Summary of the previous chapter: Alex goes to Bettes office. They agree to meet later in Alexs hotel room.

The merlot is waiting for you. Alex said to Bette after greeting her with kisses on the cheeks. Make yourself comfortable.

Alex poured the wine as Bette settled into a comfortable position. She walked through the suite and entered the bedroom. For over thirty years, these two had talked to each other while lying on the bed, on their sides, heads propped up on their arms. As children, they had lain this way talking about their hopes, dreams, fears. Now, as adults, they did likewise.

Alex gave Bette her glass before getting on the bed to join her.

I saw T-Bird today.

How did that go? I hope she didnt think that I sent you there to plead my case.

No, I think she saw it as a visit from a good friend who has been out of her life for far too long. Ive always liked T-Bird, not just for your sake, but Ive always liked her just for herself.

I really hurt her. Bette said as she launched into her glass of wine.

Yeah, you did, but you know, Betty, Ive known you an awful long time. I know that you wont admit it, but youre hurting too.

Nothing I dont deserve.

You always were a better Catholic than I was. Alex said as she finished off the first of many glasses of Merlot that she planned to consume that night.

What do you mean by that?

Martyrdom, guilt.

This isnt martyrdom and the it is guilt I deserve.

You cant wallow in it, Betty. You fucked up. You admit it, life goes on. If you and T-Bird love each other then you work it out. Neither of you has to waste your life festering in guilt and anger.

Why do you always try to make everything so simple? Bette asked as she got up to refill her glass.

Why do people always make everything so unnecessarily complicated? Alex asked while holding out her glass for Bette to refill.

I had an affair. Bette reminded Alex.

Yeah, and what was it? Five years ago Tina backed her car out of the driveway and put a big dent in your car. You should both be shot.

They are hardly comparable. Bette said.

Yes and no. The point is that you should both be shot. Now, move on already.

All of your points aside, it isnt my choice whether to move on, it is Tinas.

True. But, you can decide to start moving on by cutting out this Bette, Our Lady of Guilty Sorrows routine. Bring back Bette E. Balls.

Alex stood up to refill both hers and Bettes emptied glasses.

You know. Bette said to Alex. After all of these years, I still dont understand you.

I dont understand me either. I just know that life is short and two people in love shouldnt waste it by stagnating over one mistake.

You know it isnt that simple, Alex. It wasnt just one mistake. It was lots of mistakes.

Yeah, most of them were you being you: bossy, arrogant, condescending, self-centered, thoughtless, need I go on?

No, I think youve covered a lot of ground.

Look Betty. As I told T-Bird, you are damaged merchandise, you should have been marked reject at the factory. However, underneath all of it is an incredible broad. I see it, T-Bird sees it, Kit sees it, your friends see it.

Tina used to see it. Bette responded bitterly before draining her glass.

She still does. She is just too wrapped in up in being Tina, Our Lady of Hurt and Betrayed Sorrows. Shes gotta get over it. Alex held out her glass for another refill.

Bette refilled both glasses and lay back on the bed. She and Alex sat in silence for a few minutes sipping their wine and thinking.

Alex decided it was best to change the subject for a while.

You know, Betty, there is something Ive never told you.

Whats that?

You remember those six months you spent living with Catherine and I. Those were some of the happiest times of my life.

Those were some of my happiest times also, sometimes I wish I had just stayed in D.C. with you and Catherine.

Well, I dont know about that. After a while, youd have cramped my style.

Bullshit. Bette said as she playfully kicked Alex. From what I could hear through the walls, your style wasnt the least bit cramped.

You could hear us through the wall? I never knew that.

I never told you. Besides, I meant that I would have gotten my own place. I wish I would have just settled for a simple museum job and staying in D.C.

Youd have never been happy, Betty. You always wanted to be the Grand Diva, the Prima Donna. You would have never been happy settling for less. That itch always would have haunted you.

Both refilled their glasses before continuing their talk.

What makes you so sure? Bette asked Alex. Maybe I would have been happy with a simpler life.

Have you ever seen a lion in a cage? Alex asked Bette. I dont mean one of those natural habitat places like the National Zoo. I mean a small cage?

I dont know, probably. Bette responded, confused.

They pace, back and forth, back and forth, constantly, restlessly.

Bettes expression clearly indicated that she failed to grasp Alexs point. Alex continued, Have you ever seen a lion being fed in captivity? They pounce on it, eat it, but there is no real thrill.

Are you making a point? Bette was clearly bored with Alexs rendition of the Nature Channel.

My point is that a lion is born to run, to hunt. If you take away either, youve taken away what that lion was meant to do. Even if you feed the lion, it has lost everything that its instincts know. A lion is born to run, to hunt prey.

And? Bette was still lost.

Youre a lion, Betty. You were born to hunt. In a cage, youre restless. Even if well fed, youre restless. Your instincts tell you to hunt, to seek prey. You cant be happy any other way.

Dont you think youre being a little bit dramatic? Maybe a little bit too much Merlot?

No, Im serious Betty. Human beings are animals, were just a little higher on the evolutionary scale.

So, youre saying I havent evolved?

No, Im saying that, like animals, we have instincts. I dont know whether its nature or nurture; but I believe that we have animal instincts and were never happy unless were following our instincts.

Alex, I love you; but that is one of your dumber theories.

Okay, take T-Bird. Shes a mama bear. Her instincts are to build a den, to nest, and to come out fighting with everything shes got if anything tries to hurt her cubs. She loved her job; she was good at it. At heart, however, T-Birds greatest instinct is to be a Mama and to protect her cubs.

Okay, my dear friend. So, what are you? Bette asked with a mocking tone.

A basenji?

A what?

A basenji, you know, the barkless dogs. Remember that black and white dog that Catherine and I had.

And why is that?

I cant bark; Im curious; Im impossible to train; and at heart, Im basically lazy as *****.

Whatever happened to William Howard Taft anyway? Bette asked, remembering the black and white dog.

He was in the car with Catherine that night. He didnt fare any better than she did. Alex replied as she drained her wine glass and gave herself a refill. By this point, she and Bette were more than halfway through their second bottle of wine.

Seeing Alexs face at the mention of Catherines fatal accident, Bette felt it best to move along conversation.

So, you think Im not happy unless I am hunting prey?

Exactly. You couldnt be content as some peon museum researcher or art scholar. You have to hunt for bigger and better, to be the Grand Diva. Otherwise, what the ***** was Provocations about? And spare me the bullshit about the higher purposes of art that makes us uncomfortable.

Alex, the effects of the wine beginning to show, continued with her theorizing. You know what they say about Alexander the Great?

He was homosexual? Bette asked, giggling. The wine was beginning to show on her as well.

That too. They say that he died of a broken heart because he believed there were no more worlds to conquer. Maybe that is what your affair was about.

Youve lost me again.

You pulled off Provocations. You were at the top of your game. Maybe you were afraid that there were no more worlds to conquer so, you went in search of a new hunt; a new world to conquer.

So, youre saying that I slept with Candace because I thought that my career held no more challenges.

Just a thought.

And, Tina hates me because my affair threatened the nice, safe, predictable den that she created for her cubs.

Along those lines, yes.

Okay, well according to you these are instincts and we cannot be happy unless we follow our instincts.

Correct.

So, in order to be happy I have to keep having affairs or continue pulling off stunts such as Provocations. Either option is ***** on my marriage.

Not necessarily. You have to channel your instincts into something that is not going to threaten your relationship.

Such as?

What was it about Provocations that you wanted so badly. Was it the fame? Was it doing what you were told could not be done? Was it to give Franklin one big ***** you? Was is enlightening the ignorant masses? Was it the thrill of risking everything on one big gamble?

Maybe it was combination of all those things. Bette replied thoughtfully.

You gotta figure out what ate at your gut to make you put everything on the line to get that damn show. Then youve got to focus that drive on something a little less threatening.

What if my motivation was the fact that it was threatening?

Youre asking me what if you were motivated by risk?

Exactly.

Take up skydiving.

Brilliant Alex. Bette said as she emptied the content of the second wine bottle into their glasses. Were out. We need another bottle.

Jesus, Betty, how much wine was I supposed to sneak into the country?

Why didnt you just try to bring it in legitimately?

What fun would that have been?

Alex left the bedroom in search of more booze. Bette knew there was more coming. Since they had become old enough to sneak into their parents liquor cabinets, Alex had rarely allowed them to have a heart to heart without an alcoholic beverage nearby.

As Bette had predicted, Alex returned to the bedroom with another bottle.

I dont know, Betty. I am probably full of bullshit. It just seems to me, from the communications that I got from you, that you got bored. You kept looking for a thrill. *****, what else would you call that stunt of canceling Impressions in Winter with no goddamned backup plan?

Well, Alex, perhaps you should try some introspection. Isnt all of this world traveling in search of obscure research a thinly disguised search for thrill?

Maybe. So, maybe were cut from the same cloth. Whats your point?

I dont know. Whats your point? You were the one making a point.

*****, Betty. I dont remember anymore. I think I forgot somewhere in that last bottle of Merlot.

Youre such a genius. Anyway, I need to get home, but Ive probably had too much wine to drive.

Well, then stay here. You know Ive got an extra T-shirt and boxers. Well get you a tooth brush sent up. I will even call T-Bird and let her know that Ive kidnapped you for the night.

Like she will give a *****. I suspect she will tell you to keep me permanently. Nah, she likes you too much to suggest such a vile thing to you.

Is she really making you feel like she hates you that much?

Well, Alex, think about it. I live in a house where I get to watch my pregnant wife leave to go ***** some ***** I absolutely cannot stand. Does that classify as making me feel that she hates me?

I gotta give credit to T-Bird, I never would have guessed that she could do revenge so well.

Thanks, pal. Give credit where credit is due.

Shut up and drink more wine, will you Betty. If youre staying the night you might as well get toasted.

Alex leaned over Bette to pick up the phone, in her state, she slipped and landed on top of Bette.

Not such a bad view from up here I guess.

You guess?

Okay, Betty, you are the second most beautiful women whom it has been my privilege to look down upon while lying in a bed.

And Alex.

Yes, Betty?

Youre drunk.

Not even close. With that, Alex rolled off of Bette and began dialing the phone. It took two attempts and a little help from Bette, but Alex succeeded in remembering the phone number and dialing it correctly.

Hello.

Well have fun, fun, fun until daddy takes the T-bird away.

Alex, youve got to get a new joke. Youve used that one for too many years.

Sorry, T-Bird. I just wanted to let you know that your wife will be staying the night here. I handcuffed her and poured Merlot down her throat so that I could render her incapable of driving.

Lucky you. It sounds like you have pleasant company.

You know what would make it more pleasant?

If you shot her?

No, it would be more pleasant if your charming company were added to my hotel suite tonight.

Nice try, Alex, but no.

You are rejecting a serious invitation from an old friend?

No, I am rejecting an attempt by a buzzed, though well intended person, to get me and Bette in the same room. I know you, Alex. You think that if you get us in the same room, you can use your charm to smooth everything over and get us back together. You will then depart for ports unknown content in the knowledge that, in your wake, all is well.

T-Bird. Youve become so cynical.

Alex heard Bette snort as she was refilling her glass and the empty one Alex held in her hand. She succeeded in leaving a small wine stain on the bedspread.

I appreciate it, Alex, I really do. Im sorry that this isnt something you can fix. I wish you could smile that cute smile of yours and charm everything into being okay. It just isnt going to work. Im not some librarian you can flirt with and get access to old documents that havent been archived.

Okay, but are you a woman I can flirt with and get you to come to my hotel room?

Not tonight, Alex.

Tomorrow?

Well see.

Youre a tough chick, T-bird.

Alex hung up the phone with Tina and turned to the disappointed Bette who couldnt help with an I told you so despite herself.

Youve lost your touch, Alex.

I havent lost anything Betty. Give me time. If could weasel my way into the records of Our Lady of the Lost Souls of Buchenstein, one of my prouder moments I might add, I can get what I want out of one Miss Tina Kennard.

Bette raised her glass. Heres to your ego, Alex.

Alex raised hers. Heres to success Betty. The Dymanic Dykes of North Philly are back in action.
They continued their way through Alexs stash of wine.