Caray, Caray!

As Sev begins to sneak out of his hiding place, gun at the ready, the unhelpful witness and the building super (one guesses) show up.  They're helpfully talking loud enough to warn off whoever it is they think they heard up there, which makes the super's baseball bat all the more ridiculous.  Sev slinks back under his rock as Aldonza, Renato, and the two new arrivals make their way out of the apartment.

Emmanuel, newly homeless, witnesses Pato and Lola dining al fresco on some yummy looking tlacoyos.  Pato tells the following joke:



What do una pulga (a flea) and un torre (a tower) have in comment?  A tower es alta (is high) and a flea salta (jumps)!

I think if Em could have heard the joke he might feel a tiny bit better about his situation.  But then there's Lola and Pato's laughter, subsequent argument about whether the joke was ridiculous and if so, why Lola laughed, and Pato is touching her face and Em remembers Lola coming on to him in the stables, pointing out how clueless he's been and that she has a thing for him and snogging him and Lola and Pato keep laughing and…pobre de Emmanuel!

Meanwhile, Silvia and Joaquin's dinner continues.  There are no laughs here.  Silvia advises calm--if Joaquin files kidnapping charges on Flavia he's just going to make things worse.  Flavia's just trying to give him a scare and she'll be back in a few days.  Joaquin doubts it and is worried Flavia will take Ray out of the country and he'll never see him again.  According to Silvia, she's seen plenty of cases like this and Flavia knows if she does that she'll be in a LOT of trouble.  If they file charges, they'll spook Flavia and she really will try to put more distance between them.  But If it turns out that Flavia doesn't come back and they have to file charges, Silvia will help.

Lardo.  Cards.  Loser.  No, really, he loses all his money.  And then he begs to play on credit.

Humberto is home and upset about Emmanuel getting kicked out.  "He's a member of the family!"  Uh, has Humberto not been paying attention?  When have either of the harpies EVER treated Emmanuel like a member of the family?  The only reason Em wasn't living in a room under the stairs is because they don't have one.  Pru flat-out lies that Em was being a total asshat to her and Valeria and hurling insults at them.  Hum doesn't believe it.  Even when Val backs Pru up.  He's sure they said something to him to provoke him.  Pru denies it--all she did was take him to task for the lies he was making up about Valeria.   ¿¡ Que qué?!  Humberto, knowing what Emmanuel is like (and, knowing what these two are like!) says he'll need to hear Em's side of this.  Pru calls Em  un mediocre (a nobody), waiting to unsheathe his claws like a resentful cat.  Hum says that's bull--Em has always tried to make it on his own when even Humberto hasn't been able to give him the opportunities he deserves.  "What about everything we've always given him since he came to this house as a newborn?"  Humberto tells her to shut it--all Em has ever gotten from Pru is desprecio (disdain) and Val has always treated him con la punta de pie (with her toe; wanting nothing to do with him).  Pru never treated him like a son and Val never treated him like a brother.  Val says he isn't and Hum forced Emmanuel on them.  Humberto storms out, saying he's going to go look for him.

Lardo is still in the cantina, trying to lose more money he doesn't have.  Sev has finally managed to get him to answer his phone.  He tells Lardo that there's a warrant out for his arrest, thanks to the fingerprints and Renato's talking to the cops.  He'd better not go home or to Las Animas or come to the DF.  Just stay at a friend's place or stay out on the streets.  And he'd better not open his mouth.  Gee.  All that money he lost would probably come in handy right about now, no?  He runs out of the cantina, to the disappointment of his fellow card players, and right into Emmanuel.  No words are exchanged as Lardo keeps running.

Em goes into the cantina and meets up with Joaquin, who, unlike the last time they hung out, seems determined to get drunk off his ass tonight.  "Chicks, man."  "Yeah.  Chicks."  Emmanuel gets himself a glass to join Joaquin and share his own tale of woe.  Dudes, man.  Dudes.

Renato takes Aldonza to his house and insists she stay there.  It's late and he's not going to send her back out there.  They wake up Ren's dad, who agrees that Aldonza should stay there.  He offers his help with the apartment situation and offers to make her a sandwich if she's hungry.  Meanwhile Ren is already rushing upstairs to make up his room for her, while he plans to take the guest room.

Cris gets an idea.  I refrain from making a sarcastic remark, but it's difficult.

Aldonza calls Adelina to let her know that she arrived (*cough* hours ago *cough*) and she's staying at Renato's house.  How much do I love Adelina's hair?!  Quit pulling it back, Adelina!  Oh, right…phone convo.  Uhhh, we're not going to tell Tio Padre J where Aldonza is staying annnnnnd Cris knows she's in the DF.  I think that was it.  Let's face it "Adelina looks really hawt without her hair pulled back" was the point of that entire scene.

Cris' idea was to wake up Melesio.  This is a terrible idea, Cris.  He wants to talk to Lola, like, now.  It's urgent!  And it can't wait until morning!  Well, yes, Prince Cristobal, your crappy love life is WAY more important than your loyal subjects getting a good night's sleep.   Now that the ENTIRE FAMILY is awake, Mel hands over his blanket so that Lola can wrap up in it and go OUTSIDE to talk to Cris.  Meanwhile, Dominga suggests they get one final cat nap in before they actually have to be awake.  Which, considering one of them runs the kitchen and the other runs the stables is probably earlier than any of the Royal Family, which makes it even crappier than Cris decided to go wake them up.  Because Lola is his only hope.  Get another hope, Cris.  Lola can tell him where Aldonza's apartment is, since she was there before.  "I have no idea how to get there!  The city is huge!"  And also, it burned down, so what are you going to do, hang out outside and ask everyone walking by if they know where to find her?  In another circumstance, I might admire your tenacity, but right now it's pre-dawn, you woke up a bunch of people for something that could have waited until morning, you're making your "friend" sit outside on what I assume is cold ground, AND you have now told her that Aldonza left town without saying goodbye and you know how much that hurts Lola.  Lola reminds him that the apartment burned…oh, wait…this is news to Cris.  He figures she didn't tell him because she was distracted by other plans.  "What plans?"  Damnit, Cris!  Way to make Lola feel out of the loop, dude.

Aldonza lies in Renato's bed crying and thinking about Cris proposing to her and Valeria kissing him.  Renato hears her crying as he's sneaking down the hall with a glass of water and peeks through the door, not looking like his eyes are all that dry either.

Cris says if Lola doesn't help him find Aldonza there won't be any plans to tell her about.  Oh, nice, so now you're withholding gossip?!  Like she wouldn't have helped you anyway!  Lola says her Gansito, er, Pato can help.  "Who?" Yeah, well, Cris, if you were interested in anyone else's life but your own, you might have known about things like Aldonza's apartment burning down or Lola having a new boyfriend.  Oh, right, he did hear about Pato from Emmanuel.  And he's even willing to put aside his pointless dislike for the chilanguito (chilango; guy from the DF; anybody know if this only sounds insulting because of who's saying it or is it always an insult?) if consulting him can help him find Aldonza.

Uriel tries to make nice with Mari, but she's not in the mood.  He tries to tell her that they only pay more attention to Abelardo because he needs it more, because he's all over the place and doesn't know what he wants.  Mari says he's not the only one.  She hates being bored (!) all day in the house.  Uriel reassures her that when she finds something that actually interests her, he'll be there to support her.  Maybe instead of sitting around the house waiting for a spark of inspiration, she could try doing something useful and see if inspiration strikes that way.  Just a thought.

Padre J has decided he needs to get out of bed.  And get rid of his collar.  The foam one, anyway.  Adelina has her hair back again, sadly.  She wants to know what to do if Cande shows up to try to seduce the Padre.  Ok, the second half of that sentence was only implied.  Padre J says while he'd rather not let her in, they can't be rude.  Adelina says it would be a scandal if people found out what Cande feels for him…one more Alcocer scandal.  Hey, maybe Aldonza got the come-hither gene from both sides.  ¿¡ El Padre J tiene lo suyo, que no?!

Uriel is off to work when two cops show up with the arrest warrant for Abelardo.  Aw, and he was having such a good morning.  And Irma was reminding him to take the pills for his ulcer.  He may need Hum to up his dosage.

No two ways about it, Candela is getting all dolled up to go hit on Padre J some more.  Dominga knows what's what.  Cris is walking past the open door and hears that his mom isn't trying to seduce his old friend and mentor, she just longs to be close to him.  Cue the music!   Dominga reminds her she can sin in her thoughts, too.  "Well if the doors of heaven are closed to me for this, screw it!  I'll never let go of what I feel for him!"  Oh dear…Cande means business!  She's flashing knee and everything!  Don't let the tight braids fool you and listen to the faux fur vest--Cande is on the prowl!  "I've loved him my whole life and that's never going to change."  Cristobal, as a true son of Cande, shows that he's learned his lessons well and now violates HER privacy by storming in and demanding to know whether she's talking about Padre Jeronimo.  "Answer me!  Is it true what you said?  You're in love with Padre Jeronimo."  Cande looks horrified.  I'm delighted!  The student has surpassed the master.  [insert evil laugh here]

Irma has checked Lardo's room and it doesn't look like he slept in his bed.  Uriel refuses to let the cops check his room.  So the cops refuse to tell them why they're looking for Lardo.  Uriel pleads with them, so the cop says he's being sought as a suspect in an apartment fire in the DF.  That's all he can tell them so as not to entorpecer (impede) the investigation.  Uriel and Irma are taking this much better than I expected.  Uriel just hugs his wife and says they need to get a good lawyer.  Uh, I'm going to suggest you not ask Silvia.

Get your popcorn or beverage ready, Cande's about to try to answer the question.  She sort of babbles incoherently and then Cris angrily repeats the question and when she babbles some more he screams at her to talk.  Dude!  She's not my favorite person either, but since when does screaming at somebody to answer a question when they're already trying and can't get the words out an effective interrogation technique?!  Stop yelling at her!  You're ruining my enjoyment of the scene!  Cande just keeps shaking her head and Cris says her silence speaks volumes and now he understands her crappy relationship with his dad.  "No, it was Roberta!"  Even Cande doesn't look convinced as she says this.  "No, mom, you're the one responsible.  If my dad got involved with that woman or who knows how many others, it's because you never gave him his rightful place."  Oh, Cris, no!  There is NO EXCUSE for Sev's behavior!  Don't go down this path!  Cande tells him he doesn't understand.  "No, I understand perfectly.  You married my father without loving him and he probably always knew."  Cande begs him not to say anything to Sev or Sev will KILL Padre J.  Cris now understands all her concern for the Padre.  "You know what?  I feel sorry for you.  Really sorry for you.  You ARE obsessed with an impossible love and I'm afraid your frustration is just going to keep growing.  So don't EVER tell me again that Aldonza isn't good for me, because you are the LAST person who should be telling me that."  He storms out and Cande breaks down.  That was…not as much fun as I wanted it to be.

Cris is back at his buddy the Police Academy Chief's office to talk business.  Sev sees he has a call from Uriel, but ignores it.  Academy Chief wants to meet Cris since he assumes that after the wedding that's who he'll be doing business with.  Sev pastes a fake grin on his face and says yep, that's definitely how it's going to be.

"What do I do now, Nana?"  Dominga says Cris is obviously freaked out by what he heard, but he's a grown man and he'll understand…with time.  She knows that it might be hard for him to understand how a woman can love a man for so long, but she doesn't think he'll love her less for it.  "You're his mother.  No matter what, he's going to respect you."  Cande's not so sure.  She has no more authority over him.  She can't even explain, because there's nothing to explain.  Dominga says it's not as bad as it looks…as bad as it would be if Sev found out.  Cande agrees.

Renato serves Aldonza breakfast.  His dad went off to the hospital early.  Shop talk…the empresa de bienes y raices (real estate company) and the perito (expert) are evaluating the damage to get an estimate of the repair cost for Aldonza's apartment and the apartments of the neighbors.  Aldonza figures after she sells the apartment there won't be any profits.  He really can't say.  By tomorrow, at the latest, they should know more.  Aldonza plans to go to the university and pick up her degree certificate.  Renato takes a call from Pato, who says the judge still hasn't issued a resolution, but they should have one by this afternoon.  Renato lets Pato know that Aldonza is staying at his house.  They hang up and Pato makes kind of a "Huh.  Didn't realize they were moving that fast," face.

Academy Chief is off to take the signed paperwork to someone so they can cut Sev a check.  This leaves Sev alone in his office.  He calls Lardo and finds out that he's at "a friend's house."  Um, it's Tomas.  Anybody in town will tell the cops that the two of them are BFF's.  Shoulda picked another hiding place, dude.  Sev doesn't know this and just tells him to stay put until he gets further instructions.  He also tells him not to talk to his parents.  Lardo has been ignoring all their calls.  When he gets off the phone, Tomas wonders what's up.  Lardo, being the dunce he is, says he did a little job for Don Sev and he's got to lay low.  Tomas picks up on the implication that this job was pesado (heavy).  "Oh, no, he…just doesn't want anyone to connect me with it…but it's nothing serious."  Right.  Because people always have to hide out when nothing serious is going on.  Tomas doesn't look like he believes him.  Hey, I wonder how much Tomas would sell out his good buddy for?  Lardo ignores another call, presumably from his parents, and Tomas shakes his head like Lardo's a total dumbass.  Hey, man, you're the one who's friends with him.

Uriel hangs up the phone, looking worried.  Irma calls for news, but Urlel's got nothing for her.  Lardo isn't answering his phone.  Irma cries and says to let her know if he hears anything.  Uriel says he'll keep trying.  At this point, I see no reason for him to be at work.  He's just going to be distracted all day.  Might as well get out of the office and maybe, I dunno, go see if his worthless son is hiding out at his friend Tomas' house?

Lola visits Pato's hotel room.  No, not like that!  Well, I kinda wish "like that."  But, no.  She won't even come into the room…'cause gossip.  And Pato, bless his cute little heart, is beyond happy to talk to her out in the hallway.  As Lola asks which hotel Aldonza is staying at, Silvia exits her room and, having been bitten by the Santa Lucia gossip bug (or maybe this is a lawyer thing, being alert for all potentially useful information regardless of the source?) hovers in her doorway out of sight.  She hears Pato say that he can't be spreading gossip and violating Renato's confidentiality.  "But I'm your virtual girlfriend!  And Aldonza's best friend!  Spill."  Pato admits that Aldonza is staying at Renato's house--cara de "Seriously, dude?" de Silvia--and he can't say anything more.  Ooh, that is NOT the thing to say to Lola.  Silvia ducks back into her room as Lola rushes angrily back down the hallway with Pato in hot pursuit.

Dominga goes to talk to Cris.  He's hiding out in his dad's office and he doesn't want to talk.  He was surprised…no, disappointed.  Dominga says Cande's been keeping this a secret for a long time and it's not hurting anyone.  Even Padre J doesn't know.  Except that we know about the confessional confession/accusation and the coma snogging.  Cris says she's hurting herself.  It's a sick emotion that won't get her anywhere.  And he won't get involved.  Even if he wanted to, there's nothing he can do.  He pulls Dominga up off the floor where they've been sitting and asks if Lola has called with the info he asked her to gather.  He decides to go visit her at the store.  Dominga tells him it really is best if Sev doesn't find out and Cris says he knows.

Aldonza visits her old professor/mentor.  He wonders what happened with the job he recommended her for.  "Nothing.  I had to leave town."  He heard about her mother and he offers condolences.  Aldonza says she has decided to stay in Santa Lucia and revive her family's finca (country house; farm).  He's sure she can pull it off and he's glad she stopped to visit him while she was picking up her degree.  He'd love to take her for coffee and hear more about this farm project. That would be great, since she's waiting for Renato to handle some paperwork.  "Renato the brilliant law student?"  Yep, that's the one.  And they're off to get caffeinated.

Severiano finally answers a call from Uriel.  Sev pretends to be in the middle of doing important bidness and being gracious and magnanimous in taking Uriel's call and asking what he can do for him.  Sev puts on his confused, innocent face, even though they're only on the phone.  Though, in fairness, if you've got to lie to someone over the phone that probably helps sell it…plus, you never know who might be watching.  "He went to the capital, but for other things!  Puh-leeze!  Nothing to do with a fire!  Who could think such a thing?  Don't worry, Uriel.  Abelardo has nothing to do with it, I'm sure.  He came to do some work for me and I'll testify to that.  I'm sure this is all Aldonza Alcocer's work.  She blames me for everything that happens to her, so I'm sure she's behind this, too."  But Abelardo is missing.  "I'm telling you not to worry.  Your son is in Mexico and I ordered him to stay out of sight until we resolve this issue.  But I repeat, there is NO PROBLEM, so don't worry."  Uriel asks to be kept informed.  "Of course, and you keep me informed as well.  And under no circumstances inform the police!  I'm dealing with everything from here."  Neither Sev nor Uriel looks particularly reassured by this conversation.  And once again, we've seen how Sev's explanations always sound way more reasonable than Aldonza's to anyone who doesn't know what he's done.

Humberto goes out to Las Animas looking for Em, but Melesio says he hasn't been around there.  "What do you mean you hoped you would find him here?"  Hum explains that Emmanuel had a fight with his wife and daughter and left the house.  "Cuando a uno no le llueve, le lovizne" (It never rains, but it pours).  If he comes by, Mel will let him know that Humberto was looking for him.  He's going to talk to Sev, but Sev is in the DF, so he decides to talk to Candela instead.

Irma gets to the shop, late, but it's no problem because Lola opened up and besides, Irma is the owner and according to Lola, she can get there whenever she wants to.  Yes, dear, but where small businesses are concerned that's more likely to mean getting there way earlier than everyone else.  *sigh*  I wish I had a Lola!  Lola is concerned about what happened to Irma and wonders if Uriel is cheating.  Nope.  "Oh, Abelardo again?"  Irma sadly says she doesn't know what's going on or where he is.  Dominga comes by to see if Lola knows what happened to Emmanuel--that he got fired for defending Aldonza from Sev's fist.  Irma is shocked, but Dominga says Sev is capable of anything.  "There's more," Dominga says, "Emmanuel left the doctor's house and now he doesn't have anywhere to live."

The maid tells Humberto that Cande isn't accepting visitors, so he goes upstairs to look for her, over the maid's protests.  Silvia comes in, looking for Cris and the maid huffily says she's got to go close the door so the [unintelligible] will quit coming in.  Cris invites Silvia in and introduces himself, asking what he can do for her.  "Actually, I think it's what we can do for each other.  I hear you're looking for Aldonza Alcocer in the DF and I can tell you where she is and with who.  I work with Renato Ballesteros.  I'm also a lawyer.  I need this conversation to stay between us.  I have my reasons, but if you can't keep this quiet then…."  Cris swears he won't say a word.  "She's at Renato's house in Mexico.  She's sleeping with him."  Dun, dun, dun!

Labels: sombra