Caray, Caray!

I'm just filling in for Amanda tonight while she studies for final exams. Thanks for letting me do this one, Amanda, and good luck!

After hearing Fern and Omar (mostly Omar) plotting to send Lety to Africa during the wedding, Lety returns to her office to remind herself why she's felt so torn lately: she reads The Letter again. She realizes that nothing has changed; Fernando was just following Omar's instructions, step by step. He never had any intention of canceling the wedding.

Lety sticks The Letter in a drawer and stews.

Final meeting preparations

Marcia interrupts Lety's stewing to ask where Fern is. Then, spying the folders on Lety's desk, she asks again about the report for the Big Meeting. Lety says she needs to make copies and will be ready in ten minutes. Marcia says it's time now and everyone is waiting except Ariel and Ana Leticia. Marcia ironically offers to reschedule the meeting for Lety's convenience. Lety snaps that she will be ready in TEN MINUTES. Marcia is outraged by Lety's arrogance and says she's stupid to take such a tone with her. She's not in the mood. Lety is equally outraged by Marcia's attitude and replies in kind!

Why fight with your unfaithful fiance who hates you when you can pick on an underling, right?

Marcia says it's obvious that they can't stand each other, and someone will have to go. Lety agrees, saying that after the meeting, she's going away and never coming back. Then they'll be through with one another. (I am not doing this scene justice - you really have to see the determination on Lety's face and the ice in her voice!)

Marcia starts grabbing at the folders and wants Lety to sign something. Lety stops her. Marcia seems to thinks this is some sort of trick on Lety's part. She thinks Lety will tell Fern that Marcia made her quit. However, she (Marcia) is ready for anything.

Lety says the only thing Marcia needs to prepare for is Lety's resignation. Marcia dares her to quit because she doesn't want to see her any more after the meeting. She will throw Lety out, otherwise. Or else she will leave Conceptos herself. (Remind me again why it would be bad if Marcia left Conceptos?) Marcia stomps out.

"Poor woman," Lety mutters to herself. She picks a few pages out of each folder and throws them away. She pulls some other pages out of her drawer. Then she starts typing her resignation. (Amazing... I would have finished mine days ago!)

Meanwhile, despite her waitress dress, Alicia is desperate not to serve the coffee at the meeting. She tries ordering PM, Lola, Sara, and Juana around. She claims that she could tell Humberto that they refused to help her, and then they'd be fired just like that. (She snaps her fingers imperiously.) PM laughs at Alicia for forgetting to make arrangements with a caterer.

As Marcia enters the executive lobby, Alicia shares with the cuartel her flimsy theory that her boss outranks their bosses, and therefore she outranks them. Seeing Marcia, who is standing behind Alicia and listening with interest, Sara and Lola nod with polite amusement as Alicia tells them that Lola's boss (Marcia) is merely a simple production executive, and therefore Alicia outranks the secretary of the dumb so-called production executive.

Marcia claps sarcastically and asks Alicia for an explanation. Alicia whines "Aaaaay, Marcia," and says that none of them would get Humberto's coffee. Marcia asks where are the waiters. Alicia admits that she hasn't called them yet. Marcia asks whose responsibility it is. Alicia admits it is hers.

"So who's gonna serve the coffee?" Marcia asks. Alicia points in the general direction of the cuartel. (The Socratic method doesn't work on everyone.)

Marcia hollers at her to serve the coffee! Alicia is shocked. "I am going to have to serve coffee?" she asks in horror. "What, should I do it?" Marcia answers. Alicia says it would pain her to see it, but if Marcia really wants to do it... "Go and serve the coffee to Humberto, Alicia," Marcia replies firmly. She snaps her fingers at Alicia!

Humiliated, Alicia whines "Marrrrcia" again, and says she could have asked in a nicer way. Marcia smugly replies, "The dumb production executive manager outranks the president's secretary." She orders the cuartel back to work.

In Omar's office, Fern struggles with the Card of the Day. He says he's in love with Lety. What is he supposed to write in that card? He's going to marry someone else! Omar says come on, this is the last time you'll ever have to do this. It's our last chance to convincer her.

Marcia interrupts to remind them to come to the meeting. After she leaves, Fernando mutters, "I cannot stand her. I was just standing here, and you know what I felt? Repugnance. I don't want to be with her because I cannot stand her." Omar says that's no way to talk about the woman you're going to marry!

Marcia tries to get Luigi into the boardroom. He protests, not wanting to go to a meeting full of horrible numbers.

Alicia passes by with one (one!) cup of coffee. Luigi teasingly asks if she took a 3-week intensive course for ["famulla," not in my dictionary] service professionals. She is full of surprises. She's Alicia in Wonderland. (I don't get a lot of the discussion after that. I think the idea is that the people in the cafeteria will only give her one cup at a time because they don't like her. Heh, go figure.)

More last-minute preparations

Alicia brings Humberto his coffee. She passes the cup right under Teresita's nose! She tells Humberto that the people in the cafeteria are very busy. (Marcia and Luigi enter.) Alicia says it's no problem - she likes to help out when other people won't. She says they know she's not lazy or spiteful.

Teresita asks when the waiters are coming and asks for a cup of tea. Lopez asks for some coffee. Luigi asks for some tamarind juice and donuts. He thinks donuts will cure his discomfort because talking about numbers makes him feel lousy. Lopez adds that he wants his coffee without sugar.

Alicia slinks out of the boardroom. Marcia follows and asks why she hasn't called the caterers yet. Flustered, Alicia says she didn't get around to it because she was overwhelmed with the Cannes event and having Tomas at her place last night. She has problems. Tomas has disappeared.

Marcia emphatically says she doesn't care. She doesn't whine, even though her problems are much bigger than Alicia's. She advises Alicia to work out her problems with the cafeteria. Alicia wants Marcia to order the cafeteria workers around. Marcia says she can't order people just to demean them.

Meanwhile, in the Fea-Cave, Lety signs her letter of resignation, gathers the reports, and gets up. "Ready," she says. "Don Fernando, Doña Marcia... they don't know the surprise that awaits them," she mutters in self-satisfaction. She takes a deep breath and goes into Fern's office. She looks at the Golden Lion on Fern's desk and again remembers Psychic Guy's prediction that all the things that have sustained her will disappear, and then her fight for survival will begin.

Lety's ready - let's get started!

Marcia goes back into the boardroom, where people are getting impatient. Marcia says they can't start without Ariel and Ana-Leticia. Humberto asks where is Lety. Marcia picks up the phone.

Passing through the lobby, Omar considerately re-re-rehashes why Fern needs to make up with Marcia. Fern leans in between Lola and Sara curiously. "I'm finishing something," Lola says. "I've already finished," Sara adds.

Lety comes out of Fern's office clutching the reports. Fern asks if they're ready. With ethereal serenity, Lety says she needs to make up some special binders and is missing some photocopies. Fern urges her to hurry. Everyone is waiting. She says she needs ten more minutes (apparently a different ten minutes than the ones she told Marcia about). She assures them that soon they will finish everything. (Neither man detects anything odd about her manner.) She drifts away to the copy room. Omar tries to lift Fern's spirits and reminds him to breathe.

In the boardroom, Luigi tells the senior Mendiolas of all the job offers he's been receiving lately, in LA and Miami. With a perfectly straight face, Humberto slaps him on the shoulder and asks when he'll be leaving! Luigi looks hurt. "Luigi, you cannot abandon us," Teresita protests. "No way!"

They are all startled by Fern and Omar's arrival. Fern greets everyone loudly and kisses Teresita, Luigi (who looks offended again), and Humberto. He makes a big show of hugging and kissing Marcia, and tries to ignore her cold, suspicious look.

Humberto asks why the meeting is starting so late. Fern says Ariel and Ana-Leticia haven't arrived yet. He complains about how disrespectful they are. Humberto wants to look at the report right away. Fern and Omar cheerfully say that Lety is bringing them, and everything is perfect. "Perfect," Omar echoes. "Perfect," Lopez repeats. "Super-perfect," Marcia adds
sarcastically. Fern kisses her cheek. Marcia rolls her eyes. At Teresita's behest, they all sit down.

Luigi asks why they are so cheerful. Fern takes Marcia’s hands and kisses them. He restates his commitment to marry her this weekend, and tells them to smile. Teresita said she never doubted it. Humberto says he never would have forgiven him otherwise. (Gulp!)

Nervously, Fern announces, "Pencils for everyone!" and starts throwing pencils around.

Impatience sets in

The cuartel interrogate Lety as to why she is going back to the copy room. Lety says she needed to correct an error. (And the award for the 2006 Telenovela Understatement of the Year goes to... Lety!) PM says it's not like Lety to wait till the last minute. Lety says that when it comes to correcting mistakes, better late than never. Lola hints that Lety could be run out of there (fired?) if she doesn't hurry up. Lety says no problem - she'll run herself off.

Ariel steps off the elevator with the look of a snake who thinks he's found a nest full of eggs. Lety tells him she's just fixing up some folders. He tells her he's looking forward to seeing the report. She pats his arm (!!!) and assures him that he'll love it. She continues on her merry way, and Ariel brushes his arm. (Reminds me of the time Fern brushed off his chair after Ariel sat in it, or the time Lety brushed off her chair after Fern sat in it!)

Just as Ariel is about to enter the boardroom, Alicia comes in holding a tray. She loudly complains that she has to do everything. Ariel is amused that she is now serving coffee. She says Conceptos is full of useless people, and she has a great sense of responsibility.

She asks the cuartel if she's had any calls (no doubt thinking of Tomas). They say no. Ariel is even more amused. He asks if her boyfriend has reported to her yet. He asks if she got the 500,000 pesos for her car. She says she did. He says she could have gotten more since she can also do waitressing. (She claims that the outfit is just a coincidence.) He says she'd be a sexy waitress and could put on one of those maid outfits like you see in pornos. Listening to Ariel humiliating Alicia, it is hard to believe that this actor will soon have his own talk show. He must be really good! He teases her some more about his alleged "friends" who would surely pay her to serve them.

Alicia maintains a neutral expression and asks Ariel to open the boardroom door for her. He agrees, then stares fixedly at her butt with a juvenile smirk as he follows her to the door.

And now the meeting starts

In the boardroom, Fern is asking when is Ariel going to grace them with his presence, when Ariel suddenly graces them with his presence. Luigi gets up and makes a big point of moving to the opposite end of the table! Ariel and Fern taunt one another sarcastically. Fern insists this will be a great day, and Ariel insinuates that it won't.

Humberto interrupts, asking them not to fight or make sarcastic comments. He adds, "Ariel, at least say hello." Ariel apologizes and says "hi, how are you... PAPA. Teresita, precious as always... MAMI."

Teresita is charmed. Humberto doesn't react. Omar makes a "can you believe this guy?" face. Fern is outraged! He asks Alicia where are the waiters? And why did she only serve a few people? He tells her to bring coffee for himself, Omar, and Ariel... and also an antacid for Ariel. Ariel laughs mirthlessly and suggests tranquilizers and a doctor for everyone else. Alicia whines that she's tired. Teresita says "just bring coffee for everyone." Luigi is not happy with the stuff she brought him - he wanted donuts, not calorie-laden cake (I must have translated the foods wrong - donuts are way worse than cake) and he asked for tamarind water, not soda which gives him gas. Lopez tastes his coffee and makes one of his incredible faces. He says he didn't want sugar. (At least Luigi adds, "please, your highness.")

Fern fidgets uncomfortably.

Alicia leaves the room, whines to herself that it must be Friday the 13th, and then recounts everything that I have just told you, but not as thoroughly or as delightfully. She asks Lola, Sara, and PM if her phone has rung. "NO," they chorus. "Tomas, you're never going to show up with my money," she thought-bubbles. That's right - she said "MY money." You just gotta love Alicia. Well... someone's just gotta love her. Somewhere...

Okay, maybe the meeting starts now?

Don't be silly. It's only 8:42. We've got at least ten more minutes before anything interesting can happen.

As Celso plays mournful harmonica music, Tomas pulls up in the Swigglemobile. He says, "hey kid, do me a favor. Call Lety and tell her that Tomas is here." Celso scrambles to comply. Tomas pompously tells Celso to hurry up, because he's a very important person. His voice trails off a little at the end as he realizes that he won't be getting VIP treatment much longer.

Inside, Lety returns from the copy room, and Lola and Sara advise her to hurry. Lety says she needs to get some things in her office. PM offers to hand out the reports for her while Lety does that, but Lety says she'll be real quick. Really. The cuartel worry.

Celso calls and Sara answers. She is surprised to hear that Lety's boyfriend is looking for her. They all wonder what's going on and worry about her odd behavior.

Lety takes the call in her office. Celso passes the phone to Tomas and says it's Lety. Tomas says, "that's licenciada Leticia Padilla Solis, to you!" Tomas asks if he needs to pay to use the phone. Celso tells him that it's free. "It should be, since I had to wait," Tomas grumbles. Celso wonders aloud why a guy who drives a convertible would worry about the cost of a phone call. Tomas retorts that rich people are careful about how they spend their money!

Tomas reports that the car is as clean as new. Lety says that he can't come up now because the meeting is about to start. Tomas says he's not interested in going up there anyway, since he's got some unfinished business... did Alicia ask about him? Exasperated, Lety says she wouldn't know. She tells Tomas to give all of the paperwork and car stuff to Celso, then go to her house and wait for her there.

Tomas asks if she feels badly. She says yes. He asks what happened. She says nothing yet, but it will be the end of everything. He says whatever happens, call him and he'll come for her, he'll take a taxi or a bus, whatever, and he will be there for her. She's not his boss any more, but she is his friend, his very best friend.

Tomas throws the phone at Celso. Celso misses, and the phone falls apart. Celso calls Tomas a joker.

It's 8:47 - it'd be okay with me if the meeting started now

Alicia passes through the lobby with another trayload of coffee. She overhears Lola, Sara, and PM gossiping about Lety and her boyfriend. Alicia asks if the mustached corncake's boyfriend is around. (Wow, she's not even trying to be sneaky about it now!) Sara says yes he is, is that a problem? Alicia says it doesn't matter to her.

Just then, Irma joins them. Everyone rushes to greet her and tell her there's no work for her today because of the Big Meeting. Irma points to the ceiling. Everyone looks up, and Irma sneaks away to work! They chase after her. Left alone in the lobby, Alicia tells herself that Tomas is going to pay her.

Meanwhile, in the boardroom, Luigi is telling his captive audience that he partied until 4 that morning and was such a mess that Ruli (his boyfriend) had to carry him to bed. Just then, Marcia gets off the phone and says they might as well start. Ana-Leticia is only just now getting up. I think Luigi says it's a good thing because the rest of his story is too private to share.

Just then, Lety enters with the reports. She greets them all in a solemn tone. Fern and Ariel stare at one another with smug satisfaction, each thinking he knows something the other doesn't.

YES!! Let the meeting BEGIN!!

Tomas says goodbye to the car. His farewell reminds me of Alicia's loving words to her old car from the Bolsa Roja day; but, while Alicia felt that she and her car were twins separated at birth, Tomas tells the Swigglemobile that they are from two different worlds. He laments that he, Alicia, and the car cannot be together as a dynamic trio. He pretends to take his wife Alicia to a nice restaurant and ask for a special table. (He is doing this out loud, in broad daylight.)

"CELSO? CELSO!!" Alicia's screeches float across pavement. Tomas hurriedly hides behind the car. Celso says he was just there. Tomas scurries around back as Alicia comes around to his side. Celso mentions that Tomas was there to leave the papers for the car with him. Alicia asks if Tomas asked for her. Celso doesn't know why Lety's boyfriend would ask for Alicia. She says forget it. Alicia unleashes a string of epithets, some of them negative and directed at Tomas, some of the positive and directed at the car. Huddling against a rear tire, Tomas listens in confusion and clutches the checkbook in sheer terror! (I'm not sure why he has this - wasn't Lety going to turn it over today?) As Alicia runs back into the building, whining "no puede ser," he stands up to watch her retreating figure.

Tomas counts the change in his pocket, complains about his poverty, and catches a bus.

Meanwhile, inside, the cuartel have caught up with Irma and try to get her to go home. Irma says if there isn't any work for her to do, she'll make something up. She goes back to Luigi's lair and Sara, Lola, and PM wonder what's so awful at her house that she doesn't want to be there.

They notice the abandoned coffee tray and joke about the coffee's hotness. Alicia comes back and they laugh at her.

Less than five minutes left

Tomas is already at Lety's house. (Apparently, the buses in Mexico City are not only cheap, but can travel at warp speed.) He is disassembling Filmo-Imagen's computer. He explains to Julieta that he will to take it to Conceptos and asks if she has money for a taxi. (The answer is no.) He complains about being without a car, poor; before and after; without a cell phone, disconnected from the world. Lety touches his cheek sympathetically.

All hope is lost; stop reading now

Lety hands out the folders. Before anyone can open them, Alicia bursts through the door with the tray. They all watch her struggle, but no one offers to help. :-)

Humberto says, "I imagine that you will stay for the meeting." Alicia answers "yes, of course!" Fernando says that his father was referring to Lety. He says Lety will certainly stay; it's her balance sheet. Ariel says he's looking forward to what the licenciada has to say.

Fernando tells Alicia that the coffee is cold. He tells her to get some ice cubes. It'd be better iced than medium-tepid. Omar says it's not completely horrible. Fernando asks where are the waiters. She acts surprised that they haven't arrived yet. He tells her to take everything away. She gathers everything up and struggles out the door with the tray - again, no one helps her.

Humberto tells Lety to sit down. She takes a seat at the head of the table, between Fern and Marcia. Marcia's body language is pretty plain as she turns her body towards Humberto, away from Lety and Fern.

Humberto says that before anyone opens their folders, he wants to go over some rules. First, they will review the report and they will make their comments. Does everyone agree?

Ariel says he has no problem with that. He's not in a hurry, and he's very interested in what they have to say. (This is at least the third time he's said that tonight.) Teresita adds that they mustn't convert this meeting into a battle. When she and Humberto left London, it wasn't just for a reunion or a wedding. They also want to have a nice meeting. (Luigi looks worried. Lopez looks bored.) Whatever problems Fern and Ariel have, should be handled as a family, with affection. Humberto adds similar thoughts about being respectful, etc. and says "okay, start."

Luigi makes a flippant remark about the folders being cute and having their names in them. He sees notepads and thinks they should pass notes like in school. Everyone else opens their folders quietly.

Fern opens his folder and as he reads silently, we hear Omar's voice in Fern's head. "My esteemed president, here are your instructions..."

It is The Letter.

Fern looks up in shock, to meet Omar's terror-stricken eyes. He continues reading:

"...to continue your horrible campaign with Lety."

Wouldn't that be awful? It's like those greeting cards where you open them up and they play music. But this would be a talking Carvajallmark.

Fern looks at Lety. Lety just stares into space.

"I've told you the cards that you should put on your monster's desk each morning. Don't forget because I am not going to be here to remind you. (Omar giggles.) If you're sufficiently motivated, go to bed with her."

---

Mañana
The Big Meeting is underway. Will the waiters ever arrive? Hungry people can be very grumpy...

Labels: fea