Scene ~ the *Goodbye*
Jason: Last night, I woke up a little past midnight. I heard... I heard Michael crying for me. I was halfway to his old room before I realized... I can't be his family any more. I don't want him to remember last year. I... I don't want him to remember me.
Carly: Yeah. That is why you left, isn't it? To protect him, to protect me, right?
Jason: (nods) Yeah.
Carly: Okay. I understand that now, I really do. You didn't want to hurt us, and... I know that if you hadn't come back... I don't know, Jase. I just get scared, man. And I- I do stupid things.
Jason: (smiles) Yeah, no kidding.
Carly: (laughs) But it's always for you. I mean, it's always for us, even now. Look at us. You left to protect Michael. And I married somebody else so I could be with you. Kind of makes sense, doesn't it? And except for Michael, you're the most important person in my whole life. You're the only one who's never lied to me. You're the only one who doesn't want to change me into something, anything. I can just be myself with you. (her hand gently touches the side of his face, and he leans into it and closes his eyes)
Jason: You know, when you showed up that night, it was raining. You were so scared. You needed me. You asked me to take care of Michael, and that's... That's when my life started. A life I thought I could never have. More than anything I could ever imagine. (pauses) It was all because of you. It's true, Carly, you are a lot of trouble. (she laughs) You make things more complicated than they are. But... You showed me new things. You gave me a year and a half that no one can take away. Nothing will change that.
Carly: You're dumping me, right? You're dumping me.
Jason: Carly, c'mon. You're married to somebody else.
Carly: I don't care.
Jason: Well, you... You have to sneak around. You lie to AJ, you lie to Michael...
Carly: I don't lie to Michael.
Jason: Well, you will if... If things stay the way they are. Even AJ's gonna catch on.
Carly: I can take care of AJ.
Jason: I can't do it, Carly. I can't turn around and wonder if you're gonna be there. Here, at the warehouse, with no warning.
Carly: Aren't you ever glad to see me?
Jason: Yes. But, then I have to let you go again. Until you show up the next time. Then, I have to let you go all over again. I can't... I can't do it.
Carly: Well, we'll work something out. I can call before I come, I can send you smoke signals...
Jason: Carly. Don't come up with any more plans
Carly: I'd do anything to be with you.
Jason: Will you leave AJ?
(Carly nods emphatically without hesitation.)
Jason: (pauses) Will you drag Michael through another custody fight? (she looks away)
* * * * *
(They're walking to the PH door.)
Carly: Jason? ... I love you. And- I know you hate it when I say that. I know it doesn't mean the same thing to you as it does to me. But I know that... I know that you love me too. And I'll always love you. (she shakes her head, starting to cry)
Jason: (places a hand her shoulder) Hey. Hey...
(Jason pulls her closer to him, cups her face in his hands, and brushes her hair behind her ears. He brushes her tears away with his thumbs, and they look into each other's eyes. He pulls her face close to his, and for a second, it looks as though they will kiss. After a second, they both catch themselves, and instead they wrap their arms around each other in a tight hug.)Carly: (crying softly) Oh, God. I love you.
(They pull away, and she wipes the tears from her eyes.)Carly: I'm sorry.
Jason: It's okay. You have to go home?
(She nods, then retrieves her purse from the desk. Jason takes her hand and they walk to the door, Carly laughes a little at the fact that he hasn't let go of her hand. They walk to the elevator, still holding hands, and she pushes the button.)
Carly: Aren't you gonna give me any money for a cab?
(Jason smiles a litte, and pulls some money out of his pocket. He holds out his hand for hers and places the money in her hand, brings her hand to his lips, and softly kisses her knuckles. He looks up into her eyes. Not able to contain herself, she moves closer to him and stretches to kiss him, but pulls herself away once again before he can push her away. They press their foreheads together in another embrace...)