Caray, Caray!

[ed note: tonight's recap comes to us courtesy of La Paloma!]

Next Time, Try Hiring Professionals

The paid thugs break into Rita’s shack and wrestle La Gata, bragging “We’re getting paid a lot!” She begs to know who sent them and continues fighting.  A quick flash of Augustin shows him smugly claiming no sacrifice is too great for your child.  The kidnappers push the Gata blanket-burrito into their car, but find Damian standing in their way.

As the getaway cars weaves through the dump, Damian whistles for his buddies. They jump into the cart and cut the car off at the pass.  The camera cuts away again, this time picturing our pure Pablo strolling the campus, talking to buddy Henry and two attractive co-eds.  They think it’s time for a little fun.  Back at the dump, the trash warriors take a stand in front of the car. They open the trunk, lifting out Esme, removing her gag, and telling her to calm down while the thugs escape.

Augustin reams out his hirelings for their failure.  Lorenza overhears and asks Augustin what he ordered? Better for it to stay unknown, he replies.  Damian, Carlos, and the gang share their pride in being a family and protecting one another.



Breaking Up Is Not So Hard to Do When Pressure Is Applied

With La Gata safely back home, we see an update on email communications or lack therof.  Damian tried to send Esme’s new letter, but couldn’t log in. He tried from his own account, still no go. Pablo’s account must be closed and Esme should be prepared in case she’s cut off.  On the other end of cyberspace, Pablo laments to his new friends that Esme blocked him from her account.  Too bad, now let’s go out for the evening!

Transition of unknown duration as La Gata continues to scavenge for junk and sell it from door to door.  Ending up at the mansion, she rings the bell and beseeches Augustin to tell her what’s going on.  He can’t imagine what she’s talking about—they talk to Pablo onscreen every day and they’d know if he were sick.

Pobre de Gata is confused. Pablo’s love was true! Augie calls it a fling, said Pablo wasn’t serious.  She says Pablo was going to ask Pops for money to send her to New York.  Augie says forget that, there’s nothing more to discuss.  He shuts the door, leaving a despairing Miss Kitty to crouch by the gate, crying.

Inside the Mansion of Closed Hearts and Mean Spirits, Lorenza is spitting “How dare she!”  Augie smugly says he persuaded the tramp that her little romance is over.  He hacked the accounts and will send fake emails both ways, solving the problem.

An efficient businessman follows up as needed, so we see Augie talking to Pablo onscreen.  Pablo can’t believe Esme quit him, but Augie insists she was with another man.  Pablo still believes in her promises and her love.  “Sorry, son”, Augie retorts. “You don’t have her love, but you still have the love of your family.”  He adds a nugget of fatherly wisdom:  “Men were born to be women’s toys.”  Pablo is both angry and heartbroken.

Be It Ever So Humble, There’s No Place Like Home

La Gata is back home at the shack.  It seems to be night and Rita informs us that Gata was crying, but now is burning with fever.  In New York, Pablo hears Gata’s voice crying out for him as Esme raves feverishly.  Rita doesn’t want to be blamed if the girl should die.  Jarocha is putting cold compresses on Gata’s brow.  Things were bad enough to call the doctor, who brings some meds. He says Esme needs tests at the maternity hospital, as she may be pregnant.

Rita shows her usual selfish attitude, saying “I could strangle her!” Jarocha says, “No, that rich kid turned out to be a liar.” Damian, his mother, Carlos and possibly other neighbors gather round and ponder the situation.

Carlos is still worried about Gata the next morning. Rita covers her with a blanket before she leaves to go out.  Fela, outside her dwelling, sees Rita and exclaims “That lady frightens me!” (Welcome to the club, Fela. You may be crazy, but you’re not stupid.)

Fela goes to see Gata and asks Carlos what happened.  She tells Esme to sleep, and recalls that Esme looks like she did when her baby was stolen. We see a brief sepia flashback of this dastardly deed.  “I found my baby,” Fela murmurs, stroking her doll, “and I’ve had her since.”  Fela leaves.

In a New York State of Mind

A montage of campus scenes gives us a despondent Pablo, moping in his apartment, walking across campus, and giving an undoubtedly brilliant oral presentation in class (classmates applauding). An attractive girl flirts with him as he wonders how to respond.  Another later scene shows Pablo still obsessed with Esme and their love.  A third scene gives us an onscreen visit between Pablo and Mariano.  The lover begs his older bro to go see Esme and swear his continuing love. Mariano agrees to help.  (Hmm. Remains to be seen.)

Rita the Rat Reports to Master Augie

Rita delivers hand written love letters from Esme to Pablo into Augie’s hands.  She nicked them
with the help of the conniving postman.  She reports that La Gata is sick and suffering from love, so much that she could die of grief. (Like you care, Rita!) Augie pronounces that she’s doing the girl a favor: his son would never marry the slut.

Whining about expenses, Rita wrings a few more bills from Augie.  He says it’s the last time, no more money, and if she returns, he’ll call the police. She gives him a servile farewell and flags down a microbus.  Musing as she rides, she tells herself she almost made the mistake of telling Augie about Esme’s baby with Pablo.  He might have weakened, but now he’ll never know.

Gentlemen Can Grow In the Dump

While Rita was scurrying about, Damian was talking to his mother about La Gata’s situation.  She was innocent, was seduced and tricked, and needs someone to go to Pablo’s father on her behalf.  He’s willing to demand satisfaction for the seduction and will have truth and justice on his side.  His mother thinks truth and justice mean nothing to the prejudiced rich.

Rita returns to a weak and sad Gata.  She tells Carlos to go to work and asks Esme how she feels.  Gata  doesn’t feel like eating and Rita tells her she needs to eat.  She tells Gata not to play dumb about her condition, but Miss Kitty is bewildered and confused.  Rita accused her of lying.  (OK.  Did we actually see a seduction scene, or was it lost along the way? Anyone with the eyes or the memory to fill us in, please do so.)

Damian comes in and Rita tells him to convince the girl to eat, as the old hag exits. They discuss Gata’s situation and what happened.  Damian says both Augie and Pablo tried to hurt her, and he will demand satisfaction.  Esme begs him not to go to that house.  Damian says Pablo didn’t write because he doesn’t care.  He would grab Pablo by the throat and make him kneel.  Esme can’t live without her love and wishes she were dead. Damian wants her to be strong, to return the feisty cat she was. She’ll never be alone as long as he is alive.

The Café Connection Bears Fruit

Carlos and Virginia are again conversing in the Café of the Monorail Food Line.  They discover that Carlos’ friend and Viginia’s brother’s novia are both named Esmeralda. Could it be?  Yes, it’s one and the same! Now they can work together to reunite the lame lost lovers.  Happy helpful hope abounds. Even more happiness happens when Carlos shyly confesses that the girl he loves is Virginia! She’s all smiles, but unfortunately cannot see the evil maid lurking around the corner watching them. Of course the servant runs to Lorenza to report the daughter’s disgusting delusional delinquency.

The Challenge of Honor is Issued

Damian appears in Augustine’s office to demand satisfaction for Ms. Cruz.  The cranky paterfamilias wants to know “Who is Ms. Cruz” and who Damian is? Family?  No, he’s a friend and Esmeralda is dying of grief.  Taking the easy way out, Augie says his sons are adults, and Damian should talk to Pablo. Damian insists that there is a Moral Responsibility at issue.  Augie demands to know “What do you mean?”

Damian says the family must make Pablo marry Esme. “Don’t make me laugh!” ripostes Augie. “Esme never loved anyone but your son”,  Damian defends, “and there are consequences!”  Augie snorts that women forget!   “No,” says Damian. “They are bound by a tie that won’t break! Esme is having Pablo’s baby!”  Augie is, as they say, impactado.

Previews:  Pablo’s family reacts to this unwelcome news.

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Next: Episode 13

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