Caray, Caray!

• Gramps brings Monktavio to MC to make her happy.  Meanwhile, human Octavio muses over their future and how to make a living.  He considers leaving MC behind, with Gramps, while he finds work elsewhere.

• MC’s peaceful time propping her injured foot comes to an end when Lucia joins her on the lawn.  Lucia shows MC the baby clothes she is creating, but their happy moment is interrupted when Monktavio flings himself at Lucia. Shrieking, she informs MC of her monkey allergy. The beast is banished to the bedroom forever!

• Octavio attempts to sell 10 cows to a neighboring rancher. Sad to say, the poor quality cattle aren’t worth buying, so no deal, no money for our chulito.  He returns to the ranch to learn that he and MC are expected to turn out in some decent toggery for a formal lunch with the Riveras, old friends.  MC protests, but Octavio insists.  MC puts on a longer halter dress, similar to Lucia’s wardrobe.  No word on where or how she got it.

•  MC likes this soup better than the last one—so much, in fact, that she slurps it and cleans the bowl with her finger.  She refuses the wine, saying it makes you drunk. Octavio tells her she needs to respond to the toast with at least one sip, so she tries. However, Awfelia places a plate of snails in front of her at just that moment.  Her reaction to the snails results in a spray of wine across the table and onto Sra. Rivera.  The others protest, while MC explains snails are just poor river bugs and shouldn’t be eaten.

•  The hubbub stirs up enough adrenaline that MC flees the table at a run, with no crutch and no limp on her injured ankle. Octavio sends Awfelia to the bedroom with orders for MC to return to the table.  MC refuses, saying she knows she can’t eat properly, that God gave her ten fingers to eat with.  Awfelia snottily demands compliance and MC says “Andale!  Get out!”

•  MC hugs Monktavio and berates herself as an idiot.  This house has nice things, but it makes her sad and angry.  Octavio returns to the bedroom, where they discuss MC’s table manners. His anger softens as they talk and he lowers himself to the floor (literally to her level.)  He gathers her in his arms (and legs), saying that he is all she has and he’ll end up loving her. Smoochies and snuggles ensue.

•  Lucia shares a letter with Miguel:  her charming cousin, Ester, is returning to the ranch for a visit.  She doesn’t share that she intends to let Ester join the battle against MC.  As our cast members share their thoughts on Cousin Ester, we learn that she’s a meddler, bossy, flirtatious, bad luck, and pure hell. In a word: overrated.  MC, propping her foot on a stool in the kitchen and chatting with her allies, learns she needs to watch out for the new girl in town.

•  Meanwhile, the old girl Lucia isn’t letting up.  She comes to MC’s bedroom and explains that the dresser and mirror, along with the elaborate standing cheval mirror, are going away and into Ester’s room. She makes some catty remarks implying that MC isn’t good enough for real furniture anyway.  Ester is just so special and picky (like the princess and the pea?)  MC looks sadly at the large mirror.  The dresser may not be a problem, since she only owns enough clothing for half a drawer.

• Awfelia, always eager to turn the knife in MC’s back, comes to the kitchen to tell her the dresser and mirror have been moved.  MC keeps her cool and amiably says “Esta bien.”

•  Octavio returns home and notices the missing furniture. MC attempts a lame explanation, but hunky husband demands details from his sis-in-law. When she blathers about how fabulous Ester needs a fabulous room, he responds in disgust.  He loudly declares that MC doesn’t need a mirror, she never changes, she’s always fresh, beautiful, young.  Ester requires a mirror to see all the makeup she plasters on.

•  Ester arrives, wearing a skimpy sweater and the city version of Daisy Dukes. She flirts with Octavio and asks Lucia about his marriage. Lucia replies “It’s a disaster” and invites Ester to help her get rid of the bride.

• MC asks Octavio if he regrets marrying her.  He doesn’t, but he does miss his old life

•    Solita is taking laundry from the line when Ewwsebio arrives with the food.  He stays to flirt with her, bowing and doffing his hat (to reveal his greasy locks).  He gives her a bracelet, placing it on her wrist and kissing her cheek.  Gramps arrives and calls “Que haces aqui? (salud)  Ewwsebio leaves and the innocent Solita waves goodbye.

• Later, Solita is in the woods, gathering fruit (?), when Ewwsebio returns, bragging that Solita will know what a real man is like. He wraps his arms around her and slobbers kisses on her face. She pushes him away and tries to fight, then pokes his eye and escapes. She runs away.

•  Ewwsebio catches Solita a little distance away.  This time, he overpowers her and pushes her to the ground, climbing on top of her. [Remainder of this scene not shown on the broadcast, but was online.] Her face is silently screaming and then we see only a closeup of his hand pinning down her wrist, while her hand opens and closes, clutching in agony over and over. (I was so hoping she could find a rock and bash his head in.)

• Ewwsebio arises, smug in his triumph, while Solita lies crumpled on the ground.  He leaves with no acknowledgement of the tender plant he trampled.

•  Solita stumbles to the water nearby and wades in, fully clothed.  She washes herself, over and over, in a vain effort to cleanse the pain and the shame.  She rips the bracelet from her arm and throws it as far as she can.

•  Gramps wonders why Solita hasn’t returned.  We see her crouched against the wall of an abandoned barn, wet and shivering in her mute suffering, while images of her violation play in her head.

• Grampa goes to search and meets Solita returning.  She is still wet, feverish and shaking. He puts her to bed at home (no change to dry clothes??), promising hot herbal tea. She lies still, tears leaking down her haunted face.

•  Eww returns to the ranch, snickering at his adventure while Awfelia demands to know where he was. He claims that she’s his girl and thwacks his whip on his thigh in celebration.

• Two days later, Solita continues sick and suffering, as MC discovers when she comes to visit.  MC and Gramps feel that Solita was injured or hurt somehow, and they beg her to tell them what happened.

Labels: Indomable

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