Some Dive Across Town
Bette walked through the crowd looking for a drink and to be left alone. Her world had at one point righted itself and now it had just upended itself again. Sitting down at the bar she ordered a scotch and water and told the bartender to keep them coming.
Jodi had spotted Bette from across the room and smirked. Grabbing her drink she walked over there with a determination bordering on obsession. Bette was on her fourth drink by now and feeling very little pain.
Jodi (sitting down next to her): Hi baby…
Bette (slamming her glass down): Don’t call me that.
Jodi (moving the stool closer): Where’s the ball and chain?
Bette (standing up and grabbing the bar for balance; drinking on an empty stomach was not a good idea): I’m not having this conversation with you (grabbing her refill and moving to leave but felt Jodi grab her arm.)
Jodi (softly): Do you really want go? Do you want to be by yourself so much that your going to walk away? I’ll take care of you. You know I will.
Bette (finishing off her drink): No (shaking her head to clear it.) I’m leaving…

The Same Dive
Alice walked in with Tasha on her arm.
Tasha (looking around): This is the fourth bar we’ve been to. If she’s not here I’m calling for backup.
Alice (smiling): You sound so sexy so, so…
Tasha (kissing her to quiet her yammering for a moment): Shh. I need to think.
Alice (spotting Bette leaning against a bar and seeing Jodi standing with her): Son of a bitch…
Tasha (looking where Alice was looking): Oh mother fucker. Doesn’t she give up?
Alice (shaking her head): Would you?
Tasha (taking her hand): Come on…

At The Bar
Bette (shoving Jodi away): I said leave me alone.
Alice (walking up behind Jodi): You heard the lady scram.
Tasha (patting Bette on the shoulder): You okay. Kit called us…
Jodi (not giving up without a fight): What’s the matter? Weren’t you enough for her? Where is she? You’re here by yourself? Where’s your little whore…
Bette was off that chair faster than anyone could blink. She hit Jodi in the face and kept pushing her back into the table. Pinning her down she hit her head against the flat surface and shoved her to the floor.
Bette (yelling): You no good bitch. Don’t you ever talk about her like that again (reaching down and pulling her up.)
Unfortunately Jodi wasn’t going to take that laying down. She punched Bette in the face and a fight was on. Alice and Tasha were watching Bette’s back and when security got through the crowd Tasha tried to explain the situation but they weren’t listening.
Security Officer (grabbing Bette and bear hugging her from behind): The police are on the way. You’ve had to much to drink and you’re being placed under arrest.
Tasha (angrily): Wait a minute you didn’t see what happened…
Security Officer (trying to keep Bette still): She punched this woman in the face and started a fight. And I’m sure this lady here (looking at Jodi who had a towel pressed to her nose) will state that in the police report.
At that moment two police officers walked in. They grabbed Bette and put handcuffs on her. Alice and Tasha watched unable to do anything as they led her out of the club.
Bette (looking at her two friends): Call Tina’s cell, then Kit…
Alice (nodding): Remember that phone tree thingy. Well it still is in place. We’ll call everyone and meet you at the jail.
Tasha (wrapping her arms around her): Shit. This is a nightmare.
Alice (nodding): It’s 2 AM. I think most everyone is sleeping. (Watching as Jodi walked out of the club with another women.) That bitch.
Tasha (trying to keep her hold to keep Alice from getting arrested): Alice wait…
Alice (walking up to Jodi and grabbing her arm): You set her up. You fucking knew pushing her buttons was going to rile her temper. And now you’re leaving with some bitch.
Jodi (smirking): I got what I wanted. Bette and Tina apart and you can’t prove anything. Or do anything about it.
Tasha (grabbing Alice): She’s right. You can’t do anything now. (Pressing her finger to Alice’s lips) but first thing in the morning we can start calling everyone and I’ve got a few connections. This isn’t over…
Alice (shaking her head): You’re right this is far from over. She wanted a war well she sure as hell got one.
Tasha (nodding; to bad she hadn’t been on the Police force long; she might be able to pull some strings or something but dammit): Bette’s going to be okay.

Kit’s Apartment
Kit (rolling over and answering her phone): Hello. What? Oh shit. Fuck how did this happen? Go on I’m listening.

Los Angeles Jail
Bette sat handcuffed to a bench while a Police Officer filled out his report and waited for a matron to come and retrieve Bette. Bette leaned back against the wall and closed her eyes. This was going to be a long night.

TBC
kj