Chapter Text
New York, Saturday evening. It's the opening night of a new exhibit at Bette's gallery, and Bette is making her way through the crowd after delivering a speech introducing the works. As she moves through the room she is congratulated by various associates, and drawn into conversation by several upcoming artists keen to draw her attention. She makes her way through the crowd and spots Alice, Shane and Dana standing off to one side. Alice hands her a wine as she approaches.
(Alice) Nice work Porter, I'm impressed
Bette smiles as she settles alongside her.
(Bette) Thanks Al
(Shane smiles) Great job, as always
(Dana smiles) Yeah, you're a pro
Bette smiles at them and has a sip of wine. Alice raises her eyebrows as she glances around the room.
(Alice) I don't even understand half the shit you say up there
Bette looks to her and they smile at each other.
(Alice) Some of it's just bullshit right?
Bette laughs and shakes her head.
(Bette) Some Al, yeah
Shane nods towards the crowd, now moving through the exhibit.
(Shane) Well you're obviously not just impressing us
She smiles at Bette, who raises her eyebrows as she has a sip of wine.
Bette's gallery, Friday afternoon. Bette and James are walking the floor of the gallery and discussing the details of an upcoming show.
(Bette) We'll plan to open on the 20th
James nods as he follows Bette between rooms.
(Bette) There will be the twenty-eight new works across the five artists, plus the four existing pieces
(James) You've secured the paintings from the private collector?
(Bette nods) Yes, they'll be a good addition. They complement the themes in the new works, and the collector is excited to show them
James nods as he makes a note on his clipboard.
(Bette) They're currently being shown at a gallery in Boston, and the exhibit is due to close there a few days prior to our opening
(James) I'll get the paperwork to them, and confirm dates for the transfer
(Bette nods) Thank you James
Bette's apartment, Saturday afternoon. Bette, Alice, Shane and Dana are in the kitchen having a drink. Shane and Dana sit at the bench and Bette stands leaning against the counter. Alice leans in the fridge investigating snack options.
(Alice) You need to go shopping
(Bette) I always need to go shopping, why didn't you bring anything?
Alice sighs as she opens a dip and smells it. Shane smiles as she watches her, and then turns to Bette.
(Shane) So, you've got something for us?
Bette nods and has a sip of beer, and Alice smiles and hits her affectionately on the shoulder as she moves past her, tossing the dip and a packet of chips on the bench.
(Alice) This is exciting
(Bette sighs) I guess Al
Alice takes a seat at the bench and pulls Bette's laptop over, positioning it in front of herself and focusing on the screen. Dana turns to Bette.
(Dana) It's what we usually look for?
Bette looks to her and shrugs.
(Bette) Yes, it's perfect. It meets all our usual criteria
Alice speaks to Bette while remaining focused on the laptop.
(Alice) Private collection? Mid-range price so not requiring any extra security measures?
Bette nods.
(Bette) Yes. The collector isn't a big player and we can benefit from their naivety. They had the piece recently appraised and it has been shown across multiple galleries, mine as the final stop
Alice slides the laptop back over to Dana.
(Bette) It will likely not be appraised again for a long time, and even if it is it's unlikely they could pinpoint my gallery as where the exchange took place. If they start asking questions, we move to our contingency plan
Alice looks to Shane and gestures towards the laptop.
(Alice) What do you think? Can you work with this?
Shane moves to lean over Dana's shoulder and looks at the screen for a moment, and then nods.
(Shane) Yeah, no drama. Looks even more straight forward than the last one. The colour range is broader, but overall it'll be an easier job
(Alice smiles) Great
She smiles around at the group.
(Alice) I love this part
Bette looks over to her.
(Bette) What, you mean the part where something is actually fucking happening?
Alice rolls her eyes and has a sip of beer.
(Bette) Where we're not just hanging around waiting for something to come by?
Dana passes the laptop back to Alice, and Alice shrugs as she looks back to the screen.
(Alice) OK, yeah there's a lot of waiting around. But mid-range price in this game is still a lot of money
Bette has a sip of her beer, and Alice looks up at her.
(Alice) Can we at least enjoy the fun part when it's here?
(Bette) This isn't fun Al
Bette rubs her forehead.
(Bette) We've once again found something that is so insignificant no one will actually give a fuck that we've stolen it
Alice and Shane meet eyes and share a look, and Alice then looks over at Bette as she closes the laptop.
(Alice) You're in a mood Porter, even for you
Alice and Dana start gathering their things and stand from the bench.
(Dana) And everything's in place if things go wrong?
Shane nods.
(Shane) Yep, same as always. If need be Bette disappears immediately. Everything's organised
She gestures towards Bette.
(Shane) And Bette's across all the details
Alice and Dana nod.
(Alice) We'll still have the painting, and obviously everything else we've made so far. We cut our losses there
She shrugs.
(Alice) The risk is low, as always, but we know there's a good chance we'll be caught out at some point. If that happens we'll get Bette out immediately
The others all nod, and Alice looks to Bette.
(Alice) When does it arrive?
(Bette) Two weeks Tuesday
(Alice) OK. Well not much to do until then, once it's here it's all systems go
She smiles and taps Dana on the arm.
(Alice) In the meantime let's go find us a buyer
They wave goodbye and both move towards the front door. Bette and Shane look to each other once they hear the door close, and Shane smiles at her.
(Shane) You're bored of this
Bette looks at her for a moment and then sighs.
(Bette) I'm so fucking bored of this
Shane smiles and shakes her head, and Bette moves to the fridge. She pulls out another two bottles of beer and leans back on the counter as she opens them.
(Bette) Running a mid-range gallery, stealing only mid-range pieces
Bette sits down at the bench and hands Shane one of the beers.
(Bette) And ninety percent of my time is spent actually just running the fucking gallery
Bette frowns and shakes her head.
(Bette) When the fuck did I sign up for that ?
Shane laughs and has a sip of beer.
(Bette) I'm tired of just waiting around for some low-risk target to appear
Shane smiles.
(Shane) I know we're all pretty settled into this routine by now. And maybe it's become a little...
Bette looks at her pointedly.
(Bette) Predictable
Shane smiles, examining her for a moment.
(Shane) But it's impressive Bette, what you've achieved. You've placed yourself in the middle of the New York art world. You're running a fucking gallery. I don't even really understand how you've managed to do this
Bette smiles and looks to her beer, considering this for a moment.
(Shane) That's got to be one of your most successful cons, right? You don't take satisfaction in that?
Bette sighs.
(Bette) At first, maybe. But I feel like I'm now living the criminal equivalent of a nine to five job
Shane laughs and they smile at each other.
(Shane) I know it's boring, at least day to day. The stakes are still pretty high though, and particularly for you. We're backroom players here but your face is front and centre
(Bette) There may be higher stakes, but it's a lot less fun than the shit we used to get up to, right?
(Shane sighs) I don't know. You spent your 20s jetting around European islands and swindling socialites
Bette smiles and Shane shrugs.
(Shane) I was breaking into cars and dodging fists left right and centre
She raises her eyebrows and has a sip of beer.
(Shane) I don't think I need that thrill in my life
(Bette) There's nothing about it you miss?
Shane shakes her head slowly.
(Shane) Nope
She shrugs.
(Shane) I'm older now, I like the idea of a lower risk job, and a regular paycheck
Shane pauses for a sip of beer.
(Shane) You miss it though? The thrill that came with what you got up to back then?
(Bette sighs) I guess
(Shane) What about it exactly?
(Bette) I don't know, the risk I guess. Moving from one thing to another, never looking back. The feeling that I could get caught out at any moment, and never spending long enough on one job to get bored
(Shane) We're making some pretty good money here Bette. The payout isn't worth the boredom?
(Bette) I'm beginning to realise I'm not really in this so much for the payout. When the fun stops, so does my interest
She shrugs and Shane has a sip of her beer and continues to examine her.