Caray, Caray!

Dario shows a misbehaving Elisa what's behind Door #1 and Door #2 if she continues to disobey him.  The first video scares Elisa out of her wits as she sees a mockup of Maria Jose on the video crying hysterically with a gun to her head complete with the gun going off.  Dario describes in wretched detail how the whole family will blame her and how it will be her fault if, in addition to losing Papi, she must bear Majo's death on her conscience.  Elisa becomes hysterical until Dario Demento shows her the second video of her sister and threatens again to kill kid sister if Elisa goes off the reservation again.  (Torture and abuse in my book!)  "--No more little games!"   Elisa agrees to be obedient and do what he asks provided once those darned art pieces are found and returned, her sister is returned to her in one piece, and he never darkens their door again.  (What?  Elisa must really be trippin' to think she's got that kind of leverage with Scario de Dario (thanks to patio peep, Susanlynn for the perfect moniker). 

Dario wants the truth about any supposed boyfriend of hers since her family has never heard about him.  Elisa names him on the fly as Leonardo Marquez and says the family is simply not in the know.  He's from Nueva Yorrrrk and was tied up with something when her daddy died.  He reminds her that her life belongs to him now and he'll be watching every little thing she does.  Otherwise, he'll make sure Majo is tortured mercilessly before he finally kills her.

On the other side of town, Nieves has arrived at Leo's to chat with Mama Velasco. She tries laying one mell of a hell of a guilt trip on Leonardo’s strong shoulders, complaining to him about his hanging around with another woman only 7 days after the death of his fiancée, her daughter.  However, he's not having any and he masterfully sidesteps her pile of shame-poo by explaining that she was the mother of his child and that he and Elisa are together to get at the truth.  Hopefully, they will all then have a modicum of peace.  Nieves hisses back that it better be and warns neither of them to approach her or her family again!  (Seriously, the dude doesn't know how lucky he was sidestepping having her as his mother-in-law.) 

At the same time, Silvia Spy-hooker (wife and mostly insignificant other) is being beaten up by hubby, Tio Eugenio for trying the same stupid gymnasium trick on him twice.  (What do they say about handling Labradors?)  She's getting it where it cannot be seen--in the gut mostly.  "--Be happy I didn't cuff ya one in the face!" 

Meanwhile, Marcelo and Ren are discussing the pile o' pesos Ren will have tomorrow after selling off her shares in Grupo Cantu.  Ren becomes affectionate and talks about buying their own lovely apartment.  Victoria suddenly barges into their bedroom (Oof!  Talk about bad form, Vicki!).  She and Ren need to talk about her selling her company stock to Geño.  When Ren refuses to obey her mama's orders not to sell out, Vicki threatens to put her into an asylum for evaluation.  (Wow, and this only happened now in her 38th year?)  Ren tearfully gives in as mama retreats to her lair.  When Marc comes down to confront Vicki about her treatment of Ren just now, Vicki asks just who has been putting all these ideas in her head, hmm?  Marco plays the "who me?" card.  He accuses her of upsetting Ren so badly that she'll become extremely depressed and could commit (the active word here) some sort of crazy act.  "--Yes, and I make you responsible for it.  You have only one role in this family and that is to keep Renata under control.  Now go back up there and don't let her out of her room till she's calmed down."  

Elisa goes back inside the manse and makes a quick, frantic call to Leo to tell him what just happened, how the thieves followed her and saw the two of them when she got out of the car.  He asks what excuse she gave, and she tells him: she said Leo was her novio, an N.Y.C. entrepreneur, there to visit her due to the death of her father.  He tells her that they will keep up the ruse and his partners will help him carry out the deceit by setting up the perfect profile.  Nobody will know the truth.  All she must do is have faith in him and his team to pull it off and rescue her sister.  She agrees.  "--Who else can I trust?  There is nobody else."

Back at Dario's den of thieves, a couple of the goons try to force Majo to eat an apple one of them just cored.  (Sheesh!  Gawd only knows where that hand has been.)

At casita de los Velasco, Mama remarks that Nieves had no right to come there and spread her venom, or trying to make Leo feel guilty about anything.  After all, he's suffering as badly as Nieves, just differently and risking his and his brother's careers just to get at the truth.

Speaking of Nieves, once home she now orders daughter Clara, to return to the job with Grupo Cantu to learn what Sra. C. and the other gal were up to.  No way she trusts them coming out of nowhere and offering to help the family as they did.

Back at los Velasco, Mama V. remarks to Leo that there may be some chemistry brewing between him and Elisa.  Life goes on and he shouldn't miss out on the bits of happiness afforded him.  Besides, she has noticed the looks that pass between them.

Marco enters the bedroom and tries cheering up Renata.  They will simply have to change their approach is all, he says.  She can demonstrate to everyone how mature and independent and worthy she can be.  Tonight there's a dinner to meet Elisa's new novio.  Ren immediately gets a bright, childlike smile on her face.  Yes, of course, and she'll wear the dress she wore the night she and Marc met.  (I'm sure that one was just as fetching as the one for Elisa's birthday bash, but we won't hold our breath.)

Meanwhile, Fernanda reviews the bank statements showing deposits made to her account.  She remembers the excuse she gave about being in debt and behind on her house payments.  Vicki comes in and chats her up about Clara.  Fern mentions how Ren yelled and screamed hideous accusations at the girl and then came back after as if it were nothing, wishing her well.  She doesn't think Clara will come back after that nasty experience.

Mama V sees her granddaughter, Leslie, jump on the back of some boy's motorcycle.  She enters the house and asks her daughter-in-law, Theresa, where Leslie went.  "--Over to a girlfriend's house."  Mama knows her granddaughter lied to her mother but doesn't say much other than it's good to know where the children are and who they hang around with.  Theresa smarts back with something like, “-If you don't like when I say something about Leo, then best leave my daughter alone.”  Mama V. takes the hint and leaves the room.  (Makes me sort of wonder what or who did JL fell in love with 15 years before.)

Later in the day, Vicki drops in on Clara and Nieves to make amends for Renata's rudeness the day before.  Nieves reams out Vicki despite Vicki's good-will gesture. (Slightly tone-deaf are we, Nieves?)  Vicki smoothly apologizes and promises it won't happen again. She asks Clara to return to the company and become her personal assistant.  She has even brought some new clothes for Clara to look the proper part for the job.  Clara must agree with Mama’s sudden turnaround, that it's a great opportunity.  Nieves looks over at Vicki, not missing any opportunity for gain.  "--And it's going to probably pay very well, right????" 

At Olivia's now, Leo receives his false identity papers.  Guy cop comes out with a suit in hand for Leo.  They tease him about rehearsing so he's not scared tonight when he has to kiss Elisa again.....(iAy, Chihuahua!!)  Leo takes the suit and gets ready.

Elisa reads more mushy stuff about Leo in Julia's diary.  FF>>FF>>

Mama V asks Terry where Leslie is this late at night.  Terry, in between sucking up large portions of food, mentions Leslie called to say she was staying later to join her friend's family for supper.  "--Or does that bother you as well?"  Mama says it's just that she's really too young to be wandering around the streets this late at night.  Terry gripes that Mama really knows how to wreck someone’s meal and leaves for her room, the large tray of food in hand.

At the thief-den, Dario asks half-naked Majo why she still won't eat. (Anybody else wondering where the girl’s pants are?  I don't remember the rapist ripping those off her.  I mean Dario should at least have gotten her a cheap pair of sweats from somewhere or offered a pair of his own.)  She tells him she's got an upset stomach.  He loses it and throws the plate of food down in a fit of rage.  "--You think you feel bad!  You think I like having to put up with this every day??"  He turns to go and then thinks better of it.  "--Ok.  Really, now.  What would you prefer to eat?" (What were they trying to feed her there, anyway?  Tripe soup?) "--Sushi??"  Ok, he agrees to bring her sushi and they will eat together.

Leo arrives outside casota de los Cantu dressed up in his finest.  Elisa tells him how handsome he looks.  Leo returns the compliment.  They rehearse their story and get ready to go in to do the meet and greet.  

Across town, JL arrives at Fern's to ask a few more questions.  There were more than a few inconsistencies in her statement, he explains.  It seems that the apartment isn't in her name and the real owner has no intention of selling it.  Ruh-Roh!  This cop does his homework.  She can talk to JL there or she can come down to the station and answer his questions.  "--Do I need a lawyer?"  Yup, he says, if she is hiding anything, yes.  "--You want to call him?"

On the way inside the manse, Leo reminds Elisa that lovers hold hands, and by the way, he wasn't lying when he said she looks truly beautiful!  She wasn't either, she replies, and after exchanging compliments they head for the door and the living room.

Inside a few minutes later, everyone is introducing themselves when Marc and Ren (wearing another hideous "Ren-dition" of a would-be but not-quite designer dress) appear and Viewerville races to adjust the brightness and color contrast on all tv sets.  Victoria is momentarily stunned.  Ren presents a very charming figure, dress aside.  Introductions made, the group retires to the dining room.

Across town, at the same time, Dario tunes it down a few notches and walks a still pantless Marjo up to the rooftop for a classy little snack under the stars.  He puts his jacket on her. (I would have still added a pair of sweat pants or a rolled-up pair of chinos.)     

At the station, JL tells Fern to cut the crap; it isn't working.  He ignores her request for a lawyer.  He counters with the possibility of questioning her BFF, Elisa, to ask her if she can think of a reason her daddy would be putting large sums of cash monthly into Fern's personal account.  "--And being lovers with a friend's papi is a crime?"  No, he answers but lying when giving a statement is.  She says she was just frightened to say anything for fear she'd be fired.  JL says, "bunk!"  Not only was she aware of Cantu's criminal activity but he's also pegged her as Cantu’s willing accomplice in the theft of those prehispanic artworks that were recently stolen.

After din-din, Dario and Majo lay down on the rooftop to look up at the stars.  He names them for her: he and his mom used to pick them out of the sky cuz it was the cheapest of games for a poor kid from the barrio.

At the dining table, Leo and Elisa answer numerous questions.  Afterward, Leo shmoozes Ren, telling her how much Elisa brags about her two sisters.  She even told him about the swimming medal Ren won years ago.  Ren is super impressed and gives Elisa a big hug then runs off teary-eyed.  Leo then makes sure to kiss Elisa in front of the others, just to make things--ahem-- more credible. 

Geño quietly advises Vicki to be careful about this new boyfriend.  He's going to put out feelers and see what he can find on the guy.  Could be he's only a fortune hunter.

Leslie finally arrives home.  Her abuela is up and wants a chat with her.  She says she knows who Leslie really was with since she saw her go with the kid on the bike.  She wants to know what she's really gotten herself mixed up in, also.

At the thief den later that evening, El Commandante is there chatting it up with Dario.  (Dun-dun-dunnn!)  Dario shows him a snapshot of Leo and wants to know who he is.  El C. tells Dario exactly who he is, what he does, and who his big brother is.  Ruh-Roh-h-h-h!!

Outside the manse, Sylvia is having a smoke when Leo walks over to her to chat.  Sylvia tells him she knows this is a lot of BS.  He's not any Leonardo Marcus, businessman and attorney from the U.S.  No, he's Leonardo Velasco, undercover cop, and she remembers him from high school. (Double Ruh-rohhh!)   “--So now, what do we do?  Will you tell them, or should I????”

Labels: imperio

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