[Tess wants to visit Claudia at the rehab clinic, so she lies to Debbie,
the woman in charge, about being an old friend of Claudia's]
Tess: I pretty much emailed her the entire time I was in Europe, and
then it just stopped. And then I called her dad the second I got home, and
at first he didn't want to tell me what happened, and I was like, not tell
me? I mean, what if she needs me, you know?
Debbie: The problem is she's only seeing family members.
Tess: Oh. Well, we're like sisters.
Debbie: And she's not very good at surprises.
Tess: You know, yeah. She's always kind of been like that, but it's
different with me, really, I swear, and if she starts freaking out or something,
then I'll just leave.
Debbie: Wait in there.
Tess: Okay.
[Tess strolls into the waiting room and looks around]
Tess: Hmm. Goody. Checkers.
[Claudia enters the room and looks at Tess in confusion]
Claudia: We went to high school together? That's odd because I don't
remember you at all.
Tess: Listen, there are security cameras all over this place. Just
let me say what I have to say, give me three minutes while this woman and
everybody else in the building watches us like hawks. And then when I'm done,
you can kick me out, you can call the cops, whatever you want.
Claudia: Why should I believe anything you say?
Tess: Because I'll tell you something about myself first. I'm in love
with Nash Brennan.
[Claudia's face says it all -- she turns to Debbie]
Claudia: It's all right, Debbie. I'll take it from here. Could you
please turn off the security cameras?
[Debbie leaves the room]
Tess: Wow. I didn't think she was going to buy that.
Claudia: My father's money carries a lot of weight, even here.
Tess: Look, Claudia, I -- I know that --
Claudia: Yes, you do know. You seem to know everything about me, and
I know nothing about you, not even your name.
Tess: Okay, okay. Sorry. My name's Tess.
Claudia: Just Tess? So I'm supposed to spill my guts in private to
a woman with one name and no taste?
Tess: Huh. Well, at least I don't spend my days making potholders
in occupational therapy.
Claudia: (to Tess) Don't you think it's bad enough being here without
a visit from my replacement?
Tess: Well, most people would think that I should be in a place like
this.
Claudia: I'm an addict. What are you?
Tess: Hmm. You wouldn't believe me if I told you.
[Tess notices that Claudia is covering up her laughter]
Tess: I'm sorry, did I say something funny?
Claudia: You really think I bought that whole "I want to protect Nash"
routine?
Tess: Why else would I be here?
Claudia: To see for yourself what kind of woman Nash leaves. You're
another pretty, lost rich girl, and you're desperate to prove to yourself
that you're more than his next mark.
Tess: Are you trying to tick me off?
Claudia: I know you, princess. I am you. So take a good, long look.
Tess: I understand that Nash kind of blew you out of the water, and
I know what it feels like to be used and out of control and --
Claudia: You feel my pain? Let's be best friends. We have so much
in common.
Tess: Okay, great. This isn't going anywhere because I can't say the
right thing.
Claudia: Mission accomplished? Check Claudia off the list of threats
to your happiness?
Tess: Look, we may have a lot of things in common, but there's one
thing we don't have in common. I might be a bitch sometimes, and I have totally
screwed up. But the one thing that I don't do -- I don't feel sorry for
myself.
Claudia: Bully for you.
Tess: You had bad things happen to you. You're not the only one. Nash
and I have been through hell and back. And we don't whine and cry and moan
about it and have big freak outs. No, we're just trying to plan a good life
for our kid.
[Claudia is enraged to discover that Tess is pregnant]
Claudia: I was supposed to have his baby. He promised me. Do you know
how much I hate you? You have my life. You took what was mine.
Tess: I don't care if you hate me.
Claudia: Shut up. I don't want you to feel sorry for me.