Caray, Caray!

That's right, Dominga helped the Padre find a document to use to forge Sev's signature.  And if they want to turn her into the cops, fine.  And if they want to fire them BOTH, fine…and if not, Dominga quits.  Mel says they can't work for people who would go after a priest just for telling the truth.  Sev calls them dogs, biting the hand that feeds them.  He tells them to be grateful he's not going to go after them legally, but he wants them gone first thing tomorrow and he never wants them to set foot on "his" hacienda ever again.  Cande and Dominga share a tearful glance before Domina and Melesio leave Sev's office.

Don Antonio has set Em up in what, to Em, is a palatial suite.  Don Antonio wants Em and Solitario working with a trainer ASAP.  Sure, Em rides well, and Solitario is gorgeous, but it's been mostly talent so far.  What Em needs is technique so he can keep improving before he starts competing against more experienced riders.

Severiano promotes Jacinto and tells him Melesio is fired "por metiche" (because he's a meddler) and he and his wife are outta there for being "malagradecidos" (ungrateful).  And BTW, Jacinto's salary won't be going up, at least not until he proves he can handle the job.  Oddly, Jacinto doesn't get the hint that that was a dismissal, and that's because he has important news to deliver to Sev--"Um…a bunch of the guys came by this morning and, uh…they quit."  I had to pause to laugh for several moments, 'cause that was just so delicious.  And then I had to do a fake screencap because I'd paused it on such a great facial expression of Alexis Ayala's.



Well, they don't agree with arresting Padre J and they're pissed.  Well, whatever, says Sev, they're fired.  He tells Jacinto to go find some new workers who won't think they're better than him (Sev).  Nobody puts conditions on Sev!  Outside his office, Jacinto and the maid share some "Yikes!" looks.

At the breakfast table, Cande tells Cris that Dominga and Melesio are fired…or, actually, they quit.  Cris doesn't take the news that Sev won't be pressing charges as quite the magnanimous gesture that Cande intended.  Cris remembers that he was giving his parents the silent treatment until they release Padre J, so he declares all conversation finished. Cande tells him not to be childish.  Shut up, Cande…don't make me agree with you.  She says she's working on his dad and whines that she's not his enemy.

Uriel is curious about Irma's absence at the breakfast table.  Mari says she went off to talk to Lola early.  Uriel wants Mari to quit embarrassing the family with all her petty dramas.  So whines and tries to make him feel guilty, but Uriel isn't buying it.  Nor is he buying the "Lola says mom likes her better!" story, though he looks thoughtful at the theory that Lola's the one who stole the money.

Irma confronts Lola about saying that Irma loves her better.  Lola says no way did she say that…she swears!  And she's upset that Mari is manipulating things again.  Lola is grateful that Irma has been like a mother to her, but she would never say that Irma loves her better!  Dominga and Melesio come into Irma's store and tell Lola that they got fired.

Renato tells Aldonza and Adelina that they've done everything they can, and now they need to wait.  Cris shows up and hears that Padre J's pretty much screwed until his parents drop the charges.  Cris says he'll pay bail.  Dominga and Melesio show up and Cris says he already heard about them leaving, being fired…Dom and Mel don't agree on what it was, but they're not living/working at Las Animas anymore.  Cris will miss them.  Hey, Cris, you wouldn't have to miss them at Las Animas if you were, oh, I don't know…NOT LIVING THERE ANYMORE!

Tomas is all decked out in altar boy duds, which Lulu tells him he has to wear ALL the time, not just for Mass.  Plus, he needs to study the Manual de Monaguillo (Altar Boy Manual) and be prepared to be quizzed on it.  And no, it's not out on DVD.  He's not even a full-fledged altar boy yet…first he has to study the manual and pass their quizzes and then he can be promoted.  For now, there's a bucket of water for him to…mop floors with?  Lulu leaves and Pru walks in.  She finds that Tomas' new duds have stolen her will to sin.  Maybe it was the lace.

Predictably, Aldonza invites Mel and Dominga to come live at El Santuario.  They all head out there, but Cris is going to stay and see if he can talk to Padre J.

Pru bought Tomas a cell phone…and she also came to tell him she missed him.  He's been thinking about her a lot, too.  He's realized that it's not just sex between them and he thinks he's in love with her.  Pru is turned off by the idea that he's on Padre J's side.  Especially after he pulled that stunt that's going to screw up her daughter's relationship with Cris.  Tomas says that's between Val and Cris and Val is a big girl who can fight her own battles with her own claws, and she has some long-ass claws!  Pru takes offense that someone who claims to love her could say such a thing.  Tomas may be in love, but he's not so blind he can't see he truth.  Pru says she's not so blind as to fall in love with a mechanic's son who's in training to be an altar boy.  "And don't think you're such a know it all.  The only place you're of any use is in bed.  Know your place!"  Tomas is wounded.  I'm angry on his behalf.  That's just a shitty thing to say.  Takes one to know one, Pru.

Cris wants to talk to Renato, but Renato doesn't think they really need to talk.  He's not stupid.  He knows what happened and he knows it changes everything.  "Chill out. The last thing I want is to pressure Aldonza.  I'm not going to do it when all she wants is for her uncle to be released so he can marry you."  He agrees to see if they'll let Cris visit the Padre.

Cande visits Doña Marga's Dulceria (candy shop) to buy some chocolates for Cris.  But wouldn't you know it?  They're out of his favorite ones.  And Doña Marga is out of paper for wrapping things up as gifts.  And she doesn't have change for the cash Cande's waving around.  In fact, she doesn't sell candy to people who have priests arrested.  So maybe Ms. Cande needs to find herself another candy shop to frequent.

Adriano is in a rush to pack and leave. He's finished his job and gotten paid.  Flavia gathers her courage and says she won't go with him.  She's going back to Santa Lucia.  Adriano threatens to go find Ray and hurt him if she won't come with him.

Cande is strutting back to her truck when she and El Mudo are attacked by a vicious gang of street urchins throwing tomatoes.  I can neither confirm nor deny that I hired said urchins to commit this despicable act.  I could attempt to deny that I laughed my ass off watching it, but you'd know I was lying, so what's the point.

Time for another installment of The Wisdom of El Justiciero Divino.  Padre J tells Cris that a Padre's gotta do what a Padre's gotta do.  And Cris shouldn't judge his parents.  They think they're doing what's best for him, even though they're doing it RONG.  He did this so Cris and Aldonza can get married.  He invited Cris' parents to make peace with his family, and he's going to continue working on that for as long as he remains the parish priest.  Not that he thinks he'll be allowed to stay, even after he gets out of jail.  I wish he'd also clarified to Cris that "don't judge your parents" doesn't mean "keep living with them and letting them control your life."  Just in case Cris doesn't know that.

Mel and Dominga get shown to a large room at El Santuario that we've never seen before.  Dominga will help Adelina with the house and Melesio can take over Emmanuel's jobs (fighting off Lola and Mari?).  When they're left alone, Dominga lets Aldonza know that Valeria is living at El Santuario.  Here we go.  I smell a break up.

Cande comes stomping and fuming into Las Animas…she's got bits of tomato on the shoulder of her shawl.  She's screaming at Sev about the tomato-ing and how Doña Marga won't sell her chocolates and her own son won't speak to her.  She insists that Sev have Padre J released or she'll release SEV.  That's right, this is her house and if Sev doesn't drop the charges, he can get out.  We all wondered what would push Cande to divorce Sev and now we know.  He reminds her that he runs the stables and the stables are what provide for everyone.  "Then we'll all lose, won't we.  Make your choice: peace with Jeronimo or war with me."  Damnit, Cande, stop making me like you!

Aldonza tells Adelina that Dominga and Mel are all settled in.  Adelina asks where they'll get the money for two salaries.  I'll give you one guess what the answer is.  That's right.  Renato's pockets.  And then she whines about Val moving in at Las Animas and probably wanting to move in to Cris' bed.  Adelina warns Aldonza not to behave like her usual irrationally jealous self.  Well, I'd say in this case, the suspicion might be warranted, 'cause Val can't be trusted.  But with all these magically appearing rooms at El Santuario, maybe she needs to invite Cris to live in one.  Or buy him a door alarm.  Or get him one of those strings of braided garlic to wear around his neck at night.

So, what's it gonna be, Sev?  Toña, the maid comes running in, telling Cande to come right away…so she can see Cris limping into the house, aided by El Mudo.  He lost control of the cane getting out of the truck.  Cande shrieks and fusses as a cast of thousands help Cris into the house.

Aldonza, ever wise about relationships that aren't her own, worries about Lola breaking Pato's heart because she's still in love with Emmanuel.  She hopes life is finally treating Emmanuel better.

The cast of thousands help Cris into bed and refuse to give him even a second to rest.  Sev, at a glance from Valeria, hustles everyone out of the room  so she can use her wiles on him.  Which apparently consists of whining that now her dad will have to come see him and, he's just being sooooo insufferable lately, and oh, here, let me prod your wound 'cause I'm a doctor's daughter, so I'm qualified to feel for potentially opened wounds through pants.  Gross…and OW!  When she's done fondling his leg, she goes to bring him some tea, even though he doesn't want it.  Cris, so help me if you saluted that crappy excuse for a medical exam…!

While Em and Solitario train, Don Antonio gets a call about an upcoming competition.  He says he's training a new rider…yes, the one who won at San Miguel…he probably can't be ready so soon, but he might as well try.  I'm struggling not to be suspicious about him, and in all fairness, he hasn't done anything overly skeevy.

Adelina had been holding on to Aldonza's wedding ring and she gives it back to her now.  And then initiates what I'm sure was intended to be a very hopeful, uplifting conversation about how Aldonza is going to get her groove back.  Unfortunately, it's too mired in clichés about doing one's duty as a wife, sex being equated with being married "for real," being the ideal wife, and getting over the sexual trauma by sheer force of will.  Thanks, show.  I know "I'm thinking it's time I seek some professional help in coping with my trauma, because I'd very much like to be able to enjoy a fulfilling sex life, for my own reasons--not because my husband expects it of me" isn't quite as moving as…actually, no, wait, I would have found that pretty damn moving.

Agent Benitez from Santa Lucia shows up to arrest Adriano and Flavia, but the guy taking care of the place where they were staying says they've left already.

Unfortunately, Adriano and Flavia just missed the bus.  He blames Flavia for taking too long to pack.  As he's buying a ticket for the next bus and ranting at Flavia, she's eyeing a pair of cops nearby.

Silvia, wearing a short red dress with a skirt that looks like it just might be twirly, gets an update from Renato when he comes back to the house/office.  He talked to Sev's lawyer, and Nava is going to move that bail be denied.  Silvia and Ren agree that the judge probably won't agree to that, but it will mean that Padre J's release will be delayed while they drag things out.  Sev's determined to make Padre J's life impossible.  In other news, he's mopey because now Aldonza will never be his.  He asks, since she vowed to help him with Aldonza, what he can really do at this point.  "Maybe you could keep Padre in prison so he never marries them?"  Ren laughs and says he did think of that, but no.  Before, he might have done it, but not now.  Not after the big fight he and Silvia had.  She was right--he was crazy and couldn't see that he had crossed the line from love to obsession.  Silvia says he's not the only one and maybe he shouldn't be so hard on himself.  Renato says he's not going to give up on her.  Not until she and Cris are married in the church, and not a minute before that.

Tomas calls Pru, but she's at a Cheater's Club meeting and she ignores him.  Lulu catches him and chides him for making phone calls when he should be working.  He shares with Lulu his woes about his girlfriend who he just had a fight with and how he never thought he was the kind of guy to fall in love.  He's feeling pretty low and thinks that if Padre J hadn't taken him in, he really wouldn't have a single person who cares about him.  Lulu can't resist his sad face and open arms, and for the life of me, I don't even think Tomas is hugging her with ulterior motives.  Are we seeing some genuine personal growth here?

Back at the Cheater's Club lunch, where actual food is eaten because cheaters are baaaaaaaaad.  Pru complains that Padre J has dressed her bad boy Tomas in good boy duds and it totally killed her passion for him.  Plus he said nasty stuff about her daughter.  And he said he was in love with her.  The nerve!

Aldonza goes to Raymundo's grave to thank him for his help and tell him he'll be moved to his favorite place soon.

Joaquin wonders if Adelina is happy because Aldonza has given up on exhuming her dad.  Nope, she's just happy to be there, enjoying the moment with Joaquin and Ray.  And she's been thinking about what Joaquin said about letting whatever's going to happen, happen.  WHAT?!  Who is this person?!  Joaquin is happy to see her happy.  Adelina wants to walk out and see the fields and then go to the waterfall.

Nava informs Sev that he finished paying off Adriano.  In small payments, like Sev told him to.

Toña comes in with Cande's suit…and the bad news that Sev has already left for the day, before Cande could rope him into a discussion he probably didn't want to have.  She dismisses Toña and calls Sev's cell phone.  He has until this afternoon to comply with her demands or it's war.

Antonio and Flavia are arguing outside the bus station.  She's begging him to let her go, but he keeps refusing.  When the cops show up to arrest him, he pulls out a gun and takes Flavia hostage.

Sev is in the police station, ignoring his phone and barely listening to The One Cop In All Of Santa Lucia telling him that if he doesn't "ratificar" (confirm) his accusation, they can't press charges.  So, what's it going to be, Sev?

Labels: sombra