Caray, Caray!

Here we go!!!! I started this late and will deal with typos later today.

I have to admit I would have loved to have been one of the kids in the "ataque" scene. Anyway, tonight we have the appearance of Carmen Salinas as Margarita Manzanares the principal of Instituto Vasconcelos. She is a hoot with her famous "Oooooh" which always reminds me of George Takei of Star Trek fame and his famous "Oooooh". Anyway, . . .

We see Esperanza scoop up Selena as Selena presses the fire alarm button. The school is evacuated and Ricardo is saved from his embarrassing fate eventhough as luck would have it he has to rescue and carry Pámela out who is having a panic attack. As the teachers and students congregate outside of the school, Tracy plants a big kiss on Ricardo to mark her territory just so Esperanza can see and she does.

In the meantime at Ernesto's house, Ernesto is warning his lackey Murillo that he better contact Tracy and make an appointment with her for him or he will lose his job and by the way (since Murillo is in the middle of a coughing jag) he should stop smoking those damn cigarettes.


While setting up their chilorta stand, the stooges see the fire truck go to the school and end up running over to help.

Still outside of the school, Esperanza gives Ricardo a heads up that Selena pulled the alarm because he was out of control of his classroom and Félix was just down the hall. Félix has told her that if Ricardo has one more infraction he will be let go. Now he knows why Selena was crying. Esperanza tries to get it across to him that the situation is very serious. Selena saved his life but they need to talk to her.

The stooges arrive and can't all make it through a turnstile at once and make everyone laugh. Ha! Ha!

Also outside of the school, Pato and Pedro are standing together. Pedro turns his head and catches the eye of Ara. He turns to Pato to let her know that he thinks Ara likes him. He asks about how things are going with Luca. Pato informs him she is now an "ex novia".

In the gym Luca is working out and Anastasia has arrived to continue putting the moves on Luca. He suspects his mother put her up to it to separate him from Pato. Anastasia says she misses him. She was never unfaithful. He does not believe her. He wants to be done with her. He has a novia.

Back outside the school, Kristel chats with Pato about Erasmo and how her mother doesn't even care that he is so far into debt. Pato assures her that she knows how her mother is. Silvana managed to take away her scholarship just because she does not like her mother Esperanza. Kristel had no idea. Pato adds about how Silvana is doing everything she can to get her mother fired. Kristel notices that Pedro has been talking and laughing with Ara and mentions how well they seem to be getting along. Pato calls her on her comment. Kristel "clarifies" her comment explaining that Pedro is her best friend and that is why she is interested. Pato says Ara and Pedro have lots of things in common.

Still outside the school, Selena is talking to her dad Ricardo explaining how upset and worried she was that Pámela was going to turn him into a chicken because she had said so and then Mr. Félix was coming . . . Ricardo assures her he knows how to defend himself. He tells her that pulling the alarm was a bad thing to do because someone could have gotten hurt. She pinky promises she will never do anything like that again. Again, he assure her that he loves her and her brother more than anything in the world and would never let anything happen to them.

Erasmo appears on the new construction site. Engineer Curado greets him. Erasmo says Mario sent him. Curado is going to show him around the construction site. Erasmo recommends Gerónimo for a job. Curado says he can introduce him to him later.

Ricardo and Esperanza are out walking after school and he tells Esperanza about how he has lost his touch in managing his students. She tells him his classroom was total chaos. His biggest problem is a little girl Pámela Rey Aldana. She recognizes her as the sister of her problem student Paolo. Ricardo wants to know about her father since he would like to make an appointment to meet with her parents. Esperanza informs him about how Paolo talks about his powerful dad and brings his "guaruras" bodyguards to school. She has never seen the father or the mother. They have never shown up. Ricardo then asks her for her "professional" help in dealing with his classroom discipline problem. She will as long as it stays professional. He gives her a little hug and a kiss on the cheek. She steps back. He says that was for her saving him and then he goes in for another hug and kiss to thank her for helping Selena. As she steps back again to avoid it, Puerquirio of the stooges bumps into Ricardo in his chilorta costume and falls down. The stooges have broken up the lovey dovey moment. (Yay!) They want to show Esperanza and Ricardo their fliers. Then it is off to classes for Esperanza and Ricardo.

In Silvana's office, she is tracking down who could have pulled the fire alarm (since there was no fire) with Félix and building engineer Napoleón. She looks at security footage and sees Esperanza from the back scooping up Selena at the alarm. She is convinced that Esperanza is responsible.

At the same time, Esperanza is talking with the interim principal at the Instituto Vasconcelos about how happy she is that principal Manzanares is coming back from her vacation. He is happy, too. The interim principal says it was not a vacation but a year long sabbatical. Esperanza says it is so strange that Principal Manzanares is such a good person and her daughter is so . . . "special" might she say . . The bell is going to ring. The interim principal mentions that today is Instructor Alegría's first day. During most of this scene, we see a person in leather boots first from their knees down: getting on their motorcycle, putting on their helmet amd leather gloves and starting their motorcycle. We never see the person"s face. Finally the motorcycle is headed down the street. It has a sidecar.

Ernesto is at a restaurant waiting for Tracy to arrive for their meeting. She arrives. She ignores his invitation to a drink but cuts right to the chase. She wants to know why he wants to see her. He knows she is married to Ricardo. He knows she is smart and he can talk business with her. He has a proposal he knows she will find interesting.

Ricardo is outside of the Instituto Vasconcelos waiting for his phys ed students. They finally arrive. These are high school kids and his rapport and control is much better with them eventhough he tells a girl she won't be using "neta" (slang for truth/right) in his clases. He puts them through their paces starting with 50 push ups. He does them with the students. They all suffer together.

At work, Luca is talking with Begoña trying to commiserate saying that they are both in the same boat. Anastasia disappointed him and Nacho disappointed her but the difference is that she still loves Nacho. Nacho's only problem is that nothing ever goes right for him while he is almost completely certain that Anastasia was cheating on him. Begoña calls him on having doubts and not even knowing who Anastasia was cheating on him with. Luca looks tormented and confused.

Back at the restaurant, Tracy has gone for the wine and a meal while seeing what kind of offer Ernesto has for her.
He asks how she would like to have Esperanza away from her husband. Of course she would!

At Silvana's office, Silvana is having a meeting with Esperanza with no concern that she is on her way to her next class at "Nacocelos" (rather than Vasconcelos). Silvana shows Esperanza the video of her supposedly pulling the fire alarm and tells her that that is reason enough to let her go. It is a crime. Esperanza looks shocked. Silvana being particularly bitchy asks if she didn't do it then maybe she has a twin sister that did. Esperanza thinks quickly on her feet and admits to pulling the alarm on purpose because she smelled smoke and became alarmed. The safety of the students comes first. Silvana reminds her that the firemen went through the whole school and found nothing. Napoleón says Esperanza could be right because yesterday there was a problem with smoke in a hallway and neither he nor the head of maintenance could tell exactly where it was coming from. So, it could have happened today again. Esperanza calls on Félix who was just down the hall. Come to think of it, he can say there was a lot a real lot of smoke. Silvana gives him the evil eye.

Phys ed class is over and the students are leaving, when who should appear? It is the principal of Instituto Vasconcelos: Margarita Manzanares who is taking off her motorcycle helmet and is sooooo interested in meeting Ricardo!!! She cannot stop flirting with him: his last name is "Alegría" (joy): she is so "joyful" to meet him, his hands are so big, his grip so strong (when they shake hands). She says he can call her plain old "Margarita." He says she can call him plain old "Ricardo." She then calls him Richie. Yes, she can call him plain old "Richie". "Ooooh" is her response as he kisses her on the cheek.

At the restaurant, it looks like Tracy has worked her way to dessert and the waiter has delivered the bill. He tells her that all she needs to know is that Esperanza will be far away from Ricardo. What is she ready to do? Anything. Her children are the only thing that matter. As Ernesto leaves, he tells her not to give Ricardo the divorce. They will be in contact. Their fingers brush as he gives her his business card. She smiles.

Back at school, Esperanza is explaining to Félix about all of the smoke she was smelling still trying to convince him of what he just lied about. She tells him that Silvana never would have believed her if it had not been for him. She fingers his ID tag as she talks to him. He mumbles he would support her his whole life. She asks what he said. Nothing. Now that he helped her out with "Cruella De Ville" might she like to go for coffee with him today? She can't. She apologizes. Tomorrow? She quotes a song "yo no sé mañana" (I don't know tomorrow) and leaves him frustrated with his mustache trembling.

In another classroom at the school, Rodrigo is being mortified by a good meaning but shortsighted teacher who has just called him up in front of his class to inform everyone that he just got a perfect paper. To make it even worse she asks them to all applaud for him. Very few do. The bell rings and they all leave giving him the stink eye on the way out. He tells them to quit giving him dirty looks. The last student to leave tries to congratulate him but Rodrigo has had enough of them all. He tells him not to treat him like he is weird.

Ernesto has a surprise visitor at his office. It is Anastasia!!! She is there to see Lucaa who is discussing her with Begoña. He was with Anastasia for three years and with Pato for less than a month. Begoña questioms that. For Luca love is a matter of intensity not the length of time. Pato is so unique. Playing devil's advocate, Begoña asks if not the same could be said about Anastasia. Luca says yes. Then, asks Begoña, how could he so suddenly stop loving her when he found out about the supposed cheating?

Pato and Ara are at school chit chatting when it comes out that yes!!! Ara really like her brother Pedro. Pedro just happens to overhear this part of the conversation. Ara sees him and leaves in embarrassment. Pato knows he likes Kristel. She tells him that Kristel asked what was going on with him and Ara. He wonders if she was jealous.

Looks like the chilorta stand is a success. Kiko is there to try one out with chorizo and cheese.

It is after school again and again Esperanza and Ricardo are walking down the street. He is teasing her about the "smoke in the hallway" story she is telling him. She is getting aggravated with him. He stops to tell her how grateful he is for what she did for him, for life, to be able to look into her eyes, to be able to see her everyday. A whistle from a joyful Margarita breaks this up as she approaches them. Esperanza welcomes her back. No need to introduce Margarita to Ricardo. They met already. Margarita didn't know they were "together". Esperanza tells her they are not a couple. She wouldn't want Margarita to think badly of her. On the contrary, Margarita would not think badly of her at all if that were the case. Everyone is free . . . They are suddenly interrupted by Margarita's grand daughter Kristel!!!! She and Margarita are off! Ricardo continues telling Esperanza about how important it is for him to work at Instituto Palacios and how she saved him. So he knows deep down he does matter to her. He is very grateful.

Kristel and Margarita are getting their helmets ready and are just about to take off on her motorcycle when Silvana pulls up in her car to put a stop to that. She accuses Margarita of covering up for her daughter and her boyfriend. Margarita's smile is gone and she looks pissed.

Viviana is talking to Ernesto who is accusing her of setting up the whole Anastasia visit. Her voice is shaking because she is on a vibrating machine (weren't those not popular back in the 50's and 60's? I have seen photos . . They had a wide band that went around a person's hips as they stood on the floor. Thankfully this looks different)She denies any involvement. Anastasia is back because she misses Luca and loves him a lot. Ernesto tells her to act like her "advanced" age and to understand once and for all that Anastasia does not love Luca. Yes, he supports his daughter Patricia. Viviana keeps on going on about how great Anastasia is and how she is just at her level. Ernesto does not agree and if Viviana keeps interfering, she will pay the consequences.

Back on the curb, Silvana is going on about how Erasmo is a brick layer, a construction worker. Margarita wants to know if that is why she had Mario fire him. Next, Margarita wants to know what's wrong with Silvana. What did she teach her anyway? Silvana says she taught her to fight for the best. Yes, then Margarita reminds her that she also taught her how to be tolerant and compassionate. Does she not remember all of the values she taught her? How could she run her own child out of her home? Silvana makes it clear she did not run her out. Kristel left on her own because she does not like be at home. Margarita says that is because she is a ______(fill in the blank) but then decides not to be provoked by Silvana. She says she and "her daughter" are leaving. Silvana reminds do her Kristel is not her daughter. Kristel is her daughter. Margarita says it sure does not seem that way. The final insult: Silvana tells her mother she must be frustrated being the principal of this school. She is simply not at her level. She, Silvana,is the principal of a "prestigious" school. Silvana finally leaves. Kristel is crying and asks why her mother is the way she is. Margarita comforts her. She will always have her. Soon the two leave with Margarita on the motorcycle and Kristel in the sidecar.

Anastasia is at the office bringing Luca coffee still trying to snooker her way back in belittling Pato as a little girl who cannot go with him. He needs a woman like her! She would love to go to Harvard with him.

At the super duper secret police central, Ricardo is being briefed by Triana on an image of La Sombra that was captured early yesterday morning. He is angry because she is not informing him of what is going on in a timely manner. He is getting the info late. She apologizes. He does not want apologies. He wants to see the recording right now. A cloaked figure with a mask is running down a street How sure are they that it is Maximiliano Izaguirre? They are not sure. He does have on the ring that Ricardo described in his reports. Ricardo wants them to check the video location against a list of museums, art collectors and the residence of Pámela Rey. There have been no robberies or suspicious activities. Local authorities have been advised and they are on the lookout for a second safe house. Ricardo wants the patrols covering his house and the Rey house to be reinforced. Ricardo tells the officers there that they are facing a very dangerous criminal and that they are to assume that he is armed. Nobody absolutely nobody should take on La Sombra alone. He has accomplices. He is very elusive. They are to notify him of any advances in the case no matter how small they may seem. La Sombra could be absolutely anywhere.

Pedro stops by Kristel's house to see her. Margarita greets him and thinks what if she were just thirty years younger . . . Pedro is interested in finding out why Kristel was asking about him and Ara so he asks. She just was curious when she saw them together. Pedro says fine. He is going to tell her the truth.

Luca has a proposal for Pato: let's go to Harvard together. Pato is thinking: she is a minor. He just wants them to be together. She does, too, but. . . She can finish high school, choose a career. His dad, no really her dad would foot the bill. She wants nothing from that man (Ernesto). He apologizes for even asking. They laugh about her getting so angry a chocolate milk mustache appeared. (they were drinking chocolate milk together)

Ricardo has finally made it home. Tracy left him a note. Tracy has taken the kids out to eat. So it is just Triana and him. Triana starts to apologize again about her mistakes and suddenly all of the lights go out. Then there is the distorted voice of La Sombra addressing Ricardo: "According to you, you were going to trap me but your moment has arrived. So much time chasing me but now we are together. This is your last warning." Ricardo and Triana have been searching though the house with their guns drawn. Ricardo spots a bomb that goes off and the entire house is filled with smoke. The bomb knocks Ricardo out of the action. Triana tries to take on La Sombra but she is no match for La Sombra. As Ricardo is coming to, La Sombra tells him he is going after Esperanza. While all of this is going on Esperanza is strolling home down the street eating and oblivious to her surroundings. Ricardo gets off the floor. La Sombra is high tailing it down the street. Ricardo is in pursuit and comes up behind and to the side of Esperanza with his gun drawn telling somebody not to move.

El fin

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