This week, the writers gave her a three-day string of outstanding material to work with, and she did it more marvelously than I could ever have imagined.

It started at the Shockwave, where the first large crack appeared in the crumbling dam that is Bette and Olivia's friendship. Olivia was telling Uncle Tobias about how Annie didn't have a good family life growing up, and a figure in blue appeared behind her. The camera craned up and from the moment that smokey voice said "And what the hell would you know about that, toots?" we knew we were in for something good. Olivia, embarrassed, said that she hadn't seen Bette come in, to which she replied, "What else is new?" After Olivia made a jerk of herself in front of Tobias, she attempted to smooth things over with Bette, upon which Bette ripped into her about several things. An especially notable quote was, "You expect me to feel sorry for you again and again and again?!" I found that this rang a particularly ironic note, being that Bette has been notoriously overlooked by the show's writers, serving as the shoulder to cry on and the voice of reason whenever someone else has a problem as opposed to having her own life. A bit later, AJ came in. He and Bette struck up a conversation, and she prepared herself to tell him how she feels about him when, sensing she was being left out of something and desperately in need of attention, Olivia slipped over and interrupted. The woman pulled up a chair, turned the conversation around, and before you knew what had happened they were talking about her problems and AJ was comforting her! That was enough for Bette, and she excused herself.

When she got home was when Noone's performance really took off. Bette, the mighty rock of Sunset Beach, the calm (more or less) in the center of the storm, broke down and cried. Fighting back tears, she looked in the mirror and yelled at her reflection, telling it that she had known the truth all along, that this was not worth crying over. The doorbell rang, and it was none other than AJ, come to apologize for Olivia's behavior. Bette pushed it aside, reasoning that it would always be about Olivia, and that was the problem. AJ, not normally one to be so dumb, said to her, "Bette, you're not making any sense. - Unless--" There. It happened. The news finally fell onto his head and shattered at his feet. "How could I have been so stupid?" The world's been asking that since we found out she was in love with him.

She tried desperately to deny it then, but he began to put things together. That didn't stop her, though. Her denials got bigger and bigger - but when she realized that it wasn't working and skidded to a halt, the look she gave him said everything and more.

AJ began, "Bette I care about you so much." She looked at him, her wide eyes full of hope and fear. He continued: "You're so smart." She turned away from him, and you could see the pain drive into her like a bullet. Having been the victim of this same speech more times than a six-fingered person could count on one hand, I knew all too well the pain that went through her at that moment, and she could not have been more accurate. As some seem to think it softens the blow, AJ went on to list more of Bette's outstanding qualities, but each one only made her wince more than the last. But he went on:

AJ: [You're] everything anyone could anyone could ever want in a-

BETTE: Friend? A pal, hmm? (AJ, lost for words, stands silent)

She drew in a deep breath and, with every ounce of strength she had, said, "I need you to go now, AJ. You need to be with Olivia, and I need to be alone." For the first time in five years, a tear rolled down my face.

The raw anguish and suffering with which she growled that last word is a feeling that I'm not even going to try to put into words, because it's not possible. It's just one of those things you have to see, but pray to God you never have to feel.

The talent she displayed here is the reason why this scene was larger than life. It is the reason why I feel the urge to applaud every time Bette appears onscreen. It is the reason why viewers remain puzzled by the writers' choice to repeatedly ignore her. And it is one of the biggest reasons why this show does not deserve the fate that it has been dealt.

If I were an Emmy judge, I'd be stuffing the ballot box now. But, with scenes like these, I wouldn't have to. Kathleen, I commend you.