Things Fall Apart (Ugly Betty)

"Things Fall Apart" is the 16th episode in the third season, the 57th episode overall, of the American dramedy series Ugly Betty, which aired on February 26, 2009. The episode was written by and directed by Tom Verica.

Plot[]

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In the opening, an unwell Daniel checks into a luxury hotel where he can be babied. Molly brings him soup and has something serious to tell him about, but changes her mind, saying it can wait.

Betty and Marc's YETI assignment for next week is to prepare a presentation on their magazine's budget. Matt volunteers his help because he has an MBA but Betty turns him down. Marc points out to a clueless Betty that Matt was asking for a date. He also teases her about what it will be like to return to the accounting department, since it will remind her of Henry. The new accountant reports that Henry is posting pictures on Facebook of him and his new girlfriend in Peru. Justin advises Betty to channel her frustration over Henry into a project, so she buries herself in Mode's budget numbers. When the budget comes up short by several millions, she asks Daniel, who tells her to take it up with Connor or Wilhelmina. Connor explains that corporations often move money from one account to another and that it is nothing unusual, but makes a phone call to his banker out of earshot. Connor suggests that he and Wilhelmina get away; while she thinks he is talking about a long weekend, he has something more long-term in mind.

When Betty tells a skeptical Marc about the budget discrepancy, Marc points out her jealousy over Henry's new relationship, and advises her to find a new guy. Betty calls Matt and invites him out for drinks, where he backs up Betty's suspicions about the budget. When she receives a friend request from Henry on Facebook, she spills the whole story to Matt, who listens patiently. She decides to leave and tells him that she is not ready for a relationship. Matt tells her that he forgot his wallet; she offers to get some money from an ATM, but forgets all about Matt when she sees that she has an extra $100,000 in her account. She goes to ask her family's advice, and then finally remembers Matt, but only gets his voicemail. He shows up at Mode the next day to tell her it is fine since the bar started a tab for him. He knows she is not over Henry and she insists she is, but believes that dating a colleague is a bad idea.

Betty asks the Meade accountant to check on her account and it says that a "B. Suarez" authorized the transfer. She asks Connor in the elevator if he knows what is going on; he implies that anyone investigating the money transfer will believe that Betty did it herself. When she asks if he is responsible, Connor stops the elevator and admits to stealing the money. He warns her to keep quiet about it, adding that papers he had her sign implicate not just her, but Daniel as well. He also goes to tell Wilhelmina everything; confessing that he hates Daniel for taking Molly from him, which motivated him to steal all the money from the Meade accounts in revenge. He professes his love for Wilhelmina and reveals that he has chartered a private jet that is leaving that night. He wants her and William to leave the country with him for a chance at lifetime happiness. She admits to Marc that she is conflicted between her lifelong career and her one chance at true love.

Betty informs Daniel of Connor's scheme and Daniel is not sure whether to go to the police, so they call Claire. No one has seen either Wilhelmina or Connor in hours, but Claire discovers that all the Meade accounts had been cleared at noon. Marc's loyalties are conflicted, but he hands Betty the address where Wilhelmina is meeting Connor. Daniel, Claire and Betty arrive at the airport to stop Wilhelmina, just as the police, whom Wilhelmina had called, arrive. But Connor calls to tell her he had taken an earlier flight and that he still loves her. Wilhelmina sadly tells Betty about Connor's ultimatum, and warns Betty that she too may have to face similar decisions herself as a career-oriented woman.

Betty returns home to find Elena handing out presents from her trip to Los Angeles. Alone with her in the kitchen, Betty asks Elena if she ever had to make a choice between work and a personal life; Elena expresses gratitude that her nursing career had led her to meeting Ignacio. After wistfully watching her father and Elena cuddling on the couch, Betty accepts Henry's friend request, then hangs out with Matt at the bar, helping to pay for his drinks.

Molly is waiting at Daniel's office. He suspects she saw him looking at engagement rings, but she reveals that her cancer has returned. She insists she cannot put him through what she put Connor through a few years ago, and leaves to stay with her family. Claire witnesses this and tries to comfort Daniel.

Music[]

The ending song is sung by Other Lives, called "Black Tables".

Viewership[]

This episode of Ugly Betty, which posted a 4.6/7 and came in third behind American Idol on Fox and Survivor: Tocantins on CBS, hit below 7 million for the first time, and had lost 3 million viewers since the debut of Season 3. It was the lowest result for Ugly Betty at that point, at 6.78 million.^[1]

Guest starring[]

• Bernadette Peters as Jodie
• Grant Bowler as Connor Owens
• Sarah Lafleur as Molly
• Lauren Velez as Elena
• Daniel Eric Gold as Matt
• as Jenny
• Chris Northrop as Blonde Modie

See also[]

• Ugly Betty
• Ugly Betty (season 3)

References[]