“I don’t understand why you wish to defend her, if she, so you think, has a personal dispute against you?”

“I just don’t understand what’s gotten into you. This is very out of character for you. What have I done to deserve this treatment? I was handpicked by Isabella Pernao to show the Provocations exhibit.”

“Ha, well let’s see, you went behind my back, undermined my authority and booked Provocations. You were lucky that I let Peggy Peabody talk me in to letting you stay.”

“Franklin, Provocations was a huge success, even bigger than we had hoped.”

“Bette it’s true that Provocations brought in more revenue in one weekend than the CAC’s made this whole year. But we want to show art that’s more contemporary and positive, something that the whole family can enjoy. Not artwork that generates controversy and negative publicity.”

“Wait, you defended Provocations and my decision to go ahead with this exhibit. Why the sudden change of heart?”

“I always have and always will stand behind your decision to show Provocations. I won’t dispute that you have an amazing talent and I’d be damned if I didn’t say that your work here was nothing less that absolutely brilliant,” he said, his tone softening a bit, “but this museum is family oriented; we have field trips that come through here. Ms. Pernao is fucking brilliant, but our museum can’t show these progressive shows anymore. And Leo has shown that he wants to do more with the CAC, and has had countless meetings with the board and myself. His vision is the same as mine, is the same as the board’s. And in your absence he has shown quite the initiative.”

“I was only out for two fucking weeks, going through a personal issue.”

“Never the less, he has the CAC in mind and not his own personal agenda.”

“Personal agenda? What personal agenda?”

“You and Alexander Toro. Debuting your son’s artwork alongside the amazing work of Ms. Pernao and Mr. Fields.”

“Oh please Franklin, we agreed to show his work before I even found out he was my son.”

“Be that as it may, Leo has the CAC’s best interest at heart.”

“So what you’re saying is you want a robot? A marionette that won’t challenge the art world, someone who won’t challenge the world to think.”