Thursday, March 11, 2010
Dinero #39 - 3/11/10: Shut Up and Listen! No One Messes With My Family!
Claudia continues to convince Rafa to spend some of his hard earned cash on little old her- specifically in a fancy restaurant on a shrimp, lobster and champagne meal. After dinner, activities would include contact sports- the kind that involve her wearing a little thong (tangita). She assures Rafa that he won’t regret it, and that no one will know. *wink, wink*
Marino heads over to Susana’s desk to try to get an advance on next month’s salary. His baby mommas are really after him to pay up this month, and one of them in particular is being demanding. Susana asks him how many sons he has (nine), and assumes that he doesn’t want any more kids. He makes it very clear, by the way he slithers over her desk, that he would love to have some daughters and he considers Susana a prime candidate for giving him one. Ewwww!!! (By the way, I am loving this large coral necklace Susana has been wearing this week. It’s beautiful and she wears it so effortlessly.)
Susana is saved from any more indecent proposals when Marino realizes that it’s Wednesday and pay day, meaning that Doña Dolores (Dodo) from their local cantina will be coming around to collect on their tabs. Dodo arrives just then and begins to hunt her prey. Everyone, except Claudia who’s still busy trying to seduce Rafa, is one step ahead of her though. They’ve all found hiding places, but it seems like Dodo knows all their tricks. She catches Claudia first, but the ever slippery Claudia manages to escape, trailing promises behind her. Rafa somehow owes 1,000 pesos, thanks to his colleagues’ generous use of his tab. Considering that is all the money he has in the world at the moment (as a result of the bike sale), he convinces Dodo to let him pay only 400 for now. Claudia smells money and starts circling Rafa like a vulture. Before he knows it, his remaining 600 pesos are being tucked deep into the recesses of Claudia’s décolletage, with lame excuses about a sick relative in the hospital (we’ve heard that one before) and promises to pay him back as soon as she’s cashed her check. Next, Dodo finds Ramirez hiding under a truck and makes him cough up the 500 pesos he owes. Ramiro and Marino are busted together in the men’s bathroom (No, not in like Senator Larry Craig. Although money is passed under the stall door.) Rosaura and Isabel are caught as they try to sneak out of the building. Bebe accidently runs right into Dodo’s boobs, but has no issue with handing over his 300 pesos. Dandy’s the last to be found, hiding in a car and pretending to be fixing something. Guess he’ll have less play money to wine and dine the ladies with this month.
Having been hit by hurricane Dolores, the sales team surveys the damage and conclude that they’ll all have trouble paying their debts and other financial obligations. All, except Rafa with his HUGE commission, they assume. They all demand (and not very nicely) that he loan each of them some money. Rafa says he can’t and quickly makes an exit, heading off to conquer some more lions and to actually try to earn some money he can keep.
In the midst of all this we have two random scenes. Random Scene One is obviously a commercial for a pro-biotic yogurt drink like our Activia (I actually love the stuff). Susana is enjoying her yogurt drink in the cafeteria when Claudia comes running in (hiding from Dodo) clutching her stomach. Susana inquires what’s wrong and when Claudia tells her that her financial woes are affecting her stomach, Susana recommends the yogurt, and hands one to Claudia who thinks it’s delicious. Random Scene Two is another beauty shop scene (I wonder when these will start to make sense with the rest of the storyline?). Julieta wonders into the shop trying to sell cookies that her mom made to earn some extra money for the family. The beauty shop folks don’t have any money to buy cookies, but they sit Julieta down to get the latest gossip on Rafa, and of course have to munch on a few (free) cookies while they get the rundown.
It’s apparently also pay day for Chavez and Marco and they are helping themselves to the profits from Ale’s family finca. Marco is excited for his “vacation”- the month that Ale will be away and he will get to enjoy his freedom. In fact, he thinks he will go away during that time. Chavez is hurt that Marco wants to go away without him (awww!), but Marco reminds him that someone needs to take care of the finca (meaning fleece it for all it’s worth).
Ale is making arrangements with a very disapproving Susana about how she will keep in contact with her and keep up with Autos Siglo business while she’s away. What about rest? Ale doesn’t know the meaning of the word! Apparently Marino Jr. also doesn’t sit on his laurels. He’s come back to daddy’s place of employment to deliver a sales plan to his old man. Since it’s a business matter, he feels it’s more proper for Trapito to deliver the envelope with the plan, than for him to do it personally. I wouldn’t have been surprised if the kid had pulled out a toothpick and started chewing on it right then.
Rafa’s back at Autos Siglo packing up for the day. He sees Claudia leaving, and knows she already cashed her check. Hey, how about those 600 pesos? I think we all know that once something makes its way down Claudia’s cleavage, it will never see the light of day again. I hope Rafa’s learned his lesson. He speaks to his mom on the phone, reassuring her that she will not be kicked out of her home, that it was all a misunderstanding and that Ale send her apologies. Leonor is now more concerned with the fact that Rafa has been left with not one cent to bring home and wonders how they’re going to have any money to take care of their needs. (I wonder this too.) This all reminds Rafa of just how ticked off he is at Marco for making his mama worry and cry, and he swears he will find that coward!
He doesn’t have long to wait or too far to look, as Marco has just pulled up in front of Autos Siglo to wait for Ale. Rafa takes advantage of Marco’s complete self absorption to sneak into the backseat of the car and to put Marco in a chokehold. All of a sudden sweet Rafa’s turned into Tony Soprano, telling Marco that he’s going to pay for what he did to his mama and that no one messes with his family! Marco starts blustering, making a fuss, denying that he did anything and then threatening, but Rafa tells him to shut it. He then has him repeat a few statements while he pretends to hold a knife to his neck. A weeping Marco then states that he is a rat who messes with the weak and with women. Rafa then tells him that the next time there is a problem, Marco will deal directly with him! (Go Rafa!) He then quickly and stealthily leaves blubbering Marco alone in the car, just in time for Ale’s entrance. She asks Marco what’s wrong and he accuses Rafa of threatening him at knife point and nicking his throat with the knife. Ale is incredulous (Medina?!), and is downright suspicious of Marco when she looks at his neck and instead of finding the telltale marks of a knife, finds a girly heart and arrow drawn right under Marco’s ear. (Go Rafa!)
Once they arrive at her house, Ale seems much more interested in watching her show (wonder if it’s a telenovela?) than in conversing with Marco, especially not if he’s going to continue to badmouth Rafa. She notes how hard Rafa’s working to pay off the debt. Marco thinks once she’s away for her surgery, Rafa will revert to a lazy bum and not work at all (he should know). Her aunt and dad come in, as well as the maid, who Ale asks to fetch the suitcases and to start laying out the clothes she will take with her to the clinic. Among those items are cashmere sweaters, new shoes, and other items that Marco comments are more appropriate for a cocktail party than for a stay at a clinic. Ale says you never know what may come up, and Marco starts to look a little suspicious and jealous. When she leaves the room he feigns concern to her aunt and dad, saying that he’s worried she’ll work the entire time and no one will be there to “control” her. He thinks someone should go with her; how about Aunt Rosario? She initially declines because of how much that would cost, and how generous (ha!) Marco is being already by paying for Ale’s expenses. He makes his case again in front of Ale at the dinner table. Not only does he convince them to let him pay for Aunt Rosario’s trip with Ale (with their money!), he gets major good guy points with Ale who is very grateful to him. (Score Marco)
Another random scene: Ramiro is at the dinner table at home, and his wife and suegra are berating him, again. It also doesn’t look like their trip to the beauty shop the other day did much good. Ramiro wanted to spend some time with his kids, but the Wicked Witch of the West and the Wicked Witch of the East say they already went to bed, embarrassed by their father who can’t afford to pay for their school field trip. The other kids make fun of them. Ramiro is so down about this, he decides he can’t eat. The Witches sit him back down, turn the bowl of soup over his head, and saunter off cackling. Ramiro looks as forlorn and resigned to his fate as usual, and notes that the soup needs salt.
Rafa can’t avoid Vicky any more (and that means we can’t either). Before he knows it, he is set down in front of her father and knife-wielding brothers and, without getting more than one word out, has somehow formally asked for Vicky’s hand in marriage and agreed to wed in 3 months. Don Gaston is sad to lose his precious baby girl, and her brothers are sad to lose their cook, so it’s decided that Rafa and Vicky will live with them until Rafa has managed to get free of his debts and can provide a proper home for his pajarita. Rafa takes a big gulp, and so do we. Poor Rafa!
Labels: dinero
Wow, what a interesting plot development with Marino. In the US, a bunch of women clamoring for money might have been considered funny, but all these women with children? Definitely not P.C. And, his disinterest in these children is sad. Is the viewing audience supposed to see him as quite a man ( wink, wink) or are we meant to find this distasteful and show that Rafa's rivalry with him really is "good against evil"?
And thank you for the recap. It turns out I misunderstood most of the conversations. I find this novela very difficult language- wise. I even watched Mi Pecado yesterday for a few minutes to see if my Spanish is going to dogs, or if it's the novela. (it's the show for sure). Do you guys find the language quite difficult as well?
I actually noticed that Vicky was not screeching as usually yesterday. Her voice resembled something of a normal human being. But sill, I'm with Melinama, Rafa should runs as far away as he can from this family.
Barbara, I agree that they guys in the barber shop may eventually help Rafa, since they were sort of friends of his in jail, way back.
Rafa is generally a nice guy, doesn't speak up when others take advantage of him. But eventually, even he gets tired of this maltreatment, and acts, such as his dressing down of Marco in the car. Hopefully, at some point, he'll have to stand up to Vicki, probably at the last minute (at the altar?).
Maria.. Sometimes Vicky is not quite that shrill. She is worse when she does some screaming. My wife thinks the more evil (no one actually evil on this show) she gets the lower more normal her voice. :) Rafa was quickly railroaded into getting married and then moving in there. He'll have to tell them if he moves into their house, mama and sis have to move in as well. :)
Barbara.. I hope no one is thinking Marino was doing a good job. But, you never know. He does seem to take more interest in junior than the other kids.
I wonder if Ale will go away for treatment?
Didn't figure out who Doña Dolores was until I finally saw her. I guess everyone knows when payday is. Wish Rafa could have kept some money. Definitely didn't like that Claudia got some of the money. Like I said yesterday, good thing Ale got the check when he did. All of the vultures would have picked Rafa clean. Hmm, right now a lot of the crew seems to like Rafa. I hope this doesn't mean they'll start not liking him because he didn't hand out any money.
Marco was so funny when he had the breakdown in the car. Thanks for letting me know it was a heart with an arrow carved on his neck. I though it was a big ol' hickie that some woman gave him and wondered why Ale wasn't more upset.
I'd like more of Ale and Rafa and their terrific chemistry and less of the other sales staff and their money problems. And how long will Rafa put up with Vicky and her family as CHF expressed. Of course, they are all handy with big knives so that might be a big consideration.
GinCA
I have been thinking about poor Rafa and how these women just abuse him. First of all Vicki and the whole scene with the family forcing a wedding on him. That was downright scary.
then Claudia (I wanted to slap her when she took Rafas' money.)
Even Ale is kind of mean to him, although I adore her and she has been softening up and we know she has feelings for Rafa.
Lets not forget that Julieta took his whiskey to sell and lied to him until she got caught.
The only women that are actually kind and respectful to him are his mother and Susana.
The whole car scene with Marco was good. I kept thinking it was one of those dream sequences and kept waiting for Rafa to wake up. The heart tattoo was great.
I wonder how much we will see of Ale in the States or if it will be one of those weeks later deals. It would be fun to see her and Rosario together.
Pata, regarding the poor treatment of Rafa by women--what did you think about the scene with Ramiro, wife and his mother-in-law? It was so over the top that I thought it was uncomfortably abusive and cruel. Was it supposed to be funny? Or maybe it was designed to make Ramiro a
sympathetic character.
I haven't read the recap yet but I want to thank you for it -- because I missed the episode. And I want to congratulate you on your award. That's maravillosa.
Güera from Syracuse
I love Ramiro. I think he is very sweet. I thought that scene was downright mean and was uncomfortable for me to watch as well. I didn't find it funny, I think it was to make us more sympathetic to him kije you said. otherwise I think it was also like some of those other random scenes that I just dont get. I usually dont spend alot of time recapping them. Mostly because I just don't get them.
The guy that wears the bow-tie is Ramiriz and I always get their names mixed up. That's why I refer to Ramiro as Sweet Ramiro and Ramirez as bow-tie guy.
<< Home
© Caray, Caray! 2006-2022. Duplication of this material for use on any other site is strictly prohibited.