Whatever you want
Claudia: Where’s the proof that you can save John from a murder charge?
Ric: We’ll get to that. First, I kind of want to know what’s in it for me.
Claudia: Blackmail? Or is this extortion? Either way, you’re speaking a language I understand.
Ric: Claudia, what I want to know is what you’re prepared to give me in exchange for your brother’s freedom and his life.
Claudia: Whatever you want.
Ric: This is Logan Hayes’ service record. Read it for yourself.
Claudia: “Corporal Hayes pulled a knife on Private Krespy, accusing Krespy of flirting with Hayes’ female companion. A fight ensued. Hayes stabbed Krespy in the arm.” So you’re planning on making a defense out of the idea that whenever there was a problem with Logan and a woman, he would go after the competition with a knife?
Ric: That’s an oversimplification, but yes.
Claudia: Okay, well, a barroom brawl is a lot different than a murder charge.
Ric: It speaks to a pattern of behavior, Claudia. Look, I can argue that Johnny probably killed Logan in self-defense.
Claudia: Then why did he cover it up?
Ric: Because Johnny had been railroaded once before by Logan’s father. Special Prosecutor Baldwin was sure to get a conviction and Johnny figures “nobody’s going to believe my story,” so he takes off.
Claudia: What about the kidnapping, Ric? What about fleeing custody? I mean –
Ric: Look, all of those lesser charges can be pled down. The first order of business is to make sure that Johnny beats the original murder charge.
Claudia: You know, you’re selling me a great big load of maybe here. The truth is you have no way of knowing whether or not you can make John a free man or even if you can keep him alive.
Ric: I’m not a magician, Claudia. The mess you and Johnny made trying to cover up Logan’s murder is not going to be easy to clean up.
Claudia: If you think it’s such a lost case, then why are you here?
Ric: It’s called damage control, sweetie. We want to make sure that John doesn’t end up behind bars for the rest of his life, or worse yet, gunned down by the police. First things first, John’s going to have to turn himself in.
Claudia: Yeah, I doubt that’s high on his to-do list.
Ric: Really? Did he try to contact you? Okay, you know what, Claudia? If this is going to work out between the two of us, you are going to have to trust me. Now, John’s on the run and he’s not by himself. He’s got an emotional young woman with him.
Claudia: I don’t give a damn about Lulu Spencer.
Ric: Well, I’m sure you don’t, but Johnny does, and right now, Johnny’s thinking about her and worrying about her and he’s not thinking too rationally right now. So sooner or later, that’s going to trip the both of them up. And Scott Baldwin will get his revenge.
Claudia: I don’t know where John is. For all I know, he could be in Milan.
Ric: Come on, Claudia, you’re smarter than this. You know John’s only hope is to bring this case to trial and get a good lawyer to get him acquitted.
[Claudia chuckles]
Claudia: And that would be you?
Ric: Listen, I got your father released. I can do the same thing for your brother. But it’s going to cost you.
Claudia: Well, we haven’t discussed what it’s going to cost me yet.
Ric: You haven’t told me what you’re willing to offer.
Claudia: Well, I don’t like games when it comes to my brother’s life. And it’s on the line, so I’ll tell you what. I’ll make this really simple, really easy for you. I don’t have to give you a damn thing. All I have to do is turn you over to my father.
Claudia: You should have told my father about Logan’s knife-happy history before you hired him to push my dad around in a wheelchair.
Ric: Sorry to disappoint you, but that’s not really something you can blackmail me with.
Claudia: Oh, really? Excuse me? There’s one person in this world that my father loves, and that’s Johnny, and you knew that Logan and Johnny had bad blood, and you knew that Logan had a history of violence.
Ric: What — what am I, clairvoyant? All of a sudden, I’m going to be able to predict the outcome?
Claudia: See, I don’t know if my father’s going to see it like that. I’m thinking that he might figure you could have avoided this entire situation if you hadn’t hired Logan in the first place, or in the very least, Ric, if you told my father about the potential for violence here.
Ric: That’s some pretty dark, paranoid reasoning.
Claudia: Yeah, well, my father’s the poster child for paranoia. He’s looking for someone to blame this on, and I’ll tell you what. I wouldn’t mind if some of the heat that’s been landing on me landed on you instead.
Ric: Why don’t you go ahead? You go tell Anthony. And when he kills me, you lose your one chance to get your little brother acquitted.
Claudia: Maybe.
Ric: Yeah, maybe? What’s plan B, Claudia? How are you going to get — how are you going to save your brother? Look, I suggest we stop making threats and start thinking as allies.
Claudia: You know, you keep bringing up this alliance idea, and I’m just wondering what the catch is.
Ric: There’s no catch, just a simple arrangement where everyone benefits. Your beloved brother John goes free, and I get Johnny’s sister and Anthony’s daughter as an ally on the inside.
Claudia: You sprung my father so that you could be in his inner circle. So why do you keep coming after me?
Ric: Anthony has a way of playing people off against one another.
Claudia: Oh, yeah, he loves playing you and Trevor off each other.
Ric: Yes, he confides in us when it’s convenient. He lies when it suits his fancy. Look, I pride myself on being very good at reading people, but your father is a master manipulator.
Claudia: Okay, so the attorney doesn’t trust his client?
Ric: Something like that.
Claudia: Well, even if I could help you, not that I would — look, my father pretty much shut me out of everything, so there’s not a lot I can do.
Ric: Look, you have an in with John. That is all I need.
Claudia: Fine. Get my brother cleared of all these murder charges. I will be your ally. Shake.
Ric: I was kind of hoping for more than just a handshake.
Claudia: Oh, yeah, how much more?
Ric: Physical contact solidifies a relationship, you know.
Claudia: You want me to sleep with you? You want me to sleep with you to save my brother?
Ric: Well, come on, it’s not so cryptic as all that. I think we can have a mutually beneficial relationship in and out of bed.
Claudia: Okay, here’s the deal. Get my brother cleared of all these murder charges. On the day he’s acquitted, I will happily go to bed with you.
[Knock on door]
Ric: In case you haven’t heard, Claudia, Jason hates me so much it borders on psychotic.
Jason: You know what? Just call me when you’re done with this.
Ric: No, no, no, don’t be so secretive, Jason, really. I know the only reason that you’re here is because you know that Claudia’s been in touch with Johnny. Thank you for confirming that.
Jason: Whatever miracles Ric has promised you on Johnny’s behalf, he’s lying.
Ric: Oh, you’re so sure of yourself, aren’t you? Sitting in judgment of the whole world, smug in your own superiority, living that inviolate code of loyalty.
Jason: You know nothing about loyalty.
Ric: Really?
Jason: Yeah.
Ric: Neither does Sonny, apparently. He’s working with Andrei Karpov.
