Tina: Bette, I dont know what to say. Im shocked that youre relinquishing so much control by going to therapy and actually allowing it to work.

Bette: T., I would do anything for another chance. If that means looking into my past so that I can see into our future then I am willing to do it. [Tears begin to well up in Bettes eyes.] No more running, no more hiding, Ive realized that cant be a part of usthat cant be a part of me.

[Bette gets up and walks over to the rail looking out onto the ocean. She leans her elbows on the rail and looks down all the while trying to keep her composure. Tina walks over and does the same thing.]

Tina: Bette, Im glad youre seeing someone. I hope they can make you see that everything thats happened between us isnt all your fault.

Bette: (Turning towards Tina)But Tina

Tina: (Cutting Bette off)Bette, we both know things werent good for awhile. Thats both of our faults. However, you stepped outside of us. (Pausing then looking down at the ground.) I just need to know why, for me, please can you give me that.

Bette: (A single tear runs down her face)Tina, Ill tell you anything you want to know. I need to tell you, no excuses.

[Tina looks up into Bettes eyes, both women pleading for the truth. Tina glanced down and noticed Bettes necklace had come out of her shirt. At that point, Tina noticed their rings attached.]

Tina: (Reaching for Bettes necklace)Bette, youre wearing our rings. Thats why your finger is empty. I thought maybe you had given up on me, on us.

Bette: (Clenching the necklace)After you left, I put them around my neck so that we would be near my heart. I havent taken them off since.

Tina: (Turning away from Bette)Oh Bette, [Tinas shoulders were visibly shaking] (whispering) I thought I had lost you.

Bette: (Placing her hand on Tinas shoulder)T. I was lost, but you found me. My undying love for you guided me home.

[Tina reaches up and places her hand on Bettes, Bette moves in to comfort her.]

Tina: (Pulling away from Bette, her back still to Bette)Why Bette, why did you do it?

Bette: Please Tina, lets sit down.

[Both women walk back over to the bench.]

Bette: (Taking a deep breath)Tina, I had to, I had to set us free, set me free. I could no longer take who I had become.

Tina: (Loudly)WHAT! Are you kidding me, you HAD to?

Bette: Please calm down and let me finish.

(Pause)

Bette: I had to do something, something desperate to destroy us. We couldnt go on the way we were. We were on the verge of destroying each other. You were beginning to hate me and I was resenting you. It had to stop.

Tina: (Frustrated)Bette Porter, I dont understand what youre saying. (Now angry)YOU deliberately set out to destroy us because you think I hate YOU and YOU resent ME.

Bette: (Shocked that Tina read into her comment that way) No Tina, thats not what I meant.

Tina: (Angry)You could have fooled me.

(Pause)

Bette: Im sorry. What Im saying is we were in destructive patterns and our relationship would have never survived.

Tina: (Now standing)So you were lining someone up on the side so that you wouldnt have to be alone?

Bette: (Jumping up)NO! She came on to me. I fought it at first but she continued to pursue. I no longer had the will to fight someone who found me attractive, didnt push me away, and didnt look at me with such anger and frustration in their eyes. I didnt want her, I wanted you, the old you! But I couldnt find you. I didnt find her attractive. She didnt and never could make me feel like you do (whispering)no one could.

Bette: Tina, I was lost, disconnected, *****, I resented our friends because they were closer to you than I was. Remember when you asked me Is it so wrong to sometimes need someone to share a moment with?

Tina: Yeah, I remember. I also remember you saying No, its sad.

Bette: It was sad, sad that you had to share a moment, THAT MOMENT, with someone other than me.

Tina: (Pouring her heart out)Bette, you were never there, and when you were you werent really there. Your focus was on the CAC, then landing Provocations for the CAC. After that your focus was on getting the CAC ready for Provocations. I was beginning to feel as though you were married to the CAC and I was just your job.

[Not knowing how to respond to that Bette just looked away.]

Bette: (Softly)Im so sorry T. I should have been there for you, for me. The CAC is just a job, I could have gotten another one. But you, my wife, you are irreplaceable.

(Pause)

Tina: (Placing her hand on Bettes shoulder feeling her pain)You still havent answered my question.

Bette: (Still turned away from Tina)Tina, (pause) I missed out on so much because I took you and our love for granted. I wanted to take care of you, give you and us everything we always wanted. After you quit working, everything fell on my shoulders. I thought I could handle it. Im Bette Porter and I can handle anything. The truth is I was scared out of my mind.

Tina: (Concerned)Then why didnt you tell me. Youre not superhuman Bette, its ok to get scared, I was. Thats why Im here, to help you through good times and bad times, remember.

Bette: (Turning towards Tina)I wanted to, I so wanted to but I didnt want to worry you. Kit told me it was just the daddy blues and that it was normal. You had enough going on, you didnt need my ***** too.

Tina: (Somewhat angry)I think you should let me decide what I can and cant handle. You cant control everything Bette.

Bette: (Whispering)I know (Looking into Tinas eyes for help)I dont want to anymore. I need us to share the burden. I need us to share the responsibilities. I need us to share the decisions because I cant do it alone.

(Long Pause)

Tina: (Tears falling down her cheeks)Bette, Im here. Im right here. I always was.

Bette: (Pleading)T. I need you. I need you like the flowers need water and sunlight. I love you Tina.

Tina: (Placing her hand on Bettes cheek to wipe away the tears)I love you too Bette. Its taken me a long time to realize that but I finally did.

(Long Pause)

Bette: Tina, theres more. I want to get everything out, I have to if we are going to save us, to save myself.

Tina: Go on Im listening.

Bette: (Walking back to the bench)Tina, I had so much pressure on me, you dont know the half of it. I was so close to losing my job, in fact, if Peggy Peabody hadnt stumbled into our meeting that night I would have. (Pausing)The meeting Franklin called was to fire me. What would we have done?

Tina: Babe, we would have managed. Things would have been ok, we had each other.

Bette: Did we or did we have a shell of us? How did we have each other when I couldnt even tell you the severity of the meeting?

Tina: Bette, everything worked out, you even got an extension on your contract.

Bette: That worked out, but since Peggy Peabody basically saved my *****, I felt I owed it to her to give Provocations everything I had. I had to make it a success, not just for Peggy and the CAC, but for me as well.

Bette: (Painfully trying to speak without crying)Then along came Faye Buckley and her Concerned Citizens. Her timing was impeccable. The CAC was under so much scrutiny and protest. (Pausing)…Did you know the day I missed the doctors appointment, (long pause) the day we lost our son, she was the reason?

Tina: Bette, what are you talking about?

Bette: I left the CAC happy as can be, James managed to track down 2 of my favorite childhood books. I couldnt wait to read them to him. I even bet James that you would laugh at one of them Monkeys go on Strike. As I exited the building, she stopped and questioned me about the exhibit and artists. Afterward she turned her questioning to me personally. She attacked my life, our life and the life of our child.

Tina: I had no idea Bette, why didnt you ever tell me?

Bette: (Tearfully)Tina I couldnt, not then. I sat in my car trying to gain some composure, trying not to cry. I didnt want you to see me so upset. I didnt want her to win. Once I arrived at Dr. Wilsons office and realized I was late and you werent there I got worried. I kept asking where you were then Dr. Wilson told me about the miscarriage. (Now sobbing)I should have been there Tina. You and our baby should have been my priority, not the CAC and Provocations.

[Tina is just sitting there openly crying at the point. Her mind takes her back to that day, the day she lost the baby. She was so scared and lost and all alone.]

Bette: My knees went weak, my stomach was in knots, my heart ached and all I wanted to do was hold you. I couldnt get home fast enough. Im surprised I wasnt pulled over for speeding. (Pause)When I walked into our bedroom and saw you my heart completely crumbled. I had never seen you that way before and all I wanted to do was to take away your pain.

Tina: (Crying)It was your pain too, you also lost a son.

Bette: (Softly)I know but I couldnt think about that. I had to make sure I didnt lose you. (Pause)Then those people showed up.

Tina: What people? Who showed up?

Bette: (Somewhat angry)Faye Buckleys people. They showed up that night at our house. They staked signs in the yard saying I was a pornographer. She made it personal, very personal and on the worst night possible.

Tina: Oh Bette, I wish you would have told me.

Bette: Tina I couldnt, I just couldnt. You had enough to deal with, my demons needed to stay my demons, at least for the time being. Faye robbed me, robbed us from the chance to mourn our loss. Instead, I had to focus on the CAC and its reputation. I forced you to grieve on your ownIm so sorry Tina.

[Bette had to stop talking. Her crying had intensified and words were no longer coming out.]

Tina: Its ok babe, Im here. We can cry together, grieve together, its not too late to say our goodbyes.

[The two held each other awhile and cried away their sorrow for the loss of their child.]

Bette: I should have told you T., I should have opened up to you. You were my wife, my best friend and when I needed you most I turned away from you instead of towards you. Tina, I need you, I love you, and I miss you.

Tina: (Full of emotion)I miss you, I love you and I need you too Bette. I tried to go on, have a life without you but I couldnt, I cant. (Pause)Bette, we have a long road ahead of us but as long as we are together, equal partners, I think we can overcome the bumps in the road.

[Not sure she heard Tina correctly, Bette quickly jumps up and walks over to the rail and buries her head in her hands. Tina quickly walks over to Bette and puts her arms around her.]

Tina: Bette, theres something I have to tell you first before we go any further.