Caray, Caray!

We left our hero Ric in somewhat of a predicament last night—he was with Pablo on board the Camila which was under attack by Spanish ships (Mario having gone on ahead to La Iguana on the Salamandra). The gunpowder caught fire and Ric urged them all to jump into the water to save themselves. Pablo protested but Ric ordered him and he dutifully went along too. Everybody off except for her Captain: Ric stood at the wheel of his burning ship. On board the Spanish vessel, the soldiers cheered to see the pirate ship fully engulfed in flames.

Back in San Fernando, Jorge arrives at LaFont’s and asks to see him. The major domo says LaFont can’t really talk, he’s been given a great deal of laudanum. Jorge says he doesn’t care, to let him in. Jorge comes in and greets the ladies in the great room, Fortunata, Fran and Lis who is holding BOTH the dolly and baby Pedro. Jorge goes in to see LaFont who is lying in bed. He wakes him up. LaFont stirs suddenly and reaches out to feel his leg. He sighs when he discovers it’s gone. Jorge continues “I am guessing that you feel pretty rough. But I need to talk to you. I’d like to know what the hell you did.” Al responds “About what?” Jorge says, “don’t pretend. You robbed a caravan. You lost a leg, Uriel and Mateo have disappeared. And not only that, my son has already discovered the falsified importation docs. “Kill him” says LaFont weakly. Jorge says “the one I’m going to kill is you.” “Ever since you got hooked up with the blind chick, you’ve done nothing but make mistakes. One after the Other.” LaFont tries to put it back on Jorge but Jorge will have none of it. He says he wants two things from LaFont. For him to make up a story about what happened to him and for him to give his permission for Manuela to marry Ascanio, so that he’ll shut up about the docs. LaFont is enraged by the latter but Jorge orders it and LaFont has no choice but to agree. Jorge asks about Uriel and Mateo. LaFont says that he doesn’t know about Mateo but Uriel “died.” (Uh, that’s an artful use of the passive voice, there Bouffy! We all saw you stab him.) Jorge looks disgusted. He asks about the body but LaFont says he doesn’t know. Jorge shakes his head.

And speaking of corpse-like objects, we see Ric floating in the water face up, hanging on to a piece of flotsam from the now destroyed ship.

Next, we are in a barn where the bodies of Uriel and the wounded Mateo along with all the other dead and wounded from the assault have been taken for identification. A guy IDs them for the Colonel and his soldiers and further tells them that they are friends of the Lord of San Fernando and the equally powerful Don Alberto LaFont. The Colonel looks thoughtful. He asks the name of the “regidor,” or crown official and the guy tells him “Don Jorge Mancera y Ruiz.”
Back to Ric who drags himself ashore to the cheers of his fellow surviving men. They are all really glad to see eachother.

In SF, Ascanio and Manuela have a joyful reunion in the park. They kiss. Ascanio tells her that he missed her. He notes that her Dad let her out of the house and she says that he’s in bed and while he’s out of it, she’s free. She asks him if he knows what happened and he says yes. She notes that they cut off his leg. She doesn’t understand what’s going on. First some robbers put out his eye and now this…She knows her dad is no angel but now he’s completely round the bend. Even Lis must be sorry she married him. “He treats her very badly. Especially since she had that child baptized.” Ascanio is puzzled too about why Al would be so pissed off about the baby. Manuela explains that her Dad thinks that the baby is a dirty urchin, plus he’s angry that Lis gave the baby her last name. Ascanio asks why she did that. Manuela says that the servant didn’t know the mother’s or the father’s last name so Lis said to use hers. Ascanio says that he’s not too surprised that Lis would do something like this, after all, she’s always been a little unhinged. “So what name did they give the baby?” he asks. “Pedro.” Replies Manuela. Ascanio is surprised “Pedro de Salamanca?” That’s Ric’s daddy’s name! Manuela says Lis always liked Ric and maybe she wanted to honor him in this way. “Or maybe….” says Ascanio trailing off but looking thoughtful.

And Pedrito’s daddy is on a beach eating fire roasted squid with the boys, talking over what happened. Lots of men were lost, although they might have washed up somewhere else. Pablo is still among the missing. One guy asks about the Camila and Ric makes a throat cut gesture and clicks his tongue. “Lost, sure” says the guy. Ric comments that they need to get together to go back to la Iguana but just then a posse of soldiers appear and the leader tells them not to move. He shouts at them that they must have been part of the gang of pirates that assaulted Puerto Paraiso. He asks if they have a captain and Ric starts to move but one of the men pipes up that No, their captain died when their ship was wrecked in the dogfight. The officer demands that they give up any weapons they have with them. All of them. And he orders his man to search the pirates in case they have any hidden weapons.

Over at Ofelia’s back in SF, Ascanio recounts the strange tale of Pedrito de Salamanca that Manuela has just told him. Ines (who just got some similar intel from the maid Candida) immediately jumps to the same conclusion that maybe…just maybe…little Pedrito is actually Camilia’s baby, who didn’t die after all! That Lis got the baby somehow. Vasco says he can’t believe his father would have lied to them. Jimena says maybe it was Santiago who set it up. Ines can’t believe her brother would have been so bad. Jimena is skeptical; she thinks that he hated Ric enough. He could have done it. Ines says regardless, he wouldn’t have done something like that to Camila. Ascanio says that if this child was Camila’s it could have been other people who took him. Jimena says that Lis was always in love with Ric and she could have had it arranged. Ascanio relates LaFont’s fury at having the baby there, with Ric’s last name. Vasco says that they should remain calm and wait for his sister to get back. They’ll tell her everything and decide what to do.

The pirate prisoners are tied together and are perp-walked to a prison. As they cross a bridge over a ravine, we spy Pablo hiding among some rocks. Pablo continues to follow carefully at a distance. The officer announces to the boys that they will be assigned rock breaking duties on a chain gang until they are tried. “For what? asks Ric. “For piracy” says the officer. Ric says that this is a serious accusation and where is the proof? Ric claims that their merchant ship was caught in a skirmish and they were shipwrecked. The officer says he doesn’t believe him. And he’s sure that the lashing they’ll get will force them to confess, even if they didn’t do it so no big deal. He locks them all in one big cell, still manacled and tied to one another. After the guards leave, one pirate asks Ric what they’ll do. They are like trapped like rats. Ric says that the officer mentioned that they’ll be working on a chain gang. That means that they’ll be outside. They’ll have to figure out the possibilities there for escape. Plus once they don’t show up in Iguana, the other guys will come looking for them. One guy asks what will happen if they don’t come. Ric shuts him up. “Or if they are late in coming?” asks another. Ric doesn’t answer. Instead he yells out the gate that the men need food and water, they aren’t in condition to be doing rock breaking.

The Ladies have finally returned home, in an open carriage this time. Before they get to town, Sofia tells them she wants to talk to them and gets them all out in the shade of some trees. She says that before they get back she wants them to agree that what happened in Puerto Paraiso stays in Puerto Paraiso. Ursula gets it right away. “You mean you don’t want me to tell anyone that Camila met her lover there.” Sofia says that she doesn’t want it known that Ursula slept with an English Pirate. Ursula laughs. Nor that she flirted with that Captain adds Ursula. (Cami at least has the modesty to be embarrassed. ) Sofia says she better not tell about Cami or she’ll rat out her catting around and for sure her Dad will put her in a cloistered nunnery. Sofia doesn’t have to threaten Romualdo who agrees also not to talk. Sofia says that they will say that they left Puerto Paraiso just before the pirates got there. All agreed, Sofia says,” let’s go home.”
The Colonel and his men ride into SF just ahead of the Ladies. Cami gets dropped off first and her family are excited to see her.

Don Jorge and Marcelino meet up and Marcelino says that he got the forged docs from Ascanio. He adds that nobody has seen Uriel or Mateo. Jorge tells Marcelino that it would be a good time for him to leave town. On vacation, for a rest. Or better yet, forever. Marcelino sputters and protests that he was only following Don Jorge’s orders. Jorge says “my orders?” Who do you think they will believe? You or me? Marcelino is practically in tears when he shakes his head. Clearly the Lord’s word is worth more than his. Don Jorge tells him to take his family and go—and never return to San Fernando. Marcelino, ever the loyal servant, sniffles and bows as he dejectedly leaves the office. As he leaves, the guard comes in and announces that Col. Jose Maria Valencia asks for an audience. Jorge asks where he comes from. The guard says that he’s from the barracks at San Benito. Jorge nods knowiningly.

Outside, the Col. and his men are met by Santiago coming down the stairs who wants to know why they are there. The Col says that they are there to see Don Jorge and Santiago says that he’s Jorge’s son. Just then Jorge comes out and asks their business. The Col says that he wants to talk about two men from the town, one dead the other wounded. Jorge invites them into his office and Santiago follows. We don’t see them tell the whole story but get Jorge’s (fake) reaction of shock and concern. He clarifies that Mateo is still alive and says he doubts that they could have been involved in the robbery. “They probably just happened to be in the area.” The Col says “at that time of night?” Jorge says “maybe they were looking for chicks and got caught up in it.” (We get a look at Santiago’s face which has a pretty incredulous look—not sure if it’s that he doesn’t believe his dad or he can’t believe that his dad would tell such an incredible whopper.) Jorge asks that Uriel’s body be brought back to SF for burial and that Mateo be transported as well so that his family can take care of him. Col Jose says he has no problem releasing the body but Mateo is to stay put. He’s got the barracks doctor looking after him. Jorge makes a caustic remark about the military doctor and Col. Jose cuts him off saying that the family can send a private doctor if they wish—but Mateo isn’t going anywhere. He gives a hard look and Jorge realizes that he’d better not push his luck with this guy. Col. Jose says that he understands that these two men were friends of Alberto LaFont and he’d like to talk to him. Jorge says that unfortunately La Font had “a riding accident” two days ago and had his leg amputated. So he can’t talk. Jorge goes on to lament how these guys could have gotten involved in the caravan robbery. Col. Jose says there’s no doubt in his mind. He was guarding the caravan and he fought them himself. Jorge then changes tack and says “wow, you can be friends with someone for years and not realize what they are hiding from you.” Col. Jose turns to Santiago and asks him if he was friends with these guys. Santiago chokes out a “No.” Next Jorge asks why they’ve sent a Colonel to a small barracks like San Benito. The Col. says that he’s come on a special mission. Jorge looks nervous. Santiago looks keen.

Sofia and Ursula finally made it home. They are just coming in when Jorge comes out with the Col. and Santiago. Jorge introduces them and tells the Col. that they are just back from Pto. Paraiso. The Col.’s eyes grow wide and he says “Pto. Paraiso just got attacked by the English Pirate John Foreman!” Sofia says casually that it must have happened AFTER they left. She gives her apologies leaves. Ursula follows but not before flirting with the Col. Jorge and Santiago exchange looks. ( Jorge is probably wondering if he can work the same magic with Ursula and this guy as he did with Ascanio and Manuela.)

As Camila unpacks, Ines fills her in on all the latest news. She tells her about the attack on LaFont. She asks after Ascanio and Ines says she thinks he is sad but she’s not sure, given how reserved he is. Just then, Paco runs in and gives his aunt Camila a big hug. He asks where Ric is. Cami says gently that he can’t come back yet, he’s still got some stuff to do. Paco pouts and Ines complains that Cami is going to think that he isn’t glad to see her. Paco says he’s glad to see her but he would like to play with his uncle Ric! Cami complains that he doesn’t want to play with her! And she runs out of the room trailing him by the hand.

Col. Jose rides out of San Fernando with his men. He chats with his lieutenant, remarking on the coincidence of LaFont’s “riding accident” with the assault on the caravan. The lieutenant asks if they are going to take it up with the government house. The Col. says no, here everybody is obviously connected. “And what about the daughter of the Lord (Regidor)?” The Col. laughs.
Cami recounts the tale to Ines, Jimena, Vasco and Ascanio of the pirate attack on Pto. Paraiso and how she met Ric. Vasco asks if he took part in the assault and Cami explains that he had to, because he had given his word to John Foreman. He had to borrow the money from him to pay off her debt to Lis. Jimena asks about Mario and Cami tells him YES and that he sent his greetings to her. Cami begs them all not to tell anyone else that she saw Ric. (The next bit I couldn’t get—something about sending a message with Ascanio) All of the sudden, Pablo appears. Tired and bedraggled. Ascanio and the rest run out to greet him. Pablo announces that Ric is a prisoner in San Benito. WHAT HAPPENED? Asks Camila. Pablo recounts the dogfight, the fire and shipwreck. He finishes up that if they don’t manage to rescue him, he’ll be hung. Camila is beside herself. The rest exchange stricken looks.

Jorge and Santiago are in Jorge’s office. Santiago is shocked, shocked that Jorge would use Ursula to gain the compliance of the Col. Jorge is like what is the big deal. Santiago is like but she’s you’re daughter! Jorge throws back in his face that Santiago himself isn’t exactly a model of purity. He’s enjoyed power and the booze and prostitutes that come with it. And besides,” if your beloved Camilia lost her baby it was your fault,” he throws in for good measure. Santiago is enraged and protests that that isn’t true. Jorge tells him that he went nuts when he discovered Ric was alive and well and he (Santiago) committed a series of stupid mistakes. Santiago claims that he did it to save her. “Save her from what?”asks Jorge. “From the flames of hell, for being a pirate’s concubine?” Santiago is speechless. Jorge continues “Or did you condemn her to a hell on earth?” Santiago claims that he did it for love. “And love justifies murder?” asks Jorge archly. “Because you killed her son and you would have killed Ricardo. “ Santiago tries to use the “will of God” explanation for the death of the baby but Jorge says yeah, whatever, console yourself with that. Santiago calls him a monster. Jorge says he’s not a monster, just a sinner like everybody else but now’s not the time to be talking about religion. It’s the time to be saving their skins, even if he had nothing to do with what Alberto and the boys did. Santiago says that he doesn’t believe that. Jorge replies that he doesn’t care what he thinks, he’s to protect the family name (which is also Santiago’s). Santiago says not to count on him. Jorge points out that he treated him well, he made him rich, gave him a position and even got LaFont to consent to letting his daughter marry Ascanio. What does he want, for him to go to the gallows? Santiago has nothing to say to this and flounces out of the office with his shaggy mane flapping in the breeze behind him. Jorge gives one of his now trademarked exasperated looks.

At Justo’s, Cami is now frantic to see Ric. Jimena points out that she isn’t going to be allowed to see him. Ines says maybe Santiago can help get her permission. Cami is like NO WAY. She isn’t going to ask him for anything. Besides, if he knows he’s there, he’ll do something to harm his case. She goes on a tirade about having to see him to help him. Pablo says, while stuffing his face, that the only thing they need to do is tell Mario. Cami says no, Mario’s too far away. She wants to talk to Ric first, to see what he says. Apparently Justo has been napping. Pablo says he’d better go before Justo wakes up. He’s got a tray of food with him. Ascanio suggests that maybe he could get them in to see the prisoners with a stamped permission from the government house. Cami asks if he can risk it. Ascanio says he will. In any event, he’ll help Pablo hide away at the mill. He leaves with Ascanio.

Fortunata, Ursula and Sofia are having tea and biscuits. Fortunata fills them in about baby Pedro’s baptism. She asks why LaFont wasn’t the godfather. Fortunata says she doesn’t know but she breathlessly goes on to tell about LaFont losing his leg. Sofia is grossed out. Ursula on the other hand laughs her head off. Fortunata has to join in. Sofia looks shocked but Ursula says “what a pair! She’s blind and he’s one-eyed and crippled!” Sofia yells at them to stop being vulgar. But the two women don’t stop right away. Finally when they do, Fortunata relates the disappearance of Uriel and Mateo. She thinks it’s suspicious that they disappeared the same night that LaFont was attacked and lost his leg. Ursula puts 2 and 2 together on the presence of the Colonel.

Ines is gtting Paco ready for bed. Paco wants to show Camila the picture of a ship he drew. Ines tells him that he can ask her tomorrow. He still wants to know why Ric didn’t come back with her. Ines tells him to quit asking and that furthermore, he’d better not ask in front of his granddad. Paco is confused. He’s also confused about why she told him that he was getting a new cousin and his granddad said that there was no little cousin. Ines looks thoughtful. Paco thinks that granddad lied or maybe Ines lied. Ines said no, she hasn’t lied. She doesn’t know what happened but when she finds out, she’ll tell him. She tells him again, not to tell anyone about this. He agrees and they kneel down to pray, a prayer to the guardian Angel.

Over at Ofelia’s, Santiago walks in. Ofelia is surprised to see him. Santiago says that he’s decided to return home. He doesn’t want to live at the palace anymore. Ofelia is surprised by this too. She asks why and Santiago tells her that he and his father no longer get along. Ofelia wants to know if something happened. Santiago says no, only that they have different ways of thinking. Ofelia doesn’t buy this explanation but doesn’t push it. She changes the subject to the fact that Camila has returned. Santiago said that he saw when Sofia and Ursula got back and supposed that Cami did too. He asks about her but Ofelia says she hasn’t seen her but Jimena and Ascanio have. He asks about Ascanio but he’s not back yet. Ofelia is worried about him. She thinks he looks unwell. Santiago says that’s so but it’s not his father’s fault, it’s his. He bids her goodnight and leaves. Ofelia looks after him worriedly and goes back to her sewing.
Next—a tender scene between Ines and Vasco getting ready for bed. Ines remarks on what they have learned about Ric and how awful it is that they can’t seem to have a moments’ peace. They hug each other.

In the prison, the pirates sleep all tied together and manacled. All accept Ricardo. He’s up praying to God that if he’s doomed, then please let him see Camila one more time!
It’s the next morning. Cami and Ines are out walking. They see Fran, Lis and Clotilde holding the baby. Cami remarks on the baby—how small it is and how it is about the same age that hers would have been. Lis tells Fran that she wants to bring the baby over to Camila. Fran thinks she’s crazy but she takes her over anyway. Camila makes a casual remark about her godson and Lis responds that it’s a shame that her baby DIED! She walks away. When they are away, Fran tells her she’s crazy to provoke Camila for no reason. Lis says she wanted her to SUFFER. Ines and Camila are still standing around and Ines wonders how she knew that her baby died. Camila says that LaFont must have told her. Cami cries.

Across the plaza, Ascanio hands Vasco a permission to visit the San Benito barracks. Vasco takes it to Camila and Ines and they get into a carrraige.

Manuela comes to Mansion Mancera to accompany Sofia to the Orphanage but she’s already gone. Ursula asks her to sit and visit instead. Manuela protests again. She’s sad and Ursula asks her if she’s worried about her dad or if her stepmother is giving her a hard time. She is worried about dad sorta but she says she hardly speaks to Lis. Ursula guesses that she is pining for Ascanio. Ursula works on her some more about jumping into bed with Ascanio. Just then Jorge comes in and notices her downcast demeanor. He asks about her father and she answers timidly and then beats a hasty retreat. Jorge asks Ursula what her problem is and she explains that she’s in love with Ascanio, Ursula says that she really feels sorry for her. She stops her father before he walks out and asks him if he were ever in love. He answers, yes, with your mother. “Unfortunately she couldn’t get over my failings and I couldn’t change.” He walks away and Ursula smiles to herself.

Back at San Benito, the chain gang is hard at work breaking rocks, under the supervision of the soldiers from the barracks. One of them collapses after hauling a cart full of rocks. Ric helps him up. The other guys complain that they don’t see any way to escape from this gig. After Ric goes back to work with his sledge hammer he talks to the prisoner next to him. Surprise! It’s Molinar Pastor, the crooked merchant who was the original fence for Jorge and Al’s little side business. He remembers Ric from his fake name Diego de Lujan Apparently he wound up there after getting into a dispute with a guy who owed him money. They fought and MP killed him. He was sentenced to 10 years breaking rocks. Ric asks him about LaFont. MP says not to remind him. LaFont gave him a few pesos for arranging the deal and then cut him out by working directly with the English pirate. He thinks he got screwed. Ric asks if he could denounce LaFont. “Why? What good would it do?” Ric starts to answer when a guard comes by and whacks MP for not working. Ric tells the guard to calm down, they are working already.

High above where the men are working, Col. Jose looks down at them. He asks one of the guards about the men, names? etc. The guard says they are some criminals that they rounded up but since they captured them they haven’t gotten their real names. Col. Jose is interested in talking to one guy, the one who they just beat up for talking. The guard tells him that he’ll get him.
Next thing, Molinar Pastor is in the Colonel’s office. The Colonel remarks that he is in for killing a man. MP starts to explain that it was a barroom fight, that the guy owed him money. Col. Jose isn’t interested in his story. He was already judged by the court and sentenced. He wants to know about the guy he was talking to. MP at first feigns ignorance but then admits that he was talking to a guy. He met him a long time ago in San Juan. His name is Diego de Lujan. He met him with another guy, a big bad looking dude. They were looking for some help to sell some stolen silver from an English Pirate. Col. Jose asks how they knew to contact him. MP feigns ignorance again and says they were probably just randomly looking for some merchant to help them. Col. Jose looks skeptical.

Vasco, Ines and Camila are still riding to San Benito. They try to figure out whether they should use Ric’s real name or a fake name. They decide on giving him the Darién surname. They arrive at the pit where the men are working. All of the sudden, the captain that Ursula was so friendly with rides up and recognizes her from the ship. He’s nice to her and they exchange pleasantries. He asks what they are doing there and she says that they are there to find a family member. She hands him the paper. The Captain calls out for “Manuel Darién.” Ric looks up, spies Camila and despairs about what she’s doing there. Ric starts shouting back and the guard gets mad and hits him with a rifle butt. Camila screams and all hell breaks loose. Col. Jose rides up and demands to know what’s going on. Later in his office, he demands to know what the captain was doing, messing with the prisoners. The captain explains that he was talking to the people on the ridge who he had met previously on a boat escaping from Pto. Paraiso after the pirate attack. The woman was with Don Jorge Mancera’s wife and daughter. Col. Jose cuts him off and says that’s all for now and dismisses him. He looks thoughtful.

Ric gets thrown in solitary.

Next Camila, Inez and Vasco go to see Col. Jose and tell him they are looking for their relative “Manuel Darién.” He begins to press them on all their family connections. Camila tells him that Manuel Darién is a merchant. He asks about Vasco’s line of work and Vasco tells him that he’ s the town miller. Ines helpfully adds that her (half)brother is Don Jorge Mancera’s recognized bastard. (I’d say he’s been pretty well recognized on this blog for being a bastard!) Camila pleads that they are decent folk and she really needs to see him because….he’s her fiancé. Col. Jose looks confused. “He’s your cousin or your fiancé?” Vasco asks what he’s been accused of. Col. Jose lays out the pirate charges and the attack on Pto. Paraiso. Ines’s voice jumps an octave in her protests that it can’t be. Cami falls apart. She cries. Col. Jose offers her his hanky.

Meanwhile, down in the hole, Ric is balled up in a corner. Suddenly, Cami bursts in and they kiss passionately.



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Next time: Ric tells Cami to prepare for the worst, but before then, he has to float his theory by her that their child didn’t die but was spirited away by Santiago and her Dad. Cami protests that her Dad promised her…could he have lied? She could have imagined the chid’s cry. Ric doesn’t think so.

Labels: Pasion

When we left Juan yesterday he was in Laura's clutches. She loves seafood but I think she's eaten too much octopus. I could swear she's grown several arms the way she manages to entwine herself around Juan. Juan thought-bubbles that at least he's managed to evade a discussion with Paula, but surely they will have to talk tomorrow.

Labels: Juan

(Sorry this took so long.)


After Soledad slaps him, Hugo says, 'Did you come here to hit me?
Soledad says that she is sorry he misunderstood. She came because she wanted to know if he was ok because she is grateful for what he did for her baby.
'How did I misunderstand?' says Hugo sarcastically. 'You are an ungrateful liar. You have always been an ungrateful liar. You ran up and hugged me and then treated me like your worst enemy. I don't appreciate that!'

'I'm sorry,' repeats Soledad, 'I didn't do it to hurt you. Are you ok?' Hugo responds that he is fine and Soledad says in that case, she will go home. Arturo says to Eloisa that if he said he thought Alcides was dead in the mine, then that is what he thought. Eloisa tries to placate him by saying that it is so strange that he would say that and then Alcides appears as if nothing had happened. Paquito puts in his two cents, 'mala hierba nunca muere!' - literally, 'a weed never dies' or the wicked always escape. Manrique changes the subject to the mine. What did Arturo find down there? Is there gold or not? Arturo produces a handful of gold nuggets. Manrique says that they have to invest in this opportunity.

Dr. Max threatens to kill Elena for opening the Cabinet of the Dead Wife but ultimately he hypnotises her into believing that he is her husband. Guille disguises himself as a bush, steals a carriage and goes to Dr. Max's to rescue Elena. The hypnotized Elena does not recognize him and asks Dr. Max to get rid of him. Dr. Max knocks Guille out and is going to kill him but Elena suggest just dumping him in the road like a vagabond. Dr. Max does so while on the way to visit Soledad to have a serious discussion with her about her baby.

At the House of Sad*sm, Beatriz has joined the LT murderer's club. The detective falls down dead while Alcides, still chained and gagged looks on. Beatriz tells Alcides that he made her into a monster and that it is his fault she is a killer. She want to be rid of this nightmare and be rid of him forever. She points the g*n at Alcides.

At the mine, Hugo tells Boris that he has concluded that Soledad never loved him (Hugo). Everything she has done shows this. 'How so?' asks Boris. 'She came here because she was worried about Alcides. Every day she shows more and more that she really loved Alcides a lot.'
Boris suggests that this fact will speed up Hugo's plan to make her fall in love with Hugo/Alcides and Hugo agrees.

Arturo comes up, thanks Boris for saving his life in the mine and says that if the gold turns out to be genuine when he has it tested, he will accept Hugo's proposal to do business together. He shakes Hugo's hand and says that he agrees to be his partner. Hugo is happy that the Plan of Vengeance (PoV) is working out.

At the House of Sad*sm, Beatriz, still pointing the g*n at Alcides, tells him that the only thing she wanted was for Hugo, his brother, to love her as much as she loved him. From the moment she met Hugo, she loved him and wanted to be with him but Alcides came along and and ruined everything. She tells Alcides that he has taken everything from her and only left her with this anger that is consuming her. She aims the g*n at Alcides and he closes his eyes waiting for the shot. Then just like that, Beatriz changes her crazy little mind and tells Alcides that he will pay with his life, slowly. She will make him suffer until he wishes he was never born and begs her to kill him.

At the Hacienda, Ursula tells Soledad that the way she talks about Alcides and the way she reacted when she found out Alcides was in danger makes her think that Soledad has feelings for Alcides. Soledad denies it. She has no interest in Alcides except she is grateful for what he did for the baby. Ursula tries again, 'Sometimes ones feelings betray one and the heart does what it pleases. Maybe if Alcides has changed so much then it isn't bad if you love him." Soledad responds that Ursula knows why she married Alcides and her heart is eternally pledged to Hugo. Subject closed.

Outside the House of S*dism, Beatriz is getting ready to bury the dead detective. Somehow, Alcides has gotten free. He staggers up behind her but she hears him and knocks him unconscious with a shovel. She tells him that now that she is a murderer like him, she likes killing. He won't be able to defeat her. She will make his life a living h*ll.

Hugo and Boris go to the tavern to ask the ML to perform at another function. The ML congratulates Hugo on the gold mine. Hugo says that she can be part of the business. She hangs around with the most important men in the city and he needs investors. The ML coyly asks if Hugo trusts a woman he's only just met. Boris drops the bombshell that he and Hugo know exactly who she is: Rebeca de Montenegro. Rebeca is impactada. She agrees to help Hugo in exchange for his not revealing her identity.

At the Hacienda, Soledad refuses to let Dr. Max examine her baby. Dr. Max says that Aurora has a serious illness and reminds Soledad of when the baby's heart stopped beating when she was in utero. Soledad responds that that incident was a mistaken diagnosis by Dr. Max. There is nothing wrong with Aurora. Dr. Max moves on to blackmail. He tells Soledad that he knows that Alcides is not the baby's father - Hugo is. Soledad won't submit to blackmail. She orders Dr. Max to leave. Soledad decides to tell Alcides/Hugo the truth about the baby's parentage.

At the tavern, Boris and Hugo discuss the PoV while the ML performs. Boris asks Hugo why he is involving Rebeca in the PoV after what Enrico told them about her obsession with finding Jeremias' treasure. Hugo, who is now apparently expanding his PoV to get people who didn't actually hurt him, says that Rebeca is a cruel and ambitious woman and she has to pay for her cruelty. Boris warns Hugo that a lot of innocent people are going to be harmed by the PoV. Hugo denies that this will happen. The innocent will get their investments back but the targets of the PoV will be swept up in the gold frenzy and by the time they realize that they have been deceived, it will be too late. They will be ruined.

Arturo announces at the tavern that he and Eloisa will be married in three days and everyone is invited, including Alcides, his new business associate. There is a toast and everyone applauds. Suddenly Hugo hears a baby crying in his mind. He gets up and leaves the tavern with a surprised Boris following.

At the Hacienda, Soledad stops Hugo and says she has something to tell him. 'Is the baby all right?' asks Hugo. Hugo wants to see the baby and Soledad wants to speak to him. Suddenly, Ursula comes downstairs with the news that she thinks the baby is dead! Aurora is cold and not breathing. Soledad runs upstairs with Hugo following. She tries to wake up the baby. Hugo tries to calm her. Downstairs, Ursula is crying when Boris comes in. She tells him that the baby is cold and not breathing. 'Cold?' says Boris and he runs upstairs. Marina comes in and Ursula asks her why life is so unjust? Marina responds that she should know that misfortune follows this family. Ursula decides to go for Dr. Max. Marina tries to stop her but Ursula knocks her down.

Meanwhile, upstairs, Hugo tries to convince Soledad that he knows what to do to make the baby better. She must trust him. But Soledad does not want Hugo near the baby.

At the tavern, Arturo gets the results of the analysis of the gold nuggets found in the mine. They are almost pure gold. 'We are all going to be rich!' rejoices Arturo. Eloisa tells Arturo that she is tired and wants to go home. She manages to convince him to let her go by herself (and we know where she is going, don't we?) Hercules follows her.

Soledad continues to refuse to let Hugo take the baby. Finally, Boris restrains her and Hugo takes the baby. At this point, Ester comes into the room. Soledad is beside herself. Hugo orders Hugo to lock them in. Soledad blames herself for not noticing Aurora's symptoms earlier and sending for a doctor. Why did she go to the mine? Ester tells her not to feel guilty - babies are delicate.

In the basement, Hugo puts the baby into the hyperbaric chamber. Boris is nervous. This chamber doesn't have a pediatric dosage. Hugo tells him they have no alternative. This is the only thing they have to help the baby. Hugo does calculations and Boris fiddles with the machine. They stabilize the temperature. Hugo says that this has to work.

At the tavern, Paquito tells Rebeca that he has found out that Ester did not inherit her house from her family. Jeremias bought it for her. They cogitate and figure out that the initials on the medallion stand for Soledad de Montenegro and that Soledad is Jeremias' daughter. Rebeca tells Paquito that now they have a problem - Soledad stands to inherit half of Jeremias' fortune.

At the Hacienda, Dr. Max, Elena and Ursula are refused entry by Marina who is acting on her orders. Dr. Max is frustrated and produces a g*n. Ursula and Marina are surprised when Elena refers to Dr. Max as 'mi amor' . Dr. Max tells Marina et al that Aurora has catalepsy and only he can help her. Marina says that she has orders not to let them in.

In the basement, Boris is concerned that the baby is not responding. Hugo is calm. He says that catalepsy attacks can be short or long. Boris says if only they could have found the flower. Hugo, looking at the baby, says, "So little and fragile. She already suffers the curse that has burdened our family. The only one who can help find a cure is the son of Dr. Chirac - and we can't find him!" Boris is sure that he will be found and will find a cure. At this point, there is a problem with the machine. The pressure starts to lower. Hugo goes to check the boiler and in comes Dr. Max, Marina, Elena and Ursula. Dr. Max is surprised to see the chamber and Ursula asks what it is.

Antonia's b*tching at Lucas drives him right out of the house and to Rebeca's dressing room at the tavern. He is drunk. Rebeca asks him if has ever thought that Ester was unfaithful to him? Lucas is impactado.

Dr. Max asks Boris where he got the chamber. Boris says that he kept it a souvenir of his former master, Hugo. (Kind of a big souvenir but it came in handy ;-) ). Ursula asks what the chamber is for. Marina says it is boss stuff - none of your business. Boris says he has nothing to hide. The machine is used to treat people with catalepsy, a disease that runs in Hugo's family. Unfortunately, Aurora has inherited it. Dr. Max says that he has to take Aurora to his lab for treatment. Boris says no way. At this point, who should walk in but Eloisa, 'What's going on?' she says.

Boris and Dr. Max get in a struggle and a g*n goes off. Dr. Max falls to the ground.

In her room, Soledad hears the shot and goes completely crazy with fear for Aurora. She decides to jump out the window.

Boris reports that Dr. Max is ok. It was only a graze. Ursula pulls the sobbing Elena off of Dr. Max. 'I didn't know you were interested in this crazy doctor,' says Ursula, confused.

Hugo announces that the treatment is working. Aurora has moved her finger. He asks Boris to take Dr. Max home. Hugo gives Ursula the key to Soledad's room and asks her to let Soledad out and tell the baby will be ok.

Ursula comes into Soledad's room. Ester asks what the shots were. Ursula says that they were nothing. Where is Soledad? Ester says that she went out the window. Ursula looks outside and Soledad is hanging from a ledge by her fingernails. The credits roll.

Tomorrow: Eloisa is left alone with Aurora. She fiddles with the machine. She says to the baby, 'if you don't exist, there is nothing to unite Alcides and Soledad. '

Labels: la traicion

Episode 88:

When we last left our heroes, Inés and Ofi discuss Santi’s new Godson. Inés wants details and mom says Santi didn’t tell her much, other than it was a request from Jorge. Talk turns to how every time Ofi thinks of Santi hanging with Jorge she gets a knot in her stomach. They discuss Santi’s wish to marry Cami. Inés knows that Cami still loves Ric, but Ofi comments that he hasn’t shown, and Santi loves her. There’s also the little matter of GRita’s last wish. Inés decides not to comment on what she knows and talk turns to talk about married life with Vasco. Inés mentions that he’s all grown up and finally loves her. She wants to give him a baby, a girl to complete the set with Paco. Ofi says: “As long as it’s strong and healthy.” They now muse how sad it must have been for Cami to have hers die.

Fran berates Lis who claims she used Salamanca ‘cause it’s her last name. Fran says “yeah right, you also wanted to name him Ricardo.” Lis admits it was over Ric and wonders if Santi can intervene for her. Fran reminds her that it’s Al’s house, so she better find somewhere to stash lil’ Pedro. Lis says she’ll think of something.

Back at Puerto Paraíso, Ric, Mario, and Pablo hit the local pub. The innkeeper is terrified and bows as they order food and rum. Ric has no appetite. It’s not just the fighting and Cami’s leaving, it’s the death of his son. He tells them about Santi moving Cami and how it triggered early labor. Mario says in solidarity that he’ll kill Santi the next time he sees him.

On with the new: Over on the merchant ship, Sofi tells Cami she’s been afraid to sleep and when she does, she has nightmares after all the cruelty and barbarities of the day before. She asks Cami what’s Ric’s take and she tells Sofi that Ric wants to retire ‘cause he’s sick of it all. Sofi asks Cami if she still loves him. She says yes and Sofi mentions that it’s obvious Ric adores her. Whoresula takes a walk and spies a military chap drinking wine. Since Foreman’s not around, Ursu goes and visits. He says he’s Captain Enrique Cordoba Leon. He says he’s off to the San Benito barracks, near Veracruz. Ursu wants to know why he’s not on a military boat, and he explains there wasn’t one to put at his disposal. Ursu mentions that Veracruz isn’t too far from SF. He gives her every pick up line and finishes by handing her a seashell to “hear the ocean.” Sofi watches from the deck above and tells Cami that Ursula is always looking for a little “something something.” She got it from her dad.

Back at the not-so-Paraíso-like port, Ric goes back to the castle to see Foreman. On the way, we see a couple of soldiers being tormented by the pirates. Foreman decides to split up the loot right there and tells Ric they got much money from the treasures and ransoms. He asks Ric about his plans and he talks about retiring. Foreman asks Ric if he plans to get Gaspar to help him get a pardon. He muses that the Spanish crown won’t give something for nothing and asks Ric if he’s going to turn around and hunt them like pigs ‘cause he’d hate to see Ric on the opposite team. Ric tells him that he’d rather not fight on either side and that he has no plans to hurt Foreman ‘cause for better or worse, they’ve been his comrades. He asks if Foreman’s continuing and he replies he’s retiring as well, to a plantation he bought in New Orleans. Ric sees this as an opportunity to ask for one last favor. He wants the ledgers Foreman kept from the loot he bought from Al and Jorge. Foreman asks what for and Ric says: “You don’t need them anymore, but they could give me my liberty.” They shake on it. We all cheer at the thought of Ric getting his good name back!

In the brig of the merchant ship, Henry (Enrique) brags to Ursu that he’s going to be the commandant of the San Benito Barracks. They’re part fort, part prison. Ursu actually looks concerned about the treatment of the prisoners and asks if he flogs them. He says “when necessary.” False alarm, Ursu wasn’t worried, she was turned on. She tells him that she likes men with power and they kiss. Methinks her romance with Foreman might be in a little jeopardy.

Back at the Paraíso pub, team Ric discusses how there’s a Spanish fleet coming, so they have to leave soon through the same route they came. They got a very nice share of the booty. As Pablo makes out with a local wench, Mario comments that they’ll have to be careful ‘cause the local critters can be deadlier than the Spaniards. Alas, there’s no choice, as Foreman wants the captains to re-convene in the Coralina. Mario thinks it’s silly, but there’s some dispute with the Dutch over ransoms and there’s lots of red tape with the brotherhood. Mario will take the loot on the Salamandra back to the Iguana. Ric and Pablo will take the Camila to Foreman’s Kaffeklatch and pick up LP and the foundling. The armada will probably be chasing them, so splitting up is probably better anyway. Mario doesn’t like leaving Ric alone (What’s Pablo? Chopped Liver?), but Ric says they’ve done it before. He now confides that Cami heard the baby cry before she passed out. When she finally woke up two weeks later, they told her he died. Pablo immediately assumes they lied and Mario comments that if they hid her to hide the pregnancy, they very well could have given the baby away and told her it died. Pablo suggests they investigate. Ric says he didn’t say this to Cami so she wouldn’t get her hopes up.

Over at Chez Boufy, Lis goes to try to talk Al out of evicting her Godson. Al says no dice and Lis comes closer saying “please.” Her hand touches the gun and she asks what that’s all about. He ignores her and walks out of the room. A servant tells Al that Uriel and Mateo are waiting for him. Lis makes one final attempt and Al tells her that tomorrow, the maid and the kid will be gone. Lis is left very confused. Team Boufy rides off to meet with the rest of their posse. Looking from the window, Fran tells Lis that they look like a bunch of “facinerosos” (criminals) on their way to something. Lis wonders where, and at this hour?

Nothing good apparently! Team Boufy gets their hindies beaten as the troops are numerous and both Uriel and Mateo are wounded. Al fights pretty well for a guy with low depth perception. He runs into Uriel who asks for help. Al helps him by stabbing him in the chest. With friends like that...A soldier runs an axe through the back of Al’s leg and he drops to the floor screaming to his posse to turn back ‘cause it’s an ambush. Some of his men carry him off. And so the payback begins...

Post battle scene. There’s a new sheriff, I mean commanding officer, in town. He instructs his men to pick up their own. As for the others, take the living prisoner and bury the dead. Keep those in nice clothes separate. Looks like this one may actually have a clue...

Al gets home and a servant is sent to fetch the doctor while Al insults the rest as they get him inside. From their rooms, Fran and Mani poke their heads out and Al yells at them to get back inside. In their room, Lis asks Fran if Al’s wound is life threatening. Fran has no clue, and wonders how a man with a full escort keeps getting attacked by bandits. Lis says he must be up to something bad, like robbery or murder. Fran hopes not, but Lis hopes yes! She smiles musing he might not survive this one. The doc examines Al and explains that the cut hit a nerve and the tourniquet was too tight, cutting off all circulation. His only chance of survival is to amputate the leg, lest he develop gangrene. Can you spell irony? Al doesn’t want to lose another body part. Mani pleads that he do as the doctor says, but Al tells the doctor to do anything to keep the leg, or he’ll kill him. Doctor looks worried. Cloti fills in Fran and Lis on the happenings. We hear Al’s screams from his room and Lis placidly wonders if he’s dead.

Over at Chez Santi, Justo comments to Ofi how they haven’t chatted in a while, and so much has happened. Rita’s sudden death, Santi’s change, and Cami’s tragedy. He feels responsible and that he should have endured the shame and allowed her to stay so Ofi could have taken care of her and the child could have lived. Ofi says it must have been the will of God and Justo says he’s heard it before and tried to convince himself of it. But even though Cami forgave him, every time he looks at her he sees the pain and the reproach in her eyes. Ofi reminds him that Cami’s young and healthy and can have more children. He asks if Santi’s still set on trying to marry her. Ofi says yes, but doubts she’ll take him. Justo agrees, and Ofi feels sad because she knows her son will be miserable for the rest of his life.

Mani tells her Nana that Boufy will only become more violent with this new injury. She wants to talk to Ascanio and convince him to run away with her. Nana warns her that Boufy will just send the guards after them and Ascanio and possibly she will end up dead. She also comments that people will say that she abandoned her dad when he needed her most. Mani says she can’t live afraid anymore. She’s tired of getting beaten and wants to be loved and start a family and have kids. Nana makes her promise that she’ll wait to talk to Ascanio until Sofi’s back and sees what she can do for them.

Over in San Benito (SB), the HMG (Head Military Guy) talks to his men about how Uriel and Mateo are dressed like rich men. He asks what the nearest towns are and a soldier tells him SF, Ciudad Valle, and Salvatierra. Since he’s new to the region, HMG wants info on the mayors, regents, and military chiefs in those towns. The soldier tells him he’ll send some men to get that info and to find out where the dead and wounded come from.

Outside his palace, Jorge tells Santi he’s glad he wants to plan for the future, but not to get too impatient. Marcelino runs up to Jorge and tells him about Boufy’s predicament. Santi offers to come, but Jorge wants to go alone. Ascanio comes over and Santi asks if he’s heard. Ascanio says “yes, and they assaulted another caravan last night and many were killed or wounded.” Santi asks if he thinks that’s how Al got injured.

Back at Chez Boufy, Fran tells Jorge that Al’s asleep ‘cause the doctor gave him laudanum for the pain. Jorge wants details and Mani says they know nothing. Lis wants to throw some salt on the wounds and tells Jorge that Al left with Uriel, Mateo, and some other men. Jorge asks about Uriel and Mateo and Mani says they’re not the ones that brought him and they haven’t heard about them. Lis mentions that Al was packing. Jorge tells them to say nothing lest the people gossip about them doing something improper. Lis feigns innocence asking why and Jorge says to trust him. Lis wonders out loud (for Lis and Fran’s benefit) what Jorge could have meant by “improper.”

Over at City Hall, Ascanio shows Santi the fake documents. The seals look right enough, but the calligraphy is different. Santi says they could have been different staff people and Ascanio points out it’s all Marcelino’s handwriting. Santi asks if it’s for contraband and Ascanio says “what else?” He then tells him how Ric was looking into who was attacking the caravans and knew about the contraband and even asked Ascanio for help. Santi thinks it’s BS that Ric used to get Cami to trust him and that he was probably in on it. Ascanio says think what you want, but here’s the paperwork. Santi says this could implicate Jorge and Ascanio reminds him that he warned Santi he might not like what Ascanio found.

Jorge stomps through town murmuring what an idiot Al was. He looks for Uriel at the store and asks an employee to look for Uriel and Mateo. At the palace, Santi confronts Jorge about the doctored docs. Jorge says he suspected something was up and says everyone steals. He’s saved by a messenger telling him that Domingo, from the store, is here. Santi’s annoyed at the interruption, but shuts up when the Domingo tells Jorge that he looked for the guys everywhere, even the brothel. Santi wants an explanation and Jorge covers himself saying it was probably the other three. Santi asks if he knew and he swears he didn’t. Santi asks if Ric was their contact and Jorge says maybe. Santi likes the possibility of finding some mud to throw at Ric.

The traveling ladies are back on dry land and take a break on the road. Romualdo has materialized by their side. Sofi comments to Cami that she looks much better now. Cami smiles at finding Ric in the middle of the mess. Sofi says she’s glad Cami didn’t take off on her own and asks Cami if Ric’s really quitting. Cami tells her that he’d wanted to quit for a while, but he had to make a deal with Foreman and that piracy was a brotherhood where you were expected to keep your promises. Cami asks Sofi not to tell anyone they saw Ric. Sofi comments she must be dreaming of angels if she thinks they’ll be able to get Ursu to keep her mouth shut. Ursu runs up at this point and asks Cami if she’s sure Ric will come back for her. Cami’s positive he will. If Cami’s smart, she’ll get Ursu to stay quiet about Ric, lest Foreman comes with him for Ursu... Romualdo can probably be persuaded on the whole issue of Ric and Mario saving his life.

At the palace, Jorge wants Santi to cool his jets until they give Al and co. a chance to defend themselves. Ditto for Marcelino. Santi thinks Jorge wants to do nothing and Jorge tries to argue this sort of scandal could bring down the regency deal. Santi wants justice and insists the guilty must be accused and punished. Jorge reminds him that he’s still in charge and things will happen when he’s good and ready. He tells Santi to wait ‘till he’s spoken with Al and Marcelino and to get Ascanio to do the same. Santi looks unhappy.

Jorge confronts Marcelino about letting Ascanio find the forgeries. He should have at least disguised the calligraphy. He tells him to find all the fake docs and destroy them.

Back at SB, Henry arrives and tells the guard that he’s the new guy in charge. The soldier tells him that Colonel Jose María de Valencia is in charge. Henry hands him his credentials and tells him he was sent from Spain to take over.

Marcelino goes to Ascanio’s office and asks for the docs he’s been looking at ‘cause there were some mistakes and he needs to send them to Veracruz. Ascanio hands him a stack, but he keeps another stack, which he hides in his vest. Marcelino leaves and Santi walks in asking Ascanio not to tell anyone about the docs. Ascanio asks why, and Santi says please, don’t say anything for now.

The Colonel tells Henry that his papers are in order, but they’re from two months ago, and he was just transferred from México City to take charge. Henry tries a pissing contest by telling him his dad’s a general and his uncle’s a judge and his orders come from Madrid. Colonel tells him his orders are different and anyway he outranks him, regardless of lineage. That puts him in his place. Colonel instructs the lieutenant to assign Henry a bunk and tells him his duties will be the usual: inspecting a troop and patrolling. He dismisses Henry, then tells the remaining soldier he’s sick of guys from the peninsula (I’m guessing the Iberian one – Spain and Portugal) trying to use their family influence to get their way thinking they’re better than “us” (I’m guessing Mexican-born soldiers). Soldier tells him he seems to have gotten the message. Anyway, they found some locals that can identify the dead guys.

Lis plays with Pedrito and tells him they’ll run away at the first chance they get to Italy or France. She can’t appreciate the sites, but he can. She wants him to grow up with nicer, more refined people. Fran busts the party telling her it’s imprudent to have him there still. Lis says it’s no big deal ‘cause Al’s unconscious. Even if he wakes, they can hear him screaming ‘cause he can’t get out of bed on his own. She feels his death would solve all their problems. Fortunata arrives to check on Al. She comments how Pedrito looks like and angel and Lis says he IS an angel. Fortu comments how devastating the eye and leg thing must be for Al and how upsetting it is that people can’t go anywhere without fear of being assaulted.

Ric spies two Spanish boats coming their way. Pablo suggests running, but Ric says it won’t work ‘cause they’ve got the wind in their favor. He instructs the guys to ready the canons and prepare for battle. They are hit and Ric sends Pablo to check on the gunpowder. Pablo tells him the fire’s reached the gunpowder; they’ll sink or crash. Ric tells them to abandon ship. Pablo and some others try to stay, but Ric orders them to leave. If we didn’t still have a week to go, I’d venture to guess our hero’s a goner. I can see an image of him landing on an island, wet and shirtless, lying down in exhaustion...where was I? Oh yeah, end of episode. What a cliffhanger!!!!

On deck for tomorrow:

The Colonel’s at Jorge’s office. Jorge makes up a story of Uriel and Mateo probably looking for some women and getting caught in the middle of the battle. He asks to get Uriel’s body for his family and Mateo so he can get medical attention. Colonel says they’ll release Uriel’s body, but Mateo’s staying put. He can send the doctor over if he wants. Santi looks on as Jorge tries to get out of this one.

Labels: Pasion

Juan tells Lau he got her wine, she says it’s a great vintage. Juan remarks she’s just the beauty he needs to get Pau out of his system.

At lunch Pau tells Marely that she overheard Juan talking to a woman, but she doesn’t know who the Fulana was. She’s clearly turning Green.

On the hill Juan runs into Flor she wonders what he’s doing there and if this is his Dad. He says no, my teach, and he didn’t have time before, so he wanted to thank her for her help. He says she lives nearby with her Mom and Teach asks if she goes to school, she asks what for?

Heri is complaining to Gaytan about Juan keeping him at a distance. Gaytan gives him a grammar lesson much like “fewer” eggs in a basket versus less eggs in a basket. Anyway, Heri says he thinks he’ll show Juan. Gaytan thinks that’s a bad decision, he should hang tight because of the changes the owners are going through, and that good things could come for him.

Ana and Willy are chatting at lunch. He tells a little about himself, he was widowed young, and never had kids and buried himself in his work. She wonders if he ever wanted kids and he says maybe but he’s enjoyed his life especially times like this. She gets nervous. He wants to hear about her and she tells that there’s not much to tell, and her life is boring. He says after Sam there must have been someone, she says no.

Back on the hill Teach continues to sing the virtues of education and how Flor will get a good job and help her Mom. Flor is not swayed she helps her Mom already by cleaning the house, cooking, earning coins taking out trash, and selling gum on the street, etc. She tells him to stop his lecture and leave her be. He offers her some money and she is too proud to take his handout and runs off. Juanito is a bit shocked too.

Perafan is explaining to Gutis that the tunnel caper isn’t moving along, and escape this way isn’t going to work, that by the time he’s done digging, Gutis will have served out his time, and anyway his personal life needs his attention right now. Gutis tells Perafan not to leave him alone. Perafan either helps him or else he goes down with him, and he’ll tell the judge what they both did to change the Cachon will. Perafan says he’s not really in a position to play the last of his chips.

Ana continues she worked so young, she had no time for boyfriends. She was shy, and she fell in love with Sam and didn’t think about what she was doing; him having his own family and all, and then Pau came along, and he was the victim of his women, not wanting to leave his house with his kids, etc. Blah blah blah. He asks about her future, specifically love. She spills coffee due to nerves.

Pau and Marely are still chatting. The conversation turns to Juan buying the house and Pau refuses to back down, that she’s not going to sell it to him because Nid and Per have to pay for what they did.Mar has no choice but to be understanding.
Nid moans dramatically to Kike about leaving the house and the good times. Kike says it’s not the end of the world. He’s optimistic he’ll find a place. Nid thanks him profusely for all his help.

Frick and Frack are still discussing a break out plan. Gutis reminds him he’ll rat out Per if he doesn’t help.

Ivonne chides Fernando for his potential ascension in the company and he tells her to shush because it’s not a done deal, and both Juan and Pau have to give their vote. She’s not sure he actually should think he has a chance. He says either way, he’s privileged to even have been considered, and oh, she’ll always be a secretary.

Back at lunch, Mar puts in good words for Fer and asks why Pau doesn’t like him. She says she needs someone with more experience etc. Mar says he speaks English. Pau says she’s not against Fer, but she needs to do what’s best for this business. Mar drops her push, and Pau wants to hurry back. Mar thinks it’s because she wants to check up on whether Juan has returned.

At the apartment, Juan is enjoying his wine, remarking how hungry he is and she tells him but now the best part, she prepared the best Lobster in Mexico for him. He proclaims Chinches Bravas, and wonders how he is supposed to manage eating such an ugly creature. He doesn’t know what to do with this bicho (oddity) use his hands or implements or what? They sit down to eat and he starts to tell her the truth, but then decides a lie will work and that he’s allergic to these things. She of course feels bad she never asked, she could have murdered him by anaphylactic reaction. He doesn’t know what that is. She offers that they go out, but he says there is plenty for him, lettuce, spinach, olives, (nowhere near anything filling for a man of his stature I’m sure.)

Juanito begs the Teach for the favor of helping Flor to get in school. Teach agrees.

Laura is making her moves, and is shocked at Juan’s timidness. He keeps sliding away from her and she slides closer. They chat about work as she keeps jumping down his throat. Any closer and she’d be coming out the other side. She mentions oh by the way I studied finance and have experience and would be a perfect Vice President for Farell. Juan is not sure about that, he wonders about her art. She lays it on thick. I seriously see her head poking out from his back. Anyway, she begins to tell him she can give him classes and begins to massage him. He wonders what this chick has in mind, if he’ll end up posing for her like he did for Ana.

Back at the office Pau is wondering what is taking Juan so long. She doesn’t wait around, she goes to get the scoop from Fer.

The Pomposos are disagreeing again, she wanting him to stay, him saying he has to go.

Pau is chatting with Fer, telling him not to take this personally, he's a good employee and a great friend who takes the opportunity to request that she consider his resume. Just then Ivonne interrupts and tells Fer she has to go. Pau yells at her for interrupting. Ivonne snaps back she was talking to Fer, who asks her please to stop, and Pau reminds her that she’s the boss so Ivonne better listen, Ivonne only takes orders from Juan.

Speaking of Juan, he has his hands in deep now. Deep in clay, turns out Laura’s giving class on pottery making. She tells him he's not fighting with the clay, instead making love to it. She continues to tell him to relax and pretend he’s caressing a mujer, if he treats the clay well it will do everything he asks of it. She kisses him all over and he’s enjoying this but nervously so. There are many carays. He wonders if they are going to keep working with the clay or if there is another plan. He has to go to the bathroom.

Ivonne tells Pau she’s posing. Pau’s finally had enough and fires Ivonne. She says, you aren’t firing me, I quit. Mar and Pastor speculate about what is happening, Mar has her number though, surely Ivonne became insolent like she's used to and finally Pau put her in her place. Pastor thinks she's confusing personal issues with labor issues and she should erase that opinion (tache). She says the only reason she gave an opinion is because he asked her in the first place and she's not saying anything untrue because it's about time Ivonne got what's been coming to her, so if he has a problem he should take it up directly with Pau. He thinks she's defending Pau and advises her not to be so Lambiscona (biased) and she says well she is my sister and my friend etc. Said sister and friend (Pau) comes out pouting and insinuates to Pastor that he should get back to work. He slinks away like the good spineless HR person he is.

In the bathroom Ivonne is trying not to cry while here because she doesn't want to give them the pleasure. Julia comes in and asks what's going on and Ivonne explains, and that she's going and not feeling well. Ivonne explains the same to Pastor on the way out after yelling at the gossipy lounge lizards and he wonders why she would do such a thing, that she'll never find as good a job as this one. She says she knows but she still should have done this a long time ago.

Kike is yelling at Perfan wondering if he wants to lose Nid because that's what he will do if he stays here doing nothing except molding the chair cushion into the shape of his buttcheeks. Perfan says no way, he's ready to get a job, a legitimate one at that!! Hold on to your hat folks, a stinky wind is about to blow....

This was the absolute funniest part in this episode. heri gets off the elevator to happy go lucky clownlike background music. He's carrying a rose. He looks at Ivonne's desk and can't understand why she isn't there. He then looks over at Marely's and is distressed that she isn't there either. He begins to go through hottie withdrawal, (something like DTs I believe.... :)) he makes animal grunting noises.

Julia comforts a distraught Pastor that he did all he could given the circumstances and that things were bound to end this way between Pau and Ivonne... Pastor guesses she's probably right. She says everything isn't lost, when Juan finds out, he's not going to let Ivonne be discharged. Pasotr isn't sure if he is going to fight with Pau on yet another thing.

Heriberto busts in to Pastor's office and wonders why someone could fire his beloved Ivonne!!! This is the limit!!!

At the docs office, doc is glad Ivy came in right away. She's going to get some tests.

Lau is laying it on thick to Juan about how unique his piece is, it's abstract art. Yeah, abstract I'm sure....beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, and this beholder can't see the forest for the trees. Anyway...sadly since my screen is so fuzzy, I can't really see what it looks like. But she says it's soft yet firm, fragile yet strong, etc. Contemporary art in it's purest expression. (The same said of kindergarden popsicle stick structures. Lau flatters him more that he's got great hands that were made to get to know and to feel the shapes or forms. Uh huh. She says he can go wash his hands. She wonders when he'll come back so that they can advance to the next (instruction) level.

Pau and Ana are chatting and Pau is bitterly angry that Juan never shoed up for their pending discussion becausing his meeting with the Fulana was more important. Ana thinks Pau is seeing green, and not the money kind....Maná riffs play on throughout...as Pau goes to her room to sooth her headache.

Laura wants to know if Juan will take classes with her. She want to see him tonight..he's shocked so soon. He also wants to know what's up with his Juanito. he tells her if she want he can see her tonight, she says if it were up to her, she wouldn't let him leave.

Labels: Juan

Luciana, complete with face mask (is this a theme?) threatens Damian with turning him in for Valeria's kidnapping. She wants his vote for Alejandro's presidency of Belmonte Co. Karla's the one who ratted him out to Luciana.

Braulio and Rocky/Morgan go knock on the door of the Bunker of Babes, but they don't know the "password." Looks like a secret meeting of the "everyone but Socorro and Horacio" club. After much back and forth, it turns out that the password is that there's no password. Ja. None of them know what's actually happening, so Braulio wants to leave, but Rocky/Morgan reminds him he can't handle too much more of Socorro and Horacio's behavior. Braulio asks for a proposal--1, 2, 3! Gloria's plan is to get them alone together, get the truth out of them, and then put them back together. They spit shake on it (no spit for Braulio). It should be noted that Rocky/Morgan is taking advantage of Braulio's crush and making eyes at him every chance he gets--Braulio makes eyes back.

Luciana actually has to spell it out to Damian that she wants that vote. He tries to talk his way out of it, but Luciana's got him by the…er, I don't have to say it, do I?

Valeria comes looking for Rocky/Morgan in the kitchen. He's napping lying across three bar stools. She yells to wake him up and he falls off his chairs. Valeria says she's bored and wants to go out. He suggestively suggests some things they can do and since he's doing it in front of Braulio, Valeria won't have it. She gets pissy and says she changed her mind. Rocky/Morgan gets a taste of Braulio's avocado face mask and complains that the guacamole needs salt. Hey, it is face mask night!

Luciana goes ballistic on Damian (still in her face mask). Constancio wants to know what's up and Luciana says they're setting the date of the next board (bored?) meeting for next week, ok hon? Braulio walks in and announces to Damian that Hugo is home.

Socorro hugs Karla and fusses over her for being home while Horacio watches from around a corner.

Damian greets Hugo and asks where he's been. Andrea has to tell Damian that Hugo has amnesia. Alejandro, Regina, and Mili all walk in and Hugo is delighted to see Mili. He tells her he loves her and gives her a big hug. Oh, so I see there are some things that are still forgotten. Alejandro gripes at Andrea for making up the amnesia thing, but Hugo says he still doesn't remember anything--starting with the fact that Damian's his dad. Yeah, it would be hard to remember if he never actually acted like a dad. Alejandro accuses Hugo of faking, but Regina tells him to cool it. Hugo asks who Milagros is and giddily announces to everyone that she's the chick in his painting. He asks if they're friends and Damian says they were going to get married. Hugo's like, "Cool! Then I was a happy man!" He asks if Mili's happy to see him and she says she is while Alejandro fumes.

Socorro asks Karla what happened with Andrea. Karla says she'll tell her later, but don't worry about the job, Luciana took her back. She asks if Socorro's still with Horacio (that "muerto de hambre", that loser). Socorro sadly says it's over, but she hurts. Karla tells her she's way better off without him. Selfish bitch. Oh, sorry, sometimes these things just slip out. Jealous harpy. See, there I go again.

Mili asks Hugo if he really doesn't remember anything. He asks about their engagement and whether she was kidnapped from in front of the church. Mili tries to explain, but can't get anything out. Hugo says he's sure they're going to get married even if he doesn't get his memory back, because he loves her. Couldn't he have forgotten that and remembered something else instead? Like that he hates some girl named Carmen or his locker combination from 7th grade or something?

Alejandro complains to Regina that he's the one who got Andrea to bring Hugo home and now Hugo and Mili have been locked up together. Alejandro doesn't think the amnesia thing is true. Regina has to keep talking him down. Alejandro's afraid Hugo will get Mili to agree to marry him again. Regina tells him to trust in the love Mili has for him. Um, Regina? You're a sweet lady and all, but I don't think you've been watching the show we've been watching. Regina tells him to let Mili and Hugo talk things out. Alejandro is mad as hell and he's not going to take it anymore! He's going to make sure Mili knows what Hugo is capable of.

Hugo keeps insisting on being physical with Mili. Hugging her and being close to her. I would say it's less creepy now that he doesn't remember everything, but since Amnesia!Hugo can't seem to read Milagros' social cues for "quit touching me, you freak!" it's not. Mili asks why he was at Andrea's, having to explain her nicknames since Hugo doesn't remember. He asks her to kiss him just as Alejandro storms in. Mili goes after him and breaks away from Hugo to do it. In Alejandro's room, Alejandro gets snippy and tells her to go back to her boyfriend. He says a number of other crappy things. Mili tells him to cool it and that she can't tell Hugo what's up. She has to remind Alejandro she likes him and also, she wasn't kissing Hugo, idiot! Alejandro won't drop it and Mili tells him to go to hell. So, everything's back to normal.

Damian and Constancio discuss Hugo's memory loss in Constancio's office the next morning. Constancio's insult is that since Hugo doesn't remember anything he won't be complaining that Damian killed his mommy and his fiancée. Creep. Damian gives Constancio some campaign money. Constancio asks how much Damian skimmed off the top. Damian swears he didn't, he's waiting to skim after Constancio's gotten elected. He claims the businessmen who gave them the money did it all because of the Belmonte name, no deals involved. Constancio threatens him with needing his vote at the next board meeting. Damian says he'll vote for Constancio. And we all believe him, right?

Lina, Gloria, and Rocky/Morgan talk about the fate of a long-stemmed red rose. The girls send Rocky/Morgan off to sneak it in to Socorro. She's sitting in the kitchen and Rocky/Morgan scratches her leg with the rose and then sneaks around to leave it on top of the counter. Socorro assumes it's from Horacio and goes off to find him and yell at him.

Rocky/Morgan and Gloria spy on Socorro and Horacio in the garden. She yells at him and slaps him across the face as Rocky/Morgan and Gloria narrate.

Damian shows Constancio his campaign headquarters, wallpapered outside with that nasty poster from before. Constancio starts talking to some guy walking by. Random guy tells Constancio he's one more thief. Damian and Constancio, of course, question random guy's judgment.

Rocky/Morgan tries to talk to Horacio, who won't talk to him. Rocky/Morgan asks if they can share their pain. He asks Horacio to please tell him what's up. Horacio asks for another hanky and Rocky/Morgan obliges. Grossness follows. "Mocos" means mucus.

Milagros and Padre Manuel discuss the return of Hugo. PM came by to ask Milagros to ask Gloria to come by the convent. Mili gets nosy about why. PM tells her he wants Gloria go because "the mother" wants to meet her. Mili laughs, thinking he means the mother superior. PM has to break it to her that he means the actual, biological, flesh-and-blood, she-who-gave-birth-to-Gloria mother. Mili is impactada!

Damian and Bobby check out the inside of campaign headquarters. Bobby takes notes about what construction and plumbing stuff needs to be done. Bobby asks why there's a false wall there, but Damian warns him off that there is no false wall, get it? Bobby plays along.

Socorro cries about Horacio and tells Lina that it's because Horacio said he wanted her, then he left. Rocky/Morgan listens in on the conversation. Socorro mentions that Karla got mad when she found about her and Horacio. Rocky/Morgan comes in and exclaims he put it all together! Karla must have threatened Horacio. Socorro looks shocked, but in that "oh, crap, she did, didn't she?" way. Socorro is now happy that Horacio didn't turn out to be a scummy man like all the rest.

Gloria asks Mili about her talk with Padre Manuel. Mili lies and says nothing, but that PM mentioned he misses Gloria and suggests that Gloria should go over to the convent and say hi to everyone. Mili gets out of going by saying that Regina won't give her the time off. Mili tries to feel out Gloria on the subject of what she'd do if she every saw her mom again. Gloria insists it's not possible since she's an orphan. Mili insists, and Gloria says if she saw her mother, she'd hate her.

Gloria's mom gets all nervous about Gloria coming over. Padre Manuel reassures her that Gloria probably doesn't hate her, but she should be prepared.

Rocky and Lina coordinate Socorro's next assault on the garden. Using walkie-talkies they confirm that "The poisonous snake is not in the garden, over." Socorro tells Horacio he's an idiot. Horacio flirts. Socorro asks why he didn't tell her about Karla. He doesn’t answer, but she can tell it's true. She hugs him, but won't kiss him. She says things should continue and they should be "a little more than friends." She gives him a little kiss and he tries to negotiate for a bigger one. Score! Horacio's happy again. He can now stop making all the topiary animals in the garden look depressed.

Luciana, after explaining to Hugo that she's his aunt, tells him to take advantage of his amnesia and forget about marrying "that servant." She goes to "work" and wishes him a good day. Damian comes in and Hugo asks why Alejandro's mad at him, was there something going on between him and Mili? Damian says it's just cousinly jealousy.

Gloria comes to visit Padre Manuel at the convent. He brings in Gloria's Mom and introduces her as "Yolanda."

Alejandro comes downstairs and tells Hugo he's going to tell him the whole truth about marrying Milagros. Alejandro says Mili doesn't love Hugo, that she was going to marry him because he deceived her into it. Mili breaks in screaming that he has no right to do this and Alejandro says he has "this right" and kisses her. Alejandro gets smacked by Hugo, then Mili smacks Hugo, then Alejandro brings in the big guns, aka, the tape recorder. Hugo hits play and hears his conversation with Andrea. He looks just as shocked as Milagros does, with her one big glycerin tear running down her cheek. Hugo says it's not possibly, although he admits it's his voice. He says he can't remember anything and Alejandro scoffs at this. Hugo asks to speak to Mili alone. Alejandro grabs the tape player back from Hugo before he leaves. Mili says she no longer even believes in his amnesia. Hugo says he doesn't know what kind of person he is, though he agrees that what he heard on the tape was vile. He says he doesn't remember anything and all he knows is that what he feels is love for her. Mili tells him she was never in love with him and he knew it, but she did have affection for him…not anymore! She'll never marry him, so he'd better forget her. She tells him she doesn't want to see him again. I think I'll feel sorry for Hugo, but just until he remembers he really did have it coming.

Padre Manuel stalls on telling Gloria that Yolanda's her mom. Gloria's not interested in this stranger…she needs to get to whatever Sor Cachete's cooking. Yolanda is thrilled with Gloria. PM says this isn't going to be easy.

Horacio reads love poetry to Socorro as she sets the table. Rocky/Morgan comes in with his walkie-talkie to announce that the enemy is approaching and they need to disengage. Lina comes running in a minute after, saying the same thing. Horacio hides under the table as the other three do a terribly job of looking casual. Karla comes in and gets suspicious. Rocky/Morgan claims they were rehearsing for the church choir and Socorro and Lina screech for all they're worth to drive Karla away.

Alejandro goes to check on Mili. She's sad about telling Hugo off, it seems like, but she doesn't want Alejandro's comfort. She asks how long he'd had the recording. She's suspicious of the tape (a) coming from Andrea and (b) him not showing it to her earlier. He reminds her about the cabin and kisses her as Hugo looks on from the balcony and Pilar comes in the front door. Pilar coughs to get them to separate. She tells Alejandro she's not there to look for him--she wants nothing to do with him. Pilar heads upstairs. Mili says she feels bad for Pilar. Oh, quit that! It won't lead to anything good.

Pilar visits Hugo in his room. She tells him she's sorry about the Milagros thing. Hugo thanks her, but tells her he doesn't remember her. He tells her he doesn't remember anything and it's driving him nuts. Pilar says it's ironic--he's trying to remember things and she's trying to forget. Pilar says they should keep each other company and tells him they've known each other for years, but she was out of the country for a lot of it. Hugo asks if she has a car and asks for a favor.

Sor Cachete and Gloria chow down in the kitchen. Padre Manuel asks her to go to the library because Yolanda is waiting for her. Gloria's weirded out, but PM won't tell her what it's about. Gloria goes to the library. PM tells SC that Yolanda is Gloria's mom.

Gloria comes into the library. Yolanda tells her she can call her "Yolanda…for now." She stalls over what she wants to say to Gloria, but Gloria wants to go back to her food. Finally Yolanda tells her "I'm…I'm…."

Hugo comes to talk to Andrea. Andrea makes excuses about the Karla thing. She tells Hugo it was revenge for Hugo betraying her. All's fair in love and fake babies. Hugo asks about the recording. From her tone, he says he sounds like a monster. Andrea tells him to sit down and she'll tell him the whole truth. The hamster on the wheel in her head starts running as Andrea thinks about how she can use this to her advantage. *sigh*

Yolanda tells Padre Manuel she couldn't tell Gloria. She's convinced Gloria hates her and she doesn't think she can ever tell her. Yolanda blah-blah-blah's about how she didn't have the money to support a kid. Yeah, ok, sad, but I wouldn't call leaving her at an orphanage the "only" option. PM doesn't think so either and says he won't approve of her decision, although he doesn't blame her. PM tells her she's the one blaming herself and maybe she needs to think about forgiving herself.

Between my DVR and the computer, things were getting cut off, so the next thing I know, Alejandro and Mili are walking outside Casa Belmonte and Alejandro's declaiming loudly about his luuuuurve for Mili. They kiss and then we cut to tomorrow's avances.

Tomorrow: Luciana tells Constancio that he's got to get Mili out of the house if he wants to stay president of Belmonte Co. Puh-leez, he's so kicking her out.

Labels: guapos