Caray, Caray!

Refry: Diana can breathe again, after Fausto’s attempt on her life in the hospital room. Fausto is all smiles at the foot of her bed.

Dr. Pat is sporting a nice shiner, and doesn’t want to talk to Fausto, who wants to proclaim his innocence. It doesn’t matter anyway, because no amount of beatings will keep Pat and Ren apart, they love each other.

New: Barragan is questioning Lucio in his office, making very, very sure about the date of Pablo’s death, without telling Lucio that therefore the killer could not possibly be Don Bruno. Lucio insists, even invokes his scar, and signs his declaration. Just when he thinks the coast is clear, Barragan produces one of the ubiquitous “anónimos,” the anonymous, hand-crafted letter by painstaking letter, documents that Mac has been making. This is the one about Padre Francisco, and Barragan points out that Lucio was the last one to see him alive. Lucio begins to squirm, and has the gall to ask, “Who would want to hurt him?” Barragan gets all Perry Mason, strolling away and then whirling around with ANOTHER anónimo, about Freddy! Lucio does not burst into flames as he denies any and all knowledge or involvement in any of the crimes.

Simona is visiting Ela, of Xi-ela, suffering about the Freddy letter. Ela comforts her, saying it most likely is a lie. But if it is true, says, Simona, she just wants that desgraciado in front of her to let him know how much pain he caused. Just as I’m thinking “cue Lucio,” there’s a knock at the door. But it’s Don Fausto! He is the intellectual author, after all, so I stand corrected. He walks in to the sound of panting sheep dog background music.

Julian-o is meeting with his fiancés, and Eduviges has already endorsed a check for him, but Epifenia is holding out. If business is so good, why does he need this money? He spins out some business terms. She wants to speak to him alone. “Has Toño moved out?” “I’m working on it.” Well, until the brat is out, there’s no money and no wedding. Those are the terms he agreed to. As she leaves, Black Hand emerges and pressures Julio about the money they have to pay to Fausto. Mano Negra isn’t on board.

Simona takes her leave of Fausto and –Ela, but not before saying that she just made a payment on the loan Fausto made her. “Fine, fine, I have no complaints,” says Fausto. The giant dog keeps panting in the background as she goes. Now Fausto gets down to business, and wants to know if –Ela was behind Dr. Pat’s beatdown. Since she wasn’t, she truthfully insists, “I wasn’t.” He is perplexed.

At the Enramada there is a happy, happy, joy, joy family meal in progress. There is good-natured plot advancement as Helena says how good Nieves’ cooking is, and how happy she will make some joyful man. The music cues appropriately as she looks at Diego and he looks back. Since Abi is at the table, it is only natural that Mat show up, because where there’s Abi, there’s Mat. He makes the lamest of attempts to leave, and then sits down right next to her. Mat and Diego make nice, nice, talking about childhood memories. They grew up playing, haciendo travesuras, just like brothers. What? Where’s the tell-tale musical cue for “brothers”? Anyway, Mat is actually speaking in a normal way vs. emoting about how wonderful, and I mean intensely delightful and extremely meaningful  those times were.

From joy to the graveyard, where Simona is crying by Freddy’s grave. Toño shows, unbeknownst to Simona, and is also crying. Could this be the beginning of the end of Jerk Toño? It wouldn’t be a moment too soon.

The elation at the family dinner at the Enramada has gone up a notch. Now the carefree youngsters are frolicking in the yard playing soccer. They call out encouragement and good-natured ribbing to one another. And look! Did Abi fall down on top of Mateo? That is so sweet. I hope she doesn’t get anything contagious from Diana (or Fausto). Just as I’m wondering what the point is to all this useless filler, there is a brief cut to a scene of Fausto thanking somebody via telephone for a favor he has called in. Cut back to the Enramada, where a black car rolls ominously onto the grass. This is Child Protective Services, come for Domingo the Orphan. In addition to the stereotypical severe looking woman in the unflattering suit who obviously is unloving and cold-hearted, there are actual henchmen, even one with black sunglasses, there to assist in the Wrenching Away. Everybody gets in a plea or a protest and takes turns getting held back by the henchies or by the family, as Domingo is unceremoniously put into the back of the car. Evidently the Protective Services don’t worry about seatbelts, because Domingo’s entire upper body is out the window as he is driven off in tears.

-Ela calls Xi on the phone and rails about Xi ordering the beating of Pat. Xi blows her off, saying, “You turned it into a moment between the two of you, didn’t you, so what’s the problem?” and hangs up.

The Happy Family has turned to The Concerned and Determined Family, and they try to figure out how to get Domingo back. Barragan has been called in, and he consults an anómino about what to do (not really). He brings out the fact that Diego had started a legal adoption process under Simona’s administration, so why would Services take Domingo away so aggressively? Mateo blames the new president, Fausto, and Abi immediately defends. Renata offers to ask Fausto for help, but Mat and Diego vigorously decline. They don’t trust Fausto! Abi rolls her eyes.

Meanwhile, Fausto drinks to his own bad self, and salutes Diego in absentia. Now Diego knows not to cross him. Fausto isn’t alone for long, as Macaria worms into the study. She has apparently digested the anónimo she had to eat, and has expelled along with it any lingering bad feelings she had toward Fausto. She is sliming over him, and long, gooey story short, she will serve up Abi to him if he swears to return to her brazos forever afterward. Just like Benito’s love for her was incomprehensible, so is hers for Fausto. He has demeaned, hurt and humiliated her so many times, I don’t see how any bit of love could withstand it. Unbelievable.

Barragan never rests, and can juggle multiple cases at once, and even be in multiple places. He is back in his office with Mat, showing him the Padre Francisco anónimo. It’s another rare moment of brain activity and discernment for Mat as he states, “This could be a joke in bad taste or a trick.” Mat flashes back and remembers how the Padre said Fausto’s and Diana’s name before he expired.

Back to Mac and Fausto, and my cable cut out briefly. I don’t think it was important, and I still caught Fausto saying, “If you had been more biddable, more easy-going, you would have had everything you wanted and more. But now it’s too late.” She says, “You’re mine” and he says, “I’m not anybody’s” (yo no soy de nadie). She, from her power position, offers Fausto one last chance, which he respectfully declines. After he leaves, she says he shouldn’t have wasted his last chance. I guess she does have the gun, but that old saw has been creaking for 25 years now.

Julian-o and Black Mano are meeting in the secret office of the casino. Negra Hand did not give the money to Fausto like Julio commanded. Julio calls him an estúpido, and knows they will have trouble over this. No sooner has he said that than Toño rushes in, saying there are men with guns scaring secret casino patrons away! Sure enough, it’s Lucio and a band of armed men. There is a rather large group of patrons, and several employees visible as well, giving the impression that half the town works in this place, and the other half gambles there. But it is a secret. Lucio says this changarro is closed down until Fausto gets his dough. Black Negra isn’t cool with that and puts a gun in Lucio’s face. Doing stuff like that is sure to curtail Hand Mano’s life expectancy, and sure enough Lucio draws on him, too. Julian-o is the voice of reason, lowering the weapons and asking if they can all just be friends. He will deliver the money pronto. Lucio leaves and Julio talks to the Hand: “Now do you see why you should have given the money? You can’t mess with Fausto. Lopez. Guerra.” Toño is looking on, and for some reason has a cara de impactado.

Barragan is alone, flashing back to a conversation with Fausto. Fausto complains about Pablo Ramos, that Ren was always in love with him and so Fausto could never win her love. Living without love, he turned to other women, like Diana Montero. I didn’t remember that Fausto copped to that relationship so frankly with the Comandante. He will question Diana.

Cable out again. This never happens, and then suddenly the night I’m recapping. I went upstairs to a TV that isn’t connected to cable, and the public signal is fine. I see the last of a scene with Mac in craft class, making more anónimos.

At the hospital, Diana is promising to change, and asking Mat for another chance. Her near-death experience has made her a better person, They can start over, be good parents. Helena has already guilted Mat into this very thing, so her timing and delivery are impeccable. She even plays the divorce card. If that’s what he wants, she’ll go far away. She did that once before and got the same result as now, Mat telling her to stay. She goes for the kiss and gets it. I can’t believe Abi didn’t walk in to see that. Of course, Diana didn’t see Abi laying on Mat earlier, so…

Lucio and Max are eating at their humble abode, and Lucio needs to ask Max something, a lo macho. Did Max send the letters (and by letters, I men, of course, the anónimos)? Max denies it, saying if he decides to denounce Lucio, he’ll put his name to it, not hide behind anonymous letters (a.k.a anónimos). Max bleeds and Lucio worries. The ‘tender father’ music bridges into the next scene and doubles as ‘tender husband’ background music for Mat, as he helps Diana into bed at home.

Diana unsuspiciously asks what Barragan wanted, and Mat says Barragan thinks that Padre Francisco’s death wasn’t an accident. Diana says he’s pretty close to the truth. “What?” says Mat. “Nothing,” Diana smoothly covers. “Come and cuddle with me since I have changed.” Mat hightails it out to the hospital, because the nuns haven’t seen him there in ages. Diana grouses that even the nuns come before her.

Simona is detailing her lack of funds to Violeta at the produce stand. Violeta responds by quitting. She is going to interview for real jobs in the city. Simona is good with that. She is still able to be happy for others in the midst of her own trials, which is a very decent quality. Diego arrives on the scene, breathlessly begging Simona for help. She’s his only hope. Help him, Obi-wan.

In Barragan’s endless, tiring, doggedly long day, he now questions Fausto in the study. He has met with everybody everywhere today. When he brings up Padre Francisco, Fausto suggests that maybe the good Captain should retire, he seems confused and worn out. He is looking for crimes where there are none. Motor was behind the Padre’s accident. Barragan asks Fausto point blank: “Were you involved in the accident? Did the Padre know about you and Diana Montero?” Fausto is not happy.

Abigail and Renata are at Pablo’s grave. They must have crossed paths with Simona at some point it would seem, but it’s not important. Ren says Pablo was the only man she ever loved. Abi congratulates her on such a long-lasting love. Yeah, it’s easy when you don’t have to live with the real person (who you never truly got to know in the first place), just an idealized memory. I for one am not impressed. Abi drops the bomb that she “knows” Pablo isn’t her dad. Renata herself said that Ren was the only love in Pablo’s life, not Abi’s “mom” (Mac), ergo Pablo isn’t Abi’s dad. In fact, for Pablo to be her dad, Ren would have to be her mom, and that’s just preposterous! This is going to be one of the worst times for Ren not to tell the truth, because Abi will look back and think, “I gave you the perfect opening and you still lied?”

Final scene: Mac delivers a letter to joven Mateo that the ‘postman’ just dropped off. Mat reads it and scowls, but we don’t get to see it. However, the avances reveal that it’s another stab at telling who the father of Diana’s twins is. Mat, Diana and Fausto all confront each other!