March 26, 2002 Transcript
"Have You Ever Been Used?"

(Sonny in his bedroom talking on the phone. Alexis is sitting in a chair next to his bed, listening)

Sonny: (talking on the phone in Spanish) No creo que vaya a ir a los casinos, porque sabe que conozco gente --- concentrat en las islas que no son grande, (pause) uh-huh, y llamame quando algo pasa. Ok. Adios.

Alexis: I take it that was about Courtney.

Sonny: There’s no sign of her.

Alexis: Maybe you could wait for her to call.

Sonny: She’s with A.J. That could take a while. It doesn’t matter. You know what? I’ll find him by tomorrow, Morales’ people will find him, or you know, Skye will call A.J. and tell him my offer.

Alexis: (gets up from the chair) Pursuing Courtney could make the situation even worse. Why don’t you just give her time to realize that A.J. isn’t who he pretends to be?

Sonny: Because Courtney is not safe with A.J.

Alexis: And there’s someone who could make it even worse – you.

(Sonny shakes his head and taps the phone on his forehead)

(Sonny and Alexis are still in his bedroom. Sonny has his back to Alexis and he fidgets with his phone as they speak)

Alexis: Do you believe that Courtney can count on Mike?

Sonny: No.

Alexis: Janine?

Sonny: Absolutely not.

Alexis: So who do you think Courtney can count on besides yourself?

Sonny: Not A.J.

Alexis: Well, of course not A.J. – he’s just contributing to her confusion. He’s exploiting it.

Sonny: Right.

Alexis: He’s telling her things that she wants to hear from you – “I trust you.” “I believe you.” “I want to get to know you.” “I want you to get to know me.” This romance that he’s offering her is secondary. What’s going on here is he’s appreciating her when she thinks her own brother doesn’t. So just show them wrong. Instead of chasing after her and telling her what to do, let her make a choice and deal with the consequences.

Sonny: OK, you know what? (turns around and walks over to the bed) I barely know Courtney. She seems sweet enough, which is a miracle considering she was raised by Janine. (sits down on the edge of the bed) She says she got into college, so you know, she’s probably smart, I know she’s brave and I know she’s got a temper. I also know she jumps to conclusions, and she’s naïve. She can’t tell when people are lying to her – A.J., Mike, not even her own mother. So maybe – maybe I should have lied to her, let her believe that Mike had changed, that we’d be all, you know, one big happy family. Would she be safe from A.J.? Or would we all be waiting for the bottom to drop out?

Alexis: (sits down) I’m not asking you to lie to Courtney. I’m just suggesting that you be patient with her. She made a mistake. Inevitably she’s going to understand that. That’s when the door will be open. That’s maybe when she’ll let you in because then she won’t have to admit that you were right.

Sonny: Do you want me to stop the search?

Alexis: In the end, I think it would be beneficial because I think if you escalate this situation, it’s going to come back to haunt you.

(Sonny and Alexis are still in his bedroom. Sonny is now standing, facing Alexis, who is still sitting)

Sonny: If Courtney had run off with anybody else, even if I didn’t approve, I wouldn’t try to stop her, I mean, you know, people have a right to live their own lives. And I sure as hell am not going to tell my own sister who love or who to sleep with. But A.J. wants payback for Michael and he’s using it to get back at me.

Alexis: He’s goading you.

Sonny: He’s –

Alexis: He wants you to follow him.

Sonny: I know! But if A.J. is drinking, Courtney’s in physical danger. And even if she’s not, he’s playing her, Alexis. He’s pretending to love her. Have you ever been used?

Alexis: Yes.

Sonny: How did you feel? Like you were stupid, and – and wrong, and part of you felt like you deserved it and made you hard and suspicious and you – I bet you promised yourself you’d never be used again. I want Courtney away from A.J. so that way that never happens to her.

Alexis: (gets up out of the chair) Why don’t you get some sleep and you’ll think about it differently in the morning?

Sonny: I’m going to take a shower.

Alexis: Great. Great idea. (turns and leaves)

Sonny: (laughs to himself) Oh, man.

Alexis: (at the Quartermaine’s) I was hoping that I could persuade you to get A.J. back to Port Charles as soon as possible.

Edward: Oh, I’m sorry, Alexis. I seem to have misplaced A.J.’s puppet strings.

Alan: What my father has rather churlishly tried to say is that nobody here is in control of my son.

Monica: We don’t even know where he is.

Ned: I can vouch for that

Alexis: All right, then how about Skye? Maybe she has influence on –

Alan: Forget about it.

Monica: Oh, don’t look at me.

Edward: Surely you jest

Ned: Can’t help you there.

Alexis: Alan, you ordered the helicopter for A.J. and Courtney. Where was it headed?

Edward: Don’t answer that.

Alan: I don’t intend to.

Alexis: I wish you wouldn’t assume that I am trying to do something against A.J. It’s just the opposite, actually. The sooner Courtney gets back here the sooner everyone can move on and Sonny has agreed not to retaliate against A.J. in exchange for the prompt return of his sister.

Edward: As if Sonny Corinthos can be taken at his word – well –

Alexis: I believe that he is sincere. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.

Alan: Why on earth would we trust you?

Ned: Wait a minute. We can’t condemn Alexis based on her client list. Now, no one disapproves of Sonny more than I do but he’s not contagious. As far as I can see, Alexis’ integrity is still intact. (Alexis looks grateful to Ned for his comment) If anything, she’s been a positive influence on him. It’s probably why Sonny is willing to give A.J. a free pass. So we should be grateful and try to work with her on this.

Alan: The chopper took them to J.F.K. A.J. said they wouldn’t be able to trace them from there on in.

Edward: Oh my god, Alan, how can you be so naïve?

Alan: (gets up off the couch) I’m so sick of you criticizing me and everybody else. (leaves through the glass doors into the patio)

Monica: Alexis, I’m – I’m going to take you at your word. But if Sonny hurts A.J. –

Edward: Oh, “if”? Ha-ha! Now, you’re being naïve!

Ned: Grandfather, just back off!

Edward: Oh, come on.

Ned: Thank you for trying to help.

Alexis: Thank you. (turns and leaves)

Edward: Ned, did I – did I just hear you wax poetic about Alexis’ integrity? The girl who prefers that criminal Corinthos over you?

(Downstairs at Sonny’s. There is a knock at the door. It’s Max)

Sonny: Hey. Any leads on Courtney and A.J.?

Max: This showed up at your office. (Hands him an envelope)

(Sonny opens the envelope – inside are pictures of A.J. and Courtney taken inside a photo booth. Sonny can’t believe it)

(Sonny’s apartment. The pictures are on his desk. Sonny comes downstairs, dressed, and picks them up. He leaves)

(Alexis and Carly meet on the Quartermaine estate)