Caray, Caray!

• David sent for Cesar. Lisa regained consciousness and Cesar told her she needed to see the gynecologist in the morning.
• Graciela had drinks with José over the prospect of going to Spain. He told her she had great potential as a painter and could realize it there.
• Marta prayed for Marcos' and Luciana's safety. They arrived safely at the home of a friend or relative.
  
  
• Graciela went home to find Lillian waiting up for her. After a few graceless barbs about Lisa from Graciela Lillian produced the saved half of the torn photo and asked what that was all about. Graciela told her to mind her own business and not go through her stuff. Lillian told her to forget David because Lisa is pregnant again. Graciela doesn't seem to get that doing this is wrong, going on sarcastically about “ruining my sister's marriage and privileges” as though it were all a game. Lillian told her that if she left she couldn't take anything with her. Graciela said that José would give her everything. [We'll see.] Lillian was not impressed.
• Gutierrez paid Juan a visit to threaten him over the status of the vineyard workers. Apparently paperwork in progress doesn't protect anybody [Somebody please weigh in on this.] . He finally makes Juan an offer he may or may not refuse: “Drop the brutality charge against me and I won't bother you about your illegals.” He told Juan that as soon as he sees the charges were removed he'd stop bothering them. Juan accepted and shook his hand. [Like we would believe you, but we're smarter than Juan]. Ramón spotted Gutierrez and asked Juan about this. He told him not to worry. [Be afraid, Ramón. Be very afraid.]
• Marcos called Marta to tell her where they are and that he will be seeing someone about a job. She has to cut the call short when Perla comes in [without knocking, the brat] to tell her that Lillian wants to talk to her. [When did she come back from San Diego?]
• Juan gave David the Readers' Digest version of his meeting with Gutierrez, saying they need to dial back on Marcos' case. Then he distracts him with “the good news” regarding the sale of the young wine for the full year. He went on about lining up buyers for the reserve wine as well. David is pleased, not even looking at the file. He knows this will mean more work without Marcos but will not risk his inheritance. [Juan has duped him but it could be years before he realizes it.]
• In Querétaro Luciana wrote a letter to Miguel talking about how beautiful the place was with lots of trees and how much she missed him, her mother, and León. Her voice changed as she talked about the bruja Lillian and it is now años despues. Miguel finishes reading the letter in an adult voice and we now see him all grown up with an alpha-looking face and wearing a black wifebeater tank top. León teased him about always catching him reading Luciana's letters. Apparently Miguel has been mooning over her all these years.  [Ay, por favor!]
• The new adult Luciana returned home to Marcos with a plant, a seedling tree that will bear fruit. She had studied agronomy in school and specialized in (drum roll) the production of wine. Marcos declared she now must know more than he does. He talked about Marta but Luciana did not want to go back. She didn't want to deal with Lillian again because of her attitude.
• Lillian returned to Lisa and David's home. Same vitch, different year. Bobby, the son who was just conceived in the last episode, is now about 9 or 10; it's also his birthday. He obviously preferred Marta's company to his abuela's. Fernanda looks about 12 and seems to be spoiled. She wanted to skip out on Bobby's birthday to see her Tia Graciela and hear all her exciting stuff. [None of this sounds good.]
• Are all the workers really legal now? [It took this long?] David lamented that the only one he couldn't help was Marcos. Juan claimed not to know why the case got so complicated. David declared that someday it will be possible for Marcos to return.
• Marcos reminded Luciana that Marta had been sending them money so they could live as they have, including paying for her education. He reminded her that they will eventually return. They talked about Lillian and why was she so bitter and nasty, especially to them? “Also, why didn't Mother stand up to her?” Marcos answered that he didn't know what ate Lillian [We wish it had been the creature from Alien] but Marta didn't want to lose her job, as his salary wouldn't have been enough for their needs. Luciana was sure that Lillian hated them but didn't know why. From the look on her face she is determined to find out.
• David promoted Miguel to Marcos' former position.
• Susan arrived and met Carlos Flores. She is the new oenologist and he promised to direct her to Juan's office. He was interrupted by Perla, who made an “All men are alike” comment. He teased her about still wanting to be Juan's secretary.
• David gave Bobby a soccer ball for his birthday; he was thrilled to pieces. Lillian and her red fan were at the party. None of the adults from the prologue look any older although it looks like at least 10 years have passed since then. David has a neater haircut and beard.
• Susan and Miguel met. This is her first job and it sounds like she and Luciana will compete professionally. He took her to the processing plant and introduced her to León, who was supervising fermentation. León watched as they headed to Juan's office. It seems that Miguel is either something of a womanizer or that León envied his height and good looks.
• Luciana received a text from the school confirming the graduation date. She still had finals to deal with. She said they had to call her mother so that she and León could be there for graduation.
• David updated Lisa on the new hire, although David pointed out that if they had had Marcos things would have happened a lot faster. Lillian spoiled their kiss by telling them it's no time to talk about work but to party. She may have been on her nth glass of red. She then told Marta to light the candles on the birthday cake. Everyone sang “Happy Birthday” to Bobby (in English). David went for his camera to take photos. Graciela was also there and sort-of stared coming on to Juan, who did not expect to see her. Neither did David, whom she grins at and kisses in a way that made him ill at ease. He asked her what she was up to but Fernanda's arrival saved her having to lie about her motives for being there. Graciela appeared happy to see her; they may be birds of a feather. Fernanda said something about not expecting her. “Well, it's a surprise,” was the answer. But she looked at David when she said this. Lisa came up and immediately took David's arm as she greeted her sister. When Graciela said “You don't know how much I miss you” Lisa looked at David, who knew exactly what Graciela really meant. Graciela hugged Fernanda and started talking about an art exposition and dropped a few names. Fernanda looked excited because she wanted to go while Lillian looked bored. Her glass was empty. She seemed a little smashed [we wish in a different way] as she fanned herself and made dismissive comments about Graciela's career talk. Juan, David, and Lisa all look irritated to varying degrees.
• Miguel introduced Susan officially to Carlos and mentioned “Watch out for him; he's the lover boy around here” and she smiled while looking at possibly the two best-looking guys at the vineyard.
• The two guys later talk about her with Miguel who is León wonders whether still in love with Luciana. He told the younger guys he just got a promotion and a raise and then all are in a good, celebratory mood.
• Lisa asked Graciela whether she was seeing anyone; she answers she hasn't found The One. Graciela then mentioned having dated someone in Spain who owned a vineyard in Rioja and who reminded her of David. Lisa asked “And what happened?” “It didn't work out.” Lillian tried to start in but Graciela cut her off, talking about good friends and connexions [Please provide any details; I couldn't catch it all]. David changes the subject to his new hire and Graciela expresses a wish to meet her. [We'll see.]
• Cesar spoke with David in the dining room. He had been fully aware of the awkwardness of Graciela's presence all along. When Lisa came in to join them they stop talking about her nasty sister and told her that Cesar will be going to Paris for professional reasons. Lisa teased him about abandoning David and they joke about him speaking French, which he seemed able to do.
• Luciana told her father she was concerned about him working so many hours. She wanted to work to alleviate this but he would not hear of it despite warnings from his doctor. [It should be noted that of all the adults in the prologue he is the only one who shows any real evidence of aging and it's not that much.] Luciana lectured him about working fewer hours or having a distraction or two because “I am not going to lose you.” [Famous next-to-last words.]
• Juan tried getting Graciela to admit her motive for being there, as he didn't think she was there just to shut her mother up. She told him that her work was in the best galleries so she could now travel. He asked whether she was there to see David but Lillian arrived before she could prevaricate. Lillian took another glass of wine and your fly on the wall had guessed correctly; she's already pickled. The good thing about that is that she carefully told Gabriela she was on to her about being there to see David. Graciela chose to ignore her as she sipped the glass she had just poured for herself.
• Luciana was sure that she and her dad would not have had to have that conversation if their family had all been together. He tried to dismiss her concern, but seems to admit that they would all have been happier.
• After taking a breath Graciela told her mother to stop annoying her. Lillian clinked glasses with her and backed off by leaving. Graciela then cut Juan off at the pass because he was going to open the same subject. She wanted him to join her in The Wait Out but he told her to forget it. She told him that no matter what happens she always gets what she wants. She sashayed away from him and he was shaking his head.
• Perla seemed to have her eye on Miguel, saying he was the best-looking guy in the vineyard. She asked whether they might go out. [Was she thinking more about his paycheck and legal status than his lantern jaw and biceps?] He teased her about her thing for Juan, but she dismissed that. She needled him about Luciana, saying she will never return. He looked like he was thinking she was as irritating as a gadfly as he sipped his beer.
• Luciana called León but didn't tell him about her graduation because Marta wasn't there to hear the news. He told her about Miguel's promotion and she talked to Miguel who grinned ear to ear at the sound of her voice. Marta arrived and Miguel put her on the phone. She is proud of Luciana but sure she can't leave work to attend the graduation. [Really? After 10 years nobody will let her take time off for something this important?] Marta held the phone out to the guys and announced Luciana was graduating. They cheered her. She handed the phone to Marcos for a second so he could hear this.
• Fernanda went to Graciela's room to tell her how happy she was to see her. Graciela told her “I came just for you, mi consentida” and it actually sounded sincere. She then gave her two new dresses which looked like perfect fits and told her not to tell anyone she brought her gifts. Fernanda was happy and said “You know me better than anyone” [which confirms your fly on the wall's suspicions about these two]. They hug.
• Lisa was annoyed with her sister and took it out on the bedcovers, throwing them back. David asked her about it while treating us her to the sight of his excellent hairless physique. He assured her he couldn't love anyone else as he loved her. They got busy. [I hope we never hear this song again; the little-girl voice is annoying.]
• The next day Lillian and Juan discussed a deal regarding supplies that their shell company purchases and resells to David at a higher price but low enough to undercut the competition. Graciela arrived in time to hear the most important part of this and she said “I can't believe you're stealing from David” and ran out. Juan ran after her, stopped her, and they argued.
• Lisa arrived to hear this and she told them all off. “I can't believe what I have for family. A thief and a slut?” She told her to get out of her sight. She gave Juan hell, too, although Graciela stood behind her and gloated about that. Lisa had her cell in hand as she told Juan she was going to tell David everything. She then told Graciela to get out. “You can't make me.” “Oh, no? Of course I can. It's my husband, my house, my winery, and my family. I will defend it from you and whatever else. Now get out!” “If I leave, David will only think about me.” Lisa told them they will all pay dearly for this. She demanded to know where David was. Juan said “El Rio” and after Lisa left Lillian asked why he said that. He said he was trying to buy time. Graciela ran after Lisa as Lillian told Juan “I can control my daughter but can you manage David?” She ran after Graciela, not waiting for him to answer.
• In Somona David closed a deal with two men and just as they left Miguel called him about an emergency.
• Lisa ran out, telling a concerned Marta to watch the children while she looked for David. Graciela paused on the Long Stone Steps of Doom. Marta may not have seen her.
• David arrived in the field and Miguel told him that the fertilizer was eating up the grapes. Juan arrived just then and David chewed him out Juan made an excuse that will be just enough to delay the truth until it's too late. He said he would fix the problem. Marta arrived as he was leaving and asked David if Lisa had gotten there. She was very upset. He tried calling her but there was no connexion.
• Lisa arrived at the muddy river in her car. Her cell battery must have died. Graciela arrived in her car. Lisa told her she was sick of her and their mother and to get lost. Graciela sang the Toxic Sister Song about how Lisa was afraid that she would steal David whom she had stolen from her back when they were in college “just as you took everything from me.” This led to a fight, another vocalization of the Z word and then the L word. Two really good slaps later (1 each) Graciela bashed Lisa in the head with a rock and watched her stagger back into the water. She watched in glee, then in fear as Lisa sank into the water. She dropped the bloody rock and kicked some sand on it. She ran before she saw that Lisa had dropped her cell phone.

Labels: vino

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