Caray, Caray!

⦁ It's hand-tp-hand combat as Elias and Vicente fight for control of the pistol Elias has been threatening everyone with.  "--Get out of here unless you want me to whip you out of here with a switch!"  And, true to form, Chente is no "coyone" [cowardly person].  As Andrea and Natalia look on downstairs and Magos worries over the upset Benji, their struggle continues. Finally, Chente wrests the gun from Elias and tells the power-mad and boisterous scoundrel to scat!    "--Realize that Natalia isn't defenseless.  I'm taking responsibility for both her and her daughters."  "--You have made a very powerful enemy!  So you should be the careful one as I can smash you like the flea-ravaged mongrel bastard of the neighborhood that you are." "--Don't threaten me. Because I am capable of forcing you to swallow your very words!  If you try anything against Natalia and her daughters, you'll be dealing with me!" He takes out the bullets from the magazine. "--You were warned." Big bull de Elias tries bullying Chente.  "--I'm not forgetting your happy face.  You've got no idea who you've messed with."  Nata finds her voice.  "--Leave, already!  Get. Out. Of. Here!!!!"  Elias exits in a huff.

⦁ Afterward, Nata thanks Chente.  "--I don't know what I'd have done without you."  She explains he's Omar's papi.  Andi says he's taken his mean to a whole new level.  Chente remarks that Nata's quite capable of defending herself and her family and smiles admiringly of her.

⦁ Back at their friendly neighborhood cantina, Claudio has changed his tune with Tavo regarding Constanza's disastrous dalliances  "--You won't like what I have to say, Gustavo: Constanza is a saint!"  "--So, Connie really hasn't been unfaithful to me?"  "--Why should you care so much?  'If unseen, the heart does not hurt. [What you don't know can't hurt you.]  Tavo reminds Claudio that he didn't care a whit till Clod brought it up. Clod's the one that suggested he needed to get a divorce, "--and that she then couldn't threaten to take everything I own away from me.  My life could change for the better."  Clod says chalk it up to a small, temporary slip, a willy-nilly misstep. 

⦁ Chente has gone upstairs to explain to Magos why Elias came threatening with a gun.  He explains that Omar's daddy thinks that now that Nata is penniless her daughter is also worthless and not worthy of his son's attention.   Magos replies knowingly.  "--As if money resolved everything."  (Of course, if Chente really knew what Elias had proposed to Nata,  methinks this little story would be over in nothin' flat.)   

⦁ Downstairs, Andi consents to refer to "el hermanaco ese" more respectfully as Chente.  (Of course, this whole incident should have rung at least one or two alarm bells in both Andi's and Nata's cognitive brain parts, aka synapses that maybe los Hadad were too insanely volatile a family to marry into.)  Well, temporarily perhaps....Nata is rather frightened at the idea and thinks that Andi might reconsider at least putting off the wedding for a while to think it over....  Andi's answer is yes, I see: once I say the wedding's over, then his father will give Omi back all his bennies.  Yes, says Nata...it will all go back to normal.  

⦁ At the manse of los Hadad, Elias relays to Sammie how he spent his morning finding and trapping Adrien Cantu for the authorities, and that soon his lawyers will have him extradited back to the D.F.  Then, though, he twists the facts of what just happened with Nata and Chente.  He tells Sam that Nata tried to manipulate the situation to her advantage by offering to keep her daughter away from Omi and to become his mistress provided he gives her a house and a life of luxury.  "--How low that woman has fallen!"  Well, says Sam, if it's war Nata wants...

⦁ Clod continues to probe Tavo about other women.  Tavo says he won't start anything if he's not completely free... (shades of grey, blue, red anyone?) Clod says Connie simply feels isolated and alone.  She needs her man by her side and one who only has eyes for her.  Tavo admits it's way past that and the simple fact is that he doesn't love Connie anymore.  They can both agree that his life is a living nightmare and yet, Clod says, it's not the right time to ask for a divorce.  Clod says Connie's so interested in doing the right thing that she's consented to invite the family for a holiday weekend at her vacation house.  

⦁ Chente asks Magos to pack her bags and join the rest of the family on a weekend excursion.  She says she has a few chores and doesn't accept his offer to go shopping with her for a few things for the trip.  He comes back downstairs and Nata thanks him for defending her and Andi against Elias.  They exchange a few choice compliments and profess their enduring friendship and confidence--but the wall stays put.  He then asks her to share an outing with him.  She thinks it's a weekend alone with him.  When she asks him to clarify, he's embarrassed and says it's a family outing of course.  She still declines since she wants to finish the dessert order for the Country Club.  

⦁ At the same time, Andi tries convincing Omi to put off their plans for a wedding.  That turns into a disaster and they head to the county courthouse to register for a civil wedding.

⦁ Back at Chente's, Benji is drawing pictures of a gun and remembering how Olga threatened him with shooting him.  Magos walks in and intuits that guns frighten him.

⦁ Later Magos returns to the kitchen to chat with Nata.  She admits that she's got to see a doctor and that she's dying and may not be around much longer. Benji has wandered down the stairs and overhears all while Nata and she share a few tears; Nata offers her emotional support.  

⦁ Sammie goes over to the club and has an appointment with the club manager.  She threatens she and hubby will be quitting the club and withdrawing their membership permanently if he doesn't refuse to buy more of those hideous desserts from Natalia Ramos (?) He of course immediately folds and agrees to that demand.

⦁ Vulgar de Olga, meanwhile, is packing for the so-called family weekend outing.  Chole tries to talk her out of it but has no luck as La Vulga is always off somewhere in her own reality--so certain is she that she's so alluring to Chente he will automatically fall at her feet.

⦁ Across the way, Clod returns to the house and tells both Nata and Teresa about the proposed outing Con has planned at her vacation home.  Connie even presents herself at the door to invite them all personally.  Again Nata refuses.  She appreciates the invitation but needs to finish baking her dessert orders.   

⦁      Andi, meanwhile, is aghast at the frightful conditions of the county clerk's office.  This is not what marriage should be.  It's too much like a circus there!  Omi suggests he can get a scholarship or a government grant with his great grades and take her to England--as his wife-- while he finishes his degree.  'Nuff said.  They register to get married a week from the today.  

⦁ Chole comes to the garage to invite Tavo to (the Ramirez family outing?).  He lies that he cannot because he's got to look at some more heavy machinery over the weekend.  She leaves downhearted and disappointed.

⦁ Connie takes issue again with Nata because she's innocently asked about Tavo. Connie immediately asks if she noticed Tavo flirting with the owner of the beauty shop across the street or not? Con insists Nata's brought him up to insinuate that Tavo is just as unfaithful, manipulative, and devious as Adrien or their father used to be.  Nata says she didn't mean anything by it and no, she hasn't noticed a thing.  That's not enough for Constantly conniving Constanza.  She pops in on Chole soon after and no, she's not there for the rent check, just to see how great the stylists are.  "--The fact is, well, I'm going on a trip with my husband and I want to surprise him  (as in knock his socks off).  It's like a second honeymoon."  Chole gets this message loud and clear!  "--How nice for you, Sra."  "--Yes, this weekend.  We need to get to know each other again as a couple.  What hairstyle do you suggest?"  "--Short's better and more up to date.  It would look great on you."  "--Like the gal who just left as I came in?  Ha!  Absolutely not!  How frightful!  What bad taste!  I think I'll go somewhere else!"  She stalks out and poor Chole is totally humiliated, just the way Connie Cruel Shoes planned it.  (Tavo, call your office!  Dude, you're about to be skinned alive and chile-pepper roasted.)

⦁ Tere of course has Clod's number: "--You're only trying to butter up Constanza!" Clod says something like, life is a struggle, but I for one won't settle. (Maybe there's a better way of putting it.) "--Start packing!"  She blows him off and joins Nata in the kitchen.

⦁ Tere tells Nata she'd rather stay home and help her bake.  Nata suggests she reconsider and go; after all, Connie did swallow her pride and drop by personally to invite them.  Tere mentions she's told Connie numerous times that she could lose Tavo if she continues treating her husband like a cockroach.  It depends on whether they still love each other, says Nata, and everything will work out if they do.  Just then Andi shows up with her marriage registration papers in hand. (Uh, yeah, Ma.  So much for putting off the wedding so Omi's homelife could get back to bearable if not absolutely normal again!) 

⦁ At the same time, Juanga comes to invite Chole to join them at his family's outing to the resort this weekend as a good way to forget the old married dude she's constantly pining for.  After all, she's got a young stud (a-hem) who adores her, and he's standing in front of her.  She finally agrees.  "--yeah, turn lemons into lemonade..."  [Mal tiempo, buena cara! Put on a brave face.]  

⦁ Valentina asks Tavo if she could leave a bit early since she's got something important to do.  In walks Juanga and tells Tavo he just invited Chole to the family outing this weekend and she accepted.  Tavo isn't exactly jumping for joy over the news.  He reminds Juanga that she's a grown woman and a lady in all sense of the word.  Juanga's just a brat kid in comparison.  Juanga says, yeah but someone who appreciates Chole instead of playing with her affections.  Tavo yells at him to get back to work since that's what he's paying him for--not to be a darned life coach!

⦁ Nata accepts Andrea's umpteenth change of mind and the official decision to marry in one week as inevitable, and she and Tere plan something nice, simple, and small for the family and (any remaining) friends to partake in.  Clod says he'll put it into the social register and let high society know all about it.  Andi and Nata disagree.  Not good.  However, the fun family weekend stays on.  Nata does want Andi to enjoy the weekend away with the rest of the family as needed downtime before coming back and getting married.  It seems everyone agrees at this point.

⦁ At the jail, Mario's got a female visitor. He's confused.  He comes out to greet her and is shocked to see who it is--not to mention how oddly she's dressed.  (Ok. Even I thought Doc Martins went out of style 20-30 some odd years ago.  So, when did they make a comeback?  But then, Mario isn't any real prize right now, either, I guess.)   "--Hi, Mario.  Don't you recognize your dancing girl?"

⦁ Later in the day, Magos returns.  Only Nata's in the kitchen.  "--What did the doctor tell you?"  "--To eat grass like goats do. (???)  --The important thing is not to let the family know.  And don't put me into a hospital. --Well, we all end up in the same place.  I have been fortunate to have had such a good life.  Especially as I got to help my three grandsons get ahead in life.  Although, one of them does bother me."  Nata guesses all but the correct grandson: Chente.  "--Now that Chente doesn't have Lucia, who is going to help me take care of him?"  (Cue the crickets.)

⦁ Chole has closed the shop early.  Tavo comes looking for her at the rooming house.  When he asks why, she says she had no customers and needed to pack for the weekend away.  Juanga invited her.  Anyway, it's a family trip.  "--Olga and I are gate-crashing. -- And while we're dealing with inquisitions here, why lie to me about looking for more heavy machinery when you're really taking a second honeymoon with your wife?"  She laughs in his face when he explains it isn't anything more than his own family's weekend excursion just like the Ramirez's.  "--Don't kid me!  You're going to try to fix your marriage!  Dona Constanza herself told me!  Look, just try being a real husband, the way you promised that day on the altar...and forget about ME!"

⦁ Back in Chente's kitchen, Magos is giving Nata his life story.  Bottom line, Chente left school when his parents died in order to give his younger brothers a home.  He essentially, at such a young age, became a second father for his younger brothers.  He worked so hard at it that he gave up dating and schooling or enjoying life till Lucia came along.  Once Benji was born, Chente's life was complete.  But now, he's been left alone and with a son who's stopped talking.  She's doubly worried.  Nata insists he has his brothers and now her as well since she's going to Benji's therapy sessions.  Magos is extremely grateful.  However, Chente needs another woman who can love him and care for Benji as if he were her own.  Nata says that might never be possible.  Replace Lucia? --Magos feels he deserves another chance at love, especially now that she's going to die.  Chente walks in just as Magos spoke about her death.  "--W-w-w-what, Abuelito?  W-w-w-what did you say?"  

Labels: fortuna

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