Caray, Caray!

Tomas and Leticia talk about their past. She has two kids, and her husband left her. She doesn't want to talk about it any more. Tom says something similar happened to him; his wife left him and hit him with a restraining order for 30 feet/10 meters. That's why he came to CA from MT. He says it's better to be far away.

Leticia says she misses her children terribly. Tomas doesn't have kids, but he's always dreamed of having a house, wife, family.

At Furia, Morgana and Laustela are still yelling at one another. Morgana says that Estela's been fooling around with Danilo and convinced him to make her the singer and get rid of Morgana. Laustela says that's a lie, just like Morgana's claim that Laustela locked her in that room backstage. Danilo is siding with Laustela, much to Morgana's disgust. Genesis ushers Morgana away. Laustela takes off in the opposite direction. Danilo jokes to Ryan about watching women fight. Ryan replies, "we have to talk."

Calao is at the house, allegedly to pick up some papers that Danilo forgot. Rita offers to go get them from the study, but Calao suddenly wants a drink of water and says he'll wait for her in the kitchen. She lets him into the house.

Rita pours Calao a glass of water and goes to the study. Calao dumps the water in the sink and sneaks out of the kitchen.

Dani tells Ryan that neither he nor Morgana has the stuff to take the band to the next level. He'll focus on composing songs and managing the band. Ryan asks, what are you up to with Estela? Is he falling in love with her? Danilo tells Ryan to mind his own business. Ryan says he's seen the way Danilo looks at her. "So?" Danilo replies. Danilo says Ryan's relationship with her is in the past. Danilo thinks that since Laustela is nice to him, likes to chat with him, and so on, maybe they'll go for it.

That little chickie doesn't belong to Ryan, Danilo says. Ryan reminds him that until a couple of days ago, that little chickie was going to marry him, and Danilo had told him that she didn't like him, but now it looks like Danilo's been eyeing her from the very beginning. Danilo denies this. He mocks their brotherhood. Ryan replies angrily. Danilo mocks Ryan's anger.

Calao snoops through the house and finds the little suitcase in Laura's closet. Carefully, with a towel, he takes the Plot Gun and swaps it out with a similar one from his backpack. He also (carefully) steals a drinking glass from the bathroom. (You know, for fingerprints.)

El Talisman lets Morgana in to see BunMan. She tells BunMan that she was kicked out of the band and asks point-blank if that order came from El Dorado. Smirking, BunMan looks her in the eye and says yes. Morgana asks what the hell did she do to El D to deserve that when she has nothing to do with the "business"?

BunMan says the boss knows how to reward those who behave. Their faces are very close. Morgana breathily offers to explain herself to the boss so they'll "understand" one another better. What she wants is a chance as a solo artist! BunMan says that sounds okay, but in order to get to the boss, she'll have to pay a "toll."

BunMan kisses Morgana. El Tal steps outside to give them some privacy. Does BunMan let down his hair? We'll never know.

At the office, Joe tries to call Mercy, but she's not at her desk. Laustela comes in and tells Joe that she thinks someone is laundering money through Furia. She shows Joe the balance sheet and other financial records that were dropped by Soto. Joe says these things don't prove anything, and he'll need to look at the invoices. Laustela asks if Joe and Ryan wouldn't have had to approve expenses. She asks Joe is this is a mistake, is she imagining things?

Joe and Laustela look for the paperwork in Soto's office. Joe admits that he and Ryan don't review all of this stuff, but Soto should be aware of everything. Joe sent Genesis to look for Soto; she comes back to report that she couldn't find him. However, when they tell her what they're looking for (invoices from Onodisk, receipts from the show, record sales, etc.), she lets them know that Danilo is the one who would have all of it. Danilo isn't around right now. Laustela asks Genesis to let them into Danilo's office.

BunMan and Morgana are buttoning up their pants. BunMan says thanks for the sample, but too bad you're not the boss's type! He's like my twin brother, I know what he likes, and it ain't you! Morgana doubts that El D could possibly resist her. BunMan reminds her that Danilo was able to resist her. She leaves El D's place empty-handed, muttering feeble TV-friendly insults.

El Talisman comes back into BunMan's office and asks how it was. "Meh," BunMan says noncommittally, laughing.

Joe asks Genesis not to tell anyone that she let him and Laustela into Danilo's office. (People in the hallway are visible through the blinds on the glass walls of the office, which probably means that Laustela and Joe are visible from the hallway.) Joe quickly finds the necessary records and can see that the numbers were inflated. Laustela concludes that Ryan had nothing to do with this. She asks Joe if they should tell Ryan. Joe thinks that Ryan would rather shut the company down than let it be used for money laundering.

Night.

Calao reports that his buddy in the police department processed the stuff they provided quickly, but it'll be expensive. Danilo says it will be worth it if it will prove that Estela killed someone with that gun. He's concerned that she's looking for proof of what he's been up to at Furia. Calao hands over the report from the police lab. Lo and behold, Ryan's girlfriend's prints do not match the ones they have on file for Estela Carrillo! Estella's prints do not match the ones on the gun, but - Calao hands Danilo a fingerprint card. The fingerprints they did find are a match for a Laura Oviedo, who was fingerprinted by Immigration. They want to send her back to Mexico - and the order came from someone pretty high up. Danilo surmises that Laura Oviedo must have purchased her Estela Carrillo ID from Chavalin at the bakery.

Joe has come to the house, looking for Ryan to talk about an "issue with the business." Ryan's not home. Joe won't tell Mercy what this is about, but asks Mercy, what if this "issue" turns out to be so serious that Ryan finds out about "us"? Mercy says that she'd rather lose Furia than lose her son (but she's also flirting with Joe a little bit). In that case, Joe says, fondling Mercy's chin, he's glad he didn't talk to Ryan. And he leaves!

Leticia phones home to her daughter. Leticia says she and Dad will get the kids to the States soon and send them to a good school. The daughter is very excited and wants to talk to Daddy. Leticia says Daddy's working. (This woman is not leading a reality-based lifestyle. She might as well promise to get them a pet unicorn, too.)

Morgana sings and cries in the auditorium. Ryan finds her. He admits he doesn't feel like going home yet, and he doesn't like to see her this way. (So give her a sweater, Ryan!) He tells her that he's mad at Danilo too, because he confessed to being in love with Laustela. Ryan apologizes to Morgana for not believing her about that. Morgana asks Ryan how he can treat Danilo like family when he should be busting Danilo's face. Ryan says he'd like to do that, but it won't help. Morgana touches Ryan's arm and says she wishes Danilo could be more like him. She wants Danilo to feel the same kind of pain she's feeling. Ryan hugs her. Morgana starts kissing him. She asks him to heal her with his kisses. He pushes her away, but it takes a couple of seconds. And then he changes his mind and kisses her.

Danilo comes home to Paloma and Rosario. After some cute talk with the kid, he jovially asks Rosario a question: since Ryan didn't "give Paloma his name," how'd she get her papers? Is her name Carrillo? Is she registered in the US, or only in Mexico? Rosario gets flustered at first, then cheerfully claims that her memory of these things just isn't very good. Keeping up the joviality for Paloma's sake, Danilo says that legal issues like this could even give you a tummyache, right?

Paloma doesn't want to give back Danilo's hat, but he's wearing it again the next time we see him, in Laustela's room. She immediately informs him that she's going to tell Ryan what Danilo's been doing at Furia. She wants to know who put Danilo up to it, because some of her "father's" enemies are threatening her, and maybe they're threatening him too. So he should tell her, and then she'll help him out. Danilo points out that if her "father" had enemies, he must have had allies too, so where are they? Laustela says she doesn't know anything about her father's business. She tries to get Danilo to say that someone threatened him, but he claims that no one ever threatens him about anything.

Morgana and Ryan start getting frisky. No coincidence, they happen to be near the control panel for all the recording equipment, and Morgana surreptitiously presses a button before taking his shirt off. She proclaims, loudly, "with me, you won't miss Estela." And Ryan replies, "I don't want to remember her."

Laustela scolds Danilo for being a crummy brother and says she needs to tell Ryan right away. But as she heads for the door, he calls her "Laurita" and tells her to shut the door. He says he knows her real identity and that they're looking to deport her. If she says anything about the invoices, he'll tell them where she is. He rubs his nose against hers and says otherwise, he'll personally take her to the border himself.

He pulls his face away from hers, and she asks how he found out. He says all she needs to know is that he can find out things. So now he knows that Paloma isn't Ryan's daughter. She wants to know what he has to do with the people who are threatening her, and what are they threatening her for. He gets really close again and says it's the price she must pay for pretending to be someone else. She's going to have to keep her mouth shut about the money laundering now.

Ryan and Morgana put their clothes back on. She tries to make nice with him, but he says this was nothing more than a tantrum and they need to get over it. It was good, but he doesn't need any more "confusions." Morgana says it's not like she expects him to marry her or anything, but they can do it again sometime without any fuss. Ryan doesn't want to talk about it. He leaves, and she turns off the recording equipment.

Later, Ryan plays basketball outside with Steve and tells him that being with Morgana made him realize how much he's in love with Laura. He's upset with Danilo, and then he was with Morgana, and he's sinking into a shame spiral. Steve warns Ryan not to sink again. He should fight for Laura. (Did Steve just jump really high, or is the basket too low?)

Laura pushes Danilo away and asks why "they" want her to sing, and what does this have to do with Pedro Carrillo. She doesn't want anyone to recognize her. Danilo says that's no problem. They can put her in a wig and whatnot to disguise her. He tells her to do it for the kid. Or, you know, don't do it, and get screwed.

Genesis and Leticia talk about groceries. (There's a big box of Hopeos cereal on the counter. No, not really.) Leticia wants to get a job so she can start sending money home to the kids. Genesis says they're having trouble at the office with the people who do their cleaning (this is true, I remember Mercy making a suspiciously ostentatious remark about it a few weeks ago). But there's a problem hiring Leticia because she doesn't have documentation. Leticia begs for a chance. She'll do a great job and not be a problem.

Danilo tries to kiss Laura. She slaps him. He laughs. She says she hasn't told him her conditions yet. For one thing, there are additional people blackmailing her. (Danilo takes offense and says he's not blackmailing.) The guy who's blackmailing her is going to screw up El Dorado's plans for her. All that guy wants is money, and as soon as she makes her first payment, he'll want more. Danilo promises to stop him, as long as Laura sings. It's a deal. She shakes his hand, and he kisses hers.

Morning.

Danilo goes to Morgana's room. She accuses him of being out drinking all night and tells him this isn't Estela's room. He tries to reason with her: El D kicked him out of the band too, and he only went after Estela to make sure Ryan didn't get the extra 20%. Morgana says oh good, so we're still going ahead with the plan? Great, because I banged Ryan yesterday. Just like we decided, right? After all, she wants to make sure she ends up with one of the company's owners.

Danilo recovers from his shock and says it's okay. After all, he started this thing. So he forgives Morgana for being with Ryan, just so long as Morgana forgives him for possibly being with Estela. Morgana teases, "let's see if you can."

Laura runs into Fausto on her way to work. He mocks her and even claims that their little adventure helped her to build character. He reminds her that she owes him money. She says she has it, but not with her. They should meet somewhere else, away from where she works. He insists that she must have it in an hour (she has to cash the check first) and meet him at the bar in the hotel where he's staying near the airport. She wants him to say that this will be the last time. He says he's not good at promising, and from the looks of that house she's living in, that guy she's with ought to be good for more money. She'll need to get back together with Ryan. She's good at that kind of stuff, Fausto taunts. Laura shoves Fausto. Fausto reminds her she has 59 minutes, and takes off. Danilo calls Laura, or Laura calls Danilo (I forget which).

At the office, Joe is waiting for Soto and Ryan. Genesis starts to ask Joe about hiring Leticia, but Danilo barges in without knocking. Genesis leaves. Before Danilo can express whatever douchbaggery is on his mind, Joe confronts him about the money laundering. Danilo surmises that Laustela said something. Joe doesn't reply to this, and asks whether Soto was threatened or bribed. Danilo says that's the wrong question. The right question is, will Joe turn Danilo in? Because then Danilo can tell about Joe and Mercy. Joe doesn't care. Danilo says that if Joe talks, he's doomed. Everyone will be an accomplice. For one thing, the accountants will see Joe's signature all over everything. For another, Estela - who had a thing with one of the business owners - is the daughter of the most notorious money launderer. If Dani goes to jail, he'll take his brother and Mercy and maybe even Joe with him.

In the auditorium, Morgana tries several times to pick a fight with Laustela, but Laura doesn't take the bait. She does ask Morgana why she's here, though, since she's not with the band anymore. Morgana plays back the recording with Ryan. Laustela pretends that it doesn't bother her, and even says that it's a big weight off her chest. Morgana doesn't buy Laustela's reaction. She brags that she and Ryan are just getting started. Laustela offers her congratulations.

Morgana prepares to rearrange Laustela's teeth, when Wonder Woman bursts in and... wait, no, that's Rosario. Good enough. Rosario proclaims herself to be ultra-badass. Morgana calls Rosario a hillbilly, but unfortunately Morgana leaves before Rosario gets the chance to show off her superpowers.

Fausto is waiting for Laura in what appears to be an alley. An empty beer bottle is thrown into the end of the alley. Drawn to the bottle the way flies are drawn to... empty beer bottles, Fausto investigates. He calls out. When he reaches the end of the alley, Calao (wearing a super-loud patterned black and white shirt) jumps him. They fight, and for a moment, Fausto appears to have the upper hand. Then, as Fausto chokes Calao, Calao stabs Fausto in the right side. He gets up, takes his knife out of Fausto's body and wipes it on Fausto's shirt, and goes on his merry way.

Next time: Surely a small fistfight can solve all of this.

Labels: Estela