The Complex: Malibu, Episode 3: Penny Wise and Pound Foolish!

After a review of last week's show, we begin the third installment of this saga. It's 2:16 a.m., and the gang from Upper Complex check out the graffiti left behind by the evictees. This juvenile drawing is directed at Sam and Scotty, the Rednecks, and conveys Erik and Jayna's less than best wishes for the terrible twosome. Nicole calls them "poor losers!" Meanwhile, Carl and Kim are celebrating their narrow escape from elimination and laughing at Barney and Rose's stupidity. Barney is pleased as punch that "Kim, evil witch of the west, has left the den." He calls her an egomaniac. Kim and Carl pack up their belongings and move upstairs.

Tube mail announces that this week's project is the second bedroom. Each apartment has a budget of $8000.00, plus any money left over from the previous week. Brad and Lew, whose bathroom won last week, get an extra $2000.00 that must be spent solely on this week's project. This week, they only have four days to complete the project and, once again, the teams must select a property manager.

In the Upper Complex, Kim volunteers to be the property manager. She thinks this might help them win, since she now knows what the judges seem to be looking for. Meanwhile, Dave volunteers Ana to be the property manager for the Lower Complex. Lew asks that he and Brad be allowed to do whatever they want. Brad is reluctant to help the rest of his group, but will do so in the interest of the team.

Upper Complex gets right to work, planning their rooms. Kim says she has elaborate plans, but Steve doesn't want to get in over his head. Downstairs, Brad and Lew are taking on a project that will take more man-hours, and admit they are a little fearful. But they draw up their plans, and will be building a desk and creating paneling for the room, which will be used as an office. I can't wait to see what they do this week!

Rose wants her vertical blinds this time! Good old Rose, always thinking class! Dave thinks buying a bunch of books at the dollar store would be a tasteful addition. Ana already seems to have second thoughts about taking on this motley crew. As night falls over Malibu, they all work feverishly. Steve and Nicole are very discouraged, as well they should be, since their apartment has been judged the worst twice. Kim recognizes Steve and Nicole's limitations as well.

Barney and Rose sneak into Brad and Lew's apartment and check it out. Rose thinks it's too ornate and looks like "a Chinese restaurant." But Barney realizes their skill and says their competing with Brad and Lew is like "going against an interior decorator." Upstairs, Steve is having a hard time with the flooring and is, in Nicole's words, "Not having fun." Kim and Sam go shopping and discuss Steve and Nicole's weaknesses. Nicole tells us that Steve thinks she's incompetent, and he counters by reminding her that her trim looked like "spaghetti." "Today is a new day, and I guess I'll just be sunbathing, 'cause Steve isn't giving me anything to do," she tells us. They continue to struggle. Scotty and Sam are ready to pounce. Scotty tries to help, but his motivation isn't 100% pure.

Brad and Lew are moving right along and hoping that things will fall apart upstairs. Brad isn't sure what's up with them. Meanwhile, Barney merrily paints the ceiling, whistling as he works. He should be paying more attention to Mrs. Dippy (Rose) who is busy butchering a piece of board with a power saw. Keep the power tools out of this dingbat's hands, Barney. She's a danger to herself and others!

Scotty peeks over the balcony and sees that Brad and Lew are doing what they do best - working together and accomplishing the task at hand. The more I watch them, the more I respect what they are doing. They do not bicker and they do not waste time. They envision the project and then make it happen. Their skills are eons ahead of everyone else's, of course, and that helps, but they work so well together and are so focused. They deserve to win, but, of course, these qualities are what will ultimately make them a target. They are too big a threat.

Another evening settles in, and Rose is calculating how much money they have left. It doesn't correlate to the figures on Ana's board, and Ana is beginning to question whether Rose is intentionally holding back money. Rose admits that she is, in fact, hoarding money, and tells us that she is doing this because all they will do is go and "spend it on something stupid." Like that lava-lampesque vase you bought the first week Rose? Something stupid like that? Ana tells us that once they are done with this room, "things are going to get ugly."

Morning of the third day arrives, as it always does, and Scotty and Sam struggle with the directions for a cabinet they are attempting to build. We get a little insight into their sex life. "There weren't no loving last night," he tells us. Meanwhile, Rose "discovers" $350.00 in an envelope. Dave recognizes that something "fishy" is going on and tells us that, although they are going to keep up the premise of an alliance, there's no more friendship. He could care less. "A few more days and we'll never see these people again," he tells us. Ana stares at the sea.

As they enter the last 24 hours, all the couples scramble to finish. Dave and Ana go furniture shopping in the "awesomest" store, and he is frustrated because she is spending too much time shopping. She understands that selecting the right furniture is critical, but he just doesn't get it. Meanwhile, Scotty has knocked a hole in the wall, and Sam announces to the world that Scotty is a "dumb-ass." Don't you love it?