Caray, Caray!

Diego doesn't hear a thing Alberto says after he hears that he's married to Natalia…he wants to talk to her first and Alberto grudgingly picks up the phone.

Natalia goes out to the car and happily announces to Andres that she just got a job offer.  He's suspicious.  Alberto's call comes through and she agrees to talk to Diego, annoyed.  Andres says he'll take her to Alberto's office, but he's worried that the PI hired by the Cacares is nosing around about her and that it doesn't bode well.  For some ridiculous reason, she agrees it would be a good idea for him to join her at the appointment.

Gino leaves Luchón in charge of the bowling alley and a trust fund for Paolo's education.

Rod and Vicente find it promising that Irene is at least thinking about it, so maybe later they can convince her to stay.  Rod thought bubbles that this will give him time to cook the books.

Irene calls Diego and even though he's suspicious, both he and Alberto agree it's a good idea to stay through the launch of the first collection.  Alberto talks about drawing up papers where everyone agrees to Eskenda separating from Caprico once the collection is launched.  Natalia walks in with Andres.



Irene comes into Rod's office…actually, it looks like he took over Diego's office.  She tells him they want a signed agreement, and then they are interrupted by a call from Brigitte's landlady.  Irene wonders who was calling, but Rod tells her if she doesn't want to think of him as family, then she should stay out of his life.  Irene calls him odious and walks out.  Poor Rosa is stuck with the job of telling the landlady that she's sorry, but if Rod won't take her call, there's nothing she can do about it.

Diego refuses to talk to Natalia while Andres is there.  Andres refuses to leave since Natalia could be hurt and he wouldn't put anything past Diego.  Alberto wants them all to calm the heck down and quit arguing.  Natalia stands there smirking up at Andres as he says from now on he'll always be around to support and protect Natalia.  Which would be fine if (a) I thought she had any feelings for him or (b) it didn't look like she was just using him to make Diego jealous or (c) if  Andres had accepted that she doesn't have feelings for him and agreed to being used.  I know, I know, this could be construed as "c" but I'm not convinced that Andres isn't getting his hopes up.  Diego walks out after saying that since Natalia's the one who wants a divorce she can call him whenever she's ready to meet without bodyguards.  And she stands there with her mouth hanging open like she had no idea this would happen.

Rodrigo tells Vicente about the letter of intent, but Vicente says if he signs it, he won't go back on it.  Rod actually proposes that Vicente break his word.  "There's a first time for everything."  Vicente reluctantly says he'll do it, to save Caprico.  The landlady calls Rodrigo on his cell phone and he hangs up on her.  Vicente tells Rodrigo to do the legwork of preparing the agreement.

Alberto scolds Diego for causing trouble and losing points with Natalia.

Natalia rants to Andres about how Diego's just like his brother.  Andres thought bubbles that she's been talking about Diego non-stop for five minutes and that she obviously only brought him along to annoy Diego.  He tells her that it's best if she get this over with quickly instead of having to slog through a divorce in the courts.  "I'll wait for you in the car."  Slow clap for Andres!  Wow!  Somebody on this show matured instead of regressing!

Gino and Cunchetina stop by the fonda to say goodbye to Carmen.

Diego comes back into the office as Natalia's saying they should leave.  Andres tells them he'll get out of their way, since this is personal business, and leaves.  Natalia's parting shot (aimed at Diego) is to overly-sweetly thank Andres for being so understanding.  Diego starts right in about how she wants a divorce just so she can take up with Andres, but he stops before it can turn into a full-blown argument.  Alberto leaves them alone to talk.

In the hallway, Irene asks Rosa who the woman is who keeps calling for Rodrigo, but other than her name, Rosa doesn't know.  Irene asks Rosa to keep her informed of any strange goings-on while she and Diego are there.  It's news to Rosa that Irene and Diego would leave…"after all, the company is yours.  As far as I know, Mrs. Amalia left everything to y'all…."  Irene is sure it was all left to her father and this gives Rosa the opportunity to say she was mistaken.  When Irene walks off, Rosa sighs as she realizes she almost told Irene the truth.

I tune out Diego and Natalia's argument, waiting for them to get to a point.  Diego wants another chance and refuses to give her a divorce.  This may be one of the few situations in which that actually means something, since she has no grounds to sue for divorce.  Nat reacts predictably.  In the midst of her rant, she says she should have asked Rodrigo and HE would have been reasonable about it.  Diego asks her how he's failed her and Natalia doesn't have an answer for him, she just says she wants to be free.  Well, too bad.  Natalia storms out, telling Alberto to get the story from his friend.  Alberto begins the scolding.

Natalia complains to Andres, but he tells her not to worry, they'll find a way.

Gino takes a potty break while Cunchetina grills Carmen about what's going on with her and El.  She advocates for El and tells Carmen she's El's true love.  They're interrupted by the return of Gino and the arrival of Paolo and Lupita.  I just love the way Cunchetina exuberantly greeted Lupita.  I just love Lupita.  And Cunchetina.  Cunchetina gets all teary with Gino and Paolo's goodbyes.

Even when faced with Alberto's "I can't believe I'm friends with you, you idiot!" face, Diego won't back down.  He gives up and they agree to go to Caprico with the letter of intent.

Andres doesn't like what Diego is doing.  Natalia says she has a hard time resisting him.  Andres changes the subject to the job offer and agrees with Natalia that she needs to find a job.  They stop for lunch.

Abdul the elder ignores a customer, too busy wondering if Natalia is his daughter.

Gino and Cunchetina will be back later for another goodbye tonight.  They take their leave for now and Paolo cries to Carmen about how great it's been to have his dad around and how he really wanted him to marry Carmen, but "en el corazón, no se manda" (you can't order the heart around; the heart wants what it wants).

Abdul the elder sends one of his employees to attend to the customer and calls Natalia to reiterate his job offer.  They agree to meet tomorrow morning at his store.  Andres seems excited for her, but has a mouthful of food, so he can't really verbalize it.

Rod, Vicente, Irene, and Diego review the letter of intent, but with this new agreement, Vicente and Rodrigo want Rodrigo to stay in charge of the administrative side for Eskenda and Diego for Caprico.  Rod smirks, probably patting himself on the back since Eskenda can't fail and he has no clue what to do to help Caprico.

Alonso answers his door to his sister and nephew, and I get my hopes up that the little man is a boyfriend for Lupita, but he's only 4.  He'll totally have a crush on her, though.  Mateo is the kid's name and Alonso starts getting him settled in once his sister leaves.

Rodrigo tells his hired embezzler that their deal is over because his brother is back.  Now, it took me a minute to remember this, but Rodrigo had hired him as "Diego," so he's keeping up that façade.  Embezzler Dude is disappointed and suggests he talk Rodrigo because they've worked together before.  No dice, says Rodrigo.  Ever since his brother "Rodrigo" came out of his coma, he's been acting like a total saint.  The embezzler thinks maybe if they offer him a larger cut…. Rodrigo shuts him down completely.

Irene still isn't feeling very trusting, even after signing the letter of intent.  She doesn't trust Grumps and Rod as far as she can throw them.  It was just too easy.  Tad says at least they're legally protected now.  Diego leaves and Irene and Tad head for bed.

Rod stays at the bar where he was talking to the embezzler and his thoughts turn to Natalia when he hears the guy next to him greeting another  "Natalia."  He mumbles something about having gotten everything else in order, except for his obsession with Natalia.

Bro Central, Junior Edition.  Diego comes home and joins Mateo and Alonso in watching cartoons.  He turns down an offer of pizza and an offer to discuss his latest problems with Alonso and Mateo.  Darn!  Mateo probably would have had some good advice, the way this show is going.  Karina calls and invites herself over when she hears her future nephew is there hanging out.  She offers to bring over a cake and, well…it's cake.  Alonso's not going to turn down baked goods. *sigh*

Carmen has cooked up a feast for Gino and Cunchetina's bon voyage party.  Gino and Cunchetina, who I will henceforth refer to as G&T ('cause CuncheTINA), bring Luchón along with them.  Gino toasts to his son, an authentic "Mexican-Sicilian."  He brings in an accordionist, a bassist, and a singer for a Sicilian-style serenata and Cunchetina seems to have an easier time singing on-key along to "Funiculì, Funiculà" (which the singers aren't singing all the words to, just adding in a bunch of "la, la, las").

Later in the evening, as Nat is getting ready for bed, she can't help thinking of Diego.  Who might be standing outside her window looking up.  Unless that's Rodrigo.  She's not sure either.

Abdul lays down the law at the Crab shack and tells Jaiba that she can't drink during work hours anymore.  Jaiba tells one of the Crabettes she's happy to do it as long as he increases her profits and um, continues "amusing" her.

Natalia goes outside and realizes BOTH twins are there.  She gets spooked and goes back inside.

Alonso, Karina, and Mateo have cake.  Karina semi-invites herself along on a bicycle outing tomorrow.

Diego is still looking up at the window, waiting for Natalia, but she turns out the light.  The cops show up and arrest both Rodrigo and Diego.  I know, I know…Why did she go outside?  Beats me.  And what would she have done if there had only been one of them out there?  Talked to him?  Why?

The next morning, Alberto shows up outside their cell and calls them a pair of idiots.  "Did you think Natalia was playing around?"

Natalia shows up at Abdul's shop.  He mentions he had another one in Tuxpan in the '80s.  When he hears that she doesn't know or care who her father is, he starts arguing that her father probably had a very good reason….  And then he claims that he's her father.  And that goes over about as well as you'd expect.  In a refreshing change, Abdul asks Allah for help.  It's nice that the Virgen gets a break from being asked to help people clean up their own messes, for once!  Enjoy your day off, Virgencita!

The twins insist they both just happened to be there to talk business with Nat, but Alberto doesn't believe that. Nor do he or Nat care.  This was just a warning, but she won't give another one.  Rod smirks and swans off while Diego begs Alberto to please help him, but Alberto has a functioning brain, so NO!  Natalia wants nothing more to do with him.  For realz!  Rodrigo, lurking around the corner hears that even though Alberto begs him, Diego won't divorce Nat.  And the evil little wheels in his evil little brain start turning.

In the back of a taxi, Natalia fumes that her father would dare show up now…after he left Tuxpan 25 years ago…and he's Turkish….  "He's not my father, he's Abdul's!"  Gold star, for once.  She has the taxi driver take her back to the shop.

Luchón is in charge of selling the bowling alley, but it won't happen right away, so he encourages Paolo and Mara to stay until he finds a buyer.  If you saw Amorcito Corazon, it's the same Luchón from that show, with the same stale jokes playing on his inability to pronounce "r"s which I'm not going to dignify by detailing for you.

Abdul went after Natalia, so he's not at the shop.  She tries his phone and tells him they should talk.  They agree to meet at a café.  Before she can leave the shop, Rodrigo calls and asks to talk to her.  She can't believe he has the cojones to be calling her after last night and tells him to leave her alone.

Diego gets home and tells Alonso he spent the night in a jail cell with his brother.  Mateo plays happily with some toy cars.

Irene shows up in the workroom and hears from Brigitte (who has to be prompted to greet Irene) that Alonso told her that (Seamus told him that Parvati told Dean that….) the twins spent the night in jail, so it's not likely either of them will bother showing up to work today.  Brigitte complains about how they're both "obsessed" with Natalia and Irene corrects her--Diego's not obsessed, he loves her.  "Maybe, but I don't know how Natalia managed to bewitch Diego, Rodrigo…and even you.  Don't you think you should be on your nephews' side?"  Irene tells Brigitte she's not going to turn her against Natalia, so quit trying.  "See what I mean."  Irene immediately fires Brigitte and tells security to come drag her out of there…I wish.  But, no, Brigitte goes to get a coffee.

Alonso tells Diego to just leave Natalia alone already.  Diego tells him about the whole marriage/divorce mess.  Karina shows up.  When she goes to the bathroom, Diego asks Alonso what's going on and Alonso basically says that they don't have a thing, she just insisted on bringing cake over last night, that's all.  Dude, when a woman brings you a cake, don't you know what that means?  Nothing going on…what an idiot!

Natalia tells Abdul that Abdul is his son.

Vicente comes to visit Irene's office and she tells him where the twins spent the night.  He's furious that Natalia had his "grandson" (singular) locked up.  Irene smirks that what Natalia did was legal--she just had the cops enforce the restraining order she took out on BOTH twins.  Vicente smiles to himself, thinking that Natalia really does intend to keep up her end of the bargain.  Now he calls the boys both idiots.

Big Abdul is thrilled that Little Abdul was raised by Carmen, who was such an awesome woman that she not only raised Little Abdul, but also adopted Natalia.  "There are a total of five of us, actually."  He hesitates for a second and then declares them "five blessings!"  He wants to hear more about Little Abdul…Abdul the Younger?...Abdul the LESSER!...and Nat says he's got a head for business (and a bod for…you know…other stuff) and he's a good brother and…he needs some help because he just got sucked in by a baaaaad woman.  Big Abdul isn't surprised 'cause, you know…women.  He wants to see Carmen, but Natalia tells him to wait…and be prepared for a skillet to the head.  Natalia will go ahead and prepare Carmen and Big Abdul will meet her at the Fonda.

Alonso, Karina, and Mateo hang out in a park.  Alonso's a good uncle.  Karina gets a woman to take a picture of the three of them together.  The woman congratulates them on being such a cute couple with a cute kid.  Alonso gets uncomfortable, but ends up not saying anything.

Diego goes to Irene's office to complain about how it was all Rodrigo's fault.  Not just the being arrested, but screwing up his potential encounter with Natalia--she was on her way down to see him, after all.  And also, um, he kind of, um…didn'tgiveheradivorce.  He explains Alberto's genius plan and how he was an ass for not going along with it.

Vicente scolds Rod for going after Natalia and getting himself arrested.  Rod asks what Vicente would say if he said he was in love.  "Yeah, right.  Even you don't believe that."  Rod just laughs, then makes sure Vicente knows Diego was sniffing after Natalia last night, too.  Vicente says he didn't know, but…whatever.  Anyway, he's been looking over Eskenda's books and there are some purchases he can't quite make sense of…he wants Rodrigo to check things out.  Vicente leaves and Rod thought bubbles that Grumps is soooo naïve and really easy to distract lately.

Irene can't believe he refused to sign the divorce decree.  "Let's be realistic.  If you want to score points with her, give her a divorce!"  Diego whines that she's forcing him to pay for what Rodrigo did and he's just paying her back in kind.  "You're trying to force her hand and nobody likes that."  Vicente comes in to yell at Diego for going after Natalia and Irene for not telling him that Diego was also in jail (I thought she did, but, whatever).  Diego tells Grumps that Grumps has no right to question him about his private life and he'd better get used to the idea that their relationship is strictly work-related.  He leaves and Vicente turns on Irene and blames her for turning Diego against him.  "Like I'd have to do that.  You don't think having Natalia arrested in order to protect Rodrigo is enough reason for him to hate you?"  Vicente starts to tell Irene what he expects from her and Irene says all he has a right to expect from her is work.  So take that, Grumps!

Nat tells Angela that she met Abdul the Lesser's daddy.  Tad calls to invite Natalia to lunch…or dinner, since she's busy.  Nat will get back to him.  Tad's nose starts bleeding again and he says to himself that he has to find out of she's his daughter and a DNA test is the only way.

Eleazar sneaks up on Carmen while she's waiting for Lupita to get out of school and gives her a rose and ALMOST a kiss, but they're interrupted by Lupita and her teacher.  Since the teacher's there, Carmen keeps up the "your father" ruse.

Rodrigo calls Natalia and offers to divorce her.  Which, sadly, is the kindest offer she's gotten from either of the twins in a really long time.  I hope he means it.  Natalia runs off to meet him.  Carmen, Eleazar, and Lupita show up.  When Carmen goes to the kitchen Lupita asks El if he and Carmen are dating, but he says almost.  That's good enough for her.

Karina begs to be allowed to stay and feed Mateo.  Alonso, like an idiot, agrees.

Big Abdul makes his big entrance, with a golden lamp in his hands.

Natalia meets Rodrigo, who can't resist telling her she should have come to him first.  "Cut to the chase."  He repeats that he's willing to divorce her.

Big Abdul offers Carmen the lamp, but she tries to shoo him out.  But, now that he knows he has a kid, he's not going to be run off so quickly.  Lupita hears that he's Abdul the Lesser's father and looks about as exasperated as Carmen at the prospect of yet another Baby Daddy showing up when the last one had barely left!

Rodrigo wants nothing in exchange for divorcing Natalia…well, just a small gesture.

Lupita tries not to leave Carmen alone with Big Abdul, but Carmen sends her off.  Carmen wants to know what his excuse is.  His has a nickname for her, but I can't quite catch what it is.  Anyway…his story is about the same as Gino's, except that it was his mother calling him and when he showed up he found out she had arranged a marriage for him.

Rodrigo claims that he's in love with Natalia and he admits he behaved badly…all he wants is a chance.  No way, says Nat.  Rod says he could feel a little something-something in her kisses, but Natalia says she doesn't even love Diego anymore, and all because of what Rod did.  So, yeah, man, you screwed it up for the both of you.

Carmen still wants to get rid of Abdul and thinks he's just trying to get her back in the sack.  He says there's no way to make up for what he did, and says he's just there for Abdul (TL) and teases her, saying she shouldn't feel bad--he knows she's disappointed that he's not coming on to her.  "Kidding, kidding!  Just trying to break the ice!"  They sit down to talk about Abdul (TL).  Lupita observes.

Rodrigo says he'll give her the divorce, but Natalia tells him not to expect anything from her.  "Even if you showed me you wanted to help me and behaved like the best person…I'd think of your brother before you."  She tells him if he wants to prove there's even the tiniest shred of nobility in him, he'd sign the divorce.  She leaves and Rodrigo angrily thought bubbles that he's never begged a woman so much and he hates having it thrown in his face that his brother is better than he is.

Lupita calls Eleazar and tells him Big Abdul is there, he brought Carmen a present, and they're laughing together.  El is pissed that this is happening again, but he swears Carmen won't make a fool out of him.  Too late, dude.

Carmen's telling Big Abdul what Abdul (TL) did and how it was Jaiba who made him behave that way.  He wants to go deal with Abdul (TL), but Carmen says he won't take it well.  "We're not going to do anything.  He needs to realize he's made a mistake on his own.  If you don't like it, go back where you came from."

Mateo has lousy judgment and wants Karina to stay with them.  She suggests they go to the movies tomorrow, 'cause she LOVES kids movies.  Alonso goes along with it, dodges a kiss goodbye, and asks Mateo if he has any idea what he just did.  "Oh, well.  Karina's being nice, huh?"  For now, dude.  For now.

Rodrigo shows up at Alberto's office and says he's there to divorce Natalia.  Alberto says they'll have to present a petition and meet with a judge a couple of times and then it'll be done.  But the real problem is that Rodrigo is going to have to pretend to be Diego again to do it.  And he doesn't think Diego will like that.  Which part?  Rodrigo impersonating him or Rodrigo divorcing Natalia?

Big Abdul agrees to play it Carmen's way.  "So…what have you been up to since I left?"  She says after he left, she, well…found another three baby daddies. Abdul scolds her and says after what he did, she should have learned her lesson.  "Excuse me?!  You don't get to come in and judge me!"  He says he's just making an observation.  The other three must have fallen hard for her--"There are few women as beautiful and fiery as you!"  Carmen is flattered.  He tells her that he really hopes Allah will grant him the privilege of getting to see Carmen find happiness with a man who knows how to love and value her.  And in walks El and clocks him!  "Nobody gets lovey with Carmen but me!"

Rodrigo laughs at how "Diego's refusing to divorce Natalia and I'm the bad one?"  He smirks at Alberto as they shake hands and thinks "Now run along and tell my brother."  Alberto wonders what Rod is up to.

Carmen yells at Eleazar for punching out Big Abdul and Eleazar yells at Carmen for letting another baby daddy show up and try to make nice.  "Oh, he doesn't want you like that…Yeah right!  Well, fine, you can keep him.  I'm out of here!"  I join Big Abdul in fondly wishing I'll get to see Carmen with someone who knows how to love and value her…and someone she knows how to love and value…and I suppose in this fantasy world, that will be El, but in real life, I'd be telling them both to move on.  El runs into Natalia outside the Fonda and tells her this is IT!  He's tired of watching the Baby Daddy Parade!  Carmen throws a bucket of water over Big Abdul and he comes around again.

Alberto tells Diego that Rodrigo's going to divorce Natalia and Diego says he's DONE with Rodrigo and Natalia both.

Natalia comes into the Fonda and tells Carmen about how she and Big Abdul met.  She gets a call from Tad and agrees to meet him for dinner.  I guess she's about to meet her second father for the day.  Maybe we can get Darth Vader to show up too.  It'll be like Spartacus…"I'm your father, Natalia!"  "No, I'm your father!"  "No, I am!".  Tad is planning to steal some DNA from her.

Eleazar goes out and gets drunk.  He complains to the bartender about how none of his bros was available to help him out today, so now the bartender is his BFF.

Tad's hiding scissors under a cocktail napkin when Natalia arrives.  "So, what did you want to talk to me about?"  Tad says he just wanted to chat, but Nat's not buying it.  They're luckily interrupted by the waiter and Tad orders an appetizer platter.  This apparently gives him some time to come up with the idea of telling her about getting Eskenda separated from Caprico and how difficult that's been.

Carmen tells Paolo she can't believe his dad just left and now Big Abdul showed up!  Paolo laughs and wonders if the Frenchman will show up too.  "Don't even say it!"  Carmen says that after seeing the way Eleazar behaved, she is DONE with him.  Yeah, Paolo doesn't buy that.  They move on to talking about Carmen's plan to get Abdul back by letting Jaiba drive him away.

Big Abdul goes over to the cantina where Crabby introduces herself to him.  He gives her angry eyes and thinks "She's the one!"

Natalia says she can't go back to work for Eskenda because it wouldn't be fair to ask Irene to keep Diego away.  She goes to the bathroom and Tad looks in her purse for a brush.  Natalia busts him and he says he thought he heard her cell phone ringing.  Nope, no missed calls.  When she turns around he seriously grabs her hair and says "Um, I just really wanted to touch your hair?"  Natalia is out of there.  "Wait!  I can explain!"  But before he can, he passes out, bleeding PROFUSELY from his nose.

Tomorrow: Tad sends the PI to get a DNA sample from Natalia.  Rod plans to stop him.

Labels: te-quiero