The Apprentice, Episode 3: Put up or Shut Up

The women are also looking for gold. They find a jewelry store that they like. Heidi says that the owner was tough at first, but she knew he was the right one to deal with. She tells him that she wants to do business with him, and no one else. He tells them that the price of gold is $400. Katrina and Heidi employ the time-honored and respected negotiating tactic of whining in an attempt to get ten dollars off. When that doesn’t work, they do a little dance for him. Tammy stands to the side of them looking embarrassed. Finally, perhaps to get them to shut up, he sells them the gold for $390.

Meanwhile, the men aren’t doing so well. They save only a dollar on the gold. Bowie is worried because they have only purchased half of their items.

Trump surprises Sam by paying the men a visit in their apartment. He shakes Sam’s hand and comments, “I never knew you were so short.” Trump says that he heard that the men chose Sam as project manager and asks if they might be trying to get rid of him. Sam gives a big smile and says that it might be true. Trump leaves, and Sam looks like he’s about to piddle on the floor like an excited puppy. He goes on and on about how Trump shook his hand. Troy makes Sam sit down, close his eyes, and take a deep breath. He tells Sam that he’s going to focus, “and we’re not going to talk about anybody shaking anybody’s hand.” Once again, Troy is able to soothe the savage beast.

Several readers have written to me suggesting that one of the real challenges that the candidates face is how to best manage Sam. He’s hyper, easily distracted, and has trouble staying on task. If you can make Sam into an effective member of your team, you are an incredible manager and leader. Troy is the only member of the men’s team who has made an effort to get some use out of Sam rather than swatting him away like an annoying mosquito. I think that Troy is one to watch and has an excellent chance of winning this competiton.

Sam’s relaxation is short lived. Moments later, he’s babbling on the phone with the rest of the team about the “coordinates” for the golf club. He tells Bowie, Kwame, and Bill that his team will take care of the leg wax. Nick and Troy are ready to go, but Sam starts blathering on about how you don’t send a player onto the field without the proper uniform. What, exactly, is the proper uniform for having your legs waxed? Nick reminds Sam that there is a time limit, and steers him to the door.

Bill calls the “coordinates” that he got from Sam for the golf clubs and learns that they don’t sell golf clubs. His irritation is apparent.

Troy says that he is going to take one for the team and will succumb to the leg wax. He only asks that his buddy Nick not laugh at him.

Omarosa volunteers to have her legs waxed. Amy and Kristi note that she has been on her best behavior all day. Jessie says in an interview that Omarosa needs to be in a place where she can shine. Amy holds Omarosa’s hands while she undergoes the hot wax torture. The retail price of a leg wax is $80. The women pay $30. Impressive. If Sam is the management challenge for the men’s team, then Omarosa fills that role for the women. It looks like Jessie is doing a good job of making Omarosa feel like an important part of the team, so she does feel so much like she has to prove herself. Omarosa says in an interview that she has new found respect for the women in her group.

Troy presents himself to the receptionist at the leg waxing place. He tells her that he has to get his legs waxed and wonders if he can get it for free for being such a good sport about it. She tells him no way. Poor Troy undergoes the horrifying pain of having all of the hair on his legs yanked out, and the boys only save four bucks. In an interview, Troy says something or other about doing it for the team, but I am distracted by his lovely, smooth legs.

Next, the two teams go in search of the golf club. Both find golf stores – let’s see how they do. Bowie’s salesperson tells him that their prices are firm, and then Bowie gets him to admit that he gives discounts to good customers. Amy asks her salesperson why the clubs are so expensive. He says that Callaway is a luxury brand, like Chanel. Finally, Amy offers the guy his cost plus ten percent. He agrees, and she gets the $419 club for $300. The guys can’t get a deal and leave in search of another shop.

Time is running out for the men. As Bill, Bowie, and Kwame sprint to the camera store, Bill calls Sam and asks him to go get the cigars. Sam is not listening to Bill and asks him if he thinks they’ll win and wants to know when they’ll be back. As Sam tries to calm down, his team gets a $65 camera for $30. Their last task is to buy cigars, which apparently they didn’t convince Sam to do. Bill should do well at this, since he runs a cigar business. Bowie does his best to keep up with the others as they race to the cigar store. They get $140 worth of cigars for $80.