The Loft

[Jason comes in and Courtney is asleep in bed.  Jason watches her and Courtney stirs and opens her eyes.]

Courtney: Jason. What's wrong?

Jason: You tried to save me. That can't happen again.

Jason: This is the best time, I mean, that i can remember. And I don't want to give you up. But the next time you try to save me or put yourself in danger, I'll walk away without looking back.

Courtney: I was trying to --

Jason: I know what you were trying to do. You put yourself on the line for me, and that's nice. You can't do it again. What i do is dangerous. It's what I chose. The risks are mine, not yours. I can't be with you knowing you could hurt yourself or put yourself in danger because of me.

Courtney: But I just can't pretend not to care what happens to you, jason.

Jason: Courtney, you can care all you want, and I'm glad you care. But don't act on it. I mean, you followed me down to the pcpd after I asked you not to. You can't do that kind of stuff. You can't come after me and try to save me or help me when i'm in trouble.

Courtney: This is completely unfair.

Jason: You know my jo-- I can't do my job or stay professional if i'm worried about you always putting yourself at risk. It's a distraction i can't afford. So the only way that this is going to work is if you promise not to get involved.

Courtney: I hate this.

Jason: Well, if it's easier, I'll just -- I'll just go. [He goes to leave]

Courtney: Jason? I won't get involved, ok?

Jason: Look, I got to go. I got to meet brenda before the arraignment, and i don't -- I don't know when I'll be back. 

Courtney: Well, whenever you can get back, I'll be waiting.  [Jason kisses her and leaves.]

Courtney: I love you.

Jason's penthouse

[Jason walks in to find Sonny waiting there.]

Sonny: Brenda's upstairs. She showed up with jax. Now, let me tell you something. Jax does not get the concept of discretion. If he keeps parading brenda around, she's going to look guilty. Now, she does whatever he wants. You know what I'm saying?

Jason: Yes.

Sonny: You're going to have to keep him away from her. I don't know how you're going to do it, but you got to do it.

Jason: But, sonny, I tried to tell her a hundred times. That woman doesn't listen to me.

Sonny: Well, you got to make her listen. You're on the line here. I don't know, you know? I don't know what's happening. I asked you to go after alcazar, you risked your life to get her away from him, and now you're stuck in this marriage.

Jason: Look, I -- hey, I may not like her, but I saw her at the crime scene. I couldn't just leave her there.

Sonny: Ok, we got to figure out how we're going to get out of this. We got to find out who paid that eyewitness. I could have -- ah! I could have sworn it was A.J.

Jason: Ida tried to show up, and I scared her off.

Sonny: What you talking about? What do you mean?

Jason: Well, A.J. Was at the quartermaines'.

Sonny: Right.

Jason: Ok, and I was out -- I was out on the terrace ready to take pictures of him if ida showed up, and then courtney showed up trying to get him to back off.

Sonny: Courtney went after that pig for you, me, and brenda?

Jason: I got her out of there before a.J. Could do anything.

Sonny: Look, courtney should not -- courtney should not be anywhere near this. She's my sister. She's clean. She's innocent. She went through a lot of pain because of a.J. She's not going to hurt like that again, jason. My business, my enemies -- that will never touch my sister.

The Courthouse
A.J.: You here for the arraignment?

Courtney: That's right.

A.J.: You going to sit in that courtroom and listen to jason lie?

Courtney: Leave me alone.

A.J.: You know, jason interrupted us before we had a chance to complete our bargain. My offer still stands, courtney. I will retract my statement. Jason will walk. All you have to do is agree to come back to me and never see him again. You can save him. It's up to you.
Courtney: If i were to take your deal, you'd have to do a lot more than change your story about jason driving alcazar's limo.

A.J.: How much more?

Courtney: No, you'd have to figure out a way to cancel out ida's testimony, too.

A.J.: And how can I do that?

Courtney: Oh, come on, a.J. You have money now. There must be something you can do.

A.J.: The only thing i can control is what I say and only if you make it worth my while.

Courtney: Forget it. I don't trust you. You know, even if you did change your testimony, you would find some other way to hurt jason. You'll never stop hating jason, will you? I mean, you'd hate him even more if i came back to you because you'd know that I didn't want to be with you.

A.J.: You came to me, remember?

Courtney: Yeah, well, we've all made mistakes. The difference is i learn from mine. I'll never ask you for anything again.

A.J.: Poor jason. He's going to pay for your sudden attack of pride.
Courtney: Well, here's something else that I learned, A.J. -- Jason doesn't need me to save him because, unlike you, jason is strong enough to save himself.

Jason's Penthouse

Jason: Brenda, come on. We're late.

Brenda: Coming.

Jason: Let's go.

Brenda: I'm coming.

Jason: Will you come down now, or I'm going to come and get you.

Brenda: Would you -- I said i'm coming. I'm sorry. I've never gotten
dressed to be arraigned for murder.

Jason: Ok.

Brenda: Does this look ok? Oh, why am i asking you? Forget it.

Jason: You know what? It's a legal proceeding. There's four words you need to know -- "not guilty, your honor." That's it. That's all we have to say.

Brenda: Oh, yeah. You know, I know that. I thought this was serious, you know? This is about our freedom, right?

Jason: Yes.

Brenda: Well, you know, I could be anywhere in the world with jax right now. Instead, i decided to come back here and go on trial with my husband, so you can be nice to me, you know --

jason: Ok, just please -- everything's going to be ok.

Brenda: No, forget it. Don't be nice. I mean, it just sounds weird coming out of your mouth.

Jason: You know what? Fine, ok? That's great.

Brenda: Let's just get this over with.

Jason: Yes, we're going to get this over with. Can you just be quiet for a minute? All that matters is getting out of this. And the only way we're going to do it is to stay together, ok?

Brenda: Ok.

Jason: From now on, it's you and me. We don't fight in public. We stay close even though we can't stand each other.

Brenda: All right. Fine. I know, I know. We have to act married. I know how to act married. I mean, not really, because I've never been married before, but --

jason: Ok.

Brenda: All right, let's go.

Jason: Grab your coat.

Brenda: Are you sure this is ok?

Jason: Yes, it's fine.

Brenda: Because I have this one other thing, though.

Jason: Really. Look, I'm wearing this stupid thing. Come on.  [They leave.]

The Courthouse

Bailiff: All rise.

Judge: Call the case.

Bailiff: Be seated.

Judge: Go on.

Bailiff: The state of new york vs. Brenda barrett morgan and jason morgan, et al. Will counsel please note their appearance for the record?

Thomas: Your honor, thomas cassidy for the defendant jason morgan.

Alexis: Alexis davis representing brenda barrett morgan.

Scott: Scott baldwin for the state.

Judge: Very well. This is an arraignment, and as such, we'll keep the proceedings brief. Will the defendants please rise. Brenda barrett morgan and jason morgan, you stand accused of murder in the first degree in the death of luis alcazar. Brenda barrett morgan, how do you plead?

Brenda: Not guilty, your honor.

Judge: Jason morgan, how do you plead, sir?

Thomas: Your honor, at this moment, mr. Morgan would request a stay in these proceedings in order to confer with the district attorney with an eye on negotiating a plea bargain in exchange for his testimony against his wife.

Brenda: What?

Jason: What the hell are you talking about?

Thomas: Your honor, may I have a moment to confer with my client?

Jason: No, no, we don't need a moment. Your honor, this man doesn't
speak for me.

Scott: Sure, he does, your honor. Mr. Cassidy is mr. Morgan's attorney on record.

Jason: Your honor, mr. Cassidy is fired.

Ric: Would you like me to intervene? I might be able to salvage this.
Sonny: Do it.

Ric: Your honor, my name is ric lansing. I'm an attorney. May I approach?

Scott: Your honor, this is a delay tactic. This is an arraignment. Shall we get on with it?

Judge: All I need, mr. Baldwin, is a plea from the defendant.

Ric: With all due respect, your honor, an arraignment is no less vital or substantial than any other part of the criminal proceeding. To deny mr. Morgan here due process at this time would be reversible error. Now, you know it and i know it. Mr. Morgan here deserves representation, and I am substituting in as counsel of record. My client enters a plea of not guilty.

Judge: Mr. Morgan, is that your desire to substitute this gentleman in as your attorney?

Thomas: Now, listen, I have been retained to get you out of this, and i've been well compensated for it. Now, there is absolutely no evidence against you. It all points squarely to ms. Barrett. So just let me do my job.

Jason: Your honor, this man, ric lansing, is my attorney. I plead not guilty. I'm innocent. So is my wife.

Judge: The defendants, having duly entered pleas of not guilty, are bound over for trial on the date previously set forth. This court is now in recess.
[Judge pounds gavel]

bailiff: All rise.

Sonny: You think you can get jason acquitted?

Ric: Well, I'd be a fool to make any kind of guarantees, right?

Sonny: Good.

Ric: But I'm confident, yes.

Sonny: Because jason's like a brother to me. If he goes away, so do you.

Brenda: Excuse us.

Brenda: Uh-uh, no. I can't let you do this.

Jason: Well, you know what? I don't think you have a choice.

Brenda: But you do.

Jason: Just because i can't stand you doesn't mean i want to testify against you.

Brenda: No, i am the one who attacked him with a knife. I mean, you need to think about this. This could be your only way out.

Jason: Brenda, do you -- do you pay attention? We agreed that we're in this together, and that means till the end.

Brenda: All right. Act married.

[Brenda hugs Jason as Jax and Courtney look on.]