Caray, Caray!

PM is still depressed over her break-up with Saimon. To cheer her up, Lety tells PM a story: Once, an ugly girl was in love with a man, but her heart was broken. But then she realized she had to learn to love herself. Although her scars are still healing, she knows that she can still find happiness. PM listens with tears streaming down her face but she agrees to stop moping.

Lety tells the cuartel she is holding a meeting and that, although it’s late, a secretary must stay until meeting ends. The ladies look over at Alicia, who is admiring herself in the mirror.

In the meeting room, Lety sits down at her spot just as Fern gets call from Carla. Fern makes sure to say Crazy Carla’s name many times to annoy Lety, “Hi Carla… What’s up, Carla… that sounds great, Carla!” As he talks, Lety taps Fern on the arm with her finger to remind him that they are supposed to be conducting a meeting. He ignores her. Finally he hangs up and announces that that was Carla on the phone. Omar and Lety sarcastically pretend to be surprised.

The cuartel determine that they won’t be able to practice their “show” routine if one of them has to stay late. Sara has an idea to get Alicia to work late. They go over to Alicia’s desk and tell he about Lety’s orders. Sara says they will determine who has to stay late by pulling a name out of a coffee cup. They give her the honor of picking a slip paper from the cup. She takes a slip of paper from the cup and of course it’s her own name. The girls jump for joy and leave. Alicia laments her bad luck as she goes back to the cup. She opens up the rest of the papers in the cup and sees that they all have her name. She calls them ugly witches but they are already long gone.

Luigi and Aldo walk into the meeting room. Lety calls for the meeting to start. Just then Carla walks in. Fern stands up and calls “Carla, Carla, mi amor, Carla!” He grabs Carla and gives her a dramatic hug. Lety attacks Carla like a lion. She growls as she tears into her. Fern yells for Lety to “sit! sit!” (in English). Omar throws imaginary chains on her. Fern continues to hold Crazy Carla tight (but with her face to his chest so you cant see her face). Lety wimpers like a wounded puppy. Luigi yells at Lety snap out of it – it was a daydream, of course! Lety-- who after that run-in with her runaway imagination needs some comfort -- asks Aldo to sit next to her. This means Fern has to move over. Everyone scoots over a seat and Tomas falls off the seat at the end.

Finally, the meeting starts. Luigi describes his vision for the entertainment at the inauguration of Aldo’s book at the expo. He describes lots of pots and pans used as drums, fireworks, music, dancing girls and a big Mexican flag. Tomas asks how much this production will cost. Luigi is offended that cost is a factor.

The meeting is interrupted by another call to Fern from Crazy Stalker Carla. Again, he makes sure to state her name at the end each sentence. Lety is both annoyed and hurt. After the call, Omar remarks that Carla calls Fern as much as Marcia does.

The cuartel go to what I think is the roof of the building. It’s got that green synthetic grass carpet stuff but it’s otherwise it’s pretty nice, with benches and tables and a view of the city. They practice their dance routine, with PM leading them. A guy jogs by and PM follows him happily. [This girl is a pendulum… swinging this way and that way, happy and sad, love-sick and lust-sick...]

At the meeting Fern does not think the book should be introduced at the expo. Lety points out that the decision to do so has already been made. Fern grabs a big piece of easel paper. He dramatic and exaggerated excitement, he begins to describe his vision for the presentation of the book at the expo, involving a huge wooden book on wheels. And guess who pops out of the book like a stripper out of a cake? Aldo!

Aldo says that it would be like the Trojan Horse, except it’d be a book, not a horse. Fern enthusiastically agrees. Lety tells him to stop teasing. Fern insists it’s a good plan. Aldo agrees that it is a good plan, but can make it even better. He describes himself breaking out of the Trojan Book in a taquero (taco maker) outfit, bringing out a big platter (he folds the paper and holds it like a platter). He says on the platter there will be a huge marrano (pig), seasoned with spices (he waves the imaginary marrano in front of Fern’s face). He says he will have a big fat apple stuffed in the marrano’s mouth. He asks, “What do you think, Fernando Marrandiola?” Fern looks like the imaginary marrano has made his stomach queazy.

PM is still chasing the jogger on the roof. The women grab her and chastise her for chasing the first guy she finds when she’s supposed to be depressed over Saimon.

After the meeting, Lety, Aldo, and Tomas walk into Lety’s office. Lety and Tomas are chanting “Aldo! Aldo! Aldo!” They remark that Fern was obviously trying to bug him with the Tojan Book idea, but Aldo sure showed him! Aldo says he has to go work on the presentation. He goes in for a kiss from Lety. Lety leans in too but then hesitates and turns her head so Aldo kisser her on the cheek. After Aldo leaves, Lety shows Tomas the book Aldo gave her. Tomas says he doesn’t understand why she hasn’t fallen head over heels for Aldo The Hero yet. By the look her face, she’s asking herself the very same question.

Lety is in her office talking on the phone with her mom when PG walks in grabbing Fern by the elbow. He says that they have to talk NOW, because the bad karma in this office reaches way over to his house. Fern and Lety are very uncomfortable with the idea of group therapy session, they both think they should speak to the PG separately. PG says no way, they need to discuss this together, and he is going to clear everything up RIGHT NOW. And he then he tells them that their love for each other it the real deal and that they must immediately stop playing games and start up the hot romance again because that’s what the viewers want! …Oh, wait, that was my own imagination getting carried away…

Actually, PG comes down with a case of Aldo-itis and gives them a Deep Thoughts speech about encircling themselves in good energy. He says that the workplace can often be stressful and the bad energy spreads amongst co-workers. Lety agrees that this sometimes happens to her, giving Fern a pouty look. Fern returns the look and mimics her. They make faces at each other like adorable kindergarteners. PG says he has the perfect solution for the negativity that hangs over Conceptos heavier than the Mexico City smog. All they have to do is alimentar (nourish) their work place by adding more natural elements like water, plants, and light to the new deco -- seriously, this was his advice to resolve their crisis!

The cuartel go back in the building and find one of Luigi’s rehearsal spaces. For some reason, there is a funhouse mirror there and they waste a lot of time being goof. Lola says they will look ridiculous if they do their show. Irma says they must learn to laugh at themselves because what’s more important is how they are and how they see themselves. They agree that they are all beautiful… and talented... and great friends. The Aldo-itis is spreading like malaria.

Alicia waits for the microbus in a bad mood. Tomas drives up. Alicia claims she is waiting for her ride. Tomas gets jealous and demands to know who. Alicia says it’s her dad. Tomas offers her a ride, tempting her with the opportunity to feel her ex-car, her ex-seats, her ex-steering wheel, etc. She pouts. He gets out of the car and asks if she wants to drive it. She suddenly gets excited and jumps in the driver’s seat and begins to drive off before he can get in. He runs after her and jumps in.

The cuartel continue to goof around as they practice their routine. PM choreographs but they basically seem hopeless.

In front of Alicia’s building, she butters up Tomas with a sweet “Ay To-o-o-o-ommy”. She asks if he has money… so he can get himself home. He is good-naturedly agrees to take the bus and gets out of the car. She shouts victoriously and then Tomas jumps back in and reminds that it’s his car. Alicia asks what his deal is. He says he just wants to spend more time with her. He offers to pick her up in the morning. She tells him off yet again for all the promises he has broken (i.e. all the money he did not give her). She gets out of the car and stomps off. He is happy anyway because any Oxi interaction is good interaction in his book. As he drives off just as Alicia runs back out but he’s gone.

Saimon walks into the lobby with a miniature tree and a miniature fountain he found in storage. He runs into Fern, who reprimands Saimon for calling Fer “tu” again. Saimon says he found the fountain Fern asks for and hands it to him. Fern asks if Lety is still around. Just then Lety walks into the lobby. Fern jumps behind a couch. She asks Saimon if he’s seen Fern. Fern signals “no” to Saimon from behind the couch. Saimon pretends not to know where Fern is, but adds that he found the plant she asked him to find. Lety mentions that the plant is for Fern. At hearing this, a huge grin spreads across Fern’s face. He comes out of his hiding place. He says the mini-fountain is for her. They trade gifts. Saimon exclaims how sweet the exchange is. He insists that Lety and Fern kiss and hug. Fern hands Saimon his gift and gives Lety a huge bear hug, and a grin now spreads on Lety’s face. Lety then gives Fern an awkward hug. Saimon is satisfied by this and leaves.

Tomorrow, it's the cuartel's turn for a make-over!

Labels: fea