Scene - Carly & Bobbie at Kelly's Bobbie: What's the matter with you?
Carly: AJ is planning on changing Michael's name to Michael Alan. Can you believe it?
Bobbie: You're surprised? The Quartermaines monogram all their possessions. Your son is their newest and their best.
Carly: Oh, okay. This is the part where I get the I-told-you-so speech? Skip it, alright? I'm very aware that I'm the world's biggest jerk and that I am being punished for my own stupid moves. Michael's a baby. And I don't want him to have to pay for my mistakes more than he already has. And you don't have to say that that's a lot.
Bobbie: You're this upset about a middle name?
Carly: It's a middle and last name!
Bobbie: Yeah. What did you expect?
Carly: The name! It's just the tip of the iceberg. AJ is trying to erase Michael's entire early childhood. Like it never happened. Like Jason never existed. And Michael's life started the day that I married AJ. I'm not gonna let him do that, and pull that on my son.
Bobbie: Do what? Honey, I don't know what you're talking about.
Carly: I am being the perfect little Quartermaine wife. That's my decision. That's my choice. I don't really have much choice now that Jason sort of bowed out on us. And I don't mind being with AJ. I mean, he's okay. He's alright, I like him sometimes. And there's the perks. But I'm not gonna let him make over my entire- my son's whole life. My job is to protect Michael, right?
Bobbie: I understand that you're hurting. I can see it, and I can hear it. But I think we need to be a little clearer on exactly what it is you're hurting about.
Carly: I just told you.
Bobbie: You told me about a middle name. But that's not what brought this on.
Carly: It's not just that. It's a whole way of life, okay? It's this whole way of life that AJ is trying to cram down my son's throat. I can't let that happen, you know? Michael was- He was going to- You know, he was going to have- He was supposed to have this sort of...
Bobbie: Jason.
Carly: It's not just a piece of paper. I mean, I don't care about a piece of paper. And it's not just the name. Michael's old enough to know who he loves. And he loves Jason.
Bobbie: And so do you.
Carly: There's no point in denying that. But this is not about me. It's... It's not just about me. I mean, if it were- (she'd leave AJ in a heartbeat?) It's not. It's about Michael. And... Michael needs Jason in his life.
Bobbie: Honey, that's not your call at this point.
Carly: Well, what am I supposed to do? Just forget about Jason?
Bobbie: Do you have a choice?
Carly: Don't I?
Bobbie: What do you want me to say?
Carly: I want you to say something useful, here. You know? Not just, 'Carly, you made a great big terrible mistake. You ruined it. You know? You have to live with it.' You're Michael's grandmother. Why don't you start acting like it? Jason left. He had every right to leave. But do you honestly believe that him leaving is better for Michael?
Bobbie: Do you remember the old story about a little girl who wishes for a pair of magical red shoes?
Carly: (sighs in exasperation) Great. You're gonna give me a fairytale now. That's exactly what I need. (she takes a flower from the vase on the table to play with)
Bobbie: They're dancing shoes. And the little girl loves to dance. So she puts them on and she twirls around and round.
Carly: I'm so not in the mood for a parable right now.
Bobbie: The little girl dances for hours and hours. And she dances better than she's ever danced before. The problem is, she can't stop dancing.
Carly: I don't-
Bobbie: She dances straight into the night.
Carly: I don't believe you're doing this. You're sitting here and you're reciting the Brothers Grimm to me? Honey, it's a little late for that.
Bobbie: The little girl dances straight into the woods. Except that the shoes are in control. And a good-hearted woodsman spots her. He knows the girl's in trouble. He knows she's got to stop dancing. But it's very clear the shoes won't allow it.
Carly: So he chops off her feet. Great. Thank you. I feel much better now.
Bobbie: Was the woodsman kind, or was the woodsman cruel? Did he save the little girl's life? Or was there any real alternative?
Carly: Alright, look. If Jason's the woodsman, and I'm the girl - then who's AJ? The shoe? (My problem with this story is - Did the woodsman even *try* to take the shoes off the girl's feet first before he chopped off her feet?)
Bobbie: You and Jason and AJ. Hmm. It's a very explosive situation. Now, Jason was convinced that Michael would suffer. So he took himself out of the equation. Was that painful? Yeah. Was that harsh? Yeah. Did Jason see any other way? Obviously not. Was Jason right to take such drastic measures? I don't know.
Carly: No. He wasn't. No. He went way too far.
Bobbie: Well, you of all people should understand the urge to go to extremes. (Carly smiles a little, and rolls her eyes) And I am the last person to sit in judgement. Look how I handled that whole Tony thing. Cutting Lucas off from his father - at the time, it seemed to me the only solution. And other people tried to tell me there were other alternatives, but I wouldn't listen. Now I'm sure that Jason thinks he made the right choice, for Michael.
Carly: Yeah. But you came around. Maybe Jason will too.
Bobbie: I wouldn't count on that.