ALICE-  "What the frig is it lately with all this business about 'MY child'?  Do you recall a mocha beauty you spent over 8 years with?  The woman with whom you planned this child?  The woman who raised her right there with you for almost a year now?  'MY child'?  Frig Tina, Bette and I were lovers onceI know how she can be, I know she's made some huge mistakes as a lover.but she's been trying to make it up ever since.  She's also the most sensitive, intense, passionate and loving person I've ever knownand I know that she felt that way about you and this little kid.  She was devoted to this child.  Now, you've both gone crazysole custody this, kidnapping thatwhat the hell is going on?  And now you're all 'MY child'what the fuck Tinait was and it should be HER child TOO!!!"

TINA-  "Are you finished?"

ALICE-   (She wanted to be there for Tina too, so she didn't want to push her luck)  "No, but that's all I'm gonna say for now.  Justtry and understandit's ouch, friggin ouchthis is just awful.  As her earth mother Tina, let me put it this wayit feels like mother earth is gonna be making it rain for 40 days and nightsthis is one painful mess."  (Angelica continues crying.)  "Here, let me have her.  She needs her earth mother right now."  (Tina hands her over.  Alice takes her and rocks her in her arms.  Tina sits on the bed and watches, admiring Alice for her way with Angelica and for her friendship.  Alice, Talking to Angelica)  "Yesyes little oneI'm hereah, see, I knew that'd make you happy.  Earth mamma to Angelicahalllooooo.yesyes.I luv ya little girlooohhhaaayou and me kidtogether forever.  Ah never you mind thatwe'll be fineyeeeeeess"

TINA-  "Do you want anything to drink?  I can make some tea."

ALICE-  "Got any bourbon?  I could really use a swig."

TINA-  "How about some wine?" 

ALICE-  "Whatever."  (They go into the kitchen and living room area.  Tina gets her the drink.  They sit down  and Angelica falls asleep in Alice's arms as she sips at her drink.)  "Ya seeshe's out like a light."

TINA-  "The earth mother worked her charms."

ALICE-  "Tina"

TINA-  "Please Al, I don't want to go through it with you all over again.  Just let it go.  We've all been through enough already."

ALICE-  "But Tina"

TINA-  "Alice please"

ALICE-  "Mamma Tshe needs a diaper change"

TINA-  "Already?  Well, I guess I'll have to wake her now."

ALICE-  "NoI'll do it.  You stay here and drinkmaybe it'll loosen up your intransigent brain cells"  (Tina frowns and Alice goes off to change Angelica.  Tina puts her hand on her forehead and her elbows rest on her knees as she takes her head in her hands.  She can't cry anymore and just sits there shaking her head.  After a few moments, she raises her head and stares off into the distance.  Alice returns.  She sits next to her, picks up her drink with her left hand and puts her right arm around Tina.)  "Loosened up yet?"

TINA-  "Alice"

ALICE-  "I just don't understand.  So don't be angry with me.  I agreed to help you today but this is really fucked up.  I know she made things ten times worse by taking the kid, but you know she was just losing ittemporary insanityyou know that's how much she loves her.  So just take it easy, take some time, and then work it out.  This child doesn't deserve to grow up without Porter in her lifeeven I don't deserve that!  You know what I'm sayin?  She loves her so much and I know Angelica loves her dearlyso, well, I dunnoit's self-evidentyou gotta let Porter be in her life."

TINA-  "I wasn't planning on excluding herhow could you think that?  Then she went and just took her away like that"

ALICE-  "Okayyou're not listeningthe woman is in love with this little girltemporary insanity TinaI would've likely lost it too and driven off with herTinaletting her be in Angelica's life like a friend who visits every few months and says hello now and then is not letting Porter be in her life the way she should be, the way Angelica deserves her to besince she was born she's been a mother to her."

TINA-  "Stopjust stop it.  Enough.  End of discussion."  (Alice just throws her hands up in surrendershe's crossing a difficult line and doesn't want to get kicked out altogether.)  "I need some time.  We just all need some time."

ALICE-  "Yeah well some of us need"  (Tina gives her a stern look)  "another glass of wine"  (They change the subject and drink some more, but quickly retire for the night.  It was a day they both would want to forget, but both knew that, in their own ways, they never could.)

(The next couple of days Bette was going through the motions of life.  She looked almost morbid and she was expressionless.  Something in her had truly died.  She was living each moment like it was just something she had to do.  She did each task like it was just something else on a list of things to be accomplished in a mediocre existence.  And on this day, what she had to accomplish was hardly mediocre.  Shane knocked at the door and Bette let her in.)

 

SHANE-  "Hey."

 

BETTE-  "Hey."

 

SHANE-  "You all set?"

 

BETTE-  "Yes."

 

SHANE-  (She looks at her, into her eyes)  "Well, upwards and onwards then"

 

BETTE-  (She raises her left hand to Shane's face and wipes the lone tear away.)  "Yeah."  (Shane takes the luggage to her carBette's Saabshe was going to let her use it in her absence.  Bette turns around.  She looks at the view inside her home from beyond the door this one last time.  She had done her rounds throughout the house last night, made some final touches in cleaning it up, and looked at every single photograph of what she thought would now quickly become her past.  The well of tears had dried.  The now void of the love and pain that occupied her heart had cooled, but she knew that during this day the pain would resurface and it would stay a while, no matter how far she went, nor how long she tried to forget.  She went outside and closed the door, locking it.  She went up to Shane and handed her a key.  Shane was to be the keeper of this place.)  "Look after it well Shaneand anything happens to this caryou're a dead woman."

 

SHANE-  "Yes ma'am."  (They buckle up.)  "Betteare you ready?  Are you sure?"

 

BETTE-  "Drive."  (The long drive wasn't silent but it was as painless as Bette could make it.  She knew Shane was hurting, almost as much as she was.  Then they finally got to the airport.  Shane helped Bette with the bags and was getting ready to go in with her and wait for the flight.