Caray, Caray!

Dear Readers: One life ends and another begins... in the same hellhole. As our tale winds down we still don't know who will survive. – Velma, secretary to Mr Hammett

Adriana took Fernanda into the interrogation room, saying that someone would shortly be there to take her statement. Fernanda was afraid that Fabricio would try to take her son away. She said that the money was Juanito's. Adriana told her that her only chance – her last one now – was to denounce Eugenio. The police could do nothing if she did not.

Neither Leo nor Elisa had slept the night before. Leo said that Leslie's face appeared before him every time he shut his eyes. He could not get over the injustice of death coming to someone as young as his niece. Elisa said nothing, but looked as though she understood perfectly.

José Luis and Dario discussed the Great Escape. Dario was to follow all instructions until he was out of the facility when he would be taken to Majo. Alejandro – Dario's guard-accomplice – came in and told him his lawyer was waiting to see him. Dario said he didn't have one but José Luis said it was part of the plan. Alejandro expected his payment and José Luis said he would get his share. They went out to the meeting.

Carlos and Leslie held hands as he explained about calling her family. He assured her they were not angry with her. They kissed. Leo and Elisa arrived to check up on her. They ordered a huge breakfast for her and Carlos. She told them she had dreamed about her father being free. She also said she loved them and would miss them. Carlos watched sadly as Elisa half-hugged her and she smiled at Leo.

Sonia's doctor walked down the corridor with Eugenio, telling im that the baby's condition is stable and that he will be alright. He said that the baby would be in his mother's room and was shocked when Eugenio said that the baby was not to be with her. The doctor said that it was essential that the baby be nursed by his mother in the first days of life, but Eugenio told him that this was not to be and that was an order. The doctor said this was a violation of medical ethics. Eugenio got in his face and said “The baby stays here, whatever your price is.”

Leo spoke with Adriana, telling her that Leslie was not well. The doctors had to increase the morphine dosage to stave off the pain. He asked if she could help to get José Luis on the phone to talk to Leslie, explaining that the doctors did not know how much time she had left. She said she would help; she was just about to leave to go to the prison.

Sonia looked into the nursery at her baby and asked the nurse to get him for her. She tried to get out of this, but eventually agreed.

The “lawyer” told Dario that this was to happen in an hour, as it would be the busiest time for lawyer visits for the inmates. He was to escape through the parking lot; the man he was to meet would recognize him. Alejandro left as Dario changed clothes with his “lawyer.”

More of the same conflict between Victoria and Renata over Sonia and the baby. Renata finally said that she thought something had gone wrong but did not know what. She was sure that her sisters opposed this. Victoria said she would help her; she was not to worry. Sonia would be in prison. She said they should go to the hospital to see the baby. She swore she would defend her and the child.

Teresa and Sara set up a smartphone to have a video call with Leslie. The women told her that they were worried about her and she told them not to. This began with smiles but ended with tears. Although none of them said anything about it they all knew that this could be the last time they saw each other. Both mother and grandmother cried immediately as the call ended.

José Luis saw Dario out in his disguise just as Adriana arrived to talk to him. Dario walked out, showing a business card to another guard.

Sonia was in the nursery holding her son when the preying mantis arrived with a quartet of underlings. She knocked on the glass to get Sonia's attention.

Fabricio let himself into Fernanda's apartment. She had not transferred the $10 million and she refused to, saying it was for Juanito. He signaled his accomplice who chased Fernanda, caught her easily, and brought her back toward the entrance, telling her she will do as he says.

Adriana explained why she had come to see him and José Luis became understandably agitated. He asked Alejandro to arrange for him to call Leslie.

A doctor told Clara that Majo was getting better and should be able to leave the hosptal in a few days. He walked away and she went down the corridor toward her room. Dario came up from behind and asked for Majo's room number. She stared at him as if to determine what he was up to, then told him it was the room behind him. He looked up and made her remain as a lookout. She was to obey or else. He went inside, closing the doot behind him.

Alejandro showed José Luis and Adriana to an empty room in the infirmary but they could not reach Leo. José Luis said to keep trying as an alarm sounded. Alejandro came back, telling José Luis he needed to get back to his cell immediately; the alarm was to alert about an escapee, Dario Ramirez.

Elisa and Carlos watched as Leo led his niece toward the water's edge. She had a faraway look as she felt the breeze. Carlos and Elisa looked at each other and said nothing. Both knew that this was going to be her only experience of the sea. She smiled as she felt the water hit her feet.

As Fabricio's henchman tried to force Fernanda to transfer the money at gunpoint,
Dario woke Majo saying he had come for her. She told him this was madness because they must be looking for him. She told him that his father was responsible for the loss of their baby. That he was also responsible for the death of Leo's fiancée. Dario swore that Eugenio would pay and Majo told him to let Leo take care of that. Dario asked “the last thing I will ask of you in this life”, to trust him and him alone.

Fabricio's henchman pulled back the trigger mechanism and ordered Fernanda once more to transfer the money or her brains would be all over the place. She cowered, then somehow saw Mario enter the apartment, pistol in hand. He had a whole team with him and there was a brief standoff. Mario got behind the henchman and put his pistol near his head.
This enabled the others to disarm and cuff him. Fernanda was frozen in fright and incoherence. Mario kept telling her to calm down, finally telling her that this can't be over unless she denounces Eugenio and Fabricio. She asked about Sonia and he told her what happened. Fernanda said that Fabricio wanted to take her son away.

Leslie asked Leo to take care of her mother, his mother, and himself. He smiled for her benefit, then Elisa approached and did the same. Leslie said that when she goes she wanted to be a star to watch over them. Elisa kissed her hand and Leslie thanked her.

Renata arrived at the nursery and noticed that “her” baby was missing. She told the nurse, the same one that allowed Sonia into the nursery. She told Renata that there was no baby in that particular incubator. Victoria tried to stop Renata from calling attention to them, but Renata said that this was her baby. The nurse told them that the mother of that baby was taken by police to the woman's prison.

Leslie told Leo to take care of Elisa “because I can see she is the love of your life.” Leo promised he would. She looked about to collapse., then composed herself and called Carlos. They kissed. Leo and Elisa cried as they watched them walking out into the tide.

Renata lost her composure, demanding to know where the baby was. Victoria clenched her teeth as she tried to get Renata to stop embarrassing her as the nurse said she would have to call security. Renata sat down and Victoria explained to the nurse that Renata had wanted to adopt Sonia's baby. She asked what happened and the nurse said she was forbidden to give out any information and Victoria would have to talk to the clinic's director. Renata got up as the nurse walked away and Victoria stopped her as the nurse said she was calling security. Victoria then got in Renata's face, asking her if she wanted to go to prison. Finally she told her to get her purse and calm down. She may have, for a moment.

Leo and Elisa watched Leslie and Carlos in the surf. A strong wave suddenly knocked Leslie down. Carlos caught her before she went underwater. He carried her to shore and handed her to Leo, who laid her down on the sand. They each called her name, telling her to wake up.

The alarm was still ringing. Adriana told Alejandro she would take charge of José Luis. He told her that it was her responsibility if anything went wrong. Alejandro left the room. José Luis thanked Adriana and asked her to try calling again.

Sonia's doctor handed the baby over to Eugenio, giving condolences on Sonia's situation. He then told him he would have the paperwork ready shortly. He sat down and the preying mantis asked what he planned to do. He said that he was going to give the baby to Renata but was no longer so inclined. Christina told him to be careful because things were getting very complicated. Renata will spin out of control and tell the world what he had done. There were too many open situations as well. He reminded her that she had not completed her promise either. She was to turn Leo in to him. Alive.

Several cops appeared in the hospital corridor. Clara tried to remain calm. Majo tried to convince Dario to leave the retribution to Leo so he would not end up in prison again. She brought up the idea of them going away together and starting over. Clara walked in and told him there were police in the hospital. He asked how they knew he was there; she didn't know.

Leslie opened her eyes and she asked forgiveness for making them worry. She told Leo she needed to talk to her father to say goodbye. He called Adriana and got her this time. She passed the phone to José Luis who thanked Leo for what he's done.
Leo then gave Leslie his phone and walked away to give her privacy on the call. She told him she loved him, he said he loved her and asked her to forgive him. She told him she saw the sea and it was beautiful. He told her he loved her. When she said nothing, he knew those were the last words she ever heard. He hand dropped at her side as Leo turned around and realized she had just died.

Both men cried.

Eugenio listened to Christina. He handed over the baby to Renata. Victoria pretended to be pleased.

Labels: imperio