Omar is having breakfast alone, weighing his options. He’s
decided to have Marcia brought upstairs from her Motel-7, dungeon suite when
he’s interrupted by the arrival of Natalia—alone. Change of plans. He tells
Ochoa to leave Marcia downstairs and let Nat in. Natalia walks in clutching her
purse. Omar wants to know why she’s come.
Regina, dressed in a classy white dress is ready to leave
for work. Emi is still asleep and she calls for Héctor. Alonso joins her,
coffee cup in hand. She informs Héctor she’s going to wake Emi and Heck is to
take him to school. He’s to be watched carefully—Alonso is all in agreement. He
tells Heck that Emi’s only to go back and forth to school. Anything else, Heck
is to call Al immediately. After Regina is out of earshot, Al tells Heck that
Emi is not to see Cecelia. After school is out, Emi finds out from Héctor all
his privileges have been withdrawn. He has to go straight home—no car, no
Cecelia.
Natalia confronts Omar about his arrangement with José just
to humiliate her. What if that didn’t work, she asks him. She begs him to leave
her alone in exchange for her leaving him with everything. Omar scoffs at the
idea someone like José would be in love with her, let alone want to touch her.
And what would she do without any money? She would have to continue to pay for
sex, he chuckles. At a loss to get her way, Nat pulls out a revolver, but
hesitates to use it. He mocks her weakness and urges her to use it. If it had
been he, he would have used it right away. If she wants peace, she should just
come back to him and all will be forgotten. Humiliated once again, Natalia
retreats. [If Omar didn’t pee in his pants, his face indicates he almost did.]
Mauro shows Cecelia the invitation to a fancy reception for
Fernando Escalante, an ex-pat millionaire who has returned to Mexico after
making a bundle. Mauro hears from Cece that Escalante is back officially to
make some investments, but in what is yet to be determined. Cece invites
herself. Mauro is not overjoyed, but goes along with it, even trying to
dissuade her by saying that the guests are not “her kind of people.”
Andrés has come to talk to Isela at the Cabaret, introducing
himself as the chief of security for Gerardo Martinez. He explains they know
the dead girl worked in Isela’s cabaret and the deceased and two other girls
were at a party at the governor’s house. He is there to ask what she knows.
Delusional (or very clever) Teresa has returned from a
budget-busting baby buying spree to Gerardo’s and Ximena’s disgust. She happily ignores Gerardo’s
demands for an explanation.
Omar has Ochoa go get Marcia. He meanly teases her with the
invitation to the same high society reception that Mauro got. He tells her if
she’d only been a little nicer, she would have gone. Then he tells her he’s
sending her on a long journey so she should go pack her things. Ochoa roughs
her up as he takes her upstairs, despite her protestations that she fell in
love with Omar—over and above having met him through Mario. Omar sneers and
tells her not to say stupidities.
Omar is satisfied with his decision. Then Alonso comes
waltzing in and lets Omar have it. This silly vendetta with Mario has to stop.
Omar says no. Alonso tells him he’s going crazy with this competition.
Meanwhile, he continues, his mother is divorcing him and he’s messing with a
girl young enough to be his granddaughter. Omar gives him a ‘so what’ look.
Alonso lays down the terms—he’s to quit meddling in his life or he’s going to
move him out of the way. That changes Omar’s attitude—he protests that he’s
Alonso’s father. Al says it’s not personal, it’s political. He’s putting Omar
on notice and waltzes back out. After Alonso leaves, Omar rethinks his
options—again. He tells Ochoa he’s not sending Marcia away after all. [I fear
for Marcia.]
Isela is complaining to Mario that the vultures are already
circling. Andrés knows about Alma. Mario doesn’t seem particularly upset. He’s
sure he can still keep things under control. He’s counting on Alonso not to let
it get to the press. Isela is not so sure. She warns Mario that if anything
happens to her, she has taken certain precautions and the whole world will find
out.
Regina returns home. Héctor tells Regina Emi is in his room,
pretty angry. The doorbell rings and Regie is quizzical. Héctor says it’s only
a pizza delivery. Ah, well, in that case, Regie will be in her room. Héctor,
looking guilty, runs to get the outer door. Someone knocks on Emi’s bedroom
door, several times. He finally opens. Héctor shows Cece in and gives them 30
minutes—he’s putting his job at risk; then leaves them alone.
Ignacio buys a gun off a thug in some rough neighborhood back
street.
Alonso quizzes Mauro about this Escalante reception, how
important can it be. Mauro tells him all the nation’s movers and shakers will
be there—Alonso should decide how important it can be. Al tells Mauro to make
all the arrangements. He’s going home.
Andrés reports to Gerardo what he found out about Alma from
one of the girls who was at that party at the governor’s house. Gerardo is
saddened to learn Emi is implicated. Ger wants Hernán to follow up for proof.
Andrés assures him they will be discrete so as not to rope Regina into the
affair. He thanks Andrés for that, as Andrés reminds him that Regina’s son may
be the one responsible for the tragedy. Gerardo is left with that thought.
Noemi has shown up at the cabaret, to Isela’s consternation.
Noemi is ready to start work as the new working partner—er, non-working associate.
Ignacio calls Almirón and tells him he needs to meet with
him—it’s urgent. Almirón puts him off for the time being. Mario tells him to
keep stringing him along until they think of something else. Almirón reminds
him that El Chivo killed Ignacio’s daughter; El Chivo worked with El Gringo and
the latter knows how the cabaret operates, fleecing their clients—and he knows
who Mario and Almirón are. Perdón, says Mario, El Gringo only knows Almirón’s
name. Mario has never been involved. Mario tells Almirón to calm down Ignacio
first, then “take care” of El Chivo. What about Omar, Almirón asks. Mario says
Alonso is taking care of that end and the two of them will keep Gerardo from
further investigation into Alma’s death by showing him photos of his daughter
Ximena dealing drugs.
Post-coitus, Emi has had a workout and is whipped. He got
the feeling this was like their last time together. Cecelia says he got that
right. They have to stop seeing each other or she’ll lose her job [as if that
has kept her OR him from doing the horizontal mambo]. If she does, Emi says
he’ll take care of her. With what, wonders Cece, his allowance? Before they can
escalate into a serious argument, there is a knock at the door. It’s Regina and
she has found the door locked. She calls for Héctor to give her his key [And no
one else has a key?] Alonso appears and tells Héctor to give her his key.
Héctor looks like he might soil his pants, but they finally get in and the
parental unit finds Emi completely naked. Al throws him a pillow to cover his nether
regions and Regina apologizes. He is pissed. The parents agree to go downstairs
and wait for him to get dressed. Emi goes to Cece who has been hiding in plain
sight around the corner of his slatted room divider and tells her Heck will get
her out. He apologizes and says he has to leave.
Alonso and Regina go around about the situation. When Emi
arrives Regie tells him that tomorrow they are making an appointment with a
psychologist. Emi is ok with that. They end up agreeing to go out to dinner, all
three of them.
Mario arrives at the cabaret and asks one of the employees
if he’s taken care of “the girls.”
Before he can answer, Isela shows up and sarcastically thanks Mario for caring
about her girls and the cabaret. She tells him about Noemi’s visit. Mario says
they have a bigger problem. Gerardo’s people already know about the party at
the governor’s house. Isela is pissed that one by one her stable of girls is
being reduced. Mario says in this case it won’t be necessary if they keep a close
watch on the two so they can’t talk to anyone else and become witnesses.
Meanwhile, he needs her for a little job. The daughter of
Senador Martinez made a blunder and they have pictures, but she needs to be
frightened a little more. Isela wants to know what it is he’s aiming to get out
of all this intrigue. He answers: everything.
Alonso, Regina and Emiliano have a good time at the
restaurant. Alonso excuses himself to go get something. As Alonso is walking
back to the restaurant with two bodyguards in tow (oh, goodie, one of them is
José), he calls Mauro and asks him to convince Natalia to go to the fancy
reception, in order to show that his whole family is with him. Then he asks to
check and see if Mario has done anything about Gerardo Martinez. Actually he
would rather leave that to Cecelia.
Alonso is back at the restaurant and ruins Regina’s current
state of mind by handing her a huge bouquet, saying the flowers are for his
beloved. Then he gives Emi [a far more expensive] gift of a pair of virtual
reality goggles. He’s thrilled. Regina isn’t, but she puts on a great act. Emi
takes photos.
Ignacio finally gets his meet-up with Almirón. Almi doesn’t
want to give up the name of the person(s) who killed Nayeli. One thing leads to
another when Almi steps out of the car and Iggy pulls a gun on him. [Again we
have someone who stops to think first and doesn’t pull the trigger.] Almi of
course wrenches it away from Iggy and in the ensuing struggle someone gets
shot. Almirón is loaded into an ambulance and Ignacio is loaded into a patrol
car.
Tere appears before Gerardo [in a tux and looking
delicious]. She’s all dressed up and ready to accompany him to the reception.
She asks, “Como me parezco?” in English. Gerardo has no words. Ximena looks
disgusted.
The hoity-toity crowd is arriving at the fancy dress
reception. Noemi actually came with Mario. No sign of Omar and Natalia. Whoops,
there’s Omar, but there is a beautiful young girl on his arm. Why, it’s Marcia,
looking quite beautifu with her hair up, but also looking very unhappy. Alonso
steps between the two rivals, looks at Omar and accuses him of starting a
scandal, which he promptly does all by himself asking what “she” is doing
there. Omar says this is his woman—no need for introductions, as Mario already
knows her. He continues, raising his eyebrows at Mario, that Marcia told him
everything.
Andrés and Hernan catch each other up on Almirón’s condition
and note that Gerardo is at some fancy event. If Almirón dies, Ignacio will be
charged with homicide.
Back at the reception, Mario wants Noemi to try and find out
what’s troubling Marcia. Oh, and why is Mario so interested, muses Noemi, is
she another one of his daughters? Ha! Mario gets a call informing him that
Almirón is in critical condition. On his way out he stops by Omar and tells him
they need to talk. Omar sends Marcia to the car saying she doesn’t belong and
his son was correct to call her a slut, while Mario and Noemi listen behind
him. Mario and Omar discuss Almirón. Their talk heats up and Omar brings Marcia
into the conversation. Poor thing, he says, she caved so easily. Neither one is
giving an inch.
Regina, in a different white gown, form fitting and one bare
shoulder is on the phone in the balcony of the hall making sure Emi can’t leave
the house. Gerardo approaches her and tells her how beautiful she looks. Regie
says he’s pretty handsome himself. Before their billing and cooing can get them
in trouble, from out of nowhere Tere sweeps in to claim Gerardo. She pointedly
tells her it’s improper for Regina to be talking to her husband. Gerardo asks
her to stop but Tere keeps getting louder that Regina isn’t respecting her
pregnancy. Regina leaves and heads down the hall while Tere shouts after her
that she’s hurting her—does Regina want her to lose her baby?
Someone announces that Fernando Escalante is about to be
introduced. A tall, grey-haired, grey bearded, well put-together man, obviously
successful and confident in himself approaches the podium. The sign on the podium
says, “Fernando Escalante Foundation/Helping children in all parts in all
moments.” While he’s talking about how he’s going to give something back to his
country, Cecelia and Mauro arrive. Cecelia separates and goes to greet some
people. Alonso is furious at Mauro for bringing Cece—she doesn’t belong to
their social class. Meanwhile, Cece, in a low-cut black gown is catching
glances. Gerardo, on the other hand, is catching glances from Regina. [I’m
surprised Alonso couldn’t see that.] Mauro changes the subject. He tells Al
about photos they have of Gerardo’s daughter and the impact they will have on
him. Al is now furious that Gerardo is attending the reception and wants to
know if Regina knew he was coming.
Escalante is introduced to Mario and Noemi. He congratulates
them on their daughter who is doing wonderful things.
Noemi tells Mario she didn’t have a chance to talk to
Marcia, but she could see she was terrified and had covered up some bruises.
From the way Omar spoke to her earlier, she’s convinced she’s been assaulted.
They leave, as Mario must go see Almirón.
Meanwhile, Escalante is making the rounds and is introduced
to Alonso and Regina. He calls them the presidential couple and Alonso laughs
and says that is yet to be determined. Apparently Fernando Escalante has done
his homework because he congratulates Regina for her work on getting the
universal child welfare law passed, just as Alonso takes the credit for working
for women’s shelter projects. Directing his remarks to Regina, Escalante says
he’d like to meet with her to discuss some help. She agrees gladly.
Emi misses Cecelia and is leaving her a sexy phone message.
He wants to see her again.
Back at the reception, it’s Gerardo and Teresa’s turn to be
introduced to Escalante. Gerardo is called the not quite yet declared candidate
for president from the labour party. Tere introduces herself as Gerardo’s wife
[although we and she KNOW they are divorced]. And, she makes sure he knows she
is pregnant and happy.
Escalante continues to make the round and is now introduced
to Mauro and Cecelia. He tells her how lovely she is. Alonso observes from a
distance. [If jealousy were a real color, Alonso would be turning green right
now.] Regina announces she’s going home – alone and leaves Alonso. Al turns
back toward Mauro and Cecelia as Escalante accidentally overhears Alonso repeat
to Cece the classist remark he made earlier to Mauro—she doesn’t belong here,
she doesn’t belong to this class of society. Holding her head high, Cece says
maybe not, but she is every bit well turned out as, say, Al’s wife. Just take a
look at her and tell her, does he prefer the way she looks or how his wife
looks? Mauro mutely stands by while Al grabs Cece and hauls her away.
Escalante catches Regina on the stairs and ask her to wait
up. He wants to set up a meeting with her. And yes, he already knew she was
planning to go up against Alonso for the presidency, but felt it wasn’t prudent
to mention it in front of him. She thanks him for that. He’s looking forward to
working with her for whatever her project needs. Regina continues down the
stairs. Tere and Gerardo are also leaving and as she descends the stairs Tere
warns Escalante that that woman steals husbands. Gerardo excuses her behavior
and steers her out.
Alonso has dragged Cecelia into a bathroom. He wants to know
why she came. She gives it to him straight—well, she heard Fernando Escalante
is single and so is she—with no commitments—so who knows, the might end up
together. She is very aware she is getting a rise out of Alonso and not just
his ire. Does he want to do it right here? She wants to know who does it
better, she or his wife. He grabs her for some rough sex and Cece gets as
excited as Alonso and responds in kind.
The surgeon tells Mario that Almirón lost a lot of blood and
probably won’t live. Hernan approaches him in the waiting room to ask Mario a
few questions regarding Almirón. He heard he was in the secret intelligence service.
Mario says Almirón was merely his daughter’s body guard and that’s why he’s
here. Hernan says he has people who will contradict him. That stops Mario and
tells Hernan to go ahead. Of course,
what Hernan really wants to know is what his relationship was to Alma,
the dead girl.
Gerardo has run into Andrés at the police station. They
won’t let Ignacio go, even though his daughter’s burial is the next day.
Gerardo says it’s time to go talk to the real governor, Alonso. They hurry out.
Tere calls her casino “banker” from home. She
needs money. Ximena is stretched out in bed, dressed, mumbling to herself.
Regina has arrived home and the doorbell rings. It’s Gerardo
at the gate. She tells them to let him in. Meanwhile, the maid goes up to roust
Emi. Gerardo apologizes for the visit at such a late hour, but he’s desperate
about Ignacio’s plight and wants to talk to Alonso. Al isn’t at home and will
be upset to find Gerardo there when he does. At that very moment the maid comes
back to tell Regie that Emi is not in his room. Regie goes after the maid and
leaves Gerardo standing there.
Emi lets himself into Cece’s apartment-house and heads
upstairs. [Viewerville sees Cece’s bed and the bedding moving around in a
suggestive manner.] Emi is stunned as he turns the corner and sees….what…who?
It doesn’t really matter what or who, Emi’s world has just crashed and trashed
by Cecelia.
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