Caray, Caray!

Apparently not dining with the boss is a whipping offense at the Hacienda del Fuerte

(I am tired after an evening out and haven't fully corrected this recap. Will try to do that later tonight or sometime in the morning. But this is mostly done!)

NOTE: I tried very hard to keep my comments and speculations limited to what I recall thinking the first time I saw the episode. (And a lot of times, I found out new things about the characters after just now finally seeing the episode with CCs!) Please let me know if you think I'm giving away spoilers, because I truly do not want to do that!

Picking up where we left off:

Ana Paula is at the rushing water in the river with little Margarito and he falls in. She is able to pull him to safety but in the process she is swept away, while an anguished Margarito yells after her.

Miguel (Ana Paula's somewhat dipsh*t brother), and Tia Rosie are having a discussion about Ana Paula's whereabouts. Miguel is concerned about why they haven't heard from her, wants to start looking for her, but Tia Rosie doesn't seem concerned.

There's a knock at the door. It's Don Rogelio and his sister Cinthia. He announces himself as Paula's boss as Miguel and Tia Rosy look a bit astonished.

Poor Ana Paula is still being swept away by the rushing water and it doesn't look good! She's managing to keep her head up, but just barely.

Miguel wants to make sure that Ana Paula is okay. Of course she is! Don Rogelio says in his typical arrogant-annoyed-jerkwad tone of voice. Tia Rosie doesn't miss a chance to whine about their poor, impoverished circumstances. Don Rogelio gives her a curious, assessing look as she carries on. He has a very well-tuned BS meter and Tia is setting it off, big time.

Don Rogelio's BS meter is going off big time in the presence of Tia. (Click on all images to see a much higher quality version)

Miguel astutely asks, well, if Ana Paula is okay, how come she didn't come too? Don Rogelio shows a brief moment of alarm and sputters, "Well . . . " but Cinthia jumps in to save him and explains that she and Don Rogelio came alone to Tuxla and that, what a pity, they were supposed to deliver a letter from Ana Paula but it was left at the office (while the truth is, that JERK Don Rogelio opened it up and read it and then crumpled it up because it said that Don Rogelio was, you know, a JERK!). Ahem.

Miguel seems to find this a little fishy and still wants affirmation that Ana Paula is, indeed, okay. "Of course she is!" Don Rogelio laughs, a little nervously. Then Tia starts to suck up to Cinthia and Don Rogelio and mentions their concern for Ana Paula because Miguel is currently out of work.

Don Rogelio pauses, shrugs, smiles smarmily, gallantly takes off his hat and says that hey, he might be able to help with the job thing. Miguel perks up.

We cut back to the river, where a group of men are walking along the bank, headed by a cute, fresh-faced guy with long eyelashes. He admires the river and then sees in the distance a young woman (Ana Paula) being swept along in the water. He quickly jumps in to rescue her.

"What do you know how to do?" Don Rogelio asks Miguel. "Carpentry." Miguel adds that there is other stuff he can do too. As it happens, Don Rogelio has a friend who runs a construction company.

Rosy says they haven't got any food in the house to make a meal (I think?) and Don Rogelio sends Cinthia out to get something. Miguel goes with her, which leaves Don Rogelio alone with the scheming Rosy, which I think is what Don Rogelio wants. As the saying goes, "You can't bullsh*t a bullsh*tter" and Don Rogelio, being full of it himself, totally has her number. He keeps his eyes fixed on her, with this constantly skeptical/amused expression.

Don Rogelio is bursting with curiosity about the family's relationship with Bruno. As soon as Cinthia and Miguel have left, Don Rogelio bursts forth with an abrupt question about how they know Bruno. (Jealousy, thy name is Rogelio!) Tia more or less gives an accurate but brief assessment of the troubles they've had and how Bruno helped, as Rogelio listens intently.


VIDEO CLIP: You can't bullsh*t a bullsh*itter: Don Rogelio asks how they know Bruno. (Link goes to streaming Flash clip hosted on my site. File is high-quality, so if it stalls, wait for it to fully load before playing.)

Cute young guy gallantly carries a now-unconscious Ana Paula out of the river. He does some CPR on her and soon she is spitting up water and is okay. (Note, Ana Brenda looks especially pretty here, with no makeup and with mud in her hair. Very fresh and natural. Not that she looks bad or overly-made-up usually, or bad without mud in her hair. I'm just saying.) When Ana Paula stands up, she seems to have an immediate connection with cute young guy, who turns out to be Gustavo Duran (played by Jose Ron), an engineer of hydraulics. Gustavo notes that she got some scrapes on her arm, but she says she's okay. She keeps smiling and gazing at him with unfettered happiness and he smiles back.

It's unfair that someone be so pretty when she has mud in her hair. I'm just saying.

Meet Gustavo. (It's a waste for men to have lovely eyelashes like this. Well, I think so.)

Tia Rosy continues the story about Bruno helping, and says something about how concerning it is that they owe Bruno now. Rogelio says, with a flick of his wrist and an almost sarcastic tone, don't worry, he'll take care of it all. Rosy is grateful, but then laments, this will mean that her niece will now be in debt to Don Rogelio! (Which I suspect is the whole point in Don Rogelio's offering to cover the debt, am I right?) Don Rogelio replies with a expansive sweep of his hands, "No, you guys owe me NOTHING!" (Yeah right!) He has this wolf-in-sheep's clothing smile on his face.

This prompts Rosy to start sucking up to him, telling him what a great guy he is, how lucky Ana Paula is to be working for him, yadda yadda. Rogelio then says (smarmily) that he knows he's got a difficult personality (NO REALLY?) and that Paula seems to be a very good nurse. At this Rosy starts listing off all the virtues of Ana Paula, that she's a hard worker, very serious, and she doesn't have time for a boyfriend, oh no no, not our hardworking Ana Paula. Rogelio gets a gleam in his eye in reaction to that last little tidbit about Paula not having a boyfriend.

He seems to like the idea that Ana Paula doesn't have a boyfriend.

But the boyfriendless status may be of short duration, if we judge how Ana Paula is getting along with that cute Gustavo guy at the river bank. Their conversation yields several important facts: She's a nurse, his sister is a nurse, wow, what a coincidence. Ana Paula mentions that even though she's currently employed, she's looking for other nursing work and Gustavo says his sister can probably help with that. Wow, more coincidences! They chat some more and there are many happy, innocent smiles of the young and idealistic.

Rosy and Miguel are fixing a meal and Don Rogelio is on the phone with his friend David (the actor looks a little bit like a younger Tom Berenger to me) about getting Miguel a job. David runs a construction company in some fancy high rise building. David is happy to go along with this. Don Rogelio gives a business card to Miguel and tells him to go see that guy about a job. Miguel thanks him. Just then Rosy starts carrying on about the Ana Paula's doves, and how much they miss Ana Paula. (Since Rosy doesn't like the doves, is this her way of hinting around that she'd like to unload them on Cinthia and Rogelio?)

Bruno is greeting an older man named Federico in a courtyard. They start talking business about Hacienda del Fuerte and Don Rogelio. They're talking about a contract that Rogelio's dad made 10 years ago. There was a special agreement that Rogelio's company would supply Federico's company with the best quality cattle. But now Don Rogelio may not renew the contract. Bruno says that Rogelio has never forgiven Vanessa for dumping him when he was still in his hospital bed after the accident, but he thinks that Rogelio never stopped loving her. Federico thinks it's a shame what happened, but what can he do, his daughter couldn't handle Rogelio's paralysis. Bruno asks after Vanessa, she's doing okay, has been married for three years but doesn't have any kids.

Federico and Bruno talk business.

We cut to Don Rogelio rolling down the window of his black car to look at a young woman (Vanessa) getting into a car parked across the street. He has a brooding look on his face. As soon as her car pulls away he tells Hugo (his driver/assistant) to go as well, and something about seeing Cinthia.

Ana Paula and Margarito are in town, Ana Paula still looks a bit soggy and she has those scrapes on her arm. Bruno approaches them and is concerned over her appearance. She explains about the river and says she's fine. They all agree to return to the hacienda.

We're at the mall in Tuxla and Cinthia and Don Rogelio are at a restaurant. Cinthia is drinking something and (it seems incongruous to me) Don Rogelio is nibbling on strawberries. "Don't lie to me," Cinthia says. "This is the same as always." "I don't know what you're talking about," Don Rogelio replies, between bites of strawberry. She says that he often will manipulate people through their relatives, like what he's doing now with Ana Paula's family. Rogelio arrogantly says that Paula has to know who's boss (more or less) and once she learns that, she can be cut loose. (He is SUCH a jerk!)

He checks his phone and tells Cinthia he has things to deal with. Then their discussion goes to David, the construction guy, and I think Cinthia might like to go out with him ("he's single, handsome . . . ") but Rogelio nixes that, saying that David is his friend and a business associate and he doesn't want trouble. Cinthia again starts in with the old complaint about how Don Rogelio doesn't want her to have her own life, yadda yadda, and then up comes the handsome David to join them.

Back at the hacienda, Ana Paula is telling Bruno that she's made up her mind. She doesn't want to deal with that jerk Rogelio Montero (she always uses his first and last name, I notice!) and she wants to look for work in Tuxla. She apologizes because she knows she owes him money, but she swears she'll pay it all back. He tries to convince her not to go, while also saying it's not the money that concerns him. She cuts him off and again explains she has her standards, her strong character, and that Rogelio Montero guy is such a total jerk to everyone, she can't tolerate it.

Bruno starts to tell Ana Paula a story about how his father and Don Rogelio's dad were associates, but that his dad lost all his land to Don Rogelio's dad due to "bad management," but that he (Bruno) doesn't believe it. Bruno wants to stick around and get proof that there was wrongdoing and then get his land back.

Then we cut to Bruno and Ana Paula by that same river, riding horses. It seems like Bruno has a lot of time to take Ana Paula on nice outings. As he helps her dismount there seems to be a fleeting moment where he holds her too close/too long and she glances at him nervously. They go to admire the river. Bruno stands close as she smiles and looks dreamy, I suspect thinking about that cute Gustavo guy she met yesterday.

Still lovely without the mud in her hair.

And speaking of that cute Gustavo guy, he's talking to that handsome David guy at the high rise office building. Turns out that Gustavo works for David. Small world, isn't it? Gustavo has some studies (or something) on San Gabriel (the little town nearest the Hacienda del Fuerte). David is keen to see the papers. David says that some owner (I think Don Rogelio?) is interested in a commercial district? [I MISSED A LOT HERE] Anyway, it seems like their meeting went well. As Gustavo leaves David's office, in walks our own Miguel, brother of Ana Paula, to see about the job that Don Rogelio set up for him. (My my, the world gets smaller and smaller!)

A brief conversation between Handsome David and Miguel. David is friendly and can get Miguel work, even if it won't be carpentry. Miguel thanks him.

Handsome David is able to offer Miguel work.

Tia Rosie has invited a friend over, the same lady who was selling her jewelry in the last episode. She tells the friend that she has a lot of news to tell her, but first needs a favor. She hands over Don Rogelio's business card and asks that the lady ask her kids (who use the INTERRRRRNET—she loves to roll those RRRRRs!) to look up more info on him.

Dany, Ana Paula's sweet blonde-haired friend, is showing her nursing paperwork and qualifications to Mercedes, and attractive woman with strawberry blondish hair who is in charge of the nurses at the local hospital. Mercedes is very pleasant and says if they have a need for a nurse with her qualifications, they'll let her know! As soon as Dany walks off, in comes cute Gustavo, who (AMAZINGLY IN ANOTHER COINCIDENCE!!!!1!!!) is the brother of Mercedes! He gives her a kiss on the cheek and tells her he's so thrilled because he met the most wonderful girl, and she lives in Tuxla.

Back at the hacienda, Ana Paula is chatting with Maria (the housekeeper played by Ana Martin) in Don Rogelio's office, about her owing money to Bruno, and how she'd like to get work in Tuxla and be closer to her family. The phone rings and Tia Rosie for Ana Paula. Ana Paula tells Tia that she's quitting because her boss is not a good person. "What makes you say this?" Tia trills. "Your boss is enchanting!" Then it all comes out, that Don Rogelio and Cinthia visited and how great they were. Miguel gets on the phone to say how he's pleased with his new job that her boss got for him. As Ana Paula is trying to adjust to all of this, in comes Hugo (Don Rogelio's driver/assistant) with the big birdcage with the doves. She's delighted with the doves but is obviously overwhelmed with all this new info. Tia puts more guilt on her about remaining there, and you can tell that it's a lost cause, Ana Paula is going to *have* to stay now!

Cinthia tells Ana Paula how Rogelio helped out her family and got Miguel a job. She indicates [I think] that this is a way for Rogelio to show that he is sorry for his bad treatment of Cinthia. Cinthia wants Ana Paula to assure her that she'll say. PLEASE. (You can see the desperation in Cinthia's face, like she's thinking to herself, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't make me be the caregiver for my jerkwad of a brother again! PLEASE!!!) Ana Paula looks thoughtful.

Tia is assuring Miguel that Ana Paula is doing fine, or does he doubt that Don Rogelio, the guy that got Miguel a job, is anything less than totally awesome and wonderful? Miguel is naturally grateful to Don Rogelio, but at the same time has suspicions. Why did he cover their debt to Bruno? Tia tries to assure him that all is fine.

At the hacienda, Ana Paula comes to Don Rogelio's room. It's daylight but he's seated up in his bed. She says that she is not going to accept Don Rogelio covering the debt to Bruno, that she will continue working in order pay off Bruno herself. She wants to know if this is okay but if not, she can leave the job. He gives his best dark, jerkwad expression, and they both tilt their chins up defiantly, as if to indicate that they're both not going to take any BS from the other.

We cut back to Tia, who has gotten a visit from her neighbor friend again. Neighbor delivers the info her kids found out about Don Rogelio on the INTERRRRRRRNET. Turns out that Don Rogelio is super-rich, one of the richest men in Mexico. Tia excitedly flaps her fan at herself, in almost orgasmic glee at this news.

So . . . Ana Paula says to the grumpy-looking Don Rogelio. Do I stay or do I go? He sighs and is silent and brooding for a long moment, then shrugs and says, "Okay, stay." (Did we really doubt that he would say anything else?) He tells her to start working. He points to some paperwork and instructions on how to do the therapy on his legs.

Pretending that he has the think about whether he wants her to stay or not!

She starts massaging his hairy legs with lotion as he watches. The "Corre!" song plays and we see him look very un-jerkwad and just plain . . . I don't know . . . infatuated? Sad? Soulful? Brooding? Probably all of these, as he watches her doing her therapy. He comments that this is the first time in a long time that anyone has touched him. They discuss the fact that he still has sensation in his legs, but can't move them. She says that she looked up his case and talked with her teachers about his particular treatment. He seems almost embarrassed or abashed and says that she is very professional. There's a wistful tone to his voice as if he thinks "professional" is also kind of "impersonal" and he wishes for a more "personal" attention from her. (Upon re-viewing this scene, I'm not sure if his reaction is him hoping for more "personal" attention, or that he's just impressed/flattered that she was so thorough.)

Taking a break from being a butthead for a moment, Rogelio looks on wistfully as Ana Paula performs therapy on his legs.

She then says that he would have done better to do his therapy/exercises earlier, because the tone in his legs would be in better shape now. This angers him, and he says that nobody tells Rogelio Montero (love how he refers to himself in the third person!) what to do. He reminds her, harshly, that she is simply an employee and she should know her place. (Wow, the jerkwad side of him didn't take long to resurface!) She replies that she knows her place as an employee, but in matters of his health, it is her duty to tell him the doctor's instructions.

VIDEO CLIP: Ana Paula gives Rogelio therapy as he looks on.

Tia Rosy's friend continues with what was learned on the INTERRRRRRNET about Don Rogelio. He has this enormous hacienda that he inherited from his grandfather (?). He is one of the principal suppliers of meat in the country. "Rogelio Montero isn't just rich, he's a millionaire!" the two ladies cackle. Also a big part of his companies are in construction (??). At this point, Miguel comes out of another room to say that he got a letter from Ana Paula. (Or is sending one to her?) This is when Tia Rosie lays on about how she can't work anymore because of her ill-health (bad heart). Of course it's BS, but Miguel can't know that and is very concerned. Says he'll work harder to take care of her.

That evening at the hacienda, Ana Paula admits to Maria the housekeeper that basically she's not leaving like she'd wanted, because Don Rogelio helped her brother get a job. Maria is (I think) trying to point out that bringing Ana Paula's doves to her was a nice gesture on Rogelio's part, but Ana Paula figures that was Cinthia's idea.

Cinthia is in Don Rogelio's room and he's seated in his bed. Cinthia mentions that Ana Paula's doves are called "Romeo and Juliet" which they think is really corny. In a rare moment of levity for Don Rogelio, he genuinely laughs and takes great amusement that the nurse has such a romantic streak. They both laugh for a bit. Maria comes in as Cinthia leaves the room, still laughing.

Maria queries Don Rogelio about all the things he's done for Ana Paula—bringing back the doves, getting her brother a job—was all this done out of pride? (Because Ana Paula has stood up to him and wants to leave?) He doesn't answer her, he just asks for Hugo to come in and help him with something.

Ana Paula and her doves.

It's nighttime and Ana Paula is talking to the doves. She misses her family and doesn't like this "insupportable" man, but she's going to stick it out. Little Margarito sneaks in through the window and gives her some flowers. Maria then comes in. Margarito says it's time for dinner they are going to head for the kitchen to eat with the other servants, but Maria stops Ana Paula and says that Margarito can join them in the kitchen, but Ana Paula . . . no. There is ominous music playing as Maria delivers the dire news—Ana Paula is expected to eat all her meals in the dining room, with that odious Rogelio Montero! (Okay, Maria didn't say that last part, but you know that's what Ana Paula is thinking.) Ana Paula looks impactada.

Dany has come to visit Ana Paula's doves and must be reassured by Miguel that they're now with Ana Paula at the hacienda. He then tells her that he got a job and decides this is the time to declare himself and tells Dany that he loves her ("te quiero"). Dany is very receptive to this and they hug.

It's mealtime and Cinthia sits down at the dining room table, declaring that she's hungry. Don Rogelio says they can't start eating until Paula is there. (He seems to enjoy informing Cinthia of this.) At Cinthia's surprised reaction, he adds (with maybe a trace of defensiveness?) that he wants Ana Paula to attend to him much better than "las otras" (the many previous nurses that he seemingly went through like Kleenex). Maria then informs him that Paula is eating in the kitchen. Don Rogelio seems a bit surprised by this, asking, "Wasn't she informed that I want her here?" Maria says, "Yes, but she said she is eating with the other employees." Don Rogelio gets this amused look on his face, as if he's thinking, "Oh, she thinks that, does she?" He's looking forward to having it out with this señorita, it seems to me.

Miguel instructs Dany to close her eyes, he's got a surprise for her. It's a delicately carved wooden heart with "D" and "M" on it. (After all, Miguel is a carpenter.) Dany is delighted. Miguel says that he's been wanting to give it to her for a while but was afraid. Dany says some sweet things to him and they kiss.

Miguel's gift to Dany.

In the kitchen, Consuelo is serving up food for Margarito, Ana Paula, and Efrain. Ana Paula offers to help but Consuelo wants to be the one serving Efrain as she places a possessive hand on his shoulder. We hear a thump of a door and in wheels Don Rogelio, who was probably looking forward to this confrontation with Ana Paula. He scowls and says she is to eat with them in the dining room. Ana Paula replies with some boldness that she is staying in her place which is with the other servants. (This is obviously in reference to the conversation they had earlier where Don Rogelio nastily reminded her that she was just an employee and to remember her place.) Oh my, this does not go over well at all. Don Rogelio snaps his whip on the table, which frightens little Margarito. He growls that as an employee it is her place to do what her employer says! Then he rolls out. Everyone is pretty alarmed and Ana Paula hugs little Margarito and apologizes to the other employees for the upset.

Spoiling everyone's appetite in the kitchen.

Hey dude, she's just trying to remember to keep in her "place" like you told her to.

It's morning and Cinthia asks little Margarito what happened the night before when her brother stormed into the kitchen after Ana Paula. Margarito relates everything and also makes some mention about how Consuelo is flirting with Efrain like she often does, and that she obviously likes him. Cinthia seems interested/jealous to hear this.

In the dining room, Ana Paula and Maria are preparing the table and Rogelio comes in. Ana Paula says something about how Hugo helps Rogelio dress and asks if Rogelio would prefer that she do this task instead? Rogelio says no. Then Ana Paula steps back a bit, as if to take a place standing in attendance, like the servant that she is. But Rogelio gestures that she is to sit down and eat at the table. Rogelio tells Maria to serve them; Maria is a bit confused and asks if they are going to wait for Cinthia to come, Rogelio says no. Maria brings over a pitcher of juice and starts to pour it for Paula, but Paula stops her and says to pour it for Rogelio first—she is the employee and he the employer, after all. Maria does so, as Rogelio gives Ana Paula a long, steely, assessing look, with some measure of respect (or something) in it. Maria senses the vibes going on there and leaves to get breakfast. The "Corre!" song plays so we officially know there's a "moment" between Ana Paula and Rogelio going on. Rogelio gestures that Ana Paula give him her glass, and he pours juice for her, all the while giving her that same stern, assessing, and admiring look.

Having their little "moment" as he fills her juice glass.

VIDEO CLIP: Ana Paula's and Rogelio's "moment" at the breakfast table.

At the construction office building of Handsome David, we see that that cute Gustavo guy is meeting none other than Miguel. Miguel is going to do work for him as a driver, delivering sometimes delicate items, I think.

Ana Paula and Margarito are at the river again, which sort of surprises me, considering how well their last time at the river went. They stay safely away from the water, and Ana Paula seems to be enjoying sitting by the river as she obviously thinking back to meeting that cutie Gustavo there earlier.

Gustavo gives some papers to Miguel to deliver. He calls Tia Rosa's house and I think he talks about helping Ana Paula get work in town and Tia is not at all pleased about that. Tia Rosy is upset and hangs up the phone and curses Ana Paula and says she won't do this.

Ana Paula is talking to Margarito about continuing his studies/education. She then remembers that she was supposed to meet someone that weekend (Gustavo) but that was before she decided to stay working at the hacienda.

Don Rogelio is asking Bruno about helping Ana Paula's family. Bruno says he didn't think it was something worth mentioning before. Don Rogelio asks Bruno if he has any particular interest in Paula. (Oh Don Rogelio, you are so transparently jealous!) Bruno has a weird google-eyed look as Don Rogelio keeps staring at him, waiting for an answer.

END OF EPISODE!!

VIDEO CLIP: Univision's avance for Episode 4.

I know I went a little nuts with the screencaps, and if I have a chance, I will post some video clips (like I did sometimes with Eva Luna). Hey, what can I say, I'm all excited about this new novela!

Labels: no-podia