Caray, Caray!

Thanks to some much-appreciated hard work from Kim P, we'll soon have recaps to cover the entire gap between Chris's and mine. (Please remember to thank her in the comments!) Here are her recaps for the first four missing episodes:

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Missing Recap 1: An unwanted camera, and a lucky desk

Fernando is ragging on everyone because he's nervous about the upcoming video shoot. He's especially p.o.'d that Lety isn't at work yet.

Lety and Tomas have gone to register the new company. Lety asks Tomas not to tell anyone he's working for it. They sign the registration papers and the judge or registrar or whoever he is tells them they are now the legal owners of Filmo Imagen. Tomas teases Lety about how much she talks about Fernando. There's a scene as they're leaving the office where a pretty woman says something to Lety about feas that I don't get, while Tomas stands there drooling. Tomas asks Lety if he can get himself some business cards.

Saimon tells the cuartel that Fern, Marcia and Omar are going to L.A. They try to pump him for details, but he's not spilling. I think he doesn't know himself...

Lety finally gets in to work and Fern starts yelling at her for not calling in. She reminds him that she was on HIS business regarding F.I., and he calms down. They talk a little business, then Carolina and a model, Carla Lagunas (?) come in and interrupt. Carla is the model Luigi is using for the Benny Ibarra video. Fernando flirts with her, causing Lety to give the model some really ugly jealous faces. Fern tells Lety to go fetch Luigi and she bows and scrapes and "con permiso's" her way out, being very cold to the model. Fernando jokes about her bowing once she's gone.

Luigi is working with the choreographer and dancers when Lety comes in. He does his usual garbage and tells her to leave and finally she explains why she's there. He leaves to go see what Carolina and Fernando want. Once he gets to the office, they talk stuff I don't get, but I think part of it has to do with the camera since Omar and Fernando are giving each other "significant looks".

While Luigi's gone, the rest of the cuartel show up at the rehearsal place and Saimon pretends to be an executive and starts giving orders to the dancers while the cuartel watches and laughs. He even starts dancing with them. Fernando catches him and gives him hell. He then goes back to his office with Lety and tells her that he's going to L.A. in the morning and she can do with the new company what she wants as long as she keeps it in good shape. This causes her to fall even more in love and she gives Fern a dreamy look.

Tomas runs into Roman and his gang who start giving him crap, so despite being told not to tell anyone, he starts bragging about his new position with the company (I guess he and Lety really are from the same mold, wasn't she told exactly the same thing by Fernando and then immediately ran to Tomas?). Anyway, to show he's a big man, Tomas starts handing out his business cards while he discusses how much the company is worth. While he's talking, he starts eyeballing some hot chick hanging with the group, and Roman kind of encourages it to make Tomas more usable. Roman convinces Tomas to take them all out partying that night to impress Hot Chick.

Back at Conceptos, Fernando is giving Lety instructions for while he's gone. Lopez comes by and asks Fern if they can talk for a minute, and Fern looks at his watch and starts counting down the time. Lopez makes a wheezy laugh and Fern says something about asthma. Lopez wants to know if he'll be in charge while Fern is gone, and Fernando tells him no, Lety will be in charge. The cuartel all scream (literally!) with happiness. Fernando tells Lopez his minute's up and leaves, and so does Lopez after squeaking his head as only Lopez can. The cuartel celebrate and Saimon dances. There's a brief scene with Celso lighting tiki torches that's absolutely pointless, but I mention it 'cause he's cute so why not.

Luigi is criticizing the makeup artist who's working on Carla and she (Carla) tells Luigi he's making her nervous, so he compliments her instead. Irma brings in the costume and he hates it and goes to find Fern to complain. Fern and Omar are talking about the camera when Marcia comes over and Fern suggests they all go to the studio. Fern and Marcia compliment Carolina on the decorations and Luigi comes in and starts yelling at Fern about the cheapness of the costume. Marcia had ordered much nicer costumes and is upset that Fernando went against her instructions and changed her decisions. Luigi goes on again about the camera and Fern bites his head off and leaves. Marcia and Carolina discuss how tense Fern is and I think Marcia asks Caro to do something to help Fern relax.

Lety is in her office when Tomas calls, and she tells him he has permission to invest F.I.'s funds. He asks for a pay advance so he can take out a girl Roman introduced him to. She says ok.

Fern is on his cell phone as he walks into his office and at first doesn't notice that Carolina is there. She's cleared off his desk and lit some incense. He thinks she's coming on to him and says they don't really have time as she's removing his jacket, but she says relax, it will only take a few minutes.

Luigi is pacing when Saimon comes in and tells him his new camera has arrived. He's all excited and can't wait to see it.

Fernando's parents come into Reception along with some people, I guess they're clients or potential clients. They get on the elevator heading to Fernando's office. Fernando, meanwhile, is face down on his desk moaning, while Carolina is giving him a massage (he's telling her it's delicious). Meanwhile, I'm sincerely wishing I was the desk.

Saimon is leading Luigi, who has covered his eyes, to see the new camera. Naturally, when he sees it he thinks Oh HELL No and gets hysterical because it's video, not 35mm.

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Missing Recap 2: Oh, it was just a massage

Lety is talking to Tomas again, Saimon tells Luigi about the camera again, PM calls Lety and asks her to meet in the Fea Conference Room (aka Ladies Room), Fern's parents arrive again, I wish I was the desk again, and Luigi gets pissed about the camera again.

Lety exits her office into Fern's office and sees Carolina massaging him. Naturally, she assumes the worst and gets out quietly. She goes to the ladies room and greets the cuartel who are congregated there, but they ignore her. Just as she's starting to get pissed by their attitude, they surprise her with congratulations and call her "presidente", and tell her they want to celebrate the fact that she's going to be in charge.

Saimon tells Irma about the camera while Luigi whines. Irma starts trying to console him but he's inconsolable and starts saying stuff like "he'll rue the day he messed with Luigi Lombardi" (or something telenovela-y like that).

The cuartel are still celebrating in the bathroom when Alicia and Marcia walk in, putting an end to the festivities. Naturally Alicia makes a rude comment because she's Alicia and must, then Marcia and Alicia leave as Sara assumes Roller Derby Chick persona and tells everyone to hold her back. They laugh about Lety being in charge and Lety ugly-dances with accompanying ugly-faces. Meanwhile, Marcia is talking to Irma who's telling her that Luigi is in a snit.

The cuartel goes back to work (yeah right!). Lety goes back to Fern's door in time to overhear him tell Carolina what a wonderful experience that was. Still thinking they're chicka-bow-bowing, she blocks the door when Fern's parents arrive and try to go in. She also holds the door shut (I don't know why) as Fern is trying to come out. He finally gets it open and he and Carolina come out and ask her what the heck she's doing. She points to his parents and he gives them hugs, and Don H. explains to the guests who Caro is and what she does. Fern explains that she's also an excellent relaxation therapist and mentions his massage, and Dona Teresita comments that Carolina is famous for her relaxing massages. Lety makes an "oops, my bad" face as Caro leaves and everyone heads toward the studio. Just as they walk by the elevator, Ana Lety and her man (is that her husband or just a servant or gigolo?) and Ariel come out. Fern and A.L. chat and Ariel says something rude as only a bitter, ugly Little Mermaid can. Meanwhile, Irma tells Marcia that Luigi is missing and she and Alicia go off to look for him.

Everyone's in the studio and Fern talks to his dad. Caro introduces someone named Brad Robinson, an important publicist from the U.S. representing the Latin community (or something like that), I guess he's a potential client. Fernando says "Nice to see you man" in English and I think it's absolutely ADORABLE, but then again I am just a little tiny bit prejudiced. Some lady from the press comes in to interview Fern about the video.

Luigi bursts into the models' dressing room and tells everyone to go home, he's canceling the event. Marcia yells at him that he can't cancel anything. Luigi then explains that Fern lied to him and bought a video recorder, not the promised 35mm. He starts whining and complaining that Fernando doesn't respect his work as Marcia sends Alicia to fetch Fern, then starts kissing Luigi's hindquarters saying she'll talk to Fern. Lety, meanwhile, is crouched down hiding for some reason and overhears the whole conversation. Fern is about to go back to his office when Alicia runs up to him and tells him about Luigi.

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Missing Recap 3: Turning beans into caviar, then back into beans

Luigi is still being a diva and Fernando comes in, trying to force Luigi to do his job. Luigi tells him they can do what they want, but he refuses to work with video. Fern yells that he's just being eccentric while Luigi cries and whines. Marcia is defending Luigi and one of the male models steps in front of Fern like he's going to protect Luigi, but Fern's much bigger and just impatiently shoves him aside without really paying any attention to him. Fern grabs Luigi's lapels and shakes him while Marcia and Alicia try to calm everyone down. Marcia wants Luigi to stay and Fernando tells him he's crazy and he can be replaced, among other things. Luigi gets free and tells him he's not just going to ruin the event, he's going to ruin his life, while Marcia is also yelling at Fern in front of everyone. I think Luigi quits.

Fernando's dad comes backstage with Caro wanting to know why things haven't started yet and Fern pretends that everything's just hunky dory. Marcia tells Alicia that without the prestige of Luigi, Conceptos is ruined and they go looking for him. They find him and Marcia begs Luigi to stay with her and work on the video for her sake as well as the sake of the Mendiolas and Villaroels. He whines more and says something about being expected to turn beans into caviar (I've never heard that one before, but I like it). She tells him to only listen to her and not listen to Fernando. Finally Luigi softens and agrees to do it for her.

Fernando goes back to his office and Lety tells him she's been trying to get them a new director but hasn't been able to find one. He tells her to close the door, which she does. He tells her he has a grave problem and she tells him the camera is good (I think) and touches his face. He then tells her not to go back to her office because he doesn't want to be alone and to hold him because he wants to feel good in her arms. He begs her not to punish him, please kiss his lips. Naturally, it's just another one of Lety's Fantasy Island moments and she wakes up when Fern's clapping his hands at her, telling her someone's at the door (I don't know if he asked her to lock it to keep Luigi out, or if she locked it during her fantasy) and to go get him something to drink. It's Marcia in full-on harpy mode, wanting to know why the door was locked. Fernando sarcastically tells her it's because he was getting romantic with Lety. Lety giggles in that hideous way as only Lety can and leaves the office. Marcia tells Fern she's smoothed things over with Luigi for now but he's going to have to apologize. They leave for the video shoot.

Back in the studio, Lety tries to grab a drink that Don H. had reached for. She tries to give it to him but he tells her to keep it. Meanwhile Ana Lety says something really blonde that I don't get (don't get upset by the comment, I'm a blonde myself...) and Ariel says something back. I'm guessing this isn't a real important conversation. Fernando is trying to explain to Marcia that he's trying to cut costs. Lety nearly runs into them and offers Marcia the drink, but she just makes a snide comment and stalks off.

Luigi is telling a group of people (Omar, Marcia, Carolina, Alicia, etc.) that he refuses to work (didn't he just tell Marcia he'd do it for her?) and they all kiss his butt while he whines some more. Marcia again convinces him while Caro goes off to tell Fern what's going on. Lety wishes Fern good luck while he and Carolina go back to the studio.

Luigi introduces the video and Carla Lagunas, and the shooting starts. Hate to say it but it's really a rather silly thing, pretty much a rip-off the Duran Duran's Hungry Like The Wolf video with a bit of Wild Boys thrown in (are the writers Duran fans?). I do like the song, though, so if anyone can help me out with the name of the song, that would be great! Fern and Luigi are in the editing room while Benny starts to sing (I'd never heard of him till this show, then I started watching La Otra and found out he sings the theme to that) and everything goes really well until suddenly the power goes out. Que drama as Fernando gets hysterical and Luigi cries. I can't tell if the power went out because they bought cheap electrical equipment or if it's something with the power company bills, but anyway... when the lights come back on Fernando apologizes to everyone and says he wants to continue filming the video. Brad the American is making unhappy faces. Benny leaves and the cuartel wait and ambush him at the back door. Lety asks for a picture signed "to the cuartel of feas", but instead he writes "guapas". Marta then has a passerby take a pic of them all with her cell phone.

Meanwhile Omar and PM have slunk off to his office and are kissing. She starts to try to strip him down and he stops her saying no, not here (darn it! I'd have liked to have seen that!). She continues with her attempted rape and says something about Alicia. Omar pushes her away and she gets frustrated.

Lety's in her office hanging the Benny picture on her wall when she overhears Brad and his posse talking to Fern. Lety says "poor Fernando". In the studio, Don Humberto is worried about the consequences of today's fiasco. Teresita says it could be fatal for Conceptos. Omar comes and pulls Alicia aside but I'm not sure what they talk about.

In the editing room, Fern, Marcia, Carolina and a guy (I think he may be one of Benny's reps) are waiting when Luigi comes in in a good mood saying the shooting was going really well and let's see what we have so far. He pops in the video and, of course, it's bad, static-y and you can't really see the picture. Apparently the video is defective and all the work was lost. The guy with Carolina says he can't possibly contract with such a crappy company and he leaves, shaking his head. Carolina follows, trying to talk to him. Fern and Luigi start yelling at each other, blaming each other for the problems. Luigi demands an apology from Fernando while Marcia reminds Fern that Luigi agreed to do the video even though he didn't want to. Fern yells that Luigi wasn't doing them a favor, he was doing what he's paid to do. Luigi quits and says he's going to tell the press how Conceptos treats its employees.

Down in the reception, a handsome and elegant man walks in and the cuartel start to swoon and fuss over him unprofessionally as only the cuartel can.

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Missing Recap 4: At Conceptos, all news is bad news

First we get a rehash of the fight between Luigi, Fernando and Marcia. Then the cuartel are once again commenting on how hot their visitor is as he stands there posing like he's in a G.Q. layout (which I wouldn't mind, he actually is pretty cute!). They all flock around him and he laughs and says hi and kisses Juana's cheek. PM puckers up but he just laughs again (que professional ladies). He's being very nice to them and tells them he's waiting for someone, then he tells them he's a photographer and he'd love to take pictures of them. He starts posing them and holding his hands up like he's framing them. They ask if he wants anything and he asks for some water and Sarah leaves to fetch it for him.

Fern is talking to American Brad and tells him he'll see him tomorrow in L.A. and thanks, and I just love it when he speaks English. They leave and Lety comes out and asks if everything is ok. Just then Caro comes in and tells them that apparently all the videos from CineRent are defective.

Sara returns with the newcomer's water and it's in a huge vase instead of a glass. He asks if she didn't have anything smaller and she hands him a straw, it's actually pretty funny. I wish they'd used this character more, I really like this actor. The cuartel are all in love with the new guy, but then Luigi comes out of the elevator and bursts their bubble because it turns out he's Rulli, Luigi's boy toy. The cuartel are all pissed that he didn't tell them who he was, that he's gay, and that basically their wishful thinking about him will never come true.

Lety is following Fernando and whining at him about something I don't get. I don't get his reply either, but he gives a fake laugh and tells her to be happy, so she gives a fake laugh too. Meanwhile, Omar and Alicia are talking about Fernando when he walks up to them and Alicia leaves. Fernando tells Omar that the videos Cine-Rent sold them are all defective. A group that had been there during the shoot, possibly Benny's group, I'm not sure, come up and though Fern tries to cover for the problems, they explain they're going with another production company. They all shake hands and the people leave as Fern and Omar rehash the problems. Alicia brings them all drinks but Omar asks her to leave.

Lety calls her parents and asks her dad for permission to stay out late so she can go celebrate with her friends (I'm sorry, how old is she again? Fifteen? Sixteen?). Dad says ok she can go, but she has to be home soon.

Fern's talking to his parental units, trying to explain about the evening's fiasco. I don't get the whole conversation, but it doesn't sound like they're being very supportive and the conversation ends with Dad telling Fern to be careful (cuidado).

Ariel sees Alicia leaving with Omar and sarcastically congratulates them, telling Alicia she's lucky to find such a faithful man and telling Omar that Alicia is intelligent and faithful. Based on their faces and the fact that he's Ariel, I'm pretty sure he says something really rude but I'm not sure what.

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