(Julie gazed out the window. She hadn’t moved for what felt like hours. The movie reel of her mind’s eye played incessantly…the history of their life together was filling her mid-consciousness like a dream. She remembers the early part of their relationship…)

MIRANDA- “But…I have issues with commitment. You need to understand that.”

JULIE- “I thought you said you wanted to be together always.”

MIRANDA- “I do…but that’s the problem…if something happens…well…if I lose you I won’t know what to do. The problem is I tend to over commit…I’ll go down with the ship.”

JULIE- “You’re afraid this won’t work out and you’ll get your heart broken?”

MIRANDA- “Which is why I’m afraid. This has never happened to me before.”

JULIE- “You’re not exactly a neophyte. Don’t tell me you’ve never broken up with anyone before.”

MIRANDA- “Yes I am…a neophyte at totally unadulterated love…my heart is entirely yours. I’ve…well, I’ve never ever loved anyone like…”

JULIE- “Oh Miranda…”

MIRANDA- “I’m sounding silly aren’t I”

JULIE- “No, just naïve.”

MIRANDA- “Naïve?”

JULIE- “Are you so besotted that you don’t see what’s inside my heart for you?”

MIRANDA- “What?”

JULIE- “Same as what you’ve got in there.” (She points her finger onto Miranda’s chest.)

(Julie’s recollection fast forwards to the time shortly after they met Bette and discussed Bette’s situation with Tina…)

MIRANDA- “Julie, you and I have been together a little longer. I think I’d curl up and die if we broke up, but if I raised our child with you for a year, somehow, even if the unthinkable happened and I lost your love, I don’t see myself moving three thousand miles away.”

JULIE- (Sits on the bed next to Miranda…) “Well then, make mental note to self…have child so that Miranda never moves away…”

MIRANDA- “No, make another mental note…Miranda is hopelessly in love with me…ain’t going nowhere…ever…” (Julie affixes a quick kiss.)

JULIE- “Life changes Miranda, feelings change, everything can change in an instant, over weeks, over months, years…it’s nothing new. Long-term relationships break up all the time. Bette’s is no different. I guess… It’s harder to pick up the pieces when you’re faced with the constant reminder of what you once had.”


(A hand transports Julie from the past to the painful present.)

LILY- “You want some tea? The stewardess is offering anything you like to drink.”

JULIE- “No, no thank you.”

LILY- “Would you like anything else?”

JULIE- (She shakes her head.) “You know she called.”

LILY- “Who?”

JULIE- “Bette. She called yesterday and left a voicemail. She said she wanted to check up on Miranda. Told me to say hello. She said if she didn’t hear back she’d try and call the hospital. She said she was going to call Jason.”

LILY- “Jason will…”

JULIE- “He won’t take her call. I spoke to him. And the hospital won’t tell her anything. But, we better get to her soon. She may end up reaching someone in New York, perhaps at the museum.”

LILY- “Don’t worry, it’ll be ok.”

JULIE- “I hope her daughter is better. Justin said that she seemed to not be getting worse and they’re trying to figure it out.”

LILY- “Julie, maybe it would be a good idea if you stayed at the hotel, or I guess the Peabody place, and I went to find Bette and break it to her. I could then bring her to you.”

JULIE- “No. We’ll find her together.”

LILY- “This Peabody lady sounds pretty interesting.”

JULIE- “She has done a lot for Bette and Miranda these past few days. Justin spoke highly of her.” (After a moment or two, Lily puts her right hand on top of Julie’s left, on the armrest. She looks at her and Julie finally looks at Lily. Julie smiles mischievously.) “Putting the moves on me already? Miranda might come back and haunt you.”

LILY- (Jokingly…) “Oh right, like I’d really be looking for that kind of trouble, and you know, I think she actually WOULD haunt me if I did…” (They both smile.) “I promised her I’d take care of you.”

JULIE- “Take care of me? YOU?”

LILY- “Don’t start laughing…I’ll be hurt if you do. And yes ME!”

JULIE- “When did she tell you to do this?”

LILY- “Actually, before the trip. We spoke. She said you seemed a bit sad about her leaving. She said she expected me to watch out for you while she was gone and to try and keep your spirits up.”

JULIE- (Her eyes water…) “I didn’t want her to go. I don’t think she did either. Strange. Well, madam conductor, she’s not just off on a trip now, she’s gone away on a permanent voyage…that’s a lot of work for you to keep my spirits up for the rest of our lives…”

LILY- (She lifts Julie’s hand from the armrest and holds it with both of hers.) “I love you Julie and I’ll be there for you forever.”

JULIE- “Lily Morneau…what’s come over you? That’s not a phrase you’re used to.”

LILY- “I promised her.”

JULIE- (She puts her hand on Lily’s cheek…) “You crazy conductor.”

LILY- “I keep my promises.”

JULIE- “The string soloists will get jealous.”

LILY- “Na, they just have to understand I’ve got priorities. I’m a good multi-tasker you know…”

JULIE- “I bet. You had three going at once last year…and that was your slow period. Did the cellist ever find out about the classical guitar performer?”

LILY- “No.”

JULIE- “Lucky you.”

LILY- “But she found out about the flutist.”

JULIE- (Looking at her surprised…) “Gravitated away from the string section eh?”

LILY- (Feigning seriousness…) “It’s important to diversify now and then.” (Lily smiles and Julie shakes her head.) “I’m going to get something to drink. Can I get you something?” (Julie shakes her head. Lily heads over to the galley area. Julie follows her, gazing affectionately at Lily though still shaking her head. She reverts to gazing out the window of the plane. All she can see out there are clouds, but when she closes her eyes she sees so many more images…of Miranda, of their life together, and their bond with Lily and Justin.)

(In LA, Bette is standing in front of a window as well…the window of her bedroom in the old house she used to share with Tina. Shane has been taking care of it well in her absence. She came home for the night. After her ordeal, staying up all hours just isn’t feasible, even though she didn’t want to leave Angelica. And in a way, she didn’t want to leave the others either. She had such affection for them, even Helena. And Tina…it was so odd seeing her again. A nervous energy permeated the space between them, almost from the moment she saw her again. Tina had let out her emotional exhaustion in Bette’s embrace, and then they came apart and focused on Angelica, but it’s as though they hadn’t yet reunited, or as though they were never apart in an odd sort of way.

She remembers the rollercoaster of emotions experienced in this room. From ecstasy to frigidity, from nervous tension to seductive allure, from happiness to sorrow, from love to…well, a painful lack of it between them though it was never really gone entirely. She remembers the first time, so long ago now. Tina was standing at this very window, in the middle of the night. Bette awoke to see her standing there, illuminated by moonlight. Bette got up and approached her, making enough noise so that Tina wouldn’t be startled. She stopped behind her within centimeters of her naked body, a body that drew Bette like a magnet draws little pieces of metal…they’re helpless in resisting and detaching on their own. She slowly bridged the gap and their respective skins touched, first at key points of contact, then entirely. She gently encircled Tina’s waste with her arms and caressed her left shoulder with her chin, cheek, and lips…and traversed the space up to Tina’s neck as Tina’s reciprocating hands welcomed the warm embrace. They didn’t share a word in those first moments…not one. But, suddenly, Bette’s digestive system ensured that the silence would be broken, causing both of the new lovers to laugh aloud.

TINA- “Gee, that’s romantic.”

BETTE- “Hey…I worked up an appetite you know!”

TINA- “Shall we take you and your poor stomach to the kitchen for some feeding? I could cook an early breakfast.”

BETTE- “T…it’s 4 am.”

TINA- “Mmmmm.”

BETTE- “This feels so good.”

TINA- “What? Being hungry?”

BETTE- “Holding you.”

TINA- “Can’t be better than this.”

BETTE- “What?”

TINA- “Being held by you.” (Bette remembers a flurry of butterflies at hearing those words. Her entire body tingled and her chest sank and warmed at the import of the moment. She was afraid…this was Tina’s first time and their first time together…but Tina seemed to be relishing it. She remembered thinking that it was almost too good to be true…no other had made her feel this way and she had, in all those dalliances, not shared quite such a thing. It was wonderful and it was kind of scary.

Bette was brought out of her trance at the window as quickly as she had entered it.)

KIT- “Hey.”

SHANE- (Walking in just after Kit…) “I could make some tea if you…Oh, sorry.”

BETTE- “Hi.”

SHANE- “I’ll be in the kitchen.”

BETTE- “No Shane, come in, both of you. Everything ok?”

KIT- “Yes. I’m all set up in the guest room and Shane here is setting up the couch in the living room. We thought we’d have some herbal tea before going to sleep. You in?”

BETTE- “Sure. I’ll be out in a few moments.” (They leave and Bette reverts to her position next to the window. She whispers to herself, “I wish you were here.” She feels her heart quiver. She’s reminded of that night at Miranda and Julie’s house and Julie’s sensitive and patient ear as Bette tried, with some difficulty, to share her pain with respect to Tina and her daughter. She remembers Julie’s words…

JULIE- “Bette, you already know the answer to that. She’ll never totally disappear from your heart, your mind, your soul. You can’t erase someone like that. You can’t just pretend they didn’t exist. As much pain as you experience in losing the love you shared, something of that greatness stays with you and it will stay with her I’m sure.” …..No one really knows why things fall apart, but time doesn’t really seem to make a difference in preventing something like that.”

BETTE- “What does I wonder.”

JULIE- “Make a difference?”

BETTE- “Yes.”

JULIE- “The foundation I suppose. The love that’s at the heart of it all. But really, I guess no one knows the secret, and I don’t think we’re really ever meant to know. Mind you, if there’s an answer, there isn’t a ‘secret formula’. It’s different for every couple I think. There’s no one right way. So whether it’s the love, destiny or a collection of things, I guess it all depends. If there was one special element, if I knew what it was I’d covet it, protect it, and lock it away, so that I’d know that I’d never lose Miranda. Somehow though, right now, I know that I never will. She seems to feel the same way. I feel very fortunate. …”

Bette’s memories fade again, and she’s back in the present. She finally joins the others and sits at the table. Shane gives her a cup of tea and sits down.)

BETTE- “I feel like I should be at the hospital. My body still aches from my injuries and I’m feeling tired, but all I can think about is them…about Angelica.” (She wasn’t expecting to say ‘them’.)

KIT- “You need to rest. You’ve gotta stay in good health so you can be there for them…for Angelica. Tina hadn’t left there until the doctors and we forced her to get some sleep and just before she left you returned. The poor thing was hanging by a thread by that point. You two have to try and balance things a bit.” (Kit looks at Shane.)

SHANE- “It’s great that she’s looking a little better at least. Hopefully they’ll narrow things down with those recent tests. ” (Kit’s cell phone rings.)

KIT- “Hello. Yes. Yes.” (She excuses herself from the table and heads over to the living room.) “Hi, yes, I can talk now. I’m very sorry about your friend Ms. Morneau. So very sorry. Ok yes ‘Lily’. You know, actually, she’s at her house right now. I’m with her. Maybe now would be the best time. She’ll be heading over to the hospital tomorrow and right now she doesn’t seem quite ready to get to sleep, though as you can imagine she’s exhausted. Mhm. Ok. Is she with you? Ok. I’m here with Bette and another friend of ours is here too. We’ll help in any way we can. Yes, that’s a good idea, it’s better if she knows you’re coming. Well, I think maybe you should call her number. I’ll make sure she answers. Alright. I’m sorry we have to meet under these circumstances. Anytime. And thank YOU. I’ve heard good things about you, your brother and your friends. Ok. Bye.” (She stops to ponder things a bit and then goes back to join Bette and Shane.)

BETTE- “Everything ok?”

KIT- “Yeah, just some things I have to take care of.” (The phone rings. It rings a second time.) “Why don’t I get that?”

BETTE- “Thanks Kit.”

KIT- “Hello. Yes. No, this is Kit her sister. Just a moment please.” (She turns to Bette.) “It’s for you. It’s a Lily Morneau.” (Bette almost jumps from her seat with anticipation. She walks over to get the phone. Bette goes to Shane and motions for her to join her in the living room. While Bette is on the phone, Kit tries to explain the situation to Shane.”

BETTE- “Hi Lily. Yes, yes, I’m better. I called yesterday and…Yes, Angelica is a little more responsive but we still don’t know what’s wrong. I called and left a message yesterday for Julie…Sorry? Here? In LA? Why…Oh, ok. Well yes of course, come on over. It’s not a problem. Let me give you directions. Oh…sure, ok, as long as you’ve got the address.” (Bette gives her directions and the conversation ends. She goes over to the kitchen and notices that Kit and Shane had moved to the living room. She joins them.) “That was Lily, she’s my senior colleague’s sister. We’ve become friends, her and Miranda and her partner Julie. She’s in LA apparently and she’s coming over.” (As Kit and Shane look on, Bette suddenly slows her speech. Her eyebrows come together.) “It’s strange. This is really unexpected but it’ll be good to see her. I hope you guys are up to it…to meeting her…I know it’s getting late.”

KIT- “Of course.”

SHANE- “No, that’s just fine Bette.” (Bette sits down on the couch.)

KIT- “Why don’t I get our teas and we’ll finish them in here.” (She goes to get the cups.)

SHANE- “You all right Bette?”

BETTE- “Yeah, yeah I’m fine.”

KIT- “Here we go.” (She places the cups on the coffee table.)

SHANE- “So, this is the conductor?”

BETTE- “Yes. She’s really a character, but she’s great. Extremely talented but kind of crazy. Actually, in a small way she reminds me of you Shane, though not in her appearance at all.”

SHANE- “Hmmm…’kind of crazy but great’…I can live with that!”

BETTE- (She smiles.) “I can’t believe she’s coming. It seems so odd. In a way it’s like my two different worlds are colliding. You know?”

SHANE- “Sure, makes sense.”

KIT- “Yeah. You started a life out there and they sound like a good part of it.”

BETTE- “Yeah…yes, I guess so.” (The phone rings. This time Bette picks it up.) “Hello. Oh hi, hi Alice. What? What do you mean? I’ll get there as soon as I can. No no no…I have to be there.” (She hangs up and looks at her friends.) “I have to go. Angelica’s fever has gotten worse. Oh no…what…”

KIT- “It’s going to be ok. Shane you stay here and greet the guests and I’ll go to the hospital with Bette.”

BETTE- “Guests?”

KIT- “Sorry, I mean the guest, Lily.” (Shane and Kit look at one another and Kit looks at Bette.) “We’ll call Shane to let her know what’s happening. I’m sure your friend will understand. Shane, tell her she can stay here if that’s ok.”

SHANE- “No problem. Consider it all taken care of. Please call me as soon as there’s word.”

BETTE- “Kit I…”

KIT- “Honey it’ll be ok. It’s not a new symptom. The fever has been an issue. This is just a setback. Let’s just get over there. I’m driving.” (They leave. Shane watches them as they get in the car and drive off. She mutters to herself “Damn it. Please let her be ok. This is a friggin nightmare.”)

(Kit drives Bette to the hospital and barely a word was said between them. Kit’s mind was racing almost as much as Bette’s. She wasn’t sure what would happen with Lily and Julie at Bette’s house. She knew that it was not likely that Bette would leave Angelica’s bedside anytime soon at this point. They get to the hospital and exit off the elevators on Angelica’s floor. Bette doesn’t stop until they get to the room. Tina and Alice are next to Angelica.)

BETTE- “How is she?” (She walks right up to the bedside, next to Tina. Tina is seated and stroking Angelica’s hand. She feels Bette’s presence, which she notices more than Bette’s voice. Bette turns to Tina.) “How is she Tina?”

TINA- (Tina doesn’t move her eyes from gazing at Angelica. Alice is just looking at Bette.) “The fever went up. She’s been so uncomfortable. They gave her more drugs. She only now fell asleep.”

BETTE- “What did the doctor say?”

TINA- “I don’t know.”

BETTE- “You don’t know?”

KIT- “Sweetie, did he come by at all?”

TINA- “No.”

BETTE- “Well, shouldn’t somebody get him?”

ALICE- (She stands…) “The nurse paged him before I called you Bette.”

KIT- “I’m sure he’s on his way. She looks ok under the circumstances. You know how it can be with fevers…they fluctuate.” (She looks at Alice.)

ALICE- “I’ll go check with the nurse again.” (She leaves.)

BETTE- (She moves in closer to Angelica, which brings her closer to a standing Tina. She puts her hand on Angelica’s chest and pats her gently.) “Sweetie…”

TINA- “Didn’t you hear Alice? She only now fell asleep.”

BETTE- (Looking at Angelica…) “I know, I’m just…I just want to touch her…”

TINA- “Sorry…”

BETTE- “It’s ok. You’re probably right.” (Kit looks at the two of them, neither of whom looks at each other.)

KIT- “Tina honey, why don’t you and I take a bit of a walk?”

TINA- (She doesn’t look at Kit.) “No, no thanks Kit.”

KIT- “Just for a couple of minutes, please.”

BETTE- “Kit she wants to be with Angie right now.”

TINA- (To Bette, now turning to look at her briefly…) “It’s ok. Maybe you’re right Kit.” (She strokes Angelica’s head very gently and exits with Kit following.)

KIT- (To Tina, in the hallway.) “Tina I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to disrupt you. Let’s sit down.” (They take their seats in a waiting area. Alice is at the nurse’s desk in the distance, though not too far away. Kit puts her hand on Tina’s.) “Tina I have to talk to you. I don’t want to burden you with anything but I think I need to share this. Bette doesn’t know yet. You know the woman who was Bette’s colleague on the plane with her?”

TINA- “Yes. I think they said her name is Miranda. She’s in the hospital in New York.”

KIT- “Right, Miranda. They worked together at the museum. Bette had become friends with her and her partner Julie, as well as her boss Julian and his sister Lily. All of them were friends before Bette went to New York. Anyway, I found out from Peggy…Peggy knows Bette’s boss and she helped get them both to the hospital as you know…well, Peggy told me earlier today that Miranda succumbed to her injuries. She passed away.”

TINA- “What?”

KIT- “She died.”

TINA- (Getting emotional…) “Oh no, that’s awful…”

KIT- (Puts her arm around Tina…) “I know, I know. Bette doesn’t know yet. Miranda’s partner Julie and Lily arrived a couple of hours ago from New York so they could come and tell Bette in person. Lily called from the airport on my cell to tell me what was happening. She knew that I had already been told. She then called Bette at home and told her she was in town and wanted to come by. She didn’t tell her that Julie had come as well. They were on their way to the house when we got the call from Alice that Angelica wasn’t doing well.”

TINA- “Kit I don’t know what to say.”

KIT- “What can anyone say? I’m not sure what to do. I don’t think Bette will want to go home right now.”

TINA- “If they came all the way out here just to tell her in person, then their bonds of friendship are pretty tight and Bette must have become good friends with Miranda. Bette’s been through a lot. I can’t imagine how it’s going to hit her.”

KIT- “They may have no choice but to come here.”

TINA- “No, no Kit. That’s just too much. Angelica is touch and go, we’re all here focused on my daughter, Bette’s stressed, I’m…I’m…I don’t even know where I’m at.”

KIT- “We might not have any choice. It’s not like they can wait at Bette’s place forever. I imagine they have to go back for the funeral.”

TINA- “Oh no. Kit, Bette won’t be able to…is she going to go to the funeral?”

KIT- “I don’t know. I really don’t know. It’s a tough call. I can’t imagine she’ll want to leave Angelica in an uncertain state.”

TINA- “She left her before Kit.”

KIT- “Tina, I don’t think…”

TINA- “I know…I just…Look, let me talk to her.”

KIT- “Are you sure?”

TINA- “Yeah. Stay here.” (Kit watches Tina get up and walk back to the room.)

(The cab is approaching Bette’s house.)

LILY- “Is this it?”

JULIE- “That’s it…that’s the number…”

CAB DRIVER- “Yes ma’am, that should be it.”

LILY- “Thanks.” (He hands him the fare and they exit the cab. The two women stand on the walkway for a moment, looking at the house. Lily puts her arm around Julie.) “Take your time.”

JULIE- “Thanks Lil. This is going to be one of the most difficult things I’ll have to do in the next few days. My legs are stuck.”

LILY- “It’s ok. Let’s just catch our breath for a few moments.”

JULIE- (She breaths with some strain as the lump in her throat, now a familiar feeling, returns.) “Oh Lily…someone please catch my heart too…it’s falling away. What on earth am I going to do without her?”

LILY- “You’re going to grieve, we are all going to grieve her loss for a time. And then…you are going to live, like she would want you to…and she’ll never be far…just far enough to let you live a happy life. She’ll be watching over you, almost as well as I will!” (They embrace.)