CHAPTER 8

(Over at the Planet that evening, Alice, Dana and Shane were having dinner.   They were all going to meet up for drinks with Bette there in any event, so they figured dinner would be a good idea and Kit said she’d join them later as well.)

DANA-  (To Alice)  ”So, Kretalika groupie, seen your favourite base player yet?”

ALICE-  ”Hey, she’s not my favourite base player, she’s not my favourite anything”

SHANE-  ”So how long were you two an item?”

ALICE-  ”Not long”

DANA-  ”That’s not what we hear”

SHANE-  ”Admitting it is the first step Al”

ALICE-  ”Ok Yoda, I’m going tell the bartender you’re flirting with all the girls and won’t leave ‘em aloneyou know how sensitive that bartender is”

SHANE-  ”Yeah, actually I do knowI know very well in fact”

ALICE-  ”Oh for friggin sakesyou did HER too?”

SHANE-  ”I don’t kiss and tell, but let’s just say her and I go a ways back.”

DANA-  ”Incredible, truly incredible”

ALICE-  ”Unbelievablejust unbelievablejust”  (Alice suddenly spots Bette walk into the Planet with Elaineand Bassey.  Alice’s eyes widen as her head moves forward and she blinks furiously in case the alcohol and night atmosphere was clouding her eyesight)  ”Nono no no nooooo oh!”

DANA-  ”What, not unbelievable?”

SHANE-  ”Well not really, I’m sure Alice here has had far more womenshe just
doesn’t like to bragright Al?”

ALICE-  ”Nonooh my Godsomebody shoot me…just shoot me now”  (Dana and
Shane follow Alice’s glare to the front of the Planet where Bette and her
friends are waiting for a table.)

DANA-  ”Hey, there’s Bettewho is she with?”

ALICE-  (She puts both hands on her face, shakes her headAlice gets up)  ”I
can’t believe thisI gotta goI can’tthis can’t be happening.”

DANA-  ”Alice what’s going on?”  

ALICE-  ”I gotta go”

SHANE-  ”Go where?  What’s wrong Al?”

ALICE-  ”No friggin wayno no noI gotta go.”  (She looks at Shane and Dana
finally)  ”I gotta go pee” (With that Alice makes a hasty exit to the washroom.)

DANA-  ”Al”  (Turns to Shane)  ”That was bizarre.  I’ve never seen her make a
production out of needing to pee.”

SHANE-  ”She’ll be fine.”

(Bette and her friends make their way to a table and Bette walks over to Shane and Dana to say hello.  She was apprehensive about showing up there with Bassey in tow and had scanned the Planet upon entry, seeing Dana and Shane.)

BETTE-  ”Hi guys.  Where’s Alice?”

DANA-  ”Hi Bette, she just went to the ladies room.”

BETTE-  ”Ok.  Listen, I’m just going to have dinner with a couple of people from work but I’ll catch you later.”

SHANE & DANA- “Ok”, “Sounds good.”  (Bette returns to her guests.)

DANA-  ”I’m just going to see if Al is ok.”  

SHANE-  ”Ok, I’ll order drinks.”  

(Dana heads to the washroom.  She opens the door.  Doesn’t see Alice.)

DANA-  ”Alice, are you in here?  Al?”  (She walks further into the washroom and quickly glances to find familiar feet under one of the stallsAlice was apparently standing.)  ”Alwhat’s wrong?  Why didn’t you answer me?  Alice, what’s going on?  Are you ok?”

(Alice is standing in the stall with her forehead on the door, partially supporting her upper body, and her arms are crossed.)

ALICE-  ”I just had to pee.”

DANA-  (She’s wondering what the hec is going on, but tries to drag it out of Alice slowly.)  ”Ok, Al, you seem to be done nowwhat are you still doing in there?”

ALICE-  ”I can’t fuckin believe this is happening!”

DANA-  (A little sarcastically)  ”You pee all the time.  Has this been a traumatizing event for you today for some reason?”

ALICE-  ”Danaughhh”

DANA-  ”Alicethis is sillyI’m worriednow come out of there”

ALICE-  ”WHAT is that woman doing here?  WHAT is she doing with her?  I DON’T FRIGGIN UNDERSTAND!”

DANA-  ”Who Al?  What are you talking about?  The Kretalika woman?  Is she here?  Is that who you saw?”

ALICE-  ”FUCK KRETALIKA”

DANA-  ”Okay, so we’re on the same page there”

ALICE-  (Let’s out a sigh of frustration)  ”UUUUGHHHHH!!!!”

DANA-  ”If you don’t come out of there now, I’m going to get Shane and we’re going to pull you out!”  (Alice lifts her head, opens the door and walks out.muttering to herself and then to Dana)  

ALICE-  (Flailing her arms now and then.)  ”It’s not rightit’s just not rightwhat the fuck am I supposed to do?  What?  Tell me?  What are we going to do?  What the hell is that WOMAN doing here?  Did she run into her on the street?  What the fuck was she thinking?  She brings her HEREHEREI don’t understandwho’s going to pick up the pieces, pieces that I’m not sure even came back together after the last time?!  Who?  Tell me DaneWHO?  Oh my God…”  (As though she just had a revelation)  ”Rose!  Oh my GodRose is going to freak.  I gotta talk to Rose”

DANA-  (Grabs hold of her upper arms)  ”AlstopI don’t understand.  What the hec are you talking about?  Why is Rose going to freak?  What WOMAN?”

ALICE-  (She comes out of her delusional state and looks at Dana)  ”Do you remember a long while back, before us, beforelong beforewhen Bette fell apart?”

DANA-  ”Yeah, of course I remembershe was involved with that professor woman and”  (Light bulb goes off)  ”Oh my GodAlshe’s here?”

ALICE-  ”No, it’s worse.”

DANA-  ”What’s worse?  How is it worse?”

ALICE-  ”It’s worse, because that WOMAN is not just hereBette walked into the Planet with herwith THAT WOMAN and Elaine.”

DANA-  ”WowTHAT was her?”  (Alice nods.)  ”Wellwowbut Alif Bette walked in
with her then I guesswell, I guess the sky isn’t falling.  I mean it looks like Bette can handle itand from the looks of it, better than you can.”

ALICE-  ”Dana, you don’t understand”

DANA-  ”I do understandyou’re taking this and running with it a little too far.  You look like you’ve seen a ghost, meanwhile Bette seems to be having dinner with THAT WOMAN.  Honey, you can’t take responsibility for what Bette is doing, but more than that, Bette never struck me as someone who didn’t do exactly what she wanted.”

ALICE-  ”Dana, that woman destroyed her”

DANA-  ”Alice, Bette was in love, in love with a woman for the first time and it didn’t work outthat sort of thing tends to devastate most people, but they get over itwe all get over it.  And Bette, who I remember going through that period, is no different.”

ALICE-  ”You weren’t close to it like I was.  Like both Rose and I were.  I’ve never seen Bette in a million pieces like that.  And now, to see her just prance in with her.  It’s weird, you know?  It’s just really freaky.  Rose is gonna totally go ballistic.”

DANA-  ”Why?”

ALICE-  ”Roselike I was saying we were both there during that timebut Rose confronted the Bassey.  The good professor wasn’t very sensitive to Bette’s feelings.  In fact, she seemed to almost enjoy breaking her heart and betraying her, both personally and professionally.  Rose knows more about what happened as far as the professional stuff goes, but basically they were collaborating on work as well, and Bassey just threw her away like discarded trashand chose someone else to work on a project with her that was really Bette’s babyit wasit was just awful.  Rose was furious.  She felt that Bassey had manipulated and used Bette, in the worst possible way.  Bassey was Bette’s introduction to passion with women, but in a way she was her last lover.  Bette went through an emotional grinder.  Then, with all that’s been happening in her life lately, you know how we’ve been worriedand then Tina comes along.  I haven’t seen those big brown eyes look quite like that in a really long time.  And now Bassey comes backit’s like one step forward, two steps back.”

DANA-  ”Well, let’s take it one step at a time.  Let’s go out there and enjoy dinner with Shane, and hopefully Kit will be by too.  Then Bette will be joining us for drinks, so let’s just see how it goes.  If Bette looks like she’s in trouble, we’ll cross that bridge if and when we come to it.   Everything will be ok Al.”  (She kisses her.  Al smiles lightlyonly because a kiss from Dana never fails to make a positive impact.  They head back out into
what Alice was hoping wouldn’t be a nightmare.  They join Shane.)

SHANE-  ”Hey you guys, everything ok?  I was starting to think I was gonna have go back there and save you both.”

DANA-  ”All’s well Shane.”

ALICE-  ”ShaneI need a drinkwhat are you having?”

SHANE-  ”Sit sitI’ll get ‘emcosmos for you ladies?”  (They agree.)

DANA-  ”Al, do me a favour?”

ALICE-  ”Sure, what?”

DANA-  ”Sit here”  (Dana wanted Al to sit where there wasn’t a clear line of sight to Bette; otherwise, Al would be totally gone all night.)

ALICE-  ”Oh alrightI’m fineI’ll be just fine.”

(Shane returns with the drinks and the friends enjoy each other’s company.  Kit joins them.)

KIT-  ”My favourite ladieshow are you all doing this evening?”  (They all greet her.)

DANA-  ”Evening Kit, have a seat.”

KIT-  ”Where’s baby sis?  I thought she was coming tonight?”

SHANE-  ”Didn’t you see her?  She’s having dinner over there.”  (Shane points and Kit looks.)

KIT-  ”Who dat?”

ALICE-  ”Cruella Deville”

DANA-  ”Al!”

KIT-  ”She’s a fine woman I seeold but fine”

SHANE-  ”I agreevery fine”

ALICE-  ”I’m going to be sick.”

DANA-  (Kicks Alice under the table.)

ALICE-  ”Ouch!”  (Eyeballs Dana and turns to Kit.)  ”So Kit, what’s new?”

KIT-  ”Not much Al, but doing great.  How about you girls, everything alright?   Dana, how’s the sprain?”

DANA-  ”Barely notice it now, thanks for asking.”

ALICE-  ”I’ve been massaging it enough!”

DANA-  ”What?  And you weren’t enjoying that?”

ALICE-  ”Hey, I’ll be more than happy to massage you all daybut you seemed to be taking particular pleasure in my expert treatment my dear”

SHANE-  (To Dana)  ”She managed not to break anything?”  (Kit and Dana laugh.)

ALICE-  (Feigning being a bit insulted and touting her skills)  ”Oh sure Shane, you think you’re the only masterful lover huh?  The only one good with the hands huh?  I know a thing or two, you know”

SHANE-  ”You might be good with the hands, but it’s all in the fingers Alall in the digital mastery”

ALICE-  (Overdramatising a bit) “Ohhhh.well, look at herIt’s the digital masterit’s.”Goldfinger”we got Goldfinger sitting with us”

KIT-  ”Goldfinger?  Oh my goodnessthat’s a good one”  (imitates the Bond movie charaters)  ”Well hello Mr. Bond, I’m Pussy Galore”  (They all laugh.)

ALICE-  (Sings)  ”Cause he’s Mr. GOLDfingerhe’s the man, the man with the Midas touch, a spider’s touchsuch a cold fingerbeckons you to enter his web of sin”  

DANA-  (Tries to continue song)  ”but don’t go init’s the kiss of death from Mr. Goldfingerpretty girl beware of this heart of goldta tta tta tat a ta”   (They break out laughing.)

KIT-  ”Well let me tell you something Shane my friendyou’ve got quite a legend preceding youGoldfinger.”

SHANE-  ”Ok okgeez, let’s not get carried away now”

ALICE-  ”Ah!  Right!”  (They laugh.  Just then, Bette appears.  Her friends had just left.)

BETTE-  ”Hi guys. You seem to be having fun.”  

SHANE-  ”Hi Bette, have a seat.”

DANA-  ”Hello Ms. Porter, come join us.”

KIT-  ”Baby sis, you’ve been missing an interesting conversation”  (As Bette sits she looks at Alice who hasn’t yet said anything.)

BETTE-  ”I can only imagine.”  (Still looks at Alice, wondering if Alice saw her company.  Bette hadn’t expected the gang to be there so early.)

DANA-  ”Shane has acquired a new name.”

SHANE-  ”Hey I didn’t acquire anythingas usual Al over here was attributing all sorts of interesting things to me.”

BETTE-  ”What?  What’s the name?”

DANA-  ”Well, you see, Shane was explaining that the trickyou knowher talentit’s all in the fingersso like in the Bond movie ‘Mr. Goldfinger.’”

BETTE-  ”Oh my Godit just get’s worse and worse.”

KIT-  (Sings)  ”Cause he’s Mr. Goldfinger”

DANA-  (Sings)  ”Pretty girls, beware of this heart of goldtat a tat a tat a”  (They all laugh)

KIT-  ”I’ll get you guys more drinks.  Bettelet me guessthat’s a martini you’re holding onto?”

BETTE-  ”Make it a doubletwo olives.  And don’t give me any funny looks.  This is only my second and I’m fine.”  (Kit smirks and goes off to get the drinks.)

ALICE-  (Trying to temper herself, but it’s difficult)  ”Soooooo PorterI understand you were having dinner with colleaguesladiesthis evening”  (Dana is worried already and cutting her off.)

DANA-  ”Yeah Bettehave you formally started at the gallery now?”

BETTE-  ”No not yet.  Working on it.”

ALICE-  ”Working on it?  Working on anything else, or anybody else we don’t
know about?”

BETTE-  ”What does that mean?”

ALICE-  ”Oh, I dunnoI just thought you might want to fill us in on anything”

SHANE-  ”Ah, we’re just curious Betteyou know how it isinquiring minds wanna
knowright Al?”

ALICE-  ”Oh sure”

DANA-  ”Bette I’m so happy for you.  I think it’s great that this museum job came along.  Elaine seems really nice.”

BETTE-  (Eyeing Alice and then looking at Dana)  ”She’s amazing.  A really decent woman, and she’s brilliant.”

ALICE-  ”Careful, we all know how those old brilliant woman can really”

SHANE-  ”Al!  I think Bette can handle it”

BETTE-  ”Handle what Shane?”

ALICE-  ”Yeah tell usMr. Goldfingerhandle what?”

SHANE-  ”Handle anythingit just sounded like Alice was going to warn you aboutolder womenand I just don’t think you need the advice”  (She turns to Dana for help)  ”Right Dana?”

DANA-  ”Absolutely.  So when’s the next gallery show?”

ALICE-  ”Yeah, I think that would be interesting”  (Dana eyes Alice but thenas though saved by the bellAlice’s phone rings and she picks up.)  ”Woe theresomeone’s ringing me”  (As Dana and Shane pick up the conversation with Bette, Alice turns off to the side to speak to whoever is calling.  Kit comes back as well.  Out of earshot of her companions, Alice starts the phone conversation)

ALICE-  ”Yes, Al here.  Hello?”

ROSE-  ”Al?  Thank God.  I called you at home and called your cell a few times and left messages.  Al I need to talk to you.”

ALICE-  ”Oh reallywell my friend I gotta talk to you too”

ROSE-  ”Al, where are you?”

ALICE-  ”I’m at the Planet”

ROSE-  ”Is Bette there?”

ALICE-  ”Oh yeahyeahdefinitely.”

ROSE-  ”Can you talk?”

ALICE-  ”Not likely”

ROSE-  ”Alice, there’s a problem, we have to talk.”

ALICE-  ”No shit?  Well, I gotta talk to you tooand it ain’t pretty.”

ROSE-  ”What’s wrong?  Whyokyou can’t talkcan’t you just excuse yourself and
go outside for a minute?”

ALICE-  ”I don’t thinkwell, it’s gotta be in person.”

ROSE- “Alice, it’s importantAliceTina went by the museum today to see Bette.”

ALICE-  ”What?  And?  What happened?”

ROSE-  ”It was bad timingtotally.  She walked in on Bette andwell, another woman was there who was being introduced to Bette and”  (Rose was afraid to say the name so held back, obviously not knowing that Alice knew about who had rolled back into their lives.  But Alice had heard enoughAlice looked up at Bette and squinted; Bette noticed her while she was talking to the girls, and then looked away.)  ”Al, I have to talk to you.  Can you come by the house later?”

ALICE-  ”Ok, I’ll call when I’m leaving.”  (Dana hears this and leans in)   “Ok, bye.”

DANA-  (Whispering)  ”What’s going on?”

ALICE-  (Also whispering)  ”It’s worse than I thought.  This is totally fucked up.  We gotta go in a bit.  Gotta go see Rose, that was her.”  (She returns to the conversation, but now just listening.  

The friends continue their discussion.  Throughout the next little while Alice
can’t stop looking at her old friend.  Alice got all tense and anxious by this
point.  She was very worried.  Bette would periodically glance over at Alice.  
She noticed that Alice wasn’t trying to take verbal shots at her any longer and
she noticed that, instead, Alice was looking at her, in the strangest way, like
she was holding her to account, like she wanted to ask her something, like she
was incising her to see what was going on withinshe wondered whether Alice did
in fact see Bassey, and now wondered what she was going to doshe knew Alice
would confront her eventually.  In fact, Bette thought that if Alice did see Bassey, she was surprised that Alice hadn’t already thrown a fit on her.

Alice wanted to leave and go see Rose, as fast as she could, but she was also trying to fight the inclination to walk over to Bette and throttle her while yelling ‘what the fuck is going on?  What are you doing?’  So, the conversation continued, and the drinks were replenishedmultiple times.

Kit was getting worried.  It seemed Bette’s martini marathon was going to surpass that night when she ordered the bartender to bring it to a halt.  She noticed that, yet again, Bette was holding her liquor well.  She had a knack for having just enough to take her to the edge, but stop just in time to avoid a totally drunken stupor and hangovershe always seemed to avoid it somehow.   Kit was kind of wondering whether she needed to let Bette push it to the edge and go overjust once, so she could learn her lesson, so she could see that something was wrong and that she needed to take stock and responsibility for whatever was driving her to live the way she had been lately.  Things had seemed to be looking up, and yet, something was wrong.  Kit decided to not intervenejust this once, she’d let her baby sister take this to fruition.  But she would be there to pick up the pieceslike that time, Kit thought to herself, after Bette came outafter her monumental romance, the once that fell apart.  Kit had never seen Bassey, but remembered the turmoil.)

BETTE-  ”I see Alice has no comments for us any longer this evening.  What’s wrong Al, run out of your brilliance so soon?”

ALICE-  ”No, I’m just saving it for laterfor now I’ll just watch you put your foot in your mouthhow’s THAT Porter?”

BETTE-  ”Ain’t gonna happen, my former loverain’t gonna happen.”  (Shane looked at Alice and then at Dana.  Kit looked at Bette and was a bit annoyed.   Bette never brought this up in front of people, especially Dana.  Dana rolled her eyes, not in anger, but in fearshe was worried that this would escalate.)

ALICE-  ”Oh, yeslet’s not forget ‘former lover’let’s not let anyone forget”

BETTE-  ”Don’t kid yourself Al, I was just being niceit was totally forgettable”  (Kit, Shane and Dana braced themselves)

ALICE-  (Getting a little intense)  ”WELLLLL then.  Unlike your more world- renowned devastating and MEMORABLE relationships, you know the onesyou knowlike when you were dumped by”

DANA-  ”ALICE!”

BETTE-  ”Nolet her say her piecemaybe we’ll see what’s really on her mind”

ALICE-  ”On my mind?!  You have no idea you.you don’t wanna hear what’s on this mind”

KIT-  (To Shane)  ”Here we go”

SHANE-  ”Guys, heyenoughlet’s take it down a notch”

ALICE-  ”Mind your own business Goldfinger ”

DANA-  ”Alice stop it!”

SHANE-  ”Al mantake it easy”

ALICE-  (Looking at Bette)  ”Need a drink Bette?  Get her a drink, I think that’s the only thing she’s ”

DANA-  ”Alice enough”

BETTE-  ”Only thing I’m what?  What is your problem Al?”

ALICE-  ”My problem?  MY problem?  OkDana, let’s goI’m in no mood for this.  
Slap happy drunk over here is going to push me over the edge.”

BETTE-  ”Oh fuck off AlI’m not drunk.”

ALICE-  ”Betteyou know what”

SHANE-  ”Alice, Dana, just sit for a bit, pleaselet’s just calm down a little and enjoy each other a bit before we call it a nightdon’t end the evening like thisit’s silly”

KIT-  ”I’m going to leave you all to work this out.”  (She goes to the back.)

ALICE-  ”Sillythat’s itthis is friggin ridiculous.  It’s a joke.  I mean what on earth”  

DANA-  ”Alice!”  (She glares at Al and that was enough by this point.)  

ALICE-  ”Alright guys, I just got a little excited.  Let’s simmer down.  By the way Porter, you and I are supposed to be having brunch tomorrow.”

BETTE-  ”Oh joy, will I still be blessed with your presence tomorrow, in spite of your antics this evening?”  (Alice and Dana say goodbye to Shane and then Dana kisses Bette goodbye.  Bette reciprocates.)  

ALICE-  (Sarcastic)  ”Na, despite your insults, I still wanna have brunch with you Porter, call me crazy, so phone me in the morning.” (Alice stops at Shane.   She bends down slowly and puts her mouth near Shane’s ear and whispers)  ”Make sure she gets home ok.”  (Shane nods.  Alice walks up to Bette and puts her hand on Bette’s shoulder)  ”Goodnight, former lover.  I’ll be waiting for your call tomorrow.”

(As Alice walked with Dana to the car, Alice called Rose.)

ALICE-  ”Rose, it’s me.  I can’t come over.  Nonowe just left Betteshe’s getting herself piss drunk and I couldn’t help myselfI was kinda going at herRoseRose I knowI saw Basseyfrom afar.  Bette didn’t say anything.  Yeah, listen I can’t talk about it now.  I’m going to see Bette tomorrow for brunch.   I’ll let you know what happens.  Right now I justgotta go home.  I’m exhausted.  Don’t worry, we’ll talk tomorrow.”  (Dana drove them home.  Alice didn’t say a word until they got into bed.)

(Shane stayed with Bette, and unsuccessfully tried to end the evening with the martinis.)

BETTE-  ”What the fuck is up with her?”  (Bette knew deep down that Alice likely saw Bassey, although she couldn’t be sure, and she didn’t want to ask Shane what transpired before she joined them.)

SHANE-  ”NothingI’m sure it’s just the usual stuff and you guys just got a little carried awaya little too much stress, a little too much”  (Shane points to the martini glass.)

BETTE-  ”I’m fineShane, you know I’m fineI justFuckShane, why are things so
fuckin complicated?”

SHANE-  ”Hey nobody said anything was easybut you know, just ‘uncomplicate’ whatever it is.  Just say ‘fuck this’, let it go, and try and find your happiness, day by dayit’s the little things.  As for Alice, you guys have known each other for how long?  And how many times has she engaged you in this verbal duel stuff?  You know she loves you; I know you love each other.  Just let all the crap go.”

BETTE-  ”Love Shane?  Love?”  (Shane’s eyebrows come togethershe’s not sure if
Bette is confused, or asking a question, or what)

SHANE-  ”Bettewhy don’t we call it a night.  We’ll get a cab and I’ll drop you
off.”

BETTE-  ”Whatyou’re not going to crash at my place?  You’re gonna dump this old lady on her doorstep huh?”

SHANE-  ”No my ladyI will escort you inside while my cab awaitsI would never dump you, or any lady, anywhere”

BETTE-  ”You’re such a player.”

SHANE-  ”Betteare you ok to walk?”  (Bette gets upand then slides back down.)   “Why don’t we just sit here for a bit.  Let’s have some coffee.  I need your advice on something.”

BETTE-  ”Advice?”

SHANE-  ”Actually, yesmy friend Andrea has a birthday coming up and she has this thing for black and white photography.  I figured I’d try and get her a nice photographone of those artsy fartsy type photos.”

BETTE-  (She laughs.)  ”Artsy fartsysuch a technical term!”  (They laugh.   Bette raises her left hand and puts it on the left side of Shane’s face briefly and then lets her hand slide to Shane’s shoulder and rests the palm against Shane’s neck.)  ”You’re sweet.”

SHANE-  ”Betteare you ok?  Is there anything I can do to help?”

BETTE-  ”Teach me how to live your life Shane.”

SHANE-  ”I said ‘help’, not fuck things up for you!”  (They laugh.)

BETTE-  ”You knowI have a good friend who does photographic art, why don’t I send you there?  I’ll call and let him know you’re a friend.”

SHANE-  ”That would be great.”

BETTE-  ”Next round is on me.”

SHANE-  ”The next round of coffee Ms. Porter is on ME.”  (Bette snickers and sticks her tongue out at Shane.  Eventual their night comes to a close on Bette’s doorstep and after Shane makes sure her favourite older woman is inside safely.  She makes her exit.

Bette sits on the couch, opens the small lamp and sits.  She cozies herself in the corner of the couch, bringing her knees up to her chest and looking up at the ceiling.  She closed her eyes and replayed the day’s eventsher discussions with Bassey at the gallery before they left)