Previously on The L Word Liberty, The Random Act showed Maxine leaving Melvin while Bette & Kit eavesdropped; Bette and Kit left for Philly to clear out Melvin’s house; Tina told Bette she planned on having the framily over for a 4th of July BBQ while Bette is away and Dana & Lara got ready to leave for a Tennis Tournament in San Diego.  Jenny and Tina had a late night chat; Dana struggled at her tennis match; Carmen and Shane worked on the same TV movie shoot; and Bette, Kit and David arrived at Melvin’s House to clear it out.

Scene15:   Melvin’s Study Cont’d

Bette angrily throws a journal on the couch and gets up and marches out the study.  She grabs her purse and the rental car keys from the coffee table in the living room.  David is putting together boxes.

Bette:  I’m going out for a while.  [Bette leaves the house and slams the door.]

End Scene.

It’s early Monday morning; Bette walks through the door of her house w/o luggage.  Walking through the house she sees Alice sleeping on the couch.  She walks down the hall and opens the door to Angelica’s room to find Helena and her two kids sleeping on an aero mattress she shakes her head in disbelief.  Angelica’s crib is empty.  She opens the door to her bedroom.  Angelica is sleeping in a bassinet beside Tina.  There is a stack of scripts next to Tina on her nightstand.  Tina is sleeping and there is a script next to her on the bed, there is a red pen uncapped (with the cap on the back) exposing the felt tip point on the top of the script contrasted by white sheets.  Bette is upset; she rubs her face and her fingers through her hair. She leans over and puts the pen cap on the pen and places it back on the script.  She then sits on the edge of the bed and quietly says

Bette:    What the fuck is going on?

She gets up goes over to the window and looks outside there are a few bottles of beer, a bottle of wine and a bottle of tequila still on the outside table.  She walks over to the bassinet and gently leans over and kisses Angelica trying not to wake her.  Tina finally senses something and opens her eyes and blinks a few times.

Tina:    Bette?  What are you doing home?

Bette:   I missed you too Tina. [Bette’s tone is sarcastic.]

Tina:    Babe, what’s going on? [Tina sits up in bed.]

Bette:   I should be asking you that question.  Would you mind telling me why Helena and her children are sleeping in my house and while you’re at it when were you going to tell me that you agreed to go to work for that back stabbing, self serving witch.

Tina:    Excuse me?  Your house?  I thought this was our house and you knew about and approved of the party I was having with our friends while you were away.

Bette:   Tina, you still haven’t answered my question. Helena is no friend of mine.  That woman got me fired and now you are entertaining her and her children and you’re taking a job working for her. How is that supposed to make me feel?  Are you going to tell me if start fucking her again or have you already sealed your contract with a kiss?

Tina:    Bette!

The sounds of Bette and Tina arguing have woken Angelica and she has started to cry.  Tina gets up and takes Angelica out and is trying to soothe her and starts to feed her.

Tina:    Helena assured me she had nothing to do with that, Franklin wanted you out and convinced the rest of the board.  Apparently you called someone a fucking dwarf on the phone during a meeting and once they heard you showed up at Franklin’s house unannounced in the middle of the night and started ranting at him they were convinced you had anger issues and no respect for the board’s authority.

I know you this is hard for to accept, but Helena and I are capable of being friends, just like you and Alice.

Bette:   This is nothing like Alice and me.

Tina:    Do you honestly think that after all the pain we put each other through I would cheat on you while you away packing your dead father’s clothes?  If I wanted to be with Helena I would have chosen Helena.  I chose you Bette, but at times like this I wonder why.  Do you have so little respect for me or are you just incredibly selfish. You don’t want me to take a job that is an amazing opportunity doing something that I’m good at because I slept with Helena while we were separated and you expect me to believe Helena has conspired to ruin your career when she had barely even met you.

Bette:   Tina how would you feel if I went into business with Candace.

Tina:    It’s not the same.

Bette:   Really? [Bette turns around and starts heading towards the bedroom door.]

Tina:    Are you going to tell me why you came home early?

Bette looks back at Tina.

Bette:   I can’t talk about it right now.  I need to go cool off.  [Bette leaves the bedroom and the house and goes for a drive.]


End Scene.