Sonny/Brenda/Jax-Info on GH's Hottest ever Love Triangle~
Source:(Soap Opera Digest, July 2 1996)
As torrid love triangles go, General Hospital has set up a beauty. Sexy mobster Sonny Corinthos broke up with beautiful model Brenda Barrett after she wore a wire to help the feds bust him. Despite tearful pleas for forgiveness, a stone-faced Sonny turned his back on Brenda in favor of a loveless marriage to Mafia princess Lily Rivera. (At least Lily wouldn't kiss and tell.) Brenda recovered in the arms of Aussie charmer Jax (just Jax!), but her heart belonged to Sonny. Eventually, Brenda and Sonny found their way back to each other, and Sonny vowed too break things off with Lily. Then, wham. Lily announced she was pregnant, Sonny called things off with a heartbroken Brenda, Lily was killed by a car bomb meant for Sonny, and Brenda married Jax on the rebound. So...what happens now??
Well, not a Brenda/Sonny reconciliation, teases Executive Producer Wendy Riche. Jax and Brenda will remain married-for now-while Sonny picks up the pieces of his life. "The loss of Lily and his unborn child brings a devastating realization to Sonny," says Riche. "He has caused harm to those around him and he is going to have a harrowing time getting over hiss guilt. He feels totally incapable of giving anything to Brenda right now; he will have to heal himself separately."
While Sonny is healing, Brenda will be thinking. "This is the most amazing triangle, because Brenda is going to be truly torn," predicts Brenda's portrayer, Vanessa Marcil. "That was never the case before. She was in love with Sonny and that was the end of it. She really decided to try and move on [with Jax]." Although some of Brenda's pals suggest to her that this is a rebound wedding, Marcil disagrees. "Marriage is a serious thing," maintains the actress. "It has taken her so long to get to this point-to make this commitment-and she wants to do it right. I really believe that she is scared of Sonny. She loves him so much, but she's never sure where anything stands, or if he's going to lie to her about something. I think for the first time, she feels what it's like to have comfort and security with a man."
Sonny won't learn of Brenda and Jax's nuptials until June 21. What will he do when he finds out? "Sonny is in so much pain right now, he doesn't care. About anything," explains Maurice Bernard (Sonny). "Sonny inherits $30 million from Rivera, and he gives it all to an AIDS charity in Stone's name. He's an idiot. He's not thinking. He's just going through the motions."
Riche points out that Brenda, on the other hand, has actually moved on with her life.. "Brenda has finally grown to the point where she doesn't need to take from Sonny," notes the exec. "She sees where he is, and lets him be. Jax knows his wife needs to go [to Sonny]. It takes a lot for him to allow that, but he knows she needs it. The question is, how long can Jax trust Brenda to be alone with Sonny?"
How long, indeed? According to Ingo Rademacher, Sonny is no threat to his character. "[Jax] absolutely thinks Brenda will fall in love with him 100 percent," the actor affirms. "He's offering her everything." What if Brenda chooses Sonny? "If that happens, he'll walk away," Rademacher sniffs. "That's the kind of guy he is. He'll say, 'You don't know what you're missing,' and he'll walk away from it. He'll be sad for a while, but he'll get over it. He's not the kind of person who dwells on things. He's strong enough to say, 'Okay, if that's the way you want it, then I'm out of here.' He's done it before and he'll do it again."
In the end the choice will be Brenda's. But Marcil believes Jax doesn't have that much too worry about. "Brenda is really ready to let Sonny go," she says. "Not in her heart, but in reality.. She is genuinely worried about Sonny and wants to be there for him. She realizes, 'I need to be here for this person as a friend because I really love him.' It's not about what I need, it's about what he needs, because that's what love is about. She's not really going to be as quick to want to let go of Jax, the person who was there for her when she was ready too just give up life. It's such an amazing triangle." Both men boast that if their characters come to blows over the brunette beauty, they'll be ready. "Jax isn't going to be scared by this guy," insists Rademacher. "He might be a mobster, but I'm sure Jax being one of the richest men in the world could get him killed as well." And Sonny? "I'm short," cracks Bernard. "If we get into a fight, I'd better have a knife."
Why Lily had to go:
"Fans just freak out about Sonny and Brenda being apart," marvels Vanessa Marcil. "I get a lot of people who say they love watching Brenda and Jax together, but they say, 'Have fun with him for now.' They're Sonny and Brenda freaks." The character of Lily, though, was not fully developed, never seemed like a viable love match for Sonny and inspired little loyalty. "I didn't like her character, either," agrees Marcil. "I can understand why people didn't like her character. But I am so bummed out about Lilly [Melgar, who played Lily] leaving. We've been crying here for the last few days. I loved working with Lilly and wish we could have worked together more. We're really good friends in real life, so it's going to be her I miss more than her character."
"As the story the story of Sonny and Brenda progressed, it was clear that there was a tragedy in Sonny's future that would change their lives forever," explains Wendy Riche.. Lily's pregnancy was a defining moment for Sonny, because his own father had run out on him and he could never do that to his own child. "That was a major character issue for Sonny," nods Riche. "Lilly Melgar is a lovely person and grew a lot as an actress while playing Lily. But it served the story to have her suffer an ironic death at the hands of her own father while he was trying to show his 'love' for her by killing her husband. It's a sick world she came from."
Love Me Do?
While Marcil admits she's torn over who Brenda should wind up with, she does love seeing the effect that the love triangle has on Ingo Rademacher. "Ingo will not leave my door," laughs Marcil. "I can't say that Brenda will love Jax in front of Ingo because he'll go on about it for an hour. He'll be like, 'Really? You think Brenda will love Jax?' He's so funny. He's really cute, he takes everything so seriously, it's adorable. He is like his character. He comes in and he's like, 'How come you were doing scenes with Maurice?' I'm like, 'Because it's a love story.' He'll say, 'What's the matter, doesn't she want to fall in love with me?"
Brenda: Dont insult me. So what's the electrial like on this? (looking at a British racing green jag)
Dealer: Fine
Brenda: Well I knew it used to be a problem. But since they changed the system a few years ago.
Dealer: No, No we get very few complains. You're probably wondering where the battery is..
Brenda: In the trunk. (dealer closes hood and we see SONNY!!)
Sonny: You underestimate the young ladies expertise.
Brenda: It happens all the time.
Sonny: You're seriously thinking about buying this car.
Brenda: Very seriously. I mean anyone with any intelligence knows this is one of the finest automobiles in the world.
Dealer: Well you excuse me for a minute, I got a call.
Sonny: Sure. It certaintly is a beauty(LOOKS AT Bren not the car!!)
Brenda: Sure(gets in) You know I always want to be the type of woman that got one of these as a Valentine's day gift, now I am.
Sonny: Isn't the gentlemen here to help you pick it out... You know boyfriend.
Brenda: I don't have one at the moment.
Sonny:OH ...(LOOKS pleased)You must have a very generous DADDY.
Brenda: No he's dead.
Sonny: Sorry, I'm a little lost, you said this was a Valntine's gift.
Brenda: Yeah, from the person who loves me the most: ME.
Sonny: Right(LOOKS AT HER)
Brenda: Yeah why not.
Sonny: It's a hefty chunk of change to be laying out for a girl such as yourself.
Brenda: Yeah, but I earned every penny of it.
Sonny:(LOOKS AT HER) Do I want to know how.
Brenda: I'm a professional... model.
Sonny: Yeah right perfume.
Brenda: Yeah, Deception, you seen the ads.
Sonny:(LOOKS at her) VERY NICE...VERY NICE INDEED.
Brenda: Well I figured since I worked so hard, I deserve a special Valentine's day.But it seems I'm a little short on sweethearts this week. So I guess I have to buy my own little trinket.
Sonny: And a hella of a trinket it is(LOOKS AT HER).
Brenda enters Jax's hotel room. She notices that all of his belongings are missing.
Brenda: Jax? Jax? Hello? Jax, are you here?
*Jax comes out of the bedroom with a suitcase.
Jax: Not for long.
Brenda: Where's your pinball machine?
Jax: On its way to Alaska, same as me.
Brenda: You're leaving?
Jax: That's what I said.
Brenda: For how long?
Jax: For good. There's no reason to stay here. And I hate wasted effort.
*Jax turns to leave. Brenda grabs his arm. Brenda: Wait. You're just going to leave without saying goodbye?
Jax: Goodbye. There, you happy?
*Jax leaves the suite, presses the button for the elevator. Brenda follows him into the hall.
Brenda: I don't even believe this! What is going on with you? You think you can just drop out of the sky, make yourself important to me, and thenjust disappear? With no warning, no nothing?
Jax: I gave you plenty, Brenda. You just weren't paying attention. You were too busy playing lead in a tragedy that you created. Or was it a farce? I was never quite sure. Oh, well. It doesn't matter. It's been fun. Why don't you drop me a line sometime, let me know how things turn out.
Brenda: I don't even know what you're talking about.
Jax: Oh, sure you do. Your single-minded quest for the mad mobster. That'sit, isn't it? He didn't call and you came here looking for me, for what?More advice? A kind word? Another plan to make him jealous? Don't you think he sees through you just as I do?
Brenda: He loves me.
Jax: Which is where I came in.
Brenda: I thought you were my friend.
Jax: Oh, don't worry, Brenda. You've plenty to take up the slack. You've got Ned, Lois, Robin, that fellow in the bar - What's his name - Mike. Imean, you've even have a lover waiting in the wings, if you can ever pry him away from his wife.
Brenda: Why are you doing this?
Jax: As I said, I hate wasted effort.
Brenda: Is that what I am to you, wasted effort?
Jax: No, your everything I ever wanted. You're beautiful, you're reckless,and a little sad. You know, it was the sadness that got to me right from the start. I wanted to make it go away, and for a time I thought I had. That was pretty stupid, huh? You like the sadness, Brenda. You cling to it. You go looking for it, and in the end, it will be all that you have.
*Jax turns to leave again. Once again, Brenda stops him.
Brenda: Why are you trying to make me feel like I did something wrong when I NEVER did ANYTHING wrong. I told you from the very beginning that I am in love with Sonny. You told me that you were going to help me get him back.
Jax: My feelings changed. You knew that. You chose to play me for a fool. You took whatever I had to give.
Brenda: I paid you back.
Jax: Don't pretend we're talking about money! That check you gave me - that was pocket change, I tore it up. Which is a perfect analogy, because you tore up whatever we could have had and trashed it for a career criminal. I've seen his kind before, Brenda. He's hooked on the power, he'll never give it up.
Brenda: I don't care anything about that.
Jax: Well, you should. Because his life style requires discretion and no one could ever accuse you of being discreet. You're a luxury Sonny can't afford.
Brenda: Oh! I'm a luxury? Oh, right. Of course. I get it now. You think I'm some expensive toy that you can buy, Jax, and fit in between your jet and your Malibu house? Well, you're wrong. You're a little rich boy who didn't get his way so now your LEAVING!
Jax: Well, that's what you do when the stakes get too high.
*Jax turns to go. The elevator door opens. Jax starts to enter.
Brenda: What stakes? What's so damn important about me?
*Jax looks back at Brenda. Behind him, the elevator doors close.
Jax: What's so important about you? I don't know. Maybe its your laugh, or your smile, or the way you act - like a hungry little girl who wants everything she sees. Maybe its your mouth, or your skin, or your soul, the part of you that's real, underneath all the tricks and lies. You're brave, Brenda. You ignore the advice of well- meaning people who tell you to compromise. I like that, because that's how I am too.
Brenda: I know. That's why I don't understand why you'd ask me to give up. You know, to settle for...
Jax: Me? I'm no one's consolation prize, Brenda. I come first, or not at all. The trouble with keeping your eye on the goal is you miss what's right under your face. For example, you've missed the only man who will ever make you happy.
Brenda: You?
Jax: Yeah.
*Jax walks over, kisses Brenda.
Jax: I belong with you, Brenda. He never did.
*Jax and Brenda kiss again.
Jax: Marry me, Brenda.
Brenda: What did you say?
Jax: I asked you to marry me.
Brenda: Are you serious?
Jax: You tell me.
Brenda: Wait. You just got though saying that 'd ruined anything we could've had.
Jax: I'm giving you another chance. Do you have any idea how good we could be together?
Brenda: Yeah, I think I do. Now, that's no reason for us to get married.
*They go back into Jax's hotel suite.
Jax: Why not? The way I feel about you..... You know, there was someone in my life once, a long time ago. I should have held on then, but I didn't, I let go. I won't let that happen again. Think about what it would be like to be together all the time. We're two of a kind, Brenda. We like the game. We play for the same stakes, all or nothing. And I just raised. Now, it's your call. Marry me.
Brenda: Jax, don't do this.
Jax: Don't ask you to marry me?
Brenda: Don't make me hurt you, if that's what I'm even doing. I'm very confused, you know. One second your leaving and the next you want to be with me for the rest of your life. How am I supposed to know what's real?
Jax: THIS is real.
Brenda: Well, what about Lois? Four months ago you were proposing to her?
Jax: Four months ago I didn't know you were alive. Okay - I was bored and lonely and a beautiful woman barged into my life. The minute Lois walked through the door I knew she was going to change everything. And she did. She led me to you.
Brenda: Do you love me?
Jax: If I did, would it matter? What's important here are your feelings. How do you feel when you're with me, Brenda?
Brenda: Happy.
Jax: And?
Brenda: Free.
Jax: Have I ever made you feel
desperate, or stupid, or wrong? Brenda: Jax, you don't understand.
Jax: Yes, I do You've got love confused with obsession, and passion mixed up with pain Now, you better learn how to tell the difference, Brenda, otherwise you're setting yourself up for a miserable future, all alone.
*Jax starts to leave.
Brenda: You're leaving again? (Looks like she's going to cry)
Jax: Okay. I'll give you two weeks to make up your mind. I'll be back to hear your decision.
*They kiss. Brenda wraps her arms around Jax.
Jax: 14 days. Clocks ticking.
*Jax starts to leave, but stops at the door and looks back at Brenda. He looks unhappy and uncertain. Jax leaves. Brenda looks stunned.
*Note:
These two scenes are taken from
The Official Vanessa Marcil Homepage!
