Caray, Caray!

Cristobal really doesn't want to stick around and continue in the family business.  That goes over about as well as could be expected with Severiano.  They are thankfully interrupted by Melesio, telling Sev that there's an urgent call from the bank for him.

Aldonza heads for El Santuario to give Cristobal an eyeful of real natural beauty ifyouknowwhatImeanandIthinkyoudo.  He rides up asking for *cough* permission to *cough* enter her lands.  He gallantly turns his back so she can get out of the pond and get dressed and they can *cough* talk.  I swear I'm not a perv, but when the subtext is just sitting there, it's rude not to pick it up, right?



Valeria brought Candela cookies.  Judging by Candela's reaction, there are not enough baked goods in the world to make her think of Valeria as an acceptable daughter-in-law.  Nevertheless, Candela also doesn't want to have to spend time with Valeria, so she sends her off to find Cristobal.  Five more seconds and I'm sure she would have actually made a "shoo"-ing motion with her hands.

Cristobal remembers hiding out from his parents at El Santuario.  He thinks it's full of mystery, magic, secrets.  And he always thought something incredible would happen to him here…"And finally it happened.  I met you."  Duuuuuuuuuuude, those are some smooth words right there.  And I'm pretty sure "incredible" hasn't happened yet.  Aldonza doesn't agree their meeting was a good thing.  She reminds him no Mendozas are welcome there.  "I'll change my last name" he tosses off, casually, with a shrug, the charmer.  He proposes they forget about their parents' feud and make peace between the two of them.  "No one has to know."  Oh, Viewerville will know…and we'll enjoy all that peacemaking.  Is it getting hot in here?  He offers his hand and they shake.  I think there's steam coming out of my TV.  No, wait, that's jealous fumes from Valeria.  Buzzkill.  She pretty much ignores Aldonza until Aldonza says neither of them has any reason to be there, so they might as well go.  "You understand me?"  Cristobal says he does, but I'm not sure I do…was that an acceptance that they just formed the "We secretly don't hate each other" club and she's keeping up appearances?  I guess we'll find out.

Padre Geronimo has come by the house to talk to Roberta about Aldonza.  "Oh, home sermon service," she quips.  He asks her to behave herself in public.  "Too late for that."  He wonders what happened to her--not just where it concerns men, but her general state of perpetual bitterness.  He says she's not the enchanting woman his brother fell in love with.  "That woman didn't exist…well, in your brother's imagination.  I've always been like this.  I've always been trash."  No, Padre G doesn't buy that. He thinks there's a good woman who wants to be redeemed.  "Do it for your daughter, before it's too late.  You don't want to have to feel sorry later for ruining your life, and hers."  Roberta's defensiveness kicks in…"Oh!  My purse!  Do I need to give you a donation so you'll go?"  Padre G says he feels sorry for her and leaves her with a blessing.  And a single tear of puro dolor rolls down Roberta's cheek as she bites her lips.  In the words of Anthony Mackie, "Cut the check!"  (i.e., she brought it! Click here for more.)

Uriel, the bank guy, called Severiano urgently because he thinks now is the time for Severiano and Roberta to come to an agreement about purchasing her land.  Uriel would rather not have to foreclose on the property.  It's in the bank's best interest that Roberta get a fair price for it so she can turn around and pay back her debt.  Uriel has heard the rumors, but he never believed them, since Severiano is such a fine, upstanding citizen.  Severiano tells him there is no way he'd attempt to make Roberta an offer for the property.  It would be more trouble than it's worth.  Uriel pouts a bit, in a bankerly way, so Severiano relents.  He'll try to help that poor woman out, just because it would help Uriel.  Cara de "What did I just agree to?" de Severiano.

Lola has been waiting anxiously for Aldonza to get home since Cristobal sent her over to ask how Aldonza is doing.  Aldonza doesn't understand why, since she just ran into him herself.  "Well, he asked me to come over here and then his dad took him riding."  Whatever.  Aldonza wasn't impressed (or so she says).  Cristobal is an entitled jackass like the rest of his family and that's that.  "Que genio!" says Lola as Aldonza stomps into the house.  (What a temper!)  So…no supersecret club, then?

Cristobal and Valeria get back to Las Animas.  Cristobal bids Valeria goodbye in a perfectly friendly but not interested way.  "Tell Emmanuel I said hi."  Turns out Melesio is the one who told Valeria where to find him.  Or rather, where he thought Cristobal had gone, since Cristobal always liked to sneak off to El Santuario.  And yes, he means "sneak" because the Alcocers don't like Mendozas on their property.  As Melesio walks away, Cristobal muses that it's still the same.

Adelina scolds Aldonza for "skinny-dipping" in the pond.  Not that she really was.  When she hears about Cristobal being there, she warns Aldonza to be careful.  People in this town like to talk.  Aldonza knows, what with her mom's reputation.  She suggests they put up a "barda" (wall, enclosure), but there's no money.  Not even to pay the mortgage (hipoteca).  For some unknown reason Aldonza decides to talk to Roberta about it and hopes Roberta won't get mad, as usual.  My advice: stay out of arm's reach.

Candela is surprised that Cristobal didn't invite Valeria to stay for dinner.  I could have sworn she didn't care for Valeria, but now she's talking about what a great gal she is.  "Just chatting, that's all."  Cristobal doesn't like the idea of his godmother as his mother-in-law.  Riiiiiight, well, the good thing is, Valeria is nothing like her mother. "If you say so.  I don't really know her."  He excuses himself to go clean up and Candela makes a plotting face.

Valeria spins it to her mom as Cristobal being TOTALLY hot for her and Candela being supportive of the relationship.  "But, he was flirting with Aldonza and he kissed her!  And she was all wet like she'd just gotten out of the pond!  I don't know if she was wearing a bathing suit or not, but she's perfectly capable of getting into the pond naked with Cristobal right there."  Prudencia is completely accepting of Valeria's assessment of everything that happened.  I'm wondering what show they're watching, because it bears very little resemblance to the show I'm watching.

Candela asks Severiano what's going on with the bank.  Before he can tell her, Cristobal interrupts them.  He wants them to plan their trip to Spain.  Severiano promises to be available at any time.  "Ask your mother when we're going."  Candela tries to back out, saying she promised she'd help Padre G with something.  Those two didn't raise a fool.  He knows something is up.  He knows they don't sleep in the same room.  It bothers him that they're treating him like a 10-year-old.  He's not going to help them keep this farce up.  "Either we travel together, all three of us, like the family we're supposed to be, or we're not going anywhere."  Cristobal walks out of the office and Candela shuts the door behind him.  Severiano is positively giddy.  He warns Candela that she'd better be prepared, because next time he'll probably want to know WHAT separated them, and Candela had better not think she's going to escape criticism, because she's been his accomplice in "things that no one would be proud of."  I'm not sure what exactly he means by that (as in, have we seen it all?) but Candela looks reeeeeally worried.

Roberta drinks straight from the bottle (like a proper bad girl) as she thinks back on her earlier conversation with Padre Geronimo.  There's a knock at the door and, wow, she was drinking alone in her room, at that!  Aldonza has come to please talk calmly about the mortgage.  Roberta tells her to forget about it and just have a mother-daughter talk instead. "I know I haven't been the greatest mother, but the last thing I want is for you to go through all the things I've been through. I swear I would give my life if you could be happy.  I want you to know I'm not a monster.  No matter what, I love you with my whole soul.  You're the most beautiful, cherished ("valioso") thing I've ever had in my life.  I want you to know that and never forget it."  She's crying and hugging Aldonza as Adelina comes in to tell them that Severiano is in the living room.  Annnnnnnd, the moment is over.  Roberta is up in a flash, throwing on her cardigan, and heading out the door before Adelina and Aldonza can react.

Roberta tells Severiano they have nothing to talk about.  He says he knows about her financial problems and he's there to propose "algo que les puede convenir"--something that may be in their (and he indicates Aldonza and Adelina are included) best interest.  Roberta wants to be left alone with him, but Aldonza tries to insist it concerns all of them, but Adelina hustles her out of there, probably thinking this is not the way she wants Aldonza finding out All The Secrets.

Out in the yard, Adelina makes some weak excuses about things that Roberta needs to deal with alone.  "What 'things'?  Are you saying that she and Severiano have…?"  Adelina says it's not what she thinks and drags her along to talk to Joaquin.

Severiano says he can give her enough money to pay back the bank and live comfortably.  He brought a blank check and everything.  Roberta tears it up, saying she once trusted him completely and he betrayed her, abandoning her to her fate when she most needed him.  She'll never forgive him, nor does she think it's too late for "reclamos" (complaints).  It's his fault she lost her husband, the ability to be a mother, and she has turned into what she is now (I assume she means "a bitter, angry woman who drinks alone in the afternoon and has the whole town talking behind her back" and not "a sexy bitch who can rock a red dress like nobody's business").  Oh, no, he counters, that's all HER fault.  She was the one who killed Raymundo.  "To defend you!  I was an idiot.  I believed you'd be man enough to stand up for me, but I was so wrong."  "That was so long ago.  I've forgotten about it.  Forget about it!"  Roberta insists that this house and the property are her daughter's birthright (patrimonio) and even if she was starving, she wouldn't give it to him.  Severiano says he'll end up with all of it even if he has to sell his soul to the devil.  Well, that's news--I didn't think he had one.  Roberta kicks him out.  Before he goes, he lecherously says "Your daughter is…beautiful," annnd, switch gears to just plain creepy and manipulative now for, "and I'm sure that's how the daughter  you and I lost would have been, don't you think?"  She screams at him to get out and starts having her meltdown as he walks off…after undressing her with his eyes one last time, I kid you not!

Emmanuel goes over to Las Animas to see Severiano, but he doesn't want to tell Candela what it's about.  He finally admits he's looking for a job.  Candela says they don't have any jobs.  "I'm sure you weren't going to try to take advantage of the relationship between my husband and Humberto."  Cristobal comes downstairs and happily greets Emmanuel, asking him to come along for a trip to town.  "Your father will be home soon and he'll probably want to know where you are."  "Oh.  Tell him I'm with Emmanuel." says Cristobal, completely innocently.  As soon as they leave, she gets a call from Prudencia.  An urgent call.  That has to do with Cristobal…and Aldonza Alcocer, Roberta's daughter.  I swear I saw flames in Candela's eyes.  Or maybe that was the reflection from the window.

The dudes chat at the car.  Emmanuel DOES have a thing for Valeria, but he knows she'd never give him the time of day. Cristobal is surprised to hear there are no jobs available, but he suggests they talk on the drive.  He wants to see Padre Geronimo.

Aldonza doesn't seem to understand why Roberta is so upset when all Severiano came by to do was try to buy the property yet again.  Aldonza asks if they could maybe just rent him a piece, to get some extra income?  Oh, hell no.  Roberta says they absolutely CANNOT do business with "those people."  Aldonza really wants to know QTH this feud is about and she wants to know ALL of it right now.  Adelina tells them both to cut it out.  There's a knock at the door and Roberta tells Aldonza to answer it.  Which is too bad, because it's Candela and she's barely over the threshold before she slaps Aldonza and tells her to stay away from Cristobal.  Not to be outdone, Aldonza slaps her right back and a cheer goes up from both me and the Mr.  In fact, Mr. 5ft may or may not have exclaimed quite loudly about Candela's character and what rude thing she could go do.  Roberta gloats and Adelina looks like she's trying not to laugh.  Candela has blood dripping from her nose as she calls them all harpies.  Roberta tells her to get out before they kick her out.  Candela insists on getting the last word in.  She warns Aldonza that she won't allow her "que enredes a mi hijo" (to tangle up her son).  She won't "arrebatar" (catch) my son the way this "p-" ("puta"; whore) did with her--Roberta cuts her off, but Aldonza wants to know who.  Time and place, kid.  "If you really want to know.  Ask her.  Let's see if she has the guts to tell you."  Adelina finally reacts and tells Candela to get out.  "You've been warned" Candela tosses off before she leaves.  "I'm waiting, mom."  "What?  No.  I'm the mom here.  I'm the one who's waiting for an explanation!  What do you have going on with Severiano Mendoza's son."  Aldonza just lifts her chin and says nothing.

Cristobal and Padre Geronimo are buds.  Padre G reminds him of his youthful shenanigans…the time Cristobal nearly burned down the parish house; the time he had to be rescued from the bell tower because he was swinging on the ropes yelling that he was Tarzan.  And still Padre G is glad to see him.  Cristobal isn't sure if he's staying or not.  He's not sure he wants to stick around and work with horses.  And he doesn't like having things handed to him.  "Liar.  I think it's that you've got a girlfriend out there who's waiting for you to come back to her."  Cristobal says he's single…but there's a special girl…named Aldonza.  "My niece?"  Padre looks troubled.

Aldonza insists there's nothing going on.  She's always known him, just like everyone else has, but no, they're not friends.  She's barely spoken ten words to him.  Roberta warns her that if she finds out that Aldonza has so much as looked at him, she'll be the one to deliver a slap.  Aldonza says she gets it.  "So, now can you tell me what she was talking about."  Roberta refuses.  "I'm the mom here.  And I'm not going to give that harpy the satisfaction of getting dragged into her intrigues."

Prudencia explains to Valeria that she called Candela because Aldonza is trying to steal Valeria's boyfriend.  Again…what show is she watching?  "Yes, but now he's going to find out and he's going to think I'm the one who told her!"  A sloppy-drunk Prudencia (too bad she and Roberta can't stand each other or they could have some fabulous drunken afternoons together!) says Valeria's as thickheaded as her father.  "Leave the thinking to me.  You just do what I tell you."  Valeria wants Prudencia to butt out of her life.  Emmanuel comes in as Prudencia is saying she's just removing pebbles from Valeria's path.  He tries to sneak in.  Prudencia cries and whines that she's clearly an "estorbo" (a bother) and she won't move even one more finger for Valeria.  "Sorry if my maternal love offended you!"  She takes her drink upstairs and Emmanuel asks Valeria what happened.  "None of your business."  He asks why she didn't tell him that Cristobal was in town when she's seen him and talked to him.  She brightens up, realizing he must have heard that from Cristobal.   "Did he talk about me?!"  "Oh, sure, you didn't need to tell me anything, but you expect me to tell you everything.  You like him, don't you?"  "That's my business."

Severiano can't figure out how that girl would dare hit Candela.  "I hit her first.  She didn't like me saying that she and her mother are a couple of sluts, and that she should leave Cristobal alone."  "What do you mean leave him alone?  They barely know each other."  Candela says Aldonza moves fast and she's already set her eye on Cristobal.  She'd rather die than let history repeat itself.  Severiano agrees they can't let that happen.  "That girl turned out to be as much of a social climber as her mother."  "Luckily my son isn't as shameless as you are.  But that's not enough.  Those snakes are clever and he's too innocent."  Severiano is sure Cristobal won't pay any attention to her.  "This wouldn't be happening if you'd thrown those people out when you had the chance!"  Severiano denies that his power extends that far.  She says it's just that he doesn't have the "pantalones" (pants; doesn't have the guts) to do it.

Dominga busts Lola listening at the door and drags her away by the ear.  She tries to say that it IS her business because Aldonza is her friend.  Dominga says there's enough gossip going on in this town already.

Aldonza keeps insisting to Adelina that there's more going on than what they're telling her.  "OK, so what do you think the secret is?"  Aldonza doesn't know, but she's determined to find out.  "If you knew something, you wouldn't hide it from me."  Adelina says she'd never do anything to hurt Aldonza.  Which is not the same thing, but I'm not sure if Aldonza realizes that.

Roberta visits Padre Geronimo in his office.  "Don't be expecting a confession or a bunch of breast-beating like all the hypocrites in this town.  There's nothing you can do for me.  There's no saving my soul.  But my house and my lands and El Santuario…I'm asking you to help me save Aldonza's birthright.  I mortgaged the property and I don't have any way to pay it.  I'm about to lose it."  Padre G sighs sadly, but he doesn't seem all that surprised.

Lola is waiting outside Las Animas as Cristobal comes home.  She has to tell him something, but she doesn't want him to think she's a gossip.  "Too late for that!"  Ha!  I like these kids!  "Seriously!  I just want to warn you.  I don't know how, but your mom and Aldonza se agarraron a moquetes" (punched each other in the nose).  And the whole mess seems to be about him.  The sound cuts out as Lola, presumably, explains what she heard.

Padre Geronimo asks why she did it.  "Oh, save it! I don't want a sermon.  It's done."  He doesn't know how he can help, since he doesn't have money.  "But you have influence!  You can talk to the bank and buy me some time.  You're a respectable person…they wouldn't deny you a favor."  But how would she pay it back?  Who would give her the money?  And in exchange for what?  "I don't know why I came.  I knew you'd end up putting me down, just like always, just like everyone!"  Padre G asks her not to leave.  He apologizes for offending her, but asks her to understand that what she did hurt him.  He says he'll see what he can do.

Cristobal goes into Candela's room and says it's true what he heard.  "No, I didn't hear it from Aldonza.  Lola told me.  And before I go talk to Aldonza, I came to ask you to explain it to me."  Candela is upset that he's demanding explanations from her.  "Just don't get involved with that woman."  Cristobal says they don't have a relationship, but if they did, it would be his business.  "What? Nononononono…."

Tomorrow: Fire in the orchard, Aldonza and Cristobal in danger, Roberta stressing.

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