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Three days later

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Bette Porter Gallery, evening: It is the exhibition opening night. The gallery is getting crowded with beautiful and elegant people who talk to each other in small groups and study with interest the sixteen paintings of women on the walls. All are abstract figurative paintings of naked or semi-naked women in different settings, times of the day, moments in their lives, moods. Waiters and waitresses dressed in black serve hors d’oeuvres and wine. A female bartender also in black stands behind a counter on the corner.

Bette gazes at the room and the crowd with attentive eyes. She looks stunning dressed in an Armani black suit, her long curls professionally styled, her makeup flawless, her lips shining in a dark red color.

Bette – What do you think?

Alice is by her side, looking femme and pretty in a blue dress.

Alice – It’s a success!

The gallery owner grins. More people arrive and she greets them with a charming smile.

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Bette Porter Gallery, evening: Bette is showing her paintings to an art critic and is surrounded by a group of people who follow them. They move from one painting to the next and discuss them. A photographer takes pictures of the paintings and the group. A journalist takes notes. They stop in front of the painting of the woman having an orgasm. It’s entitled “The L Word”.

Art critic – Well … it’s outstanding, Bette!

Bette – Thanks, Peter!

Peter – It’s no wonder that this is the center piece of the exhibit! The sensuality is well captured. The colors are perfect. And the texture contributes to evoking the passion in the scene.

Man – It certainly evokes good memories!

Alice turns to the man in his sixties.

Alice – You’re not alone, David!

The group laughs.

David – Jokes aside, you captured the moment well, Bette!

She smiles.

Bette – Thanks, David!

Woman – And what does the L mean? Love?

David – Lust!

Alice smirks.

Alice – Or lesbian …

The gallery owner smiles charmingly.

Bette – Whatever you want it to mean!

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Bette Porter Gallery, evening: Tina arrives alone at the gallery. She looks gorgeous in a sleek maroon dress that accentuates her cleavage, her hair pulled up in a loose yet elegant bun, calling attention to a pair of beautiful earrings, her lipstick matching the dress.