Sal and Gabi Break the Universe

Gabi and Bonita depart, and the remaining workers soon follow suit. Left with the aftermath of the living room’s transformation, Sal and Papi decide to soften the blow for American Stepmom. They fetch her from work and treat her to dinner at her favorite restaurant. While Papi and American Stepmom engage in a spirited argument, Sal intervenes, urging them not to escalate into a full-blown fight.

At 1:00 am, Sal investigates the machine, discovering a staggering 679 calamitrons within the house. Scouring the first floor, he locates the calamitrons, each resembling shadowy figures reminiscent of Mami Muerta. Sal attempts to purge the house of calamitrons, but American Stepmom stops him, arguing that it’s Papi’s responsibility to operate the machine. They agree, and the two share a moment over hot cocoa.

Reflecting on his introduction to American Stepmom, known as Lucy, Sal reminisces about their initial connection. Lucy, the vice principal at his elementary school, captivated Sal’s admiration. By always staying in trouble, Sal fostered a relationship between Papi and Lucy. Eventually, Lucy expressed her love for Sal and Papi, proposing to join the family not as a replacement mami but as Sal’s American Stepmom.

Lucy offers Sal a pep talk, emphasizing the importance of relying on others. Even adults sometimes need help. Open to the conversation, Sal asks how they can support Iggy.

Lucy asks who Iggy is, prompting Sal to explain the past two days. Lucy, with her keen insight, poses some probing questions about Gabi, but Sal deflects them. Eventually, Lucy suggests that Sal reach out to Gabi, extending a friendly offer of assistance. Following Lucy’s advice, Sal texts Gabi, sparking an immediate response of 64 subsequent messages. In these texts, Gabi reveals Iggy’s critical condition and her family’s emotional state.

Lucy offers to drive Sal to the hospital, but Gabi indicates that what she needs more is for Sal to obtain copies of specific students’ notes at school. Gabi meticulously lists the students and their respective classes. She also provides the best approach to ensure their cooperation.

In the predawn darkness, Sal embarks on a mission to seal the rift in Yasmany’s locker. Accompanied by the grumbling entropy sweeper and adorned with a light-up reflective hat to outsmart security cameras, Sal gains entry to the school, finding it unlocked. Navigating to the administrative office, he places a call to Mr. Milagros, mimicking Principal Torres. By tasking Mr. Milagros with a fictitious bathroom-cleaning duty, Sal ensures the janitor will stay occupied.

After a colorful argument with the entropy sweeper, which dislikes staying quiet, Sal discovers 37 calamitrons in Yasmany’s locker. Sal wishes for the calamitrons to disappear. To his astonishment, one vanishes. The entropy sweeper states that Sal inhaled the calamitron. As Sal contemplates the potential implications for his health, the alarm interrupts, signaling 30 minutes until homeroom.

Sal discreetly stashes the entropy sweeper in a prop closet before embarking on a quest to collect notes for Gabi. His first stop is Gladis, and to his surprise, she’s friendly and cooperative—this Gladis, somehow, is an alternate-universe Gladis, the creator of the ojo turco scarf. Strangely, Sal senses no calamitrons around her and makes a mental note to explore this anomaly later. The alternate Gladis agrees to take notes for Gabi if Sal will retrieve her scarf from Principal Torres.

Frazzled, Sal heads into the school day. Using a mix of persuasion and a veiled threat to Teresita’s fashion column, Sal secures her notes for Gabi. Aventura willingly agrees to take notes, though she plans to write them in code. Proceeding to his class, Sal spots Yasmany trailing Principal Torres. Risking tardiness, Sal offers to act as Yasmany’s substitute lawyer—the tone today is grim, though. Yasmany hints at issues with his mom before being cut off by Principal Torres, who gently urges Sal to attend class.

Throughout the day, Sal grapples with distractions, particularly in Health and Wellness. Noticing increased handholds on the climbing wall, Sal discovers that Papi called to complain about the wall’s difficulty, prompting the adjustments. To rectify the situation, Sal swaps the wall with another from a different dimension, presenting it as a magical feat. Mr. Lynott, delighted with the positive energy from his students, plays along with the charade.

Sal enjoys an exceptional day until a twinge of conscience creeps in, fueled by concerns that his rock wall switch might trigger universe-destroying consequences. During detention, Sal juggles gathering notes, communicating with Gladis via text, and worrying about Yasmany. Since he also still needs to collect Gladis’s scarf, he gains permission to see Principal Torres.

On the way, Sal bumps into alternate Gladis again. Scanning her for calamitrons proves fruitless, and she clarifies that her swap with the original Gladis was a balanced exchange. Her alternate universe, Gladis explains, mirrors their reality except for her altered presence. In the office, Sal finds Mr. Zacto, the administrator. Mr. Zacto returns the scarf to Sal but suggests he still go visit Principal Torres, now in the cafeteria, hinting at her challenging day. To Sal’s relief, Gabi’s next text requests Sal’s assistance in delivering notes and homework to the hospital, revealing Iggy’s improved condition.

Before finding the principal, Sal accompanies alternate Gladis to the bathroom to bid her farewell—though he’ll be stuck with the original Gladis, he’ll still be able to text alternate Gladis. As the door closes, though, Sal realizes he still possesses the ojo turco scarf. It’s too late, as the original Gladis emerges.

Gladis, shaken by her experience, expresses her contrasting impressions of the two Sals, highlighting the niceness of this universe’s Sal. She departs, taking the ojo turco scarf with her.

Sal discovers Principal Torres in the cafeteria amid dimmed lights. Learning that Yasmany will not be attending detention, Sal promptly informs the teacher via text. In a spontaneous gesture, he offers Principal Torres some Skittles.

Their ensuing heartfelt conversation reveals Principal Torres’s vision of the school as a sanctuary for its students. Expressing his fondness for the school, Sal showcases the masks acquired in Mrs. Waked’s class. They discuss the historical use of masks as a tool for freedom, engaging in playful acting. Sal, concerned about Yasmany, seeks information, but Principal Torres, bound by confidentiality, cannot share specifics. She emphasizes the importance of friends and support for Yasmany in this challenging time.

Sal arrives at the hospital adorned with one of the masks. Despite Gabi’s attempts to engage him in conversation, Sal remains deeply immersed in his character. Instead, he hands her a note outlining the transformative impact of the mask. Gabi’s effusive praise finally breaks Sal’s character.

In their creative exchange, Sal and Gabi discuss their homework—an “Everyman” play about death. Gabi enthusiastically assigns Sal the role of death, to which Sal objects, having witnessed firsthand the toll of death on people. Gabi apologizes, and Sal, accepting both the apology and the role, prepares for the assignment.

Sal seeks permission to stay overnight at the hospital and asks his parents to bring him some things. As Gabi and Lucy bond, Sal teases his Papi about the climbing wall.

Sal and Gabi visit Iggy’s room, where Sal helps Gabi navigate her emotions. Gabi realizes that Sal’s grief is why he broke through the multiverse. Sal tells her about snorting a calamitron, and Gabi insists they return to Culeco to recreate the experiment immediately.