Hear Ugly Betty: "You and Me, We Are A Team"

Snippet 8

He ended his intimate call and he told Betty that he had no idea who he just spoke with (talk about uncountable flings!). Betty said "Good Morning Daniel" cheerfully and asked if she could get him a cup of coffee, but he asked if she had seen an article in the newspaper in which she confirmed he was wearing a Dior Suit, Gucci Tie and Vergini Shoes. The latter was the problem because the pair of shoes was made in a sweat shop.

But Betty reminded him that he had told her that those shoes were the most comfortable pair of shoes he ever had. Daniel said it is best if people don’t the brands of shoes he wore because the press have a way of twisting things and that they also have to twist the truth as a way of protecting themselves against the them. Daniel then told her he had a meeting with Natalie Whitman – a popular actress who Betty admires. They talked about how the actress put on about 30 pounds each time she starred her recurring film role, and how she doesn't seem to lose the weight again afterwards. Daniel then asked Betty if she wanted to be part of the meeting. Betty was excited as she accepted the offer.

Daniel reminded Betty that they, “You and me, we're a team”, and that he was ready to take the coffee Betty offered.

A TV screen airing fashion news anchored by a blonde female Fashion Reporter was asking viewers if Wilhelmina Slater, the Creative Director of Mode, had gotten over her humiliation of Daniel Meade, the son of the owner of Meade publications named the new Editor-in-Chief instead of her. She reminded viewers that the power change was because the former Editor-in-Chief, Fey Sommers died of car accident after being haunted by animal rights activists because she loved wearing fur.

A video clip showed Sommers in a brown fur, while activists carrying placards with ‘Fur is Murder’ written on it lined up by the side of the road and as she walked by one of them poured a red liquid substance on her, face, fur and all. Then another clip showed the accident that claimed her life - a fiery car crash that occurred when she lost control of her car after being chased by angry animal activists.

The television was switched off as Daniel entered Bradford's office. He gave his father an update on the magazine and that it was going for printing the next day. Bradford reminded his son of the importance of succeeding and that he expect him to one day run the company by himself. Bradford then asked Daniel where ‘The Book’ was but Daniel didn’t seems to know what he was talking about.

His father was exasperated but he explained to Daniel that the book was the mock-up of the entire magazine, to which each department submits their pages. As he explained this, we get to see how the book moves from one department to another and at each point the finished job of each department is place on its page in the book until the total package is then handed over to Wilhelmina. Bradford reiterated that whoever controls the book controls the magazine. He then told Daniel that if he wanted to succeed and be where he (Bradford) is someday, he had to control the book, that it was his responsibility.

Then, we see Wilhelmina in the conference room, with Daniel, Natalie Whitman, the actress and another lady looking at Whitman’s pictures on a laptop. They were editing a photograph to the flabby areas. Whitman was not pleased with the editing that has been done to her image; her under-arms were reduced, her bust was elevated. (Betty looked horrified seeing all the changes)

The actress complained about all the adjustments made to her image and said she thought she looked….”normal” said Wilhelmina. Who went on to explain to Natalie that other magazines would have been okay with the photos that that was Mode and they weren’t about looking normal but “aspirational” and that she should give herself the chance to look as stunning as she possibly could. Natalie then asked for Betty’s opinion of the photograph. Betty’s eyes brighten up and was about to say the photographs looked beautiful (I think), but Daniel’s (don’t talk) look stopped her, and he intercepted and said “Natalie, as editor-in-chief I say why not take something that's hot, and make it Super Hot?” Natalie's agent agreed with Daniel, and persuaded Natalie to agree to the touch-ups.

Daniel then told Wilhelmina in front of the staff that he should be getting The Book from now on, since his was now the Editor-in-Chief. Wilhelmina tried to play her usual tricks by saying that with his present responsibility, he would be too busy to look through the book but Daniel stood his ground that it was part of his ‘responsibility’ and she said as he wished smiling but as soon as she turned her back she was as mean looking as ever.

While Betty and Daniel walked from the conference room to their offices she commended that he was strong and editorial in the way his stood his ground with Wilhelmina. Daniel was obviously pleased with himself and said that it was his responsibility. He advised Betty that when faced with a decision that has to do with the magazine she should go with the vibe in the room and Betty said “even though I don’t agree?” Daniel said if it was best for the magazine and he sent her back to the conference room to get his PDA which he forgot there. As she walked by her desk, she noticed that her pink bunny wasn’t on her desk anymore. She asked the other staff around her but they all looked at her and went back to what they were doing, ignoring her.

In Wilhelmina's office, Marc was seated on the floor in front of her luxurious couch on which she was seated, massaging her feet. She complained bitterly about the way Daniel embarrassed her before all the staff. Wilhelmina then cooked-up a plan to leave the untouched, normal photograph or Whitman in the book because she knows that Daniel would not notice them and if it is printed in the magazine the way it is there would be chaos that will result into loss for the magazine. Marc commended his boss for her cleverness.

Back to Betty again, as she got to the conference room, she saw Natalie Whitman sitting by the laptop looking very unhappy. She was reducing her image to become thinner and thinner until there was just a vertical line left.