Scene ~ the docks... (Sliz asked Jason to help her decide which to paint - Lucky on the docks or Lucky with his guitar. He suggested they flip a coin.)
Jason: Heads, for the docks. Tails, for the guitar.
Sliz: Okay. Do it. (catches the quarter before it lands) Guitar!
Jason: Well. Glad I could be so helpful.
Sliz: (giggles) Oh, you were. Thank you. You can think it's funny if you want, but you did help. I didn't know what I wanted until there was a chance that I might have to do something else. So thank you.
Jason: Wait, wait. Hold on. What about my quarter?
Sliz: This? This isn't a quarter. This is a good luck charm. And I'm keeping it.
(Sliz walks away. Carly clears her throat to signal her presence, then starts down the steps.)Carly: What was that?
(Jason just shrugs and looks away, not answering)
Carly: Well, I know what you're gonna say. You're gonna tell me to go home and forget about it. But Jason, I-I gotta know.
Jason: Carly, Carly, Carly, Carly. (he steps closer to her) Sonny is fine. Okay?
Carly: No, it's not okay.
Jason: What would you rather I said?
Carly: I would rather that you said he was crazy! Because - Jason, if he's fine? Then he's really crazy! You can't- You can't live with somebody that you hate and call it love. You can't. It makes you feel like you're dying, hour by hour.
(She makes a noise as if just realizing that she's projecting - that that is exactly how she feels. She steps past him and he turns to face her.)
Jason: Sonny is doing what he thinks he has to do.
Carly: Jason- Okay, look. You can't fool another human being 24 hours a day. How does Sonny know? How does he know that maybe she doesn't see right through him? Maybe Hannah knows that he hates her. But she doesn't care anymore. Because she's in- She's in a position to provide evidence against him. And you know what? If she brings him down? She's gonna bring you down right along with him.
* * * * *
(They're now sitting side-by-side on the bench, close. Carly's arm is around the back of the Bench. Jason's hands are clasped in front of him.)
Carly: I mean, what is it that Sonny thinks that he's doing? He thinks he's using Hannah against the FBI? That right there should tell you that he's not thinking straight, Jason. The FBI. They're not Moreno. You don't teach them a lesson. You don't draw a line and say 'Don't cross it'. If you fight them - you lose. If Sonny loses, so do you.
Jason: I'm not going to jail. (he stands)
Carly: How do you know? (she stands and follows him) How do you know that, Jason? Because Sonny said so and you believe him? (she puts a hand on his arm to turn him toward her) What if he does something to her? What if he does something horrible to her? You want to be arrested as an accessory to an attempted murder or murder of a Federal agent? You've given him everything. Do you need to hand him your entire future on a silver platter? You know - if you told him to cut her loose, you are the one person he might actually listen to.
Jason: I can't tell him how to run his life or run his business.
(sirens start in the background)
Carly: Why can't you do something for yourself? For once, Jason. One time!
(AJ comes around the corner and walks down the steps. Carly hears his loud footsteps and turns after a few seconds.)
AJ: Of course. Of course you'd be with Jason.
* * * * *
AJ: I've known all along.
Carly: You've known what, AJ? (she takes a few steps away from Jason and toward AJ so that she is literally between the two men) Why don't you tell us.
AJ: I'm not stupid. Calling cabs at all hours of the day and night. Disappearing-
Carly: Otherwise known as having a life.
AJ: Lying to me.
Carly: What- What do you want? You want me to wear one of those ankle monitors so you know where I am every second of every day?
AJ: No need for that. You're always with Jason.
(the sirens fade out...)
Carly: I happened to bump into Jason!
AJ: On the docks, late at night.
Carly: Alright, you know what? I don't owe you an explanation for anything about my life.
AJ: Of course you don't. But you know what? Now I have proof.
Carly: You have proof of what? That Jason and I said hello to each other?
AJ: (holds up his hands, shaking his head) This is getting us nowhere! You know what? Why don't we just ask the original honest man himself. Huh? (Carly crosses her arms) So what's the verdict there, little brother? You and my wife just happened to bump into each other?
Jason: What the hell business is it of yours?
* * * * *
AJ: What? Carly is my wife, Jason. There's no room in her life for you.
Jason: That's not your call to make.
AJ: I think it is!
Jason: You think you own her like you own everything else.
AJ: You know what? Why doesn't this surprise me, huh? Jason the noble. Steals my son, and you finally let me have him. And you've changed your mind, right? Now you're working Carly to get him back.
Carly: That is not what's going on here.
AJ: Of course that's what's going on here! You just don't want to see what's in front of your face. Jason doesn't give a damn about you, Carly. He wants Michael and he's using you to get him.
Jason: Hey! I gave up Michael. I never agreed to give up Carly. (Carly turns to look at Jason) So I'll see her whenever I want, or whenever she wants. And if you don't like it, AJ? Too damn bad.
* * * * *
AJ: Alright. Since the, uh... The lines that you won't cross are ever-changing, explain this to me. Alright? How is it good, to break up Michael's parents? How's it good for Michael, huh?
Jason: Is that what I'm doing? Tearing up your marriage (said with obvious derision) by speaking with a friend?
AJ: Alright. Try and follow this thought. Carly never wants to see you again.
(At that, Jason turns to the side a little and looks down, trying not to laugh, thinking - That's what she wants.)
Carly: The hell I don't! You don't speak for me, AJ.
AJ: I think I do.
Carly: Since when?
AJ: Since you became my wife.
Carly: Uh-uh. That was not the deal, and you know it.
AJ: What was the deal, Carly? You tell me. And then why don't you tell Jason, in case you haven't-
Carly: No, I don't owe you an explanation for anything about my life.
AJ: So you live in my house with my family-
Carly: With your lunatic family?
AJ: But you see my brother on the side. Was- Was that the deal? No, no, no. Wait. Ah... It's so hard to keep track. Lie of the moment. But, hey. We're a team. Or- What? Oh - You change your mind? Maybe now you want to team up with Jason?
Carly: Don't push me.
AJ: Jason's the one who's pushing it. He wants Michael, and you're playing right into his hands.
Jason: AJ, leave Michael out of it.
AJ: How can I when you won't, Jason? You listen to me. Anything I do, will be in Michael's best interests.
Carly: What the hell is that supposed to mean?
AJ: Figure it out. You have a choice. You come home with me now - or don't come home at all.
* * * * *
Jason: You threatening Carly and Michael means absolutely nothing. So save your breath.
AJ: Why is that a threat? She just needs to decide what she wants.
Jason: Don't be stupid. Michael needs his mother.
AJ: Michael needs his mother - at home, Jason. Not hanging out on the docks with the guy who kidnapped him. What's it gonna be, Carly?
Carly: All I ever wanted was what was best for Michael.
AJ: (points to his head) Is that clear enough for ya there, Jason?
(Carly turns to Jason, her arms still crossed, and takes a step closer to him)
Jason: (sighs, and closes a hand around one of her arms) I understand. (he looks up into her eyes, rubbing her arm)
AJ: Let's go.
(Carly says nothing. But there is an apology in her eyes, telling him that she wants to stay. Almost hoping that he'll ask her to, that he'll tell her not to go... After a second, she smiles an almost imperceptible smile at him. Then she turns and follows AJ up the steps. Jason puts his hands back into his jacket pockets and looks out over the water - not looking happy.)