(Candace quietly exits her car, not shutting the door, and walks to the front of her Chevy where she stops and looks at Bette from across the driveway, Bette’s back is turned toward her)


 

Candace:                                                       

Thought I might find you here…

Bette:

(sighs loudly and looks up at the ceiling)

I really can’t talk to you right now.

Candace:

I figured that.

(Bette pushes off of the car and begins to walk away towards the museum)


 

Candace:

Bette…Ms. Porter, please…a moment of your time?

(Bette stops, her back still turned to Candace)

 

Candace:

I was there when Oscar called you this morning. I know that something is wrong. And it doesn’t take a wild leap of the imagination to figure out what it is.

(Bette turns to face Candace, looking stern yet fractured all at once)


 

Bette:

I told you that I was in trouble…

Candace:

So why are you here? You just pulled off a huge opening last night. Even I know that no one is expecting you to be here today.

Bette:

I had to get out of the house. I couldn’t think of anywhere else…

Candace:

Where is she?

Bette:

I don’t know.

(Candace steps away from her car and approaches Bette)

 

Candace:

(as Bette’s injured cheek comes in to focus)

How bad was it?

Bette:

(tears welling up)

Unfathomable…

(Bette looks away, tears now falling copiously)


 

Candace:

Do you really want to be here like this?

Bette:

Not especially…

Candace:

Will you follow me somewhere?

Bette:

I can’t ever do that again.

Candace:

It’s not what you think. I know the score. I just want to help.

Scene 13: Alice’s apartment, afternoon


 

(Alice hands Tina her latte)

 

Alice:

Here you go.

Tina:

Mmm, thanks.

Did you see Marina?

Alice:

Oh, yeah…

Tina:

What did you tell her?

Alice:

Nothing. But she’s got that European ESP thing going on. She can smell a scandal.

Tina:

How’s that?

Alice:

Well, for one, none of us showed up this morning…not normal.

Tina:

What about Dana and Shane?

Alice:

No shows…

(said with an odd, knowing look)


 

Tina:

Okay, Alice…what?

Alice:

(sighs heavily)

It’s just…*****, okay…it’s Dana. I showed up at her doorstep last night and gave her some, um, persuasive evidence not to go through with the Tonya thing.