Beth is so miserable, but she made the devil’s bargain to stick it out and use the money for the cats and dogs (and still get some residual fame, more than she ever would’ve as a catalog model or occasional Letterman skit girl). I can’t remember the issue about a month ago, but she was incredibly pissed at him… maybe it was checking up on her frequently to make sure she was wearing a mask while out? Even sycophant Robin was all, “Uh oh, read the room HS, she’s at a different level of disgust.”
But even if she wanted to leave, she knows she can’t, without destroying all the sacrifices she’s already made being with him*. With the many instances Howard has mentioned prenups to people over the years, you know he has her in an ironclad one… she would probably get a fraction of what should be coming to her in a divorce.
So, she grins and bears it, puts up with the isolation, early meals, early bedtimes, the Hallmark movies, the mind games, no friends, letting Howie climb on top of her a few times a month… and she copes by literally spending much of her day cleaning cat shit and piss out of boxes. She doesn’t even get Knicks games anymore.
This celebrity party was probably a consolation gift to her to prove he’s not end of days Howard Hughes.
*Same for everyone else, too. Robin and Gary know he’s the golden goose, so they either act as #1 Defender (Robin) or swallow their tongue (Booey). Fred usually takes his side, too. Everyone has seen what happens when you leave the team (Jackie, Artie, Scott the Engineer, Shuli), you don’t exist anymore. I’m shocked he actually mentioned Billy West the other day.