Caray, Caray!

What better place to begin today's wacky excursion than the office of Valenzuela and Chavez, the Oasis, where we find them seated at their usual table deliberating. They are unobtrusively observed by Secret Agent Zetina,


attempting to take a successful candid snapshot of the two. His photography skills are legendary. Chavez is observing how nifty it would be if Marco's little soldier were able to stand up and salute as nature intended. Not only would he be able to fully enjoy the attributes of his beautiful new bride, he would have the treacherous Carlota eating from his hand. Not surprisingly, Marco doesn't want to discuss it. He's working on that with a capable therapist and a cure is imminent. Changing the subject, Chavez point out that when Quintana weds Rosaura and acquires a similar control over the hacienda, matters will become more difficult. Marco is not worried, "Quintana will be quiet as long as he is receiving his monthly hush money." "What will happen when he learns that you are selling the source of those funds?" Hmm, food for thought.

Over at Autos Siglos, serious girl talk. Has Nelson given Suzy a clue about what Rafa and his Merry Band are up to? No, she's back with Nelson because she loves him. Ale notes that Rafa was happy as a little rattlesnake (cascabelito) during the morning sales meeting. Ale whines that now she can never be happy with the "man I love." Susana says, " I warned you, but you married Marco like a capricious child." Ale will just have to talk to him and ask for a divorce. "At least it was only a civil ceremony," Suzy observes. "And uninspiring," Ale adds, "Daddy and you weren't even there." Borrrring. Well at least we learned a useful new word, desangelado (uninspiring, dull, borrrring)... next!

Saved by a happy little rattlesnake, "Hola, hola, hermosas señoras, or should I say beautiful señoritas?" Rafa is bubbling and babbling which is baffling Susana who finds his exuberance odd (raro). "Odd is too close to ugly (feo), strange (extraño) is more like it," the manic Rafa burbles. Ale thinks that Marian must have agreed to be his novia. Nopis, la licenciada Celeste has nothing to do with his bright mood. Rafa leans close and shares a secret, "It concerns the woman I love." He exits singing. Ale gapes, then smiles an encouraged yet uncertain smile.

More serious girl talk at Groupo Celeste. Marian's leggy pal Monserat can't understand why her friend (whose attributes affords her the pick of the best Mexico has to offer) would prefer the naco (not her word, but the intent) over her more desirable and cultured brother who has asked her to marry him. Marian notes that was troubling for Rafa. "Then why hasn't he asked you to marry him? You could then choose fairly between them."


Marian doesn't know. "And you don't want to know." Bitch. (Albeit a very comely bitch.)

We've heard all that before. Let's see what the simple folk of Groupo Celeste are up to. Julieta arrives to find her cubicle infested by a proud pretty preppy, who has made himself at home. He sits in her chair. He has his feet on her desk. He is holding forth on her phone. She claims her territory. He flirts.


She is polite. He is Cesar. We're not impressed nor do we care... next!

General and Claudia offer Rosaura romantic advice. Girl bonding. They spy Ramírez mom. Oops, so do Jiménez and Marino. Marino recognizes her and turns Ramírez to face her. He greets his sacrosanta mom with a flourish of pomposity. She is fulfilling a promise. She has brought a virtuous señorita to meet him and save him from perdition. Presenting... O. D. M. (OMG)... Milagros Saldaña Escandón.


Yikes! Is there a dentista en la casa? We have an emergency over here! Ramírez suddenly realizes the impropriety of such socializing in the workplace. On the other hand, Marino seems charmed. He invades her space, smiles the Marino smile, offers his card, and introduces himself, " They call me the master of pleasure." She responds by making the Sign of the Cross.

Meintras tanto, Dandy is working on shoring up his recently rescued rocky relationship with his noñita. She takes advantage of the situation by seeking the reason for Rafa's current manic state. To tell her would betray a pact of friendship. "Well which is it buster, friendship pact or our relationship?" He waffles and waivers for the sake of appearance, but she knows, he knows, and we know, he will cave.

Vicki's shrink has his work cut out. She'll quit wearing her veil once wed to her Pajarito. He explains obsession to her.


She briefly ponders, "People like that are ugly..." Nope, doesn't apply to her. " I WILL MARRY MY PAJARITO! UNDERSTAND? UNDERSTAND? UNDERSTAND?"

Doña Quieta admits her social faux pas by bringing Milagros to Germán's workplace. She and the lovely Milagros will await him at home. Dodging Marino whom Milagros thinks is ugly (perceptive lass) the two make their way for the exit, but not before a brief pause for the sainted mom to flirt with Bebe.


As they leave Bebe gently observes to Ramírez that he does not think she is well suited. The others join in with doubts, with the exception of a smiling Marino who contemplates the future mother of German's children... nude.

Once more we find ourselves back in The Oasis, this time Jaime is sitting alone at the best table sipping a frosty beer. Trumpets herald the entrance of our second fresh character of the night. Clearly an athlete, sort of a Lobo (Gancho) Lite, it's Jaime's cousin who ecstatic to see his primoso whom he hoists in a warm manly bear hug of greeting. They catch up on old times.


Jaime knows that his cuz is pursuing a sports career (gamasos, boxing? karate?) and confesses that he almost abandoned his pursuit of becoming a lawyer. The cousin is a positive thinker and offers encouragement and inquires about Julieta. Once again, Jaime must admit that things aren't going so well. The waiter asks what Jaime's guest will have. Water. Jaime seems a bit disappointed and even more so when he hands the waiter Jaime's beer. Life is a matter of good choices. Water... OK, with ice.

A beaten appearing Jiménez stands head bowed, hands folded , before the imperial doña Arcadia. He admits to being a mediocre. She is firm with him. She wants him to handle the building project in Vera Cruz. Is he up to it? He whines that la licenciada Alvarez del Castillo has warned him about his poor sales record. She gives him a firm pep talk, then asks, "Do you want the job in Vera Cruz?" Of course he does. Then he must work hard to be a success at both. "Now get out there and sell! Money! Money! Money! He sprints to the door, stopping briefly to thank her profusely. She calls for Chatoooo! to bring her doggies water as she lavishes them with affection. If only the whole world were like them, she chortles.

In the empty sala de juntos (conference room) Nelson is ready to tell Susana why Rafa is so happy, but insists that she promise to keep the secret. Ummm...sure. She agrees, having no intention to do so. He tells her that it's because Rafa has learned that Ale has had no real physical contact with Marco ( nada de nada con su peor es nada... ummm... OK... that makes sense to me). "How did he find out?'

After commercials he tells her about Jiménez running into Marco at the sex therapist's office. She asks if Jiménez has the same problem. Dandy tell her that for Jiménez to have sex with his wife, he doesn't need a therapist..." he needs to put a rag in her mouth..." Susana understands, knowing said wife, but nonetheless accuses him of being grosero (crude). She doesn't understand why what Rafa knows must be a secret. Nelson explains, leaving Susana and us as well... confused. "¿Ah?"

As she exits the shrinks consultation room, Vicki emits a long sigh, then inquires of the receptionist about Marco. He moved his appointment until later. Vicki is not pleased but maintains composure... almost. Just a quiet (for Vicki), short shriek. As she excuses herself to leave, the receptionist asks about her next appointment. "Ask the Dr. and let me know."

Back in the conference room, Susana wants Dandy to tell her what they have learned about Carmela and Marco. He tells her about the run each of them, Jaime, then Pepeto, and finally he himself each took a run at her with similar luck. "She is a giant octopus..." and offers to demonstrate. No need, she saw it with her own eyes. When he tells about the enlistment of Zetina, she pronounces them all crazy. Comparing notes, they both know about the embargo of the hacienda, and not much more. Susana doesn't think it strange for Marco to be meeting with her. Dandy thinks that the kissing and such need not be part of the negotiations. He manages to recruit Suzy to Team Rafa... Yea! "But only in the interest of Ale's happiness. I don't trust you guys, para nada." They seal the deal with a sweet kiss...Awww.


In The Oasis, Jaime has been pouring out his woes to his primo. The failed marriage attempts of Rafa and Vicki, his own Vicki problems. The cousin can't believe that Jaime would be helping Vicki after all this. Jaime tells him about the Brothers Grimm, orangutans. "That's why I'm here." The cousin, Rizos (Curls) is training for his next fight. He'll be on call for Jaime. As they exchange cell phone information, who is walking through the door? None other than aforementioned orangutans, looking to make Jaime miserable.


Well boys, there's a new sheriff in town and his name is Curls. As Rizos fiddles and fusses with his phone, the boys molest and rough Jaime up a bit. Rizos is annoyed and complains. From his choke hold, Jaime manages to indicate that these are Vicki's murderous brothers. Rizos warns them, as they hurl taunts, then he begins a little clock-cleaning. As we go to commercial, the boys are cowering behind a bar patron as they continue taunting Rizos.

The bartender Pascual intervenes and calls for calm. Rizos protectively embraces his cousin. He's peace-loving, not looking for trouble. The brothers are not used to this type of treatment. They try to menace, tossing out more feeble threats as they back out, "¿Qué? ¿Qué? ¿Qué?" They leave to regroup and lick their wounds.

At the therapist's office, Marco is seeking fast results. She insists that it's up to him. Since he hasn't actually seen Ale intimately involved with Ale, he needs to get her to confirm that nothing has happened between the two. Hmmm, that is a problem that Marco doesn't want to confront. He's actually pretty certain that they have been together... in that way. " Well, then we are dealing with the problem of excessive jealousy." Wounded, he asks her what she would do if her novio had slept with someone else? "I'm not the patient with the problem," but then she goes on to tell him that her novio slept with many women before her and they function just fine, thank you very much. "Maybe you can, but I can't." So, he's going to have to confront his problem with tact, tenderness, and patience. "Well, patience is not possible because I don't have a lot of time." As he's leaving she reminds him to be careful, this is a very delicate matter. As the door slams behind him, she doesn't look hopeful.

Marian has taken her cares and woes to the loyal Chepis, who offers sage advice, "Want to get close to Rafa? Get close to his family. Thanks Chepis, I knew we could count on you. Marian sees this as both wise and doable. "Buena idea. Muy buena idea." Heck, she's already in solid with Julieta.

In Marco's apartment, Rosauro is helping Jorge with his homework to improve his memory. He is memorizing a page of the phone book and doing quite well, I might add. He hands her the book and asks her to check his accuracy,


"Garcia, Garcia, Garcia, Garcia..." She is exasperated. Fortunately Marco arrives and Jorge explains their method. He asks about Alejandra just as she arrives. Greetings all around, then Rosauro broaches a delicate subject,. She and Jorge think that Ale and Marco should have the privacy of a bedroom shared by the two of them. Awkward responses from the newlyweds who finally agree on the propriety of waiting until after the Church wedding. "How decent," Rosaura weakly observes.

We're in the homestretch here and fittingly, Rafael is home. Leonor is setting the table. An ebullient Rafa is ravenous and ready join his family for dinner. Noting his extreme happiness she inquires. He tries to dodge by telling her of the successful truck sale but she knows better. "Guess." "The licenciada is divorcing." Very close. He tells her that since her wedding , la licenciada has had nada de nada with her husband. With Pasión playing on the TV behind them, they rejoice together.


At Marco's place, the four of them are enjoying dinner."No Mexican food in Croatia, just hasscakes," Jorge grouses. "Switzerland," Rosauro corrects. "Same difference." Tia then coaxes and coerces Jorge from the table, "Time for bed." With a little pinch from her Jorge gets the cue. They leave Ale and Marco alone. She inquires about the therapy. "Fine. Well same old thing... worrying about you having relations with Medina. " Then he drops a little bomb, "Mi amor, have you had anything to do with that man?"

Carlos

Labels: dinero