Gabby now talks in the background with extras with no names.  Given their facial expressions toward Alice as Gabby talks to them, chances are whatever Gabby is saying isn’t necessarily pleasant.

Back at Tim and Jenny’s where Haagen-Dazs ice cream gets a quick product shot.  Specifically their cherry vanilla ice cream on the kitchen counter.  More Jenny/Marina drama/tension with Bette stepping in and noticing right away.

Some things to keep in mind here in terms of scope as it concerns Bette and Marina.

Bette has had her own flings as evidenced by the many names linked to her on Alice’s Charts.  Meanwhile, she is also in the midst of what at the start of the series was a 7-year long relationship with Tina.  Bette knows the tricks, but for now has put them away in the name of monagamy.

Marina knows the tricks as well and has used them numerous times, explaining her various direct links to Alice’s Charts.  Among those is a link directly to Shane.  It is implicit in Episode 101/102 for those who recall Tina and Dana’s expression toward Alice that Marina’s predatory reputation is a thing.  It will be further confirmed when Francesca arrives later in Season 1, with the word, “conquest,” being brought into play.

Bette and Tim are neighbors and friends, though not necessarily to the extent of her friendships with Alice, Dana, and Shane.

Alice has already inclined to Bette that something has been going on between Marina and Jenny with Bette dismissing it.  Bette wants to believe in monagamy.  Seeing Jenny and Marina in the kitchen has hindered that greatly.  It is a subtle hint on Bette’s own unraveling as Season 1 continues.

Bette confronts Marina in the bathroom (again, bathrooms are important in this universe).  With all of the preceding in mind, Bette could also be seen (aside from wanting to protect Jenny) as wanting to protect her friend, Tim.

The living room conversation scene with a bit of symmetry here as this is Episode 103 and another conversation of similar stature (and also involving some awkwardness from the plot) will take place in this same room in Episode 203.

Carolyn is basically in what will be the Tonya role a Season later, by asking the question that gets everything going.  In Episode 203, it’s “would you date yourself.”  Here, it’s “If you only had one day left to live, how would you live it?”

Jenny goes first, saying she would spend the day writing.  Tim humorously asks about her not being with him instead.  Subtle hint is subtle.

Marina goes next, saying she would be on a beach sipping rum and reading, causing Tim to jokingly chime in about how he would be with Marina since Jenny “would be off writing.”  Bette immediately notes the growing discomfort and whispers to Tina that she needs to leave.  Tina claims that Bette has a “throbbing headache” and Tim offers Advil (mentioned product shot for them), but this is all a cover for Tina and Bette to leave.

Bette and Tina walk away from Tim and Jenny’s with Tina’s naivite turned up to 11 as they arrive at their home next door, where Kit is waiting.  Either Kit broke in which Bette claims or Bette and Tina didn’t bother to lock their door, which is an occasional gag with these characters.

Kit is there as part of the 12 Step Program as she deals with fighting her alcohol addiction, which Kit noted in her introduction to the viewer in Episode 101/102.  Bette is dismissive and given her reaction indicates that Kit has not been very sincere about cleaning herself up until now.  Kit’s license being revoked and finally having her car taken away appears to be what finally sets Kit forward, though she will still have her relapse to deal with.

Kit’s apologies, which add some backstory to the relationship between she and Bette.
-When Bette was 10 years old, she would hide in the garage to listen to Kit and her band practice, leading to Kit yelling at her, likely hurting young Bette’s feelings.
-Bette’s 12th Birthday Party to which Kit no shows, even after promising otherwise.
-Bette had a teddy bear that Kit hid her “stash” (presumably narcotics) in and letting take the punishment from their father.
-Kit disappeared from Bette’s life “for so many years.”

Kit leaves disappointed with Bette having locked herself in the bedroom as Kit was apologizing.  Things eventually improve between them.

The Country Club locker room with Lara in street clothes, having finished up her day (and evening) as sous chef.  Her locker appears to still be 135 though it is on the left of the screen instead of the right.  Dana’s is still 73.  It’s also possible that Lara has 2 lockers, 135 and 35, which she would be at here.  Perhaps one locker just for the kitchenware and the other for everything else.  This the closest I can come to explaining this without just saying “Someone screwed up continuity.”  This is also where Dana and Lara’s first kiss happens.  “Just in case you were still wondering.”

The Planet, where Gabby is still hanging out with the 2 extras from before when she walked away from Alice.  This time, Alice walks up to Gabby.  This time, Alice and Gabby kiss.

Meanwhile, Lori is now no longer around Kerry (Episode 101/102) and is looking to hit on Shane.  Keep in mind that Kerry appears to be the client in the background that Shane meets up with at The Planet back in October.  This would give Kerry and Lori plenty of time to break up and have whatever issues hashed out.  It is worth noting that neither Kerry or Lori’s names have not appeared on any of The Charts.

Lacey interrupts, wearing a shirt that has “Brave And Crazy” on the back.  This is likely a reference to Melissa Etheridge who had an album of that name released in 1989.  It’s the one with “You Can Sleep While I Drive” and “No Souvenirs” on it.  The actress portraying Lacey, Tammy Lynn Michaels was at the time involved in a romantic relationship with Etheridge, which would last 9 years, ending in 2010 so the shirt could just be a Fourth Wall nod.

Lacey’s attention spotlight on Shane leads to Lori exiting.  With that, both Kerry and Lori practically cease to exist, even within the fringes of the narrative.

It’s possible that Lacey is or at least was friends with Kerry and/or Lori and this, along with the general stalking issue toward Shane was her way of keeping Lori from being another statistic.  It’s also possible that originally back at the ill-fated donor party (Episode 101/102) back on October 18th, 2003 that Lacey had hung out with Kerry and Lori before wandering off, looking for Shane.  The Mandy theory can still be in play here with Shane and Mandy in the swimming pool, which gets back to Kerry who is one of Shane’s clients while Lori has an interest in Mandy and eventually in Shane, which is discouraging to Lacey to which Kerry and Lori could have been to her what Bette and Tina are to Shane.  The one that gives her hope.  This is just a theory, of course so don’t mind me.

A Bette and Tina moment as Tina puts over Bette holding true to her convictions.

Next door, Marina speaks in Italian and departs.  Randy and Carolyn gush over Marina with Tim putting over Marina’s charm.  The episode ends with Carolyn asking Jenny if she has “just a little crush” on Marina.  Jenny’s somber expression and “No” is true, but not in the way that Carolyn probably interprets it.  It’s not “just a little crush,” but a major one which will continue to play out.

Also of note is a disclaimer about Alice’s character in the closing credits not intending to, “portray or represent any particular individual at LA Weekly.”  I’m sure that goes without saying, but then maybe that was part of the deal.

Now that we have some Charts established, we can get a better idea of the romantic links, past and present involving the signficant characters, either through visual, reference, or The Chart (Whiteboard, Marc, or Database version).  These are only based on romantic links up to the end of Episode 103.

Alice Pieszecki (21)
-Aiesha; Alexa Deros; Bette Porter; Bryce Miles; Candy Angelou; Careen Furano; Cindy; Donna Allen; Eve; Gabby Deveaux; Katherine Claymore; Mara Atwood; Nina; Peggy Sue Mohanty; Roberta; Roslyn Reed; Sabrina Lorde; Sarah; Sean Heaney; Sue Cyre; Tamara

Bette Porter (9)
-Alice Pieszecki; Andrea; Colleen Lyon; Erica; Karen Jones; Kaye Rich; Michele Cixous; Sunny; Tina Kennard

Dana Fairbanks (3)
-Lara Perkins; Melanie Caplan; “Ralph”

Jenny Schecter (2)
-Marina Ferrer; Tim Haspel

Kit Porter (0)
-n/a

Marina Ferrer (9)
-Anna Bacall; Anouk Weever; Alexandra Schreiner; Barbara Cook; Ellen; Francesca Stassalopoulus; Jenny Schecter; Rhonda Towers; Shane McCutcheon

Shane McCutcheon (50)
-Alexandra Schreiner; Ann; Anya; Arlene Delaney; Brooke Krug; Caroline; Carolyn (not Carolyn Varajian, Randy Jackson’s girlfriend); Carrie Pinard; Cassie Hunter; Christy Briggs; Claudia Burton; Deanna; Donna; Dylan Mayne; Elizabeth; Emily; Gina; Gloria Kerrigan; Jackie; Janice; Julene Oliver; Karen Jones; Kristen; Lacey Haraway; Laura Jean; Lisa Ioja; Lisa Pantolini; Mandy Garret; Mara; Marina Ferrer; Maryanne Winn; Marylou; Nancy; Nazila Hamid; Renee Esplin; Renee Moi; Robin Mohr; Rose; Sallee; Sally; Sandy; Sarah; Sharon Price; Shelley Hill; Shelley Rider; Stacey; Tiffani Simons; Tracy Moraga; Vicki; Victoria Ramsey

Tim Haspel (1)
-Jenny Schecter

Tina Kennard (1)
-Bette Porter