ECO MODA EPISODES / CAPÍTULOS 1-13

Univision. 12/2/01 - 6/2/02. weekly, Sundays

Telefutura

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Weekly Summaries: from dd, kent/ruth( www.telenovela-world.com), http://www.rincondebetty.com/ecoresumen.htm

12/2/01. Betty, her parents, and Armando celebrate the birthday of Camila. Hugo arrives back at the office unexpectedly and finds el cuartel dressed in his designer clothes and pretending to be models under the direction of Freddy. In Buenos Aires, Mario enters a hotel and joins a reception where he spills a drink on a beautiful woman. He follows her outside, offers another apology; she looks at his clothes and invites him to her room where she helps him undress and then starts to look at the material, workmanship, etc., demands to know where he got them and how much they cost, can’t believe such quality was possible at such a low price. She leaves him in his shorts and returns later with Ken Johnson, introduces herself as Gabriela Garza, the head of sales for a New York firm. She learns that he is a shareholder in Eco Moda and makes an appointment to see him when they travel to Bogota to discuss a business relationship. Daniel visits Armando and Betty, warns them that they must merge or go bankrupt. Both are angry at his interrupting their birthday party (“9” - for nine months: they celebrate each month) and insist that he is wrong. When he mentions Mario’s name, Betty blows up, says she never wants to hear that name again, especially in her home. Daniel leaves. Mario calls Armando when he and Betty are starting to make love. Armando goes into the kitchen and Betty hears him say “te quiero” and “I’ve missed you” to Mario’s teasing insistence that he prove they are still friends. Sure that he is cheating on her with a former lover, she asks Sandra if she has received any strange calls for Armando. Sandra says no, but she will pay attention. Aura Maria is upset because Freddy hasn’t yet set a date for their wedding. Armando reads about Gabriela in a magazine. Betty calls a meeting to discuss the state of the business, the possibility of layoffs.

Subject: They went 3 min. over! Here's what you missed! Author: Mery (206.105.190.62) Date: 12-04-2001 13:17 Armando got another phone call from Calderon, he told Betty it was Ricardo Camacho and took it in another room. Betty was already suspicious because of what she heard the night before so she wasn't very happy. He told Calderon he still had not talked to Betty about him returning to EcoModa or having a meeting with the Fashion Group. Sandra comes into the meeting room and informs Betty that Ricardo Camacho is waiting to see Armando, LOL. Armando comes back into the meeting room and is telling Ricardo they'll talk later when Ricardo comes in. The look in Armando's face was funny, LOL! Betty goes into her office angry and Armando follows her. Nicolas and Gutierres were talking to each other with their mouth full and you couldn't understand what they were saying, ja,ja! Betty asks Armando if it has to do with another woman and he tells her it does and shows her the newspaper where Gabriela Garza is pictured. That is the end of the episode! Hope this helped! Mery

www.telenovela-world.com: Re: summary of ecomoda in english pleasee!!!!

Author: kent (---) Date: 12-03-02 20:41 PST EcoModa Summaries -- Thank you to Beth for the translations!

Episode 1

The first episode begins at Armando and Betty's (their "casita") is a beautiful two-story condo -- very, very nice in my opinion. We see a ball bouncing down the stairs and hear Armando talking to his daughter. Then we see Armando, who is wearing a birthday hat and blowing on a noisemaker. It looks like it's the baby's birthday. Betty meets them at the bottom of the stairs and they go to the dinning room, where the "eternal guests" are waiting: Don Hermes, Nicolás, and Doña Julia. Don Hermes, in fine form this evening as you'll soon see, starts making comments about all the Pinzón attributes the baby has: looks, profile, intelligence, etc., etc. Betty has to remind him that the baby is also a Mendoza.

We then go to EcoModa, which has undergone a rather incredible redecorating job... The Cuartel (except Inesita) is in the showroom strutting their stuff, wearing Hugo's designs while Freddy does the play by play. This was kind of a boring scene in my opinion, although I guess it's how they decided to introduce el Cuartel, Freddy, Wilson, and Hugo to Univision's uninitiated BLF virgins. Inesita comes out of Hugo's studio to tell them to stop playing around... No sooner does she scold them that we see that Hugo is on his way to the showroom with his dog, a cute hairy mop of a thing called Bárbara Chesai, who apparently has stomach "issues"... Hugo, also true to form, almost has a stroke when he sees el Cuartel in his designs and sends everyone packing to change.

We now fly south to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where we meet again with our dear desgraciado, Dr. Dimples himself, Mario Calderón who is arriving at a luxurious hotel to attend a fashion event. He is greeted by the event's hostess and while he does the "eye candy scouting" routine, he zeroes in on a beautiful woman wearing a gold pantsuit. As subtle as ever, he follows her until he does the bumping into her with a glass routine. She's not taken with his charming ways and tells him to get out of her sight. But you all know Mario, he doesn't give up that easily. He finally corners her outside in the balcony and she gives him an up-down look and invites him to her room. Marito can't believe his luck!

We are back at EcoModa, where the elevator opens and the prince of darkness, as yummy as ever in my opinion, Daniel Valencia, comes out with some papers in hand. He asks Wilson (whose name he can't quite recall) where everyone is. Wilson tells him that the executives went home already and the secretaries are at Hugo's. Daniel goes to the showroom where he finds Freddy playing with a mannequin and then walks in on the Cuartel in the midsts of changing. He asks about Armando and Betty and is told that they went home for a family celebration. You know what Daniel is going to do, of course! He's hot under the collar about the most recent EcoModa report and wants to talk to the Mendoza-Pinzóns about it.

Mario's new friend, whose name is Gabriela Garza invites him up to her room! Our boy can't believe his good fortune!! In the room, she asks him to strip down and he offers to do a striptease ala Full Monty, but all she wants is his clothes. She is impressed witht he fabric, the cut, and when he tells her that it only set him back about $500, she just can't believe it. He explains that it's from EcoModa, where he's a minority stockholder. Gabriela runs out of the room to show the clothes to someone who's still at the reception and leaves Mario in his lovely Hawaiian boxer shorts and black socks.

Back in Bogotá, the phone rings at Betty and Armando's. It's the doorman announcing that Daniel wants to come up. Betty and Armando do not want to be interrupted, least of all by Daniel, but the father-in-law from hell who thinks he runs Betty and Armando's household, tells Julia to have him come up. Daniel comes in and is greeted in the foyer. He tells them that he has to talk to them urgently because he's going out of town in the morning. He asks if they can talk in the study, that is if they have one, and Betty tells him that they do but she doesn't think it's big enough for him so she tells him to follow them into the living room. This is a rather tense conversation, lightened up by the fact that Armando is still in full party mode with the birthday hat firmly attached to his head. In the meantime, Nicolás scolds Don Hermes for putting his nose where he shouldn't. Daniel, Mr. Broken Record, tells Betty (who's gotten Daniel a drink) and Armando that he wants to sell EcoModa. They tell him no, but Daniel is adamant and suggests that they sell the 40% Valencia share and the minority share to a third party. He makes the mistake of mentioning Mario's name and Betty furiously stands up and tells him not to do it. Daniel tells her to calm down and adds salt to the wound by telling her that he won't mention "Mario Calderón's" name in her presence again. Armando is also very upset and tells Daniel that he can't just barge into his house and think that it is an extension of EcoModa, does he think Armando is some sort of clown? (Daniel's look is like, well... that hat is a good start!). Armando tells him that he doesn't care about his trip the next morning, he won't consider the issue addressed unless Daniel shows up at EcoModa the next morning to discuss it. Daniel walks out of the living room, and Armando tells Betty that they need to relax. She tells him that she doesn't want to hear Mario's name mentioned in her presence in her house ever. Daniel stops by the dining room and counts the candles on the baby's cake -- her name is Camila -- and makes a stupid joke about her apparently being stunted since there are nine candles on the cake and she looks too small to be nine years old. Armando tells him that they celebrate every month of her life because of all the joy she has brought them.

Back in tango-land, Calderón has been snooping around the mystery lady's closet and found a rather minimal excuse for a baby doll. He goes out to the balcony and tries to figure out how he can get out of there, when he hears a knock on the door. He runs back to the balcony and we see Gabriela accompanied by a man, whom she introduces as her co-worker Kenneth. There are introductions all around, and Mario finds out that Gabriela and Kenneth work for Fashion Group, apparently a big deal in the world of fashion. They are looking to make investments in Latin America and it just so happens that they're on their way to Colombia the next day and want Mario to set up a meeting with the folks at EcoModa. He, fresh as ever, says no problem, he'll take care of it.

Finally, the grandparents and Nicolás leave. Betty and Armando are left alone with Camila... Armando asks Betty if after all this time she really hates Mario so much. She says it isn't hatred, it's just that the mere thought of him makes her sick to her stomach and brings back bad memories. Armando asks her to give him a kiss and after they kiss, she walks off to take the baby to bed. We then go to Camila's bedroom and see Betty giving her a bottle. Armando walks in and turns on the baby mobiles to help Camila go to sleep. Apparently they've adopted as a term of endearment Hugo's reference to the Munster family because they refer to each other as Dr. Monstro and Dra. Monstro! Armando and Betty walk arm in arm into their bedroom and decide to take advantage of Camila being asleep to take care of some "unfinished business." Shirts start to be unbuttoned, Betty lies back in bed, Armando tells her he's going to turn out the light because he is so shy, they get under the covers and are rather enjoying things when... the phone rings! Armando bolts up like he just got an electric shock and runs to get the phone (it's his cell), not before walking over Camila's doll and hurting his foot. Of course, the noise woke Camila up and Betty gets ready to comfort her, but not before asking Armando who could be calling -- he tells her that it is "Ricardo Camacho." Do I need to even tell you who's on the other side of the line? Mario has identified himself as Armando's ex-friend and asks him if he's still with his "monstrete" (can you believe this guy?)... Armando looks kind of dazed by the whole suddenness of this. In the background we hear Betty say that she needs a bottle for the baby and Armando offers to get it -- Mario makes a comment to the effect that it sounds that Armando is well trained. Mario gives Armando the rundown about Fashion Group and asks Armando how things are going at EcoModa. Armando, in the kitchen preparing the bottle, reacts by pouring water down the wrong way -- since EcoModa isn't doing quite as well as it should. Armando tries to tell Mario that he can't talk at the moment, he doesn't want Betty to find out. Betty has walked in the kitchen unbeknownst to Armando and overhears the conversation. Mario, who is now treating Armando with the more familiar "tu" tells him that he misses his friendship, does Armando miss him? That he very much cares for him? Does Armando care for him? Does Armando love him? Since they're using "tu," when Armando responds by saying that he does miss and love him, it sounds like he's talking to a woman. So, Betty obviously is taken aback. Armando hangs up with Mario and joins Betty as they put Camila back to bed. Armando stays with the baby and Betty goes to bed. When Armando comes into the room, singing a song about his sleeping baby princess, and him being the handsome dad prince looking for his other princess, Betty fakes like she's sleeping. He gives her a kiss and tells her that he loves her very much.

It's morning and we hear Armando in the shower singing La donna e mobile (Dr. Mendoza is now a frustrated singer, must be he caught the bug after his karaoke experience with Si nos dejan, no?). Betty is putting shoes on Camila and tells her to hear her daddy singing, that he sounds so happy, probably because he's getting ready to cheat on her mom, because her dad is a deceiver. Doña Julia walks in the room and tells Betty that Don Hermes is waiting for them to get to work early. Armando walks out of the shower, drying his hair with a towell and asks Betty to give him his clothes. He is obviously naked and Doña Julia says Holy Mother of God! while Armando sprints back to the bathroom and reminds her not to come in the bedroom when he's in there showering. Doña Julia takes the baby and Armando tells Betty that he's tired of her mother seeing him naked. Betty, who's still mad at him tells him that so is she and walks out leaving him open mouthed...

Freddy arrives at EcoModa and starts talking to Wilson. Behind them, we see Betty and Armando arriving in their new parent-mobile -- a wine-colored small station wagon. Freddy says that here comes Mr. Armando Pinzón, and Wilson tells him not to talk like that, that his last name is Mendoza. Freddy tells him that Armando has lost his name and is pretty much submerged in the world of Betty's parents and the "appendage" (Nico), plus has Betty and Don Hermes at the office as well. Armando asks Freddy if his new, and by the by ugly -- as Armando points out, I mean -- haircut keeps him from opening the door for them. He also asks him if he ran the errand to Color, Inc. and Betty asks if he went to the bank. Freddy responds that he was first in line at the bank. A couple of model-types come out of EcoModa and greet Armando in a flirtatious way. He greets them but in a very matter of fact way. Don Hermes' eyes pretty much come out of their sockets, and Betty calls his attention so they'll walk in to the office building. Betty can't hide her jealousy at seeing the women talk to Armando. Then we see Nico arrive in Patty's ex-Benz. When he spies the models, he whips out the cellular and starts blabbing on it as if he were talking to Sofía, trying to impress them. We see Betty and Armando arrive upstairs and catch el Cuartel doing what they always are doing -- not working and gossiping. Betty asks Mariana why she isn't in the reception area, and Mariana tells her that it isn't even 8 a.m., yet but that she's on her way. Betty asks Berta to ask her boss (Guti-gut) to come to the board room for the meeting. And, she asks Sandra to come to her office. Armando is following Betty to Presidencia when she turns around and tells him COLDLY that she'll see him later at the meeting. Like a puppy with his tail between his legs, he turns around, says good morning to el Cuartel, goes to his office, and slams the door. Berta and Sofía say that there's trouble between those two, and Berta comments that they're on their way to separating. Inesita tells them to stope talking like that. Nico walks in, still trying to impress the models, but nothing...

Betty asks Sandra if Armando has been getting any strange calls from women. AND tells her that this is a confidential conversation between the two of them (wanna bet?!). Sandra says that no one out of the ordinary, no models, no women, have called Armando. However, she'll be on guard to catch anyone who tries to break Armando's good behaviour streak. Sandra is ready to pounce on whomever and make them mincepie. Betty tells her that she doesn't want any of that, and that she doesn't want to start acting like Armando's "ex." We all remember her, don't we?

Freddy comes up with the mail and starts to regale Aura María with his usual embelished Freddy-speak, which she parrots for him since she reminds her that he tells her the same thing every day. He is kind of surprised and hurt that she knows his spiel by heart. He hands her some invitations and she asks if they're the invites to their wedding. He tells her to take things slowly... She says that she's tired of taking things slowly, that his behavioiur about their future together makes him seem as slippery as a bar of soap.

Betty, Nicolás and Gutiérrez are in the board room talking. Armando is in his office reading a magazine -- with a picture and a note about Gabriela. Sandra opens the door and tells him that they're waiting for him and he hides the magazine -- acting like he's doing something wrong when he's not! He joins the meeting and they're talking about a strategy for when Daniel arrives, when his cell phone rings. Guess who it is? Calderón, of course, chastizing him for not calling him. Armando tells Betty that it is Ricardo Camacho and goes to his office to talk. Calderón is still going on about setting up the meeting with Fashion Group and Armando tells him that yes, he is interested. They hang up and Armando comes back to the meeting, still acting like he's on the phone with Ricardo Camacho. Unbeknownst to him, Sandra has told Betty that Ricardo Camacho! is in the lobby waiting to talk to Armando. Betty, very upset, tells her to ask him to come in. Armando is blabbing away on the phone when Ricardo opens the door... CAUGHT! Ricardo notices the awkward moment and says he'll talk to him later. Betty stands up, calls off the meeting and storms to her office. Armando stands up and runs after her. We see Nico and Guti-gut eating donuts and drinking coffee and with full mouths saying something to the effect that there's trouble in River City...

In Betty's office, Armando tells her that they have to talk. She tells him that he cannot deny that this is about a woman. He tells her that yes, it is about a woman and places the magazine with the article about Gabriela Garza on her desk. Freeze frame.

El primer capítulo de EcoModa comienza en casa de Armando y Betty... Vemos a Armando bajar las escaleras con su hijita. Están de fiesta, como de cumpleaños. Armando tiene puesto un sombrero de fiesta y tiene un pito de soplar. Betty se encuentra con ellos al pie de las escaleras y van al comedor donde los están esperando Nicolás, Don Hermes y Doña Julia. Parece que están celebrando el cumpleaños de su niñita. Por lo que hablan entre ellos, aparentemente Nicolás y los padres de Betty siempre están de visita — algo que obviamente no le agrada mucho a Armando. Y Don Hermes hace sus comentarios pesados de siempre de que la niña es toda una Pinzón, mientras que Betty le recuerda que es una Mendoza. ¿Quién quiere un suegro tan metiche como ese? < La próxima escena es en EcoModa, donde vemos a las del Cuartel y Freddy en el showroom, desfilando con la ropa de Hugo. También vemos a Wilson. Inesita sale y les dice que se quiten la ropa y los accesorios porque a Hugo le va a dar un ataque. Bueno, quién se aparece pero Huguito, con su perrita Bárbara... que parece un mapo (pero está linda). A Hugo casi le da un ataque y manda a todos a cambiarse de ropa en el taller. Los regaña, etc., etc. Lo de siempre, que como se atreven ellas tan horrorosas a ponerse sus diseños. Ahora vamos a Buenos Aires donde vemos al ya famoso y mundialmente conocido Mario Calderón llegar a un lujoso hotel porteño. Allí se encuentra con la anfitriona de la actividad y mientras pasea la mirada por el salón, se da cuenta de una mujer muy bonita vestida con un traje de pantalón dorado. Tan sutil como siempre, la persigue por el salón y hace el viejo truco de tropezarse con ella con una copa para conoc < erla. Ella no está muy contenta de conocerlo así y no le dice ni su nombre ni nada. El la sigue y la trata de invitar a salir, conocer su nombre... Ella lo mira bien y le dice que la acompañe a su cuarto. ¡Calderón no puede creer su suerte! En el cuarto le dice que se desnude y el se cree que le va a hacer un striptease, pero nada. El interés de la mujer, que se llama Gabriela Garza y es mexicana, es por la ropa que tiene puesta Mario, la cual encuentra de muy buena calidad (hecha en EcoModa). Deja a nuestro querido Mario en boxers en el cuarto y corre a enseñarle la ropa a alguien en el salón de fiestas. Regresamos a Bogotá donde vemos al querido Daniel Valencia llegar a EcoModa y < preguntarle a Wilson donde está todo el mundo. Wilson le explica que los ejecutivos se fueron y que el Cuartel está en el taller de Hugo. Daniel ve a Freddy y le pregunta por las secretarias... y entra al taller donde están ellas en paños menores. Les pregunta por Armando y Betty, y ellas le dicen que están en su casa en una reunión familiar. Aparentemente, Daniel quiere hablar con ellos del mas reciente reporte de la empresa. Obviamente, Danielito le va a dañar la noche a los Mendoza-Pinzón.

En casa de los Mendoza, suena el teléfono y es la portería anunciando a Daniel. Betty y Armando no lo quieren recibir pero el metiche de Don Hermes le dice a Julia (que contestó el teléfono) que lo haga pasar. Betty y Armando no pueden evitarlo. Daniel llega y les dice que tienen que hablar ya que se va de viaje al otro día. En el comedor, Nicolás regaña a Don Hermes por meterse a invitar a Daniel... Van a la sala y Betty le da un trago a Daniel. Daniel sigue insistiendo, disquito rallado el del tipo, en vender EcoModa porque están mal económicamente. Betty y Armando se niegan rotundamente y Armando le dice que no quiere que los vuelva a interrumpir en su casa de nuevo. Durante toda esta conversación vemos a Armando muy serio — pero todavía con el sombrero de fiesta puesto... Armando y Betty le dicen que si quiere hablar del asunto de EcoModa tendrá que hacerlo al otro día en la oficina si es que tanto le interesa. Durante la conversación, Daniel menciona el nombre de Mario Calderón y Betty se enoja mucho ya que no quiere oír ese nombre en su casa (luego le dice a Armando que le da nauseas oírlo). Daniel se está yendo y pasa de nuevo por el comedor y cuenta que hay nueve velas en la torta de la niña y hace un comentario idiota a cerca de que se ve muy chiquita para tener nueve años. Armando le dice que ellos celebran todos los meses de nacida de la niña y que tiene nueve meses. En la torta se ve el nombre de la bebé — Camila. De vuelta en Buenos Aires, vemos a Calderón de nuevo en la suite de Gabriela (aunque no conoce su nombre todavía), mirando un baby doll. Tocan a la puerta y es Gabriela con uno de sus compañeros de trabajo, un americano llamado Kenneth. Hablan en el balcón de la suite y se presentan entre todos. Gabriela y Kenneth trabajan para una compañía llamada Fashion Group que está interesada en hacer negocios con EcoModa y le piden a Mario que los comunique ya que van a visitar Bogotá el próximo día para el Bogotá Fashion. Por supuesto, Mario les dice que si...

Berta y Sofía dicen que hay algo raro entre ellos dos y Berta dice que estan al separarse. Inesita las regaña y les dice que no hablen así. Nicolás entra y sigue tratando de impresionar a las modelos, pero nada, lo de siempre. < Betty le pregunta a Sandra si a Armando lo ha estado llamando alguna mujer... le dice que esto es confidencial entre ellas. Sandra le dice que nadie, ninguna mujer, < ninguna modelo, nadie. Pero que estará pendiente y le hará cosas muy feas a cualquier mujer que quiera acercársele a Armando. Betty le dice que ella no quiere que haga eso, que no quiere comportarse como Marcela (no dice su nombre, pero nosotras sabemos a quién se refiere). Freddy llega a entregarle unas cosas a Aura María y le empieza a decir sus piropos usuales. Ella le habla de que cuando se van a casar y el con el cuento de siempre de que tienen que tomar las cosas con calma. Ella le dice que está cansada de lo de siempre, que es un resbaladizo, como el jabón. < Vemos a Betty, Nicolás y Gutiérrez en la sala de juntas hablando. Sandra llama a Armando a la reunión — Armando está leyendo una revista donde hay una foto de Gabriela Garza y cuando Sandra abre la puerta la esconde. ¡Armando está actuando como si estuviera haciendo algo malo, pero no lo está haciendo! Llega a la sala de juntas y están hablando, cuando suena su teléfono y es Calderón. Vuelve con el cuento de que es Ricardo Camacho y se va a su oficina a hablar con Calderón. Calderón le insiste en lo del negocio con Fashion Group y Armando le < dice que si le interesa. En eso Sandra le dice a Betty que ¡Ricardo Camacho!, está esperando a Armando en recepción y Betty le dice que lo haga pasar. Armando cuelga con Calderón y regresa a la sala de juntas aparentando que está hablando con Camacho... La cara de enojo de Betty es de pocos amigos... En eso entra Ricardo Camacho y Armando casi se muere. Camacho le dice que hablan luego. Betty se levanta y dice que se acabó la reunión y se va a su oficina, no sin antes tirar la puerta. Armando la sigue y le dice que tienen que hablar. Betty le dice que ella sabe que es de una mujer. El le contesta que si es una mujer y le enseña la revista con la foto de Gabriela Garza. Continuará la semana que viene...

=============================

12/9/01. Armando admits to Betty that he had been talking with Mario and the woman in question is Gabriela Garza, the head of Fashion Group. Armando tells Hugo he wants him to attend a meeting or something. Hugo refuses, says he is a designer, teases him that his wife has him on a chain, etc. Freddy flirts with several different women. When he announces to Aura Maria that they will go on a date as usual, she gets angry. The cuartel corners Freddy and tells him to set the wedding date or else. He buys a ring, they arrange for a party in the office. Daniel arrives for a business meeting, insists that they must cut expenses by firing employees. Berta overhears. Just as Freddy is presenting the ring to Aura Maria as a band plays, Berta announces they are all going to lose their jobs. Freddy takes back the ring: they can’t marry without money or work. Armando and Betty find them all upset, swears they have made no decision yet. Freddy and the cuartel all attend the Fashion Group reception. In bed that night, Betty sees Gabriela being interviewd on TV. She tells Armando she can’t let her pride and dislike of Mario destroy the business.

www.telenovela-world.com: Re: summary of ecomoda in english pleasee!!!!

Author: kent (---) Date: 12-03-02 20:41 PST EcoModa Summaries -- Thank you to Beth for the translations!

Episode 2

Armando: Betty, my love, look -- I think we need to talk about this, we need to clarify this or something -- you know?

Betty: Everything's already very clear for me. And don't even bother trying to tell me this doesn't have to do with a woman.

Armando: Well, yes, it does have to do with a woman. And that's precisely what we need to talk about.

Betty: I -- I don't see why I should discuss her, or any other woman, with you. I don't see why I should put myself through that...

<Betty stands up and goes toward her old office, but Armando detains her...>

Armando: No, no, no it's not that -- it's not that... Look, she is the Director of New Projects for Fashion Group, ok? She's interested in EcoModa, and arrives in Bogotá tonight, that's all.

Betty: Then it has to do with business?

Armando: Of course it has to do with business...

Betty: But those phone calls were very mysterious... Look, Armando, I'm not going to interrogate you. I'm not going to demand details, much less create an uproar over this, because that's not the way I am. And I don't think that's what you expect from me, either...

Armando: And I don't expect that of you, my love... But, what... for heaven's sake! what are we talking about, dearest?? I don't have anything going on with that woman. I don't even know her! And as for those mysterious phone calls... Mario Calderón made those mysterious phone calls.

<Here the couple sits down again...>

Armando: Look, what's happening is that Mario Calderón met this woman in Buenos Aires. The subject of EcoModa came up, she was very interested -- that's all. He called me to set up an appointment. Why? Because she's coming to the Bogotá Fashion show and is interested in finding strategic associates to ally with her company in the United States. Look, it's very simple: Mario Calderón is going to come here tomorrow. If things don't work out between this lady and us, then there won't be any deal and Mario Calderón will introduce her to other potential business associates. The thing is, I couldn't tell you about this because... because I know you detest Mario Calderón. But, see? note that it is NOT another woman, it is not another woman! It's my ex-friend Mario Calderón.

Betty: That's worse... Mario Calderón is as bad as you having 100 women at the same time. And since when do you tell a man 'I love you, I miss you...?'

Armando: You... you were listening to me? You were spying on me?

Betty: I'm sorry, Armando. But I couldn't help overhearing your conversation. That's why I'm telling you I hate all this....

Armando: No, no, no, it's just I think I can tell a man that I love him and I miss him, especially if that man, if that guy was my best friend, my only life-long friend. I think that I can speak like that with him, that I have that right...

Betty: And do you still esteem him? After you kicked him out -- literally -- for having read my diary, for having made a joke of it and of my privacy? after all the pain he caused?

<The pair stands again and approaches the former Bettycave...>

Armando: Well, my love, you see? That's exactly why I didn't want to bring this up. That's why I didn't want to discuss this. Because I don't want you to have to remember all that, to suffer all over again. Look, in any case Mario Calderón asked for my forgiveness [Beth: altho he definitely should ask Armando to forgive him, the person he *really* ought to be apologizing to is Betty...!]. From his best friend. No, I don't hate him, I don't hate him. But he's not indispensable for me either. I can go on living with him as I have done so far [since we married]. I, I... Do you know why? Because the only fundamental thing, the only sacred thing, and the only important things in my life are you and my daughter. They're the only things I have, my love. I wouldn't know how to live without you both. I wouldn't know what to do in life, with my life... And you know what? If Mario Calderón's coming here is going to make you suffer, then no matter how wonderful the deal is, I am not going to take it. I would rather he leave, that he never appear, ever. <Armando takes Betty's face in his hands...> The only thing I want to be very clear between us is that there will never be another woman, ever -- she doesn't exist. They kiss... Monster, don't think bad things -- don't...

Armando leaves.

Hugo arrives with his cortège of models and Armando comes out of his office to ask that Hugo please participate in the meeting they will be having with Daniel. Hugo declines. Armando berates him for bringing his dog to work and Hugo retorts that *he* doesn't complain about Armando's bringing Betty to the office every day. Hugo and his models then begin to comment on how much Armando has changed since he got married -- one of the models says he's unfriendly and never greets any of them. Hugo says it's almost as if Armando were gay... Armando is not at all pleased by this discussion. Another model remarks that he doesn't wear his wedding ring on his hand but rather around his neck [Beth: note, the word used here for 'wedding ring' can also mean 'shackle']. Hugo adds that he is waiting for Armando to have his first extra-marital affair, since he is convinced that Armando hasn't changed in the least. Freddy arrives with invitations to the Bogotá Fashion show and hands them to Hugo and Armando. Armando says he's not going as he has too much to do, and Hugo adds that Armando only goes out when he's got permission to do so from his in-laws...

Freddy is in Reception, where he asks Mariana to let him have some flowers from her desk so he can hand them out. A female employee appears and he hands her some of the flowers; Mariana bawls the employee out for flirting with Freddy while reminding him he's engaged. The employee retorts that the one who is flirting is Freddy, not she.

Freddy goes up to the Executive floor and gives flowers to Sandra and to Aura María. He then tells Aura María they will go out to dinner that night -- they will eat hot dogs and French fries, since Freddy's dinners out are on a limited budget. Aura María is tired of this and says so. They have the same argument as always -- Freddy says in that case they will have hamburgers; Aura María starts calling him "Jabón Contreras" again [Beth: ?? not sure i can translate this... "jabón" means 'soap,' "Contreras" is a normal last name --Freddy's last name, in fact-- but in this case i think she's using it also as a play on the verb "contraer," which means 'to contract...' i think she's implying he's a double-dealer, someone who promises something and then tries to weasel out of it] and tells him she's tired of waiting to get married. She heads for the bathroom, crying. Bertha, Sofía and Sandra attack Freddy and begin to bawl him out for being so slippery and for keeping Aura María waiting for so long. He calls them a pack of hyenas, a gaggle of sisters-in-law, witches, busy-bodies. They continue the argument until they wear him down and convince him if he doesn't act soon he will lose Aura María, whereupon he departs with the promise that he will return with musicians and an engagement ring for Aura María.

Sandra, Bertha y Sofía go to tell Betty the news about the marriage proposal and Freddy's plans to bring musicians. Betty asks them not to do this during business hours since Daniel is going to be attending the meeting. They reply that it will take place at 6p. Sandra gives Betty an invitation to the Bogotá Fashion show and Betty says she's not going but if Armando wants to go by himself, he should go ahead... She then tells Sandra the news about Calderón, that he'll also be at the Bogotá Fashion show. Sandra seems pleased to hear that her ex-boss has reappeared and tells Betty that's good -- it wasn't about a woman. Betty remarks to her that there's nothing worse than one's husband's best friend. Sandra replies that she can't speak as to that, not being married and never having had a boyfriend, lover, or even a ghost. They also tell Inés the news about the engagement plans, and Inés says she will help by loaning an outfit to Aura María before Freddy arrives [to propose].

The elevator doors open to reveal the Prince Of Darkness, Daniel Valencia [Merci: but how handsome he is!]. He encounters Aura María coming tearfully out of the bathroom. He asks her why she's in such a state, if it's something personal or if it has to do with work. She, the idiot, replies that it's personal. He then tells her that she should plan these things better -- cry before or after work, or during her lunch break, since he can't imagine what such behaviour must be costing the company. The rest of the women say that nothing good can be going on, since Daniel always comes to stir things up.

Daniel goes into the conference room to meet with Betty, Armando, Gutiérrez and Nicolás [Merci: Gutiérrez continues to be as especially annoying as always --and now he practically doesn't speak Spanish at all!]. Daniel complains that Armando and Betty don't want to sell the company, they don't want to cut costs. That being the case, he continues, the only alternative is to lay off some employees. Betty and Armando tell him that that is not an option. Armando reminds Daniel they are already working with a skeleton staff of both employees and executives, that they'd never hired anyone to replace either Marcela or Mario Calderón [Beth: or Patsy-Pat! not that she ever did anything but cost money, but still...]. Daniel states that he was not the one to exile his sister and that he would prefer it if she were there. He then asks if one can utter the name "Calderón" in the company, and remarks that maybe they should pay Armando a salary at home [Merci: OUCH!]. Betty replies that maybe that way Armando would earn more, since the executive salaries had been frozen for the past year. Nicolás brings up the option of bringing in outside investors... Daniel answers that this would take time they don't have, and tells Gutiérrez in English that “time is golden." Betty and Armando exchange glances...

A trio of guitarists arrives in Reception and Mariana calls the rest of the gang to ask what to do. Of course, this is a problem since Daniel is still on the premises. Mariana says the musicians can't stay in Reception and tells the Cuartel that they need to hide the trio somewhere. Bertha asks Inesita to distract Aura María and the musicians head upstairs, a bit put out because they want to start playing even though they've been asked not to. Then Wilson calls to say that Freddy's arrived. They send Bertha to eavesdrop on the meeting and find out what's going on, and she returns with the information that it's running long.

In the conference room, Armando says that he is not going to accept Daniel's proposal. Bertha continues to keep her "radar" on and manages to hear them discussing cutting back on personnel. Daniel states that if they don't lay people off, he will sell off his shares as will the minority shareholders, and Betty and Armando will lose control of the company. He stands and tells Gutiérrez they will meet to review the employee roster for layoffs [Beth: not to ruin the story here, but since when does a shareholder or even a partner, i.e. Daniel, get to hire and fire employees and dictate policy in a company in which he does not hold an executive position?? Betty and Armando should've shut him down right there, and told him unless he wanted to give up whatever job he currently has to come take Mario or Marcela's place, the most he is permitted to do is state his opinion and vote, when the matter comes up for a vote...].

Daniel leaves and sees the musicians. He asks Bertha what is going on. She --another idiot-- explains, and Daniel starts to tell her that it's obvious that they don't have very much work to do, insinuating that her job is in danger. Before the elevator doors close, Bertha, who is eating some potato chips, offers him some. He refuses them and congratulates her on her diet: Every day she's getting fatter...

Freddy is outside, really giving the eye to a woman passing by, and asking himself if maybe he's too young to get married. Wilson asks him if he's sure he wants to put a leash around his neck; Freddy says yes, he is. Daniel comes out and asks Freddy if he knows what he has to give a wife to keep her happy. Freddy, joining the collection of idiots replying to Daniel's questions, replies one needs to give her love, tenderness, and fidelity. Daniel says no, one needs to give her jewels, clothes, houses, vacations, cars... and hints that Freddy's job is rather ephemeral, although Freddy doesn't take his meaning.

Freddy arrives on the Executive Floor. Aura María and Inesita appear (the rest of the Cuartel is in the bathroom looking for the things for the party -- apparently they are still using Bertha's hideaway). The trio of guitarists starts to sing "Novia Mía" (My Girlfriend), and Freddy kneels and asks Aura María to marry him. The rest of the Cuartel emerges from the bathroom as Aura María tells him of course she will. Freddy launches into one of his large discourses and hasn't managed to put the ring on Aura María's finger when Bertha arrives crying that they're all going to be let go! That news effectively ends the party. Freddy rethinks things and says they can't get married after all since if they don't have jobs they won't have anything to live on. Aura María runs off wailing, very like the sort of fuss Pupuchurra Jenny used to make...

Hugo and his cortège emerge from the workshop and head for the elevator, from which Wilson emerges, dressed in an earth-colored jacket and a sick yellow-green shirt. Hugo does not bother to withhold his thoughts on the walking fashion accident, concluding by advising Wilson that he never again wear "civvies" but instead stick to wearing his uniform and "blacks" and nothing else. They then revert to the subject of everyone's being let go...

In the conference room, Betty asks Nicolás to make a study of what it would cost to make the layoffs Daniel is demanding. She emphasizes that she doesn't want the employees to know about this and says they will continue their discussion of this topic over a breakfast meeting somewhere away from the office. Gutiérrez and Nicolás leave together to get to work -- the two are now almost like a team. They tell Bertha and Sofía they will be working late, and the women offer to stay late with them, but are told that won't be necessary. The two men are sad to think they won't be able to go to the Bogotá Fashion show... Bertha and Sofía offer to bring their bosses dinner, and Nicolás promptly orders enough food for ten people. They head into their offices, and immediately come out and swap as they'd each entered the other's office...

Betty's in her office reading the magazine article about Gabriela Garza when Armando comes in to ask if she's ready to leave. She tells him she'd like to resign as she doesn't want to be party to a massive layoff of personnel and especially if that includes the Cuartel. When they leave her office, they hear the members of the Cuartel discussing the layoffs The pair tell the women that nothing's been decided yet and ask where they'd heard the rumor. Sofía points to Bertha, who tries to escape but is stopped by Armando. She rather desperately says that the gossip seeks *her* out... Arriving at the elevator they run into Wilson, who is helping Sandra pack her things in a box. Betty and Armando repeat that no decision has been made and they should all go home to rest.

Bertha remarks that it's all very well for Betty and Armando, who already have everything, to tell the rest of them not to worry. Aura María says she's going to go out to party that night, but Freddy immediately says tells her no. They decide to use the executives' invitations to go to the Bogotá Fashion show instead. Inesita tells them they shouldn't, but as usual, the vote goes against her (although Wilson also is against the plan until he realizes that he can go too).

At Betty and Armando's apartment, she is in bed watching television when Camila's puppet, sounding a great deal like Armando, suddenly appears at the door. The puppet tells Betty all about everything it did to get the baby ready for bed [Merci: It's a cute, funny little scene. Ana María Orozco must've been laughing her head off!]. The puppet also says it's very tired, but asks Betty if she wants it to bring her a little something to eat. Armando comes in to sit next to Betty, and together they watch Gabriela Garza being interviewed on TV. Gabriela mentions her plans to invest in Colombian companies. Betty tells Armando to speak with "them" [i.e., Gabriela and Dimples the Snake, er -- Mario] and make a deal. She (Betty) doesn't want to be an obstacle or hurt the company and its employees just because Calderón happens to be involved in the matter. Armando tells her he doesn't want her to suffer all over again from having Calderón around. She replies that she doesn't want to lose him, and he says she won't lose him [Merci: I don't know if I mistook what I saw or not, but it looked as if our Dr. Mendoza had a little look on his face like those he used to get "before," as he was watching the models parade in their bathing suits on the television...].

As the episode ends, we see the Cuartel, Wilson and Freddy arrive at the Bogotá Fashion show...

Segundo Capítulo (9 de dic. 2001) Armando: Betty, mi amor, mira, me parece que tenemos que hablar de esto. Que tenemos que aclararlo, no sé, ¿Ah? Betty: Para mí todo está muy claro. Y no me vayas a decir que no se trata de una mujer... Armando: Pues si, si se trata de una mujer. Y es de ella precisamente que quiero que hablemos. Betty: Yo, yo no tengo porque discutir contigo sobre ella ni sobre ninguna otra mujer. Yo no tengo porque someterme a esto... Betty se ha levantado y va hacia su antigua oficina, pero Armando la detiene... Armando: No, no, no es eso, no es eso... Mira, ella es la gerente de nuevos proyectos de Fashion Group. ¿si? está interesada en EcoModa, llega esta noche a Bogotá. Es eso. Betty: ¿Entonces es algo de negocios? Armando: Claro que es algo de negocios... Betty: Pero las llamadas eran muy misteriosas... Mira, Armando, yo no te voy a hacer interrogatorios. No te voy a exigir detalles, y mucho menos te voy a armar un escándalo porque esa no es mi naturaleza. Y no creo que sea lo que tú esperes de mí tampoco... Armando: Pero yo no espero eso de ti mi amor... Pero, que, por Dios... ¿De que estamos hablando, mi vida? Yo no tengo nada con esa mujer. Ni siquiera la conozco. Y en cuanto a las llamadas misteriosas... Las llamadas misteriosas las hizo Mario Calderón. Aquí se sientan los dos de nuevo... Mira lo que pasa es que Mario Calderón conoció a esa mujer en Buenos Aires. Llegaron al tema de EcoModa, a ella le interesó muchísimo, y nada, el me llamó para concretar una cita. ¿Por que? Porque ella viene al Bogotá Fashion y está interesada en buscar socios estratégicos para fusionarse con su empresa en los Estados Unidos. Mira, es muy sencillo. Mario Calderón va a venir mañana. Si las cosas no funcionan entre esta señora y nosotros, entonces no va a haber negocio y Mario Calderón le va a presentar a otras personas para trabajar. Lo que pasa es que yo no te podía decir esto porque nada, porque yo sé que tú detestas a Mario Calderón. Pero, mira, fíjate que NO es otra mujer, no es otra mujer, es mi ex-amigo, Mario Calderón. Betty: Eso es peor... Mario Calderón significa 100 mujeres a la vez. Y, ¿tú le dices a un hombre te quiero, te extraño...? Armando: ¿tú, tú me estuviste oyendo, estuviste espiándome a mí? Betty: Que pena, Armando. Pero no pude evitar escuchar tu conversación. Por eso te digo que odio todo esto... Armando: No, no, no, pero es que yo creo que si puedo decirle a un hombre que lo quiero y que lo extraño, especialmente si ese hombre, si ese tipo ha sido mi mejor amigo, mi único amigo durante toda la vida. Yo creo que puedo hablar así con el, que tengo derecho... Betty: ¿Y tú todavía lo estimas? ¿Después que lo sacaste a puñetazos de aquí por haber leído mi diario, por haberse burlado de el, de mi intimidad, después de todo el dolor que me causó? Se vuelven a parar y acercarse a la cueva... Armando: Bueno, mi amor, ¿ves? Es por eso que yo no quería tocar ese tema. Por eso yo no quería hablar de eso. Porque no quiero que recuerdes nada, que vuelvas a sufrir. Mira, en todo caso, Mario Calderón me pidió perdón a mí, a su mejor amigo. Yo no, no lo odio, no lo odio. Tampoco es que sea indispensable en mi vida. Yo puedo seguir viviendo sin el como he hecho hasta ahora. Yo, yo... ¿Sabes por que? Porque lo único fundamental, lo único sagrado y lo único importante en mi vida eres tú y mi niña. Es lo único que yo tengo, mi amor. Yo no sabría como vivir sin ustedes. No sabría que hacer en la vida, mi vida... ¿Y sabes que? Si Mario Calderón va a venir acá y te va a hacer sufrir, entonces por más maravilloso que sea ese negocio, entonces yo no lo voy a hacer. Prefiero que se vaya, que no aparezca jamás. Armando toma la cara de Betty en sus manos... Yo lo único que quiero que quede claro entre nosotros es que no va a haber otra mujer, jamás, no la hay. Se besan... Monstruo, no piense cosas malas, no...Armando se va.

Hugo llega con su cortejo de modelos y Armando sale de la oficina a pedirle que por favor participe en la reunión que tendrán con Daniel. Hugo le dice que no... Armando le reclama por traer a la perra al trabajo y Hugo le contesta que él no se queja de que Betty lo lleve a él a la oficina todos los días. Entonces empiezan a hacer comentarios a cerca de lo mucho que Armando ha cambiado desde que se casó — una de las modelos dice que está antipático y no saluda a ninguna de ellas. Hugo dice que es casi como si fuera gay... A Armandito no le gusta mucho este comentario. Otra modelo comenta que la argolla del matrimonio no la lleva en la mano sino por el cuello. Hugo añade que está esperando a ver cuando será la primera recaída de Armando, ya que él está convencido de que no ha cambiado. Freddy llega con invitaciones al Bogotá Fashion y se las entrega a Hugo y Armando. Armando dice que no va porque tiene mucho que hacer, y Hugo añade que Armando no sale si no tiene permiso de los suegros... Vemos a Freddy en recepción donde le pide a Mariana llevarse unas flores de su escritorio para repartirlas. Se aparece una empleada y él le entrega unas flores y Mariana la regaña por coquetearle a Freddy y le recuerda que él está comprometido. La empleada le dice que el que está coqueteando es Freddy. Freddy llega al piso de Presidencia y le entrega flores a Sandra y a Aura María. Entonces le dice a Aura María que esta noche saldrán a cenar: las cenas de Freddy son con presupuesto limitado — a comer perros calientes y papas fritas. Aura María ya está cansada de esto y se lo dice. Tienen la discusión de siempre, Freddy le dice que entonces irían a comer hamburguesas. Aura María le vuelve a decir Jabón Contreras por lo resbaladizo y le dice que se cansó de esperarlo para casarse. Se va llorando al baño. Bertha, Sofía y Sandra atacan a Freddy y lo comienzan a regañar por ser como el jabón y tener a Aura María esperando tanto tiempo. El las llama la jauría de hienas, la manada de cuñadas, brujas, entrometidas. Siguen con la discusión hasta que lo cansan, lo convencen de que si no actúa pronto va a perder a Aura María y él se va con la promesa de que regresará con músicos y una sortija de compromiso para Aura María.

Sandra, Bertha y Sofía van a contarle a Betty la noticia del compromiso y los planes de Freddy de traer los músicos. Betty les pide que no lo hagan durante horas laborables ya que Daniel va a estar para una reunión. Ellas le dicen que será a las seis de la tarde. Sandra le entrega a Betty una invitación al Bogotá Fashion y Betty le dice que no va, pero que si Armando quiere ir solo, que vaya... Entonces le cuenta a Sandra a cerca de Calderón, que estará en lo del Bogotá Fashion también. Sandra pone cara de cómo que alegría de que apareció su ex-jefe y le dice a Betty que entonces es bueno que no era una mujer. Betty le dice que no hay nada peor que el mejor amigo de el marido. Sandra le dice que como ella no está casada, nunca ha tenido novio, amante ni tinieblo, no sabe de esas cosas... también le cuentan a Inés la noticia del compromiso e Inés las va a ayudar prestándole un traje a Aura María para cuando llegue Freddy. Se abre el elevador y es el príncipe de las tinieblas, Daniel Valencia (¡pero que guapo es!)... Se encuentra con Aura María que está saliendo del baño toda llorosa. Le pregunta porque está en ese estado, que si es por algo personal o del trabajo. Ella, la boba, le contesta que es personal. El entonces le dice que debe planear mejor estas cosas — llorar antes o después del trabajo, o durante la hora del almuerzo, ya que no se puede imaginar lo que le está costando esto a la empresa. Las demás dicen que no puede estar pasando nada bueno ya que Daniel siempre viene a alborotar las cosas. Daniel entra a la sala de juntas a reunirse con Betty, Armando, Gutiérrez y Nicolás. Gutiérrez sigue tan especialmente insoportable como siempre — ¡y ahora casi no habla español! Daniel se queja de que Armando y Betty no quieren vender la empresa, no quieren reducir gastos. Entonces les dice que la única alternativa es reducir el personal de la empresa. Betty y Armando le dicen que esa no es una opción. Armando le recuerda a Daniel que están trabajando con el mínimo de empleados y ejecutivos — nunca remplazaron ni a Marcela ni a Mario Calderón.

Daniel dice que él no fue quién exilió a su hermana y que preferiría que estuviera allí. Entonces pregunta si el nombre de Calderón se puede nombrar en la empresa y hace un comentario a cerca de que Betty da órdenes en la casa y en la empresa, y que tal vez le debería pagar un sueldo a Armando en la casa. ¡OUCH! Betty le contesta que tal vez entonces Armando ganaría más ya que los sueldos de los ejecutivos han estado congelados durante el último año. Nicolás habla de la opción de traer socios inversionistas... Daniel contesta que eso tomaría tiempo que no tienen — y le dice a Gutiérrez en inglés que “time is golden” (el tiempo vale oro). Betty y Armando se miran... Un trío de guitarristas llegó a recepción y Mariana llama a las demás para preguntar que hacer. Por supuesto, esto es un problema ya que Daniel todavía sigue en la empresa. Mariana dice que no pueden quedarse en recepción y les dice que los escondan en algún sitio ellas. Bertha le pide a Inesita que entretenga a Aura María y los músicos suben — ¡medio despistados porque quieren empezar a tocar aunque les han pedido que no lo hagan! Entonces Wilson llama para decir que Freddy ya llegó. Mandan a Bertha a escuchar a ver que está pasando en la reunión y ella dice que va para largo. En la sala de juntas, Armando dice que él no va a aceptar la propuesta de Daniel. Bertha sigue con el radar prendido y alcanza a escuchar que están hablando de recortar personal. Daniel dice que si no hacen los despidos, él venderá su parte, al igual que los accionistas minoritarios y entonces Armando y Betty perderán control de la empresa. Se levanta y le dice a Gutiérrez que se verán para revisar la lista de los empleados para despedir. Daniel sale y nota a los músicos y le pregunta a Bertha que está pasando. Ella, otra boba, le explica y Daniel le comienza a decir que es obvio que no tienen mucho que hacer y le insinúa que su trabajo peligra. Antes de que se cierren las puertas del elevador, Bertha le ofrece de comer (ella está comiendo unas papitas) y él le dice que no y la felicita por su dieta: cada día está más gorda... Freddy está afuera y le da tremenda mirada a una mujer que le pasa por delante y se cuestiona si se estará casando muy joven. Wilson le pregunta si está seguro de echarse la soga al cuello. Freddy le dice que si. Daniel sale y le pregunta a Freddy si sabe que tiene que hacer para hacer feliz a una esposa. Freddy, añadiéndose a la colección de bobos que le contestan las preguntas a Daniel, le contesta que amor, ternura, fidelidad. Daniel le dice que joyas, ropa, casas, vacaciones, carros... Y le insinúa a Freddy lo de lo efímero de su trabajo — aunque Freddy como que no capta el mensaje.

Freddy llega al piso de Presidencia. Salen Aura María e Inesita (las demás están en el baño buscando las cosas para la fiesta — deben seguir usando el escondite de Bertha para esconder cosas, ¿no?)... Entonces el trío comienza a cantar “Novia mía” y Freddy se arrodilla y le pide a Aura María que se case con él, las demás del Cuartel salen, Aura María le dice que por supuesto que si. Entonces Freddy se pone a dar uno de sus discursos larguísimos y no le acaba de poner la sortija en el dedo a Aura María, cuando Bertha les grita que ¡los van a despedir! Bueno, con esta noticia por supuesto que se acabó la fiesta. Freddy entonces recapacita y dice que no pueden casarse ya que sin trabajo no van a tener como vivir. Aura María sale corriendo y gritando — muy parecida a los escándalos que daba la Pupuchurra Jenny...

Hugo y su cortejo salen del taller y van hacia el ascensor. De ahí sale Wilson vestido con una chaqueta color como tierra, y una camisa de un verde amarillento HORRIPILANTE, y Huguito se encarga de hacerle los insultos apropiados. En conclusión le dice que salga de toda su ropa de “civil” y que se limite a usar uniformes y negros nada más. Entonces vuelven al tema de que los van a echar a todos... En la sala de juntas Betty le pide a Nicolás que haga un estudio de lo que costaría hacer los despidos que quiere Daniel. Y enfatiza que no quiere que los empleados se den cuenta. Betty dice que discutirán el tema durante un desayuno de negocios fuera de la empresa. Gutiérrez y Nicolás se van juntos a trabajar — son ahora como que un equipo estos dos. Le dicen a Bertha y Sofía que van a estar trabajando hasta tarde y ellas se ofrecen a quedarse pero ellos les dicen que no. Los dos se ponen tristes de que no podrán ir al Bogotá Fashion... Ellas ofrecen mandarles a buscar cena y Nicolás ordena un banquete como para diez personas. En eso salen Gutiérrez y Nicolás e intercambian oficinas ya que entraron a las equivocadas...

Betty está en Presidencia leyendo la revista con la nota de Gabriela Garza y Armando entra a preguntarle si ya se van. Ella le dice que quisiera renunciar ya que no quiere participar en un despido masivo, y menos de las del Cuartel. Cuando salen de Presidencia, escuchan a las del Cuartel comentando lo de los despidos y ellos les dicen que no se ha decidido nada. Entonces preguntan de dónde sacaron el chisme, y Sofía apunta a Bertha, que se trata de escapar pero Armando la para. Ella dice que los chismes la buscan a ella... Ya casi en el ascensor se encuentran a Wilson ayudando a Sandra a empacar sus cosas en una caja, y vuelven a decirles que no se ha tomado ninguna decisión y que se vayan a sus casas a descansar. Bertha comenta que para Betty y Armando es muy fácil decirles que no se preocupen ya que ellos tienen de todo... Aura María dice que ella va a salir de fiestas y Freddy enseguida le dice que no. Hacen el plan de usar las invitaciones de los ejecutivos para ir al Bogotá Fashion. Inesita les dice que no deben hacerlo, pero como siempre, pierde la votación (aunque Wilson también no estaba de acuerdo hasta que se dio cuenta que podría ir también).

En el apartamento de Betty y Armando, ella está acostada viendo televisión cuando por la puerta se le aparece la muñeca de Camila — que suena mucho como Armando y le cuenta todo lo que hizo para preparar a la bebé para que se durmiera. Esta escena estuvo graciosa (¡Ana María Orozco se estaba riendo con muchas ganas!). También le dice que está muy cansado, pero le pregunta a Betty que si quiere que le prepare algo para comer — ¡tan divino el Doctor Mendoza! Armando se sienta al lado de Betty y vemos que entrevistan a Gabriela Garza, quién comenta a cerca de los planes de hacer inversiones con empresas colombianas. Betty le dice a Armando que hablen con ellos y que hagan el arreglo. Ella no quiere ser un obstáculo o perjudicar a la empresa y los empleados porque Calderón esté envuelto en el asunto. Armando le dice que él no quiere que vuelva a sufrir al tener a Calderón cerca. Ella le dice que no lo quiere perder y él le contesta que no lo va a perder... No sé si vi mal, pero me pareció que el Dr. Mendoza le dio una miradita de las de “antes” al televisor mientras se veían las modelos desfilando los trajes de baño... Vemos al Cuartel, Wilson y Freddy llegar al Bogotá Fashion... Adelanto para la semana que viene: el Cuartel, Wilson y Freddy están en el Bogotá Fashion. Freddy, tan brillante como siempre, conoce a Gabriela Garza y le dice que él es el Presidente de EcoModa. Vemos que Gabriela Garza y Kenneth Johnson van a EcoModa y se arma tremendo lío ya que Freddy tendrá que seguir aparentando que es el Presidente — Betty y los demás están en el desayuno fuera de la oficina...

===========================

12/16/01. Freddy and the cuartel attend the reception. Aura Maria doesn’t like the way he looks at the skimpily dressed models and the others tease him. He assures them he could get any woman he wants. Later, at the buffet he introduces himself to Gabriela as a VP of EcoModa and then introduces the cuartel as other Vps. Meanwhile Betty, Armando and Gutierrez discuss the staff reductions that are necessary; Gutierrez says the others will just have to work twice as hard, without an increase in salary, or risk unemployment. Betty doesn’t want to fire people. Freddy assures the cuartel they don’t have to worry about Fashion Group because they will never see them again, but Kenneth and Gabriela turn up at the office and the group immediately starts to pretend, showing them around the factory, etc.

www.telenovela-world.com: Re: summary of ecomoda in english pleasee!!!!

Author: kent (---) Date: 12-03-02 20:41 PST EcoModa Summaries -- Thank you to Beth for the translations!

Episode 3

The episode started as it ended last week, with Armando and Betty in their bedroom watching the Bogotá Fashion show, and Betty saying that she agrees to talking to the people recommended by Calderón in order to help the company.

We see the Cuartel, Freddy and Wilson arrive at the hotel where they are presenting the Bogotá Fashion show and airily wave around but not hand over the invitations -- so that no-one realizes they aren't executives from EcoModa. Freddy and Wilson start to stare at all the scantily-clad models parading the catwalk, and Aura María and Sandra berate Freddy for his ogling. Aura María calls him an idiot, stupid, "Jabón Contreras" [Beth: and here it is again... i guess a loose translation could be "Slippery McWeasel," so i'll use that if it comes up any more. now watch it never does...], etc. Inesita berates all of them for the scene they are causing. Freddy makes comments about the models, Aura María tells him he thinks he's Antonio Banderas Contreras... They send Freddy to get something to eat and drink for the group [Merci: Bad idea!].

We see a group of people, among them two Colombian fashion designers, meeting Kenneth Johnson and Gabriela Garza from Fashion Group. Gabriela tells Kenneth she's hungry and he goes to look for something for her to eat. Freddy notices Gabriela, greets her, and asks where she's from. She explains that she's from Mexico, that it's her first visit to Colombia; he very amiably welcomes her to the country and makes her a present of its skies, its mountains, its clouds, etc, etc, etc. Sofía notes how chummy Freddy's getting and goes to look for Aura María. Freddy continues to babble, saying he's a citizen of the world since he has to travel so much because of his work. Gabriela asks what he does, and he immediately catches her interest when he says he's the President of EcoModa. She is very impressed and tells him that she wants to meet with EcoModa. At this moment the Cuartel and Wilson turn up... Freddy introduces them all as company executives!

Aura María Fuentes - Executive Vice-president

Bertha de González - Administrative Vice-president

Sofía de Rodríguez - Vice-president of Accounting

La Morena (Mariana) - Executive in charge of events and models*

Sandra Patiño - Vice-president of Marketing

Inesita de Peña- Vice-president of Manufacturing

Wilson Sastoque - Designer

*you might have noticed some discussion on the forum regarding Mariana's being called "La Morena" instead of by her name, as the rest were. although many on the list --particularly many of us overly-PC-conscious Americans-- were at first inclined to view this as a slur (the equivalent of calling her "darkie," or something worse), numerous Colombians and people with Colombian friends said that Freddy was not putting her down, nor would a *real* Mariana feel insulted by the designation as apparently in at least some Latin American countries, "moreno" (or "morena") is routinely applied to anything dark-colored or anyone dark-skinned, just as some people are nicknamed "Ginger" or "Blondie" because of their hair color.

Gabriela introduces herself as well, since Freddy didn't know her name, and leaves quickly to look for Kenneth... Inesita asks Freddy how he could do such a thing. Aura María tells him he's a hound dog. Freddy replies that when he started talking to Gabriela he couldn't say he was just a messenger at EcoModa, so he lied and said he was the President. But they shouldn't worry -- Gabriela is only in Colombia for the day and will be leaving tomorrow, so they wouldn't see her again.

Gabriela finds Kenneth and tells him he has to meet the executives from EcoModa. Kenneth asks after "Mr. Baby Doll" and she tells him that Mario Calderón never called her back. Gabriela introduces Kenneth to the group of "executives" and explains that he is a Quality Engineer, but is a little bit dumbstruck when he takes in the glory that is Aura María and notices the sparks that fly between them. Kenneth and Gabriel talk about their work at Fashion Group; Gabriela is the Director of New Markets. They give their cards to Freddy and Aura María, and Freddy says he doesn't have any because he left his in the office. Kenneth and Gabriela say they will stop by EcoModa the following morning and they hope it's not a problem that it will have to be quite early as they have a very full day already. Freddy tells them he and the other executives have a 9am meeting, if that makes things easier for Kenneth and Gabriela [riiiight...]. Gabriela and Kenneth reply they will be there at 8am. Throughout this conversation, Inesita is fanning herself with a piece of paper as the story gets them into an ever-deepening hole. Sofía states that they have to get Freddy home to rest, and everyone makes their goodnights while Kenneth and Aura María stare dumbly at each other. After the EcoModa crowd makes its getaway, Gabriela tells Kenneth she thinks they (the EcoModa group) are a little strange, but Kenneth replies that he thought they were very nice [Beth: wait a minute, let me get this straight. how is it that Gabriela and Kenneth are interested enough in Ecomoda that they are thinking of investing in it, yet they don't know anything at all about the executives? and we're supposed to buy that?? oh, yeah, right -- if Gabriela and Kenneth actually knew Freddy was lying we wouldn't have a story. silly me -- what was i thinking??].

Once outside, everyone turns on Freddy for getting them into such a mess. Bertha asks for a gun with which to shoot herself... Some think they should call Betty to explain what happened, but Aura María says if the call wakes the baby, Don Armando The Panther will rip them all to shreds. While this is going on, we see Kenneth and Gabriela coming out of the hotel garage in their chauffeured car and everyone waves at each other. The members of the EcoModa group decide to go home and figure out what to do the next morning.

At EcoModa the following morning, Aura María tells the Cuartel that she called Betty first thing but Doña Julia said she'd already left for a breakfast meeting... Freddy arrives very pleased with himself but they immediately bring him down to earth -- Sandra gives him a briefcase which nearly bowls him over [Beth: ??? the expression used here is probably some sort of local slang i don't know -- at a guess i'd say it means she gave him news that really stunned him. unless she really does hand him a briefcase...?]. The only thing they can think is, 'What are we going to do??" Inesita insists they should call Betty on her cel. Mariana says she can't do it from her phone, that Aura María should be the one to do it; of course, Aura María doesn't want to do it, either. They all get on the elevator, abusing Freddy.

Armando, Betty, Gutiérrez and Nicolás are breakfasting in a restaurant. Gutiérrez is being even more insupportable than ever and hands Armando a list of employees to be let go. Armando tells him if they do [let them all go] they'd have to stop production, and hands the list to Betty, who says she cannot permit these layoffs. Nicolás adds that the people who will be let go will cost the company a lot of money as the dismissals could be considered as being without just cause -- the ever-ready Gutiérrez says they will just have to find some good reason for firing these people.

Back at EcoModa, everyone gets off the elevator still saying they're going to be fired. Freddy says there isn't a problem. Poor Inesita continues to insist they call Betty but no-one will listen to her. They decide to continue the imposture by attending to and then getting rid of their guests before Armando and Betty should arrive.

Meanwhile, at the breakfast meeting --at which Nicolás and Gutiérrez are eating like men who haven't ever seen food before in their lives-- Betty says there is a way to avoid having to fire all these employees. She explains about Mario Calderón's call and suggestion, and Nicolás remarks that the only way this can happen is if Betty forgives Calderón [Beth: i don't see that, but ok...]... He adds that it would be a great deal for EcoModa -- or could it be that Betty's sensibilities have changed...? Armando is very uncomfortable during this exchange, and Betty makes it clear to Nicolás that it isn't that her sensibilities have changed, but that they will nonetheless speak with Mario Calderón to set up a meeting with the people from Fashion Group.

Gabriela and Kenneth arrive at Ecomoda and Wilson hides his face with his neckerchief so they won't recognize him. He then announces that the "gringos from last night" have arrived, and Mariana tells him to send them in.

We return to the restaurant, where Betty gets a call from Aura María asking where she is and what time they'll get to the office. Betty says she's with Armando, Gutiérrez and Nicolás at a breakfast meeting and that they'll be in the office between 9:30 and 10a. Aura María asks if any of them are expecting any foreign visitors and Betty replies no. Sandra tells Aura María that the visitors have arrived and she hangs up with Betty. They all (the Cuartel] decide to continue with the farce, to get this over with quickly, and they remove their ID badges. Freddy announces that Operation Camouflage has begun... Mariana greets the visitors in Reception (and had to ask Sandra what her 'position' is!).

The elevator opens and a new character appears: Doña Blanquita -- apparently from the cafeteria, since she arrives with a cup of coffee on a tray. Mariana asks her to cover the reception desk, and Blanquita does so, but isn't very pleased. Wilson comes into Reception and asks if the coffee is for him... Blanquita says it's for Mariana, but ends up giving it to Wilson. [Merci notes that she thinks Blanquita is very funny.]

Mariana takes Kenneth and Gabriela to the Executive floor and explains that the secretaries aren't at their desks because they are very busy elsewhere. She then takes the guests to the President's office, where Freddy is sitting behind Betty's desk pretending to talk on the phone with "Roberto," telling him he can't meet him at the club for a game of golf because he is too busy, but maybe they can see each other at the 10th hole. The photos behind the desk are half-turned so they can't be seen. Freddy stands, kisses Gabriela [Merci: almost as if he were trying to lick her cheek clean], and gives Kenneth a hug. He then says they will give them a tour of the whole operation... Before leaving the office, they (Kenneth and Gabriela) ask who the people in the photo on Betty's desk are [Merci: it's Betty and Armando's wedding picture]. Freddy replies that it's only some poor relations and tosses the photo in the trash.

Freddy, "Doctor Valdés" (Mariana), and the visitors go to Nicolás' office, where we see Bertha and Sofía going over some accounts.... Freddy invites them to accompany the group on their visit to Production. They run into Aura María and once again she and Kenneth make a lot of serious eye contact, which doesn't please Freddy at all. Inesita also appears and joins the group. Freddy makes a remark about the secretaries being nowhere around and adds that they're an ugly bunch...

In Production, Kenneth asks Freddy how long EcoModa has been in existence. Of course, Freddy has no idea, but Inesita comes to the rescue and replies 36 years, but only 17 in the current location. She adds that it began as a very small dressmaker's shop. When asked how many people EcoModa employs, Freddy asks Bertha to handle that one, and she replies that they have 900 employees -- 760 in production and the rest in various other positions. Freddy has made a point of telling the visitors how well he gets along with his employees -- they're like a family; now one approaches to ask him when they're going to go out on the town again together. Freddy tells the employee to be more respectful and curtly sends him off. Gabriela asks if Mario Calderón had spoken to them about meeting yet and Freddy says no. He adds that he and Mario grew up together; in fact, Mario carried his (Freddy's) books to school.

Back at the restaurant, Betty is paying and they are still discussing Calderón when Armando's cel phone rings; he says it's Calderón. Calderón [Merci: so handsome, but just as insupportable as ever!] tells Armando that he's back in Bogotá and asks Armando if he's been given permission to speak to him yet. Armando replies that they are interested in meeting the people from Fashion Group... Mario asks Armando if he can speak to Betty without her going for his jugular. They decide that Mario will call the people from Fashion Group at their hotel to set up a visit to EcoModa.

Gabriela asks to speak with the designer and Kenneth, accompanied by the "Vice President of Finance and Merchandising," and Inesita, goes to look for Wilson. On the Executive floor, Wilson is saying he doesn't want to talk to the people but Inesita tells him that since he took part in the matter to start with, he has to do it. Freddy and the rest arrive on the elevator...

Armando, Betty, Nicolás and Gutiérrez arrive at Reception and say they need everything to be perfect at the company for the visitors from Fashion Group. They are surprised to see Blanquita manning the reception desk and ask where Mariana is. Blanquita tells them that Mariana went upstairs and said her to stay there. Gutiérrez says that Mariana doesn't give orders at the company and she is giving herself cause for dismissal. They all get on the elevator...

Tercer Capítulo (16 de dic. 2001) Las del Cuartel me cansan a veces, pero tengo que admitir que me reí en voz alta durante el capitulo de esta noche de EcoModa... El capitulo comenzó como terminó la semana pasada, con Armando y Betty en su cuarto viendo el Bogotá Fashion, Betty diciendo que está de acuerdo en hablar con la gente que recomendó Calderón para no hacerle daño a la empresa. Vemos a las del Cuartel, Freddy y Wilson llegar al hotel donde estan haciendo la presentación del Bogota Fashion y muy hábilmente todos enseñan las invitaciones pero no las entregan — para que nadie se de cuenta que no son los ejecutivos de EcoModa. Freddy y Wilson se ponen a mirar a las modelos de bikini que caminan por la pasarela y Aura Maria y Sandra regañan a Freddy por mirón. Aura María le dice idiota, estúpido, jabón Contreras, etc. Inesita los regaña a todos por el escándalo que estan haciendo. Freddy hace comentarios a cerca de las modelos, Aura Maria le dice que se cree que es Antonio Banderas Contreras... A Freddy lo mandan a buscar algo de tomar y comer para el grupo. ¡Mala idea! Vemos a un grupo de personas conociendo a Kenneth Johnson y Gabriela Garza del Fashion Group, entre ellos dos diseñadores colombianos. Gabriela le dice a Kenneth que tiene hambre y se va a buscar algo de comer. Freddy se percata de Gabriela y la saluda y pregunta de donde es. Ella le explica que de México, que es su primera visita a Colombia y él muy simpático le da la bienvenida a Colombia, le regala su cielo, sus montañas, sus nubes, etc., etc., etc. Sofía nota lo simpático que esta Freddy y va a buscar a Aura María. Freddy sigue hablando babosadas y explica que él es un ciudadano del mundo ya que por sus negocios viaja mucho. Gabriela le pregunta a qué se dedica y él la embarra hasta no más poder diciéndole que es el Presidente de EcoModa. Ella queda toda impresionada y le dice que con EcoModa es que quería reunirse.

Entonces aparecen las del Cuartel y Wilson... Freddy las presenta como ¡ejecutivas de la empresa! Aura María Fuentes, vicepresidente ejecutiva Bertha de González, vicepresidente administrativa Sofía de Rodríguez, vicepresidente financiera La morena (Mariana), encargada de eventos y modelos Sandra Patiño, vicepresidente de mercadeo Inesita de Peña, vicepresidente de confección Wilson Sastoque, diseñador Gabriela se presenta ella también ya que Freddy no sabía su nombre y sale corriendo a buscar a Kenneth... Inesita le dice a Freddy que como se atreve a hacer eso. Aura María le dice que es un perro cazador. Freddy le dice que cuando se puso a hablar con Gabriela no pudo decirle que él era el mensajero de EcoModa, así que se inventó que era el Presidente. Y además les dice que no se preocupen, que Gabriela solo está de visita por un día y se va mañana de Colombia, no la van a volver a ver. Gabriela encuentra a Kenneth y le dice que tiene que conocer al grupo de ejecutivos de EcoModa. Kenneth le pregunta por Mr. Baby Doll y ella le dice que Mario Calderón nunca la volvió a llamar. Gabriela le presenta todos a Kenneth y él explica que es ingeniero de calidad, pero está como que medio aturdido porque vio a Aura María y como que quedaron flechados entre ellos. Los dos hablan de que trabajan en Fashion Group, Gabriela es la gerente de nuevos mercados. Le entregan tarjetas a Freddy y Aura María y Freddy dice que no tiene ya que las dejó en la oficina. Ellos le dicen que la próxima mañana pasarán por EcoModa y esperan que no les importe que sea muy temprano ya que tienen una agenda muy complicada. Freddy les dice que a las 9 a.m. tienen una junta, así que para hacerles las cosas más fáciles (no creo...) Gabriela y Kenneth les dicen que estarán allá a las 8 a.m. Durante toda esta conversación, Inesita se está dando aire con un papel porque el cuento se está poniendo peor y peor para todos ellos. Sofía dice que se tienen que llevar a Freddy a descansar, todos se despiden, y Kenneth y Aura María se quedan mirándose como bobos... Gabriela dice que son una gente muy rara, pero Kenneth los encontró muy simpáticos.

Afuera, todos atacan a Freddy por el lío en que los metió. Bertha pide un revólver para suicidarse... Sugieren llamar a Betty y explicarle lo que pasó, pero Aura María dice que si llaman y despiertan a la niña, la pantera de Don Armando los mata. Del garaje del hotel vemos salir a Gabriela y Kenneth con su chofer y todos se saludan... Deciden irse a sus casas y pensarán que hacer por la mañana. Por la mañana en EcoModa, Aura María les explica a las del Cuartel que llamó a Betty temprano pero Doña Julia le dijo que se había ido a un desayuno de negocios... Freddy llega todo contento y enseguida lo bajan de la nube — Sandra le da sendo carterazo que casi lo tumba. Lo único que pueden pensar es ¿Qué van a hacer? Inesita insiste en que llamen a Betty al celular. Mariana dice que ella no puede hacerlo desde su teléfono, que le tocará a Aura María, la que no quiere hacerlo. Todos se montan en el elevador — y los golpes vienen y van para Freddy.

En un restaurante encontramos a Armando, Betty, Gutiérrez y Nicolás desayunando. Gutiérrez está más insoportable que nunca y le entrega a Armando la lista de empleados a despedir. Armando le dice que si hacen eso tendrán que parar producción y le entrega la lista a Betty, que dice que no puede permitir esos despidos. Nicolás añade que los despidos van a ser muy costosos ya que son considerados sin justa causa — Gutiérrez, tan listo, dice que tendrán que buscar razones para echar a los empleados. De vuelta a EcoModa, salen todos del elevador y siguen diciendo que los van a echar. Freddy dice que no hay ningún problema. Inesita, la pobre, sigue con su insistencia de que llamen a Betty. Deciden entre todos que se van a encargar de atender y despachar a los invitados antes de que lleguen Armando y Betty. De vuelta en el desayuno — donde Nicolás y Gutiérrez están comiendo como si nunca hubieran visto bocado alguno — Betty dice que hay una salida a tener que despedir a los empleados. Explica la llamada de Mario Calderón y Nicolás comenta que la única forma que eso pase es que perdonen a Calderón... Y añade que sería un gran negocio para EcoModa. O será que las sensibilidades de Betty han cambiado. Armando está incómodo durante esta conversación y Betty le aclara a Nicolás que sus sensibilidades no han cambiado, pero que hablarán con Mario Calderón para concretar la visita de la gente del Fashion Group. Gabriela y Kenneth llegan a EcoModa y Wilson se tapa la cara con el pañuelo de cuello para que no lo reconozcan. Entonces avisa que “los gringos de anoche” llegaron y Mariana le dice que los hagan pasar.

Volvemos al restaurante donde Betty recibe una llamada de Aura María para preguntarle donde está y a que hora estarán en la empresa. Betty le dice que están ella, Armando, Gutiérrez y Nicolás en un desayuno de negocios y que estarán en la empresa entre 9:30 y 10 a.m. Aura María le pregunta a Betty si están esperando unos visitantes extranjeros y Betty le dice que no... Sandra le dice a Aura María que ya llegaron los visitantes y cuelgan con Betty. Todos deciden que van a seguir con la farsa, que lo harán todo rapidito y se quitan los carnés de identificación. Freddy les dice que comenzará la Operación Camuflaje... Mariana recibe a los visitantes en recepción (¡y le tuvo que preguntar a Sandra cuál era su puesto!). Se abre el elevador y aparece un nuevo personaje, Doña Blanquita — aparentemente de la cafetería — que viene con una bandeja con una taza de café. Mariana le pide que se quede en recepción y Blanquita no muy contenta lo hace. Wilson entra a recepción y le pregunta si el café es para él... Ella le dice que es para Mariana, pero termina dándoselo. Me estuvo cómica la señora... Mariana lleva a Kenneth y Gabriela al segundo piso y les dice que las secretarias no están en sus escritorios porque están muy ocupadas. Entonces los lleva a Presidencia, donde Freddy está sentado en el escritorio de Betty aparentando que está hablando por teléfono con “Roberto”, y le dice que no se podrán encontrar en el Club para jugar golf porque está muy ocupado, pero que tal vez en el hueco 10 se puedan ver. Las fotos detrás del escritorio de Betty están medio viradas para que no se vean. Freddy se levanta, le besa la mano a Gabriela (que como que se la limpia) y le da un abrazo a Kenneth. Entonces dice que van a darle un tour por la planta de producción... Antes de irse de la oficina, preguntan quiénes son los de una foto que está sobre el escritorio de Betty — son Betty y Armando el día de su boda. Freddy contesta que son los parientes pobres y echa la foto a la basura. Freddy, la Dra. Valdés (Mariana) y los visitantes van a la oficina de Nicolás, donde vemos a Bertha y Sofía revisando unas páginas de cuentas... Freddy las invita a que los acompañen a visitar el área de producción. Se encuentran con Aura María y otra vez ella y Kenneth se hacen ojitos, lo que no le gusta mucho a Freddy. Inesita aparece para acompañarlos también. Freddy hace un comentario a cerca de las secretarias que no están por ninguna parte, y además que son un grupo de feas...

En el área de producción, Kenneth le pregunta a Freddy cuantos años tiene EcoModa. Por supuesto, Freddy no tiene la menor idea e Inesita sale al rescate y cuenta que tiene 36 años, pero lleva 17 años en el local de ahora. También dice que comenzó como una empresa muy pequeña de confección. En contestación de cuantos empleados hay, Freddy le pide a Bertha que explique y ella les dice que hay 900 empleados, 760 en confección y los demás en las otras áreas. Un empleado se le acerca a Freddy, que ha dicho lo bien que se llevan todos, como una familia, y le pregunta cuando vuelven a irse de rumba. Freddy le dice que más respeto y lo manda a freír espárragos. Gabriela pregunta si Mario Calderón les había hablado para reunirse y Freddy dice que no. Y añade que él y Mario crecieron juntos, que hasta Mario le cargaba los libros a la escuela.

En el restaurante, Betty está pagando y siguen hablando de Calderón cuando el teléfono celular de Armando suena y él dice que es Calderón. Calderón, tan bello él (pero igual de insoportable), le dice a Armando que ya regresó a Bogotá y le pregunta si ya le dieron permiso para hablar con él. Armando le contesta que están interesados en conocer a la gente de Fashion Group... Mario le pregunta también si podrá hablar con Betty sin que ella le ataque la yugular. Quedan en que Mario llamará a la gente de Fashion Group al hotel para concertar la visita a EcoModa. Gabriela pide hablar con el diseñador y Kenneth con las vicepresidentas de finanzas y mercadeo e Inesita se va a buscar a Wilson. En el piso de Presidencia, Wilson está diciendo que no quiere hablar con la gente pero Inesita le dice que él participó en el asunto y tiene que hacerlo. Salen Freddy y los demás del elevador...

Armando, Betty, Nicolás y Gutiérrez llegan a recepción y comentan que necesitan que todo esté perfecto en la empresa para la visita de Fashion Group. Se sorprenden de ver a Blanquita en recepción y le preguntan dónde está Mariana. Ella les dice que subió y le dijo que se quedará allí. Gutiérrez dice que Mariana no manda en la empresa y que ya están dando razones para el despido. Entran todos al elevador... Y esto continuará la semana que viene... No enseñaron nuevas escenas, pero definitivamente se va a armar la de Juan de los Palotes cuando Betty y Armando lleguen y se encuentren con lo que han hecho Freddy y los demás.

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12/23/01. Gabriela and Kenneth think the “executives” are rather strange but are impressed by the factory and the designs. When Betty, Gutierrez, Armando arrive, Freddy pushes Kenneth and Gabriela into an office. Eventually the whole story comes out. Betty tells Freddy to show the two out and becomes even angrier when

she discovers he made an appointment for the next day. Betty and Armando don’t know what to do: if they tell the truth, Fashion Group will be furious at being made fun at. Gutierrez has Berta draw up resignations for all of them and he countersigns them. Before leaving, the cuartel returns to her office to talk with Betty.

www.telenovela-world.com: Re: summary of ecomoda in english pleasee!!!!

Author: kent (---) Date: 12-03-02 20:41 PST EcoModa Summaries -- Thank you to Beth for the translations!

Episode 4

We start the episode where we left off last week: Freddy taking Gabriela and Kenneth on a tour of Production and the President's office while Armando, Betty, Nicolás and Gutiérrez arrive at the company and get onto the elevator. Freddy takes his guests to the showroom and asks "Doctora Valdés" [Merci: better known as Mariana] to explain how they handle the launches and fashion shows. The visitors again ask after the designer and Freddy calls Inesita to take them to Hugo's workshop. There we see Wilson dressed à la Hugo in a shiny shirt and glasses. Inesita takes charge and explains everything about the fabrics they use to make the designs. Gabriela praises the designs she saw in production and congratulates Wilson. They explain that the designer doesn't talk much: his designs speak for him. Freddy asks Sofía to tell the guests about the administrative arm of the company but words fail her so Bertha takes over. Later, Sandra talks about how many pieces they can export, how they're shipped, etc.

Gabriela and Kenneth step aside for a moment and discuss entering into a deal with EcoModa. Although they both feel that the setup in the Executive offices, with all the missing secretaries, is a little strange, they feel the product and the actual workshop is excellent and they want to make a deal with EcoModa. At the same time, we see Betty, Armando, Nicolás and Gutiérrez noticing the empty desks and looking everywhere for their employees. The elevator door opens and we see Jenny arrive with Hugo and his little dog. She's saying that he *knew* she was going to be away from work for a while, while he replies that since he's in menopause he'd forgotten. Hugo greets everyone, calling Betty "Doña Beatríz." He asks her if it's ok he'd brought his little dog to work since she'd brought Armando. Plus, Bárbara (the dog) has had all her shots -- can Betty say the same for Armando? At the same time, Gabriela and Kenneth tell Freddy they are going to stay one more day in Colombia so they can further discuss the deal they'd like to make with EcoModa. Just then Hugo arrives and demands to know what's going on, is this some kind of Congress of Incredibly Horrible Women? He notices Wilson is dressed in his clothing and has a fit.

Freddy and the rest leave the workshop and Freddy tells his guests that Hugo is Wilson's boyfriend. Kenneth comments how impressive it is that they have so many female executives at EcoModa. Just then what had to happen, happens: They run smack into Armando, Betty, Nicolás and Gutiérrez. Armando and Betty demand to know where they've all been; Freddy gestures at them to lower their voices and takes Kenneth and Gabriela to Nicolás' office to wait while they agree on a meeting for the following day [Beth: it's not clear from the text but i'm guessing that Freddy then returns to Armando & co in the hall at this point, having left Kenneth and Gabriela in Nicolás' office]. Then Freddy explains that he is the President of EcoModa and when asked who the visitors are, replies they're from Fashion Group. Armando lunges at Freddy as if he's going to kill him and makes a tremendous fuss. Wilson emerges from the showroom putting on his own clothing, and Armando demands to know what this mess is all about. Wilson says he was in the bathroom with Hugo and Armando asks Hugo what is going on... Hugo tells Armando not to get the wrong idea, he hasn't lost his sense of good taste or style. Betty tells everyone to go to the conference room, and Hugo asks Armando what's going on. Armando replies that he's been replaced since Freddy didn't like his designs. Hugo heads for the workshop, shouting to Jenny to do something, and make him one or two valerian teas.

The conference room is like a courtroom as the Cuartel, Freddy and Wilson recount the events of the preceding night, how they used the invitations to get into the Bogotá Fashion show, that they'd had a few whiskeys, had some hors d'ouevres, etc; how Freddy couldn't introduce himself EcoModa's messenger so said he was the President. Betty asks why the rest of them hadn't told the truth, and they said they just couldn't do that to Freddy, so they had to continue with the farce. Armando tells them that Fashion Group is one of the biggest manufacturers in the world and they [the Cuartel & co] have just ruined an extremely important deal for EcoModa.

At this moment Armando's cel phone rings -- it's Calderón, telling him that he's at Gabriela's hotel but she and Kenneth aren't there. Armando explains that that's because they're at EcoModa and that there's been a coup d'etat so the deal can't go through. Mario asks him if he's trying to trick him, and leave him out of the deal, but Armando replies no, they're *all* out of the deal. He tells Mario not to come to EcoModa, he'll call Mario later. Gutiérrez tells the Cuartel & co that they're all fired and they leave the room crying. Armando and Betty tell Freddy to go to Kenneth and Gabriela and tell them to await a call from EcoModa.

All this time, Gabriela and Kenneth are outraged that nobody's telling them anything. She says she wants to leave, but just then Freddy arrives. Freddy makes the mess worse by saying he'd see them tomorrow morning to close the deal. Aura María stays talking to Kenneth, who invites her out to dinner that night. Walking to the elevator, Freddy comes across Nicolás and Gutiérrez and berates them for not working. After the visitors have left, Nicolás and Gutiérrez berate Freddy, asking for his letter of resignation and commenting on their luck in being able to hire new secretaries that will be just what they want. Gutiérrez instructs Bertha to prepare letters of dismissal for herself and the rest of the Cuartel. Aura María tells her friends that "the gringo" invited her to dinner.

In Betty's office, Armando says he can't believe what's happened or see a way to repair the damage done by their employees. EcoModa's lost all credibility with Fashion Group, who will never want to do business with them -- their only opportunity to get EcoModa out of trouble has just gone up in smoke. Armando and Betty sit down. He takes her hands and tells her he understands how she must feel at having to fire all her friends, but what they've done now is but the icing on the cake of all the other things they've done that they've (Armando and Betty) let pass by. He tells her that it hurts him as well because he considers all of them his friends, but this is the last straw. They stand and Armando hugs Betty and kisses her on the forehead. He tells her that in these difficult moments what they have to remember is that the important thing is Camila and the two of them, and they start to look at the photos around the office and notice that their wedding picture is missing from Betty's desk. They ask themselves what could have happened to it since no-one's been in the office and, noticing that all the photos are turned around, realize that Freddy must've been there.

Aura María says she didn't accept Kenneth's dinner invitation. Sofía comments that Kenneth wasn't interested in going out with her because she was an "executive" but because of the 60 kilos beneath her hair. Aura María is offended and exclaims that she weighs 55 kilos and it's very well distributed. Betty comes out of her office calling for Freddy, and tells Aura María to send him to her office the minute she sees him. Freddy emerges from the elevator with a red face and a backpack. Bertha tells him to go see Betty. Gutiérrez appears to tell Bertha to get going with the letters.

In her office, Betty asks Freddy if he had been there. He says yes, since he was while pretending to be President. Armando asks about the wedding photo and Freddy says that he hid it in a secret hiding place they'd never be able to imagine. He invites them to guess where but Armando tells him to find it NOW! Freddy takes it out of the trash can and hands it to Betty, who puts it back on her desk. Armando asks what he ended up telling the people from Fashion Group and Freddy replies that he arranged to meet with them at 10am the next morning. Armando gets upset again, calls Freddy all sorts of names and tells him he's made things even worse. Betty's face shows her complete incredulity -- she simply cannot believe this is happening. Betty and Armando know the deal is lost and tell Freddy to call Gabriela and Kenneth and make an excuse --a sudden trip, whatever-- to cancel the meeting. Freddy continues babbling about how he got the deal and this and that, but Armando, fed up with the whole thing, shouts at him to get lost.

The Cuartel is gathered around Bertha and Sofía's desk, waiting for their letters of dismissal. They all cry and bemoan their fate as they read them, while Bertha writes one last letter --her own. As she does, Gutiérrez emerges, all happy like a kid at Christmas, ready to sign the letters. As he signs each one he says something like "see you later," "bye bye," or "au revoir," etc to each employee, then dismisses them all with a little rhyme: "Colorín colorado, este cuento se ha terminado" [loosely, "And that's all she wrote!"]. Freddy demands that one of the Cuartel place a call to Gabriela and Kenneth at their hotel for him as "President." None of them pays any attention to him and instead leave him talking to air as they head for Betty's office to apologize before they go.

Armando tells Betty they're going to have to call Daniel Valencia to tell him they will have to go ahead with the plans to close down the company since they can't find a company to partner with. Sofía opens the door and asks if they can come in to talk to Betty and Armando.

Cuarto Capítulo (23 de dic. 2001) Este capítulo se debió llamar “la embarrada de Freddy”, porque la verdad es que la embarró hasta donde dice hecho en Colombia. Comenzamos el capítulo de nuevo donde terminamos la semana pasada... Freddy llevando a Gabriela y Kenneth por el área de producción y el área de Presidencia mientras que Armando, Betty, Nicolás y Gutiérrez llegan a la empresa y se montan en el ascensor. Freddy los lleva al show room y le pide a la Dra. Valdés, mejor conocida como Mariana, que les explique como funcionan los lanzamientos y los desfiles. Vuelven a preguntar por el diseñador y Freddy llama a Inesita para que los lleve al taller de Hugo. Allí vemos a Wilson vestido a lo Hugo, con una camisa de brillo y lentes. Inesita toma la voz cantante y explica todo a cerca de los materiales que usan para confeccionar los diseños. Gabriela elogia los diseños que vio en producción y felicita a Wilson. Explican que Wilson no habla mucho, que él habla a través de sus creaciones. Freddy le pide a Sofía que hable a cerca del área administrativa pero se le va la voz, así que Bertha toma la voz cantante. Luego Sandra habla a cerca de cuantas piezas pueden exportar, la forma en que las empacan, etc.

Gabriela y Kenneth se apartan del grupo y se ponen a conversar a cerca de hacer un trato con EcoModa. Aunque coinciden que el plantel ejecutivo de la empresa es algo raro, piensan que el producto y la planta física de la empresa es excelente y quieren hacer negocio con EcoModa. En eso, vemos a Betty, Armando, Nicolás y Gutiérrez como locos buscando a los empleados ya que todos los escritorios están vacíos. Se abre la puerta del ascensor y vemos a Jenny llegar con Hugo y su perrita. Ella le comenta que él sabía que ella iba a estar fuera del trabajo por un tiempo y él le dice que como está con la menopausia no se acordaba. Hugo saluda a todos y le dice “Doña Beatriz” a Betty. Entonces le pregunta si está bien que traiga a su perrita al trabajo ya que Betty trae a Armando — además Bárbara está vacunada contra todo y le pregunta a Betty si puede decir lo mismo de Armando. Gabriela y Kenneth le dicen a Freddy que se van a quedar un día más en Colombia para poder hablar más a cerca del negocio que van a tener con EcoModa. En eso llega Hugo y pregunta que está pasando, si es que hay un congreso de las chicas súper horrorosas. Se percata de que Wilson está vestido con su ropa y le da un ataque.

Freddy y las demás salen del taller y Freddy les dice a los visitantes que Hugo es el novio de Wilson. Kenneth hace el comentario de lo impresionante que es que haya tantas mujeres ejecutivas en EcoModa. En eso ocurre lo que tenía que ocurrir: se encuentran con Armando, Betty, Nicolás y Gutiérrez. Armando y Betty les reclaman dónde estaban y Freddy hace un gesto de que bajen la voz y lleva a Kenneth y Gabriela a la oficina de Nicolás para que lo esperen en lo que acuerdan la cita de mañana. Entonces Freddy explica que él es el Presidente de EcoModa y cuando les preguntan quiénes son los visitantes, Aura María dice que son del Fashion Group. Armando se le lanza encima a Freddy como que lo va a matar y se arma tremendo sal pá fuera... Wilson sale del show room poniéndose la ropa y Armando le pregunta que son esas fachas. Wilson le dice que estaba en el baño con Hugo y Armando le pregunta a Hugo que es eso... Hugo le dice que no piense mal, que él no ha perdido su sentido del gusto y el estilo. Betty les dice a todos que vayan a la sala de juntas y Hugo le pregunta a Armando que está pasando. Armando le dice que lo sustituyeron ya que a Freddy no le gustaban sus diseños. Hugo sale para el taller y le grita a Jenny que haga algo y le prepare una o dos valerianas. En la sala de juntas, el Cuartel, Freddy y Wilson están como en un juicio contando lo que ocurrió la noche anterior: como usaron las invitaciones para entrar al Bogotá Fashion, que se dieron unos whiskeys, comieron unos pasa bocas, como Freddy no pudo presentarse como el mensajero de EcoModa y dijo que era el Presidente. Betty pregunta porque no lo desmintieron y dicen que no pudieron y que decidieron seguir la farsa. Armando les dice que el Fashion Group es una de las empresas de confección más grandes del mundo y que les han arruinado un negocio muy importante para EcoModa.

En eso suena el celular de Armando y es Calderón para decirle que está en el hotel de Gabriela y no los encontró. Armando le explica que están en EcoModa y que ha habido un golpe de estado y el negocio no va a darse. Mario le pregunta si lo está tratando de engañar y no incluirlo en el negocio, pero Armando le dice que no, que todos están fuera del negocio y le dice que no vaya a EcoModa, que él lo llamará luego. Gutiérrez les dice a todos que están despedidos y salen llorando. Armando y Betty le dicen a Freddy que vaya a donde Gabriela y Kenneth y les diga que esperen una llamada de EcoModa. Durante todo esto Gabriela y Kenneth se están enojando ya que nadie les avisa nada. Ella no quiere seguir allí y en eso llega Freddy. Freddy la embarra aún más diciendo que entonces se verán al otro día en la mañana para terminar el negocio. Aura María se queda hablando con Kenneth, que la invita a salir a cenar esa noche. Camino al elevador, Freddy se encuentra con Nicolás y Gutiérrez y los regaña por no estar haciendo nada. Cuando se van los visitantes, Gutiérrez y Nicolás regañan a Freddy, le piden su carta de renuncia y comentan de la suerte de poder contratar nuevas secretarias hechas a sus especificaciones. Gutiérrez le dice a Bertha que tiene que preparar todas las cartas de despido de los empleados. Aura María le dice a sus amigas que “el gringo” la invitó a cenar.

En la oficina de Betty, Armando no puede creer lo que ha pasado y no ve manera de arreglar el daño que hicieron los empleados. Han perdido la credibilidad con el Fashion Group y nunca querrán hacer negocios con ellos — la única oportunidad que tenían de sacar a EcoModa del problema que tiene se esfumó. Armando y Betty se sientan y él le toma las manos y le dice que entiende como se debe sentir al tener que despedir a sus amigas, pero que esto que han hecho es “el moño del regalo” de muchas otras cosas que han dejado que pasen. Le dice que a él también le duele porque los considera a todos sus amigos, pero que esto es lo último. Se paran y Armando abraza a Betty y la besa en la frente. Le dice que en estos momentos difíciles es que tienen que recordar que lo que importa es Camila y ellos dos, y se ponen a mirar las fotos de la oficina y se dan cuenta que no está una del matrimonio que estaba antes sobre el escritorio de Betty. Se preguntan que habrá pasado ya que nadie más entra a la oficina a tocar nada... Y sacan la cuenta que Freddy estuvo allí ya que también vieron como las demás fotos están viradas al revés. Aura María dice que no aceptó la invitación de Kenneth. Sofía hace un comentario de que a Kenneth no le importa salir con ella por su posición como “ejecutiva” sino por los 60 kilos debajo del pelo de Aura María. Aura María se ofende y dice que ella pesa 55 kilos muy bien distribuidos. Betty sale llamando a Freddy y le dice a Aura María que lo mande a Presidencia tan pronto lo vea. Freddy sale del ascensor con una visera roja y una mochila. Bertha le dice que vaya a ver a Betty. Gutiérrez sale a decirle a Bertha que haga las cartas.

En Presidencia, Betty le pregunta a Freddy si estuvo en la oficina. Él le contesta que sí ya que lo hizo cuando era Presidente. Armando le pregunta por la foto y Freddy le dice que la escondió en un sitio secreto dónde jamás imaginarían. Les pide que se viren para buscarla pero Armando le dice que la busque ¡YA! Freddy la saca del zafacón de basura y se la entrega a Betty, que la pone de nuevo sobre su escritorio. Armando le pregunta que terminó diciéndole a la gente del Fashion Group y Freddy le contesta que los citó para la próxima mañana a las 10 a.m. Armando se vuelve a poner violento y le dice a Freddy que es un cara planchada y una bestia, que ha dañado la cosa aún más. La cara de Betty es de total incredulidad, no puede creer que esto esté pasando. Betty y Armando saben que el negocio está perdido y le dicen a Freddy que llame a Gabriela y Kenneth y se invente algo — que se va de viaje, cualquier cosa — para cancelar la cita. Freddy sigue baboseando a cerca de cómo él consiguió el negocio y que tal y que cuál, pero Armando se hartó y le grita ¡Largo, Fuera!

Todos están reunidos frente a los escritorios de Bertha y Sofía para recibir sus cartas de despido. Entre lágrimas y lamentos las leen, y Bertha escribe una última — la suya. En eso sale Gutiérrez, que está como un niñito en Navidad, a firmar todas las cartas. A cada uno de los empleados les dice algo como “see you later”, “bye, bye”, “au revoir”, nos vemos, mientras les firma las cartas. Y se despide con “colorín colorado, este cuento se ha terminado”. Freddy exige que una del Cuartel llame al hotel de Gabriela y Kenneth y le pase la llamada. Ninguna le para bolas y se van rumbo a la oficina de Betty a pedir perdón antes de irse y lo dejan con la palabra en la boca. Armando le dice a Betty que van a tener que llamar a Daniel Valencia para decirle que tendrán que seguir con los planes de despido ya que no tienen un socio con quién negociar. Sofía abre la puerta y les pide permiso para entrar y hablar con ellos. Avances para el 30 de diciembre: vemos al Cuartel hablando con Betty y proponiendo una forma de arreglar la embarrada — la solución será Aura María y su cena con Kenneth.

============================

12/30/01. The cuartel apologizes to Betty, say they want to help. Sandra suggests that Aura Maria is the solution and Betty agrees to forgive them and re-hire them if they can find a solution. Freddy is upset when he learns that the solution is for Aura Maria to go out with Kenneth. He reminds her that they are engaged; she reminds him that they aren’t, etc. She goes out with Kenneth, has a drink, blurts out the truth, says they were all fired (he says he would have put them in jail), swears that what they told him about the company (the finances, production, etc.) was all true. He gets up to take her home, on the way out says that what hurts him the most is that she accepted the invitation solely to tell him this, not just to be with him, asks her if she would have come out with him otherwise. She says it wouldn’t have been possible: she is just a simple secretary. He says that doesn’t matter and they go back to the table. Freddy and the cuartel and Betty and Armando wait for her to call. Kenneth agrees to keep the appointment the next day if he can convince Gabriela. Freddy waits for Aura Maria when she arrives home. Gabriela hears Kenneth unlocking his hotel door, questions him and learns that none of the executives were executives and that the “president” was a messenger.

www.telenovela-world.com: Re: summary of ecomoda in english pleasee!!!!

Author: kent (---) Date: 12-03-02 20:41 PST EcoModa Summaries -- Thank you to Beth for the translations!

Episode 5

Sofía asks to speak with Betty before she leaves. Betty asks Armando to leave her alone with the Cuartel and he leaves [Merci: poor guy, they've got him so well-trained... Beth: note, the word used means "well-trained" in the sense of a performing animal or such]. The Cuartel, their tails between their legs, tells Betty they aren't coming to ask for her help but rather to beg her pardon for what they did, and to say they want to continue being her friends. Betty tells them they not only cheated the President of EcoModa, they cheated a friend. They reply that they know they did wrong. Betty says they should've trusted her, that if they'd told her what happened, maybe she could've fixed it. Inestia tells her that maybe they can try to save the deal. Betty replies that as she (Inesita) is the most sensible of the group, she has to know there is no way to fix things with Fashion Group now, they'll never take EcoModa seriously as a company. Sandra asks if they *can* fix things, would Betty forgive them? Betty stands, looks thoughtful, and replies that if they can manage it so that EcoModa comes to an agreement with Fashion Group, she would not only forgive them but reconsider their dismissals. Sandra tells her that Aura María has the solution to the problem in her hands. Aura María is astonished when they say that Kenneth's invitation to dinner would be that solution...

Outside we see Freddy, complaining as always, and Wilson telling him *he,* Wilson, will place the call to Fashion Group for Freddy. Freddy replies that he has to maintain the image of a man with beautiful secretaries... The Cuartel emerges from Betty's office and comments how it's all Freddy's fault that now Aura María has to go out to dinner with Kenneth to try to fix the problem. Freddy gets all jealous, asking if this is a business meeting or something else and starts in on his tired old story: That the gringo is crazy about Aura María. Just then the phone rings and Wilson answers -- he tells them all it's some guy "Kenny Rogers" or something and he's calling for Aura María. Obviously it's Kenneth Johnson and she happily takes the call. Freddy tells her to pass it to him afterwards so he can talk to Kenneth. Aura María arranges for Kenneth to pick her up at 8pm at EcoModa to go out to dinner and says 'goodbye' in the patented manner of our darling Blondie-Barbie [Patricia]: '''kay, 'kay" and adds a warm "bye-bye." Freddy asks why she didn't give him the phone so he could speak with Kenneth and what does she mean by the "'kay, 'kay" and the "bye-bye." She explains that she was invited to dinner because they have to talk. Freddy wants to know why they can't talk at EcoModa, in his presence, or better yet, all three of them go out together. Aura María tells him she's going alone, that it's a business meeting. Sandra explains to him that the only chance of their getting their jobs back --jobs which they lost mostly due to his idiocies-- depends on this dinner. Freddy says in that case he'll just have to loan them the use of his girlfriend, so they can all keep their jobs. But he himself would prefer to lose his job rather than his darling queen. Mariana tells him not to worry, that if Kenneth, who she describes as a "bizcocho" [word means 'sponge cake or finger' -- i'm not familiar with the slang but would guess here it means 'tasty bit'], had asked her out instead, she'd've gone in a heartbeat. Adding insult to injury, Bertha adds that since Aura María was the one Kenneth was eyeing, they had no choice. Sandra then reminds Freddy that *he* was the blabbermouth who'd claimed to be President of EcoModa, and the even bigger blabbermouth who had introduced them all as executives, and the biggest blabbermouth of all who had invited Kenneth and Gabriela to EcoModa. Freddy is all downcast and sits down next to Wilson, who very tenderly puts his hand on Freddy's shoulder, which hand Freddy immediately removes [Merci reminds us of Wilson and Gutiérrez at Betty and Armando's wedding...]. Freddy then asks if it would be possible to speak to his Pookie-Wookie without the presence of his co-worker "sisters-in-law." The couple goes to the conference room where Freddy keeps up his usual lament, but not before opening the door to find the rest of the Cuartel and Wilson with their ears glued to it. They excuse themselves by saying that Armando and Betty had been there. Freddy wants to reassure himself that Aura María isn't going to do anything with Kenneth, that he, Freddy, is her fiancé. She asks him what fiancé, since they haven't set a date for the wedding, nor has he given her an engagement ring... He says that the ring is in his nightstand along with the invoice for the musicians and as soon as the little job thing is worked out, they can set a date for the wedding. Aura María tells him that she doesn't have a fiancé, that he's the same trickster he's always been. But she does say she has a boyfriend...

Armando: Yes, Calderón. I know you came to Colombia only to take care of the deal with Fashion Group... but what can I do? Well, I --OK, yes... [Betty enters] I've already fired those people, the EcoModa employees -- I fired them. But I'm going to give them a new opportunity. That'll have to wait until tomorrow. Yes, look -- I'd pay for those tickets with pleasure [?? this might be some sort of catchphrase with which i am not familiar -- the word used for tickets is in the sense generally used for airfares or train tickets. i'm not sure, he may be telling Mario he'd have no trouble picking up the tab for his and Fashion Group's airfares for coming to Colombia, or he might instead be saying he wasn't too upset at having to fire the Cuartel & co -- 'i'd pay to see that...' ?]. Armando turns and notices that Betty is standing there.

Betty: Who are you talking to?

Armando: Calderón.

Betty: Ah. I'll leave you then...

Armando: No, don't go, my love. We're not talking about anything confidential [Merci: hmmmmm, how's this Armandito -- "nothing confidential"??] Calderón, look -- let's speak tomorrow, ok? Ok, ok, bye.

Betty: And what did he want?

Armando: Nothing. The guy's just really worried the deal with Fashion Group won't go through and he feels like he's wasted a trip.

Betty: Ay, poor baby... I feel soooo sorry for him. But, you were saying something about an airfare, right?

Armando: Ummmm...

Betty: Do you know -- I agree, my love? What's more, let's give him a first-class one-way fare [to leave Colombia] out of my salary [Armando smiles]. And send him to... Uganda would be perfect for him. Or how about Tanzania or Kenya...? No! I know! To Rwanda. Rwanda is the place for Mario Calderón! [Merci: this recalls the conversation Mario had with Armando in which he suggested they send Betty somewhere far far away so she couldn't ruin Armando's wedding to Marcela...]

Armando: Kigali... is it Kigali?

Betty: Yes, it's the capital. What's more, it would be a good deal for him. Rwanda is the most populous country in Africa. He would get along wonderfully with the Hutus and the Tutsis. They share the same customs....

Armando: Tutsis, Tutsis... Yes, my love, I think you're being a little harsh with Calderón. He has fought for this deal more than anyone. Now all we can do is pray that things go well for Aura María with the gringo tonight and we can do a deal with these people after all.

Betty: Oh, yes, let's pray that things go well for EcoModa and badly for Beatríz Pinzón Solano.

Armando: Doctora...

Betty: Ay, no -- really, my love. The only good thing that could happen is that this deal didn't have to do with Mario Calderón.

Armando: C'mon, c'mon... [he approaches her, takes her face in his hands and kisses her face]. Look my love, if things go badly for EcoModa, they go badly for us. And then we'll have to go out and look for work on 0the street just like everyone else. Like the Cuartel's going to have to do. Or, of course, Doctora Monsterette, we could go and look into opening a store in Rwanda, for 0example.

Betty: Monsrete...! [she gives him a kiss on the cheek as she laughs]

In Hugo's workshop, the Cuartel is dressing and preparing Aura María for her date with Kenneth. Mariana sprays her with a perfume called "Black Magic" that supposedly drives men crazy but Sofía says if it really were that good, Mariana would have boyfriends all over the place. Mariana retorts that if Sofía had used it, the Pushy One [better known as Jenny] would not have stolen her husband. Just then Jenny arrives and wants to know what that smell is. When they tell her, she states that she used that perfume until she met her "Guñi Guñi" [a/k/a Efraín, Sofía's ex-husband] and now she0 doesn't need it any more. Hugo and his little dog Bárbara arrive. He makes his usual comments about ugliness and remarks on the mess the Cuartel and co made by having passed themselves off as executives.... Wilson arrives to tell Aura María that the "Mister" is waiting for 0her at the entrance to0 EcoModa. Hugo asks that he [Wilson] not enter the workshop. Jenny tells Sofía that it would be really bad if she (Sofía) were to lose her job, because Efraín doesn't have steady work and she (Jenny) can't maintain the kiddies. The Cuartel0 holds Sofía back so she 0doesn't kill Jenny. Hugo tells Inesita that he won't permit them to let her go, but if they do he will look for a dirty old0 man for her, a young guy for himself and a boy dog for Bárbara...

Leaving the workshop they run into Freddy, who continues to complain. He whines that Aura María got all dressed up like that for the Gringo and they tell him that when he is earning a paycheck in dollars and has an executive's job like Kenneth, she'll do it for him, too. Freddy asks her not to drink, and, after noting that she's wearing a backless dress, tells her not to let Kenneth0 see that. Freddy begs 0the "Pentagon's" pardon (i.e., the Cuartel) but he'd like a good-bye hug from Aura María, he tells her that he trusts her and not 0to either look or smile at Kenneth the way she does at him. And, he adds, if Kenneth should proposition her, tell him no! Aura María repeats "NOW" to him, and he clarifies "NO!" Aura María tells Freddy she knows how to defend herself in any language and when a man is propositioning her.

When Aura María leaves EcoModa and Kenneth sees her he says, "Oh, my God!." He's0 hit bad... She calls him "Don Kenneth" and he asks her to call him "Kenneth." He asks her if she wants to go anywhere special to eat and --surprise!-- she says yes, that she often goes to Le Noir (which name she mispronounces). They get into Kenneth's car and leave. Freddy comes out to see what's going on, but arrives too late.

The Cuartel and Wilson are on the second floor and are going to wait until Aura María calls to tell them how things went at dinner. Betty and Armando come out holding hands, headed for home and ask them all why they haven't left. Just then the elevator doors open and there is Freddy all downcast. Armando asks him what's wrong with him [Merci: Armando got over his rage pretty quickly -- he's no longer the same as before...] and Freddy tells him that its because of Aura María. So, instead of leaving, Armando proposes they all go to the conference room to wait for Aura María's call.

At Le Noir, Kenneth asks Aura María how long she's been a Vice President at EcoModa and she tells him four years. She had told him she studied business administration. The waiter arrives with the drinks and Aura María gets mixed up and tells Kenneth she studied 0economics. She also drinks her drink very quickly. When he comments she'd said she studied0 business administration, she replies that the economics was afterward. So Kenneth asks if she has a PhD in economics. She doesn't know what he's talking about and asks him how much time she has to answer the question since she hadn't prepared for it. He's intrigued to be told that she's off-guard. And that is when the truth comes out that she's not who he thinks she is, or the rest of the Cuartel either, and especially not Freddy or Wilson. The waiter returns and Kenneth asks for a double whiskey, no ice, very large [Merci: could it be he learned of the powers of whiskey in the same school0 as Armando...?]. Aura María asks for one as well...

Back at EcoModa, we see everyone in the conference room -- Betty and Armando like a pair of lovebirds and Freddy in the same old same old. Freddy worries that Kenneth is The Competition... that he should've gone with Aura María -- not out of jealousy but for her security. Armando and the rest tell him to calm down. Freddy worries that Kenneth is another Freddy -- a Freddy Krueger...

Once again at Le Noir, Aura María continues telling her tale to 0Kenneth, about how the real bosses0 didn't know anything about the story Freddy and the rest of them had told Kenneth, how they (Freddy & co) hadn't known how important Gabriela and Kenneth were for EcoModa. The waiter asks0 if they are want to order, and Aura María says she couldn't eat anything. Kenneth asks for the bill. Aura María apologizes again, says 0they didn't have bad intentions, there was no meeting the next day and that they're all very sorry about0 damaging the deal with the real executives. She tells him that it was all a disaster and because of it they've all been fired. 0Kenneth tells her that he would've put them in jail. When the bill arrives, Aura María wants to pay and nearly dies when she sees the total. Kenneth insists that he invited her so he should pay. They get up and she repeats that she's very sorry. Kenneth tells her it bothers him that she only went out with him to fix this problem. Then he asks her if she would go out with him again, and she, cheeky thing [Merci: although, thinking about it again, Mr Johnson doesn't seem like such a bad catch -- definitely better than Freddy], tells him, "Yes, I think so." Kenneth takes Aura María home.

Freddy continues on tenterhooks, asking why Aura María hasn't called. Armando tells him they can call Kenneth's hotel. Freddy freaks out asking if they think Kenneth took Aura María to the hotel. Armando clarifies that they can talk to Gabriela, ask for Kenneth, and even ask for Kenneth's cel number so they can call him. Freddy then wants Mariana to read the cards [Tarot] and tell him what's going to happen. She tells him that he is even more insupportable than ever. Freddy says he has to go to the bathroom because he has "sustitis" ("fright-itis"). Then Wilson 0enters to ask where Freddy was going and they tell him to the bathroom. So he says he doesn't know about that since there isn't a bathroom in the elevator and that's where Freddy was going.

Aura María and Kenneth arrive at her house. He asks if she lives alone and she says no, she lives with two women friends from work, or more precisely, ex-work friends (Sandra and Mariana) and her son. Kenneth asks if the information [about the company] that he and Gabriela were given during their tour of EcoModa was a lie as well, and she tells him no, that it was all true. So Kenneth tells her that as far as he's concerned, the whole matter of the lie was forgotten and the plan for a business meeting the next day is still on. But... he does have to discuss this with Gabriela. Aura María asks if he can do so that very night and let her know. He replies yes. Freddy arrives in his mega-cycle and sees Aura María say good-bye to0 Kenneth with a kiss on the cheek. Kenneth is happy as a clam... Freddy says "Bravo! Bravo!" to Aura María. She asks if he knows whether Mariana and Sandra have arrived. He tells her he's been waiting for her call with the Cuartel, Betty and "Don Armando de Pinzón," only of course she forgot to call. She says she didn't forget. Freddy notices she's been drinking and asks here where she was. She replies that Don Kenneth forgave them all. Freddy asks her 'in exchange for what?' and she says, all offended, 'for nothing.' She adds that now they have to wait on what Gabriela says. Freddy is upset that Kenneth knows Aura María's home phone number. Aura María asks Freddy if he expected her to give Kenneth the phone number of her "old cycle" and he tells her that that's the only thing that's been faithful to him.

At the hotel, we see Gabriela in bed [Merci: in case people didn't notice when they showed it last week, this is the same hotel that Armando and Betty went to the first time they were together...] and hears Kenneth arriving since he has the room right across the hall from hers. She gets out of bed and opens the door to ask how things went with the Vice President and he tells her it wasn't with the Vice President. So she asks him if it was with the Commercial Vice President, since there were so many it was hard to know who was which. He replies that Aura María is the secretary to the President and Freddy is the messenger. Gabriela cannot believe her ears...

Después de este episodio, creo que necesitamos un descansito del Cuartel, Freddy y Wilson... Y tal vez ver a Camila, que desde el primer capítulo nada de nada. A lo mejor el domingo que viene nos toque porque ¡POR FIN! regresa el muy desgraciado (pero que se ve aún más apuesto que nunca) Dr. Mario Calderón a EcoModa a amargarle la vida a Betty. Ah, y el Dr. Mendoza se quita el sweater y se volverá a vestir en uno de esos trajes que tan bien le quedan -- ¡ya era hora!

Sofía le pide a Betty hablar con ella antes de irse. Betty le pide a Armando que la deje sola con las del Cuartel y él se va -- pobrecito, lo tienen totalmente amaestrado. Las del Cuartel, con la colita entre las piernas, le dicen a Betty que no vienen a pedirle que las ayude, sino a pedirle perdón por lo que hicieron y que quieren seguir siendo amigas con ella. Betty les contesta que no tan solo defraudaron a la Presidente de EcoModa sino que a una amiga. Ellas le dicen que saben que se equivocaron. Betty les dice que debieron confiar en ella, que si le llegan a contar lo que había pasado, tal vez las cosas se hubieran podido resolver. Inés le dice que tal vez puedan tratar de arreglar el negocio. Betty le contesta que Inesita es la más sensata de todas y debe saber que no hay forma de darle la cara a los del Fashion Group, que nunca van a ver a EcoModa como gente seria. Sandra dice que si pueden ellas arreglar el problema, ¿Betty las perdonaría? Betty se levanta, se vira pensativa y les contesta que si ellas pueden lograr que EcoModa llegue a un acuerdo con el Fashion Group, no tan solo las perdona sino que consideraría lo del despido de todos... Sandra le contesta que Aura María tiene la solución en sus manos. Aura María se asombra cuando dicen que lo de la cena con Kenneth sería la solución... Afuera vemos a Freddy quejándose como siempre, y a Wilson diciéndole que él se encarga de llamar a los del Fashion Group y pasarle la llamada. Freddy le dice que él tiene que tener la imagen de un ejecutivo con secretarias bellas... El Cuartel sale de la oficina de Betty y comentan que como todo fue culpa de Freddy, pues Aura María tiene que ir a la cena para tratar de resolver el problema. Freddy se pone todo celoso, preguntando si es una cita de negocios u otra cosa. Su misma cantaleta de siempre. Que si el gringo está loco por Aura María. En eso suena el teléfono y Wilson lo contesta y dice que un tal Kenny Rogers o algo así está llamando a Aura María. Obvio que es Kenneth Johnson y ella muy contenta contesta la llamada. Freddy le dice que se lo pase después que hable con él.

Aura María se pone de acuerdo con Kenneth para que la recoja a las 8 p.m. en EcoModa para salir a cenar y se despide con el ya conocido 'key, 'key de nuestra querida Peliteñida y le añade un cariñoso bye bye... Freddy le pregunta por qué no le pasó la llamada de Kenneth, qué quiere decir el 'key, 'key, y además el bye bye. Ella le explica que la invitaron a cenar ya que tienen que hablar. Freddy quiere saber por qué no pueden hablar en EcoModa, en su presencia o mejor salir los tres. Aura María le dice que va sola, que es una cita de negocios. Sandra le explica que de esta cena depende que todos vuelvan a tener trabajo, el cual perdieron en gran parte por las idioteces de Freddy. Freddy dice que entonces tendrá que prestar a su novia para que las demás tengan trabajo. Pero que él preferiría perder el puesto que perder a su reinita. Mariana le dice que no se preocupe, que si Kenneth, al que describe como un bizcocho, la llega a invitar a ella, con gusto hubiera ido. Para dañar aún más la cosa, Bertha añade que a la que Kenneth le echó el ojo fue a Aura María, así que no hay remedio. Sandra entonces le recuerda a Freddy que él fue el bocón que dijo que era Presidente de EcoModa, el doble bocón que las presentó a ellas como ejecutivas y el triple bocón que los invitó a Kenneth y Gabriela a EcoModa. Freddy está todo triste y se sienta al lado de Wilson, que muy cariñoso le pone la mano por el hombro, la cual Freddy le remueve inmediatamente (¿recuerdan Wilson y Gutiérrez en el matrimonio de Betty y Armando?)... Entonces Freddy pregunta si es posible hablar con su grillita Cri Cri sin la presencia de sus cuñadas laborales... Van a la sala de juntas y Freddy sigue con lo mismo. Pero no sin antes abrir la puerta y encontrarse al Cuartel y Wilson escuchando la conversación con la excusa de que Armando y Betty estaban por ahí. Freddy quiere asegurarse que Aura María no va a hacer nada, que él es su prometido. Ella le pregunta cuál prometido, ya que no le puso fecha de matrimonio, no le dio la argolla de compromiso... Él le dice que la argolla está en su mesita de noche al lado de la factura de los músicos y que tan pronto se resuelva el problema del trabajo, pueden poner fecha de boda. Aura María le dice que ella no tiene prometido, que él es el mismo resbaladizo de siempre. Pero sí le dice que tiene novio... Armando: Sí, Calderón. Yo sé que usted vino a Colombia simplemente para cumplir el compromiso con el Fashion Group. ¿Pero yo qué puedo hacer? Pues, yo, ya, sí, (Betty entra) yo ya eché a la gente, a los empleados de EcoModa, los eché. Pero, les voy a dar una nueva oportunidad. Eso toca esperar hasta mañana. Sí, vea, yo de mil amores le daba la plata de los pasajes... (se vira y nota que Betty está ahí). Betty: ¿Con quién hablas? Armando: Con Calderón... Betty: Ah, yo te dejo... Armando: No, no te vayas mi amor. Yo no estoy hablando nada confidencial con él (hmmm, ¿cómo que "nada confidencial" Armandito?). Calderón, vea, porque más bien no hablamos mañana por la mañana. Okay, okay, chao. Betty: ¿Y qué quería? Armando: Nada, el tipo está preocupadísimo porque no sale el negocio con la gente del Fashion Group y siente que perdió el viaje. Betty: Ay, pobrecito... No sabes cuanto lo siento. Pero, ¿le estabas diciendo algo de un pasaje, cierto? Armando: Aha... Betty: ¿Sabes que estoy de acuerdo, mi amor? Es más, démosle un pasaje de ida en primera clase de mi sueldo (Armando se sonríe...). Y mandémoslo a... Uganda, sería perfecto para él. ¿O qué tal Tanzania o Kenya? No, ya sé: a Rwanda. Rwanda es el país para Mario Calderón. Es más, le podemos decir que abra un punto de venta allá. En Kigali. (Trae recuerdos de la conversación que Betty escuchó cuando Mario le sugirió a Armando que mandara a Betty a la conchinchina para que no estorbara el matrimonio con Marcela...) Armando: Kigali, ¿qué es Kigali? Betty: Sí, es la capital. Además sería un negocio divino para él. Rwanda es el país más poblado de África. Se llevaría divinamente con los Hutus y los Tutsis. Tienen las mismas costumbres... Armando: Tutsis, Tutsis... Sí, mi amor, me parece que estás siendo un poco injusta con Calderón. Él más que nadie ha luchado este negocio. Así que ahora lo único que nos queda es rogar porque a Aura María le vaya bien esta noche con el Gringo y podamos sacar ese negocio con esa gente. Betty: Ay, sí, roguemos porque a EcoModa le vaya bien y le vaya muy mal a Beatriz Pinzón Solano. Armando: Doctora... Betty: Ay, no, de verdad mi amor. Lo único bueno que tendría que no se hiciera ese negocio es que no tendría que ver a Mario Calderón. Armando: Ven, ven (se le acerca, le toma la cara en las manos y le besa la frente...). Mira mi amor, si a EcoModa le va mal, a nosotros nos va mal. Y entonces nos va a tocar salir como todos los demás a buscar trabajo en la calle. Como le va a tocar al Cuartel. O, claro, Dra. Monstris, podemos salir y buscar como poner un punto de venta en Rwanda, por ejemplo. Betty: Monstris... (y se ríe mientras que él le da un beso en la mejilla).

En el taller de Hugo, el Cuartel está vistiendo y arreglando a Aura María para su cita con Kenneth. Mariana le echa un perfume llamado "Embrujo Negro" que supuestamente vuelve loco a todos los hombres. Sofía le dice que si fuera tan bueno, Mariana tendría novios por todas partes. Mariana le contesta que si ella lo hubiera usado la Impulsadora (mejor conocida como Jenny) no le hubiera quitado al marido. En eso llega Jenny y pregunta qué es ese olor y cuando le dicen, ella contesta que ella usó ese perfume hasta que conoció a su Guñi Guñi y ya no lo necesita más. Huguito y su perrita Bárbara llegan, él hace sus comentarios a cerca de la fealdad, comenta a cerca del embarre de hacerse pasar por ejecutivas... Wilson llega a dejarle saber a Aura María que el "mister" la está esperando en la puerta de EcoModa. Hugo le pide que no entre al taller. Jenny le comenta a Sofía que sería muy malo que ella perdiera el trabajo por que Efraín no tiene trabajo estable y ella no le puede mantener a los hijitos. Las del Cuartel retienen a Sofía para que no mate a Jenny. Huguito le dice a Inesita que si a ella la despiden él no lo permitiría, pero que si es así, le busca un viejo verde a ella, uno joven para él y un perro para Bárbara... Saliendo del taller se encuentran con Freddy, que sigue quejándose. Le dice a Aura María que si se vistió así para el Gringo y le contestan que cuando él gane en dólares y tenga un puesto de ejecutivo como Kenneth, lo hará para él también. Freddy le pide que no beba y además cuando nota que el vestido lleva la espalda descubierta, le dice que no se la enseñe a Kenneth. Freddy dice que le da pena con el Pentágono (las del Cuartel), pero le pide un abrazo de despedida, le dice que confía en ella y que no mire o le sonría a Kenneth como lo hace con él. Además le dice que si le propone algo, que le diga que NO. Aura María le repite NOW, y Freddy le dice que NO. Aura María le dice que en cualquier idioma ella sabe como defenderse y entender cuando un hombre le está proponiendo algo. Cuando Aura María sale de EcoModa, Kenneth la ve y dice "oh, my God!". Tremendo flechazo. Ella le dice Don Kenneth y el le pide que le diga Kenneth. Le pregunta si quiere ir a comer a algún sitio en especial, y ¡sorpresa! le dice que sí, que ella va mucho a Le Noir (el cual ella pronuncia mal...). Se montan en el carro de Kenneth y se van. Freddy sale a ver que pasó, pero llegó muy tarde. El Cuartel y Wilson están en el segundo piso y van a esperar hasta que Aura María los llame con el reporte de como le fue en la cena. Betty y Armando salen tomados de la mano camino a casa y les preguntan porque no se han ido. En eso se abre el ascensor y se encuentran con Freddy todo compungido. Armando le pregunta que le pasa (como que el enojo se le pasó muy rápido, ya no es el mismo de antes...) y Freddy le dice que es por lo de Aura María. Entonces en vez de irse, Armando propone que todos vayan a la sala de juntas a esperar la llamada de Aura María.

En Le Noir, Kenneth le pregunta a Aura María cuanto tiempo lleva de Vice Presidente en EcoModa y ella le contesta que cuatro años. Entonces le dice que estudió administración de empresas. En eso llega el mesero con los tragos, y Aura María se equivoca y le dice a Kenneth que estudió economía. Además de tomarse el trago bastante rapidito. Cuando él le dice que le había dicho lo de administración de empresas, ella le dice que lo de economía fue después. Y Kenneth entonces le pregunta si tiene un Ph.D. en economía. Ella no sabe lo que le está preguntando y le pregunta cuánto tiempo tiene para contestarle la pregunta ya que no se había preparado para ella. Él está todo intrigado cuando ella le contesta que está asustada. Y ahí es que sale toda la verdad de que ella no es quién el cree, las del Cuartel tampoco, menísimo Freddy o Wilson. El mesero vuelve y Kenneth pide un whiskey doble, sin hielo, bien grande (¿será que aprendió en el mismo sitio que Armando a cerca de los poderes del whiskey?). Aura María pide uno también...

De vuelta a EcoModa, vemos a todos en la sala de juntas, Betty y Armando como dos tortolitos y Freddy en las de siempre. Freddy está asustado de que Kenneth es competencia... Que él debió acompañarla, no por celos sino por seguridad. Armando y las demás le dicen que se calme. Él está preocupado de que Kenneth sea otro Freddy, pero Freddy Krueger... De vuelta a Le Noir, Aura María le sigue el cuento a Kenneth, de como los jefes no sabían nada del invento de Freddy y ellas, que ellos no sabían cuán importantes Gabriela y Kenneth eran para EcoModa. El mesero les pregunta si quieren ordenar y Aura María dice que no puede comer. Kenneth pide la cuenta. Aura María le pide disculpas de nuevo, que no lo hicieron con mala intención y que al otro día no habrá ninguna reunión y que están todos muy apenados por dañarle el negocio a los ejecutivos de verdad. Le dice que todo fue un desastre y que por eso los despidieron a todos. Kenneth le contesta que él los hubiera metido en la cárcel. Cuando llega la cuenta, Aura María quiere pagar y por poco se muere cuando ve lo que es. Kenneth insiste que él la invitó y que él paga. Se levantan y ella le repite que lo siente mucho. Kenneth le dice que le molesta pensar que ella no quiso salir con él si no hubiera sido por arreglar el problema. Entonces le pregunta si saldría con él de nuevo y ella, la muy fresca (aunque pensándolo bien, el Mr. Johnson no parece muy mal partido -- definitivamente mejor que Freddy) y le dice "yo creo que sí". Kenneth va a llevar a Aura María a su casa. Freddy sigue todo nervioso, preguntando por que Aura María no ha llamado. Armando le dice que pueden llamar al hotel de Kenneth. Freddy se alarma diciendo si piensan que Kenneth se llevó a Aura María al hotel. Armando le aclara que podrían hablar con Gabriela, preguntarle por Kenneth y hasta pedirle el celular de Kenneth para hablar con él. Freddy entonces quiere que Mariana le lea las cartas y le diga que va a pasar. Ella le contesta que está más insoportable que nunca (¡Amén!). Freddy dice que tiene que ir al baño porque tiene "sustitis". Entonces Wilson entra a preguntar para dónde iba Freddy y le dicen que al baño. Entonces él dice que a no ser que en el ascensor hayan puesto un baño, ahí fue para dónde Freddy se fue. Aura María y Kenneth llegan a su casa. Él le pregunta si vive sola y ella le contesta que no, que vive con dos compañeras, mejor dicho dos ex-compañeras de trabajo (Sandra y Mariana) y su hijo. Kenneth le pregunta que si la información que les dieron acerca de EcoModa durante la visita era mentira también, y ella le aclara que no, que todo era verdad. Entonces Kenneth le dice que por él, todo lo de la mentira está olvidado y el plan de la reunión al otro día está en pie. Pero... tiene que hablar con Gabriela. Aura María le pregunta si lo puede hacer esa misma noche y dejarle saber. Él le contesta que sí. Freddy llega en su mega moto y ve cuando Aura María se despide de Kenneth con un beso en la mejilla. Kenneth está más feliz que una lombriz... Freddy le dice ¡bravo, bravo! a Aura María. Ella le pregunta si sabe si Mariana y Sandra llegaron. Él le dice que ha estado esperando con el Cuartel, Betty y Don Armando de Pinzón a que ella llamara, y ella por supuesto se le olvidó. Ella dice que no se olvidó. Freddy se da cuenta de que estuvo tomando y le pregunta dónde "estufo". Ella le contesta que Don Kenneth los perdonó. Freddy le pregunta a cambio de qué y ella le contesta que de nada, toda ofendida. Entonces le dice que solo hay que esperar a que él la llame con la contestación de Gabriela. Freddy se molesta porque Kenneth sabe el número de teléfono de su casa. Aura María le dice a Freddy si esperaba que le diera el teléfono de su "viejo cicleta" y él le contesta que es la única que le ha sido fiel. En el hotel, vemos a Gabriela acostada (no sé si se dieron cuenta la semana pasada, pero este es el mismo hotel donde Armando y Betty pasaron su primera noche...) y escucha que Kenneth está llegando (él tiene el cuarto al cruzar el pasillo). Se levanta y abre la puerta para preguntarle cómo le fue con la Vice Presidente y él le dice que no fue con la Vice Presidente, entonces ella le pregunta que si fue con la Vice Presidente Comercial, que con tantas no sabe quién es quién. Él le contesta que Aura María es la secretaria de Presidencia y que Freddy es el mensajero. Gabriela no puede creer lo que está escuchando... La semana que viene es el gran regreso de Mario Calderón a EcoModa (¡y como dije antes, se ve de maravilla!). Vemos a Armando con tremenda cara de preocupación y a Betty bastante enojada. ¡A ver que pasará!

==========================

1/6/02. Gabriela tells Kenneth they will leave. He calls Aura Maria to tell her the news. Freddy arrives at the hotel with flowers, chocolates and a mariachi band and Gabriela relents. The next morning they meet the real members of the board: Betty, Nicolas, Gutierrez (who had already hired a group of models to replace the secretaries), Armando (looked up and down by Gabriela), Hugo and, finally, Mario. Gabriela tells the entire table the whole story of her meeting with Mario and even Betty laughs. They reach a tentative agreement on an investment, with Gabriela and Kenneth (liked by Hugo) to spend time in Colombia to watch over things.

Episode 6

Gabriela cannot believe what Kenneth tells her about his dinner with Aura María, the deception by the EcoModa employees, and the mess they created. She is very angry and tells Kenneth they'll be leaving for Miami first thing.

At Aura María's house, we see Freddy bringing her a cup of coffee and reminding her that Colombian coffee is still the best in the world [Beth: hmmmmmm, a little product placement anyone...?]. He criticizes her overly-familiar behaviour toward Kenneth while she says that Kenneth doesn't do anything for her [liar!]. Just then Kenneth calls to tell Aura María the meeting won't take place because Gabriela is very angry. Gabriela, who had been in her room packing her bags, goes to Kenneth's room as he's talking to Aura María and gives her a few choice comments about Freddy, who overhears them. After Aura María hangs up the phone and tells Freddy there won't be any meeting, he makes a call of his own...

Gabriela is still angry about the whole problem and decides to go to bed when there is a knock on the door; she thinks it is Kenneth. Instead, it is a hotel employee telling her her boyfriend is looking for her. Of course, the "boyfriend" is Freddy Estewart Contreras who has come to beg her forgiveness and that she give them another chance. He gives her a bouquet of slightly wilted flowers that Gabriela promptly throws in the trash. She does the same with the box of chocolates that Freddy hands her. Things are going badly, obviously, and Freddy pulls out his ace: a mariachi band to serenade Gabriela to ask her not to go. She continues to act insulted but the little song seems to have softened her heart and it seems the meeting will happen after all -- although she doesn't say anything to Freddy. Meanwhile at Aura María's apartment, we see her talking with Sandra and commenting on Freddy's plan... At EcoModa the next morning Wilson and the Cuartel are discussing Aura María and Kenneth's dinner the night before. She tells them she behaved very circumspectly and that Freddy came upon her as she was saying goodnight to Kenneth at her front door -- but that it was only a peck on the cheek. At this point Freddy arrives and overhears them all commenting on how much Kenneth likes Aura María, so he invents a big story about his adventure with Gabriela, including that she invited him in to her room for some wine, that she was wearing a "baby doll" (negligée), and how wonderfully it all went. However, he has to admit that the meeting still isn't confirmed. Then we see the shameless and hateful Gutiérrez come by on a 'tour' of EcoModa with three very pretty young women. They are the new acquisitions to replace Sofía, Bertha and Sandra. He makes Sofía and Bertha vacate their posts and tells them they've been fired, although they all tell him that remains to be seen.

Gutiérrez is in full cry when Armando, Betty and Nicolás arrive, and Armando yells at Gutiérrez to stop what he is doing. Betty tells him that no-one there can be replaced until she says so and directs Gutiérrez to fire the three new secretaries [Merci: Poor Nicolás -- he was quite taken with the one that was to work for him...]. Armando tells Wilson to go put his uniform on and attend the front door. Betty, Armando, and Nicolás all head for their offices. Just then Aura María's phone rings. Bertha answers it to find it is Kenneth calling to confirm the meeting. Everyone erupts into an uproar, and Freddy is offended because no-one congratulates him for his hard work with the mariachi... Armando comes out of his office to yell at them for making so much noise (Freddy the comedian starts to imitate Armando's tirade, and Armando tells him to cut it out), and Aura María explains to him that the Fashion Group meeting is on. Armando can't believe it and heads for Betty's office to tell her.

In Betty's office, Armando announces that he has two things to tell her. She is signing some papers as he's talking to her and telling her that the meeting with Fashion Group is still on, which makes her very pleased. Then he tells her that Mario Calderón will be coming too. This startles Betty and she damages the papers she was signing, so she calls to Aura María to bring her new copies of the documents. She also breaks a plastic cup and again calls Aura María to bring her some painkillers, some tranquilizers, and something for nausea. Betty stands and heads for her old office, which is now a file storage room; she's obviously angry. Armando tries to calm her, he tells her he loves her and asks her to please try -- they have an agreement concerning the deal and Calderón's presence. Armando leaves Betty's office and Aura María asks her how it went. He tells her so-so. A loud racket is heard in Betty's office [Merci: like when Armando met Adrianita Arboleda]; Aura María asks if all is well and Betty tells her yes. Armando says to look, that everything is fine [Merci: not even *he* believes this...!].

Hugo, Barbarita (his little dog) and Jenny arrive. Jenny is asking Hugo to suggest her for one of the posts which will supposedly be left vacant by the Cuartel. He tells her not to play the coquette -- it doesn't work on him. He adds that she's only good for being a live dressmaker's dummy. Jenny tells Sofía she needs to earn more money to help out her Guñi-Guñi, who's out of work, and therefore [she'd be helping] Sofía and her children. Jenny aspires to Aura María's post, who asks Jenny if she can't see she's not leaving. Jenny tells Aura María she could do her job --and other things as well [Merci: referring to Freddy].

Outside we see Wilson eating and drinking something --typical!-- and we see Kenneth and Gabriela arrive. They greet him; Kenneth criticizes him for eating on the job [Merci: Wait until they see Bertha!] and Gabriela makes a few comments on his timidity when he was playing the designer. Freddy and Aura María, along with the rest of the Cuartel, receive the guests; Kenneth continues to be very 'simpático' with Aura María. They lead the visitors to the conference room and Aura María goes to look for Betty and give her the medicines she'd requested. In the conference room, Gabriela tells Kenneth to leave the talking to her. She also criticizes him for his infatuation with Aura María, but he tells her there's nothing there.

Aura María asks Betty if she's really going to take all the (different) medicines. Betty tells her the painkillers are for the headache she got at the mention of Mario Calderón's name; the tranquilizers are for when she sees him; and the tablets are to fight the nausea she'll feel after he's left. Aura María introduces Betty to Gabriela and Kenneth, and Betty apologizes profusely for the misunderstanding caused by her employees. As she does so, Gutiérrez and Nicolás arrive. The two goggle at the sight of Gabriela, and Kenneth starts to speak his mangled English at Kenneth. Betty tells them that they're only missing Hugo and Armando [Merci: note that at no time are the visitors told that Betty and Armando are married to each other... Beth: so i'm guessing Betty was introduced as Beatríz Pinzón Solano only, and not Beatríz Mendoza or even Beatríz Pinzón de Mendoza. i wonder why not...?].

Armando arrives, goes over to Betty and puts his hand on her shoulder; she introduces him to Kenneth, and then to Gabriela, who is very "salamera" [Beth: ?? my dictionary doesn't have this word but i'm guessing from the sound --similar to the Arabic word 'salaam'-- and context that it means something like obsequious, or perhaps effusive] and leaves him a bit at a loss for words. Gabriela asks if the suit he's wearing is from EcoModa and praises how good it looks on him and its excellent cut. Of course, Betty isn't very comfortable with the situation. Outside the conference room, the Cartel and Freddy are talking. While Freddy is making some very strange "morisquetas" [Beth: ?? another word i can't find... "Morisco" refers to a Spanish Moor who converted to Christianity, but i'm not sure this has anything to do with what Freddy was doing; from past experience of Freddy and subsequent text, i'm guessing it means he was striking poses in his usual inimitable way] while Hugo is standing behind him. Hugo tells him that's just what he, Hugo, was like before he came out of the closet and welcomes Freddy to the club. Freddy can't believe what he's hearing and tells Aura María to confirm he's nothing like that. Hugo then makes his entrance to the conference room and effusively greets Gabriela. Kisses fly everywhere. Hugo is very impressed with Kenneth and announces that he got a thrill up his spine [from Kenneth]. Armando tells Hugo to be quiet [Merci: or more precisely, he shouts at him to be quiet...]. Gabriela asks after Mario Calderón and is told he hasn't arrived yet.

Just then, AT LAST!, the elevator doors open and the so-handsome Dr. Calderón gets off. The whole Cartel greets him, starting with Sandra [Merci: it would be great if that shameless one were to reform and fall head over heels at her feet...], and he asks them all how they are. He gives Inesita a little kiss [Merci: That Inesita has all the luck -- all the handsome men are always kissing her], and concludes by asking Aura María if she's caught a father for her son yet. She tells him no, that she still only has a quasi-boyfriend / quasi-slippery-fiancé... After all the greeting, Mario has to prepare himself for the meeting with his enemy, Doctora Pinzón Solano, in the conference room.

Mario enters room and affectionately greets Kenneth [Merci: Ay! and he speaks English with an English accent!], Gabriela, Gutiérrez, Nicolás (who tells Mario that he, Nicolás, was doing fine until just a few minutes ago when he, Mario, arrived...). Hugo praises him for how good he looks since his visit to Argentina. Mario hugs Armando, who looks a bit uncomfortable, and tells Gabriela that he (Armando) is his (Mario's) best friend. Armando tells him to let him go, to not be a cretin and to greet Betty. Mario looks like he's going to the guillotine as he extends his hand to Betty...

She just looks at it, then asks him how he dare think she's going to shake his hand after the way he treated her, how he humiliated her and mocked her -- everyone looks on horrified. Armando asks her to please shake hands with Mario, so she gives him her hand, strikes him a tremendous blow, takes him by the neck and pins him to the table, strangling him. Armando begs her to stop; Nicolás, Gutiérrez and the rest don't know what to do. But of course, it's all just wishful thinking on Betty's part... She returns to reality and won't take Mario's hand, though she does greet him and invite him to seat himself next to his friend.

They talk about how Mario and Gabriela met in Argentina. Mario doesn't want her to tell the story but of course she does... Betty looks on, somewhat surprised, but ends up laughing at what happened to him -- especially when Hugo guesses that Mario got in the bed and played the gallant... Then they discuss Fashion Group's plans for EcoModa, and Betty tells them that they are looking for an investment partner. Gabriela says if that's the case, she will stay on in Colombia [Merci: uh-oh, Betty doesn't like that at all...] and Kenneth as well, to supervise the project. They say they will go to the hotel to call the head office, but that it's a done deal. They will be back in the afternoon to sign the agreement. They stand to take their leave, and again Gabriela is very chummy with Armando. Mario Calderón joins the little group -- Armando looks uncomfortable, Mario looks happy, and Betty is looking daggers...

Sexto Capítulo (6 enero 2002) Tuvimos que esperar hasta casi el final, pero POR FIN regresó el desgraciado y muy apuesto del Dr. Mario Calderón... En lo que esperábamos su llegada, ocurrieron las siguientes cosas. Gabriela no puede creer lo que Kenneth le cuenta acerca de la cena con Aura María, el engaño de los empleados de EcoModa y todo el lío que armaron. Ella está muy enojada y le dice a Kenneth que a primera hora salen para Miami. En casa de Aura María vemos a Freddy traerle un café, y recordarle que el café colombiano sigue siendo el mejor del mundo. Él le critica su familiaridad con Kenneth mientras que ella le dice que Kenneth no le mueve la aguja ni un poquitico (mentirosa). En eso llama Kenneth para decirle a Aura María que lo de la reunión no se va a dar porque Gabriela está muy enojada. Gabriela, que está haciendo las maletas en su habitación, va al cuarto de Kenneth y le dice un par de cosas por teléfono a Aura María acerca de Freddy – quién las escucha. Luego de que Aura María cuelga el teléfono y le dice a Freddy que no hay reunión, él llama por teléfono a alguien... Gabriela está enojada por todo el problema y decide descansar, cuando tocan a la puerta y ella cree que es Kenneth. Es un empleado del hotel para decirle que su novio la está buscando. Por supuesto que es Freddy Stewart Contreras que le viene a rogar su perdón y que les dé otra oportunidad. Le entrega un ramo de flores medio marchitas y Gabriela busca el zafacón del cuarto y las echa a la basura. Hace lo mismo con la caja de chocolates que Freddy le entrega. La cosa está yendo mal, obviamente, y Freddy saca el as de su bolsillo: un sendo mariachi que le da una serenata a Gabriela para pedirle que no se vaya. Ella sigue haciéndose la insultada, pero después de la cancioncita como que se le ablanda el corazón y aparenta que lo de la reunión va a darse – aunque no le dice nada a Freddy. En el apartamento de Aura María, la vemos conversando con Sandra y comentando acerca del plan de Freddy... Por la mañana en EcoModa están Wilson y las del Cuartel conversando acerca de la cena de la noche anterior entre Aura María y Kenneth. Ella les dice que se portó muy juiciosa y que Freddy la encontró despidiéndose de Kenneth frente a su casa – pero que solo fue un besito en la mejilla. En eso llega Freddy y los escucha a todos comentando de lo bien que Aura María le cae a Kenneth. Entonces él se inventa tremenda aventura con Gabriela, incluyendo que lo invitó a su habitación a tomarse unos vinos, que estaba vestida con un baby doll, y que todo fue de maravilla. Aunque tiene que admitir que todavía lo de la cita no se ha dado. Vemos al descarado y odioso de Gutiérrez con tres muchachas muy bonitas en la pasarela de EcoModa. Son las nuevas adquisiciones para substituir a Sofía, Bertha y Sandra. Hace que Sofía y Bertha dejen sus puestos vacantes y les dice que están despedidas, aunque todos le dicen que eso está por verse.

Gutiérrez está con su cantaleta cuando llegan Armando, Betty y Nicolás y Armando le pega un gritazo a Gutiérrez para que deje de hacer lo que está haciendo. Betty le dice que allí no se cambia a nadie hasta que ella lo diga y manda a Gutiérrez a despedir a las tres nuevas secretarias. Pobre Nicolás, qu e se veía tan ilusionado con la que le tenían a él. Armando le dice a Wilson que se vaya a poner su uniforme y atender la puerta de entrada. Betty va para su oficina, Armando a la suya, y Nicolás también. En eso suena el teléfono de Aura María, Bertha lo contesta y es nada más y nada menos que Kenneth para confirmar la cita. Todos arman sendo alboroto, Freddy se ofende porque no lo felicitan por su gran labor con el mariachi... Armando sale de su oficina y les grita por el escándalo (y el "gracioso" de Freddy se pone a imitar el regaño de Armando, y Armando le dice que deje de imitarlo) y Aura María le explica que lo del Fashion Group se dio. Armando no lo puede creer y sale para la oficina de Betty a decírselo.

En la oficina de Betty, Armando le dice que le tiene dos noticias. Ella está firmando unos papeles mientras él le habla y le dice que la reunión con el Fashion Group sigue en pie, lo cual la pone muy contenta. Entonces le dice que también viene Mario Calderón. Eso hace que Betty dañe los papeles que estaba firmando y llame a Aura María para pedirle más copias de los documentos... También rompe un vaso plástico y vuelve a llamar a Aura María otra vez y le pide unos analgésicos, unos calmantes y algo para las náuseas. Betty se levanta y va para su antigua oficina, que ahora es un cuarto de archivos y está obviamente enojada. Armando trata de calmarla, le dice que la quiere y le pide que por favor trate, que ellos tenían un acuerdo acerca del negocio y la presencia de Calderón. Armando sale de la oficina de Betty y Aura María le pregunta como le fue. Él le dice que más o menos. De la oficina de Betty se escucha un estruendo (como cuando Armando conoció a Adrianita Arboleda) y Aura María pregunta si todo está bien y Betty le dice que sí... Armando dice que vean, que todo está bien (eso no se lo cree ni él). Llegan Hugo, Bárbara (la perrita) y Jenny. Jenny le está pidiendo a Hugo que la recomiende para uno de los trabajos que supuestamente dejarán vacantes las del Cuartel. Él le dice que no se ponga coqueta, que eso no funciona con él. Además le dice que ella solo sirve para modelo de tallaje. Jenny le dice a Sofía que necesita ganar más dinero para ayudar a su Guñi Guñi que está desempleado, y por ende a ella y sus hijos. Jenny aspira al trabajo de Aura María, la que le dice que no se vista que no va. Jenny le dice que ella puede hacer su trabajo y otras cosas – refiriéndose a Freddy. Afuera vemos a Wilson comiendo y tomando algo – típico – y vemos llegar a Kenneth y Gabriela. Lo saludan, Kenneth lo critica por comer mientras trabaja (dejen que vea a Bertha) y Gabriela hace unos comentarios acerca de su timidez cuando era modisto. Son recibidos por Aura María y Freddy, además de las otras del Cuartel. Kenneth sigue muy simpático con Aura María. Los llevan a la sala de juntas y Aura María sale a buscar a Betty y darle las medicinas y agua que le pidió. En la sala de juntas, Gabriela le dice a Kenneth que la deje a ella hacer las negociaciones. También lo critica por la infatuación con Aura María, pero él dice que no hay nada. Aura María le pregunta a Betty si se va a tomar todas las medicinas. Le dice que los analgésicos son para el dolor de cabeza que le dio al escuchar el nombre de Mario Calderón, los calmantes para cuando lo vea, y las pastillas para las náuseas para después de verlo. Aura María presenta a Betty con Gabriela y Kenneth, Betty les pide mil disculpas por el mal entendido con los empleados. En eso llegan Gutiérrez y Nicolás. Los dos se enboban con Gabriela y Gutiérrez comienza a hablar su inglés masticado con Kenneth. Betty les dice que solo faltan Hugo y Armando (en ningún momento se dice que Betty y Armando son marido y mujer...).

Armando llega, pasa por dónde Betty y le pone la mano en el hombro y ella lo presenta con Kenneth. Entonces con Gabriela, que es bastante salamera con Armando y lo deja medio sin habla. Gabriela pregunta si el traje que tiene puesto Armando es de EcoModa y le alaba lo bien que se le ve y la buena calidad... Betty no está muy contenta con la situación, por supuesto. Afuera están hablando las del Cuartel y Freddy y Hugo está parado detrás de Freddy mientras Freddy está haciendo unas morisquetas algo raras. Hugo le dice que así era él antes de salir del closet y le da la bienvenida al sindicato. Freddy no lo puede creer y le dice a Aura María que a ella le consta que él de eso no tiene nada. Entonces llega el Sr. Hugo Lombardi a la sala de juntas y saluda a Gabriela muy efusivamente. Besitos van y besitos vienen. Hugo queda todo impresionado con Kenneth y dice que le dio una carga eléctrica por la espina dorsal... Armando le dice a Hugo que se calle (más bien se lo grita)... Gabriela pregunta por Mario Calderón y le dicen que no ha llegado todavía. En eso, ¡POR FIN!, se abre el elevador y llega el bellísimo Dr. Calderón. El Cuartel en pleno lo saluda, empezando por Sandra (sería buenísimo que el desgraciado se reformara y cayera rendido a los pies de Sandra...) y pregunta a todas cómo están, a Inesita le da un beso (esa Inesita que suerte tiene, la besan los galanes todo el tiempo), y termina por preguntarle a Aura María si ya le consiguió padre a su hijo y ella le contesta que no, que sigue con un cuasi novio, cuasi prometido resbaladizo... Después de todos los saludos, Mario tiene que prepararse para el encuentro con su enemiga, la Dra. Pinzón Solano en sala de juntas.

Mario entra y saluda muy cariñoso a Kenneth (¡ay, y habla inglés con acento inglés!), a Gabriela, a Gutiérrez, a Nicolás (que le dice que estaba muy bien hasta hacía unos momentos – ya que llegó él), Huguito lo elogia por su buena pinta y lo bien que se ve desde su visita a la Argentina. Mario abraza a Armando, que se ve medio incómodo, y le dice a Gabriela que él es su mejor amigo... Armando le dice que lo suelte, que no sea cretino y que salude a Betty. Mario parece que va a la guillotina. Le tiende la mano a Betty... Ella lo mira y le dice que cómo se atreve a pensar que le va a dar la mano después de cómo le faltó el respeto, la humilló, se burló de ella – todos la miran horrorizados. Armando le pide que le de la mano a Mario, entonces ella le da la mano y le da tremendo golpe y lo agarra por el cuello y lo pone contra la mesa ahorcándolo. Armando le pide que lo deje, Nicolás, Gutiérrez y los demás no saben que hacer. Por supuesto, ésta es la ilusión del deseo de Betty... Ella regresa a la realidad y no le da la mano a Calderón pero lo saluda y le dice que se siente al lado de su amigo. Conversan acerca de cómo se conocieron Mario y Gabriela en Argentina. Mario no quiere que ella haga el cuento, pero por supuesto lo hace... Betty mira algo sorprendida, pero termina riéndose de lo que le pasó – sobre todo cuando Hugo adivina que Mario se acostó en la cama y se hizo el gran galán... Hablan acerca de los planes del Fashion Group con EcoModa y Betty les dice que ellos están buscando un socio inversionista. Gabriela dice que de ser así, entonces ella se quedaría en Colombia (oh, oh, esto no le gustó a Betty para nada) y Kenneth también, a supervisar la planta. Dicen que irán al hotel a llamar a la oficina central, pero que dan el negocio como hecho. Entonces regresarán en la tarde para firmar unos papeles del acuerdo. Se paran para despedirse y Gabriela es muy simpática con Armando de nuevo, y Mario Calderón se une al grupito – Armando se ve incómodo, Mario feliz, Betty está que echa chispas... Los avances de la semana que viene... Vemos a Betty decirle a sus amigas que Mario se cree que se va a volver a reunir con su amigazo de antes. ¡Mario le dice a Armando que salgan con unas amigas! ¿Qué irá a pasar? ¿Cuándo veremos a Camila de nuevo? ¿Y al Dr. Valencia? Ojalá que Armandito no la embarre...

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1/13/02. Freddy shows Jenny the ring he bought for Aura María and Jenny insists on trying it on, then can’t get it off. She spends part of the episode hiding the ring from the others. Meanwhile, the Mariachis wait and wait and wait to be paid. Gabriela and Kenneth arrive; she pays the mariachis to Freddy’s shame and Kenneth discovers that Freddy and Aura Maria are novios. Freddy tells Jenny he has an idea of how to get the ring off her finger.

Episode 7

The episode starts with the last scene from last week, when EcoModa and Fashion Group reach an agreement to work together and decide to meet later that day to finalize everything. Outside the conference room we see the Cartel and Freddy. Freddy is chatting with Inesita, telling her he's worried about the presence of the gringo at EcoModa. Inesita berates him for not getting serious and proposing to Aura María already. Freddy comes back with the ol' song and dance about how they were all fired. Inesita points out that he can get married if the deal works out. So Freddy tells Inesita he still has the engagement ring to give to Aura María and asks her to have Aura María ready for him at 6pm, when he will finally give her the ring.

Betty, Armando (who has his arm around Betty's waist), Kenneth, and Gabriela emerge from the conference room, and Aura María asks how everything went. Armando replies that things went well, they're going to do a deal. Kenneth announces he is moving to Colombia for a good while, which news causes Freddy to tremble. Hugo comes out of the conference room and won't let Gabriela and Kenneth leave until he can show them his designs. Betty heads for her office with an annoyed look on her face as Armando turns back into the conference room. The members of the Cartel comment amongst themselves that it looks like the arrival of the Mexicana (Gabriela) is rain on Betty's parade. They also note that things will be good for Aura María since the gringo (Kenneth) is staying. And of course, Bertha suggests going to gossip with Betty...

They open the door to Betty's office --apparently without knocking, the cheeky things-- and Sofía asks Betty if they can come in. Betty tells them yes, and adds that the situation has been resolved and they can return to their jobs. The Cartel tells Betty they are worried about her. Betty says that Mario Calderón is the Devil reincarnated and she detests him. Inesita comments that maybe Dr. Calderón has changed, but Betty replies he hasn't, and tells them the story of how he met Gabriela Garza in Buenos Aires.

Over in Armando's office we see Mario Calderón seated, very much at his ease with his feet on the desk, chatting with "Margarita" and saying how much he's changed -- how he no longer drinks whiskey but instead "dry martinis." He says he's been dreaming about her and asks if she still has a ying-yang mole on her hip. He agrees to meet with her at 7pm. During this conversation, Armando enters the office, hears what Mario is saying, and leaves again with an exasperated look.

Back in Betty's office, she's still talking with the Cartel, telling them that Mario expects to hook up again with his buddy, his accomplice in infidelities, his party pal.... Inesita tells her that Armando's a responsible married man now, a father --he's no longer the young wastrel of old.

We cut back to where Mario is now talking with "Rosa" [Merci: it looks like all his girlfriends are named for flowers...], telling her the same things he was saying to Margarita, although instead of asking about the mole he tells her how he's dreamt of kissing her long neck. Then he asks if they can go out... Armando comes back into the office again and sits in front of the desk while Mario finishes his conversation by telling Rosa to find someone to go out with his best friend, Armando Mendoza! Armando gives Mario a look saying he's got some nerve... Mario tells him they have a very full schedule: The Mole at 7pm, the Neck-Bite at 9pm, and who knows what else at midnight. Armando replies that Mario's going to have to party by himself because he, Armando, doesn't need girlfriends, and tells Mario he's a sick man (Mario is).

Back with Betty and her friends again, the Cartel tells Betty to have faith in Armando. She replies that they've been married for nearly two years and she has no complaints. Sandra says that Armando doesn't look at other women, that it's like she's married to a gay man. They all agree Betty should trust Armando.

It's like a Ping-Pong game -- now we're back with the Merry Men again... Mario tells Armando he doesn't see the harm in his (Armando's) going out with a few "girls." Armando replies that he has a baby daughter and is happily married -- and he shows Mario his wedding ring. Mario says, "Unhappily?" and Armando reiterates, "Happily married." Mario asks how many years he's been married and Armando replies nearly two. Mario comments that the sofa in Armando's office is the same one that was in the President's office when Armando was President of EcoModa. Mario says since he's only been married for two years, they're still in the era in which Armando thinks Betty is a princess. Then he asks when they're going to get divorced... Armando asks Mario what he's talking about, and says he got married for life, that it's like the priest said: "Until death do you part." So Mario asks when Armando will become a widower, then. Armando replies that it seems he must be speaking with someone sick in the head, and that if, God forbid, Betty should die, then he, Armando,0 would die with her. Hearing this, Mario asks Armando how he could do that to his daughter and says the he (Mario) would be a good godfather to Camila (imitating Marlon Brando's manner of speaking from "The Godfather"), he could take care of the little girl and the business after Armando and Betty die.

Freddy is talking to himself, saying that there aren't going to be any more evasions -- he cannot allow the gringo to walk off with his darling queen. The phone rings and Sandra answers, but not before berating Freddy for not answering (since she was in Betty's office gossiping...). It's Wilson calling to announce that the mariachi group from last night is there to get their payment from Freddy. Freddy, who is broke, asks Sandra not to let them up, but they're already on their way. And the Cartel can't help him out with the money, either...

Gabriela and Kenneth are on their way to the elevator and Gabriela addresses Freddy as "Dr. Contreras." They tell him they are starting to believe in the company again, and Kenneth says they are "very happy" and that his serenade was a big hit with Gabriela. The elevator doors open and the whole mariachi group is there asking to be paid. Gabriela and Kenneth get on the elevator... Freddy complains that it was a lackluster serenade, but the group leader replies it was a really good one and looks at Gabriela; she and Kenneth leave. Freddy tells the group he doesn't have any money, and the give-and-take continues. So the mariachi leader tells Freddy to give him the engagement ring as a promise of payment, but Freddy says no. Just then Jenny arrives and starts flirting with the members of the mariachi group. She sees the ring, takes it from Freddy, and puts it on a middle finger of her left hand. And of course, once on she discovers it's too small for her and she can't get it off.

Back in Armando's office, he is stretched out on the sofa while Mario asks him questions about what he's been doing in the two years since they've seen each other. Hasn't he had any other woman? Armando says no, no "90-60-90s" [Beth: that's 36"-24"-36"s to the metrically challenged among us... in other words, shapely women]. No erotic dreams either -- Armando tells Mario he's 100% devoted to his wife. Mario asks if Armando is going out with Hugo Lombardi. Armando replies that he's faithful, he's in love with his wife, that maybe Mario can't understand, but he is happily married, he has a wonderful family life and a daughter he loves. This doesn't mean to say that he's sexually castrated. The interrogation ends and Armando thanks "Sigmund..." Then Mario changes the subject (almost) and asks what Armando thinks of Gabriela Garza. Armando says she seems like an important executive. Mario won't drop the subject and asks Armando how he can say this, didn't he notice the legs that never quit, the green eyes... didn't she seem like a "bombón" (piece of candy)? Doesn't he wonder what it would be like to be with her on a beach, putting sun tan lotion on her back, kissing her neck, looking into those emerald eyes? Armando, who has had his back to Mario, turns and tells Mario he didn't come from Buenos Aires, he came from Hell. Mario replies that beneath that lamb's skin he's still the same fierce wolf.

We return to Betty, who is telling the Cartel that the minute Gabriela saw Armando her voice changed, she was giving him some major looks. That she wasn't vulgarly flirtatious but it was obvious that she is attracted to Armando. So the Cartel asks if Armando flirted back and she tells them no, that he was very diplomatic and it was more like he was uncomfortable. They ask if anybody had explained to Gabriela that Armando is married to Betty. She said that nobody said anything, and that she wasn't going to introduce him as her husband [Beth: ...idiot!]. Bertha stands and says that she should pay attention to the many bachelors they have in the office, starting with Nicolás Mora and ending with Freddy [Beth: wow, some selection...]. Aura María gets mad and asks them who gave them permission to say that Freddy is available. Then they comment that the gringo is going after Aura María, which surprises Betty. Inesita tells them that Freddy is very worried about the gringo and at 6pm he is at last going to ask Aura María to marry him and give her a ring. Aura María is very pleased with this news.

Outside we see Freddy trying to get the ring off Jenny's finger... Just then the Cartel comes out of Betty's office and asks the two what they're doing. He tells them he and Jenny were fighting over the money for the mariachi group, that Jenny didn't want to help him. Inesita tells Freddy that it's 4:30pm [Merci: These people haven't done ANYTHING all day long!], he'd better get a move on.

Aura María throws kisses at Freddy. He is dying because of the ring and Jenny, and even more now that his proposal isn't going to be a surprise since Inesita told him that it's time to be serious, not for surprises. Freddy goes to Hugo's workshop to try to get the ring off Jenny's finger, but no luck. The Cartel comes in and he hides behind a chair. Jenny tells them she has a headache; Sofía replies that it's nice she found out what she has a head for. The Cartel leaves, and Freddy puts on some pieces of cloth and tries to escape from the mariachis, but has no luck with that, either.

Just then, Armando arrives and asks what the mariachis are doing there -- the people from Fashion Group are about to return. Sandra tells Armando they're there because they want to be paid. Armando wants them to leave and is going to tell them so but the group leader confronts him and Armando goes back to wherever he came from. He tells Sandra that he's not going to get involved, because he'd end up shouting at them -- better to get Wilson to get them out of there.

Armando goes into Betty's office and she immediately rises from her seat and turns to do something on the computer. Armando asks if she likes the deal they made (with Fashion Group) and she replies of course --otherwise she'd never have agreed to it. Armando remarks that they haven't spoken since the deal and she tells him she's been very busy. Armando sits down and tells her yes, he was talking with Calderón, that it's been two years since they've spoken and they were getting caught up on their lives. Betty, very astutely, asks about Calderón's jokes about their married life, about Armando's being married to her, about the baby, and how much he asked about their family life. Armando lies and tells her that Mario has changed, that he didn't make fun either of him or of her, or of the baby either. But Mario will be around because of the deal. In the "cave," Betty is looking at some books and tells Armando that this means Mario wants an office at EcoModa. Armando tells her no, that Mario has other deals, but he will be visiting EcoModa regularly. Betty compares Mario to Nero, Attila the Hun and Hitler [ouch!]. Armando tells Betty he adores her, that his life is Betty and Camila. He gives her a kiss, and she embraces him and tells him that while she trusts him implicitly, she doesn't trust Calderón in the least. Betty sits down, Armando gives her another kiss, and she tells him to go take care of his friend...

Wilson tries to get rid of the mariachis but they don't pay him any heed. Wilson asks Freddy to help but he won't. Inesita tells Aura María it's 5:30pm and she has to get ready. When Aura María realizes that the mariachis want money, she goes to them and tells them Freddy can't pay them but that they (the Cartel) will go ask for a loan from the President of EcoModa and tomorrow they'll pay the group. The group flatly refuses unless they have some sort of guarantee against payment, like the ring. Aura María tells them no, that that's her ring. One of the mariachis replies that that ring belongs to Freddy's girlfriend, the Mexican woman. Gabriela and Kenneth arrive just in time to hear this and Gabriela doesn't like it in the least. She gets mad, and Kenneth realizes that Aura María is Freddy's girlfriend; moreover, she tells him, they're going to get married. The mariachis continue to insist they be paid, and Gabriela asks how much they want -- she will pay them. Freddy goes as if to pay but, as before, his pockets are empty. The mariachi leader says they're owed 350,000 pesos and she asks how much that is in dollars. They tell her it's $150. She gives them $200 and they leave, happy. Gabriela tells Sandra that she and Kenneth want to speak with Armando, Betty and Mario. Aura María gives Freddy a kiss and leaves with Inesita, Sofía, and Bertha to get ready. Jenny continues to wear the ring. She runs into Freddy who asks her if her finger is less swollen and she tells him it's like a sausage. He looks at her craftily and tells her that he has a solution...

Spoilers for next week: Armando asks Betty's permission to go out that night. She tells him she trusts him, but not Mario. The announcer says that Betty falls into the trap and Armando succumbs to temptation. We see Armando, 0Gabriela, Mario and one of his girlfriends toasting each other in a restaurant. It looks like Armando's going to step in it, big time...

Teasers for next week: We see Betty tell her friends that Mario thinks he can come back and hook up with the old Armando. Mario tells Armando they are going out with some girlfriends! What will happen? When will we see Camila again? And Dr. Valencia? Hopefully Armandito doesn't mess it all up...

Séptimo Capítulo (13 enero 2002) El capítulo comenzó con la última escena de la semana pasada, cuando llegan al acuerdo EcoModa y el Fashion Group de hacer negocios y verse más tarde. Frente a la sala de juntas vemos a el Cuartel y Freddy. Freddy está conversando con Inesita, diciéndole que está preocupado por la presencia del gringo. Inesita le reclama que no se ha puesto serio y comprometido con Aura María. Freddy vuelve con el mismo cuento de que como los despidieron. Inesita le dice que si el negocio funciona, pues podrá casarse. Entonces Freddy le dice que todavía tiene el anillo de compromiso para entregárselo a Aura María. Freddy le pide a Inesita que tenga lista a Aura María para las 6 de la tarde, ya que le va a poner el anillo por fin. Salen Betty, Armando (él está abrazando a Betty por la cintura), Kenneth y Gabriela de la sala de juntas y Aura María pregunta cómo fue todo. Armando les contesta que bien, que van a hacer el negocio. Kenneth anuncia que van a mudarse a Colombia por un largo tiempo, lo cual pone a Freddy a temblar. Hugo sale de la sala de juntas y no deja que Gabriela y Kenneth se vayan ya que les quiere enseñar sus diseños. Betty se va para su oficina y Armando se va para la sala de juntas (ella con cara de que está medio enojada). Las del Cuartel comentan que parece que se le aguó la fiesta a Betty con la llegada de la mexicana. También comentan que a Aura María le va muy bien ya que el gringo se queda. Y por supuesto, Bertha propone ir a chismear con Betty... Abren la puerta de la oficina de Betty, aparentemente sin tocar las muy descaradas, y Sofía le pregunta a Betty si ¡pueden entrar! Betty les dice que sí. También les dice que ya se resolvió la situación y pueden volver a sus puestos de trabajo. El Cuartel le comenta a Betty que están preocupadas con ella. Betty dice que Mario Calderón es la reencarnación del demonio y que lo detesta. Inesita le comenta que tal vez el Dr. Calderón ha cambiado. Betty entonces le dice que no, y les hace el cuento de cómo fue que conoció a Gabriela Garza en Buenos Aires.

En la oficina de Armando vemos a Mario Calderón muy cómodo, con los pies sobre el escritorio, hablando con "Margarita" y contándole cuanto ha cambiado -- que ya no toma whiskey sino "dry martinis". Le cuenta como ha estado soñando con ella y le pregunta si todavía tiene el lunar en la cadera de ying y yang. Acuerda encontrarse con ella a las 7 p.m. Durante la conversación, Armando entra a la oficina, oye lo que Mario está diciendo y sale con cara de exasperación. De vuelta a Presidencia, Betty sigue hablando con las del Cuartel diciéndoles que Mario espera encontrar a su amigazo, cómplice de infidelidades, compañero de rumbas... Inesita le dice que Armando es un hombre responsable, casado, padre de una niña, que ya no es el joven irresponsable de antes. Volvemos a dónde Mario que ahora está hablando con una tal "Rosa" (parece que todas sus amiguitas tienen nombres de flores), diciéndole la mismita cosa que le estaba diciendo a Margarita, pero en vez del lunar le hablaba de como soñaba con besar su largo cuello. Entonces le pregunta si pueden salir... Armando volvió a entrar a la oficina y se sentó frente al escritorio mientras Mario terminaba la conversación y le decía a su amiga que le consiguiera a alguien para que saliera con su mejor amigo, ¡Armando Mendoza! Armando pone cara de que Mario es un atrevido... Mario le dice que tienen una agenda muy llena, el lunar a las 7 p.m., la mordida de cuello a las 9 p.m. y no sé que otra cosa a la medianoche. Armando le contesta que se va a tener que ir a festejar solo, que él no necesita amigas y le dice que es un enfermito. De regreso con Betty y sus amigas, el Cuartel le dice a Betty que crea en Armando. Ella les contesta que llevan casi dos años de casados y no tiene ninguna queja de él. Sandra le dice que Armando no mira a ninguna mujer, que es como si estuviera casada con un gay. Todas están de acuerdo en que debe confiar en Armando.

Esto está como un juego de ping pong -- ahora de vuelta con los alegres compadres... Mario le dice a Armando que no encuentra nada malo en que salgan con unas "niñas". Armando le dice que él tiene una hija y esta felizmente casado -- y le muestra su argolla de matrimonio. Calderón le contesta ¿"infelizmente"? Armando le reitera "y felizmente casado". Mario le pregunta cuántos años lleva de casado y Armando le contesta que van a cumplir dos. Mario hace un comentario acerca del sofá en la oficina de Armando -- el mismo que estaba en la oficina de Presidencia cuándo Armando era Presidente de EcoModa. Mario le dice que como llevan dos años de casado, todavía están en la época de que Armando cree que Betty es una princesa. Entonces le pregunta para cuándo es la separación. Armando le contesta que de qué habla, que él se casó para toda la vida, que es como el cura costeño le dijo: hasta que la muerte nos separe. Entonces Mario le pregunta cuándo va a enviudar. Armando le dice que le parece estar hablando con un enfermo mental. Armando le contesta que si Betty, Dios no quiera, se muere él se muere con ella. Mario entonces le pregunta como le va a hacer eso a la niña -- entonces le comenta que él sería un buen padrino (imitando la forma de hablar de Marlon Brando en la película "El Padrino") y se puede hacer cargo de la niña y los asuntos después de que Armando y Betty se mueran. Freddy está hablando solo diciéndose que no van a haber más evasivas, no puede dejar que el gringo se lleve a su reinita... El teléfono suena y Sandra lo contesta, no sin antes regañar a Freddy por no contestarlo (ya que ella estaba en la oficina de Betty chismeando)... Es Wilson para anunciar que el mariachi de la noche anterior está allí para cobrarle a Freddy la plata que les debe. Freddy, que no tiene el dinero, le pide a Sandra que no los deje subir, pero ya están en camino. El Cuartel no puede cooperarle con el dinero que él debe...

Gabriela y Kenneth van de camino al elevador y Gabriela le dice Dr. Contreras a Freddy. Le comentan que están volviendo a cre er en la empresa y Kenneth dice que están "muy contentas" y que su serenata fue un gran éxito con Gabriela. Se abre el elevador y el mariachi completo está allí pidiendo que les paguen. Gabriela y Kenneth se montan en el elevador... Freddy se queja de que fue una serenata desanimada, pero el líder del mariachi le contesta que le fue muy bien y mira a Gabriela; ella y Kenneth se van. Freddy les dice que no tiene dinero, siguen con el tira y hala. Entonces el jefe del mariachi le dice a Freddy que le de el anillo de compromiso como promesa de pago, pero Freddy dice que no. En eso llega Jenny y coquetea con los del mariachi. Ve el anillo y se lo quita a Freddy y se lo pone en el dedo del medio de la mano izquierda. Como era de esperarse, le queda muy pequeño y no se lo puede quitar.

En la oficina de Armando, él está acostado en el sofá mientras Mario le hace preguntas acerca de como ha sido su comportamiento durante los últimos dos años que no se habían visto. Que si no ha tenido ninguna otra mujer, Armando le contesta que no -- ninguna 90-60-90. Que tal los sueños eróticos, tampoco. Armando le contesta que él está 100% comprometido con su mujer. Mario le pregunta si está saliendo con Hugo Lombardi. Armando le contesta que el es fiel, está enamorado de su mujer, que tal vez Mario no lo pueda entender, pero que está felizmente casado, tiene una vida familiar maravillosa y una hija que ama. Que eso no quiere decir que esté castrado sexualmente. Termina el interrogatorio y Armando le da las gracias a "Sigmund"... Entonces Mario cambia el tema (casi) y le pregunta qué le pareció Gabriela Garza. Armando le contesta que le pareció una ejecutiva importante. Mario no deja el tema y le dice que cómo puede decir eso, no vio aquellas piernas interminables, los ojos verdes, ¿no le parece un bombón? ¿No piensa en como sería con ella en una playa, echándole loción de bronceador por la espalda, besándole el cuello, mirando esos ojos de esmeralda? Armando, que ha estado de espalda a Mario se vira y le dice que él no vino de Buenos Aires sino del infierno. Mario le contesta que debajo de esa piel de cordero sigue siendo el lobo feroz de siempre. Regresamos con Betty que le cuenta al Cuartel que tan pronto Gabriela vio a Armando le cambió el tono de voz, le dio tremendas miradas. Que no fue un coqueteo vulgar, que era obvio que Armando le gustó. Entonces le preguntan si Armando se puso coqueto y ella les contesta que no, que fue muy diplomático, que más bien se notó incómodo. Le preguntan si nadie le explicó a Gabriela que Armando estaba casado con Betty. Ella dice que nadie dijo nada, y que ella no iba a presentarlo como su esposo... (boba...) Bertha se levanta y dice que debe fijarse en los muchos solteros que hay en la oficina, empezando por Nicolás Mora y terminando por Freddy. Aura María se enoja y les dice que quién les dio permiso de decir que Freddy estaba sin compromiso. Entonces comentan que el gringo anda detrás de Aura María, lo cual sorprende a Betty. Inés les dice que Freddy está muy preocupado por el gringo y que a las 6 p.m. por fin le va a pedir a Aura María que se case con él y entregarle el anillo. Aura María está muy contenta con la noticia. Afuera vemos a Freddy tratando de quitarle el anillo a Jenny... En eso sale el Cuartel de la oficina de Betty y le preguntan que hacen. Él les dice que estaban peleando por lo del dinero del mariachi, que Jenny no lo quiso ayudar. Inés le dice a Freddy que son las 4:30 p.m. (esta gente no ha hecho NADA en todo el día), que se ponga las pilas. Aura María le tira besitos a Freddy. Él se muere por lo de la sortija y Jenny, más que ahora no es sorpresa lo del compromiso ya que Inés le dijo que no están para sorpresas sino para cosas serias. Freddy va al taller de Hugo a tratar de quitarle el anillo a Jenny, pero nada. Entran las del Cuartel y él se esconde detrás de una silla. Jenny les dice que tiene dolor de cabeza, Sofía le dice que bueno que descubrió para que la tenía...

Se van las del Cuartel, Freddy se pone unos trapos de tela y trata de escapárseles a los del mariachi pero para nada. En eso sale Armando y pregunta porque están los mariachis allí, que los del Fashion Group están por regresar. Sandra le dice que es porque quieren que les paguen. Armando quiere que se vayan y va a decirles algo pero el líder del grupo como que se le encareta y Armando regresa de dónde vino. Le dice a Sandra que él no se va a meter, porque terminaría matándolos a gritos. Mejor que llame a Wilson para que los saque de allí. Armando entra a la oficina de Betty y ella de inmediato se levanta de la silla y se vira a hacer algo en el computador. Armando le pregunta si le gustó el negocio que hicieron y ella le contesta que claro, sino no hubiera estado de acuerdo. Armando le comenta que no habían hablado desde lo del acuerdo y ella le contesta que ha estado muy ocupado. Armando se sienta y le dice que sí, que estaba hablando con Calderón, que hacía dos años que no se hablaban y estaban comentando de sus vidas. Betty, muy astuta, le pregunta de las burlas de Calderón acerca de su vida de casado, de estar casado con ella, de la niña, cuánto lo cuestionó por su vida familiar. Armando le miente diciéndole que Mario ha cambiado, que no se burlo ni de él ni de ella, ni de la niña. Pero que Mario va a estar por ahí por lo del negocio. En la cueva, Betty está mirando unos libros y le dice a Armando que si eso quiere decir que Mario quiere oficina en EcoModa. Armando le dice que no, que él tiene otros negocios, pero que sí va a estar visitando EcoModa a menudo. Betty compara a Mario con Nerón, Attila y Hitler (¡ouch!).

Armando le dice que él la adora a ella, que su vida son ella y Camila, le da un beso, y ella lo abraza y le dice que confía implícitamente en él pero que no confía en Calderón para nada. Betty se sienta, Armando le da otro beso y ella le dice que se vaya a atender a su amigo...

Wilson trata de sacar a los mariachis, pero no lo paran bolas. Wilson le pide ayuda a Freddy, pero nada. Inesita le dice a Aura María que son las 5:30 p.m. y se tiene que arreglar. Cuando Aura María se da cuenta que los del mariachi quieren plata, va para allá y les dice que Freddy no les puede pagar, pero que ellas le van a pedir un préstamo a la Presidente de EcoModa y mañana les pagan. Ellos se niegan rotundamente a no ser que tengan una garantía, como el anillo. Aura María les dice que no, que ese anillo es de ella. El del mariachi le contesta que ese anillo es de la novia de Freddy -- la mexicana. En esos momentos están llegando Gabriela y Kenneth y Gabriela se enoja al escuchar lo que e stán diciendo. Entonces Kenneth cae en cuenta de que Aura María es la novia de Freddy y ella le dice que además se van a casar. Siguen con lo del pago y Gabriela pregunta cuánto es para ella pagarlo. Freddy hace alarde de pagar, pero igual que antes, tiene los bolsillos vacíos. El del mariachi dice que son 350,000 pesos y ella pregunta cuánto es eso en dólares y le contestan que $150. Ella les da $200 y se van felices. Gabriela le dice a Sandra que quieren hablar con Armando, Betty y Mario. Aura María le da un beso a Freddy y se va a arreglar con Inesita, Sofía y Bertha. Jenny sigue con la sortija puesta. Se encuentra con Freddy que le pregunta si se le bajó la hinchazón del dedo y ella le dice que lo tiene como una morcilla. Él la mira con cara de pícaro y le dice que ya tienen la solución... Avances para la semana que viene... Armando le pide permiso a Betty para salir en la noche. Ella le dice que confía en él pero no en Mario. El anunciante dice que Betty cae en la trampa y Armando en la tentación. Vemos a Armando, Gabriela, Mario y una de sus amiguitas brindando en un restaurante. Armando parece que la va a embarrar y como...

Http://www.rincondebetty.com/ecoingles.htm: episode 8

The deal with Fashion Group

Betty, Armando, Mario, Kenneth, and Gabriela are all meeting in the conference room to finalize the details of the deal with Fashion Group. Everyone agrees that the deal is a fantastic idea... Gabriela explains that she and Kenneth will be in charge of all the production for the American market and ask the EcoModa group to facilitate things for them by providing offices, secretarial staff, a car, chauffeur, etc. Mario Calderón proposes they all go out to celebrate. Betty says she can't, she has a daughter and has to get home early. Gabriela asks her how old her daughter is, and when Betty tells her 9 months, Gabriela adds they will have to look for a nanny to look after the child so Betty can go out with them. Armando interrupts and says that this won't be possible because Betty's mother looks after THEIR child --his and Betty's [Beth: ok, points to Armando for pointing out he and Betty have a relationship, but regardless, i don't see what Betty's mother looking after the child has to do with it not being possible to get a nanny...]. Gabriela is amazed when Armando clarifies that he and Betty are married, but Betty tells her she's surprised Gabriela didn't know, since the whole world knows [Beth: no, all of Ecomoda knows. but Gabriela and Kenneth aren't from Ecomoda, or even from Colombia. since both Betty and Armando wear wedding rings, it's a little surprising that Gabriela, given her supposed instant attraction to Armando, didn't notice that right away, but it's not necessarily all that surprising they wouldn't know Betty and Armando are married to each other if Betty was introduced only as Beatríz Pinzón, and not Beatríz Mendoza or Beatríz Pinzón de Mendoza... so i'm a bit surprised at Betty's attitude here. of course, it does highlight the fact that the Fashion Group people apparently can't be bothered to take the time to research their prospective business partners prior to meeting with them, which actually would worry me more than a bit, but apparently this hasn't occurred to anyone of them...]. Betty rises and after making her good-byes, leaves. Mario tells Armando it looks like they've got the night free since Betty didn't say she didn't want him to go out. Armando excuses himself and goes to look for Betty. Mario says it looks like it'll be just the three of them for dinner as Armando won't be able to go. Armando looks for Betty in her office but she's not there.

Aura María's preparations

Over in Hugo's workshop, the Cartel (minus Mariana) is helping Aura María get ready. Sandra asks her about her plans for when she marries Freddy, since clearly the couple can't live with her and Mariana. What Sandra's really worried about is getting another roommate to share the expenses... Betty arrives and tells them what went on in the meeting and in particular about the dinner suggested by Mario, and how she's not going [to the dinner] but she's not bothered if Armando goes. They all tell her to trust him to behave himself. Armando arrives and tells Betty he'd like to speak with her alone.

Armando and Betty -- going out to dinner

Armando is desperate to make it clear to Betty he had no idea Mario was going to suggest going out [Beth: Armando knows Mario. Betty knows Mario -- neither of them should have been the least bit surprised Mario would suggest such a thing. in fact, it's a pretty natural thing to suggest, given the circumstances -- i've seen it happen at my work on many occasions. Betty should not have been surprised or even offended by this. unhappy, because it's Mario, yes. but surprised -- definitely not. i think we can see what the writers are trying to set up here, and once again in this series they are ignoring premises and characterizations they were at pains to establish during BLF or even earlier in this series, just in order to accommodate an otherwise unworkable plot premise. which sucks]. Armando also tells her they have to accept that this kind of engagement is going to happen after doing a deal like the one they just made with Fashion Group and there's nothing bad in it. Then he tells her that Mario should go out with Gabriela and Kenneth and EcoModa will pick up the tab. Betty thinks it's strange Armando isn't going to go. He says no it isn't, he knows she can't stand Mario and he doesn't want to make her uncomfortable -- he prefers to go home with her, and doesn't want to go out without her. She asks him if he's looking for her permission and he replies no, not her permission. But her authorization, yes. Betty tells him to go ahead, he has her vote of confidence. She gives him a kiss and leaves, apparently very content (she gives him one of her famous half-winks) and heads for the workshop [Merci: It has to be admitted that Armando behaved himself like a champ and was very sincere in everything he said to Betty. Beth: yes, but he should've insisted that Betty accompany them. yes, i know i know -- Mario. but you know what? Betty is the President of Ecomoda and she *should* be there. and she knows it. or at least, the Betty in BLF knows it. these writers ought to be shot]. Betty returns to the workshop and her happiness leaves her as she tells the Cartel about Armando going out; obviously she is not as sanguine as she pretended to be to Armando. Armando returns to the conference room and says that as soon as he takes care of a few things they can go out. Mario is surprised Armando's been given permission and starts talking like a little kid. Armando remarks that Mario has language problems and gives him a punch in the arm to make him stop clowning around. When Armando's gone, Kenneth, Mario and Gabriela discuss how this is the first time since he got married that Armando has gone out without Betty [Beth: this is getting extremely aggravating. Kenneth and Gabriela, by their own admissions, not only didn't even know Armando and Betty were married, they didn't even know who they were until they met them --remember, they actually knew so very little about Ecomoda --a company with whom they were contemplating doing business!! (but that's a whole 'nother rant)-- that they didn't know Freddy was lying when he claimed to be president of Ecomoda!! so how are they going to know the first thing about Armando and Betty's marriage?? and Mario hasn't seen or talked to Armando since before he got married except for just within the last day or so, so what does he know about whether Armando's been out by himself or not since he got married??].

The engagement of Aura María and Freddy

Freddy's brilliant solution for getting the ring off Jenny's finger is to get an anti-inflammatory to inject in her finger, and if this should fail, to use a handsaw to cut the ring off. Jenny wouldn't let them inject her with anything and even less would she give permission for them to use a saw. They were hiding in Gutiérrez's office trying to resolve the problem but didn't get any where. Then Freddy called his grandmother for her advice and she recommended trying face or hand cream, or water and soap. Neither of these two suggestions worked and Freddy got caught red-handed by Mariana in the women's restroom trying to get the ring off of Jenny's finger. The rest of the Cartel helps Aura María get dressed so she's ready for the Big Moment when she receives a proposal of marriage. In the hallway, Freddy tells Aura María that he loves her, that she's the only woman he's ever loved, and that he wants to get married as soon as possible. She asks about the ring and he starts to babble. Aura María tells him no ring, no engagement. At last, Mariana emerges from the women's restroom with Jenny, who proudly shows off the ring she's got jammed on her finger. Aura María gives Freddy a slap on the face, and Sandra another. Sofía and Bertha each smack him in the belly, and Mariana finishes it off with a punch in the arm. The uproar is such that Betty, Armando and the rest come out to ask what is going on. Aura María is sobbing disconsolately and everyone finds out about the problem. Kenneth is very pleased that Aura María isn't engaged. Betty grabs Armando by the arm and pulls him away from the rest to ask that he please get the Fashion Group people out of there, it's embarrassing they should see this. Armando agrees, gives her a kiss, tells her he loves her and that he will call her to check in throughout the night. When they are ready to leave, Kenneth says he'd rather not go -- Colombians are real party people and he'd prefer to make a few calls before going to the hotel to rest. Gabriela tells Kenneth to take the car and chauffeur. Mario says he doesn't have his car, and Armando states he has his and Betty's car but they can't take that (meaning, because Betty will need it). Betty says it's not a problem, she can ask Nicolás to take her home. Armando double-checks that this won't be a problem, gives her another kiss, and says good-bye to Betty, telling her he will call her...

In the EcoModa garage en route to the dinner...

Armando opens the back door of the car for Gabriela but Mario starts to make himself insufferable and to say that Gabriela ought to sit up front only Armando doesn't want her to because he doesn't want anyone to see him with a woman who isn't his wife. Armando is about ready to kill Mario. Gabriela jokingly says that she and Mario will sit together in the back and make Armando play chauffeur. Armando takes Gabriela to the passenger side and tells Mario to sit in back. Mario says his fanny is too big to fit in Camila's car seat and Armando tells him to stop talking nonsense. Then Mario takes out the baby's diaper bag and asks if it's his (Armando's) briefcase or if he has problems with incontinence. There is a noise when Gabriela sits down since she's sat upon a couple of Camila's toys -- Henry from Sesame Street and a Furby which Armando says is the baby's favorite. Then he is shocked to notice that Gabriela is stepping on Camila's favorite doll, Rosita (the one that Armando uses to talk with). Armando collects all the toys and gives them to Mario, who starts to talk with the puppet Rosita. Gabriela asks him to be quiet and tells Armando that he (Mario) will pay for it all when he has children of his own. Mario tells her he's not going to have children because they'll turn out like him. But later he changes his mind and says he will have children, that it would be really great because that way he'd have someone to share adventures with. Gabriela says it would be better if he doesn't, and when he dies they ought to cremate him so he can't be cloned. Armando is horrified at the thought of two Mario Calderóns in the world. Mario, who is even more insufferable than Freddy, tops them all by putting the baby's pacifier in his mouth.

Back on EcoModa's second floor...

We see and hear Kenneth speaking in English on the phone regarding the deal that has been reached with EcoModa. He leaves the conference room and we see the Cartel at Bertha and Sofía's desks, gossiping. Sandra's phone rings and Kenneth tries to attract their attention to answer it but they don't pay any attention to him. He finally answers in English, then remembers to speak in Spanish. It's Wilson to announce that Efraín (Sofía's ex-husband) is downstairs waiting for Jenny. Kenneth finally manages to get the Cartel to pay attention to him and says that Mr. Pupuchurro is looking for Mrs. Jenny. Sofía shouts for Jenny to come out of the restroom, and Jenny emerges saying she doesn't want to see Efraín because if he sees her with Freddy's ring he'll kill her. Kenneth relays this message to Wilson. Efraín gets mad and goes upstairs to look for Jenny. When he notices the ring and finds out it's from Freddy, he wants to make a fuss. Betty asks them all to calm down. Jenny and Efraín finally leave, but not before Sofía berates them for the child support she's owed. Efraín tells her not to bother him, he's been diagnosed with high blood pressure. Freddy is worried because Aura María doesn't want to see him. He asks the Cartel to tell her how much he loves her, then leaves for home. Aura María comes out and asks if Freddy's left. They tell her yes and give her his message, but she doesn't care. Kenneth sees her and asks her how she is. She tells him she's doing better (now). He offers to take her home, but Aura María tells him no, she wants to be alone. Sandra states that she and Mariana will go along with her. Kenneth leaves and the Cartel remarks to Aura María on her luck that the gringo is so attentive. Aura María tells them not to talk like that. She asks her friends to go out and get drunk with her, but no-one wants to go, least of all Betty. Aura María tells her to take advantage of Armando being out on the town. Betty says he's not out on the town, and not to bother her any more.

At Betty's house

Merci: I don't have any idea how this happened, but in the three days that have passed [on the show] since the series began, Armando and Betty have acquired a new and very luxurious apartment. The furniture is new, everything is all neat and tidy as if by magic.

Don Hermes and Doña Julia are waiting at the apartment to greet Betty, and are surprised that Armando isn't with her since supposedly they were going to celebrate the new apartment, about which Don Hermes says Daniel Valencia cannot complain [Beth: ?? why not? or, more to the point, why should he complain about it in the first place??]. Betty tells them that Armando went to a business dinner with the Fashion Group people by himself, which surprises them because Betty and Armando always go out together. Betty finally has to confess that she didn't go because Mario Calderón was going to be there. Don Hermes says that the Devil is a pig and that pig has a name: Mario Calderón. Doña Julia says that she doesn't want to butt into Betty and Armando's marriage [but she does] but with Mario Calderón back on the scene, Armando will go back to his old ways. Betty tells them she trusts Armando, that he told her he'd be home early. She adds that if he doesn't he will be setting a very bad precedent and would be handing her, on a silver platter, the reasons why he should never get near Mario Calderón again.

The business dinner

Armando, Mario and Gabriela arrive at a very elegant restaurant and are greeted by the hostess, who's very pleased to see them -- especially Armando, who she says it seems like she hasn't seen there in a thousand years. Mario asks for his usual table: next to the women's restroom. Armando quickly tells the hostess to give them any other table as long as it's not the one Mario asked for [Merci: if i'm not mistaken, in the background we hear playing the group we liked so much in "Yo Soy Betty, La Fea"]. One of Mario's women friends calls to him from the bar and he happily invites her to join them at the table. Armando, who is clearly uncomfortable with Mario's behaviour [Merci: Gabriela also looks very uncomfortable. Beth: why didn't Armando just tell Mario to behave himself and since this is a business dinner, his girlfriend is not invited??], insists that Gabriela seat herself next to Mario's little friend and that Mario sit beside him. Mario introduces his friend as a Colombian of Japanese descent. The girlfriend sees they're all up in arms. The hostess arrives to take their drinks order and Mario's girlfriend doesn't order anything since she already has a drink (that obviously isn't her first for the night). Gabriela orders tequila. Armando asks for a lemonade or orange juice, and Mario interrupts and orders two 18-year-old whiskeys for himself and Armando [Beth: again, why can't Armando just tell Mario he doesn't want a whiskey?]. Mario is all syrupy with his girlfriend and complaining that they're seated so far apart. Mario asks the women to excuse them for a moment and takes Armando apart to ask him what's going on with him. Armando tells Mario the plan was for the three of them to have dinner, and since they're in a place where the whole world knows them he doesn't want to look like he's doing anything he shouldn't be. Mario reproaches him for having ordered lemonade (calling it a "gay drink") and Armando tells him he doesn't want to arrive home reeking of alcohol. They finally sit down. Mario grabs two flowers from his girlfriend's cocktail and says that tonight he and Armando are coming out of the closet and joining the Lombardi Club. He also says they're part of Dago García and Felipe Salamanca's group [Merci: if i'm not mistaken, they are the names of the scriptwriters for "Pedro, El Escamoso"]... Armando warns him to stop the foolishness. Gabriela is on the point of killing Mario. So he'll calm down, Armando tells Mario to do what he wants and changes his seat so that Mario is with his girlfriend and Armando sitting next to Gabriela [note: the word the Merci is using here to refer to the girlfriend is "grilla," which means "female cricket," or --according to my dictionary-- "obstacle." on the other hand, i believe that's also how Freddy sometimes refers to Aura María...]. The girlfriend tosses off her drink in one swallow and Mario offers her the whiskey. Both insupportable, they start to kiss. Armando and Gabriela want the earth to open up and swallow them. We see everyone eating except the girlfriend, who excuses herself and says she'll be back. Mario says it's her beauty regimen: to preserve herself in alcohol. Then Mario starts to recount his adventures with Armando, telling how Armando was the most desired man in the city, how the women were only with Mario to meet Armando, how Armando was a Prince Charming. Armando and Gabriela ask Mario why he's talking as if Armando is dead. Mario says that ever since Armando got married in the Santa Teresita Church (to which he had not been invited so he was left with a gift he'd bought, according to him), Armando stopped being [alive]... Gabriela remarks that she hasn't married because of the circumstances of her life, because she is dedicated to her work, although she doesn't have anything against married people. To the contrary: she wishes them all the best. Mario says that he'll never get married because the only woman who'd marry him would be a crazy woman and he doesn't want a crazy woman. The girlfriend comes back and says that she doesn't feel well and it would be better if they headed for home. Mario stands and asks for the keys to Armando's car (!!), telling him he can't take her in a taxi in that state [Merci and Beth both: And why the hell not???]...

Advances for next week:

Armando hands the car keys to Mario and ends up in a taxi with Gabriela [Merci: which isn't anything wrong, but of course is going to become a Greek tragedy for Betty]. Betty is at the apartment, really angry, waiting for Armando. While Armando and Gabriela are in the taxi they are seen by Gutiérrez and they are worried he's going to say something. Gabriela tells Armando that if Betty finds out she'll have to leave the country.

commentaries:

Merci: Obviously, Armando and Gabriela haven't done anything wrong and Gutiérrez is hardly one to talk -- the woman he has with him doesn't look like she could be his wife. But of course, this is going to become a huge mess between Betty and Armando. How annoying!

Octavo Capítulo (20 enero 2002): El negocio con el Fashion Group

En la sala de juntas se reunieron Betty, Armando, Mario, Kenneth y Gabriela para finalizar los detalles del negocio con el Fashion Group. Todos están de acuerdo que es una fantástica idea... Gabriela explica que ella y Kenneth estarán a cargo de todo lo que sea producción para el mercado americano y piden que les faciliten oficinas, secretarias, carro, chofer, etc. Mario Calderón propone que todos salgan a celebrar. Betty dice que no puede, que tiene una hija y tiene que llegar temprano a su casa. Gabriela le pregunta que edad tiene la niña y Betty le contesta que nueve meses. Entonces Gabriela dice que hay que buscarle una Nana a Betty para que le cuide a la niña y ella poder salir con ellos. Armando interrumpe y dice que eso no va a poder ser porque a SU niña, de él y Betty, la cuida la mamá de Betty. Gabriela queda asombrada cuando Armando le aclara que él y Betty están casados. Betty le dice que está sorprendida que no lo supiera, ya que todo el mundo lo sabe. Betty se levanta y se va después de despedirse. Mario le había dicho a Armando que parecía que le habían dado la noche libre ya que Betty no se opuso a que él saliera. Armando se excusa y sale en busca de Betty. Mario dice que parece que serán solo tres para la cena porque Armando no va a poder ir. Armando busca a Betty en su oficina pero ella no está allí.

Los preparativos de Aura María: En el taller de Hugo el Cuartel (menos Mariana) está ayudando a Aura María a arreglarse. Sandra le pregunta sus planes para cuando se case con Freddy ya que obviamente no podrán vivir con ella y Mariana. Sandra en realidad está preocupada por conseguir otra compañera de apartamento para cubrir los gastos... Betty llega y les cuenta lo que pasó en la reunión y sobre todo lo de la salida a comer propuesta por Mario y que ella no va, pero que no le molesta que Armando vaya. Todas le dicen que confían en el buen comportamiento de Armando. Armando llega y le pide a Betty hablar a solas.

Armando y Betty -- la salida a comer: Armando está de afán por aclararle a Betty que él no tenía idea de que Mario Calderón iba a proponer salir. También le dice que hay que aceptar que ese tipo de salidas después de un acuerdo como el que hicieron con el Fashion Group no tienen nada de malo. Entonces le dice que Calderón vaya con Gabriela y Kenneth y que los gastos correrán por parte de EcoModa. Betty se extraña de que Armando no vaya a ir. Él le dice que no, que él sabe que ella no soporta a Calderón y no quiere incomodarla. Que él prefiere irse a la casa con ella, que no quiere ir solo sin ella. Ella le pregunta si le está pidiendo permiso y él le contesta que no, que autorización sí. Ella le dice que se vaya tranquilo, que tiene su voto de confianza. Le da un beso y se va aparentemente muy contenta (le hace una de sus famosas media guiñadas) hacia el taller. Hay que admitir que Armando se portó como todo un campeón y fue sincerísimo en todo lo que le habló a Betty. Betty volvió al taller y se le quitó la alegría y le comentó a las del Cuartel acerca de la salida de Armando. Obviamente no está tan tranquila como le aparentó a Armando. Armando vuelve a la sala de juntas y dice que tan pronto termine un par de cosas se pueden ir. Mario queda sorprendido de que le hayan dado permiso y se pone a hablar como un niñito. Armando comenta que Mario tiene problemas del lenguaje y le da un golpe en el brazo para que deje de hacer payasadas. Cuando Armando se va, Kenneth, Mario y Gabriela comentan acerca de que ésta es la primera vez desde que Armando está casado que sale sin Betty...

El compromiso de Aura María y Freddy: La brillante solución de Freddy para quitarle la sortija del dedo a Jenny fue conseguir un anti-inflamatorio para inyectarle en el dedo y si eso fallaba, pues usar un serrucho para abrir la sortija. Jenny no dejó que le inyectara nada y menos lo dejó usar el serrucho. Estuvieron escondidos en la oficina de Gutiérrez para tratar de resolver el problema, pero nada. Luego Freddy llamó a su abuelita para pedirle consejos y ella le recomendó que usara una crema o agua y jabón. Ninguna de las dos cosas funcionó y a Freddy lo agarró Mariana con las manos en la masa, en el baño de mujeres, tratando de quitarle la sortija a Jenny. Las del Cuartel ayudaron a Aura María a vestirse para estar lista para el gran momento de la pedida de mano. En el pasillo, Freddy le dice a Aura María que la quiere, que es la única mujer que ha querido en su vida y que se quiere casar con ella lo más pronto posible. Ella le pregunta por la sortija y él empieza a balbusear. Aura María le dice que sin sortija no hay compromiso. Por fin sale Mariana del baño con Jenny, que muy orgullosa enseña la sortija que tiene atascada en el dedo. Aura María le da una bofetada a Freddy, Sandra otra, Sofía y Bertha le meten sendos puños por la barriga y Mariana lo remata con un golpe en el brazo. El escándalo es tal que Betty, Armando y los demás salen a preguntar que está pasando. Aura María está llorando desconsolada y todos se enteran del problema. Kenneth se pone muy contento de que Aura María no esté comprometida. Betty agarra a Armando por el brazo y lo aparta del grupo para pedirle que por favor se lleve a la gente del Fashion Group porque está muy apenada por todo el problema. Armando le dice que sí, le da un beso y le dice que la ama y que la estará llamando durante la noche. Cuando están listos para irse, Kenneth dice que prefiere no ir, que los colombianos son muy fiesteros y él prefiere hacer unas llamadas e irse al hotel a descansar. Gabriela se percata que Kenneth se quedará con el carro y el chofer. Mario dice que él no tiene su carro, y Armando aclara que él tiene el carro de Betty y él, pero no se puede usar. Betty le dice que no hay problema, que ella le pide a Nicolás que la lleve a la casa. Armando se cerciora de que eso no sea problema y le da otro beso y se despide diciéndole que la llamará por teléfono...

En el garaje de EcoModa rumbo a la cena...: Armando le abre la puerta de atrás del carro a Gabriela para que se siente, pero Calderón empieza a ponerse insoportable y decir que Gabriela se debe sentar al frente, pero que Armando no quiere que lo haga para que no lo vean con alguien que no sea su esposa. Armando está ya que pronto va a matar a Calderón. Gabriela dice en broma que entonces se sienten ella y Mario juntos atrás y Armando haga de chofer. Armando lleva a Gabriela hasta el lado del pasajero y le dice a Calderón que se siente atrás. Calderón le dice que su colita no le va a caber en el asiento de Camila y Armando le dice que se deje de bobadas. Entonces Calderón saca la pañalera de la niña y le pregunta si ese es su maletín ejecutivo o si tiene problemas de incontinencia. Cuando Gabriela se sienta hay un ruido ya que se sentó encima de dos juguetes de Gabriela, Enrique de Plaza Sésamo y un Furby que Armando dice es el juguete favorito de la niña. Entonces Armando se asusta, ya que Gabriela está pisando a la muñeca favorita de Camila, Rosita (la que Armando usa para hablar). Armando le da todos los juguetes a Calderón y él se pone a hablar con la marioneta de Rosita. Gabriela le pide que se calle y le dice a Armando que cuando Mario tenga hijos se las cobre. Mario le dice que él no va a tener niños porque van a ser como él. Pero después recapacita y dice que sí, que sería buenísimo para así tener alguien con quien compartir aventuras. Gabriela le dice que mejor que no, y que cuando se muera lo cremen cosa de que no puedan clonarlo. Armando se horroriza de que hayan dos Mario Calderón en el mundo. Mario, que está más insoportable que Freddy, cierra todo con broche de oro poniéndose el tete de la niña en la boca.

De vuelta al segundo piso de EcoModa...: Escuchamos y vemos a Kenneth hablando por teléfono en inglés acerca del acuerdo al que llegaron con EcoModa. Él sale de la sala de juntas y vemos a las del Cuartel chismeando en los escritorios de Bertha y Sofía. El teléfono de Sandra suena y Kenneth trata de que las del Cuartel lo contesten, pero ellas no le paran bolas. Kenneth contesta en inglés y por fin se acuerda de hablar en español. Es Wilson para anunciar que Efraín está abajo esperando a Jenny. Kenneth por fin logra que las del Cuartel le presten atención y dice que el Sr. Pupuchurro está buscando a la Señora Jenny. Sofía le pega un grito a Jenny para que salga del baño y ella sale diciendo que no quiere ver a Efraín porque si la ve con la sortija de Freddy la mata. Kenneth le da el mensaje a Wilson. Efraín se enoja y sube a buscar a Jenny. Cuando se da cuenta de lo de la sortija y se entera que es de Freddy, quiere armar pelea. Betty les pide a todos que se calmen. Por fin se van Jenny y Efraín, no sin antes Sofía reclamarle que le debe la pensión alimenticia. Efraín le dice que no lo moleste, que lo diagnosticaron con tensión alta. Freddy está preocupado porque Aura María no lo quiere ver. Le pide a las del Cuartel que le digan cuánto la quiere y se va para su casa. Aura María sale y pregunta si Freddy ya se fue. Le dicen que sí y le dan el mensaje, pero a ella no le importa. Kenneth la ve y le pregunta cómo está. Ella le comenta que mejor. Él le ofrece llevarla a su casa, pero Aura María le dice que no, que prefiere estar sola. Sandra aclara que ella y Mariana la acompañarán. Kenneth se va y las del Cuartel le comentan a Aura María que suerte tiene de que el gringo esté tan atento. Aura María les dice que no hablen así. Aura María les pide a las amigas que la acompañen a emborracharse, pero nadie quiere ir, y menos Betty. Aura María le dice que aproveche que Armando se fue de rumba. Betty dice que él no se fue de rumba, que no la molesten más.

En casa de Betty: No tengo ni idea de cómo ocurrió esto, pero en los tres días que han transcurrido desde que comenzó la serie, Armando y Betty han adquirido un nuevo y lujusísimo apartamento. Los muebles son nuevos, todo está organizadito como si por arte de magia. En el apartamento la reciben Don Hermes y Doña Julia, que se extrañan de que Armando no esté con ella ya que supuestamente iban a celebrar el nuevo apartamento -- del cual Don Hermes dice Daniel Valencia no podrá decir nada malo. Betty les cuenta que Armando fue a una cena de negocios solo, con la gente del Fashion Group. Ellos se extrañan ya que Betty y Armando siempre salen juntos. Betty por fin tiene que admitir que no fue ya que Mario Calderón estaba. Don Hermes dice que el diablo es puerco y tiene nombre propio: Mario Calderón. Doña Julia dice que no se quiere meter en el matrimonio de Betty (pero lo hace) y dice que con Mario Calderón ahora Armando volverá a sus andanzas de siempre. Betty les dice que confía en Armando, que él le dijo que llegaría temprano. Añade que si no lo hace, estaría sentando un malísimo precedente y le pondría en bandeja de plata las razones para que Mario Calderón no se le acerque nunca más.

La cena de negocios: Armando, Mario y Gabriela llegan a un restaurante muy elegante y los recibe la anfitriona, muy contenta de verlos, sobre todo a Armando que parece hace mil años no pasa por allí. Mario le pide su mesa de costumbre, al lado del baño de las mujeres. Armando enseguida le dice a la muchacha que les de otra mesa que no sea esa (si no me equivoco, de fondo se escuchan cantando la agrupación que tanto nos gustaba en Yo soy Betty, la fea). Desde la barra, una amiguita de Calderón lo llama y él muy feliz la invita a que los acompañe a la mesa. Armando, que está claramente incómodo con el comportamiento de Mario (Gabriela se nota incomodísima también) insiste en que Gabriela se siente al lado de la amiguita de Mario y que Mario se siente al lado de él. Mario presenta a su amiguita como una colombiana de descendencia japonesa... La niñita se ve que es de armas tomadas. La anfitriona llega a tomar el pedido de tragos y la amiguita de Mario no pide nada ya que tiene un cocktail (que obviamente no es el primero de la noche). Gabriela pide tequila. Armando pide una limonada o una naranjada, y Mario lo interrumpe y pide que les traigan dos whiskeys de 18 años. Mario está todo acaramelado con su amiguita y quejándose de que están sentados "tan lejos". Mario pide que los disculpen y se levanta y lleva a Armando aparte para preguntarle que le pasa. Armando le dice que el plan era una cena de tres, que estando en un sitio dónde los conoce todo el mundo él no quiere que aparente ser que están en algo impropio. Mario le reclama que haya pedido limonada (bebida "gay" le dice) y Armando le dice que él no quiere llegar con tufo a su casa... Por fin se sientan. Mario agarra dos flores del cocktail de su amiguita y dice que esta noche él y Armando saldrán del closet y entrarán al club Lombardi. También dice que son parte del grupo de Dago García y Felipe Salamanca (si no me equivoco, los libretistas de Pedro, el Escamoso)... Armando le advierte que deje la tontería. Gabriela está que mata a Mario. Para que Mario se tranquilice, Armando le dice que haga lo que quiera y se cambian de asiento para que Mario quede con su grilla y Armando se siente al lado de Gabriela. La grilla se toma el cocktail de un trago y Mario le ofrece del whiskey. Insoportables, se empiezan a besuquear. Armando y Gabriela están de trágame tierra. Los vemos comiendo a todos, menos la grilla que pide permiso y dice que ya vuelve. Gabriela comenta que no ha comido nada y Armando dice que ella come alcohol. Mario dice que ese es su régimen de belleza, conservarse en alcohol. Entonces Mario empieza a hacer cuentos de sus aventuras con Armando, de como Armando era el hombre más codiciado de la ciudad, que las mujeres estaban con Mario por conocer a Armando, que había sido un príncipe azul. Armando y Gabriela le preguntan por qué habla de él como si se hubiera muerto. Mario dice que desde que se casó en la Iglesia Santa Teresita (a dónde no lo invitaron y lo dejaron con regalo comprado, según él), Armando dejó de ser... Gabriela comenta que ella no se ha casado por circunstancias de la vida, porque está dedicada a su trabajo pero que no tiene nada contra los casados. Al contrario, les desea lo mejor. Mario dice que él nunca se va a casar porque la única mujer que se casaría con él sería una loca, y él no quiere una loca. La grilla regresa y dice que se siente mal y que mejor se vayan para la casa. Mario se levanta y le pide las ¡llaves! del carro a Armando, diciéndole que no se la puede llevar en un taxi en ese estado (¿y por qué demonios no?)...

Avances de la semana que viene...: Armando le entrega las llaves del carro a Mario y termina en un taxi con Gabriela (que no tiene nada de malo, pero por supuesto va a ser una tragedia griega para Betty). Betty está esperando a Armando enojadísima en el apartamento. Mientras Armando y Gabriela están en el taxi, los ve Gutiérrez y ellos se preocupan que vaya a decir algo. Gabriela le dice a Armando que si Betty se entera se tendrá que ir del país. Obviamente ellos no han hecho nada malo, y Gutiérrez es el que menos puede hablar -- la mujer que tenía a su lado no parecía ser su esposa. Pero, por supuesto esto va a crear tremendo lío entre Betty y Armando. ¡Qué jartera!

1/27//02. Mario and Susy? leave the dinner with Armando and Gabriela and go to a motel. Gutierez and Jenny? go to the same motel, but he gets a call from his wife. Betty refuses to call Armando, pretends to be asleep when he calls her. Armando gets into an accident with a taxi after leaving the motel, calls Armando because the car is his. Armando gives him the address of the motel and just as he drives up with Gabriela in a taxi, Gutierrez and Jenny are driving out and they see each other. Unfortunately, Betty is the real owner so the police prepare to take the car in. The taxi driver asks for a lot of money; Armando negotiates it down. Unknown to him, Susy? has fallen asleep in the back seat. He drives home, lies to Betty. The next morning, he finds Susy in the back seat.

Http://www.rincondebetty.com/ecoingles.htm: episode 9

In the restaurant...

Mario tells Armando that the party needs to continue, it doesn't matter that he and Suji (or whatever her name is) have to go. Armando doesn't want to give his car keys to Mario, so Mario promptly sits back down with his girlfriend and they start to kiss again. This makes Armando and Gabriela really uncomfortable, so Armando gives his keys to Mario. Gabriela wants them all to leave together so as to avoid Armando having a heart attack over having to leave the restaurant alone with her, but Armando the Handsome Fool has faith in Mario the Idiot... Armando tells Mario to take Suji home and come back right away. Once Mario and his little friend have left, Gabriela stands and changes her seat so that it doesn't look as if Armando and she are "together." They toast the deal, but with WATER. Gabriela, an intelligent woman, tells Armando that Mario isn't his best friend -- instead, he'll be the death of him. She tells Armando he's handsome, successful, cultured, intelligent [Merci: yes, but with extremely high levels of fool!], attractive. Gabriela makes it clear to Armando that she's not flirting with him as she respects his wife. At this, Armando remembers he hasn't called Betty. Gabriela asks if Betty is the jealous type and Armando says no [liar!], that Betty doesn't worry about anything.

In Betty and Armando's magical apartment...

Betty is 'like water for chocolate' (??) because Armando hasn't called, but she swears she's not going to call him -- she is not Marcela Valencia. She mocks how Armando had spoken to her before leaving --"Monstris, I'll be home early." Just then the phone rings and Betty realizes it's Armando. She runs to her room and throws herself on the bed before answering, and acts as if she had been asleep [Merci: i don't know why she did that -- it's not as if he had a camera there and could see where she was when she answered...]. Armando starts to speak to her very lovingly but screws it up by lying to her that he's there with Calderón and Gabriela. He tells her they're just finishing up the wine and eating desert and in 20 minutes he'll be home. He tells her he loves her [Merci: which is the truth, Armandito would be a little angel if he weren't such a LIAR]. When he hangs up, he wonders in a complaining tone where that cretin Calderón could be...

Where is that cretin Calderón?

The cretin Calderón, who has the hormones of an adolescent at the hight of puberty, has had the so-brilliant idea of taking Suji to a motel. There they are met by an employee with two cups of brandy who effusively greets Mario, asking if he wants his usual room. Mario tells him yes.

To add to the night's complications, Gutiérrez arrives at the same motel --it appears EcoModa has an account there-- with a Miss Ramírez [Merci: I think this is the character that's going to be the new secretary -- she looks a bit like Patricia]. The employee offers them two drinks and Gutiérrez, a rat as always, tells her they're just there to discuss her promotion. She reminds him she has a boyfriend. He tells her they're just going to talk business. They're given Room 69, which Gutiérrez finds quite enchanting...

Mario parks the car, leaves the emergency lights on and the doors open and runs off to behave badly with his little friend. Just then Gutiérrez passes by en route to his room, notes the car and realizes it's Betty and Armando's car. Miss Ramírez doesn't want to stay --she doesn't want the bosses to find out she's there. Gutiérrez tells her not to worry, their room is at the very end and no-one will see them. She also doesn't want Gutiérrez's wife to find out. He tells her not to worry about that, either -- he and his wife are separated, practically divorced. They get to the room and Gutiérrez immediately puts on a little music, and starts to make himself at home, taking off his clothing. She questions the need to disrobe and he tells her he always does so when he talks business. Then he tells her she's going to get the position of secretary to Gabriela and Kenneth. He asks her to take off her jacket and give him her purse [Beth: i think -- it could be his briefcase, or he hands her his wallet or his briefcase -- it's not clear to me, at least, from how it's written]. She reminds him again that she has a boyfriend and he is married. Just then his cel phone rings and of course it's his wife. He states that his wife does care about what he does since she's so in love with him [Beth: in spite of which they're practically divorced...?]. Because of that she can't know he's in a motel. After a big waste of time, he tells the girl to turn off the music and turn on the TV so it'll sound like he's at someone's house. He answers the phone and tells his wife that he's at an employee's house, that of one Galindo, who is sick. She doesn't believe him, so he changes his story for yet another mess. At last, she asks for the phone number of "Galindo's" house and Gutiérrez tells her the service has been cut off. He sends his best to the children and hangs up. Then he tells Miss Ramírez that they have to hurry and talk about the promotion. She tells him it doesn't look to her as if he's about to separate from his wife, and he tells her *he* is, but his wife isn't. Then he gets on his knees and starts to kiss her arm...

We see Calderón and the drunk girl back at Armando's car. Mario tells her they are late. He asks the employee to open the exit so they can leave, and to charge the room to his account. Immediately we hear the sound of a crash... You don't have to be a nuclear engineer to know that Calderón crashed Armando's car -- the third nightmare of the night!

Back at the restaurant...

They bring the bill to Armando and he and Gabriela talk about where Calderón could be. Just then the cel rings and it's Mario. Armando asks him where he is, telling Mario he wants to leave already, that he and Gabriela are tired. But Mario has the wonderful news that he's crashed Armando's car into a taxi and he needs the car's documentation. You can imagine Armando's reaction to this news -- poor guy, what a cross to bear!! [Merci & Beth: this is what he gets for trusting in Mario Calderón after all his experience with him]. Armando asks the waitress to bill EcoModa for their tab. He tells Gabriela to take a cab to her hotel while he goes to meet up with Mario. She tells him no, she'll go with him [Beth: not that i blame her for being curiouse, but why??]. We see them in the taxi and Armando doesn't really know where they're going. He gives the exact address to the taxi driver who, thinking Armando is going to the motel with Gabriela, tells him not to worry, he knows the way well *and* why they're in such a rush to get there. Neither Gabriela nor Armando knows what he's talking about. They arrive at the motel and the same employee greets them and offers them brandies. Armando just about dies of shame and explains to Gabriela that in Colombia motels are used by people who are going to "do things." Gabriela can't believe it. To top everything off, the employee recognizes Armando and asks where' he's been... Gabriela can't help laughing because now Armando really wants to die. Armando explains to the employee that he's looking for Mario and his car. The employee tells him they're at the corner. Just then we see Gutiérrez leaving in his car and demanding the gate be opened. Of course, he runs into Armando and Gabriela; they exchange greetings. Armando gets out of the taxi and goes to speak with Gutiérrez, and greets Miss Ramírez. Armando tells Gutiérrez not to mistake things: he isn't there for anything to do with the motel. He tells Gutiérrez to forget he saw him there, that this night never happened. When Armando returns to the taxi, Gabriela asks if they can trust Gutiérrez not to say anything. Armando tells her that it's not in Gutiérrez's best interests to say anything since he's out with an employee and not his wife. Armando pays the taxi driver 10,000 pesos and he and Gabriela head for the corner to find Mario.

Mario and the taxi driver...

Mario is arguing with the taxi driver he had the crash with, telling him that it was just an inconsequential little fender-bender. The taxi driver, who knows Mario looks like Money, complains that he's bleeding and shows Mario that he has a cut on his face. The policeman [Merci: who I think is the same as when Armando was dressed as "Princess Lily" and trying to get into EcoModa] tells the taxi driver that if he is hurt they'll have to go to Legal Medicine (??) for treatment. Just then Armando arrives and starts yelling at Mario. He calls him a disgrace and asks how he could have done this. Mario tells him he couldn't help it, that he didn't want to do it in the car out of respect for the baby, Armando, and of course Betty. Armando tells him of course, since it was getting late and he (Mario) thinks he's Juan Pablo Montoya, he had a crash. Armando says the problem has got to be resolved and hands the car's documentation to the policeman. Armando says that nothing serious happened, but the policeman indicates the injured taxi driver who wants to be indemnified. The taxi driver wants them to pay him "4 sticks," or 4 million pesos. Of course, Armando refuses [Merci and Beth: the interesting thing is, Armando doesn't demand that Calderón pay, since he was the one who caused the whole mess]. The taxi driver starts to complain that his head hurts, that he can't see anything. Armando tells him he's a lying thief. At this point, and to make things worse, the policeman asks Armando to whom the car belongs. Armando replies that it's his wife's car. Mario tells Gabriela in an aside that it's obvious since Armando and Betty are always together... Armando looks at Mario as if he's going to kill him and says he has his own car, but they use this one. The policeman tells him that they're going to have to impound the car and Betty will have to go pick it up the following day. Armando is about to have a nervous breakdown -- his only option to avoid this is to reach an agreement with the taxi driver...

At this point, Mario's girlfriend complains that she's tired, cold, and wants to go home. He tells her she can't. And now Armando's tragedy turns grave -- the girlfriend gets into Armando's car and goes to sleep in the back seat. [Merci: Can you imagine what's going to happen?]

Armando, Mario and Gabriela start to talk to the taxi driver. Armando tells him he's not going to give him 4 million pesos and offers him 100,000 instead, but the taxi driver tells him that it's not enough to even get rid of a toothache. Armando then offers him 300,000, but the guy tells him he thinks his neck might be fractured. Armando then says fine, they'll see him in court. So the taxi driver astutely says that if Armando does that his wife will kill him for having had an accident coming out of a motel. Armando shouts that HE didn't have any accident coming out of a motel. The taxi driver asks for 450,000 pesos... Meanwhile, the cars are being towed and Armando finally agrees to give the taxi driver a check for 500,000. Throughout all this, Mario does nothing, even though he was the one who caused the whole mess. They realize they're about to tow the cars away and Mario (so friendly and cooperative) tells the policeman that everything's been fixed. So the policeman asks Armando to sign a document and give him either his home or office address. Armando starts to panic -- the taxi driver gets a very interested look on his face when he hears that Armando works at EcoModa. Mario remarks that he hasn't seen his girlfriend and suggests maybe she's left in a taxi. Armando wants to leave and Mario, such a gentleman, tells Gabriela they'll take a taxi and he'll see her to her hotel. The taxi driver --cheeky!-- offers to take them. Gabriela asks Armando what he's going to tell Betty and he says he can't tell her anything. Mario says he'd rather be boiled in oil. Armando says he'd rather commit suicide. Gabriela, who we already know has two fingers in front [Beth: ??? is honest as a Boy Scout??], tells Armando it's better to tell the truth... Cheeky Mario suggests to Gabriela they go to the motel and she of course says no...

We see Armando en route to his apartment in Betty's car, innocently thinking that the worst is over. Of course it isn't since Suji is fast asleep on the floor of the car with her head pillowed on Camila's diaper bag. Armando arrives at his building and asks the doorman to open the garage door. He parks the car and goes up to his apartment. The elevator opens and Betty leaves running so that Armando doesn't find out she's still awake. He arrives in the bedroom, takes off his clothing and gets into bed. Betty tells him he's home at last. He says yes. She asks him what time it is and Armandito the liar tells her between 12:30 and 1am. She turns on the light and the alarm clock says 3am, so she asks him to look at his watch which also says the same thing, as does her own watch. Betty reproachfully reminds him he'd said he'd be home early, so Armando tells her a half-truth: that he'd been so late getting home because he'd crashed the car. She asks him if he's ok, and he assures her he is, that in the morning he'll take the car to the insurance agency. She asks him if he was alone and he tells her another half truth, that Mario and Gabriela were with him while he resolved the problem. Then he very lovingly kisses her and tells his "princess" to go to sleep, all the while thinking "My God, thanks!" that everything worked out fine...

In the morning... [Merci: Wow, we've reached the fourth day after only nine http://www.rincondebetty.com/ecoingles.htm: episodes!]

We see Armando in front of the mirror putting on cologne and talking to himself. He says he can't believe that he's lied to his wife, although it was a just a little lie. He swears he will never lie to Betty again, nor go out with Calderón... We hear Camila crying and Betty tells Armando that Don Hermes is already there so they call all go to EcoModa together. Betty kisses her father and Don Hermes tries to greet Armando with a kiss but Armando won't let him. Don Hermes tells him at home they should be more familiar and Armando should call him Papá. They all get into the elevator and Camila begins to cry with great gusto. They arrive in the building's lobby and Armando announces he will go get the car. Betty stays with Doña Julia, who asks what happened the night before. Betty explains about the crash, how Armando got home late because of it. Doña Julia says he was drunk but Betty replies he wasn't. Then Doña Julia says it was Calderón's fault, and Betty says they can't always blame everything on Calderón...

Armando gets off the elevator to look for the car, and his cel rings. It's Mario, telling him that Suji's sister called him to say her sister never got home. He also wanted to know if Armando was still alive. Armando says yes, all is well [Merci: Ay, Armandito, if you only knew what's in store...]. Armando tells Mario that Suji is a nightmare, an alcoholic. Just then Armando notices that said alcoholic nightmare is in his car and lets out a shout. He tells Mario, who replies that he (Armando) should get her out of there however he can [once again, the good friend...] and don't get him (Mario) into a mess (-- incredible!). Armando asks "Mr Army" (?? god of the armies??) to protect him. He opens the door to the car and gets Suji out; she asks him what discotheque they're at. He tells her they're not at a discotheque, and she has to leave. He tries to get her into the elevator but she won't go. She tells him she's very tired, she didn't sleep well. Then she hears Betty calling to Armando and remarking to Doña Julia that the likely thing is he's having trouble starting the car because of the crash. Sujo asks Armando what happened to her, if he fell asleep. He tells her no. Armando doesn't know what to do with Suji. He tells her his wife is looking for him and she asks him his wife's name... Armando puts Suji in a little room like a trash room and we see Betty coming down the stairs to the garage...

Advances for next week:

Who knows what will happen, we see Betty arriving where Armando is... When will this man learn to follow his own advice -- that lying is a sin that costs dearly?

Noveno Capítulo (27 enero 2002) En el restaurante... Mario le dice a Armando que la fiesta de be continuar, no importa que él y Suji (o cómo se llame la grilla) se tengan que ir. Armando no le quiere entregar las llaves del carro a Calderón, y éste entonces se vuelve a sentar con su amiguita y se empiezan a besuquear. Esto pone a Armando y Gabriela incómodos y Armando le entrega las llaves a Calderón. Gabriela quiere que todos se vayan juntos para evitar que a Armando le de un ataque al corazón por tenerse que quedar solo con ella en el restaurante, pero el bello bobo de Armando le hace caso al idiota de Mario... Armando le dice a Calderón que regrese pronto de dejar a Suji en su casa. Después de que se van Mario y su amiguita, Gabriela se levanta y se cambia de asiento cosa de que no aparente que ella y Armando están "juntos". Brindan por el negocio -- pero con AGUA. Gabriela, que es una mujer inteligente, le dice a Armando que Mario no es su mejor amigo, sino su sepulturero. Le dice a Armando que él es un hombre guapo, exitoso, culto, inteligente (¡sí, pero con niveles de bobo bien altos!), atractivo. Gabriela le aclara a Armando que no le está coqueteando ya que respeta a su esposa. En eso Armando se acuerda que no ha llamado a Betty... Gabriela le pregunta si Betty es celosa y Armando le dice que no (mentiroso), que Betty no se preocupa para nada. En el apartamento mágico de Betty y Armando... Betty está como agua para chocolate porque Armando no la ha llamado, pero jura que ella no lo va a llamar a él, que ella no es Marcela Valencia. Se burla de cómo Armando le habló antes de irse -- Monstris, yo llego temprano. En eso el teléfono suena y Betty se da cuenta que es Armando. No sé por qué, pero sale corriendo para el cuarto y se tira en la cama y entonces contesta el teléfono (ni que él tuviera una camarita para ver dónde estaba ella cuando contestara) y se hace la que estaba durmiendo. Armandito le empieza a hablar muy cariñoso pero la embarra diciéndole mentiras de que está con Calderón y Gabriela. Le dice que están tomándose los últimos vinos y comiendo postre y que en 20 minutos estará en la casa. Le dice que la ama (lo cual es verdad, Armandito es un angelito si no fuera tan MENTIROSO). Cuando cuelga el teléfono se queja, preguntándose dónde está ese cretino de Calderón... ¿Dónde está el cretino de Calderón? El cretino de Calderón, que tiene las hormonas de un adolescente en plena pubertad, ha tenido la brillantísima idea de llevarse a Suji a un motel. Allí los recibe un empleado con dos copas de brandy y muy atento saluda a Mario y le pregunta si quiere su habitación de costumbre. Mario le dice que sí. Para añadir más complicaciones a la noche, Gutiérrez llega al mismo motel -- porque parece que EcoModa tiene una cuenta ahí -- con una tal Srta. Ramírez (creo que este es el personaje que será la nueva secretaria, algo parecida a Patricia). El empleado les ofrece dos tragos y Gutiérrez se los empina los dos. La muchacha le dice a Gutiérrez que no deben estar en ese lugar. Gutiérrez, tan rata como siempre, le dice que solo van a conversar de su asenso. Ella le recuerda que tiene novio. Él le dice que solo van a hablar de negocios. Les asignan la habitación 69, lo que Gutiérrez encuentra muy encantador... Mario estaciona el carro, deja las luces de emergencia prendidas y las puertas abiertas y sale corriendo con su amiguita a portarse mal. En eso pasa por allí Gutiérrez camino a su habitación, nota el carro y se da cuenta de que es el carro de Armando y Betty. La Srta. Ramírez no se quiere quedar, no quiere que los jefes se enteren que están allí. Gutiérrez le dice que no se preocupe, que la habitación de ellos es al fondo y no los va a ver nadie. Además, ella no quiere que se entere la esposa de Gutiérrez. Él le dice que no se preocupe, que están separados, casi divorciados. Llegan a la habitación y Gutiérrez enseguidita se pone musiquita, se empieza a poner cómodo quitándose la ropa. Ella le cuestiona la necesidad de desvestirse y él le dice que él siempre lo hace cuando habla de negocios. Entonces le dice que le va a conseguir el puesto de secretaria de Gabriela y Kenneth. Le pide a ella que se quite la chaqueta y le entregue la cartera. Ella le recuerda que tiene novio y que él está casado. En eso suena el celular de Gutiérrez y es, por supuesto, su esposa. Él dice que a ella sí le importa lo que él haga ya que se muere de amor por él. Por eso no puede saber que está en un motel. Después de mucha perdedera de tiempo, le dice a la muchacha que apague la música y prenda el televisor para que suene como que está en casa de alguien. Contesta el teléfono y le dice a la doña que está en casa de un empleado, un tal Galindo que está enfermo. Ella no le cree, entonces él le cambia la historia con otro lío más. Por fin ella le pide el número de teléfono de la casa de Galindo y Gutiérrez le dice que le cortaron el servicio. Le manda saludos a los hijos y cuelga. Entonces le dice a la Srta. Ramírez que tienen que apresurarse y hablar del asenso. Ella le dice que no parece que esté por separarse, y él le dice que él sí, pero la mujer no. Entonces se arrodilla y le empieza a besar el brazo... Vemos a Calderón y la borracha de vuelta al carro de Armando. Mario le dice que están atrasados. Le pide al empleado que le abra la salida para poderse ir y que le cargue el cuarto a su cuenta. Inmediatamente oímos el ruido de un choque. No hay que ser científico nuclear para saber que Calderón chocó el carro de Armando. ¡Tercera pesadilla de la noche!

De vuelta al restaurante... Le traen la cuenta a Armando y él y Gabriela comentan acerca de dónde estará Calderón. En eso suena el celular y es nada más y nada menos que Mario. Armando le pregunta dónde está, que se quiere ir, que él y Gabriela están cansados. Pero Mario le tiene la gran noticia a Armando de que chocó el carro con un taxi y necesita los documentos del carro. Ya se pueden imaginar la reacción de Armando ante tal noticia -- pobrecito, ¡qué cruz! Eso le pasa por confiar en Mario Calderón después del historial que tiene con él. Armando le pide a la mesera que le facture la cuenta a EcoModa. Le dice a Gabriela que tome un taxi al hotel y él se va a encontrar con Mario. Ella le dice que no, que lo acompaña. Los vemos en el taxi y Armando no sabe bien para dónde van. Entonces le da la dirección exacta al taxista, que creyéndose que Armando va para el motel le dice que no se preocupe, que él sabe para dónde van y por qué tienen tanto afán por llegar. Ni Gabriela ni Armando entienden lo que está diciendo el hombre. Llegan al motel y el mismo empleado los recibe y les ofrece dos brandys. Armando por poco se muere y le explica a Gabriela que en Colombia los moteles se usan para que las parejas vayan a hacer "cositas". Y Armandito se lleva un premio, porque con todo y lo desgraciado que fue con Betty cuando lo del engaño, JAMÁS la llevó a un motel. Gabriela no lo puede creer. Entonces para completar, el empleado reconoce a Armando y le pregunta dónde se había metido... Gabriela no puede evitar reírse porque Armando ahora sí que se quiere morir. Armando le explica al empleado que está buscando su carro y a Mario. Entonces el empleado le explica que está en la esquina. En eso vemos al Gutiérrez salir en su carro y exigir que le abran la salida. Por supuesto, se encuentra con Armando y Gabriela, intercambian saludos. Armando se baja del taxi y le va a hablar a Gutiérrez, y saluda a la Srta. Ramírez. Armando le dice a Gutiérrez que no se equivoque, que él no está allí para nada que tenga que ver con el motel. Le dice que se olvide que lo vio allí, que esta noche nunca pasó. Cuando Armando regresa al taxi, Gabriela le pregunta si pueden confiar en que Gutiérrez no diga nada. Armando le dice que a Gutiérrez no le conviene decir nada ya que estaba con una empleada de corte, no su esposa. Armando le paga 10,000 pesos al taxista y él y Gabriela salen rumbo a dónde Mario.

Mario está discutiendo con el taxista del choque, diciéndole que fue un choquecito sin consecuencias. El taxista, que sabe que la pinta de Mario significa plata, se queja de que hay sangre y enseña que tiene una herida en la frente. El policía, que creo que es el mismo de cuando Armando estaba vestido de Princesa Lilí y tratando de entrar a EcoModa, le dice que entonces tendrán que ir a Medicina Legal a tratarle la herida. En eso llega Armando y le grita desgraciado a Mario, le reclama cómo le puede haber hecho esto. Mario le dice que fue algo que no pudo evitar, que no quería hacerlo en el carro por respeto a la niña, a Armando y por supuesto a Betty. Armando le dice que por supuesto, como iba tarde y se cree que es Juan Pablo Montoya, tuvo el choque. Armando dice que hay que resolver el problema y entrega los documentos del carro al policía. Armando dice que no pasó nada de gravedad, pero el policía le enseña al taxista herido que quiere ser indemnizado. El taxista quiere que le paguen 4 palos, o 4 millones de pesos. Por supuesto que Armando se niega. Lo interesante del caso es que Armando no le exige a Calderón que sea él quien pague ya que él fue el causante de todo el lío. El taxista empieza a quejarse de que le duele la cabeza, que no puede ver nada. Armando le dice que es un ladrón mentiroso. En eso, y para que la noche de Armando siga poniéndose peor, el policía le pregunta a Armando de quién es el carro. Armando le contesta que de su esposa. Mario por detrás le comenta a Gabriela que es obvio ya que Armando y Betty siempre están juntos... Armando lo mira como que lo va a matar y le dice que él tiene su propio carro, pero que usan este. El policía le dice que entonces se va a llevar el carro y Betty tendrá que ir a reclamarlo al otro día. ¡A Armando le va a dar un ataque de nervios! La opción es que Armando se las arregle con el taxista para así no tener que llevarse los carros... Y ahora sí que la tragedia de Armando se pone grave, mientras siguen discutiendo con el taxista, la amiguita de Mario se mete en el carro de Armando y se acuesta a dormir en el asiento de atrás.

¿Se imaginan que va a pasar? Armando, Mario y Gabriela se ponen a hablar con el taxista. Armando le dice que no le va a dar 4 millones de pesos y le ofrece 100,000 pesos, pero el taxista le dice que con eso no se le quita ni un dolor de muelas. Armando entonces le ofrece 300,000, pero el tipo le dice que tal vez tenga la nuca fracturada. Armando entonces dice que está bien, que vayan a corte entonces. Entonces el taxista muy astuto le dice que si hace eso la mujer de Armando lo mata por haberse estrellado saliendo de un motel. Armando le grita que él no se estrelló saliendo de ningún motel. Entonces el taxista le pide 450,000 pesos... En eso se están llevando los carros y Armando por fin accede a darle un cheque por 500,000. A todas estas Mario está como si nada, cuando el muy desgraciado fue el que causó todo el lío. Se dan cuenta de que se van a llevar los carros y Calderón (tan amable y cooperador) le dice al policía que ya se arregló todo. Entonces el policía le pide a Armando que firme un documento y además le de la dirección de su casa o su oficina. Armando entra en pánico -- la cara del taxista muestra muchísimo interés cuando escucha que Armando trabaja en EcoModa. Calderón comenta que no ha visto a su amiguita y dice que tal vez se fue en un taxi. Armando se quiere ir y Mario, tan caballeroso, le dice a Gabriela que se vayan en un taxi y él la acompaña a su hotel. El taxista, tan fresco, ofrece llevarlos. Gabriela le pregunta a Armando que le va a decir a Betty y él le dice que no le puede contar nada. Mario le dice que preferiría morirse quemado en una olla de aceite. Armando dice que preferiría suicidarse. Gabriela, que ya sabemos tiene dos dedos de frente, le dice a Armando que es mejor decir la verdad... El muy descarado de Mario le ofrece a Gabriela ir al motel y ella le contesta que preferiría una noche de pasión con el taxista... Vemos a Armando rumbo a su apartamento, el muy inocente pensando que lo peor ya pasó. Por supuesto que no, ya que la Suji está soñando con los angelitos en el suelo del carro, con la cabeza apoyada en la pañalera de Camila.

Armando llega a su edificio y le pide al portero que abra la puerta del garaje. Armando estaciona el carro y sube al apartamento. Se abre el elevador y Betty sale corriendo para que Armando no sepa que está despierta todavía. Él llega al cuarto, se quita la ropa y se acuesta... (ahí hace un gesto comiquísimo con las manos, como un boxeador que ¡lo logró!). Betty le dice que por fin llegó. Él le contesta que sí. Ella le pregunta qué hora es y Armandito el mentiroso le dice que entre 12:30 y un cuarto para la 1 de la mañana. Ella prende la luz y el reloj despertador dice las 3 a.m., entonces le pide mirar su reloj y también dice la misma hora, al igual que el de ella. Betty le reclama que él le había dicho que llegaría temprano. Entonces, Armando le dice media verdad -- que llegó tan tarde porque había chocado el carro. Ella le pregunta si está bien, él le asegura que sí, que por la mañana lleva el carro a la aseguradora. Ella le pregunta si estaba solito, y él le dice otra media verdad de que Mario y Gabriela lo acompañaron en lo que resolvía el problema y que además Mario había estado muy preocupado por ella -- Betty no se traga ese cuento y le dice que lo hubiera matado si por su culpa Armando había llegado a estas horas a su casa. Entonces muy cariñosito le da besitos a Betty, le dice que se duerma su princesa... Y piensa "Dios mío gracias" de que todo salió bien.

Por la mañana... (¡Wow, llegamos al cuarto día después de nueve capítulos!) Vemos a Armando frente al espejo poniéndose colonia y hablando solo. Dice que no puede creer que le haya dicho una mentira a su esposa, aunque fuera una mentira venial. Jura no volver a mentirle a Betty ni a salir con Calderón... Se escucha a Camila llorando y Betty le dice a Armando que Don Hermes ya llegó para irse todos a EcoModa. Betty besa a su papá, y Don Hermes trata de saludar a Armando con un beso pero Armando no se deja. Don Hermes le dice que en la casa deben ser más familiares y Armando le debe decir papá. Entran todos al elevador, la pobre Camila gritando a todo dar. Llegan al lobby del edificio y Armando dice que va a ir a buscar el carro. Betty se queda con Doña Julia que le pregunta lo que había pasado la noche anterior. Betty le explica lo del choque, que Armando llegó tarde por eso. Doña Julia dice que estaba borracho, Betty le contesta que no. Entonces Doña Julia dice que es culpa de Calderón, y Betty dice que no se le puede echar la culpa de todo a Calderón... Armando sale del elevador a buscar su carro y suena su celular. Es Calderón para decirle que la hermana de Suji lo llamó para decirle que la niñita nunca llegó a su casa. También para preguntarle a Armando si amaneció vivo. Armando le dice que sí, que todo está bien (ay, Armandito, si tú supieras la que te espera). Armando le dice a Calderón que la Suji es una pesadilla, una alcohólica. En eso Armando se percata de que dicha alcohólica pesadilla está en su carro y pega un grito. Se lo dice a Calderón, que le contesta que salga de ella como pueda (otra vez, que buen amigo) y no lo meta en líos -- ¡increíble! Armando le pide al "señor de los ejércitos" que lo proteja. Abre la puerta y saca a Suji, que le pregunta en qué discoteca están. Él le dice que en ninguna discoteca, que se tiene que ir. Trata de meterla en el elevador, pero nada. Ella le dice que tiene mucho sueño, que no durmió bien. Entonces se oye a Betty llamándolo -- y comentándole a Doña Julia que lo más probable es que no haya podido prender el carro por lo del choque. Le pregunta a Armando que le pasó, que si se quedó dormido. Él le dice que no. Armando no sabe que hacer con Suji, le dice que su esposa lo está buscando, ella le pregunta el nombre de su esposa... Armando mete a Suji en un cuartico como del basurero y vemos a Betty bajando las escaleras hacia el garaje. Avance para la semana que viene... Quién sabe que pasará, se ve a Betty llegando a dónde está Armando... ¿Cuándo aprenderá este hombre a seguir sus propios consejos -- la mentira es pecado y se paga muy cara?

2/3/02. On the way to work, Armando sees an earring in the car, assumes it belongs to Suki and, when Betty isn’t looking, throws it away...only to find out that Betty has lost her ear-ring. Gutierrez shows Gabriela and Kenneth their new offices, starts to interview secretaries (all young and beautiful and one “special” one), refuses to give a relative of Ines a chance. Gabriela becomes angry with Armando when she realizes that he hasn’t told Betty the truth. A drunk Suki arrives in a taxi looking for her purse. It is on the way to Betty’s office with a bunch of stuff taken out of her car.

Http://www.rincondebetty.com/ecoingles.htm: episode 10

In Armando and Betty's apartment building...

Betty goes down to the garage looking for Armando so they can go to work. Armando, who has hastily hidden Suji in the trash room, rushes over to Betty and asks her what she's doing there. She asks what *he's* doing and he tells her he was throwing away some trash he found in the car... Armando tells Betty to wait for him upstairs, but she tells him to just get in the car so they can go. Armando shouts for the gate to be opened so they can leave. As Betty gets into the car she notices she's lost the back to one of her pearl stud-type earrings, so she takes it out of her ear and puts it in a little change-dish sort of thing between the seats so she won't lose it while she looks for the back. Armando gets into the car, sees the earring and, thinking it's Suji's, starts to panic. Outside the garage gate, we see Don Hermes, Doña Julia, Camila, and some girl I don't know who is holding Camila [Beth: maybe the nanny?]. When Betty is looking the other way, Armando hastily grabs the earring and tosses it out his window. Just then Betty turns back and notices it's missing. She asks Armando where her earring is. Armando tells her he hasn't seen any earring. She tells him yes, she just put it right there so she wouldn't lose it. Armando, who with every passing moment is digging himself deeper and deeper into a hole, cannot believe his bad luck. Betty says it was her grandmother's earring and she has to find it -- her mother will kill her if she finds out Betty's lost it. Armando the Handsome Fool is on the rise!!

In the vestibule of Armando and Betty's apartment building we see Suji asking the doorman for help since she doesn't know where she is, she doesn't have her purse, she doesn't have any money and she has to leave. The doorman doesn't want to help her, but Doña Julia enters the building and upon hearing what is going on, tells the doorman to help the lady. Suji calls EcoModa and asks to speak to Mario Calderón but he hasn't gotten in yet. So she asks them (doorman & Julia) to get her a taxi and she takes off for EcoModa [Beth: and Doña Julia doesn't think anything about this strange girl's being in Betty and Armando's building and calling Ecomoda??]. Back in Betty's car, the poor Handsome Fool is whistling, trying to figure out what to do. The camera focuses on the floor in the back of the car where we can see Suji's purse. Outside Betty and Armando's apartment building, we see Doña Julia speaking with the doorman about what a strange girl that was -- obviously she was drunk.

At EcoModa

Armando and Betty arrive at EcoModa and Armando parks the car in front. Wilson asks Betty what happened to the car... She tells him she didn't crash it, that it was Armando who did that. Wilson remarks that it looks like the type of crash a woman would have. Just then Mario arrives and, seeing Betty, stays near his car so he doesn't have to get near her. Betty tells Armando she's going to go into the office; Armando stays to talk to Mario. All happy, Mario asks Armando how it went with Suji and Armando replies that she was drunk (Mario remarks that maybe that second bottle of whiskey hit her badly) [Beth: gee, you think??]. Armando decides to call the doorman at his apartment building to see if anyone saw Suji. When the doorman answers, Armando explains he's Armando Mendoza from Apartment 502 and makes up a story about seeing a drunk woman in the parking garage. The doorman tells Armando the drunk woman took a taxi... Mario tells Armando to calm himself, nothing's happened. Armando replies that he's never going to forgive Mario for what happened the night before. How could Mario do such a thing as to take a woman to a hotel in his (Armando's) car, crash the car, make Armando come to look for him, and on top of everything else pay for the "broken plates!!" Mario says he'll repay Armando for everything. Armando tells him he's also going to have to pay for some new pearl stud earrings for Beatriz Pinzón Solano de Mendoza. He explains what happened to the earrings but Mario doesn't get it. Armando becomes desperate -- he doesn't know how to make Mario understand. He tells him the earrings have sentimental value because they were Betty's dead grandmother's. Mario says Betty's grandmother must've been uglier than his own and if its about sentimental value, he'll give her his own grandmother's earrings. Armando says that if Betty should find out, he will pay with his life. Mario says there aren't any witnesses, don't worry. Armando says there were too witnesses -- Gutiérrez was at the motel, and saw him and Gabriela when they arrived in the taxi. Mario asks what Gutiérrez was doing at the motel and Armando replies that he was "imitating the ex-Vice President of Commerce," i.e., Mario.

Kenneth is talking with Gutiérrez as Gabriela arrives. Kenneth explains to Gabriela that Gutiérrez is going to take care of hiring a secretary for the two of them (Kenneth and Gabriela). Gabriela, who after the night before is wise to Gutiérrez's games, looks at him angrily and tells him that since the secretary will be an employee of Fashion Group, and Fashion Group will be paying her salary, she and Kenneth will have the final say on who is hired. She then asks what happened to the offices for her and Kenneth, and Gutiérrez explains that although they're not ready yet, they can still see them.

Betty arrives on the second floor and tells the Cartel about the accident Armando had. Then she says that once they know the story, the subject is closed. Gabriela overhears Betty talking about the accident. Bertha asks if there were witnesses and Betty tells them that Armando was with Mario and Gabriela. Gabriela gets a terribly worried look on her face. Kenneth is surprised that no-one's told him anything. Mario and Armando arrive on the second floor and Gabriela explains there weren't any problems as a result of the accident. Betty replies that the important thing is, Armando and Gabriela weren't hurt [Beth: note she doesn't include Mario -- LOL!!]. She then asks Gabriela, Gutiérrez, and Kenneth to accompany her to her office. Mario remarks to Armando that Betty doesn't seem to be very happy that he's (Mario's) alive. Armando replies that *nobody's* pleased that Mario's alive. Armando and Mario head for Armando's office and Sandra detains them to tell Mario that Suji called for him. He tells her he doesn't want to know from Suji and to tell her he's left. Armando, sarcastically, tells her to say Mario went to the island of Java.

In Betty's office, she offers her help to Gabriela and Kenneth; she wants to assure them they will hire a secretary and chauffeur for them. Gutiérrez says that he has it all under control and Gabriela asks him if he's subjected the chauffeur to the same test to which he subjected the secretary he wants to hire... Kenneth tells Betty he'd like to take a tour of the factory to familiarize himself with the employees. Betty says she wants to do something so that Gabriela and Kenneth know everyone. They are just heading off to look at their new offices when Gabriela asks to speak to Betty alone. Gabriela, who is obviously a sensible woman, remarks to Betty how badly she feels about what happened to the car. She says it bothers her that she was involved in this matter with Armando, that Armando was very uncomfortable about everything that happened. Betty tells her not to worry, it was an accident. Before leaving, Gabriela points out to Betty that she's missing an earring, and Betty replies that she lost it.

Aura María runs into Gutiérrez and Kenneth in the hall... Kenneth and Aura María greet each other very warmly. Kenneth remarks that they haven't greeted each other (??) and he's been thinking about her. Just then, Freddy arrives, takes in the little scene, and starts greeting everyone. Aura María ignores him, but finally asks him coolly, "How are you, sir?" then excuses herself to leave. Freddy remarks to himself that she wouldn't have treated him like that if he'd spoken to her in English and starts to say [in heavily-accented English], "What is this? This is the chair. This is the window..." [poor Freddy!!]

Aura Maria goes into Betty's office to explain what needs to be done to fix the car. Betty asks her to look for the insurance policy and to ask Freddy to take the car to the insurance adjuster, but not until after he's taken everything out of the car and put it in a bag. And if they find the earring, to put it in the bag as well; Wilson should bring the bag to her. Outside the office, we see Gutiérrez explain to the rest of the Cartel, Kenneth and Gabriela that Kenneth and Gabriela's secretary will be at the desk that used to be Blondie-Barbie's [Patricia's] and that Gabriela will be using Marcela's old office. Kenneth will be given an office closer to the production plant. Inesita approaches and tells Gutiérrez that a friend of her daughter's, who used to live in Canada, is going to come in to interview for the secretarial post and she would be really good for the job since she's bilingual. Gutiérrez is horrified at the idea he might play favorites in the hiring process [Merci: of course, since he's already "interviewed" Miss Ramírez in the motel...!]. Gutiérrez, Kenneth and Gabriela leave and Aura María wonders what witch they'll have put in as their companion. They are all in agreement in their hope that it won't be another Patricia. Just then, the elevator doors open and out walks Nicolás, who is quick to overhear his beloved blonde's name and asks what's up with Patricia Fernández [Beth: i thought he was looong over Patsy-Pat...?]. They tell him nothing, and explain about the interviews Gutiérrez is going to do. Nicolás decides he has to talk to Gutiérrez about this matter and asks Sofía to tell Gutiérrez so immediately. Sofía tells him she'll go running right now, but when he's down the hall she tells the Cartel she'll go running right now -- to sit down. Outside the door to his office, Nicolás opens his briefcase and takes out a framed photo of Patricia. He kisses it and swears he will never forget her! [Merci: I think we will soon have a visit from Blondie-Barbie to EcoModa!]

Armando and Mario are in Armando's office when Gabriela enters, furious. She tells Armando that he has to tell Betty the truth IMMEDIATELY, that she's very worried about what Betty will think of her if she learns what really happened. Mario tells her not to get upset, and Armando says there isn't any problem [Merci: The Dynamic Duo back in action!]. Gabriela reminds them there were witnesses, and Armando tells her that Gutiérrez won't say anything because he was there with an EcoModa employee. Gabriela replies that now Gutiérrez will use that as blackmail so he can put his little girlfriend to work as secretary. Armando states that Gutiérrez can forget about doing that... Gabriela continues to insist that Armando immediately tell Betty the truth. Just then, Aura María knocks at the door and enters to tell Armando she has the documents ready for the insurance adjuster and to remind him they also need to hand in the report the policeman made after the accident. Armando, so foolish, goes to hand the report to Aura María but Mario stops him -- those documents clearly state that Mario is the one who crashed the car, not Armando. He says it's would be best if Aura María would ask Freddy to come to Armando's office so they can explain a few things to him. Aura María, a bit confused, leaves and Gabriela, who has been listening to this whole thing with growing fury, tells the two "geniuses" that now yet another person at EcoModa will find out what really happened -- brilliant. Armando and Mario tells her that Freddy is a man and can be trusted. Gabriela is not at all convinced and insists, for the love of God, that Armando speak to Betty and tell her the truth. Armando replies that God won't be around to protect him should he tell Betty what really happened. Mario tells her to have faith in him. Gabriela replies that that's been her mistake all along -- having faith in Mario.

Freddy emerges from the elevator with a group of women who apparently are coming to interview for the secretarial post. He leads them to some chairs and remarks upon their clothing, how nice they all look [Beth: they're all dressed like they're going to a club, not like they want to work in an office... even Patricia managed to look at least a token effort toward looking like she was working in an office!! barely a token effort, but an effort nonetheless]. It's all to make Aura María jealous. She calls to him, addressing him as "Contreras," and tells him to go to Armando's office. He replies addressing her as "Fuentes," and asking what "Armando" needs. She reminds him that's "*Don* Armando" to him. Gabriela comes out of Armando's office and asks where Kenneth and Gutiérrez are. Aura María address her as "Doña Garza" and says she thinks they're in the showroom. Freddy makes some commentary and Aura María tells him to "be quiet, idiot;" then realizing she's done this right in front of Gabriela, immediately begs her pardon for the little scene. Gabriela remarks that he well deserves it. Aura María asks "Doña Garza," when she sees Gutiérrez, to please let him know that the candidates for the secretarial position are ready to be interviewed. Freddy busies himself organizing where and how all the girls will seat themselves, and remarks that maybe it would be a good thing to completely renovate the "old" secretarial staff. Sandra and Aura María are annoyed by the remarks [Merci: But, miraculously, no-one hits Freddy!].

Freddy enters Armando's office, makes a remark that Armando doesn't like and is told not to be impertinent -- but right afterwards he asks him to be seated, and calls Freddy "picarón" [rascal]. The three men seat themselves on the sofa, Freddy squashed between Armando and Mario... Armando tells him they are going to have a little chat between men, between executives. Freddy can't believe it! They are going to entrust him with a very important mission. Freddy asks who he has to kill and Mario replies that the question is rather whose life he is going to save. They explain that the one who actually crashed the car was Mario, not Armando, but that no-one can find out -- especially not Betty. Freddy comments that he can already see the headline: Doña Betty kills Don Armando and pulverizes Dr. Calderón. Armando tells him he has to swear complete secrecy, that this is a pact between men. Freddy stands and asks permission to leave. Then he reads the report and realizes where it happened -- near the motel. He remarks to Mario that he must have emerged very in love. Armando tells him to save his commentaries, and he and Mario both say "Shhhhhhhhh!" Before leaving, Freddy comments to Mario that the hotel has good Jacuzzis, and decent prices, but no saunas [Merci: For me, this was the best scene in the http://www.rincondebetty.com/ecoingles.htm: episode because of the acting of the three men and the things they said]. Mario quakes at the thought of what would've happened if Aura María had read the police report. Armando calls him "Dr. Papito."

Freddy asks Aura María for the car's paperwork and she very ungraciously tells him that Betty gave her instructions to take everything out of the car and ask Wilson to bring it all to her (Betty). Freddy asks if Betty said it in that tone, and Aura María tells him yes. Just then Miss Ramírez (the would-be secretary from the motel interview) arrives and tells "Saúl" [Gutiérrez] that she is ready for her interview. Since Kenneth and Gabriela are with him, Gutiérrez tells her she has to wait, just like everyone else, and then introduces them to everyone. When the others can't hear, he tells her in an aside not to get him in trouble. She remarks, in the tone of one making an announcement, that she has broken up with her boyfriend. He asks her why and she replies that since he told her he was going to leave his wife... Gutiérrez says that was last night... Gutiérrez asks Bertha to send the first candidate in for the interview. Bertha and Sofía remark that it looks like Gutiérrez has already picked the new secretary. Jenny emerges from the showroom area and asks who all these women are. Sofía and Bertha ignore her, so Jenny remarks they must be deaf -- appropriate to their age. Sofía acts as if she's going to pounce on Jenny, but Bertha restrains her. Freddy heads for the elevator and Jenny asks him who all these women are. He explains, and Jenny gets mad since she wanted the post for herself. Freddy tells her she'll have to show her resumé to Gutiérrez... He realizes that she is no longer wearing the engagement ring and, seeing this, Jenny immediately puts her hand in her pocket and takes out the ring. Aura María is watching all this and asks Freddy what he's going to do with the ring -- sell it? pawn it? He tells her that you never know who is going to end up with this ring [referring to all the women there who might be interested in a bachelor such as himself]. Freddy announces he is leaving, and Aura María answers, mockingly, what a shame he's going!

Just then the elevator doors open; Don Hermes leaves and everyone greets him. Jenny is especially attentive and tells him that he's getting handsomer every day, but he shouldn't take it as an impertinence. Jenny leaves and we hear Don Hermes' thoughts -- 'impertinence' is just what he wants...

Freddy and Wilson are going through the things in Betty and Armando's car. Freddy asks Wilson if he's found the earring yet, and Wilson says it isn't anywhere to be found. Freddy finds Suji's purse and they add it to the things in the bag. They get out of the car and Wilson remarks that a taxi driver who has already passed there several times is back again. The driver gets out of the cab and tries to get Suji out. She tells him she doesn't live here, he should take her home. He replies that he already did that but she didn't want to get out -- she's had him driving all over Bogotá. He finally gets her out of the cab and says she owes him 25,000 pesos. She tells him he'll have to wait until she can find her purse. Suji is about to enter EcoModa when Wilson stops her to ask where she's going. She replies she's going to see Mario Calderón. Just then, two more girls arrive to interview for the secretarial position. Wilson shouts for Mariana to take the bag and Camila's car seat to Betty because he can't leave the door. Mariana doesn't want to do it, but one of the girls offers to help carry everything.

Suji arrives on the second floor and Sandra asks her what she wants. She replies that she is Suji and she's looking for Mario Calderón. Sandra tells her he went to Java. Suji thinks that's strange since she just saw him the night before, they were together and her purse had ended up in Mario's friend's car. Gabriela comes out of Betty's office with Betty and Kenneth and runs into Suji. She grabs her and scolds her for being drunk. Suji denies it. Betty and Kenneth are in the elevator impatiently waiting for Gabriela and she finally tells them to go ahead -- she'll catch up. Inesita greets her daughter's friend and the other girl. Gabriela takes Suji as a present to Armando and Mario. Armando can't believe that she's there; Suji says she needs her purse. Armando says they'll go look for the purse in the car, but she (Suji) has to leave. Mario reminds Armando that Freddy was going to take the car to the adjuster's. Armando calls Wilson to ask if Freddy's still there and is given the bad news that Freddy's already left. Armando's starting to lose what little control he had, and when Gabriela asks if Freddy has a cel so they can call him -- everyone has a cel, right? -- Mario and Armando have to tell her no, Freddy doesn't. Suji states she can't go any further without her purse. Mario tells Armando to call the insurance adjuster, that maybe Freddy's already there. Armando is going to call but loses it and shouts that he doesn't know the phone number.

Inesita is introducing her daughter's friend and her friend (Natasha) around when Armando comes out of his office and demands that Aura María get him the insurance adjuster's on the phone, NOW! Natasha asks who is the guy with the crafty face and they tell her he's the Executive Vice President. Aura María puts Armando on the phone with the insurance adjuster's and they tell him that Freddy hasn't arrived yet. Armando asks them to have Freddy call the second he arrives. Then he tells Suji that he himself will bring her purse to her at her house, he'll give her money for the taxi, he'll give her money for the locksmith, whatever, but she has to leave EcoModa now. She stubbornly insists she can't go anywhere without her purse. Just then Freddy calls and Armando finds out that the purse is in the bag with everything else that was in the car, and Wilson has it. Armando heads out running --flying!-- to look for Wilson only to be given the most horrifying news of all -- that Betty already has the bag. In keeping with tradition, Armando tells Wilson he's (Wilson is) an idiot... Armando returns to the second floor and is headed for Betty's office when she returns with Kenneth. She asks him where he's going and he tells her he's going to look for something in her office. Betty tells him they should all go there to talk. Armando wants to die. Gabriela grabs his arm and again demands he tell Betty the truth. Armando repeats that he can't, that if Betty finds out what Mario did she'll toss him out of there and hurt the deal. Gabriela gives him an ultimatum: Now or never. Armando enters the office and sees the bag sitting on Betty's desk. Betty asks him what's wrong as he, bag already in hand, goes to leave with it. He says that the cleaning lady left a bag of trash there and offers to take it away with him. Betty replies that it's a bag full of things from the car and puts it back on her desk. She opens the bag and takes out the diaper bag, one of Camila's toys, and then sees the purse. The http://www.rincondebetty.com/ecoingles.htm: episode ends as she asks whose is the purse...

Teasers for next week's show... How will Pinocchio-- i mean, Armando, get out of this mess? [Merci: Can it be that Gabriela will "help" by lying that it's her purse...? We shall see...]

Décimo Capítulo (3 febrero 2002)

En el garaje del edificio de Armando y Betty...

Betty baja al garaje en busca de Armando para irse al trabajo... Armando, que ha escondido a Suji en el cuarto de la basura, sale apresuradito a dónde está Betty y le pregunta que hace allí. Betty le pregunta a él que estaba haciendo y él le contesta que botando una basura que había en el carro... Armando le dice a Betty que lo espere arriba, pero ella le contesta que de una vez se monta en el carro con él y se van. Armando grita a que le abran la puerta del garaje para irse. Al Betty montarse en el carro, se da cuenta que se le perdió la "mariposa" (la parte de atrás) de uno de sus aretes de perla y lo pone en un receptáculo del carro para que no se le olvide.

Armando entra al carro y ve el arete y piensa que es de Suji... Afuera del edificio de Betty y Armando vemos a Don Hermes, Doña Julia, Camila y una muchacha que no sé quién es pero estaba cargando a Camila.

Armando, bota el arete de Betty por la ventana -- y en eso Betty le pregunta dónde está el arete. Armando le dice que él no ha visto ningún arete. Ella le dice que sí, que lo acababa de poner allí para que no se le olvidara. Armando, que cada momento que pasa se hunde más y más, no puede creer su mala suerte.

Betty le dice que ese arete era de su abuelita y que lo tiene que encontrar porque su mamá la mata si se entera que se le perdió. ¡Armandito está con el bello bobo subido!

En el vestíbulo del edificio de Armando y Betty, vemos a Suji pedirle ayuda al portero ya que no sabe dónde está, no tiene su cartera, no tiene dinero y necesita irse. El portero no la quiere ayudar pero Doña Julia entra al edificio y al escuchar lo que está pasando, le dice al portero que ayude a la señora. Suji llama a EcoModa y pide hablar con Mario Calderón pero él no ha llegado. Entonces pide que le consigan un taxi y se va rumbo a EcoModa. En el carro con Armando y Betty, el pobre bello bobo está silbando, tratando de ver que hace. La cámara enfoca a la parte de atrás del carro dónde podemos ver la cartera de Suji.

Afuera del edificio de Betty y Armando, vemos a Doña Julia conversando con el portero acerca de la muchacha tan rara -- que obviamente estaba ebria.

En EcoModa

Armando y Betty llegan a EcoModa y Armando estaciona el carro. Wilson le pregunta a Betty qué le hizo al carro... Ella le contesta que no fue ella la que se estrelló, que fue Armando. ¡Wilson comenta que ese tipo de golpe parece algo que haría una mujer! En esos momentos llega Mario Calderón y se queda cerquita de su carro cosa de no tener que estar cerca de Betty. Betty le dice a Armando que va a entrar a la oficina y Armando se queda para hablar con Mario.

Mario todo feliz le pregunta cómo le fue con Suji y Armando le contesta que estaba borracha (Mario comenta que tal vez esa segunda botella de whiskey le calló mal). Armando decide llamar a su edificio para preguntar si vieron a Suji. Cuando le contesta el portero, explica que es Armando Mendoza del apartamento 502, y se inventa un cuento de que vio a una mujer ebria en el parqueadero. Le explican que tomó un taxi...

Mario le dice que se calme, que no ha pasado nada. Armando le dice que jamás le va a perdonar lo que le hizo la noche anterior. Que cómo le pudo hacer eso de llevarse a una mujer a un motel en su carro, estrellarse, hacerlo ir a buscarlo y encima de eso pagar los platos rotos de Mario. Mario le dice que él le rembolsa los gastos. Armando le dice que también le va a tener que comprar unos aretes de perla a Beatriz Pinzón Solano. Armando le explica lo que pasó y Mario no cae en cuenta. Armando se desespera, no sabe cómo hacerlo entender y le dice que los aretes tienen valor sentimental porque eran de la abuelita de Betty que está ¡muerta! Mario dice algo como que la abuelita de Betty debe haber sido más fea que la de él y que si es por valor sentimental, pues él le da los aretes de su abuelita. Armando le dice que si Betty se llega a enterar, pagaría con su vida. Mario le dice que no hay testigos, que no se preocupe. Armando le cuenta que sí hay testigos -- Gutiérrez estaba en el motel y los vio a él y a Gabriela cuando llegaron en el taxi. Mario pregunta que hacía Gutiérrez en el motel y Armando le contesta que "imitando al ex-Vice Presidente Comercial" -- es decir, a Mario.

Kenneth está hablando con Gutiérrez y en eso llega Gabriela. Kenneth le explica a Gabriela que Gutiérrez se va a ocupar de contratar la secretaria para ellos dos. Gabriela, que se caló a Gutiérrez desde la noche anterior, lo mira con cara de enojo y le dice que como la secretaria va a ser empleada del Fashion Group y ellos van a pagar su salario, ellos tendrán la última palabra al decidir a quién contratan. Ella pregunta que pasó con las oficinas para ella y Kenneth y Gutiérrez les dice que no están listas todavía pero los llevará a verlas de todas maneras.

Betty llega al segundo piso y se ve que le estaba contando al Cuartel lo del accidente de Armando, y les dice que ya que saben el chisme, el tema queda cerrado. Gabriela escucha a Betty hablar del accidente. Bertha pregunta si hubo testigos y Betty les dice que estaba con Calderón y Gabriela. Gabriela pone una cara de preocupación horrible. Kenneth se sorprende de que no le haya contado nada. Mario y Armando llegan al segundo piso y Gabriela explica que no hubo problemas después del accidente. Betty contesta que lo importante es que Armando y Gabriela estén bien. Betty entonces le pide a Gabriela, Kenneth y Gutiérrez que la acompañen a su oficina. Mario le comenta a Armando que Betty no parece estar muy contenta de que él esté vivo. Armando le contesta que nadie está contento de que él esté vivo.

Armando y Mario van para la oficina de Armando y Sandra los detiene para contarle a Mario que Suji lo llamó. Él le dice que no quiere saber de ella, que diga que se fue. Armando, sarcásticamente, le dice que diga que se fue a la isla de Java.

En la oficina de Betty, ella le ofrece su ayuda a Gabriela y Kenneth, quiere asegurarse que les contraten la secretaria y el chofer. Gutiérrez dice que él lo tiene todo bajo control y Gabriela le pregunta si le hizo la misma prueba al chofer que le hizo a la secretaria que va a contratar... Kenneth le dice a Betty que quiere ir a dar una vuelta por la planta para familiarizarse con los empleados. Betty le dice que ella quiere hacer algo para que Gabriela y Kenneth conozcan a todos los empleados. Se están yendo para ver las nuevas oficinas, cuando Gabriela le pide a Betty hablar a solas.

Gabriela, que es obviamente una mujer sensata, le comenta a Betty lo mal que se siente por lo que pasó con el carro. Le dice que le molesta haber estado involucrada en el asunto con Armando, que Armando estaba muy incómodo con todo lo que pasó. Betty le dice que no se preocupe, que fue un accidente. Antes de irse, Gabriela le comenta a Betty que le falta un arete y Betty le dice que se le perdió.

Aura María se encuentra con Gutiérrez y Kenneth... Se saludan muy cariñositos los dos. Kenneth le comenta que no se habían saludado y que había estado pensando en ella. En eso llega Freddy y capta la escenita y comienza a saludar. Aura María lo ignora, hasta que por fin le dice ¿Cómo está, señor? y con permiso para irse. Freddy dice que no lo hubiera tratado así si le hubiera hablado en inglés y comienza a decir: what is this, this is the chair, this is the window... ¡Pobre Freddy!

Aura María entra a la oficina de Betty para explicarle lo que hay que hacer para arreglar el carro. Betty le pide que busque la póliza del carro y que le pida a Freddy que lleve el carro a la aseguradora, pero no sin antes sacar todo lo que hay en el carro y ponerlo en una bolsa. Y que si encuentran el arete, que también lo pongan en la bolsa y se lo traiga Wilson. Afuera, vemos a Gutiérrez explicar que la secretaria de Gabriela y Kenneth se va a sentar en el escritorio que era de la Peliteñida y que Gabriela va a usar la oficina que era de Marcela. A Kenneth le van a facilitar una oficina más cerca de la planta de producción. Inesita le comenta a Gutiérrez que una amiga de su hija, que vivía en Canadá, va a ir a entrevistarse para la plaza de secretaria y que sería muy buena ya que es bilingüe. Gutiérrez se horroriza de que Inesita p iense que puede haber favoritismos en el proceso de contratación (claro, ya él "entrevistó" a la Srta. Ramírez en el motel...). Gutiérrez, Kenneth y Gabriela se van y Aura María comenta quién será la bruja que les pondrán de compañera. Todas están de acuerdo que ojalá no sea otra como la Peliteñida. En eso se abre el elevador y sale Nicolás -- quién escucha mentar el nombre de su rubia adorada y pregunta que pasa con Patricia Fernández. Ellas le dicen que nada y le explican acerca de las entrevistas que Gutiérrez va a hacer. Nicolás quiere hablar con Gutiérrez acerca de ese tema y le pide a Sofía que se lo diga inmediatamente. Sofía le dice que corriendo, pero cuando Nicolás se aleja le dice a sus amigas que se va a ir corriendo -- a sentar. Antes de entrar a su oficina, Nicolás saca de su maletín una foto de nada más y nada menos que Patricia en un porta retratos y jura que nunca la olvidará (creo que pronto tendremos la visita de la Peliteñida en EcoModa...).

Armando y Mario están en la oficina de Armando y Gabriela entra furiosa. Le dice a Armando que tiene que decirle la verdad a Betty inmediatamente, que ella está preocupada por lo que vaya a pensar Betty de ella. Mario le dice que no se angustie, Armando dice que no hay ningún problema (¡el dúo dinámico en acción de nuevo!). Gabriela les recuerda que hay testigos, y Armando le dice que Gutiérrez no va a decir nada porque estaba con la empleada de EcoModa. Gabriela le contesta que ahora Gutiérrez usará eso como chantaje para poner a la mujercita a trabajar de secretaria. Armando le dice que Gutiérrez se olvide de hacer eso... Gabriela sigue insistiendo que Armando tiene que ir a decirle la verdad a Betty inmediatamente. En eso Aura María toca a la puerta y entra para decirle a Armando que tiene listos los documentos para la aseguradora y le recuerda que necesitan entregar también el informe que llenó el policía después del accidente. Armando, tan bobo, le va a entregar los documentos a Aura María pero Mario no lo deja -- en los documentos está que la persona que chocó fue Mario, no Armando. Le dice que es mejor si Aura María le pide a Freddy que vaya a la oficina de Armando para ellos explicarle unas cosas. Aura María se va y Gabriela le dice a los dos "genios" que entonces otra persona más de EcoModa se enterará de lo que pasó (Freddy). Armando y Mario le dicen que Freddy es hombre y es de confianza. Gabriela insiste, por el amor de Dios, en que Armando hable con Betty y le diga la verdad. Armando le dice que Dios no va a estar con él para protegerlo cuando Betty se entere de lo que pasó. Mario dice que confíe en él. Gabriela le contesta que ese ha sido el error en todo esto, confiar en él.

Freddy sale del elevador con un grupo de mujeres que aparentemente vienen a la entrevista para secretaria. Las lleva a sentarse y comenta de su vestimenta, de lo bien que se ven -- todo para darle celos a Aura María. Ella lo llama diciéndole "Contreras" y que vaya a dónde Armando. Él le contesta "Fuentes" y le pregunta que necesita "Armando" y ella le recuerda que es "Don" Armando. Gabriela sale de la oficina de Armando y pregunta por Kenneth y Gutiérrez. Aura María la llama "Doña Garza" y le dice que cree que están por el show room. Freddy hace algún comentario y Aura María le dice "cállese idiota", y cuando se da cuenta que lo dijo al frente de Gabriela, le pide perdón. Gabriela le contesta que lo tiene bien merecido. Aura María le pide a "Doña Garza" que cuando vea a Gutiérrez le diga que las candidatas a la posición de secretaria ya están listas. Freddy se pone a organizar dónde y cómo se van a sentar las muchachitas... Y comenta que tal vez sería bueno renovar la "vieja planta" de secretarias completa. Sandra y Aura María se enojan por el comentario (¡pero, milagrosamente nadie le pega a Freddy!).

Freddy entra a la oficina de Armando y los tres se sientan en el sofá -- Mario, Freddy y Armando... Freddy hace un comentario que no le gusta a Armando y le dice que no sea atrevido -- pero enseguida le pide que se siente y lo llama "picarón".

Armando le dice que van a tener una charla de hombres, de altos ejecutivos. ¡Freddy no lo puede creer! Le van a encomendar una misión muy importante.

Freddy pregunta a quién hay que matar y Mario le contesta que la pregunta es a quién le van a salvar la vida. Le explican que el que estrelló el carro fue Mario, no Armando pero que nadie se puede enterar, sobre todo Betty. Freddy comenta que ya puede ver el titular del periódico: Doña Betty mata a Don Armando y pulverizó al Dr. Calderón. Armando le dice que tiene que jurar silencio total, que este es un pacto entre hombres.

Freddy se levanta y les pide permiso para irse. Entonces lee el reporte del accidente y cae en cuenta de dónde ocurrió -- cerca del motel y le comenta a Mario que le "salió muy enamorado". Armando le dice que se ahorre los comentarios, "shhhhhhhh". Antes de irse, Freddy le comenta a Mario que el motel tiene buenos jacuzzis, precios módicos, pero no tiene saunas. Para mí esta escena fue la mejor del capítulo por la forma en que actuaron los tres y las cosas que se dijeron. Mario tiembla de pensar lo que hubiera pasado si Aura María se hubiera enterado del reporte de la policía. Armando lo llama "Dr. Papito".

Freddy le pide los documentos del carro a Aura María y ella de bastante mala manera le dice que Betty le dio instrucciones de que recogiera l as cosas del carro y le pidiera a Wilson que las trajera a dónde Betty. Freddy le pregunta si Betty lo dijo en ese tono y Aura María le dice que sí. En eso llega la Srta. Ramírez y le dice a "Saúl" (pues así se llama Gutiérrez) que está lista para su entrevista. Como están Kenneth y Gabriela con él, Gutiérrez le dice que tiene que esperar como todo el mundo y además los presenta a todos... Cuando ellos no lo pueden escuchar, le dice que no lo meta en líos. Ella le comenta, como una gran noticia, que se separó de su novio. Él le pregunta por qué y ella le contesta que cómo el le dijo que se iba a separar de su esposa... Gutiérrez le comenta que eso era anoche... Gutiérrez le pide a Bertha que haga pasar a la primera persona para la entrevista. Bertha y Sofía comentan que parece que ya Gutiérrez escogió a la nueva secretaria. Jenny sale del área del show room y pregunta quiénes son todas esas mujeres. Sofía y Bertha la ignoran y ella comenta que deben estar sordas, algo propio para su edad. Sofía hace como que le va a caer encima a Jenny, pero Bertha la aguanta. Freddy va camino al elevador y Jenny le pregunta quiénes son esas mujeres. Él le explica y Jenny se enoja ya que ella quería el puesto para ella. Freddy le dice que tendrá que enseñarle su "curriculum" a Gutiérrez... Freddy se da cuenta de que Jenny ya no lleva el anillo de compromiso puesto y Jenny mete la mano dentro de su pantalón y lo saca. Aura María está observando todo esto y le pregunta a Freddy que va a hacer con el anillo -- venderlo, empeñarlo. Él le dice que uno nunca sabe a quién le va a tocar ese anillo (refiriéndose a todas las mujeres que están allí y se pueden interesar por un soltero como él). Freddy anuncia que se va a ir y Aura María le contesta, burlona, ¡qué pena que se vaya!

En eso se abre el elevador y sale Don Hermes y todas lo saludan. Jenny es especialmente simpática con él y le dice que cada día está más guapo, pero que no se lo tome como una falta de respeto. Jenny se va y escuchamos los pensamientos de Don Hermes -- fálteme el respeto todo lo que quiera...

Freddy y Wilson están recogiendo las cosas del carro de Betty y Armando. Freddy le pregunta si ya encontró el arete y Wilson le dice que no está en ninguna parte. Freddy encuentra la cartera de Suji y la añaden a las cosas en la bolsa. Salen del carro y Wilson comenta que ahí está de vuelta un taxista que ha pasado por allí unas cuantas veces. El taxista se baja del carro y trata de sacar a Suji. Ella le dice que no vive allí, que la lleve a su casa. Él le contesta que ya la llevó, pero ella no se quiso bajar, que lo tiene dando vueltas por todo Bogotá. Por fin la saca del taxi y le dice que le debe 25,000 pesos. Ella le contesta que tendrá que esperar hasta que consiga su cartera. Suji va camino a entrar a EcoModa cuando Wilson le pregunta para dónde va y ella le contesta que a ver a Mario Calderón. En eso llegan dos muchachas a la entrevista para la posición de secretaria. Wilson le grita a Mariana que le lleve la bolsa y la silla de Camila a Betty porque él no se puede alejar de la puerta de entrada. Mariana no lo quiere hacer, pero una de las muchachas le dice que la ayuda a cargar las cosas.

Suji llega al segundo piso y Sandra le pregunta que quiere. Ella le contesta que es Suji y está buscando a Mario Calderón. Sandra le dice que se fue a Java. Suji se extraña ya que lo había visto la noche anterior, que habían estado juntos y se le había quedado la cartera en el carro de un amigo de Mario. Gabriela sale de la oficina de Betty con ella y Kenneth y se encuentra con Suji. La agarra y le reclama que está borracha. Suji se lo niega. Betty y Kenneth están esperando por Gabriela en el elevador y ella por fin les dice que se vayan, que ella los alcanza. Inesita saluda a la amiga de su hija y la otra muchacha.

Gabriela les lleva el regalito de Suji a Armando y Mario. Armando no puede creer que ella esté allí, Suji le dice que necesita su cartera. Armando dice que vayan al carro a buscar la cartera, pero que se tiene que ir. Mario le recuerda que Freddy se llevó el carro. Armando llama a Wilson a preguntar por Freddy y le dan la mala noticia de que ya se fue. Armando ya está perdiendo el poco control que tenía y cuando Gabriela le pregunta si Freddy tiene un celular para llamarlo, Mario y Armando le dicen que no. Suji dice que ella no se puede quedar sin su cartera. Mario le dice a Armando que llame a la aseguradora, que tal vez Freddy ya llegó. Armando va a llamar, pero se desespera y grita que no sabe cuál es el número de teléfono del sitio. Inesita está presentando a la amiga de su hija y a la otra muchacha, que se llama Natasha, cuando Armando sale de su oficina y le dice a Aura María que lo comunique con la aseguradora, pero ¡ya! Natasha pregunta quién es él con cara de pícara y le dicen que el Vice Presidente Ejecutivo. Aura María comunica a Armando con la aseguradora y le dicen a Armando que Freddy no ha llegado. Armando les pide que Freddy lo llame tan pronto llegue. Armando le dice a Suji que él mismo le lleva la cartera a su casa, que le da plata para el taxi, le da dinero para el cerrajero, lo que sea, pero que ella se tiene que ir de EcoModa.

En eso llama Freddy y Armando se entera de que la cartera está en la bolsa con las demás cosas del carro y la tiene Wilson. Armando sale corriendo (¡volando!) para dónde Wilson y se entera de lo más horripilante de todo, que Betty tiene la bolsa. Para seguir con la tradición, Armando le dice a Wilson que es un idiota...

Armando vuelve al segundo piso y va rumbo a la oficina de Betty. Mariana le dice que la bolsa ya está en la oficina de Betty. En eso, pobrecito, regresa Betty con Kenneth. Ella le pregunta para dónde va, y él le dice que a buscar algo a Presidencia. Betty le dice que mejor van todos para hablar. Armando está que se muere.

Gabriela lo agarra del brazo y le exige que tiene que decirle la verdad a Betty. Armando le repite que no puede, que si Betty se entera de lo que hizo Calderón, lo va a echar de allí y se daña el negocio. Gabriela le da un ultimatum: es ahora o nunca. Armando entra a la oficina y ve la bolsa sobre el escritorio de Betty.

Betty le pregunta si le pasa algo y él con la bolsa en la mano dice que la señora de aseo dejó la basura allí y se ofrece para llevársela. Betty le contesta que esa es la bolsa de las cosas del carro. Betty abre la bolsa y saca la pañalera, un juguete de Camila y se encuentra con la cartera.

El capítulo se acaba con Betty preguntando de quién es esa cartera...

Avances para la semana que viene... ¿Cómo saldrá Pinocho, digo Armando, de este lío? ¿Será que Gabriela lo "ayuda" y miente que la cartera es de ella? Ya veremos...

2/10/02. Gabriela claims the purse is her. Rosario arrives with a friend to get the job of secretary which Gutierrez has promised to a lover. Rosario’s friend decides she wants the job, both speak English, and tells the cuartel negative things about Rosario behind her back.

Http://www.rincondebetty.com/ecoingles.htm: episode 11

Our beloved and adored Dr. Armando Mendoza emerges from the elevator in search of the bag with the things from his car -- before Betty sees it. Mariana tells him it's in Betty's office, so he asks her where Betty is. She tells him Betty's with Kenneth at the plant. Armando --poor guy, the handsomest fool to the Nth degree-- asks if Betty took the things from the car with her. Mariana replies no, they're in the office. Armando counts his blessings, but his luck doesn't hold: Betty and Kenneth arrive... Armando tries to slip away to Betty's office but she instead suggests they all go together --Betty, Armando, Kenneth, and Gabriela-- in order to talk. Gabriela again demands that Armando tell Betty the truth, but our Handsome Fool insists he cannot.

Inesita has presented Rosario, her daughter Janet's friend, to the Cartel. Rosario is accompanied by her "best friend," Natasha [Merci: Natasha is too friendly and affectionate for my liking. She's like Patricia, only worse...]

In Betty's office, Armandito tries to keep Betty from opening the bag, but he cannot stop her. Betty finds Suji's purse, but before another disaster for Armando should occur, Gabriela exclaims it's *her* purse that she'd lost the night before. Armando says that he hadn't even noticed the purse. Kenneth and Betty look a bit doubtful of the tale, but Gabriela manages to convince them and the case is closed. Betty starts to discuss the new employees (the chauffeur and secretary for the Fashion Group people) and Armando is clueless --poor guy, he's still recovering himself [Merci: Armando just about died on us for a moment there, but thanks to Gabriela he survived this brush with death].

Gutiérrez is in his element with the interviews for Kenneth and Gabriela's secretary. Some of the candidates don't seem to have any idea of appropriate dress for an interview, but this certainly helps their case with Gutiérrez... Soon it is Miss Sara Ramirez' turn. The little missy doesn't speak a word of English and there's nothing Gutiérrez can do about that. When asked, she proudly states she is "made in Colombia" instead of saying "I'm from Colombia"... She begs Gutiérrez to make good on the promise he made her in the hotel, saying she had left her boyfriend and could take a crash course in English.

Outside, the members of the Cartel are very pleased with Rosario since they have the hope that she will be hired. Rosario wants to know if she will be interviewed before 2pm since she has another interview. Just then Suji and Mario appear, and the Cartel comments that she is a 'friend' of Mario's who they imagine must be there to interview. They discuss how important it is to get the job since the person who does will be an employee of Fashion Group and paid in dollars, and will have the opportunity to travel to the US and be promoted within that company.

Natasha hears all this and it's clear she's interested in the job -- and that it doesn't matter to her if she has to go over her friend to get it. She excuses herself and goes to the bathroom where she asks Suji what she (Suji) is doing at EcoModa. When she realizes that Suji is not an impediment, she calls her mother and tells her she has found the perfect job, she will take care of Rosario in order to get it. Before leaving the bathroom she hides her purse behind one of the toilets...

Jenny gets off the elevator, shouting into her cel phone as she argues with Efraín. Apparently things are not going well between the Pupuchurro and his Pupuchurra: They are on the point of breaking up. Sofia behaves herself very well and pretty much ignores Jenny. Just then Jenny bumps into Don Hermes [Merci & Beth: who is a first-class dirty old man] and tells him she is bored with her life, she has no future, her Pupuchurro denies her everything. Don Hermes asks her who the Pupuchurro is and she explains its her husband [Beth: this does not necessarily mean that Jenny & Efraín are actually married; in many Latin American countries boyfriends and/or girlfriends are referred to as spouses]. Don Hermes asks if she's married, then, and she replies that she's not *married* married, but they live together. Don Hermes, so understanding [Merci & Beth: Puh-lease!! is this the same Don Hermes who didn't like Betty being friends with Aura María because she was a single mother, or with Sofía and Inesita because they're divorced??], loans her his handkerchief and tries to console her. [Beth: yes, those gagging sounds you hear as you read this are coming from me. as you will see as this series continues, i am not and never have been a Hermes fan -- the man just annoys me to death. were it not for the fact that Betty's long-suffering and much-put-upon mother Julia --who never deserved to be afflicted with Hermes-- appears to love the wretched man and does not deserve to be made desperately unhappy even if i do think she'd be much better off without Hermes, i would say that Jenny is *just* what he deserves. and the sooner the better.] She tells him she doesn't have anyone to look after or defend her [Beth: boo hoo... our hearts all break for you]. Don Hermes asks if her Pupi beats her and she replies no, it's just that he doesn't oblige her in anything. She doesn't like him any more and wants to leave him. Don Hermes sides with her and tells her it's better if they break up. She replies that he's an angel and she'd love to give him a kiss but she doesn't want to make trouble for him...

Armando, Kenneth and Gabriela emerge from Betty's office. Armando greets his father-in-law and introduces Kenneth and Gabriela. Don Hermes asks if they are from Miami and they reply no, they're from New York. Then Don Hermes starts telling them the story of relatives he has in the "neighborhood of Queens," how they have a little shop, and how if Kenneth and Gabriela should be in the area very likely they could get a discount. [Merci: poor Armando!]

Aura María, Bertha and Sofía take advantage of Kenneth and Gabriela's presence to introduce Rosario. They tell them that Gutiérrez is the one in charge of interviews. Gutiérrez comes out of the conference room with Miss Ramírez and Armando asks if he is working much. Gutiérrez replies not as much as Armando... Natasha takes advantage of the situation to 'unmask' Miss Ramírez in front of all by asking her in English how her interview went. Of course, Miss Ramírez cannot answer and is left looking like an incompetent in front of everyone. Kenneth makes sure that Gutiérrez removes her from the group of candidates and Gutiérrez very obligingly says, of course [in his Spanglish], "her English is fatal!" [Beth: as usual, he pronounces "fatal" the way it is pronounced in Spanish, i.e., instead of 'FAY-tall' he says 'fah-TAHL'). Natasha, like the good double agent she is, innocently begs pardon for having 'unwittingly' exposed Miss Ramírez, and starts speaking in English with Kenneth. She tells him she's sure that Miss Ramírez knows how to speak English, but it appears she doesn't understand it at all... Armando asks if she's there to interview for the position and she replies no, she's Rosario's friend is all. Natasha then asks the Cartel if they speak English and they tell her no (They'd asked her to explain what she and Kenneth talked about in English). She very delicately tells them she can help them learn so they won't remain "ignorant." She adds that she didn't mean to do anything bad to Miss Ramírez and clarifies to them that "the little Chinese" (Suji) is there on other business.

In Armando's office, they officially return Suji's purse to her. Armando and Mario look like two bad little boys who have just been saved from a major scolding [Merci: In truth, the faces on these two during these scenes were worth a million. They looked like the Disney characters Chip & Dale!]. Suji wants to know when she and Mario are going to go out and he suggests this weekend, as Armando's car will be fixed by then. [Beth: !!! Armando is pathetic -- i would've decked Mario for that!!]. Then Armando replies of course, and Mario can drive and they will decide over which cliff he will go. Armando suggests to Suji that she acquire a bathing suit because he is going to get her a jug full of whiskey... They say goodbye to Suji and Armando tells her not to hold her breath waiting for a call about going out again. Suji thanks Mario for an unforgettable night.

Armando shouts at Mario that he never wants to see Suji in the office ever again, and that she's not going to go out with him (Mario) even so far as the corner. Mario tells him to calm down, to remember they have a "cardiac" problem. Armando replies that everything is already resolved, there is no reason to worry.

Armando explains that were it not for Gabriela's intervention they would be attending his funeral and Mario would be exiled. Armando thanks Gabriela for saving his skin. Mario cannot believe Gabriela's 'masculine solidarity' and wants to hug her to welcome her into the "group," saying she is a "great friend." Gabriela tells him not to touch her and that she absolutely didn't do it out of solidarity with them. Her solidarity will always be with Betty -- this is the first and last time that she will help to deceive Betty. She leaves the office, slamming the door behind her. The Dynamic Duo are left there with their typical idiotic looks on their faces.

Rosario goes to her interview with Gutiérrez. Bertha comments that Rosario has the best résumé of all the candidates and obviously will get the job. Then Natasha sees her chance to attack and invents a whole story about Rosario's unstable mental history. She also remarks that she doesn't know what happened to her purse -- someone must've taken it... She tells Bertha and Sofía that although it pains her to relate something like this about her very bestest friend, she feels she must warn them if they are going to work with Rosario. This makes Bertha, who never needs any urging to enjoy gossip, as happy as would a bag of potato chips. Rosario is very professional, says Natasha, but she has a terrible problem with aggression. One former co-worker of hers had to be paid 4 million pesos so she could have reconstructive surgery, and another 2 million pesos after she threw him down some stairs. Rosario knows martial arts and is very violent. What's more, she's slept with her bosses and because of that they speak well of her. Bertha and Sofía can't believe their ears. They ask Natasha if she hasn't worked to try to help Rosario and she replies yes, twice. The two women have the same experience, they studied marketing then went to the U.S. to learn English [Beth: wait... didn't Inesita say her daughter was in Canada, not the U.S.?]. After that, Rosario dedicated herself to working for companies while Natasha opened her own business... As Natasha tells this story, Rosario is talking to Gutiérrez about how well her other jobs went for her, that of those she left after being promoted, once it was because the company went out of business and the other because they downsized. But all of her former employers will speak well of her. Rosario is clearly uncomfortable with Gutiérrez's questions [Beth: he is asking about things like her marital status and whether she has a boyfriend. typical]. She tells him she studies the martial arts. As she is telling Gutiérrez this, we switch back out to Natasha, Bertha and Sofía. Natasha tells them Rosario's aggression is due to her ex-boyfriend Moncho, a karate devotee. Bertha and Sofía ask themselves if Inesita knows this story, but Natasha says it all happened after Janet left the country. To conclude, she relates that Rosario is undergoing psychiatric treatment but that now it's only by phone because she threw a vase at the doctor and nearly killed him [Beth: a shrink that deals with an aggressively hostile patient by phone?? i *don't* think so!!]. After all her story's damage is done, Natasha reverts to the topic of her purse, and Sofía suggests she look in the bathroom -- Natasha probably left it there. After Natasha has headed off, Sofía and Bertha decide to call an emergency meeting of the Cartel...

In Hugo's workshop, Jenny is once again shouting into the phone at Efraín. She tells him to leave her things in the doorway, to sell the apartment -- everything's over between them. Inesita asks her if she's going to do any work, but Jenny just complains about her problem... Just then the rest of the Cartel arrives and Jenny tells Sofía to take charge of Efraín, but Sofía replies that no way is she getting back together with her ex-husband. Jenny leaves and the Cartel tells Inesita they have to speak with her about Rosario.

In Nicolás' office, he and Don Hermes are doing the accounts. Nicolás tells Don Hermes he's an old man now, and Hermes replies that he's still fine, very strong, and he challenges him to pulse [Beth: ??? oh, right, i remember right around now they were arm-wrestling, that must be it]. Nicolás calls him Don Hermenguildo Tyson Pinzón... They start to wrestle and the phone rings. Nicolás answers -- it's Doña Julia wanting to speak with Don Hermes to tell him to come to Betty and Armando's apartment to eat lunch. They continue arm-wrestling throughout this conversation. Nicolás is on the point of losing but is saved by Jenny's sudden entrance, which distracts Don Hermes. Nicolás cries victory while Don Hermes states that he was distracted by Jenny's angelic presence...

Don Hermes leaves to speak with Jenny, who apologizes saying she didn't realize he was busy. Then she tells him she broke up with her Pupuchurro, she's very depressed, confused; she invites him to have lunch with her [Beth: yes, and i'll bet she's expecting him to pay for it, too...]. He tells her his wife is expecting him. Then she asks him when he'll be back in the office because she would like for the two of them to chat, alone. He replies he'll be back around 2:30pm. So the cheeky, shameless and disgraceful one gives Don "Germenes" [Beth: a play on words with Hermes' name -- germenes means "germs," LOL! and so appropriate, too!] a kiss right on the mouth! Nicolás see this and repeats Don Hermes' favorite reprimand: The Devil is dirty, and old... [Beth: when Betty first aired here there was a lot of discussion about this "El Diablo es puerco" pet phrase of Don Hermes'; a search of the posts on the forum ought to bring up more info, for those who are interested]. Don Hermes tells him to get his mind out of the gutter, no-one is flirting with anyone. Nicolás retorts that obviously Don Hermes wants to adopt another daughter. He then recounts Jenny's notorious history, how she stole Sofía's husband. But Don Hermes isn't listening. Nicolás then tells him it's the fierce old man and his granddaughter [Beth: ??].

Betty leaves her office and asks her father what's gong on; he looks strange. He replies it's nothing and tells her he will come back later (she is surprised by this) because he has a meeting with Nicolás. Nico states they don't have to meet about anything at all but in the end he helps out the old man with his story. Don Hermes is leaving and Nicolás states that Betty had better take care since Don Hermes is headed for her apartment to 'level the fridge' [eat a lot]. Betty comments to Nicolás that Don Hermes does indeed seem strange. Nicolás agrees, Hermes is getting old, and tells Betty that he [Nico]won their arm-wrestling match.

The Cartel tells Inesita about Rosario's supposed problems and they decide that, as always, they should consult Betty. They go into her office but she isn't there and they return to the hall. There they run into Natasha and Rosario, who was just out of her interview. Rosario tells them it went well, but Gutiérrez's behaviour really made her mad, since he was asking