Caray, Caray!

¡Que casualidad! Today is Raiza's birthday and Lucía is in town...what could possibly go wrong?

We join Raiza and Miguel at the casino bar,

"I owe you a great deal, Raiza, and although you won't believe it, you have been helping me spiritually."

Let's Get Outta Here Before My Crazy Wife Shows Up

Hold it right there, buster, she has helped you on your way to financial ruin,  addiction to gambling and alcohol dependency, as well as abandonment of your family and farm... OK, we realize that there has been some fast and loose editing, but are you going to tell us that she's also been taking you to church, AA and Gamblers Anonymous meetings and that has all been left on the cutting room floor? 

Before he can enlighten us about his spiritual development she proposes a toast and although he's been sipping brandy out of a snifter, he begs off. See, his wife has a keen sense of smell (actually, crazy people do, they can smell things that aren't even there). She becomes maudlin and confesses that even though it's her birthday, she's all alone. Much like us, he doesn't want to descend into her self pity, so he decides to complete that toast and gulps down some of that brandy.

What can I say? The crazy lady, Lucía, looks great in that scarlet gown. She's impressed with the casino... lots of elegant ladies. Octavio agrees and tells her that they love the gambling (even more than the men do), and as Maricruz spies around the corner, he nervously goes to seek out his brother.
When Octavio departs, Maricruz, wearing a well-fitted black and brown gown, slinks out of hiding and approaches her cuñada, much as a lioness stalks her prey.

Welcome To My Web You Pretty Little Fly

"Buenas noches, Señora Lucia."


Lucía  trembles slightly and is that a hint of fear (recognition?) reflected in those beautiful blue eyes? Difficult to tell with all that makeup.

Raiza is in a funk. She looks kinda great in a grey gown with black straps but with an unfortunate bulge here and there. Maybe it's just one size too small or perhaps she's retaining fluid... she's looked better. She whines to Miguel about the life she has chosen. He burbles that they are both destiny's toys and that liquor is the way to deal with the pains of love. She counters that love doesn't even exist but he reassures her that it does but that hate is stronger than love.

Does anyone understand... or much less care what these two are talking about?"
"Happy birthday!"

But not for long as Octavio is poised to join them.

Maricruz connects with Lucía. lucía mentions that Miguel had requested the evening off but MA had refused permission.

"Men lie," Maricruz responds.

Lucía wants to see Miguel. María A tells her that he's celebrating the birthday of a friend, one of the casino girls, and of course they are drinking but she agrees to take her to him. 

Octavio, anticipating an unhappy reunion hustles to rescue Miguel from Raiza and the bar. Miguel resists and minor scuffle ensues.

Where's security?

At her place, an admittedly jealous Doris (looking slim and sleek in a low cut lavender gown) is in a snit as she complains to Mariana that Miguel should be escorting Lucía to the casino instead of Octavio. By the way, Mariana is looking pretty good herself n a long airy camo-patterned gown (more attractive than it sounds). She tries to reassure Doris.

No, You're Not As Pretty As The Casino Lady But You Have A Wacky Charm

The scuffle persists...

Where's security?

With Raiza looking on, María A escorts lucia down those ubiquitous casino stairs.

"There you have it, Lucía. There's your flaming (flamante... my choice of available translations) husband."

Looks as though we're at Rancho Beige where Ester pleads with Lady Beige (Simona) to employ her hunk, José Antonio, and she gives her a few details of his qualifications and how their relationship developed. Simona seems dubious but not disapproving.

And Then José Antonio Did WHAT?

We are apparently going to have to accept the fact, far-fetched as it might be, that Ester has fallen hard for this uneducated country bumpkin and wants to settle down with him in this rural setting to raise a passel of barefoot kids.

Back at the casino things are getting ugly...

Where's security?

Lucía is humiliated as  MA castigates Miguel for drinking on the job and cavorting with one of the female employees. Lucía responds with a sound slap to her husband's face. Octavio complains that Miguel should have been given some time off to spend with his visiting wife and child, but a very unseemly and unsympathetic Maricruz  flat out lies that Miguel preferred to be in the casino celebrating Raiza's  birthday instead. Raiza heads for the stairs, shrugs her shoulders,

Excuse Me, It's Time To Floss The Cat

"Good night."

Lots of facial closeups.

Simona asks Ester when she and José Antonio are getting married. Ester explains that JA is afraid that she will abandon him like Octavio abandoned Maricruz. Simona explains that Octavio simply went off to work so he could provide for Maricruz.  Ester says that nevertheless, JA hasn't forgiven Octavio for going off and leaving Maricruz behind.

Back in his room Miguel quarrels with Lucía. Basically, she thinks they can work things out together. He does not. They are victims of destiny. Next!

In the governor's mansion Doris quarrels with her dad.

On the boat, Raiza collects her commission. She asks Maricruz why she hates these people. Maricruz shares only bits and pieces of her unhappy past with Raiza... in sepia flashbacks.

Back in Miguel's room Luísa is trying to come up with ways to hold their marriage and life together. She pleads to sell the ranch, move far away and assume a simple life. Nopis. He orders her to leave.

Doris has a simple request for her dad,

"Throw that woman off the island."

A simple request and a simple plan.

Lucia has reduced her pleadings to a simple request and a simple plan as well,

"Me by your side with your son."

She'll even go to work.

Well heck, Miguel is tired and needs to get some sleep.

It suddenly occurs to Lucía what she must do,

"I'm going to talk to Octavio."

Brilliant!

Ester vows that she has changed and wants a simple honest life with JA. Simona reminds her that with children comes responsibilities. Ester knows that. Simona agrees to hire JA. Did anyone doubt that she would?

Lucía thinks that somehow Octavio might save them (don't forget...this lady is crazy). It looks as though Miguel just wants her gone and tells her so.

Now she wants to die.

By all that's Holy... can she just shut up?

True to her word, the next morning she shows up at Octavio's place,

"Octavio, you've got to help me!"

Raiza and Tony puzzle over the strained relationship between la familia Narváez and María A. Raiza has learned that MA feels that Lucia was responsible for, in her own words, destroying her life. 

Lucía desperately doesn't want to lose Miguel. She would like to sell the ranch but Octavio informs her that the ranch is not worth all that much these days and is almost certainly cursed because of the fire she had set which caused Ramiro's death resulting in this  punishment from heaven.

"Give up and accept it."

"No, I can't accept it, because I will fight that punishment."

"Really? You'll challenge God?"

"Yes, I challenge Him to punish me with something else, but not take Miguel away from me."

Careful there Crazy Missy. Too late. Even as she speaks little Miguel Jr. (hey, he's learned to walk) is toddling toward a flight of stairs with some lady hot on his heels...

"Careful kid!... Nooo!"

 she's too slow...oops. Well now we know that the little fellow hasn't learned to fly.

Forget The Stunt Child... I've Got This

As Octavio tries to reason with Lucia there's a knock at the door, it's the pretty girl from the hotel desk,

"Is la Señora Lucía Narváez here?"

"Yes, here she is."

"What?"

"Your hotel just called with a message about your son."

"What's wrong with my son?"

"He fell down some stairs and was taken to the hospital."

Wow, doesn't word travel fast on the island?

Araceli is sad as Teo arrives and inquires,

"What's wrong, you've been pouting for two days."

"I broke up with Eduardo, Teobaldo."

He can't help it, a crooked smile blooms on that distorted face.

At the hospital Lucía is distraught as Octavio tries to console and encourage her. The Dr. comes in and announces that they're Xraying and checking him over. Lucía wants to be with him but the Dr. tells her that would just slow things down.

"Have a little patience."

Eddy awakens Miguel and gives him the news.

Teo gives Araceli a little pep talk. He'll help her out but she must do everything he says.

"We're going to make you adorable Eduardo jealous."

First We Must Convince Him That You're Boinking Me

Uh oh. This should be fun.

Well Octavio is certainly making Lucia feel better... let's listen in,

"Awhile ago you were challenging God, Remember? There in the hotel room, you requested that you be punished in any other way except losing Miguel."

Yikes! So God has even taken an interest in this TN? That should boost the ratings.

She asks God to forgive her, she was crazy (yes) and blind (not yet).

She asks Octavio to forgive her but he tells her it's Maricruz Olivares who she needs forgiveness from (well, good luck with that).

Miguel is going nuts with guilt and grief. He was supposed to be watching the kid but was drunk and conked out. Eddy tells him that it's partly Lucía's fault for going off to see Octavio. They head out to the hospital.

Octavio pops in on María A in her casino office to ask for a favor.

Miguel joins Lucía at the hospital. Their son has a broken arm and a mild concussion. The Dr. hopes that there's no internal bleeding. She tells Miguel that she promised God that she'd return to the ranch and never leave  if her son is OK. She tells him of her challenge to God, so now if her son is OK she must give up Miguel and he can get on with his life with someone else.

And That's Not The Worst Of It... I Also Broke A Nail

Octavio tells María A about Octavio's son and asks for time off for him and  for a loan to pay the medical bills. He is surprised to learn that she already has a detailed description of the ranch and all of its assets...

A 200 hectare (not quite 500 acres) ranch with cattle and horses, abundant water, several buildings, and a main house with all the utilities, etc,etc, etc.

She explains that he has been borrowing money using the ranch as collateral.

Good news from the Dr. The kid's gonna be OK.

Octavio can't believe that his brother has been borrowing against the ranch. MA assures him that he has and shows him the proof... signed IOUs.

Karim is anxious to head home but the plane isn't quite ready. He hates waiting but while he waits he muses,

"I'll return to my country and I'm going to govern. That woman has given me the biggest lesson of my life, if I don't take advantage of it  it's because I'm a cretin."

He's going to dictate beneficial laws for his people, copying the  best features of democracy without allowing it's vices to contaminate his laws.

Too late.

Mohamed advises him to seek asylum here 'cause he ain't welcome back home.

He confronts Mohamed with a puny little knife.

Ya Call That A Knife?

MA rubs it in a bit. He reminds her that he owns half the ranch. She knows,

"When your brother uses up all his part and arrives at yours, I'll let you know so you can come and back the loan with your signature." (extreme dimple alert!)

I'm Not Wearing Panties

Well, turns out that Karim's daddy'n'law has taken control of his country. Karim gives up the puny knife without a struggle. Mohamed tells him that death awaits Karim back home and that Mohamed himself will be welcomed as a hero.

MA notes that she has investigated and has discovered that the ranch isn't worth all that much and there's not a lot of value left for Miguel to borrow against. Octavio notices that MA is rather happy at the misfortune of his family. She admits that she does derive pleasure from certain people's unhappiness. She dismisses him telling him to tell his brother not to worry, he can take time off and will get the money to pay for his son's medical expenses.

She shuts the door behind him and turns to us to declare,

"You still don't know what awaits you, Octavio, you still don't know."

Yikes! No smile, no dimples, just cold hard eyes.

♫ I have a little list...♫

Vivi promised me a monkey and this is what I get? To whom do I complain about this bait and switch?

Mohamed is still explaining things to the emir. His guards will all return to there country with Mohamed... that is, all but Alí and Ramahad (and we care or need to know this?). Karim calls them traitors but Mohamad tells him that it is he who is the traitor and advises him to hurry up with gaining asylum because he as the new Minister of State will be seeking to bring him home to face charges.

He and the boys turn and leave as we see the lunacy return to the emir's blue eyes... he wails,

"I'm left alone, just now when I was going to do the right thing. It's all that western woman's fault, but I swear, swear that she'll pay for this."

Welcome back you crazy Arab, I was already beginning to miss the old Karim.

María A picks up the phone and learns that the emir was deposed. This will be a game changer but she's happy for his people.

At the hospital, Octavio wants a word in private with Miguel. They leave Lucía alone with Miguelito who has a bruised cheek but looks pretty good, considering... She smiles down at him. I'm touched.

Narváez Boys Need Their Beauty Sleep

 "Miguel, that was an unhappy accident. Besides, you know perfectly well that I tried to protect her as much as I could and could not achieve my objective because of you and Lucía."

Miguel admits that he feels bad about that and is ashamed of Lucía. Octavio points out that Miguel has pretty much lost all of his half of the ranch and now will need to borrow more to pay his son's medical bill. A totally defeated Miguel tells him that he no longer cares about the ranch.

Karim is visiting the governor who is sticking by him as a friend and who is offering encouragement and support. He thinks that things will improve, the emir assures him that they will not. The guv changes the subject,

"I've been told that you're no longer going to sell your part of the casino."

"No, your excellency, all of my disgrace was caused by that casino... or better said, by a woman in that casino, a woman who sooner or later will pay."

Octavio is fed up with Miguel. He will help out with the medical bill but nothing else. 

"Now go back to your wife because I need to go get some rest after all this bad stuff."

The Narváez boys do need their beauty sleep.

He leaves Miguel wringing his hands.

As things wind down on this episode we return to the governor and the emir,

"Of course you're referring to Señora Mendoza."

Yes, and now he proceeds to blame her for all his problems and announces,

"She has to pay. Already I'm preparing something that will make her bite the dust of defeat. Something to make her never forget me."

In the hospital cafeteria Octavio harangues Miguel for wasting money borrowed against their ranch. Miguel tells him that it's not much different than how Octavio has managed his own life. Octavio argues that he lived freely but didn't drag anyone down with him as Miguel is doing. Miguel reminds him of Maricruz.

Carlos

Labels: Indomable