Caray, Caray!

Well, here we are, trudging through another evening in the Slough of Despond. Pajarito Vicky is still playing the dying swan. Brothers are dying of hunger. Dad dying with worry. And finally the family is thinking a marriage between Rafa and long-suffering Vicky is the answer. Not the romance we're hoping for, right? Nor is the romance between Tia Rosario and Quintana the answer. But that's cooking along right nicely this evening.

Here's how the episode went tonight. Rafa arrives home from his obligatory house call at Vicky's to lament how Vicky's family pressured him into promises he didn't want to make (and Vicky into kisses he didn't want to give). Jaime nervously champions Vicky's cause and even Julieta and Leonor finally conclude that Vicky is the lesser of two evils, particularly if Papa Gaston follows through with his promises to control her stalking phone calls and visits to the office.

Following this, we have twin scenes of Rafa and Alejandra waking up depressed and weary. Looking at the phone. Waiting for a call. Getting a call but Rafa hangs up before she answers. Both drag themselves out of bed with hardly enough energy to get to work.

Alejandra perks up momentarily when Tia Rosario confides that Quintana asked her to be his novia and go with him to a party that evening. Alejandra is immediately on board, happy that someone's love life is going well (or so she thinks). She counsels Rosario to pay no attention to her brother's worries. She has the privilege of loving a man who really cares for her. That doesn't happen every day so don't blow your chances. Off the two trot to Rosario's room to look over outfits. Alejandra wants Auntie to wear a plunging neckline black top she gave her, as well as a little skirt to show off her pretty legs. Tia is hesitant. We'll see where this goes.

Meanwhile Jorge has found the love note Rosario dropped and is aware that a romance is afoot. We'll see how that goes also!

Now to work. Alejandra arrives and has a little heart to heart with Susana. Confides that she didn't sleep a wink last night. Her family is thick as thieves with Marcos and indignant about Rafa. Wanted him to leave Auto Siglo but of course that's impossible. He has to keep working to repay her. So she'll quit. Susana reminds her that the last time she tried to quit no one else would hire her.

Rafa arrives. Gloomy "buenos dias". Alejandra snaps that she wants Susana to get the carpenter back to put up a door since she doesn't want to share space with that man. Or even talk to him. All communication must be passed through Susana. Oh my, it's all so high school romance isn't it?

And speaking of sophomoric...we have another random corrupt cop scene. The bozos are trying to hit up Marian Celeste for a bribe (mordida) because she lacks a licence plate (it fell off a few blocks back). Marian doesn't bite and assures them they're not getting a peso out of her. And they don't.

Rafa finally arrives at the sales floor, startling Pepeto with his old garish tie and signature early days white socks. Seems he's trying to get his former vibe back and we have a nice retrospective of his lingerie hawking days. Ladies, if your hubby doesn't just jump off the bed when he sees this, you'll get your money back! he promises, waving a lacy bustier around in his hands. Pepeto assures him he's the same guy he ever was....a good friend, a fellow who loves his family. But Rafa knows different. He's lost Alejandra....and he wants her back.

We switch to another buddy scene: Marcos and Chavez. The latte wants to know how things are going with Alejandra. Well, she's very affected by the swindle and losing Rafa but Marcos is sure they acted just in time. If not, he would have lost Ale forever. But he's sticking like glue now, and eventually she'll be his. (Let's hope he's wrong, wrong, wrong.)

Back at Auro Siglo, finally the junta begins and Alejandra's in a foul mood with most of the staff. However the General's sales have been good. Ditto for Bebe and Dandy. Jose Tomas (Pepeto) comes in for a drubbing however. He excuses his poor performance on first month blues and promises to do better next month. May God hear you but I don't think He's listening snaps Ale. Another poor performer was Ramirez who blames it on the beating he got. But what about all those other months of poor performances? asks Ale. Has he been mugged every month of the year?

And up jumps our separated socialite Rosaura, championing the cause of the poor. You're the "mosca en la sopa" (fly in the soup) of this department retorts Ale. You haven't made one single sale this month. Rosaura's plea is that separated folks, or those suffering heartaches, should have the same 40 days grace period as women who've just given birth. Another argument that doesn't fly, but it does give everyone the chance to point out that certain people have canceled meetings and been in bitchy moods ever since their love life went sour, so why not grant that same slack to the sales force? The incipient revolt is quashed by the arrival of Señor Beltran.

He wants the sales figures for the month. And Ale indicates that Rafa should be the one to give them. He's as positive and encouraging as Ale was sarcastic and downbeat. He affirms the good work of the sales force, gives the numbers for the sales off the floor (not good enough, gasps Beltran) but indeed it is, because together with the institutional sales, Auto Siglo has more than made it's quota for the month. Beltran is ecstatic to learn Rafa has closed the Celeste deal. Applause all around from the staff. Rafa points out that a significant part of the institutional sales were thanks to Ale and Carbones de Norte. Insignificant applause. Ale's not winning any contests here.

And neither is Marino. Although he tried to get hold of the monthly prize earlier (a watch), practically wresting it out of the hands of Susana, it seems the fellow with the highest sales figures was none other than Dandy. So he gets the watch. And Rafa, with his big institutional sale, gets a fancy new telephone, more appropriate for the fine executive he now is. No problem programming in the old phone numbers....just change the chip. It's what's inside that counts, explains Beltran.

Best part of the evening was the long shot of Dandy's surprised but ecstatic face when he learns he's the month's winner. And there we end.

Previews:
Ale hands in a letter of resignation again.
Rafa vows not to let her quit.

Vocabulary:
Me costó un trabajo arreglarme = I had trouble even getting dressed (Alejandra dragging into the day)
Como me veo? = How do I look?
una persona que no es la indicada = not the right person (Ale talking about Rafa)
mujeriego = womanizer (Quintana)

mordida = bribe , (also can mean bite)
hacer cola = wait in line
que gacha es la gente, de veras = really, people can be so nasty (cop complaining about Marian Celeste's treatment of their bribe attempt)
Dios te oiga = May God hear you
feroz paliza = terrible beating (Ramirez' excuse)
siete y pico = just a little after 7....Ramiro's excuse for trying to get his late sale credited
asi se habla compañera = now you're talking comrade (General affirming Rosaura's confrontation with Ale
escote = neckline (usually plunging or cut very deep...at least on Univision)
cohecho, soborno = also words for" bribe

Dicho of the Day

Camarón que se duerme, se lo lleva la corriente (lit. a sleep shrimp is carried away by the current) (fig. You've got to keep on your toes.) And looks like Rafa IS keeping on his toes. He closed the Celeste deal. He hasn't married Vicky yet. And he hasn't lost Ale. Not really. Hang in there Rafa!

Labels: dinero