The Apprentice 3, Episode 7: The Tears of a Clown

The candidates are talking intently about what happened in the boardroom, and Tana tells Magna all about what was going on. John tells them that he told Trump that they didn’t lose the task because of Audrey, but that overall Tara is stronger. Stephanie says that you just never know what’s going to happen. Kendra says in an interview that everyone was in suspense until Audrey walked back into the suite. Kendra observes that she “looks as if she were someone who felt abandoned by her team.” Indeed she does, and instead of joining the rest of the group, she goes off to bed alone. Craig tells the group that he told Audrey not to take it personally. In an interview, Audrey says that it hurt her to be called the weakest link. She pulls out a book, and I can’t help but notice that she moves her lips as she reads. She tells us that she hates being treated as if she were incompetent.

Craig tells the group that he thinks that if things get personal in the boardroom, you should talk it out. Angie agrees and goes to get Audrey so they can all talk things out. In an interview, Angie says that the team is really dysfunctional, and that they need to have a meeting to work it out. She and Audrey head out on the balcony together, and Audrey is hopping mad. Chris joins them as Audrey is saying that she will not be treated like a child. She rants that she has worked very hard to get where she is in life. Both of her parents went to prison, and at the age of 17, she was living out of a car. “I am where I am today,” she says, “because I crawled and begged.” She says that girls hated her because she was beautiful, and she wanted to scar her own face so she wouldn’t be. I notice the little red flag that comes up when a person on a reality show says that other people don’t like them because they are jealous. Audrey goes on to say that she wants to be accepted, and she cannot stand the suggestion that she didn’t pull her own weight.

John comes out on the balcony to join the discussion, and Audrey says the conversation is none of his business. He says it is, because they have to work the next day, and his fate lies with the team. Audrey is mad because John thinks he’s better than she is. John says, very calmly, “I don’t think I’m better than anybody.” He asks her if she wants to listen to what he has to say, or if she just wants to yell at him. She says he doesn’t respect him. The two argue until mother hen Angie tells them to stop. Audrey refuses to talk to John.

John tells her that she will make more money than any of the rest of them “because you’re gorgeous and you’re a sweetheart.” Audrey finds that insulting, and I kind of suspect that it was meant to be. Also, Audrey may be beautiful, but she does not seem to be a sweetheart. Not that there’s anything wrong with that – I’m not a sweetheart either. John says that he doesn’t trust his future career in her hands. Audrey swears at him and storms off, and he calls her on the fact that she handled a conflict by swearing at him and storming off. In an interview, John says that Audrey is a big baby. He and Chris agree that she’s immature. In an interview, John says, “Maybe she needs to go home and come back in ten years.” Until then, she is in over her head. As far as whether anybody thinks they’re better than anybody else, John tells Chris, “At the end of the day, everyone here thinks they’re better than everyone else.” That is absolutely true, and doesn’t contradict what he told Audrey before, that he’s not better than she is. He meant then that he’s not better than she is as a person. I don’t doubt that John thinks he’s better than she is as a candidate. They’re all very confident people, or they wouldn’t be there.

The Trump Phone rings, and as usual, Angie gets it. She learns that they all need to meet Trump in the boardroom. After a grooming montage, the candidates file into the boardroom. Carolyn is back, but now George is away, with a man named Ashley filling in for him. Trump tells the candidates that he loves golf, so they’ll be building mini golf courses on Chelsea Pier. They’ll run the golf courses for one day, and the team that makes the most money wins.

Trump Lesson of the Week! This week’s lesson: “Play Golf.” Trump says that many strong relationships are formed over a game of golf. And now for the Betsy Lesson of the Week. If you have leftover salad, put a wet paper towel over the salad bowl. Your lettuce will stay crisp, and the salad will stay fresh.

Audrey volunteers to lead Net Worth. She says that she has played mini golf (which causes Carolyn to roll her eyes), then adds that she has a lot of creative ideas. John doesn’t want her to be in charge, and suggests that the person with the fewest personal problems with other members of the team lead, namely Craig. After Audrey said “F*$# you” and stormed out of the room, John says, he doesn’t think she’d be a good leader. Audrey cannot believe John said that in front of Carolyn, and adds that it’s only because she wouldn’t let them step all over her. Audrey tells the team that she wants to prove herself, says, “My business is all business,” and that she wants to use all of their skills. Angie and Craig vote yes for Audrey to be in charge, and John says that she sold him. In an interview, Angie says that it’s do or die for Audrey.

Audrey starts delegating tasks. Craig will handle the marketing, which she says will be very important. Chris will design the course. And John will do… then Audrey says some stream of consciousness stuff about marketing, kind of, and how they’ll be targeting kids until Tana steps in and suggests John handle promotions. Huh, I’d think Craig could handle that under marketing, but no matter.

Stephanie is in charge of Magna, and they’re checking out their location. Erin is wearing some sunglasses, by the way, that I have to say no to. The course will have a safari theme, and Stephanie dubs it, “Safari Sunday.” She talks excitedly about buying tons of greenery and shrubs to fill up the space.

Kendra, on the other hand, thinks the focus should be on marketing. In a really cute hat, she tells us that the team with the best marketing will win. She suggests that they seek out kids who will be taking lessons in the area – gymnastics, skating, or whatever – and offer them a discount. Stephanie okays that plan. Kendra then goes to meet with a bunch of local businesses that have kids’ activities that day and negotiates an exclusive cross-promotional deal with them. Only Magna will have a marketing presence in those venues. Kendra says, “We effectively shut Net Worth out.” Wow, now that we’re actually seeing Kendra, the woman is pretty smart.