Caray, Caray!

Irene walks in on the end of Vicente and Tiburcio's conversation wanting to know what exactly Vicente thinks Natalia can take away from him.  Vicente sings "Gold Digger" as usual, and he can't get talked out of it by Irene, despite her warning that he'll end up dying alone.  When she leaves, Vicente calls Tiburcio back in and tells him he'd better not breathe a word and NO WAY is that girl his granddaughter. He warns Tiburcio that he's liable to get homicidal to keep him quiet.  He refuses a call from Alina and keeps suffering through his chest pains.

After talking to Diego, Alina realizes that Diana has been lying every time she said she was meeting Karina.

In the new workroom, Brigitte the Brat tells Natalia to get over it--the old goat will never accept her, since she's a homewrecker.  Irene comes in and tells them that Diana runs away from home all the time, so not to worry.  Brigitte begs for a modeling job.  That might actually be a better job for her.  She auditions for Natalia and Irene and then takes advantage of their absence to show Diego her naked (or at least topless) body and ask why he'd settle for a crazy woman or a killjoy when he could have her.  Um…a crazy killjoy?  Diego throws some random fabric over her when he should be running instead.  Unfortunately where he runs to is the dressing room.  Natalia and Irene come back and Diego acts like he's doing something wrong and keeps signaling Brigitte not to say anything.  When Natalia leaves, he insists that Brigitte is the last woman he'd ever have a fling with.  Natalia ends up calling him while he's still in the dressing room, because he's too stupid to leave.



Carmen meets with Alberto at the fonda so he can go over the papers for the apartment that Chato's going to buy her.  This is news to Chato, but he'd already agreed to do things Carmen's way.

Diana is back in the swing of things with Oliverio.

Irma and Rodrigo say their goodbyes for the evening.  Irma's going to be reporting to Caprico tomorrow in a wig and glasses.

Diego gets home.  He's found out that Diana made a big withdrawal at the bank, but she hasn't been gone long enough to be reported as a missing person.

Vicente is upstairs still trying to convince himself that Natalia's not his granddaughter.  He's his usual grumpy self when Diego comes in to tell him they still have no idea where Diana is.  Vicente keeps insisting that Diego just needs to leave Natalia and Diana will come back.  Dude…all the more reason to keep Natalia around!

As a favor, Morales and Eleazar are looking for Diana, but haven't found any evidence that she's left the city.  Eleazar gives Morales Oliverio's address to check out tomorrow.

Oliverio should be concerned, the way Diana is Sharon-Stone-ing the ice in that bucket.  She claims to have left her husband for Oliverio, finally.

Brigitte the Brat fumes over Diego's earlier words and vows that no one looks down on her!

La Jaiba and the Crabettes plant rats at Carmen's fonda.  *yawn*

In the workroom, Natalia is supervising the seamstresses, then takes a call from Irene to look at some stuff on her computer.

Irma shows up at Caprico and hypnotizes HR guy with her posterior assets.  In her position as messenger, she takes the opportunity to snoop in Diego's office while ostensibly dropping of some paperwork.  She's interrupted by Natalia, who doesn't seem to recognize her.

Irene is busy meeting with Tad to go over the forms that will put her in charge of his money and his medical decisions, if need be.  Tad is, of course, sure that it WILL be necessary, and wants Irene to start taking charge now and getting used to it.  He brought a list of all their pending business…setting up the foundation, dealing with his paintings….

Morales goes to Oliverio's apartment, but he claims not to have seen her in the last few months.  Morales tells him that Diana isn't right in the head and tried to shoot her husband.  He leaves his card.  After he leaves, Morales asks about shooting Diego.  "I was just cleaning the gun and it went off."  He seems suspicious.  Diana convinces him with nookie.  Post-nookie, she tells Oliverio that her plan is to stay away until she's supposedly given birth, when she'll pass off another baby as hers and get money out of Diego.  Oliverio agrees to help her.  Dumb.  Ass.  Later, after he claims to be going out to get food, he waits for Diana to take a shower, then packs his back with some clothes and all of her cash.

Eleazar updates Diego on the investigation.  He's sure if anything bad had happened, they would know already.  Diego tries to ask Eleazar what to do if a chick comes on to you, who's dating one of your friends.  Not that it's happened to him, you understand, but, you know…a friend.  Diego thinks the friendship should come first.

Brigitte lets the seamstresses take a break while simultaneously hinting that Natalia only "thinks" she's the boss.  'Cause she's a multitasker.  When they've left, she calls Alberto to set up a lunch date.

In the breakroom, the seamstresses say they don't think Natalia's bossy, but they do realize she's seeing Diego.  Irma listens in.

Rodrigo's substitute nurse is complaining about not liking to take care of him.  He makes a face at her behind her back and then disconnects himself  and locks the door.  He calls Irma for an update and insists she take a picture of Natalia.

In the workroom, Carmen calls Natalia to tell her the fonda got closed and La Jaiba's plan worked.  She has to pay a fine and they don't know when they'll be allowed to re-open.  Natalia gives Brigitte the news and tells her she's going to go and take care of Carmen.  Saint Brigitte the Bratty says she can't leave because there's too much work to do.   And goes back to flipping pages in a magazine.  Natalia runs into Diego in the hallway and accompanies her to check on Carmen.

Rod gets the picture that Irma took and does dirty things to the screen.

Diana realizes Oliverio took all her money.  And most of his clothes.  She doesn't know what to do, but she "can't" go back to Diego's.

Alberto picks up Brigitte and promises to do something to help with the fonda.  Brigitte "confesses" that she's been so upset lately because Diego keeps coming on to her.  Annnnnd…he believes her and vows to do something about it while Brat smirks.

Carmen, Abdul, and Lupita are at a park near the house, but Carmen doesn't want Natalia to go there, just meet them at home.  Natalia tells Diego she knows her mom and Carmen is NOT well.  Eleazar and Morales pull up at Los 6 Garcia and see the notice of closure, so Eleazar calls Carmen.  She tells him about the rats and he's shocked at how calm she is and heads right over to the park.  Abdul's worried about her calmness too and begs her to just throw a tantrum or something.  Thankfully, Jaiba shows up to provoke a reaction out of Carmen.  Nobody messes with Carmen's babies!  Carmen and Jaiba start a wrestling match that should have drawn a huge crowd, but only gets them separated by Eleazar and Morales.  Jaiba runs off and El orders Morales to take the kids for some ice cream.  I vote Carmen gets some ice cream too.  Or possibly a good snogging from El.  That should make it all better.  Instead she curses Jaiba and cries on El's shoulder.  Eleazar offers his savings to help Carmen pay the fine.  "You know I'd do anything for you!"  Sure, Eleazar, anything but tell her you're madly in love with her!  Morales interrupts to announce he couldn't find any ice cream.

Back at Jaiba's, some dude is being fed by three of the Crabettes and Jaiba stumbles in, barely able to walk and with half her neon pink extensions ripped out.

Diana calls the house and asks Lala to get her mom on the phone.  Diana tells Alina that she's in Los Cabos, she's fine and she just needs some time for quiet reflection.  She promises to call.  Now, Diana thought bubbles, she just has to find some money.  Diana gathers up anything that looks like it might have some value.  Diego calls and she calmly says she just needed some time to think and to go ahead with the divorce.  Diego is suspicious, but he doesn't know what else to do.

Brigitte is trying on clothes for Irene when Natalia comes back and gives Irene the update on the fonda.  She complains about all the trouble Jaiba has caused.  Irene encourages both the girls to support their mom.  Irene and Natalia make faces at Brigitte when she says "aha, yeah…so what do you think of this outfit?"

Alberto confronts Diego about trying to "steal" Brigitte from him.  Right, cause she'd be such a trade-up from Diana.  Diego tells Alberto that it's Brigitte who's been coming on to HIM because of this stupid sense of competition she has with Natalia.  Alberto refuses to believe him and ends their friendship.  Out in the hallway, Alberto tells Brigitte that he talked to Diego and to let him know if Diego does it again.  Brigitte thought bubbles that he's so stupid and she's pissed that they didn't fight over her.  Now Diego comes around the corner and tells Brigitte she's a skank ho and his friend will find that out eventually.  Whatevs, Diego.

Alonso goes to Karina's work to accuse her of taking a picture of him with Irene and sending it to Diego.  What?  Did I miss something?  Karina whines that Alonso shouldn't be with Irene and she loves him and….  Alonso says she took advantage of their friendship and he's had enough.  He never wants to see her again.  Karina actually wonders how she's going to get him back now.  Seriously, Karina?

At the house, Carmen tells her kitchen staff that she has to pay a fine and she has no idea when she'll open the fonda again.  She has no way to pay them, so she understands if they look for other jobs.  Toño says he'll find a temp job, but Meche says she's going to help her sister with her food stand.  Carmen says she can come back any time she wants to.

Alonso and Diego discuss Bratgate.  Alonso wants to tell Alberto, but Diego says he'll have to figure it out on his own.  Diego is sure Brigitte will throw him over for the next decent prospect that comes her way.  Just for that, I say hire a guy.

Diana goes so far as to pull the paintings off the wall the next morning.  Some older woman rings the doorbell…it's the landlady, and Oliverio is three months overdue on his rent.  Diana calls someone from the phone book and says she wants to sell off everything in her apartment because she's moving.

Work proceeds in Irene's studio.  Everything gets hauled out of Oliverio's.  The dude who was being fed at Jaiba's turns out to be the inspector who's keeping Carmen from opening the fonda back up.  Rodrigo's doing well enough to stand, walk, bust a move, and carry his favorite nurse to bed.  Diana counts her ill-gotten gains.  Brigitte and Karina have a happy reunion at Karina's work.  Carmen buys takeout containers.  Alberto still isn't talking to Diego.  Carmen starts running the business out of her kitchen.  A photographer takes publicity shots of Irene, Diego, and Natalia while Brigitte stews over not being in the pictures.

Diana seethes when she sees the picture in the newspaper.  For whatever reason, Alina is still at the Cacares house and calls Diana.  Diana claims she's doing well, feels great, and is eating.

Rodrigo sees the same picture and says he should be there at the launch.  Irma says it's too much of a risk and he could get caught unaware by muscle weakness and blow his plan.  To prove it, she shoves him onto the bed and macks him.  Post-macking, Rodrigo decides that Irma will go to the launch for him.  He calls Caprico, as Diego, to arrange it.

A director gives the models, including Brigitte, their instructions.  Irene and Natalia watch the rehearsal and Natalia says her mom is excited about coming to the launch.

Carmen and Abdul are coordinating deliveries out of the kitchen and business seems to be booming.  Carmen offers to make a delivery herself, since everyone else is out.  Chato and Lupita come home just then.  Chato whines for a kiss and complains she's always pushing him aside.  She reminds him that he promised to do everything her way.  Carmen leaves Chato to answer the phone.  Carmen passes Jaiba's on her way to make the delivery and they exchange words.  She also runs into the couple who set the rats loose in her place and suggests they pay a visit to Jaiba's.

Diego brags to Vicente about all the people who are clamoring for the clothes.  Grumps wants results, damnit!  He refuses to go to the launch.  "You have my money.  Don't ask for more."

Paolo got the night off so he could go to the launch.  Mara wants to go, but she thinks it's too risky.

Irene and Alonso enjoy lunch.  He wants to announce their engagement during the launch, but Irene changes the subject.  Tad will be going, with one of the prospective buyers on his arm.  Alonso is still being a jealous fool, but at least now he's making fun of himself for it.  I don't know what he whispers in Irene's ear, but I'll have what she's having!

Greeeeeat.  Chato took orders, but he didn't write down who they were for.  Carmen comes home, grinning about sending some old clients out to Jaiba's.  Abdul tells Carmen what Chato did.  She's not terribly surprised.  Abdul is pissed to hear that Chato will be going to the launch with them.  As am I.  I'm so over Chato!

Diego breaks it to Irene that Vicente still doesn't believe in them and isn't going to the launch.  Oh, well.  Irene says it'll be annoying to make excuses for his absence, but what else can they do.

Even Rosa can't talk Vicente into having a better attitude about the launch.  She goes so far as to tell him…I mean "suggest" to him…that now that he's supported them financially he ought to support them with his presence as well.  And then, even though I called it, I'm totally furious to hear Rosa say, "What if they come to you for an accounting of their inheritance from Ms. Amelia?"  Vicente replies, "As far as they're concerned, I'm the sole heir, and they have no way of finding out different!"  And then Rosa says, "And you have it in your power to keep that from happening.  Go to the event in the name of the family unity that's always been so important to you."  I don't know if I'm more pissed to find out that Vicente really is cheating his child and grandchildren out of what's rightfully theirs, just to keep his iron grip on them and try to keep controlling their lives, or that Rosa has known about it all this time.

Carmen's old "customers" at Jaiba's lament that her food isn't nearly as good as Carmen's, but there's nothing to be done about it.  The woman lays the rats down on the floor, screams, and runs out, knocking over Jaiba in the process.  One of the Crabettes obligingly throws a pitcher of water on Jaiba to revive her.

Natalia's nervous about the launch, but Carmen tells her everything will be fine.  Carmen can't choose which of three "outdated" dresses to wear.  As Natalia's suggesting they do some alterations, although Carmen will look beautiful regardless, the doorbell rings.  A delivery guy brings over a box with…a sexy black dress for Carmen.  She assumes it's from Chato, but it's from Irene "So mom can look as beautiful as her daughters."  Come on, Carmen, you can't reject the dress!  I have to live vicariously through you!  What?  I know I'm not the only one thinking it.  Carmen doesn't want to accept it and Natalia realizes she's jealous.  "Nobody's going to take your place from you.  You're the best mom in the world."  Carmen agrees to keep the dress and wants Natalia to call Irene so she can thank her right away…but the call goes directly to voicemail.  Yes, Natalia, good idea…let's try the dress on!

Irene is enjoying some naked time with Alonso.  He wants a whole naked weekend and says "no buts!"  they'll figure it out.  He gives her a necklace for luck with the launch tomorrow.

Eleazar has Padre Juancho help him pick out a suit to wear.  Juancho's like "A suit is a suit.  Why are you asking me?"  Eleazar gripes, "Sure, it's so easy for you priests!  Black pants, a shirt with the collar, and you're good to go."  "Well, there you go!  You can still profess, you know."  Gracias, Padre, but no…if Eleazar were a priest, he'd spend 24/7 in his confessional listening to an endless line of women confess to having impure thoughts about him.  You know I'm right.  Padre Juancho is tired of all this clothing talk.  Eleazar offers him a coffee and asks if Juancho isn't also proud of Natalia and Brigitte, seeing them all grown up.  "You've known them your whole life.  Eleazar…you're getting old!"   Kimberly calls him to ask about her invitation, but Eleazar says he couldn't get one for her.

Rod's workout is interrupted by Irma sending him a picture of herself in her getup for tomorrow.  He laughs at her, saying she's "common," and sneaks back into bed when he hears someone coming from three counties over.  His substitute nurse is still freaked out, thinking she heard him laugh.  Rod makes faces at her as she prays.

Brigitte can't enjoy her dinner.  She's too nervous about the launch.  She gets a call from Karina while Alberto is in the bathroom.  She brags about being the principal model and says she can get Karina in just by saying she's Brigitte's guest.  Karina can't wait to see Alonso, who she's sure won't be with Irene because they aren't ready to go public.

It's time for the launch and the models are getting ready backstage, with Irene and Natalia putting the final touches on the girls and their outfits.  Irene gives them all a "thank you" speech/pep talk.  Brigitte's jealousy meter goes up yet another notch as Irene singles Natalia out for thanks.

Tomorrow: Brigitte trips on the runway and Natalia has to take her place; Diana (maybe) runs Natalia over with her car (or Oliverio's car…which she really should have sold if she was looking for money).

Labels: te-quiero