AJ: (looking at the bottle)
Bombs, away.
Carly: AJ, don't drink that!
AJ: Why are you following me?
What do you want?
Carly: Give me the bottle.
(reaching for it) Give me the...
AJ: (pulling the bottle back)
No. Why do you give a damn about me?
Carly: Because you are my
friend, AJ!
AJ: Correction. You see,
drunks don't have friends. They have enablers. I hate to break that to you.
Carly: I don't care. Call me
whatever you want. I'm not going to stand by and watch you do this to yourself.
AJ: Why not?! What do you get
out of saving me?
Carly: Forgiveness.
AJ: (confused) Why are you
looking for forgiveness?
Carly: (closing her eyes)
Because I failed you, AJ. Listen to me. My whole life I have wanted a friend who
believed in me the way that you do.
AJ: You know, if you think
you can flatter me into not drinking, it won't work. I'm immune.
Carly: Would you just shut up
and listen to me for a minute? I have a problem with trusting people, ok? I
don't know why I'm like that, I just am. But it was different with you. I
trusted you right away.
AJ: Very poor choice.
Carly: (shaking her head) I
don't think so. I know you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth...
AJ: (interrupting her)
Platinum. Only the finest for the Quartermaines.
Carly: I also know that you
have been kicked around. And you have been hurt plenty, AJ, and that is probably
why you don't judge other people. When I sent those papers to Tony's ex-wife,
Bobbie, you didn't look down on me, AJ. You just accepted that I made a mistake
and you forgave me.
AJ: (standing) Oh,
forgiveness from a drunk. There's something to cherish.
Carly: (standing also) Look
maybe it didn't mean anything to you, AJ, but it meant a lot to me. So don't you
dare think that I'm going to stand here and let you take that drink while I turn
the other way 'cause I can't!!
AJ: Wow, you know, I really
got to give it to you. You're original. You see, I've never seen this approach
before. You're good.
Carly: Is it working?
AJ: Well, let's see. Two
minutes ago I just wanted to sit down and drink my bottle in peace.
Carly: AJ, you think you need
that drink because you think nobody cares about you. You think booze is your
only friend, well, you're wrong. Because I care. And I am not leaving here until
you give me that bottle and let me take you home.
AJ: Carly, I'll just buy
another one as soon as you turn your back.
Carly: Why do you hate
yourself so much?
AJ: You know, it's a really
great story. I'll tell you about it sometime. (walks away, his back to Carly,
holding the bottle)
Carly: AJ, you had it beat.
AJ: Yeah, I know and like
always, I blew it.
Carly: (guilty look) No, you
had a weak moment and you slipped. But that doesn't give you permission to take
a nice long wallow in the mud.
AJ: (turns back to face
Carly) Hey, don't knock it until you try it.
Carly: Why do you find it so
hard to forgive yourself?
AJ: (exasperated) Back on
that again? Because I don't like myself, Carly. And once you get to know me
better, I'm sure you'll feel the same way. Just ask Keesha. She'll tell you.
Carly: (speaking loudly) I am
not Keesha, AJ! You can go back to rehab.
AJ: (yelling, sitting back on
the bench.) Why?! Why, so that I can kid myself that I've got it under control
again? Well, I don't want to because I'm a drunk. Alright? That's who I am and
I'm tired of pretending that I can change.
Carly: Ok, fine, so what's
going to happen if you take that drink?
AJ: Well, gee, let's see. For
openers, cousin Ned, Mr. Dimples, will be able to say, "Gee, I told you
so." And then what? I'll lose my job, my apartment. Emily will be very
disillusioned by me, and then after awhile, so will you.
Carly: Yeah. And what happens
if you don't?
AJ: I'll start another
calendar. Put an X next to today, wait until you're not around to stop me the
next time I decide to take a giant leap off the wagon...
Carly: No! You could kick it
for good, AJ.
AJ: Oh, I'm much too old for
fairy tales.
Carly: I think you can.
Please let me help you.
AJ: Carly, you have no idea
what you're getting yourself into. You'll end up hating me just like everybody
else. (stands)
Carly: No, I will not! Never!
(she grabs his arm and turns him to face her) Listen to me. One more chance, AJ,
give it one more chance. Let me help you. Please, let me help you find the
strength to believe in yourself. (starts crying) God, I don't want to lose my
best friend! Please. Please.
AJ looks at Carly, then down
at the ground. Carly slowly reaches over and takes the bottle out of his hands.
She flings it into the woods and then hugs him.
Carly: Come here. Ok. Ok.
Come on, let's go home.
Check out the scene on realplayer video at The Carly and AJ Unofficial Fan Club
Orginal transcript taken from Billy Warlock Transcripts. Big thanks to them!
