Ray Dominguez; Penny Century [Beatriz Garcia]; Maggie [Margarita Luisa Chascarrillo]
Synopsis
Ray has moved to a new town (Hollywood?) where he doesn't know anyone and doesn't fit in. He soliloquizes about the past, his sporadic sexual encounters with Penny Century and how he had fallen for her, plus his failed relationships with Danita Lincoln and Margarita Chascarrillo.
Norma (Negra's mom) catches Negra roaming the streets with her girlfriends, and takes her back home in a temper. Norma then talks things over with Maggie.
Maggie [Margarita Luisa Chascarrillo]; Hopey [Esperanza Leticia Glass]; Penny Century
Synopsis
Driving back alone from Penny's place, Maggie follows Penny's advice to take the "Horror Highway" 696. She freaks herself out thinking about all the things that could possibly go wrong, and ends up breaking down in the middle of nowhere.
Negra and Norma are lounging by the pool when Norma's sometime boyfriend Bolani lets himself in. Negra goes to her room to dress a cut and later spies Norma and the creepy Bolani making love. It's implied Bolani has improper thoughts towards Negra.
Isabel is supposed to give a reading from her new book, but can't leave her house because she has grown so big. She ends up giving the reading at home, and outs Hopey as the starter of the Ray's Liquor Store blaze.
Big sister Chabela tasks kid sister Isabel with babysitting toddler Maggie. At first Isabel takes out her frustrations on Maggie, but later, after some child-like introspection, feels bad about doing that, and a bond starts to develop between the two castaways.
Negra; Norma Costigan; Hopey [Esperanza Leticia Glass]; Bolani; Guy Goforth
Synopsis
Hopey is making heavy work of bartending at Norma's party and gets the sack. The party turns sour after Bolani strips and urinates in the pool. Negra flees. Hopey has to call around all her friends to get a lift home, and as a last resort has to ask Goforth.
Penny is hiding out at Isabel's, where they reminisce before going out to buy groceries. On the television news they hear that Penny's husband H.R. Costigan has slipped into a coma.
A visit to a strip-club leaves Ray in a melancholic mood. He goes for a drive and encounters Negra and her friend, who have broken down. He gives them a lift, which does nothing to improve his mood. He winds up in Denny's All Night, where he sees Hopey and Goforth, and spends the rest of the night thinking about the past.
Hopey is working as a volunteer clerk in a polling station. Maggie shows up and they hash out why Hopey is mad at her - Maggie did not show up at Costigan's funeral. Nor did anyone else, leaving Hopey on her own. After Maggie leaves we hear some of Costigan's history from the other election workers.
In the wake of Costigan's death, Norma takes Negra away on holiday and they grow closer. But Negra stands to inherit Costigan's fortune, and behind the scenes forces are building up against Norma.
Maggie meets Hopey and Guy at the polling station and they all go for some food, after which Hopey and Maggie argue. After the polls are over Hopey hears on TV that Norma has been arrested and charged with kidnapping Negra. Next day Hopey hears Maggie is planning to divorce, and they both make up.