Alexis' penthouse. Ned has just stormed out after their fight. Alexis is holding up her broken cell phone, staring at it. She sets her empty glass on the desk, picks up the champagne and throws her phone into the bucket. She is just a bit drunk now, and as the scene goes on, she continues drinking.

Alexis: (pouring herself a glass champagne) To living well -- by myself.

There is a knock at the door. She continues drinking the champagne, holding up a finger, then puts the glass down.

Alexis: (to herself) This had better be good.

She sets her glass down on the desk and walks to the door, clapping her hands together as she does. She opens the door to Sonny.

Alexis: (overly happy, on her way to being drunk) Hi!

Sonny: I heard some loud noises. You okay?

Alexis: (holding up both of her hands) Oh. (shushes herself) I'm sorry. I promise, I won't it let it happen again because I intend to be a model tenant. Come on in.

Sonny takes a step through the door.

Alexis: (putting a hand on Sonny's shoulder) Come on in.

Sonny: Oh.

Alexis: I'm not going to have any parties and I'm not going to have any visitors. (quickly, looking down at the floor) Did I mention that I wasn't going to have any visitors?

Sonny: Um, as long as you're okay, that's all that matters.

Alexis: I'm okay, I'm okay. (gesturing to him) Are you okay?

Sonny: Yeah, I'm fine.

Alexis: Okay. (smiles) Would you like some champagne?

Sonny: Ah --

Alexis: (walking over to the desk) The landlord left it. (pouring the glasses) Some for me, some for you. And then some more for me.

Sonny: Hmm.

Alexis: (handing him a glass) Here you go.

Sonny: All right.

Alexis: (toasting) Here's mud in your eye.

She smiles, touching Sonny's glass with her own and turns away to drink. Sonny takes a drink.

Alexis: (regarding Sonny suspiciously) How did you know this was my favorite champagne?

Sonny: I didn't.

Alexis: So you just have good taste?

Sonny: Well, I've been accused of that before.

Alexis: Not so fast, Mr. Smiley face.

She holds up her glass, taking a sip. Sonny watches her, amused.

Alexis: (walks away from him and leans on the back of her chair) This apartment. Johnny one-note and what's his name, who moved me in here? (Sonny starts to answer but Alexis continues) This champagne. Oh, you're good. (takes a seat in her chair) You're very good. The old motive within the motive.

Sonny: (grins) I'm not that complicated.

Alexis: (going into lawer-mode) Oh, sure you are, Mr. Corinthos. When asked me to move in here, I knew that you had your own reasons. It was to prevent a certain Carly Benson Quartermaine, almost Corinthos, from moving in and occupying the same apartment. (stands up, confronting him) You set me up. (shakes a finger as she walks over to him) You wanted to isolate me, to cut me off from my clients and bring me into the outfit.

She walks past him.

Sonny: Outfit?

Alexis: (blowing it off) Organization, whatever you call it. Business, (turning to glare at him) and I don't mean coffee.

Sonny: What do you mean?

Alexis: (accusingly) You're trying to make me a made woman.

{Next Scene}

Alexis is sitting at the dining room table. She slams her hand down on the table and stands up, walking back over to the living room to face Sonny.

Alexis: (patting herself on the chest) I was a respected attorney!

Sonny: You still are.

Alexis: No --

Sonny: You're the best.

Alexis: I'm a mouthpiece.

Sonny: What are you talking about?

Alexis: (yelling) Ned said so and he's absolutely right!

Alexis plops down on the couch, resting an arm on the pile of suitcases. She puts a hand on her head and sighs.

Alexis: (quietly) I'm going to have to get sunglasses. Big sunglasses. And hats, with brims and vests, bulletproof. (whining) I'll look bulky.

She puts her head down on her arms, crying.

Sonny: (half-smiling) Are you sure this isn't more about you and Ned than with me and your wardrobe?

Alexis: (interrupts, jumps up, yelling) This has nothing to do with Ned! Ned has nothing to do with this! Ned is not the point. (quietly, half-whining, half-rambling) This is about me and -- me and my clients and how they're all going to leave me, which is all part of your very, very clever plan, which is to strip me of my practice. You leave me no choice but I'll have to devote myself to you!

She falls back onto the couch, ready to cry again.

Sonny: Hey, hey, hey, hey, wait, wait. I've never asked you for exclusive services. You can have as many clients as you want.

Alexis: (sits up, facing him, serious) You don't fool me. I know when a man wants me -- (Sonny gives her a look) to represent him, I mean. (whining again) Oh, I had a great life. I did. (gets up, walking over past Sonny) I had clients, I had love. I had a microwave with a popcorn setting and then --

Sonny takes her champagne glass out of her hand as she walks by. She doesn't even notice or stop her rambling.

Alexis: (continuing, walking over to the desk) -- you had to come along and -- and dangle this (spins around, gesturing to the apartment) view, (spins back around, continuing over to the desk, shrugging) and now I'm a -- a wise guy -- girl -- woman. (picks up a new glass and the champagne and pauses for a moment) I'm toast. (pours the champagne and spins around, facing Sonny again) I defended you, even though I think you're guilty and despicable. Why would you do this to me?

She pours a bit more champagne into her glass and takes a drink, catching her breath. She notices that Sonny is watching her.

Alexis: (unsteady) I'm okay.

She takes another drink.

{Next Scene}

Alexis is drinking her champagne.

Sonny: (putting a hand on her glass) Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh.

Alexis stops drinking, letting Sonny have the glass. He walks over to the desk, setting her glass down.

Alexis: (wandering over to the couch) It's always a bad sign when they take away your champagne. (sits down on the edge of the table) Sonny: I'm not taking anything away from you -- your practice, your reputation or your popcorn maker.

Alexis giggles.

Sonny: What?

Alexis: (still giggling) Ned thinks that I'm going to starve to death without room service.

Sonny: You know what? If this apartment doesn't work out for you, we'll just cancel the lease and no harm done.

Alexis: (concerned) You mean it?

Sonny: It's better than my attorney having a nervous breakdown. (Alexis rolls her eyes, shrugging) Now, get some sleep. Tomorrow, if you feel the same way you do now, I'll get Johnny and the boys, and they'll move you back to the Port Charles Hotel.

Alexis: (looking around) It really is a beautiful apartment. (wandering around) I mean, it's so spacious. (sighs) But you're right. I can't stay because I have pinciples and integity.

Sonny looks at her, confused. Someone knocks on the door.

Alexis: (throwing a hand up) Excuse me.

She walks over and opens the door to Jax.

Alexis: (brightly) Hi!

Jax: (smiles) Hey.

Jax loses his smile when he sees Sonny in the apartment.

Alexis: (turns to Sonny) Look! It's my favorite ex-husband.

Jax: Last I checked, your only ex-husband.

Alexis: (pats his chest) Details. (she turns around, heading straight for the desk) Champagne?

She picks up the glass and the bottle and walks over towards the couch with them.

Jax: (walking into the apartment) I've come to take you back.

Alexis: (sobering instantly) Excuse me?

Jax: Look, you've proven your point, Alexis. Ned's shaken, contrite, and is no longer taking you for granted. It's time to go home.

Alexis glances at Sonny, then looks back at Jax.

Alexis: (confidently) I am home. (smiles) I live here now. And you're just in time to help me cwisten the place -- (closes her eyes, trying to get it right) christen the pwace.

Jax and Sonny watch her, amused, as she tries to get the right words out.

Alexis: Clisten the praw --

She stops, looking at both of them.

{Next Scene}

Alexis is perched on the edge of the table again, holding the now-empty champagne bottle over her glass.

Alexis: (staring at the bottle) Did I drink this whole thing?

Sonny: (trying to be helpful) I had a glass.

Alexis: (to Jax) Sonny's my neighbor.

Jax: Yes, I know.

Sonny: You know what? I'll send Johnny over here with another bottle. Let me know if you need anything.

Alexis: (smiling at him) Thanks, Sonny.

Jax sighs as Sonny leaves, pulling the door shut behind him. Alexis loses the smile as the door closes and looks up at Jax, waiting for the lecture.

Jax: The man is a target, Alexis. He has enemies everywhere you look.

Alexis: (referring to Jax) Apparently.

Jax: It's not safe, okay?

Jax sits down at the desk. Alexis begins blowing into the champagne bottle as Jax continues his lecture.

Jax: It's bad enough that you associated yourself with his business, but-- and moving in across the hall, it --

He stops as he realizes she's not listening. She stops playing with the bottle and looks at him.

Alexis: (suspiciously) Have you been talking to Ned?

Jax: Yes, and we agree.

Alexis: (explaining) Then I'm going to say the same thing to you that I said to him, which is this is my life which means that I have to live it here until I live it someplace else. (she stops, confused) I'm done.

Jax: Alexis, no one is trying to cramp your style, okay? We're just worried about you.

Alexis: (sing-song) You're worried about me, and Ned is trying to run my life because he cares about me and thinks he knows me (starting to ramble) which is very sweet except I really can't live without him. I mean, he needs to be there. He has to be there. But how do I do that? How do I have Ned without having me? (looks at Jax) Did you understand anything I just said?

Jax: (shakes his head) Not really, but have you -- have you called him and spoken to him about this?

Alexis jumps of the table carefully and holds the glass and bottle out to Jax. He takes them and she half-staggers to the desk, pulling her cell phone out of the champagne bucket.

Alexis: (hands the phone to him) I had a little accident.

Jax takes the phone from her, looking at it. She wanders off.

Jax: (turning to the desk, looking at the phone) Ouch. Wow, this is really busted. What'd you do, throw this against the wall or something? I don't think I can fix this. But, lucky for you, your ex-husband is prepared. (stands up, pulling his phone out of his pocket and walks over to the couch) Would you like me to dial or -- Alexis?

Alexis is laid out on the couch, on top of the suitcases, passed out.

Jax: (walking around face her) Hello?

She doesn't respond. He takes a blanket from another pile and covers her with it. He kneels down in front of her for a moment, kisses her forehead and leaves.