April 3, 2000

[Carly is laying across a chair. Sonny leans over to her.]

Sonny: DonÕt move.

Carly, donÕt move.

Carly: I'm fine.

Sonny: Stay still.

Carly: I'm all right.

A.J.: Carly, I'm really sorry. I didnÕt mean to...

[A.J. tries to get to her.]

Sonny: What, are you crazy?

[Sonny grabs A.J. and pushes him against the wall.]

[Sonny is choking A.J. Taggert rushes over to help.]

Carly: Sonny.

Taggert: Corinthos, youÕve made your point.

[Carly gets up and goes to Sonny.] Carly: Sonny, let him go. You donÕt have to hurt him. IÕm okay.

Taggert: Turn him loose!

[Carly whispers softly to Sonny.]

Carly: Let him go! Sonny -- Sonny, are you hearing me? Sonny, listen to me. IÕm ok. The baby is ok. Let him go. Let him go. Let him go.

[Sonny lets go.]

[A.J. coughs.]

Carly: Ok, letÕs go home.

Taggert: Ten seconds later, this could have been a completely different story.

A.J.: Did you see that? That guyÕs crazy!

Taggert: Have you ever heard of anger management...

Carly: Hey, you know what? Why donÕt you back off here, all right?

Sonny: You sure youÕre all right?

Carly: I'm fine. IÕm fine. Really.

A.J.: I want him arrested.

Carly: Why donÕt you just ignore him?

A.J.: I want to press charges.

Taggert: Hey, I wouldnÕt push it if I was you.

Sonny: Let me tell you something. If you ever see this woman, you disappear because if you even glance her way, I promise you...

Taggert: Hey, hey, hey, hey, I wouldnÕt go there, Sonny.

Carly: Take me home. Come on.

Sonny: I'm warning you.

Carly: You want to go for a walk or something for a little something?

Sonny: No, I donÕt want you to catch cold.

Carly: No, IÕm fine. ItÕs actually not that bad. It might make you feel better.

[Sonny helps Carly on with her coat.]

Sonny: Me? IÕm not the one who fell on the floor. Just wrap yourself up in your scarf because itÕs windy out there.

Johnny: You had a visitor.

Sonny: Not now, Johnny.

Johnny: She was persistent.

Sonny: Johnny, not now.

Carly: Bad night.

[They go inside. Sonny goes to the bar and Carly throws off her coat.]

Carly: Do you know what I was thinking all the way home in the car? Driving A.J. back into the bottle was the one thing that I wanted more than anything in life. Making A.J. drunk was my ultimate goal marrying him was just a strategy. I know you and Jason thought that I was nuts, but my game plan was basically sound. It was a great concept. Just lousy execution. Story of my life. But I have to hand it to his family, though. You know, they destroyed A.J. beyond my wildest dreams. If he werenÕt such a jerk, IÕd kind of feel sorry for him. You know? Next time I see that idiot, IÕm going to turn...

Sonny: No, no, no, no, no, no, no, Carly. Do you hear me? This canÕt ever happen again.

Carly: WhatÕs your problem? WhatÕs the matter with you? I was agreeing with you is what I said. I would walk away from...I would avoid him.

Sonny: As usual, youÕre missing the point.

Carly: A.J. wouldnÕt hurt me, Sonny. [Sonny laughs.] I mean, not on purpose. He just tries to annoy me to death.

Sonny: I donÕt care if itÕs A.J. or some lunatic off the street. I donÕt care if itÕs a hired assassin or some guy you think you know. You donÕt jump in the middle when somebodyÕs coming after me. You stay away. You do what you got to...you run. I donÕt know. Whatever you have to do.

Carly: YouÕre welcome.

Sonny: Oh. You still donÕt get...you still donÕt get it, do you?

Carly: No, I get it. I get it.

Sonny: Oh.

Carly: On your list of things that are important, the babyÕs number one.

Sonny: Mm-hmm.

Carly: ThatÕs more important than loyalty. ThatÕs more important than I am. As far as youÕre concerned, IÕm just expendable.

Sonny: Why do you think I have you under 24-hour guard?

Carly: Because IÕm pregnant with your child, and I canÕt drop dead until the babyÕs born.

Sonny: Ok. You know what? Think what you want? I donÕt give a damn. The only thing that matters is how you behave.

Carly: How I behave? What, am I a child now?

Sonny: You act like one, I treat you like one. Ok, these are the rules.

Carly: Oh...

Sonny: Number one...no, no, no, listen to me. Number one...You donÕt jump in the middle when somebodyÕs coming after me. Number two, you donÕt get involved in any of my business.

Carly: [She interrupts him loudly.] No. You know what? To hell with you and your stupid rules. WhatÕs in them for me? I mean, youÕre a control freak. ThereÕs nothing in it for me. I donÕt get a Ōthank youĶ? I donÕt get a pat on the back? I donÕt get a smile? Not from you. Not from you, not ever?

[She goes upstairs as Sonny watches shaking his head.]

[Sonny is in his bedroom. He pours himself a glass of water and sits down. He closes his eyes and has memories: Lily walking to the car. Carly laughing at dinner. Lily getting into the car. Carly falling while trying to protect him. Sonny opens his eyes as Michael wanders in.]

Sonny: Hey. How are you doing, guy? Come here. All right. What do you got here?

[Sonny picks him up and Carly hurries in.]

Carly: Sorry.

Sonny: ItÕs all right.

Carly: I was looking for his elephant book, and he scampered down the hall.

Sonny: Oh. Gave your ma the old slip, huh? WhatÕs that about, Michael?

Carly: I'll take him.

Sonny: Yeah. All right.

Carly: Ok. Come on honey. Oh, youÕre so big.

Sonny: Hey, Michael? Hey?

Carly: WhereÕs Uncle Sonny?

Sonny: You going to dream about elephants tonight?

Carly: Yeah, if I ever get him to sleep. Can you say good night?

Michael: Good night.

Carly: Oh, Michael. Yes, youÕre so big. See you.

[Sonny moans in his sleep]

Sonny: No, donÕt...donÕt. DonÕt go. Lily, no! Let...come back!

[Carly comes into SonnyÕs room in her nightgown.]

Carly: Sonny? Sonny?

Sonny: No!

Carly: Sonny.

Carly: Shh. Ok. Ok. Shh.

[She wakes him and hugs him close to her.]