Caray, Caray!

Ariel politely bids Lety adieu and smartly remarks "hey Fernando, did you know that Lety's boyfriend - LETY'S boyfriend - has a better car than yours?" "It's better than yours, too," Fern replies. Lety doubles over silently with laughter!

Lety excuses herself for lunch before Fern has a chance to interrogate her. Alone, he recalls the psychic's warning about his love, his business, and the truth, but he vows not to give Ariel the pleasure.

In the executive lobby, Lety and the cuartel discuss their lunch plans and mention that Lola won't be joining them because of her meeting with the lawyer. (I guess she has to skip lunch to make up the missed time, or something.) Alicia makes some cracks about Lety's "station wagon." Then Martha shows up and tells them about her air-eating illness; Alicia makes a snooty remark about the "strange ailments of the poor." Sara makes fun of Alicia dying of hunger at her desk while they have a nice meal.

Time to split up the stories!

---

Ariel and Marcia

Ariel calls Marcia and invites her to lunch. She has too much work, but agrees to meet with him in her office. "How strange," she says to herself. I guess he doesn't come around too often.

He visits and makes small talk, asking vaguely about Germany and Conceptos. (He keeps peering out the window.) Marcia rolls her eyes and asks if there was something specific he wants to know.

He says he asked Lety about her brand-new boyfriend, but she was evasive. Gee, Ariel, why do you suppose it is that Lety doesn't care to chat with you like a girlfriend?? Marcia tells him that his name is Tomas Mora, and that's all she knows about it. He admits that she did tell him that much too, but wouldn't tell him where he worked. She was very reticent.

Marcia tries to remember the name of Tomas's company. She says Alicia would know, and gets up to ask her, but he says no, not like that, it's too important. He wants to know all about him, but evidently from past experience he doesn't think Alicia is the most reliable way to get useful information. :-)

Marcia assures him that Fern has already checked him out. Ariel wants to know what "el" is like. Marcia says, the boyfriend, or the car, and giggles, but Ariel is not in a joking mood. She answers, well, what would a boyfriend of Lety's be like? He scoffs. "Like a house of horrors." She says he's a Mr. Nobody with some money; nouveau-riche; a nerd, like Lety, who works at some place that pays well. She adds that Fern always defends Lety, but pays her really poorly.

Ariel says they need to stay on the lookout, check this guy out and find out where he gets his money. Fern gives Lety so much responsibility that she's practically running "our" business. She agrees and asks if that's why he came over here.

He says no, he came over to invite her to a cocktail party. He's entering into negotiations with some entity or other and tonight's cocktail is for getting acquainted. I think he says his date cancelled on him at the last minute. (I'm guessing she killed herself. Or he killed her. I still want him to be a crazed murderer so he can go to jail.)

No, upon replaying the scene it appears that some investors backed out at the last minute, so now he needs to raise more capital. She says really? But haven't you already invested all of your money? He says yes, but it's not enough. He's going to tell her the truth now so she won't be surprised later: At the Big Meeting, he's going to cash in his share of Conceptos. She squints with surprise, and he grinds his teeth in self-satisfaction.

She tells him he can't do that, that their parents would never have wanted them to split up Conceptos. He says his decision will depend on the financial condition of Conceptos at the Big Meeting. He'll stick with Conceptos if it's solid, as Fern claims.

On his way out, he catches Alicia yawning at her desk. When she sees him, she hurriedly gets up and starts exercising, I guess hoping he'll offer her some money or something. I really like her outfit today; I wonder what the bottom part of it looks like since she obviously forgot to put it on.

Ariel taunts her about yawning from hunger. He suggests that she should eat every day. He says he doesn't know if she is going to eat, but the food for sure. (I realize this makes no sense; I can't figure out exactly what he's saying, but I can only assume that it's extremely rude.)

She says "I'm going to eat at Le Noir, but first I am finishing my exercise routine." He asks if someone invited her, because it's too expensive for her.

(Le Noir is the most expensive restaurant in town - we found that out several months ago when the chick who "borrowed" Tomas's phone tried to get him to take her there for dinner.)

He gets on the elevator, and she mutters, "I AM going to Le Noir. You'll see, you wretch!"

---

Only For Women, part II

Saimon wants to whisk PM away for lunch, but she says she has plans and they're "solo para mujeres." Saimon whines... and cries... and begs... eventually Lety rescues PM and they all pile into her car - PM rides shotgun, while Sara, Irma, Martha, and Juana all sit on top of - I don't know what you call this - when you sit on top of the seat backs in a convertible so that it's really super-easy to topple out of the car when it's moving.

Fern and Omar come out just as they are leaving. Fern and Lety exchange murderous glances. Lety nervously puts on her seatbelt and backs out of her parking space.

With the very first jolt of the gas and brake, I fear for Juana's life, since she's just hanging on by a butt-cheek. It'd be a lot safer if just the two in the middle sat up top and then Juana and Sara could sit in the seat and, like, hold their legs to keep them from flying out, but I suppose it's harder to keep everyone in frame that way.

They are very rowdy as Lety navigates the streets of Mexico City. They want to listen to the radio, but they're not happy with the music that it plays. She admits she's not good at operating the radio yet. Martha says she's not so good at operating the car, either! She's driving just like her father - slow and not always in a straight line. It gets worse when she tries to fiddle with the radio - they all hang on for dear life (but still no one actually tries sitting in the seats).

Just as they recover from that, they nearly get into a wreck. Lety slams on the brakes. Instead of totally freaking out like I would, Lety just says "see what great reflexes I have?" and continues driving. She adds "and it's a good thing, because I'm still learning the difference between the gas pedal and the brake!"

(Martha complains that she feels queasy. How much do you want to bet she'll recover when her lunch arrives?)

Then they are passed by Omar and Fern. PM screams "Hi, Mr. Hot-Guy!" ("Licenciado Papacito" - not sure which of them that's addressed to.) Irma is scandalized by this. That's no way to talk to your bosses - what will they think? PM says they'll think they're happy, which they are. Lety agrees. They're away from Conceptos now - that stuff doesn't matter.

Irma worries about being late for Luigi. PM flirts with three men in a neighboring car. Irma disapproves of this, saying that it's disrespectful to Saimon. Lety cheekily replies that even if PM's on a diet, she can still look at the menu! PM wants to invite these guys to hang out with them, but says she doesn't want to get Lety in trouble with Tomas. Lety says don't worry about that. She grins foolishly, enjoying the mens' admiring glances! Just then, the traffic light changes, and they wave goodbye.

They get to the restaurant. Martha immediately asks if they have quesadillas. The plate captain is looking around the room, obviously wondering where he is going to seat this unlikely gang. Or if he even should. He tells them they need to wait a moment for a table.

Then they see Fern and Omar having their business lunch. Irma is spooked and wants to leave immediately, but Lety and Juana convince her to stay. Fernando approaches and wants to know if this was the reason she so urgently needed to leave the office rather than talk to him.

PM explains that Lety invited them to dine with her. He nods stupidly at this. Martha adds that Tomas will be paying for their lunch. Seeing that they know Fern and have the means to pay, the plate captain agrees to seat them. Juana thanks him effusively for his kindness.

Fern pulls Lety aside rather roughly and wants her to sit at his table, or at least come by and say hello, but she coolly refuses. She's busy, and it's her lunch hour. He asks what game is she playing. She denies any game. He points out that he had reservations here and then she just happened to show up with the entire cuartel. She claims (LIAR!!) that it was the cuartel's idea to eat at this restaurant.

Lety approaches the cuartel, who are now seated, and begins to say, "Don Fernando-" when Fern angrily interrupts and says he already knows that her boyfriend is paying for everything. Lety smiles angelically and starts again to say that Fern wants them to leave. They all start to get up, but he says no, it doesn't bother him at all that they're there. She says "don't worry, Don Fernando... FI is going to pay for it!" Just to make sure he knows. :-) He coughs violently (choking on bile, no doubt) and says he knows that. She asks, then why do you seem so upset? He denies this, and in return, he tells them that Lety's going to come to his table and say hi to their client.

She goes to Fern's table, says hi to the client, and then - both to be polite to the client and annoy Fern - she plops herself onto a chair. Omar asks "what with this massive presence," referring to the cuartel, and she gives a non-answer, saying we're going out to eat. Fern offers her something to drink, and she says no thank you. She gets up, says goodbye to the client and shakes his hand, and rejoins the cuartel. Omar and Fern still have their hands in midair, surprised that she didn't shake theirs too, so they awkwardly shake hands with each other!

The women are intimidated by the prices on the menu, but Lety tells them to get whatever they want, with no limit. They don't understand the menu, which is entirely in French. (Naturally, PM says she just wants whatever is the most expensive thing; Irma chides her for taking advantage.) They ask Lety to translate it for them, but Lety (who knows French, but perhaps not French food) airily says that would take too long, so she's just going to order lobster all around, if that's okay with them.

They're amazed. Some of them have never had lobster before. PM again loudly says that Tomas is paying for all of this. (From the other table, Fern glares intensely at Lety's back. No one seems to notice.)

The waiter wants to know how they want their lobster, and since Lety doesn't know one way from another, she covers her ignorance by telling him to surprise them. She encourages them to pick out appetizers too, and they are overwhelmed by the extravagance. (She turns around to shoot a scornful glance at Fern.)

Martha lists some items that sound like the entire Taco Bell menu, and Juana reminds her of her stomachache and her air-gobbling. ;-) Irma adds that this restaurant probably doesn't carry such things. Martha acts indigant, like she wants to leave.

Lety asks the waiter what he recommends. (Fern is making all kinds of faces in the background.) The subject of caviar comes up. Sara says she definitely wants caviar, but very well fried please! PM says don't be a dummy - you don't fry caviar, you parboil it! She claims she had it once when she went out with an executive. Lety tells the waiter to bring some caviar, and some crab, and whatever else looks good. (Fern covers his face with his hands. No one seems to notice.)

The waiter suggests langostinos. Right - langostinos are a great first course for lobster! Lety eagerly agrees. Unfortunately, Fern is out of frame at this moment; I suppose poor Jaime Camil was at a loss as to what sort of face to make at such ignorance!

The waiter asks if they would like some white wine? PM wants something stronger. Lety orders champagne. They are aghast. (Fern gapes. No one seems to notice.) PM is ecstatic over how awesome Lety's boyfriend is. Irmita gets spooked again and wants to leave, but they convince her to stay. The waiter asks what kind of champagne, and Lety says "the most expensive." (Note that she doesn't say "your best.")

Martha is happier now, but still grumbling because they don't have chalupas.

They eat and critique the strange foods. I think Martha says that the caviar tastes weird and the lobster's skin is too dark.

And now for the stunner: Lety overhears that Fern's credit card has been refused! Lety offers to pay their bill. The client is flabbergasted; Fern is mortified, but not in a position to refuse (although a save from Omar would have been nice). She grins smugly as she returns to her table... then snaps out of her daydream. Aw, damn - that would have been awesome! She recovers and says she was just thinking about Tomas.

Lety calls for the bill. Fern stops by their table to say goodbye and asks if they ate well. Martha indicates mild disapproval. (You're welcome, Martha! Jeez!) PM offers him some champagne and reminds him that Lety's boyfriend is paying for it! He unhappily toasts with them, then leaves.

PM says that Fern seemed angry with them. Irma thinks it's because of their scandalous behavior. Lety says no, that's his normal behavior. He's envious. Rich people can't stand it when poor people have money.

The bill comes and they all gasp, but she tells them not to worry and gives the waiter a 20% tip. The smile on his face is worth all the ugly faces Fern and Lety have made this hour - this guy will be able to retire young and buy a Pacific island with what Lety's given him.

In the car, Juana offers to read caracoles for her. According to my dictionary, those are conches, but those aren't particularly legible. Whatever it is, it has something to do with fortune-telling. Lety remembers the psychic's prediction. He says her feeling is true and pure, but a woman is crying in front of her wedding dress and can't put it on. The last thing she wants is another cryptic reading, so she says no thank you Juana. :-) She says maybe some other time, some evening. PM thinks this is a great idea - they can have a party.

Martha says the last time Juana read the caracoles, she said that Lety's boyfriend would change her life. Lety ominously declares that it had better be changing.

---

Fern and Omar

Fern goes running to Omar to babble about Ariel. He was interrogating Lety about the ledger, the Big Meeting, and she assured Ariel she'd give him all the details and everything. Fern complains that he tried to discuss it with Lety, but she was evasive, as she always is when he tries to talk about cooking the books.

Omar reminds him that their lives depend on her handling of their ledger. She could lose him two cars, maybe three (referring to multiples of millions of pesos). They leave for lunch.

When they see Lety and the cuartel driving away in the Swigglekarr-3000, Omar tries to console Fern, while Saimon sulks on his Vespa. (It's damn lucky for PM that Yazmin's not around today!)

Fern and Omar arrive at Le Noir. Fern is still fuming about Lety and her friends driving to their party, with PM screaming like she was going to fall out of the car, waving at him with her brutal humanity, like a queen at Carnaval (he does a disturbingly accurate imitation of a beauty queen in a parade).

Omar answers that she's a sweet little dummy and he misses her. Seriously, he says that, unless I somehow got that wrong, but I don't think I got it wrong.

Fern asks the bartender for a quadruple of "the usual." Omar asks if he's going to take away Lety's car. He says he can't, because she bought it with Filmo-Imagen's money, and not money from Conceptos. All the same, he feels it's his car, because he started FI with his own money.

Omar says it might be his morally and in his heart, but it's not legally his. "It's Lety's," Fern agrees unhappily, sipping his drink. Omar tries to calm him down for their meeting, with little success.

The guy from Krauss arrives. Or as it's spelled in the captions today, "Craos." I have a better idea. I'm going to call it CHAOS, in honor of Get Smart. It's the German sportswear company.

Omar does most of the talking, because Fern is very distracted. Omar says the sportswear ad is looking good. Fern says that Lety arranged everything.

The CHAOS guy - I think his name is Millan - asks if Lety is here, because he expected to meet with her. Omar says she only does the financial stuff, and although she's very smart etc., she feels out of place in a restaurant like this, doing public relations and things like that.

Just then, Lety and the cuartel arrive. Fern is impactado. He and Omar make up a lame excuse to Millan, that something really important must have come up. Lety joins them briefly, but then goes back to her table; Millan says to Omar "Didn't you say she didn't like this sort of place?" Omar says he thinks that Lety is in the process of changing her lifestyle. Fern sourly agrees.

Doctors say that when our bones grow or heal rapidly, we may experience "growing pains." Perhaps that is why Lety grimaces slightly at this moment - it's the mild discomfort of her rapidly-developing spine. Grow, little spine! Grow and blossom!

Omar tells Millan how well Conceptos is doing, and has to prompt Fern to participate. (He has been watching the women dismember their lobsters.) Fern says something about adjusting a payment. I find this difficult to follow, but he says something about covering 60% of the remainder, or maybe 60% is the remainder - I'm not sure. It appears that they are asking Millan for more money than originally expected.

Millan remarks on how well Fern's assistant and the secretaries are eating. Omar tells him that Conceptos pays well. Fern sarcastically (and loudly) answers that Lety makes more than they do.

A champagne cork pops. PM LOUDLY toasts Lety's rich, generous boyfriend.

Millan really shows a lot of interest in Lety's financial situation. Omar assures him that Lety is very kind to her friends. (Lety discreetly turns around and grimly raises a glass in Fern's general direction.)

Omar tries to improve the moment by proposing a toast to tomorrow's presentation of the sportswear commercial; the sound of another champagne cork at Lety's table dampens the mood somewhat. Millan forces a bemused smile.

Fern and Omar return to the office just in time to hear Alicia whining "Papa, I'm hungry." Omar warns that they'd better get out of the way before she sees them, but Fern is still brooding over Lety's behavior. That's not the same sweet Lety we know! This is some other Lety! She knew they were going to Le Noir and she went there anyway! He says there's only one possibility - Tomas arranged the whole thing!

They're going to take his company away from him. Fern tells him the psychic's prediction is coming true. ("I see that your heart is trapped.") He tells Omar that one time, Lety has the caracoles read for her and it said her boyfriend was going to change her life. Sure enough, Lety's life is changing because of her "rich boyfriend." Omar scoffs.

Fern actually gets hot (literally) and starts fanning himself. Omar says it's revenge and they discuss motives. "She knows something," Omar suggests. Maybe she overheard something. Or maybe - he starts laughing - maybe she read The Letter!

Fern doubts it. Martha's daughter told him how she and her friends found and demolished that damned Red Bag and its contents and put the envelope in his briefcase. Even their moms don't know about any of this. Omar also thinks that Lety would act differently if she read the letter - she wouldn't spend the money on cars and restaurants; she'd start a big scandal.

Omar has a great idea: Fern just needs to re-seduce Lety. Then they won't have to worry about her revenge, or Tomas Mora. Fern laments the corrupting influence of "Tommy Boy."

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