January 11, 2005 Transcript
"He Left Because of Me"

Alexis: You lied to me. You knew that Sonny was Kristina’s father. You knew it for months. You knew about it almost from the beginning.

Ric: I can explain.

Alexis: Of course you can explain. Lawyers are trained to explain. It's just the ones that can explain anything at anyone's expense that give the rest of us a bad name. Don't worry, because despite everything that I believed, everything that I felt, you used me. You used me to get at your brother.

Ric: Everything was about Sonny at the beginning.

Alexis: Hmm. Then you admit it.

Ric: Look, when I first found out that Sonny was Kristina’s father, I couldn't resist. I mean, it was so simple. Sonny would -- Sonny's obsessed with his children. I could raise one of them as my own. I could have a family; I could have a good life. Sonny would have to watch. Didn't matter what he was looking at. If he realized it or not, I would know. But, you know, best-laid plans -- I never thought that I'd care about you so much.

Alexis: At least you didn't say "I love you." I'm really grateful for that.

Ric: Alexis, I don't know when it happened. But at some point, being with you became more important than getting back at Sonny.

Alexis: And yet you still didn't tell me the truth.

Ric: No.

Alexis: Were you ever planning to?

Ric: Well, I wasn't really looking forward to this moment. Especially since you kept the same secret.

Alexis: Don't you turn around and make this my fault.

Ric: I'm not trying to turn it around on you, Alexis. I'm just trying to say you understand what it feels like.

Alexis: Really? Hmm. To devote my life to hating my brother, to be driven by jealousy for years, to manipulate people that I happen to care about? No. I really have no idea what any of those things are like. Have I made mistakes? Yeah. Am I the picture of emotional health? No. But I don't understand what you've done at all, and I'm embarrassed and humiliated that I fell for it.

Ric: That's not what it's like. I'm sorry.

Alexis: When were you planning to tell Sonny? When he was in prison for RICO violations?

Ric: Possibly.

Alexis: And that way I would absolutely forgive you because I would be so delighted that he was in prison?

Ric: That's one scenario, yes. Look, I admit I was wrong. Secretly, you must be relieved.

Alexis: Really? Why is that?

Ric: Because now you got a way out.

Alexis: Why wouldn't I want a way out of this? You lied to me; you manipulated me. You dragged me and my daughter into this vendetta. You got my daughter to get close to you and care about you. Which one of those things would make me want to stay?

Ric: How'd you find out?

Alexis: Generally, it's not good practice to threaten murder if you're the district attorney.

Ric: Lab tech showed up here.

Alexis: I wonder if he's going to show up dead.

Ric: So I don't suppose there's any chance that you could believe that I came into this one way, and I ended up another? That I actually do care about you and Kristina and that I would like -- I would like for this to work?

Alexis: And why would I believe that?

Ric: Because neither one of us is the same person that came into this relationship in the first place, Alexis.

Alexis: See, that's what I thought, too, but then you lied to me. You kept a secret, knowing that I could find out about it at any time. What was that, some sort of a rush for you?

Ric: When do you think I should've told you?

Alexis: Don't even try turning the tables into a hypothetical. It's an old lawyer trick.

Ric: Oh, so there's nothing I can do or say to change your mind and make it better?

Alexis: Yes, yes. You can say that you haven't changed at all, and the only reason that you're upset is because you got caught.

Ric: I would say it if it were true.

Alexis: Then we're right back where we started.

Ric: Except for one thing. You're going to wake up in the dead of night and you're going to be alone.

Ric: I probably should've told you the truth before we were married.

Alexis: Yeah, you probably should have.

Ric: Unfortunately, you were about to break. I just didn't think you needed one more thing to have to process.

Alexis: It wouldn't have made any difference because I'm a fool.

Ric: You're not a fool, Alexis.

Alexis: I knew in my gut. All along I knew what the truth was, not the specifics but the state of mind. Your anger, your vendetta, the power that it gives you -- you need those things and you need them more than you need me.

Ric: Yeah, and you need to be alone, in control. You were desperately close to needing me, Alexis, to trusting and relying and wanting our life together, and that's unacceptable. So the first opportunity you have, what are you doing? You're running. You know, the truth is light, you would've invented one. Because the better things got between us, the more you need a place to run. Now you got one.

Alexis: Don't you make this my fault.

Ric: It's not your fault. Secretly, you are relieved. You tell Kristina that Uncle Ric said goodbye.

Alexis: It's ok, angel. You just had a bad dream. That warm milk will help you, ok? You just close your eyes and you think happy thoughts. Ok? It'll be all right. No more third parties, angel, it's just you and me. Uncle Ric’s not going to be here anymore. He still loves you very much. It's nothing you did. He didn't leave because of you. He left because of me.

Jordan: Breaking and entering, counselor?

Ric: I see Sonny's moved you in already.

Jordan: Not exactly.

Ric: Yeah? What are you doing here, then?

Jordan: Decorating.

Ric: Starting a second career?

Jordan: No, I'm doing a one-time favor for a very important client. What are you doing here?

Ric: The lights were on.

Jordan: This house isn't exactly on the way to anywhere.

Ric: I just wanted to see what Sonny snatched right up from underneath me.

Jordan: You and Alexis will find another house.

Ric: There is no me and Alexis.

Jordan: Since when?

Ric: Tonight.

Jordan: I'm sorry to hear that.

Ric: Yeah, I am, too.

Jordan: May I ask what happened?

Ric: High points only?

Jordan: Ok.

Ric: Let's see -- I lied, I manipulated Alexis and Kristina, and I got caught. Alexis assumes that all I ever wanted was to get what was Sonny’s. Not this time.

Alexis: Hmm. Mommy's very, very smart. You know that, don't you? I understand a lot of things. I just don't understand men. When they lie to me, I believe them. When they tell me the truth, I think they're lying. When it's a safe bet like Ned, I run, and when it's a long shot like Ric, I want him back. Hmm. Oh, don't worry, angel. We'll be together, just you and me. I just wish Ric were here.

Ric: You know, Alexis and Kristina and I could've been moving in this house tonight. We came so close.

Jordan: Why didn't you tell Alexis the truth from the beginning?

Ric: I don't know. I guess I wanted the fantasy to last. I wanted to help Alexis, I wanted -- I wanted to put together a family, no matter who Kristina’s father was.

Jordan: Did you tell her that?

Ric: Yeah, I tried.

Jordan: Try harder.

Ric: I don't think it'd make a difference. Alexis would never believe it.