(About two days later, Alice decided to check in on Bette at the gallery, since she hadn’t returned her phone calls…)

ALICE- “James…”

JAMES- “Hi.”

ALICE- “Can I go in? Is she busy?”

JAMES- “Really busy. The reception is Friday. Let me check with her.” (He goes off and returns in a couple of minutes.) “Ok, go on in.”

ALICE- (She knocks on Bette’s office door and opens it slowly. Bette is on the phone and she motions her to sit on the couch so Alice waits there. Bette finally finishes the conversation and joins Alice.) “Hey Porter.”

BETTE- (She plunks herself down next to Alice.) “Hey.” (She sighs.)

ALICE- “I thought I’d take you to lunch or coffee or whatever…you kinda went awol after I sent you in to rescue our lost blonde…everything ok?”

BETTE- “Yeah, fine…I’m just really tired and extremely busy.”

ALICE- “I hope it’s ok that I just dropped by.”

BETTE- “It’s fine Al, I needed a bit of a break. I’m starting to get really antsy.” (She turns to look at Alice…) “By the way…Lesbian Patrol???? What the hec is THAT?”

ALICE- “WHAT? What’s wrong with that? I thought it was quaint!”

BETTE- (Shaking her head…) “You’re unique Alice…really unique…”

ALICE- “Oh I know that, tell me something I don’t know…like how things went with our lost damsel…” (She smiles….)

BETTE- “Why would anything happen with her Al? You said it yourself…she’s probably straight…”

ALICE- “Oh…right…uh huh…is that why I haven’t heard from you?”

BETTE- “Alice, I’ve got the reception on Friday!”

ALICE- “Okay, relax gallery lady! Geez.” (They both sit with their backs lying up against the back side of the sofa.) “You like her huh.”

BETTE- “She’s nice…seems really nice…decent…I didn’t realize this at first but she’s got a good sense of humour too…quick witted…”

ALICE- “As much as me????” (Bette laughs…) “Saw her funny side eh Porter?”

BETTE- “Well, doesn’t matter.” (She turns her head to look at Alice…) “She’s not coming to the reception…”

ALICE- “What? What did you do?”

BETTE- “Nothing! She said something unexpected came up, a relative that her and Jeff have to entertain on Friday.”

ALICE- “So she can come later, after they’re done, or bring the relative too.”

BETTE- “I mentioned the reception doesn’t finish early. Well who cares anyway? It’s not like there’s any rush or anything? So she doesn’t come to the reception, so what? She can come by anytime…it’s not a big deal Alice.” (She sits up. Alice looks at her for a bit.)

ALICE- “You ok?”

BETTE- “I’m fine.”

ALICE- “You never know…give it some time Bette…”

BETTE- “What’s with talking out of the both sides of your mouth by the way? I mean on the one hand you seem to think there’s something that could happen and on the other you’re reminding me of her orientation…maybe you should make up your mind.”

ALICE- “Maybe you should make up yours and maybe you should appreciate your friends when they try and support you…” (Bette turns to her and glares at her…) “You know…I mean just a little bit…little appreciation…” (She lifts her hand and brings her thumb and index finger together to indicate a small amount in front of Bette…) “…just a bit…not asking much…don’t yell…no hitting…I don’t take abuse well…even though you hit like a girl as I recall from your sports phase, but that’s beside the point…count to 10 ’cause I’m scared….”

BETTE- (She laughs and shakes her head…) “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to bite your head off.” (Alice swoops in and affixes a quick kiss on Bette’s cheek.) “What’s that for?”

ALICE- “I dunno. What I do know is that I saw the way you looked at her, even that first day at the Planet.”

BETTE- “She was there for barely an hour Alice…”

ALICE- “It doesn’t take an hour my friend…just one magical moment in time…”

BETTE- “You’re nuts, you know that? I barely know her and she hardly knows me. And if that was really one of those moments…well…”

ALICE- “I know it was also because you’re not telling me anything. More so in fact because of your mysterious silence.”

BETTE- “You realize I have no idea what you’re talking about…”

ALICE- “B…I gave Shane a lift home last night. We were having a beer and saw her leave your house…past midnight Bette. Shane had dropped you at like 6:00. When two total strangers have only just met and spend more than 5 hours just talking…and I assume that’s all you did…” (Bette give her a look…) “…just saying! When that happens…and you have nothing to share with me about it…the silence speaks volumes…ya know?” (They both sit there in some silence for a few moments until Bette finds her comfort level…)

BETTE- “She really just struck me. It’s weird…”

ALICE- “What’s weird?”

BETTE- “I’m not a virgin…”

ALICE- (Her eyes go wide and the drama goes on…) “Stop the presses we have ourselves a news bulletin! HELLO Porter…woe there with the revelations I think I’m going to faint!!!!”

BETTE- “Al!”

ALICE- “You sure?”

BETTE- “What?”

ALICE- “You know…that you’re untouched and everything…”

BETTE- “Shut up Al…”

ALICE- “Hey, I’m in shock…”

BETTE- “Will you relax for a second…I mean she’s obviously not my first romantic encounter…”

ALICE- “Ya we kinda like really know that by now…”

BETTE- “Al! I mean it’s like this is some new encounter. This should have been like any other meeting of a woman for the first time, but it felt like a first meeting of a sort that I’ve never really experienced…”

ALICE- “Uh oh…you’re getting all kinda close encounters of the lesbian kind on me Porter…”

BETTE- “I’m serious.” (Alice sits up and listens.) “I’m not even sure what I’m feeling. We were together for hours and the whole time I just wasn’t sure what the hec was going on…I usually have no trouble at all having the upper hand and knowing what I’m doing and what I’m dealing with, but I felt like I was in some sort of first date, first time with anyone, case of first impression…just weird…and on the one hand she seemed a little uncomfortable but on the other…she seemed in control…and…”

ALICE- “What?”

BETTE- “The things I said to her…things just came out…I don’t think I’ve every told anyone the things that were coming out of my mouth…things I haven’t even told Shane or you…you just don’t say stuff like that to someone you’ve just met. I could have sat there with her for even longer and not once would I have thought of someone else or another place or another event or appointment…I was just there…with her…time seemed infinitely slow, like it wasn’t a factor…like it had stood still, as the cliché goes…as though it just didn’t matter…except when she noticed the time and I felt like the bubble had burst…suddenly then time had passed much too quickly.”

ALICE- “Sounds pretty serious.”

BETTE- “But I don’t know…maybe I was just…”

ALICE- “What? Thinking of the past?”

BETTE- “No, not at all…I…I don’t know. It’s weird, it’s like…Alice if she knew how much power she had over me…”

ALICE- “Woe! Power over you?”

BETTE- “Al…a few more hours and if she wanted to she would have had me in my bed…or right there on the couch, near the pool…frig, anyway she wanted me…”

ALICE- “Okay then!!! Someone get the woman a cold drink!”

BETTE- “But at the same time I couldn’t tell if that was totally NOT what she wanted…she’s not even gay, well I don’t know…she’s gone through or is going through something…can’t quite tell what…”

ALICE- “Porter shock syndrome…”

BETTE- “What?”

ALICE- “This…what’s it’s name? Stendhal syndrome? It’s got nothin on the Porter shock syndrome…one encounter with the Bette and it’s all over…you just stand there either crying in awe or like putty in the gallery lady’s hands…” (Bette looks at her not sure what to say…) “What? Like you don’t know! Oh come on…you’re a striking woman…vision of mocha beauty…our lost lady in limbo probably was in as much shock as you, except you’re having some sort of Porter identity crisis thing and she’s in full Porter Shock Syndrome…stage 2.”

BETTE- “Stage 2?”

ALICE- “Oh we’re passed that first viewing by this point…I mean she’s in the Porter residence and no one but the Bette is there…it’s game over…” (Bette’s chuckling…) “Oh yeah…she’ll be begging for more…just wait…” (Bette quickly affixes a kiss on Alice’s cheek…) “Oh yeah…and what’s THAT for?”

BETTE- “Returning the favour, I love you too.”

ALICE- “Ok let’s take a moment now to take things down a notch…just breathe…Porter’s gone and kissed me…I think we’ve gotta regroup here because lost blonde woman has totally destabilized the Bette…” (Bette laughs…) “And no more kisses on me please…I’ve been down that path…immune to the Porter syndrome…in case you’ve forgotten our little history…”

BETTE- “How could I possibly!”

ALICE- “Damn straight…I’ve got my own after affects on women too you know!”

BETTE- “Without a doubt…” (Alice looks at her and they both chuckle.)

ALICE- “Listen Bette, let it go…you got it bad…just go with the flow…it’ll be ok.”

BETTE- “I thought you would make a much bigger fuss about all of this, what’s wrong with you? Penelope sucking your usual energy?”

ALICE- “I’ll make a big deal about it later…maybe toy with you by almost mentioning things in front of Tina…you know, my usual shtick.”

BETTE- “Right.”

ALICE- “Gotta go B, since you don’t have time for lunch. Take it easy. Why don’t you come to the Planet later.”

BETTE- “If I finish up, and I think just maybe I might, I’ll see you guys there.” (Alice gets up and leaves.)

ALICE- “Bye B.”

BETTE- “Bye Al.” (After Alice leaves, Bette looks around. She rubs her forehead and looks at the couch next to her. She lies down and falls asleep pretty quickly. Unfortunately, her rest is shortlived…)

JAMES- “But ma’am you can’t go in there…”

EVANGELINE- “Silly boy, you know who I am!?”

JAMES- “Well yes ma’am but…” (Evangeline bursts into Bette’s office and is about ready to regale Bette when she sees her sleeping…somehow not waking her. She turns to James and shews him off. He closes the door gently. Evangeline walks to Bette and sits softly on the sofa next to Bette. She watches the sleeping beauty rest for a few moments. Bette moves a bit in her sleep. Evangeline tilts her head as she gazes at Bette and then places the soft touch of her hand on Bette’s cheek.)

EVANGELINE- (Whispering…) “Ha…Charlotte will be really jealous when I tell her about this moment! Mon petite oiseau…” (Bette’s eyes open slowly and she notices the visitor a split second later almost shocking her into an upright position…) “Lentment…easy there sleeping beauty…not so fast…you’ll make yourself dizzy!”

BETTE- “Lia? Dr. Be…”

EVANGELINE- “OUI!!! It’s me! This is not a dream Ms. Porter, this is not a test…do not adjust your brain…this is real…I am not a vision of your fantasy…”

BETTE- (She isn’t sure whether to laugh or cry…) “Oh God…” (She grabs her forehead…)

EVANGELINE- “You have a headache?”

BETTE- “No…Lia…what are you doing here?”

EVANGELINE- “Why, you not happy to see me?”

BETTE- “Well no…of course…it’s always good to see you but…I thought you were coming next month…”

EVANGELINE- “So what? So I come this month. What’s the difference?”

BETTE- “I just spoke to you…barely two days ago…”

EVANGELINE- “I’m fast!”

BETTE- “You’re…never mind…”

EVANGELINE- “Yes ok, I’m unique…we know that…but listen, I had already been thinking of coming and started preparing, so for me it was quick to just change plans and come now. So I go San Francisco after instead of before coming here…so what.” (Bette sits up, putting her legs on the floor as she sits next to Lia who puts her arm around Bette and kisses her on the cheek.) “My sweet. You look wonderful…a little tired maybe but just wonderful.” (Bette smiles.) “Tell me…what’s new?”

BETTE- “We have an exhibition…there’s a big reception on Friday.”

EVANGELINE- “Wonderful! I come. Let me help you!” (Bette looks at her and chuckles.) “I’m a little jet lagged but I’m used to it with all the traveling I do. So…I help. But first…time for lunch or coffee…I take you out…” (Bette shakes her head…) “No no no…you cannot shake head to me…I insist…take break…let’s go. Up up…” (Lia stands and coaxes Bette up. She gathers her things and lets the vivacious Dr. Bertrandeisen lead her away.)

(In another part of town, Jeff has joined his sister for lunch.)

JEFF- “I haven’t seen you in like what 2 days? So, how’s your day so far?”

TINA- “Pretty smooth. You ok? The conference call this morning went ok?”

JEFF- “Sure did. Thank goodness that’s over. Figgin project was driving me nuts. It’s finally a done deal after the conference call. I feel more relaxed now. So…tell me…how did things go the other night with the ladies?”

TINA- “Oh it was fine. Good.” (She nods and looks at the menu.)

JEFF- “Just fine?”

TINA- “Yes…they were really nice. I basically just hung out with Bette.” (Reads her menu again.) “I like them. They’re a great group.”

JEFF- “Hung out with Bette? All evening?”

TINA- “Yeah…why?”

JEFF- “Just curious. That must have been amazing…she’s beautiful and talented…an amazing woman.”

TINA- “Yes.”

JEFF- “I thought it would be good for you to get to know them…”

TINA- (She looks at him…) “What do you mean?”

JEFF- “Nothing, just I thought or I just think they’re interesting and seem nice and…”

TINA- “No no no…what do you mean you “thought” it would be good to get to know them? When exactly did you start thinking that?”

JEFF- “What? What do you mean? I just…”

TINA- “Okay, Jeff…first of all, what do you mean ‘they’?”

JEFF- “The women you met…the group…Bette…”

TINA- “Jeff…”

JEFF- “Hey I just think they’re cool ok? I just want you to be happy here…”

TINA- “Yeah, and I love you for caring about me being happy but you said you ‘thought’…you just met them…that day at the Planet just like I did…or am I missing something? You knew…” (She searches her thoughts…) “Jeff…you had me meet you at the Planet because it’s a gay place?” (Jeff looks worried…) “Jeff…you know…”

JEFF- “Tina please I didn’t mean…”

TINA- “Forget it…can we just change the subject…”

JEFF- “No, we will not change the subject…I want you to be happy and put everything else behind you. I want you to move on and be everything you want to be and do everything you want and have the happiness we all deserve. I don’t want to change the subject…what’s so wrong with trying to help you?”

TINA- “Jeff, sweetie…I don’t need the help…I appreciate it but…honestly Jeff…what made you think…”

JEFF- “Oh now don’t start! You were in love with her. She broke your heart. I saw what it did to you when I was still back home. Now you’re going to tell me it was just a phase or a hiccup in the scheme of your life? She wasn’t just a friend you missed Tina. Don’t even try to get into that line of argument.”

TINA- “She was dear to me…ok? That’s all. I was just…I was so confused. It doesn’t mean anything now.”

JEFF- “I can’t believe you.”

TINA- “Me? How about you? You’re suddenly on a mission now…take it easy. I don’t need to be pushed in one direction or another. I don’t…”

JEFF- “PUSHED?”

TINA- “I’m sorry…I just…I don’t need the ‘persuasion’ ok? One way or another. I just want to take each day as it comes. One day at a time. I don’t care what happens…if I happen to meet people, happen to meet someone I care for and they’re a man or a woman…I just…let it go…I just don’t want to struggle anymore. You’re sweet and kind and you mean the world to me and I know you want to see me happy, but you don’t have to do stuff like that…”

JEFF- “You don’t have to do anything either…I didn’t mean to push you in any way.”

TINA- “I know but…”

JEFF- “But But But But…” (Tina looks at him…) “Stop…let it go…ok?” (He smiles…) “And don’t tell me you’re not glad I chose the Planet…”

TINA- “You’re such a…”

JEFF- “Amazing brother!”

TINA- “You little…”

JEFF- “Handsome guy…”

TINA- “Hardheaded…”

JEFF- “Well-meaning and I don’t give up…”

TINA- “Please tell me you hadn’t actually met them before…”

JEFF- “No, of course not. But I had heard about the place from people at work and saw the gallery and so forth.”

TINA- “Mmm. Anyway…heard from Aunt Beatrice?”

JEFF- “Yep. She’s really happy about getting to see us.”

TINA- “Well, let’s order. I’m hungry.”