Looking back …

When Kit Porter took over as proprietor of The Planet; popular café by day entertainment/dance club by night she’d hired Billie Blakie as her club manager. In addition to bringing big name bands like the B52’s to perform Billie was also known for his outrageous theme parties. Kit gave him free reign since he was bringing in the crowds. The Planet was becoming very well-known which meant financial success for Kit and a great return on investment for Bette who had 50% ownership as a silent partner.

Kit had been in the entertainment business as a singer but her career had gotten waylaid when she got hooked on drugs and became an alcoholic. Now she was back on track as a business woman. She was reviving her career as a singer as well. Everyone was very proud of Kit, especially her younger sister Bette. They weren’t always close growing up especially with the significant age difference between them and the fact that they had different mothers but in recent years they’d learned to lean on one another.

One of the best things about the sisterly relationship that kept their bond strong and flourishing was that Kit wasn’t afraid to ‘tell it like it is’. She was quick to put Bette in her place whenever she felt that her little sister was putting on airs.

There were several examples of this but most notably when they were discussing the business venture. At the time Bette wasn’t interested in investing. She had only planned to co-sign on Kit’s loan but after hearing Kit’s plan to borrow the rest of the money from her friend Ivan who had a romantic interest in Kit she decided to liquidate some assets and invest the money herself to protect Kit.

Kit however wasn’t immediately agreeable. She took offense and accused Bette of doing what she typically does; dissing her solution in favor of what Bette thinks is best. The fact that Ivan was a female Drag King didn’t faze Kit. When Bette expressed her concerns that Kit taking money from Ivan might give him the idea that it was a broader invitation Kit didn’t see a problem with it.

Bette: You’re straight.

Kit: Who says?