Season 1 / Episode 9 ; Listen Up Written by : Ilene Chaiken Directed by : Rose Troche Guest Stars : Click Here Music : Click Here Duration : 48 m

Watch: Racial Tension Watch: Stalking Marina

Listen Up Episode Summary

Tina and a reluctant Bette attend group therapy to discuss their fears about impending motherhood. While Tina is forthcoming about her insecurities Bette remains silent and resentful. While participating in a group exercise, Bette is confronted by an African-American woman who accuses Bette of denying her racial heritage.

Jenny is overjoyed at the arrival of her old college roommate, Annette. Annette is shocked to learn the details of Jenny's infidelity, particularly that the object of her affection is a woman.

The girls are incredibly supportive of Dana's new ad campaign but dismayed to learn that Dana hasn't yet come out to her parents. In a show of support, Alice decides to accompany Dana to an awards luncheon honoring her Republican mother, hoping that strength in numbers will give Dana the courage she needs to reveal the truth. Dana's initial attempt to share the news is interrupted first by her brother Howie's teasing and then by an admirer seeking Dana's autograph on a Subaru ad. When pressed by her mother to explain the campaign tagline "Get Out. And Stay Out", Dana tells her that it has to do with being "outdoorsy".

Tina conducts research on Yolanda, Bette's nemesis from group therapy, while Bette maintains that it was "her" and "her" life Yolanda was attacking, not Tina's.

Annette presses Jenny for details on her sexuality and proposes a stakeout mission to get a glimpse of Marina and Francesca. A confrontation following a traffic mishap outside of The Planet is appeased by Francesca, whose identity is still unknown to Jenny, until she glimpses her embracing Marina. Annette assures Jenny that she is the one Marina wants and plans a scheme to make Marina jealous.

Slim Daddy, a popular hip-hop artist, selects an old song of Kit's for sampling. Bette expresses reservations over the terms of the contract and reveals that she spoke with David about the misunderstanding over Kit's drinking. Furious, Kit accuses Bette of standing in the way of her success.

Shane catches her friend Clive rifling through her roommate's bags and suspects him of stealing. After he is kicked out of the house by her fed up roommates, Clive begs Shane for further assistance and promotes the role he has played in securing her newfound success. She dismisses him after giving him a final stash of cash and drugs.

Bette receives a threatening phone call at the CAC in protest over the upcoming "Provocations" exhibit. She is then confronted by protestors circulating petitions in opposition to the exhibit in front of the museum.

Returning back to the award reception, Alice and Howie stumble upon Dana coming out to her parents who angrily retreat from the function. Dana, upset and apologetic, pursues her family and is told by her mother that "we all have feelings for our girlfriends; it doesn't mean that we have to act on them".

Tim returns home to find Annette who asks him to take care of Jenny because "she needs someone".

Annette and Jenny arrive at "Twat, The Night", a sparsely attended party organized by Shane's roommates, with a plan to make Marina envious. While Alice, Shane, and Dana are curious as to the identity of Jenny's friend, Marina remains aloof. When Marina leaves to visit the restroom, Annette encourages Jenny to follow her. Instead, she is met by Francesca who insinuates that she knows the truth about the nature of Jenny and Marina's relationship and invites Jenny to have dinner with them.

Bette and Tina return to group therapy where Yolanda continues her assault on Bette's racial identity. When the exchange becomes particularly heated, the therapist encourages the group to take a quiet moment to reflect. Bette contemplates the root cause of her stress. As Tina expresses the relative nature of truth and the difficulties inherent in saying what you mean, Bette silently wonders if perhaps she is falling out of love.

Guest Stars

Sean Allan... Dick Shaw
Lynda Boyd... Fiona Shaw
Morgan Brayton... Marti
Beverley Breuer... Marian
Clint Carleton... Cyclist
Devon Casagrande... Leslie
Preston Cook... James
Matthew Currie Holmes... Clive
Lolita Davidovich... Francesca
Snoop Dogg... Slim Daddy
Aaron Douglas... Concerned Citizen
Andrew Francis... Howie Fairbanks
Devon Gummersall... Lisa
Roger Haskett... Harley
Kim Hawthorne¹... Yolanda Watkins
Michael Hogan... Irwin Fairbanks
Susan Hogan... Sharon Fairbanks
Adrian Holmes... Duane
Alana Husband... Marcy
Claude Knowlton... Charlie
Camille Martinez... Alma
Heather McEwen... Sharon at 17
Robyn Ross... Marni
Zak Santiago... Oscar
Jonathan Scarfe... Matt
Daryl Shuttleworth... Dan Foxworthy
Sarah Strange... Annette
Sherry Thoreson... Karen
Lori Triolo¹... Gallery Worker

Music

Tommy James & The Shondells... Crimson & Clover
Hissy Fit... Why Ask Why
Jason Collett... Blue Sky
5 Alarm... Sub Zero
Fundamental... Revolution
Joystick Love... Is My Middle Name
Bonobo... Flutter
Stinkmitt... Camel Toe
Rufus Wainwright... Foolish Love