The Cellar

[Music plays]

Courtney: What are you doing?

Jax: Research. We need to make sure that this music is working. I thought you were committed to the idea of a fundraiser.

Courtney: I am, ok?

Jax: Well, then you can't object to a little hands-on research. Come on, dance with me. I dare you.

Courtney: Fine. Jax, I'm only doing this for the cause. Ok?

Jax: For the cause.

Courtney: Right.

[Courtney dances with Jax, she's not really into it, laughing at it. Jason walks in and her face falls.  Jason looks devastated and confused]

Jax: Jason. Are you here to cut in?

Courtney: I, um -- I assume you're here to see carly?

Jason: Yeah. Is she around?

Courtney: She was, but she must have left.

Jax: Yeah, we didn't actually see her leave. We were busy. Oh, look at that. It's a casino chip. Did you bring this back from monte carlo for good luck?

Courtney: No, jax, I cashed in my chips before we left the casino.

Jax: Oh. Well, it must be one of mine. These things are so easy to lose track of. You know, the dealers in monte carlo learned to tremble every time they see courtney coming. But you know that. I'm sure you took her gambling. She loves it so much.

Jason: Courtney should do whatever makes her happy.  [He leaves]

Jax: Yeah, see? We're all friends.

Courtney: Congratulations, jax. I mean, you just proved to me beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am going to win this bet. You just flaunted me in front of jason's face. There's no way in this life that I will ever sleep with you.

Jax: You know, instead of sulking, why not release some of that tension and toss this in my face?

Courtney: If I decide to throw a tantrum, jax, I won't need a permission slip from you d do it. I'll just flip you flat on your back.

Jax: Oh, I'd love to see you try that.

Courtney: Oh, don't push me.

Jax: I don't understand why you're so peeved. I'm only doing what I said I would. Yes, I find you attractive and charming, but I also loathe your brother and your ex-husband, and I will not deny myself the pleasure of rubbing their noses in the fact that you're seeing me.

Courtney: That is not what's happening, jax, and you know it.

Jax: Appearances.

Courtney: Well, you may wind up disappointed because sonny and jason may not care one way or the other what is happening between us.

Jax: Oh, you relyly cannot be that naive. Whether they're indifferent to you or not, they still think that I'm stealing something from them. You know, it's kind of like territory. They're going to choke on this, and I'll be the one on your arm enjoying eve m minute.

Courtney: That's a little sad, don't you think? I mean, dating someone for the sole purpose of tormenting your enemies?

Jax: No, no, it's not the sole purpose. That's just an added incentive. I'd be pursuing you anyway.

Courtney: Am I supposed to be flattered?

Jax: That would be the natural reaction, yes.

Courtney: Oh, my god, you are so conceited, jax. I mean, if I didn't want your money for my foundation, I would call off this bet so fast.

Jax: You know what, courtney, this isn't about the cash, really, is it? You saw jason and it made you feel guilty. That's ok. If you want to fall back in line and be a good little mob moll, there's nothing I can do about that. I'll just take my $10 million and my conceited self elsewhere. All you have to do is say the word.

Courtney: Ok, you actually think that it would be hard for me to walk away from you and your stupid bet?

Jax: Well, it's your decision. I mean, if you're, you know, afraid of invoking sonny's displeasure --

courtney: Oh, god, jax --

[Jax chuckles]

Courtney: Come on, unlike you, I don't live my life in reaction to sonny, ok? I am trying to put my focus on something positive for neglected and abused children before they make the same destructive decisions th h have damaged sonny's life. Now, in order to accomplish that, I need tons and tons of money. You have it, all right, and it seems to burn a hole in your pocket. You may be the most irritating man on the planet -- and you are -- but the bet stands. And, you know, all you're accomplishing by being a smug, self-important jerk is making me more determined to win the bet.

Jax: You're not going to win.

Courtney: Ha!

Jax: You're going to sleep with me, and you're going to enjoy it a hell of a lot more than you ever did thth jason.

Courtney: Oh --

[Jax laughs]

PH2

Jason: It would be selfish to tell carly the truth now. I mean, trust me, it'd be easier on me, harder on everyone else. Michael and morgan need sonny and carly back together. And you, you can't run forever, ok? If you're going to settle down with this baby, you are going to need someone to help, someone to care about that baby as much as you do. I'll be that person.

Sam: It's not fair, jason, but I am -- I am very grateful.

Jason: Ok, and one other thing, and it's very important -- if this is even going to work, we need to learn to trust each other, ok? The baby is going to need it.

Sam: Ok. I agree.

Jason: Ok.

Sam: Where are you going?

Jason: Courtney needs to know. So that means I'm going to have to look her in face, I'm going to have to lie to her. I never thought I'd ever, ever do that to her, but I don't have a choice.  [he leaves]

Park

Courtney: Ok, that's -- that's far enough.

Jax: Whoa, hold on a second. You said that I could walk you home.

Courtney: I live, like, a half a block from here, jax. Maybe you should quit while you're ahead.

Jax: If I didn't know better, I'd think that you were trying to dodge a good-night kiss.

Courtney: The thought had cross my mind, yes.

Jax: Who are you afraid of? Me, or yourself?

[Jax kisses her and she kisses back but these kisses are so blah compared to Journey kisses]

Later…

Jason: Courtney.

Courtney: Jason, what happened to your face?

Jason: Sonny hit me.

Courtney: Sonny? Why?