Caray, Caray!

It's night. Fern is at home. The phone rings. "Lety?" he answers, expecting her to apologize or explain about rejecting him earlier.

But it's Marcia. She wants to know why he'd expect to hear from Lety at home at this hour. He replies "you've been talking to Alicia, haven't you." Marcia says she did indeed speak to Alicia and that she said that he had seemed nervous. She tells him to use their time apart to think hard about whether he truly wants to get married. He tells her that he is thinking at home, alone. "You wouldn't believe how pensive I am, Marcia."

Omar starts to snore. His seatmate pushes him away and he flops into the aisle, babbling about the red bag. Marcia is too lost in thought to notice.

While Fernando continues to think hard, Lety writes a diary entry. She is wearing new pajamas bearing the logo of a dog named Moty. Or Mody. I should have written it down. I only mention it because it matches the doggy on her new pocketbook I'll mention later. (I really like the way her kiddie accessories complement her old-lady clothes. It takes a lot of "inner beauty" to pull that off. More than any human can possess, I think...) She writes some more about the mixed feelings she has about helping Fern cheat on his fiancee, etc. On the one hand, she's the happiest woman on earth. On the other hand, how miserable it will be for Marcia to lose him. He is the light in her life, makes her feel like a princess, avenges the bet, etc. She worries about the wedding.

As always, this is superimposed over images of Fern being pensive. He chuckles to himself, "I said 'Lety' to Marcia."

That night, Fern dreams that Ariel has taken over the president's office. He is sitting in Fern's chair. He throws away Fern's nameplate and zaps Fern with lightning bolts from his hands. (It's cool to see this actor having some fun.) He pompously announces, "You gave the company to that ugly chick and now it's getting seized. We have proof." He snaps his fingers. (I notice he's wearing a wedding ring; is Ariel married or did the actor just forget to take his ring off?) Fern's parents appear with the red bag. They say they're going to tell Lety everything.

The next morning, Lety leaves a message with PM to tell Fern that she'll be in late. She has some things to do. After she hangs up, she notices a strange smell...

PM is frustrated that Lety won't tell her what's going on. Saimon dances into the lobby and asks PM if she's told Jr. about their relationship yet. The answer is no, and she doesn't plan to do it soon.

Meanwhile, Omar is in his hotel room, practicing some German phrases. He calls Fern at home (running late due to nightmares) and greets him in German that's so badly pronounced that I have to read the Spanish captions to figure out what he's saying. Fern answers, "What - who is this?" in English. Naturally, Omar wants to know if he's found the bag yet. Fern sarcastically answers Nein, it's not here (at his house). Fern tells Omar that Lety turned him down last night. This worries Omar. He suggests that perhaps Lety has read The Letter. Fern says he doubts it, but the idea clearly bothers him.

Tomas has put on his dad's suit, another short fat necktie (is there a name for this style of neckwear? maybe a fan club?), and way too much cologne in anticipation of seeing Dora the Vendedora again. (BTW, that was a José José song they were listening to on the radio last night - special thanks to "modernfea" for pointing that out.) Lety laughs at him and says she can't tell whether he's going to a wedding or a funeral. RoboPop and Mom come down and complain about the smell too. Tomas looks offended. Lety says the carnation is an especially bad touch. Tomas says she shouldn't be so critical considering that green outfit and screwy hairdo she wore a few weeks ago. Anyway, he says, he's stylish.

As Tomas and RoboPop leave the house, Lety confides to her mother that she doesn't like this errand she's doing for the Mendiolas. I notice that Lety has a new pocketbook - it's red and has the same dog on it that was on her PJs. Wierd. I wonder if we missed out on another blatant advertising scene. Like maybe when the button fell off of her old pink pocketbook she had to get a new one. Never mind; it's not important.

On their way to the house, Tomas wants to stop and buy flowers. Lety is disgusted and RoboPop thinks they won't have time. He drives slowly, with a line of cars honking behind him. Lety suggests slightly more speed.

Tomas is all wound up as they approach a house with a nice garden. He babbles about Alicia for some reason as they walk through the door. Instead of a cute young thing in a cocktail dress, they encounter a severe-looking older woman with a deep voice. She grabs RoboPop's hand and crushes it, greeting him as Tomas Mora. He protests that she's hurting him. When she discovers that he's not Tomas, she crushes it again and apologizes. He struggles to extricate himself (with Lety's help) and says he needs to go to the car.

Tomas asks where Dora is. This new woman says Dora couldn't make it today, but she'll be happy to help him out instead - and she knows of a place he can buy for his company that has ten floors. Tomas looks like he's in over his head. :-) She takes them to look at several pricey homes and keeps getting in front of the camera (and at one point we are treated to the kazoo music again). She gropes both RoboPop and Tomas and suggests Tomas should film her in a Jacuzzi.

Lety takes off to explore the house on her own while Tomas and RoboPop check out the bathrooms. Lety daydreams about Marcia and Fern starting their new life together in one of these homes. She imagines that he carries Marcia into the bedroom in her wedding gown, and they kiss and talk about how Lety was never any threat to their happiness. Marcia says, "that poor girl is so ugly." "Horrible, eh?" Fern agrees. Tomas's yelling snaps Lety out of this daymare. Her shadow says, "Lety, stop thinking about stupid things." Lety repeats it, then tells herself she wants these stupid things. She giggles. (Maybe Lety's losing her marbles. Who could blame her?)

Tomas wants to leave. The new real estate agent is driving him crazy. She keeps telling him to film her.

Alicia gets to Conceptos (with her jewelry in the red bag) and bids her car a warm farewell. (Not sure if this is just for the day, or for life.) She says, "No, my love. We will never separate. We were born apart - you in Germany and I in Mexico - but we are twins at heart. We will be together forever, my love. Nothing and no one will separate us." She blows it a kiss.

At her desk, she calls for the number of Monte de Piedad (Mount of Mercy). The feas overhear only "MP" and think she's called for the Public Ministry instead - they are intrigued. Sara (wearing a really cute blouse) and Juana spar in the bathroom for no clear reason other than that it's a "great way to start the day."

Factoid #1 (and thanks to Margaret for explaining this): You (if you are Mexican) can hock your stuff at the Monte de Piedad. I don't know if you get a better deal with them than at a regular pawnshop.
Factoid #2: A quick web search reveals that Monte de Piedad was founded by a man named Riva Palacios. It doesn't say if he was related to the fictitious celebrity Cristina Rivapalacios or not. :-)

Fern gets to work and PM gives him Lety's message. Lety's unexplained tardiness worries Fern further. PM has her own theory: maybe Lety is changing her "look" again. They agree that the incident with the green clothes was not a success. Fern looks ill as he gets on the elevator, wondering what Lety might be doing.

Up in the executive lobby, Alicia is yelling at Juana for cleaning her desk. Fernando walks in and sees the red bag. She is hugging it possessively while he stares longingly. He chides the feas for gabbing at their desks and not working and retreats into his office. The feas speculate as to why Alicia is calling the Public Ministry and why Fern gave her such a strange look.

Fern rifles through his things, looking for Omar's phone number in Germany. He spies his briefcase on the shelf (I guess he doesn't take it home) and checks in there. He takes out several items, including The Letter, which is in an unmarked envelope. Since it's not what he's looking for, he continues to ignore it, while it quietly radiates malevolence (though I bet if he held it to his ear he could hear it ticking). He finds the number and calls Omar to say that Alicia has the red bag. Omar reminds him how dangerous this is and also tells Fern he wants to talk to Luigi.

Fern uses this excuse to chat with Alicia, who is still clutching the bag to her ample bosom. He kisses her on the head and makes inane small talk with her while poking at the bag. He also mentions that Marcia called him from the plane last night. :-) Then he asks Alicia to tell Luigi that Omar has arrived in Germany. She reaches for the phone, but he says no, you know how sensitive Luigi is, go tell him in person! Alicia says okay, but takes the bag with her. He innocently asks why doesn't she leave the bag at her desk. She tells him it contains her whole future and will help her pay her bills. The feas gape. So does Fern - maybe she's planning to blackmail him!

The feas wonder why Alicia is holding the bag of Omar's lab samples so closely, and if she's really that much in love with Omar. Juana says something cryptic about jewels in the crown.

Fern follows Alicia, trying to get that bag. She goes to the stockroom, and when the men there tell her that Luigi's probably in Editing, Alicia tells them to clean up the place to keep the rats away. She finds Luigi - he's editing a video of his dog and complains about the interruption (and also complains that Alicia has referred to his best friend as a dog, when Alicia is the real dog).

Fern is crawling around on the floor trying to get the bag while Alicia and Luigi argue about the dog's haircut. The dog tries to play with Fern on the floor. Fern can't get to the bag and crawls out of the room, running right into Irma's legs. He tells her he was inspecting the corners for dust and found three bedbugs (or some similar biting insect). He tells her to clean it up.

Alicia says something to Luigi about eating beans and making an ugly smell. (I believe this may have been an adlib because of the silly grin on his face.) She tells him about Omar. He asks Irma to get Omar on the phone, and Alicia leaves. Turning his attention back to the video, Luigi reassures his dog that she's more professional than most of his models. (Doesn't he have a jewelry ad to do?)

Alicia goes to the bathroom, where Juana is cleaning up. Alicia puts the bag on top of the lockers and goes into a stall to change the air in her head. Juana leaves and Fern sneaks in. He takes the bag (which looks practically empty; one wonders why she needs such a big bag for such small treasures) and brings it to his office, hiding it under his jacket. The feas are miffed or concerned that he didn't chide them again for gossiping.

Alicia finishes her sanitary activities and discovers that the bag is missing. She blames Juana.

Labels: fea