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    Shoulda – S3.3


    “Shoulda” – 3.3

    “when you’re with someone completely wrong for you.”

    chapter 4

     

     

    Their house

     

    Tina returned to their house to find Bette reading from a book on Buddhist philosophy.  She was tying to hide it because she didn’t want Tina to know that she had spent more money on something Tina would  probably think unnecessary.

     

    How was your lunch with Helena?

                Bette was concealing her worry that Tina might still be interested in Helena as a lover.   

     

    Fine.

                Tina was reluctant to give the full details of the lunch because she knew Bette wouldn’t like the job offer she had received from Helena.

     

    Bette began to tell Tina about the Buddhist book, beginning with a passage that she thought was like Tina.  Tina immediately disagreed and when Bette tried to explain, she saw that Tina was annoyed.  So she stopped and changed her tack

     

    Bette began to point out a passage that reminded her of herself, but Tina looked annoyed that she was going to have to listen to this.

     

    feeling irritated, restless, afraid and hopeless (baby cries) is a reminder to listen more carefully.

                Bette was hoping to point out to Tina that she was going to try to listen to her, but she was talking to a partner who didn’t want to listen.  Hearing the baby cry was a good excuse for Tina to leave the room.

     

    Helena Peabody offered me a job

                Tina called this out from the bedroom and it sent a thrill of fear though Bette.

     

    Are you considering it?

                Bette walked into the bedroom.

     

    I don’t know yet.  Somebody in this family has got to make a living. 

     

    I’ve made a living for the last 15 years    I don’t think my ability to make a living is really in question.

     

    I’m no questioning your ability   I’m questioning your desire.

                Tina realized she was being mean, but was genuinely afraid that Bette was never going to earn a living again.

     

    Tina pointed out that there was much that she didn’t like about the movie business and hadn’t decided yet whether or not to take the job.

    Page 1 of 3123

    Comments

    1. Pancha,Now all we need to do is convince IC to get you to write the episodes for Season 4??? Hopefully. I will support the L Word in all the ways I can over here in Blighty. AS for the story, another series of touching and tender scenes that could have played out instead of the depressing one in that episode. Great to bring back Bette and Candace’s union as an example of all that can go wrong. Thank you for these little treasures. Your Loyal Fan.

    2. All we need is a little hope,like you just gave us. I’m sorta die hard,I’ll watch until the bitter end For I know I can read F/F and get my daily dose of HOPE… thanks

    3. Thank you so much for not giving up on them. I personally have about 30 or so friends who won’t watch the show anymore because they can tell that Ilene is going to break tina and bette up for good. These two characters are the only reason a lot of people watch the show, so its just 2 depressing to watch the show right now.

    4. Pancha…thank you for showing a little glimpse of hope for B & T. There seems to be such darkness, dismay, and even a bit of hatred between them this season;that it’s hard to even recognize them. S3 seems more like 6 weeks after the end of S1…where Tina would have all of this anger towards Bette. I digress…thanks for the update.

    5. That was great,as ive said before i wont be seeing the series for awhile yet but between screencaps etc i get the whole sad picture…and once again youve put it right…here at least…thanks am enjoying these “Shouldas”

    6. OK, so let me say again that I hate the server on this site. It ate my original comment and kept the correction, which now just seems bizarre. Since I’ve totally screwed up my own joke, let me, with a straight face, express my admiration for your work. (It was funny the first time. You had to be there.)

    7. Ohmygod! How easy and amazing was that? Why can’t it be that way on TV? Tina being mean and catty and constantly irritated was a bit too much. And Bette, who started the Ep walking on tiptoes, certainly topped herself by ending up walking on coals — all that time, with Tina. They danced around each other instead of dancing together. Recaps are nice but your alternative take on the eps is WAAAAYY better, Pancha. Thanks a bunch. More Shouldas please. Cheers!

    8. I am one of those bad girls who does not have Showtime, but I have very good reasons. I live by this site, so your stories at least give me an idea of what is happening. I will end up buying the DVD when it does come out. It is nice to see (hear) Bette and Tina at least trying to fix their relationship. Thank you for the insight to this wonderful couple that IC is tearing apart.

    9. why can Ilene just give little things like that? little glimpses of hope? does she have to drive us insane? i hate drama…thanks pancha, this was wonderful

    10. see now why can’t the show do something like that… we are all starving for a smile, hug or god forbid a kiss from these two… thanks for this chapter…

    11. I was thinking the same thing as telizh in that the comment was in reference to Tina being with Helena. Or hell, she could’ve been talking about every relationship prior to being with Bette. We can speculate for the next 50 years on the reference(s) made in that statement, but I doubt we’ll ever have an absolute meaning of it. I just wish we could have more tender moments like Bette holding Tina and Angelica. But no, we have to look at one of the most dysfunctional relationships I’ve ever seen, real or fictional.

    12. Great chapter Pancha. Again that is one that I wish we would see on the show. And with the lonely thing I also thought that could talk about when she was with Helena as well.. So maybe there is a shred of hope. I think the next epsiode will be the last one i watch until the seaon finale (I pray there is a season 4 to rectify things)

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