STEPH Yeah. It sounds like something you read in Penthouse./ … still … it’s gross.

GREG Steph … it’s not sexual!/ Don’t you see what I’m getting at here?! Come on!

STEPH No!

CARLY I think I do./ Yes. You really don’t wanna hurt anybody’s feelings here.

GREG Yeah? You do?/ … no, no, no … not just that, no …

CARLY You’ve gotten yourself into this place and now you don’t wanna make us angry./ Or let anybody down. Right?

GREG No, that isn’t …/ I just wanna do what is right for myself and see if maybe that is at all attractive to you. Either of you.

CARLY Oh. I see. (Beat.) So, as long as you get some-body you don’t care who it is … is that right?/ Is that your choice? Any-body?

GREG NO!/ No, I’m saying the opposite! I’m saying that I’m choosing “me!” I’ve realized that I need to be alone right now. I’m not ready to be with people, in that way, at least. I just … (Beat.) But: There are now also things that’ve been said … and/or done … and I’m here to do right by those, too, to be … there are ways to make this work! There are, if we just …

CARLY You don’t have to worry about that.

GREG I know we can … what? (Beat.) Why?

CARLY Because you just don’t.

GREG Yeah, but … wait … are you …?/ What does that mean? That … you’ve …?

CARLY GREG./ STOP. (Beat.) It’s not an issue now, so scratch that off your list. It’s done.

Silence. STEPH touches CARLY and they look at each other.

STEPH You alright?

CARLY I’m fine.

STEPH Yeah?

CARLY Uh-huh. (Beat.) Thanks, Steph.

GREG’s on the outside of this but he’s obviously worried.

GREG … Carly …

CARLY You know what? You wanted an answer from us—or each of us, I guess—and my answer is NO. (Beat.) I could see what was coming and so I did what needed to be done. Even if we ended up together, you weren’t ready to have a kid, Greg. You wanna go off and find yourself … but I’m looking for someone who wants me … not just my face, or my body, but me. Me and everything that goes with that. I don’t think it’s that much to ask for and I was willing to wait for you, Greg, I really was—and Jennifer loved being around you—we had a real chance there for a while … but hey. Your loss.

GREG Yes it is.

CARLY So for me it’s not New York or teaching, any of that … I just need to be needed. And I don’t think you’re saying that to me—that you “need” me. Me alone. (Beat.) Right?

GREG Carly … it would be amazing to be around you some more … and Jennifer … I’d love that … and you’re so great, I really do think we make good friends and I’m … we should …/ You know?