“It’s not that abysmal Bette. You don’t know Helena but despite her abhorrent attitude towards art she is a shrewd business woman. She’ll make good decisions. Besides I’ve given her very strict guidelines as to my expectations.
I’ll have someone here to keep an eye on things don’t you worry. My legacy is too important to me and I’ve labored over it too long and hard not to preserve it.”

“You know I’m surprised that Helena and I have never met considering how close you and I have become. I mean you’ve met my family and friends. Why is it that you never brought Helena to L.A. with you?”

“Well truth is we’re not that close. She’s spent most of her life in Europe with her father. It was only recently that she relocated to New York with her partner Winnie Mann. She makes it a point to avoid anything to do with art and much to do with me. I think she’s a bit jealous of my relationship with you. I’ve tried to get her to come to Los Angeles to meet you on several occasions but she’s always refused. I had hoped that you two could become friends, but alas that was not meant to be. At least now you will have reason to interact with each other when you make your presentation in New York.”

“If Helena doesn’t care for the arts do you really think she’ll support us in the same fashion as you’ve done in the past? My new Director Leo Herrera is already working on next year’s grant proposals. You can see that I’ve got big plans for the CAC Peggy and a huge part of our success will be incumbent on the continued funding from the Peabody Arts Foundation grants. I realize I’m being presumptuous here but you’ve always been so generous. Can we expect the support from Helena or should I tell Leo to start looking elsewhere for our title sponsor?”

“Don’t start worrying about what’s going to happen a year from now darling. You’ll have your funding. Helena doesn’t appreciate the arts but that’s a personal choice. The foundation is business. She knows full well that the CAC and other venues like it as well as individual artists are totally dependent on private funding. The Peabody Arts Foundation is a beacon in the art world. I intend for her to continue that tradition in my absence. I’ve already instructed her to give the same level of consideration and support to art projects as to anything else that might be proposed.”