Caray, Caray!

Love( or lust) take your pick...... is in the air. Vicky wants Rafa. Quintana wants Rosario. Dandy yearns for Susana. Rafa wants Ale. So does Marco. And Marino is hell-bent on bedding Sandra.

But who is madly badly in love? None other than our dapper forgetful gent Jorge. He's fallen in a big way for Miss Rubi. And who can blame him? She is, to all appearances a doll.

Okay, a doll young enough to be his grandchild. A dubious doll with her canny eye on the hacienda. But she's no more venal than Chavez and Marco and might give better value for money. Who knows?

Other than this cascade of lusty love, what else happened tonight? Well, let's face it, not a lot. We're in another holding pattern.

We begin with a replay of the Queen discussing business with Beltran. Why not keep Rafa? Forget the resumé, the guy can sell. And Ale? Okay, she's a fine executive, but not well liked. If we have to sacrifice somebody for form, let it be her. They conclude the agreement with a ditsy photo of the Queen, Beltran and the two doggies. Chaton, the photographer, looks like he ate something noxious.

The only despot more feared than the Queen is our hysterical VickyVickyVicky. She's terrorizing her maid of honor in the bridal store and giving orders right and left. And finally throwing a super tantrum because her future mother-in-law and Julietta have not been in to try on dresses for the wedding. We sense storm clouds brewing.

And storm clouds a-plenty back at the apartment. Rosario is livid when she finds out the luncheon date was with Rubi. Jorge grouses that she doesn't care about his health...'cause Miss Rubi makes him feel terrific! No way will Rosario tolerate this woman under the same roof, even if the roof belongs to Marco. No sireee! She flounces off in one direction, Jorge heads off for a nap in the other. Marco is left to gloat that now he has the old man on his side and can pressure him to sell the hacienda. Gloat gloat gloat.

Back at Auto Siglo, the posse has come to the conclusion that only Rafa can deal with Carmela. But she's off on a trip. And Zetina? Well, he's still following Marco and trying to catch him being up to something (las manos en la masa) but in the meantime, guys, we've got to start selling some cars to earn our keep. Indeed. Beltran catches them outside, yells at them to get back to work and they do.

And speaking of yelling, Vicky arrives in high dudgeon shrieking at the top of her lungs. And Leonor puts her in her place. How dare you etc. For once Vicky is startled into silence. Let's just pause and enjoy that moment....because it doesn't last long. In the end, Leonor calms her down by promising to stop by the bridal store the next day. As to when Rafa will be home, she doesn't know. AND SHE HAS A LOT TO DO SO GOOD-BYE VICKY! Whew. I can only take so much Vicky per episode and I was definitely at my limit. So was Leonor. She's wondering how she can put up with her for life.

Back to Auto Siglo. Marino is trying to tattle on the sales force. Beltran isn't listening. Next he confides to his toady friend that he has great plans for conquering Sandra tonight and engendering a little girl. His buddy understands only one thing. Marino will be back late tonight....so he can have his own lady over! There are the usual threats about Marino wanting him gone, and the usual excuses of rent is high, book hasn't been published yet, these things take time, etc. More circling the drain.

Additional circling with Rafa and Susana. He tries to explain where Dandy really was and why. Susana won't listen. Additional kvetching by Ale. Her lines. His lines. Ugh.

Now a cute visual scene. The sales folks are lined up, with Rosaura leaning on Bebe's head (he fits nicely under her chin) staring at a downtrodden, almost comatose Dandy. Rosaura can't understand why he can't fix the relationship until she's reminded of how long she's been bunking at the General's while her own marriage is in peril. Well, heck, she's giving time and space to the relationship. General consensus: Dandy misses Susana a lot more than Rosaura misses her husband and kids. Busted! And Dandy and Ramiro wonder if Ale just likes to go on being the victim and blaming Rafa. You got it: more circling. Like those dreadful traffic roundabouts they're installing....I can never get off them! These folks are stuck just like I am.

We find ourselves at the apartment where the oily Quintana (something about his mustache repulses me) has come to woo Rosario. She wants to go out for coffee so she can vent about Rubi. But the case of the hacienda is mentioned before they leave. Once again we see Marco scheming after their departure. "I've got to get rid of Quintana or find a way to keep him quiet."

And now a little guy humor. Perpetual drunk is about to throw up all over the bartender. The latter sends him off the the bathroom to hurl. Lovely.

Unfazed, fellow barmates Marco and Chavez are having their usual chat about the hacienda. Chavez doesn't think Marcos can handle the situation. Yes, he can. Jorge is the head of the family and he decides, and he's got Jorge in his pocket. Oh yeah, sez Chavez. And you think Medina is just gonna stand by while you marry his girl? And let's face it, she's sweet on him, not you. Marco explodes. A cute scene but we've seen it all before.

Now on to Rosario and Quintana. The lovebirds have hit a snag. Quintana is way too appreciative of Rubi. How could he be!? This cheesy sleazy babe is just after my brother's money. Oh, oozes Quintana, eyes glowing....you mean he has some extra money socked away somewhere? No, of course not, he's bankrupt. Well, not everybody's after money, he continues. And maybe she just thinks of him like a father. Rosario's not buying it and neither are we.

So who IS falling for a line of bull? Well, not Sandra. Not at first. But by the end of the episode, Marino has her hook line and sinker. Here's how it went. They order drinks, he moves in way too fast, wanting to "formalize" the relationship and get busy making that adorable little girl child, who'll have his fabulous genes but her good looks and intelligence. Do you care for me? or are you just looking for an incubator for a baby? snaps Sandra. A lot of fast talk about the magic of their relationship and their attraction for each other. More to come but first we switch back to Ale at the office.

No magic there. She's down in the dumps. Can't work, can't stop thinking about Rafa. Wants to go out and get a drinky-poo with Susana. Susana wisely refuses and advises her to go home and talk to her father.

Back to our lustbirds. Marino's worked himself up to a fever-pitch pleading with her to give in to their magnificent passion.

Well, look whosh here, slurs a drunk, Sandra the ball-busting maneater.
M- And who are you!?
I'm the ex-husband.

Of course there's an ad.

But we're back. Big antler-bashing scene. She's a lousy wife, can't even make fried eggs, burns water, sleeps with her socks on, slurs the obnoxious drunk.

Marino attacks. Knocks the guy to the ground. A somewhat light on his feet companion shrieks, You monster, what have you done to him? Who's that? asks Marino. The guy my husband cheated on me with, hisses Sandra. But at last I've got a REAL MAN at my side. And goes into a clinch with Marino. Lots of hot kissing which would really be great if we liked these people. But we don't. So it's gross. Sorry.

And speaking of gross, yep, we're at the beauty parlor. And Vicky's there. Ovidia frets about the boys sweeping her feet, evidently this means she'll marry a widower. They chat about her possible baby and whether or not the boys can be "aunts" for the little tyke. They also chat up Vicky who wants to plan a hairdo and make-up session for the wedding. The skinny fellow assures her she's so pretty all she needs is a little lip gloss and she'll be good to go. After she leaves, they commiserate about Rafa as a "pobre sandwichito". Interesting.

Out little "sandwichito" and Dandy are glumly sitting together, dreaming about the day they can get their girlfriends back. Well, Dandy has time. But Rafa, you have your back against the wall (estás con la soga al cuello) what with your wedding at the end of the month. And has Zetina learned anything? Only that Marco had the old guy out to lunch with some babe. Doesn't sound good, muses Dandy. Maybe you should take that job with Marian Celeste and forget Ale. Rafa looks sad...and horrified at the thought. More circling the drain.

Our gloomy Ale arrives home to find an exuberant, radiant Papa, full of vim and vigor after his marvelous day. Gosh, Marco took him to eat in a great place for one thing. But for another thing, do you think I'm too old to fall in love? Well, gee, no. And with Rosario getting married, and me getting married, and I know Mother has been gone a long time....well, yes, why shouldn't you be happy! Do I know her? You do! And it's.....

Gimme an R! R!
Gimme a U! U!
Gimme a B! B!
Gimme an I! I!

QUÉ!!!!????

Let's get this unfortunate scene over with. Ale is opposed. But Jorge feels something special. Yeah, well she's young enough to be your grandchild. You'd be ridiculous being seen with her. Aren't you confusing physical attraction with love? Jorge could answer "And your point is?..." But in fact, he fixes Ale with a steely glare and asks his own question: With whom did YOU confuse attraction and love? Marco? Or Rafa? Advantage Jorge.

Now back to our lovesick Dandy. His last resort is to draft the Hare Krishna Mariachi band to his rescue. The apartment supervisor won't let him past the yellow line but no matter. He'll sing from the sidewalk. A lugubrious Hare Krishna Hare Krishna ensues.

Nothing.

So he tries an up-tempo Hare Krishna Hare Krishna.

Nada.

So he bellows "Susanita. Te amo! Perdoname!" And begs the group for a really swingin' heart-bustin' song.

More Hare Krishna Hare Krishna.

But wait. A door opens. Someone comes out on the balcony. Is it Susanita? Nope. It's a grouchy guy with an endless pail of cold water which he pours out on poor lovesick Hare Krishna Dandy. And there we end.

Previews:
Rafa frets that he's told the licenciada the truth but it didn't help. And he's still under Marco's blackmail threat.
Ale lets the family know that she and Marco can't have a church wedding. The latter is impactado and VERY UNHAPPY.

Vocabulary:
ultimos arreglos = last-minute arrangements (Vicky at the bridal store)
lugar idóneo = perfect location, perfect spot , ideal place (Marino schmoozing a client looking for a car)
arránquense =let's start, let's go (Dandy urging on his Hare Krishna Mariachis)
huevos estrellados = fried eggs
estar con la soga al cuello = to be in a real fix, to have one's back against the wall (Rafa)
familia politica = in-laws
se te van los puntos finos = you're not handling the details, the fine points are getting away from you (Chavez criticizing Marco)
nido de viboras = nest of vipers (Auto Siglo sales force)
el escarmiento = a "lesson" (what the Queen and Beltran want to teach folks at Auto Siglo)
acatar ordenes = follow orders, obey orders
manos en la masa = usually used as in " to catch somebody getting up to something...with their hands in the cookie jar")

Dicho of the Day

Un ojo al gato y otro al garabato. lit. one eye on the cat, the other one on the scribble.
Fig. Keep your eye on the eight ball. (And that's just what Rafa needs to do if he's going to explose Marco, win Ale and end up happy. Go Rafa!)

Labels: dinero