and has had very little to do with him since he found out what he did to Lucia. He just knows he's desperate for money and that he grabbed whatever Esther had in her purse. He doesn't think their father is helping him.

Casa Mondragon: Ivan tells JJ and asks whether he's heard from Saul.

JJ: They kidnapped your son? But how is this possible?
Ivan: That's what I've been asking myself. Who could be so cowardly they would victimize a child? I suspect it was your son, Saul. I need to know what would make him do this. Did you give him any money?
JJ: No. [???] Neither can I believe he would be so stupid as to get mixed up in a business this delicado.
Ivan: You more than anybody realizes your son is the worst. Do I have to remind you of everything he's done?
JJ: No, that's not necessary. I don't understand how I could have such a miserable son. I was an abysmal example for him but to kidnap a child... my grandson, too.
Ivan: How quickly you forget what you taught me when I was a child. It's very clear to me that Saul learned your teachings well. Con permiso, Señor Mondragon. (exits)

Hospital: Antolin, Carolina, and Arcelia walk out to the red convertible. The doctor seems to have given them good news. Antolin, you really should consider trading in that chick magnet car for something a little more appropriate for a family.

Casa Galvan: Camilo interrogates Carmen about her recent contact with El Gordo. She had seen him a few days or weeks ago. He had told her that Lucia had given herself to Saul. What did she tell him? She had told El Gordo that Carolina and Antolin were married, that Carolina can see, and that Antolin now works for Camilo. And what was wrong with that? Camilo angrily tells her that Alex has been kidnapped and if anything happens to him it will be her fault, just as the killing of Gerardo Lomieli was. Carmen starts crying. Perra, you're more afraid of Camilo than of what could happen to Alex. But then maybe you should be.

Casa McGuire, office: Tony and the Three Musketeers talk to el commandante, telling him that they won't take any chances. He advises them to stall the payment if they can. He plans to investigate El Gordo. Antolin tells him he used a clown costume, but doesn't know where he lives at the moment, as he hasn't lived in Alamos for some months. He also has a different car. Saul's name comes up and Ivan tells the others that David last saw him in Hermosillo. Bruno has one of Alex's shirts and won't give it up. As Ivan and Tony escort el commandante out, Antolin tells Camilo that El Gordo has somebody in Hermosillo and that he knows something.


Commercial Break which leads with a promo for La Rosa de Guadalupe Sounds like the Scrooge edition.

Street in Hermosillo: Camilo (nicely dressed in a dark blue shirt left open over a bare chest) chats up a female food vendor about El Gordo's relative and gets a clue to Fausto's address. He tells her he's going to offer the man a job and she tells him the man's been out of work. He buys a bite to eat from her.

Casa de Fausto: Antolin and Camilo pay a call, telling Fausto's wife that they're there to offer Fausto a job. She keeps on washing the floor, not looking up, as she tells them he already has one. They tell her that El Gordo recommended him. When they tell her they will pay him more than he's getting she tells them that's not possible. They ask for details, but she tells them she doesn't know anything. Our two studly hermanos aren't buying this enchilada.

Barn: El Gordo gorges himself as the three idiots play cards. Fausto's wife calls him to tell him about Antolin and Camilo. She describes them and when Fausto repeats the description Saul ID's them. They realize that the Galvans are on their trail. El Gordo throws down his cards and tells the others he's going in to Hermosillo to use the pay phone, then orders Fausto to turn off his cell. They can be tracked through it. [rastrear] The three look like they're going to fight among themselves before this is over. True to form.

Hacienda Curiel:

Carlota: Have they called to talk to you?
Tony: No. The commandante said it always takes a while.
Carlota: Why?
Tony: To make us nervous. We haven't done anything except tell Commandante Aguilar that we're handling it in a private manner. We are desolate, Carlota.
Carlota: We also share your pain. How could anyone do this to a child? Nobody does things like this; it's inhuman.
Tony: Ivan is desperate.
Carlota: You'll see; Ivan will recover Alex safe and sound. He will win in the end because his fatherly love is huge.
Tony: I hope to God it goes well.
Carlota: You have to have faith. It will move mountains. The only thing we have when everything looked bad is [hope?] and nobody can take that from us. Nobody.

Tony still looks worried as the music swells.

Outdoor Cafê: Antolin and Camilo talk as they finish catching a breath, a bite, and a brew. They know that Saul was last seen in Hermosillo. Antolin is convinced that Fausto's wife knows something. They discuss whether Alex is being held in Hermosillo or whether the criminals are onto them and moved him back to Alamos. They finally decide to find a photo of Saul to give to Commandante Aguilar. Possibly one from the society page of the paper, por dios.

Casa McGuire: Ivan is crying from anxiety and frustration about Alex.

Lucia: My mother and I just got back from the cemetery. Is there any news? Did they call?
Ivan: No. All this time I spent searching for my son, fighting for him, and now I have to wait here for these wretches to call.
Lucia: Ivan, you can't lose hope. If they're interested in money they will return him.
Ivan: It's been 24 hours.
Lucia: That's not a lot of time. They are allowing time to make us anxious, nervous.
Ivan: Alex must be in hell. Alone, surely locked up. And I don't want to think of anything else.
Lucia: Ivan you have to keep it together [mantenerte entero] The only thing that's important is Alex gets home safe and sound.

The desk phone rings. Suspense music begins. Ivan answers.

Ivan: Talk.
El Gordo: Who's this?
Ivan: Whom do you want?
El Gordo: One of the McGuires.
Ivan: Ivan McGuire speaking.
El Gordo: Look, imbecile, we want six million dollars for the boy. You get that? And if you don't pay us the money I have a gringo willing to pay that. He says Alex is pretty, like a little girl.
Ivan: To get that kind of money isn't easy. Particularly into Mexico. I will need at least four days.
El Gordo: You have three.
Ivan: Where do I contact you?
El Gordo: I will contact you. No police!
Ivan: How is my son? I want to talk to him!

El Gordo hangs up and Ivan gets dead air. [Ridi, Pagliaccio, sul tuo crimine infranto!
Ridi del avidità, che t'avvelena il cor! ]

Lucia: What happened?

They're now in the next room with the others.

Ivan: They are demanding six million dollars.
Tony: Six million?
Ivan: We don't have that much cash on hand.
Tony: We'll have to raise it somehow. Sell shares, get a loan, call in debts. Don't worry.
Ivan: We only have three days.
Tony: We have no time to lose. I'll need to talk to Aguilar about getting the money into Mexico.
Ivan: I'm very afraid.
Tony: Of what?
Ivan: That they might do something to my son. The guy who called said he had a gringo interested in Alex. That he pleases him. (Lucrezia looks afraid)
Tony: Those are lies!
Ivan: And what if they're not? What if it's true?

El Gordo, en pocas horas, seria muerto.


Avances:

Nothing specific to tonight's episode, but there will be a shoot-out. I can't believe there are only four hours till the end.


Vocabulary:

cerrajero locksmith
disfraz de payaso clown suit
enseñanzas teachings
payaso clown
rastrear to track

Just a heads-up to the group: Since Monday will have a two-hour episode with a 7PM special and a possible cast reunion show on Don Franciso Presenta, the finale episode gets recap priority.

Labels: Fuerza