Summaries for first 4 months on Telemundo / resumenes por los primeros quatro meses en Telemundo
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We have integrated summaries from several sources (English and Spanish): diane@telenovela-world.com, telenovelas-internet.com( now telenovela-world.com), La Opinion, http://www.laciudad.com/entretenimiento/telenovelas. You may share them, but you may not sell them or include them in anything you sell. In addition, you must give credit to all the sources, especially the authors, and to Telenovela-World (for the collection).
Hemos integrado resumenes de algunos fuentes (en ingés o español): diane@telenovela-world.com, www.telenovelas-internet.com (ahora telenovela-world.com), La Opinion, http://www.laciudad.com/entretenimiento/telenovelas. Puede compartirlos, pero no puede venderlos o incluirlos en cualquier cosa que vende. Tambien, tenga que dar crédito a todas las fuentes, especialmente a los autores, y a Telenovela-World (por la colección).
A informação nesta página pode
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www.telenovela-world.com e incluir todas as fontes.
Please send additions, changes, corrections to diane@telenovela-world.com/ Por favor, envia adiciónes, cambios o correcciónes a diane@telenovela-world.com
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RCTV Sinopsis "Yo soy Betty la Fea" es la historia de Beatriz Pinzón Solano, una joven cuyas cualidades profesionales la convierten en la ejemplar trabajadora de una empresa, y aunque sus méritos como economista con post grado en finanzas la hacen merecedora de un cargo ejecutivo, sus atributos físicos la obligan a conformarse con ser una secretaria. Es así como ser fea es el único defecto de Betty, quien además aprende a quedarse solterona para toda la vida, y prefiere dedicarse a su formación y a agradar a su padre.
Pero cuando Betty comienza a trabajar en Ecomoda, una de las empresas de confección más grande del país, conoce a Armando Mendoza, el hombre de quien se enamora. Pero debe conformarse con estar a su lado como su secretaria, pues por ser fea las cosas no van a ser fáciles, así que decide empezar por abajo e ir escalando posiciones. Betty trabaja aislada del resto de sus compañeros, y desde allí sueña y vive feliz, pues ve todo el día a su jefe, lo atiende, suspira por él a pesar de que para Armando ella no existe como mujer, sino como un ser que le proporciona ideas brillantes, que es su cómplice y que le maneja la agenda de citas clandestinas y lo encubre ante su novia, Marcela Valencia, una sofisticada diseñadora de modas que la desprecia. Las cosas empiezan a cambiar para Betty cuando su jefe atraviesa por serios problemas con la empresa. Hace maniobras peligrosas que cuentan siempre con la solidaridad de Betty, y una noche Armando la besa enloquecidamente. Ese beso cambia la vida de Betty: la pone a soñar como nunca, la saca del abismo de la resignación... Definitivamente, Betty no volverá a ser la de antes, ya que sufrirá una transformación sorprendente, del alma y del cuerpo.
RCN Sinopsis:: Beatriz Pinzón Solano es una economista muy brillante, pero muy fea. Tanto que solo consigue puesto como secretaria. En Ecomoda trabaja para Armando Mendoza, el hombre de quien se enamora. Betty se convierte en la mano derecha de Armando y éste, sin darse cuenta, termina atrapado en las telarañas del amor de Betty, la fea. "Yo soy Betty la Fea" es la historia de Beatriz Pinzón Solano, una joven cuyas cualidades profesionales la convierten en la ejemplar trabajadora de una empresa, y aunque sus méritos como economista con post grado en finanzas la hacen merecedora de un cargo ejecutivo, sus atributos físicos la obligan a conformarse con ser una secretaria. Es así como ser fea es el único defecto de Betty, quien además aprende a quedarse solterona para toda la vida, y prefiere dedicarse a su formación y a agradar a su padre. Pero cuando Betty comienza a trabajar en Ecomoda, una de las empresas de confección más grande del país, conoce a Armando Mendoza, el hombre de quien se enamora. Pero debe conformarse con estar a su lado como su secretaria, pues por ser fea las cosas no van a ser fáciles, así que decide empezar por abajo e ir escalando posiciones. Betty trabaja aislada del resto de sus compañeros, y desde allí sueña y vive feliz, pues ve todo el día a su jefe, lo atiende, suspira por él a pesar de que para Armando ella no existe como mujer, sino como un ser que le proporciona ideas brillantes, que es su cómplice y que le maneja la agenda de citas clandestinas y lo encubre ante su novia, Marcela Valencia, una sofisticada diseñadora de modas que la desprecia. Las cosas empiezan a cambiar para Betty cuando su jefe atraviesa por serios problemas con la empresa. Hace maniobras peligrosas que cuentan siempre con la solidaridad de Betty, y una noche Armando la besa enloquecidamente. Ese beso cambia la vida de Betty: la pone a soñar como nunca, la saca del abismo de la resignación... Definitivamente, Betty no volverá a ser la de antes, ya que sufrirá una transformación sorprendente, del alma y del cuerpo.
Sinopsis: Ana María Orozco, Jorge Enrique Abello, Julián Arango y Luis Mesa son los protagonistas de la más exitosa telenovelacolombiana de los últimos años: Yo soy Betty la fea. Producción escrita por Fernando Gaitán (Café, con aroma de mujer), que hasido un fenómeno de sintonía en la historia de los canales privados en Colombia, superando los 45 puntos de sintonía en elPrime.Para Beatriz Pinzón (Ana María Orozco) lograr que la contrataran como secretaria de Eco Moda fue el mayor logro a lo largo desu carrera como Economista, nada halagador teniendo en cuenta que fue la mejor alumna de su facultad y que su inteligencia essobresaliente.Pero no es su culpa, ha hecho hasta lo imposible por conseguir un cargo de acuerdo con sus capacidades, incluso enviando suhoja de vida… sin foto, y no porque sea vieja o tenga algún defecto físico, aunque sí tiene un mal de nacimiento: es fea.A sus 26 años Betty, como la llaman sus padres y sus pocos amigos, está resignada a envejecer al lado de sus progenitores,porque ya perdió las esperanzas de que algún hombre quiera formar con ella un hogar. Incluso, junto a su amigo Nicolás, ya hacebromas sobre su poca agraciada figura.Pero la fealdad no le impide a Betty soñar y desde que empezó a trabajar en Eco Moda imagina lo que sería vivir una historia deamor con Armando Mendoza (Jorge Enrique Abello) el presidente de la compañía. Pero él nunca se fijaría en ella para algo másque discutir sobre algún informe que tiene que presentar ante la junta directiva de la empresa.Además Mendoza tiene a sus pies a cuanta modelo quiere y a su novia, Marcela Valencia (Natalia Ramírez), es el ejemplo de labelleza, el estilo y el glamour. Betty nunca sería nada más que su aliada para sacar adelante a Eco Moda y para luchar contralos planes de Daniel (Luis Mesa), hermano de Marcela y quien está dispuesto a quedarse con el cargo de Armando.Contra los intereses de muchos y el desprecio de otros Betty logrará demostrar de qué es capaz como profesional e inclusometerse en la vida personal de Armando. Sin embargo, las cosas no serán como ella espera y esto en vez de causarle felicidad,despertará su orgullo y una fuerza que pocos esperarían de una fea.
Telenovelas-Internet.com Subject: descripciones de personajes de Betty Author: Rene (209.178.146.201) Date:08-15-2000 01:23OBSESIVAS, ACOMPLEJADAS Y COMICASBetty aparte de fea, es pobre. Pero estudia, y estudió. Se parte la espalda leyendo libros, y mientras sus compañeras hacen de la suyas en las discotecas de moda, Betty logran triunfos estudiantiles para darle en el gusto a papá, un campesino moralista, desconfiado, autoritario y porfiado. Betty llega a ser economista con post-grado en finanzas. Pero en este mundo dominado por la rubias, las voluptuosas, las caras sin acné y los trajes de marca que se apegan al cuerpo,termina como secretaria de un ejecutivo pedante, infiel y fijado, del cual obviamente se enamora, y quien la esconde en un desván. La empresa se llama Eco Moda y es un pequeño imperio de confección donde se juntan los seres más extraños, acomplejados y adorables que viera la pantalla nacional. Sobre todo la de Canal 13. Aparte de Betty hay un diseñador que tiene muy claras sus preferencias sexuales: los hombres. Es Julían Arango, papel a cargo de Hugo Lombardi, marido en la vida real de Ana María Orozco. Entre modelos estúpidas y gente que escala posiciones con belleza, está el Cuartel de La Feas.Mujeres fracasadas buscando amor y luchando contra los prejuicios. Berta tiene kilos demás como para llenar un saco, vive ahorrando para una liposucción pero cada vez que ve un chocolate no puede resistirlo.Además, es esclava de su novio.Sandra está obsesionada con que es muy baja, por eso utiliza peinados kilométricos y tacones de diez centímetros. Aura María sueña con ser descubierta como top model porque se cree Naomi Campbell. A Sofía su ex esposo la cambió por otra más bella y ella quedó odiando a todo el género varonil. Es una amargada que soportan solo sus muy amigas. Inés también fueabandonada por el esposo y vive con sus dos hijos."Yo creo que los hombres por naturaleza, por genética, somos obsesivos con la belleza de lasmujeres", declara Fernando Gaitán, el guionista de Yo Soy Betty La Fea, el mismo de Café conAroma de Mujer. "Solo conozco un amigo que dice que prefiere las feas porque son agradecidas.Pero indiscutiblemente fuimos los hombres quienes lanzamos a las mujeres a ese mercado brutal y devorador de la estética, porque las mujeres saben que a los hombres hay que entrarles, antetodo, por la vía visual", termina.
8/7/00. Primer capítulo: Subject: Un pequeño resúmen Author: Tuly (12.77.249.84) Date:08-08-2000 07:48Estuvo muy bueno, Pili, pero basicamente el capítulo nada más nos dió el "background" de todos los personajes. Betty es hija única y vive con su papá y su mamá, quienes la adoran, y su padre, especialmente, no se ha dado cuenta de que su hija es fea (esto lo dice la propia Betty en forma de broma -- Betty ya es experta en reirse de sí misma). Betty ya se cansó de buscar trabajo como ejecutiva porque siempre les impresiona su hoja de vida, pero al verla, le dicen que no (porque es tan fea) ... entonces ahora ha decidido aplicar para un trabajo de secretaria en un casa de modas, "Es Moda", y escalar posiciones desde adentro. Su mejor amigo es tan feo como ella pero igual de simpático e inteligente.Armando es el nuevo presidente de "Es Moda" (su papá se retira de esta posición en el primer capítulo). Está buscando secretaria y entre las que se presentan están Betty y la mejor amiga de su novia, una rubia despampanante que está quedando en la ruina y se ve obligada a buscar empleo por primera vez en su vida para poder llevar el nivel de vida al que está acostumbrada y poder sacar sus joyas de empeño. El encargado de entrevistar a las aspirantes de secretaria primero elije a la amiga de la novia de Armando, ya que piensa que este busca una secretaria bella, pero cuando Armando se entera de quien va a ser su nueva secretaria, cita a Betty para entrevistarla él mismo. La entrevista es muy cómica ya que Betty les nombra todas las cifras de exportación y utilidades de la empresa en el mercado internacional que ha leído en las revistas económicas -- Armando, la novia de este (quien también es accionista en la empresa) y el padre de Armando se quedan impresionados al ver lo bien informada que está Betty ... por muy fea y mal vestida que sea. Pero de todos modos la novia de Armando quiere que Armando contrate a su amiga y no a Betty. Armando se sobrepone a los deseos de su novia, pues sabe que ella quiere a su amiga en la empresa para espiarlo, y contrata a Betty como secretaria. Esto causa enemistad instantanea entre Betty, la novia de Armando y la rubia.Betty le dice a su papá que fué contratada como asistente de presidencia, ya que si le dice que empieza como una simple secretaria, no la dejaría trabajar en "Es Moda".También conocimos al diseñador de "Es Moda", un hombre gay que obviamente incomoda a Armando y sus amigos y al que no le gusta lo que no sea bello (me imagino su reacción cuando conozca a Betty) ... me parece que este va a ser un personaje muy cómico.Y también al mejor amigo de Armando quien parece ser un playboy, lo mismo que Armando ha sido hasta ahora que se decidió comprometer con su novia anunciándolo en un coctél de la empresa.Si se me ha olvidado algo, por fa alguien menciónelo, porque es de lo que me acuerdo hasta ahora. Espero te sirva, Pili.
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8/8-11/00. Betty survives the intrigues of Marcela and Patricia and prevents them from getting Armando's diary. They try to fire her but he stops them and tells Marcela he knows what she is up to and he has no intention of turning his private life over to her. His mother advises her to change her tactics or she will lose Armando. The neighborhood boys trick Betty into thinking she has a date with Ramón who stands her up. Her father has always treated her as a child and has never let her date. The only man she sees is Nicolas, a neighbor, who is just as plain and shy as she is. Marcela arranges a fake sado-masochist night for Armando, they make love, and he decides he is definitely going to marry her.
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8/14-18/00. Roberto and Margarita hold their final meeting in which Armando is confirmed as the new president for the next year although his father preferred Daniel's business plan. Before leaving, Roberto warns Armando that he will be tempted to do things that aren't right but must resist them. They leave to visit Camila in London and then travel. Marcela and Patricia plot against Beatriz. Patricia passes off the financial summary Beatriz prepared as hers. Armando asks Patricia to prepare a business plan for the next day. She invites Mario over to help her but they end up making love. Betty and Nicolas stay up all night working on a plan but she trips on the way to work, her father visits after hearing Armando yelling at her on the phone, etc., etc. As a result of a bunch of mishaps, and the fact that Patricia did not present a plan, Armando fires Betty. On her way out the door, she manages, finally, to tell him she put together a plan and gives it to him.
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8/21-25/00. Daniel and Luarte, the VP of Finances, plot. When Armando sees the plan, he asks Betty for more stuff, she reminds him she was fired, he rehires her. At a meeting with Gustavo Luarte? and Daniel, he tells Luarte that in the future he will report to Betty. Patricia gets Marcela to have Daniel ask her out. He does but is brutal with her: so, with 6 months of finance they should be able to discuss the stock market, right? no? well, what about the opera? no? What is her objective in life? P - To succeed in life. D - One does that by living. She finally realizes that she is being insulted and leaves. Months pass. Betty gets a call; she needs Armando's signature urgently. Freddy takes her on his cycle to a horse show where she makes the usual fool of herself in trying to gain Armando's attention (he's on a horse in the arena). But when he finds out what she wants, he is pleased and invites her a dinner meeting with two potential investors. Betty convinces them in spite of the fact that she makes a fool of herself when she misinterprets a menu item. On the way back, she asks Armando if she should introduce herself as his secretary or his assistant. The latter, he says. She cries. Back at the office she tells her friends. In the bathroom, Patricia accuses her of trying to displace her, criticizes her dress, etc. The cuartel de feas defend her and tell Patricia that since Betty is now the assistant to the President she can fire Patricia if she wants. Patricia tells Marcela who confronts Armando. Patricia arranges for Gutierrez to meet with all the secretaries. Armando asks Betty why she told her friends when he had asked her not to; it takes time but, finally, she is able to explain exactly what happens. Gutierrez reprimands the women for their behavior toward Patricia, reminds them of the company rules, warns they will be docked for abusing start/break/end times and focuses on Betty while the others defend her. Armando, outside, overhears and enters. He mentions the fact that Patiricia is always late, rarely at her desk, etc. and that the company rules apply to everybody. Furthermore, Betty is now his assistant. Later, Armando asks Betty if her report is ready for the meeting with Daniel. She tells him that they have not met the profit objectives they had set forth. He and Mario tell her to fake the numbers, to book two large potential sales as having already taken place.
8/24/00. Subject: Resumen 8/24/00 Author: Mirna (209.179.157.22) Date:08-28-2000 03:21 En el auto... Betty le agradece a Armando por el ascenso. Betty se emociona y se pone a llorar. Armando le pregunta porque llora y ella le responde que por nada. Armando le dice a Betty que tiene que ser por algo que ella llora. Betty le dice que la tomo por sorpresa. Armando le pregunta si ella tiene un panuelo. Ella le responde que no. Armando le ofrece una servilleta roja y sonrie al ver como Betty se ha emocionado. En Ecomoda... Patricia le dice a Marcela que ella esta consciente de que no le pueden hacer un aumento de sueldo pero que por lo menos la podrian ascender. Patricia le pide a Marcela que le pida a Armando que la ascienda a Asistente de Presidencia, ya que asi le subiria el sueldo automaticamente y podria luchar contra la pobreza absoluta. Marcela le responde que se busque otra opcion porque Armando esta muy tenso debido a que las ventas han bajado. Marcela le pregunta porque no la ayuda un novio y que pasa con Mario. Patricia le responde que Mario es una aparicion y que llega solo a comer y ha estar con ella de vez en cuando. Patricia explica que nunca ha ofrecido llevarla a comer a algun lado o ha traido comida y que mas parece un fantasma. Patricia dice que Mario no es mas que un marido por hora y que no tiene quien la mantenga pero le asegura a Marcela que tarde o temprano Mario va a terminar estableciendo una relacion con ella. Patricia le pide a Marcela que la ayude con Armando y que se apiade de su amiga pobre. Le dice a Marcela que hoy es el mejor dia para hablar con Armando ya que la idiota de Betty se fue desde muy temprano y no ha regresado. Marcela le dice que Betty esta almorzando con Armando y las personas de Ragtela. Patricia casi se ahoga de la impresion y pregunta porque. Marcela le responde que porque Betty llevo unos papeles importantes y Armando le pidio que se quedara. Patricia dice que no lo puede creer y que Armando no le puede hacer eso de almorzar con Armando en el club. Marcela le cuenta a Patricia acerca del escandalo de Betty en el club. Patricia se molesta y dice que Armando no puede hacer eso y que si es de mostrar a alguien debe ser a ella ya que ese es su trabajo. Patricia le pregunta a Marcela si no habra nada raro en eso y que Betty tiene a Armando embrujado y le asegura a Marcela que ahora mas que nunca ella debe ayudarla con Armando. Patricia quiere que la nombren asistente antes que a Betty para que no sea su superior. Patricia le pregunta a Marcela si ella quiere seguir viendo a Betty en club. Marcela le pide a Patricia que espere que Armando regrese. En las afueras de Ecomoda... Armando llega en el auto al mismo tiempo que el cuartel. Ellas se sorprenden que Betty va llegando con Armando. El cuartel necesita saber porque Betty estaba en el club con Armando. Armando las saluda y entra. Betty trata de entrar y el cuartel la detiene para preguntarle que estaba haciendo. Betty les explica que Armando la invito a almorzar. Aura Maria pregunta si estaban solos y asi comienza el interrogatorio. El cuartel se lleva a Betty a la sala de juntas del cuartel. En Ecomoda... Armando le pide a Patricia que lo comunique con el senor Lara del banco y que no le pase ninguna llamada. Patricia le dice que Marcela lo ha estado esperando para hablar con ella. El le repite que no quiere hablar con nadie y que lo comunique con el banco y que le diga a Marcela que el esta en su oficina. Armando le pide a Patricia que se tome algo para la gripa porque ella esta contagiando a todo el mundo en la oficina. El cuartel se dirije al bano para saber el chisme de porque Betty estaba con Armando. Patricia esta comunicando la llamada de Armando y le da curiosidad la reunion del cuartel.
En el bano... Betty les explica a las chicas que Armando tenia un almuerzo con unos proveedores y que ella habia ido a que le firmara el pagare y a llevarle los documentos a Mario. Le preguntan que tan bonito es el club. Betty les dice que es muy bonito y que tiene muchos campos verdes pero que es muy dificil entrar. Betty les cuenta como ella y Freddy entraron sin permiso y que casi los sacan. Betty tambien les cuenta que si no fuera por Armando los hubieran echado y que le interrumpio su evento a Armando. Aura Maria pregunta si Mario estaba vestido de jinete y todo papito. Aura Maria dice que se lo imagina cabalgado y cabalgando y aclara que se lo imagina cabalgando un caballo y nada mas. Inesita le dice que deje de estar pensando bobadas. Betty les sigue contando que el restaurante era divino pero muy sobrio. El cuartel pregunta que comio y que ojala hubiera pedido lo mas caro. Betty les cuenta que ella nunca habia oido de los platos en el menu, tan solo en las peliculas y que lo que pidio fue la trucha pero que le toco pedirla de una forma que ella no sabia y al fin se le sirvieron marinada. Inesita pregunta que quiere decir marinado y Betty le responde que con salsa y bichos del mar. Le preguntan si no se sintio mal entre esa gente. Betty les dice que si y que no quiere volver a hacerlo porque Marcela estaba molesta. Betty les cuenta que en el auto Armando la habia nombrado asistente de presidencia. Patricia escucha el alboroto del cuartel y se dirije al bano. El cuartel celebra el nombramiento de Betty y deciden celebrar. Aura Maria busca una botella de bebida escondida. En eso Patricia llega al bano y ellas esconden el trago. Patricia les pregunta si estaban de fiesta. Muy pedante, Patricia le reclama a Betty que le ha estado contestando sus llamadas. Betty le dice que en un momento le puede pasar la llamada y Patricia le dice que ella esta sonando si piensa que va a acatar una orden suya. Patricia le dice a Betty que le prohibe que se meta en sus terrenos y que ella no tenia nada que hacer en el club. Betty le dice que Armando se lo ordeno. Patricia le dice que ella fue la que se fue a meter alla como siempre. Patricia le dice a Betty que con que facha se fue al almuerzo pero que claro Betty no da mas. Aura Maria le reclalma a Patricia que no se meta con Betty. El cuartel defiende a Betty y llaman a Patricia "pelitenida". Patricia se rie y les dice que lo de ella es natural y no un tinte barato como los de ellas. Patricia le llama enana a una de ellas y la secretari super alta se levanta y le pregunta a Patricia que quien es la enana y que que problema tiene con el cuartel y que apartir de ese dia ella va a tener que aprender a respetar a Betty ya que es su superiora. Le aseguran a Patricia que la proxima vez que ella trate mal a Betty, ella la va a poner a trapear el piso del bano y que si no lo hace, trapearan el piso con su cabello. Patricia les dice que si Betty le quiere dar una orden va a tener que volver a nacer. El curtel le asegura a Patricia que Betty puede darle ordenes desde ya porque ella es la nueva asistente de presidencia. Patricia se va corriendo a contarselo a Marcela. Betty le dice a Sandra que no le debio de haber dicho nada porque Armando la nombraria oficialmente en la junta. Inesita asegura que se han metido en tremendo lio. Betty les dice que no quiere que se ariesgen por ella. Aura Maria le dice a Betty que el cuartel tiene reglas muy claras y que si se meten con una de ellas se meten con todas. Ya que no es la primera vez que pasa...el cuartel no se deja poner ley de nadie y mucho menos si las llaman el cuartel de feas porque no se van a dejar de una bonita. Ellas son feas pero unidas. El cuartel se abraza. En la oficina de Marcela... Marcela habla por telefono con la duena de Ragtela y le cuenta que Betty es solo una de las secretarias de Armando. Patricia entra y le dice que necesita hablar con ella de inmediato. Marcela le dice que esta hablando con la senora Medina y que es brillante pero que Armando solo le dio el cargo de asistente para que la dejaran entrar al club. Marcela se burla de que Betty es brillante pero fea y le dice a la senora Medina que Patricia no pudo ir al almuerzo por un imprevisto y que a Armando le toco irse con la fea. Marcela se despide. Patricia le dice a Marcela que Armando acaba de nombrar a Betty asistente de presidencia y que casi la linchan en el bano. Patricia se queja de que Betty le echo al cuartel de las feas. Marcela pregunta si Armando esta en su oficina y sale muy enojada. Patricia se sonrie. Marcela se molesta con Mariana por llegar tarde y Patricia le dice a Sandra que se vaya preparando su delantal si quiere seguir trabajando en Ecomoda. Mariana le pide a San Martin de Porres que las proteja. En la oficina de Armando... Armando esta hablando con su hermana Camila que vive en Suiza.
Betty entra y el le pide el informe. Armando le pregunta a su hermana si su papa todavia esta nervioso por su ascenso a Presidencia...el le dice a Camila que todo esta bien y que las ventas han bajado un poco pero que estan cumpliendo las metas y que es Daniel el que se queja. Armando le dice a su hermana que la espera ver muy pronto. Marcela entra y le dice a Armando que necesita a hablar con el y le pregunta si es cierto que ascendio a Betty. Betty se ve asustada. Armando le dice que donde saco eso. Marcela le dice que Betty lo grito a los cuatro vientos y que reunio al cuartel para celebrar. Armando se muestra molesto. Marcela le dice a Armando que Betty llego dando ordenes y que le dijo a Patricia que si ella no obedecia, ella iba a limpiar banos. Armando le dice a Marcela que eso no es cierto. Marcela le dice que Patricia fue victima del cuartel y que se fije quien tiene metida en la madrigera. Marcela dice que el le esta entregando la empresa. Armando le dice que el ascendio a Betty porque ese es el trabajo que ella hace y que todo el mundo lo hace y que no la nombro antes por no tener problemas con ella ni con Patricia pero que es lo mas justo. Marcela le dice que ella no esta defendiendo a su amigita si no que busca hacerlo entrar en razon. Marcela le reclama las atribuciones que el le da a Betty y que el se paseo con Betty por el club. Marcela le pregunta si esa es la imagen que el quiere dar y que recuerde que Patricia es la encargada de la imagen. Armando le pregunta si termino con el cassette y continua explicandole que Betty fue capaz de sacar adelante un negocio que estaba mas enredado que un bulto de anzuelos cosa que Patricia nunca hubiera podido hacer. Armando se dirije a la puerta y le dice a Patricia que si esta escuchando detras de la puerta que se asome. Patricia entra y le dice a Armando que como quiere que le demuestre sus aptitudes si no le da la oportunidad. Patricia le dice que ella hubiera podido acompanarlo a ese almuerzo. Armando le pregunta por que no lo hizo y ella responde que no se lo pidio. Armando le dice a Patricia que hoy se encontro con el jefe de la junta directiva del club y que pregunto por ella y que ell esta en la lista negra de los socios que no han pagado y que no puede entrar en el club. Patricia le dice que no ha podido pagar y que de eso tambien queria hablar con el. Armando le dice que se olvide de mas prestamos porque ya le ha dado demasiados. Patricia le dice que no se preocupe que se lo de todo a la otra, que le suba el sueldo y que la lleve al club y mejor todavia que la ponga por encima de ella ya que Betty la amenaza con sus amigas. Armando le dice que va a hablar con Betty. Marcela le pregunta a Armando si va a premiar a Betty. Armando les dice que el va a hablar con Betty y sus amigas y va a aclarar todo. Marcela y Patricia se marchan. Armando grita el nombre de Betty. Patricia le dice a Marcela que tienen que arreglar el funeral de Betty y Marcela le dice que ya era hora. Las secretarias comentan que las van a echar del trabajo. Armando llama a Betty. Armando le pregunta que fue lo ella se puso a decir. Armando se muestra molesto y le pregunta que porque se puso a echar a Patricia, la reina de Ecomoda. Betty trata de explicarle pero el no la deja hablar. Marcela le pide a Mariana que la comunique con Gutierrez. Mariana la nota molesta y se preocupa de que las vayan a echar. Betty le dice a Armando que ella sabe que fue una ligereza contar lo de su ascenso pero que ella no se imagino que fuera a pasar todo eso. Armando le pregunta porque quizo echar a Patricia y que seria menos problematico si quisiera echarlo a el. Armando le reclama el lio en que lo metio. Betty le dice que eso es mentira y que ella no dijo nada de echar a Patricia. Armando le pregunta si es su palabracontra la de Patricia. Betty le dice que le va a contar la verdad y que a pesar de a ella no le gusta meterse en chismes, no es la primera vez que tiene problemas con Patricia. Armando le reitera que el lo sabe. Armando le pide que le cuente. Betty le dice que Patricia entro al bano molesta y la llamo sapa y que no tenia porque ir al club, que no tenia porque meterse en sus terrenos y que ella no tenia presenci apara asistir al club. Entonces fue que sus amigas reaccionaron para defenderla y que una de ellas para mortificar a Patricia le dijo que Betty era su superiora y que si Betty quisiera echarla lo podria hacer. El telefono suena y Armando le pide a Betty que lo conteste. Betty regresa y le dice a Armando que el Dr. Gutierrez cito al cuartel en la sala de juntas. Armando se queda pensativo. Marcela esta presente en la sala de juntas con Gutierrez. Marcela le dice al cuartel que ellas se han formado un grupo que se ha extralimitado en sus funciones. Y que ellas no tienen los poderes que se atribuyen. Marcela les dice que las ha citado ya que necesitan que se les recuerde acerca de sus funciones y horarios de trabajo. Gutierrez comienza su discurso y les dice que se ha notado que el cuartel se sobrepasan en el almuerzo. Gutierrez les informa que les van a descontar un dia de trabajo y que sus hojas de vida llevaran un llamado de atencion pero que a Betty no se le descontara del sueldo por haber estado con Armando. Marcela dice que si llevara un llamado de atencion en su hoja de vida, ya que su ascenso no fue confirmado. Marcela le dice a Betty que no puede hablar de un ascenso que no ha sido confirmado y que tampoco puede amenazar a nadie. Gutierrez les explica sobre las reglas de la empresa en cuanto amenazas entre los empleados. Les dan un llamado de atencion en su hoja de vida. Aura Maria dice que Betty nunca le dijo nada a Patricia. Betty dice que ella asume toda la responsabilidad. Sandra dice que ella fuel la que agredio a Patricia. Sofia explica que si Patricia se sintio agredida fue por todas y no por una en particular. Marcela dice que el llamado de atencion sera para todas. Aura Maria pide que les expliquen cual fue la agresion. Mariana pide que Patricia muestres sus heridas. Gutierrez les explica que las agresiones no son solamente fisicas sino verbales. Sandra le pide disculpas de una manera burlona. Betty dice que ella sabe que el problema es con ella y que no quiere que las involucren a todas.
Armando entra y Marcela le pide que no venga de salvador ya que esa es una reunion administrativa. Armando dice que no pudo dejar de escuchar la conversacion y le pregunta a Gutierrez que si el reglamento incluye como agresion llamarle a alguien pelitenida y que limpiarian el piso con su pelo, que tambien debe de tomar en cuentra teminos con sapa y que a nadie se le puede humillar al decirle que no tiene la presencia suficiente para asistir a determinado lugar. SAndra dice que ojala ese hubiera sido el termino, ya que Patricia le dijo a Betty que como se le occurria llegar en tremenda facha pero que eso era lo maximo que se le podia pedir a ella. Armando le dice a Betty que fue muy discreta en su comentario. Armando le pregunta a Gutierrez que opina. Gutierrez dice que Patricia recibira un llamado de atencion en su hoja de vida. Armando anade que Patricia no cumple con su horario de trabajo y Gutierrez dice que le descontaran dinero. Armando dice que no quiere mas descuentos. Armando le dice a Patricia que si llega tarde por lo menos un minuto, que se reporte a la oficina de Gutierrez para su debida amonestacion Armando dice que las reglas son para todos. Armando le dice a Gutierrez que espere un memorandum de su parte informandole del ascenso de Betty a Asistente. Armando les pide a todas que vuelvan a sus puestos y que no quiere que eso vuelva a suceder. El cuartel celebra en el pasillo. Gutierrez le dice a Berta que lo siga. Marcela y Patricia se van muy molestas. Las chicas felicitan a Betty y ella les agradece. Inesita le dice que le tiene que dar las gracias a ese angel de la guarda que esta en la oficina. Betty entra y le agradece a Armando su ayuda. Armando le dice que quiere el informe antes que se arrepienta y la despida. Betty entra a su oficina y se dice a si misma que Armando es divino. Patricia le comenta a Marcela que no puede creer lo que Armando le acaba de hacer. Marcela le dice que no puede creer que ella le dijo que fue Betty quien la amenazo sino que fueron sus amigas. Patricia le dice que da igula queien fue. Patricia le pregunta a Marcela que piensa si ella presiona a Armando y le dice que se va. Marcela le dice que Armando se pondria de rodillas pero para rogarle que se vaya pronto. Marcela le dice a Patricia que se concentre en el trabajo y que arregle todo lo de la junta del dia siguiente. Betty llama al Dr. Olarte para pedirle el estado de bancos. Olarte le dice que lo hara de inmediato. Olarte le dice a Sofia que le imprima los movimientos bancarios y que se los envie a esa. Sofia pregunta si a a Betty y Olarte le responde que si . Patricia entra en la oficina de Olarte para quejarse. Patricia le cuenta lo del ascenso de Betty y los dos se preocupan. Dicen que deben buscar una solucion. El telefono suena y es Daniel. Olarte le pide a Patricia que lo deje solo. Olarte le explica a Daniel que no tiene ninguna informacion ya que Armando lo tiene relegado pero que han hecho varios prestamos y que estan girando dinero como locos. Olarte le comenta que las ventas estan bajas. Daniel le pregunta si Armando va a poder cumplir con sus metas y Olarte le responde que no. Armando entra en la oficina de Betty y le pregunta sobre el informe. Betty le dice que las proyecciones han sido revisadas y que sus metas no pueden cumplirse. Armando se sorprende y se sienta con cara de preocupado. Mario llega y le pregunta a Patricia que le pasa. Patricia le dice que le da verguenza comentarselo. Mario le dice que tiene que haber confianza entre ellos. Patricia le cuenta que no ha podido pagar sus deudas y no tiene a quien recurrir. Mario le dice que le pida un adelanto a Armando. Mario le dice que lo siente y que le cuente como le va y se desaparece. Patricia se pone a triste. Mario entra a la oficina de Armando. Betty le dice que las metas de Armando no se han cumplido. Mario dice que no es para crear alarma. Betty explica que debido a las metas el informe no va a ser tan satisfactorio. Betty dice que Ecoomoda tuvo crecimiento, que el endeudamiento es aceptable, que la compania sigue arrojando utilidades operacionales y netas a pesar del bajon de las ventas. La meta de Armando es imposible. Armando se preocupa. Mario dice que las cosas no estan tan mal y que presenten el estado de la empresa como esta. Armando le recuerda que estan peleando contra Daniel. Armando propone maquillar las cifras. Betty se nota preocupada. Armando explica que es la unica manera de salir del problema. Armando explica que debido a que Olarte no sabe nada de las finanzas y dado a que el computador de Betty titne toda la informacion, maquillar las cifras es posible. Armando le pide que haga el nuevo informe y que si alguien se da cuenta el da la cara. Daniel llega a la empresa y va a la oficina de Marcela. Marcela le dice que a saludar nunca llega. Daniel le dice que quiere ver el informe. Marcela le dice que eso lo tiene que hablar con Armando y que ella se tiene que ir al aeropuerto a esperar a los padres de Armando. Armando dice que pueden tomar en cuenta negocios que estan por cerrar para que las cifras den mas. Mario sugiere que agregen 2,000 millones de dos negocios que estan por verse pero que debido a la situcion, no hay otra solucion. Daniel entra y todos se ven preocupados. Daniel comenta que no es la muerte. Armando le dice que el es mas como el novio de la muerte. Armando le pregunta cual es el motivo de su visita. Daniel le dice que quiere revisar el informe, ya que desea ponerle la mayor atencion y que en medio de todo el ajetreo no es posible.
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USA 8/28-9/1/00. Patricia asks Mario to make her his assistant but he tells her he doesn't have the authority. Following instructions given her by Olarte, she locks up Betty's computer right before the meeting. The technician, working with Olarte, takes the computer (actually, he took the monitor) to his office, tells Betty and Armando that it will take a couple of days to repair, etc. Betty doesn't have a copy of the information. Armando is furious, the board meeting is ruined. Betty's friends help her, call a technician in another company, learn the problem is simple and tell Armando. He confronts the technician and tells him he has one hour to fix things. Olarte tells the technician to go ahead but to make him a copy. Olarte calls Daniel who tells him not to say a word about him or Patricia or he will never work again anywhere in Colombia. The feas get the technician out of the room on a pretext, find the printout and give it to Betty. Betty tells Armando who confronts Olarte. Olarte insists it was all his idea, he wanted to hurt Betty because she had taken over many of his responsibilities. Armando doesn't completely believe him, fires both him and the technician. Betty presents the new plan to the board and it is accepted. Armando announces that Olarte has resigned and that Betty will assume all his responsibilities. Daniel arranges to meet Patricia in his office that night. Patricia discovers that the electricity in her apartment has been turned off before she goes to Daniel's office.He is rude to her, remarks that she earns more than any other secretary, more than Betty and couldn't get that kind of pay anywhere else, and still can't pay for her lifestyle. He gets her to agree to act as his spy. Mario and Armando take Betty with them to see the fabrics made by Diana and Miguel's company and to review the contract. Miguel learns that Betty reviews all the contracts and Armando signs them without reading them. He makes a lunch date with her and tells Diana that she is a naif who will be easy to manipulate. Armando flirts with Claudia, Ms. Columbia and tells Beatriz she can go home (not knowing that Betty expected him to drive her home). Unfortunately, Ms. Columbia knows who he is and the fact that he is engaged to Marcela. However, she does give him her card. He leaves, sees Betty walking on the street, gives her a ride home. Before dropping her off, he tells her how much he depends on her, that the company must meet the goals they've promised. Betty is happy. Armando goes home to Marcela who asks him if he really can do what he said he could do in the meeting. He is not happy that she doubts him.
Telemundo summaries. 9/4-8/00. Lunes 4, SeptiembreArmando anuncia que Betty se quedara al frente de la empresa durante su ausencia y a la vez Betty recibe una oferta de la empresa Ragtela para que esta les ayude a firmar un contrato de venta. Martes 5, SeptiembreBetty aprueba a Ragtela como la mejor oferta para Ecomoda y de esta forma se acreditara una jugosa comisión. Miercoles 6, SeptiembreLas empresas Ecomoda y Ragtela inician relaciones comerciales y Betty queda comprometida por la comision que esta pueda recibir. Jueves 7, SeptiembreBetty le confiesa a Armando que la empresa Ragtela le ofreció una comisión a cambio de un contrato de compra. Viernes 8, SeptiembreArmando y Mario crean una nueva empresa para que Betty la administre.
http://www.laciudad.com/entretenimiento/telenovelas: Lunes 13 de diciembre Olarte ordena que Betty vaya a su oficina mientras Patricia bloquea el computador para sabotear el informe. Armando habla con Hugo y Marcela para que lo apoyen en la junta. Armando y Betty descubren el daño en el computador. El ingeniero sugiere posponer la junta porque el aparato tiene una avería grave. Martes 14 de diciembre El ingeniero asegura que el computador se dañó por mal uso. Daniel reprende a Betty por no tener copia de los archivos. La junta se cancela. El Cuartel trata de ayudar a Betty llamando a otro ingeniero. Patricia se aprovecha de la mala suerte de Betty e intenta un ascenso. Armando le anuncia a Betty que se le dañó el ascenso. Miercoles 15 de diciembre Aura María convence al nuevo ingeniero de arreglar pronto el computador. El ingeniero de la empresa se niega a entregar el aparato para que lo revise otra persona. Armando le ordena a Betty que presente el informe. Armando le exige al ingeniero que le devuelva el computador a Betty, pero él pretende sacarle copia al informe para Olarte. Jueves 16 de diciembre Hugo termina su exposición en la junta. El Cuartel prepara a Betty. A ella le falta un arete. Sandra va a buscarlo a la oficina del ingeniero y él cubre la impresora al verla. El Cuartel sospecha. Inés va a investigar y encuentra los documentos de Betty. El Cuartel trata de entregárselos a ella durante la junta. Viernes 17 de diciembre Daniel aprueba el informe de la junta. Armando anuncia el ascenso de Betty. El Cuartel le entrega los documentos a Betty y el ingeniero las acusa de ladronas. Olarte presiona al técnico para que le copie los archivos. Betty y Armando sorprenden al ingeniero y lo obligan a confesar. Daniel le advierte a Olarte que no puede denunciarlo ni a él ni a Patricia.
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USA 9/4-8/00. Betty's father is going to lose his job; the business he works for has gone bankrupt. Nicolas can't find work as an economist; he is always rejected because of his photo. Armando asks Betty for her home phone number. Marcela finds Patricia crying: her electricity has been cut off and so has her credit card. Marcela gives her the money. Armando takes Betty to the bank to get her signature authorization. Betty recommends Nicolas to be the new VP of Finance but since he has no experience, Armando says no but suggests there may be another position. Patricia sees Betty meeting Miguel and wonders. He tells her they have good products and he should like to become a major supplier. It would help, for example, to know what the others were bidding. Betty says that would be unethical. He offers a commission. She leaves but doesn't turn it down. She daydreams about what her life would be like if she had money. Patricia tells Daniel about Betty and Miguel. He has sex with her. The next day he has Olarte call Miguel and find out what is happening. Olarte calls on the pretense of suggesting others in the company who could help Miguel as he has helped him. Miguel tells him that he has reached an accord with Betty. Daniel tapes it all. Betty convinces Armando to accept the offer because the prices are good and he agrees. The next day, Miguel calls to ask how she wants her commission. She says she will tell him later, calls her father, tells him about the deal and how much it would help and that the prices really are good and that they need the money. He tells her that is no excuse. She should not accept the commission. Just as she finishes telling Armando about the offer, Marcela and Daniel enter and Daniel plays the tape which now makes Betty out to be good (she had not, in fact, committed) and Olarte even worse because he was in effect admitting that he had taken commissions. Marcela tells Daniel that Betty had just confessed to her and Armando. Daniel leaves in a huff. Armando calls Miguel, tells him he knows about the offer, wants the commission made out to Eco Modo and deposited to the company's account. Betty explains why she was tempted and offers to resign but Armando refuses. He gives her a raise.
http://www.laciudad.com/entretenimiento/telenovelas: Lunes 20 de diciembre Roberto felicita a Armando y Betty por el informe. Berta rescata los papales de la oficina del ingeniero y se los entrega a Betty. Patricia le cuenta a Olarte que Armando amenazó con demandar al técnico. El ingeniero se siente presionado y cuenta toda la verdad. Lombardi cuenta sobre la mala calidad de las telas que están utilizando. Armando cita a Olarte a su oficina y le pide la renuncia. Martes 21 de diciembre Olarte le cuenta a Daniel que Armando lo despidió. Armando le informa a la junta que el supuesto daño del computador fue un sabotaje de Olarte. Daniel ofrece traer otro vicepresidente financiero a Ecomoda. Armando sugiere que Betty asuma las funciones de Olarte. El Cuartel concluye que fue Patricia quien averió el computador. Daniel cita a Patricia en su oficina. Miercoles 22 de diciembre Betty le sostiene a su jefe que será imposible cumplir las metas. Patricia y Sofía tienen un altercado. Armando asume la nueva colección a pesar del riesgo. Armando le pide a Betty que lo acompañe a un coctel. El Cuartel ayuda a Betty para que luzca mejor en la fiesta. Jueves 23 de diciembre Hermes está molesto porque Betty va a la fiesta con su jefe. Las chicas del Cuartel logran cambiar un poco el aspecto de Betty. Aura María deja plantado a Freddy por irse con Mario. Patricia va a la cita con Daniel en su oficina, pero él la trata con muy poco tacto.
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USA 9/8 -15/00. Subject: RE: Oh please, help me Author: Thalia (208.221.241.75) Date: 09-12-2000 10:46 The company that Betty is going to be the head of is a company that Armando is forming. In the event that Ecomoda becomes indebted to a company like Ractela, in debted to the point that the company will be able to take Ecomoda as collateral. Armando will be able to say that Ecomoda is indebted to Investos Terramoda (I think that's what it's called), which is his company . That way he won't risk losing his company. Betty plans to invest the money he gave her to start up the company. She's hired Nicolas to help her. Hugo, recently found out the Armando changed the fabrics for his designs. And threw a hissy fit. Mario, told Patricia that he might be ready to move in with her in a month. She was thrilled, she took it as a promise. The receptionist (forgot her name) had sex with Mario. Mario, Marcela, & Armando are leaving after the fashion show for Palm Beach for two weeks. Armando has left Betty in charge. Armando raises Betty's pay. The fashion show is a success, in spite of Hugo's anger about the materials and refusal, at first, to put on the show but the buyers don't like the material. Hugo resigns. Marcela tells Armando that he had to get Hugo back. Armando goes to a gay bar, finds Miguel there, begs Hugo and gets him back (very funny scene). Betty goes out after the show with el cuartel and gets drunk for the first time in her life. Armando, Mario and Marcela go to Miama. Betty is in charge. This makes Patirica and ? angry. Hugo resigns again. Betty gets the sales report and is shocked; she calls Armando and tells him he must return. A bank manager visits Betty: bills are not being paid. Armando and Mario return: the fashions are not selling because of the materials.
http://www.laciudad.com/entretenimiento/telenovelas: Lunes 7 de febrero 2000 Armando le entrega a Betty un pagaré en blanco firmado para respaldar la deuda con Terranova. Patricia le advierte a Daniel que se olvide de ella porque tiene novio. Aura María seduce a Mario en la oficina. Él decide echarla de su oficina y de Ecomoda. Martes 8 de febrero Patricia le asegura a Hugo que no perdonará a Mario. Armando le exige a Mario que se disculpe con Patricia. Betty intercede ante su jefe por Aura María. Gutiérrez le exige a Aura salir con él para que no la despidan. Hugo y Armando concretan un acuerdo con las modelos. Miércoles 9 de febrero Armando le pide a Betty que se quede hasta tarde en la oficina, pues tiene una cita y necesita que le avisen cualquier novedad. Gutiérrez lleva a Aura María a una discoteca. Betty le dice a Freddy que Gutiérrez engañó a Aura. Él le solicita a Berta el número del teléfono de la esposa del doctor Gutiérrez. Jueves 10 de febrero Hermes se molesta cuando Betty le dice que no irá a dormir a la casa. Aura María debe pagar la cuenta. Patricia visita a Daniel en su apartamento para replantear su relación. Aura María y Freddy se besan. Armando está sorprendido al ver que Betty durmió en la oficina por olvido suyo. Viernes 11 de febrero Patricia decide dejar su trabajo en Ecomoda. Gutiérrez le pide la carta de renuncia a Berta. El cuartel busca la ayuda de Armando. Patricia le asegura a Mario que no renunciará por petición de Daniel. El reporte de ventas de la última colección de Ecomoda no es halagador. Armando planea algo con urgencia.
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USA 9/18-22/00. Freddy tells the cuartel about Patricia's money problems. Patricia sees Aura Maria and Mario in his office kissing and is furious. Mario apologizes to Patricia, on orders of Armando, but she tells him to go to the devil and threatens to resign. Betty gets Armando to agree not to fire Aura Maria but Gutierrez makes her believe the decision is his and invites her out to dance where they can discuss the matter. She goes. Daniel calls Gutierrez to find out what happened and realizes that Patricia is vulnerable. Daniel calls Patricia and makes an appointment for sex. She goes to bed with him, they have sex, he turns over and calls a taxi for her. Freddy learns the truth and desparately tries to call Gutierrez who won't answer his phone. Freddy gets Berta to give him Gutierrez's home number and his wife turns up at the disco in time to save Aura Maria but leaves her with the bill. Freddy gives his expensive watch as payment. Gutierrez reprimands Berta for giving out his home phone number and fires her but Armando countermands the order. Marcela returns from vacation, looks at the reports and sees the disaster. Betty agrees to give Armando the loan he wants although she is worried that it is illegal. He insists that it isn't. The lover of Sofia's husband gets a job as a model. Inés begs Armando to interfere, but he can't. Marcela reprimands Aura Maria for her behavior and warns her not to do anything like that again. Marcela, Armando, Mario and Hugo agree that the only solution is to produce a new line of clothes immediately with the proper materials.
La Opinion. 9/24/00. Betty la fea Canal 52, lunes a viernes, 8:00 p.m. Patricia se puso feliz cuando Armando y Mario regresaron de su viaje de Miami. La mujer estuvo en manos del cuartel de feas por dos semanas y casi a punto de renunciar. Sofía se encargó de que no recibiera en ese tiempo su cheque de pago, lo que traía desesperada a Patricia, pues sólo dependía de ese ingreso para cubrir sus gastos. Las cosas no marchaban bien económicamente en Eco Moda, debido a que el supuestamente exitoso plan que le dio la presidencia a Armando, no era tal, por lo que le costaría el puesto y tendría que dejar la empresa en manos de Daniel. Sin embargo, Armando estaba dispuesto a luchar hasta el último momento para que esto no sucediera, por lo que antes de irse de viaje, crea una empresa a nombre de Betty, la cual en su momento embargaría a Eco Moda. Con los conocimientos de Nicolás y de la misma Betty, Terra Moda dobla en dos semanas el monto de su inversión, lo que le hace que Armando confíe más en su asistente para los planes que tiene en mente. Daniel por su parte, quiere descubrir los movimientos de Armando dentro de Eco Moda por lo que hace de Patricia su cómplice a cambio de dinero y sexo. Patricia no quería aceptar pues según ella su relación con Mario era seria. Era tal el dominio que Daniel tenía sobre ella que terminó aceptando. Hugo en cambio estaba feliz de la vida... ¡Armando perdió su apuesta! además de que volverían a usar material de alta calidad en sus diseños, él se vestiría de mujer y lo acompañaría al club gay. Marcela regresa muy emocionada con la tela para su vestido de novia y algunas cosas para lo que será su nuevo hogar cuando se case con Armando. Sin embargo, al ver las cifras de las pocas ventas y los altos costos de promoción, casi se muere.
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9/25-29/00. Jenny, the model and lover of Sofía's husband, continues to have problems with Sofía. Finally, Marcela talks with Sofía and tells her she can understand but that her behavior is not only childish but counter-productive. She should prove to Jenny and her ex-husband that she doesn't need them. Patricia convinces Marcela to let her work for her as a publicity assistant (I'm not sure if she really wants to do something useful or needs a pipeline for information to give Daniel). Armando complies with his agreement with Hugo and goes to the cross-dressing party. But he gets a call from Marcela about an important agreement he has to sign at her apartment, where her brother and sister will be. Desperate, Armando calls Betty to pick him up.
La Opinion. 10/1/00. Solo telenovelas Laura M. López. Betty la fea Canal 52, lunes a viernes, 8:00 p.m. Cada día que pasaba, Eco Moda se hundía más. En cambio, Terra Moda tenía más ganancias en las inversiones que hacía Nicolás a través de la computadora. Como siempre, Betty siempre estaba dispuesta a obedecer las órdenes de Armando y en esta ocasión no sería la excepción. Mario encuentra un fabricante de telas en Panamá con precios mucho más bajos y de la misma calidad que le ofrecen en Venezuela. Si con esta próxima colección no recuperan en ventas lo invertido, además de tener ganancia, Eco Moda se va a la quiebra. Sin embargo, Betty tiene sus dudas al respecto y les hace las recomendaciones pertinentes para no fallar. Mario viaja a Panamá para ver la calidad de las telas. Una vez allá llama a Armando para confirmar que efectivamente todo es legal. Ya depositado el dinero que consiguieron como préstamo , Armando viajará para cerrar el trato y comenzar a trabajar en la colección cuanto antes. Mientras tanto, Hugo le recuerda que esta noche tendrá que pagar su deuda y vestirse de "Rag Queen". Por otro lado, Sofía no soporta que la amante de su ex marido trabaje en Eco Moda y trata de hacerle la vida imposible. Lo último que hizo fue retenerle su cheque para así cobrarse el dinero que Efraín nunca termina de darle. Marcela habla con Sofía de buena fe y le dice que con esa actitud no va a llegar a ninguna parte, sino todo lo contrario, les está dando la razón a Jenny y a Efraín. Sofía acepta el consejo y cambia su forma de actuar. Patricia por su parte, le está cansando la paciencia a Marcela y por otro lado, Daniel la obliga a que le informe qué sucede en la empresa. Armando sigue creyendo que Patricia es quien los está traicionando y le pide a Mario que en cuanto regrese de Panamá, actúe inmediatamente y haga lo que ya sabe.
http://www.laciudad.com/entretenimiento/telenovelas Lunes 21 de febrero Mariana le predice a Betty que un sueño se le hará realidad en medio de la tempestad. Hermes empieza a trabajar en la contabilidad de Terramoda. El cuartel planea como demostrar que Jenny, la impulsadora, es una mujer fácil. Armando y Marcela calculan los costos de la nueva colección. Freddy recibe una propuesta indecente.Martes 22 de febrero Freddy pone en práctica su plan conquista. Hermes le hace preguntas comprometedoras a Nicolás sobre el dueño de Terramoda. Betty le comenta a su amigo acerca de un sospechoso futuro proveedor de Ecomoda. Patricia le dice a Daniel que necesita una retribución económica por la información que le entrega sobre Armando. Sofía descubre a Efraín y Jenny en una escena muy romántica.Miércoles 23 de febrero Armando recibe una tentadora oferta de un proveedor que le economizaría mucho dinero en insumos. Betty sospecha que algo está mal. Patricia le pide a Marcela que la deje trabajar con ella, pues está muy deprimida. Armando se niega a escuchar a Betty y le ordena a Mario que viaje a otro país para verificar los insumos. Jenny acepta salir con Freddy. Hugo le confirma a Armando que esa noche es la fiesta de Drag Queens.Jueves 24 de febrero Efraín recibe una llamada anónima. Betty alucina otra vez con su jefe. Ella y Armando almuerzan juntos en la oficina. Jenny le dice a Freddy que él hubiera sido el hombre perfecto para ella. Freddy sospecha que Sofía los vigila. Ella se niega a entregarle el cheque del sueldo a Jenny. Mario le confirma a Armando que los materiales son buenos.Viernes 25 de febreroJ enny acusa a Sofía con Gutiérrez y él le promete que solucionará el problema. Marcela se entera del asunto de Sofía y la regaña. Patricia también sale resulta regañada por Marcela. Armando se la juega toda para convencer al gerente del banco que le prestará el dinero para la próxima colección. Mario le pide a Patricia que se reconcilien.
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USA 10/2-6/00. All agree on the new materials. Armando complies with his agreement with Hugo, dresses up and goes to the transvestite ball. Then Marcela calls him to come home at once to sign an agreement; Daniel, their sister and Patricia are there. Desperate, Armando calls Betty for help and arrives home in a too-small suit of Betty's father. Later, when he explains to Marcela, she doesn't understand why he didn't call and explain the situation to her. Armando and Mario pretend to go to New York but really go to the factory in ?. Freddy wrecks Armando's car. Patricia convinces Marcela that she ought to know the name and number of the new fabric provider and when Betty finds her in her office, Patricia says that Marcela told her to get the information. Betty finally gets hold of Armando and tells him what happened. He calls Marcela, asks her why she can't trust him, flies home. Marcela calls in Betty and Patricia and the latter admits that she said Marcela had authorized her. Marcela wonders why she cares so much and is really angry with her. After all, Betty did just what they would expect her to do: tell Armando everything. Armando forgives Freddy and makes up with Marcela. Patricia is almost found on the phone with Daniel and either becomes faint or fakes it. Mario takes her home and they make love. Customs agents confiscate the materials before they are delivered: they are contraband goods.
La Opinion. 10/8/00. Solo telenovelas. Betty la fea Canal 52, lunes a viernes, 8:00 p.m. Patricia mantiene bien informado a Daniel sobre los pasos de Eco Moda. Y lo último que hizo casi hace que el propio Armando la ponga de "patitas en la calle". Era tanta la insistencia de Patricia con Marcela para que Armando o Betty le dieran los nombres de los proveedores de telas para la próxima colección, que estuvo a punto de ser descubierta como informante de Daniel. Betty la encuentra en su oficina buscando algo que le diera pista sobre los proveedores. Patricia le dice que Marcela la mandó para buscar esa información. Betty se lo comunica a Armando inmediatamente y éste a su vez le reclama a su novia, lo cual deja a Marcela muy molesta con Patricia. Patricia no sólo está buscando que Marcela la despida de Eco Moda, sino que también ponga fin a esa amistad de años, pues no permitirá que además de crearle problemas en la empresa, también se los cree en su relación con Armando. Mario antes de viajar a Panamá, pasa la noche con Patricia con el único fin de ver qué información puede sacarle. Patricia en tanto, piensa que Mario la ama y que quizás le cumpla su promesa de vivir juntos. Armando estaba muy contento porque todo parecía legal con los proveedores de las telas. Ya se miraba con la nueva colección en el mercado y con ganancias que recuperaría la estabilidad económica de Eco Moda. Sin embargo, la realidad era otra... el día que supuestamente llegaría el cargamento, en las noticias se escucha la intervención de aduana para recuperar un contrabando de telas proveniente de Panamá. ¡Armando y Mario se quedan fríos! Eran sus telas... afortunadamente el nombre de Eco Moda no se ve involucrado. Pero sí dan por perdidos los dos millones de dólares que pagaron por adelantado. Armando reúne a Hugo y a Marcela y les dice que las telas se tardarían por lo menos 15 días en llegar pues a última hora se dieron cuenta los vendedores que no las tenían en bodega. Armando hace esto con el fin de ganar tiempo y ver si el nuevo plan que tiene en mente da resultado.
http://www.laciudad.com/entretenimiento/telenovelas Lunes 28 de febrero A regañadientes Armando se viste de Drag Queen para asistir a la fiesta con Hugo. Sandra y el cuartel planean como hacer que Rolando, el novio de Hugo, reconsidere sus gustos. Marcela le dice a Patricia que la acompañe a cerrar un contrato con una famosa modelo y la presenta como su asistente. A pesar de todas las precauciones, un celador de la empresa ve a Armando disfrazado de Drag Queen. Martes 29 de febrero Hugo presenta a Armando, o mejor a Lili, como nuevo miembro de la colonia Drag Queen. Marcela sospecha que algo sucede con su novio. Daniel, Marcela y María Beatriz planean un encuentro en el apartamento de Armando. Él tiene una pelea a la salida de la discoteca y termina pidiéndole ayuda a Betty. Miércoles 1 de marzo Betty sale a escondidas de su casa para ayudar a su jefe. Él le confiesa la verdad de la apuesta con Hugo. Armando tiene problemas con la Policía. En vista de que no puede entrar a Ecomoda, tiene que buscar un sitio para quitarse el disfraz. Hermes sospecha que su esposa y Betty le están ocultando algo. Jueves 2 de marzo Marcela se preocupa por Armando. Él le pregunta a Betty si realmente la trata mal. Daniel se sorprende al ver a su primo tan mal vestido. Patricia le cuenta a Daniel que Mario viajó a Nueva York. Él aprovecha la ocasión para hacer quedar mal a Armando delante de la nueva modelo quien será la imagen de Ecomoda. Las muestras que envió Mario son aprobados por Hugo. Viernes 3 de marzo Marcela le dice a su novio que viajará con él a Nueva York para cerrar el negocio. Patricia sufre un colapso al ver a Berta con un vestido igual al suyo. Patricia le exige una retribución a Daniel por los datos que le suministra. Betty se preocupa porque Freddy no ha llegado con el carro de su jefe. Patricia intriga a Marcela con los negocios que están haciendo Mario y Armando.
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USA 10/9-13/00. Betty's company takes over Eco Moda. Berta has liposuction. Daniel and Mario both have nightmares and daydreams about being the father of Patricia's baby.
La Opinion, 10/15/00. Solo telenovelas (Summary of previous week) Laura M. López Betty la fea Canal 52, lunes a viernes, 8:00 p.m. Mario, además de lidiar con la situación económica de Eco Moda, también tenía que hacerlo con Patricia y su supuesto embarazo. El hombre estaba tan presionado con el hijo que aparentemente era suyo, que lo escuchaba llorar por todos lados y a todas horas. Patricia pretendía estar muy enferma sólo cuando se sentía vigilada, pero cuando estaba fuera de la mira del cuartel de feas, era la Patricia se siempre. Bertha contó con el apoyo de todas sus amigas para hacerse la liposucción y de una buena vez por todas, acabar con la superioridad de Patricia, pues si de por sí, Bertha le estaba haciendo la vida imposible al vestirse como ella, ¡imagínese ahora,delgada y con el mismo estilo de peinado! Todos quedaron súper impresionados con la nueva figura de la secretaria de Gutiérrez, incluso la misma Marcela la felicitó. Y de Patricia ni se diga, aunque ni aún así dio su brazo a torcer y siguió menospreciándola. Mientras tanto, cada día que pasaba Eco Moda se acercaba más a la orilla de precipicio, o sea la ruina total. Todos los planes de Armando fallaban y muy pronto la empresa que tanto le encargó su padre, pasaría a manos de Terra Moda. La noche antes de que apareciera en los boletines que la pequeña empresa fundada por Beatriz Pinzón embargaría a la poderosa Eco Moda, Armando no pudo dormir, porque además ese día llegaban sus padres de Europa y la explicación que les daría debería ser muy convincente. En tanto, el abogado que entablaría la demanda en nombre de Terra Moda, era un hombre que no tenía ni un centavo en la bolsa, por lo que aceptaría trabajar con Betty y Nicolás por una cantidad muy baja, y también podrían manejarlo de acuerdo a las necesidades. Daniel por su parte, también estaba muy preocupado, pero por no tener la seguridad de si ese bebé que esperaba Patricia era suyo.
http://www.laciudad.com/entretenimiento/telenovelas Lunes 6 de marzo Marcela interroga a Betty sobre los nombres de los proveedores de Nueva York. Freddy le cuenta a Aura María que estrelló el carro de Armando. Betty le ordena a Mariana mentir sobre la estadía de Mario y Armando en el hotel. Betty descubre a Patricia hurgando en su oficina. El Cuartel decide ayudar a Freddy con los gastos de arreglo del carro. Martes 7 de marzo Betty le cuenta a Armando que Marcela sospecha que algo pasa, por lo que él decide volver ese mismo día a Bogotá. Marcela le reclama a Betty por inventarle historias a Armando. Freddy suplica que lo dejen suicidarse, cuando se entera de que no hay tiempo para arreglar el carro. Marcela intenta reconciliarse con Armando a su regreso a la empresa. Miércoles 8 de marzo Armando le advierte a Patricia que lo mejor es que él mismo le suministre la información a Daniel y así, le evita el trabajo a Patricia. Armando llega al garaje donde Freddy lo espera para contarle que estrelló el carro. Armando le ordena a Mario reconciliarse con Patricia. Ella se encuentra bastante enferma. Berta cree que Patricia está embarazada. Mario se entera de que hay un problema con las telas. Jueves 9 de marzo Marcela intenta convencer a Armando de que Daniel y Patricia no tienen ninguna alianza. Mario le cuenta a Armando que las telas fueron retenidas en la Aduana. Cuando por fin Freddy logra conmover el corazón de Aura María, Charlie Zaa llega a Ecomoda y le daña su gran momento. Betty averigua que el famoso intermediario es en realidad un contrabandista. Mario busca un abogado para lograr rescatar las telas, pero Betty les tiene una mala noticia. Viernes 10 de marzo Armando y Mario discuten fuertemente exponiendo su gran amistad. Armando le pide a Betty hacer efectivo los documentos que están en su poder y que deja Ecomoda en manos de ella. Armando adopta medidas extremas ante la situación y cita a Marcela y Hugo a una reunión de emergencia. Betty le pide a su mamá que le envíe unos documentos, pero Hermes los intercepta.
[rest of Colombian march/april fit somewhere in the next couple of weeks]
http://www.laciudad.com/entretenimiento/telenovelas Lunes 13 de marzo Hermes se ofrece para llevar a Betty y Armando a hacer todas las vueltas de notaria, y aprovecha para contarle la historia de su vida a Armando. Hugo le comenta a Patricia lo que pasó con los proveedores de Nueva York. Daniel le dice a Patricia que no quiere trabajar con ella en la misma empresa. Mario escucha una conversación del Cuartel que lo deja impactado. Martes 14 de marzo El carro de Hermes se vara por lo que Armando debe ayudar con los problemas mecánicos. Mario llama a Patricia y le pregunta si el chisme que escuchó de las mujeres del Cuartel es cierto. Marcela le cuenta a Daniel lo que se rumora en la empresa sobre Patricia, asunto que lo deja muy preocupado. Armando le dice a Mario que luego de conocer a la familia de Betty confía más en ella. Patricia le dice a Daniel que algunos problemas los afectan a los dos. Miércoles 15 de marzo Marcela le pregunta a Patricia qué haría con tal de conseguir marido. Patricia le confiesa a Marcela que tuvo relaciones sexuales con un hombre diferente a Mario. Betty le sugiere a Armando que no sigan adelante con los planes de Ecomoda y Terramoda. Berta le cuenta a sus amigas que su esposo le dará un dinero para que compre carro. Mario y Daniel, cada uno por su lado, confirman una dura realidad que amenaza con cambiarles la vida. Jueves 16 de marzo Armando le habla a Marcela de una gran preocupación que tiene al borde del suicidio a Mario. Daniel le ofrece dinero a Patricia para que se vaya del país. Nicolás le pide a Betty que le presente a Patricia para hacerle un ofrecimiento que no podrá rechazar. Marcela le advierte a Patricia que Armando está muy molesto con ella y que no debe abusar de su condición de privilegiada en la empresa. Viernes 17 de marzo Daniel no puede concentrarse en el trabajo y empieza a tener pesadillas con Patricia. Ella le da un discurso de responsabilidad a Mario. Berta y Patricia tienen un nuevo enfrentamiento pero esta vez el Cuartel es vencido. Aura María le propone a Berta una jugada para ganarle de una vez por todas a Patricia, una lipoescultura.
http://www.laciudad.com/entretenimiento/telenovelas Martes 21 de marzo Daniel no puede concentrarse en el trabajo y empieza a tener pesadillas con Patricia. Ella le da un discurso de responsabilidad a Mario. Berta y Patricia tienen un nuevo enfrentamiento pero esta vez el Cuartel es vencido. Aura María le propone a Berta una jugada para ganarle de una vez por todas a Patricia, una lipoescultura.Miércoles 22 de marzo Catalina Ángel se niega a hablar con Armando. El Cuartel se reúne para decidir si Berta debe hacerse o no la lipoescultura. Mario es víctima de los chismes de Hugo. En la discusión, Betty defiende la belleza natural, mientras Inesita apela los derechos del marido de Berta. Por andar con sus amigas, Betty se descuida con la llamada de Claudia Elena Vásquez y Patricia la recibe.Jueves 23 de marzo Betty le cuenta a Armando que Macrotextil aceptó el negocio. Berta le pide a Gutiérrez una licencia. Hugo le dice a Marcela que Claudia Elena y Armando se están besando. Ella no puede evitar ponerse celosa. Armando le pide a Betty que Terramoda haga un préstamo en el banco, así tenga que demostrar que tiene el control sobre Ecomoda. Armando le ordena a Betty embargar Ecomoda.Viernes 24 de marzo Mario consigue un abogado para el embargo. Catalina le comenta a Patricia que está más angustiada de lo que debe. Mario le da un cheque a Patricia para los gastos del apartamento. Jenny le pide a Hugo que la deje desfilar en el lanzamiento. Durante la reunión para decidir los costos del lanzamiento, Armando está preocupado, pero Betty se luce con su trabajo. Berta regresa a la empresa con nuevo "look".
Lunes 3 de abril Armando se molesta con Roberto cuando le anuncia que debe realizar una junta directiva. Marcela y Margarita intervienen. Nicolás le hace cuentas a Betty sobre lo que podría comprar con el dinero de Ecomoda. Patricia se realiza los exámenes y Berta se las ingenia para que le hagan la prueba de embarazo. Armando le ordena a Betty hacer un informe optimista sobre la empresa. Sánchez avisa que el funcionario del juzgado realizará el inventario y Nicolás olvida decírselo a Betty.Martes 4 de abril Armando evita que Nicolás y Betty hablen. Berta le ordena a Freddy llevar la orden al laboratorio. El secretario del juzgado llega a Ecomoda al mismo tiempo que los Valencia y los Mendoza. Daniel le habla mal a Catalina acerca de los negocios de Armando. Wilson, el portero, le cuenta a Aura María que la empresa está embargada.Miércoles 5 de abril En plena reunión, Daniel tiene una pesadilla sobre la paternidad responsable. Berta se enfrenta a una terrible prueba a la hora del almuerzo. Los accionistas de Ecomoda se dedican a hablar del nuevo lanzamiento. Sandra le propone al Cuartel hacer la misma dieta de Berta para que no caiga en tentaciones. Hugo presenta la colección. Claudia Bosh le coquetea a Armando y Marcela se da cuenta.Jueves 6 de abril Delante de todos, Daniel le hace muchas preguntas al secretario del juzgado. Freddy le pide a Armando que le permita a Jenny desfilar en el lanzamiento. Marcela se queda trabajando en la oficina hasta tarde, sin que su novio lo sepa. Claudia Bosh seduce a Armando en la oficina. Betty trata de impedir que Marcela se entere de todos los movimientos de la empresa.Viernes 7 de abril Mario le cuenta a Armando que Nicolás sabe todo sobre el embargo de Ecomoda y le aconseja que es mejor permanecer alerta de quienes rodean a Betty. Marcela le exige a su novio despedir a Claudia antes del desfile. Aura María le hace una escena de celos a Freddy. Betty le confiesa a su jefe todo acerca de Nicolás. Marcela acepta un trato con Armando a cambio de la cabeza de Betty.
Lunes 10 de abril Un poco desconfiado y temeroso, Mario le comenta a Armando que Nicolás ya sabe sobre el embargo de Ecomoda y le aconseja que es mejor que esté pendiente de las personas que rodean a Betty. Betty para evitar problemas con su jefe decide contarle toda la verdad sobre su amigo Nicolás. Marcela no se aguanta más a Claudia Bosh y le exige a su futuro marido que la despida antes del desfile de lanzamiento. Para aceptar el trato Marcela le pide a Armando la cabeza de su asistente. Martes 11 de abril Betty se siente incómoda cuando Berta le dice que su novio Nicolás la llamó. Armando le cuenta a Mario que está muy preocupado por el noviazgo de su asistente. Marcela se muestra irritable y le recuerda a su novio el trato que hicieron. Nicolás le comenta a Betty que el sobregiro en el banco Montreal está por vencerse. Marcela insulta a Betty.Miércoles 12 de abril Berta le cuenta a Armando todo sobre la supuesta relación de Betty y Nicolás. Patricia le pregunta a Freddy si está saliendo con Jenny. Berta se asegura de que los exámenes de Patricia los entreguen en la tarde. El Cuartel se solidariza con Berta en el Corrientazo. Armando llama desesperado a Mario.Jueves 13 de abril Freddy nota un extraño comportamiento en Claudia Bosh. Berta le hace "conejo" a sus amigas en el restaurante. Mario le declara su amor a Catalina de una forma bastante particular. Freddy anima a Jenny para que no pierda las esperanzas de desfilar. Mario le propone algo descabellado a Armando, luego de analizar la situación de Nicolás Mora.Viernes 14 de abril Armando y Marcela quedan muy mal ante el artista invitado al lanzamiento, Andrés Cepeda, por andar discutiendo. Patricia insiste en envenenar a Marcela en contra del Cuartel. Las muchachas se enteran de los resultados de la prueba de embarazo y van hasta el lugar del desfile. Claudia Bosh arma un escándalo de tal magnitud, que Armando debe intervenir en el asunto.
Lunes 24 de abril La discusión que tienen Armando y Marcela los hace quedar mal delante del artista invitado al lanzamiento, Andrés Cepeda. Patricia insiste en envenenar a Marcela contra el Cuartel. Las muchachas se enteran de los resultados de la prueba de embarazo de Patricia y van hasta el lugar del desfile. Claudia Bosh arma un escándalo y Armando debe tomar cartas en el asunto.Martes 25 de abril Armando le pide a Freddy llevar a Jenny al desfile. Daniel y Armando se enfrentan. Marcela le cuenta a sus suegros que Claudia se emborrachó por despechó. Gutiérrez le coquetea a Catalina y le miente a Marcela sobre su esposa. Marcela le cuenta a Margarita, ante Mario y Daniel, que Patricia está embarazada. Catalina aconseja a Mario sobre su paternidad. Daniel le hace una propuesta a Patricia difícil de rechazar. Sin saberlo, Mario le hace una contra propuesta.Miércoles 26 de abril El Cuartel de las feas va al museo. Patricia le dice a Marcela que le salió una propuesta de trabajo en el extranjero. Gutiérrez le cuenta a Patricia que llegaron los resultados de sus exámenes, entre esos el de embarazo. El Cuartel intenta entrar al desfile. Patricia manipula a Marcela para que no les autorice la entrada. Sofía se molesta al ver desfilar a Jenny y se las ingenia para interrumpirla en plena pasarela.Jueves 27 de abril Patricia enfrenta a Berta y la amenaza con demandarla sino le entrega los exámenes. El lanzamiento es un éxito y empiezan a aparecer compradores para la colección. Marcela insulta a Betty delante de todas sus amigas del Cuartel. Patricia le dice a Marcela que no está embarazada y sigue los consejos que su amiga le da para salir del problema. Hermes y Nicolás van en busca de Betty hasta el sitio del desfile.Viernes 28 de abril El Cuartel escucha una conversación de Freddy y Jenny. Aura María se juega su última carta con Freddy. Nicolás aprovecha la oportunidad para aparentar de empresario ante varias modelos. Los papás de Armando lo felicitan por el lanzamiento. El portero le da una razón a Betty de "su novio" delante de su jefe. Armando y Mario siguen muy nerviosos con esta situación. Mario le hace una fea propuesta a Armando.
Martes 02 de mayo Betty trata de disimular su angustia cuando el portero le dice delante de todo el mundo, que su novio está en la puerta. Mario le comenta a Armando que al confirmarse el noviazgo de Betty, él tiene acercarse más a su empleada y no precisamente en calidad de jefe. Aura María sale del coctel en compañía de Freddy. Hermes le advierte a Betty que aunque sea una mujer trabajadora sigue siendo la niña de la casa.Miércoles 03 de mayo Freddy le confiesa a Aura María lo que siente por Jenny y ella reacciona extrañamente. Armando trata de hacerle entender a Marcela que Betty no es surival. Betty y Armando comparten un sueño. Aura María y Freddy son delatados delante de Jenny por Patricia. Betty le hace a Mario y Armando una aclaración sobre Terramoda y Nicolás. Ellos discuten quien debe ejecutar el plan con Betty.Jueves 04 de mayo Bajo la presión de Daniel, Patricia redacta su carta de renuncia. Armando intenta convencer a Mario de que él no puede realizar el plan con Betty mientras Marcela esté en la empresa. Freddy le confiesa al Cuartel que está más enamorado que nunca. Daniel se sorprende cuando Patricia le lee su carta de renuncia de nueve páginas. Betty actualiza a su jefe sobre la situación económica de Ecomoda.Viernes 05 de mayo Berta le anuncia al Cuartel que empezó una dieta de autosugestión y que no volverá a almorzar. Finalmente, Armando acepta la propuesta de Mario pero le coloca límites. Mariana le confirma a Betty, a través de las cartas, que el hombre que ama le propondrá un romance. Berta le cuenta a Armando lo que le dijeron las cartas a Betty, pero a su particular manera.
10/9/00. Subject: ***SUMMARY FOR MONDAY 10/9*** Author: Rosey (208.221.241.75) Date: 10-10-2000 10:26 On Friday we left off when Daniel was talking on the phone with Marcela asking her about Patty, and Marcela told him that Patty was indeed pregnant. Marcela asks Daniel why he is so interested in Patty, she questions if they 'had something' together. Daniel said that other than the fight they had that time they went out to dinner and all the other times he been annoyed by her, they've had nothing. Marcela rolls her eyes. Marcela and Armando are having dinner in her apartment. The conversation turns to Patty. Armando tells Marcela that he thinks Patty got pregnant to trap Mario. Marcela told her she would do that (yeah right!). Armando told her that Patty is capable and that she has sunk to an all time low. He says that the fact that Bertha wears the same dress as her makes her so irrational that she throws her clothes away. (Okay, while Armando is talking about Patty we are watching Patty in her apartment) Patty is throwing away yet another dress because Bertha has it. (Armando's voice over is done) (Phone rings) Patty rushes to answer the phone, it's the doorman. She asks who has come to see her and the doorman tells her it's Daniel. She instructs the doorman to let Daniel in. Patty rushes to the kitchen and splashes water on her face, then she rushes to her bedroom and pats white powder on her face. She messes up her hair and answers the door like she is sick. Daniel walks in and tells her that he doesn't plan to accept the baby or give it his name. Patty tells him that she doesn't want anything from him but that sooner or later he would have to accept that the baby is his. When it is born she can have tests done that will prove that baby is his. The worries Daniel and he tells her that he wants to have her far away from here. He says he'll move her away. Patty smiles and asks where, Paris, Miami.Daniel says Australia. Patty is annoyed and asks what she is going to do in Australia. Daniel tells her 'the same thing you do here, nothing'. Patty is annoyed and tells him to leave. Daniel leaves. Betty is talking with Nicolas and tells him about Patty being pregnant. Nicolas says that he will give the baby his name. Betty laughs. Betty shows Nicolas the paperwork that Armando and her filed. Nicolas is shocked, he never believed Armando would actually do this. He tells Betty that Ecomoda is now in TerraModa's hands. Betty nodds and tells him she is very worried because in 15 days this document will be officially registered and people will find out. She worries of how upset they will be when they discover what Armando has done. She says she asked Armando if he was sure this was what he wanted to do. Marcela and Armando go to bed and Armando starts dreaming about the conversation he had with his father when his father turned over the company to him. This is the conversation where the father tells him that he's run that company for 35 years and has been able to sleep soundly because he ran the business clean..anyway, Armando is remembering all of this and is tormented by the fact that he is doing the exact opposite of what his father said. Armando starts saying to himself, 'no, I can't do this to my father'. Then Armando starts remembering all the time Daniel has smugly told him that he was be taking over the presidency soon and how Armando is going to ruin Ecomoda. Armando say to himself, 'no, I will not give up the presidency to Daniel, even if I never sleep again'.
The next day at Ecomoda.. Armando and Marcela show up at work together and Armando notices that Patty has not come in yet. Armando is angry. At that moment that elevator arrives and Patty gets off. She's smiling and looking very healthy. When she sees Armando standing by her desk, she make her sick face. Armando is speaking very and calm to Patty asking why she feels she can come in whenever she wants to, then Armando starts screaming at her. Patty starts holding her stomach as if his screaming was going to cause her to 'miscarry'. Patty tells Armando that she had a very bad night and Armando tells her he did too and in fact he hasn't had a good night since she starting working there. Armando walks away and Marcela tells him to take it easy on her because she's pregnant. Armando walks off annoyed. Marcela signals for Patty to go to her office. In Marcela's office Marcela tells Patty that she can't come to work late just because she's pregnant. She tells her that Armando wouldn't care at all if he fired her, even if she is pregnant. Patty asked Marcela is she talked to Armando about her pregnancy. Marcela said yes and Patty asked what she said (Patty was obviously worried that Marcela had mentioned that Patty wasn't sure who the father was) Marcela told her that she merely told Armando she was pregnant. Patty was relieved. Marcela then told Patty that Mario called Armando. Patty asked what happened, Marcela told her that Mario is very upset about the situation. Patty smiled. Marcela told her that Mario wasn't the type that was going to marry her, and that the only reason he was upset was of the idea of getting a woman pregnant and having her so close to him everyday. In the main hall...
Bertha tells the girls that her husband is giving her $5000 to buy a new car. Patty overhears this and make fun of the amount of money. In the lobbythe cuartel is there telling Aura about Bertha getting a new car. They are all excited because now the cuartel has a car. They all promise Bertha to help with the cost of maintaining it. Patty then comes down and asks Freddy where her Mercedes is, Freddy tells her that's it's parked out front. Patty gets mad and says that he car isn't some $5000 car that you can leave parked outside. Someone could scratch it. In Daniel's office Daniel is thinking about his situation with Patty. He has a daydream of Patty coming to his office carrying his baby yelling that he has to accept that this is his baby, and that she is going to get a blood test done to prove it. Daniel snaps out of his dream when his secretary comes in and tells him that his meeting has arrive. Daniel is sweating. In Mario's office Marion is having a daydream about being married to Patty. He imagines them in bed together at night sleeping when their baby starts crying. Patty is laying in bed half asleep telling Mario to take care of the baby. Mario complains that it's 4:30am and that he has to go to work at 7am. Patty tells him that if he doesn't take care of the baby he won't be able to sleep. Mario gets up and goes to the crib, which is right by the bed, and picks up the baby and starts rocking it. Mario wakes up from his daydream when Sandra comes in bringing him some documents he requested. Sandra asks if he's okay. Mario asks her to ask Patty to come to his office. Sandra goes over to Patty and in a very rude way tells her to go see Mario. Patty goes to see him and Mario says they need to talk. Patty is standing at the door with the door open. Patty starts talking loudly and says do you want to talk about your baby. Patty goes on until she finally comes into the office and closes the door. Mario tells her that he is not ready to get married or be a father. Patty tells him that he is 34 and asks when he will be ready. Mario tells her someday he hopes he'll be ready. Patty gets up to leave and tells him that she hasn't asked him for anything. She says' she'll handle this alone. Patty starts crying telling Mario that all her life she promised herself that when she had a baby she would have it with someone she loved, even if he didn't love her back. Mario tells her that it would be a mistake for her to have the baby, because if things with them don't work out it will be difficult for her to find someone else. Patty says she doesn't care. Patty continues crying and says she has never loved anyone like she loved him and that she probably never will. Patty leaves. (Patty puts on a tremendous performance, like only a true manipulator could). When Patty walks out she wipes away her tears and calls Mario an idiot.
Patty bumps into the cuartel and Bertha comes out in her the same dress as Patty. They get into verbal fight, (same as usual). Patty tells her that bertha can steal her style all she wants but she'll never look as good as she does wearing them. Bertha tells her that when she's starts getting further alone she'll get fat. Patty tells not she won't and that after she has her baby she'll get her figure right back. She tells Bertha that she has the body of an eternally pregnant woman. Bertha goes to speak and Patty tells her shh and walk away. Daniel calls Patty and tells her he found the perfect place for her, Indonesia. Patty is not thrilled. Daniel tells her that he got her a job as a secretary with some political official. Patty is annoyed and tells him that maybe if he had suggested Miami or Rio she may have gone but Indonesia??? She tells Daniel that she is staying in Colombia and having her baby their. Ecomoda will pay for her expenses before and after she has the baby, so she's not leaving. She hangs up and Daniel looks like he wants to die. Betty and Armando goes shopping for new fabrics. They go to a company (forgot the name) and the woman who attends then is that woman that Mario and Armando met at the fabric expo, the one Armando was flirting with a lot (the blond). The woman and her colleague give Armando and Betty the quote for their fabrics. Betty comments that it was 2% above their competitors. Betty said they would be willing to accept their price if they can pay in 7 installments. They say no because the amount is too high. They suggest that Ecomoda get a loan. Armando say of course Ecomoda could simply get a loan (yeah right) but they would prefer to not do that. Betty then suggests that they do something (I can't remember what the banking term is). On the fabric company's books the entire amount of money would appear, but Ecomoda would actually pay them off in payments. That way their company's books wouldn't go off track. Betty always says that if they do this Ecomoda will buy the materials from their next collection from them too. The woman and her colleague look interested and say they'll think about it. Armando tells them they need an answer quick because they have other companies who want their business. The blond promises to call him that same day. End
10/10/00. ubject: RE: I still have no clue of what happened on Tuesd Author: Mariz (24.26.109.150) Date: 10-12-2000 19:00 Lo que pasó en esa parte fue que sitaron una reunion del club de las feas para ayudar a Berta a decidir si hacerse una lipoescultura o comprarse el carrito con la plata que le dio su esposo. Todas dan su opinion menos Betty es ahi donde le preguntan que opina y ella dice que ella no esta de acuerdo con las operaciones esteticas, que ella no le gusta la belleza artificial y en eso le dicen Aura Maria y Mariana que si ella no le gustaria verse bonita..en eso ella comienza a soñar como siempre y supuestamente llega a la oficina operada y Don Armando queda encantado con ella. Marcela entra y no la reconoce y le pregunta quien es esa modelo. Armando le dice que es Betty. En eso entra Patricia y tampoco la reconoce y le pregunta a Marcela y esta le dice que es Betty y tampoco lo puede creer. No recuerdo porque Patricia pelea con ARmando y supuestamente se va a desmayar o algo asi y cuando se va a desmayar lo hace del lado de Armando y este en vez de aguantarla la tira para el otro lado sin nisiquiera mirarla porque esta enbobado mirando a Betty. Nunca pasaron a Betty...solo se le escuchaba hablar... Saludos
10/11/00. Subject: *** Summary: Wed 10/11/2000 *** Author: Robin N (166.90.86.53) Date: 10-11-2000 21:33 Yesterday Armando with his 'hand in the cookie jar'? Armando is smooching Claudia Elena and Marcela and Hugo enter the meeting room as he does so. Marcela suspiciously greets Claudia Elena. Hugo greets her too, but in his usual effusive way. Marcela is annoyed: production is ready to go and here Armando is socializing. No, no, my love, it's not like that! Armando tells her that Claudia Elena is a representative of the company who's going to provide their materials. Hugo is in raptures to have good materials finally. They're coming tomorrow. Claudia Elena and Armando are going to smooch 'adios' but with Marcela watching they shake instead. Marcela is curious about this and asks Armando why. They were celebrating! he tells her, besides, it was in front of Mario and Betty. She's jealous! He kisses her to make her stop being so petty but she mentions how strong Claudia Elena's perfume was. She must have used the whole bottle! She leaves and Armando, Mario and Betty get down to business. They need to iron out the details for Terra Moda and how it will be structured and help out Eco Moda. It's looking more and more unavoidable because they need money for the launch. With Terra Moda's healthier credit they can get money, but they're going to have to use the blank promissory note. Betty visits the Terra Moda bank (Banco Montreal) and her old boss is enthusiastic about the success of the company and how good she and Nícolas is doing with the investments. (Do you suppose Nícolas's 'day trading'?) Betty is pleased, but she's here to get down to business. Betty explains the Eco Moda dilemma and how they're looking for a loanbut need to arrange it via Terra Moda. He's a little concerned especially when he finds out that the amount is almost the entire value of Terra Moda. He's even more surprised about the 'pagaré blanco' that she's got, but he feels sure that her boss must have tremendous confidence in her. Well, it won't be the first time he's made a loan against a 'pagaré blanco'. So, will you make the loan for 900,000 pesos? asks Betty. Outside Banco Montreal, Armando is waiting for Betty and he's relieved that they're going to make the loan. Betty cautions him that this is a huge sum but he brushes off her concerns.
Patricia opens bill after bill, moaning and shrieking, "No!" Marcela runs up alarmed. Patricia tells her it's for the bills and Marcela is unmoved. Is that all? I though you were going to have the baby! Patricia goes on and on about how desperate things are (knowing that Armando and Mario are listening in by the elevator.) Marcela is pretty cutting: she finds it kind of hypocritical of Patricia to be moaning about things when she's got a Mercedes parked outside. It turns out that Patricia's 8 months behind and they might repo it. She's pregnant and brokeblah, blah, blahwah, wah, wah! She pretends to be overcome and Marcela worriedly escorts her to the bathroom. Armando nags jokingly that that Mario should be more concerned: that's the mother of his baby and all! Armando and Mario try to check out the fashion show rehearsal but Hugo chases them away. They enter Armando's office to overhear Betty on the phone with one of their creditors. It's a dunning call and they're threatening to process a lien against the company. Serious faces all around Armando says, fine, begin the process against Eco Moda. We need a lawyer, did you get one? he asks Mario. Yes, here's his name. Betty's voice shakes but she agrees to set up the appointment. Armando urges Mario to be sure that this is a trustworthy guy and Mario agrees that he is. Betty goes to make the call. Marcela tells Patricia she can't be so upset because it's bad for the baby. Patricia whines more about how she doesn't know how to deal with the situation. The elevator opens and it's Catalina. What's wrong? asks Catalina. She's 2 months pregnant, says Marcela. Pregnant? Really? Catalina feels Patricia's forehead but feels nothing. (Is she psychic and trying to get a reading on the baby?) Marcela and Catalina leave to get to work. Up walks Mario and he hands a check to Patricia. She pretends to be offended and hands it back. I'm not looking for money, she tells him. Do you think that money relieves you of all of your obligations? We don't need money, we need you. Take the money and do with it what you will I've got to go to a meeting, says Mario, very uncomfortably. He leaves as fast as he can and she picks up the check, reads the amount, and kisses itthanking heaven for it. She stuffs it down her cleavage. The models continue their practice and Jenny watches on jealously. Inez comes to tell Hugo that they're waiting for him in the meeting. Jenny grabs him before he leaves and begs him to let her appear in the fashion show. He laughs maliciously and tells her that she was hired a size model, and she's not the type of professional runway model that they hire. But I've done runway work, she tells him in a pouty way. No, nothing against you, but we hire professionals. After Hugo leaves she tries Inez. No dice. Gutierrez is all in a snit and he needs some details for a contracthe wants 'la gorda', not Sofia nor Sandra. She'll be back tomorrow, they tell him. He's all bent out of shape. The two wonder how the surgery went. He gets a call on line two and Sofia tries to pass it on to him. Jenny walks past Sofia and Sofia tells her not to walk past her without bringing the full money due her. She looks all pouty again. Jenny starts making excuses and tells her that she doesn't want to pressure her sweet poppy, he's so tired when he comes home from work. Sofia isn't too happy with this excuse because she's got her own kids coming home tired from school. No excuses, just deliver the message. Inez comes up and sees the tail-end of the discussion and chastises Sofia for picking on Jenny. She's really depressed because she wanted to be in the show and Hugo said no, tells Inez. Sofia thinks she's pretty nervy to even ask. Marcela describes the setup for the launch party and Catalina adds some details about who's all going to be there. Mario asks who will be the celebrity guest. Hugo tells him that his designs are the only celebrity they need. Don't worry, it will be someone good, Catalina tells them. She hands Armando a bill for some of the drinks and appetizers that they're going to have at the show: she'll need some money up front. Armando is not happy, but hands this over to Betty. Next item: Hugo wants a whole day for him to show his works and Armando thinks that's too much. Marcela tries to support Hugo. They usually rent a place and all the lights and equipment, so why should there be such a concern for the money? She's really fighting back on this. Armando is annoyed with Marcela and yells at her. Catalina's concerned with the discussion of moneyshe's busy reading everyone's reactions. Betty is called in again to deal with the additional money details. Marcela grudgingly tells Betty that she should stay stay.
Jenny is on the cell phone to 'el cheque' pouting about not being in the show and Sofia is in the background lurking. Jenny sees her and tells him that Sofia is pressuring her for the money. Sofia grabs the phone and he hangs up. Berta makes her grand entrance in a slinky black dress much thinner! Patricia sees her and looks confused, as if it doesn't really equate. Berta looks smug and swings her hair á la Patricia and turns towards her office. The girls catch sight of her and admire her new figure. They're all talking a mile-a-minute, asking her how much her waist hurts, etc. Berta is a little concerned though. Her hubby is coming home tomorrow and he's going to be mad that she didn't buy the car. He's going to take one look at you and forget all about it, they tell her. It was the best you could have ever done with that money! Gutierrez comes out and is surprised by her new look for a moment and then drags her away to work, leaving the cuartel to clamor after him to be careful with her bruises! At the meeting: Hugo is defending his hiring the models. You've got to pay for beauty. Betty agrees, but it's the timing of the payments that concerns her. She wants to pay them 30 days after the show. No way! counters Hugo. They're used to getting paid the same day. Times have changed, states Armando. Betty tries to convince him by telling him that today even the models at other houses like Givenchy get paid 30, even 90 days later. Hugo continues to complain. Marcela, look at what you're getting into when you marry him. He's going to be a tyrant. Catalina is looking glum. Marcela shows the invitation and Hugo cautions that it doesn't go out to just anybody. Betty excuses herself. I've got to go at 6, I've an appointment, you know, she tells Armando. Marcela looks suspicious, and then goes on to mention that Armando's parents come in tomorrow afternoon. Armando looks anxious My love, why don't you take charge of picking them up, please? Marcela looks a little peeved still after their recent altercation. Betty has called Nícolas to ask him to come along to the lawyer's office. He asks why? Because you're afraid of him hitting on you? Betty jokes that there's no worry about that she just needs him there as a representative of Terra Moda. In Armando's office, Catalina asks why he's still got Betty in the closet. Wait a minute! It's her own choice, counters Armando. We offered her a new office and she turned it down. Mario makes some quip about her being fea and not suffering. Catalina responds tersely to this insensitive remark. She leaves and Armando asks Betty if she's ready to meet the lawyer. Be very careful with this guy. You can't permit this company to leave our hands. Betty is fully aware of the gravity of the situation. She keeps checking with Armando to make sure he knows the full consequences of what they're doing. Remember that the 900,000 pesos represent a good deal of the assets of Eco Moda. You're going to have to be very careful with this new launch because we're dealing with all of the assets of Eco Modait has to succeed. We will, then, says Armando. Are you sure? asks Betty. Armando states finally that tomorrow it's going to be published in the chamber of commerce that Eco Moda is in the hands of Terra Moda. Okay, replies Betty reluctantly. I suppose it's fitting that your family's going to be here tomorrow. She leaves. The weight of this statement hangs heavily on Armando. Why does my family have to come back tomorrow! Are you sure we can trust this lawyer? he asks Mario once more, seeking reassurances.
In a bar two men are talking about the details of a case. One is respectable looking, another is slightly scruffy and looks a little drunk. They toast once more. Betty and Nícolas walk downstairs and ask for Dr. Antonio Sanchez. It's of course the scruffy one. He introduces his friend, another lawyer and she introduces Nícolas as head of Terra Moda. He gives them business cards. I don't think I've heard of Terra Moda before. Well, we're new an investment company. Sanchez offers drinks and Betty and Nícolasthose teetotalersorder water. Betty gets down to business and tells him that their business involves a company called Eco Moda. They make clothes, no? asks Sanchez. That's the one, says Betty. You see, Terra Moda has loaned money to Eco Moda and they haven't complied with the terms. Sanchez looks surprised (his cigarette drops from his mouth). But, first, what are your hourly terms? asks Betty. He states an exorbitant figure and Betty and Nícolas blanch. He whips out a cardand quickly whips it back before Nícolas can read it. Sanchez brags about his credentials as a commercial lawyer. We didn't expect to pay so much money, says Betty. Maybe we could speak of an monthly stipend instead. How much money are we looking at? he asks. She suggests a figure but he pretends it's too little. Sorry to take your time then, says Betty, prepared to walk away. Let's not be hasty, says Sanchez. He counters and they accept his figure. The waiter comes up with the drinks (and mistakenly gives the water to him!) Betty shows Sanchez the lien papers. He looks over the papers and is open-mouthed Tomorrow: the cuartel is out to prove that Patricia isn't pregnant.
Subject: *****SUMMARY, FRIDAY, 10/13/00***** Author: Tuly (12.78.2.92) Date: 10-16-2000 10:49 *****SUMMARY, FRIDAY, 10/13/00***** The lawyer asks Nicolás for another advance on his fees he claims what he got hardly even covers costs. Nicolás tries to tell him he doesn't have any money and the lawyer suggests that he speak to Betty about it. Nicolás says that he'll call Betty, but he left his cell phone at home, LOL! As Nicolás gets up to leave, the lawyer asks him to pay for the drinks and Nicolás empties his pockets and leaves all of his change on the table. :o) Meanwhile, things at Eco Moda are heating up. Betty is dealing with non-stop calls from the bankers who are very angry at finding out that there's a lien on Eco Moda. She tries to appease the banks over the phone and reminds them that they have meetings with them that afternoon. Betty is interrupted by a call from Nicolás from the nearest public phone Betty tells Armando that the law suit has been filed. Nicolás tells Betty that the lawyer would like an advance of 100,000 pesos and Betty approves it he should have the lawyer sign a receipt for 140,000 pesos (the total of the money advanced to date). Nicolás doesn't waste the opportunity and asks Betty for a cell phone, after all, he says, it's not right for the manager of Terra Moda to continue calling from public phones. Betty reminds him of all of the problems with Eco Moda right now, but Nicolás comes back with the fact that Terra Moda has done really well in the stock market lately and he deserves at least a cell phone. Betty relents and tells him to go ahead and get himself a cell phone and then asks if everything went okay in court. Nicolás reassures her that it did and that there are only a few minor details which he has to discuss with her. When Betty hangs up she has a worried look on her face.
Bertha doesn't waste any time on following up with Gutierrez regarding Patricia's blood tests. She reminds him that she doesn't have any insurance and this is against the law what if she has an accident at work? They don't even know her blood type, A positive, O negative or maybe she even has blue blood, LOL! Gutierrez sees her point of view and the possible liability to Eco Moda and tells Bertha to tell Patricia to go for the required blood tests. Bertha refuses to be the messenger of those news because Patricia hates the Cuartel. Gutierrez tells her he's going to handle it. When Bertha rises to leave, Gutierrez tells her he'd like to congratulate her Bertha immediately thanks him and tells him that everyone's congratulated her on the surgery but Gutierrez bursts her bubble, he only wants to congratulate her on doing her job so well. :o) Outside of Gutierrez's office, Bertha tells Sofía that Gutierrez will order Patricia to have the blood tests done at the insurance company's lab and Bertha will receive the results because she's in charge of filing them. Sofía reminds her that the insurance company is not going to run a pregnancy test and Patricia will certainly not ask to have one done, but Bertha assures her that she will handle the details. Just then, Mario walks by still looking like a zombie. Bertha turns to Sofía and says, "Además tenemos le tenemos que resolver las cosas a ese cadáver ambulante. ¡Pobrecitico!" an she sighs. :o) Mario walks into Armando's office and asks him how things are going. Armando is sitting behind his desk staring off into space and tells Mario in an extremely ironic tone of voice that a law suit against Eco Moda for 97 billion pesos was just instituted, the lien was published in the Chamber of Commerce, his parents are arriving today in Colombia and Betty is restructuring the payment schedules for the banks but other than that, everything is going just dandy. Mario adds something else to that what if Daniel sees the lien from the Chamber of Commerce? Armando hopes that Daniel won't have the time to see it and that luck is on their side. Daniel's secretary walks in with all of his correspondence, including the bulletin from the Chamber of Commerce. Daniel tells him to just leave him the invitations and the bills and to take everything else and handle it appropriately I can hear Armando's sigh of relief even though he wasn't shown onscreen, LOL! Daniel takes a call from Marcela who tells her that Armando's parents are coming into town today and asks whether he will go by their house to say hello. Daniel assures her that he will, he has a lot to talk to Roberto about. Before he hangs up, he asks Marcela if she will go to their house alone or with her best friend, Patricia Fernández. Marcela tells him she will go alone, and Daniel asks if she is still pregnant or if she already gave up the idea. Marcela wants to know why he's asking and Daniel just tells her that it's because he wants to know how stupid Patricia is after all, she's not doing well economically and being a single mother would make things worse. When Daniel hangs up, he hears his secretary telling someone that she come into Daniel's office and in comes Patricia with a boy of about 5 or 6. Patricia points at Daniel and tells the child that that is the father, the one that doesn't want to acknowledge him. Daniel says that's not his child, but Patricia assures him that he is, that she will have all of the appropriate blood tests done and she will prove it. As Patricia takes "Danielito's" hand to leave Daniel's office, the child turns to Daniel and says, "chao, papá". :o) Just another dream!
Gutierrez gives Patricia the news of the blood tests, vision and hearings tests that she's got to go for. Patricia is beside herself she tells Gutierrez she's been working at Eco Moda for a long time and no one had ever told her to go through that. Gutierrez tells her the tests are absolutely necessary and they are bound by the law otherwise Eco Moda would have to pay a fine but it's for her own good because she's not exempt from accidents. With this last statement Patricia totally agrees she tells Gutierrez that the Cuartel would be capable of beating her up or even committing homicide. When Gutierrez leaves, Marcela walks by and Patricia whines for her help. She tells her about the blood tests for insurance purposes, and Marcela is not sympathetic at all she tells her it's a really good idea idea, especially because of her financial situation and her pregnancy. Marcela walks into Armando's office to let him know that she is leaving to pick up his parents at the airport. Marcela notices that Armando looks pale and asks him if he's okay. Armando assures her that he's okay, just a bit preocuppied with the new collection. When Marcela leaves, Armando tells Mario that it really hurts him that he's lying and letting down not only Marcela but his family as well. Just then, Betty receives a call that Nicolás is downstairs with a copy of the lawsuit. As Betty leaves the office to met Nicolás, Mario asks Armando if he knows who this "Nicolás Mora" is and Armando tells him that he does and that Nicolás is fully trustworthy he's brought them papers before (?) and works for Terra Moda.
Outside Eco Moda, Nicolás hands Betty the copies of the law suit and tells him that the judge will send a clerk to come do an inventory of Eco Moda's assets that is something that was impossible to avoid. Betty becomes really worries and asks when the clerk is coming, but Nicolás doesn't know. Nicolás goes on to add that now Betty can remove Armando from his position and scream at him as often as she wants Betty just laughs her nerdy laugh :o). At that moment, Patricia walks out of Eco Moda whining on her cell phone to someone about the blood tests. Upon seeing her, Nicolás yells to her that he will adopt her baby and that he will marry her, LOL! But Patricia is not listening and she just drives off in her Mercedes with her phone still attached to her ear. Bertha assures the Cuartel that they've almost got Patricia in their hands, but asks them not to say anything to Inesita about the blood tests because she's sure that she won't agree. Inesita walks up and they begin talking about lunch instead. As each one of them says how hungry she is and what she is going to have for lunch, Bertha looks like she is going to faint. Bertha tells them that she cannot go to lunch with them with them because of her diet and she brown-bagged it today she brought grilled chicken and a salad. When the Cuartel sees the size of her portion (extremely small) they make pitiful faces, but Inesita reminds them that they agreed to give Bertha support through all of this. They walk out on their way to El Corrientazo and Bertha starts digging into her lunch.
Betty makes it back to Armando's office and hands him the copies of the law suit. Armando takes the envelope with a horrible look on her face and as he leafs through the paperwork, he tells Betty in a voice that starts to crack that he never thought he would actually see this come to fruition. Betty tells him that the lawyer was able to institute a preventive lien. Betty just stares at Armando with a lot of compassion and doesn't even hear the phone which starts to ring off the hook. Armando loses it and yells at Betty to answer it. As Betty leaves, Mario reminds Armando to be nicer to Betty because from this moment on Betty is the owner of Eco Moda. Marcela and Armando's parents arrive at their house. Marcela tells Margarita and Roberto that Armando will come by later because he's really busy at Eco Moda with the new collection. Roberto asks how things are really going at Eco Moda and Marcela tells him not to worry. Roberto doesn't look happy at all and Margarita says that he's been worried because he thought things weren't going well. Back at Eco Moda, Betty tells Armando that the phone call was one of the banks confirming their appointment for this afternoon. Armando interrupts and wants to know how everything went with the lawyer. Betty said that everything went well, and even though he wanted 10% as his fees, she was able to work out a much lower fee arrangement and everything is going well except that a clerk will be coming by later to take inventory of Eco Moda's assets. Armando loses it and yells, "¿Qué, qué? Beatriz, ¡nosotros no quedamos en eso!" Betty tells him that she's aware of that but it couldn't be avoided and there's nothing they can do. Armando is still not calm and asks Betty if she understands what he and Eco Moda are going through. Betty assures him that she understands full well but there is nothing more she can do. As Betty walks out, Mario reminds Armando to stop yelling at Betty. Armando asks Mario if he understands everything that is heading their way Eco Moda is about to go through its most dificult days. Mario says he understands, but he better get going, they can't afford to be late to their appointment with the banks. Before leaving Armando's office, Mario suggests again that he stop screaming at Betty. Armando goes into Betty's office and gives the copies of the law suit back to her so she can take them home and put them away in a safe place. He goes on to say that he knows that she understands better than anyone that the decision he has taken is the most important one he's taken in his entire life, not only because it affects him, but also a lot of people he loves, other stockholders of Eco Moda, and the employees. Armando asks her to understand that he will probably be in bad moods he is gambling everything away, even what he doesn't have. He was given a company and in two months' time he's giving it back. As he turns to leave her office, Betty calls him back and tells him that she understands that he handed over his company to her but that it's in good hands. Armando tells her that he knows this and comes back in and hugs her. While Betty holds on tighly, she tells Armando that she will take care of his company as if it were her own life, and Armando tells him that he well fully knows that. Betty tells him that she can't stand to see him this way, she's sure that together they can overcome all adversity. Armando takes her hand and tells her that together in love they will be able to overcome all obstacles, to fly over land and sea. Betty walks away and tells him with a big smile on her face, "Sí, doctor, iremos juntos de la mano, protegiendos el uno al otro, los dos contra el mundo, hasta la muerte doctor," and then she wakes up because Armando calls her again wondering what's holding her up. :o) Bertha is trying to savor every bite of her small lunch at her desk when Armando and Betty walk out of his office on their way to the elevator. Armando tells Bertha that he doesn't want her eating at her desk because he doesn't want the company to smell like food this is a fashion business. As he and Betty walk way, the Cuartel comes back from lunch talking about what all they had to eat. Bertha loses it and yells at them to stop talking about food because she ate her small lunch and she's still hungry. They agree not to do it again. Freddy walks up with the mail and starts handing it out. On top of Bertha's mail is the letter from the lab for Patricia Sandra offers to take it to Patricia, but Bertha says it's a better idea for Freddy to take it. When Inesita asks what lab they're talking about, everyone quickly changes the subject.
Jenny calls to Freddy and asks if he's talked to Armando or Hugo yet. Freddy tells her that he hasn't had the time, but he will do it as soon as he can. Jenny takes Freddy's chin, purses her lips, and thanks him. When Freddy comes back to the Cuartel, Bertha hands him the envelope for Patricia. Sofía doesn't waste the opportunity and tells Freddy that he shouldn't help Jenny out, she's only using him she won't ever leave the imbecile that she can manipulate and that supports him. After Freddy leaves, Inesita reminds Sofía to change her attitude. "El Cheque" walks into Eco Moda asking for Sofía. Aura María tells him to go on up, and as he gets into the elevator and crosses himself, she phones up to Sofía to warn her that Efraín is on his way. Inesita asks Sofía how she's decided to handle things a scandal or a change of attitude. Patricia opens the letter and finds out that they're going to pinch her at 7:00 a.m. Just then, the elevator doors open and Efraín walks out Patricia comments to Freddy that the monthly spectacle is about to begin. But Mariana is giving Sofía a massage and chanting a mantra, "I'm going to be nice to him," which Sofía is repeating. Efraín reaches Sofía's desk and she greets him with a smile. He asks her if she's okay and wonders what she has under her sleeve. Sofía just tells him she wants to know how he's doing, and Efraín tells her he hasn't been doing too well and he can only give her a portion of the money today he will bring the rest day after tomorrow. Sofía takes the check and smiles a really sweet smile, which throws Efraín totally off, and tells him she will see him day after tomorrow, but does he want to speak to Jenny before he leaves? Efraín is so flustered by Sofía's attitude that he nervously says no and Jenny, who has walked out into the hallway and is watching this whole scene, is upset by the way he's acting. She calls to him, but he just runs out to the elevator. Now that Efraín is out of hearing range, Sofía tells the Cuartel that her change in attitude got her nowhere, he didn't even give her the full amount. But Inesita tells her that now maybe that she was so nice he will actually live up to his promise and come back day after tomorrow.
Hugo exits the elevator with all of his models and Freddy asks to speak to him about Jenny I presume. But Hugo tells him he doesn't have time, he can only concentrate on the fashion show. One of the models stops by Sofía's desk and asks if Armando is in. Sofía tells her he's out of the office and they don't know when he'll be back. The model wants to know if he went out alone or with Marcela. Bertha butts in and tells her that Marcela is at Armando's parents house with his parents. When the model leaves, Sofía tells Bertha that it's obvious that the model is after Armando and Marcela better watch out. Margarita gives Marcela a gift she brought her from Harrods a silver candlestick. She also asks if she and Armando have found a house or an apartment yet, but Marcela tells her that they've been so busy that they haven't had time to look. Hugo hasn't even had the time to make her wedding dress and he's already got all the fabric. Roberto jumps in and wants to know how badly the bad collection affected Eco Moda, and Marcela reminds him that Eco Moda is a solid company and they can take a hit like that. Roberto tells her she's not listening he wants to know how solid Eco Moda still is after the failure of the collection, he wants the truth because he doesn't like the fact that they hid the failed collection from him. Marcela tells him that they just didn't want to upset him and of course this had an impact on Eco Moda but he will have to ask Armando for the exact figures.
Armando and Betty are at the bank and the bank officer tells him they are going to have to sue to get their money back. But Armando tells him that there's a pending lien against the company and they're already affronting a grave law suit they're here to work things out and to restructure the debt. Betty hands the bank officer a new schedule of payments and the officer wants to know how they're going to guarantee payment of this debt now that there's a lien against Eco Moda. Armando tells him that the only guarantee he can give him is his word, but the bank officer tells him he can't make the decision on his own and he's going to have to bring this up before the board of directors. He's sure a scandal is in themaking -- FREEZE! TO BE CONTINUED
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USA 10/16-20/00. Most of the week is focused on the embargo of the company by Betty's company, according to the legal rules and the attempt of Armando to keep his parents, who have just returned, and Damian from learning the truth.
La Opinión, 10/22/00. Solo telenovelas Laura M. López. [summary of previous week] BETTY LA FEA Canal 52, lunes a viernes, 8:00 p.m. Eco Moda fue embargada por Terra Moda pero no como lo hubiera querido el abogado, sino dentro del más guardado secreto para evitar que los empleados y directivos se enteraran. Como siempre, Betty se encargó de manejar la situación apoyada por Armando, quien tenía plena confianza en su asistente. Mario en cambio, comenzaba a dudar... creía que tarde o temprano alguien le abriría los ojos a Betty y entonces, aclamaría a los cuatro vientos que era la nueva dueña de Eco Moda. Daniel insistió en tener una junta con la mesa directiva pues a toda costa quería dejar constancia de que Armando pronto le pasaría la presidencia de Eco Moda. Sin embargo, la misma no se llevó a cabo ya que constaba en las actas otra fecha. Sólo se informó sobre la nueva colección y cifras de pérdidas confundidas con futuras ganancias. Tanto como Gustavo y Margarita quedaron satisfechos, mas no Daniel, quien también se la pasa alucinando con si el bebé que espera Patricia es suyo o no. Marcela trata de estar de acuerdo con Armando, pero el hecho de que Claudia, una de las modelos, no lo deje ni sol ni a sombra la tiene de un carácter insoportable. Por otro lado, el marido de Bertha se puso furioso porque su mujer se gastó los cinco millones que le dio para comprarse un auto, en una lipoescultura. Aunque Bertha estaba feliz con su nueva figura, también sufría un horror a la hora del almuerzo con sus compañeras ya que no podía comer como en pasado. Cuando Armando se enteró que Betty tenía dizque novio, su ánimo se vino abajo, aunque no sabía si porque Betty se lo había ocultado o porque había algo ahí en su corazón que no podía identificar. Mario estaba también preocupado, pero no por Betty, sino por Armando porque casi se podía creer que estaba celoso.
Subject: ****SUMMARY FOR MONDAY 10/16**** Author: Rosey (208.221.241.75) Date: 10-17-2000 09:38 Armando is able to convince the man at the bank to give Ecomoda another chance and to accept the terms that Betty has proposed, this was no easy feat especially when the bank guy realized that no one in his family knew about the problem. Freddy tries to talk to Armando about the letting Jenny model in the show but Armando doesn't let him and tells him he has no time to speak with him. That model that Armando had an affair with sneaks into his office and tries to seduce him. Armando refuses. She then asks Armando for a kiss good-bye. Armando refuses again, but then she starts kissing him. They start kissing passionately. Betty is in her office listening. Meanwhile outside Armando's office Marcela has called Patty and asked her to tell Armando she is waiting for him at his parents house. Bertha and Sofia hear this. They saw when that model went into his office and assume they are probably doing something. So Bertha tells Sofia to call Betty and let her know Patty is going to walk into his office and Bertha stalls Patty. Armando and the model are still kissing, she's trying to take his jacket off. Betty opens her office door and says "doctor!". Armando stops kissing the model immediately, he asks Betty what wrong and she tells him that Patty is going to come in and give him a message, Betty's words are still lingering in the air when Patty walks in. She stares and the model and then gives Armando the message. The model leaves. Armando arrives at his parents house and kisses his mother hello. He walks over to his father to give him a hug but his father pushes him back. His father says he wants to know how Ecomoda is doing. Armando's mother insists they not talk about the company tonight so they can have a nice dinner. Daniel is also there and tells Armando that's fine they will hear all about tomorrow at the director's meeting. Armando looks upset and says he didn't know about the directors meeting. His father is very annoyed and tells him that every time he come they have a meeting. Armando's mother interrupts again and tells them not to talk about Ecomoda tonight. Armando says fine but then turns around and says he justs wants it to be clear that there will be no meeting tomorrow. His father demands to know why, and Daniel says we need to know the financial shape of Ecomoda. Armando says that he is not prepared for the meeting and because of that they will not meet. Daniel says that is no excuse for not having the meeting. Armando then says that in the previous meeting they stated that the next meeting would be held in September. Daniel agrees but tells him that at that time they couldn't of anticipated that Ecomoda would have release such a poor collection and would have to release another so quickly. Armando's mother says that Armando is right, we did agree to meet in September. Armando stands by his mother and says thank you. His father reluctantly agrees, and Daniel is pissed. His father says that he at least wants to be given the sales figures and a report on the financial standing of Ecomoda. Armando says no problem. Next day Patty arrives at the clinic where she needs to get her blood work done. She is very scared. The nurse calls her in and immediately starts wrapping the rubber band around her arm. Patty freaks out and says she needs time to prepare herself psychology. The nurse says they will do it now. Patty asks what tests will be run the nurse tells her and Patty asks nothing more right? The nurses says right. The nurse drags her into the room and closes the door. We hear Patty scream. At Ecomoda Freddy approached Hugo and asks to speak with him. Hugo annoyingly agrees. Freddy in a very long drawn out way asks him to let Jenny model in the show. Hugo laughs and says that Jenny doesn't have the certain qualities needed to be in his show. Plus he has all the models he needs. Hugo leaves and Jenny, who was listening the whole time comes up to Freddy. Freddy tells her that he said no. Jenny makes that pouty face. Freddy tells her not to give up because he is going to keep trying. Jenny says thanks and they walk away together. Sofia and Bertha are annoyed by him being with her. Armando tells Betty what happened at this parents house. He asks her to create the reports his father asked for, but to mix the figures with the estimated figures they have for this new collection. That way the hit from that bad collection won't seem so bad. Betty doesn't look too happy about it but agrees to do it. Armando goes over to Patty's desk to ask her to order lunch for his meeting with his father, but she isn't there. Armando is upset and then the cuartel rush over to him and tell him that Patty isn't here yet. At that moment Patty walks in looking all groggy. Armando starts yelling at her asking where she's been. Patty tells him that she was getting some blood work done. Armando yells that she should schedule her tests off company time. Patty tells him that these tests were for Ecomoda. Armando tells her that he needs her to order food for the director's meeting. Patty gasps, oh how come no one told me there was a director's meeting. Armando said oh my god what were we thinking we didn't tell the doctora that there was a meeting. Patty makes a face and tells him she will do it after she has breakfast. Armando glares at her and Patty tells him that she just had a lot of blood taken out and her and her baby need food. She walks away and so does Armando. Bertha whispers to Sofia that Patty had her tests done already. Bertha calls the lab pretending to be Patty and asks them to give her a pregnancy test as well. The nurse says fine and Bertha asks if she will be required to have more blood taken out the nurse says no, but she will need a request form from Bertha. Bertha (still pretending to be Patty) says of course Bertha will be happy to do that, and by the way have you seen her, she had liposuction and she looks fabulous. Sofia urges Bertha to stop kidding around. Bertha asks the nurse when the results will be in, the nurse said that first the insurance company will receive them and then it will be sent to Bertha. Bertha thanks her and hangs up. To be continued -----------------
10/17/00. In Betty's house the telephone rings and her mother answers and with a surprised but questioning look says, "Terra Moda". Betty's fatherlooks at her mother and tells her yes it's the company name so she answers "Terra Moda" and with another puzzled look she says, "Dr.Mora". Betty's father answers that he is asking for Nicolas. When she asks who it is she is informed that it is the attorney, Dr. Sanchez. Hewants to know when he will be in and when she answers that she does not know he asks with whom he is speaking, to this she answers, "Hissecretary".Nicolas arrives and they ask him where he has been. Betty's father tells him that the telephone rings from 8-6 and that all the calls are for TerraModa. He wants to know what they are suppose to do. Nicolas apologizes, but says that he had an important errand. He wants to know ifthey notice anything different about him. They shake their head no. He asks if they don't notice anything, he circles his hand around his rightside. Betty's mother says, "Oh, your mother sewed your pants, it was about time." Nicolas checks his private area and says no that he hadpurchased a cellular telephone. Betty's father wants to know if Terra Moda is paying for it and he says of course. Nicolas says that he's goingto show them something. He pulls out the telephone and puts in on his ear and moves back and forth (that silly movement he does). The regulartelephone rings. Betty's mother answers, she asks who it is, it is Nicolas calling from his cellular telephone. Betty's father gets mad and tells himto turn it off. He wants to know if Nicolas if aware of how much those calls costs. He tells him to turn in the receipt and he goes on to tellNicolas that there is something that he doesn't understand. He says that there is a huge income from the Bank of Montreal and not more than20 days old and then the same amount is under another account for Terra Moda. He would like to know if the bank loaned that much moneyto Eco Moda. Nicolas says that he doesn't know. It was a deal that was handled by Betty, Armando and the bank.The telephone rings and its Dr. Sanchez for Nicolas. He informs him that he is at the courthouse and he is preoccupied because he has foundout that they are going to seize the inventory from the company. Nicolas tells him that it can't happen and to stop them. Dr. Sanchez says that itis too late and he is just calling him to inform him and to tell him that there will not be a scandal. He tells him that he is on his way to Eco Modaand he will keep him up-to-date.At Armando's office, Betty hands Armando the report for the meeting. He tells her that he doesn't have time to review it and for her to makecopies and prepare it for distribution. Her telephone begins to ring and Armando says the report is more important. Since her telephone will notstop ringing Armando goes to answer. It is Nicolas. Nicolas asks for Betty. Armando says that she is not available and would like to knowwho is calling. Nicolas gives his name and says that it is urgent that he speak to her and ask him to ask Betty to call him back at the house or onhis cellular telephone. Armando says that he will not do it.Betty father finds Nicolas in her room on her bed. He says that he is working and trying to locate him and he finds him sleeping. Nicolasanswers that he is not sleeping, but meditating. Betty's father wants to know why he has been so nervous since he received that telephone call.He wants to know why he said, "Hold the stagecoach. Hold the stagecoach". Nicolas said he was imitating a movie that he had see as ayoungster. Her father tells him to stop saying stupidities. Nicolas says that the problem is that they have a messenger that wants money, but hedid not have it. Betty's father says, "Dr. Sanchez is a messenger". Nicolas says it must be due to the unemployment. That doctors are notworking as messengers. Berta sends Freddy to the lab with the paperwork authorizing Patricia's pregnancy test. Armando is telling Mario how he was able to suspend the Board meeting. He goes on to tell him how Daniel started to talk about the ruinedcollection. Armando tells Mario that Betty has prepared a report that combines the failed collection with the new collection. Roberto and Margarita arrive for the meeting and greet Aura Maria. Margarita wants to know if she is still single. She answers that she is andthat she is still looking for the man of her dreams. Marcela answers that she is looking with urgency. Armando and Mario are praising Betty's report. Betty's telephone begins to ring. Mario tells him to let Betty answer or for him to answer.Armando answers it and it is Nicolas. Nicolas tells him that it is urgent that he speak to Betty. Armando wants to know if Betty's parents havedied. Nicolas answers no. Betty comes in and Armando complains how often he has been calling all morning. Nicolas complains to Betty aboutall the calls he has had to made on this cellular telephone. Betty says that she doesn't have time to talk and he informs her that the men arecoming to take the inventory. Armando finds out that his parents have arrived. Betty tells him that the attorney is on the way for the inventory and he becomes upset. Daniel arrives and the security guard (with the tootsie pop in his hand greets him). Behind him arrives the cab with the men who will be takingthe inventory. Daniel greets everyone and asks Catalina if she is going to handle the publicity again. He tells her that he thought that she had an image tomaintain and that she had pride. Catalina tells him that she believes in Armando. The gentlemen enter. Betty and Armando exit the elevator. Armando has his family go to the boardroom. Armando tells the man that he hasimportant people in his office and asks for discretion, to which they agree to. Dr. Sanchez wants to know why Betty didn't tell him that she worked there. Betty tells him that she has been there for sometime and that shehad leant Armando money and he has never paid it back. She tells him to continue with the lawsuit until she can come to an agreement withArmando. She takes the gentlemen to the sewing room and informs the workers that the men are there to take the registration numbers of the machinesand to please cooperate. Dr. Sanchez tells the other man that Betty is a very nice person. The other man asks Dr. Sanchez if all of this doesn'tseem odd to him, because it does to him. Dr. Sanchez answers yes, but that finally it is here or there. Dr. Sanchez gives his coat to one of the seamstress to have it repaired. In the meeting, Roberto wants to know who those men were. Armando tells them that they are from an insurance agency that offered themlower rates and that they are there to take inventory. Daniel goes on to insult Armando. In addition, he says that they need to protectthemselves from him breaking the company. Roberto tells Daniela to be quite that he doesn't want to here those words. The guard is telling Aura Maria that those men are there to conduct a seizure. Betty hears them and yells at Wilson to come to her. She askshim if he has ever had a dream where his head is torn off and put into a box. He says yes, why? She says because Armando is capable of doingit if he finds out what she just heard. She goes on to say that it is a misunderstanding and that everything has been straightened out. She alsotells Aura Maria not to say a word. The cuartel is trying to convince Berta to go to lunch with them. Betty enters the meeting and Armando asks her to give her report. Hugo arrives and Patricia tells Hugo that they are waiting for him in the boardroom. He says that he has no business to hear numbers anddisasters. He says that not until those people learn to speak of decent things, then he will go in. Betty is telling the group that they can recover after the next collection. Daniel says that it could recover if the report is real and not fabricated.Roberto stops him. Daniel says real or not Armando is not going to meet his goals. Patricia comes in with the menus. Daniel stares at Patricia. She hands him a menu and asks him when he is going to admit that he is the father ofher son. Daniel tells her that this is not the time or place. She tells him that she has had the blood tests and they show that he is his son. She callsfor Danielito to come. Danielito comes in with the papers proving paternity. Daniel refuses to look at them. Danielito says, "Mira pappy, yo soyto hijo". Daniel tells the child to understand that he is not his father. Roberto says that the paper proves that he is the father. Margarita asks himwhen he is going to accept it. Furthermore, Patricia is not the type of woman to do that to. Marcela tells him that Patricia is her best friend andthe she will never be able to forgive him. Daniel says that he can't accept it. Patricia says that it is fine, but the whole country is going to findout. Patricia asks Daniel if he can take the menu. Daniel wakes up from his dream. Roberto asks Daniel if he is feeling all right. Daniel says yes.Patricia continues to pass out the menus all the while staring at Daniel. Meanwhile, Daniel is drying off the sweat from his face. Patricia doesn'twant to give Betty a menu. The cuartel has arrived at the restaurant. Sophia says that Freddy has been sent to the lab with the authorization for the pregnancy test. Inisitiasays that she cannot believe that they have gone to such lengths. Aura Maria tells her the she should cover her ears because she does not needto get involved. Berta is ordering her food and the cuartel stops her from ordering fattening food. Inesita tells them that what they did is unethical. Sandra says that if Patricia is pregnant they will not say anything. However, if she is not, theywill tell Mario and they will see who is unethical. Back at the meeting, Patricia is taking the orders and picking up the menus. She is standing by Mario and asks for help. She asks him if hecan't help her with the baby. She tells him that she is working, she hands him the baby and continues to pick up the menus. Mario tells her thatthey are in the middle of the meeting. She tells him that it was also his son and to give him a bottle while she finishes taking the orders. Mario istrying to comfort the baby and to give him a bottle. The baby is crying and Patricia yells at him not to let Marito cry. (Mario comes out of hisdream and places his order.) Hugo joins the meeting and he tells Patricia to order him a salad because he is gaining weight and if he doesn't lose weight he will remain single.He is standing in front of Daniel and ask him what he thinks. Daniela tells him that he looks better packed. Hugo wants to discuss the new collection. He asks Catalina how she manages to stay slim. She says that it is by attempt to keep her mouthshut, which is a big job. It is also psychological. Back at the restaurant Berta is watching the cuartel eat. (Catalina's voice is heard talking about the sensations to eat.) Mariana does not feelcomfortable eating with Berta watching. She tries to give her some of her food. Berta wants to eat Sandra's leftovers. Inisitia orders the waiterto take away the plates of those who have finished. Berta yells at them asking them if they can't tell that she is dying of hunger. Aura Mariasuggests that they leave. The cuartel returns to the office and Berta says that she can't take it any more. Patricia is standing in front of the mirror. Sophia tells Berta thatwhenever she feels weak to think of Patricia. Berta leaves to go to the bathroom. The cuartel discuss Berta's situation and Sandra says that heyneed to stand behind Berta and they should diet with her. Betty returns to the gentlemen taking the inventory. She begins to lead them to another parts of the company. Dr. Sanchez tells her that all thiscould be hers.
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10/18/00. Yesterday: The embargo's in place, inventory's on, and the folks are in town!Hugo is working his models through their paces in front of the board. Claudia winks at Armando and Marcela notices. Just why is Patriciasitting there watching? Oh, she's there to tell Marcela that Claudia was in with Armando earlier and she doubted that she was discussingpolitics! Marcela asks for her name. After the show, Margarita and Roberto compliment Hugo on the designs and the quality of the fabrics.Hugo flippantly comments that all will be well, provided there isn't another fabric switch like last time. Armando steams, Hugo, they will beexactly those fabrics! and Marcela makes peace. After they leave, Marcela pigeonholes Armando and asks why Claudia had eyes only for him.Me? he asks so innocently. She cautions him not to interfere with the models.Dr. Sanchez compliments Betty on the size of the business. She's showing him the garments for the next collection. In walks the meeting crowd.Dr. Sanchez and the appraiser Dr. Moreno think that the clothes should be part of the embargo but Betty tells them that that is not possible.She again cautions worriedly because Roberto and Daniel could overhear them. Roberto congratulates Armando on the collection andeveryone starts heading out.Sandra asks Aura Maria for the catalogs for the show. Dr. Sanchez as he's leaving is smitten with Sandra. He escorts her into the elevator andadmiringly backs in reverently looking at her. As they get off the elevator he tells the appraiser that he's having palpitations, he's going to marryher. Think carefully, she's twice your size! Better that we get back to work, or fix on Betty, because she's going to be a rich woman and withthat money she could be considered a beauty! The enter the showroom and comment that there's nothing to inventory there. They move intothe changing room and alarm is raised by the models. Hugo ejects him and Betty rushes to calm things.Roberto and Margarita, Daniel and Catalina are leaving. Dr. Sanchez and his evaluator leave at this moment too and ask Armando to sign thepapers. Roberto asks what they are and Betty swiftly answers that they've finished the inventory for insurance and he just has to sign the report.Daniel suspiciously asks for Dr. Sanchez's card. After the family, Daniel, Catalina, and Marcela leave, Armando clarifies that he's signing theembargo papers. Dr. Sanchez offers his card to Armando too and offers his consultancy services. He and Dr. Moreno leave. Armando handsthe papers to Betty and tells her to guard them well. Eco Moda is in your hands.Marcela chats with Patricia while waiting for Armando. Armando, Mario, and Betty get off the elevator and head to his office. Claudiaapproaches with a sly smile as she sees Armando. He spots her and comments in a mild panic that that's (Claudia) his second problem, ifMarcela finds out. Fred approaches Armando and reminds him that he promised him a moment to speak about the show. He starts to talkabout his ideas in a broad, vague way, but Armando tells him that he's wasting his time. Fred proceeds and suggests that Jenny should be in theshow. Freddy Stewart (his middle name), are you perhaps interested in her two talents enclosed in black (her shirt)? Forget it, it's Hugo's call. Ican't replace any of the models with that woman. Why don't you buy her a watch; or support her, suggests Mario. Remember, she's a womanwho's spoken for. Jenny chases after Fred to find out how the conversation went.Armando has a drink and tells Mario that he can't tell if everything went well or not. to him it was all horrible. He drains the glass to Mario'sastonishment. Mario reminds him that in this moment they need all of his vitality. Armando speaks of his conflict in having Roberto complimenthim on the success when in reality everything is a failure. Right now, the Mendozas, the Valencias, everyone, doesn't own Eco Moda anymore.We're going to get it back, swears Mario. ¡Ánimo! encourages Mario. Be careful with the drink, he cautions, and leaves. I can handle mydrink, replies Armando. He asks Betty for his cell and organizer, but it's in production and Betty heads off to get them. As she's leaving,Claudia enters and tells Armando that she needs to talk to him. She pushes Betty out the door. Armando tells her to leave him in peace. Youdesire me, she tells him. Betty hesitates to reenter the office and heads off to production but spots Marcela heading towards Patricia. Marcelaasks if he's in his office. Betty tries to head her off and offers to bring the papers that Marcela wants to provide him. No, they're MYresponsibility, says Marcela, and I want to speak with the president. He's in Hugo's workshop, Betty tells her and Marcela heads off. Bettyguards Armando's office. Meanwhile, Armando threatens Claudia to leave immediately or he'll call security. She counters that he should goahead and do that because she's sure that Marcela would like to know that she's in there with him. It would be better for him if he'd just giveher a kiss. There's a noise at the door. It's Betty. Let me in, please. Claudia tells her to get lost and grabs Armando and puts him in a seriousliplock.Hugo's told Marcela that Armando hasn't been there and Betty knows it's just a matter of time before she's back. The door's locked andClaudia's not backing off Armando's lips. Betty strides off determinedly to find another entry, to Patricia's confused and nosy look. InArmando's office, there's another knock at the door, startling him. The knocking gets stronger and Betty rushes in and tackles Claudia. It'sMarcela asking why the door was locked. He tells her that he needed to work in concentration. You have some model in here (meanwhileBetty is wrestling Claudia in her office)! Armando pretends to be grossly offended. Marcela looks a little, no a lot suspicious. Here are theprojections for tomorrow, she says in a huff. I need you to revise them now, while I wait, says Marcela imperiously. She's not going to give hima chance to resume with the model. He nervously tells her that everything looks fine. She quickly opens the door to Betty's office expecting tofind Claudia but is disappointed only to find Betty. I need this money tomorrow. She looks around the office, behind the door, but to herdisappointment, she doesn't find Claudia and leaves in a huff, not appeased. Armando rushes in and asks where Claudia is. Here, points Betty,to where she's hiding behind a file cabinet. Peliteñida! He grabs her by the hair and has Betty escort her out.Outside Marcela is asking Patricia where Claudia Bosch is: she wasn't in the workshop, and she wasn't in with Armando, but she's got to behere somewhere. Betty is pulling Claudia along and tries to get her the hell out of Dodge, but Claudia is stalling, she wants to apologize toArmando. No way, you're leaving now and don't let anyone see you. She pulls her the opposite direction but after Betty leaves her, Claudiasneaks back out towards Armando's office and Patricia sees her and asks her what she wants. Oh, nothing. In his office Armando is sweatingbullets. Why are woman so crazy?he asks Betty. No they're not crazy, you just make them so! She snorts. He awkwardly asks for his cell andPDA. Betty heads off and Marcela sees her. Marcela tells Patricia that she didn't see that Claudia anywhere. Patricia saw her leave Mario'soffice. Where was she? asks Marcela. In Betty's office says Patricia. No, I was in there. Are you sure? They see her walk by. Where are youoff too? asks Marcela. Just a stroll, Claudia states blithely. Marcela recounts how she found the door locked to Armando's office and theyshare suspicions. Patricia adds fuel to the fire and Marcela rushes off angrily to confront Armando.Marcela reenters Armando's office. Bravo! she applauds sarcastically. She congratulates him for his facility with words, and for his assistantwho is equally smooth. Betty enters silently behind her, hearing the torrent of insults. I can't prove anything, says Marcela, but that model isleaving the business. You're not his assistant, you're his spy (pimp?)! Do you know that your salary is paid by the Valencias? You're helpingyour boss hide his lovers. Marcela! Armando is shocked by this display and the unfairness of it. You can't insult Betty! Betty is shaken but tellsMarcela that she's never done her superiors wrong. Marcela grabs her arm and threatens her further before she leaves in a passion.Hugo tells Marcela that he can't fire Claudia because he can't replace her in time for the show. It will have to wait till after the show. Claudiasmugly walks past and gives Marcela a superior smirk as she gets on the elevator. Mario asks Marcela what happened and she respondsbitterly.Mario enters Armando's office and asks if he took care of the model but Armando tells him no. Betty saved me. He tells Mario whathappened. Don't let them insult her! cautions Mario. No, how could I, Betty is my guardian angel. Mario gets in a fea joke at Betty's expense.A phone rings and he calls out to Betty to answer it. It's Nícolas and Betty tells him that she can't talk now. Mario hears the call and commentssuspiciously that it sounds like someone other than he, Armando, and Betty know about the embargo. Aren't you concerned about thisNícolas? Have you met him personally? No, I haven't, says Armando. I don't want him to ruin our lives, says Mario. Who's this man by Betty'sside, asks Mario. I don't distrust Betty, says Armando, just the opposite! Sure, I know you do, says Mario, but who's he? That woman ishumble, she's never dreamed of having all this money, Mario presses on. Armando is concerned at the tone of this conversation. What do youwant me to do? Betray her? She's the one who's proven that she's trustworthy! That's not possible! Be a human being! Mario doesn't backdown. We're talking about a lot of money here! Be careful, I'm telling you! He could poison her, influence her. Armando doesn't want tobelieve this could be possible. I know her family, he says. Marcela enters and tells him that she's leaving for her apartment. She continues herbitter, cynical attack. Don't fool around after I'm gone. Armando knows the best defense is a good offense and he plays hurt. You've got torespect me. He doesn't like seeing this side of her. Fine, but whatever you do, she better not be in that show. I don't want to see her everagain! Marcela doesn't care, it's her ultimatum, and she leaves. Are you going to fire her? asks Mario. It's impossible, says Armando, therehearsal's are all done. I understand that to be your problem, says Mario. No, now it's yours, counters Armando.Fred is chatting with Jenny and Marcela stalks past. He tells her that he's tried to help her, but to know avail. Aura Maria overhears him tell herthat she owes him a lot, how nice that he believes in her. "El cheque" honks for her and she leaves, kissing Freddy on the cheek. Aura Mariasnaps him out of his fugue. You know that she lives with someone. So, I have to live my dream, says Fred. He sings and dances off.Betty enters and hands Armando some checks and is on her way out. Betty, sit please. Betty, you swore to me that all this would only stayamongst us three. That's not true. It seems that Nícolas knows all. That's not what we agreed upon. If I can explain, starts Betty. Why! Heshouts. If I can explain, says Betty. She tells him about Nícolas being a true, dear friend from the university. I've needed him to accomplishmany of the things that have needed to be done. He came with me to see Dr. Sanchez because we met in an irregular type of place. My fatherwould kill me if I didn't go with him. So, he knows everything? asks Mario. He's an ally, explains Betty, and he understands everything. Icouldn't have done these things without his help. I'd put my hand in the fire for him. Why didn't you tell me this before? asks Armando. I'veseen you be so upset that I didn't want to upset you further. Are you hiding anything else? No, how could it occur to you? I swear on my fatherand mother! Fine, don't keep anything else from me again. He dismisses her and turns to Mario. Well, what do you think? We have no choice,I guess, replies Mario. They're committed now.Tomorrow: Berta tells Betty that her amante Nícolas just called! Armando is surprised that Betty has a novio.
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10/19/00. kay this summary is a bit out of order but the last scene is right. I wrote it really fast so forgive my errors.Marcela arrives at Ecomoda and demands that Armando either fire the model or Betty. Armando talks with Hugo and tries to get him to fire Claudia. Hugo gets upset and says no. Hugo says that he can't fire a girl just becauseArmando got involved with her and now she's making his life difficult. Armando tells Hugo that he hasn't done anything with Claudia. Hugolaughs and says yeah right, if a woman is after you in that way it's because you gave her something to run after. Marcela asks Armando is he was able to fire Claudia and he says that Hugo said no. Marcela then asks for Betty's head. Armando says thathe can't fire Betty. Marcela is furious and says one of their heads has to roll. Betty arrives at the office 15 minutes late. Armando is angry with her for being late. Betty explains that there was a problem with the bus andreminded him that she is always very punctual, unlike others. Betty glances towards Patty's desk. Armando starts yelling like a mad man askingwhere Patty is. Marcela comes out of her office and asks him why he is yelling he tells her and Marcela looks annoyed. Later Patty shows up and Marcela sees her. Marcela warns her not to come in late. Patty tells her she over slept. Marcela can't believe thatPatty just said she over slept like it was nothing. She god mad at Patty. She told Patty that she can't have her coming in late because she istrying to get Betty fired and if she comes in late Armando will fire Patty as well. Patty gets all excited to hear that she's trying to fire Betty. ThenPatty says Armando can't fire her because she is pregnant and it is illegal to fire a pregnant woman. The cuartel hear Patty say this and askBertha when the test results will be in. Bertha tells them this afternoon. They can't wait! Marcela is in the lobby and sees Armando and starts yelling that she asked Betty to pay the bills for the show and she didn't. Armando pointsout that she did and shows her the checks. Marcela says she asked Betty to give her cash (which is a big fat lie). Marcela storms into Betty'soffice and yells that she asked for cash. Betty tells her that she didn't but that she will run down and get the cash for her. Note: Marcela is in a foul mood throughout this episode Betty comes back with the money and asks Marcela to sign for it. Marcela gets angry and asks if Betty doesn't trust her. Armando tellsMarcela it's just procedure. Marcela leaves the office without signing. Later..Betty is not at her desk when her phone starts ringing. Bertha goes into Armando's office to leave him the contracts for the models.Armando asks Bertha to answer the phone. Bertha answers and it is Nicolas. She is all excited. When Betty walks into Armando's officeBertha tells her that her true love Nicolas called. Armando looks shocked. Betty hands Armando some papers and take Bertha out of theoffice. She tells Bertha not to say that in front of Armando, she reminds Bertha that Nicolas is not her boyfriend and she says she wants to keepher intimate life private. Armando is with Mario and he tells him about Betty having a boyfriend. Mario makes some comments about who would possibly be interestedin Betty. Armando looks horrified of the idea. He can't believe Betty didn't tell him. Later Armando asks Betty and she tells him that the cuartel made up the story about Nicolas being her boyfriend. Armando is relieved. Armando goes to Mario's office and tells him the good news. Mario is surprised at how happy Armando is, and suggests that it's personal.Armando laughs and says he's happy because that is one less thing to worry about. Mario tells him that they still need to find out who thisNicolas is. The cuartel are waiting for Inesita and they go to the bathroom to wait. Inesita arrives and they start talking about going to the show. Pattycomes in and laughs at them. Sandra says that Patty can't forbid them to go because someone much higher has already said they can go. Pattyasks who and they say Betty. Then Betty says they can all go. Patty starts screaming for marcela, Marcela comes and ask what is going on.Patty asks her if all the employees with be attending the show. Marcela says no. Patty tells her that Betty is inviting the entire cuartel. Marcelalooks at Betty and tells her no, she tells her to stop acting like she is the owner of this company, and to remember who the owner is. Betty hasthis wicked smile on her face. Marcela says the only of you that will be going to the show is Inesita. And Patty says and Inesita can't come outfrom behind the scenes, Inesita replies don't worry I don't intend to. Marcela and Patty leave. In the showroom the models are getting ready. Claudia walks in and Hugo tells her that he's received some complaints about her and he wantsher to be on her best behavior. Claudia says ok. She goes to her locker and drops a small liquor bottle. She quickly picks it up and makes sureno one saw her and puts it away. Bertha goes into Armando's office and asks for the contracts and Armando starts asking her what she knows about Betty and Nicolas. Berthastarts telling him everything, and how angry Betty got when Bertha said it in front of him. Bertha starting laughing and said she never guessedArmando would like gossip so much. Armando asked for to tell him everything. To be continued. ------------
10/20/00. Bertha tells Armando all of the details of the card reading she did for Betty at El Corrientazo a few months ago ... that a very important manhad come out with whom she was in love and that man was fundamental to her life the relationship was going to be very intense and wouldchange her life as well as his. While Armando listens raptly, Bertha flashes back to that day at El Corrientazo and tells Armando that Bettydidn't want to say who this man was, so they started pressuring her and she finally told them that there was in fact a man that she liked verymuch ... that she went to school with him, that women find him very attractive, that he's very strong and people are scared of him, that he's nota millionaire but has money, that he drives a big car ... his name is Nicolás Mora. Betty went on to tell El Cuartel that nothing had happenedbetween Nicolás and herself, but Mariana assured her that something was going to happen in the future and it would change both their lives.Armando wants to find out what Mariana meant when she said that this relationship would change both the lives of Betty and Nicolás. Berthainterrupts and asks Armando whether he believes in card readings, and Armando gets up from behind his desk and tells her that that's notimportant, the important thing is that she's telling him some gossip and he wants the whole story ... how is this going to change their lives?Bertha continues with the story Mariana told Betty that this relationship might not change her life for good, but it would be very important inher life. Armando is still not clear on what Mariana meant and Bertha tells him that it seems that everything is pending ... it's still not resolvedyet. As Armando goes to question her more, Gutierrez storms into the office to get the contracts for the models. Gutierrez breaks into Englishand Armando very annoyedly warns him to stop speaking English because his English sounds more like Russian, LOL! Bertha leaves the officeto hand Freddy the contracts so he can take them over to the hotel for the models to sign. Freddy is thrilled at the prospect of this mission,hands Bertha the envelope while he sprays some Binaca in his mouth and on his hair and takes out a comb and a mirror to touch himself up. AsFreddy is about to get on the elevator, Marcela asks him where he's been and Patricia interjects that he now has a girlfriend in the showroom,Jenny. Marcela tells Freddy that he's got an errand for him to run ... she needs him to run some money over to Catalina Angel at the hotel. In the meantime, El Cuartel is getting ready to leave for lunch and Bertha is on the phone with the lab trying to get the results of Patricia's bloodtests. El Cuartel tells Bertha that they will wait for her at El Corrientazo, but before leaving Betty asks her why she's going to the Presidency,but fortunately El Cuartel diverts her and off they leave for lunch. While Patricia looks on suspiciously, Bertha confirms with the lab that she willhave the results today. Armando comes back out to Bertha's desk and asks Bertha to come back to his office to finish with the gossip. Patriciais even more suspicious upon seeing this. Bertha asks Armando if he will be going to lunch, but Armando tells her that he wants to finish this business once and for all. Bertha retakes thestory and tells Armando that Mariana gave Betty a second card reading and this time she told her that there would be turbulent times ahead inboth her personal and professional life because those two aspects of her life were greatly intertwined. There would be great problems but alsogreat satisfactions. Mariana went on to say that it was very confusing because a dream would be realized for Betty in the midst of a storm.Sofía became worried when she heard that there would be hard times ahead because she thought that would certainly mean Eco Moda ...unless, Bertha piped in, Betty had a love interest at Eco Moda. Betty finally tells them that her love life was already determined when she wasborn: "Nací solterona". :o)But Mariana insists that there will be great changes to Betty's personal life, a dream will come true. Betty explainsthat she and Nicolás are not dating but that he may appear related to her professional life because he was forming a corporation and she washelping him out. The flashback ends and Armando asks Bertha point blank about Nicolás forming a corporation, but Bertha can't clear this up.Armando changes the subject and now wants to know whether in fact Nicolás is Betty's boyfriend, but Bertha explains that it's only herplatonic love interest and no matter what Betty does, "Nicolás no le para bola", LOL! Bertha goes on to tell an Armando who is on the edge ofhis chair about the time that El Cuartel went out for a drink and Betty said she wouldn't dare to bother Nicolás because he had a lot of dates.Bertha's opinion is that Betty knows that Nicolás is an impossible dream, but since the cards said things were going to change, then maybethings will get better for Betty. After all, she's very intelligent and nice, but she's a bit ugly and she would have to win the lottery. Armando justrolls his eyes in response. :o) Armando goes on to ask Bertha to ask how reliable Mariana's predictions are, and Bertha tells him that she predicted that Armando would bethe new president of Eco Moda, that Mireya (his former secretary) would leave, but at other times she's been way off ... for example, she toldalso told them that Eco Moda would go through hard and turbulent times, but nothing like this has happened yet, "¿cierto doctor?" Armandodoes an "of course not" gesture with his face and thanks Bertha for all of the information. He reminds Bertha that this will stay between the twoof them, he wouldn't want Betty thinking that he's questioning her private life. Bertha totally agrees because if Betty knew she would kill her.As Bertha leaves, Armando says to himself, "Maldita sea, maldita sea, maldita sea". After all, Mariana's predictions have all been on the ball. At El Corrientazo, all of El Cuartel has ordered chicken for lunch they're going to diet right along with Bertha so as not to tempt her, but theyare not happy. When Bertha walks in, she follows a tray of food that is set down at another table and sits right down with the two people there... Sandra has to go and get her :o). Bertha asks why everyone is having the same thing for lunch and Inesita explains that they're doing this forsolidarity with her diet. Bertha tells them she's got really great news ... this afternoon the lab is bringing Patricia's test results including thepregnancy test. Betty interrupts everyone's joy and asks Bertha what she talked to Armando about and Bertha tells her that it was about herplatonic love, Nicolás Mora. Betty then has to explain that Nicolás called the office and Bertha took the call and told her it was Nicolás right infront of Don Armando. Mariana tells her that everything that came out in the cards is now coming true. But Betty refuses to go along with thisline of thinking (after all, she's really in love with Armando) and continues to question Bertha. Bertha just says that she told Don Armando thatshe and Nicolás are friends. The girls wants to know why it would bother Betty if Don Armando found out about Nicolás and Betty respondsthat it's her private life and Don Armando doesn't need to know about it ... what they talk among them in El Cuartel should stay between them.Bertha sticks to her story about what she told Armando and adds that he wouldn't care if Betty is in love or not, he stayed back at the office asif he didn't have a care in the world. However, Armando is really very worried and calls Mario at the hotel. Armando tells Mario that Betty is deeply in love with Nicolás Mora andhe doesn't even realize she's alive. Mario quips back, "Igual eso nadie lo hace, ¿o sí?" :o) Armando brings up the point that now that Betty'sgot 50 million dollars in her pocket maybe she will begin to appear more attractive to Nicolás, and not only that, but a dream is about to cometrue for Betty. Mario just looks quizzingly at the phone upon hearing this last statement and asks Armando how much he's had to drink.Armando tells him that he will take care of a couple of things and he will meet him at the hotel to further discuss this matter. After Mario hangsup, he asks Freddy, who's just arrived and is staring in trance at the models, if he's seen Catalina. Freddy tells him that she's cookingsomewhere :o) and Mario leaves giving Freddy a "you're hopeless look." Hugo notices Freddy staring at the models and asks him what he'sdoing there. Freddy starts to give Hugo pointers on the choreography, but Hugo cuts him to the quick and Freddy tells him he's only there tohave the models sign the contracts. Hugo sends him off to see Inesita so that they can take care of the paperwork quickly. But since Freddy is the eternal "enamorado", he walks into the models' dressing room and starts introducing himself right and left, but theydon't start paying attention until he tells them he's got the contracts then they all flock to him. When he gets to Claudia Bosch's contract, hehas to walk it over to her because she is standing by her locker. When Claudia goes to look for a pen in her locker to sign the contract, sheaccidentally drops a small bottle of liquor on the floor and Freddy remarks, "Un poco fuerte el perfumito, ¿no?" Claudia ignores him and justasks when Armando will get to the hotel. Back at El Corrientazo, El Cuartel is on their way out. Bertha thanks everyone for their solidarity and tells them she is really full from her lunch,how about them? They tell her that they are full as well, and when Bertha walks away to the bathroom, they actually say to each other that theyare really still very hungry. Aura María says the diet might come in handy and Betty replies that maybe in Aura María's case it will, but when itcomes to Betty, it doesn't matter if she's fat or skinny, if she eats chicken or pork, because no one would notice (then she laughs her nerdylaugh). As Inesita is reminding everyone that they have to help Bertha out so she won't break her diet, the cook yells from the kitchen,"¡Saquen a esta mujer de aquí! ¡Saquenla por favor, se está comiendo todo!" And, needless to say, it's Bertha who's invaded the kitchen --she didn't go to the batroom after all :o). El Cuartel goes to pull her out and she comes out with her hands full of food, nibbling on stuff. Theytake the food out of her hands but Sofía insists on checking her purse ... she finds a porkchop, potatoes, sweet plaintains, green plaintains andeven silverware! As El Cuartel hauls Bertha out of El Corrientazo, Inesita pays the bill. Mario finally finds Catalina. She tries to tell him where she's going to seat his people, but Mario takes her by the hand and leads her outsideand tells her how special it is that they're holding hands ... he's "at the door of eroticism" :o). Catalina withdraws her hand and tells him Hugosays that he's so fertile that he can get women pregnant by merely holding their hands, by osmosis. Mario rolls his eyes and his mind starts towander, so Catalina asks him what the problem is with the word pregnancy. Back at Eco Moda, a courier from the lab drops off the test results. Aura María immediately tells Freddy to take them up to Bertha. Freddygoes upstairs and hands Bertha the manila envelope with the contracts as well as the envelope from the lab. Just as Bertha is about to open theenvelope from the lab, Gutierrez comes out of his office asking for the contracts and notices the lab envelope also addressed to him so he picksit up and walks back inside his office. Bertha and Sofía don't know how they're going to get them back. In the "taller", Jenny insists one more time ... she asks Inesita if she can accompany her to the hotel to take the clothes. Inesita tells her that'sout of the question. Freddy walks in and does an Hugo impression, and Inesita warns him to be careful, that's how Hugo got his start :o).Freddy becomes manly immediately and Inesita leaves laughing. Since Jenny is wearing a snakeskin vest, Freddy tells her, "¿Cómo estás, mianaconda preferida? Como me gustaría morir asfixiado por tu cuerpo." Geez, he pours it on thick, LOL! Jenny tells Freddy that she's resignedto the fact that she will never model, but Freddy tells her not to lose hope, he knows what he's talking about. Back at the hotel dressing room, Claudia Bosch is sneaking drinks from her locker while Hugo is giving last-minute instructions to the models.As Hugo plops down on a couch in between two of the models and with another one yet behind him, Claudia walks over to one of the chairsand it's very obvious she's more than a little tipsy. Marcela arrives at the hotel. Catalina tells her that Hugo is waiting for her in the models' dressing room. As Marcela leaves to go find Hugo,Mario tells Cata that it wasn't a good idea for Marcela to go to the dressing room. When Cata asks why, Mario tells her that one of the modelswent crazy for Armando ... Cata gives him a cynical look and asks in jest if it was his lotion. And Mario answers, "Armando tiene una lociónenloquecedora." :o) Hugo notices Marcela in the dressing room and while Marcela can only look over at Claudia Bosch, Hugo starts giving her his litany ofcomplaints, from the lights to the sound system to the technicians. Marcela only listens with half an ear and asks how Claudia is behaving andHugo answers that she's doing just fine ... he tells Marcela to get rid of the bad aura. Claudia looks more and more drunk. Armando finally arrives at the hotel and Cata tells him that Marcela is in the models' dressing room ... Armando immediately asks for a drink(isn't he drinking a lot lately?). He tells Mario that he wants to talk to him outside, but Cata stops him and asks him what's the matter.Armando says that he's gambling his life away on this fashion show and collection. On their way out, Mario and Armando run into a model.The model runs back to the dressing room and tells Claudia that Armando's here. The model also notices that Claudia's been drinking and tellsher she could get in a lot of trouble if she's found out.Out on the terrace, Mario serves Armando a drink -- Armando suggests to Mario that he have a drink as well ... things are worse than theythought. He tells Mario about the card reading and what Mariana said about the man that would change Betty's life and that she would changehis life as well. Mario tells him that he can't believe that he's going so overboard over a simple reading of the cards. But Armando says therehave been too many coincidences: (1) Betty's life is changing, right? (Mario nods); (2) Betty is changing Nicolás' life because he's nowworking for Terra Moda (Armando relates to Mario that Betty recommended Nicolás way back when Olarte was fired and what worriesArmando is that Betty is making him part of the appropriation of Eco Moda by Terra Moda and that could make anyone lose his head, it's alot of money); (3) Mariana told Betty that her greatest desire would come true in the middle of turbulence and that that would change her life and her life is in fact changing: they've handed her a $50 million company of which she is the sole owner, in the middle of the chaos that theyare all living. And the worst thing is that those two (referring to Nicolás and Betty) are going to end up in a romance ... Armando is convinced.Mario reminds him that he's basing himself on a mere card reading, but Armando contends that Mariana is always on the ball when it comes toher predictions. When Mario rolls his eyes, Armando agrees to leave the card reading out of things, but the facts are that Beatriz Pinzón Solanois in love with Nicolás Mora, right? Mario nods his head again. Nicolás met Betty when she was poor, right? Another nod. The guy is not rich,but he's an economist and he's familiar with both Terra Moda and Eco Moda ... how about if he were to turn Betty against them? Marioanswers that a woman as ugly as Betty would probably sell her soul to the devil in order to catch a husband. And then Armando poses thecritical question, "What are we going to do so that Nicolás won't turn Betty against us?" And Mario's answer is: "A usted le va a tocarcompetir con Nicolás Mora. A usted le va a tocar enamorar a Betty. Armando's reaction is a stunned "¿Quéeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee?" --FREEZE! TO BE CONTINUED ...
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USA 10/23-27/00.
La Opinion. 10/29/00. [Resumen de la semana pasada.] Solo televenovelas. Laura M. López Domingo, 29 de octubre de 2000 Betty la fea Canal 52, lunes a viernes, 8:00 p.m. Cada día que pasaba, Armando sentía que ese sería su último día como presidente de Eco Moda y que su empresa pasaría a manos de Betty, presionada por Nicolás, el supuesto novio. A pesar de la compañía de Marcela por las noches, no podía conciliar el sueño de sólo pensar que fracasaría y le fallaría a todo mundo que había puesto su confianza en él. Aunque había una última alternativa... ¡seducir a Betty! Mario le planteó el asunto y aparentemente esa era la solución para que Betty no fuera a hacer efectivo el embargo que Terra Moda tenía sobre Eco Moda. Armando se sentía morir de sólo pensar que tendría que besar a Betty... ¡que tragedia! Mario trataba de infundirle valor, y le decía que después de la quinta vez ya todo sería de lo más normal. Poco antes de la exitosa presentación de la nueva colección, Bertha recibe los resultados del examen de embarazo que pidió al laboratorio de la sangre de Patricia. El cuartel de feas estaba feliz... Patricia no estaba embarazada y Mario tendría que saberlo inmediatamente. Todas las secretarias se hicieron presentes en el hotel donde se llevaba a cabo la presentación. Gracias a Armando, pudieron presenciar el desfile y mientras Sofía ponía lo suyo para que Jenny fracasara en la pasarela, Patricia se entera que Bertha tenía en sus manos la prueba de su mentira. Bertha se vio obligada a entregarlos a cambio de que no ser acusada con su jefe, pero también con la promesa de que la misma Patricia le diría la verdad a Mario. El hombre casi da brincos de gusto, pero se reprime. En cambio Daniel amenaza a Patricia y la obliga a que presente su carta de renuncia inmediatamente. Nota de La Opinión Categoria: Espectáculos
10/23/00. Armando tells Mario that his suggestion to seduce Betty is stupid. He reminds him the mess he is in with Patricia. Marcela is arguing with Armando. She wants him to fire Betty. Marcela is being a total bitch. She tells Armando that if he wants to see herhappy give her the head she asked for. Catalina interrupts them and suggests to Marcela that she go home and get dressed. One of the models notices that Claudia is drunk and warns her to sober up fast. Claudia doesn't seem to care. Hugo is getting all of the models dressed and starts looking for Claudia. He finds her practically passed out on a bench. He notices she is drunkand tells her to leave. Claudia gets angry and tells him that only Armando can fire her. Hugo gets more angry and tells her that in there he runsthings and he wants her out! He tell Inesita to call her a taxi. Claudia says she will not leave unless Armando tells her to. Hugo tells Inesita tocall Armando. Inesita calls Armando and tells him that Claudia wants to see him. Armando gets angry and tells Inesita that he can't see her now. Inesita tellsArmando that Claudia is drunk and warns him that she may cause a scene if she doesn't leave. Armando goes to see Claudia. Claudia starts hugging him and trying to kiss him. Armando pushes her away forcefully. Armando tells her to leave. Claudia tells him no.Armando starts yelling at all the models to stop moving around. He grabs Claudia and starts dragging her to the door. He tells her he wants herout now!!! Marcela walks in and demands to know what is happening. Armando tells her that Claudia is drunk and he has fired her. Marcela toldArmando that he should of fired her when she asked him to. Armando told her that he tried to fire her but Hugo wouldn't allow it. Armandotells Marcela that she should be happy now, he gave her the head she wanted. Marcela looks defeated. Marcela asks Hugo what he going to do with one model short at such short notice. Armando says that he know someone that can help.Armando calls the reception at Ecomoda and Freddy answers. Armando asks Freddy if Jenny is still there. Freddy says yes and Armandoasks to be transferred to her. Freddy starts asking why and Armando gets annoyed. Freddy transfers the call and runs over the where Jenny isand tells her the Armando is on the phone for her. Armando asks her if she knows the choreography for the show. Hugo takes away the phonefrom Armando and asks Jenny that if all her spying paid off, does she know the choreography? Jenny says yes and Hugo tells her the get in ataxi and get there now. Freddy gets on the phone and tells Armando that he will personally bring Jenny. While Freddy is talking on the phoneshe gives him a big kiss on the lips. The cuartel is anxious to get the results from Patricia's pregnancy test. They tell Bertha to go into Guterrez's office and steal them. Bertha tellsthem no but they push her into his office. Gutierrez is on the phone with his phone explaining to her that he won't be long at the show andbasically kissing some butt big time. Bertha walks in and sees the results she tries to take them but instead tells Gutierrez that he can take hiswife if he wants to. Gutierrez is startled and asks what she is doing there. She tells him that she need Patricia's test results so that she can logthem. Gutierrez tells her to wait and opens Patty's test results. He starts reading off what tests were done and he comes across pregnancy test.He asks Bertha who ordered this and Bertha says that Patricia must have. Gutierrez says that's good because it's important for the insurance toknow. He hands Bertha the results. Bertha leaves the office and the cuartel are anxiously waiting for her to open it. They barely let Bertha open it. Bertha reads out the tests untilshe finds the one they are looking for. Bertha gets a huge smile and says negative. The cuartel is thrilled. Patty hears them and asks if they are fighting over raw meat! The cuartel ignores them. They want to tell Mario but he hasalready left for the show and won't return until tomorrow. They decide they can't wait until tomorrow. They decide to go to the show (wherethey will be able to publicly humiliate her), they are sure that with Betty's pull they will be allowed in. At the hotel ...Marcela (who is now dressed for the event) and Armando are speaking with Armando's parents. Armando's father asked why the showhasn't begun. Marcela tells him that they had a problem with on of the models and that the replacement is on her way. Marcela told them thatthe model got drunk. Armando's parents were shocked at the model's lack of professionalism. Marcela says that some man probably gave herone night of passion, promised her the world and the next day wanted nothing to do with her. All the while Marcela is glancing at Armando.Patty arrives and see Daniel and Mario together. She is a bit unnerved about the fact both father's of her 'baby' are there. She grabs somewhiskey and starts drinking when Marcela sees her and quickly takes it from her hand. Marcela tells Patty that drinking is not good for thebaby, Marcela is shocked at the ignorance of Patty. Patty joins the group and when the waiter brings over a tray of seafood appetizers she fakes being nauseous and goes to the ladies room. Daniel has another nightmare. He imagine a news reporter approaching him and asking him why he hasn't accepted that he has a son. Daniel follows her to the bathroom and asks the ladies there to leave so that he can speak with Patty alone. He asks Patty if she has thoughtabout his offer to move her away. Patty says yes and that she is not going where he suggested. Patty tells Daniel that she would be willing to goto South Beach (Miami, Florida). She said she wants him to buy her an apartment and a car like the one she has now. Daniel tells her that anapartment in South Beach is too expensive. Patty tells him that she has been accustomed to a certain way of living and she wants to maintain it.Daniel agrees to give her an apartment. Then Patty asks for an allowance of $10,000 a month to care for her and 'their' baby. Daniel tells herno and offers $2000. Patty says $5000 and Daniel agrees, but she would have to leave tomorrow. Daniel leaves and Patty starts laughing and is thrilled that she is going to South Beach. Mario then sneaks into the bathroom. Patty is surprised.Mario offers to marry her. Patty is surprised but fakes like she doesn't care and tells Mario that she's not asking him to marry her. Patty leavesthe bathroom and starting thinking about what she should choose, South Beach or a husband. She starts laughing about how all her problemsare suddenly solved. The cuartel arrive at the hotel but the doorman won't let them in because they don't have an invitation. Sandra starts threatening him but with tono avail. Freddy pulls up on his motorbike with Jenny. Sofia looks upset. Jenny starts talking to her pupuchurro on the phone and tells him(loudly so that Sofia can hear) that she will be modeling in the show. Freddy and Jenny are allowed in. Jenny goes in first and when Freddystarts walking in the cuartel stop him and tell him to go get Armando. Betty tells Sofia that she doesn't want to involve Armando. Sandra tellsher that if Armando sees her he will let her in and it's best to go right to the top. Freddy agrees to get Armando for them. To be continued ...For tomorrow: Armando is shown inviting the cuartel to come to the show.Gutierrez tells Patty that a pregnancy test was also done.
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10/24/00. Freddy is speaking to the hotel employee and informing him that Jenny is a model and that they are waiting for him. The employee shows them in as the Cuartel watches.
Betty is concerned that involving Armando could cause him big problems with Marcela. Sandra tells her to stop worrying. She tells her that they will be grateful to them for unmasking Patricia. Sophia, angry that Jenny has been allowed to enter, tells Betty that they are going in. She goes on to say that Armando cannot invite that shameless girl and Freddy and leave them outside. Aura Maria chimes in and says that if that fool went in why can't them. The remainder of the Cuartel are in agreement. Betty says that hopefully all of them wanting in will not indicate that they will all be out of a job.
Freddy is leading Jenny down some stairs covering her eyes with his hand. He introduces Jenny to Catalina who whisks her away to the dressing room. A waiter approaches Freddy and Freddy, acting as though he's somebody important) informs the waiter to remember him because he will be waiting on him throughout the evening. Freddy with a drink tells two women who pass by him that they are doubly good looking and as they proceed past him he eyes them.
Hugo is in the dressing room with the models and he tells them that he is upset with them because he spends the entire day telling them that they look "divina" and they never tell him that he is handsome. The models approach him and put kisses all over his face. Jenny arrives and he sends her to get her hair and makeup done. Jenny thanks him for the opportunity and promises that she will not fail him. He brushes her off and looks at another model and does not like the way a dress fits her. He doesn't like her bra and yells for Inesita to bring him his bras. He shows the model how the dress should look by demonstrating with his hands on his breasts.
Armando is on his way to welcome to the audience. Freddy comes calling his name. Armando stops, does not look at him and puts his hand in the stop position. Freddy stops and Armando continues to walk. Freddy gets another drink, a woman passes by and he takes off after her all the while singing.
Patricia joins Marcela, Roberto and Margarita. Margarita wants to know how Patricia is doing. Roberto invites all of them to sit down. Patricia indicates that she needs to speak to Marcela. All excited Patricia tells her that her life is getting in order. She tells her that a person has offered her a really good job in Miami with an apartment in South Beach, a car, $5,000 a month plus expenses. Marcela wants to know how it is. Patricia brushes her off by telling her that it is someone that she does not know and that they will talk about it some more later. She tells her that the most important thing is that her son will be born in Miami and that she will need to leave immediately. Marcela is swinging her head side to side all excited.
As they are leaving to sit down, Guiterrez approaches them and thanks Patricia for taking the tests. He tells her that he believes that her pregnancy will be somewhat difficult for her. He continues to tell her that she is fortunate to have insurance in order to cover the costs. Patricia informs him that it will not be necessary because she will be leaving Eco Modo tomorrow. She tells him that she has been offered a job abroad. Guiterrez tells her in English "congratulations for you". He then goes on to ask if it will be alright for him to tear up her lab results that arrived that day or would she like to have them. They might serve her in some way (he makes that weird movement with his lips). He states the tests that were conducted and also mentions the pregnancy test. She gets a worried look and wants to know what pregnancy test. He tells her the one that she requested. She informs him that she did not request one. He tells her that it had arrived with the other tests. She wants to know if he has looked at them and he answers no. She wants to know where the tests are, he says in his office. She tells him that she needs him to turn them over to her. He informs her that Berta will give them to her first thing tomorrow. She asks why Berta and he says because it is her responsibility to archive them. Patricia asks if Berta has seen the results. His answer, of course.
Patricia has a very worried look. She goes to call the office and speaks to Wilson (again with a lollie pop) and asks if Berta is till there. He says that everyone has already left. She tells herself that she will need to arrive early the next day in order to take the exams away from that fat lady before she causes a disaster for her. (During this speech to herself, Armando can be heard welcoming everyone and announcing the beginning of the show.)
When Patricia sits down Marcela wants to know what Guiterrez wanted. She tells her nothing that they were discussing what needs to be done to her contract before she leaves. Armando sits down by Marcela. He puts his hand on her leg, while asking how his speech went, she looks upset with him and removes his hand from her leg. He looks at her hand and then at her. She says that it went well and that this collection is going to be very good for them. She gives him a kiss on the cheek.
The Cuartel is outside in the cold. Aura Maria states that the show has begun. Betty tells them that it is better for them to forget about it and they can turn in the exams tomorrow. She believes that it is best for them to leave. The Cuartel stops her as she begins to leave. Sophia says that they are not moving from there, especially with that wretch in there. Aura Maria says that Freddy probably forgot since he was with Jenny. Betty says that maybe Armando does not want them in there.
Back inside Freddy is behind Armando. Armando irritated with him asks him if he can't tell that he is trying to watch the show. Freddy informs him that the Cuartel is outside. Marcela tells him to tell them to leave. She tells him that earlier in the day she had forbade them to attend. Armando sitting in his chair looks scarred, but doesn't say a word. Marcela complains to him wanting to know what that woman is thinking (referring to Betty). She goes on to say that she wants to be involved in everything and does she think that she is going to do what she wants in spite of her orders.
Mario leans over and tells Armando that he should not prohibit the true owner from entering. Armando gets up and Marcela wants to know where he is going. He tells her that he will return shortly. Patricia wants to know what is happening and Marcela fills her in. Patricia wants to know if Berta is outside. Patricia tells Marcela that they are not to let them in that it is as though they are laughing at her. Patricia wants to know why Armando got up and Marcela informs her to throw them out. Patricia's answer is "Aye Marce". Marcela says that he would not go against her orders.
Freddy is informing the Cuartel that Marcela had told them that they were not to com. Betty says that it is best to leave. While Freddy is trying to make them leave Armando appears and invites them in. On her way in, Betty apologizes and tells him that she does not want him to have problems with Marcela. He tells her to hurry and go in. When Armando turns he comes face to face with Freddy who gives him a disappointing look. Armando puts his finger to his lips indicating for him not to say a word. He walks away. Freddy passes on the same signal to the hotel employee.
Berta asks Armando for Mario. He indicates where he is sited but tells her that he can not be disturbed.
Once he has rejoined Marcela she wants to know if he has sent them off to which he answers no. She wants to know if her is making fun of her. He says no and that they will discuss it later. She begins to get angry and she says no. She wants to know how he could go against her wishes. He wants to know what she has against them watching the show. He wants to know what she has against them. He tells her that they are employees of Eco Moda. She reminds him that a lot of money was invested in this show and not for a circus to appear. She says that she has nothing against the employees. She state that the only reasons he let them in was for Betty. Their voices get louder. His parents tell them to quite down. Armando tells Mario that this is going to cost him blood. Mario tells him that it is blood or the company.
Patricia can't believe that the Cuartel was allowed in. She turns to look at them and they all wave at her. Marcela stops her from getting up in order to throw them out.
Jenny comes down the run way. Freddy is throwing kisses at her. Sophia's mouth drops open. She says that this can't be. She pulls up her sleeves as though she is ready to fight. The Cuartel tell her that she is not going to do anything, especially after Armando let them in. Since Sophia cannot stand to watch Jenny, she and Betty go to the bathroom.
Aura Maria is upset with Freddy because he was able to get Jenny in the show. The remaining members of the Cuartel vow that he will pay.
When Betty and Sophia go to the bathroom Betty tells Sophia to go ahead because she needs to make a telephone call. After Betty leaves Sophia does not go into the bathroom.
At Betty's house, Nicolas and her parents are preparing to have dinner. Her father wants to know if they plan on waiting for Betty. Her mother says that she believes that she was going to be late. During this conversation Betty calls and informs her father that she will be late. He wants to know where she is and then tells her that he will pick her up in an hour. She says no, however, he insists. She asks to speak to Nicolas. Nicolas wants her to call him on the cell phone. Her father gets upset with him and makes him take the telephone. Betty asks Nicolas to please accompany her father to the hotel. Nicolas agrees.
Betty goes looking for Sophia.
Sophia has approached Jenny before she goes out on the runway and tells her that this isn't a show for "Zorras". Jenny goes out. Sophia holds up a sign that says "Zorra" which distracts Jenny. Jenny makes a wrong turn and begins to drop the shawl that is part of her outfit. Everyone is looking at her in amazement and embarrassment. The Cuartel is laughing. Sophia, hiding, holds up another sign "bandida". Jenny's concentration is totally gone. Another sign "Quita Maridos" appears. The Cuartel is laughing harder. Freddy is beside himself. Hugo runs to the beginning of the runway and pulls her off. She tries to object.
Betty's parents and Nicolas are finishing their meal. Betty's father remembers that he needs to pick her up. Nicolas says that he will accompany him, her father objects. Betty's mother insists that Nicolas accompany him. Nicolas tells him that Betty asked him to go with him. Nicolas makes a joke to Betty's mother. Her father says that if he is going to go with him then he needs to keep his mouth shut, because flies do not enter a mouth that is kept shut.
Mario is telling Armando that the show is going well. The audience's reaction is going well. Mario wants to know what is worrying him. He says Betty. He tells him that Marcela is going to get obsessed with her and does he realize what is waiting for him after the show. Mario tells him that Marcela is important to him but that Betty is important to the company and that if he does not treat her right there is someone who can give her what she wants.
The show is over and Armando's parents congratulate him.
Jenny is in the dressing room crying and wailing that Sophia distracted her. Inesita tells her to stop inventing stuff that Sophia was not there. Jenny tells her that Sophia was there with the rest of the feas. Hugo tells her to stop crying and tells her to take off her outfit. He tells her that he told her one that she is only for in-house modeling and that she will stay as the in-house model. All this time Jenny won't stop her crying and wailing.
Hugo goes out and takes his bows. Guiterrez is standing behind Armando making his weird lip and nose movements.
After Hugo's speech Freddy goes up on the stage and helps one of the models down. Marcela, Patricia, Armando and Mario are congratulating Hug. Hug kisses Marcela, Patricia and then tries to kiss Mario, who stops him.
Berta tells Sandra to go and get Mario. The Cuartel makes signs to Mario that they want to speak to him. Patricia notices the signals. She approaches Berta and tells her that she needs to speak to her. Berta says no that she doesn't take orders from her. Patricia begins calling for Marcela. Berta asks what she wants. Patricia asks for tests. Berta says that they are at the office. Patricia tells her that those tests contained a pregnancy test that she did not request. Berta says that she doesn't see a problem. Patricia tells her that the problem is that someone else requested the test for her. She threatens her by telling her that if the test results are leaked she will sue her.
Mario approaches the Cuartel and asks if they need to speak to him. They ask him to wait a moment. Sandra tells Berta to tell Mario. Patricia tells her to go ahead that Guiterrez would like to know what is going on. Mario approaches them and wants to know what is going on. He is taken away by Catalina. Sandra tries to convince Berta to turn over the exams. Patricia threatens to call everyone to tell them how the tests were solicited. Patricia tells Berta to turn over the tests and that she will claims that she asked for them. Marcela approaches the groups and asks the Cuartel to follow her.
Armando watches them go off and cannot concentrate on his conversation with the clients.
Marcela is yelling at the Cuartel. She says that the only reason that they came was because of Betty. She tells them that she is the one that gives the orders. She tells Betty that she may have an important job being Armando's assistant but that she is nothing but a simple employee. She tells them that if the continue she will show them who is Marcela Valencia. They try to tell her that they brought some important news. Armando appears and asks what is happening. Marcela says that they were just leaving. He says no. Marcela begins to object, but Patricia arrives at that moment and tells her that she needs to speak to her, Marcela objects, Patricia tells her that she is no longer pregnant. Armando tells the Cuartel that they are welcome at the reception. Betty tells him that they were about to leave and he says no. He speaks to Betty alone and tells her that she has the right to be there above everyone else. He reminds her that she is the one that saved the company.
The Cuartel is telling Betty how nice Armando treats her. Betty says that she is afraid that she has launched a war with Marcela. That she has made a big enemy.
Patricia and Marcela are in the bathroom. Marcela says that she doesn't understand. Patricia says that she had requested the pregnancy test. Marcela wants to know what happened with the other test, because they are hardly ever wrong. Patricia wants to know if she thinks that she is lying. Marcela asks what about her being late she continues to tell her that she needs to tell Mario. Patricia asks her to keep quite until she can tell him. Marcela agrees and tells her that when she arrives in the states she should have a good checkup. She wants to know what happened to all her excitement about moving to the states. She asks what happened to her great job offer. Patricia tells her that she needs to confirm it. Marcela tells her to confirm it.
Patricia shows the exam to Mario. He wants to know what happened. She said that the first test that she had done herself were wrong and that she also had the symptoms. She said that she also wanted to find out how much he would worry about her and their son. She tells him that she loves him. She goes on to tell him that he passed a big test showing how much they love each other. He tells her to remember that she is going to Miami. She ways that she doesn't want to leave. He tells her that this is a great opportunity and that she shouldn't let it slip away. He tells Armando the exciting news. Armando looks suspicious.
Patricia shows Daniel the test. She tells him that there was an error in the first exam. He wants to know why she had the test all the time and just remembered to show it to him. She told him that Eco Moda had just delivered them to her. He puts the test in his coat pocket. She wants to know if he really thinks that she would play around with him about being pregnant and take his money. He tells her that he would have found out if she had delivered a baby and if she had not that he would not receive one penny of his money. She says that she does not want to leave and he tells her that she is leaving. He tells her that tomorrow she will resign from Eco Moda and that he will send her chauffeur to take her to a travel agent and then to the airport with orders not to return until he has seen her leave on a plane.
Nicolas and her father arrive at the hotel. ------------------- 10/25/00. Yesterday: Patricia's pregnancy bubble has burst!
* * * * *
Papá and Nícolas have come to pick up Betty at the hotel. Dad's off parking and Nícolas heads in. Nícolas pulls out his cell and pretends to be on an important call in order to impress some models waiting outside. He circles around them spouting nonsense about money and trying to sound like a big deal. They walk away disgusted. He calls one back and shows them his card, but she takes one look and heads away. He is stopped by the doorman and Nícolas tries to tell him that he's there to see the number 2 person at Eco Moda, Beatriz Pinzón. He then tries to explain that he's a very important person, showing him the card! Then he plays the 'I'm Betty's novio' card, all to no avail.
Gutierrez inside flirts with a woman. The cuartel approaches the buffet and they start to dive in. Marcela walks up and asks what they're doing there. They look scared. We're waiting for Inéz. Well wait for her outside! They scurry off. Patricia walks up looking mopey. Marcela asks what's wrong and Patricia tells her that her things aren't going well.
Outside, Betty tells the cuartel that she won't catch the taxi with them, that someone's coming for her. Is it Nícolas? they tease her. Well, yes, it is. They spot Freddy talking to Jenny, trying to cheer her up and they eavesdrop. Jenny tells him that it's Sofia's fault and the cuartel's shocked to hear him refer to Sofia as a 'bruja'. He assures her that it won't be her last night of modeling. He pulls out the Binaca, squirts, and moves in for a kiss. Aura María is about to run forward and pull out somebody's hair, but is held back. Inéz enters and scolds Jenny. All of the models have left! Jenny makes plans to have Freddy take her out. Aura María is not happy but Sofia thinks this is great: another chance to show 'el cheque' that Jenny is a tramp. Jenny is on her cell talking to her 'popi' very loudly and she tells him that she's going out to celebrate her success as a model. She allays his suspicions. She hugs Freddy and they head on out, with the cuartel hiding as they pass by. Sofia wants to call Efraín and tell him everything but cooler heads prevail. Betty leaves to say goodbye to Armando.
Outside, Nícolas is still waiting. Freddy hands him a tip! Freddy and Jenny put on the yellow plastic visibility vests. Jenny tells him that she'd like to spend a night with him. Aura María comes up and asks for a moment of his time. He's busy right now, he tells her, but she pleads for some time. She asks for a ride home, but he's promised Jenny. She's depressed, Freddy tells her. Well so am I! Fine! Don't flirt with me again if you can't help me tonite, says Aura María bitterly as Jenny calls out in that special whiny voice, Freddy Freddy's heart relents and he makes his excuses to Jenny. Jenny tells him that he's been in love. Freddy explains Aura María is his friend, besides that he doesn't want to cause her problems with 'el cheque'. Aura María you've spoiled this plan with Efraín, complains Sofia. What matters to you what happens between you and Freddy? Well, I'm not going to make a gift of him to her! retorts Aura María. Jenny gets on the cell phone and calls her popi to say that she's going home. Aura María is all smiles and she collects the protective vest. Freddy waves to Jenny sadly. The cuartel's gone, Jenny is left standing alone and Nícolas pulls the cell phone and starts in again with the big deal nonsense; chauffeur, champagne on ice... Hérmes yells for Nícolas and wants to know what the deal is. Nícolas jumps. He then explains to Jenny that the chauffeur lost the limo and she looks at him disgustedly. Nícolas tries the doorman again and the doorman goes to find Betty, but leaves someone in place to guard the door.
Roberto and Margarita take their leave of Armando and Marcela. They're heading off tomorrow for London. Roberto tells Armando how satisfied he is with the collection. He's sure that at the next meeting they'll have great news to report. Margarita adds her praise. She notes sadly that Armando and Marcela seem to fighting too much tonight. Hug at least! Armando tells her that he'd like nothing more than to make peace with Marcela. Are you going to be fighting in September when you get married? You're supposed to be happy, says Margarita. Daniel cynically comments that no one gets married to be happy. Marcela grudgingly hugs Armando and they mutually agree soto voce that they'll 'make peace' later. His parents leave. As she's leaving Patricia passes by Daniel and he doesn't pass up the opportunity to insult her, and then he leaves. Betty rushes up and with her usual guffaws, thanks him for the lovely evening. You enjoyed yourself? asks Armando. She assures him that they did. The doorman finds Betty and tells her that someone is waiting outside for her who claims to be the general manager of Terra Moda and her novio. Betty thinks this is a funny joke. That Nícolas, what a comedian! Then she notes Armando's alarm and gets a little nervous. Armando takes the card and comments on the title. I didn't know that you had business cards. There aren't others, says Betty worriedly. She leaves and Armando explodes to MarioGeneral Manager! He and Mario are concerned.
Outside Betty yells at Nícolas for his rash behavior and how she thinks that it's possible that Armando can think that they're playing him for a fool. How can you have said that you were my novio? Nícolas thinks she's overreacting. As for novio... don't I come when you call? Hérmes honks and Betty and Nícolas gets in. Immediately he starts harping on the hour, etcetera, and Betty makes excuses. Off they go.
Armando is shaken by the business card. Mar is sure that they're novios: look how he came to pick her up! Anyone that ugly, there could be no other reason. Tomorrow we'll reverse everything, says Mar, lift the embargo. We can't do that because if we do all of our creditors will come and everything will collapse. We have to leave her in charge. Well, says Mario, Betty has been trustworthy. And, although Betty denies he's her novio, the 'tipo's' behaved well to her and to the business, he continues, but Mario's still worried. They decide that everything will continue as it is: it looks like the novio is going to stay in place too. The best option still, says Mario, is to make love to her. That stupid plan again? asks Armando. Mario presses on with his theory but Armando refuses. There's no way I'm capable of making love to a woman so ugly. Besides, why me and not you? Mario has all the answers. There are only three people involved in this and you're the boss and you hired her. Besides, if it weren't for Nícolas, I'd say that she was in love with you. The way she looks at you... you're the only one who stands a chance against Nícolas Mora. Don't wait.
Walking in the front door, papá continues his rant. Hérmes believes that the president should have taken her home. He's taking liberties that don't belong to him. What do you mean? It was a job function! she exclaims. And how does that impact you? he asks testily. What would you do there? I'm there to answer questions, assist Don Armando: I can't leave until he gives permission. Papá's very down on the whole world of models and fashion shows: they're a flighty crowd, low morals. I know! says Betty exasperated. It's not my world, it's my job! Her mother comes up and supports Betty but Hérmes continues to grumble. I saw this girl with a very short skirt on a bike (mutter, mutter, mutter about indecency, etc.)
Aura María and Freddy are in a disco. He offers her a drink and checks his wallet to see if he can afford it. So... why are you so depressed. Aura María makes some stories up about family and then gets to the real issue. And you go chasing off after that imposer. Do you like her or no? Freddy is on the spot. Well, Jenny has some savage charm (he moves closer to elaborate), legs like a jungle creature I only want to know if you like her, demands Aura María. So, then are you in love? Freddy blusters but Aura María presses on. He tells her that with any sign, he could fall. Aura María is disappointed that he's chasing after the beauties now. With Jenny I could fall into an abyss: with you I can see heaven How divine! she shrieks. Repeat that will you? she says ecstatically. He does and Aura María kisses him enthusiastically and suggests they leave and go somewhere else. They rush off and she plants another passionate kiss on him.
Armando and Marcela come home still fighting: now about him giving permission to the cuartel to enter. We owe a lot of success to Betty. So we're her peones now? remarks Marcela angrily. No, no, says Armando. Look, I made mistakes with the New York deal. Betty is the one who worked out the loans and made all of the financial deals to make this collection possible! She's not one of the feas, she's an important component of the company. As much as you and Mario. Hah! exclaims Marcela. Betty is my right hand. That she's a woman... If she were a man you wouldn't have any problem with her. You're the woman in my life. Only one of your women! retorts Marcela bitterly. How can you feel like you're competing with anyone, especially Betty? Marcela rags on No more arguing! I think what you're saying is ridiculous, says Armando. If you want to continue this attack on Betty, that's your problem. If you want to continue this fight in the office, so be it. I'm going to my apartment. Don't go... she pleads. She comes over all soft and affectionate. She wants to celebrate the success of the collection. She wins him over (some struggle!) with kisses and incipient sex.
Writing in her diary, Betty recounts the evening's event. She's worried that Armando believes that she could be betraying him with Nícolas, that Nícolas could abuse her trust and his, and worse, that he believes that they're novios. She wishes that she could tell him that he's the man of her dreams (Cut to Armando in bed, Marcela in her deep post-sex sleep, him wide awake. He's replaying in his mind Mario's comments and plan to romance Betty. He rolls over and recalls further: You're the boss, if it weren't for Nícolas Mora, I'd swear Betty was in love with YOU!) He pulls the sheet over his head). Back to Betty. She's fallen asleep with her diary.
Armando has a dream and he is romping thru an orchard with Betty frolicking to the strains ("Where do I begin, to tell the story of how great a love can be") She's in flowing yellow chiffon, with flowers in her hair. They play hide and seek among the trees and he searches anxiously for her. She comes back and holds leaves across her face. She pulls them away and he goes to kiss her. She dashes away, he searches for her again. She peeks out from behind a tree and they share manic, foolish grins. She's holding a duckling. He's about to kiss her No! No! Sweat breaks out on his face. Marcela wakes him up out of the dream. What was it? Something horrible!
Betty's mother wakes her up too, she's having a lovely Don Armando dream. Wake up or you're going to be fired. She tells her mother that she had the most lovely dream the same as Armando's! LOL
Over breakfast, Marcela asks for details of the nightmare. She mentions that he'd never had dreams like this before. He chokes over his juice leaving Marcela looking stunned.
At reception, Mariana answers the phone for Aura María. She's not there and it appears to be Aura María's mother. ¡Que pena! What stress for her poor mother, Mariana and Sandra comment. Betty rushes in and Sandra comments slyly on her lateness. Freddy hasn't arrived yet either. But we know his name and address, Sandra notes playfully. Armando and Marcela enters and he looks awkwardly at Betty. She looks hesitantly back. Has Aura María arrived? asked Marcela. She's arriving. Well is she there or not? Mariana fudges that she's on her way. They want to know when she arrives. Armando speaks up, I need Freddy immediately. Betty awkwardly gets on the elevator after Armando and Marcela. Surprise! Patricia isn't there yet either. Marcela tells him to not be too disappointed because she's leaving the company. He's ecstatic don't toy with me! She's got an offer to go to Miami, Marcela tells him. He goes on and on about how happy he is and Marcela heads off to her office. Armando takes a pass at Patricia's desk as if he's a batter hitting the baseball out of the park. Yeesss!!!
Aura María and Freddy enter hand in hand and Patricia greets them sarcastically, noting their late arrival. It's not your problem, says Aura María. Of course it is, because it's an EM problem, says Patricia snottily. You're just bitter because you couldn't trap Dr. Mario Calderón, counters Aura María. As Patricia asks Freddy if he's prepared to handle Aura María being pregnant, Jenny enters and overhears this conversation. Look at them, mocks Patricia, with the same wet heads, same clothes, same cheap perfume! We just had a shampoo in a beauty salon, says Freddy. Hah! Are you going to be responsible for her child? I'm not going to get pregnant, strikes back Aura María, I take care not to, unlike some people! Mariana cautions her not to laugh too hard because her mother is furious. Aura María rushes to call her afraid that she'll be kicked out of the house. Freddy offers her shelter if it comes to that, but Aura María brushes him off in her panic to make things right
with her mother.
At Patricia's desk, the phone rings. Daniel asks if Patricia asked if she's handed in her resignation letter. I can't resign, I need this job!
* * * * *
Tomorrow: Armando reconsiders the plan and discusses it with Mar. A kiss wouldn't be so (he practically shivers as he sees Betty enter) the conquest begins! Betty wonders why Armando looks at her so strangely!
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10/26/00. I'm sorry this summary is pretty short and brief. I have a lot of family arriving in town today and I am going crazy!!!! So I wrote this really quick. Armando agonized over having to seduce Betty. He suggest that Mario be the one to do it. Mario insists that he wouldn't be able to do it. Mario conducts a test. He calls Betty from her office. She comes out from her office and stand by her office door. Mario asks her for some report and Betty says okay and within a few seconds returns with the report and lays it on the desk. Then Mario tells Armando to call Betty and ask her to do something. Armando calls her and Betty comes out of her office and this time walks right up to Armando and asks how she can help him. Armando asks her for some report and Betty rushes to get it in her office. Betty emerges from her office and hands Armando the report. She then asks if she can help Armando with anything else, Armando says no and she asks again if he is sure. Armando says no and Betty leaves. Mario smiles and says see! I wouldn't have a chance with her, plus she knows how much of a player I am and wouldn't take me seriously. Armando looks like he wants to die. Armando couldn't bring himself to think about the idea of kissing Betty. Mario kept on trying to convince him, Mario even attempted doing some role playing, where Mario pretended to be Betty and Armando tried to flirt with her. Mario kept making really funny facial expressions imitating Betty. Armando told Betty (Mario) that he has these really strong feelings for her but he is engaged to Marcela and he can't do anything. Mario said that wouldn't work because while Armando is professing his 'love' for Betty from afar, Nicolas will really be seducing her. Mario tells Armando he will have to really seduce her. Then Armando says what if they have to become intimate? Armando makes a grossed out face. There were a lot more scenes like this one where Armando in contemplating seduces Betty. The only thing he was able to do was stare at her a bit, which was more than enough for Betty because she started to think that maybe Armando was starting to notice her but then she laughed and said nah. Daniel called Patricia and asked if she had written her letter of resignation. Patty told Daniel that she was done and that she was going to give copies to Gutierrez, Marcela, Armando, and the Mendozas. Daniel asked why she was sending this letter to all of them and Patty replied that they all have to know her reasons for leaving. Daniel asks Patty to read him the letter and she does. In her letter she tells all, how she broke Betty's computer and Daniel has pressured her and made her become a spy along with the old VP (forgot his name). She goes on to say that Daniel sexually harassed her and forced her to have sex with him.Daniel was freaking out..he told her that she could stay. Patty asked him to beg her and Daniel said no. Patty decided to stay and said she would keep the letter in case he would try to fire her again. Patty is opening up her bills later and screaming and crying. Her cell phone and apartment bill came. Marcela started laughing at Patty's dramatic cries. Patty tells her how poor she is hinting that Marcela give money, Marcela quickly leave for lunch with Armando and Mario. The cuartel are getting ready to go to lunch and Bertha tells them that she is on a new diet in which she does not eat lunch. The cuartel is shocked by her drastic diet and urge her to eat with them, especially since they will all be eating healthy so that she won't be alone. Bertha says no. They eventually convince Bertha but she tells the cuartel to go ahead of her because she needs to make a phone call. When the cuartel leaves Bertha opens her desk drawer which looks more like a candy store and picks up about six different snacks. She starts eating quickly and laughing that she isn't going to go hungry! Nicolas calls Betty and tells her that the lawyer wants to know where they stand. Betty informs Armando and Armando tells her to tell the lawyer to leave things as they are. Armando realizes that he must seduce Betty before Nicolas does.
*****SUMMARY, FRIDAY, 10/27/00***** Still at the bar, Mario tells Armando that after all, he is a lucky man, there are worse things than kissing Betty. But Armando is not swayed by his argument and assures him that he will go no further than kissing Betty, he will definitely not touch her. Mario reminds him that they are trying to save the company, but Armando tells him that if it has to comes to that (having a relationship with Betty), he would rather lose the company. El Corrientazo has a new owner, Don Frijolín, and he waits on El Cuartel. They place their lunch orders and, when he gets to Bertha, she informs him that she only came along for the card reading, she's given up lunch for life (she must be really full from the snacks, LOL!). Seated by himself at another table is Freddy and he asks Don Frijolín to put Aura María's lunch on his bill and then leans over to whisper something else to him. Back at El Cuartel's table, all the girls tell Aura María that it's nice to have a boyfriend (referring to Freddy), but Aura María tells them that he is not her boyfriend, he's just her friend El Cuartel is not convinced after what happened last night. Don Frijolín comes over and brings Aura María a juice, courtesy of Freddy. :o) Aura María tells El Cuartel that she likes Freddy, but he's just like gum and he's sticking to her. Inesita gives her some advice: if you don't want him sticking to you, then don't lead him on. Bertha tells her that they will not permit her to keep playing with Freddy's feelings. Aura María's answer is that Freddy is a nice guy, but he is not a promising future for herself and her son. Mariana finally gets down to business, the reading of the cards she tells Betty to concentrate on the man she loves when cutting the deck. Sandra suggests that she say to herself, "Nicolás, Nicolás, Nicolás ", but of course, Betty says to herself, "Don Armando, Don Armando, Don Armando " :o) Mariana directs her to ask in silence the questions which she wants the cards to answer and Betty asks herself, "Why is he looking at me that way? What's happening? Is he finally noticing me?" Then Betty cuts the deck in thirds and the card reading commences. Mariana tells her that the man she loves appears and that he does, in fact, want to have a relationship with her, there's money and riches and she's going to receive some assets (this would be Eco Moda, obviously). Mariana's assessment of the situation is that a dream that Betty has been wanting to come true is about to come true and off we go to a Love Story sequence again :o), Betty runs into Armando's arms in his office and he gives her a big hug, then we see, Armando running goofily through the woods again while Betty's holding the duck, and finally he gives her a rose during a candlelight dinner saying, "Una bella flor para una bella mujer." El Cuartel notices Betty's far-away look and tells her to wake up. Aura María pipes in that she must be really happy that she will finally lose her virginity and Inesita tells them all to calm down, that it's just a card reading. Mario and Armando arrive at Eco Moda and, as they exit the elevator, Armando says he's very worried about making payroll this month and he doesn't know who they can ask a loan from. Mario turns to look for Sandra and Patricia tells them that they're not back from lunch "and look at the time!" Armando ironically asks her how she accomplished the miracle of returning back from lunch on time and Patricia tells him that she didn't have enough money to go out to lunch because with what she makes at Eco Moda she can barely pay the bills. Armando asks her why she didn't go off to Miami then, there she would have certainly received better money. Patricia avoids an answer and tells him that she's going to go have a drink of water to which Armando replies that she better have her own cup because they are trying to save money, LOL! When Patricia leaves, Armando tells Mario that this payroll thing is really bothering him and off they go down the hallway. Just then, Hugo comes out of his "taller" wearing a shiny silver shirt and yelling for Inesita. Armando plugs his ears with his fingers and asks him to stop yelling for Inesita, he should be working instead in his "taller". When Armando asks him to go and design, Hugo says one of his favorite phrases, "No oigo, no oigo, tengo orejas de pescado". :o) Thankfully, Inesita arrives with Bertha and Hugo takes her off to the side and tells her that the president has been harassing him and sneaks in a Lewinsky joke before parting. Mario and Hugo roll their eyes when Betty and Sofía come walking down the hallway and Armando starts to also harass Betty for her tardiness. Betty assures him that it will not happen again and off she goes in search of Sandra and some reports that Mario needs. Armando is left in the hallway with Sofía and Bertha and he also tells them that he does not want them to be tardy again ever. As Sofía runs away, Bertha stops Armando and tells him that the reason they were late is because Mariana was giving Betty a card reading. Now intrigued, Armando wants to know what the cards said and Bertha tells him that they said that Betty and Nicolás would be together in the middle of great riches (you guys can imagine Armando's face upon hearing this) and that Betty is now very happy. Armando is really worried and walks into his office cursing. He tells Mario about what Bertha said the cards told Betty and Mario tells him they can wait no longer, it's time to make a move, they can't afford the luxury of not believing in what the cards say. Since they will be working late tonight with Betty, Mario suggests that at around 7 or 7:30 he will say that they're tired and that they go to a restaurant. But Armando responds that he can't risk going to a restaurant because somebody may see him that it would really be embarrassing if it came back to Marcela. Mario comes back with "It's worse than that. You will lose your prestige for life, seducing such an ugly woman!" Aaaay, Mariooooooo! Then comes up with a final suggestion, that they go to a restaurant that's out of the way he will take care of all the arrangements. In comes Betty with the reports and Mario sends her for her things so that they can begin to work. As Betty leaves once again, Armando leans his head resigned on Mario's shoulder and says in a consoling tone of voice, "Algo bueno debe de tener." :o) Nightime has descended upon Bogotá Marcela comes in to Eco Moda looking for Armando and Patricia informs her that he's closed up in the board room with Mario and "Miss Universo". When Marcela gives her a questioning look, Patricia explains that it's Betty. Marcela walks into the boardroom and Armando tells her that they might not make payroll tomorrow and they're trying to get an advance so that they can make payroll. Marcela makes a face and tells him she's very tired and she's going home, is he coming with her? Armando tells her he can't, he has to work all night, he'll call her. When Marcela leaves, Armando looks over at Betty with that weird look, and Betty just smiles nervously. Betty asks how long they will work tonight because she's got to meet with the lawyer and with Nicolás. Armando tells her that she will have to cancel that date because unless they've got the numbers worked out, they can't leave. Betty leaves to make the phone call and Armando makes a really suffering face and tells Mario that he will not be able to do it. Mario cheers him on and suggests that he take another drink. Betty calls home to let them know that she will be working late and for her father not to worry. She then asks to talk to Nicolás and tells him that she won't be able to make their date. Nicolás doesn't think it's a good idea to stand up the lawyer and suggests that he go alone Betty agrees to this. Nicolás wants to know if he can take money from petty cash because the lawyer is "poorer than St. Francis and doesn't have enough money to even support a parrot". :o) Betty authorizes his withdrawal of money from petty cash and Nicolás reminds her she can call him on his cell phone if any more problems arise. Betty just responds that they will talk tomorrow. Don Hermes comes in and asks where Betty is and Doña Julia informs him that she will be working late again tonight and somebody from the company will surely bring her home. Don Hermes is not happy and says that he will keep an eye out on the situation because that "slave driver" wants to make Betty work 25 hours a day. Nicolás interrupts and asks for his dinner right away because he's got a lot of errands to run Doña Julia just gives him a look and Don Hermes makes a smart remark. Back at Eco Moda, Betty informs Armando that Nicolás will meet with the lawyer on his own. Armando doesn't like this at all, he had asked her to cancel the meeting. Betty explains that it's not a good idea to stand up the lawyer, after all he's got power of attorney he can put into effect at any time. Mario asks him to calm down and asks Betty to get him another whisky Armando asks for the whole bottle. When Betty leaves, Armando tells Mario that he doesn't like this at all, Betty is not following orders and Nicolás is doing whatever he wants. Mario reminds Armando that he's the one that's got to have total control over Betty and Armando plops back in his chair and just says, "¡Ay, qué horror Dios mío!" :o) Marcela gets ready to leave Eco Moda and Patricia walks up to her and asks her for a loan. Marcela's reaction is "you want another one?", and Patricia promises to pay her back tomorrow, when she gets her paycheck (I don't think she's ever paid her for the first loan). Marcela reluctantly takes money out of her purse and loans her 100,000 pesos in cash. When Patricia goes to give her a hug, Marcela dismisses her with the excuse that her hair will get messed up, LOL! In the lobby, Aura María receives a call from another one of her "papacitos" and gets all excited asking him when they're going to go out again. Out of the elevator comes Marcela and tells Aura María that she hopes that tomorrow she will be on time. Aura María assures her that she will and wishes her a good night, but then shrugs her shoulders and goes back to the telephone. As she makes arrangements for a date, Freddy walks in with a second vest and a helmet so she can take him home. Aura María tells him she can't leave yet because she's got to take care of some correspondence for Olarte. She asks Freddy to take it up to Sofía so that she can call Olarte to come pick it up. When Freddy goes on his happy way to do as he's bid, Aura María sneaks out. :o( El Cuartel comments the fact that Bertha has not eaten all day but Bertha is in the bathroom with a big supply of snacks gorging out. Freddy comes up and hands Sofía the correspondence for Olarte. Bertha comes out and Freddy escorts them all in the elevator telling them that his "amada" is waiting for him anxisouly. When the elevator reaches the lobby and they all exit, Freddy notices that Aura María is gone and starts calling for her. El Cuartel tells him that she's left already, but Freddy tells them that it can't be because he was going to take her home and she would have let him know. As El Cuartel leaves, Freddy is disheartened and plops down in Aura María's chair she's done it to him again. :o( Back in the boardroom, Betty explains that her proposal is to cut costs by eliminating point of sales and instituting franchises instead. Armando tells her that presents one big problem: Marcela would be out of a job. But Betty explains that Marcela could be in charge of the franchises. Mario suggests that they're all tired and they can't consider any proposals reasonably right now and that they should all go out to dinner. This seems really strange to Betty and she proposes that she order dinner for the three of them, but Mario persists with his idea of going out. As Betty leaves to get her things, Armando makes another one of his faces (like he's going to face hanging) and asks Mario where he's going to take her with that "muppet" (¡ay, pobre Betty!). Mario tells him not to worry about logistics, just take another "embellecedor" (a/k/a whisky). Betty comes back out and asks if they will be long and Armando begins to say no, but Mario nods his head right in front of him and he changes his answer to tell her that he doesn't know how long this will take. Betty says she's got to let her father know and Mario suggests that they just call him from the restaurant if they start to run really late. Betty accedes and leaves again Armando tells Mario that the "embellecedores" are not working, Betty is starting to look more and more horrible by the minute, it's like being at the dentist waiting for the anesthesia to kick in. Mario gives him his coat and off they go. Nicolás calls the lawyer from Betty's house and tells him that he will be meeting him alone because Betty can't make it. As he hangs up the phone, he tells Don Hermes that he and Doña Julia (who are sitting on the couch) look just like a portrait a portrait circa 1800, LOL! As Nicolás is about to walk away, Don Hermes asks who Dr. Sánchez is and Nicolás tells him he's a lawyer who helps out with the contracts, but if he's got any more questions, he can call him on his cell phone later :o). Mario, Armando and Betty walk into what looks like a not too reputable bar. They grab a booth and Mario takes one side, ensuring that Armando and Betty sit on the other side, side by side (Armando looks really uncomfortable). When the waiter comes up to take their order, Armando orders a double-whisky, Mario will have the same, and Betty asks for a "jugo de mora". Mario tries to put everyone at ease so he asks Betty to explain some of the proposals she was making. As Betty starts to explain, Armando crosses his arms, looks over at Betty and rolls his eyes, yet again. Dr. Sánchez and his crony are discussin legislature at a much less reputable looking bar when Nicolás arrives. Dr. Sánchez wants to know what's going on with Eco Moda and Nicolás tells him nothing has happened. Dr. Sánchez suggests that they execute on the lien, but Nicolás tells him that Betty will talk to the president of Eco Moda tonight and then they will decide. Nicolás takes a drink of aguardiente and chokes on it. :o) Betty is still explaining her proposal while Armando shakes his head at Mario as if saying, "I can't go through with this." The waiter approaches their table once again and Mario orders ½ a bottle of whisky. Betty tells them that since this seems to be taking a long time she needs to call home. Armando is so distracted by his inner thoughts that he almost forgets he's got to get up to let Betty out. When Betty goes off to make her phone call, Armando tells Mario that everything is starting to look beautiful to him, the bar, the waiter, even Mario, but Betty still looks horrible. Mario asks him to name his two ideal women and Armando names Cindy Crawford and a Colombian model, Adrianita Arboleda. Mario tells him to visualize that it's Adrianita Arboleda who went to make the phone call and when she comes back, she will be Armando's and only Armando's. Mario makes up to leave, but Armando freaks out and tells him he can't leave him alone because the whisky hasn't begun to take effect yet and things are not blurry enough, Betty is not blurry enough. Mario can only say, "¡Ay, mi doctor Armando!". :o) Betty phones home (no pun intended, really!) and she tells Don Hermes that she is going to have dinner with Don Armando and Don Mario and Don Armando will take her home. Don Hermes wants to know where she is, but Betty fends him off and promises she won't be home late. Armando, who is clearly drunk by now, tells Mario: "Esto para que le quede claro Dr. Calderón esto es una canallada, una canallada que yo no le pienso hacer a la pobre Beatriz." But Mario insists that if he doesn't go through with this Betty will do the "canallada" to him with Nicolás. Then he starms chanting "Adrianita Arboleda, Adrianita Arboleda " and Armando repeats after him. By now, Armandoo is really happy, but when Betty comes back, she still doesn't look like Adrianita Arboleda, LOL! Mario excuses himself and tells them he's got to leave, but they should stay. Betty's reaction is "¿nosotros dos?" and Mario tells them yes, they should stay and enjoy a while longer. Armando agrees (I think he is totally resigned and drunk by now) and sits back down. Betty tells Mario that she thinks Armando's drunk too much and he shouldn't keep drinking, maybe it's better that they leave especially since Marcela is waiting for him. But Mario insists that he's very depressed because they can't make payroll for the first time and the relationship with Marcela is not working. He begs her to stay so he won't drink alone. Mario wishes Armando good luck and leaves. Armando turns to Betty and tells her that they should make a toast. When Betty asks if they should toast for Eco Moda, Armando tells him that this is going to be a toast to him and to her the glasses clink -- FREEZE! TO BE CONTINUED Monday their first kiss!
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La Opinion. 11/5/00. (Summary of previous week 10/31-11/3/00.). Solo telenovelas. Laura M. López. Domingo, 05 de noviembre de 2000. Betty la fea Canal 52, lunes a viernes, 8:00 p.m. Armando está pasando por unos momentos terribles. Para él, tener que besar a Betty de verdad que es un gran sacrificio, sin embargo es necesario, según Mario, para evitar que Betty no los deje en la ruina. Aunque a decir verdad, Armando también se siente muy mal, pensando que la joven se está haciendo demasiadas ilusiones y no quiere ni pensar que llegue el día en que tendrá que decirle la verdad, o que ella lo descubra por si misma. Marcela en tanto, cada día que pasa, soporta menos la presencia de Betty, aunque ella nunca se atrevería a pensar que Armando pudiera traicionarla con ella, pues junto con Patricia se burlan de cómo sería la sensación de besar a una persona tan fea y de paso con frenos. A propósito de Patricia, está muy furiosa porque no ha recibido su cheque de pago y no tiene dinero para comer, mucho menos para ponerle gasolina al auto, que la dejó en la calle. Marcela ya se está cansando de que siempre tiene que prestarle dinero a su amiga, sin embargo le da dinero a Freddy para que saque a Patricia del problema. El cuartel de feas dejó correr el chisme de que Betty tenía novio ¡y con dinero!. Cuando Armando se entera quiere matar a Betty porque piensa que fue ella la que no pudo guardar el secreto de su relación, como lo habían acordado.
Nota de La Opinión. Categoria: Espectáculos
USA 10/30-11/3/00. A drunk Armando manages to kiss Betty. Aura Maria lies to Freddy about not having another man. Nobody can get their paychecks on time. Armando drives Betty home, tells her he isn't drunk now, really cares for her. She agrees to be his "amante" because she knows he can't break up with Marcela. Daniel calls the office and is answered by a distraught Patricia who blurts out everything about their being on paychecks. He arrives at the office, meets with Betty and later Armando and his sister, insists that he needs his dividend right away. Then he propositions Patricia: he'll pay her for sex, no emotions, no talking. She refuses.
http://www.laciudad.com/entretenimiento/telenovelas Lunes 08 de mayo Betty le cuenta a Armando que tiene una cita con Nicolás y el abogado Sánchez. Aura María se le escapa a Freddy para irse de rumba con otro hombre. Mario y Armando invitan a Betty a cenar, como parte de su feo plan. A pesar de los múltiples embellecedores, Armando no logra ver más bonita a Betty. Hermes se molesta al saber que nuevamente Betty llegará tarde a la casa. Mario deja a Armando y Betty solos en una taberna. Martes 09 de mayo Armando le agradece a Betty por su trabajo y la invita a bailar. Nicolás aparte de hablar, se dedica a tomar con Sánchez. Betty se desmaya por una fuerte impresión. Al llegar a su casa, escribe en su diario las últimas experiencias, aún pensando que no son reales. Armando pone a Mario al tanto de todo lo acontecido con Betty. Miércoles 10 de mayo Mario y Armando escuchan una conversación entre Nicolás y Betty y la interpretan de una manera distinta. Freddy le reclama a Aura María por haber llegado tarde a su casa, pero ella le expone unos argumentos que lo dejan muy dolido. Los remordimientos traicionan a Betty delante de Marcela. Patricia le reclama a Armando por no pagarle la nómina. Sofía y Jenny tienen un encontrón que va más allá de las palabras. Jueves 11 de mayo Betty escucha cuando Marcela y Patricia hablan despectivamente de ella. Gutiérrez llama a Sofía y Jenny a su oficina para arreglar el problema de sus continuos enfrentamientos. Armando trata de eludir una posible conversación con Betty. Mariana le dice a Gutiérrez que si echa a Sofía, el Cuartel completo renuncia. Marcela entra de mediadora. Armando se ofrece a llevar a Betty a su casa. Viernes 12 de mayo El Cuartel escucha a Aura María citarse con su novio y le recriminan por Freddy. Patricia intenta seducir a Mario. Armando siente ganas de matar a Mario cuando lo ve salir a una cita con una hermosa mujer. Margarita llama preocupada a Marcela porque no han recibido dinero. Armando le dice a Betty que está seguro de no poder vivir sin ella. Hermes ve a Betty cuando está en una actitud comprometedora con Armando.
Lunes 15 de mayo Betty acepta la propuesta de Armando de vivir una nueva aventura juntos. Armando no sabe qué contestarle a Betty cuando le pregunta si Mario está al tanto de todo. Marcela le prepara una cena romántica a Armando. Betty le pide dinero prestado a Nicolás de la caja menor. Patricia se vara por gasolina y Freddy debe auxiliarla.Martes 16 de mayo Aura María vuelve a llegar tarde. Betty le lleva un dulce a Armando y se arregla para él. Mario le traza un plan a Armando para sostener la relación con Betty. Freddy le da una lección a Patricia de como manejar el dinero. Marcela le dice a Patricia que hable con Armando para que le den algo de su sueldo. USA 11/2/00. Miércoles 17 de mayo Daniel se entera de que en Ecomoda no hay dinero para cancelar la nómina. Hugo intercede por sus modelos ante Armando. El Cuartel le echa en cara a Patricia que Betty tiene novio con dinero. El chisme se riega y llega a oídos de Armando quien se enoja con su asistente y le reclama. Ella le advierte al Cuartel que no vuelva a mencionar el tema. Aura María y Jenny tienen una discusión. USA 11/3/00. Jueves 18 de mayo El Cuartel regaña a Aura María por manipular a Freddy. Mario llega con un arsenal de detalles para Betty, y es el encargado de aplicar la primera dosis de enamoramiento a la asistente. Daniel va a Ecomoda y aprovecha para hacerle una propuesta ofensiva a Patricia. Él le pregunta a Armando por la situación económica de la empresa.
Tuesday, 10/31/00. ?Freddy is seating at Aura Maria's desk when she runs in (late again) wearing sunglasses asking him if everyone knows that she is late. He says no because everyone believes that she has been in the bathroom since 8:00 a.m. She gives him a kiss on the cheek and he moves away. He moves away from her desk and he wants to know why she is late. He wants to know why she stood him up. Aura Maria, lying, says that her son called her and told that he wanted to be with her so that she should hurry home. Freddy begins to question her about her trip home. Was it one of those that you meet some friends on the way home and end up arriving late. She wants to know what he is trying to say. He tells her that if someone doesn't arrive home early, they go to bed late, then get up late. Aura Maria, becoming upset, tells him that she went home early. She tells him to quit bothering her. Freddy tells her that she arrived home early - for breakfast. He then tells her that if the woman who you give you live to, your heart arrives to work late then is it not the gentlemanly thing to do. Aura Maria realizes that he telephoned her mother and becomes more upset with Freddy. She wants to know why he did it and he replies that they were both worried about her and they needed to share their anguish. She tells him that her mother was already upset with her and she will be more upset now. Freddy said that he did not mean to upset her, but that she is his mother-in-law and that they have to work together. He tells her that there is one problem, he realizes that her mother is his mother-in-law, but her mother does not realize that he is her son-in-law. (During this part of the conversation Aura Maria won't look at him.) He tells her that this evening when he takes her home, in order for her not to stray, he wants her to introduce him so that her mother and he can speak more formally. Aura Maria comes from behind her desks, pulls at his ears and tells him that she wants to thank him for everything that he has done for her but for him to stop pursuing her. She also asks that he no longer call her mother. He goes on to tell her that with their relationship that she should introduce him. She tells him for him to understand that she is not going to introduce them. He then asks if she doesn't want him as her boyfriend. He asks about their evening together. She tells him that they are only friends, they had a good time, but she doesn't want him bothering her or calling her mother. She wants to be left in peace. He wants to know if there are more friends. She tells him that he is not showing her respect. He wants to know if someone special holds a special place in her heart. She tells him no. He tells her that the most important thing is that no one holds that place. Freddy takes off. Aura Maria's date calls and she is telling him what a good time she had, she's been thinking about him and she is missing him. Freddy overhears the conversation. Betty enters Marcela's office. Marcela is on the telephone and indicates for her to leave. Betty says that she will wait. Once Marcela is off the telephone she jumps all over Betty about being at a tavern and kissing her boyfriend. She now enters her office as though nothing has happened. Betty tells her that she and Armando are not married. Marcela tells her that they are engaged. Betty immediately tells her that things are not as she imagines. She tells her that Armando was drunk, he did not know what he was doing and that it was an accident. Marcela asks if she were drunk. Betty answers no. Marcela tells her that she knew what she was doing and took advantage. Marcela continues to tell her that she is in love with him and she is trying to trap him. Marcela tells her that Armando is in love with her, he's going to marry her, that he belongs to her. She asks for her resignation. Betty begs her not to do this to her. Marcela yells at her that everyone is going to find out, the entire company, the employees and the shareholders. Marcela tells her that she is going to call her father and inform him of the type of daughter that he has. (Betty comes out of her dream). Marcela is saying her name. Since Betty doesn't answer she asks if she is deaf. Marcela wants to know what she wants. Betty tells about the problems with the banks and that they need money to pay them. Betty asks if she has an idea how much money they have collected. Marcela says that she is reviewing and that she will turn them over to her later. Marcela tells her that the next time that she enters her office and if she is on the telephone for her not to stand there like a stupid person. Patricia approaches Sophia and wants to know when they are going to get paid. (She is swinging her hair and flipping it her with her hands. Berta stands behind her and imitates her.) Sophia tells her that she doesn't know for her to ask Betty. Patricia asks Betty. Betty tells her that she doesn't know. Patricia tells her that she needs to be paid today. Betty tells her that she is going to have to wait until, at a minimum, until the end of the week. That there is no money. Patricia becomes very upset and tells her that they aren't going to do this to her. (Betty shrugs and takes off.) Betty informs Armando that Marcela does not have the projections ready and that she will turn them in to her later. (Armando still has his sunglasses on and is holding his head. He is facing his computer and won't look at her.) Betty picks up his dishes and is on her way out the door when Patricia walks in furious and yelling that Betty won't pay her and that she will not permit it. Armando turns around and tells her not to yell. She continues to yell and tells him that it doesn't matter to him because he has money, but she doesn't. He puts his hands to his ears. She tells him to help her. He gets up from and his chair and yells back that he is not going to help her. He tells her that he is going to ask Betty when they can pay her. Betty tells him that she already told her that it would be at the end of the week. Armando asks Patricia if she can understand this. Patricia tells him that he can't do this to her. She tells him that she needs to pay her utilities or that they are going to cut them off. Armando tells her that they can cut them, that they can cut her head. She asks him what she is suppose to do. What road is she suppose to take? He tells her that she should have taken the road to Miami. Armando is holding his head. Betty and Patricia leave Armando's office. Since they are both exiting at the same time Patricia shoves her. Sophia and Berta are laughing and Sophia tells Betty that she is mean telling Patricia that they don't have money to pay her until the end of the week. Betty informs them that it is no joke, but true. They both stand up looking at her in shock. Sophia tells her to stop joking. She tells her that she doesn't have money for lunch. Berta says that she needs to pay the children's tuition and that her husband is going to be upset with her if she goes home and tells him what is happening. Especially since she used the savings for her surgery. Betty tells them that no money has come in. She tells them not to worry and that they will be her guest at lunch. Sophia asks Berta what is she going to do. Her ex-husband has not paid her. At that moment Jenny comes out and is speaking to Sophia's ex. Sophia tells her to tell him that she is waiting for her money. Jenny tells her that today is not a good day because he is depressed. Sophia tells her that they are not going to get paid today and that she is very depressed and has many problems. Jenny tells him that they are not going to get paid and for him not to worry. Sophia takes the phone away from her and tells him that she needs her money today and next month's in five days. He tells her that he can't bring it. She tells him not to worry that she can go pick it up. He informs her that he is sick. Sophia asks what is wrong. He tells her that the doctors are not sure, that it could be stress. Sophia wants to know if it was caused by Jenny's telephone bill or Jenny being with someone else. Jenny takes the telephone away and asks that she leave him alone for one day. Sophia tells him that she has left him alone for a week. She needs the money for the children. She wants to know if Jenny is going to tell her or should she. They fight over the telephone and it falls. (Patricia has now joined them.) Jenny is crying. She goes to pick up her telephone and calls for him. She yells that he has died. Berta says "the check". Jenny says no, her telephone. Jenny continues to cry and wants to know why she does this to her. Guiterrez comes out and wants to know what is going on. Jenny tells her that Sophia threw her telephone to the ground and broke it. Guiterrez wants to know why she did this. Sophia tells him that it was an accident. She explains what happened and Berta tells him that was how it happened. Patricia says that no it wasn't. She tells him that she was a witness and she re-enacts the scene. When she throws down the telephone it breaks into pieces. Guiterrez has Jenny and Sophia go into his office. Betty brings some medication to Armando. She tells him that she told him not to drink so much. She laughs. She tells him that she is going to Marcela's to see if she has the reports ready. She wants to know if Mario also has it. (He still can't look at her.) Patricia is in Marcela's office recounting her story about the telephone incident. Marcela worries about Sophia losing her head over Jenny. Patricia tells her that Jenny has behaved decently. She then goes on to tell Marcela about not being paid today. Marcela tells her that it is true. She tells her that the new collection has taken all the money and that it will probably be at the end of the week. Patricia doesn't know what she is going to do. Patricia asks her to speak to Armando about an advance. Marcela tells her to do it. Patricia says no that she had already spoken to him and that he wanted to kill her. She wants to know what they did last night, get drunk. Marcela tells her no, that Armando, Mario and Betty went to tavern for an hour. Patricia tells her she should not permit it. Marcela tells her that she is not going to fight over it. She is going to say her fight for when he goes out with a real woman. Marcela asks Patricia if she can imagine how Armando must have looked walking into the tavern with Betty. They burst out laughing. (Betty is outside the door listening to the conversation. Betty looks like she wants to cry.) Patricia and Marcela are still talking. Patricia tells her that she should still do something. She says that with Betty's involvement in the company that she gives her a little space Betty will take away her boyfriend. Marcela says no that it will not happen. Betty knocks at the door and enters to get the report. Marcela and Betty continue laughing at her. Berta, Mariana and Sandra are listening at Guiterrez's door reprimanding Jenny and Sophia. He tells them that the Company has to intervene because their situation is interfering with the Company's work and leaving a bad image. Jenny says that it was Sophia's fault and he agrees. Sophia tells him that it is not true. She tells him that the only reason that Jenny went to work there was to bother her. She tells him that she passes her day passing by her and speaking to her ex-husband in order to provoke her. He wents to know if that is correct. Jenny says no. In fact, she is moved by her situation. Sophia loses her temper and tells her to be quite. Guiterrez tells her to calm down. Sophia says that she can't. How can she say that when she has taken her husband away. Jenny says that she did not take her husband away. According to Jenny, they merely met, fell in love and live together like millions of couples. Jenny begins to cry. Guiterrez tells Sophia that this is her third warning and with that she is fired. He goes on to tell her that if she wants to keep her job that she will need to reimburse Jenny for her telephone. He tells her that they can take payments out of her checks. Sophia loses it and says that she has to take the money that pays for her children's food and tuition in order buy a telephone for Jenny. However, Jenny and her ex-husband don't have to pay her. He tells her that situation is not the company's business. Sophia says consider her fired. The Cuartel try to calm her down. They call a 911. The Cuartel asks Betty to go and speak to Guiterrez. Guiterrez and Jenny are on the way out of his office. Jenny thanks him for everything that he has done and he tells her that they could not let it continue. Jenny tells Sophia that she is sorry that this has gone so far. Sopha again loses her temper and is going after her when she is stopped by Berta. The Cuartel tells Jenny to go in and speak to Guiterrez in order to get her job back. They make suggestions as to how she could be reimbursed, but she refuses. Betty asks to speak to him. He says that he will, but not in regards to the subject about Sophia. The Curatel bands together. Mariana takes it upon herself to go in and speak to him. She tells him that if Sophia is fired the entire Cuartel quits. (The Cuartel did not know anything about Mariana's plan.) He wants to know if they are all in agreement and she says yes. He goes out to where the Cuartel is and asks if this is true, they look puzzled. He tells them what a great joy this is to him and tells him that he expects their letters of resignation. The Cuartel is upset. Marcela comes out and wants to know why they are not working. They tell her that they have all been fired. Sophia goes with Marcela to explain what has happened. Mario enters Armando's office and wants to know what is going on. He wants to know if Betty has done a strip tease for him. Armando says that nothing is happening. He tells her that she talks about everything that has to do with the business, but not about what happened last night. Armando tells him that he is starting to feel bad and uncomfortable when he is alone with her. Mario tells him that he is going to have all night to declare his love for her. Betty enters and wants to know if Mario has any information for her and he gives her the number that she is needing. Marcela tells Sophia that she can't let Jenny take her job along with her husband. Sophia tells her that she doesn't have money to pay for the telephone. Marcela says the Company will give her a loan. She also gives her the name of an attorney in order for him to demand the money that her ex-husband owes her. She tells her that she is doing this because women have to stand together against other women who steal their husbands and boyfriends. Marcela tells her that she will talk to Guiterrez regarding the resignations of the others, except Betty. She wants her resignation. Freddy is giving his support to the Cuartel, especially Aura Maria. He tells her that if she has to go that they will go together and he will take care her. Berta says that her husband is going to throw her out. Sophia tells the Cuartel that Marcela is going to take care of the resignations, except for Betty. (The Cuartel does not show any support for Betty.) They decided to leave for lunch. Berta tells them that she will catch up with them because she needs to call her husbands. She stays at her desk and opens a bag of Ruffles potato chips. Marcela and Patricia run into the Cuartel at the elevator. She asks them if they resigned. She asks Betty if she has turned in her resignation and she tells her that she cannot resign because Armando needs her. Marcela comes in and tells Armando that she is leaving. He says that he needs to do a couple of more things and he will meet her later. Sophia and Berta come looking for Betty, Sophia yells her name. Armando asks her not to yell, so she whispers her name. They ask Betty if she is ready and she tells them that she will meet them. When she comes out she asks Armando if he needs her, he says no. He then stops her and tells her that he will take her home. He tells her to let the rest of the Cuartel know that she will not be leaving with them, but not to tell them the reason.
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Wed. 11/1/00. Yesterday: Sofia and Jenny 'duke it out' with Jenny's cell phone and the cuartel nearly lose their jobs. Marcela brokers a solution. Armando offers Betty a ride home ... Today: Mario enters Armando's office and Betty looks nervously at him. Armando directs her to get ready and she goes to tell the cuartel that she's going home later. Mario asks Armando if he heard right: is all set up? Yes, Armando replies soberly and pulls out a bottle. No, no, says Mario, stopping him, You're going to have to be completely sober or she won't believe you. I have an analgesic for you ... He pulls out a photo of a beautiful woman. When you have to kiss Betty, pull out the picture and put this face in your mind and pretend that you're kissing her instead of ugly Betty. Patricia rushes up to Marcela and begs that she intervene with Armando concerning her salary and making an exception. Have a little patience! chides Marcela. Tell my stomach to be patient, the creditors to have patience! cries Patricia. Do it for yourself! she implores Marcela. Do you want to keep lending me money? Do it for your mental health! I don't have to lend you anything, snarls Marcela and stalks off. Betty tells the cuartel that she's going to have to stay work a little later and the women console her. They think that Armando is a slave driver but Betty defends him. He needs me! They exchange Good nights. Marcela sees Betty by the elevator with the cuartel and frowns at her. Mario swings past Patricia with a running "Hola, mi amor," and breezes past. She frowns after him. The elevator opens on the ground floor and the cuartel overhears Aura Maria chatting with some novio on the phone and they frown collectively. Inez starts in, Who's that? Aura Maria, all excited at the prospect of a hot date, tells them that it was a new novio. So, asks Sandra cynically, Was it the same Freddy who paid for your lunch? So where does Freddy stand? asks Inez. Aura Maria is not repentant, nor shamed. You know that I need a good novio, says Aura Maria. Don't you know that you have a novio who'll die for you? Really? asks Aura Maria, pleased by the idea. Who? Enters Freddy singing and Aura Maria does a disappearing act behind the reception stand, begging that the others say nothing. He asks if they've seen the princesa. She's not there, they tell him, she's gone apparently. With some prince? They say they don't know. "Why did you go... that night..." he sings sadly and heads out. Aura Maria jumps up from her hiding place. Inez warns her that she'll pay for this some day. Aura Maria thanks them for their little white lie. What does he want? asks Betty alone in her thoughts in the bathroom. Does he want to fire me? She speculates what direction the conversation will take. In his executive bathroom, Armando is washing up; he considers cologne. He's startled to realize that he's cleaning up for Betty. Bathe, for Betty? He stops his primping. In the woman's bathroom, Betty is troubled. Marcela's words ring in her ears, denigrating her looks, and she combs her hair in an attempt to improve her appearance. In flounces Patricia, brushing her aside a bit with a stiff "permiso". She spritzes on perfume and adjusts her cleavage while Betty tries to fix her hair. Doubt plays over her face. In his office, Mario is on the phone making an assignation. Patricia enters and tells him flirtatiously that it's been a long time since we've been alone together. No, agrees Mario, not since you were sick. But I'm better now, she replies, trying to look her most seductive. How about dinner, my place, candles, bed Mario apologizes and tells her he'd love to, but he has an appointment. He tries to leave but she forces a kiss on him. He rejects her on the pretext that it's his office. She's not happy with this. It's an extension of your apartment! You've had lots of women in here! She tries the sexy approach again but he stalls her and she stalks off in a huff claiming her own appointment. After she gets on the elevator he beats a hasty retreat. In his office, Armando pulls out the model's photo and tries the positive imagery that Mario suggested. Betty enters hesitantly and he tucks the photo in his pocket. Are you ready? Armando asks quietly. Yes, she replies, as if going to an execution. Well, let's go. He rests his head on the door jamb after she passes through, a resigned look on his face. At the elevator their hands touch the button at the same time and they pull apart, startled. Mario skips up hand in hand with one of the runway models and impishly asks what Armando's going to do this evening, knowing full well what he's got to go do. Nothing going home to be with Marcela, Armando replies, knowingly full well what Mario is up to. Mario and the model speak about the lovely evening they have planned and invite him. He says grimly that he can't. I'll get you for this! he tells Mario. Arriving at the apartment, Marcela runs for the phone, it's Margarita. She's worried because their expense money hasn't arrived yet. Roberto isn't happy with the delay and it's expensive to live in Europe. Marcela promises that the money will be coming soon: but with all of the expenses of the new collection, there was a little cash flow problem. It will be there with little delay. Is all going well? asks Margarita worriedly. All is well, assures Marcela. This will be the last time. How is Armando? asks his mother. He's fine, fine, assures Marcela. He's coming home soon early for a change, he's been working so hard. In the car, it's work-related small talk: How did things go with Banco Montreal? Betty tells him that she's managed to work out a temporary arrangement. They drive on. He stops outside her house. Well, thank you Doctor for troubling yourself to take me home, starts Betty. Don't go, says Armando, softly, I need to speak with you about what happened last night. Betty jumps in to make excuses and preempt the conversation. No, you don't, I knew you'd been drinking... Armando starts again, I need to ... Betty interrupts him again, For me, nothing happened. He's annoyed at her interruptions and barely controls his temper as he demands that she let him say what he needs to say. What
happened last night, he tells her, had nothing to do with drinking. He knew what he was doing. This startles Betty and she wonders about him now: Betty thinks that he's drunk again, to start speaking to her in this manner. How much have you had to drink? I've had nothing, he insists. I want to tell you that you (he touches her face) that I'm obsessed with you and I can't live without you. She's nervous now. You're not without me, why I work by your side almost 18 hours a day, says Betty. I want to be closer to you, to touch you, kiss you, presses Armando. You're confused now, you're overworked, offers Betty. No, I'm not confused! I know perfectly what I'm saying! It's not possible that you're in love with me! cries Betty. But why! he shouts in frustration that she's not just accepting his 'line'. She tells him why it's not possible: I know your tastes, you like tall, beautiful women, women with blonde hair, blue eyes, and I have none of those characteristics. No, says Armando, perhaps not, but I appreciate you for many other reasons... She asks what/how? He tells her, I love your strength, I love your energy, the way you do things so confidently... I'm enchanted by your sensitivity, a sensitivity I don't find in others: you're an angel to me. He struggles a bit for some more compliments: I love your personality... What man wouldn't be attracted to those qualities? I'm going crazy for you. Since I knew about Nicolás, I've been afraid that I might lose you. I can't restrain my desires to caress you, to kiss you; no, I'm not confused, Beatriz. No Doctor, I don't understand this attraction, I find no reason for this, she replies, stunned. Armando presses on. This, Betty is the proof that the feelings are deeper than the physical beauty. I know that you've said that I have been attracted to modelswomen with blonde hair and blue eyesand that's been true, but they haven't made me happy. No one has made me happy like you. I've learned that conventional beauty isn't as important as the beauty inside. She's stunned are you sure you're not drunk? I'm not, he insists. He pulls close. It's time for action. Have you seen the night? he asks her. It's beautiful. This is to distract her and make her look away. He pulls out the model's photo and studies it while she's gazing at the night. Betty enthuses about the night: It's the same moon that's inspired so many poets. There's nothing that inspires more than the moon. He gathers his courage, puts the photo in the back seat and pulls her face close. He smoothly croons, Yes, it's our moon, it's our night He screws up the courage to kiss her. The kiss continues. His eyes are closed and they open startled as she pulls away. Didn't you like it? No, but my father could be watching out the window. He's a little alarmed himself by the thought. They drive down the street. In the house, Hermes WAS watching out the window and he thinks that he recognizes the car a being Armando's and is confused by why it's pulled off. He's grumpy. Down the block out of the line of Papa's prying eyes, Armando parks the car. How's this? It's fine, replies Betty, but she is still anxious, Doctor this isn't right. What's wrong? Don't you feel anything for me? Armando asks. Of course, I admire you greatly, you're very interesting and you've supported my work and you've told me that I'm important to your work. Those things attract me greatly. How beautiful, he says, almost sarcastically. Betty presses on, But this is insane you have a fiancée you're going to marry. If there's a scandal, your family won't forgive you. Armando recognizes this concern and brushes it off: I don't want a scandal for my family, but you more than anyone know that I don't love Marcela, he tells her. So what's the problem? It's more important to feel: feel what you do for me and for what I feel for you. Or is Nicolás more important? Don't speak of Nicolás, pleads Betty. You've said that you would risk all for me, says Armando. Don't you wish to live the rest of your life with me? Of course Doctor. He pulls off his glasses (the better to not see her) and kisses her again. She holds his face and tells him that it's crazy and she's afraid but she's ready to commit whatever insanity with him. His cell rings: it's Marcela. He sounds shaken and guilty. I'm heading for the apartment, he tells her. I'm preparing a delicious dinner for us, she tells him. Okay, ciao, says Armando weakly. It was (he looks sickly at Betty) Marcela (he makes a face). I understand, says Betty in sympathy. I'll take you home now, says Armando quietly. (His work is done for the evening!) He looks at her as she beams at him (one final compliment): You're so pretty now! He puts the car in reverse and backs up to the house. Before they part, Betty stops: One last question does Doctor Mario Calderón know about this? It's just that you're so close and I'd rather that he doesn't know about this. I'd rather he not know that we're involved. Armando goes all 'smooth' on her. He tells her that he and Mario are great friends, she's right, but some things are so sacred and this, Beatriz is one of those things. He wants to be clear on one thing though, We can't speak of this to anyone, not anyone. Don't speak of this to any of the cuartel. Not one word will leave my mouth on this, swears Betty. He heaves a sigh of relief. Until tomorrow. Until tomorrow. One last kiss, a nervous horsy laugh from Betty, she exits and he waves sickly goodbye. Thoughts swarm in his brain: you're a miserable creature! Her father comes out to berate Betty for lingering on the doorstep and Armando drives off in a panic! In the house Hermes starts in on her about her boss driving her home, pulling up, leaving, etc. Betty explained that yes, they pulled up, but then he wanted to quickly pick up some cigarettes or something and she went with, then he drove her back. Complain, complain, complain (you know Don Hermes)! It's not good to sit in in the car with a man like that. People think you're up to no good. How many times have I warn you about making a spectacle in the street? The only way to shut him up is to leave so she excuses herself from dinner and she and Nicolás leave and go upstairs. Julia starts defending her and tells Hermes to lighten up. He keeps harping on the topic of decent/indecent behavior. Upstairs, Nicolás makes a joke that hits a little too close to home about Armando and her behavior. Betty doesn't want to share her evening with anyone else but her thoughts. She tells him that she's sleepy and he says good night. He pops back in, and Banco Montreal is all arranged? Yes, Nicolás! He pops back in with another question and another, finally the last, is all well with Patricia Fernandez? Yes! One last time he pops in: Because if it's not, I'm ready to step in for her, he jokes. Alone with her thoughts, she pulls out the diary. Her thoughts flow rapidly... I don't know if I'm in front of the doors of heaven or hell, but today, Don Armando confirmed what he feels for me.He told me what he finds me beautiful. He loves my fragilities. I never thought a man would recognize those qualities in me. She fears what will happen; what will come to pass with him and Marcela. At the apart, Armando looks stunned. We hear Betty's voice as she continues her rapturous recounting of the evening. Marcela comes to greet him with a kiss and Armando pulls away, he can't. He tells her that he was surprised by the lovely table: it's been so long. Marcela is surprised, but she continues on affectionately with her greeting. (We hear Betty: Whatever may happen, I know that this way is not right. I know that it's not right to to become involved with a promised manwhat would papa saybut I can't pass up the opportunity to enjoy this moment. I can't deny myself the chance to enjoy this feeling, to enjoy the dream I've had so long. I love him and only want to be with him. He loves no one now. No, but I'll fill the emptiness in his heart. Tonight he gave me two kisses) Marcela tries for another kiss from Armando but he's almost shell-shocked after his night with Betty and pulls back thinking, No I can't kiss Mario after Betty! Armando excuses himself to the bathroom where he brushes his teeth. (He gave me the moon, enthuses Betty. I couldn't confess that I've loved him since the first moment I saw him, his looks affect me, everything He's affected me so: I can't believe it all!) Armando scrubs his teeth with increasing fervor. Armando enters the dining room again and Marcela is waiting. Shall we toast, or would that bother you? She's annoyed by his rejecting her kiss. I'm not bothered by your kiss. I was just stressed and wanted to refresh myself in the bathroom for a moment. He leans over and kisses her softly. Why do you look at me so? she asks curious at his attention. It's just that you're so beautiful, so lovely... I have such a desire to kiss you. He holds her tenderly. Now Marcela is really curious and asks to smell his breath (perhaps that's why he brushed his teeth, she's probably thinking, to hide the smell of alcohol.) I've not had a single drop, he tells her, why? It's been so long since you've said such lovely things. He continues to lay on the compliments and kisses but he gets a strange look on his face, as if to say... What's come over me!?! Betty continues to write in her diary that she doesn't want to repeat the pain and heartache that she felt during her last love affair. I leave my heart in his hands and I trust him completely. Tomorrow: Betty makes an attempt to improve herself (perfume) for Armando and the cuartel assume she's got a rich novio: Marcela passes the joke on to Armando and he chokes!
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Thurs, 11/2/00. *****SUMMARY, THURSDAY, 11/02/00***** Betty asks her mother if she can use her black dress for the office today. Don Hermes asks why she wants to wear such a fancy dress, and Betty says that it's only because she wants to dress well for the office today. Doña Julia in the meantime is watching a commercial for one of those anti-gravity bodysuits that lifts everything and suggests to Betty that she buy one for herself. Betty answers in a mocking tone that it would really not serve her if her bottom was lifted what would she do about the rest of herself? And then she laughs her nerdy laugh. She also asks her mother for some perfume obviously she's out to impress Armando. Nicolás (a/k/a Microlax) arrives and remarks on Betty's elegance he asks her if she's going to a party or to a funeral? :o) Don Hermes asks Betty if she's deposited her paycheck yet because he needs to make the car payment, but she tells him that she hasn't gotten paid yet, maybe on Friday. Don Hermes leaves and Betty asks Nicolás for money from petty cash to help El Cuartel until they get paid. Nicolás asks the reason for the loan and Betty just tells him to make one up; she'll pay it back as soon as she can. When Nicolás asks her to sign a receipt with her name, i.d. #, date, reason for the loan (he really takes his job too seriously, LOL!) Betty tells him that she doesn't have the time and tells Nicolás that he's on the verge of losing his job because the sole owner may fire him. Upon hearing this veiled threat, Nicolás immediately gets up and takes the money out of his pocket. Betty asks him what he's doing carrying Terra Moda's petty cash in his pocket and he tells her that in case he needs emergency funds for the other branch of Terra Moda. When Betty asks what other branch, Nicolás explains that it's his mother's bakery. Then he asks if Patricia got paid and when Betty says she hasn't he tells her she must have a lot of money to spare anyway. Just then, Patricia is driving down the road when her car suddenly stops. She tries to turn it on a couple of times to no avail it seems she's run out of gas! :o) Betty walks into Eco Moda and Freddy asks her if she knows where Aura María is Betty says that she must still be at home. Freddy asks Betty to do him a favor and call Aura María because she has prohibited his calls to her house and Betty tells her that she's got a lot of work, but she'll do it when she gets a minute. As Betty takes the elevator, Freddy starts to pace when in walk in Marcela and Armando. Marcela asks where Aura María is, but Freddy is saved by the bell er, the ring that is, of Marcela's cell phone. Patricia calls her frantic to tell her that she ran out of gas and Marcela tells her not to worry, he'll send Freddy over to rescue her. When Marcela hangs up, she hands Freddy some money so that he can buy gas for Patricia's car. As Freddy takes the money, Marcela asks about Aura María's whereabouts again, but he's lucky because as he's about to answer she walks in the front door. Marcela asks her why she 's been arriving late everyday, but Aura María lies and tells her that she's been on time every single day and Freddy backs her up. When Marcela leaves, Freddy asks Aura María why she was late did she get drunk last night? Aura María tells him that she didn't get drunk and she even got home early. Freddy asks if he can take her home tonight and a distracted Aura María answers yes when he walks away, she whispers "estúpido". Aaaaay, Aura María!!! Up at the "presidencia", Betty is lovingly looking at Armando's desk and places a candy bar in the middle of it then she runs away to her office and starts to spray the perfume heavily. Armando walks in and makes a face obviously he can smell the perfume. :o) Betty walks back out and greets Armando with a big smile, but he's just matter of fact. She reminds him of all of his appointments for the day and he changes the subject to ask if Nicolás has any dollars in reserve for Terra Moda. Betty answers that he does and Armando asks for a loan of $3,000 so he can wire it up to his parents in London. He promises that as soon as money starts flowing into Eco Moda, she can take the money and pay Terra Moda back. Just then, Armando notices the candy bar, picks it up and asks Betty what it's doing there. Betty gives him a big smile and tells him it's for him and laughs. Armando thanks her, but he looks very uncomfortable. While he's still holding the candy bar, Mario walks in and Betty gets up and retreats to her office. Mario sniffs and asks what the smell is and Armando tells him it's Betty's perfume Mario refers to it as "mata-insectos" and asks Armando what the perfume and the dress mean did he kiss her again yesterday? Armando holds up two fingers and tells him that he kissed her twice. Mario reminds him that no one asked him to kiss her twice is he starting to like it? Armando explains that Betty figured out that a man like him can't be interested in a woman like her so he had to convince her naming all of her qualities. Mario then asks if this convinced her, but Armando tells him that's where the strange thing lies he told Betty that he was obsessed with her but she only said she admired him and the only reason he can come up with is that she is still in love with Nicolás Mora. Mario finally notices the candy bar that Armando is holding and asks him where it came from. Armando tells him that Betty left it for him and Mario replies that that's a very good sign, and as he opens up the candy bar and he and Armando start to eat it, he tells Armando that ugly women, like Betty, only believe if a routine is established, they must become 'novios'. From this point on he's got to be the 'novio' of Beatriz Pinzón Solano. Armando makes a tortured face and Mario insists that he's got to prove to Betty that he's very serious about the relationship. Mario takes Armando into the boardroom and ribs Armando about being "el Don Juan de las Feas". Armando gets annoyed at all this teasing and Mario reminds him that he had no sympathy for him when he sent him to do the 'dirty work' with Patricia Armando tells him not to be 'descarado' and asks him not to compare; at any rate, that relationship is over. But Mario disavows him of that notion and tells him that she attacked him in his office yesterday and suggested that they go to her apartment, that her bed missed him (Armando smiles through all of this) but he was firm, held his ground and never committed himself. Armando tells that she must be out to make reconquer him, but Mario cynically tells him that she's only out to conquer his wallet after all, if they haven't made payroll, he can only imagine what situation she's in. :o) And, as a matter of fact, Patricia is in a pickle with her car that ran out of gas. To add insult to injury, Freddy arrives with a bag of gas (?) and starts checking the car out, opening the doors, and even gets behind the wheel to do so, he first hands Patricia the bag with the gas. He tells Patricia, tongue-in-cheek, that this poverty doesn't suit her or her car, LOL! Patricia reminds him that they haven't paid at Eco Moda, but Freddy tells her he's fully aware of that it's just that if he has no money his lifestyle doesn't change and no one notices, while with her it's fully evident. He goes on to ask if she's ever thought of selling the Mercedes and buying a more modest car, putting the extra money in the bank and with the interest she can pay the gas for the new car, and that way she would avoid all these embarrassing incidents of poverty. Patricia loses her cool and tells Freddy to just get out of the car and help her out instead of making this incident longer can he just put the gas in the car? Freddy tells him that "perdóname pero discúlpame" :o) the incident is embarrassing him as well and, when two ladies stop to see what's going on, he pretends they're a couple and tells Patricia that this is the last time he will allow her to get stranded like this without gas, otherwise she will not touch the car again! Patricia looks on astounded, calls him "imbécil", and asks him what the heck is going on? Freddy reacts mortified that she called him an imbecile, after he came in to put gas in her car and his hands now even smell like gas how is he going to explain that at the office? He addresses the two ladies and tells them that he is trying to be so nice to her and gets treated as an imbecile in return. Patricia totally loses her cool, hits Freddy with her purse, and asks him if he's gone crazy. As Patricia rolls her eyes and sighs, Freddy responds that this incident is just very embarrassing to him and waves goodbye to the two women who had stopped to look. :o) Back at Eco Moda, Mario tells Armando that he's got to write a note to Betty. When Armando rolls his eyes, Mario asks him if he still has Adrianita Arboleda's picture. Armando pulls it out and tells Mario that the picture worked better than the whiskey. While Armando holds the picture, Mario tells him he just has to take a good look at it and get inspired. Then he starts to write: "Dear Adrianita, This morning was so cold without you. I miss your kisses, your body, your hugs. I love you, Armando" And then Mario tells Armando that he should put the picture away and cross out the name 'Adrianita' and write 'Betty' in its place, simple as that (oooh, these cads!). Armando tells him to forget it and Mario tells him fine, don't worry about it, I'll handle the details there's a huge industry out there with cards and little gifts he take care of all of the little 'detalles' for Betty and Armando will handle the rest. Armando asks what Mario means by 'the rest' and Mario answers, "the dates with Betty". Armando responds with his favorite phrase, "Que cruzzzzzzzz " Patricia has finally made it to Eco Moda and her late arrival is noticed by Sandra and Mariana who greet her in unison saying, "¡Buenas noches!". Patricia asks them to leave her alone and asks where Marcela is and when Mariana refuses to answer, Patricia walks by their desk calling them 'brutas'. Marcela is on the phone with a warehouse when Patricia bursts in whining about the running-out-of-gas-incident. She demands to be paid right away. Marcela loses it and yells at Patricia that she doesn't make those decisions, Armando does, and he's already told her that there is no money! Patricia tells her she only has to put up with this because she's poor and then walks out of Marcela's office leaving Marcela making faces after her. Back in the boardroom, Mario tells Armando that he's got to start taking Betty out dancing and to restaurants. Armando is totally thrown for a loop at hearing this and tells Mario he must be crazy, he can't be seen in public with Betty. Mario tells him he'll give him a list of clandestine places, places that their peers don't frequent, so that no one will see them after all, Betty is not that demanding. Armando doesn't know if Betty will like that, but Mario reminds him that this whole thing is supposed to be discreet. Mario then asks what Betty thinks of his relationship with Marcela and Armando explains that Betty knows that that relationship frightens him and that he won't end up with Marcela and that they would go ahead with their relationship. Mario goes to his office and starts working on the list of clandestine places while Armando remarks he's not so sure about this, but Mario assures him that Betty will accept anything he offers her, she will never again have the opportunity to go out with someone like him. And Armando answers, while shaking his head, "Calderón, usted no entiende lo que quiero decir. Voy a terminar haciéndole daño a Beatriz. Es que, vea, yo me doy cuenta de que es muy fácil enamorarla. Cada vez que me besa lo hace con una ternura, con una dulzura, me coge la cara y me mira con una admiración como si yo fuera su ídolo." Mario seriously tells him that he is her idol, but Armando has got one question, what happens when they make money and they can pay Terra Moda and Betty gives Eco Moda back? Mario coldly answers that they just dump her, and Armando calls him a criminal. Mario suggests that when that time comes he just buy her a ticket and send her to Kenya. Patricia comes into Armando's office yelling for Armando and Betty tells her she doesn't know where he is. When Patricia ironically says that she's his assistant, Betty replies that she is but she's not his guardian angel to know where he is every minute of the day (1 point for Betty!). Armando walks in and Betty tells him that she's got to talk to him about the wire (of the money to his parents I assume). Patricia interrupts with a whiny, "Armandooooooo " but he tells her he doesn't have the time right now. Patricia insists and tells him she's got to discuss a very delicate matter with him, and he once again answers that maybe later, he doesn't have the time. She whines again and tells him she only needs one minute, so Armando starts tells her to start talking and begins timing the minute on his watch, LOL. When Patricia starts to relay her money problems, Armando asks Betty to take over with the timing Betty holds up her watch and does so gladly. Armando tells Patricia that no one has gotten paid and no one else is complaining, but she claims that her situation is different than everyone else's, they're used to just getting by on a glass of water if they have to, they don't drive a Mercedes Benz, so he can't compare. She asks for him to make an exception and Armando asks her to step closer he asks her why she didn't move to Miami Patricia answers that this is her country, her job is here and her people are here. Armando looks at her and tells her she can rest easily, her country doesn't need her, and neither do her job and her people why does she choose to stay and suffer the horrors of Third Worldism? Patricia insists that he make an exception with her and Armando turns around, winks at Betty, and asks her if they can pay Patricia or deposit her paycheck in her bank account. Betty, while attempting to blink or maybe it's her nervous tick [I'm not sure :o)], tells Armando that definitely not and she continues timing Patricia's minute. Armando turns around and tells Patricia that he could do nothing for her and just then Betty's countdown reaches zero and Armando tells Patricia that their talk is over, her minute is gone. But Patricia is persistent and tells Armando that this hurts her so much that it may cause her to lock herself up in a bathroom and commit suicide. Armando just calmly looks at her and asks her not to do it in one of Eco Moda's bathrooms, LOL! When Patricia leaves, Betty tells Armando that she was able to get the $3,000 to send to his parents. Armando asks her to wire the money right away, and Betty answers with her usual, "Sí, Doctor", but this time it's accompanied by a big smile. Armando just rolls his eyes again. Patricia is not a happy camper and is talking to herself about the lack of payment when the phone rings it's Daniel. Patricia is so ticked off that she doesn't recognize him and treats him badly so Daniel asks her to identify herself because he will not permit that someone so uppity continue to answer the phones at Eco Moda. Patricia immediately retorts that he should instruct Armando to pay his employees and then they will answer the phone correctly, but if he wants to fire her he can go ahead, after all, she's already got her letter of resignation ready. Daniel wants to know what's going on and Patricia informs him that Eco Moda hasn't paid this month's payroll. Daniel asks her what's going on and she tells him that he's the stockholder, he can find out himself. Daniel has one more piece of advice for Patricia, don't answer the phone any longer because one can tell a mile away that she needs money and that she's desperate for a husband to support her and he hangs up. Sandra and Mariana notice Patricia's shenanigans and correctly guess that the lack of money is driving her crazy. Sandra suggests that they leave for lunch, but Mariana tells her she doesn't have any money either and then suggests that they call a meeting of El Cuartel. Hugo walks by Patsy-Pat's desk and asks her what's wrong. She relays once again the litany of Eco Moda's failure to pay and shows Hugo all of her bills. Hugo tells her that as a matter of fact he's on his way to talk to Marge because the models are furious that they haven't gotten paid. Patricia suggests that he doesn't waste his time with Marcela because she's already told her a couple of times that there's no money and she should talk to Armando or Betty. Hugo tells her that he will not talk to that 'mercachifle'; he will deal with Marge he's leaving to Milan and he's got to leave everything taken care of he's too has responsibilies to meet. Patricia tells him he shouldn't complain because he makes a lot more money than she does. But Hugo clarifies that he also lives on a higher budget he's got to pay his clothes, his apartment and his mom's, the dog's food, etc., etc., etc. Patricia says that's all well and fine but at least he has a boyfriend for moral support and she only has her own shoulder to cry on and she's getting so desperate that she may go after Hugo's boyfriend. Hugo tells her that his boyfriend would "prefer an inflatable doll to you any day, zzzzzzz." El Cuartel has gathered at Sandra's and Mariana's desks and since only Inesita has a bit of money, Inesita suggests that they raffle who will eat and who will not. Bertha tells them they don't have to worry about her because her auto-suggestion diet is working wonderfully. Aura María tells her that it can't be working that well because she sees her a little heavier now. :o) Freddy walks up and when he asks what's going on, Sofía tells him that they're hungry and they have no money. Freddy turns to Aura María and tells him that her problem is solved, her stomach need not feel anxiety, and he hands her some money. Aura María doesn't hesitate and takes the money with a smile from ear to ear (¡bandida!). Inesita asks Freddy if he's going to lunch with them, but he answers that due to the monetary crisis he can't afford two lunches and wishes Aura María a good lunch. At that point, Betty walks up and asks if they're going to lunch and Sofía tells the same story all over again, but Betty says that she will invite everyone out to lunch, they're not used to doing without and she will take care of it. Everyone's faces change and Mariana asks Betty where she got the money. Patricia, who had been lurking in the background the entire time, suggests that maybe the books of Eco Moda should be checked. Sandra steps up to bat to defend her friend and tells Patricia that Betty is the one that makes the most money at Eco Moda. And Mariana doesn't hold back, she pipes in that Betty is an economist, knows how to handle money and she doesn't just have "seis semestres de finanzas en la San Marino". Now it's Aura María's turn and she tells Patricia that Betty is not a spendthrift, she saves. And finally Bertha jumps in and says that to erase any remaining doubts, Betty has a rich boyfriend sitting in an office making lots of money. As El Cuartel enters the elevator, Patricia asks in an annoyed tone of voice where they got that from a comic strip? And as the elevator door is closing she yells that between all of them they can't even get a gay man interested in them. And who just so happens to be standing right there? Hugo of course! :o) Patricia explains that she was just annoying El Cuartel because they were saying that Betty had a rich boyfriend. When Marcela asks who it is, Patricia comes back with "it's probably Goofy." But Hugo pipes in, "No, it's not, it's a gremlin," -- and they all begin to laugh. Armando walks up to join the group and asks them to share the joke. Marcela tells him that they are talking about Betty and her boyfriend didn't he know? Armando very seriously says that he didn't know, he doesn't get involved in her private life. Hugo tells him that he's dying to meet him because those type of people should be locked up in a lab for scientific study and cameras should record their every movement (Armando's face is going from bad to worse) he's sure that when they go to kiss each other they grab each other by the ears and get all slobbery. Marcela doesn't hold back and she says that she doesn't know how anyone could kiss Beatriz yuck! And Patricia makes her contribution she's convinced that the only thing that can kiss Beatriz is a bat. Armando looks sick to his stomach by all of his comments (after all, he's the one doing the kissing) and Marcela adds that the 'novio' is a millionaire, but Patricia corrects her he's a multimillionaire and he lent her money so that she could invite El Cuartel out to lunch at El Corrientazo (more sarcasting laughs). Armando steps off to the side still with a very serious look on his face and Marcela comments that no one can make front of Beatriz in the presence of Armando. Hugo suggests that Armando ask Betty to introduce him to her rich boyfriend so that maybe they can do business together and that way he can get money to pay his employees. Armando's response is a very staccato-like, "ja ja ja, que chistositos están hoy" and tells Hugo that there is no money. He gets in the elevator and says to himself, "I'm going to kill Beatriz Pinzón Solano." At El Corrientazo, Betty tells El Cuartel that she doesn't have a boyfriend and she doesn't want them to mention it anymore. Mariana asks if she still hasn't resolved her situation and Betty tells her she hasn't had the time, she's been working too much, and doesn't have the time to have a stable relationship. Aura María gives her advice: she should call Nicolás, invite him to a dark place, and then hands here, hands there Inesita interrupts this and Aura María tells her that she should get him drunk and just take him to a motel. Inesita gets even more upset at this suggestion and Aura María changes her tactic once more: she should let him take her to a motel and then she starts to take her clothes off. Well, Inesita covers her fact at this one, and Aura María has one final suggestion, let him take her clothes off it's more exciting! Inesita has had enough and gets up to leave. Aura María hugs her, calms her down and tells her that she won't open her mouth any more. Mario and Armando are having lunch together and Armando tells Mario the chisme that is all over Eco Moda: Betty has a rich boyfriend. Mario asks if they said the name starts with an 'N' or an 'A', and Armando says he's convinced they're talking about him. Mario says that since Betty didn't say a name, could this mean that she's having a simultaneous relationship with Nicolás and Armando? Armando answers, in an exasperated tone of voice, that he doesn't know. Mario gets another little dig in and tells him that the possibility that Betty may be cheating on him is more than he can bear. Armando rolls his eyes (yet again) and tells Mario to stop it. Mario tells him that, in all seriousness, when a woman as ugly as Betty gets a boyfriend, she has to tell all of her friends about him, even if she doesn't mention any names. But Armando tells him that Betty can't be talking about their relationship because he warned her that it had to stay between the two of them he doesn't understand. And Mario quips back with "this can only mean that you're going to have your first domestic argument, like all couples, and please control the jealousy or you're going to stick your foot in it." -- FREEZE! TO BE CONTINUED ==================
*****SUMMARY, FRIDAY, 11/03/00***** At El Corrientazo, Sandra tells Aura María to stop tormenting Betty, but Aura María continues and asks Betty if she's never had sex with a man. Inesita stops her and tells them to stop this amoral conversation and Sofía sides with her. Betty also asks them to stop talking about her 'novio', but Bertha tells her that they've got to talk about it at least in front of the Peliteñida because it was obvious it really bothered her. In fact, she was so upset over the gossip that she almost fell backwards like 'Condorito', LOL! And for those of you that don't know who 'Condorito' is, he's a character of a very famous comic strip in Latin America and either he or the people he's talking to always fall backwards going "plop!" after the punchline. Example:
Mariana chimes in and tells Betty that she should bring Nicolás into Eco Moda right under Patricia's nose. Betty is uncomfortable with all of this, but El Cuartel insists because they want to get back at the Peliteñida. Betty finally tells them that she simply doesn't want to go to war with Patricia and, simply stated, there are things that are not true about this story. El Cuartel returns to Eco Moda to find Jenny using Aura María's telephone to call her 'pupuchurro'. Aura María goes right up to her and demands to know what she is doing using her phone. Jenny explains that Hugo doesn't like her making or receiving calls at the 'taller' and she just wanted to let her 'pupuchurro' know that she was okay. Aura María tells her that it's the first and last time that she wants to see her using her phone and Jenny promises that as soon as Sofía pays her cell phone repairs, she will never bother her again. As Jenny takes the elevator, Sandra remarks that Jenny is #2 on her list of possible homicides, #1 being the Peliteñida, of course. :o) Sofía tells them that this afternoon she's meeting with the lawyer that Marcela recommended she wants to see El Cheque in jail. Freddy arrives and asks Aura María if she had a nice lunch and if she thought about him as she ate. Aura María tells him with a big smile that she thought about him all throughout lunch, especially when she paid the bill. Freddy then tells her not to worry about going home tonight because he can take her on his motorcycle Aura María accepts and Freddy leaves. Inesita asks Aura María if she's going to accept Freddy's ride home tonight or if she's just telling him that so he can take his money. Sandra pipes in that she can't keep leading Freddy on and Aura María promises to straighten everything out later. As El Cuartel leaves, Aura María takes a call from one of her 'papacitos' and tells him the same thing she told Freddy that she's been thinking about him all day. Betty walks into Armando's office he's not there and lovingly places a lollypop on his desk. Hugo tells his models that they are not paying today either. As the models start to protest, Hugo tells them that he's got the same problems as they do, he's got to buy creams, wax, gifts for the boyfriend, etc. but he's got a solution for them. They should do what Jenny did: find a guy with money and take him away from his wife. He goes on to say that Jenny did the smart thing, she found someone who can support her. But Jenny interrupts and tells him that her 'guñi-guñi' doesn't support her, she pays for her own stuff. But neither Hugo nor the models believe her and they start to laugh. Inesita walks in and Hugo starts in on her too she tells the models that she got married, bored him, and he kicked her out. But Inesita is having none of that, she sets Hugo straight and tells him that she was the one that got bored. The models ask Hugo to plead for them about their paycheck, but Hugo said he already tried and he told him in a very serious tone of voice that there is no money. At any rate, he continues, he doesn't have the physical attributes to convince him. The models suggest that maybe they should go up and talk to Armando and Hugo tells them that they might get somewhere with those lovely bodies. Armando comes back from lunch to find Bertha with her face immersed in a chocolate muffin. Armando reminds her that he hates people eating in the hallways. Bertha promises that she will never do it again and offers Armando some of her snack. As Armando makes a face and turns her down, Bertha reminds him that she will continue to tell him everything he wants to know, but he needs to keep this quiet and not tell anyone. Armando walks away saying, "Bertha, Bertha, Bertha " Once Armando reaches his office, he begins to look at some paperwork and the lollypop goes unnoticed. In comes Betty and asks him if he had a good lunch. Armando absentmindedly answers "hmmm " and Betty places some paperwork in front of him to sign regarding the wire to his parents. She goes on to tell him that she has good news for him, the sales reports are good and with the money Mario has been able to get, they're in good shape. Since Armando is almost ignoring her, Betty asks if he's mad at her. Armando finally looks up from his paperwork and ironically tells her he's not mad, it doesn't bother him one bit that she goes around the hallways of the company telling one and all that she's got a rich boyfriend. Betty acts totally surprised "¿Yo?" And Armando, finally picking up the lollypop to use as a pointer (jajaja), walks up to Betty and tells her that she did, in fact, do this because Patricia Fernández overheard it and now it's all over the company. He ends up telling her, "¡Usted me engañó, maldita sea, me engañó!" Betty puts a hand up to her mouth and assures Armando that she never said anything of the kind. Then she goes on to explain how things actually happened and how Patricia had insinuated that she had stolen the money from Eco Moda and how El Cuartel came to her defense and it's because they tease her about Nicolás Mora. Armando asks Betty if she's told El Cuartel that she has a relationship with Nicolás Mora, but Betty denies this as well and tells him that Bertha only said it to bother Patricia. The only relationship she has with Nicolás is one of friendship and work. A calmer Armando walks back behind his desk and reminds Betty that he doesn't want anyone in the company even suspecting that there might be something between them and this talk of a rich boyfriend makes him uncomfortable. Betty replies that she's already asked El Cuartel to stop teasing her about Nicolás Mora at any rate, she wants to apologize to him for the misunderstanding and wants to assure him that her word is good and she would rather die rather than break her word, it's sacred to her ¿usted me cree, doctor? Armando tells her that he believes her and Betty smiles. Mario walks in and starts to apologize for the interruption and walk away, but Betty retreats into her office. Mario asks Armando if they had a fight, and when Armando just makes a face, Mario then asks if they've now reconciliated, to which Armando responds, "No sea un idiota, Calderón." Mario keeps teasing him and assures him that he doesn't want to become involved in couple's intimate moments and then asks Armando to follow him into the boardroom, he's got something to show him. Mario tells Armando that women forgive everything, except that he doesn't pay attention to details. It's those little things that make a woman's heart go pitter-patter. He reaches into a bag and pulls out several cards for every occasion and a box of chocolates then he reaches into his pants' pockets and pulls out several different types of chocolates which he throws over to Armando culminating with a big, heart-shaped chocolate lollypop. But Mario's not done yet he pulls out two kinds of stationery to write love notes on. Armando tells Mario that he refuses to write love notes on heart-covered or palm-covered paper (jajaja), but Mario tells him it won't be necessary because he will become his Cirano DeBergerac. When Armando asks when he became so romantically inclined, Mario tells him that inspiration doesn't need to be original, you can buy it and out he pulls first a teeny book with poems and then proceeds to pull out a lot more books of the same type. As Armando loses it and starts to laugh, Mario shows him that what he has to do is put a rose petal marking the page that has her favorite poem and then he proceeds to read the mushy poem. Mario doesn't stop there he says if none of that stuff works, then there is always the recourse of romantic ballads, and out he pulls a bunch of CD's. He and Armando start singing the lyrics to "Linda" but then realize that the song doesn't fit Betty, so then comes "Ay Amor Divino", but that doesn't work either according to Armando, so Mario starts to do his choreography of "Tú Estas Siempre en Mi Mente" (while Armando hits his head with a heart-shaped balloon), but Armando doesn't like that either, so Mario starts to sing another one and Armando joins him, "Yo no nací para amar, nadie nació para mí," and Mario tells him that's the one they'll use when he gets rid of Betty. (Despite how mean this is supposed to be, I found this all extremely funny I was laughing out loud!). Armando tells Mario that he likes the ballads and all, but he can't see himself using them with Betty it's too mushy. Mario reminds him that it may seem mushy to him, but this stuff touches the hearts of millions of "fea's" in the world. Armando agrees that maybe some of the stuff will work, but what's up with the candy wrapper? Mario reminds Armando that that is the wrapper from the first candy bar that Betty ever gave him and he's got to hide it somewhere in his office so that Betty will find it and will see how important that was to him in order for this scheme to work, he says to Armando, he's got to think of it like medicine, the necessary dosage has to be applied every day and he (Mario) will be in charge of the romantic side of the relationship with Betty. Armando fears that he may feel foolishly ridiculous if he lets Mario be in charge of the romance, but Mario reminds him that all lovers make fools of themselves and that from now on, he's got to begin to administer the passionate dosage of love to his relationship with Betty. When Armando starts to argue, Mario reminds him that Betty's already given him
his first 'detalle' (the candy bar), they've already had their first fight, and tonight is the night for reconciliation hasn't he heard that the best part of arguing is making up? Armando just looks on horrified. :o) Mario picks out the card that Armando's got to leave on Betty's desk, but Armando says that he's got plans tonight and he can't keep doing stuff that he doesn't want to do. Mario reminds him he's just got to do his other job Armando takes off his glasses, covers his face and starts to act like he's crying. Daniel walks in to Eco Moda and starts hassling Patricia right off the bat. He asks her if she's got a 'novio' or a lover yet to support her. Patricia turns around and tells him that she's never had lovers. Daniel reminds her that her situation is worse everyday and she's got to realize that she's only good enough to make love but that won't last all of her life, she can't keep wasting time. Patricia tells him she will not take his insults, but Daniel tells him it's just advice from a friend, an ex-lover that knows her body really well. She should realize that she's wasting her talents by working at Eco Moda as a secretary with 'seis semestres de finanzas' but if she looked in the mirror she might realize her real assets: a great pair of legs, magnificent breasts, an attractive face and that she's still in time to take advantage of these things with a lover that might support her financially. Patricia retorts that she's grateful for his advice but he's way off the mark with her (I don't think sooooo) and she knows how to handle things. Daniel reminds her of her mistake with the pregnancy and that she lost the opportunity of going to Miami with $5,000 a month. Patricia tells him once again that she doesn't need a lover to support her, but Daniel insists that she take advantage of her assets now because in her future she will just be an old lady with lots of debts like Elizabeth Taylor when she turned 60. Patricia wants to know why he's giving her all of this advice and even bothering with her does he want to be her lover? But Daniel tells her that it's not him, he's asking on behalf of a friend that is interested in supporting a lover. Patricia becomes really flustered at this and tells him she can't stand him and to get out of her sight. But Daniel is not done and tells her that when she realizes her mistake, to just give him a call and he will hook her up with his friend. Patricia just gives him a venomous look. :o) In the boardroom, Armando tells Mario that he can't take out Betty every night he only agreed that he was going to make Betty fall in love with him, not that he was going to become her 'novio'. Additionally, he says, that he's already got an asfixiating relationship with Marcela and he can't have another 'novia' especially 'vampirito'. Mario tells him that if he thinks he's already accomplished his goal then he can stop. But Armando then comes back and says that he knows he's got to do more work, but it can't be every night. Mario reminds him that Nicolás is lurking in the background and if Armando doesn't convince Betty, he (Nicolás) will be rubbing his hands in glee over Betty's money. Armando tells him the problem is that he's never gone out with an ugly woman, this is the first time that he's done so. Mario insists that the romance with Betty has to be something serious, something with frequency and intensity he compares it to a fire in a hearth you start with a couple of logs, you light them, and when the fire takes then you've got warmth for a very long time. Armando compliments Mario on his poeticism and calls him 'Jorge Luis Borge Calderón', jejeje (this is a very famous Argentine poet, essayist, and short-story writer) and Mario informs him that he didn't get that one out of a book "my dear, Pablo Neruda Mendoza" (after the famous Chilean poet and Nobel Prize winner) he's got to work hard and ensure that Betty is really in love because women in love are really patient and are willing to compromise for whatever you give them, but before Betty reaches that point, Armando's got to consolidate the romance. Armando says that he's goig to have a lot of problems with Marcela, but Mario reminds him that he's an expert at lying to Marcela as a matter of fact, it might be harder for him to kiss Betty than to lie to Marcela. After that last comment, Daniel walks in and interrupts them. Armando looks him over and in a voice heavily-laced with irony says, "Dichosos los ojos que te ven, Daniel Valencia, ¿a qué debemos tu visita a nuestras instalaciones?" But before Daniel answers, Armando gets it one more dig and tells him that he looks like a funeral director with that black suit he's wearing. Daniel answers that this is very appropriate because he's coming to see how capital is buried at Eco Moda he wants to know why he didn't receive his dividends for this month, are they bankrupt? With a smile on his face, Armando turns to Mario and asks him if he knows anything about them being bankrupt and Mario just shakes his head Armando tells Daniel that he assumes that he will get paid tomorrow. Daniel wants to know where he can get more information that just a simple assumption. Daniel then notices all of the stuff on the table and picks up one of the books with the love poems. Armando tells him that the books belong to Mario, and while Mario sits there looking really uncomfortable, Daniel begins to read out of the book [Armando in the meantime is laughing at Mario's expense :o)]. Daniel also notices the CD's Leo Dan, Elio Roca, Eleno, Juan Gabriel, Myriam Hernandez, Palito Ortega he ironically congratulates Mario on his collection and tells him he's definitely the last romantic soul on this earth and walks out. As Armando bursts out into uncontrolled laughter, Mario's head falls to the table he can't believe that Daniel, of all people, saw all of this stuff and now thinks it belongs to him. Mario doesn't think it's funny that Armando is laughing at his expense, and Armando explains (while still laughing) that he couldn't let his brother-in-law know that all of this stuff was his. Mario starts putting away all of the books, cards, and CD's and tells Armando that he has never felt like such a fool in his entire life. Armando answers that he's glad he feels that way because that's exactly how he feels making 'vampirito' fall in love with him. Mario assures him it's not over, and Armando just bursts into laughter again. :o) Daniel walks into Betty's office and asks her why she looks so frightened. Betty tells him that it's probably just an involuntary contraction of her facial muscles when she sees him the same thing happens when she watches horror movies and she laughs (way to go, Betty!) Daniel wants to know why he produces terror in her because he can tell her why she produces terror in him. Betty comes back with, "I didn't know the feeling was mutual." :o) Daniel wants to know if it's because she's afraid that he will ask to look in her computer and find the real numbers of Eco Moda, the losses that would make him request an audit of the books. Her attitude, he adds, is to cover Armando's back. But Betty claims that it's not to cover Armando's back it's just that he (Daniel) is always the bearer of bad news. Daniel wants to know what bad news he's brought that makes her say that. Betty tells him that whenever he visits, everyone starts to scream, "Bad news, Dr. Valencia is coming," and they all get ready to greet him as if he were death itself because he hardly ever has a kind gesture (boy, Betty is on a roll!) Daniel smiles uncomfortably and tells her that her honesty surprises him and he doesn't think it's a good idea to be so honest with a stockholder of the company. Betty tells him she would feel the same way if he didn't doubt her so much. Daniel then asks for his dividend check, but Betty tells him she's got bad news for him, there won't be a dividend check because they are overdrafted and they have no funds. Daniel reminds her that he's got a great capital invested in this company and the last thing he wants to hear is that he can't be paid his dividends before making the banks happy they've got to make the stockholders happy. Betty agrees but tells him that if they don't make the banks happy then they won't be able to meet their obligations with the stockholders in the future. In any case, she adds, she thinks that by tomorrow afternoon they can wire the money to the stockholders. Daniel tells him that she can drop that terrified look on her face, he's leaving. Betty, with a smug smile on her face, tells him that she's sure that when he leaves, the look on her face will disappear as well (yessssssss!). Mario and Armando walk into Armando's office when Daniel is walking out of Betty's office. They are intrigued by his presence in Betty's office and Armando starts to walk towards her office door when Mario stops him and tells him, "Othello, please, no jealous scenes, they weren't doing anything, exercise control, control," jajajaja. Armando calls him an imbecile, opens the door to Betty's office and in an agitated tone asks her what Daniel was doing there. Betty answers that he just came by to find out why they hadn't deposited the dividends in his account yet. Armando tells her that's not the reason, he doesn't need the money, somebody must have told him that they weren't able to make payroll and he came to snoop around. Betty tells him to calm down, she told him that they would pay him tomorrow afternoon. Armando asks for the list of the wires (for the dividends I assume) and Betty tells him that Sofía must have it and walks past Armando and Mario to go get it. After she leaves, Armando and Mario rush over to his desk and Mario places the candy wrapper in a pencil holder on his desk, then they go into Betty's office and Mario puts down the box of candy with the card on top in the middle of Betty's desk. Armando picks up the card so he can read what he supposedly wrote and tells Mario that he would never write something like that. He places the card back in the envelope and then on top of Betty's desk they leave her office. Daniel visits Marcela to discuss his missing dividend check. Marcela tells him that she should drop the role of victim because he doesn't need the money and he just came in to bother Armando. But Daniel tells her that he really does need the money because he's been investing in a project that requires a lot of money every month, he's heavily into debt, and if he doesn't keep contributing, he might be kicked out of the project and he might lose all of his money. As your brother, he adds, I can tell you I can barely live on the money I receive as a government employee. Marcela tells him that she's glad that for the first time in his life he talks to her as a brother and she can also tell him as a sister that she will make 'la cosa esa' wire him his money. Daniel wants to know if 'la cosa esa' is Betty and asks if she's got enough power to order her to wire the money. Marcela is offended instantly and asks if he is insinuating that Betty has more power than her, and goes on to say that if she doesn't obey, she will mop all of Eco Moda's floors with her. Daniel tells her that if she does that, Armando will mop all of Eco Moda's floors with her (Marcela). Marcela gives him a drop-dead look. When Daniel leaves Marcela's office, he walks over to Patricia again and asks if she's thought it over can he set her up with his friend? Patricia warns him that she's tempted to slap him. Daniel answers that he's got a better offer then: since she thought that the possible lover could be himself, he will allow her the opportunity to realize that dream, at least halfway she can keep working at Eco Moda and every time that he wants, she'll come over to his apartment and they will make love. But please, he adds, don't talk to me at all, you take off your clothes and that's it and we will make financial arrangements so that you can pay off your debts. Patricia is even more flustered now than before and tells Daniel that she will not have a relationship with him for all of the money in the world. Daniel notices her bills and tells her that they are about to cut off her cell phone and the problem with her credit cards is now a judicial one they are going to place a lien on her assets. He hands the bills back to Patricia and leaves, leaving Patricia staring after him. Betty walks into Armando's office and hands him the lists of the wires and the total to be paid. She smiles at him and Armando smiles back. When she walks into her office, Armando makes a worried face (he knows what she's going to find). And of course, as soon as she sits down, Betty finds the card, opens it and reads it. It says: "Las desavenencias entre los dos, los disgustos, los malos entendidos no son más que otra forma de demostrarte cuanto te amo. Atentamente, Armando." Betty holds the card to her chest, picks up the chocolates and hold them to her chest as well, and says, "Don Armando, I love you too." -- FREEZE! TO BE CONTINUED
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USA 11/6-10/00. Most of this week deals with Armando's dates with Betty, her dreams. Enough money finally comes in to pay the salaries. Freddy sees Aura Maria kissing another man. Wilson, the guard, acts as the go-beween between Freddy and Aura Maria.
La Opinion, 11/12/00. [summary of previous week] Solo TV novelas
Betty, la fea KVEA Canal 52, lunes a viernes, 8:00 p.m. Lo más sobresaliente en la semana pasada de Betty, la fea fue cuando Betty y Armando cantaron juntos en una discoteca. Eso estuvo sensacional. La novia de Armando, Marcela se muere de los celos y casi todos en Ecomoda creen que es una mujer muy insegura e insoportable. También el poema que Betty le dedica a Armando y que por accidente Marcela lo lee. No se sabe si es parte del libreto o (Ana María Orozco) Betty lo escribió. Esa escena estuvo fenomenal y la cara que puso Armando cuando Marcela le reclamó su infidelidad, parece que ya le picó el gusanito del amor por Betty. Esta semana se anunció que la poderosa cadena Globo de Brasil compró los derechos de la telenovela Betty, la fea por 100 mil dólares Red Globo, le ganó al segundo canal brasileño SBT, quien también tenía intenciones de comprarla. Actualmente varios países de Latinoamérica incluyendo México, están transmitiendo esta novela. No se sabe todavía si Globo, uno de los principales canales de telenovelas hará su versión brasileña con sus propios actores y escenarios o si la transmitirá con doblaje, cosa que sería raro de verse, ya que el canal siempre ha producido sus propias teleseries. Betty, la fea es un gran éxito internacional, y como era de esperarse ya está en producción una muñeca "Betty", que será comercializada muy pronto en Colombia y en los mercados donde se exhibe esta telenovela. Por otra parte se informó que para aprovechar el certamen nacional de la belleza en Colombia, en el libreto se permitirá involucrar a Betty con las candidatas al concurso reunidas en Cartagena. En La Heroica, un lugar donde se graban algunas escenas de Betty, la fea, la presentadora chilena Cecilia Bolocco fungirá como maestra de ceremonias. Esta será la segunda vez que Cecilia aparece en la telenovela a invitación del escritor Fernando Gaitán. Por su parte, la estrella de la serie brasileña Xica afirmó que ya grabó un capítulo para Betty, la fea. Taís Araujo dijo estar emocionada de haber trabajado al lado de Ana María Orozco y de Betty, personaje al cual calificó de un personaje muy carismático.
http://www.laciudad.com/entretenimiento/telenovelas Viernes 19 de mayo Daniel se encarga de envenenar a Marcela en contra de Betty. La Fea ve como las modelos le coquetean a Armando. Patricia le propone a Marcela que sigan a Armando. El Cuartel ve salir a Betty y su jefe juntos. Aura María se le vuelve a escapar a Freddy. El Cuartel le advierte al muchacho sobre Aura María. Patricia se esconde en el carro de Mario e intenta seducirlo. Patricia recurre a Wilson para que le preste dinero. Lunes 22 de mayo Daniel se encarga de envenenar a Marcela en contra de Betty. La Fea ve como las modelos le coquetean a Armando. Patricia le propone a Marcela que sigan a Armando. El Cuartel ve salir a Betty y su jefe juntos. Aura María se le vuelve a escapar a Freddy. El Cuartel le advierte al muchacho sobre Aura María. Patricia se esconde en el carro de Mario e intenta seducirlo. Patricia recurre a Wilson para que le preste dinero. Martes 23 de mayo Armando deja a Betty en una discoteca. Ella le dice a Hermes que Armando es su novio. Marcela llega de sorpresa al coctel y le hace una escena de celos a Armando. En la discoteca Betty se ve obligada a pedir una botella de whisky. Marcela acusa a Armando de utilizar a sus amigos para que le ayuden a esconder sus aventuras amorosas. El anfitrión del coctel debe salvar una vez más a Armando. Marcela no se da por vencida tan fácilmente. Miércoles 24 de mayo Armando y Betty tienen un nuevo acercamiento. Él se muestra paranoico en la discoteca. Marcela busca por todas partes a su novio. Armando y Betty intentan pasar desapercibidos, pero quedan al descubierto y deben manifestar en público su amor. Aura María entra acompañada de su amigo a la misma discoteca. Sánchez le presenta a Nicolás unas chicas poco recomendables. Jueves 25 de mayo Hermes espera a escondidas a Betty, cuando ella llega con Armando. Nicolás le presta el celular a una de las chicas del bar. Betty le confiesa a su diario los últimos acontecimientos con Armando. Freddy espera a Aura María hasta que llega a su casa acompañada de otro de sus amiguitos. Mientras Julia anima a Betty para mejorar su apariencia, Hermes le recuerda que es una mujer decente. Viernes 26 de mayo Betty le llama la atención a Nicolás por no ser más cuidadoso con las cosas de Terramoda. Nicolás llama a Sánchez para saber si apareció el celular. Freddy se confiesa con Wilson, quien lo reta para que no le demuestre lo que siente por ella. Marcela le cuenta a Patricia que una mujer le está robando a Armando y que está dispuesta a acabar con ella. Lunes 29 de mayo Marcela monta un plan de inteligencia para averiguar la identidad de la mujer que está saliendo con Armando. Sofía no puede creer que al final haya perdido la lucha y deba pagarle el celular a Jenny. Freddy decide hacerle caso a Wilson y no le vuelve a hablar a Aura María. Betty intenta que no se le note lo que siente por su jefe, pero no puede evitar mirarlo de manera diferente.Martes 30 de mayo Betty siente celos al pensar que Armando pudo pasar la noche con otra mujer. Armando regaña a Aura María por sus constantes llegadas tardes. Aura María empieza a sentir la indiferencia de Freddy. Betty presencia una fuerte discusión entre Marcela y Armando y, aunque no lo quiera, entiende mucho a Marcela. Betty deja en el escritorio de Armando una nota de amor que está a punto de descubrir Marcela.Miércoles 31 de mayo Armando recurre a Freddy para que le confirme a Marcela la hora en que llegó a Ecomoda. Ella encuentra el poema que Betty le dejó a Armando. La asistente le propone a su jefe que terminen la relación. Marcela le pide a Patricia que averigue quien es Delmira Agustini. El Cuartel juzga duramente a la amante de Armando, delante de Betty. Nicolás tiene noticias de su teléfono celular.Jueves 01 de junio Marcela le pregunta a Betty si el novio la echó. Betty anuncia que ya se puede girar la nómina. Armando y Mario se preocupan por una conversación que escuchan entre Nicolás y Betty. Armando le dice a Mario que siente que Betty está jugando con dos hombres y eso lo preocupa. Mario le contesta que deben adoptar medidas más drásticas.
Viernes 02 de junioMario le pide a Armando que elija entre su ego o Ecomoda. Hugo le cuenta a Marcela todo lo que averiguó sobre Delmira. Patricia y Marcela llegan a la conclusión de que la amante de Armando trabaja en Ecomoda. El Cuartel presencia cómo Freddy ignora a Aura María. Wilson le cuenta a Marcela que la noche del coctel, Armando salió con Betty. Martes 06 de junio Mario le pide a Armando que elija entre su ego y la empresa. Hugo le cuenta a Marcela todo lo que averiguó de Delmira. El Cuartel presencia como Freddy ignora a Aura María. Wilson le cuenta a Marcela que la noche del coctel, Armando salió con su asistente.
Subject: SUMMARY FROM MONDAY - - part 1 Author: Gea (149.123.131.139) Date: 11-07-2000 12:02 We start off with Armando flirting with two models on the way into his office,doing his usual "Rico Suave" routine, one woman on each arm. As he comes through the door, Betty opens her door. He tries to play it off as them asking him for money, of course one of the models asks him "what's going on", but lucky for him, Betty's not paying attention, she's too giddy over a box of chocolates that Mario left for her in Armando's name, and only looks at him and says "gracias".
Next scene, Mario and Armando - - Mario asks Armando if Betty liked the chocolates, Armando says yes - - then Mario tells Armando he has to take Betty out tonight as part of the reconciliation - - Armando says no - - he has an event to go to, and then to Marcela's and he can't take BETTY to the event (implication being that he has taken other women besides Marcy) . Mario tells him he's going to go to the event and then go out with Betty - - it's part of their reconciliation. So Mario tells Armando to tell Marcy that some people she won't like will be there, so she won't want to go.
Armando then goes to Bety and tells her that he will take her home, Betty says yes Dr - - so he tells her "it's not an order, it's part of our . . . " she says for him not to worry about it, she understands, and he should let her know when he's ready to go.
Armando then "invites" Marcy to the event, emphasizing all the people that she doesn't like who will be there, so she says she won't go, but then marches back to her office very angry.
Patty follows her back into her office, asking what's wrong - - Marcy says that Armando's going out with another woman tonight, and she's hot about it. Patty encourages her to talk about it, Marcy says no, Patty says she should follow him, Marcy says she has too much dignity for that, but she has other plans. She refuses to talk about it, and marches out of her office, fuming. Patty then follows after her anxiously, saying she can't just leave because Patty needs money for gas. This explains why Patty was trying to pretend to think about someone else.
It's now the end of the day, and Mario is coaching Armando on how to take Betty somewhere, drop her off, stop at the party for the alibi and then rejoin Betty later.
Patty tries to hit Mario up for some money while he is talking on his cell phone, but he charges for the elevator and manages to avoid talking to her, while making plans on who he will take to the party.
Armando knocks on Betty's door to take her home. She's putting the finishing touches on her hair just before he sticks his head in, and he says "ready?", and she nods. Then after he closes the door (she's still inside) he makes a face- - the perfume must smell pretty bad.
Next - - the quartel are at the elevator ready to go home while Aura Maria is flirting on the phone with whoever her newest is, and then she takes off to catch up with him, even though she was supposed to meet Freddy.
The quartel ask if Betty is going out with them, she says no and looks at Armando, who says he will take her since he has an appointment near her. Betty and Armando stay on the elevator to go to the garage while the quartel gets off on the main floor.
The quartel see Freddy, upset that Aura Maria is nowhere to be found - - Freddy goes on and on about how much he loves her, how he worships the chair she sits in, la la la (painful) and Inesita tells him he shouldn't hurt himself this way. He says that he only is happy when he is near her, so he can't give her up, and at least there is no competition. At this all of the quartel aviod his eyes, and as he asks them directly - -there is none, right? And they all hurry off home, leaving him sad.
The next scene is Armando and Betty approaching the car. Betty waits on her side, Armando goes to his and is waiting for her to get into the car until he realizes she expects him to open the door (his very subtle eye movements here are hilarious). So he opens the door for her. After they are both in the car, she tells him that she knows it is way out of the way, that his appointment is no where near her, and he could drop her at the corner. He insists that he will take her out - - she says no, back and forth until he yells at her that he will take her out.
Next half - - the party. Subject: Monday - - part 2 Author: Gea (149.123.22.32) Date: 11-07-2000 13:29
Armando takes Betty to a dance club(possibly the same one they went to before? It looks bigger), and tells her he will drop by the party for a while, and then come back and join her. She puckers up for a kiss, and he makes funny faces all the way up to a quick brush and she goes in without him.
Meanwhile, Mario is on his way to his car, to go to the party himself. He gets in, and moves to turn the car on, and Patricia pops up and attacks him "romantically" either to get gas or to get a ride (I missed a little of this because I got a phone call). He drives off without helping her, so she is wandering around the garage without a way to get home. She ends up begging that guard for help, who gives her the money along with the comment that " it is definitely better to be rich than poor."
Betty's house: Nicholas is on the phone chatting away at Betty's house. He hangs up and then she calls asking for her father. Nicholas gives her a lecture on being out late all the time before passing him the phone. Her father asks where she is, and she says she is at a business event with Armando and some other associates. Her father says he can hear the music in the background - - she says it's a business party. He says he will pick her up, but she says Armando will bring her home. Her father asks why, and she says they are "novios", to which he says quit joking around and that he will see her later..
Back at the bar, she orders an orange juice - - the bartender says she has to want something stronger than that, so she says an OJ and a glass of very good whisky.
Next, Armando is at the party, schmoozing and ogling (just visually) the women, especially the TWO who are with Mario. He turns to walk across the room, and there's Marcy. He's visibly stunned. Then he says how suprised he is to see her, and she reminds him that he invited her. She begins to insinuate that he doesn't want her there, and that one of the women with Mario is for him. He plays the whole "it's all in your head" routine, and then drags her over to the two women and asks them (his hand wrapped around her upper arm) which one of them is for him. They both look at him as if he's nuts and say more or less the same, then Marcy pulls away and says he's embarrassing her.
Armando tells Mario that he has to get rid of Marcy so he can go be with Betty. Then he goes back to Marcy, and they are still going back and forth about her espionage mission and all of his women.
After this, a really cute guy Marcy doesn't like shows up and tells Armando that they have to talk business in the office at the house/apartment of the party(after repeatedly "inadvertently" reminding her of why she doesn't like him). Armando invites Marcy to come, but she passes.
Betty orders another OJ and continues to wait.
Armando goes with the other guy, once they get in the study the guy says Mario sent him, and Armando says of course there is someone else. The other guy says that she must be beautiful - -a model, a queen, etc., and Armando is becoming progressively more embarrassed - - the guy just wants a name, but that's not gonna happen.
Then Marcy shows up so they pretend to talk business - - Armando says it may take a long time so she should wait at his apartment. She leaves and he heads out almost right behind her to catch up with Betty.
Mario tells Armando that he should calm down, that there's no hurry, because "las feas" wait - -they have no where else to go. Mario points out the Armando seems more worried about Betty than Marcy, and Armando says that he has to make up for before.
When Armando gets to the club, Betty is so happy to see him she literally falls on him to hug him, and he falls with her into the seat of the booth, and awkwardly hugs her. He apologizes, and tells her what happened with Marcy. She says that he should go to his place and work it out, he says he wants to stay, they go back and forth until he is yelling that he wants to be with her.
The scenes for today only referred to the two hour special, no future notes
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Subject: *** Summary: Wed 11/8/2000 *** Author: Robin N (209.244.66.180) Date: 11-08-2000 22:01 Monday (Tuesday "Best of Betty"): Armando meets up with Betty in the disco so dark 'that people use Braille to read the faces of the people they're meeting', having escaped Marcela's suspicious clutches once again.
Today: Armando apologizes and tells Betty that he wanted the night to be special for both of them. "As you order it," she says. "Noooo... it's no order," he graciously replies, "It's pleasure. And this whiskey?" he asks. "It's for you," says Betty anxiously, "I hope you like it." "Thank you so much," he says smoothly. "I've been under a lot of stress lately and could use a drink." Betty nervously chuckles and says that she knows he can handle his liquor. "I know that you know might need an "embellecedor" to be with me." He looks up, guilty and startled. "It was a jokehaw haw," chortles Betty awkwardly. "No, no, Betty, I don't need any stimulant to find you attractive. I see you Yes, I see <iu>you</iu> and to me you're pretty. I drink the whisky only to de-stress, for no other reason. Let's toast. For you" He's soooo smooth. She clinks glasses with him, "For you, Dr." They draw closer to kiss. His cell phone rings. He sees that it's Marcela. "Oh no!" She suggests that he not answer it because of the noise in the disco, but Armando knows that he must. "Well, I'm sure that you'll think of something to tell her," says Betty, "you're very good at that." He gives her a strange look and leaves to take the call away from the table (he goes outside.)
We see Marcela in her apartment, imperiously demanding, "Are you coming? When are you coming?" Armando doesn't want to see her and continue this fight. "I'm not coming to the apartment tonight," he tells her. "Great, fine, very good," she says back, bitingly. "Let's leave this for tonight," says Armando, firmly. "Ah and why did you take so long to answer your phone?" she demands. "I went outside to take the call." "Why would you have to leave the cocktail party to answer your phone?" she presses. "What, do you want me to argue in front of everyone in the party? Give them a show like we had earlier?" "Fine!" huffs Marcela. "I'll see you later," concedes Armando. He mutters to himself as he heads back to the disco, "I'd better turn this phone off or she'll be calling me all night!" He pulls out the photo of Adrianita for his pep talk and tells himself he's got to kiss Betty. Betty is patiently waiting for him and asks him what he said to Marcela. He tells her that If he don't stay in Marcela's apartment, she thinks that there's something wrong with him. Betty tries to understand Marcela's position. "Maybe she wants some confirmation that you're relationship is legitimate." She expounds a little on her own philosophy, "When a man lives with a woman it's not a marriage, it's not a partnership it's love," she tells him. He's surprised by this and explains that what there is between him and Marcela is not love, it's business, and convenience. He wants to know if Nicolás knows that they're out together. She clasps his hand and reassures him no. "This is the most sacred secret in my life!" Armando isn't fully convinced and presses on, "What would happen if Nicolás found out?" The thought alarms Betty, "It would be horrible because he knows that you're my boss and engaged. Don't tell me that you still think there's something between me and Nicolás?" He demands that she swear that she's his alone. This touches her profoundly. She clasps his hands and swears passionately. They close in for the kiss and really get into it. His eyes bulge with the 'effort'!
In another seedy bar, Nicolás is meeting Sanchez and his pal to pay him the money owed. They get the money and they order another bottle. Nicolás wants to leave but they drag him back to be their guest. He accepts knowing he doesn't have to pay. Sanchez tires to pump him for gossip as to what's happening with the business but Nicolás doesn't want to 'divulge' classified information. Where's that bottle! It comes and drinks are poured all around. Where's another cup! It comes.
On the dance floor, Betty and Armando are dancing; well, he's trying to dance and she's hanging on to him like a leech or octopus, tripping on his feet. He pulls back a little and tries to do some steps, but she latches back onto him, arms around his neck, and he struggles to maintain his composure.
We see an increasingly irate Marcela alone in her apartment (notice how un-cozy it is, just emphasizing her aloneness?) Marcela calls Armando's cell again and gets an answering machine. She tries the home number and gets a message too. She's tries another and it's Patricia. She demands that Patricia give her Mario's cell phone number. We know that Patricia is poking her nose in and wanting to know what's going on but Marcela doesn't have time to talk. "What does it matter to you! Give it to me!"
Still at the Color-In cocktail party, Mario is chatting up a pretty woman at the party and his cell rings: "My God!" He knows that phone number. "Who is it?" asks the woman. "It's the fiancee of that man who was at the party with me: remember that scene?" He makes a quick decision and turns off his phone. We see the volcano Marcela sitting alone at her dining room table and she promises to make them pay, she knows that she's being played for a sucker.
Armando and Betty leave the dance floor. His paranoia is showing. Betty comments on it and he tells her that he's looking for people who know him. "It seems like everyone's looking at me like they know me," he tells her. Betty tries to reassure him, "None of your people come here." "I know, I know, it's just with the problem with Marcé, I'm just a little paranoid." He starts to flirt with her some more, "You know, I'd like to take you to a much nicer place, a restaurant But that would be dangerous." Betty is touched, but she's grateful for any scraps of attention he throws her way, "No any place I am with you is beautiful," she tells him. "This place will remind me of a lovely night. When we're together, you can rest assured, don't be nervous, be in peace." He kisses her cheek, then her lips. A spotlight shines on them and the disco's emcee announces that it's the hour of romance. He invites all of their chosen couples in love to join in their contest to prove how much they love each other they're going to have to sing a song. Armando panics, "Betty, I'm going to pay the check and we're going to leave, now!" The light circles around to choose the couple for the contest and they select Betty and Armando! Armando half slides under the table in embarrassment, "No, no, señor, we've paid the check and we're leaving so we can't qualify for the contest," he protests. "Don't worry about that!" cries the emcee. The emcee turns to the crowd, "Are we going to let them leave? NO! Stay and compete in the contest. What's your name?" He holds the microphone to Betty. "Betty" "Betty, what?" "Beatriz Pinzón." "And your name?" He turns the mic on Armando. "Armando" "Armando, what?" (Quick he panics) "Armando Manzanero*" LOL (*If you don't know of Armando Manzanero, he's a prolific singer/songwriter, mostly of classic love songs.) "How amazing," enthuses the emcee. He looks for a little background information: "And are you married engaged what?" When he notes their 'deer caught in the headlights' look, he chooses to start the contest. He gets Betty ready to start the song. "Music, maestro!" Everyone claps. Betty starts off and begins to sing "Si nos dejan" badly off-key, but enthusiastic. Armando looks on terrified, seconds away from vomiting, judging by his expression. The emcee encourages her as she stretches for the high notes. "Now it's Armando's turn to join in," cries the emcee. Armando is paralyzed at the idea an he doesn't start and the emcee turns to the group and shouts "Armando doesn't love Betty!" The audience picks it up and repeats "Armando doesn't love Betty!" and he must join in. He gets into it and sings really, really badly. Finally, the emcee rescues them and takes away the mic. "Now, as everyone knows, couples in love end with a kiss Kiss her!" The audience chants, "Beso! Beso! Beso!" Betty grabs Armando and kisses him enthusiastically. "Another?" suggests the emcee capriciously. "Otra! Otra! Otra!" cries the audience. Betty grabs him again and complies with a huge grin. ROTFLOL The emcee moves on to another couple and they head for the table. "Oh, Armando, I didn't know you had such talents," teases Betty. Armando can only think of making their getaway. They head out. As they're leaving they see Aura Maria with some guy and duck back. "Did she see us?" asks Armando in a panic. "No," reassures Betty, "She appears only to have eyes for that guy she's with."
In the bar, Nicolás is getting tipsy with Sanchez and friend. He gets up to leave but they won't let him, in spite of saying that he's got to get up at dawn. Two chicas come up and start flirting with Sanchez and his pal. Sanchez introduces Nicolás to the ladies and they flirt with him too. Sanchez tells them that Nicolás wants to leave and they plead for him to stay. Sanchez tells them that Nicolás is an important business man. Pleased with the attention the two hussies give him, Nicolás plays the big man and offers to pay for drinks. But first, he's got to arrange to stay later. "I've got to call and cancel an important meeting." He sneaks away to pretend to make a business call: it's really to mama. "I'm with good people and I'm behaving. I just wanted to let you know where I was. I've got to hang up now." He walks back to the table and pretends to still be talking about business, "Cancel that order, call those people, etc." He puffs himself up with importance. "Those employees don't pay attention to orders!" "Calm yourself, papacito" says one of the flirts. She starts 'calming him down' with some kisses. They toast amongst themselves.
In the car, Armando drives up to Betty's house. Betty looks up at the dark house. "It seems that my father's asleep but it's better if you let me out quickly. It was a lovely evening and I hope that you don't have any trouble with Marcela." "Don't worry," Armando reassures her. She closes her eyes for a kiss and waits. He looks at her like, now what?!? You mean I have to kiss her again?!? He pecks her and she stays where she is, eyes closed. "Good night" he tells her, as if to say, allright already! "Oh, yes, good night!" Betty gets out of the car and waves happily to him. He waves to her with that slightly pained expression on his face. She sneaks in the house, quiet as a mouse, but there's papa waiting with a blanket over his head. "Papa! You startled me!" He rants about this unseemly behavior: "You're making assignations!" "Do you see what time it is?" He thrusts his watch in her face. Betty tries to make her excuses: "I was at a work function." "Hah! You should be paid overtime." "It's not in my contract, besides I'm an employee of confidence," she replies. "And what about the other representatives of the company You were with them?" "No," Betty says, "She wasn't." "Don't you know that you could get into trouble with his fiancee?" Betty hangs her head. "She knows that I'm his assistant and she has nothing to worry about with me. I'll speak to him tomorrow." "See that you do!" he huffs. "Now get to bed!"
In the bar, everyone's getting progressively drunker and the one flirt says that she's going to head off home with Nicolás but he can't because of 'business'. The other asks to use his cell phone and he generously waves it at her. The other flirt can't hear anything and she runs off to 'make her call.' The first flirt gets Nicolás' phone number and he tells her to leave her number with his secretary, Julia Pinzón. Nicolás realizes that his phone is gone. "Where is she with that phone? "Don't worry, I'll get it from her tomorrow," assures her pal.
Betty is writing in her diary about the glorious night. "No man has every serenaded me, nor made me feel so desirable. Others have mocked me, but not him." (In his apartment, Armandowith a dog!is alone with his guilty conscience.) Betty knows that they run risks with their relationship, that they almost crossed that boundary today with nearly running into Aura Maria. She speculates further about Aura Maria behavior and how Freddy is going to be hurt.
We see that Aura Maria is necking with her 'tipo' in front of her house and Freddy is spying. She tries to break off and the guy wants to stay necking. "Let go of her!" demands Freddy, rushing to defend her. "Who's that guy!" demands the date. "Nobody, Just a guy I work with!" says Aura Maria, surprised to see Freddy and trying to tread the fine line with this new date. "Some coworker?" Freddy is wounded by this and Aura Maria knows she's hurt him. Freddy is furious. "Go home, Freddy," she tells him. The guy wants to pick a fight and Freddy isn't backing down, "Come on, I'm ready!" "Freddy, go home" she pleads. Rather than fight, Aura Maria and the guy drive off, leaving Freddy to suffer alone.
Betty, still thinking as she writes in her diary, "I worry about Freddy suffering because he loves someone who doesn't love him." She knows what that's like. "I'm happy because Armando has made it clear to me where he stands with me and Marcé. He escaped from herfor me!he abandoned her at the cocktail partyfor me! I can't believe he'd leave a woman like her for me. (We see Marcela alone in her bed, pensive, severe and beautiful.) This may be a war. It may be premature to worry about these things, but I'm living my dream. This is a beautiful dream and I'm going to enjoy dreaming it."
The next morning, as she's putting clothing away, Julia is avidly watching a commercial for pushup bras and panties; Betty comes in and asks her for something. Julia suggests that Betty should buy some of that lingerie. "Nooo mama. You're asking a lot of that clothing to help me, besides I don't have money for such things." Mama tells her that it will lift her bust. Papa chides her for encouraging their daughter to go out in the street thrusting her boobs out like some hussy. He growls at Julia.
Downstairs, Nicolás is waiting glumly for Betty. "Q, Nicolás, what's up? How did last night go with the lawyer?" "Fine, fine." She notes the face. "Are you sure everything's fine?" "Sure." "Okay, ciao." She leaves and he picks up the phone to call Sanchez. He asks for news of his girlfriends. There's none and Nicolás' goose is cooked!
Freddy tells Wilson how hard it was to see Aura Maria with some other guy. He is practically in tears and Wilson listens attentively. Do you have any more tissues, do you? "No, I don't, sorry," says Wilson. He sadly advises Freddy, "You shouldn't run after that Magdalena." "I tried to act like a man," says Freddy sadly. Betty enters and asks for Armando. "He's not here," whimpers Freddy. Betty gives him a look.
Outside Eco Moda, Marcela has just arrived. Patricia drives up and bellows for Marcela. "Marcé! Marcé! (that voice could strip paint!!) I couldn't sleep all night wondering what happend!" Marcela is reluctant to recount the details of her humiliation. Patricia figures is out by looking at her face, "Aaah, Armando escaped!" Marcela breaks down, "He's going out with some woman, I know he is, but he has no idea what will happen when I find out who she is!" Patricia tells her that it's time to use her techniques. "I did! It was a disaster! And even worse, I had to see that awful Ricardo Mantillo. I made a scandal and Armando is going to kill me!" She sees mopey Freddy and asks him what's wrong. He tells her that he has a cold. "Has Armando arrived yet?" "No," sniffs Freddy. "So I'm not going to wait all night at a man's apartment waiting for him" Marcela starts furiously talking to Patricia, but turns first with concern to Freddy and hands him some money. "Buy something for your grippe and buy me something for this nervous congestion." She rubs her forehead and she and Patricia enter the building. Wilson tells Freddy to stop crying. Seconds later, Armando pulls up and Wilson runs up to get the car.
Tomorrow: Love inspires Betty but she's alarmed by speculation (from Berta) that Armando is having an affair. Betty suggests that they end their affair. Marcela finds a love note? ==================
Subject: Summary 11/9 (English version) Author: Laurie (167.158.84.130) Date: 11-10-2000 10:09 Armando arrives at the office and talks to Freddy and the doorman. He asks about Mario, Marcela and Patricia, whether they have arrived yet. He sees that Freddy is crying. Freddy says he has a cold, the flu. Armando calls him a crybaby.
The doorman comments very familiarly about Armando's late night and pats him on the should. Armando asks if he has to touch him in order to talk to him. As punishment he has to wash all the company cars and on the block.
Marcela and Patricia are talking in bathroom. Marcla wants information regarding what Armado did last night. She is very upset. Berta is eating in one of the stalls and overhears everyhting they say. Marcela called Armando's apartment last night at the time he should have arrive, but he didn't answer the phone. Marcela wants Patricia to call someone from the cocktail party to check up on when he left and with whom. Patricia doesn't want to do it. So she tries to talk Marcela out of it; she doesn't want Armando to blame her. As a last test, Patricia calls the apartment; Marcela calls his cellular. He's not at either place. Marcela tells Patricia to call Colorin.
Berta is very agitated as she comes out of the bathroom. She approaches Sophia. She says she overheard a conversation between Marcela and Patricia and if she doesn't share it she'll have to go off her diet. She describes the whole conversation. They agree that they need to warn Armando because he has been so generous to the cuartel.
Betty has written Armando a poem. Full of references to the previous night. A love letter. She reads it outloud to us. She rolls it up and wraps it in a ribbon like a parchment. Then she places it on her desk. More about the poem later...
She sees the chocolate that she gave him and is very pleased that he has kept it.
Berta enters and asks where Don Armando. She tells Betty that Marcela and Patricia are trying to find out what he did last night. Berta asks Betty if she knows what is going on. Betty is defensive. She talks about amante. Don Armando is soltero. No tiene amante. La otra but not a lover. Berta laughs.
Mario and Don Armando talking in the factory. Armando describes the previous evening, karaoke. Mario wants to know what Armando sang to her. Did Marcela interrup the romantic evening? Of course. What happened? He tells Armando that Marcela called him at midnight. Did you reconcile with Betty? Yes. It was like boxing. It hurts when you are being hit, but it left me anethisized. He realizes that Marcela is crazed with jealousy.
Patty calls called Colorin. Armando left at 10 alone. "I don't need any more proof, right?" says Marce. She wants Patty to let her know when he arrives.
Betty amd Berta try to call Armando to warn him. Berta wants to know where he could have been with last night. She's assuming that Marcela is right and that he didn't go home all night. Betty looks like she thinks he went out on her, too. And is angry.
In reception. Freddy is crying. Aura Maria enters and asks his pardon for what she did last night. He's angry and lets her know. He asks the doorman to be the intermediary in their discussions from then on. Aura Maria is clearly ashamed of herself.
Don Armando arrives in reception with Mario. He mentions how late she is. He calls her on the carpet. She promises that this is the last time that she'll be late.
Armando, Mario and Freddy arrive on the floor, peek out of the elevator to check out the battlefield. They say buenos dias to Patty. Patty calls Marce to let her know that Armando has arrived.
Betty is on the phone as Armando arrives in the office. Berta is in the office. Berta has a little smirk on her face as she asks how his even was. Everyone has been looking for him. Marcela even called Colorin. Betty tells him everything that Berta told her.
Marcela comes into the office. And it starts. Armando says, "Marcela, let's not begin." Marcela asks Betty to leave, but she does not. Then starts yelling. "The next time... tell Betty so they all aren't so worried about him. She tells him everything that she knows about last night.
He's in a corner. Marcela is angry and asks him to let them know when he's going to go out with one of his girlfirends so everyone doesn't get upset and start looking in hospitals. Avisa. Who did he take home last night? Why did he get in to work so late this morning?
Armando comes out fighting. He puts the speaker phone on and calls his apartment house doorman. The doorman says he left his apartment at 7:30 this morning, alone. He's edging out of the corner. She's almost touching Betty's poem. Betty sees it.
"Freddy come here. What time did I arrive this morning?" Freddy agrees that he arrived at 7:30. "Did I intimidate you to answer this way?" No, jamas. Armando has a slight smirk on his face. Almost out.
Marcela points Betty's poem at Armando.
Then he tells Betty to call Production to verify that he and Mario were there earlier.
Marcela is still angry, pointing that poem at Armando. She's angry at Betty too for knowing the intimate life between Marcela and Armando.
Then she throws the letter on the desk. "Why didn't you answer the phone?" she asks. She yells that he thinks he can erase everything with his explanation. Then she opens the poem. Reads it out loud. With all the references to the previous night.
Armando is quiet,in shock. He cannot believe what he is hearing. Betty had signed it Delmira Agustini. Marcela asks who that is. "I don't know." Who is it? I don't know. If some woman is going to go to the trouble of writing you a poem, you should at least remember her name.
Betty is standing in back of the door.
When Marcela leaves, he uncrumples the letter and calls for Betty. She enters the office. He asks her who put the letter on his desk. Now he's angry at Betty. How could she think of doing that. I only wanted to give you a surprise. I'm very sorry. We should end this love.
"Doctor tu no puedes mas con esto. I feel very bad." Pero Betty , calmemos. Marcela is always suspicious. (Did Betty really use 'tu?')
"No puedo destruir una relacion en esta manera." Armando tries to talk her out of it. I already love you. I can't be the other, the lover. The best thing is for us to end this. He tries to talk her out of it. She says, "Fue muy bello lo que vivimos. Vamos a volver a ser lo que siempre fuimos..."
Armando is left with mouth open. She cries behind the door.
Patty and Marce are in the factory. Talking. Marce is determined to find out who Delmira Agustini is. She's thinking she's probably a model.
Armando and Mario talking in the factory. Armando says, "Betty broke up with me. No quiere saber nada de me." He actually seems sad. Upset.
Betty is in her office. She's saying to herself that it was a useless dream. She's crying. La cuartel enters her office and wants to know all. Who is the lover? "I don't know her; I don't know who it is. Don Armando does not have a lover." She does not want to tell them anything.
The cuartel keeps after her and starts talking about how Marcela will discover the amante and will fry her in oil. When she won't tell them anything they complain about her 'falta de solaridadad.' As they all leave, Dona Inecita tells her she did well to not tell them anything. Betty tenderly touches the picture of Armando on her computer screen.
Marcela, Patty, and Hugo are talking in the factory. Marcela asks Hugo who Delmira Agustini is. Who is this model? Hugo wants to know why they want to know. Marcela doesn't want him to know. He guesses that Armando is playing around again. "Les aviso, bueno."
Mario and Armando are talking in the factory (there are sure a lot of secrets being talked about pretty loudly in that factory. You would think that some of the workers would overhear). Mario says that all pairs have crises and "ojo de Nicolas Mora."
Betty's house. The phone rings. Nicolas and Don Hermes fight to answer it. Don Hermes wins. It is a beautiful woman calling Nicolas. She identifies herself as una amiga, la amiga del Doctor Sanchez. She has something in her hands. Nicolas starts leaving to meet her to get it from her. He tells don Hermes that he has a date. Don Hermes asks why he's taking the calculator and business stuff.
Hugo calls Patty. He has the information that they are looking for. "When you know you will die.
Avances: Armando to Betty, No quiero que termimemos.
Doorman to Marce, Con quien salio anoche? Beatriz Pinzon.
==============
Subject: *****SUMMARY, FRIDAY, 11/10/00***** Author: Tuly (12.78.1.211) Date: 11-11-2000 11:02 *****SUMMARY, FRIDAY, 11/10/00*****
Hugo tells Patricia that he already knows who Delmira Agustini is. Though Patricia whines for some gossip, Hugo says that he will only tell Marcela directly because she's the only interested party.
Marcela walks into Betty's office and asks her to check if the money from the sales has come in so they can make payroll. Betty stares at Marcela and slips into a fantasy. In the fantasy, Marcela asks Betty why she's taking Armando away from her and begs her not to do it. Betty answers that she's giving him back today because she knows how much Marcela loves him. And since Betty loves him so much too, she's given him the best of herself but she acknowledges that Marcela is his fiancée ... she reminds her to take care of him because Armando needs a lot of love. Marcela hugs Betty and assures her that she will give him a lot of love -- she has learned form her mistakes. Betty tells Marcela that they are both of them belong to Armando but he can only take one of them to the altar and it should be Marcela. As Marcela says thank you in Betty's fantasy, Marcela asks her to snap out of it and Betty informs her that the money has come in, they can start meeting their obligations today.
Armando and Mario walk in as Marcela leaves Betty's office ... Armando asks Betty what Marcela was doing there and Betty explains that she was checking whether the money has come in so they can cover their obligations. Armando, looking sheepish, tells Betty to go ahead and find out the amount of the overdraft and he walks away from her office. Armando walks over to his desk and Betty calls home to talk to Nicolás, but he's not there so she finally has to call him on his cell phone. Of course, the girl that has the phone answers and Betty interrogates her as to who she is and where Nicolás is and why she has the cell phone. As Armando and Mario listen on, Betty tells the girl, in an angry tone of voice, to relay a message to Nicolás: Betty called him and she needs to talk to him urgently. When Betty hangs up, Armando calls her to his office and asks her whether she found out the amount of the overdraft and Betty answers that she can't find Nicolás and he has that information, but she's going to call the bank directly instead. As Betty walks away, Mario tells Armando that it seems the call to Nicolás affected Betty tremendously.
Nicolás arrives at a park to recuperate his cell phone. He asks the girl for the cell phone and she demands to know who Betty is. When Nicolás asks if Betty called and the girl responds affirmatively, he starts to freak out and asks her what she told Betty. The girl tells him to calm down, she just took a message and Betty is waiting for his phone call. Before handing the cell phone over, the girl asks Nicolás where he is taking her tonight for dinner and Nicolás tells her he'll take her to LeNoir, the restaurant where all the rich people go. Nicolás asks for the phone again, she puts it behind her back and he reaches over and takes it. Nicolás calls Betty who immediately asks him who the girl is that answered the phone. Nicolás answers that it's just a friend, but Betty wants to know why she had the cell phone. Nicolás tells her he had to go to the bathroom and asked her to keep it for him until he came back. Betty doesn't buy the story and asks again about the identity of the girl, but Nicolás reiterates that she's just a friend and immediately changes the subject and asks Betty why she needed him so urgently. Betty asks him for the overdraft information but since he's so busy with his friend and he's not in front of the computer, she will find this out directly from the bank. As the girl starts to hang all over Nicolás, he assures Betty that he has all of that information in his head and starts to rote off figures including interest. When Betty asks him if he's totally sure of the figure, Nicolás stares over at the girl's legs and he doesn't sound too convincing. :o) Betty tells Nicolás she will call the bank anyway to confirm and that they'll talk at home later, she doesn't want to discuss this any longer from Eco Moda and she hangs up. Nicolás tells the girl that he will go get his car and come back for her ... but when he reaches the corner he gets change out of his pocket and hails down the next bus. :o)
Mario tells Armando that the conversation between Betty and Nicolás was really strange and they should be worried. He especially didn't like the fact that Betty will meet Nicolás at home tonight. Armando takes a whiskey and asks Mario for suggestions. Mario reminds him that the romance is not consolidated yet and Armando wants to know what else he needs to do to consolidate it ... he's already taken her out every night this week and he's kissed several times. Mario gives him a suggestive look and Armando adamantly tells him that he will not sleep with Betty ... at any rate she wants nothing to do with him. Mario reminds him that he may have a small place in Betty's heart but there are serious obstacles in the way: he has a fiancée who is an executive of this firm and watches him 24 hours a day, he's the boss and she's the employee, he's rich and she's poor (well, at least in theory this is true, Mario adds, jejeje) ... Nicolás, on the other hand, is single and from her same economic class -- there's no reason why she should turn him down unless ... Armando gets down on his knees and begs for Betty's forgiveness. Armando tells him he's already done enough, he's taken her out and kissed her, but Mario reminds him of what can happen to his company and his family if Betty and his 'boyfriend' were to keep Eco Moda. Armando responds that it hurts him to keep doing this to Betty and then there's also Marcela breathing down his neck at every turn ... he's playing with fire. Mario tells him every love story is a struggle (aaaay, Mariooo, jajaja) and tonight Betty is going to talk to Nicolás and that, he adds, is certainly playing with fire.
At Hugo's workshop, Hugo tells Patricia and Marcela that he's found out the identity of Delmira Agustini -- she's a famous Uruguayan poet very well known for her views on female chastity. Patricia starts to ask where she lives, if Armando has maybe set her up in an apartment ... does Hugo know where she is? Hugo tells them that he does ... her remains are in a cemetery in Montevideo, her husband shot her twice in 1914. Hugo tells Marcela that she's chasing a ghost that does not exist and even if she did, she certainly wouldn't write for Armando. As Hugo leaves for lunch with his models, Marcela tells Patricia that someone put the poem on Armando's desk and she's sure Armando didn't even know it was there. And, of course, she guesses that it has to be somebody that works at Eco Moda and has access to his office. Patricia asks if she kept the evidence, and when Marcela shakes her head, Patricia tells her that if they had the poem they could send it to a handwriting analyst that could tell them a lot about the 'bandida' who is after Armando. Marcela tells Patricia that she's been watching too many movies, she can forget about the handwriting analyst, but she assures her that she will find out who gave that poem to Armando.
Betty is staring at a photograph of Armando on her computer screen when Sofía walks in to tell her El Cuartel is leaving for lunch. Betty tells her that they can go ahead and she will catch up with them. Sofía notices that Betty is acting strange and asks her if something's wrong, but she assures her that everything's fine, she'll be right there. Betty walks into the boardroom and tells an Armando, who is still drinking, that she's leaving for lunch does he want her to order something for him? Armando stares off into space and says no. Betty tells him that if he doesn't eat something the whiskey might not agree with him, but Armando dejectedly answers that she shouldn't worry about him. Betty, with a worried look on her face, leaves the boardroom and closes the door behind her, leaving Armando still deep in thought accompanied by his whiskey.
In the lobby of Eco Moda, Aura María calls Wilson over so that he can hand the correspondence to Freddy for distribution upstairs, including two urgent telegrams for Don Armando. As El Cuartel looks on intrigued, Aura María tells Wilson that the telegrams are in the last two envelopes and Wilson relays this message to Freddy. Betty arrives and asks if they're leaving for lunch and as El Cuartel begins to complain that they have no money and only two of them can actually eat lunch, Betty tells them not to worry about it, she'll treat them. At any rate, she adds, she's got good news: payroll will be paid this afternoon. Everyone starts hugging and kissing at the good news ... Freddy even hugs Aura María, but when he realizes it's her, he pushes her away and she pouts. Wilson reminds Freddy that he's got to pay him what he owes him, and Freddy angrily responds that he had to rain on his parade. Since everyone's already noticed Freddy's strange behavior, Sofía asks Aura María why Freddy is acting that way. Aura María, with a big smile on her face, explains that Freddy caught her necking in her car with a 'friend' and is now really mad at her, so he's made Wilson the liaison between the courier department and the reception department. El Cuartel doesn't react well to these news and Inesita reminds her that what goes around comes around and she's bound to pay for the way she's treated Freddy, if not here, well then up there (and points to heaven). Aura María answers, "las mujeres buenas se van para el cielo, pero las malas van para todos lados," and laughs again. Inesita makes a play on words and she asks Aura María whether she knows that "almas devotas" (devout souls) will go to heaven, and the camaras focus on "almas de botas" Aura María who is wearing boots and Betty who isn't! [Have I said recently how much I love the writers? :o)] Aura María adds that they shouldn't look at her in such a righteous manner, after all, she's not going after any man that is engaged or married ... and as we get a look at a consternated Betty, Aura María adds that that would certainly earn her a place in hell.
In Marcela's office, Marcela tells Patricia that Armando's lover has got to be one of Hugo's models, who else can it be? After all, they went directly to Color In. Patricia suggests a scenario: what if Armando left with her from Eco Moda, dropped her off somewhere and then went back for her (little does she know this is exactly what happened). Marcela goes down to the lobby and asks Wilson who Armando left with the night before ... Wilson tells her that Armando left with Betty.
Darkness has descended upon Bogotá and Armando is still drinking in the boardroom -- does he work anymore? Mario walks in and asks if he's decided what he's going to do, but Armando tells him he's got to think some more. Betty walks in and tells Armando that all of their obligations have been met and then has to walk away because her phone rings -- it's her dad calling to find out when she will be home. Betty tells him that she's on her way out right now and asks him if Nicolás is already there. It seems that the answer is yet and Betty once again tells him that she's leaving right now. Mario and Armando overhear the conversation and Mario begins to nag Armando about the Betty/Nicolás situation but Armando tells him to leave him alone. Betty walks back into Armando's office to tell him she's leaving and Armando offers to drive her home, but Betty refuses ... he's drunk too much and Marcela is in a very bad mood, it's dangerous. Armando urges that he's got to talk to her, but they are interrupted by Hugo who says that he's got to talk to Armando right away. Armando is extremely annoyed by the interruption but Betty makes the best use of it and walks out. Armando yells after Betty, but she's already gone. Hugo tells an extremely angry Armando that he doesn't know what he should design because they are so low in funds should he begin designing for poor people? Armando yells at him to continue designing the way he's always designed, money's already coming in and he doesn't need to worry about it. Despite Armando's words, Hugo keeps ranting and raving about designing for the poor and suggests that maybe they should leave the designing to Armando's assistant, after all, she's an expert at how poor people dress. Betty is just outside the door and she overhears Hugo's spiteful comments.
Patricia holds her paycheck up, kisses it and tells Marcela that she doesn't know if she should deposit it or frame it. Betty walks by and wishes them a good night. Marcela tells Patricia that Betty's a 'descarada' and Patricia asks her if she seriously thinks that Armando's having an affair with Betty, after all, he might be drinking more than usual, but his taste can't have deteriorated to that extent. Marcela assures her that of course she doesn't suspect that Betty is Armando's lover, she just knows that Betty covers up for Armando and probably sets up all of his dates. Patricia reminds her that there's not much she can do about Betty, she's Armando's protegé and her hands are tied. Marcela responds that Betty is the only one that can lead her to Armando's lover. If you only knew, Marcela ...
Down in the lobby, El Cuartel is once again waiting for Aura María as she makes arrangements on the phone for that evening with a 'papacito'. Aura María stops her conversation when Freddy walks in and Freddy asks Wilson to tell her that she can feel free to continue talking because he can't even hear her. Aura María pouts again and cuts her conversation short. When Aura María walks by Wilson and Freddy, she says good night but only Wilson answers, Freddy claims he didn't hear a thing. :o) Aura María turns to Betty and comments that it's a miracle that she can leave with them tonight ... Betty answers that her boss doesn't need her anymore and out they go. Upon their departure, Freddy breaks down again and asks Wilson for his gun. Wilson tells him that he knows that he's not allowed to carry guns here, and Freddy answers that that's exactly why he asked. :o)
Armando keeps downing the whiskey while Hugo reprimands him as well as Mario ... they will never again get involved with one of his 'niñas', he warns. Mario ironically states that now they will have to ask 'Doña Huga' for permission and Armando pipes in that he would like to talk to Mario without 'Doña Huga's' feathery presence. :o) Hugo calls them Abbott and Costello and warns them again to stay away from his models ... after all, they can always get 'Delmira Agustinis' ... zzzzzzz! LOL! When Hugo leaves Armando tells Mario that he's sure that Marcela has told everyone about the poem and the gossip is probably all over Eco Moda by now. Mario cuts to the quick and asks him what plans he has for Betty tonight and Armando says he has none, Betty has rejected him. Mario is beside himself at Betty's audacity it's incredible obviously Nicolás Mora is better than Armando, does Armando know him? Armando tells him that he's not interested, he's tired of this game, Marcela is going to kill him and he doesn't have the heart to keep doing this to Betty, he is running out of valour. Mario tells him he can go ahead then and leave things as they are, he can just go home and dream about Eco Moda's situation one year from now. Armando starts to teeter-totter and asks Mario what he should do ... get down on his knees, take Betty a serenade? Mario suggests a mariachi, but Armando outright rejects that idea. Mario suggests that he at least go to Betty's house to straighten things out and lay down the rules of the game and he hands Armando a small stuffed animal (like a beanie baby) ... a puppy called Popeye that he should give to Betty as a 'detalle'. Armando asks if he should also kiss her and Mario tells him that there are $50 million and his family in the balance ... that's little to ask. Armando tells Mario that this is the last time he will do this, he's never begged any woman, especially a woman like Betty. Mario warns Armando that if he lets a 'fea' like Betty reject him, he might as well get operated and borrow a dress from Marcela or he might consider entering a monastery, because his manhood would have ended. Mario starts shadow-boxing with Armando, trying to prepare him for tonight. :o)
Marcela catches Patricia walking out of Mario's office and asks her why she's so nervous, is she waiting for Mario or are they (Marcela and Patricia) leaving together? Patricia tells her that she's staying a while longer. Just then, Armando and Mario walk by, Mario keeps on to his office while Armando calls for the elevator. Marcela asks Armando where the cocktail is at tonight. Armando tells her that there is no cocktail tonight, he's on his way to the supermarket and then to his apartment. Marcela asks Armando to go by her apartment after he's done with the grocery shopping, and Armando reluctantly answers yes. Marcela ironically states that he doesn't have to, after all, he must have better plans. Armando just tells her he will see her later tonight at her apartment. As Armando gets in the elevator, Patricia runs over to Marcela and asks her if she believed the supermarket story ... he's probably going somewhere else, they should follow him. Marcela refuses to follow him and tells Patricia that if someone is trying to take Armando away from her, she can make life a living hell for that that person and for Armando, she has other ways. Marcela leaves and Mario comes out of his office looking for Sandra ... he can't find his car keys. Patricia offers to give him a ride home, but Mario says he'll call a taxi, he doesn't want to bother her. Patricia says it wouldn't be any bother, it would be a pleasure. Out comes one of the models and asks Mario if he's ready to leave ... Mario tells her that there's a small problem, he can't find his keys. The model says that's not a problem, she's got her car in the garage and they can leave in that. Mario takes the model's hand and bids good night to Patsy-Pat as she mutters, "desgraciado", and dangles Mario's car keys.
At Betty's house, Doña Julia asks Betty to tell Nicolás to clear the dining room table so they can go ahead and have dinner. As Betty starts to help Nicolás, she picks up a framed picture of Patricia and asks him what it's doing there, she doesn't want to see a picture of Patricia in her house. Nicolás tells her that it's his inspiration. Betty asks him where his cell phone is ... Nicolás shows it to her and Betty reminds him that Don Armando's money pays Terra Moda's bills and he can't let his 'amiguitas' borrow the phone -- it's not a tool to seduce people. As Nicolás starts to answer that he hasn't let anyone borrow the cell phone, the phone rings at Betty's house ... Don Hermes answers it and tells Betty that it's her boss. Betty takes the call and Armando asks if they can talk -- he's parked right outside, can she come out? Nicolás suggests that he come in and they can invite him to dinner. Betty answers that Don Armando's in a hurry and he can't stay for dinner. As she heads for the door, Don Hermes asks what's going on and Betty tells him that she brought home some diskettes and Don Armando needs them and he's also got to give her some instructions he forgot to give her at the office. Don Hermes warns her that he doesn't like her meeting him out in the car, why can't she invite him to dinner? Betty stands firm and goes outside anyway to meet an Armando who has just looked at the picture of Adrianita Arboleda and taken another drink. When Betty asks Armando what he needs, he orders her to get in the car. She gets in and tells him that they have nothing more to talk about, they have to make believe that nothing has happened between them. Armando asks her if she doesn't have a heart, how can she be so cold and cut him down like this? Betty nervously keeps looking towards her house and that prompts Armando to ask her if she's listening or if she's worried about Nicolás. Betty assures him it's not that, it's her father ... he suggested, almost demanded, that they talk inside. Armando tells her that there's no way they can discuss their intimacy with Nicolás and her father listening on, so Betty suggests that they just go somewhere else to talk. -- FREEZE!
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La Opinion, 11/19/00. [summary of previous week] Solo telenovelas Laura M. López Betty la fea Canal 52, lunes a viernes, 8:00 p.m. Con tal de no perder la empresa, Armando tuvo que someterse al suplicio de enamorar a Betty, ya que ella tenía en su poder un documento de embargo a Eco Moda que cuando quisiera lo podía hacer efectivo. Mario se encargó de comprar los detalles que toda mujer como Betty anhelan las tarjetas de amor, los chocolates y los poemas mientras que Armando se encargaba del lado físico. Según él, lo peor que le podía haber sucedido. Sin embargo si era necesario hacerle el amor también lo haría, con tal de no perder Eco Moda. Al principio las cosas le parecían una pesadilla, pero conforme fueron pasando los días, el momento de besar a Betty ya no era tan difícil, tal como se lo dijo Mario. Marcela comenzó a sospechar que su novio la engañaba de nuevo pero nunca se imaginó quién era la responsable. Con tal de agradar a Armando, Betty cambió de "look". Ella estaba feliz con su nueva imagen, pero ni siquiera sus amigas del cuartel se atrevieron a decirle, que en vez de mejorar, ela había empeorado. Tanto Marcela como Patricia se burlaron de la pobre Betty, incluso Armando se sintió muy mal, pero sólo se limitó a decirles que la dejaran en paz. Armando no podía decirle a Betty que el cambio no le había favorecido en nada, pero sí le dijo que él prefería a la de antes. Daniel Valencia no se tocó el corazón para decirle a Betty que no sólo ofendía la vista de todos con su fealdad, sino que también la imagen de Eco Moda. Daniel también le dijo a Patricia que si le prestaba los 5 millones que pedía para pagar sus deudas, tendría que estar con ella 100 noches y eso era muy aburrido para él. Por otro lado, a Aura María la corrieron de la casa con todo y su hijo, pues su familia no le aguantó más llegara tan tarde todos los días. El caso es que también estuvo a punto de perder su empleo en Eco Moda si no ha sido por Freddy que intercedió por ella con Marcela. A Freddy le daba pena todo lo que le pasaba a Aura María, pero también le dolía que ella lo dejara siempre plantado para irse con otro hombre. Por el momento se limitó a tener la más mínima comunicación con ella y sólo a través del guardia.
USA 11/13-17/00. Betty tries to break up with Armando for his own good but he refuses. When the neighborhood boys taunt Betty, Armando defends her with his fists. Aura Maria is fired for being late again, although it was because she had just lost her house. Freddy defends her and she gets to stay. Marcela tries to convince her that she should stop going after men looking for somebody to care for her, that she should focus on a good man like Freddy but Aura Maria wants something "better". Mario tells Armando how to win Betty. Aura maria tells Betty how to win her man. Patricia takes a call for Betty from Nicolas and he pretends to be the president of a rich company. Patricia tells Marcela she will take him away from Betty. Betty tells Nicolas that he is her novio, as far as the cuartel is concerned, and tries to make him see that he committed and imprudence by talking to Patricia, but Nicolas is so enamored of Patricia he can't credit what Betty is telling him. Betty gets a new look, even worse that the old one. Nobody tells her until Daniel appears and lays it on the line. Armando overhears and throws Daniel out, tells Betty he fell in love with the "real" her, not this new creation. So she returns to her old style.
USA 11/13/00. http://www.laciudad.com/entretenimiento/telenovelas Miércoles 07 de junio Betty aprovecha la llegada de Hugo para evitar hablar con Armando. Marcela le garantiza a Patricia que Betty sabe quien es la amante de su novio. Mario le dice a Armando que es llegó el momento de adoptar medidas extremas. Patricia se ingenia un plan para salir con Mario, pero todo le sale mal. Armando va hasta la casa de Beatriz.Jueves 08 de junio Marcela le da una charla a Aura María que la deja pensando. Aura intenta agradecerle a Freddy lo que hizo por ella, pero él retoma su actitud distante. Armando y todos lo de la empresa se sorprenden al ver el cambio de "look" de Betty. Freddy cree que la mujer que acaba de ver es alguien conocida. Beatriz sorprende a su jefe y Marcela besándose.Viernes 09 de junio Efraín recibe una citación para conciliar con Sofía. Marcela y Patricia hacen los peores comentarios de Betty, mientras Hugo le pone picante a la conversación. Freddy le avisa a la impulsada que Sofía ya tiene la plata del celular y se ofrece para llevarla a su casa. Mario le recomienda a Armando ignorar la nueva apariencia de Betty.
Lunes 12 de junio Betty escucha a su jefe opinar sobre la belleza de Adriana Arboleda. Beatriz le cuenta al Cuartel que ahora sí se cuadró con Nicolás. Armado le dice a Mario que jamás se acostará con Betty. Aura María intenta convencer a Betty para que su relación con Nicolás vaya más allá de los besitos y las caricias. Mario le propone a Armando que le haga a Beatriz un regalo bien extraño. Viernes 16 de junio Sofía se prepara para su cita con Efraín como si fuera para un concurso de belleza. Armando le cuenta a Mario como van las cosas con Betty y él le dice que llegó el momento crucial. El Cuartel se reúne para felicitar a Betty por su cumpleaños. Jenny se las ingenia para enfrentar a Hugo con Inesita. Patricia logra conseguir el dinero para cancelar su deuda.
11/13/00. A lot of heaven and hell today: Armando is in the car with Betty, doing his best to convince her to come back to him, and she's telling him it isn't possible. He tells her that she has been so cold, so distant, that he they touched the heavens when they were together, that the time he has spent with her has been the happiest of his life, and now she is acting as if they were going into hell. How can she walk away? She tells him that she feels the same, that they touched the heavens, that it is everything she has dreamed of (at this point he glances away and rolls his eyes), but she sees now what she is interfering with, that it is unfair to his family, to hers, to Marcela, etc...and it makes her feel so bad. Looks directly at her and asks which feelings are stronger, those for him or those feelings of guilt, and she says of course her feelings for him. She is so earnest, and he is clearly doing his charm routine. He starts to say that he wants to spend every night with her, chokes half-way through, and then gets it out, and then he says "y Ud?" She responds, "Doctor", and then he leans in and kisses her(without looking at that woman's photo). They continue to kiss as the guys from the gang that pick on betty and nicholas come and look in the car. Betty and Armando don't notice. The group goes back to a hang out spot and decide to pick on whoever's in the car (they don't know, they couldn't see any faces). They're going to tell them to "get a hotel". Then we are back at the car, and Betty taps on Armando's shoulder to break off the kiss, but he is reluctant, so it takes repeated taps before he pulls away. She tells him that they can't continue with this, that it is too dangerous, and they should stop it now. He goes on and on about how he can't leave Marcela now, because of the business, all of the problems would be exposed. And she agrees, and says that's even more reason to end everything. His voice tightens the way it does when things aren't going his way (although he manages not to shout, impressive control for him) and says that he didn't mean that they should end, only that they have to be careful. She is still reluctant, so he breaks out with the "ultimate line", Don't leave me - -and then he shifts to the "tu" form - -"no me dejes", and leans in for another kiss, which she totally falls for. They kiss for a few seconds and then the gang starts knocking on the window, saying "quien es", etc., and then Betty turns and sees them, and they see her, and talk about "eso", referring to her. Armando gets mad, and asks what is the problem. Then he gets out of the car and says, I asked, what is the problem? The guys call her the fea of the barrio, etc., and Armando walks over to the side of the car where they are, (they started off tapping on her side of the car), to confront them. One of them brushes up against Armando's lapels, then refers to "esa divina", and armando loses it and gives the guy a shove. Betty has gotten out of the car and is trying to calm him down and separate them, but Armando sets her aside and attacks the guy with a kick in the crotch and a cross (punch). The guy tries to jump him and gets pounded, then two other guys attack him with the initial guy out of play, and Armando is punching and kicking like its the street fight that it is. (well, it is 6 to 1)
Somewhere in there Don Hermes is checking out the window and speculating that soemhting is wrong. Then he sees the the beginnings of the fight, and goes out to interrupt, leaving with "I told you so, I told you so." Nicholas is sitting at the table with Dona Julia, and makes the mistake of being a little to open. "So much trouble and she's ugly, imagine if she were pretty?" and gaffaws at his own joke. Nicholas earns the right to be disinvited from Dona Julia's table, and she takes away the fruit he was reaching for, and the drink directly out of his hand. Then Don Hermes is out there with Armando, and they have them both taking the same boxing stance. (more reminders of their similarities) Don Hermez smacks one of them, and you can tell they don't want to be known as the barrio guys who beat up on old men, so they throw in the towl and go home. On their way out they make some crack about the "novio" defending Betty. Don Hermes ask what happened, and they make up a story about walking over to get cigarettes, and then Don Hermes tells Armando he should quit, its a really bad habit, which Armando agrees with. Armando then drives Betty and Don Hermes back to the house (it can't be far if her father could see the incident from the house), and Don Hermes says that is why he doesn't want her in the street at night. He then invites Armando into the house to get cleaned up, but Armando says he just wants to go home. Don Hermes says that his novia must be waiting. Betty gets back into the car to talk to Armando, and asks if he is unhappy. He says yes, he came over to get her back and now he leaves with empty hands and a face full of punches. She says, no not empty handed, she cannot refuse him. He asks if Nicholas had really defended her before this way (I MISSED WHEN THIS Happened), and she says, yes, once. Then she asks if mentioning Nicholas upsets him, and he says yes, but if she says nothing happens between them then it is okay. He tells her then that she should tell everyone that Nicholas is her boyfriend, so that they won't be suspicious. She gives him a kiss on the side of his mouth and gets out of the car, and he puts his fingers up to where she kissed him for a minute before driving away. Taxistas? - - Armando has a long story to tell Marcela about how he ended up so beat up. First he talks about a taxi driver, then talks about ending up in the "barrios" and how someone attacked his car so he had to defend it, and got beat up. The barrio reference seems to distract her, so he gets out from under her extensive scrutiny. Then later, we see Betty writing in her diary, talking about how he showed how much he cares for her by fighting to protect her,how he appreciates her for who she is. She talks about changing herself for him, becoming a different person to please him. Simultaneously we see Armando in bed with Marcela. Marcela asks about talks about how Armando has been so tense lately, and so irritable, and he responds that SHE's making him tense and irritable, and she gets on his nerves with all of this needling about other women and he's sick of it, so if he wants to get beat up, or hang around in the barrios, or whatever, he can. She leans in and kisses him, and he goes along, sort of, with his eyes open the entire time, which is a contrast to closed eyes and "active" approach with Betty. (whether its in earnest or part of his seduction routine, I have no idea)
THE NEXT DAY: All Made up and nowhere to go? Betty's house Betty turns over her paycheck to her father(what is she, 12?), and then asks for some money back. He asks for what, and she says she is going to pick up a few new clothes, and he says not to waste too much money on such things. Her mother asks if if she is going to a certain shop (probably where she usually goes) and she says no, a new place her mother doesn't know. Then her father leaves the room and she says she is going to buy lots and lots of clothes, and be a completely different person. Next she is talking to Nicholas about how she is going to change her look. Nicholas asks about Patsy, and she says she is nothing like Patsy, and he says he knows because Patsy is beautiful and she is "different". (I'm not liking Nicholas so much these days, for someone as mediocre looking and unappealing (in a masculine way) as he is to be so shallow is unbelievably arrogant, and to be so rude to someone who is his friend and who gave him a job, well, that's reprehensible.) Anyway, Betty tells Nicholas to take a good look at her face, because she will never look like this again. Marcela and Armando at Breakfast - Armando gets a call on his cell phone and doesn't recognize the number, so at first he is reluctant to answer it. Marcela asks - -don't you want to answer it. Then he says of course, and it is Betty, calling to ask how he awakened, and he says fine, and then she asks for the morning off to do some shopping. He says fine. When Marcela hears that it is Betty, she asks that Betty issue the Check to Daniel, and Betty asks if he is with Marcela. When he says yes, she doesn't like it, and Marcela asks about his his having to account for his every move to Betty. Marcela asks Armando what he is going to do, he says go to the office as always, Marcela says he can't go into the office looking like that (referring to the pounding he took). I KNOW I MISSED A SCENE HERE, At Ecomoda The nasty guy that supervises all of the support staff and is constantly speaking english (don't like him enough to remember his name) is approached by Pasty and asked 'where is the receptionist?' He replies, I suppose in general reception (reply in english). And Patsy says no, she isn't. She is nowhere to be found. Armando and Marcela arrive at Eco, and Aura Maria is nowhere to be seen. Freddie tries to cover for her, but he can't pull it off. Marcella and Armando have had enough. As Armando and Marcela head towards the elevator, Patsy and the guy with the rug and the bad english come in and announce that Aura Maria is not here yet again, and something should be done, she should be fired. Marcella says that Aura Maria should come to see her, IF she comes in, because she is fired. Freddy is begging Armando, and gets very close to Armando's face, then asks if Armando is wearing make up. After they all go up on the elevator, Freddy says desperately to the guard that they can't fire Aura Maria, she has to be there so he can ignore her. He is clearly devastated by the possibility that she won't be around. Armando goes along, and then announces (to Patsy's overwhelming dismay) that Patsy will now have dual duties, his secretary AND recepcionist of Eco Moda. Marcell is amused by this and doesn't bother to hide it. Armando takes Patsy's hands and tells her she has the perfect profile for the job, she likes to work and she likes to be on time. The irritating supervisor is chiming in at every turn, repeating everything Armando says and even using the same gestures. Armando asks if he plans to follow Armando into hell, and still he's reluctant to stop. Patsy is crying to Marcela about this, that she can't be a receptionist, but Marcela says nothing. Patsy says at the rate she is going, she'll being Armando tells Pasty that even though it's not what she contracted to do, part of her contract IS to keep her boss happy, and so she has take this job. Then Hugo begins making fun of Armando with his makeup, telling Marcy she'd better watch out for her makeup or Armando will use it all. Marcy tells him to stop and not say anything to Armando, but she and Hugo and Patsy all laugh about it. Mario arrives at work with the model of the week on his arm, and still can't find his keys, so he asks Sandy to take care of ordering him a new set. He then goes in to find Armando taking off the make up and asks about Armando's new look. Armando makes a face, then Mario looks closer and says what happended to you? Armando says he got into a fight with some guys. Mario says he didn't know Marcela could hit so hard, Armando says I told you, some guys, some of Betty's neighbors. Mario asks what happened, Armando says "don't laugh", but of course Mario does, from the first sentence: "I was kissing Betty". then he tells what happened, about how they made fun of betty, pobrecita, and Mario says how, and when Armando says that it was to say she was ugly, Mario says it was like calling him Mario Calderon. Then Mario asks why he got mixed up in it all, and Armando says, he didn't know, he was just so furious he had to do something. Then we see Betty shopping, looking at some dramatic and beautiful clothes, and asking for assistance. Scenes for tomorrow: Betty goes to the hairdresser for a new style, and then comes into work and everyone stares. Armando is so floored he drops his pen. We see it from her perspective, so we don't know if the changes are good or not.
11/14/00. In Armando's Office Armando has told Mario about the fight that occurred the previous evening. Mario asks since he was so gallant to defend her if they are back on. Armando tells him yes, but they have agreed to see each other less. He has also convinced her mkae the Cuartel believe that Nicolas is her boyfriend in order to keep them from suspecting that there is something between them. Mario believes that he should leave a surprise gift on her desk. Armando is against it. At The Receptionist's Desk Freddy is saying to himself "To Be or Not To Be". In the meantime, Wilson is keeping an eye on the door. Aura Maria arrives, visibly upset, and Freddy informs her that she is about to be fired. Aura Maria is shocked and says that they can't do this to her. She begins to speak to Freddy, who says that he does not want to hear her. Since Freddy has declared war with Aura Maria he will not speak to her directly. Instead he uses Wilson as his interpretor, who has to repeat what Freddy and Aura Maria have to say to each other. Aura Maria asks Freddy for a favor and she calls in her son. She informs Freddy that they have been thrown out. Upon hearing this and seeing her son, Freddy begins to melt. He tells her son to greet him. The little boy mimics Freddy's dance. Freddy, no longer using his interpretor tells Aura Maria that Guiterrez is waiting for her upstairs. She leaves her son with Freddy and sends Wilson to get the boy some breakfast. Before Wilson leaves he tells him that he can not let them fire her. In The Lobby On The Second Floor Patricia immediately approaches Aura Maria and lets her know that due to her firing she is also causing problems for her. Aura Maria hurrys off and is telling the Cuartel that she arrived home at 6:00 a.m. and her mother was waiting at the door with her son and her bags. She continues by saying that she now arrives at work only to find out that she is being fired. The Cuartel sympathize with her, but Sophia lets her know that it is her own fault. She had been warned before and she continued to arrive late. Berta tells her that there is nothing that they can do for her. She informs her that Guiterrez is waiting in his office for her. Sandra says that their only hope is Betty. However, Betty has not arrived and Aura Maria begins to cry. At The Beauty Salon Betty arrives and tells Sammy, the stylist, that she wants a new look. He looks at her through the mirror and shakes his head. Back At The Office Inisita has joined the Cuartle and she tells Aura Maria not to enter Guiterrez's office until they come up with a plan. Sandra tells her to go speak to them and tell them what has happened. Sandra believes that once they hear that she and her son have nowhere to go that it will move them and they will let her keep her job. Sophia asks her if she is pregnant, because if she is they won't be able to fire her. Mariana tells Inisita that she is their only hope. Inisita agrees to speak to Armando and tells Aura Maria to hide from Guiterrez. While Aura Maria is trying to escape Guiterrez comes out of his office and orders her into his office, which she refuses to do. Inisita tells him that she will not go in there until she has had an opportunity to speak to Armando. The Cuartel try to hide Aura Maria but Guiterrez says that he can see her and makes a remark to Berta about her no longer going to the gym. Guiterrez tells them that the decision has been made. Mariana trys to explain Aura Maria's situation, but to no avail. Sandra tells him that Aura Maria will not be entering his office and he says that it doesn't matter because she is still fired. He returns from his office with her letter of dismissal. The Cuartel is urging her not to accept. In the meantime, Marcela arrives and wants to know what is going on. When she is brought up-to-date she tells Aura Maria to take the letter. Inisita tries to speak to her but she informs everyone that the decision has been made and that Aura Maria had been warned. Aura Maria accepts the letter and takes off. In Front Of Patricia's Desk As Aura Maria is passing by Patricia wants to know if she has been fired. When Aura Maria tells her yes and that she can know be happy Patricia says that she is not happy. She asks God why this type of things happen to her.
At The Receptionist's Desk Freddy is giving Aura Maria's son a new hairdo, it looks just like his. Aura Maria returns and asks the guys to leave her alone for a moment. She calls her boyfriend and tells him what has happened. She asks him to come pick her up and that they will all go somewhere to sleep. The boyfriend informs her that he is leaving on a business trip that day to Greece and it seemed as though he won't be coming back. Freddy tells Wilson that he can't let this happen to her. On The Second Floor Sophia and Berta try to speak to Armando about Aura Maria. He tells them that he doesn't want to talk about it because there is nothing that he can do. He goes on to tell them that it also hurts him. Sophia tries to say something to him, he stops her and says that he doesn't want to discuss it. She tells him that what she wanted was to ask what happened to his face because it looks funny. This ansgers him and he tells her that it is not funny. When he walks away he overhears Berta telling Sophia that Marcela did it. He turns back and tells them that it wasn't Marcela. After he leaves, Berta convinces Sophia that it was Marcela. In Front of Patricia's Desk Patricia is begging Marcela to stop Aura Maria's firing. Marcela wants to know why she wants this when she was the first one to go to Guiterrez. Armando arrives and asks Patricia why she has not moved her belongings downstairs. The Cuartel and Patricia are trying to convince Armando and Marcela to give Aura Maria a second opportunity. Freddy arrives and asks Armando and Marcela to listen to him. He has Aura Maria and her son come upstairs. Freddy tells everyone what has happened to Aura Maria and her son. He tells them a very moving story that has everyone in tears. The Cuartel tells her that they won't leave her alone and that she can go live with one of them. Armando whispers to Marcela that they can't do this. Marcela takes Aura Maria to her office. When Armando orders everyone to work Patricia asks about the marks on his face and Inisita wants to know who hit. Jenny and Sophia Jenny is asking Sophia for her money in order to purchase a new cell phone. Jenny threatens to go to Guiterrez. In Marcela's Office Marcela is reprimanding Aura Maria for not completing her job. She wants to know why she was thrown out of her home. Aura Maria tells her what has happened and even that her boyfriend has invented a trip. Marcela talks to her Aura Maria about how she is leading her life. She wants to know what she expects when she behaves in the manner that she does. Aura Maria tells her of her dream to buy a house for her and her son. She knows that she can never have that dream due to her economic situation so that is why she is looking for someone. Marcela asks what about Freddy since he is in love with her. Aura Maria that she cannot imagine a life with Freddy. Freddy is only a messenger and the men that come looking for her are more than messengers. She says that she deserves better and she will get someone better. Marcela tells her that Freddy being a messenger does not matter. She tells her that she needs to look for something more solid in her life. She asks her if she doesn't think that Freddy stays as a messenger because he doesn't have someone to make him want to make more of his life. She asks if she doesn't think that she could be the woman that he needs. In The Lobby of the Second Floor Marcela informs the Cuartel and Patricia that Aura Maria is staying. Patricia hugs Marcela. Patricia tells her that she is happy that she is staying, but she still doesn't like her. The Cuartel makes Aura Maria promise to straighten up. In The Lobby Freddy tells Wilson that he can't leave Aura Maria without a home. Aura Maria ararives and tells Freddy the good news. She tells him that if it had not been for him she would not have a second chance. Freddy tells Wilson to inform Aura Maria that know that the situation has been resolved that war is back on. Freddy is on his way outside when he asks someone if he can be of assistance. It is Betty. We can only hear her. Freddy, Wilson and Aura Maria are staring at her. Aura Maria wants to know what she has done to herself. Betty tells them that it is a change of look.
Entire Office As Betty is making her way to her office everyone is saying "Betty". They cannot believe what they are seeing. Listening to Betty's voice you can tell that she is excited about her new look. When Armando looks at her he has a small laugh and tries very hard to keep it under control. He wants to know what she has done to herself. We finally get to see Betty. She has more makeup, her hair pulled up still with her bangs and curls down the side of her face. She is wearing a long skirt but more of a casual type of attire than a business store. Sophia returns from Marcela's office in which she discussed the loan that had been promised in order to pay Jenny for the cell phone. Berta asks if she has seen Betty. She says no and the Cuartel tells her what has occurred. Sophia says that she needs to see Betty about the loan so the entire Cuartel take this opportunity to go and look at Betty. In Betty's Office Sandra wants to know why the new look? Mariana goes on to say that it must have to do with Nicolas. She then picks up the the candy and note that was left on her desk by either Mario or Armando. Betty tries to take it away before she can read the note. Betty tells them that she will explain everything to them at lunch. In Armando's Office The Cuartel is not pleased with Betty's change. Inisita makes the comment that she should have asked someone with experience. They are trying to decide if they should help her. On the way out of Armando's office Inisita asks Armando what happened to his face. He tells her an accident. Outside of his office Berta tells Inisita that Marcela hit him. Armando hears this and Berta quickly closes the doors to his office. In The Second Floor Lobby Patricia makes a comment to Marcela about the marks that she left on Armando's face. Marcela gets upset and wants to know who she can think that she would do a thing like that. In Armando's Office Armando tells Marcela that everyone believes that she hit him. She wants to know if he believes that she is capable of doing such a thing. He answers yes. She tells him that she will do to him if she ever catches him with another woman, all the while kissing him. Betty comes out of her office and sees them. Armando gets upset. Betty needs Marcela to sign the check request. Marcela can't make eye contact with her because she is trying not to laugh at her new look. When Betty leaves she begins to laugh and make fun of her new look. Betty is standing outside of Armando's office and hears the entire conversation. In Front of Berta's Desk Jenny arrives to ask for her money. At Sophia's Ex-Husband's Office A girl with a very short skirt walks into his office. He jumps out of his chair and asks her when they are going to go out. She hads him a piece of mail that states that he and Sophia must go to counseling. Patricia and Marcela They are laughing at Betty's new look. Armando overhears them and wants to know if they are making fun of Betty again. Marcela says no, her boyfriend. Armando looks upset.
11/15/00. Yesterday: Aura Maria gets another chance and Betty gets another look! Today: Patricia and Marcela snicker together at the elevator about Betty and her new novio. "Imagine how her novio will react when he sees her tonight with that frightful new look!" says Marcela wickedly. Betty walks down the hall and Hugo and one of the models catch sight of her mock Betty too (hey! she's not deaf!), Hugo is particularly cruel. "Is there another fea around her?" Patricia tells them no, they're seeing the same one. Cruel laughter at Betty's expense all around. Betty walks past and looks not so much hurt as tired, used to cruelties. She walks up to Sofia and gives her some papers signed ready for issuing checks. Freddy comes up singing and Betty walks away. After she leaves he comments on how unfortunate her new look is. Sofia reminds him that it's not for him to comment. "Make yourself useful and tell that bandida the money's ready for her cell phone." Inez is adjusting some garments on Jenny. Freddy knocks and asks Inez for a few moments of time with Jenny. He brings her good news: "Sofia now has the money for your cell phone." "Really?" she asks suspiciously. "I wouldn't tease you," says Freddy earnestly. Jenny asks Inez for an early lunch, "I'm going to go get my phone." Freddy offers to drive her. She's not so interested but he presses on and she asks him about Aura Maria. He pleads his case: don't let what's gone on with Aura Maria get in the way of a beautiful friendship. Armando is upset that everyone is mocking Betty. Mario has yet to see the new-and-improved Betty and he enters her closet office on some pretext to check it out for himself. He dashes back out and can't control his mocking laughter, "I can't believe it! It's like we have another fea!" He wants to tease Armando some more. "So Did you talk to her about her new look? There's nothing worse than to ignore a woman's new look! You have to comment on it! Look When a woman changes the look it's for a husband or lover." Mario presses him to pursue this with Betty but Armando is hesitant, especially after knowing that Betty has been the target of some nasty comments that she couldn't possibly not have heard. "She's not going to believe me now if I say anything: she'll think that I'm mocking her like others." Mario won't back down, "No, no You'll have to talk about the clothes or the hair. If I was in your place, I'd make love to her as she looks like now, so she knows you love her." Armando rejects this idea out of hand. "No, no!" "Where's the photo of Adriana Arboleda; you need some inspiration." Armando has it handy: he pulls it out and they admire it (the woman in it) together. Betty enters with the report Mario asked for. She spies the photo and Armando notes her reaction. "It's a model," he mentions casually. "Ah Is she Colombian?" asks Betty. Armando mentions that she is, that she's a well known model. "Is she going to work for us?" asks Betty. "I hope so, because she's so beautiful," she says graciously." She asks him about lunching and he teasingly sends her off to have hers. She heads off and overhears him telling Mario that if Adriana Arboleda walked in his door he would drop everything for her." This is not what Betty wants to hear. She turns away, her spirits a little bruised. Sofia gives Jenny the money for the cell phone and has her sign a receipt and tells her to cause no more problems. She makes Berta log the receipt. Jenny is anxious to go buy that phone. "Let's go, Freddy." They ask Freddy where he's off to and he explains that he's off to heaven (with Jenny). Inez comes up and they head off to lunch.
Jim is riding Wilson like a bronco and Aura Maria asks him to behave. The elevator opens and Freddy appears with Jenny. He asks Wilson for his 2 protective vests and to tells Wilson to tell Aura Maria that he's off. "Where?" she asks, disbelievingly. "Inform Miss Aura Maria that I'm going to use my lunch hour to pursue my personal pleasures. Ciao Jim!" "Ciao!" Aura Maria looks stunned. The rest of the cuartel arrives and collects Aura Maria for lunch. Mariana excitedly tells the others that they'll have a lot of gossip today because one has a new novio and Sofia notes that another has lost hers, making Aura Maria look at her. Berta adds to the insult and mentions that that's not all she's lost, she's also lost her only pretender! Outside, Jenny worries that Freddy is making Aura Maria upset but he reassures her that there's nothing more than a professional relationship. If things are cool between them, that's the way it should be. Jenny tells him that that's good because he deserves better. Freddy is excited by this unexpected compliment and he invites her to take a seat on his scooter (and grabs hers!) Aura Maria races after him and shouts out her frustrations. The rest of the cuartel grab her and pull her back. They have more important things to talk about Mariana asks Betty to spill all the details about Nicolás. Aura Maria is excited about news about Nicolás. "Tell us!" "Well," says Betty sheepishly, "It was last night." They scream in unison. Betty does the 'aw shucks' routine. Did he ask her to be novios with him? Yes. They dance around her with joy. Sandra jokingly pouts and pretends that she is jealous that Betty has found a novio, complaining that it's pretty hard to find one these days. Mariana wants all details. "Has he asked for your hand in marriage?" asks Berta. Aura Maria advises her to start pressing him for this. Betty tells them that he came to her house and wanted to speak to her that he told her that he liked her a lot and wanted to formalize things with her and she accepted. "Well, what about a kiss, hug?" asks Aura Maria. Inez reprimands her that this kind of behavior is only between a husband and wife, like it was for her. "And how were they?" they tease Inez. "Rico!" she replies coquettishly. Aura Maria pulls Betty back to pump her privately for details and asks if they've gone to bed yet. She's all dreamy and excited about what its like to be with a well-to-do guy. "After all, when a man is with a sweet mamita" She realizes who she's talking to (no mamita, Betty) and backpedals a bit. "Well, with your new look you're better, but I'm speaking about a re-remamita, you see!" Betty does see. Aura Maria wants more gossip. Betty looks pensive. "What's that tragic look, are you telling me you're never going to sleep with him?"
The scene switches back and forth between Aura Maria giving Betty advice on the importance of sex in a relationship and Mario doing the same with Armando. In the car, Armando tells Mario that at lunch Betty is telling the girls that Nicolas is her new novio which should cut down on the suspicions around the office. Mario teases Armando as to whether that downturn to his lip means more. Armando tells him to leave off. In the restaurant, Armando warns Mario to stop tormenting him, he's not going to touch Betty. "I don't have enough imagination to be able to make love to Betty. I had to drink whiskey and look at that photo of Adrianita just to steel myself to kiss her!" Mario tells him that ugly women have sexual needs too: "You think because Betty is ugly she doesn't need sex. I've seen her, she's simmering. She's like a volcano. Tranquilo, there's the lava!" he finishes the joke, patting Armando. Back to Betty and Aura Maria: "In our relationship there isn't a plan to have sex," says Betty. Aura Maria tells her this doesn't sound like a healthy relationship. Betty enthuses on about her relationship with her beau, "It's a relationship different than others'. It's based on books and poetry and our love of finance" Aura Maria is appalled by this idea. "No! It can't be so so intellectual! Is there nothing of kisses or little things like that?" "No, kisses there are," says Betty shyly, but that's all. Aura Maria is disgusted and tells her that's (sex) the best part, when a man and woman desire each other. "I desire him, but I'm timid and don't want to force him," says Betty, hesitantly. Aura Maria tells her that if you want him and he wants you then these things will happen. "No, he's more of a romantic, a person who's more of a talker" Aura Maria has some advice for Betty, "Now on some dark night attack him, take off your clothes and jump him!" (Can't you just hear Betty saying, after having done so "¡Qué pena con usted, Doctor!") Back to Armando and Mario: "Do you think some day you think Betty could reject me? (for not being intimate)," asks Armando of Mario. "I'm going to tells you that our relationship isn't based on sex, it's different. We speak about things." Hah! Mario doesn't believe in relationships like this. "If you want to talk politics, talk to Daniel Valencia. If you want sex you want a lover." Armando is slightly offended, "For that (sex) I have Marcela." Back to Betty and Aura Maria: "Sex isn't our priority," says Betty the dreamer. "Well it should be. Nothing of the intellectual matters. It has to be good in the bed," counters Aura Maria the sensualist. "Aura Maria, the truth is that he admires me for who I Aura Maria, my mind, etc., but not for me sexually," confesses Betty. Aura Maria advises her to drop him if there's no sexual attraction. Back to Armando and Mario: Mario is telling Armando that sex is the best way to convince a woman that you're crazy for her. "I'm NOT crazy for her!" counters Armando. "So you want to let her think she's horrible?" asks Mario slyly. The rest of cuartel has walked ahead and are talking about how they'll approach Betty about her new look. Sofia is ready to appoint Inez as the spokesperson as she represents the maturity of the group. Aura Maria and Betty join the group. The topic of the 'look' is broached by Sofia: "Where did you go to change your hair and makeup and buy the new clothes?" Betty tells them that first she went to one store (apparently a local fashionable shop). They're stunned because they don't look like the usual offerings of that store. "Those clothes are from there?" "No," says Betty slightly embarrassed, "I went but the clothes there, they're for tall women. In the end I went to the store I usually go to with my mother." "And the hairdresser that you went to for that 'do'?" asked Berta, "Was it a hairdresser for men or women?" "Why? It was a hairdresser in the neighborhood." asks Betty, confused. "Oh Nothing." "And how did you choose the hairstyle?" Betty tells them that she went through some magazines but all the styles were like the clothes at the fancy store, for attractive women so she ended up not choosing." Sandra's ready to go punch out the stylist, "So the hairdresser experimented on you?" Betty tells them that she ended up getting a style like one her mother gets. They walk on and Sofia and Berta wonder how they're going to tell her how awful her new look looks. Back to Armando and Mario: Mario suggests he offer help to Betty. "Are you suggesting that I buy her clothing, hire her a stylist?" asks Armando. "No," counters, Mario, "But consider that this relationship could go on for a year, or more" Yikes! "Well then, as the all-knowing guru of women everywhere, what would you suggest?" asks Armando, half tongue-in-cheek. "Introduce her to a plastic surgeon," jokes Mario. "Ah, and how do you offer aesthetic surgery to a woman?" Mario jokes that there's no better gift for an ugly woman than aesthetic surgery. "Better than an a car or an apartment!" Armando is slightly intrigued, "This cosmetic surgery, just how would it change her?" "Well," jokes Mario, "They're not magicians, but they could make her like Aura Maria" "Aura Maria? How would they change the way she talks? Oh, and what if Marcela found out, because the money would have to be from my accounts, not Eco Moda's, and Marcela would find!"
Back at the office, Marcela is talking to Patricia, she still feels that there's someone after Armando. They walk past Armando's office and they hear the phone in Betty's office ringing off the hook. Patricia complains to Marcela that the phone is always ringing in the office and that imbecile is always is gone. Marcela has a simple solution, "Answer them!" Patricia is shocked by the suggestion, "Me???" The phone rings on and Marcela reminds her that if the answer they seek might be on the other end: they can find out who it might be pursuing Armando because they're most likely to be calling on Betty's line. Patricia goes to answer. Marcela sees the photo of Adriana Arboleda on Armando's desk, picks it up and gives it a cockeyed look of suspicion. Patricia answers the phone with a false voice (trying to sound like Betty) but it's Nicolás and he knows it's not Betty. He asks where she is and she reverts to her usual snotty attitude. He gives his name and asks her name and when he finds out it's her, he's all excited. "Mira, Patty!" he asks her to tell Betty to call Terra Moda, that there's something important to discuss. He goes into full impress Patricia mode, "Tell her to call me in my car or on my cell phone." Hermes overhears this call and whacks him suspiciously. Nicolás runs down the hall and pretends to call for his car and then shouts an order at Hermes to get some checks ready. More phony important babble and Patricia is now all interested. She's very sweet. She hangs up and it's obvious that the squirrel is running in the cage that she calls her brain. Nicolás, on the other hand, is all giddy. He kisses her photo and goes to kiss Hermes who's not having any of that nonsense! "Are you consuming psychotropic?" Hermes calls him a maniac, a subversive. Marcela is still staring at the photo of Adriana Arboleda and Patricia tells her about the message. Do you know about Terra Moda? Marcela doesn't. "What are you staring at?" Marcela shows her the photo and asks Patricia, "Is this Adriana Arboleda?" "Why yes it is!" "Why is this here? Patricia asks, "Could it be that she's the one after Armando?" In the lobby, Jim is playing William Tell with Wilson. Aura Maria hands a meal to Wilson for Jim. Aura Maria is still advising Betty and tells her to have her butt lifted and waist cinched (like with that foundation garment). "No that's for woman who like to call attention to themselves," says Betty. Freddy is staring longingly at Jenny: she's gotten a promotional bag for purchasing the new phone and she hands it to him as a remembrance of the day and to thank him for his help. After Jenny heads to the scooter, he flirts with the counter girl and heads out. The cuartel arrives back from lunch and Patricia launches the first salvo and comments about the time they arrive how they're always off to lunch, etc. Sandra says that it's because they have not place to have a siesta like her at her desk. The barbs fly. Patricia whines about the burdens of always having to answer the phones in the president's office. This is news to the cuartel. What calls have you answered?" "What stress! And aren't you the secretary to the president of Eco Moda?" asks Mariana. "But I'm not the personal assistant of the president like that one," responds Patricia snottily. "I took a call for you." "Who was it?" asks Betty. Patricia tells her that it was some type from a company called Terra Moda and there's a meeting or something. "Some Nicolás Mora" She asks "Who's he?" when she sees their reaction of glee. "The novio of Betty!!!" they shriek in unison. They advise Betty to call him back on the cell. Patricia tries to play cool and tells them to go back to work. Sandra teases her that Betty has a rich novio unlike her. "Largirucha no one's listening to you!" cries Patricia. Sofia wickedly jabs at Patricia's recent lack of money even to put gas in her car. Berta rubs it in her face that she's not capable of catching one for herself. "Betty will have to give you classes on how to get a rich novio!" Betty slyly adds, "Whenever you want a lesson, I'll find some time to help you." That sets Patricia off in a fury, "Never! I have this body, style, six semesters of finance in San Marino, class I can have a rich novio whenever I want one! All I have to do is look in my phone book and pick one and snap my fingers and I've got one!" Daniel has gotten off the elevator during this tirade. "Oh yes?" he comments sardonically. Patricia nearly jumps out of her skin. "Hello," she says nervously, "I didn't hear you." Daniel is definitely not Mr. Charm, "How could you? It was it impossible to hear anything over the shouts here! So, you can find the best kind of novio with just a snap of your fingers looking thru your phone book Aura Maria I in the book?" Patricia responds that he is. "and if you snap I'll come?" Patricia shows a little spunk and tries to brush this conversation off as being something between women. It all started because they were saying that Betty has a novio and they said that I couldn't find one easily. "That's not so," says Betty. Daniel mockingly comments on the availability of personal ads, but oh, they charge for those Perhaps you'll stay a solterona. Is Marcela in her office?" He turns and walks away and Sandra can't resist snapping her fingers. He turns and looks suspiciously at them. They all laughingly point to Patricia and blame it on her. He stalks away. The barbs between the ladies continue until Inez breaks them up. Sandra shadow boxes as if she'd like a piece of Patricia. Patricia responds in kind. Sofia snaps under her nose. Berta reminds Patricia that Betty is available to help. Betty strolls by smugly. Mariana teases Patricia that, "When you find one brink him by and introduce him!" Patricia walks off in a huff, hair swooshing. "So, is he the boss of Terra Moda?" asks Sofia. Betty clarifies things, "He's the general manager of Terra Moda." "Don't they have some business with us?" asks Sofia. Yes, that's why she doesn't want it bandied about.
Betty enters Armando's office and spies the photo of Adriana Arboleda and recalls Armando words that if she appeared one day he'd drop everyone for her and run. Daniel sneaks in behind her. "How are you?" asks Betty nervously. "Not well, since in my account there's no money as you'd said." Betty is apologetic, "I understand. Tomorrow you'll have the money, I promise." "And your words are as serious as your looks?" Daniel is incredibly rude. He continues, "You don't look like the secretary of a fashion house, you look more like the secretary of a circus! (Armando has entered the office behind Daniel and is overhearing this insulting stream of venom) I know that Armando is a clown and he runs this place like a circus, so maybe your frightful hair and clothes are appropriate!" Betty's cheeks flame in embarrassment and shock, "Doctor! You're offending me!" Daniel continues remorselessly, "Who you're offending is this place. What do you think you're doing. What do you think of when you fix your hair? Do you think you look divine?" Armando steps forward. Tomorrow: It's a fight between Armando and Daniel and Patricia tells Marcela she's determined to steal Betty's novio.
Subject: **SUMMARY** Thursday, November 16 Author: Lupita (12.0.36.227) Date: 11-17-2000 13:43 Armando walks in to his office in time to hear Daniel's diatribe towards Betty. Armando barely controls his rage when Daniel says that someone like Betty is harmful, not only to the company's image, but to all humanity. He goes on to say that the harm her appearance does to the firm is doubly important since she practically runs the company, given the incompetence of its President. Armando goes after Daniel, but is held back by Betty. Daniel shrugs "I can understand your desire to defend the firm, but bad taste? Well, Tarzan and Cheetah.." . He walks out. Marcela is trying to get some work done at her desk and only half listens to Patricia going on and on about how the Cuartel is giving her grief about Betty and her rich boyfriend. Marcela glances up and tells Patty not to pay any attention to them. But Patty is relentless - she vows to get back at them no matter what. "I'm going to take her boyfriend away from her!" she gloats. She tells Marcela he's a prize - a general manager with car, driver and club membership! Marcela, annoyed, tells Patty to get real "It doesn't matter how rich he is, or how many cars he has or what clubs he belongs to. If he's Beatriz's boyfriend, he must be a complete dog!". But Patricia sees nothing but dollar signs and retorts that if the Cuartel keeps bugging her, she'll steal him away. Back in the office, Armando comforts Betty. He tells her she looks lovely and he loves her new look. Betty is flattered and grateful. He goes on to say, though, that he missed the old Betty "Where is that captivating Betty that I met for the first time? With her shy smile, her bangs, her ah. charisma? Where is she? I want the old Betty back". Betty looks a bit puzzled and says she thought he never liked her looks. Armando thinks fast and says that she grew on him and one day the magic came and he now can't live without her. Overcome by emotion, Betty promises to go back to her old self. She puckers up. He runs to close the door. She comes to her senses and says he's right - it's too dangerous in the office. He sighs with relief. They agree to go out in a couple of days. Betty can't wait. Armando looks like he's having a root canal. Aura Maria is on the phone begging Ines to look after her son as Freddy and Jenny come back from their shopping trip/lunch date. Aura Maria makes a crack about the blankets sticking, obviously thinking that they partook in a quickie. Freddy pretends not to hear and presses the elevator button "I'm calling the elevator o take us to heaven", he murmurs to Jenny. Wilson puts his two cents in. Freddy acts offended and says he was on his lunch hour and was enjoying a gourmet lunch with a wonderful lady. Aura Maria seethes. Upstairs, Patty has a new crisis. It seems her credit card is overextended and the bank is coming after her. She tries to convince them to give her a couple of more weeks and that she'll cover all the interest charges. After all, she had six semesters at the San Marino and understands how these things work. She doesn't seem to be getting anywhere, so she resorts to whining and begging. Marcela walks by. Patty abruptly hangs up the phone and asks Marcela for a loan "please, please, please". Marcela looks disgusted and snaps "Ask Armando". Two sets of fingers snap simultaneously. Patty whirls around. Mariana tells her to snap her fingers so her rich boyfriend will come running.
Betty calls home and tells Nicolas that he must never call her at the office or leave messages, especially with her enemy, Patricia Fernandez. Upon hearinig the name, Nicolas waxes poetic about his true love - he tells Betty he can even smell her perfume over the phone. But Betty stands firm, telling him he can't be calling and making up stories about his car, his meetings and his club "It's just too dangerous, especially if the gossip is coming from the mouth of Patricia". That really gets Nicolas excited "And what a mouth! I already did the calculations and it's almost as big as mine. I'll have to learn to kiss, and pronto! Even if I have to take a correspondence course!" He laughs and then asks her why all the fuss, since Terramoda is on the up and up and all the books are in order. Then Betty drops the bombshell: "Because you are officially MY boyfriend!". Patricia is prowling the halls in search of 5 million pesos. She waylays a reluctant Mario as he waits for the elevator. He's about to bolt, so she reminds him that there is only friendship between them. He relaxes a bit, only to tense up again when she asks him for 5 million pesos. He tells her he doesn't have that kind of money, but he'll make a few phone calls when he gets home. He escapes into the elevator as Hugo steps out. Patricia pounces "Can you lend me 5 million pesos?" Hugo laughs "Honey, I don't have any money. Do you think I have rich studs to cater to my every whim, every extravagance? Nooooo As a matter of fact, I'm renovating my apartment with my lovey dovey we are broke. Strapped for cash, maybe, but never for love!. Besides, I would never lend money to a woman because if she doesn't pay, then what? Collect in kind? I don't think so. Anyway, I also support my mother!" As Betty says goodnight to Armando, Marcela comes in and asks if he's ready to go home "I'm looking forward to a nice hot bubble bath, with herbs and oils - and aphrodisiac bath like the ones we always take!" Embarrassed, Armando pretends he doesn't understand. Considerate, Betty notices his discomfort and leaves. Marcela is convinced that Armando is nervous because Betty is spying for Armando's secret lover. They head out to the elevator. As Armando and Marcela wait for the elevator, Hugo drags Jimmy by the ear out of his studio. "Who left this mini-Freddy in my studio? I will not abide children in my workshop. Except, of course, the child that I and ? will adopt one day." Ines giggles "And what will your baby call you? Pamá or Mapá?". Marcela turns to Armando and says "How sweet! And if we make a baby tonight in the tub?" Armando answers sarcastically, "Wonderful! He'd be an amphibian - the son of Aqua Man!" Before Marcela and Armando can get away, Patricia blatantly asks Armando for 5 million pesos. "What! You must be drunk. You now it is absolutely forbidden to drink at the office!" Dejected, Patricia returns to her desk and thinks "They're forcing me to fall into Daniel's arms" Downstairs, Aura Maria hints to Freddy that she'd like a ride, as the cuartel looks on. Freddy ignores her and phones Jenny, telling her he's waiting for her at Reception. Aura Maria leaves with the rest of the girls. Alone, Freddy drops the pose and looks very sad. From her desk, Patty phones Daniel and asks for 5 million pesos. Very business like, Daniel says "Let's figure this out. At 50,000 per night that will be let's see 100 nights. Now, that's a bit much, don't you think? I'd get deathly bored. But I'd be happy to talk to some friends. Maybe they'd be interested in participating in our deal". Patty slams down the phone and calls him a low-life. Betty arrives home. Don Hermes is not happy with her new look and tells her to stop dressing up like a clown. Nicolas pulls one of her ringlets and laughs "Ding-dong, ding-dong!". Betty admits that her look was a total failure and that she's going back to the old Betty. Depressed, she tells them she's not hungry and goes up to her room. Nicolas follows her. Betty informs him that, as of last night, they are officially going out. "What?" Nicolas remarks "Did I fall asleep and miss something? You didn't take advantage of me while I slept, did you?" Betty explains how she told the Cuartel that Nicolas is her boyfriend. Nicholas is upset. He wonders what they are going to think of him now at Eco Moda - it will ruin his image with Patricia. Betty has a little fun with Nicolas, saying that everyone, even Patricia, knows that Nicolas is smitten, but that she, Betty, is too much woman for him. When he turns pale, she tells him she's just kidding, but it's important that he not contact her at the office because Marcela might find out what's going on with the business. Nicolas is relieved. He asks Betty "So, this boyfriend thing. Does it mean I have to hug and kiss you in public?" "No" laughs Betty "How could we possibly do that to each other?" They both crack up as they look at each themselves in the mirror. Nicolas, suddenly serious, says that this must mean he doesn't have a chance with la Fernandez. Betty tries to make him feel better by saying Patricia is not the right woman for him anyway. Dejected, Nicolas goes downstairs, says good-bye to Patricia's photo and sticks it in a drawer. Betty writes in her diary. She wonders why Armando wanted her to look like she used to. She finds it strange that he is obsessed with her. "Could it be that he desires me?" she wonders. As Betty is writing, we see Armando and Marcela in a passionate embrace as they go to the bedroom, leaving a stream of discarded clothing in their wake. Back to Betty. She shrugs slightly and tells herself that Armando doesn't have those sorts of feelings towards her. She thinks how much she's going to miss him since they can't see each other as often. She admits to herself that she loves him and wants him. She remembers how Aura Maria said that if the man doesn't take the initiative, it's up to the woman. But she tells herself she doesn't have the personality or the courage to do so. A few days later, Armando and Betty dance at a disco. Back at the table, Betty stares longingly at Armando, making him squirm. He sweet-talks her, making faces all the while. He finds the intestinal fortitude to plant a kiss, but is surprised when Betty lunges at him saying "I love you, Doctor, I love you!". Nonplussed, Armando manages to push her away and look at his watch. Phew! It's time to leave. In the car, Betty thanks him for a wonderful evening. Armando replies that he's counting the days until their next meeting. Betty again gets carried away and practically wrestles him into the back seat. Coyly, Armando pushes her away and reminds her that they need to act like adults and not loose control, no matter how much they want to. "Soon" he says "Very soon, we will be able to be alone!" . As Betty walks up the front steps, Armando shakes his head "My God! What kind of aphrodisiac did that woman have for lunch?!" Don Hermes and doña Julia are waiting up for Betty, who they think has been at another company function. Turns out it's her birthday. She admits that her boss doesn't know. "Well done" says don Hermes "Otherwise he'd just think you're angling for an expensive birthday present. Besides, he's and executive and too busy for such details." Doña Julia laughs and reminds her husband he never forgot the secretaries birthdays at his old office, not a one. She turns to her daughter: "Even so, it would have been nice if he'd remembered Betty's birthday."
Subject: **Summary** Friday 17 Author: elizabeth (209.214.8.106) Date: 11-19-2000 00:55 Saludos chicas y chicos este es un resumen del capitulo del viernes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Armando llega al apartamento de Marcela despues de la velada romantica con Betty. El se da cuenta que Marcela lo espera sentada beviendo un trago. Armando- despierta a estas horas mi amor? Marcela- por que es muy tarde? Silencio Marce- quedastes de llegar temprano!! Armando- mi amor si apenas es la una de la manana( sirviendose un trago) Marce- la una y media! Armando- me rindo la una y media ellos hablan del negocio que supuestamente fue con betty pero marce no le cree nada. ella esta segura de que el viene de ver su amante.Marce se enoja y se va. Armando la persigue por el pasillo. Marcela le dice a armando que se regrese. Armando - sabes mi amor lo que pasa es que no me puedo devolver a estas horas ya no me habren. El unico lugar a donde abren tan tarde es aqui.No eh terminado! sabes porque siempre vengo aca? siempre esta abierto para mi. Por eso me encanta!!! marce- no quiero saber nada mas! Armando le dice que como ella sabe tanto de infidelidad, que si sabe si un hombre le puede hacer lo que el le va hacer a ella despues de visitar a su amante.Y dicho eso le da tremendo besote. ella se suelta y le dice que el si puede. El la agarra otra vez y le dice que le va a dar una lecion que ella no se olvidara, ni su cuerpo. Y se besan y ya se pueden imaginar que leccion bien dada le dio.. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- En ECOMODA en la manana: las del cuartel le celebran a sofia lo guapa y elegante que esta. sofia explica que es para la cita que tiene con Efrain de conciliacion, *********************************************************************************** Entra Mario Calderon y Patty lo attacka con preguntas del prestamo que el le prometio. El le dice que va a averiguarle la informacion. *********************************************************************************** Jennie se encuentra al frente de ecomoda en el carro con su checque. Y Efrain le dice - mi amorcito yo tengo que ir!! tengo que ir!! Jenni esta que se muere por que no quiere que su guni guni vaya a la cita. A ella le da miedo que se vallan a reconciliar. Efrain le asegura que eso es impossible. *********************************************************************************** Wilson se encuentra al frente de ecomoda hablando con unas muchachas de la compania. Armando le dece: Oiga! Oiga! el rey de paradise! parqueeme el carro!! Armando llega a su officina y les pide a las del cuartel que le busquen a Mario Calderon. Entra calderon a la oficina presidencia y le pregunta si ya llego el monstrete. Le pide los detalles completos de la noche pasada. de los besos de betty y gritos de marcela. Armando le cuenta que todo bien pero que hay algo que le preocupa.BETTY! Mario- Porque ya la esta viendo divina? Armando- no cual divina! NO lo que pasa es que anoche pues, estavamos besandonos y de pronto senti una energia de ella, bueno mejor dicho se me volvio loca y despues me suelta un TE AMO! TE AMO! Mario- NOOOOOOO!!! Armando- SI! Mario- Que bien! Pero que bien!!! HAHA ya la consolido! usted es mi heroe. Que bien Armando- eso no es lo unico que me preocupa. la senti como mas entuciasmada, como mas hmmmmm pujosa. mejor dicho me toco pararla como tres veces y explicarle que no podiamos perder los horizontes y ni hacer locuras. Mario- usted me quiere decir que ella estaba exitada? que queria sel el amor? Armando - si yo creo que si! Mario le dice a su querido amigo "malas noticias le va a tocar pasarla por la cama" El doctor mendoza le dice que jamas llevara a betty a la cama, ni a la silla, ni por donde sea! Mario- repasemos los hechos; Usted es el tinieblo de Betty? Armando- Pues si. Mario- usted lleva meses trabajandola. Y ya le solto un te amo y ya la tiene al punto penaltie a poco centimetros del castigo. que va acer se le va a salir corriendo? estan pasando por un momento muy delicado de la relaccion. y es el mas delicado. la expression maxima del ego. como lo dice freaud, darwin, y niche... mario le canta a armando y le dice que es el momento de espressarle de verdad que el ama y que va serio con betty. Mario- Preparese emocional, phycologica, y profalictica mente por que le va hace el amor al mostrete. armando suplica que no le aga eso, que tenga solaridad con el. que el jamas le ara el amor a betty. Mario- no le va hacer el amor si no el horror. el se burla que se va a encontrar a armando con la ropas rasgada y llorando su honra perdida. heheehehe Mientras tanto afuera en el pasillo le canta happy birthday a betty todos los del cuartel. Y que si armando no lo sabia. ellos salen a ver que pasa y se dan cuenta y felicitan a betty. hasta le dan un beso. todos los del cuartel le gritaban besito! besito! besito! Marcela y Hugo felicitan a Betty. Sofia y las del cuartel le preguntan a betty que le regalo su tinieblo nicolas y ellas les dice que todavia nada. ellas lo insultan por ser poco detallista mientras calderon y armando escuchan la conversasion. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mario le dice a Armando ya en la officina- usted si que es mucha porqueria!! no pero que decepcion de tipo. Por Dios!! que es la primera vez que la nina tiene novio y como le celebra el cumpleano?? Armando- (con una cara de pena) calleze calderon que yo no sabia que era su cumpleano.ella no me dijo nada. Yo estuve con ella hasta la madrugada y no me dijo nada. Mario- pero claro ella es una mujer. de pronto penso que la salida de ayer era para celebrarle el cumpleano y cuando llego la medianoche que paso NADA NADA! usted se puede imaginar lo que puede estar pensando ella? Armando- callese calderon y ayude me a encontrar una soluccion. Y que si calderon le propone que le aga un strip tease. :) Armando- que horror! que horror! no mejor le da un detalle o tarjetita cursi de las que tiene guardadas. como dice freddie; perdoneme pero disculpeme es que no tengo nada mas para ofrecerle a betty. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- jenni se encuentra muy desconcentrada por que esta preocupada por su guni guni. Hugo se enoja y toma unos minutos, en eso llega sofia a pedirle la ropaprestada a inesita, quien le da un sostre rosado bellisimo. despues cuando Hugo se da cuenta porque jennie le vino con el chisme, el va a gritarle a sofia que se lo quite. Inesita le advierte que no se lo quite por que si no ella renuncia. Y el accepto y le dijo a sofia que lo lleve a dry cleaners antes de entregarlo. Guacala y se va. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- entra betty a la officina y el armando le pregunta que porque no le habia dicho que era su cumpleano. ella le dice que no tiene ninguna importancia y armando le dice que si ella dice que no y el le grita QUE SI tiene importancia para el. que como puede decir eso. Ya cuando el le grita ya le dice "que berguensa no le queria gritar y mas en su cumpleanos" Betty le explica que si ella le dice que no, no es por quitarle sun remordimiento si no por que deverdad para ella no tiene ninguna tracendencia. El le pide que por favor le explique por que. Ella explica que a ella nunca le a gustado celebrar su cumpleano, que solo una vez cuando cumplia 15 anos hizo una fiesta mas por los papas que nada. pero que la fiesta salio tan mal que nunca se animo mas a celebrarlo. ella le asegura al doctor que no se preocupe y se va a su rinconsito de oficina. el se queda con una cara que parece que le salian las lagrimas. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Patsy Pat le ruega por telefono a su papi que le consiga un prestamo por los cinco millones que necessita, y en eso llega cata y le pide que si tiene dolares 2,500 dollares por que ella necessita, y le dice que se los pagan con un checque (pero que cheque uno sin fondo) pero marce no la deja que haga esto las del cuartel invitan a betty almorzar y cuando se va armando le pide que no haga planes por quiere salir con ella para celebrarle el cumpleano. ella dice que no porque no quiere que se meta en problemas ya saben entre el que no que si que no ya casi le mete otro grito. pero el se controlo y le dijo que el se las arreglaba con marcela. el le tiro un besito y ella le gino el ojo (estuvo comiquisimo) Armando y Mario salen a comer pero marcela y patty se quedan atras pues marcela espera contestar las llamadas de betty y armando mientras estan afuera de la officina. y el fin de capitulo... el lunes estara divino el capitulo, pues le celebraran el birthday a betty; los papas le tiran una fiestica, y se les complica el outing de enamorados, marce y patty quedan de perseguir a armando para ver si dan con la dichosa amante... los que nos espera esta semana... espero que no este muy largo que creen ustedes? let me know ely :O)
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USA 11/20-24/00.
Telemundo summaries: Martes, 21 de noviembre El cuartel de las feas celebra el cumpleaaños de Betty en su casa, dañandole los planes para salir con Armando. Miércoles, 22 de noviembre Armando llega a la casa de Betty donde se encuentra a todo el cuartel de las feas. Betty y Armando tienen que esperar que se marchen todas de su casa para poder salir juntos. Jueves, 23 de noviembre Armando lleva a Betty a un hotel donde tienen su primera relación intima. Viernes, 24 de noviembre Eco Moda se prepara para lanzar su nueva colección, lo que incomoda a Armando ya que tendrá que enseañar el estado financiero de la empresa.
La Opinion, 11/26/00. Solo telenovelas Laura M. López Betty la fea Canal 52, lunes a viernes, 8:00 p.m. ¡Betty estaba tan feliz que no lo podía creer! Armando no quería terminar con esa relación tan absurda según ella. Después de hablar esa noche por varias horas y ver los pros y los contras, decidieron seguir adelante aunque con algunas condiciones. Armando sugiere que, para no levantar sospechas en Eco Moda, ella diga que efectivamente, Nicolás es su novio. Betty, accede y le dice a Nicolás que para no seguir siendo la burla del cuartel, les dijo que ha aceptado ser su novia. Marcela por su parte, no se cree el cuento de Armando de que todas esas salidas nocturnas han sido de negocios. Ella está muy segura de que hay otra mujer de por medio y con Patricia a su lado, echándole más sal a la herida, decide seguirlo una de esas noches. Durante el día, Armando se sintió muy apenado pues se enteró por el cuartel que era cumpleaños de Beta. Mario le sugiere que la invite a cenar por ahí y después le haga el regalo que la muchacha nunca olvidaría. Armando efectivamente invita a Beta, pero ellos no contaban con que don Herpes planearía una reunión en casa y había invitado a todo el cuartel. Beta acordó con ellas que sería sólo hasta las 10 de la noche porque tenía cita con su novio. A la hora acordada llegó Armando y se estacionó a unas cuadras de la casa mientras se iban los invitados. Don Herpes, que había ido a comprar más vino, pues la fiesta estaba muy de ambiente, vio a Armando y éste no tuvo más remedio que entrar a la casa. Para esto, Marcela y Patricia habían seguido a Armando pues no le creían que iría a la casa de Beta. Mientras esperaban, la banda del barrio se acercó al auto, el caso es que fueron a parar hasta la delegación del departamento de policía. Todo se arregló cuando Marcela supuestamente aceptó salir una de esas noches a "rumbear". Casi cerca de la medianoche, Armando y Betty pudieron ir a celebrar por su parte, y aunque Armando no tenía el más mínimo deseo de acostarse con ella, terminaron en la habitación de un hotel. Camino a casa de Betty, él jamás se imaginó que la muchacha hubiese tenido relaciones sexuales antes. Quizás por celos o por curiosidad, le pregunta quién fue el primer hombre en su vida.
Most of the week involves the hilarious preparations for a birthday party (Betty pretends to have a date with Nicolas, Hermes is intent on giving her a party and tells the cuartel, all go to the party), the party itself (Hermes is shocked to discover that most of the cuartel is separated or divorced, that Aura Maria is a single mother, etc. He and Inesita sing a duet along with the record of an older singer), and that night when Armando makes love to Betty in a hotel room. It also involves Patricia and Marcela donning "disguises" and following Armando, then getting arrested for defending themselves against the unwanted attentions of the boys in the neighborhood who always make fun of Betty. Aura Maria goes on a weird date with Freddy to a disco; he barely talks to her and pretends not to respond to her goodnight kiss. Efraim and Sofia go to a psych supposedly to resolve their differences but it doesn't work. Jenny tells Efraim he is entitled to half of his house even if it was paid for by Sofia's family because there are no papers which say so. Armando explains to Betty why he turned up in the morning with Marcie; she was waiting in his apartment. Marcella questions Mariana about Armando and the party. Mario asks Armando for details; he says it was traumatic but gives him all the details. Aura Maria asks Betty for details. Both say it was sweet. Marcella tells Patricia that Armando didn't arrive until 3am, knows that he was with another woman because he wouldn't make love to her.
http://www.laciudad.com/entretenimiento/telenovelas Lunes 19 de junio Armando invita a Betty a celebrar su cumpleaños. Ella le dice al Cuartel que Nicolás la invitó a cenar. Las muchachas temen que Sofía se entusiasme nuevamente con el Cheque. Marcela hace que Patricia conteste las llamadas de Betty buscando dar con la identidad de su nuevo romance. Efraín y Sofía tienen un nuevo altercado y ella decide que se haga la separación.Martes 20 de junio Jenny besa a Freddy. Marcela le pide a Patricia que la acompañe a seguir a Armando. Nicolás invita a cenar a Betty, y Armando escucha todo. El Cuartel se reúne para un 911. Aura María le propone a Sofía conseguirle un tinieblo que la haga olvidar a su marido. Efraín le reclama a Jenny por tener el celular apagado. Inesita le cuenta a Jenny que su Cheque y Sofía harán repartición de bienes.Miércoles 21 de junio Julia llama a Bertha e invita a todo el Cuartel para celebrar en su casa el cumpleaños de Beatriz. A regañadientes, Betty tiene que asistir a la fiesta que Hermes le organizó en su casa. Mario le dice a Armando que lo mejor es decirle la verdad a Marcela, es decir, que está en la casa de Betty. Aura María le pide a Betty que invite a Freddy a la fiesta. Jenny le pregunta a Efraín por la mitad de la casa que le corresponde. Patricia y Marcela siguen a Armando y Mario.Jueves 22 de junio Aura María le propone a Sofía que se consiga un tinieblo que la haga olvidar a su marido. Efraín le reclama a Jenny por tener el celular apagado. Inesita le cuenta a Jenny que su Cheque y Sofía harán repartición de bienes. Julia llama a Bertha e invita a todo el Cuartel a celebrar en su casa el cumpleaños de Betty. A regañadientes, Betty tiene que asistir a la fiesta que Hermes le organizó en su casa.Viernes 23 de junio Aura María le pide a Betty que invite a Freddy a la fiesta. Jenny le pregunta a Efraín por la mitad de la casa que le corresponde. Hermes se aterra de conocer a la clase de amigas que tiene su hija. Betty le dice a Julia que Armando la invitó a salir. Marcela y Patricia siguen a Armando y Mario hasta un bar.
Lunes 26 de junio Especial dedicado al Día del Padre Martes 27 de junio Hermes no puede creer que las muchachas del Cuartel tomen trago. Armando le dice a Mario que no puede seguir adelante con el plan de Betty. Freddy y Wilson llegan a la fiesta. Patricia tiene su primer tropiezo como espía y termina en una penosa situación. Armando y Mario salen del bar. Hermes se niega a que la fiesta se acabe, Freddy lo apoya. Miércoles 28 de junio Armando decide esperar a Betty cerca de su casa, pero alguien lo descubre. Betty y el resto de los invitados se llevan una sorpresa. Bertha, pasada de tragos, cree ver visiones. Nicolás se toma a pecho su papel de novio y se manifiesta en la fiesta de cumpleaños de Beatriz. Hermes le dice a Betty que quiere a Nicolás como un hijo. Marcela y Patricia tratan de saber cuál de los invitados es el millonario Nicolás Mora.J ueves 29 de junio Aura María le pide a Freddy que la lleve hasta su nueva casa. Armando intenta evadir su salida con Betty, pero le puede el sentimiento de culpa. Román y su grupo intentan conquistar a Marcela y Patricia, quienes se defienden en medio de un terrible alboroto. Armando y Betty escuchan los gritos de unas mujeres, víctimas del acecho de Román.
Martes 04 de julio Patricia y Marcela pasan de víctimas a victimarias. Armando no logra controlar la pasión de Betty. Patricia se descontrola cuando se entera que el Fiscal ordenó arrestarla. Mientras está en una discoteca con Betty, Armando empieza a tener alucinaciones. Él llama desesperado a Mario, quien le aconseja salir de una vez por todas de Betty. Un hotel parece el mejor lugar para calmarla. Miércoles 05 de julio Armando utiliza un nombre falso para entrar al hotel. Mario se enfurece con Armando cuando él intenta negarse a cumplir. Marcela le ofrece dinero a Román quien le hace una contrapropuesta. Aura María siente la indiferencia de Freddy. Patricia le entrega demasiada información a Román. Después de unas horas, Armando y Betty vuelven a la realidad. Aura María hace un nuevo intento por acercarse a Freddy. Marcela le pide a Patricia que la lleve hasta el apartamento de Armando. Él le pregunta a Betty si esa fue su primera vez. Jueves 06 de julio. Julia le pregunta a Betty si pasó algo entre ella y Armando. Betty se entera del escándalo de Román. Armando se sorprende al encontrar en su apartamento a Marcela y no puede responder a todos sus requerimientos. Jenny le insiste a Efraín para que le quite la mitad de la casa a Sofía. Betty empieza a alucinar con Marcela. Armando le da a Betty explicaciones que ella no pidió. Marcela interroga a Mariana. Armando le cuenta a Mario todo lo que ocurrió en el hotel. Viernes 07 de julio. Armando le explica a Calderón que su relación física con Betty fue muy "dulce" lo que le preocupa a Mario. Marcela le cuenta a Patricia que Armando no quiso hacer el amor con ella. Armando escucha una conversación entre Betty y Aura María. Berta y Sandra presionan a Mariana para que les cuente lo que le dijo Marcela. Armando le ordena a Betty maquillar un informe para la reunión. Jenny se niega a verse con Efraín. Mariana le cuenta al Cuartel lo que habló con Marcela.
USA 11/20-24/00. 11/20/00. Brief interaction between Marcy and Patsy, where they continue with the plans to follow Armando. Armando and Mario get off of the elevator, and Mario promises to bring the gift by. Armando says please be discrete. As Armando heads to his office, Berta tells him that Sofia is running a little bit late from the reconciliation, which creates more problems than it solves. Efrain and Sofia are at the conciliation meeting, and Sofia is saying there isn't much point since he's an old man running around with all these younger women, chasing skirts. Efrain jumps in with "old man, old man!, I go to the gym, I am very active, I am not old, I look good, etc., see what I have to deal with?" The counselor appears to be buying his story a little, especially as Sofia laughs at him, and says this is a waste of time, it is a complete waste of time. They should get the young thing in here, he could call her on the cell phone that he pays for. Efrain tries to play this off. Sofia says it's a waste because he wants to keep doing what he is doing, but at least now maybe he will pay to support his children as he should be, and she runs out. Efrain then pulls out the cell phone to call "the young thing" in the office, and when the counselor looks at him skeptically, he says "oh, it isn't mine, I borrowed it from work". But then he can't get through because the Yenny's phone is off. Yenny and Freddie are at a very expensive restaurant, and Yenny is flirting and making all of those baby faces and baby talk with Freddy. She goes on and on about how upset she is, and that she is worried about the reconciliation, and he asks what she will do if Sofia and Efrain reconcile - - what about Freddy and Yenny? She gives him a lot of double talk with her face very close to his, and then he jumps in and robs a kiss. This sends her backpedaling and she bounces up and out of the booth and leaves Freddy looking at the bill, which he says to himself he will be glad to take care of, it is only a week's pay. Armando is in his office when Betty gets a happy birthday call from Nicholas, who offers to take her out as the general manager of terramoda. She is very pleased that he remembered, but she says no, and when he insists that he will pay (but it can't be too expensive), she says that she has plans with the cuartel, "se va de rumba", so they should save it for next year which leaves Armando relieved. Nicholas tells Don Hermes that Betty has plans to go out, but he says no, family is more important, and she will be staying home tonight, her friends can come over here. Nicholas comments that this is just like the 1800s. Marcy shows up with an invitation to a showing of a line, tonight , but Armando turns her down, saying he already has plans, with "clients", yeah, that's it, clients. She says, next time she'll give him more warning so he can come up with a better answer, and walks out. She marches back to her office and says to Patsy that tonight he is seeing "her", so this is the night to follow him. She also says she is afraid, and Pasty says of what, she's ready to take on Armando, to beat him up or whatever, and Marcy says no, she's afraid to find out the truth. Shortly thereafter Mario shows up with the gift. It's a Furby! And he is saying all these baby talk words like papa, etc, and we hear its voice too. Armando is rolling his eyes, and asks where is the card. Mario hands him the card and he reads it; he says, there is no way I would say this. Mario says, remember, these are the words of a man in love, or something to that effect (I don't remember exactly). Armando heads towards Betty's office and has to throw Mario out because Mario wants to watch just a little. He then puts on his adoring face and goes into Betty's office. She is incredibly pleased, and overwhelmed, she can't stop laughing, and Armando plays along until his back is turned to leave, at which point he rolls his eyes and exits. She reads the card, which says that this is a very important year, the beginning of many more years together. Patsy comes back in to Marcy's office with a brown paper bag and closes the door before pulling out two baseball caps and lense-less pairs of glasses. Marcy says, what's this, and Patsy says, these are our disguises. Marcy says, "I'm, not wearing it," and Patsy says, "fine," (in a fake, betty-ish type voice ), "but you tell everyone you know that you were with someone else, because I am not going to be recognized. Sofia comes back from her meeting, and Marcy sees her and asks how it went, and she breaks down and runs to her desk. She is threatening and sobbing all at the same time, and Berta can't seem to calm her down. Yenny and Freddie get off the elevator and Yenny pretends to be concerned, before running off to call her poppi, puppi, pupichuri whatever, and reaches him back at the office. When he asks why she turned off her cell phone, she says because she wanted him to be able to concentrate fully on the meeting with Sofia, and because she was afraid of the bad news from him. He says, oh, that's all right then. And she continues to baby chat with him into the design room with Hugo, and procedes to get on Hugo's nerves. She makes a cutesy comment to Inesita about how it is too bad that the reconciliation didn't go well, but is stopped short and her face falls when Inesita says good, because now the money will be divided. Inesita leaves the design room to comfort Sofia. She and the rest of the cuartel tell Sofia that she can't let this get her down. Dona Julia calls Berta to invite Betty's friends to come over, because she knows they are all planning to go out together. Berta, of course, knows nothing about this, and is taken aback at the thought of being left out, but plays it off to Dona Julia. She then begins to pick on Sofia, sure that Sofia and the others were included, and when Sofia says no, and calls over the others, they all agree that they should call Betty, but Berta says no, she has a life, she is married, while they are all separated or divorced or old maids, so she doesn't have to be bothered with them and their jealousy. Patty is listening in from a short distance. Sandy says they should call Betty, who comes out looking confused, tells them that she told her parents that because she hasn't told them that she has a boyfriend yet. Patsy is standing so close you'd think she was a member of the cuartel, until Sandy sends her away with a "we are talking about boyfriends and you don't have one so go away." The women then demand an apology from Berta, who half-heartedly gives one while Betty goes back to call her mother and fix the situation. When Betty calls her mother, she says she has other plans, and that the party should be cancelled, but her mother says it's too late, Hermes has already bought everything and has put Nicholas to work decorating the house (Nicholas passes through tripping and bursting bright pink ballons). Betty says, its okay, mama, I know how he is. She then heads back out to talk to the cuartel about her solution, to have a short party that ends about 10, so she can still see her boyfriend. Betty exits to hear Berta inviting more people to the party, production, sales, etc., and Berta asks for Betty's address, but Betty says no, it can't be a really big party, only the cuartel and her family. The cuartel agree to the 10:00 ending time. Betty then comes in to see Armando and tells him that her family is throwing her a party he has been invited. He says that there is no way he can come, with the most gossipy people in Eco Moda at the party, so they'll do it another night. She tells him that she worked it all out so they can get together, what time was he planning to do something? , and he says no, no, there's too much going on. She says, okay, I won't insist anymore, and looks disappointed, but goes toward her office. He sees her fallen face and says what time, she says no, no, but he insists and she says "a las diez? She lights up and he gives her a smile and a happy scrunchy face before she goes back to her office (and then he twists his mouth up). Mario is in Armando's office, Armando says he can't do this, he has to come up with a good story for Marcela now, and Mario says that he should tell her the truth, that the best lies are "made up" with a little bit of the truth. Armando is shaking his head, and then hides it on Mario's shoulder, he can't take it. Betty comes in and Mario exits. A moment later Betty gets her things and comes back out and says "a las diez"again, and as she walks by Armando gives her the eye and calls her beautiful, and says he can't wait until tonight. She happily exits as he makes more annoyed faces.
The cuartel is gathering in the corridor and Inesita is informing Hugo that she has plans and is leaving. Hugo throws another fit about distracted models and Inesita having to go here and there and everywhere, and where is she going that he is not invited. She says, of course he is invited to Betty's Birthday Party, and he says, birthday party, more like a Halloween party with a group of witches getting together. He has other plans. The cuartel is about to leave as they inform Patsy that she's not invited, then Marcy comes by and Patsy says that Betty's having a party and Marcy's not invited, but Sandy (or Berta, I don't remember), jumps in and says of course Marcy's invited; Betty throws in a very half-hearted, yes, of course, to which Marcy responds that she'd rather go home and go to sleep than respond to such a mediocre invitation. The cuartel heads out to Betty's while Marcy heads in to Armando's office. He volunteers information about where he's planning to go, and she says it's not necessary, but he says no, he wants to tell her, he's going to Betty's party. Close Tomorrow: Aura Maria is coaching Betty on how to use alcohol to get her "novio" into bed while Marcy and Patsy are tailing Armando and checking to see if he is where he says (he's not, he's at a bar with Mario). Does Patsy blow their cover?
Subject: ***Summary - November 21, 2000*** Author: Becky A (63.36.92.77) Date: 11-21-2000 23:42 Armando's Office Marcela can't believe Armando is planning on attending Betty's birthday party. They begin to argue and Marcela tells him that she didn't come to argue but to wish him a good night and to inform him that she would not be bothering him that evening. Betty's House Betty's parents and Nicolas are preparing for the party. Nicolas informs them that he is leaving in order to get ready for the party. Dona Julia makes him put Patricia's pricture away for the evening. He kisses it before putting it in a drawer. At the Office Betty and the Cuartel are preparing to leave. Betty gives them a hard time for spending so much time putting on their makeup. Aura Maria tells her that they have to prepare in case they meet a man. Betty tells them that the only one will be her father. They begin to give her a hard time about Nicolas. Betty tells them that he won't be coming in, but actually honking for her to come out. Freddy arrives with Jenny and Aura Maria asks Betty to invite him. Freddy agrees to go and turns around and invites Jenny to accompany him. Jenny turns down the invitation due to her boyfriend. Freddy is now unsure if he will attend. At the point Patricia shows up and tells Freddy that he needs to attend because he will be the only male in attendance. Freddy responds that if his presence will bring happiness then he cannot be selfish, so he will attend. Marcela tells Patricia that Armando claims that he will be attending the party. Patricia cannot believe that he will be attending the party of his "assistonta". Marcela is more determined to follow him. Armando is telling Mario that he is going to have to wait at the office until 10:30 in order to go pick up Betty. He is not happy. Mario invites him out for a drink. Outside of the Office The Cuartel is waiting for a car. Freddy and Jenny come out and Sophia and aura Maria begin making remarks about the smell. Jenny offers them a ride to Betty's. Sophia and Jenny get into a small argument in regards to the ownership of the car. Sophia claiming that 50% of it is hers. As Jenny takes off to get in the care the Cuartel begins to howl. Jenny purposely gives Sophia's ex a kiss. As they drive off Sandra tells Sophia that there goes her 50%. Sophia begins to cry. When the taxi arrives for the Cuartel, Betty invites Wilson to her party. Patricia and Marcela hurry out of the building and get into a car and put on hats and glasses for a disguise.
At Betty's House Don Hermes is scolding Dona Julia for spending money on her hair. He tells her that her hairdo looks indecent. Betty and the Cuartel arrive and Don Hermes begins by mentioning the night that he had to go pick up Betty and they were all drunk. As Betty introduces the Cuartel Don Hermes asks personal questions in regards to Inisita's and Sophia's husbands. He does not like it that they are separted. He becomes happy when he hears that Aura Maria has a child, but then becomes upset when he finds out that she is a single mother. When Mariana and Sandra make remarks that they are old maids, Don Hermes does not like it. He tells them that he is sure that one day that they will find someone who respects them. After the Cuartel has been seated Don Hermes offers jucies, soft drinks, etc. Aura Maria asks for something a little bit stronger. The entire Cuartel wants a cocktail. Betty reminds them that they need to leave by 10:00. In the Kitchen Dona Julia is gripping at Don Hermes for all the personal questions that he asked. He tells her that he doesn't like the Cuartel. She tells him that there is nothing wrong with them and that he can go to bed. He refuses. She tells him to go out to the living room but not to bother them. As he is heading out the door, Dona Julia makes believe that she is going to hit him with a can. In the Living Room Aura Maria is giving counsel to Betty. She tells her that she needs to drink some of the cocktail in order to loosen up for her date. Don Hermes puts on some old fashioned music and Betty can't get him to turn it off. Since Inisita knows the music she gets up and sings with him. Dona Julia comes out but she can't convince him to let the Cuartel play their kind of music. Betty tells her mother that she needs her help. She informs her that Armando has invited her out. Betty tells her that it is for her birthday. At the Bar Armando and Mario arrive and right behind them Marcela and Patricia arrive. Marcela sends Patricia inside to spy. Marcela is preparing to move to the driver's side in case something goes wrong. She wants to be able to drive off as fast as possible even if it means leaving Patricia behind. Patricia gets upset because they could discover her and she would lose her job. Marcela tells her not to worry. If she should happen to lose her job she will find her another. Patricia calls Marcela and tells her that they are alone, but looking at a picture. Patricia tells her that she will try to find out who is in the picture. She says to Marcela "over and out". Armando is upset about having to go out with Betty. He's naming all the women that he could be with, he points at Patricia (not knowing that it is her) and says that he could be going out with "esa". Mario tells him to go ahead and cancel with Betty. He tells him that he can't because she is so looking forward to their going out. He also tells him that Nicolas has been calling all day in order to invite Betty out and he cannot permit her to go out with him.
Betty's House Betty is getting a little dizzy with the cocktail. The Cuartel is totally bored with Don Hermes music. Dona Julia is trying to get Don Hermes to turn off his music. He puts on one last song, the theme to Betty La Fea. Betty informs them that this is his favorite song. He gets Betty and makes her dance. Freddy and Wilson arrive. Betty tries to intorduce them, but Freddy insists on introducing himself personally. He goes on to give his job description, carrying important company papers. Betty's father says that his job is as a messenger. The Cuartel bursts out laughing. Feddy then introduces Wilson. Aura Maria asks Freddy if he brough music, but he ignores her. Freddy puts on some music and Betty asks the Cuartel if they let Freddy and Wilson know that they had to leave at 10:00 p.m. Their answer is no. Betty is worried. At the Bar Patricia is reporting to Marcela on the happenings inside the bar. Marcela calls Armando. Armando tells Marcela that he is at Betty's house. Marcela becomes very upset that he is lying to her. Mario and Armando are leaving. Patricia tries to leave, but since she doesn't have money to pay her bill the waiter tries to stop her. She finally escapes. However, not before Mario and Armando. Patricia runs out telling Marcela to hurry. As Marcela drives off to catch up to Armando she tells Patricia how he lied to her about being at Betty's. Betty's House The party has picked up speed and Betty tells her mother that it is time to get everyone to leave. Freddy lets Don Hermes know that they are out of liquor. He offers to go purchase more, but Betty tells him that they are leaving. He says no, that they have not cut the cake or taken pictures. Freddy is not ready to leave. Inisita tells Freddy that Betty has other plans and he wants to know with who. Armando calls for Betty.
Subject: *** Summary: Wed 11/22/00 *** Author: Robin N (63.208.67.81) Date: 11-22-2000 22:18 Yesterday: The birthday party from Hell Today: The phone is for Betty and she answers it full of hope; it's Armando on the phone. He tells her that he's on the way. Betty hasn't gotten rid of all of the guests though, "There's one small problem," she tells him, "But in 15 minutes I'll be ready." Armando ties to get out of this evening and is ready to call the night off, "Don't worry, I'll see you tomorrow if there's some problem," he tells her. Betty isn't giving up so easily, "No, but in 15 minutes I'll be ready," she insists. "Have you been drinking?" Armando asks. "Si," she sheepishly admits. "In 15 minutes I'll be at the corner. I'll see you then. Be well." She turns and grins foolishly back at the group. Marcela and Patricia pull up near Armando and wonder if he's parked in front of Betty's house. "It looks like he's waiting for someone." Patricia is sure it can't be Betty's house. "It can't be AA because this person must be very poor. He's waiting for someone, that's for sure!" Marcela needs to think (and spy), "Be quiet, be quiet!" "I'm quiet!" hisses Patricia. Someone walks up the street singing a tango loudly it's Papá. He's carrying bags and he walks past the women. They watch in amazement. He spots Armando car and stops. "Doctor, what are you doing here? Are you mistaken in the house? Have you had a drink, I do the same when I come home late. Come on to my house now!" "No" Armando tries to stall. He tries to avoid Hermés invitation to the house. "So you're a little overcome by the drink," Hermés says expansively, "So what. But the in that house is the assistant to the president and she would like to see you, my daughter would, and I'm bringing a bottle of the finest whiskey to continue celebrating. Don't be stubborn, I can't leave you here to sleep. I'll accompany you to the house. I can't leave you to the crazies in the street" He goes on to talk about the experience from the other day with the local bullies and Armando knows when he's beaten. He leans over and opens the car door for Hermés to get in so they can back up to park in front of the house. Patricia is confused by this turn of events and she and Marcela speculate on who the guy could be who spoke to Armando. Could it be that he invited him to a house of ill repute? The follow Armando as he pulls up closer to Betty's house. In the house Betty is desperately trying to kick out her guests because she wants to go out. "Remember to tell my father that you have to go now," she coaches them. Julia tells her that her father's going to be unhappy that they're leaving so soon. They hear singing it's Hermés and he announces a new diversion, a marvelous surprise. "It's Armando! Come in surprise! Don Armando!" Armando enters the room cradling two bottles in brown bags like twin babies, looking very very sheepish. There's no stopping the party now. The party continues at Hermés' insistence and he tells them that Armando has come to salute the niña. Wilson comes to take the bottles from Armando. The women tell try to make their getaway as promised, they tell Hermés that need to leave but he's not going to hear of it. Armando tells him that they have to get up early in the morning. No luck. "I have one more surprise still!" Hermés tells Armando. "You're in your house!" He leads him past Betty who looks very disappointed to be thwarted from spending time alone with Armando. Inez tries to get the women to leave. Aura Maria wants another drink.
In the car, Marcela and Patricia are astounded. Could it be a brothel? "Let's look," suggests Marcela. "How?" "Look in the window!" "Me?" shrieks Patricia. "You're the professional," Marcela reminds Patricia of her boast. "No, Marcé! Those people could be dangerous!" "What happened to your professionalism? If you're not going to continue, we might as well as go home." "OK," concedes Patricia, "But if they catch me and call the police you'd better be there for me!" Patricia runs up to the house and tries to peer in the window. Inside they're having another toast. Aura Maria pulls Betty aside and tries to encourage her to another drink. Aura Maria is loaded. Hermés wants to show Armando all of Betty diplomas. He reads them off one by one. How embarrassing. He shows him her school photo. "She's very photogenic, no?" (LOL) Armando is trying to avoid responding to this and looks more than mildly stunned. He's juggling the photo and drink and Hermés is rattling on and on. Betty looks mortified. "Qué bueno!" says Armando weakly. "I knew you'd agree," boasts Hermés proudly. Julia pours him another drink. Hermés tries to pull Armando into another room and takes away the photo. Armando tells Wilson not to drink too much. Berta is drunk as a skunk and laughs that her gordito is going to be sooo unhappy with her when he sees her so intoxicated. She is waiting for the cab that her gordito is sending for them and goes to window to look for it. She pulls back the drapes and sees someoneit's Patricia who's just then peering into the window and pulls back in alarm. She sits down and thinks she's so drunk she's seeing hallucinations. Patricia runs frantically back to the car, "Marcé, Marcé!" and the words pour out that she's seen them, that the house is full of the cuartel. "Oh sure, so it is Betty's house," says Marcela disgustedly. Patricia is agitated because Berta might have spotted her and she wants to get out of there fast! "It is Betty's house and Armando told you the truth so let's go home now!" Marcela is still suspicious of his behavior, "So, why did he go past the house and park on the corner? Maybe he was arranged the meeting nearby!" Some mariachis follow Nicolás up the street: it's clearly a serenata in the making. Inside, Julia is pressing canapés on Armando and he can't grab one fast enough. Hermés is babbling on about his tío Lázaro. Betty want Julia to pull him away from Armando so they can be off. They hear the doorbell ring: Betty goes to the door and she opens to Nicolás and the mariachi. Armando looks drunker and grimmer at what this implies and Berta smiles at the the romantic gesture. Betty grabs Nicolás and tells him he can't come in. "What! I'm playing the part of your novio! I'm wearing my father's suit, I've brought you flowers, I've brought the band!" From inside Hermés bellows, "Who is it!" "Nicolás," replies Betty. "Bring him in!" Outside, Betty begs him to not go in. "Nicolás calls out to Hermés that he's brought a band," Betty tries to hush him and get him away, "Armando is here!" "Well, why don't you introduce me?" asks Nicolás. "No it's too dangerous! The whole office is here!" pleads Betty. "Patricia is there?" Nicolás perks up at that potentiality. "No!" exclaims Betty disdainfully, "That woman never will enter my house!" Nicolás is a little crushed and tries another tactic, "What about the musicians?" Betty has the answer, "Send them away." "With paying?" "Pay them with money from Terra Moda", says Betty. Nicolás doesn't want to leave yet, "You have to hear them! Come on boys. Sing! It's my novia!" They begin to play and Betty is embarrassed. In the car Marcela and Patricia spy on, mystified.
On the stoop, Betty grins awkwardly and Nicolás makes faces. Inside Hermés is going on blah blah blah about tío Lázaro and Armando is fuming about the serenata. His face gets grimmer as Hermés enthuses about the serenata. Inez asks Freddy to turn down the music he brought for the party during the serenata. "Have you met Nicolás?" asks Hermés. "I haven't had pleasure," says Armando baring his teeth. Hermés enthuses about Nicolás and his good qualities, "Most important, Nicolás adores Betty!" Armando's scowl deepens! It's priceless. The cuartel sway to the music drunkenly. "It's a long time, since I was married, since I heard a song so romantic," says Inez. Sofia gets teary-eyed thinking about her Efraín. Mariana and Sandra enjoy it to