TINA-  “Always so prepared Porter?”

BETTE-  “I do try!”

TINA-  “Well I suspect that your discipline showed with the results tonight…it really seemed like the people I encountered on the way out were impressed and you got a sense from the atmosphere that it was a hit.”

BETTE-  (She approaches her and stops short of being so close that she would have to stand back to hand her the glass of wine…)  “Thanks.  Here you go…”  

TINA-  (Her fingers sense the surface of Bette’s hand when she takes the glass and she feels uncomfortable suddenly…)  “Thanks.”  (Bette gazed at Tina as the blonde sipped and looked at her glass…the brown orbs watched her wavy hair, her exposed nape, her hands…)  

BETTE-  “Hey…”  (Tina looks up and finds her sight caught in the gaze of Bette’s eyes…and Bette simply lifts her glass slightly and gently taps Tina’s…)  “Cheers.”

TINA-  “Cheers…”  (She sips the wine and feels it, follows it as it travels down her throat…it tingles, she sips some more.  She feels Bette’s eyes on her and senses the energy that now seems almost palpable between them…they are so close…and it sets in again, an odd vulnerability that triggers her sense of defence…)  “You know…I should go…”

BETTE-  “What?  Why?”

TINA-  “You…well, it’s been a long night and the others probably won’t be here for a while…and I’m feeling more tired than I thought I was and…”  (Bette put her glass on the counter as she reaches out with her other hand and takes Tina’s glass and puts it next to the other one.  Tina’s hands waver as they decide where to rest and she finally crosses them in front of her…)  “Maybe I’ll go to the Planet and see what they’re up to…”  (Bette shakes her head…Tina glances at her…)  “NO?  Why?”

BETTE-  (She’s close enough that she can touch her…she puts her hand gently on Tina’s forearm, causing Tina’s body to stand at attention but her shoulders tense up and a warmth invades the shallow breathing chest…)  “Tina…”  (A knock and a doorbell sound off in the near distance…Tina almost jumps but looks at Bette, whose eyes are examining Tina’s intently…Bette smirks, and she slowly moves away and walks to the door.  Tina grasps her neck and breathes…again…

Bette opens the door and hears shouts of “Hey Bette, Hi Bette, Hey there…”  And her guests come right in, talking, greeting her and waiving to Tina as they approach.  Bette smiles at them and looks downward as she embraces the door for support.  She closes it slowly and turns to watch her friends invade the kitchen.  Lia notices the two glasses on the counter and then looks back at Bette.  She winks at her and as the others talk it up, she walks over to her in the living room.)

BETTE-  “Hi.”

EVANGELINE-  “I’m sorry…”

BETTE-  “I’m not sure what you mean…”  (Lia gives her a look as though to say…who do you think you’re playing?)  

EVANGELINE-  “Shane pulled me aside to fill me in on her wise insight…you know she very smart…she say to me is better we all join you…that we should not manufacture things for you and that we put you in difficult spot…that things are sensitive now, like they are in the beginning of these things…so we changed gear and we come.  Otherwise, we be much longer.  In any case, I don’t think we would have come up with good enough reason to stay away all night!”

BETTE-  “I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”

EVANGELINE-  (A bit dramatic and sarcastic…)  “Yes ok, I have no idea what I’m talking about either…it’s my cross I bear in life!  I am ridiculously stupid!  You know…you annoy my nerves sometimes…”

BETTE-  (Chuckling…)  “I have no idea what you mean…”

EVANGELINE-  “You are shit disturber…you know…”  (Bette laughs and Lia starts chuckling…)

BETTE-  “I think that’s more a term for Alice, don’t you?”

EVANGELINE-  “Mmm…yes…ok…she disturb shit…you…you are a stubborn mule, mon ami…”  (Bette laughs…and then kisses her on the cheek…)  “OH!  Hmmm…what is this?”

BETTE-  “Thank you, you’re sweet…”

EVANGELINE-  “Well, I don’t know about that…but Bette…”

BETTE-  “Yes?”

EVANGELINE-  “Did we interrupt anything?  Is things developing?”

BETTE-  (She looks at Lia briefly and then looks down…)  “No,”  (She shakes her head…)  “I’m not sure there’ll ever be anything to interrupt.”  (She taps Lia on the arm and heads toward the others.  Lia looks on concerned as she then follows her into the group of friends.)