V-Day evening. Sonny walks up to the Q's mansion and rings the doorbell. Reginald
answers the door.
S: How ya doin'?
R: Uh ... May I help you?
S: Yeah.
You can get Miss Barrett downstairs on the double. Tell her Sonny's here.
R:
Ah! And you're here to see Miss Barrett?
S: Let's pick up the pace , shall we
buddy? Is she home or not?
R: Well... I'll just see if she's receiving , ok?
S: (sarcastically) You do that.
(Reginald lets Sonny in and tries to take
his coat. Sonny stops him.)
S: No, that's cool dude.
R: Alright.
(They
go into the livingroom where Lila is sitting.)
R: Uh ... Mr. , ah, Sonny is here
to see Ms Barrett.
L: Hello, Mr. Sonny. I'm Lila Quartermaine.
S: That's ah
... Sonny Corinthos , but you can call me Sonny.
L: May I offer you something?
S: No thanks. (Looks around) This is quite a place.
L: Thank you. We like
it.
S: Yeah, what's not to like? Brenda tried to describe it to me , but she
didn't even come close.
L: And how do you know our Brenda?
S: Uh... mutual
friends. You know how it is. You know the same people , you keep running into each
other , that type of thing.
L: Oh, are you a model too?
S: (smiles) No, no,
I'm not a model. I'm a... well , until recently I held an executive position in the
entertainment industry.
L: Oh, how exciting!
S: Yea, it can be.
L: Well,
considering your background , you must have an informed opinion of Brenda's work
with Deception.
S: From what I've seen it's very impressive. Brenda's got a...
she's got a lot of... you know , nice eyes.
L: In my day, we called it IT
with a capital 'i'. And you're quite right. Brenda is in full possession of whatever
"it" is.
(doorbell rings)
L: Oh, another guest. This must be our
evening for receiving.
S: Is that what you call it when people stop by? Receiving?
That's nice. It has like a welcoming ring to it.
L: And you're welcome too, Sonny.
Any friend of Brenda's is always welcome in this house.
S: Thank you. I appreciate
that.
(Reginald enters the room.)
R: Commissioner Donnelly is here for Dr.
Quartermaine.
L: Oh, hello Sean.
Sean: Hello, Lila. I'm sorry to drop by unannounced
like this, but I was returning something of Al... (stops when he sees Sonny) What
are you doing here?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sean: You didn't answer my question, Sonny.
L: Do you two gentleman know each other?
Sean: Yes we do , but he's no gentleman.
S: C'mon. Is disrespecting me in front of the lady really necessary?
(Brenda
enters)
B: Sonny! Sonny , what did I tell you about showing up early? It's rude.
Takes time to look fabulous , right Lila?(puts her arm around Sonny) Hi Sean.
Sean:
Hello Brenda.
B: How are you?
Sean: Good.
B: We should be going. We'll
see you later.
(takes Sonny's arm and hurries out of the room into the entrance)
S:
That was quick. Five seconds later it would have gotten ugly.
B: What are you
doing here?
S: Actually, I was cruising in my new car, and it made it's way to
your front door.
B: (smiles) Oh , must be some car.
S: Yeah, it is. Want to
go for a ride? Grab some dinner?
B: Where?
S: Wherever you like.
B: Well,
I kinda like the Grill.
S: How come I'm not surprised?
B: Oh, is it too rich
for your blood?
S: Make the reservations.
B: I don't need reservations. Why
don't you wait for me outside?
S: Can you make it quick, cause cops make me antsy.
B: Okay.
S: Alright.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
{the PC Grill. S&B enter laughing.
A.J. is on the phone , turns around and sees them.)
A.J.: I'll call you back.
(walks over to Brenda) Excuse us. (Brenda barely gets out a "Hi" before
A.J. drags her away.) What the hell is wrong wih you? Have you lost that minute speck
of matter that passes for your brain?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A.J.: I'm waiting for
an answer.
B: I didn't quite get the question. Oh , maybe because it was camouflaged
by that nasty little insult.
A.J.: Ok, let me rephrase it for you. What are you
doing with a two-bit crook like that?
B: Crook? Oh! Oh, you mean as in theif?
You know, that's so interesting coming from you because I distinctly remember hearing
something about a substantial amount of money, A.J., disappearing and then reappearing
in the hotel account. You know, you'd be surprised what you pick up on during a normal
day at the Quartermaine's. So if I were you, (smiles sarcastically) I'd re-avaluate
your name calling.
A.J. : What goes on in this hotel is none of your business.
B:
Oh. Well , what a coincidence. Whom I choose to have dinner with is none of your
business. So listen, moving right along to something that does concern you, I need
a table.
A.J.: Find it yourself.
(Brenda walks back over to Sonny)
S: Can't
say much for the service.
B: No.
S: C'mon. (They walk over to a table where
Sonny seats Brenda) We're not expecting trouble, are we?
B: No, you could take
A.J. with your eyes closed.
S: Yeah, I know that. But I'm not up for taking on
jealous boyfriends tonight.
B: Oh, what are you saying? That you'd back off if
you thought I had a thing with A.J.?
S: Depends on my mood. I might take you away
from him just to prove that I could.
B: You are very sure of yourself , aren't
you?
S: Why not? There's nothing wrong with confidence as long as you can back
it up. You can start leveling with me any time now.
B: About what?
S: This.
Agreeing so readily to have dinner with me , the reason you were so cozy and personal
in the car.
B: Mmm.
S: Is one of your buddies in some kind of trouble? Which
makes you feel like you have to con me again?
B: Look, why don't we just forget
about the Jagger incident? It was... a misunderstanding.
S: (nods) You weren't
very subtle then either.
B: Well, if you think I'm so obvious Sonny , then why
don't you tell me why you think I'm here?
S: Because it gets you off. But don't
worry, I don't flatter myself in thinking that it's personal. You're into this because
of the reactions you're getting.
B: Are we getting reactions? I hadn't even noticed.
S: Check out your friend with the initials for a name.
(Brenda looks. A.J.
is standing at the bar glaring at them. They both laugh.)
B: You have to admit,
it's kinda fun.
S: (smiling) You are a cool one, I'll give you that. Like lemonade
on a hot summer day. (sighs) How come you're not afraid little girl?
B: So far
I haven't seen any reason to be be afraid.
S: Well...If you had any sense, you'd
run for your life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(At the Grill, they've finished dinner
and are now talking over coffee)
B: (laughs) You know... you've been really sweet,
listening to me. I guess I've just been kind of rattling on and on. Why don't you
tell me about you?
S: Not much to tell.
B: I don't believe that. Who are you
Sonny?
S: Just another kid from Brooklyn, who came up on the streets.
B: Were
you in a gang?
S: Yeah. Had to be. That's the only way you could survive. But
I... had ambition, not in a scholarly sense, you know. College was never an option
for me. I wanted to be in the world, I wanted to make my mark, make some money.
B:
How'd you do it?
S: (grins) I started hanging out with the older kids in the
neighborhood. You know, the ones who had gotten to where I wanted to be. They had
cash, jewelery, cars. I figured if I stuck around long enough, their success would
rub off. (smiles)
B: I guess it worked.
S: Yeah. I started doing odd jobs here
and there, you know. I was quick, reliable. I took care of business, they took care
of me. Now it's come full circle. I go back to the neighborhood, and the kids, they
uh... they look up to me. They want what I have.
B: (laughs) I never really figured
you as a role model.
S: Hey, I do what I do, I make no apologies. My lifestyle
may not live up to the Quartermaine standards, but who cares? I'm not trying to impress
anybody. And believe me, there are guys out there that are bigger and badder than
I am.
B: But probably not as cute as you are.
S: There you go with those
eyes again! (smiles; Brenda laughs.) Let me paint a picture for you, Brenda. You're
walking down a tree-lined avenue, okay? You got your gourmet coffee shops, upscale
boutiques, movie house, fancy bookstore. And right across the boulevard, you got
my strip joint, an X-rated video store or two, hookers and pimps hanging around the
corner, the sounds of a street fight coming from an alley. The wild side, you get
what I'm saying? Close enough to touch, smell, feel. From where you're standing,
the energy, the unpredictability, may look tempting. But you better not cross that
street, because getting back to where you came from may be harder than you think.
And even if you do, you can count on bringing back a few battle scars as souviners.
B:
What are you trying to say to me? You know, I don't scare easily. In fact, I have
a tendency to do whatever it is I'm warned against.
S: (smiles) Have it your way.
You know, can't say I didn't try.