Caray, Caray!

Ana teases Paula that she and Cesar Luis once had a torrid romance. [Ding, dong] It's the Silver Fox (aka The Devil) at the door.

Pastor complains to Ivonne that Juan hasn't returned the company car to work. It should be used for business only, not for personal use. Ivonne tells Pastor not to complicate his own life, no man is worth the heartache, she should know. Pastor wants the phone number of Juan's house, if Ivonne won't give it to him then he'll find it on his own.

CL tells a smiling Paula and a suspicious Ana that two beautiful women should not be sad on Ana's birthday. He's going to take them to the best restaurant in Mexico. He makes a big show of giving Ana an expensive-looking necklace as a present. It's completely inappropriate. Heh, I wouldn't be surprised if it belongs to his wife, he's such a cad. Ana looks at it askance as he proudly beams at Paula.

Ivonne calls Nidia's Nut House and asks for Juan. Nidia demands to know who is calling; Ivonne and Pastor chicken out and hang up. "Where is that ingrate," wonders Pastor?

Cut to Juan and Kike (Enrique) driving in the company car with the mariachis stuffed in the back seat. Kike's excited because two women await them for a night of music, food and fun. Juan breaks the news to him - Kike's not invited. Kike tries to make like Juan's pulling his leg but no, Juan says seriously, the party is for him only. Kike is distraught, even the mariachis try to convince Juan to include his friend, but Juan answers that they will party some other time. He drops Kike off on a dark street with only a torn ticket (or bill) in his hand. Pretty shabby treatment from a supposed friend.

Paula thanks CL for inviting them to dinner but they have other plans. He says he supposes they have to leave soon. "Yes!" says Ma; "No," says Paula simultaneously, "errr, we're waiting for one of mom's friends, but you can stay and eat with us." Ana tries to get him to leave but after Paula's invite no way will he leave.

Juan drives up with his mariachis and bag of tamales. He lines the musicians up and thought bubbles that this act should make Paula, his corazón de melon (melon-heart, sweetest part of the fruit) take him seriously.

Pastor sadly paces the empty garage at work. He recalls his lunch "date" with Juan...lunch, shoe shopping, all the romantic details. He imagines he sees Juan materialize across the garage. Juan runs toward Pastor in slo-mo, blowing kisses, long locks flying, hearts swirling around him. But no, it's not real, and Pastor weeps into his hands. This scene alone was worth the price of admission tonight.

Juan coaches the mariachis, he wants it to be a magical night. As they begin playing Juan silently asks Paula to forgive him. Tonight this song will not be for her mother, but from him to her.

Inside the house Ana is still trying to get rid of CL when the music starts. They go outside and Ana smiles at last, happy to see Juan and the musicians. Paula says it's perfect. Juan looks ecstatic until CL joins them. Juan hangs his head sadly. He thought bubbles that seeing CL gives him a bad feeling, he fears he's too late.

Poor Juan sadly holds his bag of tamales while the mariachis sing their hearts out. The ladies love the music but CL keeps looking at his watch. Juan is screwed and both he and CL know it.

Marely telephones her girlfriends to see if any of them can go out with her tomorrow night (on her employment date with Juan and Fernando) but none of them can make it.

After the serenade Juan gives the musicians taxi money, pullling his last pesos from his boot, while Paula, Ana and Cesar go into the house. The phone rings and it's Rosario, Ana's friend. She's working late and cannot make it to the house for Ana's celebration. CL is thrilled, now they can go to dinner with him.

Juan rushes in, he's hyper about the delicious tamales they're going to eat. CL bursts Juan's bubble. There will be no partying down for Juan tonight. CL tells Juan he plans to take the ladies to dinner. Clearly Juan will not be included in these plans.

Ana graciously thanks Juan for all his work, every detail was lovely. "Mucho gusto," he smiles at her, but he thought bubbles "my gusto has turned into disgusto." Poor Juan puts on an ebullient face but we know his heart is breaking. How do we know? Ours are too.

Back in the car Juan thinks he has never felt so humiliated and stupid in his life, he's a Grand Imbecile. He won't trip over the same stone twice. Paula's just another woman...so why does he feel so much pain? And what's he going to do with all those tamales?

Marely is desperate, none of her friends will go out with her tomorrow night so she asks Yadira. Yadira is suspicious and basically not interested until she hears that Juan is involved. She even stops filing her nails.

Nidia comes downstairs, her face smeared with a hideous facial masque. She asks about Juan and states that she's nervous when he's not around. "Ay, speaking of the king of rome, here he is now," laughs Yadira. Juan enters and Nidia tries to hide her face but Juan is unfazed. He whips out his tamales and the girls are delighted. Juan thinks that even though they make him feel
welcome, winning this battle doesn't compensate for the war he just lost.

Next day: Ana tells Paula she still has her doubts about CL, yada yada same old conversation, she doesn't want what happened between her and Samuel to happen to Paula.

Nidia is in her room on the treadmill, reading a magazine, eating sweets, and watching the TV. The treadmill is on but her feet are on the sides so she's not actually exercising. As soon as Yadira enters she jumps on the tread and starts milling. Yadira has something odd to tell mom, Marely asked her to double-date with Juan and another guy. Nidia is impactada. She is the queen of impactada.

Paula apologizes to Juan as he drives her to work. She appreciates all he did for her mom, and the tamales looked delicious, but she had no choice but to go out with CL, he insisted. "Bah," Juan thought-bubbles, "from now on I'm thinking of me first, no more tears for you, missy!"

At work Juan reminds Fernando about their double-date that night. One thing, the girls don't know he's a chauffeur so could Fernando pretend that Juan is an important executive? Oh, and Fernando can pretend to be one too. Fernando's not completely on board with Juan's tall tales.

Nidia confronts Marely about why she wants to go out with Juan. Marely admits that she's trying to get a job and she's going to get it with or without Nidia's permission. Furthermore, she'll go out whenever she wants and with whomever she wants. She stomps out of her room and down the stairs, stopping on her way out to yell at Yadira for having a big mouth.

Juan does a little party dance and manages to get Fernando to crack a smile; he agrees to go along with Juan's charade. Juan says they'll take the biggest car in the garage to impress the chicks. Fernando tries to talk Juan out of this, he says it's one thing to lie to a couple of girls but another to take company property. Pastor is already too strict, why would Juan want to turn him into a fiera? Juan poo-poo's Fernando's concerns, his jefa will approve his taking the car.

Cut to Pastor yelling at Paula that she is too lenient with Juan. He is only a chauffeur and no better than anyone else. Mr. Juan Dominguez acts like the car is his and he breaks a strict company rule when he takes the car for his own use. Paula informs pastor that she agrees with him, however last night Juan used the car for company business, not for personal use. (Her mom's birthday party is company business? OK, whatever.) She concludes that next time
Pastor should be better informed before complaining to her about her employee.

Ivonne enters and says CL needs Paula in his office. Both Ivonne and Pastor seethe behind Paula's back.

CL asks Paula if Pastor told her about the seminar in Taxco. He has a question for her and he wants her to respond sincerely...will she have a problem if they travel there together?

CL tells her that if their going together in any way bothers or inconveniences her he will send Pastor in his place. (Hmmm...I'm not so sure that's better. I'd rather go with the sexy snake than the petulant petunia.) Paula smiles sweetly at CL. I think the sweet smile is in her contract, something like a total of five minutes of smiling sweetly per episode. Maybe more.

Meanwhile, Monica (CL's wife) calls his office. Ivonne is uncharacteristically gracious to her because now she gets to interrupt CL and hopefully get him in trouble with Paula. She tells Monica that CL will be thrilled to hear from her.

In the office, Paula leans over the desk toward CL and provocatively asks him if there is any reason WHY she should have a problem with going to the seminar with him? He looks pleased and a little surprised at her question.

Ivonne rings through to CL's office; "Que pena, it's your wife," she says smugly.

Monica is all lovey-dovey but CL tries to sound brusque for Paula's benefit. It's great to watch CL squirm as he tries to 1) not piss off the wife, and 2) not make Paula suspicious. Dang, the SOB pulls it off! He convinces Monica that something bad is happening in the office so he can't talk. After he hangs up he tells Paula it was his wife and she nagged as usual, they cannot communicate. He and Paula will leave for their seminar on Friday.

Here commences a great scene between Yadira and Nidia. They go round and round as Nidia tries to find out what might be going on between Marely and Juan and Yadira investigates her mother's true feelings for Juan. Nidia insists it's her right as a mother to know what's going on in her daughters' lives. If Marely is about to commit one of the seven deadly sins she should know about it. Nidia says it's one thing that Juan is a very good person but another thing entirely if he wants to be her son-in-law.

Yadira finally asks Nidia if she's jealous. Nidia shakes her head NO but her faces says YES. Yadira keeps prodding Nidia and finally says she also wouldn't mind "charging his batteries." Nidia is impactada, "Don't tell me that you love my Juanito too?"

Juan is summoned to Paula's office. Unfortunately she has to tell him that the car must stay in the garage overnight. People have complained that he gets special treatment and is allowed to break the rules. "Ah caray," he moans, "who's the ratfink?" He's still working the angle for his date that night though, "OK, starting tomorrow I'll be happy to leave the car here," he says cheerily. This doesn't get by Paula; she says he has to leave the car there starting tonight. Juan makes his funny faces while he thinks about how this is messing up his plans. Paula, watching his facial contortions, asks him if anything is bothering him.

Yadira asks her mom how could she possibly think that she (Yadira) likes Juan. (I guess she's forgotten she tried to seduce him just a couple of nights ago!) Yadira says she likes Juan, but for Nidia, not for herself. Yadira urges Nidia to fight for Juan. If Nidia would change her attitude and act casual then Juan will surely fall for her. Just look at Enrique!

In his office Pastor tries to calm himself by playing "Clair de Lune" very loudly. Juan knocks on the door. Pastor is all business. Juan asks Pastor what's going on. He thought they were friends. Pastor responds coldly that Juan's concept of friendship is different from his own.

Yadira tells Nidia to look at Marely, she has Juan eating out of her hand. Marely acts distant and unobtainable and Juan can't resist it. I didn't get all the conversation that went on between them, but Yadira concludes by telling Nidia she has a plan for making Juan jealous. Nidia gets excited, will they hire a telenovela actor to be her suitor? No...Yadira says the ideal candidate is in front of Nidia's nose. It's someone who is already madly in love with her.

Cut to Alirio twirling his moustache. Slimy Gutierrez is in his office demanding payment for the will he forged. Alirio tries to stall, it takes time to collect that amount from his stocks and investments. Gutierrez puts his cigar out on Alirio's desk and tells him he will give him one week only. After that he'll open his mouth and reveal that he forged Samuel's will.

Alirio's phone rings. It's Nidia. She flirts with him and he is under her spell.

Juan asks Pastor if he can borrow the car for the night. He needs it for a surprise...a surprise for Pastor. He can't tell him what it is, otherwise it wouldn't be a surprise, right? (Oh Juan, this is low, even for one who sports a mullet.) Pastor asks, "Am I wearing a Grand Imbecile sign on my head?"

Pastor eventually relents, sort of. He'll give Juan one chance. "You're going to loan me the car?" asks Juan hopefully. No chance, but if Juan demonstrates to Pastor that his intention to change is sincere then they can resume their friendship along with all the "advantages" that it implies. Juan stumbles over a few words while Pastor continues...he will continue to enforce the company's regulations while Juan proves to Pastor that his intentions are sincere.

Pastor's mouth continues to move while Juan puts on a fake wide grin and thought bubbles, "I'm in a hurry to get my wheels and this lump with legs not only refuses me but makes me put up with his tantrum! He had me in his hands and he knew it, all the while I was giving my all wholeheartedly. What can I do to speed up my request?"


Advance-It looks like Juan might hit up the big boss (CL) for use of the company car.

guateque = party, fiesta
hablando del rey de roma = speaking of the devil (lit. the king of rome)
jolgorio = partying down, merrymaking
rollitos = tall tales

Labels: Juan