Caray, Caray!

We left Juan and his big belt buckle washing dishes and murmering about Marely, his "boquitas de caramello."

Next morning: Paula, her bust busting out of her business suit, has breakfast with her mom before work. Ana thinks Paula has the same expression as she had her first day of college. Paula reminisces about the fun day they had, her mother's big hugs, they ate in a nice restaurant, Paula got new shoes, then she had so much ice cream she got sick.

Ana feels guilty about having packed Paula off to school in the U.S. but Paula reassures Ana that she's the best mom in the world. Ana cries tears of happiness and Paula runs off to work without touching breakfast. Good thing, I think the buttons on her jacket would have popped otherwise. After she leaves Ana digs into Paula's huevos rancheros; no point in wasting an entire second breakfast.

Yadira, in a mini-falda and, ahem, interesting silver boots, gives Enrique an earful for loaning Juan the Microbus for the driving lesson. He tells her not to rub salt into him so early in the morning, i.e. not to put a jinx on him.

Enrique jumps into the bus where Juan is already pretending that he's driving the Indy 500. Juan gives Enrique some advice about women: Women like it when men are tender with them, but once in a while you have to shake them up a bit. (Actually, I'm not exactly sure what Juan said, help anyone? "De vez en cuando hay que pegarle sus zangoloteadas.") In effect, all women are themselves hell, just with a different devil.

Enrique's tired of the yada yada. It's time to begin the lesson. Juan puts it in gear and careens away from the curb. In front of the house Yadira clucks her disapproval and Marely worriedly observes from the upstairs window.

Paula is at the job and it's time for the Paula/Pastor face-off. It's Pastor's unfortunate duty to show Paula her new office, one of the most beautiful in the company he jealously points out. Paula's got his number. She tells him as long as they treat each other with respect they shouldn't have problems in the future. "Spare me the warning," he sneers. He doubts he'll ever be visiting her for fun. "Good," she retorts, "then we understand each other."

Cesar rushes in to welcome her. He effusively gives her a kiss and calls her lovely. He tells her anything she needs, just let Pastor know and he will get it for her immediately. Pastor's mouth goes completely horizontal and his eyes blaze.

Cesar wants to take Paula to the wine bar to network and celebrate. As they leave he makes a va-va-voom face behind her back. Pastor hopes they get drenched by rain, then he gazes around her office and touches her desk. He should have such an office.

Juan and Enrique survived the morning and are pigging out at the taqueria. Enrique knows a guy at the marketplace who can sell Juan a suit. But no-o-o-o-o, Juan wants to go to an elegant place, one where they actually take measurements. (Oh, I can just see the taking-the-inner-seam-measurement scene now.) Enrique complains that Juan will make him poor. Juan's response is so Juan: "Being cheap will cost you a lot." Juan lays into a big molcajete of guacamole and makes a yummy sounds.

Cesar gives Paula and us a tour of Farrel industries. He introduces her to the worker bees and says she has just graduated from school in the U.S. and will bring many innovative ideas to the company. I'm sure she would if he would ever let her get to work. He tells her that her ideas are just what his company needs, then he steps back and hungrily checks out her shapely behind.

Juan and Enrique gas up the minibus and Enrique relates the story of how he met Yadira. He worked for Mr. Samuel who treated him like a son. In fact Samuel loved him more than Yadira does. Juan asks info about Marely, specifically about past boyfriends.

Juan daydreams about the perfect married life he could have with her. He has a good job, lots of kids, a mountain of kids in fact (six in his dream). He comes home from work and is greeted by his adoring family. They eat together and read bedtime stories. Then later his wife, not at all exhausted from caring for six screaming brats all day, seven counting Juan, is waiting for him on the bed. She looks fantastic. He leaps on her like a panther and kisses her. (And the verdict is in folks, this galán can kiss!)

Juan pantomimes his lovemaking, eyes closed, at the gas station. He's very free with his emotions. Enrique walks up and witnesses Juan's performance so of course he teases him. Juan tries the "I was just pulling your leg don't tell me you fell for it" excuse before he jumps into the bus. Enrique knows Juan's full of it.

Back at Farrel Industries the personal tour is over. Paula's ready to get to work but Cesar wants to take her to a good Italian restaurant. As they get into his limo he asks, "do you like the Tango?" He knows of an Argentinian disco. As the scene ends Cesar drools over Paula while a tango plays in the background. This is going to be some lunch.

The driving lesson's not going so well. Juan is an erratic driver. He tells Enrique to fasten his seatbelt and he begins driving like a maniac. Another bus cuts in front of him and Juan rear ends it. If you ask me the other bus totally cut Juan off, but Juan's lack of a license will no doubt go against him.

Cesar plies Paula with wine and he admits to trying to get her just a little drunk. She's nervous about getting close to someone she hardly knows who also happens to be her boss. He lays it on, starting today she's going to be his right hand. (Oh I swear I will not make a nasty crack!)

Cesar decides not to push her. He says he'll gain her trust. They gaze at each other and clink glasses. They gaze some more. It's a going-into-commercial sort of gaze.

The driver of the other bus jumps out. He threatens and yells at Juan. Juan yells back that the other guy was driving down the middle of the street. (True.) Enrique cautions Juan to be careful, he has no license. The other driver and Enrique survey the damage but the other guy's a jerk and Juan can't help himself, he butts in and the guy tells him to shut up.

Juan fumes and thought bubbles that he's going to prove to Enrique that he's a man, not a sentimental fool. He yells at the other driver and taunts him. The driver tells Juan to butt out, he's arranging things with Enrique. Juan makes an obscene gesture and calls the guy a fat swine, or maybe a common swine, not sure which. Then Juan starts prancing around like a boxer. Juan calls the driver out, "Come on, let's go!" He postures, he struts like a rooster, puts his fists up.

Advance - Paula and Cesar drink more wine. Juan gets serious with the fight.

Echar la sal = put a jinx on (literally rub in the salt)

Labels: Juan