Caray, Caray!

El Refrito
Gabino and Alfonsina talk about the Carmina incident and working with Ugh-usto.
Elisa goes outside and sees Damián.

Lo Nuevo
He greets her. She is rather cool in her response. Damian notes this and offers to leave. She says she’s just surprised to see him. He says he’s come to invite her to take a stroll with him and reminisce about old times when he, she and Gael hung out. Elisa is surprised he remembers those times. Damián confesses it was a mistake to act like he didn’t recognize her in the street. He was just surprised. She turned out much prettier than he could have imagined. Elisa thinks surely he’s seen plenty of gals in Italia. He did, but none compared to her. She dreamily accepts his invitation and they skip off merrily into the evening.

Carmeany is in front of the mirror…as usual. She asks Lola who the dude in the garden was talking to Elisa. She is surprised to hear it’s Damián Arango. Lola comments on his guapísimo-ness. Carmeany says she wouldn’t know, she couldn’t see him. Lola thinks he’s like his dad. Carmeany asks if Ughusto is home yet. He is…and he’ll be sleeping in the guest room tonight. Carmeany immediately goes to see him. She’s miffed that he’s still mad about the little Gabino Mendoza tryst. She’s explained it to him already. Ughman really doesn’t care if she has a thang with Nasty, what he finds ridiculous is the whole “work with Alfonsina” excuse. He went to see Alfie and said he’s not signing any contracts. Meany wants to know why he won’t do anything that could help him. He doesn’t want anything to do with Alfonsina, her procesedora or her family. Well, says Meany, you better let Elisa know. The little scamp is with Damián right now. Having made her point the Orange-stained, teased mess of a gal walks out. I really hate this beech.

Oh poor Elisa. She’s got it bad. She’s hanging on every word. Her body language says “I worship you, Damián Arango!” He can’t get over how little has changed. It’s just like when he left. Elisa tells him a lot really has happened. He mentions not hearing any news from the pueblo and that his mom was his only contact with La Ermita. Elisa tells him that Gael wrote a ton of letters and never heard back from him. Damián is surprised to hear this. She just assumed he didn’t want to know anything about them. She figured he was mad at her since it was her fault his mom sent him away. Flashback to Little E and Little D on the night they ran away. They talk about fleeing and buying a house. Little D flashes the wad o’ cash his dad gave him before he died. They talk about missing their parents. Back in the present, Damián can’t believe what a crazy thing they did. Elisa says it’s the reason his mom took him away for so many years. Elisa asks why he decided to come back. I must interrupt myself to say how much the way she is sitting is bothering me. So unladylike! (And when did I become my mother?!) He starts to answer about needing to talk to his mom….and Sabrina strolls by and interrupts him (Is this is an important enough conversation to warrant crossing out a bingo block?) Sabrina is oh so friendly…at least to Damián. She fixes a witchy-with-a-B stare on Elisa before she leaves. Damián can’t help but notice. Elisa says she needs to be getting home.

Mommie Dearest is dining alone. (Give the bell a rest, honey.) Tonia asks if she wants dinner served. Alfonsina wants to wait until Damián gets back. Alfonsina gets cranky and Tonia it’s nice Damián is getting reacquainted with his old friends. This is news Alfie doesn’t want to hear. She tells Tonia to tell Damián that she went to bed on an empty stomach waiting for him to return. Guilt: It’s what’s for dinner.

Meanwhile, Carmeany is annoyed that Elisa went out without telling anyone. Lola tells her that since her dad and Carmeany don’t give a rats patoot, Elisa usually reports to her (Lola) The town is already speaking ill of her about Gael and now going out with Damián will hurt her rep even more. Lola defends Elisa’s honor and says she would never do anything so low…like meeting with a man “a esconditas.” Buuurn. Loose translation of the stand off:
Carmeany: You’re just a servent. Stay out of my bidness be-yah.
Lola: You’re a be-yah and Elisa is not the reason you can’t be happy. Lay off my gal. Stop making her life hell and respect her. It’s not her fault you are a bitter, fake-tanned hag with a rat’s nest for a coiffure.
Carmeany: Bitter? No, that would be you since the only guy who was interested in you left and married another.

Aw, do I *have* to recap a convo between Braulio and Lucio? Job hunt. Age discrimination. Keep fighting. Blergh. Don’t care. Oh, how’s Lolita? Yup, Don Lucio he’s asking again. Braulio just wants to know how she’s doing, what’s the harm in that? Lola is fine, but shouldn’t Braulio be getting home to his little woman? Later ‘tater.

Paloma talks to Granny about how much Begoña hates the idea of Paloma being the new secretary. Paloma thinks she should quit before she gets fired. Granny thinks not. No one should make her think less of herself and now especially she can’t quit. Wha? Yesterday Granny is all “don’t work” and today she is all “don’t quit” Granny insists that she keep working and show Begoña and everyone that she is capable and poor her if she quits. I heart Ramona.

Enrique comes in whining about his back and having to work like any other grunt. Dr. Dad’s smirk goes unnoticed. Mama Bear wants to go right over to Alfie and get it taken care of. Dr. says no way. He likes that sonny boy is starting from the bottom up. Mama B still doesn’t like it. Enrique doesn’t want them fighting on his account and dad explains that mom was already mad about his new secretary. Enrique doesn’t like the idea of Paloma being the secretary either. Dr. T can’t believe he has such a prejudiced family. Sabrina comes home. Chisme about some chick going bald. Sabrina fills them in on the Damián/Elisa sighting.

Best darn theme song ever and it’s too bad we have to wait until halftime every night.

Damián and Elisa laugh about young Gael’s fear of Ramona. Damián is glad that he and Elisa talked and cleared everything up. He really was afraid they had forgotten him. Elisa flashes back to her and Little Gael calling Damián and being interrupted by Ugh-usto who not only hangs up the phone, but tears up the phone number too. Jerk. Big Elisa comes back to the present as Damián is apologizing again. She repeats everything is cleared up and he says good bye. He leaves but turns back to kiss her cheek. The look on her face is pure Marsha Brady kissed by Davy Jones (I’ve made this reference before…oh yeah, LQNPA.) Uh oh. Here comes Gael and he’s pithed ™. Elisa doesn’t see the problem; they’ve all been friends for ages. Well, Damián seems strange to Gael and not like he used to be. If Elisa is too blind to see it, that’s her problem. He rips her a new one for acting so upset that Big D didn’t recognize her and she’s dying for him. He saw the emotion filled good bye. She’s hot for Big D. Elisa says it’s not fair for him to talk like that. He’s seen all she’s been through with the prueblo gossip-teers and now he’s doing the same thing. He has no right to tell her who she can and can’t go out with and if he has a problem with Big D go talk to him about it. He tries to apologize and she doesn’t want to hear it. Oh, and if he came to ask about her mother’s lands, she hasn’t had a chance to find out anything. She’ll let him know when she does and good-bye!

Well, the girl is barely through the door before the Ughman is accosting her wanting to know where she was. She finds it strange that for two days in a row he’s actually given a damn about her. He forbids Elisa from hanging out with that Arango boy. She asks why and he says because he ordered it and punto.

Begoña has come to call on Alfie and I love the actors in this show. Fabulous facial expressions all around. I mean really, I just can’t put in words the fantastic interactions with these two. Alfie can’t believe Begone has come to visit so early. Begone says really she wouldn’t want to bother her, but the news is really important. She fills in Alfie on the Damián and Elisa sighting (so…would together do they make Damelisa or Elismán?) Alfie is impactada but tries to hide it.

In the kitchen Damián is up for breakfast when Braulio enters. He says Damián probably doesn't remember him. Tonia is about to tell him, but Damián asks for a little time. He’s tired of everyone fussing at him for not remembering. Finally he remembers. You’re Lolita’s beau, right? Again, everyone should rewind and savor the facial expressions. Tonia corrects Damián and tells him Brau is her hubs.

Lola has rescued the amulet. She and Elisa talk about the previous evening's walk. Elisa tries to play it cool, but Lola sees through it. Lola thinks Damián in so handsome and if Elisa and he were to marry their children would be beautiful. Elisa says they are just old friends. Lola says she doesn't think Elisa looks at Damián as a brother the way she does Gael.

Florencia is shopping and on the phone. She's fussing at Damián for staying even longer in La Ermita. She wonders if the country girls are throwing themselves at him. She trusts *him*, but not the ladies. They say their good-byes as Uncle Pester walks up. Blah Blah. Bike getting checked. Vacay in Cancun. Massage in the Spa...or rather the masseuse (is that the feminine form?) Uh-oh! Quenia! Don't tell her you saw me. Blah blah your uncle better not be messing with me. I"m no fool. Whatever. Blah Blah. He likes 'em beautiful and with money. According to Uncle Pester, Flo is the same, but doesn't want to admit it.

Tonia asks Damián where he was and sort of freaks when she hears he was with Elisa. She tries to explain how much the two ladies hate each other. If they meet on the street Alfie turns in the other direction without even greeting her. Damián asks about Elisa's bad rep. Tonia says according to the talk, the girl doesn't do very nice things. Damián doesn't believe it. Tonia tells him not to get involved with Elisa. Damián says to watch what you say if you aren't sure what you're saying.

Elisa is working at Blanca's. Blanca notes her good mood and Elisa says she just woke up that way. Alfonsina storms in and THWAP ™ (?). That was so Elisa would now to stay away from her son. I hate this beech, too.  Elisa THWAPS her back! Oh hellz yes! That's so the beech learns to respect Elisa and that she is no one to tell her what to do. Alfonsina says she's going to pay for that and Elisa says can't pay more than what's she's been paying for years. Alfie has done everything to ruin her reputation. Alfie says she did that all on her own. Elisa lets mom-from-hell know that Damián came looking for her, but Alfie claims she knows that blood that runs in Elisa's veins. Elisa warns her not to talk about her mom. Alfie says Elisa just wants to ensnare Damián but she will never be the girl for him. Blanca throws Alfie out and has to hold Elisa back from pursuing her.

Carmeany is resting. Lola wants to know if Ugh is moving to the guest room permanently. Back and forth about bitterness. Lola tells her she's young and pretty but her husband pays her no mind. Meany reminds Lola that Ugh doesn't pay attention to anyone. Lola admires Meany because of her resistance. I don't quite get the line. Anyone want to explain it to me?

Elisa was very happy to see Damián again, but it's only made everyone mad: Gael, dad, Sra. Shrew. Blanca says Alfonsina can't get the ghosts out of her head and Elisa says she's not to blame for those ghosts. Blanca says that still didn't give Elisa the right to hit her back (disagree.) But let's change the subject--Elisa is the rightful owner of the lands! Estefanía arranged it all before she died and Lucio was in charge of all the paperwork. But why didn't dad tell her? (Just conjecture, but maybe it's because he's an ass?)

Gael ties to boost the productivity of the habeñero pickers.  Paloma comes to visit. She asks if he's seen Damián. Gael gets pithy. Paloma doesn't like Damián being back OR Gael getting jealous. He asks why she came and she tells him it doesn't matter. She realizes he doesn't have time for her foolishness since she's not Elisa. She starts to leave and Gael offers to ride her back to the village. She says no and that she always comes visiting him without asking favors. She sarcastically says ever since she was a girl she loves getting her feet dirty from walking so much.

Lucio visits Alfie. He wants a recommendation letter. She can't believe he still wants to work. She tells him to talk to Gabino about the letter. Thanks for nothing, beech.

Elisa visits Padre Lupe. She tells him all about the morning's confrontations and Lupe smiles and tells her she did very well to hit his sister. (I am reminded of Ed Wynn in Mary Poppins.) It's about time someone chopped that beech down a bit. He thinks she should explain to Damián though since Alfie is sure to give her own version of the story. She doesn't think she needs to explain anything to Damián, but she does think she should keep her distance from him. She doesn't need the problems...or the gossip.

Dr. Tovar explains to Paloma that lab reports need to be precise and she will have to fix them. She wonders if maybe Begone is right. Dr. Tovar is surprised Paloma is giving up so quickly and Paloma explains she knows her limitations. Dr. T is telling her that she'll learn when POP! Goes the scary Sleazel ™ of the blinding dentition and crunchy tresses. He looks way too pleased to see her. Small talk about Paloma and the beech finally gets to the point. Ugh is drinking too much and it's stressing her out.

Ugh informs Gael that the Santa Maria Procesadora doesn't want to do business with them any more. They're going to be focusing on exporting so they need to work with farmers who have more than 70 hectares (thank you CC.) Ugh says there is nothing they can do. Gael says there is. They can work the other lands. Ugh would rather sell everything than work those lands. (An aside: I love how Mark Tacher and Rene Casados seem to talk and move the same way thus strengthening the portrayal of the father/son bond.)

Elisa goes to the library to research habeñeros in greenhouses.

Tonia tends to the beaten Alfie. Alfie asks about Damián and finds out he's gone out. Tonia tells mama beech to lay off. Damián is a grown man. Tonia is dismissed for her troubles.

Damián runs into Elisa. He asks if she's going home. He offers to walk her home or to get some ice cream. She refuses and says he will not be inviting her anywhere in order to avoid problems. She flounces away. Poor guy. It's really not his fault.

Lucio goes to the procesadora for his letter of recommendation. Gabino has both sleeves rolled up today. He still has the stupid bandana and the crappy attitude. He and Maru exchange words. He tells her he knows she's always had a thing for Lucio. Gag-ino goes out to personally tell Lucio to scram. Lucio is classy and kindly asks for the letter. Gag laughs at him and calls him Abuelito. Gag tells Jacinto to get rid of Lucio and Lucio challenges Gag to do it himself. A wresting match ensues and the arrival of Damián breaks it up. If Gag hurts Don Lucio, he can forget the procesadora forever! You tell 'em Damián!

Avances:
You know I always miss half of what they say in Avances, but I did catch Damián telling Elisa he never thought he would fall in love with a girl he's known since he was a girl. Poor Elisa. She doesn't have a clue about Flo.

Labels: abismo