[Air
date mid-July 1989]
SCENE ONE: JACK AGREED TO TAKE JENNIFER TO WINGS TO BE THERE
FOR EMILIO'S FIRST NIGHT AS A BOUNCER. THOUGH IN TYPICAL JACK
FASHION, HE SET SOMETHING UP BECAUSE HE WANTS TO GET EMILIO EMPLOYEED
SO HE WOULD MOVE OUT OF THE LOT. JENNIFER WALKS INTO WINGS WITH
JACK BEHIND HER. JACK LOOKS GORGEOUS, HE IS WEARING A GRAY WOOL
SUIT, NO TIE, AND A BLACK SHIRT.
EMILIO: (He does not look to comfortable in his tux.) Hey,
Jennifer.
JENNIFER: Hi.
EMILIO: Whoa, looking good.
JENNIFER: Thanks.
JACK: Good evening Emilio.
EMILIO: Hi, Deveraux.
JENNIFER: Are you surprised?
EMILIO: Um yeah. I really am surprised.
JENNIFER: Jack brought me here to help support you on your
first night.
EMILIO: That was thoughtful of him.
JACK: (Enjoying teasing Emilio.) Yes, you've certainly been
doing your job. I haven't seen sight of riffraff anywhere, for miles!
Well, Jennifer I guess we should be finding our seat.
JENNIFER: Yeah, okay.
EMILIO: See you later. You look really great.
JENNIFER: Thanks. See you later.
JACK: Oh, Dave. A bottle of your best champagne please.
DAVE: Certainly.
JACK: Thanks.
JENNIFER: (Happy for Emilio.) Oh, it looks like Emilio is
doing really well, huh?
JACK: (Glad because if it is then Emilio will be moving
out.) Yes, it looks like the job was just meant for him.
JENNIFER: Gosh, I hope it all works out. I know how important
this is to him.
JACK: Me too. Me too.
SCENE TWO: AS JACK IS TALKING TO JENNIFER, THE THUG THEN BEGINS
TO MAKE A MOVE ON A WAITRESS. EMILIO ASKS HIM TO LEAVE BUT THE
GUY INSULTS EMILIO. BEFORE IT CAN GO ANY FURTHER JENNIFER INTERVENES
AND TELLS EMILIO TO CALM DOWN.
JACK SIGNALS THE GUY TO KEEP UP THE ABUSE BUT HE BACKS DOWN
AND LEAVES. JENNIFER IS THRILLED WITH EMILIO.
JENNIFER: You were great, you were so great. You were calm,
cool and collected. Like a real pro.
SHE KISSES HIS CHEEK.
EMILIO: Well, you know, all in a day's work.
JACK: That's right. Like he said, the man's just doing his
job. Let's stay out of his way okay? The champagne just arrived
Jennifer.
JENNIFER: Okay, right. (To Emilio) Really you were wonderful.
SHE RETURNS TO THE TABLE.
JENNIFER: See Jack, how he handled that. A lot of people would
have thought that Emilio would have lost control in that situation.
JACK: Yeah, I'm glad I didn't bet any money on it.
JENNIFER: I am so proud of him.
JACK: Me too. I guess we really just underestimated him.
A SHORT TIME LATER NICK MAKES AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT
HE HAS TO CLEAR OUT WINGS FOR A PRIVATE FUNCTION. HE IS ACTUALLY
ABOUT TO MARRY APRIL THERE. HE TELLS EVERYONE TO COME BACK REAL
SOON.
JACK: We will.
SCENE THREE: EMILIO COMES
OVER TO TALK TO JENNIFER AND SHE TELLS HIM ONCE AGAIN HOW PROUD
SHE IS OF HIM AND HE SAYS HE'D HOPED THEY COULD HAVE A DANCE.
JACK: Well, it's time to go.
EMILIO: Hey, look we'll get that dance some other time alright?
JACK: Car's waiting. Let's go. Goodbye.
JENNIFER: Goodbye.
SCENE FOUR: JACK AND JENNIFER ARRIVE BACK
AT THE LOFT. SHE OPENS THE DOOR. JACK AND JENNIFER SEEMED TO HAVE
ENJOYED THEIR EVENING TOGETHER. JACK IS RELUCTANT TO LEAVE, BUT
DOES NOT KNOW *WHAT* TO DO. THEY SHARE AN AWKWARD MOMENT AT THE
DOOR.
 JACK:
So....
JENNIFER: So?
JACK: Well, here we are.
JENNIFER: Yeah, here we are.
THEY START TALKING TOGETHER, NERVOUSLY. JACK TRIES
TO STALL THEIR GOODBYE.
JACK: Jennifer I.....
JENNIFER: Jack, I was going to tell you that....
JACK: Jennifer, I just want....
JENNIFER: Jack, I want to tell you that.....
JACK: I just want....
JENNIFER: I just want....
JACK: Okay. I just wanted to say that.... er.... I thought....
er.... well I had a pretty good time tonight.
JENNIFER: Yeah. I did too.
JACK: Oh, good.
JENNIFER: Thanks for taking me.
JACK: Sure. Sure.
JENNIFER: Well, goodnight Jack.
JACK: (Still trying to stall.) Jennifer I.... er.... I was
wondering....
JENNIFER: Yeah?
JACK: Ah.... um.... we should move that column up on "Around
the Town" to the front section.
JENNIFER: Well, you already asked me that twice. I don't
think we should
JACK: I did?
JENNIFER: Yeah. I don't think we should.
JACK: Oh, of course.
JENNIFER: Okay. Goodnight Jack. I'll see you in the morning.
JACK: Oh Jennifer I was.... er.... what time is it?
JENNIFER: It's late Jack. It's very late.
JACK: It is. Yes. Well, Jennifer I think we....
JENNIFER: Look Jack, I have to be at work early in the morning
and I'm tired and my feet hurt.
JACK: Yes, of course.
JENNIFER: Thank you so much for helping me out with Emilio.
JACK: Sure, sure.
JENNIFER: I really appreciate it.
SHE LEANS UP AND KISSES HIS CHEEK. JACK IS SURPRISED AND BLUSHES,
BUT SEEMS TO ENJOY THE KISS.
JENNIFER: Goodnight Jack, see you in the morning.
JACK: Sure. Jennifer I think that....
JACK DOES NOT WANT TO LEAVE. BUT JENNIFER SHUTS THE DOOR.
JACK: (Somewhat dejected, but still somewhat encouraged.) Well,
goodnight.
[Air date mid-July
1989]
SCENE ONE: JENNIFER IS WORKING AND EMILIO COMES DOWN LOOKING
FOR SOAP. HE IS WEARING ONLY A TOWEL WRAPPER AROUND HIS WAIST.
JENNIFER SEEMS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THIS, AS HE STRUTS AROUND VERY
MACHO. THERE IS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR. JOKING AND ACT ANNOYINGLY
CUTE HE PATS HER ON THE HEAD AND GOES TO ANSWER IT. JENNIFER GRIMACES.
 EMILIO:
I'll get the door.
JACK: (Noticing Emilio shirtless and wearing a towel) Oh,
Emilio. You know I'm sure that Jennifer would give you a nice little
frock to go along with that skirt. Just ask her.
EMILIO: You'd like to see that wouldn't you?
JACK: Huh, uh.
JENNIFER LAUGHS TO HERSELF.
EMILIO: Listen Rich Boy. You don't want me to step outside.
JACK: Why, you'll catch your death of cold out here. There's
a big draft. It's just terrible.
JENNIFER: Will you two just knock if off? I'm tired of listening
to it.
EMILIO: Why don't you tell your boss here to knock it off?
JACK: (In his typical snarky Jack style.) Oooh, come now.
You wash now with in the general view?
JENNIFER: Emilio, will you please just go.
EMILIO: DEVERAUX! THAT'S IT! LISTEN! Deverex (Purposefully
mispronouncing his name.) one of these days I'm going to rip your
little blue eyes out.
JENNIFER: Take a shower Emilio.
EMILIO STRUTS OFF IN DISGUST. JACK IS ENJOYING THE
WHOLE SITUATION, HE WANTED TO PUSH EMILIO'S BUTTONS AND GET HIM
TO REACT AS HE DID. JACK IS OBVIOUSLY TRYING TO SHOW JENNIFER THAT
EMILIO JUST IS NOT THE RIGHT GUY FOR HER.
JACK: Ooh. Jennifer I don't know how.... how do you put up
with Tarzan Junior swinging through the trees and making a mess everywhere.
Look at this.
JENNIFER: Jack why don't you just tell me what you're doing
here, alright?
 JACK:
Alright. Young lady you have just been awarded the grant, the grant
mind you, and the internship to be on my paper the whole of next
year. Checks to ready right away. Pick em up....
JENNIFER: Jack that is so great. You know how much I wanted
this.
JACK: Well Dr. Green was very impressed with your work.
JENNIFER: You're kidding. This is perfect. I work on The
Spectator for a year and I get full credit for the whole time.
This is so great.
JACK: You work very hard to earn it. All you have to do
is keep working and you'll keep earning it. We'll discuss your schedule
later.
JENNIFER: Okay.
EMILIO: Good news uh?
JENNIFER: Yeah. Remember the grant I was telling you about.
The whole internship I was....
 JACK:
Ergh, ah Jennifer...ah excuse me Jennifer, did you see this?
JENNIFER: See what Jack?
JACK: (Enjoying it all.) Well, it's right here in the gossip
column. It says that Mr. Nick The Pimp Corelli and April Ramirez just
had their marriage license issued.
JENNIFER: What?
JACK: It's right there between the deaths and divorces.
JENNIFER: What? I don't believe this. Does Mike know about
this?
JACK: I don't know. It was certainly a very well kept secret
don't you think?
JENNIFER: Emilio do you know anything about this?
EMILIO: (Non-challantly; but not wanting to give away too many
details.) Well, yeah. I was at the wedding.
JENNIFER IS UPSET BECAUSE, MIKE AND APRIL HAD BEEN
ROMANTICALLY LINKED. SHE IS CONCERNED WHAT THIS WILL MEAN FOR HER
BROTHER.
JENNIFER: What are you talking about? They're already married?
Why didn't you tell me, I don't understand.
EMILIO: Well, because I don't understand. April told me
not to ask questions, you know. She just said she knows what she's
doing.
JENNIFER: So you just let her go get married?
EMILIO: Hey, what am I supposed to do? April's a big girl.
Besides it's not my place to tell her what to do is it?
JACK: (Snarkily) That's very sweet of you. Very sweet.
EMILIO: Listen, do you know where my black t-shirt is?
JENNIFER: Yeah, it's in the basket over here. I'll help you
find it.
EMILIO THUMPS JACK ON THE BACK AS HE WALKS AWAY.
SCENE THREE: LATER THAT DAY,
JENNIFER GOES TO SEE DR. GREEN AT THE UNIVERSITY TO THANK HIM FOR
THE GRANT AND INTERNSHIP. SHE ASKS HIM WHY SHE GOT SUCH A FANTASTIC
GRANT AND HE TELLS HER THE WHOLE IDEA FOR THE GRANT AND THE MONEY
CAME FROM THE SPECTATOR.
SCENE FOUR: JACK IS WORKING IS ON THE PHONE
IN HIS OFFICE WHEN JENNIFER BURSTS IN.
 JACK:
(Taking on the phone) Well, if you can't get me the information, I
can certainly find someone else to get it for me today.
JENNIFER: I want to talk to you now. Get off the phone now!
(She hits him.) I want to talk to you NOW, JACK!
JACK: (Rather enjoying the whole situation, still talking
to the person on the phone) I think we're going to have to finish
this conversation. I have a little office problem. Thank you.
JENNIFER: Get off the phone!
JACK: I was in the middle of a very important business....
JENNIFER: I don't care what you were in the middle of. I
don't want to have anything more to do with this place anymore.
JACK: (Feigning innocence and ignorance; but completely
guilty; and pleased with himself.) If you're finished, I have a
lot of things I need to do.
JENNIFER: Oh, like call the university and order me another
Jack Special?
JACK: (Continuing his innocent act.) What are you talking
about?
JENNIFER: Look, I know this whole grant thing was your idea.
You're the one who suggested this whole thing. I work on the paper
for a whole year and I get credit. Don't even try to deny it okay
Jack.
JACK: (Revealing in her feistiness. Playing along.) Okay,
I won't.
JENNIFER: (Not at all fooled by Jack.) NO! No Jack, don't
do this alright. You know after I figured this out I went to the
dean's office and I found out that you're the one that put the money
up for the grant and made a donation to the school. Probably a little
pay off eh, Jack?
JACK: Hmmm, oh well, so if it was. Maybe it was. What's
the big deal anyway? You got the internship didn't you?
JENNIFER: No, I didn't. You got it for me. I don't want your
charity Jack. Alright?
SHE THROWS THE ENVELOPE ON HIS DESK.
JENNIFER: Why did you do this in the first place, uh? Why did
you go to so much trouble to keep me on this paper?
JACK: Well, maybe I didn't do it for you.
 JENNIFER:
Oh really, Jack. Okay who did you do it for?
JACK: (Dodging the truth as usual.) Who do you think? I
did it for me. I put a lot of work into training you and
I want to see a return on all that training.
JENNIFER: (Throws her head back and laughs not believing
him)Oh, come on, Jack. I think you can come up with something a
little better than that, don't you?
JACK: (Making up another phoney excuse.) You're right, I
can. I just made a whole lot of money and I saved a lot too. You
see that donation to the school was nothing. It was a write-off
and it was a whole helluva lot cheaper than having to pay an experienced
reporter to do what you're already doing. So I think that this little
business venture turned out to be pretty profitable, don't you?
JENNIFER: (Momentarily believing his excuse and disappointed)
Really?
JACK: Really. (Beat) I'm very sorry Jennifer that it had
to turn out this way....
JENNIFER: (She is on to Jack.) NO, NO! No, you're doing
this again Jack. You see that. You know you're really impressing
me on what a liar you are because I don't believe a word that you're
saying. I don't believe one word.
JACK: Fine. Believe whatever you want to believe.
JENNIFER: NO! You're doing this because you want to keep me
around. That's it, isn't it Jack?
JENNIFER HAS NAILED HIM DEAD TO RIGHTS. AND JACK IS
SOMEWHAT UNCOMFORTABLE BY THE TRUTH. HE DID IT ALL BECAUSE HE WANTS
HER WORKING WITH HIM.
JACK: I'm very sorry. I can't deal with anymore of this.
JENNIFER: You just want to keep me around so you can torment
me every day of my life. That's why you did it Jack. You're not
walking out of here.
JACK: I'm sorry. I really have to go. I really must go.
JENNIFER: You're not leaving Jack.
JACK: I really have to go. I can't stick around. I'm sorry,
I really must go.
JENNIFER: Chicken!
JACK WALKS OUT OF THE OFFICE.
JENNIFER: (Shouting in frustration) ERRRRRR!
OUTSIDE, BY THE DOOR, JACK LOOKS AT THE ENEVELOPE AND LAUGHS,
AND IT GROWS TO A STATISFIED CHUCKLE.
THEN HE WALKS OFF.
SCENE FIVE: JENNIFER RETURNS
TO THE LOFT AND SHE IS FURIOUS AND STARTS THROWING THINGS AROUND.
EMILIO TELLS HER THAT HE IS LEAVING THE LOFT BECAUSE HE HAS TO TAKE
CARE OF HIS LITTLE BROTHER KNOW THAT APRIL HAS MARRIED NICK. THERE
IS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR.
 JENNIFER:
If you're selling door-to-door scholarships Jack, the answer is no.
JACK: (Giving her that Puppy-Dog Jack look.) How about peddling
an apology?
JENNIFER: No Jack, I don't feel like hearing your a....
JACK: Well, look, I just spent twenty minutes trying to pull
my foot out of my mouth. Now you want to close the door on my foot.
Keep it open just for my shoes if not for me. Okay? (Beat) Good.
HE WALKS INSIDE AND SHE SLAMS THE DOOR.
JACK: It's like a jungle in here.
JENNIFER: Why can't you be honest with me Jack, just for once?
JACK LICKS HIS FINGER AND HOLDS IT IN THE AIR.
JACK: The roommate!
EMILIO: Ex-roommate.
JACK: Pardon?
EMILIO: Well, didn't the lady tell you? I'm moving out.
JACK: (Very pleased.) Really?
 JENNIFER:
Yes, really Jack.
EMILIO: But don't worry about it, I'm going to be around
a lot. You don't have a problem with that, do you Jackie boy?
JACK: Now why would I have a problem?
EMILIO: That's right. Why would you ever have a problem?
EMILIO WALKS UPSTAIRS.
JACK: Nothing bothers me.
JENNIFER GIVES HIM A CYNICAL LOOK.
SCENE SIX: THE SHOW ENDS WITH A MUSICAL MONTAGE OF LYLE LOVETT'S
"ONCE IS ENOUGH," AS EMILIO LEAVES THE LOFT; JACK WATCHES
EMILIO KISS JENNIFER, OBVIOIUS DESPITE WHAT HE SAID ABOUT NOTHING
BOTHERING HIM, THIS DOES.
JENNIFER LOOKS OVER TOWARDS HIM AND HE GIVES HER A LITTLE
SALUTE.
Yeah, I used to be Mr .Understanding
I used to look on and not make a row
But know I'm on a different manner and that manner is
Cause once is enough.
Once is enough for anybody
Once is enough to fall in love
Once is enough to feel your heartbeat
Once is enough
Yeah, I used to be able to handle rejection
I used to be so lonely and tough
I used fight for a woman's affection
But once is enough
Once is enough for anybody
Once is enough to fall in love
Once is enough to feel your heartbeat
Once is enough
Yeah baby you don't have to tell me two times
You can save your sweet breath because
I saw the way you looked away from my eyes
And once is enough.
|
