Caray, Caray!

 ⦁ The barrio's block party is about to begin.  Chole is about ready to leave with Olga who's fibbed that it's to welcome Vicente's new house partners. Valentina arrives to go with them; Chole suggests Vulga lend Tina one of her dresses.  Tina refuses the offer.  She doesn't want to go "looking like an easy lay." 

⦁ Regina takes a moment to show her mother the finished bedroom renovation of the maid's room: all Pretty In Pink.  Natalia mentions that she's decided to sell desserts to The Club if they'll buy them from her.  Regi says it's great to work at something you love and do well, and cooking is her mama's forte.

⦁ Vicente tucks in the soundly sleeping Benji.  He runs into Natalia in the hallway.  Yes, he's duded up since there's a little party he's going to attend.  She's not awake enough to want to go with him.  She's exhausted and going to bed.  

⦁ Chente takes a moment to reflect on the peace in his living room while Nata showers and drops half-dead into her bed.  Suddenly the band takes to the mic and yells greetings to the barrio.  "--Let's dance!"  Chente goes outside to see what's going on.  Nata and Teresa decide to attend instead of letting the Riveras try running them out of the house now that there's a newly signed agreement.  As for Chente, he begins to ream his hermanacos (yeah, Andrea really nailed it with that one) --his two brothers--for planning such a "little surprise."  Of course, he cannot stop moving his feet to the Caribbean beat.  The rhythm is overpowering.  He gets carried away with the music and excitement as do Juanga and J2P2.  (I gotta say, Juanga and Chente's moves are something to behold!  And the music--did they say Meringue?-- totally floods the senses.)

⦁ Across the way, Uptown, William shows up at Constanza The Cold-Hearted's to win his way back into her bed...er... if not her good graces, then her Good Gracious!  To her credit, she tries to refuse and shew him away.  He risked her hubby being at home and invites her to dinner with him. And don't those pearly whites of his shine!!!

⦁ Back in the streets of the Barrio outside Chente's, he and the hermanacos converse about the reason for the big bash.  

--To introduce Nata's people to the barrio!  But she couldn't possibly like this kind of party.  She's too uptown.   Chente reminisces to them both about how Lucia and he used to love dancing and this band is one she would have loved to dance to (I shudder to say 'it's to die for', but I will.).  Nata and Tere arrive and notice the banner.  Well, now she's going to have to stay and play nice.  

⦁ Meanwhile, Tina and Chole are still waiting on Vulga to decide which dress to wear.  Skimpy R Us.  Suffice it at that.  

⦁ Nata thinks Chente and his brothers organized the party together, but he tries explaining it was all his brothers' doing, not his.  She thanks him anyway and agrees to stay.  

⦁ Finally, Vulga makes a more modest choice.  In walks Gustavo.  Chole will catch up to them later.

⦁ At the restaurant, Willy Boy seduces Connie as he flaunts his knowledge about wine.  "I didn't know you were a sommelier."  Maybe gym trainers aren't simple muscleheads after all she thinks. Hmmm? She pulls herself together, saying this relationship of theirs was all a mistake and she's really not interested in continuing it at all.  He tells her he doesn't believe her because the enthusiastic response she showed the other night would say the opposite. (Viewerville wonders if at this point the dude is desperate to assuage his damaged ego.)

⦁ Andrea arrives with Omar who is introduced to Chente.  Chente asks Nata if Omi is "another one of the relatives coming to move in with us?"  Nata says no, just her daughter's boyfriend.  Omi starts walking through the crowd.  Juanga gives him the evil eye and makes a dance move like he's marking his territory.  Omi takes note and asks Andi if this is the mechanic who keeps molesting her.  Yes and no.  

⦁ At the same time, J2P2 and Regi make fun small talk. Tina chats him up next and notes he's got the hots for Regi and suggests it's now or never.  Go ahead and dance with her.  He's feeling way too shy-- a real 180 from Juanga

⦁ Back at the boarding house, Tavo and Chole spend a romantic evening together.  But as all good things must come to an end, so does this evening for him.  One day he will be free of Connie but he's got to do it carefully so as not to lose his repair shop.  Chole seems to understand and agrees he's gotta do what he's gotta do.  (Ok.  It's got to be dealt with: Tavo's leather jacket and his posture give away this actor's age.  This dude is a total "Grease" fan--with a dose of Fonzie Fonzarelli thrown in for good measure.....  The Tavz?  70's Flashbacks anybody?)

⦁ Chente finally throws in the towel and heads inside and upstairs to bed.  The memories and the music are just too much for him.  He curls up on his bed in his darkened bedroom and weeps with a picture of Lucia in his arms.

⦁ Outside, it's Omi, Andi, Nata, Regina, and Tere.  Andi begins by telling the others how she cannot stand any of the Ramirez or the shack they live in.  Nata tells her to get real and realize that that so-called shack is where she's got to live now.  She refuses to agree.  Just then Juanga comes up to Andi and asks "--Are you enjoying the party, muneca [doll/cute chic]?"  This infuriates Omi who immediately tells Juanga not to address his girlfriend as 'muneca'.  "--Don't get so hot and bothered, bro."  Andi lashes into Juanga,  She told him too many times to remember that he's not to speak to her like that (I think) and to get lost!  He finally takes the hint. 

⦁      J2P2 comes up afterward and politely approaches Nata to see if she'll let Regi dance a bit with him.  Regi says thanks, she doesn't know how to dance that way.  However, they can still have fun and she drags J2P2 away.  

⦁ Benji has another dream where his mama talks to him again.

⦁ Claudio arrives, heads immediately to the table with the open bottles, and lies to Tere about getting a job through one of his rich, government contacts.

⦁ Nata, Omi, and Andi have gone inside and are discussing the need to take a positive attitude with the loud party that's being thrown in their honor.  Andi takes the opportunity to push Omi into telling Nata that she and Omi are getting married.  Nata is stupified.  She tells the two of them that Andi is only seventeen and way to young.  Neither of them has...er...matured.  Andi disagrees and says mama is always negative with her.  They are so mature that they are now going to live together!  (Surprise to Omi.)  Andi says doesn't matter to her.  They're getting married, period!  "--Not while you are still a minor, your not!  End of discussion!"

⦁ Meanwhile, back at the ritzy restaurant, Willie Boy is still putting the moves on Connie. And the icy White Witch of the Frozen North is beginning to crack.  Connie suggests they pay the bill as she needs to get home at a decent hour.  After all, she is a married woman.  Willie says he's not willing to leave until he arouses her passion (?? didn't hear that one)  She gives in to his kisses.

⦁ Back in the barrio, Nata and Tere are both exhausted.  Tere says Chente must be also because a while ago he came back inside.  "--He came back inside and left me with all his guests!!  That is just pathetic.  He's going to get a few choice words from me!"  

⦁ Nata heads upstairs to find Chente and Tere follows a minute later to go up to bed.  A minute later the uninvited Vulga walks into the kitchen and sits down (like some unattended barn animal) to wait on Chente to come back home.  

⦁ Nata sees him lying in bed and turns on the light, then begins to scold him; however, he simply asks her to turn off the light and apologizes for leaving the party.  He just didn't have the desire or the will to stick it out. "--Then why did you organize it?"  "--I told you it wasn't me; it was my brothers who did."  "--Oh.  Well, I thought you had done it to annoy me."  "--Obviously not."  --Uh, could you leave me alone  now, please?"   She starts to go and turns the lights off but then thinks twice about it.  "--Do you need anything?  A glass of water?  A friend to talk to?"  He's a bit surprised but then takes her at her word and says something about this song that was playing the last time he spoke to his wife right before she left to go to the bank.  Never did he think the day would end as it did or that he'd never see her again.  She holds his hand and he weeps.

⦁ Downstairs in the kitchen, Lion Braids walks into the kitchen and tries flirting with Vulga. She says maybe later.  He reminds her Chente only has eyes for his [deceased] wife  Vulga reminds him that's past tense now.  She doesn't take the bait.  They are both single now and she's got a right to go after him if she wants.  He leaves. Tina comes in then and tries to get her to come out and join the fun again.  Vulga again refuses.   

⦁ Upstairs, Chente dries his tears and thanks Nata for listening to him.  "--Chente are you sure you don't want to go back down?"  Naw, he'd rather stay there.  

⦁ Tina walks notices her there and suggests they both go back out to the party.

⦁ Nata cannot quite make herself leave.  Chente wonders if she isn't a bit tired of the party and noise.  She admits she is and really needs to go to sleep.  He says then he'll see to sending everyone home for her.  She thanks him.  He remarks that it's really a shame since the band is so good.  Suddenly the song changes into a slow romantic piece and he asks her to dance just this one dance with her.  She agrees.  

⦁ Downstairs Vulga decides she wants to go upstairs to see if Chente's up there.  Tina rushes to stop her.  Tina suggests they just go back to the rooming house since Chente's probably already sound asleep. "--Anyway, he just lost his wife.  We should respect his pain."  Vulga, the drunken slug, decides to sit back down again and continues to wait.  Tina gets frustrated and leaves.  She's done.

⦁ Back upstairs, the beat has gotten a bit lighter and faster.  Nata and Chente are bustin' out a few moves together and both are actually having a bit of fun together.  She opens up and admits earlier she was rather upset thinking Chente had set up the party to upset her so that she would move out in horror.  She realizes now what a decent man he really is.  He admits they've had their moments and said lots of things but the truth is, he doesn't want her to leave.  They stop dancing and share a moment ...until the intemperate and totally vacuous Vulga walks in on them.  She flips the lights back on and demands to know what "this woman" is doing in his bedroom!  --Ruh-rohhh!  (Will somebody call the dogcatcher, please?????)

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