And I know things about you
Trevor: So, what is this? Redecorating the office, moving the furniture around? Some show of rebellion?
Johnny: I haven’t stepped foot in this part of the house all morning. I went for a run.
Trevor: Well, who did it?
Claudia: I did. It’s time things got shaken up a little around here.
Trevor: You want to inflict your personal taste on this house? Do it in another room. I have documents, very sensitive documents — huh — that can’t be misplaced.
Claudia: Do not speak to me like I’m some teenager who interrupted her father at work with her baton-twirling.
Johnny: Did you actually do that?
Trevor: Oh, no, no, no. The Claudia that I knew would never perform in public. Not once. So obviously, that’s changed.
Claudia: A lot has changed. Daddy’s paralyzed. Trevor is all dark and dour and seemingly in control. My little brother is all grown up and running into trees, from the looks of it.
Johnny: I’m fine.
Claudia: From the few things that Uncle Rudy told me over the years, I imagine you’re anything but. That’s just one of the things I intend to fix while I’m here.
Johnny: I don’t need fixing.
Trevor: Tell me — how long do you intend to stay?
Claudia: Hmm. Till I’m good and ready to leave.
Trevor: If you’re so intent on joining us, why don’t you let me guide you through a couple of things?
Claudia: What, you mean steer me around the things you don’t want me to know about? Why are you making it sound like you have no intention of getting me involved in family business?
Johnny: I already told Trevor why I thought he brought you here. I’m being difficult. Translation — “Johnny has his own brain and can think for himself.” Trevor thought you’d show up, do what you’re told, and he’d be back to his regular tricks like he was with dad.
Trevor: Tell me, why are you two so quick to think the worst of me?
Claudia: Because you make it so easy. No one’s ever seen the best of you. Is there a best of you, Trevors? I mean, Uncle Rudy certainly didn’t think so.
Trevor: Well, he was never in any position to judge.
Claudia: I disagree. He’s managed to make a lot of money, and people like him. I like him.
Trevor: A dirtbag loser.
Claudia: He’s up front, he’s in charge, he’s taken the heat, unlike you, Trevors.
Trevor: “Trevors”? Why do you call me that?
Claudia: Because that’s how I remember you before I got shipped away. This figure in the shadows, always there saying the right things, doing the right things. I member you as being helpful. You were always helping, like a servant. The dutiful Trevors — got paid for his “sincerity.”
Trevor: All right, kids. Let’s stop the parlor games. If you ever think that you’re going to take on Sonny Corinthos and his like, we’re going to have to work together.
Claudia: Oh, we’re not going to work together, you’re going to work for me. Is that clear?
Johnny: It was all a setup, you know. Dad’s been a lot worse. Trevor just thought you were –
Claudia: That I was still naive. Well, I passed that a long time back. How are you, really?
Johnny: What do you care?
Claudia: I care.
Johnny: You do? Is that why I haven’t heard from you in God knows how long?
Claudia: Look, I thought it was best for you if we didn’t have any contact.
Johnny: No, no, that is a lie. But I don’t have the energy right now to search for the truth.
Claudia: I didn’t want to go, John.
Johnny: I do. I want to break the sound barrier getting out of this place, but I’m here, aren’t I?
Claudia: That’s because running’s no good. It doesn’t matter how far you go, or how fast. You’ll never get away. Hey, could you stay?
Johnny: So we can catch up?
Claudia: We’ll have time for that. I want to know all the power players in this war that’s been brewing with Sonny Corinthos.
Johnny: Then you better learn all you can about somebody named Jason Morgan.
Johnny: Sonny Corinthos runs a coffee-importing business as a front. Jason Morgan is his partner on paper.
Claudia: But his enforcer in the real world.
Johnny: If it were up to Sonny, I’d be dead by now, but Jason Morgan, for some reason, has stood up for me several times, given me the benefit of the doubt.
Claudia: Well, that’s a strange weakness for a man in Morgan’s position. It — it must be connected to some personal weakness he has.
Johnny: “Weakness” is not a word I’d use to describe Morgan or Corinthos.
Claudia: Everybody has weak spot, baby brother.
Johnny: Even you?
Claudia: I heard that Daddy went crazy at some big party and — and that it was partly because of you and some girl. Hmm? Is that right? Is there some girl in your life? I mean, other than for medicinal fun and games?
Johnny: I don’t want to talk about it.
Claudia: I used to tell you everything. I remember, I used to tell you almost everything. And you’ve grown up so handsome and so strong and dark. But I guess that couldn’t have been avoided, not in this house, huh? There is no love that can share that with you. There’s no love that can chase shadows that big and that hungry, and that dark. So you do whatever you want out there in the world. Don’t fall in love, Johnny. Love hurts. Love kills.
Claudia: Hmm.
Trevor: Claudia — come on. Let’s clear the air.
Claudia: Hmm.
Trevor: You’re right, I admit it. I didn’t realize how much you’ve changed.
Claudia: You didn’t think I had it in me, hmm?
Trevor: Not the little girl who left here at 16. Even your father was surprised.
Claudia: Hmm. Maybe at first, but then I think it quickly turned to fear. He may be paralyzed, but he’s not stupid. Unlike some of the moves that have been made in this business since I’ve been gone.
Trevor: Exactly what do you know about this business?
Claudia: Oh, I know that I wouldn’t have tried encroaching on a local kingpin’s territory unless I had guaranteed myself a foothold. Say, that prime waterfront property that used to belong to Lorenzo Alcazar.
Trevor: Well, I’m working on that.
Claudia: You’re not doing a very good job of it. From what I see, there are a dozen ways that you could’ve done this differently. Successfully. But what I see here — it’s pure antagonism. It’s as if you had some score to settle.
Trevor: Is that what the new you is really all about? I mean, are you trying to settle some score with your father? Because he’s gone. And I’m here in his place.
Claudia: I thought Johnny was in his place.
Trevor: Come on, no more games. I know things about you.
Claudia: And I know things about you.
Trevor: Come on, Claudia. I don’t want to get off on the wrong foot here.
Claudia: I don’t like being used. Although, I can’t remember the last time that happened.
Trevor: You and your brother — you still need me.
Claudia: I’ll be clear with you, okay? I will keep you around as long as I think you’re being useful.
Trevor: Yeah, you talk to me like that and behave like that, I’m going to destroy you and your whole family.
Claudia: But you’d destroy yourself in the process, Trevor. And something tells me you have far too much time, effort, and blatant manipulation involved on my father and Johnny to let that happen.
Trevor: Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk.
Claudia: Admit it, it’s fun being you. What’s more powerful than controlling the family with the power? And it’s been very lucrative for you. There’s no reason why that can’t continue as long as you know your place.
Trevor: I know exactly what my place is. I am only the lawyer.
Claudia: Good. Johnny tells me that we’re in a stalemate situation with this Corinthos.
Trevor: That’s because Sonny sees Johnny as a kid who won’t make a show of force to prove otherwise.
Claudia: What is your relationship with Corinthos?
Trevor: It’s complicated.
Claudia: Okay. Just so you know, that won’t always be a satisfactory answer. We need something to shake up Corinthos and the other families, just to get them off-guard, while I get the lay of the land.
Trevor: I’m sure that I will think of something.
Claudia: I’ve already thought of something.
