Scene - Q rose garden (Carly's looking at the roses and Jason walks up behind her.)
Jason: Carly.
Carly: Something happen? Hi.
Jason: Not really.
Carly: What are you doing here?
Jason: I was looking for you.
Carly: Well, now I know something's wrong. Somebody hurt you? Robin, or Sonny?
Jason: I have to break my promise.
Carly: (disbelieving breath) Well. Excuse me for being skeptical but you don't make enough promises to break. The only outright promise I ever remember you making was that you'd wait for me and Michael.
* * * * *
Carly: Lila's teaching me how to cut them, what they eat. What kinda bugs they get.
Jason: Carly, this has to stop.
Carly: I never thought that I would enjoy something like gardening? But it's kinda great. Cuz I have a great view of the nursery from here. And I can keep an eye out... when Michael takes his nap. And then- then, you know, when Leticia's reading to him, he waves his little book out the window at me.
Jason: Leticia's the only constant thing in his life right now.
Carly: Okay. So. It's bad. I can see that. Why don't you just say it.
Jason: The other promise I made was to protect Michael from anything that could hurt him. And I didn't know... The thing that would hurt him the most would be me.
Carly: Who put this idea in your head? You could never hurt Michael. He adores you.
Jason: (pause) I have done the wrong thing. And... I have to undo it.
Carly: What wrong thing? Let's just stay calm, here. Okay? We can discuss this.
(looooong pause)Jason: I'm giving him up.
Carly: No. What- What does that mean? Huh? Whatever it means - no.
Jason: Any legal rights I have - visitation, shared custody, making decisions for Michael.
Carly: No!
Jason: Even to see him.
Carly: You would never hurt Michael like that. He loves you. And you would never do that to him, either.
Jason: How many homes does Michael have right now?
Carly: Is this from Sonny, or something? Is he putting this in your head? Cuz you can tell him to butt out. I know when my son is in danger.
Jason: Carly, how many homes does Michael have right now?
Carly: He has two, right now.
Jason: No. (pause) None. (nuther pause) Carly, he doesn't sleep at my place either. And he doesn't cry. I go in to check on him, and there he is just looking at- looking at the walls. The ceiling, his toys... He looks at me. (broken whisper) He loves me. Yeah, but it's different now. His look says 'Yeah, I recognize all this. But what's the- what's the use of getting used to it?' You know, good for me, Carly. Okay? I made my point. The judge said that I'm an important person, that we can split Michael fifty-fifty.
Carly: You know what? You're just upset.
Jason: Yeah, I am. I am upset!
Carly: You're upset because you fought with AJ. But that was his fault-!
Jason: No! It was my fault, Carly! We still fight when there's one of us sitting in the room! This has to stop, Carly. All of this has to stop. And this is the easiest way. Both of Michael's parents are here.
Carly: Stop talking like that, alright! You are Michael's father!
Jason: Carly, somebody has to quit! Somebody has to quit this! And the logical person is me right now!
Carly: No, it's not. It's AJ. Wait a second now. You knew this was gonna be hard. All I have to do is stay married to this guy for a little while longer. And then we can be together and we can be a family. (pause) Michael, and you, and me. The way we planned.
Jason: You know, you did good, Carly. You did good. You called- You called all the shots. But AJ isn't going away. He is going to be Michael's family, forever.
Carly: What you mean to say, is that you need a break, from me.
Jason: No, No. Carly, I don't need a break from you.
Carly: Well, maybe from Michael then. It's understandable. I mean, you've been a single parent for like a really long time now. And now you're gonna do it three days a week. And it's tough, I know.
Jason: You're not listening to me.
Carly: Because you're not saying anything worth listening to! You don't have to give anything up. God, Jason. If you think Michael's better off in one place, then fine. We'll take care of him here. Until I can shake lose of AJ and then I'll bring him back to you.
Jason: What's that gonna change? Not for me and you, but for Michael. As long as I have a legal tie to him, AJ is not gonna quit, Carly. The guy is like a bulldog. You know it. This- This is not about you. This is a contest to him. And that's- And that's how he wins. With enough power, and enough money, and lawyers, and enough fighting. The law will always say he wins.
Carly: I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
Jason: For what?
Carly: I'm sorry. I'm sorry I ever said it, okay!
Jason: For what?
Carly: That I feel sorry for AJ! Because that's what this is about. You're punishing me!
Jason: I'm not- I'm not trying to punish you.
Carly: I only said it because - God! You should see how they treat him sometimes. But I don't love him. I'm never gonna love him and neither is Michael. You're Michael's father!
Jason: Carly, you can say it a thousand times but it does not take away what AJ really is to him! Not legally, not biologically. And not to the- to the eyes of the whole world now that you're married to the guy. You- You're always threating to get rid of him, to make him crash and burn. I don't want that for Michael's father. And I especially don't want Michael to know that it was something his mother did.
Carly: You are Michael's father. You are and you know you are.
Jason: Then if I am, I have to do the right thing. I have to get us out of it - all three of us.
Carly: Well, it finally happened. You finally told me a lie. Even if you think it's true, I know you. And you would never do that to Michael. And you wouldn't do it to me, either. Even if you think I deserve it. I'm sorry that I did this. I don't know why ... Why I thought I could ask so much of you. You know what I think? I think because... I think I could ask you for your whole heart even if I broke it because, you know... You already have mine. You know that, don't you? So I'm going to go inside and I'm going to tell Michael that his daddy loves him, and that... He'll see him - tomorrow.
(She blows him a kiss and tries to smile, then walks quickly away.)