BETTE- "Yes."
TAXI DRIVER- "You got it." (After a New York traffic adventure, the cab pulls out in front of the Whitney.) "Here you go, the Whitney." (She pays the driver and steps out.)
(Bette is stunned. She looks up and takes in the view. She smiles and shakes her head. 'Well Porter, it's time,' she says to herself. She walks right in, Porter gait and stride, ego and heart, mind and breathtaking body. She heads to the head office area.)
WOMAN- "Excuse mehellooooo"
BETTE- (Turns to her) "Hi."
WOMAN- "Can I help you?"
BETTE- "I'm here to see Justin Morneau. He's expecting me."
WOMAN- "Well, may I have your name please?"
BETTE- "Isn't his office down there?"
WOMAN- "I will be happy to accommodate you as soon as I have your name madam."
BETTE- "Bette Porter." (The woman, who seems to Bette to be a secretary, just looks at her. Bette wonders if she's heard her) "Bette P O R T E R."
WOMAN- "Hmmm. The lesbian from California? L.A.?"
BETTE- (Taken aback) "Excuse me?"
WOMAN- (She smiles and the skinny red head walks up to Bette extending her hand) "Now now, you gotta practice not getting shocked so easilywe're not in Kansas anymore, or tinsel town.this is New York honey. Hi, I'm Miranda Smythe, the lesbian from Queens." (Bette looks at her oddly.) "Don't be afraid, I have a partner and you're not my type. I've heard a lot about you."
BETTE- (She sort of smiles, not knowing what to think, and shakes her hand.) "Well, Miranda, it's nice to meet you. Is Justin in?"
MIRANDA- "Yep, I'll take you there myself." (Bette was about to say it wasn't necessary but she decided to go with the flow. She guides Bette to the office. She addresses the secretary...) "Morning Abigail. He in?"
ABIGAIL- "Yes ma'am. Let me announce you." (She picks up the phone.) "Mr. Morneau, yes, your 9 am is here." (She hangs up and motions for Miranda to go ahead.)
MIRANDA- "Thanks Abigail." (Abigail nods. As they walk towards the office, Miranda turns to Bette and whispers) "Make friends with hershe holds the keys to the kingdom." (Bette looks at her like she needs medication.) "I'll explain later." (Now entering Justin's office) "Justin, may I present Ms. Bette Porter, our new director. Ms. Porter, this is our chairman, whom I do not believe you have met in person yet, Justin Morneau." (Bette shakes hands with him.)
JUSTIN- "Bette it's so good to finally meet you in person. I know that David and Samantha actually got to meet you in LA a while back. And I have to say you look much better in person than during our video conference a couple of weeks ago when we had the most recent board interview."
BETTE- "Thank you Justin. I am very pleased to meet you as well and honoured to be joining your team."
JUSTIN- "I see you have met our vice-chair of the Museum Board Miranda?"
BETTE- (She wanted to keel overshe actually thought she was an assistant) "Yes, yes, I have had the pleasure."
MIRANDA- "Well, let's get down to it. Justin, let's use your meeting tableyou know how I don't like you looking at me from behind that desk of yours."
JUSTIN- "Yes Ma'am. You see Bette, Miranda is a lesbian from Queensthey can get kinda bossy"
MIRANDA- "Hey. We are just self-determined and control oriented, no more so than anybody else from Queens, I'll have you know." (Miranda and Justin laugh and Bette finds herself mellowing and chuckling along.) "Come on Bette let's head to the table to go over a few things." (They all go to the table and start going over basics and giving Bette a bit of an orientation before they walk her through the gallery. Miranda really didn't have much to do with Bette's hiring, but she was going to have a lot to do with working on gallery projects with her. She was warm and funny, and she helped ease Bette's first day. The latter's 'alphaness' didn't seem to either intimidate or put off Miranda. She was an alpha of her own unique sort. The three sit and talk about the upcoming exhibits, the staffing arrangements, and various other niceties, which takes them well near late morning.)
(In Los Angeles, at the Planet, Tina is having coffee with Alice. Her phone rings.)
TINA- "Hi. I'm sorry I just got behind at work. Yeah, sure, dinner would be fine. I'll talk to you later. Bye."
ALICE- "Henry?" (Tina nods.) "Oki doki." (Helena arrives.) "Hey Peabody."
HELENA- "Morning ladies." (She sits.) "So, what's new?"
ALICE- (Looks at Tina.) "Not much. How about you?"
HELENA- "Tina we have to meet today about the Boreman proposal."
TINA- "Sure."
HELENA- "I haven't seen you much these past few days. You've been in and out of the office so quickly."
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