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

ECO MODA EPISODES / CAPÍTULOS 14-26

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

Telefutura

You may distribute this information (provided you do not charge for it) but must give credit to this web site (www.telenovela-world.com) and http://www.rincondebetty.com/ecoresumen.htm and retain all the citations / Puede distribuir esta información, pero tenga que acreditar esto sitio Web (www.telenovela-world.com) y http://www.rincondebetty.com/ecoresumen.htm e incluir todos los fuentes.

Please send additions, changes, corrections to diane@telenovela-world.com/ Por favor, envia adiciónes, cambios o correcciónes a diane@telenovela-world.com.

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

3/3/02. While Armando explains all the categories of women to Betty, we see several relationships with women that correspond to the different categories. Jenny does her best to get Hermes into her bed in the hotel, but he resists, returns home late to a silently crying wife and tells her he loves her. Aura Maria takes Kenneth dancing and sees Freddy with another woman. Kenneth is uncomfortable until Aura Maria has the DJ put on Rock Around the Clock when he really “rocks”. It is obvious, however, that Aura Maria and Freddy are trying to make each other jealous. Natasha flirts with Nicolas but in the middle of their conversation takes a call from her boyfriend and introduces him, over the phone, to Nicolas, then as she leaves with Nicolas puts his hand on her bun. Sofia’s husband visits and plans to stay in a separate room but leaves when Sofia points him toward the sofa. He accuses her of trying to get back at him for everything he has done wrong.

Http://www.rincondebetty.com/ecoingles.htm: episode 14

Betty's in Armando's office, talking on the phone. She tells the person on the other end of the line that she is waiting to hear from her parents before heading out for the dinner at her aunts' house... Armando is in the men's room, but when he returns --Betty says to the person on the phone-- they are going to continue looking at the at the Oracle of the Goddesses. Armando returns and asks Betty if she's talking to her father, and is it time to head for the aunts' yet? Betty tells him she's talking to Mariana and Sandra, who are in Party Mode.

Betty and Armando continue going over the Oracle and Betty keeps asking Armando about the various categories there. There is one called "Pending Accounts" which Armando explains has to do with things that weren't accomplished during the first date but which must be during the second. Betty asks Armando if he has any outstanding 'debts' in there and he says that the only ones he has are with her... Betty asks about the "Everest" and "Porcelain" categories and is told the "Everests" are unattainable women, whose heights can never be reached, while the "Porcelains" all appear to be sweet and delicate while in reality they're nothing of the kind.

As he's explaining this last, the camera cuts away to Natasha and Nicolás, toasting each other in a restaurant. She is even more cloying than ever and tells Nicolás that she is a friend willing to share everything with him: house, car, and bed. To emphasize her point, she puts Nicolás' hand over her heart/breast [Merci: our Nico just about faints from happiness]. That when he feels lonely, he has but to call her and she will open her house to him. Nicolás can't believe it! So as not to waste the opportunity, he tells Natasha that he feels lonely [right then]. She tells him he should go with her to her apartment. Just then the witc-- er, Natasha's phone rings; it's one "Mickey." She tells Mickey that she's with Nicolás, that he's a treasure, adorable, blah blah blah, and that he's going to go to her apartment with her. Nicolás doesn't understand the part of the conversation he's hearing, and even less so when she stops talking to Mickey to tell *him* to talk to Mickey. Then she resumes speaking with Mickey, going on more about how special Nicolás is, how he even ordered a very fine wine from 1964 that she and Mickey like so much that costs 400,000 pesos... Now Nicolás can't believe how much he's spent! He pays the bill and, as is his [bad] habit, doesn't leave a tip for the waiter. Natasha tells him not to worry about Mickey, he has complete [blind] confidence in her. Leaving the hotel, she puts Nicolás' hand on her backside...

Back with the Oracle, Betty asks who are the "Warped with Boyfriend" women. Armando explains to her that these are the ones that Calderón likes the best --[Beth: unless i'm reading it wrongly, Merci's writing seems to be a little unclear here -- i think she started to write one thing, then changed it to something else without deleting what she'd already written. hopefully i've got this correctly...] they are the single women with children and a precarious economic condition who are looking for men with money, a good social position, and nearly always older than themselves. For example: Aura María. As he says this, the camera cuts away and we now see her descending some stairs in a discotheque with Kenneth. They approach the bar and Kenneth orders a "Virgin Mary." Aura María asks for aguardiente [Beth: for those not familiar with this drink, it is comparable to vodka or gin -- clear in color and quite potent; the name literally means fiery water], but Kenneth says he doesn't want to drink because he is driving. Aura María explains that aguardiente is the typical drink of Colombia and asks for a bottle. Kenneth is horrified because he only wants to have one drink.... Aura María tells him that aguardiente makes people cheerful, happy, it helps them to 'tune themselves up' [Beth: yes, and then it makes them drunk, morose, and cranky. and not necessarily in that order...]. When he tries it, he is left almost breathless and has to ask for a glass of water to cool his throat. At this point we see Freddy arriving with some friends. His friends all greet Aura María very affectionately, and she introduces them all to Kenneth. Freddy greets them and remarks that this is his favorite place. Kenneth comments that he (Freddy) and Aura María have very similar tastes. The girl who arrived with Freddy asks if Kenneth and Aura María are a couple; Aura María replies that they're not -- they've only recently met. But Kenneth says (in English) "Why not?" and kisses Aura María on the cheek. Just then Mirella, the woman that Freddy had been speaking to on the phone from Ecomoda, arrives. She remarks that she met Freddy out dancing one night, but hadn't seen him again because he had a girlfriend. So Aura María explains that she had been that girlfriend. Freddy leaves to dance with Mirella and Aura María, who is obviously annoyed and jealous, takes another drink of aguardiente and tells Kenneth they should go dance -- and asks the barman to take the bottle of aguardiente to her usual table.

Back in Armando's office, Betty comes across the "red screen," which Armando doesn't want her to see. But it's too late -- it's open. This category is the same as the "Quick and Easies" -- they're women who use provocative clothing, are lower-class, willing to do absolutely everything. For example: Jenny.

Cut to the hotel room, where we see Don Hermes speaking to the Pinzón aunts by phone and telling them he's been delayed. Jenny comes out of the bathroom in her black negligée, ready to attack. Don Hermes cannot restrain himself and tells her she's "divine." She starts to complain about how sad she is at having to spend the night away from home in a cold bed... Don Hermes says he'll take care of the problem for her by asking the hotel staff to bring her a hot water bottle. She responds that the cold is of the soul, for lack of human warmth. Don Hermes tells her that as soon as she gets into bed, her own body heat will give human warmth to the bed. He is just saying goodbye to Jenny when her cel phone rings -- it's Efraín. He's calling her from outside Sofía's house to ask how and where she is, and to ask her to reconsider her decision; he's going to spend the night at Sofía's because his children invited him. Jenny shouts at him to leave her alone and hangs up on him. Then she lies to Don Hermes that Efraín is threatening to never leave her alone, and she's afraid. She begs him to stay with her until she falls asleep. As she heads for the bed, she asks him not to call her "mija" [Beth: the word is a sort of corruption of 'mi hija,' --my (girl) child-- and is used as an endearment such as "sweetie"] -- call her Jenny. And she wants to call him Hermes because "Don Hermes" makes him sound as if he's a little old man, which he isn't [Merci: Ha! Beth: HA!]. She tells him she's cold and he hands her the stuffed animal [Beth: which is the size of a child -- it's really big], but what she wants is for him to be in bed with her. He tries to cover her up --since she's "so cold"-- and so as not to be seeing her in all her glory. She puts her head on his thigh and asks him to tell her a story!

Betty now asks Armando about the "Hot Separates" category. Armando tells her that these are women who are always on the verge of separating but never actually do it. The desperate "separates" have the problem of not having had frequent "relations" (sex). Mario figures they're super-hot. Betty asks what Armando thinks of them. Armando replies that *that* Armando died and the only women he remembers now are his mother and Betty. He kneels in front of Betty and tells her that she won't get rid of him so easily and he's never going to leave her. And they kiss! [Merci: They're so sweet, those two...] They get to the "Separated Veterans" category, Sofía being a prime example.

At home, Sofía explains to her two children that she doesn't want them to get their hopes up [for a reunion] just because their father is spending the night at the house. She asks them to go to their rooms and as soon as their father has arrived and she's had a chance to speak with him, they can come down to see him. Sofía seats herself alone at the dining room table and says aloud to herself that she really hopes the kids don't get all excited (hoping). The doorbell rings; it's Efraín with three popsicles (? maybe lollipops, can't tell -- something to eat on a stick, at any rate) in his hand. He greets Sofía, who tells him they have to talk. He replies that he didn't come to hear the same thing as always and calls to the kids, who come running. They hug and kiss, he gives them the popsicles, and the girl remarks that he's very thin...

Back again with Betty and Armando, they are now in the "Embittered" category. These are women who are stuck in relationships they can't get out of, with obsessive, jealous and dangerous men...

And we are back again in the discotheque where we see Freddy dancing with Mirella. Aura María is being very lively with Kenneth, who still hasn't caught on to the rhythm of the vallenato. Kenneth wants to sit down and he tells Aura María he wants to stop dancing to this music -- if they would put on rock and roll, jazz, or any other type, he *could* dance. Aura María serves him another drink and goes to speak to the DJ to ask him to put on some "American" music only to be told that *that* kind of music is only played on weekends. She tells him to put it on or else, because she doesn't want to spoil the date with Kenneth. Meanwhile, three very friendly women have gone to greet Kenneth. When Aura María returns to the table she startles them. She chases them off, telling them to go learn English somewhere else. Just then the DJ plays "Rock Around the Clock," and Kenneth gets a second wind; he happily starts to dance with Aura María. Freddy immediately goes to the DJ's booth on the second floor and demands that the DJ, who he calls 'patillón de los 60 joven viejo' because of his sideburns and hairstyle [Beth: i think, basically, a retro-nerd], put the vallenato music back on. The poor DJ is going crazy... Mirella, meanwhile, leaves Aura María dancing with Kenneth and goes to sit down. Freddy returns, passing next to Aura María who sticks out her tongue at him. Mirella tells Freddy she wants to dance but he says no. Aura María and Kenneth sit down again. Kenneth is already tipsy and in the thrall of the aguardiente. In English he says he's so in love with Aura María that he wants to take her to the States and marry her. Aura María wants to know what he said, but he doesn't translate. Mirella explains it to Freddy and wants to tell Aura María as well but Freddy doesn't let her. Kenneth tells Aura María he can only say it in English. Mirella stands and goes over to Aura María and explains anyway. Aura María gets offended and tells Kenneth not to be fresh. Kenneth asks for the bills and Freddy says he'll take care of it, but when he finds out it's 50,000 pesos he tells Kenneth to pay it after all. Kenneth and Aura María say good-bye, Kenneth saying in English, "Bye, guys" to which Freddy responds, "Bye, gay."

Betty realizes that the Oracle's category list is seemingly infinite... Armando says it would be best if they went home to sleep [Merci: although from the way he says it and the sly look on his face as he does, it's obvious that the last thing he wants to do is to go to "sleep..."]. Betty is concerned because they haven't heard from her parents yet, and calls Doña Julia who tells her that Hermes is at a funeral and had called her and the aunts. And they're definitely not going to the aunts' house now because the aunts are likely already asleep since they get up with the sun. Julia is very hurt and worried because this is the first time that Hermes has stood her up like this and especially for something so important as a dinner with the Pinzón aunts. Armando tells Betty not to worry -- although he understands her concern that something has happened to her father. Betty replies tartly that it might be something very good. Armando tells her she can't have doubts about a man who has been happily married for 30 years and is in love with his wife. Betty asks him if he believes the man exists who has gone to his grave having been faithful to his wife for his whole life. Armando says that the problem men have is that they get something called the "mid-day devil" [Beth: i don't recognize this phrase but am guessing it's the same as a mid-life crisis]. It's this big anguish when they start to feel like they're saying good-bye to their youth, and their egos betray them...

Cut to Jenny asking Don Hermes to lie down. She unbuttons his vest and starts to caress him [Beth: eeeeewwww...!!]. Don Hermes jumps a little and says he has to leave. She gets "offended" [Merci & Beth: shameless hussy!] and tells him it's not what he's thinking. Don Hermes replies that both he and she are in a state of confusion.... She calls him a silly and cuddles up in bed with her doll Miguelito. Hermes finally escapes from the room like a soul the Devil's tried to steal, and standing in front of the elevators repeats his favorite saying, "El Diablo es puerco..."

Armando swears there's no way that Don Hermes would allow himself to be tempted by a "90-60-90" [a/k/a 36-24-36 inches; a shapely woman], [he's] a man who knows El Diablo es puerco." Betty replies that that's just what Sofía thought about her husband and *he* left her for Jenny. Betty and Armando don't know if that relationship can be fixed, although they hope so. Armando says Sofía's problem is that she suffers from memories fueled with resentment, which can recall every detail and every problem in the relationship, and she speaks about it with the deadly aim of a sniper.

In Sofía's house, Efraín is seated at the dining room table eating with the children. He tells them that the next day after school they can go to the park, but to ask their mother for the money to do so. The kids are very happy to be with their father. Sofía comes down the stairs and tells the kids it's time for them to go to bed because they have to be up early for school. The children say goodnight to their father and ask him if he's going to sleep with them. Sofía tells them he's going to sleep on the sofa, and he tells Sofía that he has to get to bed as well because he has to get up early. Sofía asks him why he has to get up early and adds that anyway, what she has to tell him will only take five minutes. Efraín retorts that five minutes with her are like five hours... Sofía says that it's *her* house, so she makes the rules. Efraín replies that if that's the way it is, he'd rather sleep under a bridge, that he's there only because the kids asked him to be, that he didn't come to pay for four years of separation, hatred, and vengeance. He congratulates her on how nice the house looks and says it's a shame she hasn't got anyone with whom to share it. Then he asks her to hug the kids, tells her to have a good night, and leaves. Sofía sits down and starts to cry.

Betty tells Armando that Sofía is very bitter. She comments that women have the right to protest, or --would he prefer a silent and resigned woman, perhaps? Armando tells her he doesn't know because she's not like that and they kiss again.

Don Hermes arrives at home and we see that Doña Julia is already in bed, crying. He asks her if she was asleep and she tells him yes. He tells her that Parrita and his wife wouldn't let him leave the funeral. She doesn't believe him, obviously, and tells him to go to bed because they he has to get up early the next morning. He changes and gets into bed and tries to talk to her but she won't let him. He says, "Julia, I love you," but when he tries to get close to her again she tells him that he reeks. He tells her he's not drunk, he loves her and this won't happen again. He tries to touch her but she gestures at him to leave her alone, and continues crying.

Betty tells Armando that she's ready for when he reaches his midlife crisis, but she hopes he won't leave her after having enjoyed the best years of her life. He replies that that won't happen, but what about if she leaves him? They get on the elevator... She tells him that women don't do that sort of thing. He remarks that, moreover, he one of those incurable kinds of husbands who cannot conceive of spending a night without his wife and that he wants to be with her now and forever... And they kiss again! [Merci: So divine!] And the elevator door closes...

Advances for next week: HORROR OF HORRORS! Armando goes out with Gabriela and she complains of feeling very alone. He asks her if he can do anything to help her -- and it looks like they're going to kiss! [Merci: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!]

Capítulo Catorce (3 marzo 2002)

Betty está en la oficina de Armando hablando por teléfono. Le cuenta a la persona en la otra línea que están esperando a sus papás para ir a cenar a casa de las tías... Armando está en el baño pero cuando regrese, sigue contando Betty, van a seguir viendo el oráculo de las diosas. Armando regresa y le pregunta a Betty si está hablando con su papá — si ya se van para lo de las tías. Betty le contesta que estaba hablando con Mariana y Sandra que estaban en plan de rumba. Siguen con el recorriendo por el oráculo y Betty le sigue preguntando a Armando por las categorías del archivo. Hay una categoría de cuentas pendientes la cuál Armando explica tiene que ver con cosas que no se logran hacer en la primera cita y hay que asegurarse de lograr en una segunda. Betty le pregunta a Armando si tiene alguna deuda por ahí que tiene que cobrar y él le dice que las únicas que él tiene son con ella... Betty le pregunta por las categorías Everest y Porcelana. Las Everest son mujeres inalcanzables, a cuya cima nunca se llega. Las de porcelana son todas suavecitas y delicadas, supuestamente pero en realidad no lo son – son insoportables.

Entonces cortamos a dónde Natasha y Nicolás que están brindando en un restaurante. Ella está más empalagosa que nunca y le dice a Nicolás que ella es una amiga dispuesta a compartirlo todo con él: casa, carro y cama. Para enfatizar el punto, le pone la mano a Nicolás sobre su corazón/pecho y nuestro Nico se nos va a desmayar de la alegría. Que cuando el se sienta solo, nada más tiene que llamarla y ella le abre las puertas de su casa. ¡Nicolás no lo puede creer! Y para no desperdiciar la ocasión, le dice que esta noche se siente solo. Ella le dice que entonces vaya con ella a su apartamento. En eso suena el teléfono celular de la bruja, digo Natasha y es un tal Mickey. ¿Quién es Mickey se preguntan ustedes? Pues ¡el novio de Natasha! Ella le cuenta que está con Nicolás, que es un tesoro, adorable, etc., y que va a ir con ella para su apartamento. Nicolás no entiende esa conversación y menos cuando ella le dice que hable con Mickey. Natasha vuelve a hablar con Mickey y le cuenta lo especial que es Nicolás, que hasta ordenó un vino finísimo del año 1964, que tanto le gusta a ella y Mickey, que cuesta 400,000 pesos... ¡Nicolás no puede creer cuanto ha gastado! Nicolás paga la cuenta y, como es su mala costumbre, no le deja propina al mesero. Natasha le comenta que no se preocupe por Mickey, que él confía en ella ciegamente. Al salir del restaurante, Natasha pone la mano de Nicolás sobre su trasero...

De regreso con el oráculo, Betty pregunta quiénes son las perversas con novio. Armando le explica que esas son de las que más le gustan a Calderón. Las busca papás son las solteras con hijos que tienen una condición económica inestable y buscan hombres con dinero, de buena posición y casi siempre mayores que ella. Por ejemplo: Aura María, a quién vemos bajando las escaleras de una discoteca con Kenneth. Se acercan al bar y Kenneth pide una “virgin Mary”. Aura María pide aguardiente y Kenneth le dice que él no quiere beber porque tiene que manejar. Aura María le explica que el aguardiente es la bebida típica de Colombia y pide una botella. Kenneth se horroriza porque solamente se quiere tomar un trago... Aura María le dice que el aguardiente pone a la gente alegre, feliz, los ayuda a entonarse. Cuando lo prueba por poco se queda sin respiración y tiene que pedir un vaso de agua para refrescarse la garganta.

Vemos a Freddy llegando con unos amigos al mismo local donde está Aura María... Los amigos de Freddy saludan a Aura María todos muy cariñosos y ella los presenta con Kenneth. Freddy saluda y comenta que este es su sitio preferido. Kenneth comenta que él y Aura María tienen gustos muy similares. La muchacha que llegó con Freddy pregunta si Kenneth y Aura María son novios y ella contesta que no, que apenas se están conociendo. Pero Kenneth dice “why not?” y besa a Aura María en la mejilla. En eso llega Mirella, la muchacha con quién Freddy había hablado por teléfono desde EcoModa. Es una muchacha muy bonita que comenta que había conocido a Freddy una noche bailando, pero que no lo había vuelto a ver porque tenía novia. Entonces Aura María le explica que esa novia había sido ella. Freddy se va a bailar con Mirella y Aura María, que está obviamente molesta y celosa, se da otro trago de aguardiente y le dice a Kenneth que vayan a bailar — y le pide al barman que le lleve la botella de aguardiente a la mesa de siempre.

En la oficina de Armando, Betty se topa con la “pantalla roja”, la cual Armando no quiere que ella vea. Pero, ya es muy tarde, Betty oprimió el "maldito código rojo". Esta categoría es igual que la de las rápidas y fáciles. Son mujeres que usan ropa llamativa, son humildes, dispuestas a absolutamente todo...

¿Por ejemplo? La Jenny. En el cuarto del hotel, vemos a Don Hermes hablando con las tías Pinzón y diciéndoles que no puede llegar todavía. Jenny sale del baño con su baby doll negra, lista para atacar. Don Hermes no se puede contener y le dice que está “divina usted”. Ella se empieza a quejar de que está tan triste porque va a pasar una noche fuera de su casa en una cama fría... Don Hermes dice que él le resuelve el problema y le puede pedir a los del hotel que le traigan una bolsa de agua caliente. Ella le dice que el frío es del alma, falta de calor humano. Don Hermes le dice que tan pronto se acueste, su calor le va a dar calor humano a la cama. Don Hermes se está despidiendo de Jenny cuando suena el celular de esta y es Efraín. La está llamando desde el frente de la casa de Sofía para preguntarle cómo y dónde está, pedirle que recapacite su decisión, que él se va a quedar esta noche en casa de Sofía porque los hijos lo invitaron. Jenny le grita que la deje tranquila y le cuelga el teléfono. Entonces le mete la mentira a Don Hermes de que Efraín la estaba amenazando con no dejarla tranquila y que le tiene miedo. Entonces le pide que se quede con ella hasta que se duerma. Para la cama va Jenny y le pide a Don Hermes que no le diga mija, que le diga Jenny. Y ella le quiere decir Hermes porque Don Hermes suena como si fuera un viejito, y él no lo es (ja). Ella le dice que tiene frío y él le da el muñeco de peluche, pero ella lo quiere a él acostado con ella. Él la trata de tapar ya que “tiene tanto frío” y para no verla en toda su gloria. Ella le pone la cabeza sobre el muslo a Don Hermes y le pide que le haga ¡un cuento!

Betty ahora le pregunta a Armando por la categoría de separadas ardientes. Armando le dice que estas son las que están a punto de separarse pero jamás lo hacen. Las separadas desesperadas tienen el problema de que no tienen relaciones frecuentemente. Mario piensa que ellas son supremamente ardientes. Betty le pregunta qué piensa Armando de ellas. Armando le contesta que ese Armando se murió y que las únicas mujeres que recuerda son a su mamá y a Betty. Armando se arrodilla frente a Betty y le dice que ella no se va a poder deshacer tan fácilmente de él y que él no la va a dejar a ella nunca. ¡Y se besan! Tan tiernos los dos... Llegan a la categoría de las veteranas separadas: Sofía es un buenísimo ejemplo de este grupo.

Sofía está con sus dos hijos y les explica que no quiere que se ilusionen porque su papá va a pasar la noche en la casa. Les pide que vayan a sus cuartos y que tan pronto su papá llegue y ella hable con él, ellos pueden bajar a verlo. Sofía se sienta sola en la mesa del comedor y dice en voz alta que espera que los niños no se ilusionen. Suena el timbre y es Efraín que trae tres paletas en la mano. Él saluda a Sofía y ella le dice que tienen que hablar. Efraín le dice que no vino a oírle el discurso de siempre. Llama a los muchachos, se abrazan y besan, le entrega las paletas y la niña le dice que está muy flaquito...

De vuelta con Betty y Armando, ahora están en la categoría de las amargadas. Estas están metidas en relaciones de las que no pueden salir. Están con hombres obsesivos, celosos y peligrosos.

Y nos vamos de regreso a la disco y vemos a Freddy bailando con Mirella. Aura María está muy animadita con Kenneth, que todavía no le ha cogido el golpe al ritmo de vallenato. Kenneth se quiere sentar y le dice a Aura María que desiste de bailar estos ritmos, que si pusieran rock and roll, jazz o cualquier otra cosa, él si podría bailar. Aura María le sirve otro trago a Kenneth y se va a hablar con el DJ para pedirle que ponga música americana. Él le contesta que esa música solo la tocan los fines de semana y ella le insiste que la pone o la pone, porque no quiere que se le dañe la cita con el norteamericano. Mientras tanto, a Kenneth lo van a saludar tres mujeres muy simpáticas y cuando Aura María regresa a la mesa las espanta y les dice que vayan a aprender inglés a otra parte. En eso se escucha la canción Rock Around the Clock y a Kenneth le vuelven las energías y se pone a bailar muy feliz con Aura María. Mirella se une a ellos y deja a Freddy solo.

Freddy se va al segundo piso y le exige al DJ, a quién llama patillón de los 60 jóven viejo (por la forma que tiene las patillas y el pelo) que vuelva a poner un vallenato. El pobre DJ se va a volver loco... Mirella dejó a Aura María y Kenneth bailando y se fue a sentar. Freddy regresa y pasa al lado de Aura María y ésta le saca la lengua.

Mirella le pide a Freddy que bailen y él le dice que no. Aura María y Kenneth se sientan de nuevo y Kenneth ya está entonadito y le ha cogido el gusto al agua ardiente. En inglés dice que está tan enamorado de Aura María que se la quiere llevar a los Estados Unidos y casarse con ella. Aura María quiere saber qué dijo, pero él no se lo traduce. Mirella se lo explica a Freddy... Mirella le quiere explicar a Aura María, pero Freddy no la deja. Kenneth le dice a Aura María que solo lo puede decir en inglés. Mirella se levanta y va a dónde Aura María y se lo explica. Aura María se hace la ofendida y le dice a Kenneth que no sea atrevido. Kenneth pide la cuenta y Freddy dice que él la paga. Cuando se entera que son 50,000 pesos, le dice a Kenneth que la pague él. Kenneth y Aura María se despiden — Kenneth dice “bye guys” y Freddy le responde “bye gay”.

Betty se da cuenta de que esto de las categorías del oráculo es casi infinito... Armando dice que es mejor que se vayan a la casa a dormir (aunque como lo dice y la carita de pícaro que pone, es obvio que lo menos que quiere es ir a “dormir”). Betty está preocupada porque no han sabido de sus papás y llama a Doña Julia que le dice que Hermes estaba en la funeraria y la había llamado a ella y a las tías. Que definitivamente no van a dónde las tías porque ya ellas deben estar durmiendo porque se duermen con las gallinas. Julia está muy dolida y preocupada porque esta es la primera vez que Hermes la deja vestida y sobre todo no van a algo tan importante como la cena con las tías Pinzón. Armando le dice a Betty que no se preocupe, aunque entiende que esté preocupada de que le haya pasado algo malo a su papá. Betty le contesta que tal si le pasó algo muy bueno. Armando le dice que un hombre que lleva 30 años de feliz matrimonio, que está enamorado de su mujer, no se puede dudar de él. Betty le pregunta si él cree que hay algún hombre que llegue a la tumba habiéndole sido fiel a su mujer toda la vida. Armando le dice que el problema es que a los hombres les pasa algo llamado el demonio del mediodía... Es una gran angustia que sienten cuando se despiden de la juventud. Su ego los traiciona...

Ahí vemos a la Jenny pidiéndole a Don Hermes que se acueste, le desabotona el chaleco del traje y lo empieza a acariciar. Don Hermes reacciona y dice que se tiene que ir. Ella se “ofende” (desgraciada descarada) y le dice que no es lo que él está pensando. Don Hermes le contesta que ella y él los dos están en un estado de confusión... Ella le dice tonto y se acuesta con su muñeco Miguelito... Don Hermes sale como alma que lleva el diablo y frente al elevador dice “el diablo es puerco”...

Armando no cree que Don Hermes se deje tentar por una 90-60-90, un hombre que sabe que "el diablo es puerco". Betty le contesta que eso mismo pensaba Sofía de su esposo y éste la dejó por Jenny. Betty y Armando no saben si esa relación se pueda arreglar, aunque esperan que sí. Armando le dice que el problema es que Sofía sufre de la memoria del resentimiento, que recuerda cada detalle y cada problema de la relación y lo comenta con el tiro fijo de un francotirador.

En la casa de Sofía, Efraín está sentado a la mesa comiendo con los niños. Les dice que el próximo día después de la escuela pueden ir al parque, pero que le pidan dinero a su mamá. Ellos están muy contentos de estar con su papá. Sofía baja las escaleras y les dice que se tienen que acostar a dormir porque hay que madrugar para ir a la escuela. Los niños se despiden de su papá y preguntan si él va a dormir con ellos. Sofía les dice que va a dormir en el sofá. Efraín le dice a Sofía que se tiene que acostar porque también tiene que madrugar. Ella le pregunta para qué tiene que madrugar y además le dice que ella solo tiene que hablar con él cinco minutos. Efraín le dice que cinco minutos de ella son cinco horas... Sofía le dice que esa es su casa y ella impone las condiciones. Efraín le contesta que si es así, prefiere dormir bajo un puente. Que él está allí porque los hijos se lo pidieron. Que él no vino a pagar cuatro años de separación, odios y venganzas. Le dice que la felicita por lo bonita que tiene la casa y que es una pena que no tenga con quién compartirla... Le pide que salude a los niños, que pase una buena noche y se va... Sofía se sienta y se pone a llorar.

Arrmando dice que el problema de Sofía son los sermones que le debe dar al marido. Betty le dice a Armando que Sofía está muy resentida y le dice a Armando que las mujeres tiene el derecho a protestar, o ¿es que él prefiere una mujer silenciosa y resignada? Armando le dice que él no sabe porque ella nunca le ha dado un sermón y ¡otra vez se besan!

Don Hermes llega a la casa y vemos que Doña Julia está acostada y llorando. Él le pregunta si se durmió y ella le contesta que sí. Él le dice que Parrita y la mujer no lo dejaban ir de la funeraria. Ella no le cree, obviamente, y le dice que se acueste que por la mañana tiene que madrugar. Él se cambia y se acuesta y trata de hablarle pero ella no quiere. Le dice: Julia, yo la amo. Cuando se trata de acercar otra vez ella le dice que ya le sintió el tufo. Él le dice que no está borracho, que la ama y que no se lo va a volver a repetir. Cuando la trata de tocar, ella hace un gesto para que la deje tranquila y sigue llorando.

etty le dice a Armando que ella está preparada para cuando le llegue el demonio del medio día a él, pero que espera que no la deje después de disfrutar los mejores años de su vida. Él le dice que eso no va a pasar, ¿pero qué tal si ella lo deja a él? Entran al elevador... Ella le dice que las mujeres no hacen esas cosas. Él le dice además que él es de la categoría de maridos sin remedios, que no conciben pasar una noche sin sus esposas y que él quiere estar con ella ahora y siempre... ¡Y se besan otra vez! ¡Tan divinos! Y se cierra el elevador...

Avances para la semana que viene... ¡HORROR DE HORRORES! Vemos a Betty preguntarle a Aura María si ha visto a Armando. Aura María, con cara de susto, le dice que por qué... Entonces vemos a Gabriela y Armando – ella lo llama y luego le pide perdón y él le pregunta por qué... Y para completar, se ven a Armando y Gabriela hablando y tomando unos tragos en un restaurante. Ella se queja de que se siente muy sola, él le pregunta qué puede hacer para que se le quite la depresión que tiene — y ¡parece que se van a besar! ¡NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

USA 3/10/02. Natasha creates discord between the cuartel and Gabriela by telling her that they would rather gossip then get the information she requested. Betty defends them, tells Gabriela she should discuss personnel problems with her. Then she gets bad news from the head office, when they go to see Hugo’s designs, they find all the clothes destroyed by his dog. Kenneth is disconcerted by Hugo’s interest in him, tells him that he is divorced. Gabriela is prepared to break the contract with Eco Moda. Kenneth tells Armando he is the only person who can talk to her. He finds her at a bar and they have several drinks together. She feels lonely, in a country without friends. He tells her how much he loves his wife and child.

Episode 15
I am here drinking a blackberry juice while I write this summary of Ecomoda's episode #15. And what an episode!! It was fantastic, marvelous, ingenious, etc, etc. Nor can I fail to mention that Doctor Armando Mendoza is more adorable than ever...

The scenes they cut out explain very clearly why Gabriela acted so strangely when she saw Armando arrive in Ecomoda in the morning... And also Armando and Betty's comments about how "tired" they are from the night before...

Gabriela dreams about Armando... (this was only shown in Spain)

Armando <seductively>: Hello, Gabriela.

Gabriela: What's up, Armando? How are you? Do you want a tequila? <to the waiter> Jorge, do me a favor -- bring two tequilas to me at the table, ok?

Armando: Gabriela. I have been very worried about you lately. Tell me what's going on with you.

Gabriela: I feel very alone. I feel completely alone, and I really don't know why I'm telling you this. It must be because I don't... I don't have anyone at all to tell, do you think? [Beth: excuse me -- no-one to tell?? what about Kenneth? what about your friends in Mexico? your family? you haven't heard of telephones..? the internet...? mail...?? oh, yeah, right. dream. but still...]

Armando: Well... that's what friends are for, right? That's why I'm here -- because after all, we're friends.

Armando: Why don't we have a toast, Gabriela? Let's drink to friendship, hmmmmm?

Gabriela: Why don't we drink to the two of us? <sounds of Beth off in the corner being ill>

Armando: Cheers.

Gabriela: Cheers.

Armando <without abandoning his gaze and heartbreakingly implacable seductive attitude>: Tell me.... just what can I do to get rid of... depression?

Gabriela: Well, if I'm telling you I feel alone it's because I need someone.

Armando: "Someone?" Like who?

Betty: Ay, noooooo!!!!!

Armando <plaintively>: It's yours, my love.

Betty: It's yours.

Armando <denies with a whisper>: Oh yes?

Armando: Hmmmmm. I'm good.

Betty: Well done, my love.

<An alarm rings again. Both groan lazily. This time it's Betty who throws her pillow at the alarm. Armando smiles contentedly and kisses her on the lips. A third alarm now enters the scene. The two sit up at the same time, with their eyes still shut, and complaining.

Armando <without opening his eyes and resting his head against Betty's>: Where is that alarm clock my love? Where did we put it?

Betty <eyes closed and pointing vaguely with a finger>: On the bookshelves.

Armando: You go.

Betty: I did it yesterday. You go.

Armando: Ay!!!! I hurt myself. Ahhh!!!

<He grabs the alarm. He goes to toss it onto the floor but stops, staring at the time in surprise [Beatríz: It finally looks like he's completely woken up.].>

Armando: It's 8:30. My love, it's 8:30. At 9 the Fashion Group people will arrive at Ecomoda. We've got to get going. Wake up! Wake up!

Armando: No... What are you doing? No, no, no, no. <he smiles> C'mon, my love, c'mon -- let's go, let's go, let's go! <He pulls the sheets off Betty so she'll get up, takes her in his arms, and tosses her over his shoulder. He carries her off like that. Betty has on sleeveless orange pajamas, the pants with some very fine stripes. And of course, socks...> Hey, hey, hey -- to the showers! Hey, hey, here we go...!

Armando:- Let's go, let's go!

Here is where the episode in the United States started...

It is morning at Ecomoda and we see Wilson in front of the company's main door. Right away we enter and see the Cartel get off the elevator. Natasha is already at her desk, all proper, speaking in English with someone on the phone. They are all surprised to see her there so early. She tells them she's been there since 7am because it's very important to get to the office before the bosses do. She greets everyone with kisses [Merci: what a hypocrite she is!]... Just then Hugo arrives [Merci: Hugo was incredibly funny today] with his little doggie, wearing a kind of turban on his head... [Beth: it's more like a long gypsy-style head scarf kind of thing]. He tells the Cartel to get to work NOW! -- they look like pre-Colombian mummies. He tells Inesita they have to get started on a lot of work, adding that he's bought a new apartment --500 meters, a duplex, with 120 meters of terrace, a Jacuzzi for two and a view of the city-- what would Bogotá be without him! What's more, it has a studio with a skylight and a Baccarat lamp so he can make his marvelous creations. The only thing missing is a boyfriend... As he says this, the elevator doors open and Kenneth gets off. Hugo's reaction (in English): "The sky must be broken because the angels are falling down!" Kenneth can't believe his ears and asks Hugo (also in English), "Are you for real?" Kenneth greets Natasha and asks her if he has any messages. She tells him he got a fax from Fashion Group's main office, which she left in his office. Kenneth heads there and Huguito tells him to go with God. Poor Kenneth, his office is near Hugo's workshop (which makes Hugo very pleased). Hugo appears at Kenneth's office and tells him "Hi, Kenneth," and he replies "Hi, Hugo." Hugo reminds him he has to greet him every morning, but not to worry -- he's going to protect him, and he's at his service. Then he asks Kenneth how he's doing, how he likes Bogotá, if they're treating him well, who he lives with... Kenneth replies well, that Bogotá is marvelous, and he lives alone. Hugo asks if he's single and gets the answer that Kenneth is divorced. Hugo follows this up with the question (in English), "Are you tired of women?" but Kenneth tells him no. Hugo relates that for his part he has grown bored with women. Kenneth has one of those little basketballs and Hugo suggests they play. Kenneth tosses it to him and Hugo sinks a basket. [Merci: Hole in one!]

Sofía tells Aura María to give Kenneth a hand before Hugo takes it from him. We see Freddy arrive and listen in on the conversation. Aura María states there isn't anything between her and Kenneth. Sandra remarks that all men, until proven to the contrary, are gay. Freddy cannot believe Aura María isn't defending his virility, but she's acting like she's not very impressed. Freddy wants to know what all the shouting was about, then... [when they were dating]. Aura María replies that he's not man enough to walk to the altar. Freddy is very hurt that they doubt him so. The elevator doors open and Gabriela arrives with a "face of few friends." She greets Natasha, who hands her a copy of the fax, which is apparently bad news. Natasha tells Gabriela that Kenneth wants to talk to her and then calls him to let him know Gabriela's arrived. He says he'll see them there [at Natasha's desk] and runs into Inesita and Hugo en route to see Gabriela. Hugo whistles at him (like a "wolf whistle") then tells Inesita she shouldn't do such things!

The elevator opens again [Merci: that poor apparatus has been given a real workout today!] and we see the Mendoza-Pinzóns arrive, kissing very affectionately. They notice that all are looking at them and Betty suggests to Armando that they go to her office because they have things to discuss. They remark that Gabriela seems strange (she got a bit tense when she saw Armando) [Merci: but then again, who wouldn't?]. Kenneth arrives and asks Gabriela if she's already read the fax from the home office; she replies she has. They decide they have to talk with Armando and Betty. Kenneth then asks Gabriela if she's ok and she says no, but gives the excuse that it's because of the fax.

In Betty's office, she tells Armando that she really needed one more hour of sleep, and remarks that he was very playful the night before. Armando says he thinks it was actually someone *else* who was so playful... They get very romantic and end up kissing on top of Betty's desk. Kenneth and Gabriela open the door and catch them kissing. Gabriela's face gets a look of strange shock. Betty and Armando try to dissimulate, Betty removes the lipstick that got on Armando, etc... They start discussing business and Kenneth and Gabriela explain to the Mendozas that they received a fax from their New York office questioning the shipping schedule for the new collection. Gabriela feels they need to discuss and revise the dates. They think they're not going to be able to make the proposed goals... They decide to go to see Hugo to look at the collection. Gabriela continues acting very strangely.

They arrive at Hugo's workshop and Hugo's a total sweetie with Gabriela -- according to him, she and Kenneth are an "optical delight." He greets Armando and Betty using their titles (Doctor & Doctora) and asks if anyone called Room Service... They ask about the collection and he states it is turning out "de ututuy" [roughly, "da bomb" or "ooh la lah.."]. Armando insists they want to see it and Hugo says all in good time. Armando becomes exasperated and tells him they need to see the collection *now!* while Betty tells him, "Señor Lombardi, we would like to see the collection." When Hugo asks Gabriela and Kenneth if they want to see it and they tell him yes, *then* he happily accedes. But he adds that things aren't finished and he doesn't like to show the sketches but rather that the clothing be modeled -- he doesn't like to show unfinished works. Armando tells him he is an unfinished man. Hugo asks Inesita to prepare one of the models of the collection with some lilac-colored shoes. Inesita gets out the shoes and shows Hugo they're damaged. Jenny emerges and demonstrates where the sleeve is also torn. Armando is about to explode and starts looking around when he notices that Hugo's little dog has been "dando banquete" [Beth: i'm not familiar w/this phrase, which translates literally as "giving banquet." -- given the circumstances, i'm going to guess this means she's been indulging herself in chewing on the clothes & the shoes...]. At this, the shouting starts about how Armando doesn't want animals at EcoModa. Hugo states that if that's the case he (Armando) will have to leave the Executive floor... According to Hugo, Armando insults Bárbara (his dog) and he starts making noises similar to Betty. She decides it's better if Armando deals with Hugo and leaves. Armando is all angry with Hugo, who wants to quit. Inesita reminds him he can't because he has to pay for his apartment. Hugo states that his doggie does these things instinctively, not deliberately -- she's spontaneous. Then he tells them all to leave and he'll call them when everything's ready. Gabriela says "Armando," and he asks her what's up. She apologizes to him, but he doesn't know why. Hugo berates Jenny for her comments about the dog damaging things and says she looks just like the dog. Kenneth and Armando head for production together...
Gabriela asks Bertha to give her a list of the personnel in production, Sofía to give her some data which Nicolás prepared in dollars, Aura María to give her a copy of the Fashion Group contract, and Sandra to giver her a report on exports. Then she heads for her office [Beth: ok, not that i think the Cartel are grossly overworked or anything, and perhaps offices in Colombia function differently, but in the office where *i* work, there would be all kinds of hell to pay if an executive started demanding stuff from other people's assistants, and, let's face it, the Cartel aren't Gabriela's assistants; they don't even work for her company! there are Channels. you tell your assistant what you want, and s/he coordinates with the appropriate assistant or assistants -or- you tell the appropriate executive(s) and *they* instruct their assistants to get you the material you've requested. so, while the Cartel might undoubtedly do so for their own reasons (like being too busy not working at all), and i'm actually rather shocked to find myself potentially defending their actions, i'm not sure i can completely blame the Cartel if they didn't get the stuff Gabriela's demanded... however, i *do* blame them for not going to Betty or one of their other bosses to let her or him know Gabriela has requested this information...]. The Cartel, as usual, continue gossiping instead of working, and ask Sofía how things went with her husband. Sofía tells them that he made himself scarce and hasn't called back. Natasha reminds them about the reports for Gabriela. They tell her to "relax," they're in chat mode...

Freddy arrives and Inesita gives him Hugo's little dog to look after. He tells her he can't because it's not part of his job and what's more, there's no "chemistry" [between him and Bárbara -- LOL!]. Aura María tells him there sure was chemistry between him and the woman from the other nights [implying they were dogs -- again, LOL!]. He, offended, apologizes to Natasha for the "bolchie" spectacle being made by the members of the Cartel, and tells Aura María not to speak badly of his (women) friends -- she doesn't know them. They (his women friends) *do* appreciate the "national product" -- referring to Aura María going after Kenneth in preference to himself. Sandra tells him to take himself and the dog off and obliges him to carry Bárbarita out [instead of walking her out on her leash].

Natasha answers the phone and tells her "associates" that Gabriela is asking for the reports. They again tell her to relax. Natasha, who can only be termed a major gossip and sower of discord, goes running to Gabriela's office and very ingratiatingly serves her a coffee while telling her that the Cartel isn't following her [Gabriela's] orders. They're very amiable and all, but what they like to do is gossip and not work. Gabriela tells her she cannot believe that kind of attitude, they're risking their jobs since they don't know the terms of the deal between Fashion Group and EcoModa. She thanks Natasha for the coffee and she [Natasha] contentedly returns to her desk.

Hugo asks Inesita what she did with Bárbara Chesai and she tells him his doggie is in very good hands... Outside we see Freddy emerge with said doggie and a man makes fun of him. Freddy hands the doggie over to Wilson (who for a change is eating a lollipop) and leaves her with him.

Natasha returns to her desk and tells Sandra that she and the rest of the Cartel are going to be fired. Sandra doesn't understand why and tells the rest. Natahsa says that Gabriela is furious because they haven't given her the reports. Aura María asks who Gabriela thinks she is to be giving orders. Sofía states she's out of her mind [Gabriela is]... that the one Gabriela can talk to like that is Natasha and not the rest of them. They're all very annoyed. Betty comes out of her office and asks Aura María where Armando is; she's told he's with Kenneth in production. Betty states that Lombardi is driving her crazy. Then she asks what's wrong with them [the Cartel] and they explain about what Natasha told them Gabriela was going to do. Betty gets angry and exclaims that that sort of decision is made by the President's office and tells Natasha to tell Gabriela so. Without wasting any time, Natasha heads for Gabriela's office. There she relates a rather slanted version of the story while offering Gabriela some cookies -- how it pains her greatly but the members of the Cartel said they would do the reports later, not when Gabriela wants them. What's more, she recounts what Betty supposedly said. Gabriela is about to explode -- she can't understand what is going on with that company. She states she shouldn't have to plead with the employees to do their jobs. She leaves her office with purse in hand as if leaving for the day and tells the members of the Cartel that she doesn't have to put up with their inefficiency and haughtiness, that it's obvious that the Fashion Group made a mistake doing a deal with EcoModa. Betty, who has joined the conversation, tells her that no one there works under force or threats. Gabriela retorts that she thought the contract specified that EcoModa was going to back them up. Then she tells Natasha she's going to the hotel and to pack up her office and send her her things. And to tell Kenneth they're leaving. The elevator door opens and Freddy appears -- Gabriela gets even angrier just seeing him. They all remark that Gabriela's lost it. Natasha suddenly realizes that she's out of a job and tells the Cartel it's all their fault; she runs away crying [Merci: crying crocodile tears...] toward the restroom.

Natasha comes out of the restroom and is still going on with the same old story. Sandra asks her why she's blaming them. Natasha tells them that they started saying all those things about Gabriela. Aura María points out that they didn't say anything to Gabriela. Then they realize that Natasha was the one who told on them to Gabriela; she defends herself by saying that Gabriela is her boss and has a right to know everything. The Cartel retorts that it's her own fault! At this point, Kenneth and Armando arrive and Natasha, still crying, gives Kenneth the message Gabriela left for him and begs his pardon for telling him in Spanish... Armando and Kenneth head for the president's office to speak to Betty.

Armando opens the door and says "Hello, my love" to Betty. He asks her if she fought with Gabriela and she replies that Gabriela started to speak in a very bad way with the employees, she [Betty] couldn't stand it any more. She adds that Gabriela considers the agreement over. Kenneth interjects, yes, it is. Armando asks Betty to tell him everything that happened...

Outside, Wilson is trying to find Hugo's doggie, who has disappeared. Freddy cannot believe this has happened to him. Mariana, who is also looking for Bárbara, announces that this is total stress. How will they face Hugo, a crazed fury, without the dog? In Betty's office, Armando cannot believe what's happened and he asks Kenneth if Gabriela has that type of authorization. Kenneth tells him yes. Armando says that Kenneth has to speak with Gabriela and convince her [to change her mind]. Kenneth replies he will try and is just leaving when Aura María and Bertha come in. They explain to Betty and Armando what really happened and what Natasha did -- give misinformation to Gabriela.

Freddy arrives at Sandra's desk and asks her to call a "911" because of the missing doggie. Just then Hugo arrives and asks him what he's doing with Bárbara's leash but no Bárbara. Freddy tells him he's going to break it to him gently. Hugo again asks where his dog is and Freddy replies, who knows? They're investigating, the doggie is very restless and she was playing at Hide-and-Seek. Hugo cries, "My doggie got lost!" And to round things off, he *faints*...

Aura María tells Betty that since she's in such a bad mood, she misunderstood the whole mess with Gabriela. Bertha says the problem is it's worse to have gossip badly related, as Natasha did, than the bald truth. Somewhat exasperated, Betty tells them well, no, thanks! and they leave. Betty tells Armando that she's very sorry, but his friend Hugo has put her in a really bad mood. Kenneth returns and tells them Gabriela doesn't want to come back -- she's out of control. Betty asks if she should call Gabriela but Kenneth says he thinks the only person she'd talk to is Armando, which surprises Armando... Betty tells him to call her.

Wilson, Mariana and Freddy arrive on the second floor and tell Hugo that his doggie turned up -- the poor thing is all rumpled [Beth: note, Bárbara is one of those little dogs with *really* long fur that looks like a nice mop; Hugo dresses her up with a little bow on the top of her head...] and Hugo tells them to turn her around -- he thinks he's looking at her tail, not her head! They tell him Bárbara was with a "boyfriend," a really cute little dog (tho it's obviously a mutt; they have it there with them, wearing a make-shift halter/leash made of string)... Hugo can't believe that Bárbara could've done such a thing. Freddy tells him that, judging by the contented look on her face when they found her, Hugo's going to be a "grandfather..." Hugo tells them they're a bunch of plebeians and to take their new pet (the mutt) and get out!

We see Gabriela arrive at a bar and ask the bartender, Jorge, to serve her a tequila. She sits down and imagines she is kissing Armando [Merci: ! And what a kiss, ladies and gentlemen...]. Just then Armando arrives and greets her. He asks her what she's drinking. She tells him tequila and orders two more. He remarks that she looks a bit off to him and he's worried about her disagreement with Betty. She tells him it was something silly and that he's right, nothing happened. But she adds that she's had a really rough day. He asks her why, and she replies that it's personal. Armando tells her that he thought they'd established a good friendship, he's all ears and is willing to listen if she wants to tell him what's wrong. They toast each other... She tells him that she feels very alone, that since arriving in Bogotá she hasn't met absolutely anyone. She hasn't begun any friendships in EcoModa, except with him [Beth: yes, but she's been there all of what? a few days?? puh-leeze!!]. He points out that he's there. She asks him if he's considering helping her solve her problem with being alone, only then she quickly tells him not to worry about it. But, she admits, last night she had a dream which worried her a great deal -- a dream about him. Armando comments that it must've been a nightmare... She confesses that she really likes him a lot [Merci: Good grief, this woman cuts right to the chase], but she also respects Betty and their daughter, and this is what makes her crazy, disturbed. Armando tells her she's taken him by surprise with this. He adds that a few years ago he would've gone crazy about her, would've done anything to be with her. But his life changed. He's been happily married for two years [Merci: Armando is DIVINE!], every day is like a honeymoon. And he hopes it will be that way until the end of their days. He is infinitely in love with his wife and daughter, he sees lights through their eyes [Merci: couldn't you just die...?]. Gabriela tells him she only wanted to speak honestly and frankly with him. And she tells him not to worry, she isn't going to get between him and Betty [Beth: ...except that she's just tried to...!]. She's enchanted by what he has and admires and respects him. She tells him "no hard feelings" (in English). What's more, there won't be any reprisals and the deal with Fashion Group will continue. Armando thanks her and tells her he wants to continue being her friend, and they toast again -- Cheers!

There were no advances for next week's show.

Beth: ok, i *completely* approve of Armando's behaviour, but i have a serious problem with Gabriela's. and actually, not really so much with her making a play for Armando --tho i do think that is WRONG-- but for her behaviour beforehand. she's had an erotic dream about Armando, so she arrives at EM in a bad mood (presumably because she knows she can't have him) which is apparently aggravated by receiving bad news from the home office; gives orders to other people's assistants (ok, yes, that's still bugging me) then --admittedly with some justification, altho i still maintain she was out of line-- gets mad when they don't do what she wants and retaliates by saying she's going to have them all fired without even consulting the people who actually are their bosses; she gets even more angry when their main boss --with reason-- points out that she's out of line. still without explaining anything, and knowing she has the power to do so, Gabriela announces that the deal is off and storms out in a huff, refusing to talk to anyone, listen to anyone, or to change her mind. in other words: because she's lonely, has apparently fallen instantly in love with a man she knows she can't have, and had a completely unnecessary disagreement with that man's wife that she herself provoked, Gabriela is perfectly willing to screw up a major business deal that will affect no only herself but dozens if not hundreds of people in at least two countries. in the beginning i was inclined to like her -- she was presented as an intelligent and businesslike woman who is not inclined to take bull from anyone, or let people get away with much (witness how often she insisted to Armando that he tell Betty the truth about what happened with Mario and the car). and now we get this?!? i'm **very** disappointed...

Capítulo Quince (10 marzo 2002) Aquí estoy tomándome un juguito de mora mientras escribo el resumen del capítulo 15 de EcoModa. ¡Y qué capítulo! Estuvo fantástico, maravilloso, genial, etc., etc. Y no se puede dejar de comentar que el Dr. Armando Mendoza está más adorable que nunca... Es por la mañana en EcoModa y vemos a Wilson frente a la puerta principal de la empresa. Enseguida entramos y vemos al Cuartel bajarse del elevador. Ya Natasha está sentadita en su escritorio muy juiciosa, hablando en inglés con alguien por teléfono. Todas están sorprendidas de verla allí tan temprano. Ella les dice que está allí desde las 7 a.m. porque es muy importante llegar a la oficina antes que los jefes. Saluda a todas con besitos (¡qué hipócrita es esta tipa!)... En eso llega Hugo (hoy Hugo estuvo increíblemente cómico) con su perrita, vestido con un turbante por la cabeza... Le dice a las del Cuartel que se pongan a trabajar ¡YA!, que parecen momias pre-colombinas. Le dice a Inesita que tienen que adelantar mucho trabajo y le cuenta que se ha comprado un nuevo apartamento — de 500 metros, dúplex, con 120 metros de terraza, un jacuzzi para dos y una vista de la ciudad, ¡cosa de poder ver cómo se ve Bogotá sin él! Además tiene un estudio con una claraboya y una lámpara Bacarat para él poder hacer sus creaciones maravillosas. Lo único que le falta es un novio... Y en eso se abre el elevador y sale Kenneth. La reacción de Hugo es “the sky is broken because the angels are falling down!” Kenneth no puede creer lo que oye y le pregunta a Hugo, “are you for real?” Kenneth saluda a Natasha y le pregunta si tiene algún mensaje. Ella le dice que le llegó un fax de la oficina principal del Fashion Group, que se lo dejó en su oficina. Kenneth va rumbo a su oficina y Huguito le dice — vaya con Dios... Pobre Kenneth, su oficina queda cerca del taller de Hugo (lo que pone a Huguito muy contento). Hugo se le aparece por la oficina a Kenneth y le dice Hi, Kenneth y éste le contesta Hi, Hugo. Hugo le recuerda que lo tiene que saludar todas las mañanas, pero que no tema que él lo va a proteger y está a su servicio. Entonces le pregunta cómo está, cómo le gusta Bogotá, si lo han tratado bien, con quién vive. Kenneth le dice que bien, que Bogotá es maravillosa, y que vive solo. Hugo le pregunta si es soltero y él contesta que está divorciado. Hugo entonces le pregunta “are you tired of women?” y Kenneth le dice que no. Hugo le cuenta que él sí se pegó una aburrida de las mujeres. Kenneth tiene una pelota de baloncesto (de esas pequeñas) y Hugo le dice que jueguen. Kenneth se la tira y Hugo la encesta... Hole in one! (¡hoyo en uno!)... Sofía le dice a Aura María que le eche mano a Kenneth antes de que Hugo se lo quite. Vemos a Freddy llegar y ponerse a escuchar la conversación. Aura María dice que ella no ha tenido nada con Kenneth. Sandra comenta que todo hombre, hasta que pruebe lo contrario, es gay. Freddy no puede creer que Aura María no defienda su virilidad, ella como que no está muy impresionada. Freddy quiere saber qué era toda la gritería entonces... Aura María le contesta que no es varón suficiente para caminar hasta el altar. Freddy está muy dolido de que duden de él. Se abre el elevador y llega Gabriela con cara de pocos amigos. Saluda a Natasha, que le entrega una copia del fax (que aparentemente es malas noticias) . Natasha le dice que Kenneth quiere hablar con ella y entonces lo llama para decirle que Gabriela llegó. Él dice que se encuentran allí. Kenneth se cruza con Inesita y Hugo rumbo a ver a Gabriela. ¡Hugo le da un silbido pero le dice a Inesita que no haga esas cosas!

El elevador se vuelve a abrir (cómo ha trabajado ese pobre aparato en tan pocos minutos) y vemos llegar a los Mendoza Pinzón, que están dándose tremenda apestillada, como decimos en Puerto Rico (besándose muy cariñosos). Se percatan de que todos lo están viendo y Betty le dice a Armando que vayan a su oficina porque tienen unas cosas que discutir. Kenneth llega y le pregunta a Gabriela si ya leyó el fax de la oficina matriz y ella le dice que sí. Deciden que tienen que hablar con Armando y Betty. Kenneth le pregunta a Gabriela si está bien y ella le dice que no, pero le da la excusa de que es por lo del fax.

En Presidencia... Betty: Y por eso necesitamos que el Fashion Group nos gire para pagar esos insumos, mi amor. (Armando asiente con la cabeza) Me voy a dormir... Yo creo que me faltó una horita más de sueño... Armando: A mí también... Betty: Tú estuviste muy juguetón anoche... Armando: ¿Fui yo el que estuve juguetón, mi amor? Betty: Sí, señor... Armando se le acerca (ella está sentada en su escritorio) Armando: Yo creo que hubo otra persona que estuvo muy juguetona... Betty: Tú, tú más... Armando: ¿Sí? Y me da la impresión que se está poniendo juguetona otra vez (le besa la cabeza), como un gatico, ¿verdad? Ay, mi amor, repitamos lo de anoche, es que nunca me canso... Y se empiezan a besar y terminan sobre el escritorio de Betty...

Kenneth y Gabriela abren la puerta y los encuentran en esas. Gabriela pone una cara de susto muy rara... Betty y Armando tratan de disimular lo obvio, Betty quitándole la pintura de labios que le transfirió a Armando... Se ponen a hablar de negocios y Kenneth y Gabriela les explican que les llegó un fax de la oficina de Nueva York cuestionando el itinerario de envíos de la nueva colección. Gabriela opina que tienen que discutir esto y revisar las fechas. Piensan que no van a poder alcanzar las metas propuestas... Deciden ir a ver a Hugo para ver la colección. Gabriela sigue actuando muy rara. Llegan al taller y Hugo es todo un amor con Gabriela — ella y Kenneth son según él un deleite óptico. Saluda a Armando y Betty de Dr. y Dra. y pregunta si alguien pidió room service... Le preguntan por la colección y él dice que está quedando de utu tuy. Armando le insiste que quieren verla y Hugo le contesta que a su debido tiempo. Armando se desespera y le dice que necesitan ver la colección ¡ya! Betty le dice “Sr. Lombardi, queremos ver la colección”. Cuando Hugo le pregunta a Gabriela y Kenneth si la quieren ver y ellos le dicen que sí, entonces él accede muy feliz. Pero añade que las cosas no están todas listas y a él no le gusta enseñar bocetos sino las prendas que sean modeladas. A él no le gusta enseñar las cosas inconclusas. Armando le dice que él es un hombre inconcluso. Hugo le pide a Inesita que prepare uno de los modelos de la colección con unos zapatos color lila. Inesita saca los zapatos y le enseña a Hugo que están rotos. Jenny sale y le enseña que la manga del vestido también está rota. Armando va a estallar y se pone a mirar y encuentra que la perrita de Hugo se ha estado dando banquete...

Ahí empieza la gritadera de que Armando no quiere animales en EcoModa, Hugo dice que entonces habría que salir de la planta ejecutiva... Según Hugo, Armando insulta a Bárbara y Hugo se pone a hacerle ruidos similares a Betty. Ésta decide que es mejor que Armando se encargue de Hugo y se va. Armando está todo enojado con Hugo, Hugo quiere renunciar. Inesita le recuerda que no puede irse ya que tiene que pagar su apartamento. Hugo dice que la perrita hace esas cosas por instinto, no lo planea, es espontánea. Entonces dice que se vayan y él los llamará cuando esté todo listo. Gabriela dice “Armando” y él le pregunta ¿qué pasó? Ella le pide perdón y él no entiende por qué... Hugo regaña a Jenny por sus comentarios acerca de que la perrita estaba dañando las cosas y le dice que se ve igualita que la perrita. Kenneth y Armando se van para producción juntos... Gabriela le pide a Bertha que le entregue un listado del personal de producción, a Sofía unos datos que Nicolás preparó en dólares, a Aura María una copia del contrato con el Fashion Group y a Sandra un informe de exportaciones. Entonces se va para su oficina. Las del Cuartel, como de costumbre, siguen con el chisme en vez de trabajar y le preguntan a Sofía cómo le fue con el marido. Sofía les dice que se perdió y no ha vuelto a llamar. Natasha les recuerda que tienen que entregarle los reportes a Gabriela. Ellas le dicen que “relax” que están en el chisme... Freddy llega e Inesita le entrega a la perrita de Hugo para que la cuide. Él le dice que no puede porque no está entre sus funciones y además no hay química. Aura María le dice que sí hubo química con la mujer que estuvo las otras noches. Él, ofendido, se disculpa con Natasha por el espectáculo bolchevique de las del Cuartel. Y le dice a Aura María que no hable mal de sus amigas, que ella no las conoce. Ellas sí aprecian el “producto nacional” — refiriéndose a que Aura María anda detrás de Kenneth. Sandra le dice que se vaya con la perra y lo obliga a que se la lleve cargada. Natasha contesta el teléfono y le dice a sus “compañeras” que Gabriela está preguntando por los reportes. Le vuelven a decir que se relaje. Natasha, que es lo que se llama una gran chismosa y sembradora de cizañas, va corriendo a la oficina de Natasha y muy servicial le sirve un café y le cuenta que las del Cuartel no están siguiendo sus órdenes. Que son muy simpáticas y todo, pero que lo que les gusta es el chisme y de trabajo nada. Gabriela le dice que no puede creer esa actitud, que se están arriesgando a perder sus trabajos ya que no tienen ni idea del convenio entre Fashion Group y EcoModa. Le da las gracias a Natasha por el café y la otra regresa muy contenta regresa a su escritorio. Hugo le pregunta a Inesita qué hizo con Bárbara Chesai y ésta le contesta que está en muy buenas manos... Afuera vemos a Freddy salir con la perrita y un hombre se burla de él. Freddy le entrega la perrita a Wilson (que para variar está comiendo una paleta) y lo deja con ella.

Natasha regresa a su escritorio y le dice a Sandra que las van a echar. Ella no entiende por que y se lo dice a las demás. Natasha les dice que Gabriela está furiosa porque no le han entre gado el informe. Aura María entonces comenta que quién se cree que es Gabriela para estar dando órdenes. Sofía dice que se volvió loca... Que a quién ella puede hablarle así es a Natasha no a ellas. Les da mucha rabia. Betty sale de su oficina y le pregunta a Aura María por Armando. Ésta le contesta que está con Kenneth en producción. Betty dice que Lombardi la está volviendo loca. Entonces pregunta que está pasando y las del Cuartel le explican acerca de lo que Natasha les dijo que Gabriela iba a hacer. Betty se enoja y dice que ese tipo de decisiones se toman en presidencia y le dice a Natasha que se lo diga a Gabriela. Ni corta ni perezosa, para la oficina de Gabriela va la Natasha. Allí le cuenta la historia mal contada mientras le obsequia unas galletas... Que le da mucha pena, pero que las del Cuartel dijeron que ellas entregan el informe luego, no cuando a Gabriela le dé la gana. Además, le dice lo que supuestamente dijo Betty. Gabriela está al estallar, no entiende que pasa con esa empresa. Ella dice que no tiene por qué implorarle a las empleadas que trabajen. Sale con la cartera como que se va de la oficina y le dice a las del Cuartel que no tiene por qué soportarles su ineficiencia y altanería, que es obvio que el Fashion Group se equivocó en el negocio con EcoModa.

Betty, que se une a la conversación, le dice que allí no se trabaja bajo presión ni amenazas. Gabriela le dice que ella creía que el contrato especificaba que EcoModa los iba a apoyar. Entonces le dice a Natasha que va para el hotel, que se ocupe de empacar su oficina y le envíe sus cosas. Y que le diga a Kenneth que se van. Se abre el elevador y sale Freddy, y Gabriela se enoja más aún al verlo. Comentan que Gabriela se fue del todo. Natasha cae en cuenta que entonces ella se quedó sin trabajo y le dice al Cuartel que es culpa de ellas y sale corriendo (llorando sus lágrimas de cocodrilo) hacia el baño. Natasha sale del baño y sigue con el mismo cuento. Sandra le pregunta por qué les está echando la culpa. Natasha les dice que ellas se pusieron a decir todas esas cosas de Gabriela. Aura María le dice que ellas no le dijeron nada a Gabriela. Entonces ellas caen en cuenta que Natasha le fue con el chisme a Gabriela y ella les dice que es su jefa y tiene derecho a saberlo todo. ¡El Cuartel le dice que la de la culpa es ella! En eso llegan Kenneth y Armando y Natasha, llorando todavía, le cuenta lo que le dejó dicho Gabriela y le pide disculpas por decírselo en español... Armando y Kenneth salen rumbo a Presidencia a hablar con Betty.

Armando abre la puerta y le dice “hola , mi amor” a Betty. Le pregunta si peleó con Gabriela y ella le dice que Gabriela se puso a hablarle en una forma muy mala a las empleadas y ella no pudo aguantarse. Y añade que Gabriela dio por terminado el convenio. Kenneth le contesta que sí. Armando le pide a Betty que le cuente todo lo que pasó... Afuera, Wilson está tratando de encontrar a la perra de Hugo, que se ha desaparecido. Freddy está que no puede creer que le haya pasado esto. Mariana que también está buscando a Bárbara, dice que esto es un estrés total. ¿Cómo van a enfrentar a Hugo, una loca enfurecida y sin perra? En la oficina de Betty, Armando no puede creer lo que ha pasado y le pregunta a Kenneth si Gabriela tiene ese tipo de autonomía para cancelar el acuerdo. Kenneth le dice que sí. Armando dice que Kenneth tiene que hablar con Gabriela y convencerla. Éste dice que va a tratar y está saliendo cuando entran Aura María y Bertha. Ellas le explican a Betty y Armando lo que pasó en realidad y lo que Natasha hizo — darle mala información a Gabriela. Freddy llega al escritorio de Sandra y pide un 911 por lo de la perrita perdida. En eso sale Hugo y le pregunta qué hace con el cordón de Bárbara y sin la perrita. Freddy le dice que se la va a entregar por partes. Hugo le pregunta dónde está y Freddy le contesta ¡a ver si se sabe! Que están indagando, que la perrita es muy inquieta y estaba jugando a las escondidas. Hugo dice ¡mi perrita se perdió! Y para completar, SE DESMAYA... Aura María le dice a Betty que como ella está de tan mal genio, pues que se confundió todo el lío con Gabriela. Bertha dice que el problema es que es peor un chisme mal contado, como hizo Natasha, que una verdad a secas. Betty les dice, ¡no pues, gracias!, y ellas se van. Betty le dice a Armando que le da mucha pena, pero que su amigo Hugo la tiene de muy mal genio. Kenneth regresa y les dice que Gabriela no quiere volver. Está incontrolable. Betty pregunta si la debe llamar. Kenneth dice que piensa que con él único que hablaría es con Armando — y Armando queda sorprendido... Betty le dice que la llame.

Wilson, Mariana y Freddy llegan al segundo piso y le dicen a Hugo que la perra apareció. La pobre está toda despeinada y Hugo les dice que la pongan de frente — pero ¡está de frente! Le cuentan que estaba con un novio — un perrito de lo más lindo (pero obviamente “sato” como decimos en Puerto Rico, es decir, nada fino ni de raza)... Hugo no puede creer que Bárbara haya hecho eso. Freddy le dice que por la cara de felicidad con la que encontraron a Bárbara, Hugo va a ser abuelo... Hugo les dice que son una partida de plebeyos y que se vayan con su nueva mascota (el perrito). Gabriela llega a un bar... Gabriela: Jorge, sírvame un tequila... Jorge (barman): Sí, señorita. Gabriela: Gracias... Gabriela se sienta, le traen el tequila y un plato con limones verdes... Se pone a pensar, mira la silla vacía frente a ella y se imagina que está ¡besándose muy apasionadamente con Armando! Armando (que acaba de llegar): Hola, Gabriela... Gabriela: Hola, buenas noches. Armando: ¿Qué estás tomando, tequila? Gabriela: Sí, ¿quieres uno? Armando: Bueno, sí. Me encantaría, gracias. Gabriela: Órale, pues. Jorge, tráenos dos tequilas más, ¿sí? Armando: Gabriela, pues a lo que vine, lo que te quería decir es que has estado muy extraña últimamente. La verdad yo ya estoy preocupado por eso. Sé que tuvieron un altercado con Betty esta tarde, pues fueron muy explosivas, fue una tontería completamente, cuando tu secretaria te dijo algo... Gabriela: Armando, tienes razón, todo lo que me vayas a decir, tienes razón. Pero, ¿sabes qué? Yo tampoco he tenido un día fácil. Armando: ¿Pero, por qué? ¿Qué fue lo que te pasó? Gabriela: Nada, cosas, cosas personales, no es más nada. Armando: Ya. Yo pensé que teníamos una buena amistad. Te entiendo. En todo caso, pues cualquier cosa yo estoy aquí, te escucho, soy todo oídos. Soy un buen hombro... Gabriela: Okay, entonces pues, salud... Armando: Salud. Gabriela: Y ya que me lo preguntas, me siento muy sola. Desde que llegué a Colombia no he conocido a absolutamente nadie a nivel personal. Kenneth, sabes, es un compañero de trabajo obviamente. En EcoModa, no sé, no he entablado ninguna relación amistosa con nadie, salvo contigo. Armando: Bueno, y yo estoy aquí. Gabriela: Sí, y qué ¿piensas resolver mi problema de soledad? Jorge, dos tequilas más... No te preocupes, tranquilo, pero to voy a hablar de frente, eso sí. Anoche soñé contigo. Tuve un sueño, pues, bastante perturbador... Armando: ¿Tuviste un sueño con, tuviste un sueño conmigo? Bueno, yo creo que sería entonces una pesadilla, ¿no es cierto? Gabriela: Lo que espero es que no se convierta en pesadilla. Gracias (al barman). Que a través de ese sueño, y a través de todo lo que sentí hoy, me di cuenta de que me gustas mucho... Armandito pone una cara de susto increíble. Yo respeto a Betty, respeto a tu hija, respeto todo lo que tienes y eso es justamente lo que me tiene como loca, lo que me tiene perturbada, lo que me tiene, pues, agresiva... Armando: Me cogiste de sorpresa con esto. Mira, mira, Gabriela. Yo hace unos años, si tú me hubieras dicho esto, realmente me hubiera vuelto loco. Sería capaz de saltar por encima de todo con tal de estar contigo. Te lo aseguro. Pero, la vida para mí cambió. Y cambió muchísimo. Llevo dos años de feliz matrimonio. De un matrimonio que ha sido para mí durante cada uno de esos días, como una luna de miel. Y así quiero permanecer por el resto de mis días. Yo soy un hombre que está infinitamente enamorado de su mujer y de su hija. Mira, yo realmente no soy gran cosa. Si tú me conocieras de verdad, te decepcionarías de mí. Porque yo solo cobro valor cuando estoy con mi hija y con mi esposa. Yo veo a través de los ojos de ellas. Yo sé que esta manera de hablar tan franca, como tú quisiste exponer, de pronto tenga implicaciones entre las relaciones de Fashion Group y EcoModa, pero yo no encuentro otra manera para decirte lo que siento, para expresarme, que no sea la honestidad y la franqueza. Gabriela: Está bien, está bien. Qué bonito... No te preocupes. No me voy a interponer, no me voy a interponer entre tú y Betty. No me voy a interponer en tu hogar. No te voy a traer problemas. Es más, me encanta lo que tienes, me encanta, te lo admiro. Y te lo respeto mucho. Pero, bueno, usted preguntó lo que pasaba y yo lo que hice fue contárselo. No hard feelings... Y no va a haber represalias. Armando: Gracias, y en todo caso yo voy a seguir siendo tu amigo. Salud. Gabriela: Salud... Aunque no hubo avances para la semana que viene, hemos visto comerciales que anuncian el regreso de Michel "el francés" Duanell y Armandito no se ve nada de contento...

USA 3/17/02. Michel arrives for a visit, discovers that Betty is married and has a child. Armando becomes jealous, especially when Freddy reports they weren’t at the restaurant where they said they were going and Betty lies. It turns out that she is planning a surprise birthday party, but Armando ends up at the hotel trying to find the two together. She has to call off the party. Ashamed, he arrives home and they declare their mutual love.

Episode 16

Merci: This program gets BETTER every day! Last night's episode was fantastic...
We see Betty and Armando walking along a street in Bogotá -- Armando carrying two packages and Betty pushing Camila's stroller. Armando turns to look at a very attractive woman; the woman looks back at him and recognizes him. She greets him very affectionately -- she's a model who has a modeling agency and wants to invite him to an anniversary party for the agency. Armando feels uncomfortable with the invitation and in all his confusion fails to introduce Betty. He tells the model he can't go, shows her he's with his little daughter (who is asleep in her stroller) and finally remembers to present Betty to the woman, first calling her the "First Monster" and then "my wife, Betty." Betty greets the woman and tells her that although she cannot go (as soon as she'd realized Armando was married, the model had quickly invited Betty to the anniversary as well), of course Armando can. They make their good-byes. Armando is still somewhat nervous and he asks Betty if they can go get a drink...

The following scene was not seen in the United States... (thanks to SILVIA R. from Spain for the photos.)

<After running into the model who invited them to the party that night, Armando and Betty arrive at the patio to a bar and sit down.>

“Ok, my love, you're nuts, you know? You're sending me, eh...? to this models' party thing, when she invited both of us?”

“Ay, my love, I'm not a fool. Your friend thought you were single... <and here she starts to imitate the model> 'Armando, my dearest, it's delicious to see you...'"

“But it's Maria Fernanda Navia! She was Miss Bogotá -- she's a very good model!”

“Veeerrrrryyyyy good” <again in an ironic tone>

“And she's not my friend… <he calls the waiter> Waiter, two cappuccinos, please."

“Yes, love, if I had accepted Miss Bogotá's invitation, she would have fainted."

“Yes, but so what? Instead you've gotten me stuck up to my neck with this event!"

“My love, you can go.”

"What?? <he looks around as if he can't believe it> --I?? I go there, my love? You're saying that Armandito is going to go, all by himself, to a models' party? No, please... I love you, my love, [but]let's not lie to ourselves. I would never go anywhere without you, and I'm not going to go there by myself."

“Well, if you don't want to go..."

“No, no. No, no. Let's be clear. Are you telling me that you would let me go to a party with the top models in Colombia?

"What's this about my "letting" you go? My love, you're my husband, not my prisoner! <she laughs in her inimitable style> Of course you *can* go -- it's another thing if you don't *want* to."

“Are you certain this won't bother you? Are you certain that it won't upset you, that I am there by myself with so many beautiful women? Are you certain you won't be, I dunno -- jealous, hmmmm?”

<Armando is still disbelieving, but growing steadily more excited.>

“My love, I think we've discussed it enough, we have a lot of trust in each other, you've told me your secrets... you showed me the Oracle of the Goddesses, I've told you my past, you know it perfectly, and we have complete faith in each other, right?

“You know what? When you want to go out with your [girl]friends, or when you want to go out with a special friend or with a person <the waiter interrupts them to bring over the coffees> --thanks very much!-- or with someone I don't know, whatever -- when you feel the need to go out without my going along, I... I am going to support you 100%, my love!! Because this trust we have is the most marvelous in the world <he's even more worked-up now> and I want to tell you that I love you, and that I am proud of you <Betty bows her head and smiles> and that I am going to go to this precious event, and thank you very much, and"becho pa' Armandito" [Beth: baby-talk for "beso para Armandito" -- a kiss for Armandito -- ]... "becho..." <Betty kisses him> Aaaaayyyy."

“Ay my love, but with this busy social life of mine, all the dates I have..."

“Ay, don't say that...! Let's see... Who is the model wife for this model husband? Well?? Tell me!" <Betty laughs while she drinks her coffee.>

__________________________________________________________

At Ecomoda we see all the members of the Cartel together in their daily gossip session, even Mariana who apparently is able to answer the phones at Reception by remote control. The elevator doors open and the two lovebirds emerge kissing as if they were superglued together. They aren't even bothered that the full Cartel and Natasha are all right there [Merci: And what a pleasure it was to not have to listen to Natasha all night! A little break -- how divine!]. Armando swears to Betty he will be home before 11:30pm. She tells him he has her permission to be out until midnight. She heads for her office and Armando for his, but not before saying "Good morning, ladies" to the Cartel and Natasha.
Mario is in Armando's office, bragging about how he can go to the party that night while Armando won't be able to. What a shame Armando will have to miss it!! Armando tells Mario he got an invitation... What does Mario think? Mario says that inviting Armando to the party is like inviting a prisoner on Death Row to leave his cell... Armando gives him another surprise by saying that he not only got an invitation, but he is going to go to the party. Mario cannot believe it! What, is Armando going to leave Betty [i.e., start divorce proceedings] that very afternoon? Is he going to give her a sleeping pill so she won't notice [Armando's leaving to go to the party]? Armando tells Mario he has permission to go because his wife trusts him. Mario replies that this is what's called a conditional release for good conduct.

The Cartel is asking Betty if she's going to let Armando go to the party. She tells them that Armando has behaved himself very well during these last two years and she has no reason to keep him locked up. What's more -- haven't they noticed how affectionate Armando's been towards her lately? Sandra tells her yes, and with that in mind she suggests that Betty fix her lipstick. Betty adds that she and Armando trust each other enough for these things. What's more, since it'll be Armando's birthday the next day, she can get everything ready while he's at the party -- they'll have a surprise party for him when he gets home. Sofía cannot believe Betty's going to let Armando be with so many "240s" -- they ask her what that is, and she replies that 90-60-90 [a/k/a 36-24-36 to those of us who still use inches] adds up to 240!

Armando tells Mario he has to be back home by midnight without fail. Mario starts calling him "dear Cinderella," saying that at that hour he will return to being a miserable mouse. But Mario also thinks that this will give him the opportunity of going out with Armando three times that week -- plus there's no reason for him [Mario] to worry [about Betty spoiling their fun by going as well] because no-one would ever invite Betty anyway!! [Merci: you can imagine Armando's reaction to such a commentary...] And, just as happened in Yo Soy Betty, la Fea, Mario continues to have the ability to look into the future... The elevator opens and we see Mariana escorting none other than our esteemed and well-remembered Frenchman, Michel Duanell. The Cartel and Natasha are all about to melt on seeing such a divine apparition. They welcome him, they look him over, they caress him with their eyes. They ask what he's doing there and he tells them he's in Bogotá for a few days and wanted to see if he could see Betty. Aura María goes to Betty's office and tells her to guess who wants to see her. Betty replies that she's not in for anyone. Aura María asks if she's sure of that, and adds that the Love Of [Betty's] Life is outside -- Michel. Betty looks genuinely pleased and asks, what's Michael doing here -- what does he want? Aura María tells her he's there to say hi. Betty reminds Aura María that the Love Of Her Life is named Armando Mendoza and he's right in the office next door. Aura María replies that Michel might have been the Love Of Her Life if Armando hadn't gotten in the middle of everything. Betty remarks that Armando will have a heart attack if he should find out that Michel is there. Aura María asks Why? didn't Betty say they trust each other? Betty tells her not to be an idiot, and that she'll see Michel. She asks how she looks and Aura María tells her she hasn't been ugly for a long time. Betty sits down, gets out her compact, and touches up her makeup. Aura María remarks that Michel is even more gorgeous than ever...
The Radio Cartel reporters interroga-- er, interview Michel about whether he has a girlfriend. He tells them no, he hasn't had time since he has been working very hard. Mariana asks if he's been with anyone since Betty and he tells her no. Then Aura María arrives with Betty, and Betty and Michel greet each other with a hug. Gabriela asks Natasha who Michel is and Natasha makes a gesture to say she doesn't know. Betty says to Michel, "What a surprise!" She never guessed he was her visitor. He tells her he wasn't sure she'd be willing to see him, but she tells him of course she would be. Michel wants to know if she will have lunch with him. Just then we hear Armando calling Sandra -- she doesn't pay any attention, and Armando's voice gets closer and closer. [Merci: Ay, Armandito, what a surprise you'll find] Betty asks Armando if he remembers Michel. Armando says yes, he remembers. Michel tells her he remembers Armando perfectly [Merci: This reminded me of the scene in BLF when Armando was in the President's office taking Betty's diary out of her purse and she came in with Michel and introduced them...]. Michel tells Armando he's just passing through and Armando asks how he's doing. Betty tells him that she and Armando got married and now they have a baby daughter. Michel congratulates them; Armando thanks him. Betty tells Armando that Michel invited her out to lunch. Armando isn't terribly happy at this news and remarks that the Cartel ought to be invited too since they're all just there doing nothing. Michel says that Armando is also invited. Armando replies that he can't since he has to work. Armando tells Betty he'll see her later, after lunch. He turns and bumps into Sandra, who came over to ask him what he wanted. Armando doesn't even remember any more, but he covers by saying he needs a report *right away!* Michel and Betty head for her office. En route back to his own office, Armando runs into Mario, who asks if that guy is the "French nightmare." Armando replies by warning Mario to leave him [Armando] alone, he's not in the mood. Gabriela asks Armando to approve some documents and Armando, distracted, tells her they're fine.

__________________________________________________________________________

Another scene from Spain...

<Armando watches Betty and Michel go into Betty's office, exchanges a few words with Calderón, and Gabriela approaches to ask him if they can go over a report. Armando tells her of course, right this way, and Mario[as naughty as always] says "pero presupuesto --digo: por supuesto” [Beth: you have GOT to love Mario and his wordplay, even when you most want to smack him...! i'm not sure i can really translate this, but here goes: "por supuesto" means "of course." "presupesto," usually means "estimate," as in a cost estimate or budget, but it can also mean "pretext..." with his first phrase, supposedly a slip of the tongue, our Mischievous Mario is implying that discussing the report is just an excuse for Gabriela to be alone with Armando... but as usual, Mario hastily pretends he intended to say "of course..."]. Armando gives him a warning look, and Mario puts on his best innocent look, as always --ha ha ha.>

<Gabriela seats herself at the desk, facing Armando.>

“Fine, but before we begin, who is that foreign-looking guy who's in there?"

"He's a French friend of Betty's."

"And why all the fuss?"

<Armando doesn't reply, but anguished and very seriously he props his elbows on the desk and runs his knuckles across his lips.>

Gabriela: "Excuse me, I didn't mean to intrude... Well, let's review this."

"Yes, let's review it."

<As he opens the folder, Gabriela regards him with a look on her face as if thinking "so handsome..." and he --completely unaware of this-- closes the folder again and starts to speak.>

"That guy almost took Betty away from me. Do you remember how I told you that it cost me a great deal of effort to win Betty?" [Beatríz: That piano music that is the instrumental version of BLF which they always put on for the serious or tender scenes starts playing in the background.] <Gabriela nods.> "About two years ago, Betty and I had some very serious problems and she decided to go to Cartagena to think... to think about things." <He says all this in the serious half-whisper he uses when speaking about something important.> "And she met him there. And he ended up inviting her to live with him in Cartagena."

<Gabriela listens intently, and Armando stands and goes toward the window. Gabriela is also a bit surprised.>

"In other words, there was something... You mean, they... Did she fall in love with him as well?"

<Armando has his back to Gabriela, his gaze fixed on the view of Bogotá, when he replies.>

"No. No, no, thank God, I acted in time. And I didn't allow it. You can't imagine how it hurt me. It's been a long time since I've heard anything about that man."

"I guess you're... it's like you're dying, right? Because that guy's here."

"Nnnnnnooooo. Dying, no. But then again, I've gotten past that -- it's something in the past. " <But it's clear that he's saying this with false confidence, more to convince himself than anything else. Gabriela looks at him and arches one eyebrow, as if she's not at all sure she believes him.> "And for me he's --what? or what? Ah? Because in any case I... I have a very, very strong relationship with Betty. Our marriage has been a two-year honeymoon. We love each other <he sits back down at his desk and Gabriela nods in agreement>, we have a marvelous daughter who we adore, to put it very plainly, ok? To be very frank, Betty and I are way beyond the good and the bad, ok?"

<He's a bit worked-up when he says this, lightly hitting the desktop, and Gabriela agrees as if she doesn't have the slightest doubt, because she notes his anger.>

"Yes, yes, yes of course; you can tell."

"Yes, you can -- right? Yes."

<He says it with a "And don't even THINK of contradicting me" tone that is almost scary.>

Gabriela: "How nice."

"Yes."

<Gabriela opens the folder with the report.>

"Look here, there are some figures in pesos and others in dollars, but what I think is we should organize everything, so that our accounts are better, ok? [Beatríz: or something like that -- I wasn't paying much attention to this part.]

<It's as if Armando isn't listening.>

"Are you listening to me?"

<Armando looks at her.>

"Yes, yes, I agree with everything you're saying."

_________________________________________________________

Michel asks Betty if it's ok their going out together since he remembers how jealous Armando used to be, and how he followed them [Michel & Betty] the last time he was there. Betty says everything is very different now, Armando is very calm [Merci: ha, ha, ha]. Betty tells him not to count on her taking a long lunch since she'd planned to use the time to take care of some errands for the party for Armando. Michel tells her they don't have to go to lunch to talk -- they can pick something up on the way [to do her errands].

Gabriela is speaking with Armando, who tells her that Nicolás should look over the documents as well. Betty and Michel come out of her office and he tells her he can borrow a car [Merci: remember how much it bothered Armando that Betty let Michel drive her car?]. She tells him she has a car. She greets Gabriela and tells Armando she's going out to lunch. Aura María asks Betty where they're going to eat and Betty lies, "Le Noir," saying that she's already taken care of the reservation. Armando wishes Michel "Bon appétit," who replies in turn, "Merci."

Betty: My love, can we talk in the conference room for a moment?

Armando: Of course...

Betty: Michel, would you wait a moment for me, please?

Michel: Yes, I'll wait at the elevator....

Betty: Fine...

Gabriela (to Armando, who is not paying the least attention to the poor woman): I'll be in Nicolás Mora's office...

[in the conference room]

Betty: Ay, my love, I think that before I accepted Michel's invitation to lunch, I should've checked with you, right?

Armando: No, my love, why should you do that? You can't check with me about everything you're going to do -- that's the last thing you need.... It's fine, just fine that you're going out [to lunch]...

Betty: Ay, "monstri" [corruption of "Monster" -- one of their pet names for each other], it's just that you seem to be a bit strange, and I know you can't be too happy that Michel's turned up, much less that he's taking me out to lunch. But since we made a "credibility pact"...

Armando: My love, just as you trust me, so do I trust you. I think it's marvelous that you're going out to lunch with Michel. I am completely confident that nothing will happen, happily! [Merci: poor Armando -- he's dying of jealousy...]

Betty: Are you sure?

Armando: Totally.

Betty: My love, I love you.

Armando: I love you...

Betty: Thanks, my love...

Armando: Go with God...

Betty: No, I'm going with Michel! [ha, ha!]

Armando: Do you want to take my car?

Betty: No, my love, thanks...

Armando: Have fun!

Betty leaves and the smile Armando has frozen on his face changes into an angry grimace. He stands and hits the pile of folders on the table, making them slide everywhere like a waterfall.

Outside the conference room, Betty tells Aura María she's not actually going to any restaurant but rather to buy the things she'll need for Armando's birthday party. Back in his office, Armando is on the brink of a heart attack saying his wife is going to betray him with the Frenchman. Mario tells him to put the ogre to sleep. Armando calls Sandra and asks her to tell Freddy to come to his office. He signs a check and tells Mario he's going to prove that Betty is telling the truth... Freddy enters and starts to remark that it's just like old times, "The Three Friends." Armando tells Freddy to go to Le Noir, interrupt Betty at her lunch there, and ask her to please countersign the check --she already knows what it is. Freddy says so that's where Betty went with the Frenchman -- gossip sure spreads fast in Ecomoda... Armando tells Freddy to be "quickie-quick" about it. Freddy replies that he will approach Betty's table very respectfully and ask her to sign the check. Freddy and Mario are laughing; Armando isn't [Beth: i've tried to figure out a way to translate this so i can make the joke here intelligible, but failed, so i'll explain it: it's a typical Gaitán play on the word i've translated as "quickie-quick." the word Armando actually used was "rapidól." now, "rápido" means fast or quickly, and although i wasn't familiar with "rapidól," based on the sound i figured it must be a Colombian brand name for something. i did a quick search on the web & found it is indeed a brand name, for an analgesic (pain killer) that "brings quick and efficient relief of pain, fever and dengue fever. It's recommended for headaches and menstrual pain..." small wonder Mario, at least, was laughing!]. Freddy belatedly realizes that Armando's not in the mood for jokes and says, "Just what is needed" [--NOT!]. Armando tells him to get his rear in gear. Mario tells Armando, "Well, Tiger, let's be frank." You're doing this to reassure yourself and "I am the excuse." Armando replies, "Ay, Lord! Why have you sent me this imbecile in the middle of this shipwreck?"

____________________________________________________________________________

Scene shown only in Spain...

Betty: ... and I got married in the church in the barrio where i was born, and got pregnant practically on my wedding night. <she laughs> It's been two years now and they've been the best of my life. Truly, Michel, Armando has turned out to be an excellent husband and an unequalled father. Definitely.

Michel: And you're happy? <smiling, he looks at her fixedly>

Betty: Yes. Well... I have the usual little problems of the company, of work, the daily messes that are always there... But... but I cannot complain. <She looks at some men's shirts.>

Michel: Good. That is what I wanted to know about you. I'm delighted to know you're happy, that you've got a great guy, and that that great guy isn't suffering for you any more and he understands that I'm a good friend of yours, someone who would never be capable of damaging something as marvelous as you have in your home.

Betty: I believe that I take your meaning, Michel...

____________________________________________________________________________

Armando is seated at his desk clutching one of his famous "stress" bottles [whiskey!]. Freddy opens the door and hands him back the check. Armando can't believe he's brought it back without Betty's signature! Freddy tells him the "doctora" never got to said restaurant with the aforementioned "monsieur." Armando asks him if he searched for them, if he looked everywhere. Freddy replies he checked all the tables, all the bathrooms --just in case he even went to the kitchen and spoke to the "administrator" there-- he knows Betty very well. They never arrived -- not before he got there, nor during the time he was at the restaurant. He adds that he had to eat lunch there, but it was only an "executive lunch" and he ate it in the kitchen. Freddy approaches Mario and Armando and tells them that this will remain between just the three of them. Armando tells Freddy to get out! and tells Mario that it's no wonder Betty was so evasive when asked where she was going to eat.

Armando angrily leaves his office with Mario right behind him, asking what he's going to do and urging him not to ruin their plans for the evening, not to say anything to Betty until she has a chance to explain [about not being at Le Noir]. Mario even has the nerve [Beth: or more likely, he's just that desperate...!] to say he trusts Betty!!

Betty and Michel arrive and she kisses Armando. Armando asks her how lunch at Le Noir was and she tells him Michel had the seafood and she the lasagna -- everything was delicious. Then the icing on the cake arrives: Hugo, accompanied by Jenny and Bárbara Chesai (the doggie), of course. Hugo has a shiny scarf wrapped around his head... Upon seeing Michel, Hugo comments, "The father of my children!" [Merci: This guy is hysterical]. He asks Betty if Michel is a model. She explains he's a French businessman friend of hers. Hugo says to Betty, "Beatríz, with friends like this one, I cannot believe you married a Latin macho billy goat like Armando!" The phone rings and Aura María tells Betty that a Miami bank is calling for the second time and it's urgent. Betty excuses herself and goes to her office to take the call. Mario tells Armando, "Let's go to our office," [Beth's note: and yet again, Mario is at it with his marvelous word-play. this time it's using the word for "office," "despacho," which is the word Mario would've used under ordinary circumstances. the word he *does* use this time, however, is "despecho," which means "spite." LOL!]. Armando says good-bye to Michel and tells him to be well, adding, "This is almost --almost-- your company..." [Beth: like saying "our door's always open to you" or "my house is your house," only of course Armando doesn't really mean it... and of course, it is likely also be a reference to Michel's almost 'winning' Betty back when she was first --and very reluctantly-- the head of Ecomoda via Terramoda; had Michel actually married Betty i suppose he would would have ended up playing Phillip to Betty's Queen Elizabeth II...]. Hugo isn't going to let Michel escape and so asks Michel to accompany him to his workshop to help him translate some texts. Hugo explains that he "handles" all the "tongues" (!!!) but could really use a good French one (!!!). Hugo and Jenny both are all but drooling over Michel...

Armando and Mario discuss the fact that Betty lied, but say there has to be an explanation. Mario can't believe that Armando is going to miss the party due to his mistrust [of Betty] -- he tells him he can kiss goodbye to Tatiana de los Ríos, Natalia París, Adriana Castro... Armando says he isn't going to complain to Betty, that's the promise they made each other.

In Betty's office, Aura María tells her everything is all ready for the party. She's already invited the Fashion Group executives, Betty's parents, the employees. The only thing missing is the musicians. She wanted to get a jazz group that Armando would like but she didn't know which one. She tells Betty there is a place called "The Saloon" that has some groups from which to chose, but Betty would have to go herself to see and hire a group. Betty replies she can do that on the way home. Aura María asks her what excuse she is going to give Armando, and Betty says she'll tell him she is going out for a drink with the Cartel.

Gabriela tries to meet with Armando again to discuss the documents; he's not at all interested in them and is pretty much ignoring Gabriela at the moment.

We see Michel with Hugo and Jenny; Michel is holding Hugo's little doggie. Hugo tells Michel he is just divine and asks if his blue eyes are his own or contact lenses... Hugo tells him he is there for whatever Michel might need, and next time he'll make him a little sandwich with French bread [Beth the cynical: yeah, i'll just bet...! "little sandwich" indeed!], and how he's heard that in France they say good-bye with two kisses (one on each cheek instead of just one on one cheek). Michel tells him only couples do that. Hugo says it's a shame to be single. He greets Gabriela with two kisses, but looks at Armando and says, "I've seen this one but I don't undress him" [Beth: another gem from Ecomoda's other word-meister, Hugo, this one a play on the word "visto," which means "seen," and the first-person present-tense form of the word "desvestir" (to undress) -- "desvisto." i've translated what Hugo said literally but suspect he is once again attempting to give the impression that there is or has been something between him and Armando. he used to do that because he wanted there to be something between them, but after the truth about Armando & Betty came out, Hugo started doing it more to embarrass or insult Armando who in any case doesn't usually pay much attention to his jibes. however, i am going on past experience with Hugo; i didn't see this episode so can't tell what his intent was this time]. Hugo tells Jenny to escort Michel to the exit but nothing more. Jenny gives Michel two farewell kisses and says maybe later she could bother him to help her with some French things she needs to translate (!!). He replies that she may bother him whenever she likes [Beth: eeewww Michel! i'm disappointed in you! that's *Jenny,* for heaven's sake! i thought you had more discrimination!], and tells Armando he is going to say good-bye to Betty. Armando stays watching Michel walking towards Betty's office and starts to imagine the farewell scene between Betty and Michel: it's all foggy, they kiss and hug each other so much that Michel ends up with Betty's glasses on his face and Betty is sobbing broken-heartedly. Then he imagines Michel going to say goodbye to Betty with a torrent of romantic things in French; she tells him good-bye. Then he goes back to say good-bye yet again -- this time with a rose, saying he'll love her until he dies.

Back in the 'real world,' Gabriela is asking Armando if he can hear her. She wants him to go over the documents. Armando says he'll get back to her with his opinion on the matter. She tells him, "as you like," and leaves in a bit of a huff, while over in Betty's office, Betty tells Michel how she's going to go to the music place by herself. He tells her he really likes jazz and could go with her if she likes. She says that's fine. Armando is still outside, waiting.

Michel and Betty leave her office and Michel again congratulates Armando, saying he has a great wife. Armando replies, "You think?" Betty asks Armando when he's leaving for the anniversary party and he tells her around 7pm. Armando asks Betty if she has some engagement herself. She says she's going to go out with "the girls" to have a drink somewhere. But then she can't stand it any more and tells Armando she can't lie to him -- she's actually made plans to see Michel later.

In his office, Armando is fuming. He tells Mario that Betty wants to go out with Michel again. He can't take any more! The lie about lunch was the last straw.

Betty is telling the Cartel that she couldn't lie to Armando -- she'd just die if he were to find out. She'd rather tell him a half-truth. Armando calls Betty on the phone and says "Hello, my love. Are you alone?" [He knows she is with the Cartel]. He tells her he's not going to the anniversary party after all [Mario just about dies when he hears that piece of news!]. Betty asks him why not, and he tells her he doesn't want to leave the baby with the nana (nanny? grandmother?) so long, and anyway, he's tired. She tells him to forget about that, she'll stay -- she doesn't want him to cancel his engagement. He replies no, you forget about that [Merci: these two are a poem!!] -- *he'll* go home, he's NOT going to the party. She tells him if that's the case, she'll go home with him. He tells her, "stubborn monster!" then we'll go home together. Mario asks Armando, "monster"? -- he (Armando) created the monstrosity! He spoiled Betty's date and ruined the anniversary party. Armando shouts back that this is *his* peace, his tranquility, his wife, his marriage... Mario tells him to leave him alone then, calls him the Husband of the Year and tells him arrivederci...

Armando opens the connecting door to Betty's office via the "hole." Betty is telling the Cartel that Armando spoiled her plan with Michel. Armando can't believe what he's hearing. Betty's asking if a phone is ringing and Sofía says it can't be hers since she doesn't have one [?? they must be talking about a cel phone...?]. Bertha says the person who has one is Jenny! Betty decides what she will do is wait until Armando falls asleep to organize the party things. Aura María can't believe either that Betty is going to give up going out with the super-hottie Frenchman. Just then Armando's cel phone rings and he leaves...

In his office, Armando is telling Mario on the phone that he is NOT going to go to the party -- no, no, NO! and good-bye! Then he says to himself: I am not going to fall asleep tonight -- no sirree!!

In the conference room, the Cartel is relaxing, drinking some tintos [Beth: i forget -- in some countries this would refer to glasses of red wine, but i seem to remember from BLF that in Colombia this refers to coffee or possibly some other non-alcoholic beverage suitable to be served both in an office or a social setting. i distinctly remember icky Daniel Valencia and other business people coming to Ecomoda for morning meetings and being served "tintos," so i think it's most likely some kind of coffee]. Aura María comments that it's 9:30pm already -- time to go get ready for the party.

Armando and Betty are in bed together, watching TV. Armando is trying to stay awake, but his eyes are closing against his will. At last he succumbs and starts to snore. Betty waves her hand in front of his face to see if he's really asleep and is satisfied he is. She carefully gets out of bed, then takes his glasses off his face and puts them on the night table next to him before kissing his forehead. She tip-toes out of the bedroom with her shoes in her hand.

Armando rolls over as if to embrace Betty but when he realizes she's not there, he starts awake saying "Betty's flown!" He starts to call to her, "Beatríz! Beatríz! Beatríz!" as he gets angrier and angrier thinking she's run away. He grabs his coat from the floor and runs out of the apartment [Merci: we must hope that the nanny is sleeping in the service quarters because if not little Camilita is all alone!!]. In the lobby, Betty is explaining to the doorman that the guests are going to arrive at midnight, but not to announce them so that Armando doesn't find out [and ruin the surprise]. Betty returns to the apartment as the doorman hears someone in the garage ringing for him to open the garage door. The doorman asks himself which of the "doctors" it could be, and then sees it's Armando, driving off like a wild man. The doorman says to himself of course it could only be Doctor Mendoza.

Betty gets to the bedroom and finds that Armando's not there. She calls to him but gets no response. Just then, Armando's cel rings. She picks up to discover it's Mario Calderón calling. Betty doesn't say anything, just listens as Mario says "Tiger! Tiger!" and insists that "Armando" listen and hear how great the party is; Armando needs be there, Mario's there waiting for him. Betty gets all sad and tells herself of course, Armando wanted to go out partying with Mario and made her cancel her date as well.

Meanwhile, we see Armando arriving at Michel's hotel and asking which is Michel's room. They tell him Michel's in Room 410, but he left word at the desk that he didn't want to be disturbed. Armando ignores this and goes upstairs anyway and starts banging on the door of Room 410. Michel opens the door dressed in a bathrobe. He asks Armando what he's doing there, and Armando tells Michel not to be such a cynic, he's there for his wife. Michel tells Armando Betty's not there. Armando pulls the covers off the woman that's in the bed and is horribly embarrassed to discover it's not Betty [Beth: i can't tell, but in some of the pictures Merci included the woman looks like Jenny. if so, i am VERY disappointed in Michel]. He starts to apologize profusely, he practically kisses Michel in his relief but settles for giving him a big hug, and tells Michel he's very happy. Michel tells Armando to go home or he'll ruin the surprise Betty's prepared for him. What surprise, Armando asks, and is told: your birthday surprise. Armando again begs pardon and runs out.

Betty is on the phone with someone, explaining that the whole surprise party for Armando is canceled because he went out with Mario. As she's saying this her cel rings; it's Michel. She tells him she can't talk now, but Michel explains how Armando had been there looking for her, and what happened. She asks Michel if he told Armando about the party and he tells her yes. The elevator door to their apartment opens...

Armando (singing and dancing): C'mere and light the candles, start the dancing... Armandito's here for his little party! Ay, guys -- where are you? I'm here! Where are you? What happened? ¡Happy birthday to you! ¡Happy Birthday, Armandito! ¡Happy Birthday to me!

Betty: Where were you?

Armando: Okay, I'm going to tell you the truth. In the office today I overheard you were going to have a surprise party so I decided to go out for a while so that you could organize everything in peace and quiet. But I'm here now and I want my party! I want my party... Where is everyone?

Betty: Shhhhh... you're going to wake the baby... [Merci & Beth: ummm, and what about the party and the musicians then...?]

Armando: I'm sorry, I'm sorry....

Betty: Armando, were you looking for me in Michel's hotel room? Because I was here downstairs in the lobby arranging for him to let the guests and the musicians in...

Armando: Yes, yes, the truth is this morning what I overheard was that you were going to run away with Michel...

Betty: Of course, and I went directly to his hotel...

Armando: I'm really sorry, my love. I know I was wrong, I was jealous. But, in any event, I don't want us to fight right now. You can tell everyone to come out, that I want to party... PARTY! Here I am...

Betty: My love, my love, the party's been canceled. There is no party anymore. Your friend Calderón called your cel. I thought you'd gone with him. Why have a party if you weren't going to be here?

Armando: You thought I was deceiving you all day so I could come home to our apartment and then escape to a party with Calderón? Is that what you're trying to say? We are bad, my love, we are bad... Because this means that we aren't trusting each other.

Betty: My love, I think we are going a bit overboard, aren't we?

Armando: Yes...

Betty: Well... I had to celebrate your birthday alone...

Armando: 'You had...'

Betty: 'I had...' My love, happy birthday!

Armando: My love, believe me: This is going to be the best birthday of my life -- the happiest...

Merci: I don't have any idea what's going to happen next week since the previews never show what's really going to happen. Apparently, a mysterious woman enters Mario's life who will also get Armando into problems, and Betty wants to know everything that's happened. Who knows what that means...?

Capítulo 16, 17 marzo 2002 ¡Este programa cada día está MEJOR! El capítulo de esta noche estuvo fantástico... Vemos a Betty y Armando caminando por una calle de Bogotá -- se ve que han estado de compras ya que Armando cargando dos bolsas, mientras Betty empuja el cochecito de Camila... Armando se vira a mirar a una mujer muy atractiva y la mujer lo mira a él y lo reconoce. Ella lo saluda muy cariñoso, es una modelo que tiene una agencia de modelaje y lo quiere invitar a una fiesta de aniversario de la agencia. Armando se siente incómodo con la invitación y en toda su confusión no presenta a Betty. Dice que no puede ir y además por fin se acuerda de presentar a Betty, a quién llama primero monstruo, después Betty, mi esposa... Betty saluda a la mujer y le dice que aunque ella no puede ir (la mujer la invita cuando se da cuenta que Armando está casado), que Armando claro que puede ir. Armando también se encarga de presentarle a Camila, que está dormidita en el coche. Se despiden, Armando todavía sigue algo nerviosillo y le pregunta a Betty si se van a tomar algo... En EcoModa vemos a las del Cuartel toditas juntas, incluyendo a Mariana que parece que puede contestar los teléfonos de recepción por control remoto, en el chisme diario. En eso se abren las puertas del elevador y los dos tortolitos salen besándose como si estuvieran pegados con pegamento permanente. Ni se inmutan aunque allí está el Cuartel en pleno y Natasha. ¡Y qué placer fue no tener que oír a Natasha hablar esta noche! Un descansito, ¡qué rico! Armando le dice a Betty que le jura que está en la casa antes de las 11:30 p.m. Ella le dice que le da permiso hasta las 12. Betty se va para su oficina y Armando a la suya, no sin antes decirle a Sandra y Natasha "buenos días, señoritas".

Mario está en la oficina de Armando, vanagloriándose de que va a poder ir a la fiesta de esa noche mientras que Armando no podrá. ¡Qué lástima que se la pierda! Armando le dice que él tiene una invitación... ¿Qué le parece, cómo le quedó el ojo? Mario dice que invitar a Armando es como invitar a un condenado a a cadena perpetua a ir a una fiesta... Armando le da una segunda sorpresa al decirle que no tan solo le llegó una invitación, sino que además va a ir a la fiesta. ¡Mario no lo puede creer! ¿Es que se va a separar de Betty esa misma tarde? ¿Le va a dar un somnífero para que no se dé cuenta? Armando le cuenta que le dieron permiso porque su mujer confía en él... Mario le contesta que eso se llama una salida condicional por buena conducta. Las del Cuartel le están preguntando a Betty que si va a dejar a Armando ir a la fiesta. Ella les contesta que Armando se ha portado muy bien durante estos últimos dos años y que no hay motivo por el cual tenerlo encerrado. Además -- ¿no se han dado cuenta ellas de lo cariñoso que ha estado Armando últimamente? Sandra le dice que sí, y a propósito le comenta que se arregle el lápiz de labio... Betty añade que ella y Armando se tienen la suficiente confianza como para esas cosas. Además, como Armando cumple años al otro día, ella podrá arreglarlo todo mientras él esté en la fiesta -- habrá una fiesta sorpresa cuando él llegue a la casa. Sofía no puede creer que Betty vaya a dejar a Armando estar con tantas "240s". Le preguntan qué es eso y ella dice que 90-60-90 suma ¡240!

Armando le dice a Calderón que va a estar de regreso a su casa a las 12 sin faltar. Mario le dice "estimado Ceniciento", que a esa hora volverá a convertirse en un miserable ratón. Pero Mario también piensa que esto le va a dar la oportunidad de por lo menos salir unas tres veces en semana con Armando -- y no hay que preocuparse porque a Betty ¡no hay quién la invite! Se pueden imaginar la reacción de Armando ante tal comentario: ¿qué dijo cretino? Y, al igual que pasó en Yo soy Betty, la fea, Mario sigue con sus poderes de saber el futuro. Se abre el elevador y vemos a Mariana escoltando a nada más y nada menos que nuestro apreciado y muy bien recordado francés: Michel Duanell. El Cuartel y Natasha están toditas que se derriten al ver la aparición divina. Le dan la bienvenida, lo miran, lo acarician con los ojos. Le preguntan que hace allí y él les cuenta que está en Bogotá por unos días y quería ver si podía ver a Betty. Aura María va a la oficina de Betty y le pide que adivine quién la quiere ver. Betty le dice que no está para nadie. Aura María le pregunta si está segura de lo que dice y le cuenta que el hombre de su vida está allí, Michel. Betty pone una cara de alegría muy sincera y le pregunta ¿qué hace Michel allí, qué quiere? Aura María le cuenta que está allí para saludarla. Betty también le dice a Aura María que el hombre de su vida se llama Armando Mendoza y está en la oficina de al lado. Aura María dice que Michel hubiera podido ser el hombre de su vida si Armando no se hubiera metido en el medio. Betty dice que si Armando se entera que Michel está allí le va a dar un paro cardiaco. Aura María le pregunta por qué, ¿no es que se tienen tanta confianza? Le dice que no sea boba y lo vea. Betty le pregunta como se ve y Aura María le dice que ella no es fea desde hace mucho tiempo. Betty se sienta, saca el compacto de polvo y se retoca el maquillaje. Aura María dice que Michel está hecho un triple papito... Las reporteras de Radio Cuartel entrevistan a Michel acerca de si tiene novia, él les dice que no, que no ha tenido tiempo ya que tiene mucho trabajo. Mariana le pregunta si no ha estado con nadie desde Betty, y él le dice que no. Aura María sale con Betty de su oficina y Betty y Michel se saludan con un abrazo. Gabriela le pregunta a Natasha quién es Michel y Natasha hace un gesto como que no sabe. Betty le dice a Michel ¡qué sorpresa! Que nunca se imaginó que sería él quien la estaba visitando. Él le dice que no sabía si estaría dispuesta a verlo, ella le contesta que por cierto. Michel quiere saber si pueden ir a almorzar.

En eso escuchamos a Armando llamando a Sandra -- ella no le presta ninguna atención y la voz de Armando se acerca más y más. ¡Ay Armandito, senda sorpresita que te encuentras! Betty le pregunta a Armando si se acuerda de Michel. Armando le dice que sí se acuerda. Michel le dice que se acuerda de Armando perfectamente (esto me recordó a mí la escena en BLF cuando Armando estaba en Presidencia sacando el diario de Betty de su cartera y ella entra con Michel y los presenta...). Michel le dice a Armando que está de paso y Armando le pregunta cómo le va. Betty le dice que ella y Armando se casaron y que además tienen una hija. Michel los felicita y Armando le da las gracias. Betty le cuenta a Armando que Michel la invitó a almorzar. Armando no recibe esta noticia con mucha alegría y hace el comentario de que las del Cuartel también deben estar invitadas ya que toditas están allí sin hacer nada. Michel dice que Armando también está invitado. Armando le dice que no puede ya que tiene que trabajar. Armando le dice a Betty que la ve en la tarde después del almuerzo. Armando se vira y se tropieza con Sandra que le pregunta que necesitaba. Armando ni se acuerda, pero reacciona y le dice que necesita un informe ¡volando! Michel y Betty se van a la oficina de ésta. Rumbo a su oficina Armando se encuentra con Calderón que le pregunta si ese hombre es la pesadilla francesa. Armando le contesta que no se meta con él, que no está de humor. Gabriela le pide a Armando que le apruebe unos documentos y Armando, distraído le dice que está bien.

Michel le pregunta a Betty si va a estar bien que salgan juntos ya que recuerda como Armando era de celoso y los perseguía la última vez que Michel estuvo allí. Betty dice que todo es muy diferente ahora. Armando es muy tranquilo (ja, ja, ja). Betty le dice que no cuenta con mucho tiempo para almorzar ya que planeaba aprovechar ese tiempo para hacer las diligencias para la fiesta de Armando. Michel le dice que no necesitan ir a almorzar para hablar y que pueden comer cualquier cosa en el camino. Gabriela está hablando con Armando y él le dice que Nicolás debe revisar los documentos también. Betty y Michel salen de presidencia y él le dice que puede pedir un carro prestado (¿recuerdan como le molestó a Armando que Betty dejara que el francés manejara su carro?), ella le contesta que ella tiene carro. Betty saluda a Gabriela y le dice a Armando que se va a almorzar. Aura María le pregunta a Betty a dónde van a ir a almorzar y Betty se inventa que a Le Noir y dice que ya hizo una reservación. Armando le dice bon apétit a Michel y éste le contesta merci. Betty le pide a Armando que la acompañe a la sala de juntas para hablar antes de ella irse. Betty: Mi amor, ¿podemos hablar un momento en la sala de juntas? Armando: Por supuesto... Betty: Michel, ¿me espera un momento por favor? Michel: Sí, la espero en el ascensor... Betty: Bueno... Gabriela (a Armando, que no le está prestando ninguna atención a la pobre...): Yo voy a estar en la oficina de Nicolás Mora... Betty: Ay, mi amor, yo creo que antes de aceptar la invitación a almorzar de Michel, debí consultártelo, ¿cierto? Armando: No, mi amor, ¿pero cómo lo vas a consultar? Tú no puedes consultarme a mí cada cosa que vas a hacer. Ni más faltaba... Está muy bien, muy bien que salgas... Betty: Ay, monstri, es que te veo como raro, y yo sé que para ti no es nada agradable que Michel haya aparecido, y menos que me invite a almorzar. Pero como hicimos un pacto de credibilidad... Armando: Mi amor, como tu confías en mí, así yo confío en ti. Me parece maravilloso que salgas con Michel a almorzar. Yo estoy absolutamente seguro que no va a pasar nada, ¡qué alegría! (pobre Armando, se está muriendo de los celos...). Betty: ¿Estás seguro? Armando: Totalmente... Betty: Mi amor, te amo... Armando: Yo a ti... Betty: Gracias, mi amor... Armando: Ve con Dios... Betty: ¡No, voy con Michel! Armando: ¿Quieres llevar mi carro? Betty: No, mi amor, gracias... Armando: Diviértete... Betty se va mientras que la sonrisa que Armando tenía congelada en la cara se convierte en una mueca de enojo, se levanta y con un golpe riega todas las carpetas que estaban sobre la mesa de la sala de juntas... Afuera, Betty le dice a Aura María que no va a ir a ningún restaurante sino a comprar las cosas del cumpleaños de Armando. En su oficina Armando está al borde de un ataque diciendo que su mujer lo va a traicionar con el francés. Mario le dice que ponga a dormir el ogro. Armando llama a Sandra y le pide que le diga a Freddy que vaya a su oficina. Armando firma un cheque y le dice a Calderón que le va a probar que Betty está diciendo la verdad... Freddy entra y empieza a comentar que están como antes, "los tres amigos". Armando le dice a Freddy que vaya a Le Noir, interrumpa a Betty y le pida que por favor firme ese cheque, que ella sabe lo que es. Freddy dice que entonces ahí es que Betty fue con el francés -- como corren los chismes de rápido en EcoModa... Armando le dice a Freddy que lo haga con "rapidol"... Freddy le dice que entonces se aproximará muy respetuoso a la mesa de Betty y le pedirá que le firme el cheque. Freddy y Mario se están riendo. Armando NO se está riendo. Freddy se da cuenta que Armando no está para chistes y dice que "ni más faltaba". Armando le dice que se vaya volando. Mario le dice a Armando, "bueno, tigre, seamos francos" usted está haciendo esto para tranquilizarse y "yo soy la excusa". Armando dice: ¡ay, Señor! ¿Por qué en medio de este naufragio me has mandado a este imbécil?

Armando está sentado en su escritorio apretando una de sus famosas bolitas de estrés. Freddy abre la puerta y le entrega el cheque. ¡Armando no puede creer que se lo haya devuelto sin la firma de Betty! Freddy le dice que la doctora nunca llegó al dicho restaurante con el susodicho monsieur. Armando le pregunta si los buscó, si revisó por todas partes. Freddy le dice que miró todas las mesas, todos los baños -- por si acaso, fue a la cocina, habló con el administrador del local -- que conoce muy bien a Betty. Nunca llegaron, ni antes de que él llegara ni durante su visita al restaurante. Le aclara que tuvo que almorzar allí, pero solo un almuerzo ejecutivo y comió en la cocina. Freddy se acerca a Mario y Armando y les dice que esto se queda entre ellos tres. Armando le dice a Freddy ¡lárguese! Armando le dice a Mario que con razón Betty estuvo tan evasiva cuando le preguntaron a dónde iba a comer.

Armando sale enojado de su oficina y Mario lo sigue para preguntarle que va a hacer, que no vaya a dañarles la salida de esa noche. Que no le diga nada a Betty hasta que ella le explique. ¡Mario tiene el descaro de decir que él confía en Betty! Betty y Michel llegan y Betty le da un beso a Armando. Armando le pregunta cómo les fue en Le Noir y ella dice que Michel comió frutos de mar y ella lasaña, todo muy rico. ¡Y llega el que faltaba! Hugo acompañado de Jenny y Bárbara Chesai, por supuesto. Hugo tiene puesto un manto con brillo por la cabeza... Al ver a Michel Hugo comenta: "el papá de mis hijos" (este hombre es genial). Le pregunta a Betty si Michel es un modelo. Ella le explica que es un empresario francés amigo de ella. Hugo le dice a Betty -- Beatriz, no puedo creer que usted teniendo amigos así se haya casado con un macho cabrío latino como Armando. Suena el teléfono y Aura María le dice a Betty que un banco de Miami la está llamando por segunda vez y es urgente. Ella se disculpa y va a su oficina a contestar la llamada. Mario le dice a Armando "vamos a nuestro despecho" (¡despacho!). Armando se despide de Michel y le dice que esté bien, "ésta es casi, casi tu empresa"... Huguito no va a dejar que Michel se le escape y le pide que lo acompañe al taller a ayudarlo a traducir unos textos. Le explica que el maneja todas las lenguas (!!!) pero ¡la falta que le hace un buen francés! Hugo y Jenny los dos se están bebiendo las babas por Michel... Armando y Mario hablan de que Betty le mintió pero que tiene que haber una explicación. Mario no puede creer que Armando con su desconfianza vaya a perderse la fiesta -- le dice que entonces es adiós a Tatiana de los Ríos, Natalia París, Adriana Castro... Armando le dice que él no le va a hacer ningún reclamo a Betty, esa es la promesa entre ellos. En la oficina de Betty, Aura María le cuenta que ya está todo listo para la fiesta. Ya invitó a los ejecutivos del Fashion Group, a sus papás, los empleados. Lo único que falta son los músicos. Ella trató de conseguir un grupo de jazz de los que le gusta a Armando pero no supo cual. Le dice a Betty que hay un sitio que se llama The Saloon que tiene unos cuantos grupos para escoger, pero que tendría que ir Betty a ver. Betty le dice que camino a su casa ella puede pasar y contratarlos. Aura María le pregunta que excusa le va a dar a Armando y Betty le dice que le dirá que va a salir a tomarse algo con las del Cuartel. Gabriela se vuelve a encontrar con Armando para hablar de los documentos, a Armando los documentos le importan cinco y más bien está ignorando a Gabriela.

Vemos a Michel cargando a la perra de Hugo, Hugo y Jenny. Hugo le pregunta a Michel que es tan divino y que si sus ojos azules son de él o son lentes... Hugo le dice que allí está para servirle en lo que necesite. Que la próxima vez le hace un sandwichito con pan francés. Y que como él ha escuchado que en Francia se despiden con dos besitos -- pero Michel lo para y le dice que eso es solamente entre parejas. Hugo dice que es una lástima no ser pareja. Hugo saluda a Gabriela con dos besos. A Armando lo mira y le dice "yo a éste lo he visto pero no lo desvisto". Hugo le dice a Jenny que acompañe a Michel hasta la salida y nada más. Jenny le da dos besos de despedida a Michel y le dice que tal vez la puede ayudar luego con unos textos en francés que necesita traducir. Él le dice que lo puede molestar cuando quiera. Michel le dice a Armando que se va a despedir de Betty... Armando se queda mirándolo y comienza a imaginarse que la despedida entre Betty y Michel es toda fogosa, que se besan y abrazan tanto que Michel termina con las gafas de Betty puestas, Betty llorando... Entonces vuelve a imaginarse a Michel regresar a despedirse de Betty y le dice un chorro de palabras románticas en francés, ella le dice adiós. ¡Y vuelve a despedirse! Esta vez con una rosa y le dice que la quiere a morir.

Afuera Gabriela le pregunta a Armando si la escucha. Le dice que revisen los papeles entonces. Armando le dice que después le cuenta su opinión del asunto. Ella le dice "como quieras" y se va algo molesta. En la oficina de Betty, ella le cuenta a Michel que va a lo del sitio de música sola. Él le dice que le gusta mucho el jazz y la puede acompañar. Ella le dice que está bien. Armando todavía está afuera esperando no sé qué.

Michel y Betty salen y Michel vuelve a felicitar a Armando y le dice que tiene una gran esposa. Amando le contesta ¿le pareció? Betty le pregunta a Armando cuando se va para la fiesta y él le contesta que a eso de las 7 p.m. Armando le pregunta a Betty si tiene algún compromiso. Ella le dice que va a salir con las muchachas a tomar algo por ahí. Betty no se resiste y le dice a Armando que no puede mentirle ya que en realidad quedó en verse con Michel más tarde. En su oficina Armando está que trina. Le dice a Calderón que Betty quiere volver a verse con Michel. ¡Ya no lo soporta más! Que fue suficiente con la mentira del almuerzo. Betty le está diciendo a las del Cuartel que no pudo mentirle a Armando, que se muere si se entera. Mejor es una verdad a medias. Armando llama a Betty por teléfono y le dice hola, mi amor. ¿Estás solita? Él sabe que está con el Cuartel... Le dice que no va a ir a la fiesta. ¡Calderón se nos muere cuando escucha esta noticia! Betty le pregunta que por qué, él le dice que no quiere que la niña esté tanto tiempo con la nana, que está cansado. Ella le dice que se olvide de eso, que ella se queda, no quiere que él rompa el compromiso. Él le dice que se olvide ella -- estos dos son un poema -- que él va para su casa, él a la fiesta NO VA. Ella le dice que entonces se va a la casa con él. Él le dice ¡terca monstruo! Entonces dice nos vamos a la casa solitos. Mario le dice a Armando: monstruo, la monstruosidad la hizo él, le dañó el compromiso a ella y acabó con la fiesta. Armando le grita que esa es su paz, su tranquilidad, su mujer, su matrimonio. Mario le dice que lo deja en paz entonces y lo llama el marido del año y le dice arrivedercci... Armando abre la puerta que conecta a su oficina con la de Betty, a través del hueco. Betty le está diciendo al Cuartel que Armando le dañó su plan con Michel. Armando no puede creer lo que escucha. Betty pregunta si sonó un teléfono y Sofía dice que no puede ser el de ella ya que ella no tiene. ¡Bertha le dice que quién lo tiene es Jenny! Betty decide que lo que hará es esperar a que Armando se duerma para organizar las cosas de la fiesta.

Aura María no puede creer tampoco que Betty vaya a dejar de salir con el triple papito francés. En eso suena el teléfono celular de Armando y él se va... En su oficina, Armando le está diciendo a Mario por teléfono que no va a ir a la fiesta, ¡no, no, no y adiós! Entonces se dice: ¡esta noche yo no me quedo dormido, no señor!

En la sala de juntas, las del Cuartel están tomándose unos tintos y Aura María dice que ya son las 9:30 p.m. y tienen que irse a arreglar para la fiesta. Armando y Betty están acostados en la cama viendo televisión. Armando está tratando de quedarse dormido, pero los ojos se le cierran contra su voluntad. Por fin cae y comienza a roncar. Betty hace un movimiento con su mano frente a la cara de Armando para ver si de verdad se durmió y lo comprueba. Con cuidado se separa de él y se levanta. Entonces le quita los espejuelos y los pone sobre la mesita de noche y le da un beso en la frente. Betty sale en puntillas de su cuarto con los zapatos en la mano. Armando se vira como para abrazar a Betty y cuando se da cuenta que ella no está se levanta asustado y dice que Betty "¡se me voló!" Empieza a llamarla ¡Beatriz, Beatriz, Beatriz! y se enoja pensando que se le voló... Agarra el gabán del piso y sale corriendo. ¡Esperemos que la nana esté durmiendo en el cuarto de servicio, porque sino se nos quedó sola Camilita! En el lobby del edificio, Betty le está explicando al portero que a las 12 van a llegar los invitados pero que no los anuncie para que Armando no se dé cuenta. Betty regresa al apartamento y el portero escucha a alguien tocando para que le abran la puerta del garaje. El portero se pregunta cuál de los doctores será. ¡Es Armando que sale como un loco! El portero dice que con razón tenía que ser el Dr. Mendoza.

Betty llega a su cuarto y se encuentra con que Armando no está. Lo llama y nada. En eso suena el celular de Armando y ella lo contesta y se da cuenta que es Mario Calderón. Ella no dice nada y Mario dice ¡tigre, tigre! Y se pone a insistir que si lo oye, que la fiesta está buenísima y que vaya para allá que lo está esperando. Betty se pone triste y dice que claro, Armando esperó para irse con Mario de rumba y la hizo cancelar su compromiso también. Vemos a Armando llegar al hotel de Michel y preguntar cuál es su habitación. Le dicen que la 410, pero que dejó dicho que no quiere que lo molesten. Armando sube y empieza a dar golpes contra la puerta. Michel abre, vestido en bata de baño. Michel le pregunta qué hace allí y Armando le dice que no sea cínico, que vino por su mujer. Michel le dice que ella no está allí. Armando destapa a la mujer que está en la cama y se muere de la vergüenza al ver la embarrada. Empieza a pedir disculpas, que tiene mucha pena, casi besa a Michel (le da un abrazo) y le dice que está muy feliz. Michel le dice que vaya para su casa porque sino va a arruinar la sorpresa que Betty le tiene preparada. ¿Cuál plan, pregunta Armando? El del cumpleaños... Armando vuelve a pedir disculpas y sale corriendo.

Betty está hablando por teléfono con alguien, explicándoles que todo lo de la fiesta para Armando está cancelado por que él se fue con Mario. En eso suena su celular y es Michel. Ella le dice que no puede hablar con él. Michel le explica que Armando estuvo allí y lo que pasó. Ella le pregunta si él le contó lo de la fiesta y él le dice que sí. Se abre el ascensor del apartamento de Armando y Betty... Armando: (¡cantando y bailando!) ¡Vení pacá y prender las velas, con la cumbiamba, llegó Armandito a su fiestica! Ay muchachos ¿dónde están? ¡Llegué! ¿Dónde están? ¿Qué pasó? ¡Happy birthday to you! ¡Happy Birthday, Armandito! ¡Happy Birthday to me! Betty: ¿Dónde estabas? Armando: Okay, te voy a decir la verdad. Hoy en la oficina escuché que ibas a hacer una fiesta sorpresa y entonces decidí escaparme par así poder dejar que tú organizaras todo con tranquilidad... Pero ya llegué aquí, y ¡quiero mi fiesta! Quiero mi fiesta... ¿Dónde están todos? Betty: Shhhhh... vas a despertar a la niña... (uy, ¿y qué iban a hacer con la fiesta y los músicos?) Armando: Perdón, perdón... Betty: Armando, ¿estuviste buscándome en la habitación del hotel de Michel? Mientras, yo estaba aquí en la portería arreglando la entrada de los músicos y los invitados... Armando: Sí, sí, la verdad es que esta mañana lo que escuché fue que te ibas a escapar con Michel... Betty: Claro, y me fui directamente a su hotel... Armando: Lo siento mucho, mi amor. Yo sé que pensé mal, que fui celoso. Pero, en todo caso, pues, yo no quiero que peleemos en este momento. Y ya le puedes decir a la gente que salgan... Que yo quiero fiesta... ¡FIESTA! Aquí estoy... Betty: Mi amor, mi amor, la fiesta se canceló. Ya no hay fiesta. Tu amigo Calderón llamó a tu celular. Yo pensé que te habías ido con él. ¿Qué iba a ser la fiesta si tú no ibas a estar? Armando: ¿Tú pensaste que yo te estuve engañando durante todo el día para después venir a nuestro apartamento y después volarme con Calderón a una fiesta? ¿Eso es lo que me quieres decir? Estamos mal, mi amor, estamos mal... Porque eso quiere decir que no estamos confiando el uno en el otro... Betty: Mi amor, yo creo que nos estamos celando mucho, ¿cierto? Armando: Sí... Betty: Bueno... pues me tocó a mí celebrar tu cumpleaños sola... Armando: Tocó... Betty: Tocó... Betty: Mi amor, feliz cumpleaños... Armando: Mi amor, créeme que éste va a ser el mejor cumpleaños de mi vida... El más feliz... Ni idea de que irá a pasar la semana que viene ya que los avances nunca enseñan lo que pasará de verdad. Aparentemente a Mario se le aparece una mujer misteriosa que también meterá a Armando en líos, y Betty quiere saber todo lo que ha pasado. ¿Quién sabe que quiere decir todo esto?

3/24/02. Mario goes to Sandra’s house and interrupts a combination pajama party/card reading session. He is shocked to discover that Sandra has a body and the next morning demands that Armando look at her with different eyes. Mario asks her to come to his office to find something, causing her to bend and stretch in revealing ways. Mario invites Gabriela out. She refuses but he won’t accept no and makes a date for the next day. Afterwards, he tells Armando he will be making plans for the evening. Armando warns him not to fool around with Sandra but Mario considers it his “duty”. He asks Sandra to work later which makes her unhappy because she had planned to go out with the cuartel to meet her “galan”. In the office, Mario gives her something to drink, puts his hands on her shoulders. She goes nuts, attacks him, pushes him onto the sofa. Gabriela hears strange noises coming from the office and leaves the building quickly. It’s not quite clear how far Sandra and Mario get, but he runs out of the office zipping up his pants. The next morning Sandra tells Betty she has fallen for a man like Armando, a mujeriego she can reform. Berta comes in and asks how her work for Mario went the night before and Betty realizes who the man was, warns Sandra that Mario is not Armando but Sandra is disposed to give him a chance. However, when he calls her into the office and she tells him how wonderful it was, he tells her to forget it ever happened. She leaves, goes to Betty, and cries on her shoulder. Mario asks to see Gabriela and reminds her of their date that night. Gabriela makes some nasty remarks about what went on the night before and the crying secretary and assures him she will never, ever go out with him.

Episode 17

Merci: EcoModa continues to be fantastic! Today was extremely funny. After Betty and Armando my favorite couple has to be: Mario and Armando! Incredibly, THREE days passed in one single episode... What continues to be terrible are the vaunted "advances" (teasers for the next episode) -- they have NOTHING to do with the actual story. Today there weren't any teasers since I believe there won't be a show next Sunday due to it being Easter.
Mario opens the door to Armando's office, sits down in front of the computer, inserts a diskette and opens the Oracle of the Goddesses. Gabriela opens the door and asks, Since he has a virtual girlfriend, has he forgotten what real women are like? He replies that she should help him remember. She tells him he not only has a problem with taste, but also with memory. Did he forget their night of love in Buenos Aires? Mario says no, he well remembers the cold of her body from head to toe. Gabriela asks if he forgot they have an appointment [Beth: note: the word used here, "cita," can be used either as in a business appointment, or as in a romantic date. as i'm sure you can guess, Gabriela means the former while our boy Dimples the Snake pretends to understand the latter...]. He says yes, but gets choked up... She nearly shouts at him that the date is with a customs agent! They have to leave immediately and he doesn't have a chance to save the Oracle on his diskette. Gabriela hurries him because they are already late. While Gabriela pushes the button for the elevator, Mario goes to Sandra and asks her to go to Armando's office, save the file on the diskette, and turn off the computer for him -- and all before Betty finds out. She asks him what she should do with his diskette and he tells her he will stop by her house to pick it up that night. She gives him her address and Mario leaves with Gabriela. Aura María asks Sandra if Mario is going to stop by the apartment and Sandra tells her yes. Just then Kenneth comes by and asks Aura María if she wants to go out to dinner with him that night since he's discovered a new place. She asks him if it has to be precisely that night and he says yes. The problem is, they have a [Tarot] reading with Mariana that night and she can't go out. Kenneth says it'll have to be some other time, then, and he takes his leave of Aura María [Merci: Wow, how loyal of Aura María to not stand up her girlfriends].

_________________________________________________________________

They didn't show this next scene in the United States...

Sandra: Copy, don't look, don't read. Yes, I got it already.

Armando <in a sweet, melodious voice and with a crazed look in his eyes>: Well, doctora, I am going crazy, doctora. Let's head for home, shall we? <He starts to take off his jacket> or here in the office... <his face changes -- he's just seen Sandra.>

Sandra: Ay, please excuse me. It's just that doctor Mario Calderón had me copy a diskette, some information he's going to pick up from me tonight at my house.

Armando <very annoyed>: Get away, get away, get away, get away, get away from there, man! Fly away fast.

Betty: How is this that Mario Calderón is going to go to your house?

Sandra: Yes, it's just that he won't have a chance to pick up the diskette here and it's easier for him to get it from my house. Excuse me.

<Armando, very put out and upset, has seated himself in front of the computer. Sandra goes to stand outside Betty's office.>

Sandra: Just imagine -- tonight we have a card reading at the house. Because, according to Mariana, tonight at 9p the conditions are optimal for romantic forecasts for this year. Yes, because the stars are crossed and because they form a cosmic cross and I don't know what all else.

Betty: Ay, how wonderful! It's been a while since Mariana read my cards. But she will know things... <she laughs>

Sandra: But Betty, what else can you want from life? Because anything it had to give you it already has, right? Remember, my girl. <They both look at Armando, who is working at his desk.> Remember that Mariana told you you were going to meet a wonderful man. Ay! and that you would fall in love with him.

Betty: Yes, that's true. And she was spot-on.

Sandra <whispering in Betty's ear>: What card did you get?

___________________________________________

We see Mario arrive outside Mariana, Sandra and Aura María's house in his BMW. They (the women) are all inside in their pajamas [Merci: Sandra's is really more like a "baby doll" -- a sexy, short, negligée-- and those of the others are very pretty too]. They are in the middle of the card reading when doing some sensual exercises [Beth: "sensual exercises"?? i rather wish i'd seen this part, just so i'd know what she's talking about...]... Mario knocks at the door and Jimmy goes running to answer [Beth: i don't know, but i'm guessing that Jimmy is Aura María's son]. Sandra says it was so late she figured Mario wasn't coming after all. All three get very nervous. Mario asks for Sandra, and Jimmy [Merci: who has grown a lot and is still styling his hair the same way Freddy does his] tells him she's inside with his mother and Mariana. Mario says he's sorry to interrupt; they try [Merci: but not very hard] to look modest -- Sandra is showing all to her boss!! Mario says not to worry, they're like family [Merci: ...and obviously he's really enjoying getting a good look at Sandra]. Sandra hands him the diskette, Mario says that, just like in the movies, he "knows the way out," ciao, ciao, and he heads back the way he came. Mariana says they have to consider cosmic energy while Aura María sends Jimmy to bed.

Mariana and Aura María comment to Sandra about the looks Mario was giving her. Sandra says he wouldn't look at her even if she were to stretch herself naked across the desk. Outside, Mario is thinking about how he'd never before noticed how sexy Sandra is... He gets back out of his car and starts to look at the women through the window. They continue with their exercises... Mario says, By all the goddesses in the Oracle! he can't believe what he's seeing. Sandra asks Mariana if the card she got is a good one and Mariana tells her yes [Merci: It should be remembered that Mariana is always dead on...]. Without Aura María's being aware of it, Jimmy has sneaked into the bathroom to spy on the women, but she notices at last and berates him. Mario thinks she's yelling at him and leaves. Jimmy says, Until tomorrow, witches! Mario cannot believe he's had Sandra right in front of him all this time -- he can't let this pass him by...

In the morning, Aura María, Bertha, and Sofía are talking about the card reading. Sofía wants to know if they predict a boyfriend for her as well... The elevator doors open and the handsome scoundrel --better known as Mario Calderón-- steps out and greets all the women, most especially Sandra, giving her one of those little looks he has. Just then he starts to daydream and we again see Sandra in her attire of the previous night, asking him if there is anything he needs. He wakes up and realizes where he is, and asks if Armando has arrived yet. She says he has, he's in his office.

Armando is sitting at his desk, virtuously working. Mario throws himself on the sofa and says: My God! she's a hottie! Armando asks who he's talking about, and Mario tells him about Sandra and the 'baby doll.' Armando asks him, Which Sandra, to which Mario replies "Sandra Patiño, she's great." Armando asks him to please get to work, saying Mario suffers from idleness. Mario tells him they've been living a lie, they never saw the equal of legs like Sandra's, that he saw her in a 'baby doll'... Armando mocks him, saying in a bored tone, Oh, I'm *so* excited... Mario calls Sandra on the phone and asks her to come to the office -- then starts to throw various catalogs Armando has on his desk onto the floor. Armando asks him if he had clown soup for breakfast... Sandra enters and asks Mario if he wanted to see her. Mario replies yes, literally. He tells her he is looking for something he can't find and he needs it for a plan. Armando clarifies that it's Calderón's plan, not his. Sandra starts searching in some file drawers as Mario 'eats her with his eyes' and, using gestures, asks Armando what he thinks. Armando moves his hand as if to say 'so-so,' but is clearly not very interested in the little game. Sandra looks at them and Armando plays with his wedding ring as if trying to take it off or something to cover up. Mario tells Sandra to try the lower drawer, and continues 'eating her with his eyes.' She tells him the files are all empty. Mario says not to worry about it, then remarks on the mess of things on the floor and starts to pick them up, but Sandra tells him not to do that, she'll pick them up. And the fink Mario is so delighted... He tells her not to worry, about it and she leaves. Mario asks Armando if he got a good look. Armando continues not to have much to say [Merci: look how well that Armando Mendoza is behaving, right?]. But at last he admits that yes, yes he saw it. Mario is overcome and thanks him -- saying he knew Armando would not fail him with an analysis. Then he starts to kiss him [Merci: but he kisses Armando's hand rather than his face]. Armando, revolted, states that if Mario should ever touch him again, he'll kill him!

The Cartel minus Inesita is looking at Aura María's computer, checking out a singles club. Natasha is behind them with a look on her face like she's going to rat them out to the bosses [rat-fink]. The elevator doors open and Kenneth and Gabriela get off. So Natasha, in her best "repressed-despot" tone [Beth: Merci's phrase! LOL!], starts to berate the Cartel for using the internet for personal things. She then comments on the same thing to Kenneth in English. The Cartel wants to know what's going on and they don't understand anything of what the idiot's saying in English. Gabriela [Merci: who in truth is fantastic] tells Natasha that as long as she (Natasha) doesn't use the internet for personal reasons she doesn't have any reason to concern herself about what the Ecomoda employees do [Merci: ouch!]. What's more, Gabriela seems to be interested in the singles club [Merci: yes, please -- so she doesn't even think about Armando ever again!]. She and Kenneth ask the Cartel about the singles club and they explain. The elevator doors open again and Betty comes out. She greets everyone and asks Aura María and Sandra to come to her office.

Very seriously Betty asks them, What happened? I want a detailed report, of EVERYthing that transpired... during the card reading! Aura María tells her she scared them with that tone of voice... She then recounts that she got the Hope card, but doesn't know if it has to do with that slippery guy Freddy. She wants something for Delivery NOW! Sandra says that maybe it's "Don Kenneth." Betty asks what Mariana got and they tell her she got something about a priestess with extrasensory powers. Sandra got the Passion card, explains Aura María --and how! Today is the most sensual day of the year for her. Betty reminds them that Mariana is really spot-on with her readings [Merci: if she only knew...]. Sandra says that this is all well and good, but where is she going to find the gallant? Betty tells her he could turn up at any moment, especially given how pretty Sandra's been lately. Sandra says that men had better start taking note!

Armando, with a worried look, asks Mario about his plans for that night. Mario says he is going to pay homage to his secretary. Armando tells him not to dare -- that as his "other ex-girlfriend" Blondie-Barbie used to say [Merci: and he says this with a dead-on impersonation of Patricia Fernández!], you are a SCOUNDRRRRREL! Mario tells him that Sandra is like an endless summer: She's never had a boyfriend [Beth: huh?? i wouldn't have thought virgins were Mario's type...]. What will happen with this prodigy? Armando is scandalized -- What? Is Mario now the savior of the souls, the redeemer, the preacher? He states that under no circumstances is Mario to mess with Sandra. It's already bad enough that he made a mess with Aura María, who is a friend of Sandra's --at which Mario puts on a sad face and says that that was SO tasty! Armando says what it *was,* was a scandal. He continues, adding that Mario is the Monster of the 'manfores' [Beth: Merci isn't sure she heard this word correctly, and i didn't hear it at all so...], a cradle-robber, a slimeball.... He reiterates that Mario is NOT to get involved with Sandra because he, Armando, doesn't want more problems -- Sandra is an employee, a member of the Cartel, a friend of his wife's, and all of Mario's disasters end up hurting him (Armando) [Merci: Armandito's eyes have been opened!]... Mario tells him it's not that he likes Sandra, it's that he likes certain "components." Armando sneers and says that if it's components he likes, he should become an electronic engineer. Or he should look up one of the 3,000 women in the Oracle... Mario replies that there's an iceberg that interests him (Gabriela) --him, with a Titanic soul!

Gabriela is in her office looking at an online singles club when Mario surprises her with a Hello, my love! He tells her he's got the evening free and invites her to go out. She says she can't, this is her evening free to give herself a massage, and their available evenings don't coincide. So Mario tells her she's in luck because he has the next night free as well. She replies, Maybe in some other lifetime. He persists and says that in 36 hours they have a date.

Outside, Mario asks Freddy to continue telling a joke about a stewardess but loses interest when he sees Armando emerge with Betty en route to the elevator. Armando asks Betty, Will you excuse me for a moment, my love? Freddy thinks he's talking to him [interrupting his story], but Armando tells him he was talking to Betty. Armando asks Mario what he's going to do and tells him to be very careful. Betty tells Armando that the elevator's arrived... Mario says goodbye to Armando: Goodbye, lover-boy. Mario asks Natasha if she knows where Sandra went. She tells him Sandra's in the ladies' room and Mario tells her to go look for her.

The Cartel is in the ladies' room where, except for Bertha and Inesita, they are getting ready to go out. Sandra says she is nervous. Inesita, as usual, is horrified they are going out on the prowl for guys. At this, Natasha enters and says, "Sandrita, my dear, Doctor Calderón needs you." [Beth: as mentioned in previous summaries, although the Cartel all uses the so-called "formal" form of you --"Usted"-- when addressing each other, Natasha uses the "informal," or "tú," when addressing Sandra here, as i believe she routinely does toward all the Cartel. to me this is another clue --as if we needed one!!-- that Natasha is NOT a Nice Person...]. Sandra asks her what for, but she only replies: Get a move on already, and see....

Mario is face-down on the sofa looking for a diskette when Sandra enters and asks what he needs. He tells her a tragic story of how he erased some very important information from a diskette and he needs Sandra to redo it. She says she'll happily do it in the morning. He tells her he's sorry, but he needs to e.mail the information first thing in the morning (8am). Such a good guy, he tells her he'll stay with her and help out. Sandra is really sad at having her plans for going out with her friends ruined and tells him she's going to the ladies' room but will be right back. Mario says to himself: I'm such a bad man! No -- but I am *good!*

In the ladies' room, Inesita is criticizing the length (or lack thereof) of Aura María's skirt... Sandra enters, tearfully sits down, and relates to her friends how she can't go out with them and why. Good-bye to her night of passion! Sofía tells her not to 'drown in a glass of water,' someone will just have to take Sandra's place [working late with Mario]. Inesita says she can't; neither can Aura María; even less likely is Mariana; Sofía can't either. Nor can Bertha, because she has to go take care of her "gorditos" (little fatties, i.e., her kids). Sandra says it'll just have be some other time. Mariana replies that that will be in 150 years! Yes, this will happen again when Mario has another attack of responsibility!! Inesita tells Sandra not to worry, that there are still men out there who like pure and chaste women. Aura María says that may be true --in fairy tales... Sofía then states that they shouldn't worry; the most likely thing is that Calderón won't stay past 10pm, after which Sandra can leave and meet up with them -- problem solved. She shouldn't worry, just get the job over with and they'll wait for her at the club. Since Mario doesn't work during the day, he won't work very late at night either... Sandra knows that that night she will meet her gallant and she asks her friends to please wait for her... [Beth: i'm sure we can all see what's coming... poor girl! little does she know how right, and yet how very wrong, Mariana's prediction about the 'gallant' will prove to be!]

Mario asks Natasha if everyone else has gone. She tells him yes, and that Kenneth and Gabriela are about to leave as well. She tells him 'See you tomorrow,' and heads off. Sandra approaches and Mario asks her to go into Armando's office. The rest of the Cartel gives him looks that could kill. Mario shuts the door as Sandra is collecting things as if to take them with her to her desk to work on them. Mario tells her they're going to work there, in Armando's office. She sits down and starts to write rapidly, explaining to him as she does that she has a date with her friends. Mario says that since she's in a hurry, she should be sure do things slowly and calmly to ensure they get done properly. Then he asks if she would like to join him in a glass of whiskey. She says no, she doesn't drink -- alcohol doesn't agree with her. He tells her she can't be so discourteous to him. He adds that he's going to stay with her, help her with the work, but she needs to help him [by joining him in] a little toast. She accepts and they toast. Mario says, "To you!" [for the record, Mario uses Usted with her]. Sandra tosses it all off in one swallow and coughs... She says to Mario that it was "kindof strong." Mario tells her that always happens with the first, but the second is a lot smoother.

At the club, Sofía, Aura María are complaining about that scoundrel Calderón. They tell Aura María to call Sandra but she is stupefied, staring at this super hottie --who turns out to be gay! How frustrating! Aura María says that at least the rest must admit he's gorgeous. Mariana gets up to call Sandra while Sofía remarks on the "abundance of scarcity..." [Beth: i like that, 'abundance of scarcity!' i'll have to remember that...!]

Mario offers Sandra another drink. She tells him no because even the numbers are talking to her now. The phone rings and Mario answers it: "EcoModa." He hands it to Sandra so she can say hello to Mariana (Sandra's already tipsy from the whiskey). Sandra tells Mariana she's running really late and it's making her sleepy. She'll see them all at home. Mario, the sly thing, asks Sandra if she decided to cancel her date because of him. She tells him the most important thing is to get the work finished so that Mario doesn't get into trouble. Mario tells her she seems a little tense and starts to massage her neck [Beth: aaaahhhhh.... a neck massage....! *just* what i need right now! even if it were being given to me by a snake like our boy Dimples]. Sandra asks him what he's doing and he says it's something they do in Japan, and he kisses her neck!! She tells him, Ay, no, no, no! She can't work like this, don't do that... But it's too late: The lion hidden within the bachelorette giraffe is loose [Beth: remember, Sandra's nickname is "La Jirafa" -- The Giraffe]! She takes off her glasses and says to Mario, "I warned you, Doctor!" And throws him back on the sofa and starts to kiss him, and our playboy Mario doesn't know what to do with this too-spirited woman.

Gabriela is leaving her office, speaking on her cel phone, when she hears the ruckus being made by Sandra and Mario --and she goes running to get on the elevator! We see Mario emerge from Armando's office, nearly naked, and Sandra as well, with Mario's belt in her hand. Sandra says, I'm sorry, Doctor! Mario tells her he has to go. Sandra repeats, Ay, Doctor, I'm sorry! What must you be thinking of me!! He tells her she cannot breathe a word of this to ANYbody... He's desperate to get out of there, while Sandra tells him he's forgetting his belt... Oh, yes, and a shoe as well. She holds it out and he takes it from her. She asks him if he isn't going to give her a kiss -- Mario says she has to let him leave because he's her boss [Merci: ha ha! NOW he's her boss!]. The elevator doors close and Sandra says, At last I have a boyfriend!

The next morning, Sandra enters Betty's office and greets her. Betty says she doesn't have a lot of time, but she wants to hear how things went for Sandra the night before. Sandra tells her she thinks that the Betty and Armando history is going to repeat itself. She met a divine man, who, just like the pre-Betty Armando, is "a bit of a womanizer." He treated her really well, but she's not going to say who he is until the miracle "crystallizes..." She asks Betty to keep it just between the two of them. Just then Bertha enters to ask Betty to sign some papers and comments on how Mario made Sandra stay late to work. Hearing this, Betty of course realizes that the "so divine" man Sandra doesn't want to name is Mario Calderón. [After Bertha leaves,] Sandra admits it and insists that the 'miracle' can repeat itself, but that she swore to Mario she wouldn't say anything to anyone -- least of all to Betty. He'll kill her if he finds out [she told Betty], plus he knows Betty would kill him. Betty tells Sandra that she doesn't think it's a good idea... Sandra replies that if Betty could change Armando, who's to say she [Sandra] can't do the same with Mario? Betty tells Sandra the only thing she's going to say on the subject is that THAT guy isn't Armando Mendoza, and for Sandra not to get her hopes up... Sandra points out that she has a right to take that risk, then thanks Betty and asks her to just give her the chance... [Beth: Ay, Sandra... i would listen to Betty's advice if i were you...]

Mariana and Aura María are looking at the singles club web-page when Sandra comes out of Betty's office. Mario arrives and, as could be expected, greets Sandra very coldly. Unfazed, she sits down at her desk with her head in the clouds. Mario goes into Armando's office and greets him saying, "My dear Colombian Tiger." Armando asks him what he did the night before but Mario evades the question by saying they have to focus on today. He tells Armando he has a date with Gabriela. In a Mexican accent, Armando says, "Boys like avocados." [Beth: remember, Gabriela is Mexican, and the word used for "Boys," --"Chamacos"-- is a Mexican word, so i'm guessing this is a Mexican saying. i've translated it literally as i have no idea what it means... maybe something to do with hearts of stone??]. Also using a Mexican accent, Mario replies that it wasn't easy. But if he should manage to get anywhere with Gabriela that night, he would devote himself only to her. Armando says if that happens, he will make Mario a present of all his stock in EcoModa. Mario tells Armando not to complain when he has to ask him for work...

Later Sandra enters Armando's office (Armando has left) and asks Mario how he is. He tells her he needs his correspondence. She says, "Mario, I wanted to tell you that what happened last night was very marvelous" [Beth: "Tú" alert: Sandra uses the '"tú" form here, not "Usted." in this case, however, it would imply intimacy -- remember Armando and Marcela always used "tú" as opposed to "Usted."]. Mario replies that last night didn't happen, and tells her to erase it from her mind [Merci: SCOUNDREL]. No-one can find out, and especially not Betty. Then he sharply asks her to bring him his correspondence. Sandra leaves crying and runs smack into Gabriela, who tells her not to worry about it [running into her] and asks Sandra if she's OK. Mario asks Gabriela to come see him for "a moment in my office" [Merci: doesn't he mean, Armando's office?].

Mario asks Gabriela to shut the door but she says she'll listen to him with the door open. Mario tells her that this is long overdue and that night they're going to go out somewhere together. Gabriela asks him if maybe this time they can go to his favorite place... around, say, 10 or 11pm they will go to Mario's office and he can do what he wants. Mario tells her there are more comfortable places.... Very seriously, Gabriela tells him that she wants NOTHING to do with him -- she doesn't even want to share an elevator with him. And he should stop asking.

Sandra enters Betty's office crying. Betty hugs her. Sandra tells her that her (Betty's) dream became reality for Betty -- just like for Cinderella. Meanwhile, for her (Sandra), the pumpkin has remained a pumpkin, the mice are still mice... Betty tells her that she (Sandra) had the bad luck to meet the WORST man in the world (Mario Calderón) and that tomorrow a real man will arrive [for Sandra], not a serpent like Mario Calderón. They hug again. [Merci: Of course, Mariana's prediction could become reality -- and Mario might find that Sandra is the shoe that fits... We'll see what happens!]

Advances: As Merci said in her preface to this summary, there were no teasers this week...

Beth: What seems to be a rare thing with this series (at least, so far) -- this appears to have been a stand-alone episode, unless the Mario/Sandra, Sandra/'gallant' or Mario/Gabriela plot lines are carried over and expanded upon in future episodes. if not, i wonder if the rest of the series is going to be like this, or they are going to return to the arc-storyline format seen in earlier episodes. at any rate, they certainly seem to have finally started to get something right: note the absence of rants in this summary...!

3/24/02. Capítulo 17, 24 marzo 2002 ¡EcoModa sigue fantástica! Hoy estuvo comiquísima. Mi pareja favorita, después de Betty y Armando tiene que ser: ¡Mario y Armando! Increíblemente en un sólo episodio transcurrieron TRES días... Lo que sigue pésimo son los benditos avances -- no tienen NADA que ver con la trama del episodio. Mario abre la puerta de la oficina de Armando, se sienta frente al computador, pone un diskette y abre el oráculo de las diosas. Gabriela abre la puerta y le pregunta si tiene una novia virtual, ¿se le ha olvidado cómo son las mujeres reales? Él le contesta que lo ayude a recordar. Ella le dice que no tan solo tiene un problema de paladar sino que uno de memoria. ¿Se le olvidó su noche de amor en Buenos Aires? Mario dice que no, que recuerda el frío de punta a punta de su cuerpo. Gabriela le pregunta si se le olvidó que tienen una cita. Él le dice que sí, pero se emociona... ¡Ella casi le grita que la cita es con el agente de aduanas! Tienen que irse inmediatamente y él no alcanza a guardar el oráculo en su diskette. Gabriela lo apura porque van tarde. Mientras Gabriela llama el ascensor, Mario va a dónde Sandra y le pide que se encargue de ir a la oficina de Armando, guardarle el archivo en el diskette, apagar la computadora -- todo antes de que Betty se de cuenta. Ella le pregunta qué hace con el diskette y él le contesta que esa misma noche pasa por su casa a recogerlo. Ella le da la dirección y Mario se va con Gabriela. Aura María le pregunta a Sandra si Mario va a pasar por el apartamento y Sandra le dice que sí. En eso sale Kenneth y le pregunta a Aura María si quiere salir a cenar con él ya que descubrió un sitio nuevo. Ella le pregunta si tiene que ser precisamente esta noche y él le dice que sí. Lo que pasa es que tienen lectura de cartas con Mariana y no puede salir. Kenneth le dice que entonces será para otro día y se despide de Aura María (wow, que leal de Aura María no dejar a las amigas plantadas).

Por la mañana, Aura María, Bertha y Sofía están hablando acerca de la lectura de cartas. Sofía quiere que le consigan un novio a ella también... Se abre el elevador y sale el bellísimo desgraciado, mejor conocido como Mario Calderón, y saluda a todas, pero en especial a Sandra con una miradita de esas que él da. En eso, se pone a soñar despierto y vuelve a ver a Sandra con el atuendo de la noche anterior preguntándole si necesita algo. Se despierta y cae en cuenta de dónde está y le pregunta si Armando ya llegó. Ella le dice que sí y que está en la oficina. Armando está sentado muy juicioso trabajando. Mario se tira sobre el sofá y dice: ¡Dios mío, cómo está de buena! Armando le pregunta de quién habla, Mario le cuenta del baby doll, de Sandra, Armando le pregunta qué Sandra, Mario le dice que Sandra Patiño, ¡que está buenísima! ¿Sandra "dinosaurio bebé"? (supuestamente por como camina le dicen así...) Armando le pide que se ponga a trabajar, que Mario sufre de ocio. Mario le dice que ellos vivían de la mentira, que no habían visto el par par de piernas de Sandra, que él la vio en baby doll... Armando se burla y le dice con tono de aburrimiento: mire como me excito... Mario llama a Sandra por teléfono y le pide que vaya a la oficina -- y se pone a tirar por el piso unos cuantos catálogos que están sobre el escritorio de Armando. Armando le pregunta si desayunó caldo de payaso... Sandra entra y le pregunta a Mario si quería verla. Mario le contesta que sí, literalmente. Le cuenta que está buscando algo pero no lo encuentra y lo necesita para un plan -- Armando le aclara a Sandra que el plan es de Calderón, no suyo. Sandra se pone a buscar en unas gavetas y Mario se la está comiendo con los ojos y le pregunta a Armando con gestos qué le parece. Armando mueve la mano como diciendo que más o menos, pero no está muy interesado en el jueguito. Sandra los mira y Armando hace como que está tratando de quitarse el aro de matrimonio o algo así para encubrir. Mario le dice a Sandra que busque en la gaveta de abajo... Y sigue comiéndosela con los ojos... Ella le dice que las carpetas están vacías. Mario le dice que no se preocupe, entonces comenta acerca del reguero de las cosas por el piso y se pone a recogerlas, pero Sandra le dice que no haga eso, que ella las recoge... Y Mario deleitándose el muy rata... Mario le dice que no se preocupe, ella se va.... Mario le pregunta a Armando si vio bien. Armando sigue sin mucho que decir (como se porta de bien este Armando Mendoza, ¿no?). Pero por fin le admite que sí, que sí lo vio. Mario se emociona y le da las gracias -- que él sabía que no le iba a fallar en su análisis. Entonces, lo empieza a besar (pero se besa la mano en vez de la cara de Armando). Armando le dice que si lo vuelve a tocar ¡lo mata!

El Cuartel, menos Inesita, está mirando el computador de Aura María, averiguando acerca de un club de solteros. Natasha está por detrás mirándolas con cara de "las voy a acusar con los jefes" (chota). Se abre el elevador y salen Kenneth y Gabriela. Natasha entonces, con su tonito de déspota reprimida las regaña por estar usando la Internet para cosas personales. Entonces, le comenta a Kenneth lo mismo en inglés. Las del Cuartel quieren saber qué está pasando y no entienden nada de lo que la idiota dice en inglés. Gabriela, que la verdad que es fantástica, le dice a Natasha que mientras ella no use la Internet para cosas personales no tiene porque preocuparse por lo que las empleadas de EcoModa hagan (¡ouch!). Además, Gabriela como que se nota interesada en lo del club de solteros (sí, por favor, para que ni piense en Armando jamás). Ella y Kenneth les preguntan a las del Cuartel acerca del club de solteros y ellas les explican. Se abre el elevador y sale Betty, saluda a todos y les pide a Aura María y Sandra que vayan a su oficina. Muy seria Betty les pregunta ¿qué pasó? ¡Quiere un informe detallado -- de todo lo que transcurrió... durante la lectura de cartas! Aura María le dice que las asustó con ese tono... Aura María le cuenta que le salió la carta de la esperanza, pero que no sabe si tiene que ver con el resbaladizo de Freddy. Ella quiere algo por ¡entrega inmediata! Sandra le dice que tal vez es "Don Kenneth". Betty pregunta qué le salió a Mariana y le cuentan que le salió algo de una sacerdotisa con poderes extra sensoriales. A Sandra le salió la carta de la pasión, explica Aura María, y a ¡chorros! Que hoy es el día más sensual del año para ella. Betty les recuerda que Mariana es muy acertada en sus lecturas (si lo sabrá ella....). Sandra dice que todo está muy bien, pero ¿dónde consigue el galán? Betty le dice que en cualquier momento aparece, sobre todo con lo bonita que está ella últimamente. Sandra dice que entonces ¡lo note algún hombre!

Armando, con cara de preocupación, le pregunta a Mario sus planes para esta noche. Mario dice que va a rendir un homenaje a su secretaria. Armando le dice que ni se atreva -- que como decía su "otrora ex-novia" (¡y esto lo dijo imitando a Patricia Fernández exacto!) la peliteñida, usted es un ¡DESGRACIADO! Mario le dice que Sandra es como un verano eterno -- nunca ha tenido novio. ¿Qué va a pasar con ese prodigio? Armando está escandalizado -- dice que ahora Mario es el salvador de las almas, el redentor, el pastor. Le dice que bajo ningún concepto se puede meter con Sandra. Ya bastante la embarró con Aura María que es amiga de Sandra -- a lo que Mario se hace el triste y dice que aquello fue ¡tan sabroso! Armando le dice que lo que fue es un escándalo... Armando sigue diciéndole que es el monstruo de los manfores (creo que esa fue la palabra), un roba niños, un porquería... Le repite que NO se va a meter con Sandra porque Armando no quiere más problemas -- Sandra es una empleada, parte del Cuartel, es amiga de su mujer y todos los desastres de Mario terminan haciéndoles daño a él (¡se le han abierto los ojos a Armandito!).... Mario le dice que no es que le guste Sandra, le gustan ciertos "componentes". Armando se burla y le dice que si le interesan los componentes que se meta a ingeniero electrónico. O que busque una de las 3,000 mujeres del oráculo... Mario le contesta que hay un iceberg que le interesa (Gabriela) y él con ¡alma de Titanic! Gabriela está en su oficina mirando un club de solteros cuando Mario la sorprende con un ¡hola, mi amor! Le dice que tiene la noche libre y la invita a salir. Ella le dice que no puede, que esta es su noche libre para darse un masaje y que sus noches libres no coinciden. Entonces Mario le dice que tiene tremenda suerte porque él tiene la próxima noche libre también. Ella le dice que tal vez en la próxima vida. Él sigue insistiendo y le dice que en 36 horas tienen una cita. Afuera, Mario le pide a Freddy que le siga haciendo un chiste de una azafata, pero pierde el interés cuando ve a Armando salir con Betty rumbo al ascensor. Armando le dice a Betty -- ¿me permites un momento, mi amor? Freddy se da por aludido y Armando le dice que fue con Betty no con él.

Armando le pregunta a Mario que va a hacer y le dice que tenga mucho cuidado. Betty le dice a Armando que llegó el ascensor... Mario se despide de Armando -- "adiós, novio mío". Mario le pregunta a Natasha si sabe dónde está Sandra. Ella le dice que en el baño y Mario le dice que la vaya a buscar. Las del Cuartel se están arreglando para salir -- menos Bertha e Inesita. Sandra dice que está nerviosa. Inesita, como de costumbre, está horrorizada de que salgan a "buscar tipos y dárselas de bandidas". En eso entra Natasha y dice "Sandrita, corazón, el Dr. Calderón te necesita". Sandra le pregunta para qué y ella le contesta: que vayas ya mismo... Mario está boca bajo en el sofá buscando un diskette, cuando Sandra entra y le pregunta que necesita. Él le hace un cuento trágico de que se le borró una información muy importante de un diskette y necesita que Sandra se la vuelva a preparar. Ella le dice que por la mañana con gusto lo hace. Él le contesta que pena, pero necesita enviar la información por e-mail a eso de las 8:00 a.m. Tan bueno él, le dice que él se queda con ella y le colabora. Sandra está súper triste porque se le dañó su plan de salida y le dice que va al baño y regresa enseguida. Mario se dice: ¡qué malo soy, no qué bueno soy!

En el baño, Inesita le está criticando el largo (¿o será el corto?) de la falda a Aura María... Sandra entra y se sienta llorosa y le cuenta a sus amigas que no puede ir y por qué. ¡Adiós a su noche de pasión! Sofía dice que no se ahoguen en un vaso de agua, que la solución es que alguien remplace a Sandra. Inesita dice que no puede, Aura María tampoco, Mariana menos, Sofía tampoco, Bertha porque tiene que ir a cuidar a sus gorditos... Sandra dice que será entonces en otra ocasión. ¡Mariana le contesta que será dentro de 150 años! ¡Sí, que eso volverá a pasar cuando a Mario le vuelva a dar un ataque de responsabilidad! Inesita le dice a Sandra que no se preocupe, que todavía hay hombres que le gustan las mujeres puras y castas. Aura María dice que tal vez en los cuentos de hadas... Sofía entonces dice que no se preocupen, lo más probable es que Calderón no se quede hasta más de las 10 p.m., entonces Sandra puede irse a encontrar con ellas y asunto resuelto. Que no se preocupe, le cumple al moscorrofio y ellas la esperan en el club. Como Mario no trabaja de día, que va a trabajar tan tarde.... Sandra sabe que esta noche va a encontrar a su galán y le pide a sus amigas que la esperen... Mario le pregunta a Natasha si ya se fueron todos. Ella le dice que sí, que Kenneth y Gabriela están por irse también. Le dice hasta mañana y se va. Sandra se acerca y Mario le pide que entre a la oficina de Armando. Las del Cuartel le dan una mirada de esas que matan... Mario cierra la puerta mientras Sandra empieza a recoger las cosas como para llevarlas a su escritorio. Mario le dice que van a trabajar allí en la oficina de Armando. Ella se sienta y empieza a escribir muy rápido ya que le explica que tiene una cita con sus amigas. Mario le dice que como tiene prisa, debe hacer las cosas despacio y con calma para que le salgan bien. Entonces le pregunta si quiere acompañarlo a tomar un whiskey. Ella le dice que no, que no bebe, que le cae mal el alcohol. Él le dice que no le puede hacer ese desaire... Mario le dice que él va a quedarse con ella, la ayuda con el trabajo, pero que ella lo ayude con un brindis. Ella acepta y brinda ¡salud! Mario le dice ¡por usted! Sandra se toma el trago de un solo sorbo y se ahoga... Sandra le dice a Mario que estaba "como fuerte". Mario le dice que eso pasa con el primero, que el segundo es más dócil...

En el club, Sofía, Aura María y Mariana se quejan del desgraciado de Calderón. Le dicen a Aura María que llame a Sandra. Aura María está embobada mirando a un triple papito -- que le sale ¡gay! ¡Qué frustración! Aura María dice que por lo menos tienen que admitir que divino sí está. Mariana se levanta para llamar a Sandra mientras que Sofía comenta "que abundancia de escasez".... Mario le ofrece otro trago a Sandra. Ella le dice que no porque hasta los números le están hablando. Suena el teléfono y Mario lo contesta "EcoModa". Se lo pasa a Sandra que saluda a Mariana (ya Sandra está tocadita con el whiskey) y le dice que está demoradísima y se hace la que tiene sueño. En conclusión, las verá en la casa. Mario, el muy descarado, le pregunta si canceló su compromiso por él. Ella le dice que lo más importante es terminar el trabajo para que Mario quede bien. Mario le dice que la nota un poco tensa y le empieza a dar un masaje por el cuello. Sandra le pregunta qué está haciendo y él le dice que esto es algo que hacen en el Japón. ¡Y le besa el cuello! Ella le dice ¡ay no, no, no! Que no puede trabajar así, que no haga eso... Pero, ¡se despertó la leona que lleva por dentro la jirafa solterona! Se quita las gafas y le dice a Mario ¡yo se lo advertí, doctor! Y lo tira contra el sofá y lo empieza a besar y nuestro playboy Mario no sabe que hacer con esta mujer tan fogosa... Gabriela está saliendo de su oficina, hablando por celular, cuando escucha el tremendo escándalo entre Mario y Sandra -- ¡y sale corriendo y se mete en el elevador! Vemos a Mario salir de la oficina de Armando, casi desvestido y Sandra también, con la correa de Mario en la mano. Sandra le dice ¡qué pena, doctor! Mario le dice que él se tiene que ir. Sandra repite, ¡ay doctor, que pena, qué va a pensar de mí! Él le dice que de esto no se puede decir ni una sola palabra a nadie... Mario está loco por irse, mientras que Sandra le dice que se le está olvidando el cinturón, bueno -- y también un zapato. Ella lo busca y él se lo quita para ponérselo. Ella le pregunta si no le va a dar un besito -- Mario le dice que lo deje ir que él es su jefe (ah, sí ¡ahora es su jefe!). Se cierra el ascensor y Sandra dice ¡tengo novio por fin!

Por la mañana, Sandra entra a la oficina de Betty y la saluda. Betty le dice que no tiene mucho tiempo, pero que quiere que le cuente como le fue la noche anterior. Sandra le dice que cree que la historia entre Armando y Betty se va a volver a repetir. Que conoció un hombre divino, que al igual que Armando antes de Betty es un "poquito mujeriego". Que la trató muy bien, pero no le va a decir el nombre hasta que no se le cristalice el milagro... Le pide que esto se quede entre ellas dos nada más. En eso entra Bertha a pedirle a Betty que firme unos papeles y comenta acerca de lo que Mario le hizo a Sandra de ponerla a trabajar. Betty por supuesto cae en cuenta de que el hombre "tan divino" es Mario Calderón. Sandra le admite que sí y le dice que el milagro se puede repetir, pero que ella le juró a Mario que no se lo iba a decir a nadie, y menos a Betty. Que la mata si se entera y sabe que Betty lo mata a él. Betty le dice a Sandra que ella no fue a consultarle nada... Sandra le contesta que si Betty pudo cambiara a Armando, quién quita que ella haga lo mismo con Mario. Betty le dice que solo le quiere decir que ese tipo no es Armando Mendoza, que no se ilusione... Sandra le dice que ella tiene derecho a correr ese riesgo, le da las gracias, y le pide que le dé esa oportunidad... Mariana y Aura María están mirando lo del club de solteros cuando Sandra sale de la oficina de Betty. Mario llega y como es de esperar saluda a Sandra muy frío. Ella se sienta en su escritorio toda ilusionada. Mario entra a la oficina de Armando y lo saluda diciendo "mi querido Colombian tiger". Armando le pregunta qué hizo la noche anterior y Mario lo esquiva diciendo que hay que pensar en el hoy. Le dice que tiene una cita con Gabriela. Con acento mexicano Armando le dice que "al chamaco le gusta el aguacate". También con acento mexicano, Mario le contesta que no fue fácil.

Pero que donde él logre consolidar algo con Gabriela esa noche, se va a dedicar solo a ella. Armando le dice que si eso pasa, le regala todas sus acciones de EcoModa. Mario le dice que no se vaya a quejar cuando le tenga que pedir trabajo... Sandra entra a la oficina (Armando se ha ido) de Armando y le pregunta a Mario cómo está. Él le dice que necesita su correspondencia. Ella le dice "Mario, yo quería decirte que lo que pasó anoche fue muy maravilloso". Mario le contesta que lo de anoche no existió -- bórrelo de su mente (DESGRACIADO). Nadie se puede enterar y mucho menos Betty. Y ni corto ni perezoso, le pide que le traiga la correspondencia. Sandra sale llorando y se tropieza con Gabriela que le dice que no se preocupe y le pregunta si está bien. Mario le pide a Gabriela que lo vaya a a ver "un segundo a su oficina" (¿no que era la oficina de Armando?). Mario le pide que cierre la puerta y ella le contesta que lo escucha con la puerta abierta. Mario le dice que el plazo para salir se venció y que esa noche van a salir juntos a algún sitio. Gabriela le pregunta si tal vez pueden ir al sitio favorito de Mario, a eso de las 10 u 11 p.m., van a la oficina de Mario y él le hace lo que él quiera -- Gabriela le da a entender muy claramente que sabe lo que pasó con Sandra la noche anterior. Mario le dice que hay sitios más cómodos... Muy seria, Gabriela le dice que no quiere NADA con él, que ni siquiera quiere compartir un elevador con él. Y que ¡no le vuelva a insistir!

Sandra entra a la oficina de Betty llorando. Betty la abraza. Sandra le dice que a Betty se le hizo realidad el sueño -- como a Cenicienta. Mientras que a ella la calabaza se le quedó calabaza, y los ratones se quedaron ratones... Betty le dice que Sandra ha tenido la suerte de haber conocido al PEOR hombre del mundo (Mario Calderón) y que mañana llegará un hombre de verdad, no un esperpento como Calderón... Y se abrazan de nuevo. Por supuesto, la predicción de Mariana todavía puede convertirse realidad -- y Mario va a encontrar en Sandra la horma de su zapato... ¡Ya veremos que va a pasar!

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

3/31/02.

Episode 18

Merci: I cried with laughter watching today's episode! Poor Armando -- no matter how hard he tries, he still can't manage to make Calderón act like an adult...

The elevator doors to the Mendoza-Pinzón family apartment open and we see Don Hermes and Doña Julia get off -- Don Hermes wanting to exit before Doña Julia and complaining as always [Merci: And for those that believe there are no weekends in the Gaitán universe -- SURPRISE! The episode takes place on a Sunday... Incredible, but true! But back to our story...]. Betty's parents are coming to pick her up to go to a mass in honor of Uncle Darío [Merci: Pinzón, i'm guessing -- perhaps the brother of Uncle Lázaro?] who apparently is no longer with us. It is a three-hour journey to get to the place they're having the mass and Don Hermes is hurrying Betty so they can leave [Beth: ok, am i the *only* one hearing the "Gilligan's Island" theme song here...? ok... i guess so. ahhh, my misspent youth...]. Doña Julia is very worried because Armando is going to stay with Camila all by himself for the first time --the nanny has the day off-- and apparently he isn't very dexterous with regard to diapers [Merci: although we know he's a wonder preparing bottles...]. We see Armando trying to dress Camila, who is looking at him as if thinking, "Poor Papi, you have no idea what kind of day is in store for you...!" [Merci: The little girl is so cute!!] Armando comes out of the bathroom with a puff of talcum powder and is so excited talking about how he can take care of his daughter and if he can't then he'll resign being a father that he spills powder in Don Hermes' face. Armando wants them to leave already, he wants them to stop mistrusting his abilities to take care of his child, but Doña Julia is fussing. Betty has assured them that she left explicit instructions for Armando about what to do with Camila and what's more she's got half of Bogotá keeping an eye him should anything happen, but the grandmother continues to worry. Armando finally manages to get them to leave... He says to the little girl, "Let's see, my love, you're all alone with Daddy now -- don't let's cry..."

At EcoModa we see Doña Blanquita --the coffee lady who apparently also does cleaning-- in Betty's office cleaning the floor. As she does, she comments to herself about how disorganized Aura María is... The elevator doors open and none other than Guti-Gu and Nicolás get off. Poor Nicolás seems to have reverted to his old wardrobe -- plaid shirt in the style of María Castaña's era, buttoned up to the neck, suspenders, around 15 pens in his pocket -- although with a somewhat modern touch as his pants are painter-types [Beth: i am not familiar with the reference to María Castaña, so i looked her up. she seems to have been a14th-Century Spanish woman and folk hero who more or less led a protest against her local church authority that may have included --tho i'm not positive on this point-- murdering the Archbishop's majordomo (!!). however, i'm having a hard time finding exactly what it was she was protesting about because most of the sites that reference this appear to be in Catalán or some other similar-to-but-not-the-same-as Spanish language that i can sortof read but not really, so i get the general idea without getting any of the details (hence my not being sure about the murder). one thing *is* fairly clear, tho: describing something as being from María Castaña's era seems to be a way of saying it's *really* outdated...]. The two are commenting to each other how they are going to work hard so they can get a report for the Board meeting on Monday finished before noon. Doña Blanquita offers them coffee but they tell her they'll let her know if they need anything. She states they're a pair of "Doctorcitos de Pacotilla" [Beth: i can't really translate this, but she's not being very respectful]. They go into Nicolás' office and he complains that he doesn't have Gutiérrez's luck to have a wife who will make him lunch to bring to the office. He (Nicolás) has to go to the chicken joint on the corner and eat cold chicken... [Beth: considering he's always making Sofía order him all this food, that's really a stretch...!]. Gutiérrez asks if he has a girlfriend and Nicolás replies that he hasn't had the time [to look] with all the work he's had. But he does have "virtual" girlfriends -- he meets them in internet chat rooms, but not in person. Gutiérrez immediately wants them to find two (female) friends to meet so he can get away from his wife for a while. Nicolás enters a chat room and signs on as "El Ardiente" [loosely, "Mr. Hot Stuff"]. Just then his cel phone rings... It's Betty, asking that he please stop by the apartment to take Armando and Camila out. Nicolás says that's fine... When he hangs up he tells Gutiérrez that Betty left the "Cabezón" [literally, big-headed one] alone with the baby and asked him to stop by and look in on them -- then he clarifies that he doesn't know anything about babies, except for how they're made [Merci: And not much of that!].

Armando is carrying Camila; she is bawling her eyes out and he's trying to make her stop crying [Merci: He's carrying the baby and a gigantic stuffed "Foghorn Cleghorn" doll (one of the Warner Bros cartoon characters) that's bigger than Camila]. He's showing Camila a photo of Betty and herself so she'll stop crying, without result [Beth: poor Armando -- i can sympathize: i apparently have zero baby karma and all they seem to do with me is cry non-stop]. Just then he arrives in the living room and runs into his bestest friend Calderón, who is standing next to the elevator with another gigantic doll [Merci: one of those that have the long arms and legs]. He greets him saying "Hello, doll." Armando cannot believe that Calderón is there and asks how he got in... [Beth: good question -- what is the doorman thinking??].

Mario tells him he's there because he couldn't leave his best friend alone in his moment of need. He makes little faces at the baby and tells her to come to her Uncle Mario Calderón, but Camila doesn't want anything to do with either of the two. Armando tells him to leave, but Mario says he wants to stay and help. Armando points out that Mario doesn't know anything about babies, but Mario explains that he *does* know about women and when all is said and done the baby is a woman. Armando hugs Camila to him as if trying to protect her from the Devil himself! Calderón tells him he'll be leaving then, but Armando says, No, it's fine -- stay. Armando goes to prepare the baby's bottle while Calderón admires the apartment saying things like, This is the loveliest, cutest, sweetest apartment --much better than the one Marcela had!-- and has the effrontery to say that although Betty might be ugly [Merci: I don't think Armando heard him say that], he has to admit she has wonderful taste. Just then he sees the picture of Betty that's on top of the mantel and he jumps a little bit, then gives it a Nazi salute [Merci: what a wretched man!], and starts to talk nonsense in German [Merci: at least, i think it was nonsense]. Then he addresses the photo, telling it that absolutely nothing, but nothing to do with women is going to happen to its husband or daughter... Armando comes out of the kitchen and tells Mario stop talking with photos and come help him.

Next we see Mario crying, complaining that he never thought they would put him in such a humiliating position: The poor guy -- in an apron cutting onions. What an odious task -- having to chop up all these onions! Armando tells him to get a move on with the onions because he has a chicken in the oven for lunch. He adds that he made Mario chop the onions in order to confirm that he is actually capable of crying... Mario tells him, The rich cry too. Mario opens the oven door and takes out what is supposed to be a roast chicken but which instead appears to be a chicken-shaped lump of charcoal. Armando decides that although he's never done so before, he's going to have to get together the diaper bag, the stroller, and the baby and go out to get something for lunch...

We return to EcoModa where the last thing on the minds of Nicolás and Gutiérrez is preparing the supposed report for the meeting on Monday. Nicolás is chatting with some virtual (female) friends and Gutiérrez is enjoying it all. Nicolás has become a poet à la Mario Calderón in his heyday of the cards for Betty, and writes a whole mess of saccharine stuff to the person with whom he is chatting. Gutiérrez tells him to use more sex than poetry, since that's what women want. Show them you are a tiger in bed! Nicolás replies that women like "sentimentful" (sentimental) men, not "semenful" men [Beth -- Nicolás is making a clever play on words that i've tried to replicate here -- hopefully successfully. but in case not, what he's saying to that idiot Guti-Gu is that women prefer men who are full of sentiment as opposed to full of semen; i.e., romantic rather than oversexed]... Nicolás writes something about how in the dark the 'geography of two bodies becomes the geography of love' [Merci: My heavens!] and says if all this verbosity works for him he'll give up finances and be a poet instead. And it does work! The woman writes back: Nicolás Mora, I want to make love with you right now [Beth: Usted alert. to my non-Colombian-trained sensibilities, employing the so-called 'formal' form of "you" for something so intimate is just too funny. but i digress...]. Nicolás just about dies! Gutiérrez is thoroughly enjoying such a proposal. Nicolás tells him it's been TWO since they've told him this. Gutiérrez asks him if he means two days, two weeks, two months-- and Nicolás clarifies that he means two years... He writes to the woman, Tell me slowly where you would like our two bodies to meet, the place where we will make a compendium of words and caresses [Merci: No, he definitely BEATS Mario Calderón as a poet...]. Gutiérrez, subtle as always, says that this is called "a meeting of the belly-buttons!" Nicolás gets a response that they should meet at 2p in the Los Olivos bar, where he should ask the waiter for Ximena... Nicolás is ecstatic and says, Today two years of celibacy dies! Gutiérrez asks what he's going to do if the woman is "very fea and muy (very) ugly." Nicolás replies that he will look first and if she's really ugly, he'll leave... [Beth: ok, i'm not even going to *bother* to comment on that -- but if i were to, i'm sure you can guess what i'd say because you are all saying the same thing...!].

Back with Mario and Armando, we see them arrive at a mall with Camila --who is asleep in her stroller-- where a number of women remark on how pretty she is. Mario tells Armando that it's very "de-stressing" to go "shopping" with Armando on a Sunday [Beth: and no, he is not making a play on the words "de-stress" and "distress" -- they're not similar in Spanish]. Mario has discovered the key to conquering women! He asks Armando to loan him his daughter, saying with her he can get at least 18 or 20 women's phone numbers... Horrified, Armando tells him, No! Calderón says, Fine, then rent her to me. Armando repeats NO! in no uncertain terms, so Calderón then states that he wants his own baby... Just then a gay couple comes down the stairs and compliments Armando and Mario on how cute 'their' (Mario and Armando's) "adopted" baby is, saying they (the gay couple) were wild to adopt a baby themselves! [Merci: That this should happen to Armando after what he suffered as "Princess Lilí"!!]. Mario tells Armando, Calm yourself, my darling, don't start a fight, and takes his hand... Mario wants Armando to let him push the baby stroller, or at least carry the diaper bag. Armando finally gives in, but tells him, Just for five minutes. Mario asks how he looks and Armando tells him he looks just like an idiot.

They get to a restaurant [Merci: apparently the Hard Rock Café of Bogotá] and Armando says he's going to look for something to eat while Mario should take the baby and find a table [Merci & Beth: Will Armando *never* learn...??]. Mario selects a table surrounded by three or four others that are full of women. He opens the baby's diaper bag and uses the old 'everything fell on the floor' trick. A very pretty blonde woman gets up to help him. She asks if Camila is his daughter and he says yes. He adds that he's alone with her --well, a semi-neurotic friend accompanied them today. The woman asks where the baby's mother is and of course Mario says she died and he is still very sad about it, but he is taking care of the baby by himself, although of course he has a nanny. It's the nights that are the hardest... He describes himself as an exemplary father who bathes his baby every morning, then goes to work, comes home to eat lunch with the baby, and always tries to be back at home again before she goes to sleep. Weekends are very hard as well! But he can't be begging for company. The woman says she can help him -- Mario acts pained, saying nothing ever comes of offers to help and begging her please not to say something like that unless she really means it. She says of course she's serious, she loves children... She tells him 'his' baby is really cute. Mario tells her whenever she wants one like her (like Camila), he is at her service, and quickly adds it's a "sad widower' joke... Then he introduces himself and gives her his card so she can call him. She says her name is Gina. Armando arrives [Beth: at last!] with the food and Mario introduces him to Gina as the only person who has helped him since he was widowed... Gina excuses herself and says good-bye. After she's left Armando asks Mario who his supposed dead wife is, and Mario tells him, why the baby's mother, of course! Then he complains about how Armando never remembers he doesn't like lettuce...

Nicolás is in the bar where he's to meet Ximena... He calls Gutiérrez and says that she's really pretty and now he doesn't know what to do since he'd described himself as a strong, athletic type. When he approaches the woman, she asks if he is Nicolás Mora and he says no. His name is Jorge Guzmán --Nicolás' best friend. Nicolás couldn't make it to the meeting because he's in a business meeting, so he'd sent "Jorge" to make his excuses to Ximena --"Ximena with an "X,"" as Nicolás calls her... She says Nicolás probably sent him ("Jorge") to find out if she was ugly or not -- that's what all men do! He tells her that wasn't the case at all and manages to convince her not to leave... "Jorge" asks her what she'd like to drink, and orders champagne for them both.

Armando and Mario arrive back at the apartment and Mario tells him nothing happened... Armando points out that's not at all true -- apparently now Mario is his (Armando's) daughter's father and wife's killer. Mario makes a face as if he's going to vomit -- apparently Camilita's diaper now needs to be changed and it smells deadly. Armando also smells it and nearly faints. Operation Diaper Change commences! Armando says "We're going to have to change the diaper," and Calderón is left with no alternative but to help. Armando has the baby and states that this is the most beautiful thing about being a father. Just then Calderón arrives with gloves on his hands and a towel over his face. Armando tells him he (Mario) is in charge of reading the instruction book and handing him the necessary instruments -- the powder, diaper, diaper rash cream, cleaning cloths. While Calderón reads out the instructions, Armando takes the diaper off the baby and once again nearly faints from the stench.... and he throws baby powder into Calderón's face. Calderón's cel phone rings -- it's Gina, whom he promptly invites to stop by "his" apartment to visit. Armando starts shouting! Calderón tells Gina they're there changing his daughter's diapers (to explain the noise), gives her the address, and happily tells Armando, Guess who that was? The hottie from the mall! Mario swears to Armando that they're only going to visit at the apartment for five minutes and he'll take her out, later he'll tell her the truth. Armando once again gives in but when Mario tries to hug him he hands him the baby's dirty diaper to throw away. Mario claims it is "kryptonite" [Beth the Reality Police: ok, not to throw water on what was probably a very amusing little scene, but you can't tell me that Armando, a supposedly devoted and modern father, hasn't ever changed her diapers even ONCE in the whole 15 months of Camilita's life, or at the very least, smelt what she smells like when she needs to be changed...!].

Nicolás and Ximena continue chatting at the cafe -- he's using his poetic words and she is completely charmed, this is the man she'd hoped for. In his guise as "Jorge," Nicolás tells her that "Nicolás" is a faker, that all the things she read and thought "Nicolás" wrote were actually written by him, "Jorge," "Nicolás' 'Cyrano de Bergerac'. She asks him to take her hand, then asks what he feels when he touches her. He says he feels the skin he'd always dreamed of. It's you, Ximena with an X! I am the man who always writes to you! [Beth: by the way, if you're wondering about all this "Ximena with an X" business, i'm guessing it's because the name is can also be spelled with a "J"... and maybe also be there is an "X" in sexy?] She says, How much I have wanted you! They decide to leave the cafe [and go somewhere else]... Nicolás says, Well, Dr. Guzmán [Beth: remember, Guzmán is "Jorge's" last name], we're going to bury this guy Nicolás Mora's two years of celibacy...

Mario is ready for Gina's arrival and he asks Armando to help him out by removing the photos of the "sacred family." Armando leaves as the elevator doors open and Gina gets off. She and Mario greet each other and she remarks that he has a very comfortable and large apartment for just him and his baby to live in by themselves. He tells her that everything is just as it was before his wife died and what's more, he would give the world to his daughter. Mario gets very dramatic saying this and she tells him he's a young, attractive man, he shouldn't get like this. She sees the picture of Betty and asks who it is -- he tells her it's the baby's mother, now deceased... He offers Gina a drink [alcoholic] but Gina says she doesn't imbibe, so he proposes they go out for a while. He is all ready to leave when Gina asks about the baby -- they can't leave her alone. Mario goes to Armando's room --where Armando is asleep with the baby asleep in her stroller... Armando doesn't want to let Mario take the baby with him and Gina, but of course you all know that he'll end up giving in... Mario swears to him it will only be for five minutes, they will stay in the apartment building's little garden area. Armando insists that Mario not leave the building and that he come back right away [Merci: Be careful, Calderón!].

Mario tells Gina that they don't have much time -- he doesn't want night to catch them unawares. She asks if Camilita's a good baby and he says yes, he hopes she'll be 'sensible' [in other words, he hopes she'll both behave herself and be discrete!]. Armando has fallen asleep again but is wakened by the phone. Guess who it is? Betty! She asks what he's been doing and he says he was asleep, but that everything is fine, he'd been playing with the baby. She wants to talk to her daughter and Armando quickly says that she *just now* fell asleep and she looks so sweet he can't bring himself to wake her [Merci: We don't hear Betty speaking, but we know what she's saying by what Armando says...]. Armando asks what time Betty will be back and Betty replies they're nearly in Bogotá already... Emergency 911, Armando!! Betty says she wants to get home quickly because she had a feeling something was wrong. Armando tells her not to worry -- everything is fine. He says, Calm yourself, my love -- I'll wait for you here. After hanging up, he goes running to call the doorman and tell him to tell Dr Calderón to come up immediately with the baby. But Calderón's not there -- he and Gina took the baby and left the building! Where could they have gone?? Armando asks himself desperately...

Mario is with Gina, eating ice cream, as happy as a clam. Gina tells him that she's been separated for three years and doesn't have any children. Mario's cel phone rings -- Hello Tiger! (obviously, it's Armando calling). Bring my daughter home immediately!! Mario tells Gina it's his friend, the "plump, bachelor, 'helmethead'" from earlier that day, and he's offering to watch the baby for him so that he and Gina could go out together. What a nice friend he is!

By coincidence, "Jorge" and Ximena are arriving at the very same place as Calderón and Gina are... Nicolás needs to get some cash since he can't use his credit cards because his real name is on them. Just then he and Mario cross paths. Mario knows he is a dead man if Nicolás tells Betty he saw Mario alone with Camila, so he calls to Nicolás, using his name. Nicolás ignores him but Mario continues. Nicolás tells him he is "Jorge Enrique Guzmán Cabezas," but Mario tells him no, and begs him not to say anything to Betty -- Scout's honor! Nicolás continues to insist he's not Nicolás. Mario replies of course he is, he's Nicolás Mora, Vice-President of Finances at EcoModa. And he congratulates him on a "very good pick-up" (referring to Ximena). Ximena is furious and tells Nicolás he's a fraud and a womanizer. Nicolás begs her to give him another chance. Instead, she gives him a big slap on the face and leaves him standing there.

Armando is starting to get desperate because Calderón still hasn't arrived. Finally he does, saying Tiger, Tiger -- we're back...! He thanks Armando for doing him this "favor" and says he and Gina are going to the 6pm show at the cinema. Armando tells Mario to get going now because he's expecting a visitor. They are saying good-bye as Betty arrives and is stopped cold at seeing Mario in her house. She walks toward the hearth and stops right next to her picture... Gina thinks she's seeing a ghost and faints. Mario says Gina has low blood sugar and carries her off. Betty says he shouldn't leave with Gina in that condition, but Armando says Betty shouldn't worry -- Mario's known Gina for a long time, she's his girlfriend and he knows what needs to be done. Betty replies that although she detests Calderón, she doesn't want anything to happen to the woman... Then she remarks on her surprise to find that Mario should be so sensible... Armando asks her how her day went and she tells him fine, but she had a feeling something bad was happening. Armando says no, they tell each other how much they missed each other, and hug and kiss each other...

There were no advances for next week -- instead they announced they would show another program in the 7pm time slot...

Capítulo 18, 31 marzo 2002 ¡Yo lloré de la risa viendo el capítulo de hoy! Pobrecito Armando, por más que trata no puede lograr que Calderón se comporte como un adulto... Se abren las puertas del ascensor del apartamento de los Mendoza-Pinzón y vemos salir a Don Hermes y Doña Julia; Don Hermes queriendo salir antes que Doña Julia y quejándose como siempre. Para los que habían pensado que en el universo Gaitán no había fines de semana, ¡SORPRESA! El episodio transcurre durante un domingo... Increíble pero cierto. Volviendo a nuestra historia, los papás de Betty vienen a recoger a Betty para ir a una misa en honor al Tío Darío (Pinzón, me imagino -- ¿tal vez hermano del Tío Lázaro?) que parece que ya no está con nosotros. Les tomará tres horas de viaje llegar al lugar de la misa y Don Hermes está apurando a Betty para poderse ir. Doña Julia está muy preocupada ya que Armando se va a quedar con Camila solo -- la niñera tiene el domingo libre -- por primera vez y él aparentemente no es muy diestro en cuestiones de pañales (aunque sabemos que es una maravilla preparando teteros...). Vemos a Armando tratando de vestir a Camila que está mirándolo como que "pobre Papi, tú no tienes ni idea del día que te espera". ¡La niñita está bellísima! Armando sale del baño con un pomo de talco y está tan excitado hablando de como él sí puede cuidar a su hija, y que sino lo puede hacer renuncia a ser padre, que le echa polvo en la cara a Don Hermes. Armando quiere que se vayan, que dejen de desconfiar en él pero Doña Julia está que se muere. Betty les ha asegurado que le dejó instrucciones explícitas a Armando de que hacer con Camila, que además lo encomendó con medio Bogotá por si pasa cualquier cosa, pero la abuela sigue preocupada. Por fin Armando logra que se vayan... Armando le dice a la niña "a ver mi amor, te quedaste solita con papá, no vaya a llorar"...

En las oficinas de EcoModa vemos a Doña Blanquita, la señora de los tintos que también parece que hace limpieza, limpiando en el piso de Presidencia. Hace un comentario acerca de lo desorganizada que es Aura María... Se abren las puertas del ascensor y salen nada más y nada menos que Guti-Gut y Nicolás. El pobre Nicolás como que ha vuelto a su ajuar de antes -- camisa a cuadros estilo año de María Castaña, cerrada hasta el cuello, tirantes, como 15 bolígrafos en el bolsillo -- aunque algo moderno porque los pantalones son de esos de pintor con muchos bolsillos... Ellos comentan que van a trabajar duro para poder terminar antes del mediodía un reporte para una junta directiva el lunes. Doña Blanquita los saluda y les ofrece unos tintos pero ellos le dicen que le dejan saber si necesitan cualquier cosa. Ella dice que son unos doctorcitos de pacotilla... Entran a la oficina de Nicolás y él se queja de que no tiene la suerte de Gutiérrez, que tiene una esposa que le haga almuerzo para traer a la oficina. Él tiene que ir a una pollería de la esquina y comerse el pollo frío... Gutiérrez le pregunta si tiene novia y Nicolás le contesta que con tanto trabajo no ha tenido tiempo. Pero sí tiene novias virtuales -- las conoce en salas de chat de la Internet, pero no en persona. Gutiérrez enseguida quiere que consigan a dos amigas para conocerlas y él se le escapa a la mujer un rato. Nicolás entra a una sala de chat y se firma "el ardiente". En eso suena el celular de Nicolás (ahí es que vemos los pantalones modernos)... Es Betty para pedirle que por favor pase por el apartamento para darle una vuelta a Armando y Camila. Nicolás le dice que está bien... Cuando cuelga el teléfono le dice a Gutiérrez que Betty dejó al "cabezón" solo con la niña y le pidió que fuera a darles una vuelta -- y aclara que él de niños no sabe nada, solo como se hacen (¡y de eso no mucho!). Armando tiene a Camila cargada y ella está llorando muchísimo y él tratando de que deje de llorar (tiene cargada a la niña y a un muñeco de peluche gigante de un personaje de la Warner Brothers que en inglés se llama Foghorn Leghorn y es un gallo, que es más grande que Camila... )... Le está enseñando una foto de Betty y ella para que deje de llorar pero nada. En eso llega a la sala y se encuentra con su grandísimo amigo Calderón que está parado al lado del ascensor con otro muñeco gigante (uno de esos monos que tienen los brazos y piernas largos) -- y lo saluda diciéndole "hola muñeco". Armando no puede creer que Calderón esté allí y le pregunta cómo subió... Mario le dice que él está allí porque no iba a dejar a su mejor amigo solo en su momento de necesidad. Le hace monerías a la bebé y le dice que venga a dónde su tío Mario Calderón, pero Camila no quiere saber de ninguno de ellos dos. Armando le dice que se vaya, pero Mario le dice que él quiere quedarse a ayudarlo.

Armando le dice que él no sabe de niños, pero Mario le explica que sí sabe de mujeres y la niña en fin de cuentas es una mujer. ¡Armando abraza a Camila como para protegerla del mismo diablo! Calderón le dice que entonces se va, pero Armando le dice que está bien, que se quede. Armando le va a preparar el tetero a la niña mientras que Calderón admira el apartamento diciendo que apartamento más lindo, más mono, más cuco y que está mucho mejor que el de Marcela -- y tiene el descaro de decir que aunque Betty sea feita (creo que Armando no lo oyó decir esto), hay que admitir que tiene muy buen gusto. En eso ve la foto de Betty que está sobre el hogar y se asusta -- y le hace un saludo Nazi (¡este hombre es un desgraciado!) y empieza a decir disparates (creo que eran disparates) en alemán. Entonces le habla a la foto diciéndole que a su marido ni a su hija le va a pasar nada, que nada de mujeres... Armando sale de la cocina y le dice que lo ayude y que deje de hablar con fotografías... Vemos a Mario llorando, quejándose de que nunca pensó que lo pondrían en una situación tan humillante -- el pobre, cortando cebollas y con delantal. ¡Qué oficio tan infame, tener que cortar la cebolla cabezona! Armando le dice que se apure a preparar el guiso que tiene un pollo en el horno para el almuerzo. Armando le dice que lo había puesto a cortar cebollas para comprobar que Mario tenía la capacidad de llorar... Mario le dice que "los ricos también lloran".

Mario abre la puerta del horno y saca lo que supuestamente debía ser un pollo -- pero parece un carbón en forma de pollo. Armando decide que aunque nunca lo ha hecho anteriormente, le va a tocar agarrar la pañalera, el coche y la niña y salir a buscar algo para almorzar... Volvemos a EcoModa donde lo menos que están haciendo Nicolás y Gutiérrez es preparando el supuesto reporte para la junta del lunes. Nicolás está escribiéndose con una de sus amigas virtuales y Gutiérrez está disfrutándoselo todo. Nicolás se ha convertido en un poeta a lo Mario Calderón en sus buenos tiempos de tarjetas para Betty, y le escribe un chorro de cosas empalagosas a la persona con la que está hablando en el chat. Gutiérrez le dice que use más sexo que poesía, que eso es lo que las mujeres quieren. ¡Demuestre que es un tigre en la cama! Nicolás le dice que a las mujeres le gustan los hombres sentimentales, no sementales... Nicolás escribe algo acerca de que en la oscuridad la geografía de dos cuerpos se convierte en la geografía del amor (¡Dios mío!) y que si le funciona todo el palabrerío va a dejar las finanzas y se va a meter a poeta. ¡Y le funciona! La mujer le escribe: Nicolás Mora quiero hacer ahora mismo el amor con usted. ¡Se nos muere Nicolás! Gutiérrez está gozando de lo lindo ante tal propuesta. Nicolás le dice a Gutiérrez que hace DOS no le dicen eso. Gutiérrez le pregunta que si hace dos días, dos semanas, dos meses -- Nicolás le aclara que hace dos años... Nicolás le escribe a la mujer "dime despacio dónde deseas que nuestros cuerpos se encuentren, el lugar dónde hagamos el compendio de palabras y caricias" (no, es que le GANÓ a Calderón...). Gutiérrez, tan sutil como siempre dice que eso se llama: ¡junta de ombligos! Nicolás recibe la respuesta de que se encuentren a las 2:00 p.m. en el bar Los Olivos, dónde le va a preguntar al mesero por Ximena... Nicolás está de fiesta y dice ¡hoy mueren dos años de celibato! Gutiérrez le pregunta que va a hacer si la mujer le sale very fea y muy ugly... Nicolás le contesta que va a mirar primero y que si es muy fea, pues se irá...

Vemos a Armando y Mario llegar a un centro comercial dónde unas cuantas mujeres comentan lo linda que es Camila (que está dormidita en su coche)... Mario le dice a Armando que es muy desestresante salir "shopping" con Armando un domingo. ¡Mario ha descubierto la clave para conquistar mujeres! Le pide a Armando que le preste a su hija, que con ella se levanta unos 18 ó 20 números de teléfono... Armando le dice que no, horrorizado. Calderón le dice que entonces se la alquile. Armando le dice rotundamente no. Mario entonces dice que él quiere tener su propio bebé... ¡En eso bajan las escaleras rodantes una pareja de gays que le comentan a Armando y Mario que linda es la niña y que cómo la adoptaron, que ellos están locos por adoptar! ¡Pasarle esto a Armando -- después de sufrir lo de la Princesa Lilí! Mario le dice "cálmate mi vida, ya no te pongas a pelear" y lo toma de la mano... Mario quiere que Armando le deje empujar el coche de la niña, o por lo menos cargar la pañalera. Armando por fin accede -- y le dice que solo por cinco minutos. Mario le pregunta cómo se ve -- Armando le dice "como un idiota se ve". legan a un restaurante (aparentemente el Hard Rock Café de Bogotá) y Armando dice que él va a buscar algo que comer mientras que Mario busca una mesa con la niña (es que Armando no aprende)... Mario escoge una en medio de como tres o cuatro llenas de mujeres. Abre la pañalera de la niña y usa el viejo truco de que se le caen las cosas al piso. Una muchacha rubia muy bonita se levanta y lo ayuda. Le pregunta si Camila es su hija y él le contesta que sí. Le dice que está solito con ella, bueno y con un amigo medio neurótico que lo está acompañando. La muchacha le pregunta dónde está la mamá de la nena y por supuesto Mario le dice que murió y que él está todavía muy triste por eso, pero que está cuidando a la niña el solo, aunque tiene una niñera por supuesto. Las noches son lo más difícil... Se describe como un padre ejemplar que baña a su niña por las mañanas, luego va al trabajo, regresa para almorzar con la niña, y trata siempre de llegar a casa antes de que se duerma. ¡Los fines de semana son muy duros también! Pero él no puede estar mendigando compañía. La muchacha le dice que ella lo puede ayudar -- Mario se hace el herido, que nunca resulta cuando le ofrecen ayuda, que no le diga algo así a no ser que sea en serio. Ella le dice que es en serio, que le encantan los niños... Le dice que la niña es muy linda -- Mario le dice que cuando quiera una así, él le colabora... Y le dice que es un chiste de "viudo triste". Entonces le dice que se llama Mario Calderón y le da su tarjeta para que lo llame. Ella se llama Gina. Armando llega con la comida y Mario lo presenta como la única persona que lo ha ayudado desde que enviudó... Gina se despide. Armando le pregunta a Mario de quién enviudó y Mario le dice que ¡de la mamá de la bebé! Y se queja de que a él no le gusta la lechuga y Armando nunca se acuerda... Nicolás está en el bar dónde se va a encontrar con Ximena... Llama a Gutiérrez y le dice que es muy bonita y que él no sabe que hacer ya que se describió como un tipo atlético y fuerte. Cuando se le acerca a la muchacha ella le pregunta si él es Nicolás Mora y él le dice que no. Él se llama Jorge Guzmán, el mejor amigo de Nicolás -- que no pudo encontrarse con ella ya que está en una reunión de negocios y lo mandó a él para que lo disculpara con ella -- como Nicolás le dice Ximena con X... Ella dice que Nicolás lo tiene que haber mandado para que le dijera si era fea o no. ¡Eso es lo que buscan todos los hombres! Él le dice que no es así y la convence para que no se vaya... Nicolás le pregunta que quiere tomar y ordena champaña para los dos...

Armando y Mario llegan al apartamento y Mario le dice que no pasó nada... Armando le contesta que ahora resulta que él es el papá de su hija y asesino de su mujer. Mario pone cara de que va a vomitar -- parece que Camilita ha hecho pupú y huele a muerte. Armando lo huele también y casi se desmaya. ¡Operación cambiar pañales! Armando dice que "NOS va a tocar cambiarla" y Calderón no tiene más remedio que ayudar. Armando está con la bebé y le dice que es la cosa más hermosa de papá -- en eso llega Calderón con guantes en las manos y una toalla por la cara. Armando le dice que se encargue de leer el manual de instrucciones y darle la bandeja con los instrumentos -- el polvo, pañal, cremita, toallitas para limpiar. Mientras Calderón lee las instrucciones, Armando le quita el pañal a la nena y otra vez casi se muere por la peste... y le echa polvo a Calderón por la cara. Suena el celular de Calderón -- es Gina a quién él ni corto ni perezoso invita a que pase por "su" apartamento a visitarlo. ¡Armando pone el grito en el cielo! Calderón le dice a Gina que está cambiándole los pañales a su hija, le da la dirección a Gina y muy feliz le dice a Armando ¡Bingo! ¿Adivine quién? ¡La mamasota del centro comercial! Mario le jura que solo van a ser cinco minutos de visita y se la lleva a pasear, luego le cuenta la verdad. Armando vuelve a acceder y cuando Mario lo quiere abrazar le entrega el pañal sucio de la niña para que lo bote -- Mario dice que es "kryptonita". Nicolás y Ximena siguen conversando y él le habla con sus palabras poéticas y ella está toda encantada -- que ese es el hombre que ella esperaba. Nicolás le dice que Nicolás es un farsante, que todas las cosas que ella leyó las escribió él, "Jorge" que era el Cyrano de Bergerac de Nicolás. Ella le pide la mano y le pregunta que siente cuando lo toca -- el dice que siente la piel que siempre soñó. ¡Eres tú, Ximena con X! ¡Yo soy el hombre que siempre te escribe! Ella dice ¡cuánto te he deseado! Deciden irse de allí... Nicolás dice "bueno, Dr. Guzmán, vamos a enterrar dos años de celibato de ese tal Nicolás Mora"... Mario está listo para recibir a Gina y le pide a Armando que le colabore y se lleve las fotos de la "sagrada familia". Armando se va y el ascensor se abre y llega Gina. Se saludan y ella comenta que tiene un apartamento muy cómodo y grande para vivir sólo con la niña. Él le dice que todo está como antes de morir su esposa y que además él a su hija se lo da todo. Se pone muy dramático el Mario Calderón y ella le dice que él es un hombre atractivo y joven, que no debe ponerse así. Gina ve la foto de Betty y pregunta quién es -- él le dice que la mamá de la niña, la difunta... Le ofrece algo de tomar a Gina pero ella le dice que no bebe.

Entonces Mario le propone salir a dar una vuelta. Él está listo para irse cuando Gina le pregunta por la niña -- no la puede dejar solita. Mario va al cuarto de Armando -- que está dormido y la niña está dormida en su coche...

Armando no quiere dejarlo que se lleve a la niña, pero ustedes saben que terminará haciéndolo... Mario le jura que es solo cinco minutos, que se quedarán en el parquecito del edificio. Armando le exige que no se vaya del edificio y que regrese enseguida. ¡Cuidado Calderón! Calderón le dice a Gina que no tienen mucho tiempo, no quiere que los coja la noche. Ella le pregunta si la niña es buena y él le dice que sí, que espera que sea juiciosita... Armando se vuelve a dormir y se despierta cuando suena el teléfono. ¿Quieren adivinar quién es? ¡Betty! Ella le pregunta qué hacía y él le dice que estaba dormido, pero que todo está bien, que había estado jugando con la niña. Ella quiere hablar con la bebé y Armando le dice que se ACABA de quedar dormidita y con esa carita de ángel no la quiere despertar. Armando le pregunta a que hora va a llegar y Betty le contesta que está ya casi en Bogotá... (No se escucha a Betty hablar, pero sabemos que dice por lo que dice Armando). ¡Emergencia, 911 para Armando! Betty le dice que quiere llegar pronto porque le dio una corazonada de que algo no estaba bien. Armando le dice que no se preocupe, que todo está muy bien. Le dice tranquila mi amor, yo te espero acá. Armando sale corriendo a llamar al portero y le dice que le diga al Dr. Calderón que suba inmediatamente con la niña. ¡Pero Calderón se fue a pasear con Gina y Camila fuera del edificio! ¿Para dónde se fue? pregunta Armando, desesperado... Mario está con Gina de lo más contento comiendo un helado. Gina le cuenta que se separó hace tres años, que no tiene hijos. El teléfono celular de Mario suena. ¡Hola, tigre! (es Armando, obvio). ¡Me trae a mi hija inmediatamente! Mario le dice a Gina que es el amigo de antes, el "gordito, solterón, cascarrabias" (!!) que le ofreció cuidar a la niña para que él y Gina puedan salir juntos. ¡Muy buena gente el amigo!

Para completar, Nicolás y Ximena están llegando al mismo sitio dónde está Calderón con Gina... Nicolás necesita conseguir dinero en efectivo ya que no puede usar su tarjeta de crédito con su nombre. En eso se cruzan Mario y Nicolás... Mario sabe que si Nicolás le cuenta a Betty que lo vio solo con Camila está muerto... Así que Mario lo llama -- Nicolás, Nicolás... Nicolás lo ignora, pero Mario insiste. Nicolás le dice que él es Jorge Enrique Guzmán Cabezas, pero Mario le dice que no, y le ruega que no le diga nada a Betty, ¡palabra de hombre! Nicolás le dice que él no es Nicolás. Mario le contesta que claro, él es Nicolás Mora, vice presidente financiero de EcoModa. Y lo felicita por el "muy buen levante". Ximena le dice que es un farsante y un mujeriego; Nicolás le pide que le dé una oportunidad. ¡Ella le da tremenda cachetada y lo deja plantado! Armando está desesperado porque Calderón no llega. Calderón llega y le dice tigre, tigre, regresamos... Le da las gracias por el "favor" y le dice que ellos se van al cine a la tanda de las 6 p.m. Armando le dice que se vaya rapidito que él está esperando una visita. Se despiden pero en eso llega Betty que se queda fría al ver a Mario en su casa. Betty camina hacia el hogar y se para al lado de su foto... Gina cree que está viendo un fantasma y se desmaya... Mario dice que tiene el azúcar baja y se la lleva arrastrada. Betty le dice que no se vaya con ella así, Armando le dice que no se preocupe que Mario la conoce hace mucho tiempo, que es su novia y sabe qué tiene que hacer. Betty le contesta que aunque ella deteste a Calderón no quiere que le pase nada a la muchacha... Entonces le comenta la sorpresa que es saber que Mario esté tan juicioso. Armando le pregunta cómo le fue y ella le dice que bien, pero que tenía un presentimiento de que algo malo estaba pasando. Armando le dice que no, se dicen lo mucho que se extrañaron y se dan un beso y abrazo... No hubo avances para la semana que viene -- anunciaron que darían otro programa a las 7 p.m. del domingo...

4/7/02 - no episode.

4/14/02. In Colombia, it is el noche de los hombres. Armando, Mario, Gutierrez, Nicolas, all go to a bar together. Several women enter the bar (no women are supposed to be out this night) and Mario invites them to his table. Later they go to the apartment of one of the women. Dancing progresses to an orgy and Armando finally has enough of it all. But when he tries to leave, one of the women draws a gun on him...and the other women draw guns on the other men. It was a trick. The woman orders all the men to undress.

Episode 19

Beth: Merci, who as you all know writes the Spanish summaries i use for these translations, seems to have taken a break from summarizing for this episode. so instead of Merci's summary, we have a "Valeriana" from Delta, one of the forum members. in point of fact, what follows is actually considerably more than a true Valeriana as i have come to understand the term, since altho it is shorter than those Merci usually does, in my opinion it is detailed enough to constitute an actual summary.

Well, in Episode 19, we see Freddy helping out all the men at EcoModa because [he says] it's Men's Day, but the whole world corrects him saying it's not "Men's Day," but "Men's Night" [by which they mean that all the women should stay home while the men go out on the town].

That morning we see Betty and Armando arrive on the elevator [Delta: so lovely...], very loving with each other, and Armando is also congratulated [Beth: Delta doesn't say by who or for what reason, but i'm going to guess that it's Freddy, greeting Armando on the occasion of the supposed Men's Day]. Then there is an Executive conference or a meeting or something, and before it all the men are deciding if they want to go out to party somewhere. Gutiérrez, Nicolás, Freddy, Kenneth, and Mario are all up for it and later they all laugh at Armando saying he doesn't have permission to go out [referring to Betty]. [Delta: The truth is it's sad to see him in that situation, [lacking] the force our Armando used to have.] Just then Betty arrives, overhears everything, and tells him to do whatever he wants to do, but if it's up to her she would rather he goes out with the guys. After the meeting, Armando goes to speak with Betty and asks her if his going bothers her, and Betty answers that what bothers her is that she has this reputation [as a bitch], and that everyone says he's her slave. Armando tells her not to pay attention to such stuff, and not to worry because these just-the-guys outings are about cars, or sports... And, Betty adds, about women, about sex... Armando approaches her, hugs her, and says that if it were about those things he wouldn't go, and after a few kisses and such [Delta: what if someone caught them] he tells her he'll be home at 1a on the dot.

Finally, all the guys get together to go out, but beforehand Gutiérrez is talking on the phone with his wife, who won't let him go and he **makes Armando get on the phone to tell her to let her husband go with him!!**

Well, they arrive at a bar and are all being very cautious, but it turns out that Mario has bet Armando that he's not capable of remaining a "virgin" that night [i.e., that he cannot remain faithful to Betty and his wedding vows]. Well, they all end up wanting to talk to women --all except Armando, who is having a really bad time-- so while Armando goes to the men's room, Mario goes to the bar and starts to flirt with some willing women, and ends up bringing them back to the table (but not before first telling them to 'tempt' Armando a bit, since the poor guy has a really fierce wife...].

Once at the table, the women start to mess around with everyone, who are all enchanted by the women (all except for Armando, of course), one of the women tells him to let her realize her dream, which is to caress a man without his moving a muscle or doing anything. Our Armandito is more than a little annoyed, but since the rest of the guys start to make fun of him [Delta: well, they call him "eunuch!"], he says that he's got everything just the opposite in his place, only the thing is, it's for private use only. In the end, Armandito gives in and lets the woman caress his face [Delta: i'm jealous!] and even brush his mouth.

Well, then these women say some girlfriends of theirs who just arrived in Bogotá are staying in a house, and if the guys want they can all head over there. Everyone's delighted with the idea except poor Armandito who starts calling Betty --who is very bored watching TV at home-- on his cel phone, but Calderón stops him and asking if he's not capable of remaining a "virgin" until 1am [without help from his wife]. As our Armandito is more than an idiot, he again lets himself be overruled by Calderón and they all go to the other women's house.

Well, this has now become a real mess, because the women are the man-eater types, and all are happy about this and dancing up a storm, except for you-know-who, who is sad and accosted by the chick who is playing with him constantly. Each time she goes just a little bit further, and starts giving our hero little kisses on the neck, then suddenly she bites him!! Armando leaps up and away, saying she's a witch and he's going home but then they tell him that Betty will kill him because she's going to think he's been with another woman and it's better if he lets them put some makeup on his neck [Beth: that must've been some bite!!]. While the witch is making up Armandito's neck, Gutiérrez goes upstairs with a woman who's invited him, and Nicolás Mora is about to do the same but Armando stops him, and tells her that Nico is leaving with him. So Nico tells him to have some compassion for him since it's been two years since he's... [Delta: i would guess since the affair with Blondie-Barbie] so Armando gives him 15 minutes, because now it's almost 1am. All he's [Armando's] doing is depressing everyone and saying he's going home, but neither Calderón nor the women are letting him leave. As this is going on, we see Gutiérrez, who is in a bedroom with the woman who went with him, and she asks him to let her handcuff him. He, fool that he is, is practically drooling with everything and the woman says she's going to look for another girlfriend...

We go back downstairs, and see Armando now hysterical about going home to his Betty. So the witch who bit him stands in front of the door, takes out a pistol!! and says that no-one is leaving there. So Armando, thoroughly angry, tells her to stop trying to seduce him, and the chick tells him what's going on is a robbery!!

Well, and that's where the episode ended...

*loosely, a "valeriana" is code for a short summary -- something to put you out of your misery while waiting for the Real Thing, to calm you down so you don't go crazy from not knowing what happened. i presume it's so named for the herb Valerian, which is said to be soothing to the nerves. i first encountered this particular usage of the term in reference to summaries on the Betty La Fea forums toward the end of the BLF run here in the United States (and other parts of the world), when Telemundo, the network broadcasting BLF here, stopped showing previews for the next show each night and instead ran a general promo for the finale. the closer we got to the end, the more "Valenrianas" i saw as, of course, speculation was rife as to what specifically would happen and people got more and more desperate to know. people who knew people in Colombia or who were reading Colombian summaries, or who were seeing the show from Colombia or Peru or somewhere on the web, or even --during the final days-- were simply in other time zones where they saw the show earlier than those of use who were in Arizona or California, would post something brief --sometimes not more than a sentence or two-- to let the truly addicted, who could no longer stand the suspense of wondering what would happen next, know what to expect.

VALERIANA del Capítulo 19, 14 abril 2002 Muchísimas gracias a Delta (foro 122376)

Bueno, en el capítulo 19 vemos a Freddy felicitando a todos los hombres de EcoModa porque es el día del hombre, pero todo el mundo lo corrige diciendo que no es el día del hombre, sino la noche del hombre (lo cual quiere decir que todas las mujeres deberán quedarse en casa y a los hombres les toca salir por ahí).

Vemos llegar por la mañana en el ascensor a Betty y Armando (tan lindo...) muy acarameladitos, y Armando también es felicitado. Entonces hay como una reunión de ejecutivos de EcoModa, o una junta o algo, y antes todos los hombres están decidiendo si salen por ahí de marcha. Se apuntan Gutiérrez, Nicolás, Freddy, Kenneth, Mario y luego todos se ríen de Armando porque dicen que a él no le han dado permiso (refiriéndose a Betty). La verdad es que da pena verlo en esa situación, con la fuerza que tenía nuestro Armandito... En esto llega Betty, que lo oye todo y le dice que haga lo que quiera, pero que si depende de ella, prefiere que si vaya con ellos. Después de la reunión, Armando va a hablar con Betty, y le dice que si le molesta que vaya, y Betty responde que lo que le molesta es que ella tenga esa fama, y que vayan diciendo por ahí que él es su esclavo... Armando le dice que no haga caso a esos comentarios, y que no se preocupe que esas salidas solo de hombres tratan de carros, de deportes... Y Betty añade: de mujeres, de sexo... Armando se acerca, la abraza y dice que si se tratara de esos temas que él no iría, y después de unos cuantos besitos y sobeteos (quien los pillara) le dice que volverá a la una en punto.

Al final se juntan todos los hombres para salir, pero antes Gutiérrez está hablando por teléfono con su mujer, que no le deja ir, y ¡¡hace que se ponga Armando al teléfono para decirle que va con él!!

Bueno, en esto llegan a un bar y están todos muy juiciositos, pero resulta que Mario le ha apostado a Armando que no es capaz de mantenerse virgen por esa noche. Bueno, al final todos están deseando hablar con mujeres (todos menos Armando, que lo está pasando realmente mal), así que mientras Armando va al baño Mario va a la barra y empieza a coquetear con unas chicas muy simpáticas, y al final se las lleva a la mesa (no si antes decirles que tienten un poquito a Armando, que el pobre tiene una mujer muy brava...).

Ya en la mesa, las chicas empiezan a sobarlos a todos, que están encantados (todos menos Armando, claro), una de las chicas le dice que le deje cumplir su sueño, que es acariciar a un hombre sin que se mueva ni haga nada. Nuestro Armandito está más que molesto, pero como todos empiezan a burlarse de él (bueno, le llaman ¡eunuco¡) él dice que tiene todo bien opuesto en su sitio, lo que pasa es que es de uso privado. Al final, Armandito se rinde y deja que la otra le acaricie la cara (que envidia) y hasta que le roce la boquita.

Bueno, pues en estas las chicas dicen que tienen una amigas en una casa que acaban de llegar a Bogotá, que si quieren van para allá. Todos están la mar de felices, menos el pobre Armandito que se pone a llamar por el móvil a Betty (que está muy aburrida viendo la tele), pero Calderón se lo impide y le dice que si no es capaz de estar virgen hasta la una. Como nuestro Armando es más que tontito, vuelve a dejarse llevar por Calderón y se van todos a la casa de las chicas.

Bueno, eso ya es un desmadre, porque las chicas están que se los comen a todos, y todos están contentos y bailando en una fiesta (menos ya sabeís quien, que está triste y acosado por la tía que lo está sobando a todas horas). La tipa cada vez se le arrima más, y empieza a darle besitos en el cuello a nuestro héroe, y de pronto ¡¡lo muerde!! Armando sale dando saltos diciendo que es una bruja y que se va a su casa, pero entonces le dicen que Betty lo va a matar porque va a creer que ha estado con otra, y que es mejor que le pongan algo de maquillaje en el cuello. Mientras que la bruja le está maquillando el cuello a Armandito, Gutiérrez se va al piso de arriba con una chica que se lo ha pedido, y lo mismo va a hacer Nicolás Mora, pero Armando se lo impide, y le dice que Nico se va con él. Entonces Nico le dice que tenga compasión que hace dos años que no... (supongo que desde lo de la Peliteñida) entonces Armando le da 15 minutos, porque ya es casi la una. Pero no hace más que agobiarse y decir que se va a su casa, pero ni Calderón ni las chicas le dejan irse. En esto vemos a Gutiérrez que está en un cuarto con la chica que se ha ido, y ésta le pide que le dejo esposarlo. El muy tonto se está relamiendo y todo, y la chica le dice que va a buscar a otra amiga...

Volvemos abajo, y vemos a Armando ya histérico con que se va a su casa con su Betty. Entonces la bruja que lo mordió se le pone delante de la puerta, ¡¡le saca una pistola!! y dice que de allí no se va nadie. Entonces Armando todo enojado le dice que deje ya de intentar seducirlo, y la tipa le dice que lo que pasa es que ¡¡es un atraco!!

Bueno, pues ahí se quedó el capítulo...

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

USA 4/21/02. The men undress to their underwear. The women take their money and tie them up. One woman calls the wife of Guiterrez who calls Betty and the others. The women wait and worry. The men get untied, break down the door (no knob), break down a gate and manage, eventually, to get a cab and get home. They tell the women they were assaulted.

Episode 20

Merci: What can you say about the little group of male executives at EcoModa and Freddy? They're all a bunch of idiots!! Poor guys, they share but two neurons between the lot of them...

Beth: as i did with a number of the summaries, the original translation of this was done a bit at a time. however, instead of being sent out a day apart, this time there were several days between each of the parts, so i amused myself by providing small "Our story so far" mini-summations at the beginning of the second and third parts which have been omitted here since you're getting the whole summary in one piece. the reason i mention them is because in these little catch-ups, i started referring to the Ecomoda males collectively as the Ecomoda Stooges or the Six Stooges --later shortened simply to the Stooges. it worked for me, and i began using the term in the summaries themselves. now, altho i have not had any complaints, should anyone not like the reference, please know that *i* am to blame for it and not Merci (she usually just called them "our boys")...

We rejoin our heroes at the moment in which their new girlfriends are assaulting them with revolvers directed at their various heads... Armando is furious that the skinny one, Andrea, continues to want to "molest" him, but he realizes that she hasn't taken out a pistol with the idea of "conquering" him (sexually) -- it's a robbery!! Kenneth, who, poor guy, is even more lost than the rest of them, asks what is going on and Calderón --the Supreme Leader of all these fools-- explains that this is serious: "We are being robbed" [in English]. Freddy starts to whimper like a startled kitten [Merci: And on top of that i think he nearly peed himself from fright]. Armando tells him to be quiet a number of times because he's getting on his nerves [Freddy on Armando's nerves].

While his friends are being robbed downstairs, Nicolás still thinks that the "drought" of the past two years is about to come to an end... He is in his underwear but his little girlfriend still hasn't taken off one stitch of clothing; Nicolás is starting to get a bit desperate... She turns on the light and takes out a revolver. She tells him she's going to rob him and Nicolás tells her he'll let her. Things finally get serious and she tells him to put up his hands. Another of the gang arrives and they take Nicolás' wallet; he immediately begs them to leave him the photo of "the only woman I've ever loved in my life" [Blondie-Barbie]. They call him a stray mutt and take the photo as well as the money from his wallet...

Back downstairs, the men have all been ordered to take off all their clothing! Armando says they'll willingly hand over their wallets and watches --whatever the women want-- but not their clothing. Armando asks the women to be sensible!! [Merci: the truth is, you have to hand it to the Handsome Fool for being the least foolish of all], and asks them what their problem is. 'We haven't done anything to you...' Freddy says he wants to "go pee-pee" [Merci: Didn't i say so...?]... The women order the men up against the wall...

We return to Nicolás who is now tied up; he says that he prefers blondes... Before leaving him alone, his 'girlfriend' refers to him as a "bobo litro" [literally, a liter fool. in other words, a super-sized fool]. Nicolás starts to call to Gutiérrez and Calderón.

Downstairs again, the women robbers aren't kidding around: they want all of the guys to do a strip-tease à la The Full Monty. They order the lights lowered and the music turned up because they want it to be with dancing and everything. Armando, still trying to salvage what little dignity is left him [Beth: and that's precious little indeed!], states he's not going to have any part of this. Freddy says he'd rather lose his dignity than his life. The women tell them to take their clothing off with style, dancing. Armando insists he's not going to do any such thing and he confronts the "witch" Andrea [the one who bit him on the neck] and tells her to lower her gun. She tells him to start dancing or she'll shoot him. Armando starts to dance!

You remember Gutiérrez? Well, he thinks they've got an orgy going and don't want to include him [Beth: remember, his 'girlfriend' handcuffed him, presumably to the bed, and left him, saying she was going to get a friend...]. He shouts at Freddy [as if Freddy's going to hear him over all the noise!] that tomorrow at work he [Gutiérrez] was going to put *two* "calls to attention" (reprimands or warnings) in his [Freddy's] personnel file for not having included him [Gutiérrez] in the party. Downstairs, most continue to be reluctant to take off their clothing, while Freddy --no hero, he!-- gets out of his clothing more quickly than Clark Kent turning himself into Superman. Armando states that there is no way he is going to take all his clothes off -- he will at least keep his underwear on. The women start to sing his name and in the end he cannot put things off any longer. Andrea tells him that seeing him "in balls" [that's a literal translation! of course, meaning, buck-naked] is indeed a deception. Armando replies that that next time he'll pay a trainer and work his abs for three weeks prior to the robbery so that "your highness can be happy." They start to take off the men's watches and demand that Armando also hand over his wedding ring. He doesn't want to [Merci: what would the priest who married them say?? Beth: never mind the priest -- what would Betty say?? and, more to the point, since Armando's so reluctant to be honest with her about the idiocies in which Mario constantly involves him now that he's back in Armando's life, how would he explain it all to Betty??] but Calderón reminds Armando it's the ring or his life, and Armando doesn't want to leave his daughter orphaned...

Finally, everyone, including Nicolás, ends up in the room where Gutiérrez is handcuffed. The women tie up the men, and then a cel phone rings. It's Gutiérrez's wife! Andrea answers the phone and tells her [Gutiérrez's wife] that Saúl cannot speak to her just then because he is busy. Maruja hangs up in a fury and Andrea relays this to Gutiérrez. Before leaving, the women pinch each of the men on the butt... Armando tells Gutiérrez that as soon as he [Armando] gets himself free, he's going to kill him [Gutiérrez].

Back at the apartment, Betty is very worried; then the phone rings. It's Maruja [Gutiérrez's wife], asking Betty if she's heard from Armando. Betty replies no. Maruja is convinced the guys are all out on the town with some women but Betty tells her they aren't. Betty tells Maruja she'll try to track Armando down and will call her back.

Armando states that Betty is going to kill him... The guys are all trying to free themselves and Kenneth is the first to achieve it. Armando tells Kenneth to free him next...

Doña Eugenia, Nicolás' mother, calls Betty worried about her 'baby.' Betty tells her what she knows.

When all --except, of course, for Gutiérrez-- are freed, the men try to leave the bedroom only to find the door has been locked from the outside and there is no way to get out. Armando tries to break the door down but only manages to hurt his arm. Kenneth suggests they make like "McGyver" and use the bed to break down the door. Freddy mocks the idea, but Armando and the rest immediately set to work taking apart the bed so they can break down the door and leave. Gutiérrez starts to shout at them to be careful with him [Beth: i didn't see this ep and don't remember Merci or Delta saying so, but i will state again that i'll bet Gutiérrez is handcuffed to the bed... at least i hope so -- serves him right.]

It's 4:30am [Beth: remember, Armando promised Betty he'd be home by 1a on the dot...] and Maruja calls Betty again. Maruja really hopes that her husband is dead because if he isn't she's just going to have to kill him. Betty tells her to come over to the apartment so they can wait for their errant husbands together. Doña Eugenia also calls and Betty invites her over as well. Betty is going to call the hospitals and police stations... Then Aura María calls, worried because Freddy's mother called her to say that Freddy hadn't come home either. Betty tells Aura María that she, too, is very worried and of course invites Aura María to come over as well.

Our superheroes manage to break down the door and escape from the bedroom. Gutiérrez has to carry the bed's headboard with him since he's chained to it [Beth: hah! i was right!]. When they get downstairs they see that the place has been completely cleaned out -- until then they'd hoped the women had at least left them a few shreds of clothing. But no, the only things there are Armando's shoes and Freddy's tie [Merci: i'll tell you that Nicolás looks very elegant in his underpants and suspenders... Beth: i thought the women made them strip completely naked?]. The front door is also locked from the outside and cannot be opened, while the back door has been blocked [Beth: the word used implies it wasn't locked but rather was nailed or otherwise sealed shut] and cannot be opened either. They're doomed!

Betty, Doña Eugenia [Merci: who looks like Nicolás], Marujita [Merci: who is very elegant although her lipstick is badly applied, probably out of irritation related to her husband] and Aura María are in Betty's dining room. Betty's on the phone with someone who's telling her they have to wait 24 hours before they can report Armando and the others as missing. Maruja continues to insist the men are all with Other Women and that she's going to kill her husband. Poor Doña Eugenia doesn't want to hear this talk of death and bad things. Aura María recalls that when Freddy said goodbye to her the day before, she told him to get lost, she hoped he'd die, and so now is blaming herself for something bad having happened to him! Betty calms her down and tells her not to think like that. Gabriela calls to see if Betty has heard from Armando, as Kenneth still hasn't returned to the hotel. Betty begs her not to call the Fashion Group home office and invites her to join the gang at the apartment...

EcoModa's "A-Team" manages to get out of the house through the back and find themselves on the sidewalk. The poor guys are all cold and they don't know what to do now. Armando states they're going to leave because they have to, while Gutiérrez continues to moan that they're going to be killed...

Gabriela arrives at Betty's apartment and says that something very serious must've happened to keep Kenneth from turning up -- she's known him for 8 years and he's never done anything like this. They must've been attacked. Betty calls the police again and asks if they've checked all the hospitals, and the morgues... She's happy to hear that no deaths have been reported. They realize that the only one who lives alone is Mario Calderón and, thinking the guys might be at his place, Aura María calls there, but no-one answers. Maruja states that he must have Caller ID and decided not to pick up. Betty describes Mario's apartment as the "incarnation of Hell" [Merci: yeah, but she had a great time there once, didn't she?]. They decide to go to Mario's apartment to see if by any chance all the men are there...

The group of naked men startles a little old lady when they came out of the house, so they decide to go back into the house because they don't want to be arrested. Then they decide that since there's no phone in the house, they're going to have to go to see if the woman [the one they startled] will let them use hers. Armando and Kenneth are elected to go and they leave again, swathed in sheets [Merci: the pair look like characters from a Shakespearean tragedy: Mark Antony and Julius Caesar...]. They go to the woman's house and beg her to help them but she is already calling the police to report them... The two run away.

Freddy is sitting on the stairs with Calderón and he tells Mario that since this 'tragedy' has united them even more, he wants to ask for a pay raise. Calderón tells him he'll have to wait to ask that question until the next time he (Mario) has his pants on. Armando and Kenneth come back and the group decides they have to leave. Freddy to the rescue! During the little party, one of the women had put a $10,000 peso note in his underwear so he'd have money for a taxi. Armando says they should walk normally, very normally, so as not to attract attention. Of course, with he and Kenneth in their "togas" and the rest as they are, it would be hard to say they look very "normal." Armando then tells them to start jogging! This is because they have encountered a woman and two little girls and there is nothing for it but to try to keep up appearances [i.e., they are going to try to pass their underwear off as athletic shorts!]. They see a taxi arrive at the corner of the street and Armando takes off running to hail the taxi to take them home. The taxi driver takes one look and gets right out of there... [Beth: with a crazed Armando running toward him in a sheet/toga followed by a pack of guys in their underwear -- i should think so!].

The group keeps walking. They see another taxi, whose driver Armando begs to help them, offering to pay him 20,000 pesos when he takes them where they want to go. The driver objects that there are a lot of them, but Nicolás says they're all really good friends and it won't be a problem. Of course, there *is* the problem of the headboard to which Gutiérrez is still handcuffed... The driver says that for 10,000 pesos more he'll separate Gutiérrez from his "portable jail" [Beth: no! no!! make him keep it!!!]. This driver is evidently very well equipped because he rapidly gets out a hacksaw to cut the chains between the cuffs. He also has a good laugh at all of them when they relate how they came to be in their current situation, so Armando starts to put together the story they're going to tell everyone to account for themselves when they finally get back to their various abodes. They all decide that they left the bar at 12:30am and were attacked by around ten men who stuffed them into a van, drove them all over Bogotá, and stole their clothing and money, etc. The taxi driver scoffs that no-one will believe them because they don't have so much as a scratch between the six of them. Ever practical, Mario promptly punches Armando in the face. Armando returns the favor with an even stronger hit to his old friend's face... Nicolás hits Gutiérrez while Freddy happily punches Kenneth --twice-- though his two blows don't hurt the American at all. Armando tells Freddy he doesn't know how to hit, shows the messenger how to properly make a fist, and demonstrates with a tremendous punch right to Freddy's nose. Freddy says they'll just have to say that Kenneth was the least beaten of the group. Kenneth lands a terrific hit on Nicolás, and remarks that he had been a US Marine! At last, Gutiérrez is freed from the headboard and all except Freddy climb into the taxi. Poor Freddy ends up in the trunk -- Mario describes it as the response of the group... [Beth: they should've put Mario in the trunk, for getting them into this situation. i mean, yes -- it was Freddy's fault they went out to celebrate "Men's Night," but it was Mario who let them into the thieves' trap...]

At Calderón's apartment building, Betty asks the doorman for Mario and is told he never arrived...

Outside, the taxi with the Six Stooges arrives. They get out of the cab only to run right into Betty, Aura María, Maruja, Gabriela, and Doña Eugenia. Betty hugs and kisses Armando. Doña Eugenia is overjoyed to see Nicolás safe and sound. Aura María doesn't see Freddy and thinks he's dead until they open the trunk and Freddy emerges. Aura María is happy to see him but smacks him on the arm for having given her such a scare. They end up reconciling as Kenneth watches unhappily. Maruja says she's going to kill Gutiérrez and they leave for their house in the cab. Gabriela takes Kenneth back to the hotel in their chauffeured Jeep Cherokee. Betty offers to take Nicolás, his mother, Freddy, and Aura María in her car [to drop them off]. Armando tells Betty they stole his wedding ring and that he feels just terrible about it (Of course, all have related their tragic tale of the supposed attack by the ten men who drove them all over Bogotá...).

Mario Calderón says good-bye to everyone and is left alone at his building holding a small cushion (?) and a stick-like piece of the bed they'd broken to break down the door. He puts the stick over his shoulder with the cushion hanging off the end, like a hobo, and walks into his apartment building...

Advances for next week: It looks as if everything's going to explode because the police have become involved in the matter of the attack, so things get complicated for the boys... We'll see what happens then.

Capítulo 20, 21 abril 2002

¿Qué se puede decir del grupito de ejecutivos de EcoModa y Freddy? ¡Son todos unos IDIOTAS! Pobrecitos, entre todos puede que compartan dos neuronas...

Nos re-encontramos con nuestros héroes en el momento en el que sus nuevas amiguitas los están asaltando con revólveres dirigidos a sus vacías cabecitas... Armando está furico de que la flaca Andrea siga queriendo molestarlo, pero se da cuenta de que no es por conquistarlo que ha sacado la pistola. ¡Es un atraco! Kenneth, que el pobrecito está más perdido que los demás, pregunta qué está pasando y Calderón (el líder supremo de todos estos bobos) le explica que la cosa es en serio “we are being robbed”. Freddy empieza a gemir como un gatito asustado y creo que casi se hace pipí encima del susto. Armando lo manda a callar varias veces porque lo va a sacar de quicio.

Mientras sus compadres están siendo asaltados abajo, Nicolás todavía piensa que la sequía de los últimos dos años llegará a su fin... Él está en ropa interior y la amiguita todavía no se quita ni una prenda de ropa y Nicolás está desesperadito... Ella prende la luz y saca un revólver... Ella le dice que lo va a robar y Nicolás le dice que él la deja que lo robe. Por fin la cosa se pone seria y le dicen que ponga las manos en alto... Llega otra de las de la pandilla y le quitan la billetera a Nicolás, que inmediatamente ruega que no le vayan a llevar la foto de “la única mujer que lo ha amado en su vida” (la Peliteñida). Ellas le llaman perro vagabundo y le quitan la plata y la foto también...

De vuelta al primer piso, la orden es que tienen que ponerse ¡en pelotas todos! Armando dice que ellos entregan las carteras y los relojes, lo que quieran, pero la ropa no. Armando pide ¡sensatez! (la verdad es que hay que darle puntos al bello bobo por ser el menos bobo de todos) y pregunta ¿cuál es la bronca? Ellos no han hecho nada... Freddy dice que quiere hacer “chi chí” (¿no les dije?)... Les ordenan que se pongan contra la pared... Volvemos a ver a Nicolás que ahora está amarrado y dice que a él las mujeres que le gustan son las rubias... Antes de dejarlo solo, su amiguita se refiere a él como un “bobo litro”... Nicolás empieza a llamar a Gutiérrez y a Calderón.

En el primer piso, las del atraco no están bromeando: quieren que todos les hagan un strip-tease a lo película The Full Monty . Ordenan bajar la luz y subir la música porque quieren que sea con baile y todo. Armando, todavía tratando de salvar la poca dignidad que le queda al pobre, dice que él no se va a prestar para eso.

Freddy dice que él prefiere perder la dignidad que la vida. Las mujeres les dicen que se quiten la ropa con estilo, bailando. Armando insiste que no van a hacer nada y se le encareta a la “bruja” Andrea (la que lo mordió en el cuello) y le dice que baje el revólver. Ella le contesta que baila o lo dispara... Armando ¡empieza a bailar!

¿Se acuerdan de Gutiérrez? Bueno, él se cree que han armando una orgía y no lo quieren incluir. Le grita a Freddy que al otro día le tocarán dos llamadas de atención por no incluirlo en la fiesta.

Abajo siguen no queriéndose quitar la ropa, pero Freddy no tiene nada de héroe así que se desviste más rápido que Clark Kent convirtiéndose en Superman.

Armando dice que ni de fundas él va a hacer eso de quedarse completamente desnudo, que la cosa es quedarse en ropa interior. Las mujeres empiezan a cantar el nombre de Armando y él por fin no puede delatar más la cosa. Andrea le dice que verlo así “en pelotas” es una verdadera decepción. Armando le contesta que la próxima vez le pague un gimnasio tres semanas antes del atraco para él poder hacer ejercicios abdominales para que “su merced esté tranquila”.

Les empiezan a quitar los relojes y a Armando le exigen que entregue la argolla de matrimonio. Él no quiere (¿qué diría el cura que lo casó?) pero Calderón le recuerda que es la argolla o su vida y él no querrá dejar a su hija huérfana... Betty está en su cuarto, viendo la tele, aburrida y preguntándose dónde puede estar su adorado y flamante esposo...Todos, incluido Nicolás, terminan en la habitación dónde Gutiérrez está esposado. Los amarran a todos y en esos momentos suena un teléfono celular. ¡Es la mujer de Gutiérrez! Andrea contesta el teléfono y le dice que Saúl no puede hablar con ella en esos momentos porque está ocupado. Maruja le cuelga furiosa el teléfono y Andrea le cuenta a Gutiérrez. Antes de irse, todos reciben nalgadas de las mujercitas... Armando le dice a Gutiérrez que tan pronto se desamarre lo va a matar.

Betty está muy preocupada en su apartamento cuando suena el teléfono. Es Maruja para preguntarle si ha tenido noticias de Armando. Betty le contesta que no. Maruja está convencida que están de juerga con unas mujeres, pero Betty le dice que no. Betty le dice que va a tratar de localizar a Armando y la llamará de vuelta. Armando dice que Betty lo va a matar... Todos están tratando de soltarse de las sogas y Kenneth es el primero en lograrlo. Armando dice que lo suelte a él primero...

Doña Eugenia, la mamá de Nicolás, llama a Betty preocupada por su nene. Betty le cuenta lo que sabe.

Cuando todos, menos Gutiérrez por supuesto, están sueltos, tratan de salir del cuarto pero está cerrado con llave y no hay manera de salir. Armando trata de romper la puerta pero termina lastimándose el brazo.

Kenneth sugiere que hagan como “McGyver” y usen la cama para romper la puerta. Freddy se burla de la sugerencia, pero Armando y los demás van manos a la obra y desarman la cama para romper la puerta y poder salir. Gutiérrez empieza a gritar que tengan cuidado con él.

Ya son las 4:30 a.m. y Maruja vuelve a llamar a Betty. Maruja en realidad quisiera que su marido esté muerto porque sino lo va a tener que matar. Betty le dice que vaya a su apartamento y así pueden esperar juntas. Doña Eugenia también llama y Betty la invita a que la acompañe también. Betty va a llamar a los hospitales y las comisarías...

Aura María también llama preocupada que la mamá de Freddy la llamó para decirle que él tampoco había llegado a la casa. Betty le dice que está muy angustiada y por supuesto invita a Aura María a que vaya para allá.

Nuestros súper héroes logran romper la puerta y salen del cuarto. Gutiérrez tiene que salir caminando con la cabecera de la cama a cuestas. Cuando llegan al primer piso ven que no hay nada de nada — ellos tenían la esperanza de que les hubiesen dejado algo de ropa. Todo lo que queda son los zapatos de Armando y la corbata de Freddy. Les cuento que Nicolás se ve muy elegante con sus calzoncillos y sus tirantes... La puerta de la calle también está cerrada con llave y no hay manera de salir. La parte trasera de la casa está enrejada y no hay manera de abrirla tampoco. ¡Están perdidos!

Betty, Doña Eugenia (que se parece a Nicolás), Marujita (que está muy elegante, pero con los labios mal pintados — debe ser de la rabia con el marido) y Betty están en el comedor de la casa de Betty. Betty está hablando por teléfono y le dicen que va a tener que esperar 24 horas para que se pueda saber algo de Armando y compañía. Maruja sigue insistiendo que todos están con mujeres y que va a matar al marido. La pobre Doña Eugenia no quiere que se hable de muerte ni de cosas malas.

Aura María recuerda que cuando Freddy se despidió de ella el día anterior ella le dijo que se desapareciera, que se muriera... ¡Entonces dice que es su culpa que les haya pasado algo malo! Betty la calma y le dice que no piense así. Gabriela llama para preguntar si Betty ha sabido algo de Armando ya que Kenneth no ha aparecido por el hotel. Betty le ruega que no llame a la casa matriz del Fashion Group — y la invita a que vaya al apartamento...

El A-Team de EcoModa logra salir de la casa por la parte de atrás y terminan en la acera. Los pobrecitos tienen frío y no saben que van a hacer. Armando dice que ¡nos vamos porque nos vamos! Gutiérrez sigue con el cuento de que los van a matar...

Gabriela llega al apartamento de Betty y dice que tiene que haber pasado algo muy serio para que Kenneth no haya aparecido — ella lo conoce hace ocho años y nunca había hecho nada por el estilo. Tiene que ser que los asaltaron. Betty vuelve a hablar con la comisaría y pregunta si han averiguado en todos los hospitales... y ¿en medicina legal? Se alegra de saber que no están muertos. Sacan la cuenta que el único que pudiera estar en su apartamento de soltero es Mario Calderón. Aura María llama a la casa de Calderón, pero tampoco contesta. Maruja dice que debe ser que como tiene identificador de llamadas no quiere contestar. Betty describe el apartamento de Mario como la encarnación del infierno (bueno, pero ella lo pasó chévere allí una vez, ¿no?). Deciden irse al apartamento de Mario por si acaso están todos allí...

El grupito en pelotas había asustado a una viejita cuando salieron de la casa y decidieron volver a entrar ya que no querían que los arrestaran. Deciden que como en la casa donde están no hay teléfono, van a tener que ir a ver si la señora les presta el de ella.

Armando y Kenneth son los elegidos y salen arropados en sábanas — los dos parecen personajes de una tragedia de Shakespeare: Marco Antonio y Julio César... Van a la casa de la señora y le ruegan que los ayude pero ella está llamando a la policía para reportarlos... Los dos salen corriendo...

Freddy está sentado en la escalera junto a Calderón y le dice a Mario que como la tragedia los ha unido más, le quiere pedir un aumento de sueldo. Calderón le dice que va a tener que esperar a hacerle la pregunta la próxima vez que Calderón tenga puesto sus pantalones. Armando y Kenneth regresan y la decisión es que se tienen que ir. ¡Freddy al rescate! Durante la fiestecita, una de las mujeres le había puesto un billete de $10,000 pesos en el calzoncillo así que tienen suficiente para un taxi.

Armando les dice que caminen muy naturalito, naturalito cosa de no llamar la atención. Por supuesto, él y Kenneth con sus togas y los demás en la facha que andan, no se ven muy naturales que digamos. Armando entonces les dice que se pongan a ¡trotar! Es que se encuentran con una señora y dos niñitas y no hay más remedio que guardar las apariencias.

Por la esquina de la calle ven un taxi llegar y Armando sale corriendo para pedirle al taxista que los lleve. El taxista sale huyendo...

El grupo sigue caminando y ven a otro taxista al que Armando le ruega que los ayude y le ofrece $20,000 pesos cuando los lleve a donde quieren ir. El hombre dice que son muchos, pero Nicolás dice que ellos son muy amigos y que no hay problema. Por supuesto está el problema de la cabecera de la cama y Gutiérrez. El taxista les dice que por $10,000 pesos más él separa a Gutiérrez de su cárcel portátil. Este taxista está muy bien equipado porque rápidamente saca un serrucho para hacerlo. El taxista se burla de todos cuando le cuentan como fue que llegaron hasta allí...

Entonces Armando comienza a tramar qué es lo que van a decirle a todos cuando por fin lleguen a sus casas. Se ponen de acuerdo que a las 12:30 a.m. salieron del bar y que los atracaron como 10 hombres, los metieron en un furgón, los llevaron por todo Bogotá, les quitaron la ropa, el dinero, etc. El taxista se burla de que no les van a creer porque no tienen ni un rasguño. Mario, muy servicial, le mete tremendo puño en la cara a Armando. Armando le contesta con uno mucho más fuerte a su gran amigo... Nicolás le pega a Gutiérrez... Freddy con mucho gusto le pega a Kenneth, pero los dos puños que le da no le hacen nada al americano. Armando le dice a Freddy que no sabe como pegar, le enseña como poner los puños, y le mete tremendo puño por la nariz al Freddy... Freddy dice que tendrán que decir que Kenneth fue el menos golpeado. Kenneth le mete tremendo puño a Nicolás — y comenta que él había sido un ¡US Marine! Por fin Gutiérrez está libre de la cabecera y se montan todos, menos Freddy, en el taxi. El pobre Freddy termina en el baúl — Mario lo describe como la repuesta del grupo...

En el edificio de Calderón, Betty pregunta al portero por Mario y le dicen que él nunca llegó...

Afuera llega el taxi con los alegres compadres, que al bajarse se encuentran con Betty, Aura María, Maruja y Doña Eugenia. Betty abraza y besa a Armando... Doña Eugenia se alegra muchísimo de ver a Nicolás sano y salvo. Aura María no ve a Freddy y piensa que se murió. Entonces abren el baúl y Freddy sale. Aura María se alegra de verlo pero le da un manotazo por el brazo por haberla asustado así. Terminan reconciliándose — Kenneth la mira triste. Maruja va a matar a Gutiérrez y se van en el taxi para su casa. Gabriela se lleva a Kenneth en su Jeep Cherokee con el chofer. Betty ofrece llevar a Nicolás, su mamá, Freddy y Aura María en su carro. Armando le dice a Betty que le robaron la argolla de matrimonio y que se siente muy mal por eso. Por supuesto todos han hecho el cuento trágico del supuesto atraco por los 10 hombres que los llevaron por todo Bogotá...

Mario Calderón se queda solo y les dice adiós, y con un palo que encontró en alguna parte y el cojín, los pone como la bolsa de un vagabundo y va camino a entrar a su apartamento...

Para la semana que viene... Parece que todo va a explotar porque la policía se envuelve en el asunto del atraco y las cosas se le complican bastante a los niños... Ya veremos que irá a pasar.

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

USA 4/28/02. The men lie, say they were assaulted by a group of men. Gabriela overhears them talking and promises to keep the secret. Betty sees a news announcement about a group of women who attack businessmen and the difficulty tracking them down because the men are too ashamed to report it.

Episode 21

Armando is in his bathroom at home, looking at the bruises left by the blows from Calderón and the bite mark given to him by the witch, skinny Andrea... He is putting on a [i think] white bathrobe and has a look on his face like he can't believe the kind of mess he's gotten himself into... Betty arrives to tend his wounds and starts to ask him why he wasn't hit anywhere else on his body. Armando tells her that the attack made Waterloo seem like child's play, and that it wasn't like "The Cage of Crazy Women" [Beth: ?? i'm guessing it's a movie or TV show title -- but i don't know what it's referring to. however, the thought occurs that it *might* be significant --a kind of Freudian slip-- that he selected a title that uses the feminine when referring to the word "crazies," and not the more common masculine. or maybe i'm just reading too much into it...], that it was something serious. Between kisses and caresses, while Betty is tending to him, she finds the bite mark and asks him how he came to get it. Armando, who has been discoursing on how everyone defended himself during the 'attack,' tells her that one of the gang grabbed him, and while Armando hit him [Merci: ha, ha], the guy grabbed him by the neck and bit him as if he [the guy] were a Rottweiler. Betty remarks that he sounds like an extremely impassioned thief, so Armando tells Betty that he has to get dressed to go to the police station. She offers to accompany him but of course he doesn't want her to.

At Ecomoda, Aura María is tending to Freddy while the Cartel and Natasha listen to him talk about the monstrous fight that took place the night before. And he says he was like a lion. Sandra asks him how this could be since he seemed to be the least bruised of all. It must be because he ran away, Sofía says. Freddy states that he didn't run away -- he used his best weapon: a verbal attack. He told the thieves they would die from being bad. Sofía opines that he must've barked at them [Beth: there appears to be another of Gaitán's subtle plays on words going on here. one word for "thief" --the one seemingly used by Freddy just now-- is "ladrón," while the word for "to bark" (like what dogs do) is "ladrar"...]! Freddy says he struck them a humiliating blow, telling them 40 million Colombians suffer at the hands of 40 thousand thieves. That they're a bunch of miserable, lazy, slugs -- and they were dumbstruck! paralyzed! Inesita asks Freddy who hit him in the face and Freddy replies it was a deaf [??], dark guy named Germán, who left him "groggy" [he uses the English word] and made him lose control... Bertha observes that he not only lost control, he lost his clothes, his money... The women all laugh. Freddy states he has to go to the police station to make a statement and Aura María wants to go with him. Freddy says he'll go with her even to the altar, but not to the police station...

Gabriela goes into Kenneth's office and asks how he's feeling. He replies he's fine, that it was just foolishness... Gabriela tells him it was a robbery. Kenneth answers that he is a Marine, he's in the US Army Reserve [Merci: this story is starting to sound a bit like Patricia Fernández's ever-popular tale of the six semesters of finances at San Marino...], and his fists are lethal weapons. But they --and he nearly uses the feminine form of the word-- had guns [Beth: note to non-Spanish speakers -- unlike English, Spanish has no gender-neutral form of words like "we" and "they;" the masculine form of any noun or pronoun is invariably used unless the group being referred to is *exclusively* female. in other words, if you have a group comprised of 1,000 women and one man, the word used for "they" would be "ellos" (masculine) and not "ellas" (feminine). the same goes if you have a litter of kittens or a flock of birds, etc -- as long as there is at least one male present, the masculine is used. however, the Six Stooges' thieves were all women, so they would correctly be referred to collectively as "ellas," a potentially fatal mistake which Kenneth just barely stops himself from making in front of Gabriela -- she would certainly have noticed it, as would Betty or any of the other women]. He says that since they handcuffed Gutiérrez, he felt responsible and obliged to restrain himself, but he doesn't want to talk about it any more. And he announces that he, too, has to go to the police station. Gabriela tells him she's going to go with him -- the documents that identify him as an associate of Ecomoda --as well as his passport-- are in the hands of thieves, and she doesn't want to have to tell the home office about this so he'll have to obey her: She's going with him and that's that.

Mario, Armando, and Nicolás are at the police station. Nicolás is worried that his friendship with Betty is being endangered by this mess and the lies. He asks Armando about Betty and Armando replies that he can't lie the way he used to [i.e., convincingly] and she can't understand how ten armed men didn't end up killing the six of them. Freddy arrives with Aura María and asks about Kenneth and Gutiérrez. Armando bawls him out for having brought Aura María and tells him it'll be all his [Freddy's] fault if the rest of the women find out what really happened. As he's saying this, Kenneth and Gabriela arrive. Armando orders Freddy to stand so that Kenneth can have a seat. And to round out the group, Marujita and Gutiérrez arrive... Maruja is asking Gutiérrez how it was that he was the only one to be handcuffed. He tells her --and his buddies all chime in to support him-- that he had been really rebellious against the attackers and that's why they handcuffed him. So then Maruja wants to know how they got his clothing off since he was handcuffed. Gutiérrez says they ripped it off him... Armando says yes, they stripped him after they'd handcuffed him. Maruja wants to know who's going to take their statements and they explain that it will be the judge's secretary. Maruja invites Aura María and Gabriela to go with her to the ladies' room. Armando asks Gutiérrez why he brought his wife along, and Gutiérrez explains that *she* brought *him.* Nicolás says that his mother told him they [the Ecomoda women] are all convinced that this has something to do with women. Kenneth says that now Gabriela is going to become his shadow. Armando says they all have to stick to the same story, and only one of them should speak [to give the statement]. Calderón wants to be the spokesman for the group but Armando tells him [no] because since he [Calderón] isn't married, he's got nothing to lose. Calderón replies that since he's single, he can coldly tell an out-and-out lie. Maruja and company return from the ladies' room and she continues with the "little wooden knife" [Beth: ?? ok, your guess here is as good as mine. i'm guessing it's a way of saying that Maruja is continuing to harp on the subject of Gutiérrez / handcuffs / the attack / whatever]... The office door opens and they are called in to make their statement. Maruja, Aura María and Gabriela go in with the guys... Before entering, Armando quietly reminds Mario that "there were ten men... *ten men,* Calderón."

The Ecomoda elevator doors open and Aura María, Gabriela, and the Merry Men get off. Aura María sees that her friends aren't there and heads off to look for them. Gabriela tells Kenneth she's going to her office. Armando tells the rest of the men that they are on the verge of getting out of this problem so they can't drop the ball now. They have to be very discreet. Kenneth says that no-one can ever find out they were assaulted by a bunch of women... Well, unnoticed by any of the Stooges, Gabriela had returned and overheard everything. Armando states that even if they're being fried in oil, none of them can say anything. Then he turns around and sees Gabriela... She tries to dissimulate [as if she'd just arrived and hadn't heard anything], and tells Kenneth she needs to speak with him. The Stooges huddle together again and tell each other they know Gabriela must've heard everything. The group's spokesman, Armando, asks to speak with Gabriela for a moment. He asks her if she heard and she tells him yes, but not to worry about her saying anything. He pleads with her to not say anything. She points out that she'd just promised she wouldn't say anything. Then Armando more or less tells her the truth -- that it was Calderón who brought the women to their table, that afterwards they'd gone with the women to a house where the women had ended up assaulting them. Gabriela asks if the women were very beautiful. Armando has to admit they were... Gabriela then asks what he'd thought the women were going to do to them. She makes a gesture as if her lips are sealed with regard to the matter...

It's nighttime at Ecomoda. The elevator doors open and Freddy gets off, ready to head for home on his motorbike, the two helmets he's carrying indicating he intends to give Aura María a ride as well. He tells her she is his life, his Moorish queen [Beth: "Moorish queen??"], and that her carriage awaits -- would she like to be taken home or to some other place? She tells him she wants to go home. Freddy wants to know if she isn't at least a little bit moved by the whole assault thing... Aura María comments that there's still something [about the story] that bugs her. She asks what the ringleader of the thieves looked like. Freddy replies that it was night, and there was a fog worse than the ones in London (although he's never been there). Then he states that the guy was tall, dark, well-built, and handsome -- is she happy now? As the elevator doors are closing, Freddy laughs at Sandra that she'll have to go home on the bus...

Armando and Betty are in bed and she asks him what the gang's ringleader looked like [Merci: it's as if there were a patron of questions, isn't it?]. Armando says he was fat, blond, with curly hair. She asks if he was the one who bit Armando. Armando clarifies that he was the one who ordered Armando be bitten... and it was horrible!! The poor guy says he's traumatized and doesn't know how he's going to be able to sleep... He asks Betty to go to sleep and he will try, saying My God!

It's morning... Maruja and Aura María are in the conference room with the television on, watching the news [Beth: ok, not that i mind, because she seems to be a character worthy of watching, but why exactly is Maruja at Ecomoda? she doesn't work there, and in all the time we've known Gutiérrez, this is the first time she has ever turned up at the office that i am aware of. furthermore, there's really no reason for her to be there today. yesterday, when the guys had to go make a statement, maybe. but now??]. Betty comes in and asks what's so important that they need to speak *now.* Maruja asks Betty if she'd asked Armando about the ringleader of the gang of thieves. Betty tells the other two women what Armando told her. Aura María recounts Freddy's quite different description, while Maruja says that Gutiérrez had told *her* the guy was short, stocky, and ugly. The women conclude they have been lied to! [Beth: again, not to mess with what looks to be an amusing plot line, but i do feel it necessary to highlight a rather glaring omission here: the Colombian police cannot be this completely stupid!! any idiot knows you have to get a description of the suspects if you are to have any hope of finding them, and you can't tell me the police didn't ask the Stooges for a description of the thieves!! given that the Stooges were (somewhat inexplicably, to my way of thinking) permitted to give a group statement --it is far more logical to interview each Stooge separately and then compare their stories for clues and/or discrepancies-- one would think that all of the Stooges would've heard Mario's description of the hypothetical ringleader. since i cannot believe the police would make this sort of amateur error, i am forced to believe that none of the Stooges --or the women who accompanied them to the police station-- paid the slightest attention to Mario when he was giving their statement to the police. that, at least, is far more believable. ok, i'm done ranting. for now...].

In Armando's office, he's telling the other Stooges that they've all fallen into a trap. Gutiérrez is sure that Gabriela broke her word and told the other women what she knows. Armando states that she's not like that -- she'd sworn to him she wouldn't say anything. Freddy points out that Betty, Aura María and Maruja are holed up in the conference room. Armando tells his fellow Stooges not to worry, they're only comparing notes... [Beth: oh, Armando -- did you let Marcela take what few brain cells you have left with her when she left, or what??]. Gutiérrez moans that he is going to have to go live in Bangladesh. Armando tells him to stop acting like a mouse. Mario reminds them that all they have to do is each stick to his own version of the story. Armando says all they've done is make things worse and they're going to be found out. Mario says not to worry -- with ten thieves to chose from, all they have to say is they each thought a different guy was the ringleader... They all conclude that the women don't have any proof to the contrary. Armando insists, however, that they're not being convincing enough. Mario tells him to calm down, that the women want to hear things that will allay their worries. Armando says that this whole thing is going to turn his marriage into a hell... and Mario goes over the limit by saying that ALL marriages are a hell anyway. Armando lunges at Mario and shouts that HIS ISN'T!! Freddy starts whining again and Armando shouts at him to stop talking like a girl... Gutiérrez states that no-one has to twist his arm, and they all put their hands together in the middle like the Three Musketeers [Merci: well, in this case, Six Musketeers]. Armando is the last to put his hand in... Sandra opens the door and announces that a lieutenant from the police is looking for them. The officer enters and introduces himself as Lieutenant Acevedo from Automotive Crimes. He tells them their automobiles, documents, and cel phones, etc have been recovered. Oh, joy! Armando only wants to know if they've also recovered his wedding ring [Merci: he continues to be divine -- i'm sorry!]. Believing that everything is now resolved, Armando says they are going to celebrate the happy outcome with some whiskeys. A great ruckus ensues and the lieutenant tries to call things back to order by announcing that he, at least, cannot drink as he is on the job... This makes everyone quiet down, except for Freddy who is commenting to Freddy [yes, i know what that says, but that's what Merci wrote!! based on the text, however, i'm going to guess that it was Kenneth commenting to Freddy or vice-versa...] that all the police in Colombia are really small! [Merci: one could say Acevedo isn't very tall]. Then Acevedo tells the Stooges they have to go to identify some women who were arrested at the building where the cars and other missing items were found. Freddy, suddenly all nervous, shows Acevedo Armando and Betty's wedding picture; Armando tells Freddy to 'Shut up, idiot!'

In the conference room, Betty, Maruja, and Aura María are watching the news as a reporter talks about a gang of women who select their victims --executive men-- and assault them, and the victims don't dare say anything.

[After Acevedo has left,] Kenneth states there's no way they can identify the women who assaulted them to the police. Armando wants to tell the truth! Gutiérrez reminds him they made a pact, as does Mario. Gutiérrez thinks that since the officer is a man, they can tell him the truth and he will help them. Just then the phone rings and Armando answers. It's his "girlfriend" of the neck bite, Andrea. She's calling to warn him to not even think about identifying those of her friends who were arrested because if he should do so, she will tell Betty all about everything that happened --and more! She's going to make Betty think a porno flick looks like something Walt Disney produced by comparison to what she's going to say Armando and his buddies did with her and her friends. Nicolás says if his mother finds out he lied to her, she'll never cook for him again for the rest of his life. Kenneth states that his dignity is at stake... Gutiérrez prefers to just give them his car rather than have his wife find out...

Back in the conference room, Maruja is convinced that the women the reporter talked about on television were the ones that attacked the Ecomoda Six. Betty tells her she's going overboard... Just then the door opens and Armando greets Betty, saying 'Hello, my love.' He tells her how happy he and the guys are that their things were recovered, in particular his wedding ring. And he says that he and the guys are all going to the station to get their things back. Armando leaves and Maruja remarks, 'What a coincidence...'

We see the boys in front of a glass window acting as if they don't recognize the women from the assault... Armando wants to assure himself that THEY [the women] cannot see THEM [the Stooges]. The lieutenant insists that it's very important the guys tell the truth, saying that if the women haven't been identified as the thieves by 5pm the police will have to let the women go. And if by any chance the Stooges have lied to him and he should find out, they [the Stooges] can be accused of complicity and making false statements to cover up a crime, and could end up in jail.

At Ecomoda, Maruja tells Betty and Aura María that the modus operandi of the women who were arrested is very suspicious. Aura María says that of course, the women seduced the men. Maruja thinks it's more likely the guys were the seducers, not the seduced. Betty states these are just theories, they don't have anything concrete to base them on. Maruja asks to use the phone and she calls the officer in charge of the Stooges' case, to ask him what happened.

Back in his office again, Armando says that his only recourse is to enter the Witness Protection Program. Nicolás says he cannot permit the women to call his mother and tell on him... Gutiérrez wants to know who will protect him from Marujita. Armando is worried because he doesn't want to commit a crime by lying to the police. Gutiérrez asks them for "esilence, pliz" ['silence, please' -- in his mangled English!]. Armando still wants to do the right thing and says that [what they're doing] doesn't feel right, it doesn't seem honest. Mario tells him not to worry, he's already gotten back his wedding ring [and he makes a gesture like Armando wears the ring in his nose!]. The rest of the boys decide to leave Armando alone so he can reflect and decide how to proceed. Betty enters and he asks her what she's doing there [Merci: we have to give Armando some demerits for his lack of subtlety]... Betty replies that she's his wife, but if he prefers, then [her reason for being there] can be because she's President of Ecomoda. She asks if he was in a meeting, since she saw everyone coming out of Armando's office. He replies that they were just celebrating getting their stuff back... And then the phone rings. Armando picks up, saying "Armando Mendoza." It's Andrea, calling to thank him for not identifying her friends to the police, tell him how much she 'likes silence,' and how if he and his friends continue to behave themselves as they have been, he won't ever have to hear from her again; she hangs up, laughing. Betty asks who called and he tells her he 'lost' the call... Betty gives him a blank look and leaves Armando's office. He takes off his glasses and gets a desperate look on his face -- and without his even saying so, we can just imagine he's thinking: 'What a cross, my God! what a cross!!'

The Six Stooges are in the conference room with Gabriela. They have put it to a vote and all [the Stooges] except Armando are agreed to continue with the farce of not being able to identify the women who assaulted them. Armando doesn't want his daughter to have to visit him in jail on Sundays. Gabriela laughs at the lot of them. Calderón tells them nothing's going to happen to them, [and even if something does], all they'll need is a good lawyer. Gutiérrez insists that Gabriela has to promise them she won't say anything. She is fed up with them constantly harping on this subject and reminds them she already promised Armando. Mario tells her she has to swear in front of all of them, and he makes her put her hand on an Ecomoda folder and swear... Mario insists that it has to be word of a man. She finally agrees and says her masculine side promises... [Merci: Male chauvinist pigs!]. Mario welcomes her to the gang -- now she's one of them. He tries to hug her but she won't let him.

As she leaves the conference room, Gabriela bumps into Betty (literally). Aura María tells Betty that the lieutenant from the police is calling her with information on the case. Betty asks Gabriela to accompany her and Aura María to hear what the lieutenant has to say... In her office, Betty puts the phone on speaker so all can hear, and Maruja, Gabriela, Betty, and Aura María gather 'round her desk. The lieutenant recounts what has happened -- how none of the victims has identified the women they arrested, and how the only witness they have so far is the building porter who saw the women arrive in the stolen cars, but even he isn't certain. The lieutenant has asked for the women's fingerprints to be taken so he can reconfirm that they did indeed steal the cars and assault the executives; he'll let Betty and company know the results of the tests as soon as he has them. Maruja is sure that this will be the thing that exposes the Stooges' lie...

Advances for next week: Gabriela tells everyone that the truth is known... We see Armando, Gutiérrez, and Freddy embark on a campaign to reconquer and gain the forgiveness of their women, with Armando playing a guitar along with a trio -- but we also see the members of the trio running with the guitars held over their heads like hats...

Capítulo 21, 28 abril 2002 Armando está en el baño de su casa, mirándose los golpes que le dio Calderón y la mordida que le dio la bruja, la flaca Andrea... Está vestido con una bata blanca y con cara de que no puede creer el sendo lío en el que está metido... Betty llega a curarlo y le comienza a preguntar por qué no les habían pegado en ninguna otra parte del cuerpo.

Armando le dice que el atraco hace que Waterloo parezca un juego de niños, y le dice que aquello no fue como "La jaula de las locas", que fue una cosa seria. Entre besitos y mimos, mientras Betty lo está curando, encuentra el mordisco y le pregunta cómo pasó eso. Armando, que ha estado comentando acerca de cómo se defendieron todos durante el atraco, le dice que uno de los del grupo lo agarró, mientras Armando le pegaba (ja, ja) y le agarró del cuello y mordió como si fuera un perro Rottweiler. Betty comenta que suena como un ladrón muy apasionado.

Armando entonces le dice a Betty que se tiene que vestir para ir a la comisaría - ella le ofrece acompañarlo, pero él por supuesto no quiere que ella vaya...

En EcoModa, Aura María está curando a Freddy mientras que las del Cuartel y Natasha escuchan como Freddy habla de la pelea monstruosa que tuvieron la noche anterior. Y dice que él estuvo hecho un león. Sandra le pregunta como pudo ser eso ya que él aparenta ser el que menos golpes tiene. Debe ser que salió corriendo, dice Sofía. Freddy dice que él no salió corriendo - que usó su mejor arma: un ataque verbal. Les dijo a los ladrones hasta del mal que se iban a morir. Sofía dice que entonces debe ser que les ¡ladró! Freddy dice que les pegó una humillada, diciéndoles que por culpa de 40,000 ladrones 40,000,000 de colombianos sufren. Que son unos miserables, vagabundos, escorias -- ¡y los dejó quietos, paralizados! Inesita le pregunta a Freddy quién le pegó el puño en la cara y Freddy contesta que un sordo, moreno, llamado Germán, que lo dejó "groggy"y lo hizo perder el control... Berta dice que no tan solo perdió el control sino que la ropa, la plata... Todas se ríen. Freddy dice que tiene que ir a la comisaría a poner la denuncia y Aura María quiere ir con él. Freddy le dice que con ella hasta el altar, pero que a la comisaría no...

Gabriela entra a la oficina de Kenneth y le pregunta cómo se siente. Él le contesta que muy bien, que fue una tontería... Gabriela le dice que fue un asalto. Kenneth le contesta que él es un Marine, que está en la Reserva del ejercito de Estados Unidos (este cuento se está pareciendo a los seis meses en finanzas de la San Marino de Patricia Fernández), que sus puños son armas letales. Pero, y casi dice "ellas", ellos tenían pistolas... Que como a Gutiérrez lo esposaron, él se sintió responsable y tuvo que resistir, pero no quiere seguir hablando más del tema. Y anuncia que también tiene que ir a la comisaría. Gabriela le dice que ella lo va a acompañar, que sus documentos que lo identifican como socio de EcoModa y su pasaporte están en manos de unos criminales y no quiere tener que decirle nada a la casa matriz. Así que la tiene que obedecer y ella va con él y punto.

En la comisaría están Mario, Armando y Nicolás. Nicolás está preocupado que su amistad con Betty vaya a peligrar por el lío y la mentira. Le preguntan a Armando por Betty y él dice que ya no miente como antes, que Betty no puede entender como 10 hombres contra ellos seis no terminaron matándolos. Freddy llega con Aura María y pregunta por Kenneth y Gutiérrez. Armando lo regaña por traer a Aura María y le dice que va a ser culpa de él si se llegan a enterar las demás de lo que pasó.

En eso llegan Kenneth y Gabriela. Armando manda a que Freddy se levante para que Kenneth se siente. Y para completar, llegan Marujita y Gutiérrez... Maruja le está preguntando cómo fue que a él fue al único que esposaron, él dice - y sus amigotes le hacen coro - que se había puesto muy valientote y por eso lo esposaron. Entonces Maruja quiere saber cómo le quitaron la ropa estando ya esposado. Gutiérrez dice que se la arrancaron... Armando dice que sí, que lo dejaron en pelotas después de esposarlo. Maruja quiere saber quién les va a tomar la declaración y explican que será el secretario del juzgado. Maruja invita a Aura María y Gabriela a que la acompañen al baño. Armando le pregunta a Gutiérrez por qué trajo a su mujer y Gutiérrez explica que ella lo trajo a él. Nicolás dice que su mamá le contó que están todas convencidas de que esto es un asunto de mujeres. Kenneth dice que ahora Gabriela se va a convertir en su sombra.

Armando dice que tienen que seguir con una versión solamente, y que solamente uno de ellos puede hablar. Calderón quiere ser el portavoz del grupo, pero Armando le dice que él no está casado y no tiene nada que perder. Calderón le dice que como él es soltero, puede muy fríamente decir una mentira. Maruja y compañía regresan y ella sigue con el cuchillito de palo... Se abre la puerta y los llaman a declarar. Maruja, Aura María y Gabriela entran con ellos... Antes de entrar, Armando le recuerda a Mario "que eran 10 hombres, 10 hombres Calderón".

Se abren las puertas del ascensor de EcoModa y llegan Aura María, Gabriela y los alegres compadres. Aura María se encuentra con que sus compañeras no están y va en su búsqueda. Gabriela le dice a Kenneth que va para su oficina. Armando le dice a todos que ya están a punto de salir de este problema y que no la pueden embarrar. Tienen que ser muy discretos. Kenneth dice que jamás se podrán enterar de que fueron mujeres las que los asaltaron... Bueno, Gabriela, sin que ellos se dieran cuenta, había regresado y había escuchado todo. Armando dice que ni aunque los estén friendo en aceite pueden decir nada... Armando da la vuelta y se encuentra con Gabriela... Ella trata de disimular y le dice a Kenneth que necesita hablar con él. Ellos se vuelven a reunir y dicen que saben que Gabriela lo escuchó todo.