Ugly Betty Season 5 Episode 09:
"Love Actually"
Rushing through Heathrow Airport, Betty Suarez was a on a mission to stop the man she loved from leaving her life forever. She never expected her life to turn out this way. She never expected to fall in love with her ex-boss and best friend, Daniel Meade.
She quickly passed by the security checks, making her way to the departure gate. Her heart was racing, as she looked frantically for Daniel. She couldn't find him. Her hopes were starting to fade by the second.
She quickly made her way over to the departure desk, where a lady was working behind the desk.
"Did Flight #3347 for New York leave yet?" Betty asked. The woman looked down at her computer, as she checked on the flight status.
"Yes, Miss. It left just a few minutes ago," The woman responded.
Suddenly, Betty felt faint. She couldn't breathe, as she held onto the counter. Her life, her friend and her love was gone and he was never coming back.
"Miss, are you okay?" The woman inquired.
"No. I'm not okay. The man that I love was on that flight," said Betty, softly. "He's gone."
"Oh, I'm sorry," said the woman, sympathetically. "Do you want to book the next flight to New York? You might be able to catch him there."
Betty shook her head, as she tried to come to terms with the fact that Daniel was gone forever. Plus, she has her job. She wouldn't leave anyways. "No, thank you. I think I'll just sit do for a minute, if that's okay."
"Sure," said the woman behind the desk. "Again, I'm so sorry, Miss. I hope that someday you will find love again." Betty put on a fake smile, as she made her way to a row of chairs near the window.
She stared out the window, into the abyss. She watched the planes coming and going, as she began to reflect back to how this started in the first place.
One week earlier
"Please don't leave, Daniel. I just need some time. Please don't make me choose you over my job. You should know better than anyone how important my work is to me," said Betty. She reached out to grab his arm, as he headed for the door. She tried to stop him from leaving. "Daniel, please."
He stopped, placing his bag down. "Listen, Betty. I love you. I'm sorry for making you choose.
It's just… I made this move. I changed my whole life to be with you, hoping that someday you would see that I want to spend the rest of my life with you." He paused for a moment, breaking eye contact with her. "Now tonight, I see that you aren't ready, nor will you ever be ready to marry me."
"Daniel…"
"Betty, I want you to have the ring," said Daniel. He placed the box in her hand. She opened it, gazing on the ring that Daniel had planned to give her. Tears fell down her face, as she realized it was her mother's engagement ring. "It would be wrong for me to keep such a thing. Your father gave it to me. He told me to give it to you when the time was right. I really thought that tonight was the right night, but I was wrong."
"Please we can talk about this," said Betty.
"I'm sorry. I have to go," said Daniel. He leaned in closer, trying resist the urge to kiss her. "I can't say goodbye." He pulled away, picking up his bag and walked out the door.
With the sound of the closing door, Betty fell to the floor, sobbing. She stayed there for a few minutes, before she crawled over to her phone that was on a near-by counter. With shaky hands, she dialed Hilda's number.
"Hello!" Hilda said. However, there was nothing but the sound of crying on the other end of the phone. "Betty! Is everything okay?"
"Daniel's gone. It's over," said Betty.
Back in New York, Amanda was sleeping off her eating binge, which was the result of Tyler had left to go back to the farm in South Dakota. Marc found her sleeping on the couch, clutching a bag of potato chips, when he realized that he hated his friend being so miserable. She loved Tyler. She needed to be with him, so while she slept Marc booked her ticket to South Dakota. After booking her flight, Marc packed up a few essential belongings and other necessities.
In the morning, Marc was making breakfast, when Amanda was woken up, by the aroma of Cinnamon French Toast. She had the worst hang-over that she could remember and no recollection of last night's events.
Marc greeted her silently, knowing the familiar look of a hang-over. "Good Morning, Sunshine!"
"Not so loud, Marc," Amanda cringed from the sound of his voice.
"Sorry, here eat up," said Marc, as he placed the plate in her face. She took it and began stuff herself. "You have a plane to catch."
"A plane. How do I have a have plane to catch?" Amanda asked. Marc sat down beside her.
"You want to be with Tyler, don't you?" He asked her. She shook her head, yes. "Well, then as you friend, I took it upon myself to book you on a 10:00 a.m. flight to South Dakota."
"Really?" Amanda murmured with a mouth full of French toast.
"Amanda Tanen deserves to get her fairytale too," said Marc. "I mean, look at Betty. She got whisked off to London and is now dating the handsome, but so stylish Daniel Meade. You deserve to get your man too."
"Marc, thank you," said Amanda, as she placed her plate on the coffee table. She pulled him into her arms, and whispered. "Thank you! You are so right. Why does a not so fashionable woman like Betty have to always get the guy? I deserve to get one too, right?"
"Right…Now, let's go. You have a plane to catch," said Marc. Amanda stood up and rushed off to her bedroom.
"Where are you going?" Marc asked.
"I'm not going dressed like this. I don't think so," said Amanda. She rushed off to her room to search through her closet for something that would be sure to blow Tyler away.
After talking to Hilda, she figured that things would work out eventually. It was just going to take time. They both needed time apart. Betty tried to continue go on living life without Daniel. It was just too hard. So, Betty called into work sick the next day to give herself time to grieve and collect her thoughts.
Betty was home alone in her bed, sobbing. She held a picture of her and Daniel at the London Eye that had been taken a few weeks earlier, before everything went wrong. She left the ring on the table, beside her bed. She glanced at it, as she remembered the meaning of the ring that her mother had told to her, when she was little.
She remembered that the hands meant friendship and companionship, and how every good relationship starts out that way. The crown symbolized loyalty, and how important it is in a relationship. It meant staying true to each other, being there for each other in good times and in bad times. Lastly, the heart meant love. Betty remembered the words of her mother, as she said them out loud to herself, "Love is just love. It is not perfect. It is not simple, but if you let your heart guide you, nothing will stand in the way of finding that one person that you trust with your own life.
Betty closed her eyes, as she continued to cry. She pictured Daniel's bright blue eyes, then heard an angelic voice. "Oh my poor Betty boo."
Betty opened her eyes to see the miraculous sight before her. Her mother was sitting by her side. "Momma, is that you? Am I dreaming?"
"Yes, sweetheart! In a sense, you are right. I am what am what is in your heart. I am here to help you and guide you," said Rosa. Betty pulled her mother into her arms, sobbing harder than before. This time, they were tears of joy. She never thought she would see her mother again until they met in heaven, but here she was. Betty didn't want to let her go, especially now.
"What's wrong, my Betty boo?" Her mother asked, as she stroked her hand through Betty's hair, calming her.
"Betty boo," Betty chuckled. "I remember the day you gave me that nickname. You watched me see the Betty boo song for the talent show. After the show, Pappi gave me flowers, and you hugged me, whispering, "Great job, Betty boo."
Betty's mother smiled. "You will always be my Betty boo. I am so proud of everything that you have accomplished without me guiding you."
"Oh mom! Daniel wants me to choose. How can he make me do that? I can't risk everything that I worked so hard for, just to give it up."
"Betty, Daniel is older than you. His clock is ticking. He just realized that he was in love with her best friend. He doesn't want to waste any more time."
"But mom…" Betty said, with her mother stopping her.
"Do you love Daniel?" She asked, simply.
"Of course, I do. It's just complicated," Betty told her.
"Well, love isn't simple. It can be hard and difficult to hand at times, but with love, you and Daniel can withstand those hard and difficult times. Believe me, I have seen you and Daniel together. You've been through so much together. I don't want to see you lose that."
"Of course I do, it is just complicate." Betty informed her mother. "What should I do, momma? Tell me what I need to do."
"I can't tell you what to do. You are a grown woman. Whatever you decide to do, you need to let you heart guide you and know that I will support you, in whatever decision that you make."
Then Betty's mother faded away, as Betty pleaded for her to return. As she slowly returned back to reality, she was awakened by the ringing of the telephone. She answered the phone.
"Hello, Betty. It's Claire."
One hour earlier
"What do you mean, you are Betty are taking a break? I thought things were going so well. Did you propose?" Claire asked.
"Yes mother, I did. She rejected me," Daniel said, in a harsh tone. "She's not ready to be married. She doesn't love me the way that I love her."
"That is the stupidest thing that I've ever heard you say. Betty loves you….or at least she loves the idiot that put her on the spot," said Claire.
"Whose side are you are on?" Daniel asked.
"I'm not taking sides. I have been rooting for both of you. I am not letting you ruin this. You gave her an impossible ultimatum, Daniel."
"Thanks mom, but you aren't really helping. Listen, I am not forcing Betty into anything. I am thinking that it is probably better to take time apart and reevaluate our relationship," said Daniel.
"So…does this mean that you are moving back to New York," Claire asked.
"Yes. I booked my flight for tomorrow morning. I will finish my classes in London online," Daniel told Claire.
Claire wondered, "What about Betty? Are you going to tell her that you are leaving?"
"No. Mom, please promise me that you won't tell her," Daniel pleaded.
"Why aren't you going to tell her?" Claire asked.
"I…just can't say good-bye to her," Daniel said. "Leaving the first time was hard enough." Claire gave a smirk. "So, promise me that you won't tell her."
Claire sighed. "I won't." She crossed her fingers, as Daniel informed her of the details of his departure from London to New York. After exchanging "I Love You's", Claire called Betty, as soon as she hung up with Daniel.
When Claire called, she almost expected to have to leave a message. She was surprised when Betty picked up the phone, expecting that she would be at work.
"Hello, Claire. How are you?" Betty asked. "Have you heard from Daniel?" She sighed. "Of course, you've heard from him. He's your son. How is he?"
"Betty, I'm breaking my son's trust here, by calling. However, I am far more concerned about losing the two of the people that I love most," said Claire.
"What?" Betty was confused.
"Betty, Daniel is leaving London. He's coming home," said Claire. "You need to stop him. You need to tell him that you choose him. He feels bad that he made you choose between him and our job. He loves you so much. He's just angry that you rejected his proposal."
"I understand. I do love Daniel. I do. It's just things were going so fast between us. He shows up in London. Then, all of a sudden….BOOM! Boyfriend and girlfriend," Betty explained. "I mean, I never dreamed that this would happen to me and Daniel. Now, I realize how I am not complete without him. I need him in my life, just as much as he needs me. Do you know the details of Daniel's departure from London?"
"Yes. I do," said Claire. "He is departing London at 9:30 a.m. on Flight #3347, Gate 8, Heathrow Airport."
"Thank you. I will get him back. I promise," said Betty.
"I know you will, Betty."
As soon as Betty hung up with Claire, the phone rang again. This time, it was her boss, demanding her to finish the editor in chief let for B&B for the Valentine's Day issue, by 8:30 the following morning, or the issue would not go on the stands.
Back in New York, Marc and Amanda entered La Guardia Airport. While they waited for Amanda's boarding call. They found out that Amanda's flight had been delayed for two hours, due to maintenance.
Marc breathed a sigh of relief, as he bought Amanda a magazine about South Dakota. He told her that he would be right back, and that he needed to make a phone call to Troy.
Marc, however, wasn't calling Troy. He was calling Tyler to inform him of Amanda's plans of coming to see him.
In South Dakota, Tyler was on the front porch of his house, thinking of Amanda, when his mother came out to let him know that he had a phone call.
"Tyler, Do you know a Marc St. James" She asked.
"Yes, Why?" said Tyler.
"Well, he's on the phone. He wants to talk to you," She informed him. Tyler then went inside and grabbed the phone.
"Marc, Hello….Is something wrong? Is Amanda okay?" Tyler asked, as he wondered why Marc would be calling him.
"Listen, here. Do you have any idea how much you hurt her? You left her in New York to rot, while you go home. What is the matter with you?" Marc said, harshly.
"Marc, it's complicated. South Dakota is home," said Tyler.
"What about Amanda. What is she, chop liver?" Marc asked.
"No….I love Amanda," said Tyler. "Really. I do."
'Then why isn't she with you….okay, all that matters now is that Amanda loves you. You love her. I want the best for my bestie. That is why I'm bring her to you," Marc told him.
"What? Amanda is coming to South Dakota. When?" Tyler couldn't believe it.
"Late this afternoon. Her flight leaves in about an hour. It's a 2 ½ hour flight," Marc said. "You need to be at the airport to greet her. You need to pull her into your arms and tell her how much of a fool you have been and that you don't want to live another day without her."
Tyler sighed, "Thanks Marc, you are a great guy and friend for Amanda to have, I owe you man,"
"You owe me nothing, you owe Amanda."
"Right, I do, well text me when me she departs. I will wait for her," said Tyler.
"I will, goodbye Tyler, and care of my friend. Her life is your hands now."
"I will, Marc, bye."
After hanging up with Tyler, Marc sent Troy a quick text, telling him to come over later, for dinner and a sleep over and a movie. They would make out, and then later make love all weekend.
Then, Marc made his way back to Amanda, who was still reading the magazine that he had bought her. He sat down beside her, as they waited.
"Anything interesting in South Dakota," Marc asked.
"Mm, not yet, but I'm sure that Tyler will show me around, if he'll have me," said Amanda.
"Amanda, I'm sure that he will be thrilled to see you," said Marc.
"I hope you are right," said Amanda. Then, they heard the announcement that informed Amanda that her flight was ready for boarding.
They got up from their seat, exchanging hugs.
"Love ya, Marc, are you best bestie in the entire world," Amanda whispered in his ear.
"Don't mention it, you deserve to be happy," said Marc. Amanda started to cry, as Marc got his handkerchief to wipe her tears. "Have this, a bit of me to take with you."
Amanda smiled, kissed him on the cheek, "I'll call you as soon as I can." Then, Amanda left. She handed her ticket to the attendant, and began to walk on the plane. Marc then watched as his friend's plane flew off into the distance.
Betty had been putting off writing the letter. She hadn't done any writing since the incident with Daniel. She hoped that somehow inspiration would return to her and she would get the letter done in plenty of time.
Now, with the miraculous vision of her mother's wisdom, she knew what to write. She without much sleep, she began writing her editor in chief letter. Betty typed all the way until 7:30 a.m. the next morning. After a quick shower, she dressed in a blue Gucci dress, with flats.
She returned to work at 8:15 a.m., handed her letter over to her boss. She then told her assistant that she had to go for a morning meeting outside the office, when in reality, she was really rushing off to Heathrow Airport, to catch Daniel's flight to New York.
She got into a cab, sped off. She looked at her watch. It was 9:06, when she was a few blocks from the airport. She quickly paid the driver, and ran for it. She rushed through security and a mass of people, until you finally reached Gate 8.
She looked frantically for Daniel, calling his name, but there was no answer. Now, here she sat with a broken heart. She clutched on to the letter that she planned on showing him. With her head down, her hands on her face, she began to sob again. Daniel was gone forever.
Then, she heard Daniel's voice. "You have got to be kidding. I go to the bathroom for five minutes. Now, you are telling me that I missed my flight." She looked over to see Daniel at the departure desk.
"Daniel!" Betty called out, loudly. He turned, as he saw her coming towards him. She quickly ran into his arms.
"Betty!" Daniel said, still holding her in his arms, but pulling back to ask her. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at work? How did you even know that I was here?"
"Your mother told me that you were leaving. I couldn't let you leave without getting your opinion of the letter that I wrote for the Valentine's Day Issue of B&B."
"Betty…" Daniel sighed. She tried to hand him the letter.
"Please let me read this, Daniel," said Betty.
Dear Readers-
My mother once told me that love is just love. It is not simple. It is sometimes hard and complicated to handle at time, but as long as you have someone to be there, during those times of struggle. That is the true meaning of love.
I know Valentine's Day is about buying someone that you love gifts of candy, flowers or jewelry. For me, it's about the person you want to spend it with. You see, the truth is. I recently celebrated my first Valentine's Day with my new boyfriend- also my best friend of almost 5 years. I never thought that we would be in love…or even dating, for that matter,
On this Valentine's Day, we have been dating six months. He asked me to marry him. I said No! Needless to say, he didn't take the rejection well. He wanted me to choose between my work or him. It made me wonder, why this man who loves me so much would be asking me to make this choice.
When I told him, I couldn't choose he left. After he left, I realize that he had taken part of me with him. A few days later, I realized that I am not whole without him. I need him, just as much as he needs me.
I remember the advice from my mother, who told me to follow your heart. Let it guide you in your life. So, readers, don't make the same mistake that I did. Let your heart decided what you want. Be with the person you love and want to be with for the rest of your life.
And….if my boyfriend is reading this, I plead that he give me the chance to tell him that I love him and that I'm letting my heart decide that I want to spend the rest of my life with him, if the offer is still open.
Enjoy this issue and thank you for reader
Editor-in-chief
Betty Suarez
After Betty finished the letter, she lifted her left hand up. She showed Daniel that she put the ring on – her mother's engagement ring, the ring that he had given her. He smiled, touching the ring on her finger.
"You're wearing it," said Daniel
"Well, you did ask. Now, I say yes," said Betty. "The question is….Is the offer still open?"
He kissed her, "Let's go home." Betty smiled, as she pulled him into her arms.
"I love you, Daniel," said Betty, as she looked into his eyes.
"I love you too," said Daniel.
"I'm sorry for not choosing you the first time," said Betty.
"I'm sorry for being an idiot, Betty," said Daniel. "I should have never made you chose in the first place. I support you no matter what you want."
"Well, I support you too. No matter what," said Betty, as he wrapped his arms her. She glances up at him. "Now, what?"
"Let's go home," said Daniel, as he took her by the hand and made their way through the airport.