Caray, Caray!

In the exec lobby, the cuartel flirts with Aldo. Alicia interrupts to send the women back to work. She takes a cup of tea from Irmita’s hand as if she is accustomed to having Irmita bring her tea. She tries to flirt with Aldo and invites him to chat. He asks, what should we talk about, your ascent in this company? She’s not sure how to answer the question but tries to look sexy.

(A word about Alicia’s outfits. Looking back at the earlier episodes (how did we ever manage to get along without YouTube?), she didn’t seem any thinner then, but rather, it looks like the stylists were giving her outfits that were more respective to her size. My theory is that the producers realized that (1) it would be a great running gag to put her in these outfits…each one more inappropriate and torturous than the last, and (2) guys are sure to tune in just to see the eye candy bursting out of its wrapper. I mean, really, they have to know that it doesn't look good, right! I have to say the actress behind Alicia, Pati Navidad, has been a great sport about it.)

In the boardroom, Luigi says he needs tea because the valerian isn’t enough to calm his nerves anymore. He announces that he will not quit; he will do the commercials. As he talks, he walks to the other side of the meeting room and puts his tea down between Tomas and Fern. Tomas -- of the never-satisfied appetite -- takes a cookie from his pocket and dunks it in Luigi’s tea. Lety shakes her head n disbelief but luckily Luigi doesn’t notice. Luigi shares that he thinks the project will fail, after which he will quit. Lety says that remains to be seen. Luigi says he needs Jasmin back. Lety asks if he really needs her of if he really just wants her back to bug the cuartel. He gives a ‘how dare you doubt me’ look. Lety admits that he really needs him onboard so she will get him Jasmin. Luigi advices that since everything is clear now and since there is no authority here… Omar, in a rare gesture of respect, signals toward Lety to indicate to Luigi that there indeed is an authority figure here, but… Luigi ignores him. He gets up to leave, and only says goodbye to Lopez before walking out.

In the lobby, Luigi sees Aldo chatting with the cuartel and tells him get away from them because he may catch their horrible cooties. Alicia strokes her hair in agreement. Aldo says that, on the contrary, maybe their energy and vitality will be contagious. The ladies applaud (yes, they literally applaud, clap, for Aldo). Luigi invites Aldo to go back to his office so they can talk about the project. Aldo says sure but first he needs to talk to Lety. Luigi doesn’t like that. Aldo walks toward Lety’s office. He excuses himself to the ladies and in response they applaud some more( …oh brother). Alicia offers to go with him, but the women tell her no way, he’s going to talk to Lety and doesn’t need her around.

Lety hands out orders: Marcia must supervise Luigi’s project, starting with the design of project concept. Omar will engage the appropriate contacts. Marcia asks what will Fern do. Lety says she needs him (to which Fern smiles broadly) to help her and Tomas (to which Fern frowns) to review the project estimates and other financial stuff. Fern is gung ho and says sure, we’ll take care of that right away. Lopez asks about Tomas’s salary. Tomas signals to Lety what I think is a sign for “higher”. Lety says he should get paid the same as Olarte (the crooked finance guy [I think] who Fern fired for trying to sabotage Fern long ago last year (or in this novela’s timeline, probably just a few weeks ago!). Lopez then says about Lety’s presidential expenses, such as a car, phone, etc. Lety says take care of that with her salary; Conceptos can not afford luxuries like that. Lopez, who is behaving so very professional that I almost forgot he is the human housefly, then moves on to the topic of the late employees. Marcia announces that they will make personnel changes immediately: Sara will report to Fern and Omar, Lola will report Tomas, Marta, Irma , Juana will remain where they are. PM will work for Lety. PM’s receptionist position is open but Lety has a lead for that. Fern asks Marcia who will work for her. Marcia defensively advises that Alicia will go with her. Fern cracks up at this, so much so that Lety breaks into a big smile too. Fern fans himself and says ‘Que caray!’ (We caught that Jaime, hugs and kisses right back at you!). Lopez says “Dios nos hagare confesados” (“May God get us confessed,” which I think is similar to “May God help us!”) . He asks if Lety will adjust her salary to her new position. Lety says she’d love to but it’s against the law to lower her salary. But she will deduct day’s pay for Alicia and the other late employees. She tells everyone to get to work in their respective areas, then will meet again to report on their progress so they decide whether to officially launch this project. Marcia corrects Lety saying they will only launch it if we all agree. Lety corrects Marcia right back, saying she’s wrong, only Lety’s approval is necessary, that’s why she’s the prez! Marcia is left with her mouth open, and Lety looks very satisfied! (Go Lety, go Lety!).

Julieta and PM talk at the reception desk. Julieta talk about how wonderful Aldo is. She hopes he can help her get over all her suffering. PM asks if Julieta is referring to Lety’s problem here at work, or romantic problems. Julieta tells half the truth and says it’s work problems, of course.

Marcia asks Lety if there is anything else, and there is. She asks Omar to look for Aldo to see if he has any update. She has something to take care of, but asks Fern to work with Tomas on the estimate in the meantime. She gets up to leave and Fern stands for her. Marcia and Lopez leave too.

Fern hears Lety in her office exclaiming “Aldo!” which makes his eyes bulge out. Tomas addresses Fern as “compañero Fernando” (this means he’s addressing Fern as a peer). This makes Fern do a fake laugh, which makes Tomas laugh and before you know it he, Fern, and Omar are all snort-laughing. Fern tells Tomas “That’s Don Fernando to you.” Tomas says they need to get to work. Fern tells Tomas to go ahead and get started and sends him to his office. Now alone in the meeting room with Omar, Fern gets up, shushes Omar, and sneaks over to Lety’s door.

Aldo asks Lety what’s wrong. She says it was great, the ideas just popped into her head. He says she’s learning to use what you’ve always had inside. Lety says she has him to thank for it. She remembers the “Deep Thoughts By Aldo” lesson involving the paper cup with sea water. Aldo says that some people never learn to use that inner power. Fern gags himself with his finger. Lety says she’s confident because Aldo is there to support her. She says “I need you” -- Fern doesn’t like that, his eyes bulge again -- Lety continues “I can’t do it without you. Look me in the eyes and promise me you won’t leave me alone here. We can make this successful together” Fern is impactado! Aldo tells Lety that of course he will be here for her.

Fern tells Omar “I knew it! She told him ‘don’t leave me alone.’” Omar clarifies that they were talking about work… he chokes a little, and Fern smacks him on the back (I love their improv). Fern wonders doesn’t Lety understand that’s why he (Fern) is here; to help her? Omar says that Fern will have to suck it up because Aldo has that job now, plus he is now fundamental to Conceptos’s existence.

Marcia and Luigi are talking business in his office when Aldo comes in. He and Luigi go to Aldo’s office and leave Marcia to work from Luigi’s desk. (That’s 45 seconds of my life I’ll never get back.)

Fern offers to go with Omar to see Aldo (remember Lety sent Omar to check on Aldo), so he can investigate why Also is really here and why he is with Lety, so as not to “jumping to conclusions” (he says this is adorably broken English) .

Aldo begins his Deep Thoughts session with Luigi: Food is life. Mexican food is life with more flavor. The flavor of life is Mexican gastronomy. For example, if you take strips of chile poblano… Luigi tells him to stop because he’s making his mouth water. Aldo describes a dish of Poblano pepper strips with onion, cheese, sour cream, etc. He goes on about how every element -- earth, air, water-- gives life to the ingredients of dishes which we labor with love to create. Luigi is captivated. Aldo says that eating is not a means to satisfy an appetite. No, eating is a ritual of love. Luigi, almost in rapture (eeew!), shouts “Ay! OMG! You make something as simple as eating into something so immensely pleasurable.”

Fern and Omar find Aldo’s office and listen at the door. Aldo continues on his lecture, shouting about the power and potency of food. He bangs his door in excitement. Fern and Omar jump back and run back down the hall. They slowly tip-toe back. Fern rubs his leg (I think he must have banged it when they were jumping , though I rewound it and couldn’t see where it happened).

Luigi tells Aldo he can bring anyone to ecstasy with his Deep Thoughts. (again, eeew!).
Aldo says “Yes, especially an enchanting woman.”
Fern whisper-shouts to Aldo “I knew it, that idiot is talking about Lety!” Omar rationalizes that Aldo was talking about and “enchanting” woman, meaning not Lety. He chokes again and Fern smacks him on the back again. I just noticed that Omar’s voice is raspier than normal; he must be getting a sore throat, which explains why he chokes every time he has to speak.
Fern says “ahhh!” the way one would say “duh!” He doesn’t understand Omar’s argument. Of course Aldo’s talking about Lety, who else?

Tomas walks up and hears the guys talk from afar. He thinks they must be planning something against Lety.

Lety goes to see Robopop in his new office/cubbyhole. She calls Lola from his desk and asks her to come to her office along with the rest of the cuartel. Robopop asks if the cuartel will get fired. She says no, although they won’t get off scott-free either. He tells her not be to home late. PM calls to tell them Julieta is here.

In the lobby, the cuartel worry about their fate. Lety walks by on her way to get her mom, and the cuartel beg her for information. She says she’ll be right back, and Irmita says no news is good news (Does anyone remember the kid’s show Great Space Coaster, in which Gary Gnu always gave an inane newscast and then signed off with “No gnews is good gnews”?... No? Okay never mind).

Lety greets her mom and Moty. Julieta says they’re lonely at home because everyone is here at Conceptos. She says she met Lety’s friend Aldo and thinks he is tan lindo (so lovely)! She asks Lety if she’s sure she doesn’t like him? Saimon walks back and forth behind them trying to listen . Lety is uncomfortable but responds that, yes, Aldo sure is a great guy. Julieta remarks how big and florescent his teeth are is…just kidding -- but she does remark about Aldo’s great smile.

Tomas is still in the hallway spying on Omar and Fern, who are still spying on Aldo and Luigi. He wonders what Frick & Frack are up to. Then he turns his attention to Aldo’s door and says he needs to figure out what Domenzain’s intentions with his mamasota (his big momma, Alicia).

Professor Aldo’s never-ending Deep Thoughts About Guacamole continues, and understandably Fern says he can’t listen anymore. Omar agrees and grabs Fern’s arm to leave, but even as Fern says he can’t hear anymore, he moves back to the door to listen some more. Omar drags him away. As they leave, Tomas nears Aldo’s door, but bumps into it. Aldo opens the door to see what the noise was. Tomas hides behind the open door. Also goes back inside but leaves his door open, giving Tomas a better listen. Aldo – “Why can’t we find love in the gorgeous curves of a pear? Why?” Luigi has no idea. Tomas assumes Aldo must be talking about Alicia and gets mad.

Lety walks back into the exec lobby, she runs into Robopop and tells him that mom is waiting for him in the lobby. Alicia wishes him a pleasant evening (that lambe-patas! I love that phrase, I’ve been using it all week!) He gets into the elevator as a sexy woman in a mini skirt walks out. The woman asks Alicia who that guy was. Alicia informs her that it’s President Lety’s dad and the woman seems intrigued. After the woman walks away, Alicia says she is appalled at the woman’s audacity (or maybe her desperation) .

In a meeting room with a big coffee table, the cuartel beg Lety to tell them what will happen to them. Martha asks if she will at least give them a letter of recommendation. Lety says that no one is going to fire them. They are excited. PM says she know Lety wouldn’t let anything happen to them. Lola says she knew they would come out of this unscathed. She pumps fist in the air, which sort of makes me enjoy the next part, where Lety tells them that actually, they will lose a day’s pay. The women are impactadas. They whine about it. Irma says they should be happy they still have their jobs. Juana tells them to stop being ungrateful and hugs Lety in gratitude.

Fern and Omar roam the hallways as Fern decries Aldo’s intentions with Lety. Omar becomes distracted by 2 girls walking by and Fern has to pull him back. Fern is sure that Aldo is trying to conquer Lety. Omar points out that Fern is back with Marcia. Fern doesn’t see the connection. He mimics Aldo’s discourse and calls him a crazy, perverted, sicko. Furthermore, if he finds out that Aldo really is interested in Lety, he’s really gonna let Aldo have it.

Tomas continues to spy on Aldo but Frick & Frack catch him in the act. To deflect attention from himself, Tomas tells them they look like the Men In Black in their dark suits. They bicker back and forth about why they are there instead of working and accidentally bump Aldo’s door again. They run away as Aldo opens his door to see who it is (actually, it’s really because they run with their hands out in front of them like the cartoons). Aldo goes back in his office and Frick & Frack send Tomas back to his office. Fern comments that Tomas’s spying shows very bad manners, and they he immediately goes back to listening at Aldo’s door.

Lety tells the cuartel about their new work assignments. That about sums those 5 minutes up.

Fern and Aldo finally enter Aldo’s office. They introduce themselves and promptly though politely lay down the law about Lety. Fern says there is no need for Aldo to report his progress to Lety, since that’s what Fern is there for here for.

Lety tells the women that Alicia won’t be her secretary, and they think this means Alicia has been fired. They celebrate by singing “goodbye oxijenada!” until Lety clarifies that Alicia will work for Marcia.

Marcia shows Alicia her new desk next to Marcia’s office. Alicia is distraught at having to sit next to the cuartel.

Fern wants Aldo to give him details about the new project. Also says he has contacted a friend who is in the restaurant association. Fern doesn’t think that this plan will work. Aldo says they must be patient, he has planted a seed, and they must give it time to grow and bloom. Fern makes fun of Aldo’s nature metaphor and talks about birds and their nests. Just then Aldo’s friend calls says the restaurant association is interested in Aldo’s project; they are willing to invest 2 million dollars (not pesos-- funny how a Mexican company dealing with a Mexican restaurant association in regards to a project specifically related Mexican food would nonetheless talk in terms of dollars). Anyway, Aldo shares the news but this does not impress Fern, who is skeptical about whether Aldo’s friend is legit.

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