Scene ~ the park. Carly's on the swings, apparently waiting for Jason and Michael Carly: (Jason walks up with Michael in his arms) Hey!
Jason: Carly, what are you doing here?
Carly: Mr. Man! (she stands) I just wanted to spend some time with my little family. If it's okay with you? Hi! Mmmah. (she gives Michael a kiss on the cheek)
Jason: Aren't you glad to see mommy?
Carly: Yeah. I think it's really important for him to spend some time with the three of us, you know. At least every now and then.
Jason: Alright. Let's show her how well you can swing. (he lowers Michael to put him in the swing) C'mon. Put your legs in there...
Carly: (she leans down to help get Michael's feet through) Alright...
Jason: Can you get him in?
Carly: Yeah.
Jason: There you go.
Carly: (she sits in the swing beside Michael's) Oh, big boy!
Jason: (he pushes Michael slowly) Here we go...
Carly: Hold on, hold on... Hold on! Oh... (she turns to sit sideways in the swing) I miss you already, baby.
Jason: (he kneels behind Michael's swing) You saw him less than an hour ago.
Carly: So? (pause) How's mommy gonna stall AJ tonight without you there to help me?
Jason: AJ's actually buying this?
Carly: Mmm. You know, I mean, he's still being Mr. Gallant and all. But... there's kissing. And there's, you know... I'm running out of time, basically. I never said my plan was perfect, did I?
Jason: Your plan is getting lamer by the day.
Carly: Well, you know. Maybe you could just- I don't know. Maybe you could call me tonight and say... Michael can't get to sleep without me?
(Jason looks like he's trying not to care)
* * * * *
Carly: Okay, fine. If you won't help me find a way to stall AJ I'll just have to figure it out on my own, I guess.
Jason: You leave Michael out of it.
Carly: Okay, well. You know, I could always get little Miss Emily to toss me down the stairs and claim severe bodily injuries.
Jason: Mmm, yah. And AJ can kiss it and make it all better.
Carly: Oh, you are disgustiiing! (she hits at his shoulder playfully)
Jason: Michael - Michael. Mommy's kidding. She's kidding.
Carly: I'm kidding, honey. Maybe I could move into the college library, you know, to study for my design class. Like, for the rest of my life.
Jason: Mmm. Just what you need, another dumb plan. You wanna go higher, Michael? Okay. Hold on.
Carly: No, you know what? (she hops out of the swing) Michael wants his mommy to push. It's my turn!
Jason: No, we're not taking turns, Carly.
Carly: Yes, we are. It's my turn! Move over daddy. (she bumps his shoulder with her hip)
Jason: Okay, hold on. I got ten more. One... Ready? Two...
Carly: (she pushes him over and pushes Michael higher) Three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten!
Jason: Mommy's a cheater.
Carly: You're calling me a cheater? You said that I was a cheater? (she starts to tickle him) Did you say that I was a cheater?
Jason: Carly-
Carly: You said that I was a cheater? Huh?
Jason: Carly, you don't want me to tickle you back.
AJ's voice from up the path: Excuse me. (Carly hears him and runs, literally ducking into the bushes.) Is this the way to the playground? Thank you.Jason: (moving Michael's swing in a circle) Whew... Away we go...
AJ: What's going on here?
* * * * *
AJ: He's too small for that swing, Jason. Alright, Leticia told me you'd be here. And it's a good thing that I got here before he fell out. (he ducks under the bar to take Michael out of the swing) It doesn't even have a safety strap.
Jason: (holds out his hands to stop AJ) Hold on, hold on. He's okay, man. He knows how to hold on.
AJ: Since when?
Jason: Since he was about 6 months old.
AJ: Yeah, well. This swing is not safe. He should be in one like he has at home. Okay? Michael needs to be strapped in.
Jason: AJ, what do you want?
AJ: Is there a problem with me checking in on my own son?
Jason: No. But it's my day.
AJ: Yeah, I know. Well, it... also happens to be the only slot in 'Toddler Time With Daddy'.
Jason: What?
AJ: Look, it's- It's a play program for fathers and their children.
Jason: So - Let me get this straight. You signed up for a program to learn how to play with Michael?
AJ: No, look. It's- The idea is to spend quality time with your- with your kids. And - It's two sessions a week, and the first one starts in seven minutes.
Jason: And of course, it's during my time.
AJ: Yeah. Didn't you say that you wanted to work things out? Now if you were serious, you'll let him go.
Jason: (pause, he rubs his face and shakes his head) Where is it?
AJ: It's in the community center.
Jason: Is it inside?
AJ: No. So?
Jason: Yeah, well. He wants to be outside. (I know that doesn't make sense, but it's what they said - confirmed by the CC)
AJ: No, you want to be outside. C'mon, Jason. You want me to learn how to relate to my son or not?
Jason: (he sighs, and steps around the swing to get Michael out) Alright... C'mere, Michael. You're gonna go with AJ. And you're gonna meet some other kids... (he lifts Michael up, but Michael's feet catch on the swing) AJ, can you help me here? Please?
AJ: (he kneels to un-catch Michael's feet) Yeah. Sorry.
Jason: There we go. That's a shovel. (I'm guessing Michael dropped the shovel he was holding when he was swinging, and AJ picked it up)
AJ: (laughs) That's alright. There we go.
Jason: There we go. Then he's gonna take you back to the Quartermaine masion, and I'm gonna pick you up later, okay? (he hands Michael to AJ)
AJ: C'mon, buddy.
Jason: Have a good time.
AJ: You got your shovel. Ready? Say goodbye. Bye-bye. (he waves Michael's hand, and Jason waves goodbye. Jason looks pissed)
Carly: (she stands, still in the bushes) Jase?
Jason: (he turns) Yeah?
Carly: (she points toward the path, asking if AJ has gone yet, then comes out of the bushes to stand by him) You okay?
Jason: Yeah, I'm okay. Are you okay?
Carly: Me? How did you keep from killing him?
* * * * *
(It's now dark, and Carly's on the swing again. Jason is standing by the swingset poles, hands in pockets, looking yummie.)Carly: I'm sorry. But if I had known about that stupid - 'Daddy's a toddler' or whatever it is...
Jason: Carly, it's alright. It's okay.
Carly: Are you sure?
Jason: We have to make this work for Michael.
Carly: It'll work. I promise you that. I couldn't believe that! A stupid lecture about how Michael shouldn't be on a swing? About how he might get scared from going too high? Our son is brave, okay? Like his mother, and his real father. And there is just no way that I'm gonna let AJ turn him into some kind of spineless Quartermaine weasel. He's not gonna teach our son to doubt every instinct that he has and every impulse that he feels is good. As far as I'm concerned, Jason, the higher, the better.
Jason: You mean that?
Carly: Yeah. Higher, hotter, farther, faster. That's our motto right?
Jason: (he comes over to her swing) I guess I could push you insteada Michael today. (he starts to push) Go ahead, come on.
Carly: Yeah, push me!
Jason: Hang on!
Carly: Higher! Whoo! All the way to the top!
Jason: Hang on!
Carly: I'm hangin' on!
Jason: Hang on!
Carly: Okay, wanna see me flip out of the chair?
Jason: No, no, no.