Caray, Caray!

Ariel mocks Alicia for not having enough money to buy new stockings. He says 100 pesos (about US$9) will be enough. He offers her the money and grandly says he knows they cost less, but she can keep the change. She refuses the money, and he scolds her for being so disagreeable about his act of charity. (He takes the cash back, though.) Alicia says she can solve this problem without his money, and tells him to leave her in peace.

He leaves her in peace... for the moment, at least. "You never learn," Martha clucks at Alicia.

Ariel proceeds to spread his sunshine in Luigi's studio, where Aldo is sharing his Deep Thoughts about happy-dancey music with Marcia, Luigi, and (I still don't know why) Ricky Armstrong. "We were speaking of sordid and somber things, and along comes the most somber of them all," Luigi complains. "Glad to see you too," Ariel answers. Marcia tells Luigi not to be rude, and asks him to introduce Ariel and Aldo. Luigi introduces Ariel as a high-ranking executive in Conceptos. (Not true - Ariel doesn't hold a position in the company that I know of, other than partial owner, but considering how little Conceptos is worth right now, that doesn't mean much.) He introduces Aldo as someone who's collaborating on a very important project.

The two A's shake hands and, in answer to Ariel's query, Aldo leisurely explains the whole gastronomical tourism thing. Ariel makes a crack about this being Lety's big plan to save the company from the ruin she made of it; Aldo indicates that Lety wasn't the only person who played a role in the disaster. Annoyed that Aldo knows so much about the Conceptos situation, Ariel says that Aldo doesn't have a right to an opinion and no one asked him for one. Aldo just grins broadly and answers that he could have done this incredibly important project with some other agency, but chose Conceptos specifically (and solely) because of "your president," licenciada Padilla.

Ariel doesn't have much to say to that, so he tells Marcia that he needs to talk to her. Apparently, he means now. The two of them go out to the lobby, but Marcia says she needs to discuss a couple of things with Lety first. Ariel tells her not to take too long, because his matter is very grave. (Remind me again, what is Ariel's contribution to Conceptos? Oh yeah - he sucks up air, coffee, and dignity.)

Out in the lobby, Paula Maria is on the phone with someone, trying to get someone to drive her home, but his (or her) car isn't working.

Sara takes another call from the US Embassy. Flustered, she gets her English and her Spanish a little mixed up, but explains that Fernando must be working on something really important.

Ariel approaches PM. She timidly greets him. He touches her hair and says her new position suits her. She thanks him and says she's at his service. "That's good to know," he says. As he turns away, PM brushes his cooties out of her hair.

Just then, Fern emerges from the stairwell, holding the trashbag behind him. Ariel seems to have a fresh batch of insults ready for him, but they wilt before he can even get started. "Oh, it's trash," he says. He manages to wheeze out a remark about Fern having found his true calling - scavenger.

Fern laughs. (Ariel seems not to recognize this sound.) Fern says Ariel's great. Some of the best people in the world say they don't like Ariel, but not Fern - he likes Ariel just fine. He's funny! (He keeps touching Ariel's jacket. Ariel looks offended.) Fern explains about separating the glass, aluminum, cardboard, paper... he'd heard of recyclable trash, but he had thought it had something to do with bicycles.

I guess Ariel is used to these conversations. He says that if Fern wants, he can order someone to separate the trash. "A million thanks," Fern answers.

Wow. Just imagine what they must have sounded like when they were younger and even more immature. No wonder Teresita prefers Marcia.

Sara tells Fern that the US Embassy has been calling. Fern says he'll talk to them later. He whispers loudly to her that Ariel is the one who smells bad. He excuses himself and goes to his and Omar's office.

"U. S. Embassy, U. S. Embassy," Ariel mutters thoughtfully.

In Ren & Stimpy's, Pinky & the Brain's, etc.'s office, Omar is on the phone with Guillermo, setting up a meeting first thing tomorrow morning (about a month from now, at this rate). Fern leaps over the desk (without hurting himself) and takes the Big Chair. (Omar handles the chair as Fern jumps - I think it's supposed to look as though he's trying to keep Fern from getting it, but he's probably moving it so Fern doesn't break his neck. Just a guess. And thank you, Omar!)

Omar complains about the smell and tells Fern the embassy was looking for him. Fern says he was in the trash, looking for important things. Fern says it was a lot of work, but he found it. "You mean that's the bag of things from Lety?" Fern sarcastically calls Omar a wizard for having divined such a great mystery. He says he's going to present them to their owner. Omar says "over my dead body." (Like anyone could smell the difference?)

Lety greets Marcia politely, and Marcia says they have something delicate to discuss. Before they can go any further, Fern comes in, and hurriedly hides the bag behind his back when he sees Marcia. Lety greets him politely too. So does Marcia.

Marcia and Fern pause to mentally kneel before the Monster Ladyparts Seashell of Doom. Fern says he wants to talk. "You want to talk to me?" Marcia asks. "Not exactly," Fern answers. He says he's there to talk about the project. Marcia says that's great - that's why she's there too, so why doesn't he sit down with them. He says no, maybe we should talk about it in a meeting, some other time. Marcia sarcastically offers to give them some privacy.

Fern struggles to open the door while still holding the bag behind his back. "What smells?" Marcia asks. "Smells like trash," Lety says. "Yeah, like trash," Marcia sneeringly says to Lety. (What a shame Marcia never had a sister.) Lety sighs and rolls her eyes slightly.

Fern goes back into the lobby, cradling the bag. Martha offers to throw it out for him. Lola backs away from the odor. Sara is still struggling with her English/Spanish on the phone and tells Fern that the embassy is calling again. Fern explains that the odor is the smell of Ariel, and asks Sara (half in English) to pass the call to his office. (PM offers to throw out the bag for him, and he refuses, commenting on how helpful they all are.)

Martha says it smells like Fern's been eating rooster. (Maybe she means spoiled chicken.) And speaking of rooster, she's hungry.

Fern goes back to his office and Omar gets the big chair. He reports that Marcia was in Lety's office. The phone rings and they both reach for it. Fern wins. ("Snooze, you lose," he tells Omar.) Fern is told to wait. Fern drops the phone on the desk to bring Omar up-to-date on the events of the last three minutes.

Omar tries to play doctor. (Psychiatrist, that is.) He says Fern's problem, his conflict, is that he's not living in real life. He looks ridiculous carrying that bag of trash around everywhere. He reminds him that Fern once told him he didn't want anything with Lety. Fern doesn't remember this. He thinks maybe he was drunk when he said that. Omar disagrees. Fern says he can't bring himself to throw the things away.

I think Omar then proposes to make a necklace of all the stuffed animals and give them to Luigi and dance with them. (I'm sure I've mangled this.) "Not only are you a pervert, you're kind of gay," Fern tells him. Because of the way he dances. Omar says he's dancing like Luigi. And he says that if Fern wants to get Lety out of his system, he has to start by getting rid of all this junk.

Omar takes a CarvaHallmark out of the bag and begins mocking Fern, "mi Lety, mi Lety, I can't live without you," blah blah blah.

Omar asks Fern if he still thinks he has a chance with Lety. Fern says no... he says it's different than before. It's changed. He's not going to fight. He's got to start getting rid of the ghost of Lety. Omar gives him the bag and tells him he knows what he needs to do.

In Lety's office, Marcia accuses Lety of going back on her word. The cuartel knows the whole incredible, sad story about Lety and Fernando. She thought Lety was a woman of integrity, but what did she expect from a woman who would seduce someone's fiance. Surely Lety was dying to tell the secretaries all the rich details of what had happened.

Lety denies telling them anything, doesn't know how they would know about that stupid story. She says it's too painful for her, and she's left it in the past. Marcia asks if Lety has forgotten what happened. Lety repeats that she's left it in the past. She'll talk to the cuartel and find out what happened.

Marcia says they have very precise information, and were saying that she broke her engagement with Fern because of Lety.

Lety is surprised to hear this. Marcia angrily asks what did she think after she "presented" her with all the gifts and cards Fern had given her. (Funny, that's not how I remember it. How I remember it is that Marcia demanded that Lety show these things to her or else she'd call security and then Lety would have to deal with the wrath of Celso. Lety was kind enough to insist that they open the bag in private, instead of out in the lobby in front of all the nosy secretaries.)

What do you know - Lety remembers it the same way I do. She was not, and is not, interested in letting the cuartel in on the whole story. She asks Marcia if she's forgotten that she had accused Lety of stealing. Marcia suddenly doesn't want to pursue this angle anymore. Go figure.

Lety promises to straighten it all out. Marcia seems annoyed that this will happen "later." Marcia, if there's a time machine around that Lety can use to get this done "earlier," please speak up.

Lety tells Marcia she wants to have a quick meeting, right now, to discuss progress on the project. (Luigi is the only person who can possibly have anything to report!) Marcia sarcastically agrees to show up. Nice to see some enthusiasm for not ending up in the poorhouse, Marc!

Two seconds later, most of the gang (minus Aldo, Omar, and Fern) is in the boardroom. Luigi is giddily enthusiastic and calls Lety "Pre Pre." He explains that it's "precious president." He giggles. He's made lots of progress with Ricky, Caro, and Marcia. Ricky is also giddy and talks about a slogan, logo, music, etc. and does a goofy impression of Luigi. Luigi says they've also worked out the general concept.

I just noticed - I can't see Carolina's highlights. :-(

Fern and Omar show up. Fern tries to take his usual seat between Marcia and Tomas, but everyone reacts to the terrible odor clinging to him. Caro fans the air - yes, she's got a fan too, in addition to the pseudo-kimono and chopsticks.

Oh, ugh, I can almost smell it myself. Wait... I do smell something. Ew, Polly! Jeez!! (My dog has the most exquisite timing!)

Fern reveals that he has not accomplished anything, although it takes him a lot of time (and words, including "gastrological") to explain that. Lety gapes at him as he babbles about nothing. Omar adds that he's set up a meeting with Guillermo for tomorrow.

Lety hands out other assignments. She and Tomas are going to do a budget. She asks Marcia to contact some directors to work with Luigi. Fern reiterates that he and Omar will meet with Guillermo. There are more odor complaints. Fern says his lunch disagreed with him.

Omar is on the phone with Guillermo in his office, saying he'll be at the meeting tomorrow. As he hangs up, Alicia comes in (wearing her new stockings) and says she's cancelled all of her evening's plans to have dinner with him, just as she promised. He says that's too bad, because he's waiting for someone else to confirm a date with him. Alicia asks if it's with a woman. Luigi comes in and tries to kick her out. She shoves him out of the way and offers to be Aldo's second choice (not in so many words) for dinner. He agrees, and Luigi throws her out. He warns Aldo that she's trying to trap him.

Luigi gets a call from Ruli. He leaves to take it in his studio. "It's a zoo," Aldo laughs to himself.

Luigi tells Ruli about Aldo. He's not posessive or controlling. He's like Ruli... at the beginning of their relationship. (Irma, the involuntary eavesdropper, rolls her eyes.) Apparently, Ruli needs to be reminded that he was once understanding, sensitive, not jealous or controlling; loyal, empathetic, tolerant... but he has slowly become a big control freak, just like all men. Luigi asks for just one reason he's ever given Ruli to be that way.

Luigi sends Irma out of the room on an errand. As soon as she's gone, he has a hissy fit, saying he's always behaved well with Ruli, and doesn't deserve to be treated this way. (He stamps his foot.)

Alicia goes back to her desk, and I notice that the chalk line got wiped off the floor. Did I miss something? Who cleaned that up?

Lola's phone rings. "What do you want, homewrecker?" Jazmin is calling to say that Sanchez is here for Lola. Lola nervously wonders what this could mean. PM thinks Sanchez's visit is just an excuse to see his new giiiiiiirlfriend. They all giggle at Sara and joke about the differences in their heights and ages.

Lola doesn't want to go down there and see him, but Sara reminds her of the dangerous new receptionist downstairs. Lola rushes away to meet her fate.

Marcia finally meets with Ariel. He whines about having to wait, and complains about Aldo. Marcia says she likes him okay, and asks what Ariel's grave situation is. They closed the stockbrokers' office (literally, "house of bags") where he's been working. He's out of a job! (Quick - someone tell Alicia so she can punch him next time he approaches her!) He's going to look for another job, but until then, he's got a cash flow problem.

(I laugh. Time passes. Still laughing. Try to go to bed, but can't, because still laughing.)

The car he's been using - it's not his. The money he invested - it's lost. (He blames Fern for this because he thought Conceptos was doing well and he could afford to gamble on something else. Idiot.) He reminds Marcia that Lety said that money had been put aside to pay the shareholders, right?

Marcia confirms this and says "Want an advance on that money? Fine, go talk to Lety!"

He whines that he really needs the advance. Marcia repeats that he has to talk to Lety. She's not going to do it. Ariel says if Lety could shoot someone, he'd be her first victim. Marcia agrees, but says her corpse would be right next to his. He complains that the only thing worse than losing his job, is having to speak to that woman.

Marcia advises her brother not to make fun of Lety. They are in her hands, and now she's a different woman.

Ariel thinks she's not a different woman. She's only where she is due to her errors and the circumstances of the moment. She's just as ugly and neurotic as ever. He sarcastically thanks Marcia for the "support" and leaves.

Caro visits Aldo. She warns him not to have false hopes over Lety. She's sorry to tell him that Lety is still thinking about, and suffering over, Fern. The idea was that she was going to forget about him, little by little, but now they're always near one another.

They wonder when he should tell Lety he loves her. He says he's going to have to look for the right moment. Probably not in the office. He invited her to dinner, and is waiting to hear from her.

Aldo says that if she tells him she's still yearning for Fern, he will fight for her. He wants her at his side. He will dedicate his life to making her happy.

What if she tells him that the only thing that will make her happy is Fern's love?
What then, Dimples?

A phone rings in Lety's office. She looks around and realizes it's her cell phone. It's Tomas. She puts him on speaker, and they talk about how great their phones sound. (It's a brand that rhymes with Granola. Their new car is a brand that rhymes with Bored. Their cell phone service is a brand that rhymes with... uh... MexBel.) Tomas enters her office, still talking on the phone. Ha, ha. He babbles, she types. I'm surprised the Monster Ladyparts Seashell of Doom doesn't send out beams to interfere with the phone signals. Oh well... Lety asks about the stockings. Tomas recounts the Alicia's Pantyhose Caper. He thinks the fact that Alicia eventually accepted them, proves that he's an expert on feminine psychology. Lety scoffs.

Ariel comes in, and I'm starting to wonder if there shouldn't be a lock on that door. People just come strolling through whenever they like. Lety says she's busy. Ariel says it's important AND urgent. Tomas excuses himself.

Here's where it gets weird: Ariel invites Lety to dinner.

Down in the lobby, Jazmin greets Sanchez, who is holding a box of chocolates. They chat and flirt. She tries to get info from him about the divorce. He says his business there is strictly confidential. A lawyer's clients' information is as secret as the confessions they give to priests. He offers to give her a photo of himself. She says the only thing she wants is to find out if Lola will have to sell the house and give half the money to El Cheque. Sanchez refuses to answer.

El Cheque shows up with roses. Sanchez says this is a conflict of grand proportions. Not surprisingly, El Cheque thinks Sanchez is trying to steal Jazmin. Sanchez says she is indeed pretty, but he likes Sara, and the chocolates are for her.

The phone rings. Jazmin doesn't answer "Conceptos" or something businesslike - she answers "Sí, diga." That's fine if you're at home, but not at work. Wonder how long she's going to last at this job?

It's Rosales, calling for Sanchez. El Cheque pulls Jazmin aside. She asks if he has to give Lola any money. He says no, but he thinks they can use Sanchez's interest in Sara to their advantage. Jazmin doubts this, since they're all so unkind to her. He urges her to make nice with Sara.

Back in Lety's office, Ariel says he doesn't understand why she's being so "strange." Hasn't anyone ever invited her to dinner before?

Lety says yes, of course, but never anyone who had said to her face that she looked like a clown, that she couldn't work for a production house, that she was an assault on people's eyes. Ariel admits that he's said all of those things at some time or other, but it's clear that she's now more put-together, and has something that's... very... how to say it... attractive. (This "how to say it" thing is something he borrowed from Aldo's speech earlier in this episode.)

Lety informs him that "this woman" is still the same person as before, and she can't accept his invitation. If he wants to talk to her, she'll check her schedule, and see if she has time tomorrow. Obviously, it will have to be in the office.

Ariel believes she wants to take revenge on him. That's okay. Check her schedule and see when she has time. But frankly, her reaction strikes him as childish. Lety says no, it's not childish, it's just the only way that she can converse with him.

Lety stares at what sure looks to me like a blank screen and says she has time to see him at 4 tomorrow. (I don't mean an empty schedule - I mean she has no windows open on her screen; it's just a big Conceptos logo.) He says that's impossible. He'll be busy all day. (Doing what? Counting all the money he's lost?) How about at night? She says they could meet at 8 PM. He asks if she's busy after that. She says no, and asks if it's going to take him a really long time to talk to her. He says no - it's perfect. He'll come for her at 8.

Lety says no, he's not picking her up. Ariel says if she has no other plans, there's no reason they can't talk somewhere else. Like at a restaurant, for example. Lety repeats, "I'm not going to go out to eat with you."

Ariel accuses her of being afraid, but Lety says she just doesn't understand why they can't discuss whatever it is in the office. He says she won't understand if they don't talk, and whatever they can do here, they can do in a restaurant.

Lety still resists. Ariel asks if she thinks he's going to seduce her. He repeats that he thinks she's scared. In spite of her presidential look and her confident voice, she's still the same insecure woman as always.

Lety says, "Well, that's your opinion and I couldn't care less what you think of me." Ariel says that's fine with him. Tomorrow he'll give her the chance to show him that he's wrong. He adds, "I'll come for you at 8. ON TIME." Lety grinds her teeth as Ariel leaves her office.

It's going-home time. Alicia prances around the lobby with her makeup palette. The cuartel makes fun of her new stockings and ask if they're used. Alicia says she'd die before wearing used stockings. As they all pile into the elevator, they warn her not to tear her new ones as well.

They get down to the main lobby, where Lola has to be restrained when she sees El Cheque. Sara approaches Sanchez, who is so excited to see her, he fails to hang up the phone nicely and merely throws it in Jazmin's general direction. (Again, I wonder what the phone budget is like for this show. The only other TV character I can remember who was nearly as rough on phones was Steve McGarrett.)

Lola tries to talk to Sanchez about the divorce, but he only has eyes for Sara. El Cheque tries to get Sara's attention and calls Sanchez a slob, but Sara ignores him. Lola asks how he can call Sanchez a slob. There is more talk, and multiple parties encourage Sanchez to give the chocolates to Sara. He gives them to her and says sweet things. Sara makes a face that looks like a cross between puckering up, and disgust.

Tomas catches Alicia openly inspecting her stockings. He says they fit her well, and she yells at him for looking at her legs. He says he gave her those stockings with great fondness. She says she only took them because it's an emergency. She'll pay him back tomorrow.

Ariel notices the new stockings too. He asks where they came from. Maybe a female friend loaned them? Alicia is outraged by the suggestion. He says sorry, he forgot - she doesn't have any friends. She protests - it's not that, it's just that she would never wear used stockings.

He conjectures that someone must have given them to her as a gift. Does she have a boyfriend? Is he here, around Conceptos? Alicia steals a nervous glance at Tomas, who is grinning and wiggling his eyebrows hopefully, and says no. (Tomas looks surprised.) Or, maybe it's a lover? A secret lover, who has lots of money? He's told her about his friends that have so much money, and great resources to solve her problems...

"Ariel, please, no more." Alicia looks ready to cry.

I can't wait till she finds out he's almost as broke as she is.

---

Monday
Tomas risks life and limb defending Alicia against Ariel's insults.
Aldo risks life and limb defending Tomas against Ariel's wrath.
Lety pauses in her typing.

Later
Ariel takes Lety to Le Noir, crushes a waiter and eats him whole, then slithers away, leaving Lety to pay the bill.

Useful vocabulary words:
pepenador=scavenger
casa de bolsa=stockbrokers' office
fusilar=to shoot
fingir=to feign (actually heard this in tonight's Mundo, not La Fea, but I really liked it!)

Labels: fea