Bette: T, I have three questions for you. One, why arent you at work? Two, why are you on leave for two weeks? Three, is there something going on that youre not telling me?



Tina: (Holy ***** what do I do… what do I say?)Uhhi babe.



Bette: (Short with her response)Dont ‘hi babe’ me Tina… answer the questions. Whats going on?



Tina: (*****! How did she find out?)Bette, calm downlet me explain or try to explain before your imagination runs wild.



Bette: Im listening.



Tina: Ask me your questions again, one at a time. (Think Kennard…. think! Your future depends on your answers!)



Bette: Why arent you at work when you said you were headed there after your errands?



Tina: (Taking a deep breath and hoping it goes unnoticed)Bette, I never said I was going to work. I said you had to go to work. I said I had errands to run. You assumed by my blas answer that I was going to work late.



Bette: Why arent you going to work? What are you doing and why are you on leave for two weeks?



Tina: (Damn, did those people tell her everything?)Babethat was my surprise. My errands involve you and me. My leave from work is for us.



Bette: Tina, Im not following you.



Tina: Bette, I told you to give me two weeks and I would be home. I am making arrangements and plans to be back home with you.



Bette: This is all about you moving back home?



Tina: Yes!



Bette: Then why didnt you just tell me? Why all the secrecy?



Tina: Bette, I wanted to surprise you. You have been great with your patience and understanding. I wanted to do this for youfor us.



There was silence on the other end of the phone. Bette couldnt find the words to express her happiness, her love, nor her guilt for letting her imagination get the best of her.



Tina: Babeare you there?



Bette: (Softly)Yeah, Im here. Im sorry for assuming the worstI justI got insecure and scared. I should have trusted in you and Im sorry.



Tina: Babeits okcalm down. Now you know.



Bette: Im sorry I ruined your surprise.



Tina: I guess youll just have to make it up to me.



Bette: (Smiling)I guess I will.



Tina: Babe, I need to get going. Im in the middle of something.



Bette: Ok, will I see you tonight?



Tina: Yeah babe, Ill call you later. I love you… bye. (What else is going to go wrong? I cant take much more of this.)



Tina sits down in her bedroom and looks over her vows. While reading them, shes holding the picture of her and Bette. During this time Alice comes home.



Alice: Tina? Are you here?



Tina: (yelling)In the bedroom!



Alice: (Standing in the doorway)What are you doing?



Tina: Just reading over my vows and making sure they say everything I need Bette to know.



Alice: So they’re finished?



Tina: Yeah… I think so.



Alice: Can I read them or do I have to wait until tomorrow?



Tina: I want them to be heard by everyone at the same time.



Alice: Ok TK. Are you ok? You look a little scattered.



Tina: Bette just called and she knows Im not working and that I have the next two weeks off.



Alice: What did you say?



Tina: She wanted to know what was going on. I knew she had jumped to a bad conclusion just by the sound of her voice.



Alice: *****! What did you tell her?



Tina: I told her it was a surprise for her and us.



Alice: Tina… you didnt…



Tina: NO, NO, NO! I didnt tell her about the ceremony. I told her I was moving back home. She thinks those two weeks are for me to move back and get situated.



Alice: (Shaking her head and chuckling)How many more close calls are you going to have?



Tina: Hopefully none! I dont think I can take anymore. Im running out of quick thinking ideas.



Alice: Thank God this thing is tomorrow. What else do you have left to do?



Tina: Not much. Did you guys get all the arrangements settled?



Alice: Yes… everythings ready to go.



Tina: You did go off my list, right?



Alice: As best we could.



Tina: What does that mean?



Alice: Just what I said! Dont worry… its tasteful and going to be beautiful. When do you pick up your special gifts?



Tina: I got them this morning.



Alice: (Moving closer to Tina)Can I see them?



Tina: NO! I want them unveiled tomorrow at the ceremony.



Alice: Come on T, Im dying to see this secret of yours.



Tina: Alice… I need one last favor from you.



Alice: Sure Tina, anything you need.



Tina: (Handing Alice the boxes from Manolis)I need you to hold on to these and bring them tomorrow. I want you to present them to us before I read my vows. You must give me your word that no matter how tempting it is, you wont look inside these boxes.



Alice: Tina, I promise! Your secret is safe with me.



Tina: (Handing Alice both boxes)Al, guard them with your life.



Alice: (Placing her hand on Tinas arm)I will Tina, I will.



Tina: Have you finished your speech for the ceremony?



Alice: Yeah, I finished this morning.



Tina: Can I hear it?



Alice: Ill tell you something I was just toldI want them to be heard by everyone at the same time.



Tina: (Swatting at Alice)You dont play fair.



Alice: Youre talking to professional journalist Alice Piezekci. If I played fair, would I be as good a journalist as I am?



Tina: (Laughing)No, I guess not. I guess Ill have to trust you and wait until tomorrow.



Alice: Thats right missy! What are you doing for the rest of the day?



Tina: I need to get my outfit for tomorrow ready and pack a bag. Im going to spend the night with Bette and I dont want to be rushed tomorrow afternoon.



Alice: Youre staying with Bette tonight? Do you think thats wise? Dont you think shell pick up on your excitement?



Tina: After today, I think I need to stay with her. As far as excitement… shell just think Im happy about moving back home. At least… thats what Im hoping will happen.



Alice: I dont know T. You know Bette, shes not predictable these days.



Tina: Ill take my chances. I need to get moving, its about 4:30 and Im meeting Bette in two hours.



Alice: Ill see you tomorrow.



Tina leaves and Alice goes to the couch. As she is sitting there pondering the speech she wrote for the ceremony she squeezes the boxes Tina gave her.



(I hope one day I have something this special to give to the one I love. I know that someone is Dana… I just dont know when or if she will ever realize it. Bette you are one lucky lady!)





Saturday Morning: Ceremony Day!



Bette: (Laying there staring at Tina)Good morning beautiful.



Tina: (In her sleepy voice)Good morning baby.



Bette: You look so peaceful when youre sleeping.



Tina: I am at peace when Im with you.



Bette: (Leaning in to kiss Tina)I love you. I could stay like this all day.



Tina: (Now realizing what day it is)What time is it?



Bette: (Looking at the clock)Its 10AM sleepy head.



Tina: (In a panic)10 o’clock! Why did you let me sleep so late?



Bette: Whats wrong? I let you sleep because you were tired.



Tina: I gotta get going.



Bette: Excuse me! Why do you have to leave and in such a hurry?



Tina: I have some errands to run before Kits gig tonight.



Bette: Thats not until 9. Whats with all these errands these days?



Tina: Baby… I already told you. Besides I have something special in mind before we go to see Kit.



Bette: What do you have in mind?



Tina: Youll just have to wait and see.



Bette: (Whining)Tina!



Tina: Babe, whining will get you nowhere today.



Bette: (Still whining)But T…



Tina: BabeI really gotta go. Promise me youll look stunning tonight.



Bette: I promise not to embarrass you tonight.



Tina: Bette! Thats not what I mean. Since you wont let me pick out your outfit, just promise me something *****, something stunning, and something not black.



Bette: (Somewhat shocked)Not black! Are you kidding me?



Tina: Im serious babenothing black. Wear something soft.



Bette: What do you have planned Tina Kennard?



Tina: (Playful)Youll see! Bette, I really have to go. Ill be here around 5:30 so please try and be ready.



Bette: What do you mean by that, Im always waiting on you!



Tina: Right! Just please be ready.



Bette: Ok T. See you at 5:30.



Tina: (leaning in to kiss Bette)Bye babe.



Tina gets into her car and leaves. (I still have so much to do. My nail appointment is at 11, my hair is getting done at 1, and I still need to pick up my outfit from the cleaners. That, plus I need a shower and I absolutely need to make sure Alice has everything ready. Where did the time go? I cant wait to marry you Bette Porterin just a few hours youll be all mine!)