After some more discussion in the living room with everyone, Bette and Julie had gone to Bette’s bedroom to be alone and talk about the last days of Miranda’s life. Bette told Julie of the harrowing moments on the plane and the promise exchanged by the two survivor friends. She held her hand as she imparted these brief yet meaningful experiences, and for her part, Julie seemed to almost be the comforter between the two women as Bette’s tears streamed down her face in the re-telling of the story. Julie and Bette spoke of nothing else, nothing but Miranda. Each of their fates in the near future was left to the subconscious mind or just in the back of their respective minds, not to be faced on this occasion or deliberated. Bette convinced Julie and Lily to stay with her for the night instead of heading to the Peabody residence. Tina left to get some sleep and return to the hospital in the morning, but not before Julie emerged from Bette’s bedroom and they shared some words apart from the others. Bette followed and sat next to Lilly as she stole glances of Julie and Tina standing in the kitchen. Shane had kept Lily company in the living room with Kit until it was time to go. Kit left with Shane. Lily and Julie shared the guest bedroom. Bette retired to her room. She was so tired that her head had barely hit the pillow before she entered a dreamless night of deep sleep.

In the early morning, as light broke and another day began its dawning without missing a step or marking its passage in any more special way than any other day, Bette opened her eyes slowly. She looked towards the window and it took her a moment to realize it was morning, that this was her house, and that so much had happened the day and night before. She raised herself slowly and brought her legs over the side of the bed and sat there for a moment. She looked around, rubbed her face lightly and stood up. She turned towards the bed and expected to gaze at the clock but instead her eyes were caught by an item on the pillow next to her. She squinted and walked around to the other side of the bed, sitting down as she gazed at the item, and realizing almost before she landed what it was. She didn’t want to pick it up. She wanted all at once to grasp it and run to catch them. But she knew it was likely too late. She felt her heart fall back slightly and her throat captivated by the thought now compelling her to the item. ‘Julie,’ she said to herself, ‘…Miranda…’ She picked it up, opened it and pulled the note. It seems Julie had used some of the paper from her desk. It was the fancy paper she liked. She read the note…

“Dearest Bette, She would have wanted you, rather Miranda, wherever she is right now, WANTS you to stay here with your family. And that’s what I want. Please stay here until your child is well and then come visit us, your friends now, always, and forever…your New York family. We’re going to visit with your Angelica before leaving. Tina’s meeting up with us at the hospital, and then we’re leaving from there. Having the Peabody jet at our disposal has its privileges. I’m sorry for the deception. I just didn’t want to say ‘goodbye’ again so soon…I’m growing not so very fond of farewells. It hurts too much. Lily will phone you with the details of the funeral. Tina was right, you should do what is in your heart, and it’s up to you, but I just want you to know that I love you regardless, and Miranda will as well. But I hope to not see you there…I will be most happy if I know that you are here with your family and I will smile inside because I will also know that you will be with us there in spirit. Lily and Justin and I will be thinking of you too. Until we meet again in our New York, With love, Julie.”


(At the hospital, Lily was hovering over Angelica as Julie spoke with Tina a bit farther away.)

LILY- (She was mesmerized by the little one. She gently patted her head and spoke to her…) “Vincerò Angelica, Vincerò…”

TINA- “I will win?”

LILY- (She looks up at Tina smiling…) “Sorry, I just thought I’d leave her with some positive thoughts.”

TINA- “Well, keep talking Maestro, I don’t mind that kind of talk at all.”

LILY- “You speak Italian?”

TINA- “No, I just recognize the lyric from Nessun Dorma.” (Lily smiles.)

JULIE- “She’s beautiful.”

LILY- (As though speaking to Angelica…) “See, they think I’m beautiful…”

JULIE- “Easy there Maestro, I was talking about Angelica…”

LILY- (Keeping her eyes on Angelica…) “So we’re both beautiful, Angelica doesn’t mind…” (Julie and Tina smile.)

TINA- “You’re both very kind to come out to see her, especially now. I hope that you’ll find strength in each other and your friends and family during this difficult time.”

JULIE- “Thank you Tina. Truth be known, I’m not sure what I would do without Lily and Justin…they’re like siblings to me. No amount of friendship and support is going to prevent the next few days and the agony of her absence from my life,” (she tears up…) “but she certainly left me in good hands.” (Tina puts her hand on Julie’s shoulder and Lily comes round to Julie and holds her hand.)

LILY- “Tina, you take care of…well, listen I know you’re not together right now, but I hope you’ll…”

TINA- “It’s ok, I understand…don’t worry…she’s got good ‘hands’ to take care of her too.”

JULIE- “It’s no surprise to you I’m sure, but she loves you very much and though we didn’t know a thing about you, we learned it very early on after she joined us in New York.”

LILY- “The absence of this little one in her life was never far it seemed from her consciousness.” (Tina looks away and to Angelica.)

JULIE- “I’m sorry Tina, we don’t mean to interfere or seem intrusive.”

TINA- “That’s all right. I just…”

LILY- “Porter can be difficult, I know…” (Tina smiles…)

JULIE- “Lily…”

LILY- “Sorry, I mean I understand that…well, we’re by no means assuming that…”

JULIE- “Lily…”

LILY- “I’m just trying to explain…”

TINA- “Hey…it’s ok…it’s just there’s a lot, a lot of history and it’s difficult to…” (Tina motions with her hands as though she’s trying to formulate the right words…)

JULIE- “We don’t know any of it, that history, we just know Bette a bit, and even though in such a short time, she’s become a good friend. So please don’t mind our efforts. You know, in that short time we’ve known her, we have been able to discern, proud and a little introverted though she may be about these things, that she cares for Angelica very much and that, at the very least, you are a very big part of her life. In what role or capacity, it’s up to you and her to figure out. But I met you Tina the day I met Bette.” (Tina tilts her head a bit and looks at Julie with some intrigue. Lilly looks at Julie as she leans up against a chair next to them.) “There I was in my home in New York, and Miranda had invited Bette over so we could join Lily for a night out. I learned from Lily, who had met you some time ago, that I apparently bore a striking resemblance to a certain beautiful blonde, Bette’s former partner…well, had Lily not told me that fact I think I would have thought Bette was rather odd in the moments after she met me. To say she wore her heart on her sleeve may not be quite so accurate, but it gives you an idea of what I saw when I looked back into her eyes…she, while fully grounded in reality, well, she couldn’t help but see you, and looking back at her I could see a wounded and yearning heart. She didn’t have to say a word.” (Julie’s countenance changes…) “Tina I…I don’t mean to be presumptuous with all of this, I just…you can’t imagine my pain, and I hope that you never do, not until you’re very very old and lived a long and happy life. You’ve known the kind of love I have known with my Miranda, but now I know something that you don’t, though you’ve probably imagined it. I’m lucky and have no regrets, and was there with her, and was with her in heart, body and soul. But it could have been worse…and I have no doubt that on that plane Bette felt just a little bit worse than Miranda, just a little more fear than Miranda, because she was separated from her family in a way that Miranda wasn’t. You and this little girl would have been her last thought and regret would have plagued her. Having survived, you and Angelica were her first though, her first promise, her first mission…her last bond of friendship to Miranda was her solemn word to her to come to you both. And I’ve been awoken to the fact that I didn’t fly 3,000 miles after losing Miranda only to see Bette and hear of Miranda’s last moments before they were rescued, but in some small way to also make sure that Bette’s mission is accomplished and so is Miranda’s.”

TINA- “Miranda’s?”

JULIE- “If Bette had not survived, Miranda was to come to you, basically bearing the message I have just imparted. Bette survived, but that consequence involved the same condition…Miranda insisted that Bette go to her family immediately and not be by Miranda’s side. So I guess I just want to make sure that both their promises to one another are honoured, in death and life. Bette is still traumatized…I just want her to have a fighting chance, in particular because the notion of it being too late or life being too short is of poignant significance right now, for obvious reasons.” (Julie and Tina look into each other’s eyes for a moment. Julie puts her hand on Tina’s arm.) “I do tend to go on at times.” (They both smile and Tina shakes her head.) “And we should get going.” (Lily stands. She strokes Angelica’s head one more time. She walks over to Tina.)

LILY- “One day I hope you’ll come visit us.” (She shakes Tina’s hand but then grasps it gently with both hands and pats them with one hand as she lets go. Tina pats Lily’s arm as she moves to the side.)

JULIE- “It’s been a pleasure meeting my beautiful west coast counterpart.” (She opens hear arms and they embrace warmly.) “I so wish this had happened under different circumstances.”

TINA- “I’m so sorry for your loss.” (The hug tightens briefly as Julie’s eyes renew their moisturized state. They break their embrace as warmly as it had begun.)

JULIE- “Thank you Tina. Like Lily said, I would very much like to see you in New York. You’re more than welcome.”

TINA- “Thank you, thank you both.” (Julie says goodbye to Angelica.) “I’ll walk you out.”

LILY- “No, it’s ok. We’ll find our way. You stay here with my new friend over there.”

TINA- “I really hope she gets to meet you one day in the future when…”

LILY- “Hey, when she gets better, she’s got free tickets to our special youth performances. She’ll love it. And with those fingers…there might just be a violinist in the making…”

TINA- “Well Lily, hopefully one day we can take you up on that.”

JULIE- “You can stay at my place.”

LILY- “What’s wrong with mine?”

JULIE- “I’m not letting this little child run around in that loft of yours.”

LILY- “What? You afraid I’ll let her smoke the Turkish pipe?” (Tina’s eyes widen and her eyebrows raise, though she smiles…)

JULIE- (Looking at Tina…) “It’s not safe there…” (Tina chuckles…)

LILY- “It’s practically an artistic Mecca. She’ll be exposed to art and music.”

JULIE- “Yes, and nude artists and musicians…”

LILY- “Well, not when SHE’S visiting…” (Turning to Tina…) “She’s exaggerating…”

TINA- “Oh I’m sure…” (Tina nods and smiles.)

JULIE- “Come Maestro, we better get going.”

LILY- “Bye T.” (Julie looks at Lily as Tina stares at Lily. Lily looks at Julie and then back at Tina.) “Tina…Tina…bye Tina.” (Tina smiles and says ‘bye’.)

(Lily and Julie leave. Tina goes up to Angelica and strokes her arm and kisses her forehead. She then walks around to the window and leaning with the right side of her body on the wall she stares out into the new light of day.)


(Back at Bette’s house, Bette walks into the kitchen and sees Kit.)

KIT- “Hey. Good morning.”

BETTE- “Did you know they were going to leave?”

KIT- “Yes, yes I did.”

BETTE- “I’m going to the hospital.”

KIT- “I made some coffee and a bit of breakfast. Why don’t you have some?”

BETTE- “I need to…”

KIT- “You need to eat. It’s too late Bette, they’ve been gone a while. They headed straight to the hospital and were going to go to the airport straight from there. It’s going to be ok. They really care about you and Julie wouldn’t have done it this way unless she really felt it was right. She really seems like a decent and wise woman. She may look like Tina, but she reminds me of me…” (Bette does a double take and they both chuckle briefly.)

BETTE- “I wasn’t going to go see Julie. It was my first inclination but I don’t want to hurt her…I think saying goodbye might be harder on her in a way. She’s got enough to worry about.”

KIT- “Well that’s interesting.”

BETTE- “What?”

KIT- “Sounds like what she told Tina. She said something about parting not being a sweet sorrow but a damned painful one after what’s happened.”

BETTE- “She left me a note, so…anyway, I just want to get to the hospital…”

KIT- “Bette, please, just take a second…sit, eat, just a bit…” (Bette purses her lips and sits.) “There we go. Here, have some coffee and at least a slice of toast.”

BETTE- “Kit, I feel like I’m in some sort of strange zone. I can’t believe all this is happening. My body aches from the lingering effects of the injuries and for a moment it reminds me of the physical affects of the crash, but apart from that all I can think of is…well, last night Miranda…I can’t believe she’s gone and I think of her a lot. But it’s weird, all I can think of, now more than ever and more than anything else…I guess I don’t know what I think….I just see, in my mind, not the crash, not the hospital…I see her, I feel her, I don’t know what…” (There’s a knock and then the door opens. Alice walks in and closes the door behind her. She walks into the kitchen.)

ALICE- (She goes up to Bette and kisses her on the forehead and sits at the table.) “You ok?”

BETTE- “You have my key?”

ALICE- “Shane gave it to me…she’s on her way but had to take care of a couple of things. She’s going to meet us at the hospital.” (She looks at Kit then Bette again.) “What? I come to see how you are and all you can say is I have your key?”

BETTE- “I, I just thought it was…well Al, you…” (She shakes her head and bows it a bit.) “Sorry…”

ALICE- “It’s ok.”

BETTE- “No, it’s not. I’m sorry. I don’t know what…” (She stops and starts to get up.) “I gotta go.”

ALICE- “Where?”

BETTE- “The hospital.”

ALICE- “Well, I’ll take you.”

BETTE- “I’m fine.”

ALICE- “Bette, I’ll take you. No sense in you driving. Doesn’t your arm still hurt?”

BETTE- “Yes but…”

ALICE- “NO, I’m taking you.”

KIT- “Why don’t I just drive us all there? Ok?”

BETTE- “Fine.”

KIT- “Why don’t you finish the toast and…”

BETTE- “I don’t want it Kit, I’m sorry, but I just want to go.” (She gets up slowly and heads out.)

ALICE- “I’m sorry Kit.”

KIT- “It’s ok. It’s not you. You know how she is. And now with everything that’s happened…she found out her friend died, after coming here and seeing her daughter seriously ill, and Tina there, and all this after a near death experience, and that after tearing herself away from what was left of her family…it’s more than some of us deal with in lifetime or at least a span of years.”

ALICE- “Well, there’s no where to go but up now. And that’s what’s gonna happen….everything is going to get better, I just will not accept another death in my life…Angelica is going to be ok, and Porter is going to figure things out. As for her and Tina, well, it’s gotta be better than what it was before.”

KIT- “Come on Al, let’s get going.” (The go to the car, where Bette was waiting. They drive off to the hospital.)

(Tina had lost herself in her myriad of thoughts and feelings. She recalled Julie’s words…the promise…the mission…and remembered another time in her life…
She was lying bare under the sheets, on her right side. Bette was up against her, behind her, shoulder to shoulder, chest to back, upper mocha thighs to the back of Tina’s, and all along their legs touching and feet entwined. Bette kissed her left shoulder and her arms held Tina. Bette kissed her cheek and was startled.

BETTE- “Tina? T? What’s wrong? Why are you crying? Was that too much? I’m sorry…”

TINA- “No, no…it’s ok, it was…well…” (She turns over on her back and Bette keeps her arm hanging over her torso while supporting herself up slightly tilted over Tina.) “It was too much. This is too much.” (Bette looks a bit panicked…) “I can’t…I can’t…I don’t know what…”

BETTE- (She gently lowers her lips to Tina’s and sucks them mildly into a kiss. She kisses Tina on her cheek, her temple, her forehead. She whispers…) “What…what’s wrong my love? Tell me…”

TINA- “What WAS that?”

BETTE- “What? What was what? Did I hurt you? Did I do something wrong?”

TINA- “No…I just…I’ve never felt that…”

BETTE- “T…what? An orgasm?” (Bette is very serious. Tina does a double take and starts laughing.) “What? What’s so funny?”

TINA- “An orgasm?”

BETTE- “Well…I…I don’t know…I mean it seemed kinda intense, well it was…my goodness it was, so I thought maybe you…”

TINA- “Oh, I see. That I had never had an ‘intense’ orgasm before?”

BETTE- “Well, I…”

TINA- “Shut up.” (She lifts her head, kisses Bette and drops her head back down.) “And thank you. I needed a good laugh.”

BETTE- “Hey!”

TINA- “No, I mean…you make me feel better. You always make me feel better. In some way, one way or another, you make everything better.”

BETTE- “So, what’s wrong? Why were things not so good a moment ago.”

TINA- “Bette I’m scared, I’m frightened…” (She sits up, with Bette hovering at her side.) “I feel like the axe is going to fall…or the hammer…or whatever…this…what was that? That we just did? Bette, I’ve never done that before, I’ve never felt that before, I’ve had sex before yes…but I feel like my insides are exploding, like somehow my heart is out in full swing…I feel overwhelmed…I feel…well, all I can do is feel…it’s like my heart exploded and it’s shrapnel is spreading all throughout my body. A different kind of heart attack…this kind gives life and sustains it. I feel like my life is just beginning. I don’t want to lose you…” (Tina notices tears emerges from the brown orbs…) “Bette?”

BETTE- (Bette’s torso is resting up against Tina’s left arm, and Bette’s left arm is wrapped around Tina’s waste.) “You won’t lose me. I was lost. You found me. And now I’m lost to the world, save for you. I hear your words and you seem to be taking mine right out of my mouth…and my own exploding heart. Countless women and nights with them, but I’ve never done THAT before either. Tina forget axes and hammers…the sky could fall, but I don’t care, I’m yours and I’m never going anywhere far from right here.” (Bette raises her hand to Tina’s heart and does move it.) “I promise. Wherever I go, my return address will be right here. Wherever you go, I’ll be right here, because you own my heart…it’s yours. I couldn’t give it away, I can’t take it back…it’s all yours…forever…no matter what. I promise.” (Tina turns slightly and grasps Bette’s face with her right hand. She takes her lips, and as she awakens them, Bette’s lips take Tina’s. They stop and their foreheads meet.) “I love you.”

TINA- “I adore you.” (Bette’s eyes close as she revels in the sights and sounds.) “Bette…”

BETTE- “Mhm…”

TINA- “How about giving me another heart attack…” (Bette smiles, her eyes widen and grasps Tina in the tightest bear hug. Tina sighs at the surprise embrace and revels in it as they swing mildly back and forth.) “I love you so very much.”

BETTE- “Code blue…code blue…” (Tina chuckles.)

(In Angelica’s hospital room, Tina wakes from her remembrance. She finds herself smiling and looking out the window. She catches herself in this moment and then almost as suddenly as she had snapped into the memory projected in her mind’s eye, she snaps out of it. Her eyebrows come together. Tina looks out the window, and then looks down and away from it. She looks up, turns, and goes to Angelica, stands gazing at her, and strokes her hair.)