Caray, Caray!

Refrito: Simona walked home after over two months in jail. I would have expected her to look thinner after so long on jail food, but she seems healthy. She laments her ruined reputation to Barragan, who assures her she still has a friend in him. She asks, “What good is it to be honest your whole life if you can lose it in an instant by people telling lies about you?” She conveniently forgets that she has lied, and lied to cover up her lies. But hers was for a good reason, not like other liars.

Replay the meeting of Diana and Toño. She asks Julio, “What are you doing with this character from the market?” which makes it sound like he’s the guy dressed in the chicken suit. Julio: “He’s my son.”

New: Violeta shows up at Simona’s house. This part is a little confusing, because she knocks even though she’s been living there alone for the last two months, unless unbeknownst to us she reconciled with her bag-of-wind hubby Marcelino. She apologizes for not giving Simona a ride home. It does seem like the least she could have done. Violeta says she lost the campaign. Simona tries to be positive, but Violeta knows. Then Simona takes the blame, but Violeta won’t have it. It’s the people who told the lies about Sim murdering Mia that lost them the election. Simona: “The sun will come out tomorrow. Bet your bottom dollar.”

 At the Hacienda, the Lopez Guerra clan is gathered, and Fausto and Marcelino enter somberly into the room. Then Fausto shouts, “¡¡Ganamos!!” (We won!) Ren and Abi give hugs and kisses, Mat gives a hug, and Diana an eye roll. Ex-Crazy Connie is bitter, but Ren assures her that Fausto won’t forget his promises to help the people of the town. Indeed, Fausto assures them that he will work on behalf of the needy ones. Mat and Di rise to leave, as they have a doctor appointment to keep for their baby. Abi rolls her eyes now. Are you telling me that after two more months, she still can’t stand that reality? Then why hasn’t she left? Goodness gracious.

Fausto is already in his new presidential office with Marcelino, preparing to help the needy. They have plans to modernize the pueblo by bringing in a highway. But first, Marce needs to buy up the surrounding land from the needy for pennies on the dollar, but not in Fausto’s name, so they can make a killing on it later, reselling it after the highway is built. Maybe even keep some and develop some houses, etc. Fausto gets a call that he has a visitor and Marce leaves. In comes the newly trained Max, and he informs Fausto that he will finish what his father never could. He draws a gun on Fausto! Fausto, ever the cool cucumber, looks more disappointed than scared. He might miss his mustache trim over this.

A pointless scene at the Enramada, where Benito sings the praises of Fausto to a dubious Diego. Fausto will probably be a good president, after all he’s kept his word to the workers at the Enramada. It seems like Meliton’s cure for Connie is transferring the delusions to Benito.

Back at the Presidente Municipal’s office, Max lets Fausto know that his daddy taught him to handle a gun, and he’s a good shot. Keeping the gun on Fausto, Max moves in for a feel to make sure Fausto isn’t packing a gun, that he’s just glad to see him. Fausto asks if Max is really going to kill him here, and Max orders him out of the office to a better locale. Fausto asks menacingly, “Have you considered that you might be the one to end up dead?” An excellent point, to be sure. As they leave the office, Max puts his gun in his waistband at the small of his back and covers it with his shirt. I’m asking myself why Fausto doesn’t try to get away here? They would have to scuffle, but I doubt if Max could get his gun or get a shot off. Does Fausto doubt his ability to take Max mano a mano? Apparently, because Fausto even gets into his truck on his own.

The lovebirds that are Mateo and Diana are at the doctor’s for an ultrasound. Oh my goodness, it’s twins!! Diana is flat out unhappy, and Mat looks pretty green about the gills.

Meanwhile, Max and Fausto have arrived at the field of dreams, that is to say, what looks like the same setting for Lucio’s and Fausto’s mutual shootings of each other, and many others’ horse rides and furtive meetings. Today it is the scene of a Mexican stand-off, on steroids! Max gets out of the truck with his gun trained on Fausto, but now Fausto is drawing on him, too! Ruh-roh, you should have frisked the truck, Max. But wait, there’s more. Lucio is pointing his gun at Fausto, while telling Max to lower his. It’s a macho triangle of fire power. Max realizes his dad followed him, and Lucio says, yeah, to keep him from doing something stupid. He really wants Max to stand down, and even places himself between Max and Fausto, with his back to Fausto. They begin to struggle as Lucio tries to take Max’s gun away. Fausto walks up, finds an opening, and shoots Max in the shoulder/heart region! Max drops like a sack of dirt, and Lucio shouts at Fausto, “Why did you shoot him?” Lucio drops frantically to Max’s side, trying to help in whatever feeble way he can, telling his son, “¡Resiste!” (resist, that is, hold on or bear up). Fausto thinks it’s the right time to wax philosophical, telling Lucio that Lucio is to blame, having essentially put the gun in Max’s hands. The truth is, Fausto did Lucio a favor by shooting Max, because the boy needed to be taught a lesson. The boy has been too big for his britches from day one. Lucio shows a distinct lack of appreciation for Fausto’s insights, letting him know in no uncertain terms that “if my son dies, then so does yours. If Max dies, I’ll kill that damn Mateo!” Although Lucio is a very bad guy, I have always liked the way he stands up for his son and shows such whole-hearted love.

Back at the hospital, Mat meets with Pat “Apple Cheeks” Duarte and is now quite happy about the twins, having gotten over the initial shock. As usual, now that he’s happy, he’s REALLY happy, and starts to rhapsodize about the double responsibility, doble felicidad. I can’t help but hope that Max dies, so that Lucio will kill Mateo, so as to not hear him talk like this anymore!

But in another room, Diana has a different reaction, letting the doctor know that somebody got her order wrong, because she wants only one child, thank you. “Why did this happen to me? What did I do?” She doesn’t want to get fat, and have the responsibility of two kids. One is bad enough. She goes so far to ask, “Is there a way to abort one of the babies? Without harming the one I need to hang onto my husband, of course.” The doctor is appalled and says no, and she asks him to please not tell her husband about this conversation. She was just scared, but now she’s totally on board with twins.

At Toño’s new pad, that is, Julio’s house, that is, Mia’s house, somebody is pounding on the door like a firefighter about to break it down with a battering ram. Toño opens, and Simona stalks in with major attitude. There ensues an unpleasant scene like we have all anticipated. Simona isn’t mad at Toño, wants him to forgive her and come home. She tells him that his dad doesn’t love him, only gives him money to keep him out of his hair, but she loves him de verdad and has raised him right. He’s just letting himself be carried away by the luxury and bad influence. He says, “You are nothing to me,” and other hurtful, ugly things, and tells her, “Lárgate” (get out). She leaves in tears, and he is in tears, too. What a complete jerk. I’m sure they will reconcile, but I know enough about novelas to know this will probably be drawn out with yucky scenes such as this. Ugh!

Everybody’s favorite spinsters, Eduviges and Epifenia, are cooing and fawning at Julian, praising the beautiful office he has built in order to export their coffee beans. There is even a giant rendering of coffee beans on the wall in a frame, that looks like giant cherries at a Yogurtland. Yum! They forgive him for being so distant for two months, because he has definitely been busy. They are excited to start their subsidiary of Vandalay Enterprises (import/export). But when will he be completely done with the building project? No worries, he says. The rest will just be a warehouse space, no need for you to even see it. They agree, and leave. Julio walks over to the giant coffee bean picture, caresses the edge, and then opens it, because it is a hidden door. What should be behind it, other than a fully operational casino? It’s complete with mood lighting and glass objects in the foreground (like every other setting in this novela). Julio’s socio guy, whom Julio ripped off in Colombia but is now his right hand man, just needs to bring the alcohol and the women for this place to be fully functional. But will Julio get the needed permits from Fausto? Julio isn’t worried, he says Fausto will be their biggest customer. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, this secret casino seems so silly, and where are the high rollers going to come from? How can they be sure nobody will talk? They’re taking a big gamble here…

Ren and ex-Con are having a rooftop conversation. Ren says Meliton deserves the Medal of Honor for coming up with a potion that has restored Connie to her senses. Ex-Con says that more than the potions, Mel simply listens to her and understands her. I say he deserves something like a Purple Heart if he has had to listen to Connie for long! Ren starts to say how great Fausto is, and Connie leaps on that, saying maybe she should get with Meliton, because she is obviously embrujada (bewitched). Connie says Fausto is hiding his garras y colmillos (claws and fangs), and Ren is going to be defenseless when he finally attacks. But Fausto has promised to help the needy, and Abigail is happier, and Mateo is happy, so that’s good enough for Ren. Mat is happy about the baby on the way, and Ren thinks he wants a girl. No, says Connie, smoothly switching conversational gears, men always want a boy, and she could never provide one for Bruno. I detest this whole concept of one being able to provide a child of a certain sex, and being something more or less because of it. But anyway, Connie goes for the big reveal: Bruno did have a varon (male child) with a campesina, although he still wasn’t satisfied and didn’t give the child his last name. Ren is incredulous, asking, “Do you know where he is? His name?” Well, speak of the devil, it’s Diego come to say hello! Connie stares at him. Significantly. But I don’t think that’s supposed to mean anything. Btw, it seems like ex-Crazy Con is fully cognizant that wonderful Bruno is dead.

Lucio busts into the ER cradling the 6’4” Max in his arms, screaming for help. Fausto is at his side, ready with a sound bite about an accident during shooting lessons. Dr. Mateo is on the scene, and Lucio pleads with him to save his son. As Max is wheeled away, Lucio threatens Fausto. Fausto as usual refuses to be ruffled, amiably suggesting they go for a drink to pass the time, and just as amiably suggesting that Lucio notify Max’s next of kin. After all, Lucio’s not his dad, the man who raised him is. That’s who Max identifies with. It was always just a question of time before Max left Lucio again, because in his heart Max despises everything Lucio is. Lucio tells him to shut up, but it’s clear Fausto has gotten to him. Fausto says, “Let him go. We’ve got our business here to tend to.” Lucio perks up like the dog that has been kicked too much that he is, asking, “You would really be my partner and we could run things together?” How dumb can Lucio be? I thought he knew he was tricked out of the Enramada? Or is Fausto still conning him?

Cut to a tense surgery scene, where Mateo is doctorin’ away trying to save Max.

Diana walks up to Lucio and Fausto, and Lucio is addressing her as Señora, explaining his son had an accident. Btw, she is not showing at all. I guess she doesn’t have to be, it’s still pretty early. Now Dr. Pat comes out and Lucio implores, “¿Cómo está mi hijo?” Pat gravely informs him that chances are not good at all. Fausto moves in for a nasty side comment, saying privately to the doc, “Well, why don’t you get in there and help? Oh yeah, he’d probably end up dead from one of your mistakes if you did.” Cruel! At this point, Diana says she wants to go home, and Pat offers to take her. Again, Fausto needles, “I’m sure you’ll take advantage to see my wife.” Then I didn’t get this part, because Fausto was talking so low, but I understood it to be something like, “Be sure to let my wife know what’s going on, and that I’ll be home later,” with some kind of husband/wife implication that puts Pat in his place. Fausto says he will take Diana home, and Lucio says no way, he stays right here until Max lives or dies. Now something else I missed: after Diana leaves with Pat, Fausto asks something like, “How did she know what/who we were talking about?” and it seems like she has been indiscreet about her and Lucio, and he’s acting a little guilty. But I have no clue what was actually said.

On to the worst scene of this episode, the re-engagement of Abi and Diego. They are drinking lemonade like two old friends with no awkwardness, bad blood or humungous elephants in the room with them. Until they address the elephants head on. Diego mentions that ex-Con was looking at him real weird-like, and Abi thinks it must be because she, like Vicenta, didn’t agree with their engagement (the first one). The Vicenta thing is news to Diego, and he uses it to bring up the whole sorry topic of their failed engagement. He starts up with it not mattering that she doesn’t love him, he knows she at least likes him. If she covers the affection, he’ll cover the love. She says she still loves Mateo, and he says, it’s cool, because he has the same kind of rotten, unhealthy, never-ending love for her, and wouldn’t she like to be on the receiving end for a change? Mat is never going to leave his wife, so why not take the 1^st runner up? Abi says he will end up hating her if she doesn’t fall in love with him. I say, won’t you hate him because he didn’t even care whether you loved him or not, and was willing to trap you in a loveless marriage just for his own desires? Maybe I have enough hate for both of them! He asks her again to marry him, and she says yes. He gets a ring out of his pocket. Please, somebody explain why he has a ring in his pocket two months later? His whole weak proposal, which can be summed up as “I’m better than nothing,” makes me ill, plus the fact that she accepts it. They deserve each other. They are both doorMats in their own right. A twist, Diego wants to hurry up and do this, without telling anybody so that they don’t ‘confuse’ Abi. They will only tell Renata, because she alone supported them before. What they don’t know (and what I speculate) is that she probably has been informed by ex-Con that Diego is Abi’s uncle, so she’ll withdraw support, but without saying why, naturally. Abi and Diego kiss.

Max is still in surgery. They’re losing Max, but Mat says he won’t allow that, and grabs the electric paddles. I got some new vocabulary here when Mat delivered electric shock therapy to Max. He said “Avisados, carga” and then something else. Sorry, I really missed some parts tonight, and I was glued to my set, too. But the ‘avisados’ for ‘clear,’ as in ‘stand clear,’ was something I hadn’t heard before. Unfortunately, it looks like our favorite stuck-up, spoiled brat was doing an audition for the cast of Flatliners.

Lucio, with tears in his eyes and a catch in his throat, calls Ximena (evil twin), but gets Daniela (good twin). She greets him warmly, but he’s too distressed to question that. He informs her of Max’s condition, and asks her to tell Max’s mother. She says she will, and asks him to call her with an update when the surgery is over. Lucio sobs to her, “It’s my fault.” They hang up and we stay with Daniela, who calls Ximena and gives her the 411. Ximena is wondering why she should care. Dani tells her to not be so cold, but Xi is adamant that it’s her week off and Dani needs to deal with this on her own. Xi disconnects. A servant tells Dani that Porfis’s meal is ready and she’ll take it up. No, no, Dani tells the maid sweetly, I’ll do it. She even touches the maid’s arm. I’m telling you, these people must think they are crazy or that Ximena is, otherwise how can they explain these radical differences in treatment from one week to the next?

Lucio comes back to the waiting room after his phone call and asks Fausto if there is any news. No, says Fausto, and you should prepare yourself for the worst. Then you should, too, retorts Lucio. He renews his threat that if Max dies, Fausto will also be burying his precious doorMat. Dr. doorMat comes out and Lucio asks desperately, “Is he alive?” When the good doctor doesn’t respond fast enough for Lucio’s liking, he whips out his pistol and points it at Mat. Mat says to his dad/uncle, “Tell your friend to lower his weapon.” But he doesn’t say if Max is dead or alive.

Dani has taken Porfirio’s meal to him, and it’s the burned, bandaged creature who is most on the ball, saying how it’s not like her at all to do that for him, in spite of her protests to the contrary. She tries to tell him about Max, but he gets a phone call right then. He says into the phone, “Oh my God, that’s not possible. Okay. I understand.” Dani plants the suggestion, “He died?” Porfis answers, “Yes. The remains arrive tomorrow. Please make the necessary arrangements for the funeral.”

Now call me super cynical, but I don’t think that call was about Max. I think it’s just a cliffhanger. Especially considering the avances, that are just about Abi and Fausto going to cenar, and Mat appearing to have a hernia about it. We shall see!