Mona-Lisa Meets English-Rose

Chapter 12

Los Angeles

Bette’s Apartment

Bette gets home from work. As she walks into the living room she sees the light on her answering machine blinking. She presses the ‘play’ button.

Machine: “You have one unheard message: (Helena) ‘ Hey, it’s me. I got some news for you. Call me as soon as you get this.’ End of message.”

A bit concerned Bette picks up the phone and dials Helena’s number. Impatient Bette listens to the four rings before Helena answers the phone.

Helena: “Hello?”

Bette: “It’s me.”

Helena: “Hi.”

Bette: “What’s wrong?”

Helena: “I don’t even get a ‘hi’?”

Bette: “Sorry. Hi. What’s wrong?”

Helena: “What makes you think something is wrong?”

Bette: “Um, the message you left on my machine?!”

Helena: “I see.”

Bette: “So, what’s wrong?”

Helena: “Nothing.”

Bette: “But you sounded so serious.”

Helena: “I didn’t mean to.”

Bette: “So, nothing’s wrong? No bad news?”

Helena: “No, not at all. It’s great news.”

Bette let out a sigh of relief.

Bette: “Good. You had me worrying there for a moment.”

Helena: “Aw. I’m sorry.”

Bette: “That’s okay...So, what is it? What’s the great news?”

Helena: “Okay. So the foundation just gave a grant to a new organisation which is establishing this after school program. And since it’s a new organisation we’re supporting someone from the foundation has to be on-site. Make sure the money goes where it’s supposed to go and things like that.”

Bette: “Okay. So I’m guessing that someone will be you?”

Helena: “Yes.”

Bette: “Helena, that’s great.”

Helena: “Wait. You haven’t heard the best part yet.”

Bette: “I haven’t?”

Helena: “No.”

Bette: “Okay. So tell me.”

Helena doesn’t answer.

Bette: “Is this a dramatic pause?”

Helena: “Maybe.”

Helena’s silent again.

Bette: “Stop with the teasing and tell me already.”

Helena: “Impatience. I like it.”

Bette: “Helena.”

Helena laughs.

Helena: “Okay. This new project I’ll be supervising, it’s in...Los Angeles.”

Bette: “Are you serious?”

Helena: “Why would I be kidding?”

Bette: “Oh my god.”

Helena: “I know.”

Bette: “And for how long will you be here?”

Helena: “Several months, at least.”

Bette: “Oh my god, that is...”

Helena: “Great?”

Bette: “To begin with.”

Next Day

Planet

Bette, Dana, Alice and Shane are sitting inside the Planet.

Dana: “That’s great.”

Bette: “I know.”

Alice: “Where will she stay?”

Bette: “She wanted to rent a place for the time she’s here...”

Shane: “But that would be stupid since you’ll be spending most of the time together anyway. So why rent a place.”

Bette: “Exactly.”

Alice: “So she’ll be staying with you.”

Bette: “Yeah.”

Shane: “Good times ahead.”

Bette grins.

Shane: “Say no more.”

The girls laugh.

Dana: “So when will she be coming?”

Bette: “In two weeks.”

A Few Days Later

New York

Helena’s Apartment

Helena and her friends are sitting in the living room.

Sally: “Only a few more days. Getting excited?”

Helena: “You have no idea.”

Susan and Jane look at each other, starting to whisper.

Jane: “You ask her.”

Susan: “No, you ask her.”

Helena: “Ask what?”

Jane: “You have to ask.”

Susan: “No, I can’t. You ask.”

Helena: “Ask what???”

Susan and Jane look at Helena.

Helena: “Ask what?”

Jane: “Well...we were just wondering...if...”

Susan: “...if you’re sure about staying at Bette’s place.”

Helena: “Yes. Why?”

Susan: “I don’t know. Don’t you think...you’re...”

Jane: “...rushing things.”

Helena looks at Sally.

Helena: “You think so too?”

Sally: “Well...”

Helena laughs.

Helena: “You were the ones pushing me into this. You said I should move on. And now that I am, I’m rushing things?”

Sally: “We just want to make sure this is what you really want.”

Helena: “It is. And staying with Bette...We both think it would make the most sense this way.”

All: “Uh huh.”

Jane: “What about ‘taking it one step at a time’?”

Helena: “Oh come on, it’s not like I’m moving in with her.”

Susan: “Actually, it is exactly like that.”

Helena: “Are you trying to put me off doing this?”

All: “No.”

Helena: “It sounds a little like that.”

Susan: “We’re not.”

Sally: “It’s just like I said. We want to make sure you thought this through and really want this.”

Helena: “I do. I really do.”

A Few Days Later

Los Angeles

Bette’s Apartment

Bette and Alice are in the bedroom, cleaning.

Alice: “So tomorrow, huh?”