Chapter 11

(Bette, standing in Helena’s office after the confrontation, looks at Tina and Helena after Helena’s admission to some confusion over her new ‘love affair’.)

BETTE- “Helena, we …we need to talk about this further.” (The secretary enters.)

MARTHA- “Excuse me Ms. Peabody but it’s ….” (She looks at the other two women and hesitates…) “…uhm, it’s for you…you asked to tell you if…”

HELENA- “I can’t talk to anyone right now Martha…”

MARTHA- “But it’s…you said if…if she calls…” (Helena looks up at Martha and then at Bette…”

BETTE- “Oh you’re joking!”

TINA- “Bette…”

HELENA- “Martha…would you just tell her I’ll call back.”

MARTHA- “Yes ma’am.” (She nervously exits.)

BETTE- (Getting a little annoyed again…) “Helena are you actually encouraging her to continue this? I thought at least it was an isolated moment of weakness…”

HELENA- (Blunt…) “Well it wasn’t.” (She looks at Tina and then at Bette.) “We…well, I saw her briefly on the weekend.”

BETTE- (The look on her face almost says it all…she raises her hand to her forehead and then back down to her waist.) “I don’t know what to say…I honestly don’t know what to say.”

TINA- (Trying to find a silver lining…) “Did you talk to her and let her down easy?”

HELENA- (She looks at Tina and then shakes her head…) “Not quite.”

BETTE- “Please don’t tell me that you…”

HELENA- “Bette relax! I told you I just kissed her…”

BETTE- “Okay, I’m leaving before I have a total fit. I can’t believe this.”

TINA- (Getting agitated and raising her voice a bit…) “I really think you need to get a grip Bette.”

BETTE- “EXCUSE me?”

TINA- “Yeah, as a matter of fact perhaps you could excuse US. Helena and I have a meeting this afternoon we have to prepare for. Try to remember that YOU’RE the one who showed up unannounced…”

BETTE- “Tina…”

TINA- “No no no…I’ll see you at home.”

BETTE- “But Tina…”

TINA- “Goodbye Bette.”

BETTE- (She smirks and shakes her head.) “Fine. Goodbye. Helena…we still need to talk…please.” (She leaves.)

HELENA- “Well THAT was fun.”

TINA- “What did you expect? Then again, who died and made her the sex police. Geez, she’s gone all Melvin on me out of nowhere. My goodness. Unbelievable…just barging in here like…like…Ugggh….”

HELENA- “I guess she’s got a bit of a point but I…well…oh for pete’s sake…I don’t know what to think or feel anymore.”

TINA- “Helena…what happened on the weekend exactly?” (Helena looks at her.)


(Back at crazy lesbian headquarters…the Planet…)

KIT- “REEEAAALY? You’re kidding!”

ALICE- “I kid you not!”

KIT- “And I thought I had a strange post menopausal phase.”

ALICE- “Snatched the babe right outa the cradle she did.”

KIT- “Wow. Bette must be…well I don’t even wanna know…” (She looks at Alice…) “Do I wanna know?”

ALICE- “You don’t…but Kit, she wasn’t too pleased, if you know what I’m saying.”

KIT- “I can imagine. But it really isn’t much of her business…Gerri’s a grown woman.”

ALICE- “Yeah, but she’s her teacher.”

KIT- “So what? It’s not like Bette was pimping her to Helena for crying out loud.” (Alice chuckles.)

ALICE- “Dirty old women ain’t we?”

KIT- “Speak for yourself child. Look at me with Angus. Mind you, at least he was in this thirties. Anyway, same difference. She really should’ve spoken to Bette though, so I think things are going to get kind of hairy between those two.”

ALICE- “So…I bet you it’ll last like 3 months.”

KIT- “What? Helena’s May-December romance?”

ALICE- “Yup.”

KIT- “I don’t know Alice, I’m thinking she’ll break that barrier. Especially when you told me that it didn’t stop at the kiss. We’ll see.”

ALICE- “So like maybe I gotta find me a young one too.”

KIT- (Laughing…) “Lordi Lordi…”

ALICE- “What? Don’t think I can sweep them on off their feet?”

KIT- “Uhhh…uhu….I gotta get back to work…” (She continues chuckling…)

ALICE- “Hey! I’m cougar material you know…they’ll have to take meds just to keep up with me…”

KIT- (Laughing…) “Easy you sexy feline…I’m getting tired just thinking about it…” (She laughs and Alice follows her as she walks off. Back at Peabody central…)


HELENA- “It all just happened. It was one of those things. The moments passing by, hearing myself speak and watch myself move and all the while my brain relinquishing power. I don’t know how to describe it Tina.”

TINA- “Well did you leave our house on Friday night together?”

HELENA- “Not initially. It was just the bunch of us going out. We didn’t bother to retrieve you and Bette since you had disappeared. We went to the Marmara club. We were all drinking, laughing…and there I was one moment finding myself looking across and seeing her looking so gentle and young and…well, I was touched by her predicament with Bette and her sensitivity.”

TINA- “Did her vulnerability strike you maybe?”

HELENA- “Tina…”

TINA- “Okay ok…go on…I’m just playing ‘Bette’s advocate’…”

HELENA- “Right then…so afterwards, after a few drinks, I found myself standing next to her and Angie chatting. Angelica brought me into the conversation and I regaled them with stories of our exploits over the years and the odd relationships some of us have had. We were having such a good time…and time passed quickly. Then, a bit later and after some movement of our little crowd and more drinks and finger food, I saw her sitting next to a couple of the group but not quite partaking of the conversation. So I went over and started chatting with her. She engaged me and I talked to her about her work with Bette and her vision for herself, her future…her passion and her contemplation was refreshing. I told her about the exciting things we’ve been doing with our film work, and how you mentioned her to me, and it kind of went on from there.”

TINA- “And what? Then you kissed her out of the blue?”

HELENA- “Noooo…the rest of the group started to die off and leave and suddenly we found ourselves alone and not quite caring really. Somehow the conversation came back to her feelings and though she didn’t mention Bette by name I knew she was speaking of her. I told her my own story of love lost, years ago, and it seemed to strike a chord with her. She seemed so lovesick and saddened by this unrequited love thing…how does Bette do that anyway?”

TINA- “I think it’s her sexy body…but that’s beside the point…And then you fell into each other, at which point you kissed her?”

HELENA- “Nooooooooooooooo. I noted that we were the last of the motley bunch and suggested we take a walk. I wanted to make her feel better before leaving her that night. It was also a nice night and I needed to let the inebriation wear off. So we walked to the parking lot and I offered to drive her home. When she told me where she lived, I suggested taking a stroll on the shore. So off we went. We parked and took our shoes off and started walking along the shore. We seemed to talk forever. I talked mostly and she interjected with questions and such. At one point we sat down, just chatting, watching the waves.”

TINA- “And then you were overcome with the powerful atmospherics and started the kissing…”

HELENA- “You’re desperately looking for the climax in this little story aren’t you?” (And so are Merlin’s readers …ahem…)

TINA- (She smiles…) “Fine, just go on.”
HELENA- “Well…actually…we were overcome with the powerful atmospherics and…”

TINA- “What???”

HELENA- (A little animated…) “It was then that I pinned her to the sand and made mad passionate love to her throughout the night…”

TINA- (Her mouth agape…) “Wha…well…you…”

HELENA- “No you silly woman…but I do have to say that the ocean, starlit sky and endless beachfront really provided some serious atmospherics.”

TINA- “Helena!”

HELENA- “But I digress…” (Then she recounts the evening’s events…and only Tina get’s to hear about it for now…)


(Bette is back in her office. Gerri comes calling to give her a report on the art show. Bette feels extremely awkward at the sight of Gerri. She’s not sure what to say or make of it all.)

GERRI- “Here you go professor. I had Mildred put the laminated version together. It all looks like it’s coming together.” (Bette’s fidgeting with stuff on her desk as she only intermittently looks up at her student. Gerri takes a seat and expects to continue the meeting about the art show. Bette, letting Gerri go on about the show, gets up and walks to her front door…shutting it and coming back and sitting down on her couch. Gerri, whose back is facing Bette, now turns to look at her. She looks puzzled, stops for a brief moment, but then continues on about the art show. Bette’s uncomfortable. She stands while Gerri talks and moves toward her door and then turns in contemplation of walking to her desk but then stops and sits.)

BETTE- “Gerri…”

GERRI- “But if you want, we can have Smith’s pieces next to Gravenhaven’s…”

BETTE- “Gerri…”

GERRI- “Or Gramolsti’s next to Smith’s work…”

BETTE- (Slightly raised voice…) “GERRI…”

GERRI- “Sorry… Yes? Yes professor Porter?”

BETTE- “Would you please come sit here with me?”

GERRI- (Looking a little curious…but she’s starting to sense the gravity of Bette’s demeanor and feels some trepidation…) “Uhm…ok, sure.” (She walks over to sit in the chair across from Bette, but the professor motions her to sit with her, facing her on the couch. She senses something’s not well with the world and meekly walks over and sits.) “Something wrong professor? You don’t like the set up? Did I get it wrong?”

BETTE- “Gerri…it’s not about your work. The work is fine, great as always.”

GERRI- “Oh ok, I was worried because I, well both Steve and I worked really hard on this and we want you to be happy with everything and ….”

BETTE- “GERRI…”

GERRI- “Yes professor?” (The plentiful blonde curls bob as she moves her head.)

BETTE- “Let me speak…ok?” (Gerri nods.) “You seem very energetic today and genuinely happy and I’m glad.” (Gerri tries to speak but Bette motions with her hand and face that it’s still her turn.) “We’ve worked together for some time now. I think you’re a great student and you’ve been excellent in assisting me with all the work we’ve done together. More than that, I’ve come to value our relationship. It’s given me pleasure to be able to be a mentor to you and it would make me very happy to call you a friend after you move on from here. I, and Tina too, care about you and we want you to be happy and we want to be there for you whenever you need us. As for me, I…well I’ve been worried about you this past while. Things have been…” (Gerri interrupts…)

GERRI- “Professor…” (She puts her hand on Bette’s arm…) “I think I better be honest with you and I really feel that I can now. Up until recently I honestly thought my feelings for you had taken a very serious turn…I thought I was in love with you…” (Bette feels flushed and does an instant inner check of her hearing…) “After getting over the hurdle of telling Tina, who was really great about it, I feel it coming very easily to tell you. Please…it’s ok…I…think you’re wonderful and I’m so grateful to have found you and have you in my life. Our relationship means the world to me. But I think I’m in love.” (Bette opens her mouth to speak but Gerri…true to form…intercedes…) “And unlike OUR relationship, it’s a mutual non-platonic one…well…I can’t even describe it. In fact, I’m so happy and surprised and…well…I just don’t know what to do with myself.”

BETTE- (Almost ignoring the part about Gerri’s new love interest…) “You were in love with me? Are you sure?”

GERRI- “No…I thought I was…I just…you mean so much to me and I hadn’t yet fallen in love and you’re amazing and you’ve touched my heart with all your kindness and…you’re beautiful inside and out…anybody would be in danger of falling for you professor….” (She smiles as Bette blushes…) “But over the weekend I met someone and realized that the feelings for you that had morphed into something quite intense in my own little world was not really love of the romantic sort. I think I’ll always feel strongly about you, no doubt, but this woman…we found each other and see one another on the same plane…you know?”

BETTE- (She looks a bit bewildered and tries to smile…) “Gerri I’m…I…”

GERRI- “She’s just beautiful and interesting and worldly and charming and wise and…”

BETTE- (Her eyebrows raised as hearing Helena being described…) “Gerri…”

GERRI- “…not judgmental at all, and open minded and…I could go on and on…”

BETTE- “I don’t doubt it. But Gerri you know with these first loves we have to be careful. It’s wonderful to find someone who provokes such feelings in you and awakens you…”

GERRI- “You did it too Professor, but SHE’s just different…”

BETTE- (Eyebrows together…) “Right…ok then…as I was saying…these feelings can be overwhelming and it helps sometimes to just take a breath and take a step back.” (Gerri looks puzzled.) “Gerri, do you see how the woman you describe shares similar traits to me…sort of…”

GERRI- “But totally different…”

BETTE- “Oh I’m sure! Don’t doubt it for a minute. Very different people. But that’s another story. I’m just a little worried that your feelings…”

GERRI- “Oh I know the risks Professor…I know…it might not work out. But…Professor you know what it’s like to never have loved and then finding yourself and then suddenly finding a person who liberates your heart and mind and soul and opens your heart and lets you touch them…touching someone who moves you so much when you have never touched anyone in that way before…(Bette’s heart is warmed as she empathizes with the experiences…she’s moved by seeing Gerri undergo the same experience she once did…) …and to feel her touch…I wish I could explain what it feels like…’

BETTE- “Uhhh…Gerri…I think a lot of people can relate…you know?” (Gerri blushes and is a bit embarrassed…Bette taps her arm…) “It’s ok. Anyway…I had my first such encounter in college. And…it was an older woman actually.”

GERRI- “Really?”

BETTE- “Really. It was an indescribable experience. It was just amazing, but also difficult and, well, let’s just say it took me a while to get over it.”

GERRI- “That can happen. I know. But right now…it’s so amazing. It’s weird, when I’m with her I’m different…I feel calmer, older, mature, somehow comfortable in my own skin…”

BETTE- “Gerri are you sure that she sees this the same way you do?”

GERRI- “Yeah. We’re going out again.”

BETTE- “What?”

GERRI- “Yeah, she’s going to take me on her private plane.” (Bette grasps her forehead.)

(Back at the Peabody office…)

HELENA- (To Tina…) “Then we walked. Somehow our hands had met and taken mutual hold. It warmed my heart…and the water, the waves. We stopped at one point and were looking out into the ocean…” (Helena describes the events to Tina, as their recollection unfolds…

HELENA- (To Gerri…) “It’s beautiful isn’t it?”

GERRI- “Nothing like the sea…or ocean I guess. It’s very moving.” (Helena tilts her body a bit as the two start facing one another.) “I…I’ve never really met anyone like you before.”

HELENA- (She touches Gerri’s face with her hand…) “Same here. You’re so very refreshing.” (Helena was enchanted…Gerri was entranced and feeling a warmth envelop her. It was like a dream for the younger woman. Their hands have found each other’s waists by this point. A soft wind blows their hair and brings goose bumps in its wake. Gerri feels her entire body drawn to Helena.)

GERRI- “I don’t know if I can do this.”

HELENA- “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”

GERRI- “But I do…I desperately do. I just don’t know if I should.”

HELENA- (Her head tilting a bit as she strokes Gerri’s face…) “Why?”

GERRI- “Because I’ve never done this before.”

HELENA- “Never kissed a woman? It’s no different…just softer and I dare say somehow more sensual on some levels.”

GERRI- “No…never kissed anyone before.”

HELENA- “Gerri sweetie…never?”

GERRI- “Never.” (Helena’s forehead touches Gerri’s as Helena’s heart breaks just a little at hearing such an admission.) “And there’s another reason I maybe shouldn’t.”

HELENA- (Whispering…) “What’s that?”

GERRI- “I’ve never felt quite so much before…I’m afraid I may disappoint you or overwhelm you and embarrass myself.”

HELENA- (Her heart swelled at the sound of these words and she stared intensely into Gerri’s eyes, moving her lips a little closer. Helena let her lips graze the side of Gerri’s mouth and impact a little on the skin. She kissed her softly there and slowly drew back, looked at Gerri and then kissed a place close to her lips on the other side. Gerri’s face moved intensely and caressed Helena’s skin as the Peabody lips primed themselves a bit more and then gently left their mark with the softest kiss near Gerri’s lips. Slowly, Helena backed her face away a bit to let Gerri’s gaze fall into her’s. And then opening her lips ever so slightly and sharing a final look with Gerri’s eyes, she silenced the waves, the wind, and all the elements to Gerri’s ears as she grasped her lips with her own…softly, gently, and expertly. Gerri opened her eyes and took a breath. Helena smiled as she saw evidence in Gerri’s glance of the sensations that she had just sent throughout Gerri’s body…it most certainly wanted more…and Gerri obliged by taking a step of first impression in her life and duplicating the Peabody introductory kiss by claiming the supple British lips with her own. Helena sighed as she then felt the eager young lips engage her mouth with a fervor and passion known only to moments of new discovery. Gerri moaned and her body embraced the older woman’s with absolute delight. Though the neophyte in this scene, Helena let Gerri conduct these maiden proceedings in this young woman’s life. And though her hunger for Helena seemed insatiable, Gerri worshiped those Peabody lips like a sacred place, all at once with gentleness and passion. And then, slowly, the longest first kiss of Gerri’s life ended as the two women’s bodies snuggled closely and they rested their foreheads on one another.)

TINA- (Smiling softly, heartened by the story, and taken aback by the sensitivity and gentleness in Helena’s voice and the almost childlike look on her face…) “She really touched you didn’t she?” (Helena smiles.)