The Park

Courtney: You're somebody -- believe me. When you have that baby and you see what a child needs, maybe you'll understand. I mean, sam, there's going to be this little person who loves you and calls you "mommy." I mean, you're going to be a giant in your child's eyes. And that baby -- it will trust you above all others, just like it trusts you right now and depends on you for protection.

Sam: I understand that.

Courtney: Yeah, I thought I did, too. But then I didn't think about my baby when I should have and I miscarried and I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

Sam: Hmm. Not even me?

Courtney: Listen, one thing I know for sure -- if you don't take care of that baby now, you will regret it for the rest of your life.

[Phone rings]

[Courtney sighs]

[Courtney whistles]

Courtney: Yes? How bad?

The hospital

Courtney: Hey. What's the word -- he got beat up by some bookie?

Jason: Yeah, it looks like it.

Courtney: Well, how bad is he hurt?

Jason: He's ok -- no internal injuries.

Courtney: Why didn't he tell me about this? I could have made it go away. God, I sound just like sonny.

Jason: Sonny's in there.

Courtney: Well, mike's my father, too, jason.

Jason: Yeah, I know, but the doctor said one visitor at a time.

Courtney: Ok. Well, I still reserve the right to run in there and defend my father if sonny starts yelling at him for the unforgivable crime of getting beat up.

Jason: Why are you doing here?

Sam: I ran into courtney in the park, and -- and then she had gotten the call about mike. He's just -- he's been really good to me --

jason: Yeah, but it is a little late to be in the park alone.

Sam: I'm fine, jason, I'm fine.

Jason: Ok, that's good, but you need to think about the baby and be more careful. You can't take unnecessary risks, sam.

Sam: [looks to Court]  I'm starting to understand that.

Mike's room

Sonny: I'm not saying it's ok to gamble, mike, but we both know you're not going to quit anyway. But if you get yourself in debt again, just -- you know, if you don't want to call me, that's fine. Call meyer -- he's my accountant. He'll take care of you.

Mike: It sounds like you're being a little less angry with me.

Sonny: Well, you know what? You weren't there when I ndeded you growing up, but one lesson you did teach me and that is that if you give your word, you keep it. When you love somebody, you don't let them down. Now, when you have a child, you protect that child no matter what else you have to give up.

Mike: So, in other words, you're trying to be the kind of father that I wasn'T.

Sonny: I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm understanding a little more of what it takes being a father. You know, trying to keep a family together -- it's not so easy. I'm not saying that I would leave li y you did, but I -- I'm understanding a little more what you were going through, at least a little more than I did.

Courtney: It's my turn.

Sonny: Can you give us a minute?

Courtney: Come on, sonny. I'd like to see him, too.

Mike: Hey, hey. Come on, guys. Take it easy, all right?

Sonny: All right. Don't upset him, huh?  [he leaves]

Jason: How is he?

Sonny: He's doing all right. I guess it was just a warning. You know? They could have really worked him over pretty bad, but they didn'T.

Sam: Wow. I'm glad he's ok.

Sonny: How'd you hear about it?

Sam: I was in the park with courtney, and before you lecture me about the potential dangers of being alone at night in the park, don't worry -- I've already agreed never to do it again.

Jason: We should get going. You ne s some rest.

Sam: Ok.

Sonny: Ok, hold on. I just wanted to say one thing. I was a little out of line before about the marriage. I think -- I think we all agree, you know, that this is right for the baby and all that kind of stuff and as long as, you know, this is going to give the baby a better life with me, you know, part of --

jason: Yeah.

Sonny: His life, right? Then I'm, you know -- I wanted to --

sam: Married -- I'm glad you feel that way.

Sonny: Give me -- let me know when the dates and all that stuff is --

sam: Yeah.

Sonny: And we'll keep on playing the charade.

Sam: Ok.

Jason: Ok.

Sonny: All right.

Jason: Let's go. It's getting late.

Later…

Sonny: How's mike doing?

Courtney: He's ok. The nurse is in checking his vitals again. I'll -- ahem -- I'll pay off his bookie.

Sonny: No, it's -- don't worry about it. It's already taken care of. Save your money for your -- the charity. It's doing ok?

Courtney: Yeah. I never thought that helping kids could be so complicated.

Sonny: It's for abused children, right?

Courtney: Yeah. Neglected ones, too. And I want to get them while they're young, give them a way out.

Sonny: How'd you get the idea to do something like that?

Courtney: From you.

Courtney: Ok, look, we might not ever like each other very much, but sometimes when you're not making me so angry I can't see straight, sometimes I picture the little boy you must have been -- you know, very serious but sweet, quiet, way too sad, but really smart.

Sonny: It's a little too late to save me.

Courtney: Yeah, but what if you had had help when you were a kid?

Sonny: Well, I mean --

courtney: You know, what if you had a place to go when deke was angry or y k knew how to get help for your mom instead of trying to help her yourself? I mean, what if you had just had a chance to be a kid?

Sonny: I -- I did all right, courtney.

Courtney: Yeah, you did great, sonny. I mean, you -- you made a life for yourself, but it cost you.

Sonny: Yes, yeah. I realize that.

Courtney: Well, maybe if you'd had a little help all those years ago, I mean, maybe you could have gone to college or gotten off the streets or maybe you wouldn't have had to be so cold and ruthless and there wouldn't be so much danger in your life. I mean, you didn't have anyone back then to protect you -- I can't change that. But maybe if I can protect some of these kids, give them what you never had -- anyway, that's -- that's the idea.

Sonny: You're doing a good thing.

Courtney: Well, so are you.

Sonny: I've been bailing mike out for years.

Courtney: No, I mean -- I mean with jason and sam. You know, jason betrayed you. I mean, he took something that you want and I know -- I know how difficult that is for you.