Caray, Caray!

Updated with new stuff in green.

Leo and Frida both have mixed emotions about leaving the Menchaca home. Frida says she'll miss "her people," but she's obviously excited about having stuff again. Leo admits that living in La Nopalera has brought out his creative side, but he still can't wait to get out of there.

Separately, but in unison, Lupita and MA both wonder and worry about the purpose of Vilma's visit yesterday. Maybe Ahole found out about Emiliano, or perhaps he suspects that Mati is hidden there.

JT gives Frida the equipment rental fee. (Net profit from the event was 1500 pesos.) They boldly state how much they won't miss one another. Then Frida kisses him and takes off. A moment later, Mati notices that JT is in good spirits.

After a particularly unsatisfactory shower, AS swipes the money. She has a moment of hesitation and prays for a "sign." The "sign" is a really big fart, which she interprets as meaning "go for it."

In another prayer, she promises to pay it all back just as soon as she's rich again. She knows 300,000 pesos ($25,000) won't go very far.

On her way out of the house, she is intercepted by Tomas, the Menchacas' paralegal. It turns out he was the waiter AS was super-snotty to in Episode 1. She doesn't remember him, but he sure remembers her. "Well, all you people look alike to me," she explains. She tells him to fetch her some coffee or the soup of the day. He says he's not a waiter here; he's a licenciado. He offers his hand for her to shake, and instead she ridicules him.

Ahole is giddy with excitement. Tomorrow is Monday and he'll tell the Board about the baby that's on the way (never mind that they don't even know if it's a boy yet, not to mention it doesn't exist). "Now they'll have no excuse to deny me the presidency!" he gloats to a despondent Vilma.

Later, Ahole's phone rings constantly. Vilma worries and he tells her to mind her own business. It's Adolfo calling. Ahole is fed up with his paranoia and refuses to answer the phone.

The Menchacas want to settle the debt as soon as possible. At first, MA tries to talk them into spending Nepo's money on other things; he says there's no hurry. Then he tries to back out of their deal entirely by offering to buy the house even though he can't afford it. The deal would be that they would all continue to share the place until MA comes up with the money. (I think this was Saul's idea. No! Saul's idea was to tell them the truth about the document and split the proceeds with the Menchacas, but apparently MA is too greedy to share!)

This proposal is, ahem, not met with much enthusiasm from the Menchacas. Chuy reminds MA they could still turn him in to the police. Lupita hurries out to get the hidden money.

Guendy and Perla say goodbye to the last of their customers; there was a rush this morning because there's a First Communion going on at the church. Guen goes on and on about how she feels such a cosmic connection to MA, blah blah blah. Perla says too bad - he's moving out. Guen tries to get more gossip out of Perla, but Perla won't give it up. In return, Guen refuses to tell Perla why Nepo will be happy when Lupita's relatives finally clear out.

(I keep skipping this in recaps because it's always such a minor detail, but it bears mentioning: every time we see Perla at the beauty shop, Guendy tries to teach her something about the trade. However, Perla is clearly NOT interested in the business at all.)

Later, Guendy tells Nepo the good-for-him, bad-for-her news. He is pleased as punch to hear it.

But the money isn't in Lupita's secret hiding place. (She leaves the hole in the floor open, where someone can step into it by mistake and twist their ankle.) JT suspects one of the RPs. MA says it certainly couldn't be a member of his family. Mati agrees - no Ruizpalacios would steal from them. (She doesn't vouch for the Romagnolis, though!)

[I'm amazed that no one has considered blaming Vilma or any of the strangers that were in their house yesterday. Or maybe Lupe checked it the night before or just this morning to confirm it was still there? If she said so, I missed it.]

 Lupe does remember hearing ladies' dorm room door close just after she hid the money.

MA says, well, what about Perla? Where is she? They yell at him: she got up early this morning to go to WORK. And if not being here is a sign of guilt, what about your mama? MA and Leo say she's in her room, resting up from all the stress of these last few days.

"She's not here," Tomas replies. "I saw her leave a little while ago!"

Next time: The Plantain King goes bananas; AS enjoys a nice meal. Is it possible to spend $25,000 on a single meal? How about if you buy a new dress for the occasion?

Labels: pobres