Outside Kelly's

Courtney: Hey. How was your christmas?

Jason: I skipped it.

Courtney: That must've been hard for you.

Jason: It was easier than being here.

Courtney: On christmas, when you spoke to everyone else --

jason: Did you want to talk to me?

Courtney: I just thought that you would -- I mean, I was sitting right there, jason.

Jason: Yeah, I know.

Courtney: You never said where you went.

Jason: So they didn't -- so they didn't tell you. I went to puerto rico to supervise the casinos. They get a lot of business during christmas.

Courtney: I know. My mom used to work the double shifts on the holidays. It's kind of sad, though, you know? All those lonely people just filling their time with gambling because they have no family.

Jason: Have you called justus yet?

Courtney: Not yet.

Jason: Ok, well, I'll tell him to call you.

Courtney: Why are you in such a hurry to -- to start this divorce?

Jason: At least if we're divorced I can start paying you alimony. You haven't touched our bank accounts. You're living over kelly's on what you make as a waitress. You shouldn't have --

courtney: Jason, I don't want your money. I want --

courtney: You know what, I'll just -- I'll call justus on monday. Christmas was hard for me, too.

[She heads into Kelly's and Brian comes down in a tux]

Brian: Hello.

Courtney: Do I know you?

Brian: Well, even cops get to step out every now and then.

Courtney: Oh, that's right, the haunted star opening. Right.

Brian: That's right. Would you like to join me?

Courtney: I can'T.

Brian: Oh, come on. We've both had a tough christmas. We deserve a little bit of fun.

Courtney: Yeah, it'd just be too weird.

Brian: To go to a party with a friend? What's weird about that? Anyway, you grew up in atlantic city, didn't you? You'll feel right at home.

Courtney: My mom dealt blackjack at the casinos. I just stayed in the apartment and watched tv.

Brian: Well, now you get a chance to see what you were missing.

Courtney: You know, why not? Why shouldn't I? What's stopping me?

Brian: Only yourself.

Courtney: Maybe it is time that I start living again.

Brian: So, are we on?

Courtney: Ok.

PH4

Carly: Hey, welcome home.

Jason: Thanks.

Carly: We missed you.

Jason: I missed you, too. Casinos had a great christmas.

Sonny: Oh, thanks for taking care of that.

Carly: You look very, very handsome.

Jason: Don't start.

Carly: What? It's just -- it's such a waste. Being all dressed up, going to the party by yourself.

Jason: You know I hate parties. I'm only going out of respect for luke.

Carly: Well, you can respect luke all you want. It doesn't mean you can't enjoy yourself. I think you should call courtney, and we can all go together as a family.

Jason: Courtney and I aren't together, carly.

Carly: Well, she was miserable at christmas.

Jason: The marriage is over.

Carly: Is that what she wants? Did she say those words, jason?

Jason: We decided together, yes.

Sonny: Carly, carly, you know what? It's just -- you should leave this one alone now.

Carly: Don't you see what's happening?

Sonny: Yeah.

Carly: Come on, you and courtney -- you love each other. And for some reason, you have convinced yourselves that the best thing for you is to let go, and I --

jason: Carly, carly, I can't do this, ok? I mean it. Courtney and I aren't together. Just let it go.

Kelly's

Brian: Let me get that.  [Brian helps her with her coat]

Courtney: Thanks.

The Haunted Star

[Courtney and Brian arrive and Jason watches from afar]

Courtney: Thank you.

Brian: Take a number?

Courtney: Yeah. Seven red.

Brian: Sounds lucky to me. Hmm.

Courtney: Oh, well.

Brian: Want to play again?

Courtney: Why not?

Carly: Courtney, hey!

Courtney: Hey, can we -- can we disappear in the crowd for a while? I can't handle a family interrogation at the moment.

Brian: Evasiveness is my strong suit.

Courtney: I am better at blackjack. My mom taught me how to play.

Brian: Well, maybe you should give up waitressing and become a professional gambler.

Carly: So, have you won anything yet?

Courtney: Hi, carly.

Carly: Hi. You think that I don't know you're avoiding me?

Courtney: Brian, meet my sister-in-law carly corinthos.

Carly: Yeah, we met. You're the cop that shot my husband.

Brian: It was a tough night for us all. I hope we can get past it.

Carly: Yeah. Have you seen jason?

Courtney: Since he got back?

Carly: No. Here, tonight.

Courtney: Jason -- he hates parties, carly. He would never --

carly: Yeah, well, maybe you should try gambling with jason because, you know, he's got amazing luck. [points out Jason] It's probably because it doesn't matter if he wins or not.

Courtney: I'm sorry, but this was a bad idea. [runs out]

Outside Kelly's

Courtney: Look, I'm sorry to bail on you like this. I didn't realize that jason would be at that party.

Brian: Well, yeah. I couldn't see him, either.

Courtney: Well, he's not big on socializing or gambling. It's just really strange because carly's right, he has the most amazing luck. It's almost like he can see the cards before they come up.

Brian: Some people call that cheating.

Courtney: Jason doesn't cheat. He doesn't need to. I mean, he doesn't need the money. He doesn't even care if he wins. He thinks cards are boring. You know, one night, down in the tropics, we went to a casino. I played a couple of hands and lost, so jason took over. And I got the giggles every time he won, so he kept going. He must've won thousands of dollars that night just to keep me laughing.

Brian: Look, I don't mean to overstep, but what is going on with you and jason?

Courtney: We're finished.

Brian: I can see it's painful.

Courtney: You know what? I'll get over it, right? I mean, marriages end all the time. I just -- I have to stop looking back and move on.

Brian: I'd like to help.

Courtney: Thank you. [She hugs him, but Brian goes in for a kiss] Uh -- no, whoa. I'm nowhere near ready for that.

Brian: Look, I didn't mean --

jason: Back off.

Brian: I think I understand. I was the bait. Jason saw you with me and came running, just like you wanted.

Jason: That's enough.

Brian: It's more than enough.  [he goes inside]

Jason: So, you think it's a good idea going out with a cop?

Courtney: I didn't know that you would be at that party.

Jason: That's not the point.

Courtney: Look, it was hard hearing you talk about the divorce. He asked me out and I said yes on impulse.

Jason: You know, courtney, you don't even have to explain. I mean, we're not together. Look, I just want you to be careful, ok? He's a cop, and no matter what he says, he's using --

courtney: What, he's using -- using me to get to you? You're here for security. You know, I actually thought that you might be jealous. How ridiculous is that?

Jason: You're right, I shouldn't be here.

Courtney: Jason. Why are we doing this to each other?