Caray, Caray!

From yesterday: Vicky pats her absurdly flat belly and congratulates herself on her brilliant plan to get Rafa to walk down the isle with her as soon as possible-a fake pregnancy. Not sure how she’s going to pull this off considering, between her meddling brothers and Rafa’s 24/7 slavery (i.e. job), they have had no opportunity to congress. But Vicky doesn’t seem to see this as an obstacle. She is a genius in her own mind.

Today: Doña Dolores is now on a first name basis with Martin- the guy who sauntered into her restaurant suggesting a dance competition, with a prize giveaway to the winners, as a great way to promote the restaurant, bring in customers and bring in some much needed cash. Dodo likes the idea and seems to like him too, and he gives her cheeks (the set below her waist) a good squeeze as she turns to go. Once she does, Martin thinks gleefully to himself how he’s going to fleece Dodo and her business with this dance competition scheme.

The ladies of the Autos Siglo sales team, minus Ale, but plus Susana, arrive at the restaurant for lunch. This is Susana’s first time at Dodo’s, but unlike everyone else, she does not fall victim to one of the broken chairs. Instead, Susana’s connections to a higher plain give her the sense that a chair she is about to sit in is has mala vibra (bad vibes), and she moves to another seat. The other ladies doubt this mumbo jumbo/new agey stuff and Claudia takes the rejected chair…and lands right on her well rounded backside. The men of the sales team, minus Rafa, arrive shortly after and are seated at a nearby table that allows them to overhear the ladies pump Susana for personal information. The interrogation begins, and here’s what we learn about our dear Susanita:

She had a boyfriend named Alfonso, whom she dated for four years. Apparently he was just as into this new agey stuff as she is. A year and a half ago, after one of their meditation sessions, he suddenly realized that he needed to go find himself. He changed his name and went off to a monastery, where he’s been ever since. She hasn’t had a boyfriend since then, but the man she chooses would have to live up to some pretty high standards and share her same lifestyle. No drinking, no smoking, and up at 4 am each day for meditation. Oh, and the sex? He’s got to be well versed in sex of the tantric variety.

Dandy doesn’t stand a chance, but doesn’t seem to realize it. He and the other men are looking Susana over and rating what kind of date/girlfriend/lay she would be. Jimenez thinks she is just super! Ramirez jokes that since she’s a vegetarian, you can’t bring her flowers because she’d eat them (hardy har har!). Marino thinks at least she would be a cheap/economical date (don’t have to spend much on food). Then the talk turns a bit dirty (boys will be boys).

The interrogation of Susana doesn’t end at the restaurant. Ale wants Susana to tell her exactly what they all spoke about, and was it about her. Susana assures her it was just about Susana’s personal life, which isn’t very exciting considering she lives like a nun.

Speak of the devil (?)! Rafa happens to be hanging out with a group of nuns, and is driving them in their van that’s on its last legs to Autos Siglo for a quick repair, and perhaps for a sales pitch. Ale, still on her solitary warpath, calls Rafa up to find out where he is and what he’s doing. Of course she thinks the worst- that Rafa is off somewhere getting drunk and hanging out with loose women. Rafa denies this, but just then one of the sweet little nuns decides to speak loudly in the background. This settles the matter for Ale. Her worst thoughts have been confirmed!

Rafa arrives at Siglo with his gaggle of nuns, and hands the van off to Trapito for repair. Meanwhile, Dandy is assuring the rest of the sales team that he is the man for the job. Susana hasn’t had sex in over a year and a half! This is going to be easy. The General informs him that Susana only has tantric sex (sexo tantrico). Dandy knows what that is, right? Uh, yeah. Sure he does…Well, maybe not. But no matter. He doesn’t need to know sexo tantrico. He’s going to introduce Susana to Sexo Dandico! All this dirty talk ends pretty quick, and Claudia makes a vain attempt to cover up her décolletage, when Rafa enters with the God Squad and takes them to the sales team meeting room.

Trapito brings the van repair order to Ale for approval and Ale goes ballistic, believing Rafa is doing some under the table favor for one of his amigitas. She goes storming towards the meeting room, determined to catch Rafa in the act and to give him a piece of her mind. Rafa’s been giving the sisters a sales pitch for a van, but the poor little nuns don’t have the money it takes to buy a new van. Rafa hears Ale’s shouts (Medina!) and exits the sales room to try to head her off and calm her down. She’s not in the mood to listen, however, and lets loose with a few choice insults (the nuns cross themselves in horror in the other room) before rushing into the room to lay into Rafa’s freeloading amigitas from the hood. Instead she finds the horror stricken faces of our poor little nuns.

Ale is mortified. She apologizes to the nuns, exits the room with Rafa, and then asks Rafa to forgive her. This display of remorse doesn’t last long however, as she then chides Rafa that they are not running a charity. He assures her that he is also trying to make a sale. Ale flounces off and Rafa is left shaking his head in wonder (and admiration). Qué leoncita! (What a little lioness!)

Rafa goes back in the sales room to try to close the deal, but the nuns can’t make a decision without knowing where they will get the money. Meanwhile, the rest the sales team, who knew that a hot headed, unsuspecting Ale was headed to the sales room to be her usual sunshiny self, are hiding behind a wall, awaiting her return. They all snicker at her unseen, making Ale think she’s going crazy.

It’s the end of the work day, and Dandy makes him move. He gives Susana three options, instead of going home to her apartment, she should: a) Have dinner with him; b) Go dancing with him; or c) Have dinner with him and then go dancing with him. Susana chooses d) Neither. Ouch! She has uttered the four most hurtful words a woman has ever said to Dandy: “Gracias Nelson, pero no.” Marino takes the opportunity to rub it in Dandy’s face.

Chavez is in a nice suit! With a tie! And carrying a briefcase! I have to take a moment to let this sink in. We may never see this sight again. He’s meeting with Jorge, Ale and Marco to explain why they can’t use the hacienda for the wedding. He says the costs of the servers and event set up/clean up would add to the debt on the hacienda, and that they absolutely have to find another location and that’s that. This makes no sense to Jorge or to Ale and they both start calling Chavez all kinds of names. Jorge starts to have trouble breathing and seems to be having heart palpitations. Ale is torn between making sure he’s ok, and making sure Chavez hears a piece of her mind. Marco gallantly (deceivingly) takes on Chavez, punches him, and drags him out of the house. He continues the charade down the driveway and is so convincing that Chavez even starts to believe he is serious. He leaves in a huff. “This is the end of our association!”

Ale cannot believe the absurdity of the situation, but Marco says the law is the law and he’ll just find them a new location for the wedding and pay for it. Ale is grateful to him for defending her family (he got a big smooch when he came back in from throwing Chavez out), and appreciates the generous offer, but she thinks it’s time for a second legal opinion. Marco is offended that Ale would question his legal skills by bringing in another lawyer and leaves. Once outside the house, he gives Chavez a call, but Chavez isn’t answering. I think flowers, chocolates, and some good whiskey will be needed to get this relationship back on track.

Later that night Tia Rosario scolds Ale for suggesting another lawyer, and gives her the stand by your man speech. She equates doubting Marco’s skills and seeking another opinion to being unfaithful. Meanwhile Rafa is speaking to his womenfolk (Leonora and Julieta) about his money situation with Ale. He explains that he borrows the money to pay for their basic needs from Ale after he’s given her his entire salary and commission check. At this rate, he’ll never pay off the debt, but instead will be increasing his debt. He just HAS to find a way to earn more money and get out of debt to Ale.

The next morning, a fully dressed Ale calls Rafa bright and early to make sure he gets his butt on over to Autos Siglo. Rafa gently reminds her that today is the one day off at Siglo. It’s closed, no one is there, and it’s their day of rest. He wishes her a good day and hopes she spends it with her family, and hangs up. Ale turns down Asucena’s offering of breakfast in bed, and decides to have breakfast with her dad and aunt. She takes a moment to chat with her mom in heaven and ask why there have been so many obstacles to her and Marco getting married. “Are you trying to tell me something?” (Yes Ale. RUN! As fast as you can. You can do that now without that cane.)

Rafa and his family and his friend Jaime are going to spend the day picnicking in the countryside with Vicky and her family. They all pack into Don Gaston’s truck with tables, chairs, a grill, coolers, enough food to feed an army, and a pet bird in a cage. Once out in the fresh country air, all the men begin to wax poetic. Rafa notes how beautiful the day is, but says it’s made even more beautiful because of Vicky’s presence. She melts. Jaime remarks to Julieta that a place like this is the kind of place a man becomes inspired to declare his love for the woman he pines for, and read her the poetry that has been inspired by her. He looks like he’s got someone specific in mind. She looks like she’s thinking about some romantic telenovela. The bird tells Jaime to shut up before he can work up the courage to tell Julieta how he feels about her. Don Gaston’s also feeling frisky and throwing some compliments Leonora’s way. His romantic declarations always seem to involve the mention of meat though. Hmmm….And the brothers are at the grill cooking up some meat and fighting, as usual. The music playing on their radio is interrupted for an urgent announcement that there has been a huge accident on the road between D.F. and Toluca with a truck carrying livestock. The road is completely blocked. (Will this prevent them from returning to the city on time?) Caras impactadas all around.

Tomorrow: Rafa can’t take being indebted to Ale anymore and strips out of his new suit and into his skivvies in front of her in her office. Beltran wants to know what the heck is going on with them behind the closed doors of Ale’s office.

Labels: dinero