Caray, Caray!

Willa trying her new sombrero look


This is going to be unbelievably brief my friends. I don't know which is more exhausted: the plot lines of this program or me after a two day art show. Feel free to add any details. Therefore, we resume with Juan dreaming about a night of passion with Paula. We get to see once more how much more handsome he is with shorter hair. They present a pretty picture of a pretty couple.

But on to the quest for employees and employment. This episode had just two main threads. While the army of potential vice presidents swarms the lizard lounge at Farrell, the vegetable market will never be the same after Angarita installs the latest Cachon family member.

Juan seems really excited to complete his function as president and sits proudly beside Paula. Notice that they are in her office not his (power struggle mistake number one). Paula is loaded for bear with her best cocktail office dress and with her soft luscious curls, we see the only scintilla of softness. Juan sets up offerings of marshmallows and bottled water. The first victim, errr make that candidate is Fernando. He comes in excited and hopeful, but in a few minutes of Paula is tearing down his confidence about his lack of knowledge of international business, he can't tell the difference between Micronesia and Indonesia. He walks out bowed over to be consoled by ever sweet and supportive Marely who tries to put Humpty Dumpty together again. Paula licks her lips with the first taste of blood. Juan would like her to be more gentle but she defends her aggressive behavior as a sign of her superior management talent necessary to find the adequate candidate for the vice presidency.

Somewhere in here we get the scene of Cesar Luis letting Sandro know that he will be the one to show up for the interview in his new hair color and self assured swagger that should be a dead give away but he is convinced that these idiots won't be any the wiser and he can ace the interview with his brilliance. He looks forward to the next steps of his master vengeance plan.

Next in the firing line is Pastor Gaytan. He is sure he is the candidate of choice but after she points out that he has nothing in his curriculum vitae to demonstrate appropriate preparation or prior experience for this post, Paula crushes him with the remembrance that he was responsible for arranging to buy the pirated software and he was also the one who betrayed the firm and plotted to aid his brother Angarita in competition with Farrell during his brief absence from the firm. His head is so low it's a miracle his toupee doesn't fall off as he slinks past Marely.

Heriberto comes in all ranchero con gusto only to stumble through his pathetic attempt to make an animal joke. He actually seems to think that his farming experience with cattle, and chickens will make him an effective vice president. Paula spares no feelings and goes straight for the jugular once again. Heriberto complains that Juan intimated this was a slam dunk for him. Juan looks like his collar suddenly got too tight. It's hard to deflate this big boy but he too leaves crest fallen. He and Pastor commiserate in Pastor's office. Pastor offers a conciliatory drink in an elegant tiny snifter, but Heri grabs the bottle and gulps until he nearly chokes on the hot burning liquid courage.

Some other candidates that look like unsuspecting innocents go through to the office and back out again as if there were a turnstile to rush them through by centrifugal force. Laura shows up demanding to be seen right away insinuating that ladies should go first. She doesn't get anywhere fast but a seat in the Liz-Lounge with the other wannabees. Laura and Paula are finally face to face in an almost funny scene with Juan hoping he doesn't have to do physical referee work to separate these two. Paula does maintain the same line of referring to the CV which has none of the right qualifications. Laura has more chutzpah than all the men combined and faces off not only the looks that could kill from Paula but has the nerve to say she was assured by Juan this was all but hers. Laura is furious with Juan afterwards for not defending her but he counters with surprise that she led him to believe she knew much more about business practices. She leaves furious still and I don't know how CL/Sandro hid well enough that she didn't take notice of him.

But the biggest swagger of the day belongs to Cesar Luis. He forgets his Sandro characteristics so frequently he draws astounded looks from everyone but he was right, no one has the brains or the nerve to confront him. Marely sweetly let him know that he invited her just yesterday to use tu with him when he strikes out nastily at her for her familiarity. He recovers but just barely to try to act nervous and excuse his aggressions. However, when he enters Paula's office to face the two headed interview machine, he sweeps Paula off her game by brilliantly spouting plans and a sweeping knowledge of the international market that only CL could know. She bats her eyes and tells him how much she agrees with his views. Juan thought sweats that he can't even follow most of the discussion and continues to look at Sandro with rightful suspicion.

Meanwhile interspersed with these scenes we see Nidia make the following first day impressions: She comes in very late, but with plenty of attitude even trying to kiss up to Angarita. When he asserts command of his own business, she mocks him and acts disinterested and superior about the explanation of her duties which are simply limited to answering the phone, taking messages, coordinating the deliveries arriving and shipments out and all the activities of the other employees AND taking care of baby Nidia Michaela. And what does she do as soon as Angarita disappoint her by taking Yadira out for a round of visiting suppliers? She chats with Ana blocking the company phone so long that Kike has to go find a pay phone to do any business. Then she cleans up at the poker table (her desk instantly converts) with Remolacho and several innocents, using fruit for poker chips until Remolacho says he owes her half of his semi-monthly pay already and the game ends but near the end of the day. She barely pays attention to the baby. She take the phone off the hook to avoid interrupting the hot poker game. Then she calls poor old Lorenzo and sweet talks him for further distraction. All of this outrageous behavior on Angarita's dime or peso.

Back at the end of the day and the end of the episode, Paula assures Juan that Sandro is the only one with the correct CV, experience and self confidence to assume this vice president's role. Juan looks worried about all the other candidates hoping for his support and proclaims that he can't make this huge decision so fast. Next time: surely we will enjoy a showdown on whose choice will prevail. Want to take any bets?

Labels: Juan