Season 2/ Episode 11; "Loud and Proud" Written by : Elizabeth Hunter Directed by : Rose Troche Guest Stars : Click Here Music : Click Here Duration : 49 m

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 Loud and Proud Summary

by Stacy Turner

The opening scene shows some sort of S & M thing going on. One of the ladies walks outside and we see a sign on the door that says “Pride 2005: Celebrate Your Diversity.”

Bette is at the hospital talking with a doctor about her father’s condition. He tells her that he has advanced prostate cancer and is refusing any kind of treatment. As he is telling her that he has no chance of recovery Tina shows up with flowers. Bette tells her that bad news and Tina comforts her. They walk into his room and Kit is helping her father back into bed. When he sees Tina he tells her to take the flowers home because they can put them on his grave. He continues to be rude to Tina and even refers to her as “Ms. Kennard.”

Shane is watching the tapes that Mark made of her and Carmen. Jenny on the other hand is in her room doing some sort of weird puppet show with cut out pictures of her family. Shane walks in and asks Jenny if they can talk. Shane tells her that she has never had her own room before and she really likes Jenny and doesn’t want anything to mess that up. Jenny then asks her what Shane is going to do about Carmen and Shane doesn’t know how to answer. Jenny tells her that she thinks that Shane and Carmen should date because they are great together. Shane asks Jenny to come with her and watch something. They go and watch one of the tapes that Mark made and it shows a different side of Shane. Jenny tells Shane that she isn’t as scary as she thinks she is and Carmen wont get herself into any situations that she can’t handle.

Alice and Dana are in the middle of doing a little role playing. Dana is dressed as some sort of college professor and Alice as a maid. While they are being intimate with each other, Alice says I love you. Dana thinks that she is still role playing and says something back. Alice looks into Dana’s eyes and tells her that it’s her talking and she says I love you Dana. Before Dana can respond the doorbell rings and they get up to see who it is. They find Howie, Dana’s brother, on the other side of the door. They ask how he found them to which he replies that his mom and dad haven’t stopped talking about how Dana gave up a life with Tonya for a dead end relationship with Alice.

Tina and Helena are at the Planet having dinner. Helena notices that Tina is being very distant and asks her what’s wrong. Tina says that she is just worried about Melvin but Helena knows that something else is going on with her. Tina then tells Helena that she thinks that they should date other people. Helena knows that what she really means is that she wants to see Bette and lets Tina know that it’s ok. Helena even mentions the fact that they were never really exclusive so she feels bad that Tina had that impression.

Dana asks her brother if he ran away. He says no and tells her that their mom and dad were just bothering him so he needed some space. He starts to unpack his bags and Dana asks him how long he is staying because Pride is that weekend. Howie mentions that he might want to go with them, and Alice and Dana try to explain to him that Pride is for gay people and he is straight.

Shane and Jenny are in the kitchen cooking and Shane invites Jenny to go to pride with her. As they are talking Mark knocks on the door and asks if he can come in. He tells them that he has all his stuff packed but would like to know if he can stay one more night and leave in the morning so that he doesn’t have to unpack his stuff at night. He apologizes to them even though he knows that it wont change their opinion of them and then he walks out the door. Shane walks to the door and tells him that he can stay one more night.

Bette is reading a story to her father and Tina walks in the door. She brings Bette some food and a change of clothes. They start talking about how beautiful each other looked at Tina’s award ceremony. Melvin presses the button for the nurse and when she comes in he tells her to pull the curtain closed so that he can’t see them. When Tina leaves Bette opens the curtain and tells him that he doesn’t have to hide anymore. He gets upset and asks what did he do wrong to make Bette gay. They get into a religious debate about it and Bette leaves the room.

Shane is in her room watching the “Love Confession” tape. We cut to see her in bed and she is crying as she is watching it.

Dana walks into the living room and gives Howie some pillows and blankets. Dana then walks into Alice’s bedroom and they talk about what they are going to do about Howie. Dana says that maybe he could hang out with Alice during the parade. Alice asks Dana where is she going to be and she says that she got asked to ride on a float. Alice asks her if she was going to mention it to her and rolls over upset. Dana tells her that she should ride on the float with her since she is a semi celebrity because of her radio show. Alice rolls back over and tells her that sounds fun, but what are they going to do about Howie then. Dana says that they can leave before he gets up and Alice tells her that she loves the way she thinks. As they are looking into each other’s eyes Alice tells Dana that she loves her again. Dana kisses her and then tells her that she is going to set the alarm.

Jenny and Shane are drinking coffee talking about how they should leave early for Pride. Mark knocks on the door and gives them some coffee and breakfast. He asks Jenny if he can talk to her and then proceeds to apologize. Jenny tells him that there is nothing that he can do to erase what he has done. He tells her that because of all the stuff he did he has learned what it is like to be a woman. Jenny gets upset and walks away from the table. Mark gets completely nude and asks Jenny if that is what she wants from him. Jenny goes off on him again and leaves as Shane walks back into the room and finds Mark putting his clothes back on.

Alice and Dana are walking toward the float that they are going to be riding on. They start talking about how Howie got up so early and Dana says that he probably heard their alarm. A lady with a clipboard walks up to Dana and tells people on the float that she is there. The woman sees Alice and asks for her name. Alice tells her that she isn’t on the list. Dana tells the woman that Alice is her girlfriend and she thought it would be fun for her and Howie to go on the float with her. The woman tells her that only people who’s names are on the clipboard can ride on it. Alice and the woman get into a little argument and the woman pulls Dana away and tells her that she can ride on the float alone. As Alice and Howie are walking away a man starts checking Howie out. Alice notices it and tells him to keep moving along cause Howie is straight.

Shane and Jenny are walking along and they spot Alice and Howie. Shane tells Alice to come with her and ride on a motorcycle with the Dykes on Bikes because Jenny wont go. Alice says that she would love to so she goes and tells Dana. As she is walking past the lady with the clipboard she tells her to write that on her chart and then flips the clipboard and runs away. Jenny and Howie meet each other and they walk away together. Alice catches up with Shane and tells her that she has told Dana that she loves her twice and she never said anything back. Shane tells her that she can see that Dana loves her and Alice looks like she feels better.

After the parade Alice and Dana run into Jenny and asks about Howie’s whereabouts. Jenny tells them that he said that he would meet up with them later and Alice asks if he was uncomfortable at all with Pride. Jenny tells them no and also tells them that she doesn’t know where he is. As they are talking a woman comes up and gives the girls flyers to an S & M club. Alice and Dana glance at each other as the woman walks up to Jenny and ask if she will be there later. Jenny says maybe and the woman tells her that she is a tease and she likes punishing people like that.

Bette sneaks her dads wallet out of a drawer next to his bed and looks at a picture of her father, her mother and herself when she was a baby. As she is looking at it Kit walks in with some food for Bette and tells her that she should go home. Their father wakes up and calls both of them over to his bedside and tells them that he loves them both very much.

Dana and Alice walk up to the S & M club and debate about whether or not they should go inside. They decide that they should at least check it out . They walk inside and no longer than 5 seconds later they walk back out and decide to go to the Planet instead.

Tina, Helena, Shane and Jenny all show up at the Planet. Jenny tries to hide behind a door and an older woman spots her and starts hitting on her. The woman asks her to dance and Jenny says no. The woman then starts to ask if it’s because she’s too old and Jenny tells her no and that she is perfect. The woman then asks Jenny if she wants to kiss her and Jenny does.

Helena and Tina are walking through that Planet and Helena spots someone that she knows. Helena is noticeably flirting with her and Tina looks a little uncomfortable with it. Helena asks the girl to dance and Tina tells her that it’s ok because she needs to sit down. When Helena and the girl start to dance Tina walks away toward the door.

Alice and Dana walk in right as Tina is leaving. Alice and Dana spot Howie dancing around with another man with his shirt off. Dana pulls him away and tells him that the man he is dancing with is gay. Howie tells her that he knows and that he is just celebrating Pride. We then find out that Howie is gay also and he asks Dana if she can tell their parents.

Jenny is at home and Mark walks in to leave his keys. Jenny says something and it scares him because he doesn’t know that she is there. She tells him that he created all this mess and now he is just running away from his problems. She dares him to stay and fix things, but tells him that she is not his friend.

Kit is at the hospital watching her dad sleep. She starts to talk about how life was like when she as younger and he wakes up. He asks Kit where Benjamin is and she tells him that he is with his wife and kids. He tells her that if she loves him then she shouldn’t let him go and fight for him at any cost.

Dana and Alice are dancing together and laughing. Dana looks at Alice and then whispers into her ear that she loves her. Alice embraces her and tells Dana that she loves her too.

Jenny goes to the S & M club. She gets tied down to a table and then starts to have strange flashbacks. She snaps out of it and then sits up and tells the woman not to touch her. Jenny sits there for a minute and then begins to cry.

Shane walks up to Carmen and starts revealing things about herself to her. Carmen looks at her and puts her hand on Shane's face and walks away.

Guest Stars

Ossie Davis

Music, including Scene by Scene breakdown by Kace of What the L Radio!)

7 songs this week. 1 for each Soldier of Victory, I guess.

Pink Martinis "Let's Never Stop Falling"
Alice and Dana do fun things with each other as this plays. It's that
Bossonova vibe going, so if you're into it, you'll like it. Alice gets an
A for the Maid outfit. Rowwr... Then Howie showed up.

Joystick "You Are The One"
Helena and Tina share drinks and officially opt for the open relationship.
And it's Joystick, so it's all good.

Cuban Sluts "Bossa Nova Baby"
Plays as we get to the Gay Pride Parade. Everybody dance. It's face paced
and for some reason, I envision a dark room and flashing lights. Team me
up with Jenny and we could have some weird images going. Alice doesn't get
to right on the float. Awww... Meanwhile, Jenny shows up during this
dressed like one of my old Program Directors. I think it's the hat.

Quick Note: Was I the only one expecting to see Gabby in the S&M place?

Diana Lee "Turn It Round"
Party at the Planet!! Everyone dance! *gets down with bad self* Jenny
gets a lecture in Gay Shame and it's more of that deeper insight into
Jenny's soul that's bound to pay off eventually. *goes back to getting
down with bad self* Hey, look! Helena's taking advantage of the open
relationship, too! Good for her. *more getting down*

Michael McGregor f/ Joniece "Let's Have A Party"
Segued right out of Diana Lee's song as Dana sees Howie and The L Word
temporarily evolves into Queer As Folk. Well, Sharon's gonna really freak
now.

King Robbie "Us Girls Are Alright"
It's sorta New Age Disco here, as Alice and Dana cement for all the
4AM'mers that indeed it is Love these two share. Following this up with
Jenny's S&M scene is just wrong, but hey whatever works.

Jane Siberry "Love Is Everything"
Available on The L Word Season 2 Soundtrack, so go out and buy it if you
haven't by now. Plays as Shane answers some questions asked some 9 or 10
episodes ago. Jenny and Bette do the stereo front window stare as I
imagine some dude across the street freaking out. And we go to the credits!

Previews: "L-Chaim," Episode 2.12

Yahoo TV: Bette moves her father into her home; Alice struggles with jealousy; Jenny confronts a repressed memory.

SHO: Bette moves her father into her home for his final days, as Alice struggles with her jealousy over Dana's dinner with an ex, and Jenny flirts with danger while confronting a repressed memory.

TV Guide: Tina reaches out to Bette after she moves her father into her home for his final days; Alice becomes jealous over Dana's dinner with an ex-girlfriend; Jenny becomes unglued when she remembers a painful memory.

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