TINA-  "Hi.  Yes, I have her now.  Everything is fine.  I could come by for a bit, butnoIdon't think soI need to be alone right nowalone with her.  I'm going to spend the night at my place.  Ok?  Yeah.  Thanks for being there.  No, no, it's ok, I really just need to be alone.  Ok, bye."  (She hangs up and puts the phone away.)

ALICE-  (She turns to look at Tina briefly and then looks back to the road aheadshe speaks solemnly and bluntly)  "Do you want me to stay with you tonight?"

TINA-  (The lump in her throat revisits and her eyes yield the tears as she nods in the affirmative, looks ahead and then stares out the side window.)

(Shane and Kit had finally picked up Bette off the floor and had her between them on the living room couch.  She was like a child in Kit's arms, an inconsolable child.  Shane got up and made some herbal tea, following Kit's request.  Shane brought the cups over when the tea was ready.  By this point, Kit had coaxed a reluctant Bette out of her arms and at least sitting upright while Kit kept an arm around her.  She even took the tea and started sipping it as Shane watched her and Kit and Shane watched each other, not quite sure what the next moments would bring.)

BETTE-  "This is good.  Thank you Shane.  It feels very soothing."

SHANE-  "Do you want anything to eat?"

BETTE-  "No I had dinner withI ate earlier before I got back to the house."  (She had shared a last supper of sorts with Angelica.)

KIT-  "I'm gonna stay here tonight.  Shane, join us for breakfast tomorrow, ok?"

SHANE-  "You bet."

BETTE-  "Shane, were you out there the whole timedid you see everything?"

SHANE-  "Yes."  (She looks at Kit and then back at Bette.)

BETTE-  "I'm sorry."

SHANE-  "For what?  You didn't do anything."

BETTE-  "That's funny because sometimes I feel like the sinner who brought the plague on us allyou've all been subjected to it over this past year.  Our high drama."

SHANE-  "It's not a plague, and you're no more responsible for it all than I am.  We're your friends, your not 'subjecting' us to anything we wouldn't otherwise be a part of as your friendsas friends to both of you and as family to that little girl.  Just don't apologize ever again.  It's not necessary."

BETTE-  "Well, thank you thenthank you Shaneat the very least, thank you, for everything.  You're a source of some comfortyou really are.   I'm lucky to have you next door too."

SHANE-  "Anytime Bette, anytime."

BETTE-  "Even though I know that Kit here takes a little advantage of your proximity"

KIT-  "Hey, Shane doesn't mind helping me out in keeping my eye on my little sisterdo ya Shane?"

SHANE- "Not a bitbut I can't say the same for Ms. Porter here."  (They chuckle.)

KIT-  (Looking at Bette)  "You look tired.  Why don't we call it a night."

SHANE-  "Good idea.  I'll be going.  If you need anything, just call."

BETTE-  "Thanks Shane.  Goodnight."  (Kit kisses Shane and she leaves.)

KIT-  "Come on, let's get you to bed.  We'll deal with everything else tomorrow."  (Kit then takes Bette to her bedroom and makes sure she's alright.  She kisses her and they embrace for several moments and as Bette whispers 'thank you', 'thank you'.  Kit heads for the spare bedroom.  Bette sits on the side of the bed, which was turned down now.  She looks spent.  She looks and feels worn out and numb.  There are no more tears left.  The pain in her chest has now succumbed to an emptiness.  She moves as though in slow motion, she moves with the steadiness of someone who has lost everything and who has nothing to lose.  She looks at the phone, picks up the receiver and dials.)

BETTE-  "Hi, Joyce?  Good evening, it's Bette Porter.  Hi.  I'm sorry to disturb so late in the evening at home butyes, so I hope that's all right.  Listen I gave her back a little while ago.  Yes."

JOYCE-  "Well, all we can do now is hope for the best.  Did you two talk at all?"

BETTE-  "No, Kit took her to her mother.  She saw me from afar, from the waiting car."

JOYCE-  "Ok, well you did the right thing.  Legally though, I don't know whether we can avoid the fact that you did it too late.  It all depends on Tina and what position she'll take formally with the court."

BETTE-  "But nothing immanent happens now because of all this does it?"

 JOYCE-  "Not necessarily.  If Tina makes it an issue, and she definitely can, you'll be in danger of likely losing all form of custody.  We'll see what, if anything, she does and if I hear from her lawyer.  Later in this process, when we make submissions to the court with respect to the custody in general, we'll have to deal with how to present it then, if we have to present it at all.  I explained to her lawyer that you had instructed me to not file the petition for sole custody but that it was too late.  I'm sure he'll be explaining that to his client when they speak.  We don't have formal steps happening for a while yet."

BETTE-  "Oh good, good, becausewell, that's good I guess."

JOYCE-  "Why is that good?  Because what?"

BETTE-  (She hesitates) "II made a decision and finalized it earlier today."

JOYCE-  "Bette"

BETTE-  "I called Justin, Justin Morneau.  I accepted the offer."

JOYCE-  "Bette why didn't you tell me?  That's a huge factoryou"

BETTE-  "It's done."

JOYCE-  (She's annoyed and a bit stern with her)  "Well you better think about undoing it because as far as custody goes you'll be almost guaranteeing you won't get anything other than visitation rights, even if that.  Bette I don't understand, why?  Why would you do that?