The Planet
Tina (walking in with Angie in her arms): There’s momma B. Let’s go say hi (she saw Bette sitting in a chair in the corner and knew from the tension radiating from her body that something was wrong and when Bette’s eyes met hers she saw the bruise and knew exactly what happened) son of a bitch…
Angie (smiling): Mommy said a bad word (reaching for her other momma.)
Bette (taking Angie in her arms): Hi baby and yes your mommy did.
Angie (pointing at Bette’s face): Momma love you. Momma got boo boo…
Tina (rubbing Bette’s arm): Yes she does. Bette (looking at her love for an explanation.)
Bette (kissing Angie): I’ll tell you all about it. For now the girls are in Kit’s office waiting for us. (Starting to walk towards Kits office listening to Angie ramble on about some movie and a puppy…)
Tina (looking at her lover; she noticed the tension in that gorgeous body and knew there were a lot of things that Bette was holding in): Baby please, don’t shut me out.
Bette (fighting tears): I’m not. I just need to get this together. I promise we’ll talk (taking Tina’s hand and kissing the back of it.)
They walked into Kits office, hand in hand with Bette holding Angie in her arms. As soon as they opened the door Angie wanted down so she could go to her Aunts.
Shane (picking her up): Hi sweetie (kissing her and tickling her and making her giggle.)
Kit (walking in): Okay baby girl you and you (looking at Tina) have a lot of explaining to do.
Tina (taking a deep breath): One thing at a time. (Looking at her lover and seeing the pain she was in. She knew Bette was holding a tough front but knew deep inside she was hurting so much) what happened?
Bette (taking a deep breath; looking at the women that were her family): I’m being investigated for professional conduct or lack of. (Pausing) Jodi’s accusing me of seducing her to get her artwork at the CU…
Helena (jumping up): That’s bullshit. If anything she seduced you…
Shane (angrily): That lying bitch…
Bette (pointing at Angie): Keep it down. I don’t want her upset…
Helena and Shane “Sorry.”
Tina (thinking): So let me take a wild guess here. You went to talk to her and she hit you.
Helena (jumping up again): Jodi hit you…
Bette (nodding): I gave her an ultimatum…
Kit (shaking her head): You need to file a report Bette…
Bette (grimacing): If she retracts that statement then I won’t need to. All that matters is I have my family back together.
Tina (wrapping her arm around her waist): And we’ll be here no matter what happens..
Shane (apologetically): You know the saying a women scorned…
Helena (defending Bette): It doesn’t give her the right to hit her…
Kit (interrupting): Well, if my sister had been honest with her…
Bette (angrily): I was honest with her…
Kit (rubbing her face): Dammit Bette…
Bette (angrily): What the hell do you mean dammit? Are you blaming me for all of this.
Kit (standing up): Bette think about it, you were with Tina when you were still with Jodi…
Tina (angrily): Kit it’s not all Bette’s fault. We couldn’t ignore our feelings; our bond; our connection; Angie…
Helena (hugging Angie): No you couldn’t…
Angie (playing with Helena’s necklace): Momma mad.
Helena (kissing her cheek): She’s not mad honey. Just upset. Because people don’t always think before they act.
Angie (looking at her mother’s): Momma is that why you have a boo boo…
Tina (smiling): Yes honey. That’s why your momma has a boo boo…
Kit (taking a deep breath): Did you even consider the consequences or were you just thinking what was best for you, Elizabeth?
Shane (trying to defuse the situation): Kit they belong together. They always have. It was bound to happen sooner or later.
Kit (looking at Bette and Tina): They do belong together but maybe instead of jumping into bed together…
Bette (defensively): It wasn’t about jumping into bed together Kit…
Tina (shaking her head): No it wasn’t .
Kit (upset): I told you Bette all that sex went to your brain. I always said…
Bette (pointing): Don’t. Not in front of Angie. Not in front of my daughter…
Tina (wondering): What is she talking about?
Kit (pointing): It doesn’t matter. You were cheating. Either fucking way you look at it you were cheating. You should have come clean and not done what you did. You don’t think I don’t know that you were together before you broke up with Jodi…
Shane (rolling her eyes): We all found out at the Pink Ride because of some game…
Helena (confused): What? The Pink Ride. What the bloody hell happened? And no one told me anything. I was pleasantly surprised to find Bette and Tina making out on the dance floor.
Tina (laughing): We didn’t even have your address. When everything broke loose we didn’t even tell anyone else. We kept it quiet because well the answer’s obvious.
Helena (listening): What made you think something was up Kit?
Kit (shaking her head): It was the day I brought Angie back from Anaheim.
Helena (wondering): What…
Kit (sitting down): Bette was just coming out of the shower and Tina came around the corner a few minutes later with her hair wet and adjusting her top. I didn’t put two and two together then but after the Pink Ride I sure as hell did. And at that time you were still with Jodi.
Bette (leaning against the wall and picking Angie up as she came over to her): Great so now you feel the need to babysit me.
Tina (putting her hand up): Bette…
Bette (kissing Angie): No. I made mistakes yes but I am an adult and I don’t need someone watching my every move. And yes Kit, Tina and I were together that day. We made love, we connected, something Jodi and I never did and never had and you know what I don’t regret one fucking moment because in the end I have my family back. (Turning to leave) you want to stay with momma T or come with me…
Kit (pleading): Bette please just sit down and talk this out.
Helena (getting up): Bette no one’s mad at you…
Shane (shaking her head): Just sit down for a few moments…
Tina (fighting tears; she knew Bette wasn’t upset with her but the thought of Bette walking out when she was hurt and angry): Bette come on honey you and I we’ll go for a walk if you want…
Kit (reaching for Angie): Is this the lesson you want your daughter to learn? That’s it’s okay to walk out when your upset (realizing what she said and regretting it.)
Bette (gently setting Angie down): So now I’m not only a cheater and a liar, but also a bad influence on my daughter. Thanks Kit, thanks a fucking lot (she leaned down and kissed Angie and stormed out the door.)
Tina (opening the door to go after her but she was gone): Shit shit, shit.
Shane (softly): She’s totally pissed.
Helena (grabbing her purse and keys): Let’s go after her.
Kit (sitting down): I’m sorry Tina…
Tina (shaking her head): Kit it’s between you and Bette but I’ll say this to all of you. Bette and I getting back together was the best dam thing to happen and yes we made some mistakes but she doesn’t deserve to be berated especially by her family.
Angie (pointing): Momma B crying…
Tina (picking her up): Yes. Let’s go get momma B so we can make her feel better.
Shane (dialing Bette’s number): Come on, come on. Bette, listen just answer the phone. No one’s mad at you. Bette, please pick up shit okay call back as soon as you get this.
Helena (walking to her car): Are we going to stand here all day or go after her?
Tina (setting Angie in her car seat): Let’s try the house first then go from there.
Shane (knowing that Bette didn’t always go home she had found her sometimes wandering the beach lost in thought): Tina if she’s angry or hurt usually she’ll head down to the beach and just relax by the water…
Kit (pleading with Tina): Tina please..
Tina (hugging her): It’ll be okay. I’ll call you as soon as we find her. (Getting in the car) I’ll meet you down there. Let me check the house just in case.
Shane (leaning on her door): No I’ll go to your house. I’ll meet you down there or call if I find her.
Tina (nodding): Thank you (she dialed Bette’s cell phone and when she got no answer she closed it and hoped Bette hadn’t gone too far.)