This adds to the general distaste the Group Of Friends have for Gabby, being so aligned with Nadia, whom they also share a distaste for.  Alice still tries to defend Gabby, but Bette and Tina coach her out of it, along with what Alice should tell Gabby as a breakup.  In Episode 206, Alice will do something similar with Dana in an effort to help her break up with Tonya, even going a step further by writing out a note.  Here, it’s just Alice on the receiving end and doing her best to go by memory from what Bette and Tina said.

Bette receives a call from Gina and immediately leaves the table.  Bette apologizes for “last night.”  She also mentions the accident.  That means that Day 1 was the day before, which makes Dana and Lara referring to “Thursday” instead of “Tomorrow” a little weird and again, the goofiness of the relationship between them.

Bette wants to talk about Provocations, but receives news from Gina that Provocations isn’t going to the CAC.  Tina notices the look on Bette’s face and instictively goes to her.  That’s the power of a multi-year, loving relationship.  Upon Bette hanging up, Tina asks about what has happened.  Bette informs Tina what Gina has just informed her over the phone.  Provocations is set to go to MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art, mentioned during yesterday’s board meeting at the CAC).  With Bette running late, due to the accident on La Cienega, she winds up at the bar alone at the Four Seasons and Gina winds up heading over to MOCA to book Provocations there.  Somewhere in an alternate universe, MOCA is probably laughing off Fae Buckley and the free publicity they’re about to get.  As for anyone who can change this, Bette mentions Peggy Peabody (Provocations is part of her Collection), who is referred to as “the Billionaire raving lunatic.”  So that’s the reputation Peggy has at this point.

Alice mentions Peggy being the Unified Steel heiress.  Unified Steel is where Peggy makes much of her money.  Alice, being the informative person she is, also mentions that Peggy is in the area, staying in Santa Barbara at the Los Alamendros (either real or fictional, I don’t know).  Alice also mentions that Peggy is on a “crazy art buying spree.”  According to Alice, Peggy has spent “like 6.3 million bucks” the previous day (Wednesday, February 25th, 2004).  Alice learns all of this while “eavesdropping at LA Magazine.”  So that’s what Alice was doing prior to meeting up with Gabby at Milk the previous day/evening.  Alice also mentions LA Magazine wanting her to do a story about the 45 Minute Orgasm.  Alice describes hers as “short and intense.”  Also, Alice hasn’t been introduced to circles yet (Episode 402).

Bette leaves the table with Alice’s information and quickly calls James about getting directions to where Peggy is staying.  James informs Bette about Franklin finding out about Bette unbooking Impressions In Winter.

During this phone conversation, we finally get our first glimpse of James at his desk at the CAC while Franklin walks down the hallway in a huff.  Franklin is not happy with Bette, especially as he considers the current situation a “moment of crisis.”  This will eventually escalate through circumstance to Bette’s departure from the CAC (Episode 213).

Bette is on her way to Santa Barbara.

We advance to a little later in the day as Lacey is handing out Anti-Shane propaganda in front of a store that, aside from flowers also has “Fresh Fruit & Vegetable” and “Mediterranean Food.”  Shane arrives with the hoodie down.  There’s a chance that whatever market Lacey’s at, it’s in Pasadena with a Pasadena Weekly vendor box, next to one for USA Today.  To the right of the USA Today is one for Jobs Magazine.  With Shane and Lacey face to face, Lacey reveals that she used Photoshop to make the images.

Photoshop is a photo editing program that’s been around since 1990 with its commercial release in October, 2003, which would be when the narrative begins.  It’s possible the Haraway family is rather well-to-do and Lacey, using either her own money or some of the family money decided to become one of the first kids on her block to own Photoshop, which she would then use for the Anti-Shane propaganda.  Photoshop is a property of Adobe, which also has Adobe Audition, the artist formerly known as Cool Edit Pro.

As Shane takes Lacey by the arm to go talk, a sign above reveals the place they’re in front of as Freak.  No word on if this is a real location or just something analogous to another one.

Shane and Lacey talk and among the signs on the wall in the background is another of Lacey’s involving Shane, with “Abuser” on it and accentuating the “user” in black against the “Ab” in white.  There’s also a flier for “Jazz @ Bokowskl’s.”  Also, some pototoes in a Chiquita (bananas) box next to a Dole (pineapples) box of potatoes.  Shane tries to explain herself to Lacey, including why she is the way she is.  Lacey’s shirt has a baseball/softball team design for a team called the Devils.  Then again, it could be a reference to an old roller derby team called the Detroit Devils, who in the 1970s and 1980s were big rivals to the Los Angeles T-Birds.

Lacey mentions Shane leaving with “another girl.”  The other girl could be a reference to anybody connected to Shane on The Chart.  The likeliest candidate would be Lisa Pantolini, whom Shane is with when Lacey spies on her in Episode 103.  Then again, it could also be Renee Moi (Episode 101/102), whom Shane will still appaer to have an occasional fling with as they’ll be together during the yacht party (Episode 108).  Shane likes Lacey, but she likes “a lot of people.”  They admit to liking having sex with one another, but the problem is Shane doesn’t “do relationships.”  Shane hates seeing Lacey, or anyone for that matter cry.  They hug while Lacey mentions making “just one” banner, but Girl Bar (692 North Robertson Boulevard, West Hollywood) would not let her hang it up.

If Lisa is indeed the other girl, then at some point between now and Episode 501, Lacey and Lisa will possibly become part of an inner circle of friends that inquire about Shane, but no longer approach her (by then, Shane’s attempts at monagamy with Carmen and Paige will probably be well known in social circles).  Lacey’s angst stems from abandonment issues, so becoming friends with Lisa may become one of the best things to happen to her, though it will happen away from the script and viewer.

Lacey’s father left her when she was 5 years old.  Her mother died (the inheritance may have helped pay for Photoshop).  Lacey also mentions having a sister who moved away to West Covina.  West Covina is right off I-10, or locally the San Bernardino Freeway, just a tad Southeast of Pasadena.  Assuming this scene is taking place in Pasadena, then Lacey’s sister is roughly the same to the East as Shane and The Planet would be to the West, which is anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes away.

“I’m not going anywhere,” says Shane and she’s right.  In terms of plotline, it’s Lacey who is about to go off to the Land of the Dead Marios (my nickname for the limbo in which characters disappear and is based on those bottomless pit areas in Super Mario Bros. where Mario…or Luigi if you’re Player 2 can accidentally jump or fall to their death before the gamer tries with them again).

Shane and Lacey kiss and makeout, just in front of the Abuser sign.

Bette drives the Monaro (sunroof closed) toward Santa Barbara, taking US-101 North.  From The Planet to Santa Barbara would, depending on traffic take about 90 minutes, or maybe 2 hours if heavily congested.

On to the evening, and approximately 8 PM where Dana is on her cellphone to Alice, assuring her she’s wearing pants for her date with Lara.  Lara lives in an apartment building and Dana buzzes her.  Lara informs her she’s on her way down.  This means whatever apartment she’s in, it’s upstairs.  Dana also tells Alice that she will not be having sex with Lara on their first date, appearing insulted by Alice asking.  Dana hangs up as Lara steps out, in a dress that likely would have complimented Dana’s blue sundress.  As noted earlier, this is the 2nd time in which Dana’s friends have gotten it wrong when it comes to figuring out Lara.  Above and behind Lara appears to be “Rossmore” which means this is either the Rossmore Apartment building or simply a reference to the apartment building (whatever its name) being located on Rossmore Avenue.

All this stuff about Dana and Lara and being geeks ends happily with a kiss.  They leave arm-in-arm (Lara’s left holding Dana’s right for the benefit of specificity) for their date.

Bette finally arrives at Los Alamendros in Santa Barbara.  She asks the concierge to see Mrs. Peabody and the concierge responds with Bette needing to say the “code word.”  Bette asks about the actual need of a secret word and upon it being confirmed, says “Shazam.”

Comic Geek Moment Time.  Bette Porter fans, keep reading, because…you know I’m theorizing about your favorite character here.

Let’s ignore the fact that Gomer Pyle of Mayberry fame used to say “Shazam” as I just don’t see Bette being as interested in the adventures of Sherrif Taylor and Deputy Fife or any spinoff shows based on that particular fictional universe.

Bette is an avid reader and lover of the arts.  Once upon a time though (in Philadelphia as Bette will mention in Episode 112) she was a little girl.  Bette Porter is hovering around 40 years of age here, give or take.  That would mean that she grew up in the 1960s and 1970s before reaching her high school and collegiate years in the 1980s.  The time in which Bette grew up would be during the Silver Age of comic books.  By 1970, comic books were in a bit of a boom period after a downswing a decade or so earlier (McCarthyism sucked for superheroes).  The 1960s had seen the rise of Marvel Comics while DC Comics had some new life breathed into it.  The commercial and marketing appeal of superheroes was becoming a big thing.  Bette would have been a little girl that would be able not only to find reading interesting, but also art.  Comic books would provide both, especially for a child of imagination and art like Bette as well as some escapism from dealing with her older, negligent sister Kit as well as whatever stern upbringing from her father.  Not only were there the comic books themselves, but also TV shows (Batman instantly comes to mind) and the various cartoons.

Of the superhero characters that had their followings, the Marvel Family of DC Comics (and formerly of Fawcett Comics before DC bought them out).  Captain Marvel, Mary Marvel (whom Bette could almost pass for a grownup version of as she talks with the concierge here), and Elvis Presley’s favorite, Captain Marvel Jr. (seriously, “the King” was a big time fan of Captain Marvel Jr., which would inspire the crazy jumpsuits of his latter years).

I mention all of this to get back to Bette saying “Shazam” and the meaning behind it.  “Shazam” is the word that Billy Batson, Mary Batson, and Freddy Freeman (along with the rest of the Marvel Family) would shout to transform themselves from children to mighty bad guy busting superheroes, one of the ultimates in escapism for young readers growing up in an area that Bette will describe in Episode 112 as an eventual warzone (at least after or around the time she left Philadelphia for Yale University).  If nothing else, the tension in her neighborhood was growing, along with whatever tension she had to deal with from her upbringing and also Kit.  There is a very strong possibility that young Bette Porter at one point emulated Mary Marvel, the little girl who could yell “Shazam!” and become one of the most powerful women in the world (which back then would be most powerful along with Supergirl and Wonder Woman).

It cannot be just a mere coincidence that Bette would choose “Shazam” on instinct as a magic word.  That’s something a comic book fan from back in the day would do.  Bette may have seen herself outgrowing comic books, but this moment shows that she never outgrew that appreciation for Mary Marvel and the Silver Age.

In any event, “Shazam” is not the code word, but it will become a moot point as Peggy arrives with some shopping bags and a pair of small canines.  They meet up, entering an elevator.  Peggy is pretty sure Bette is someone else, which for the moment is just fine with Bette.  Bette is made to hold one of the dogs while also pressing the button for the Penthouse suite.

They arrive with the dog Peggy had being shooed away and Bette still holding the other.  Peggy mentions having a helper named Jose who has been “let off” for the evening so he can be with his girlfriend.  Peggy prefers “Peggy” over “Missus Peabody.”  Peggy mistakes Bette as being someone who is “here for the Kandinsky.”  This is likely a reference to the artwork of Wassily Kandinsky, who did abstract and modern art in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  A native of Russia, he was in the country during their revolution, a rather tumultuous time before heading off to Germany to take part in the German Expressionism that was going on Pre-Nazi takeover.  He died in 1944.