Caray, Caray!

Rafa looks ill when Don Gaston tells him the wedding is going to be in 3 months.

Ale takes a trip down memory lane while holding the famous bouquet. She’s frustrated for thinking about “Medina!” and crushes one of the flowers in her hand.

Rafa tells Vicky it may not be such a good idea for him to live with her and her family. She’s sure everything will be fine. It’s only for a little while and he can get to know her padre and hermanos better. Said hermanos worm their way into the conversation and warn Rafa not to make Vicky cry anymore.

Rafa gets Ale’s wake up call and she wastes no time in harping that just because she’s leaving for her surgery doesn’t mean he gets to slack off at work; when she gets to the office they’re going to have a talk about the rules for when she’s gone. Rafa hangs up and says she’s crazier than ever. (Ha!)

Leonor, awakened by the phone call, asks Rafa if he could get an advance on his paycheck because he’s employee of the month. They need money to cover the electric and gas. Rafa promises to see if it’s possible since Ale is leaving for her operation soon. “And then she’s getting married,” Rafa adds sullenly.

Ale is short with Trapito (the janitor) who came in early to retouch the paint on the front of her desk. She complains about the paint fumes and storms out because of his idiocy. Trapito mumbles he was just doing her a favor.

Ale “greets” all of the employees as they file in for another day. Ale asks Susana to add a reservation for Rosario for the trip the next day since she agreed to join Ale.

A new day means a new business meeting. Ale informs the group she’ll be leaving the next day and will be gone for a month. She lays down the law for how everyone is to behave in her absence.

Ramirez gives a long-winded speech about how sad everyone is to go on without Ale and assures her everything will be handled with Marino in charge. Marino starts to grandstand but Ale cuts his acceptance speech short; Susana is going to be the one in charge.

The entire office is surprised, Susana included. Marino is steamed. “Who brings in the most money? Who’s the most important salesman every month?” Ale says it’s all in the past since Marino got edged out of the best employee spot. (Denied!)

Ale tells everyone to respect Susana and warns them she will be in touch with Susana about everything going on in the office.

Jump cut to a shot of Ovi’s cleavage as she and the former cellmates ogle over a tabloid magazine. A wrester in full mask wanders in and scares the daylights out of all of them. He assures them he just wants a haircut but he can’t show them his face. Ovi hops to it. The cellmates gossip about how cute the wrestler is. (These two really need names. Maybe we should make some up…)

Ale assures Beltran everything has been organized for her trip; Susana is going to have everything under control while she’s gone. Rafa wanders by and when he leans down to pick up some papers, everyone sees the holes in his pants.

Beltran says they need to do something to about Rafa: he has white socks, worn out shoes, and isn’t very presentable. Ale tells Susana there is no way Rafa could afford to buy new clothes.

Susana asks Ale why she told everyone they would be in touch; the doctor orders were for Ale to have uninterrupted recuperation after the surgery. Ale says she’s going to call every hour to keep the employees on their toes.

Ale also instructs Susana to wake Rafa each morning at 5. She even writes up a list of insults for Susana to call him. (!!) Ale also cautions her about Rafa’s habit of getting drunk with clients and flirting with their daughters.

Susana doesn’t know if being so aggressive is the right way to handle things because it "interrupts the healthy exchange of energies between people”. Peace and love may make Susana happy but all Ale cares about is money, money, and more money. If Ale weren’t firm with the employees, they would come up with excuses for their lacking performance.

Meanwhile, all the employees are picking their “sick days” for the next month. Rafa says he doesn’t want to take any days off and everyone tries to talk him into enjoying some downtime while he can.

Susana interrupts their gathering. Nelson teases her for being Ale’s second-in-command. Marino asks her why she agreed to be in charge since she isn’t capable for the job. He offers to help her in any way he can. (What a swine.) Susana tells him not to worry; if she needs help, she has Ale on speed-dial.

Rafa meets with Ale in her office to go over the ground rules. Rafa starts talking about needing to sell 26 cars and 9 trucks, leans forward on Ale’s desk, gets a large streak of paint on his suit. He takes off his paint-stained jacket but his shirt has a sizeable mark from an ironing mishap that morning. He has to wash his suit every day because it’s the only one he has.

Ale is floored Rafa only has one suit and tells him he has to buy another. Rafa doesn’t have a single peso for a replacement. Ale cancels her appointments for the afternoon and tells Rafa they’re going to buy him a new suit.

The employees are scheduling their off days and Don Bebé wants nothing to do with their dishonesty. Claudia plants one on his cheek and tells him to lighten up.

Ale and Rafa arrive at the shop. Ale asks to see his socks and shoes. Rafa’s shoes have a hole worn through the bottom and his socks are Swiss cheese too. Ale exclaims it’s even worse than she thought. Rafa thanks her what she’s doing but Ale assures him the cost of the suit will be added to his debt.

A salesclerk helps them out and finds the right size for Rafa. He leaves to try it on and the clerk asks Ale if her husband would like to see some of their European suits. Ale balks and assures him Rafa is not her husband. She’s paying and Rafa isn’t choosing anything; they just need a classic, economical suit since Rafa doesn’t have any money.

Rafa struggles to try on the suit and gets a phone call from Leonor. She says Julieta wants to quit going to college and look for a job instead. They can’t afford they supplies Julieta needs for her classes and she doesn’t want to be a burden. There are more important things they need to pay off.

Ale overhears Rafa say Julie’s education is the most important thing for him, no matter what it costs. They can pawn their electronics again if they have to but Julie has to stay in school.

Leonor gives Julieta the phone and Rafa tells her there is no excuse for quitting her education. Rafa doesn’t want Julie to have the life he does: having to struggle to get by without a title or a career. “You’re not going to be another Rafael Medina. You’re going to have a career, you’re going to work somewhere with your head held high and you’re not going to be a slave to a tyrannical boss.” Ale looks offended.

Rafa says the cost of her education is his responsibility along with the electricity, gas, and water. “Trust me. I’m going to come through.” Ale smiles and acts nonchalant when Rafa rushes out and says he needs to leave. Ale has him model the suit instead.

Marco is on the phone and makes a reservation on a cruise for 35,000 pesos. Chavez claims it’s too much money but Marco doesn’t care.

Ale’s credit card doesn’t go through at the clothing shop. She assures the clerk it must be a mistake at the bank and gives him a different card. Rafa is itching to leave and is shocked at the price of the suits.

Ale and Rafa return to the Siglo. Once they’re situated in her office, Ale asks how much money Rafa needs for the month. Rafa doesn’t want to answer but Ale says his financial situation affects her so she wants to know. Rafa needs 4,000 pesos for his madre and hermana and Ale adds another 1,000 for Rafa. She gives him 300 pesos for transportation, 1,000 for the bills, and the 3,750 pesos for Julieta’s education. Ale gives him 10,000 pesos altogether and Rafa promises not to use the money as an excuse to slack off at work.

Ale also doesn’t want to hear he spent all of it partying and dancing with women. Rafa swears that won’t happen. Ale tells Rafa to call home and tell his family the problem is solved. Rafa thanks her but Ale again says he’ll pay her back later. (Perhaps Ale sells herself short when she says all she cares about is "money, money, money...")

In a short and sweet scene after the break, Trapito gives Susana a flower. (An "Aww" moment.)

Rafa calls Leonor and tells her Ale gave him an advance. Leonor is thrilled but asks why Ale has been so good to him all of a sudden. Rafa doesn’t know.

Rafa receives an envelope addressed to himself and Ale, which is curiously missing her last name. Rafa opens it to find several photos of Ale and himself at the infamous fiesta. He quickly hides them from Marino’s prying eyes and pulls Ale aside. Rafa shows her the pictures and Ale’s jaw drops.

Avances: Marco wrinkles his nose over the thought of having to sleep with Ale, Chavez delivers something to Marco, and the fallout over the pictures.

Labels: dinero

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