Caray, Caray!

Oops, did I say Omar? I meant Saul. Yes I did.

The tension in the room is so thick, Nepo can feel it. He wants to leave. But Chuy demands that he stay and listen to the whole story. He's going to tell him allll about these relatives of his.

But in the end, Chuy doesn't say much. Mike is indeed his long-lost cousin from the States, and all these people are his relatives. We all WANT to live together, he explains to Nepo, but it can be complicated. As for the bruises on MA's face, he slipped and fell. That's all.

Elsewhere, Mati and Emiliano commiserate over being left out of everything. Emiliano thought it only happened to kids, but Mati explains that when you're old, people act as though you're invisible. They'll have a conversation about you right in front of you as if they were talking about an object or a pet. Mati says Emil is the first good friend she's had in a long time. She asks him to call her "Grandma."

Ahole congratulates himself on another stellar performance in bed. Six minutes, Minerva notes. She is exhausted, frustrated, and bored.

Ahole is ready for more, but Vilma calls. She has a bad feeling about Adolfo. He's paranoid and a money-launderer. She doesn't trust him.

Room service knocks. Ahole is too busy to get it, so Mini has to wrap herself up in a bedsheet to answer the door. As she shoos the guy away without a tip, she overhears Ahole mention a secret Cayman Islands bank account.

Either Vilma is very dim, or she simply doesn't want Ahole to spend too much time making babies, because it takes him half an hour to get her off the phone. He assures her that Adolfo will get them the money they need. Then he tries to ply Mini with jumbo shrimp, but she pretends to be asleep - thwarting his plan for three more baby-making attempts.

Lupe tells Nepo she needs to postpone their date. She's too busy with all of these guests. Nepo assures her that a man can always wait. (Yeah! Make like a banana and peel, Plantain King! Hahaha!!)

Chuy explains to MA that he lied to Nepo only out of respect for the rest of MA's family, since none of this is their fault. Even so, MA has just a week to get them all out of here and be gone FOREVER. (Something tells me they're going to be saying "just ONE more week" for many, many weeks.)

Frida tries to treat MA's wounds, but is too squeamish to follow through. Lupe takes over, because poking at MA's bruises is way more fun than having dinner with the Plantain King. She tapes a big "X" on MA's forehead. She speaks proudly of her father's prowess in the ring and demonstrates a wristlock on MA. Hmm... she never misses a chance to touch him, eh?

In another room, Chuy vents all of his frustration at Carmelita, who defends MA. AS comes down to complain about their loud voices. They are interrupting her requisite eight-to-ten hours of beauty sleep. She and Carmelita exchange snippy remarks. Carmelita is especially irritated that Chuy treats AS with such deference.

Lupe and MA speak sentimentally of the past. She got the job at the RPs' company because her father was good friends with MA's grandfather. MA realizes he didn't know the old guy as well as he thought. In fact, he says, the more time he spends with his family, the less close he feels to them.

Lupe gets up to leave. MA begs her to sit and chat a little longer.

Wendy and Nepo are chatting too. He needs a new plan. She suggests using reverse psychology, as described in one of her magazines: he should play it cool with Lupita. Nepo is skeptical, but since it was in a magazine it must be true so he'll give it a try. But only for a little while, because he can't hold out very long. He's dated a little bit over the years, but there hasn't been anyone serious. He's always really wanted Lupita. Diego needs a mother, Nepo says. Wendy laughs, "What Diego needs is a girl." (The jury is still debating that one.)

It's something of a revelation to Lupita that rich people have problems too. Apparently they're not good at family stuff. MA starts to talk about the crazy clauses Grandpa put in his will to deal with various family problems, but Lupe cuts him off; she doesn't know what he's talking about. He says he'll tell her some other time.

MA gazes into Lupe's eyes, touches her hand, thanks her for helping him, and says he can't even remember where he was hurt. Lupe reminds him with a quick slap on the X.

In the ladies' bedroom, Mati is keeping AS and Frida awake, still looking for "I don't remember what." She says it's a matter of life and death. (Isn't she rifling through all of Chuy's stuff in there?)

Carmelita tells MA and Lupita that it's very late. (It looks like early evening outside the window.) MA and Gwaw-da-loooo-pay say good night.

Morning. MA tells his family they have just one week to stay here. Suddenly, AS wants to stay. So does Leo. They both prefer the devil they know to the one they don't. It's better than living under a bridge, Leo says. Frida thinks the Menchacas will pay off their debt and they can live on that money for a while. AS envisions renting a nice chalet or something. MA tries to explain that 300,000 pesos won't go that far.

In the kitchen, Carmelita teases Lupe about MA. Wendy bursts in, angry because poor Nepo spent all day yesterday getting ready for their date only to get a last-minute cancellation. Lupe is THIS close to breaking his heart! Lupe admits that she feels uneasy about going out with him. She doesn't want to encourage him. Carmelita encourages Lupe to take that as a sign that she should be turning her attentions to someone she feels good thinking about instead.

Thusly summoned, MA comes down for breakfast. Wendy sets upon him with gusto, offering to massage his wounds with concha creme. He hurriedly excuses himself to meet with Saul.

Upstairs, AS and Leo reconsider liquidating some of their stuff. They don't trust Sharky (the captions call him Gonzalo, did they change his name or are the captions wrong? my ears were too slow to catch it) and don't think he will give them a good deal.

Diego, not Nepo, comes to the diner with an unexpected gift of produce. Perla tries too hard (and in vain) to get his attention, but he perks up with Leo comes down. But Leo isn't so friendly this morning.

So is this Chinese restaurant (with Japanese music?) open for breakfast too? Or is it much later in the morning than we were led to believe? MA rehashes with Saul, who says I told you so: MA should have told Chuy the truth from the very beginning. Oh well. MA knows the 300 mil pesos won't go very far; Omar, er, I mean Saul suggests that MA seduce Lupe so she'll convince her father to let them stay longer.

(I am having déjà vu so bad right now! Will he put together a package for MA to seduce Lupe, complete with gifts and corny cards and an incriminating letter detailing his crass opinions of how this affair will benefit MA? No, probably not. But I can't look at Saul and not think about it.)

MA is offended by Saul's suggestion. He might be a schemer, but he's not a ho. He would never hurt a woman... especially a woman like Gwaw-daaa-looo-pay. She's loyal, industrious, blah blah blah, and unique. (Similar to what Nepo said to Wendy about her earlier.) So, instead, MA asks Saul to come to the house and talk to Chuy. Maybe if he can explain about the fraud, the guy will cut them some slack.

But Chuy isn't home yet. Lupe tells Saul she already believes MA. Saul steps out for a moment, and MA thanks Looo-pay for having such a wonderful big heart.

Check out Saul and his brilliant plan for MA to seduce Lupe. By all means, Saul, keep talking it up every chance you get. No way will Lupe overhear and misunderstand!

Next time:
Lupe overhears Saul and misunderstands; Wendy makes her move.

Labels: pobres