Caray, Caray!

There were a lot of disparate scenes tonight. Not sure if I can really find a unifying theme. Dandy and Susana's relationship continues to deteriorate. Alejandra's family is in a dither about the Swiss bank account and the possibility of Jorge heading over to Europe to see what's up. Carmela does her best to violate Dandy but he's saved by Alejandra's phone call. And at the bachelor party, just when a sexy dancer jumps out of a gorilla suit to swish her tush in Rafa's face, we hear an ear-splitting"Pajarito!" screech from Vicky.

Stop here and you'll know all you need to. Or you can suffer through the details with me.

When last we saw Marian Celeste, she had dried her tears and was offering Rafa the post of corporate director of sales. And also offering some advice. You don't love your fiancée and your relationship with Alejandra is impossible. Come to work with me and be happy at my side.

Rafa does some stuttering and dithering and Marian's had enough. (Me too.) I'm not going to humiliate myself in front of you anymore. Frankly, I expected better of you. Get back to me with a definite answer sooner rather than later. And after slugging down the rest of the tequila, she leaves.

Cognac is the drink of choice with Jimenez and Doña Arcadia and they're both looped. He's attempting to explain why his business failed before (not because he was inadequate as an architect) and she's trying to make sure he doesn't step on her pooches' tootsies as he stumbles out the door. He lurches out of the office, manages to breathe alcoholic fumes on the rest of the sales forces, but mercifully escapes the eyes and the wrath of either Alejandra or Beltran.

More drinking going on at a bar with Chavez and Marco. (Hey, maybe there's the unifying theme. A lot of bottled spirits flowing in this one.) Marco is convinced they've now reached their goal. The Alvarez de Castillo family wants nothing to do with the hacienda. Maybe not, but Rosario still needs Marco's counsel and breathlessly calls him about the Swiss bank account letter, begging him to hurry over and advise Jorge. And off he scoots, leaving Chavez with the bill again.

Dandy meanwhile, is sidling into Carmela's office, midst the leers of her office staff. Lust is in the air and Carmela can't wait to get in the file drawer back room to discover just how good Señor Nelson is at "organizing". Dandy sputters some highfalutin' nonsense about needing to get the lay of the land file-wise. It's all fine with Carmela. The more time he spends there the better. She's briefly called away but before leaving, warns him that he can't take any of the records out of the office or make photocopies. No indeed.

Back at Auto Siglo, Marino and Maestro Mustache are coming to an agreement about payment for pleading Marino's case to Beltran. If Mustache does it, he's allowed to have a few hours privacy in the apartment so he and his lady love can have a romantic evening. Marino grumbles that it's HIS apartment after all. Yes, but I wash the sheets, snaps Mustache. Agreed. "Trato hecho." Elsewhere the gals chatter about the bachelorette party.

And back at Marian's office, she and her secretary muse about men and their strange behavior. How can Rafa think of marrying a woman he doesn't love? And what can I do to make him love me instead!

A question which must torment our lusty lonely Carmela. Because she's not making much headway with Dandy. Whoops. Spoke too soon. She's back in the file room, and she's goosed him. Now she's got him pinned against the wall and has pulled his jacket partway down pinning his arms. Yowza, she's loosened his tie with a flick of her wrist, nibbled his lips with hungry kisses and pulled open his shirt to the waist. For you fans of chest hair, Dandy is all you'd want and more. Me Tarzan You Jane.

Alas, only one person is enjoying herself here. (Well, besides me.) Dandy looks like he's being burned at the stake. Fortunately his cellphone rings, and over Carmela's strident objections, he answers it. It's the office. Gotta go. Bye.

Another failed mission. For Rafa's gang and for Carmela.

Of course a seething Susana and an anxious Alejandra has already figured out that Dandy is missing and must be carrying out that secret mission they overheard Rafa discussing. There's a veiled threat to write Nelson up for absence without permission but Ale finally relents.

A brief scene with Vicky on the phone.... and I love how she refers to herself as "su jefa" when she talks to Susana. Once she finds out that there's a bachelor party tonight those crazy fingers Carlos mentioned start drumming again. SOOOOOO....IT'S GOING TO BE AT THE TRANCAZO, THAT RESTAURANT NEAR AUTO SIGLO. BUENO! I'LL BE THERE! Fireworks in store.

In the midst of all this, Ale gets a phone call from Rosario asking her to come home early. This potential trip of Jorge to Switzerland requires a fully family council. Can't she forget the bachelorette party and come home early? Ale tries to beg off with the sales gals, triggering some hurt feelings and accusations of hoity toity bourgeoisie too good to hobnob with the proletariat. Well, actually could we just postpone it for one more day? pleads Ale. The girls sniff a bit but then agree.

No agreement in Beltran's office though. Mustache is valiantly pleading Marino's cause as Head of Sales and Beltran's annoyed. Well, aren't you going to fire Alejandra? No, Doña Arcadia and I haven't made any final decision so if you have nothing more to say, adios!

So who's going to be at Rafa's bachelor party? Well, a downtrodden Dandy who, upon his return, still can't get a civil word out of Susana. And a nervous and already drunk Jimenez who gets grudging permission from his wife. Bebe, who was invited at the last minute. Pepeto, of course and Jaime.

And......drum roll, Ovida and her two beauty parlor pals. They're in the mood for a wild night and strong arm Jaime, who shows up at the shop for some odd reason, into inviting them.

There's a great band but the party is funereal. Dandy is glum. Rafa even more so. Even while dancing with Ovida whose incredible silicone melons are practically jumping out of her dress. Bebe is dancing with a granny with urinary tract issues. Pepeto is briefly mesmerized by Ovida, the blond hairdresser is equally mesmerized by Dandy, and just then Jaime proposes the lame entertainment of the evening by putting a gorilla mask on Rafa. Then two other gorillas jump into the fray dancing around him and throwing bananas. (Are we having fun yet?) One gorilla suddenly strips off her suit and emerges in little more than dental floss and turns and shakes her nubile tush right in Rafa's face. At the very moment when VickyVickyVicky arrives shrilling "PAJARITO". And there, mercifully, we end.

Vocabulary:
es una jefaza a todo dar = she's a great boss ( a drunken Jimenez talking about the Queen)
está tomado = he's drunk (Jimenez)
contrincante = opponent (Marian talking about Ale, her "real" competition)
velada romantica - romantic evening
cochinadas = dirty nasty doins' (Marino's opinion about Mustache's romantic plans)
echar más leño al fuego = throw more wood on the fire (Susana gloating about telling Vicky where the bachelor party was)
en media faena = in the midst of the task, job (Dandy when the phone call came)
la dura faena diaria = the daily grind (not in the episode but I thought it was an interesting expression)
asunto de faldas = woman trouble, or something concerning women
palabras rebuscadas = affected words (Rosaura chiding the General for her overly politicized speech)
pachangona = a real blowout party
decaidos = low, glum, gloomy (Rafa and Dandy)
eres un frégon = you're a pain, a bore
sacudir la polilla = lit. to shake off the moth. I'm guessing this means to have a wild ol' time but I'm not sure. Jarocha...help!

Dicho of the Day
Nadie sabe el bien que tiene hasta que lo ve perdido. No one appreciates a good thing until he finds himself without it. (Could apply to any number of our characters in this one who seem to be about to lose what they love the most. Stay tuned.)

Labels: dinero