oldEpisode One-hundred-eight:
Having Been Shot, Isabella
Is in a Coma; Jack Debates
What to Do with the Diary.

SCENE ONE: WHILE JACK WAS IN ITALY, ISABELLA WENT TO VICTOR AND EXCHANGED THE KEY FORKAYLA'S FREEDOM. DURING THE EXCHANGE THERE WAS A FIGHT AND ISABELLA WASSHOT.

SCENE TWO: KAYLA IS FREED.

SCENE THREE: AND VICTOR WENT TO ITALY TO OPEN THE SAFE.HE ARRIVED JUST AS JACK WAS LEAVING AND HE FOUND THAT THE SAFE WAS EMPTY, BUT HE FOUND THE DIARY PAGE THAT JACK DROPPED ON THE FLOOR OF THE CAVE AS WELL AS THE MATCHBOOK. VICTOR NOW KNOWS THAT THE TOSCANO TREASURE IS A DIARY, AND THAT SOMEONE ELSE HAS IT.

 

SCENE ONE: JACK IS BACK FROM ITALY AND IS IN HIS OFFICE WITH HIS BACK TO THE DOOR, LOOKING AT THE DIARY.

 

JACK: Isabella, where the hell are you?

JENNIFER: YOU'RE BACK!

JACK: Yes, I'm back.

 

JACK PUTS THE DIARY DOWN AND TURNS TO FACE JENNIFER WHO LEAPS INTO HIS ARMS AND PUSHES HIM BACKWARDS ACROSS A CHAIR. THEY END UP WITH HER LYING ON TOP OF HIM. SHE IS SCREAMING AND PINCHING HIS FACE.

JENNIFER: Jack, you're back! You're back.

JACK: Whoa! Whoa Jennifer, yes I'm back.

JENNIFER: Jack's back! You're home Jack, you're home.

JACK: I know....I know Jennifer. Ju....

JENNIFER: You're home.

JACK: I know. Down girl, down.

JENNIFER: I'm so excited!

JACK: I know. Take it easy. Easy, back, easy.

JENNIFER: What's wrong?

JACK: What's wrong? I'll tell you what's wrong. We're in the office, that's what's wrong. And I'm at work.

JENNIFER: You know Jack I might have bought that once but after everything that's happened....

JACK: What?

JENNIFER: I mean after everything that's happened. You helping Steve and Kayla and everything.

JACK: Wait a minute. That was nothing. Really, believe me.

JENNIFER: So are you going to tell me all about it?

JACK: What do you mean? There's nothing to tell. It's all over. Kayla's home or coming home. It's....

JENNIFER: No, I mean are you going to tell me the details of it?

JACK: Ah....details such as what?

JENNIFER: Well I was just curious why you didn't show up the car that you had meet you at the airport?

JACK: Ah....we.....well I took a cab. Took a cab.

JENNIFER: Why? Why did you take a cab? Is it because of the danger that you're in Jack?

JACK: I was hoping you'd forget about the danger I was in.

JENNIFER: I can't.

JACK: Try!

JENNIFER: Alright Jack. Why are you pushing me away like this?

JACK: I'm not pushing anyone away. I'm at work. There's work to do. I don't have time to jump all over each other and have chit chats or anything like that!

JENNIFER: Alright, then I guess you don't have time to listen to the message that someone left for you.

JACK: Whoa, whoa, whoa. What message?

JENNIFER: No. I don't want to be accused of wasting your precious time, Jack.

JACK: Alright, okay. I was being a little high handed.

JENNIFER: You were being a jerk!

JACK: And a bit of a jerk.

JENNIFER: You were being an arrogant rude insufferable jerk.

JACK: Alright, let's amend it. I was an "arrogant, rude, insufferable," loud mouthed....

JENNIFER: Jerk!

JACK: Whatever you want to put in between. Sign, seal and deliver it . Just tell me who the message was from.

JENNIFER: Roman called.

JACK: Roman....wait a minute. Roman called.

JENNIFER: He's in Florida and he wanted me to tell you that Isabella was hurt in some sort of accident.

JACK: Roman's with her! What happened, what happened?

JENNIFER: All I know is that she's in the hospital. He didn't give me any details. He was in a hurry.

JACK: Give me the message.

JENNIFER: I just told you everything that was in the message.

JACK: Give me the number. What number.

JENNIFER: He didn't give the number. I don't even know what hospital she's in.

JACK: DAMN IT! DAMN IT! Okay I want you to start calling hospitals, alright. Start in Miami and move out to Dayton County. We're going to have cover all of Florida. We have to find her.

JENNIFER: Alright. I'll let you know what I find out.

JACK: She's got to be around there somewhere. Steve's got to be around there too.

SCENE TWO: A SHORT TIME LATER JACK GOES OVER TO NEIL'S HOUSE WHERE JO IS CLEANING.

 

JACK: Hello is anybody in here? I know somebody's home.

JO: Jack!

JACK: Ah, hi Mrs. Johnson. I'm looking for Steve. Is he here?

JO: No. He called from the airport in Florida but that's the last that I heard.

JACK: Well if you see him, let him know I'm looking for him.

JO: Of course.

JACK: Thank you.

JO: Jack I want you to know how proud I am about what you did for your brother. I mean you said that you would help Steve and Kayla but you don't know how much it means to me that you kept your word.

JACK: It's a first, isn't it?

JO: Oh, you always hide behind those silly jokes. I think I know why. But what you did, what you did stands for itself. I mean Steve and Kayla are back together. Kayla's safe and I think a lot of that credit goes to you.

JACK: Oh well I think it's amazing that somebody actually believes that.

STEVE: Yeah, it's amazing alright! I believe it too.

 

JACK FREEZES WHEN HE HEARS STEVE'S VOICE BUT THEN GETS A HALF SMILE ON HIS FACE.

 

JO: Steve, I really do want to talk to you about Kayla but I've got a few chores I have to finish up. Would you wait for me?

STEVE: Yeah sure.

JO: Oh thanks.

 

JO LEAVES.

 

JACK: So you actually believe me huh?

STEVE: I had my doubts.

JACK: Oh I know that.

STEVE: But you did it. You got the key, you got it to Miami, so....

JACK: So....so what?

STEVE: So it's not going to kill me to say. You did a good thing, Jackson, alright.

JACK: Thank you. Thank you very much.

STEVE: Don't thank me. Don't thank me man. You just did it, okay.

JACK: I'm just saying....so....is Kayla alright?

STEVE: She's fine.

JACK: I'm just asking. What about Isabella?

STEVE: Didn't Roman call you?

JACK: Well he called me. I couldn't tell what happened. She's in this hospital or something.

STEVE: She got shot during the exchange.

JACK: She was shot during the exchange....

STEVE: And she's in serious condition and Roman's bringing her here tomorrow.

JACK: What am I going to do now?

STEVE: What are you going to do about what?

JACK: Um....huh?

STEVE: Well you just said, what am I going to do about what.

JACK: Ah....it means nothing. I mean....ah, shoot....it doesn't mean anything.

STEVE: What's going on man?

JACK: Nothing's going on.

STEVE: You back to the same old stuff. The lies and talkin' out of both sides of your mouth.

JACK: No, no, no. That's not it at all.

STEVE: Then what is it man? You haven't changed at all have you? You're the same old Jack, aren't you?

JACK: (Resigned to the fact that Steve will never trusts him.) Well I guess I am.

STEVE: Okay. Good.

JACK: Well I won't be keeping you.

STEVE: Jack.

JACK: What?

STEVE: Will you stay out of trouble, man?

JACK: I'll try.

STEVE: You really helped me get Kayla back and I appreciate that. I won't forget that. Thanks.

 

JACK LOOKS UNCONVINCED AND WALKS OUT. OUTSIDE HE STOPS AND LOOKS AT THE DIARY.

 

JACK: I'm trying to get someone else back. What the hell do I think I'm doing?

SCENE THREE: BACK AT THE SPECTATOR, JENNIFER IS SITTING ON JACK'S DESK WITH HER LEGS UP AND FEET CROSSED. SHE IS TRYING TO LOCATE ISABELLA AS JACK WALKS IN.

 

JENNIFER: And you're positive there is no one there by the name of Isabella Toscano? (Beat) Okay, thanks for your trouble.

JACK: (Clears his throat loudly).

JENNIFER: Hi. How long have you been standing there?

JACK: How long have you been camping out on my desk?

JENNIFER: Well I was calling hospitals like you wanted me to.

JACK: Oh! Right! Any luck?

JENNIFER: Afraid not and I called over half the hospitals in Florida.

JACK: Don't worry about it anymore. I talked to Steve and he said that Isabella is coming home tomorrow.

JENNIFER: Oh! Oh she's coming back here?

JACK: Yes, she's coming back here.

JENNIFER: Oh, I thought you'd be a lot happier about that.

JACK: I am happy. I'm just a little concerned that maybe she's coming back a bit too soon.

JENNIFER: You really care about her a lot, don't you?

JACK: Heh, look, she put her life on the line for two people she barely knows. Steve and Kayla. I'm grateful about that.

JENNIFER: No, I know that. I was just wondering if that's all there was to it, you know.

JACK: To what?

JENNIFER: I mean to your feelings for Isabella. I mean is it gratitude or is it more than that? Are you just grateful to her....

JACK: THERE IS MORE TO THAT, JENNIFER! There's a whole helluva lot more to that. (Beat) I'm sorry. You're acting a little surprised.

JENNIFER: No I'm not. No, I'm not surprised.

JACK: Well that's funny, I was surprised. I mean Isabella is quite a girl, you know.

JENNIFER: So I guess you're going to be thrilled when she gets back to Salem.

JACK: Not exactly thrilled. More like relieved. I'm going to make sure she gets the best medical care money can buy.

JENNIFER: What about you Jack?

JACK: What about me? I'm not sick.

JENNIFER: No but you were so worried about Steve and Kayla being alright and now they're safe you're shifting all your concern onto Isabella. Why do you do that?

JACK: Ask Mother Teresa. I'm a generous kind of guy.

JENNIFER: No maybe you're a scared kind of guy.

JACK: Don't let that kind of talk get around the office. Bad for business.

JENNIFER: You're hiding your feelings and you're using Isabella to do it.

JACK: Thank you for that Junior. I'm sure your advice doesn't come cheap. I'll be expecting a bill in the morning.

JENNIFER: Alright Jack, if I'm wrong, prove it okay. I mean I just want to know how you feel about Isabella. I mean do you want to be with her? I mean how do you feel about Isabella? Who don't you just tell me?

JACK: There's nothing to tell. What is this? It's ridiculous.

JENNIFER: Jack I'm not going to leave here until you tell me.

JACK: This is not a school room. This is an office. There is nothing to tell.

JENNIFER: If you care care about her, why don't you just say it Jack?

JACK: I care about her. I care about her, alright. There I said it! I said it.

 

JENNIFER STARES INTO JACK'S EYES.

 

JENNIFER: Okay. I guess I got my answer.

 

JENNIFER LEAVES FEELING HURT AND LEAVING JACK RESIGNED TO HIS POSITION.

 

JACK: It's the only answer I could give.

 

SCENE ONE: IT IS THE NEXT DAY AND JACK IS ON THE PHONE IN HIS OFFICE CALLING ROMAN HOPING TO GET NEWS OF ISABELLA.

 

JACK: Come in. Roman, you said you'd be back in town today!

 

JACK HANGS UP IN FRUSTRATION. THERE IS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR.

 

JACK: I SAID COME IN!

JENNIFER: Good morning.

JACK: Not so far.

JENNIFER: No word from Isabella, huh.

JACK: No.

JENNIFER: Well if I could just have a moment of your time.

JACK: What's the matter? You out of number 2 pencils, coffee machine broken down?

JENNIFER: I found Isabella.

JACK: What?

JENNIFER: I know how important this is to you and I realize how much....

JACK: Where is she?

JENNIFER: ....Isabella means to you.

JACK: Is she in Miami or is she here?

JENNIFER: She's here. She's at University Hospital.

JACK: No she isn't. I just called.

JENNIFER: Yes she is. She's under an assumed name. I just talked to Mike. Roman transferred her here from Miami.

JACK: Oh the old assumed name trick. That's very smart. Good thinking Roman.

JENNIFER: Well are you going to the hospital?

JACK: Where else?

JENNIFER: Where else.

 

JACK FLIES OUT THE DOOR THEN POPS HIS HEAD BACK IN.

 

JACK: Oh.... thank you for your help.

JENNIFER: You're welcome. (Beat) Thanks for inviting me along.

SCENE TWO: ISABELLA IS UNCONSCIOUS IN HOSPITAL. ROMAN HAS BEEN BY HER BEDSIDE TRYING TO GET HER TO WAKE UP. MIKE THINKS THAT ISABELLA DOESN'T WANT TO WAKE UP BECAUSE SHE'S AVOIDING A TRAUMA IN HER LIFE. MIKE THINKS THAT THEY SHOULD TRY TO FIND A REASON FOR HER TO WAKE UP.

SCENE THREE: JACK ARRIVES AT ISABELLA'S HOSPITAL ROOM.

 

JACK: Gentlemen, maybe I could be of assistance.

ROMAN: Do you think you can help her?

JACK: Well like I said before, I may know a thing or two that could make her wake up.

MIKE: How well do you know this woman?

JACK: Well better than either of you which is why you should have let me know in the first place.

ROMAN: I didn't think it was that important.

JACK: Maybe you just didn't think!

ROMAN: Jack, you were supposed to take that key and give it to Steve in Miami, not Isabella.

JACK: The plans changed.

ROMAN: You left her alone to face Kiriakis.

JACK: You're not saying that I....

ROMAN: You disappeared on her man.

JACK: It was the best thing to do.

ROMAN: Yeah, for who?

JACK: Look Roman, I know that I can help her if you'll just give me a chance.

ROMAN: Man, get out of here. You're bad news wherever you go. Just take off.

JACK: Roman, I'm telling you I can....

MIKE: Look Jack. I know you mean well but I don't think you're going to be able to get through to her.

JACK: We won't know until I try, will we?

MIKE: He can't hurt. (Beat) Look Roman at this point, we don't have anything to lose. Come on.

ROMAN: Unless he makes matters worse.

JACK: He won't. He promises. But if she yells at him, you'll be the first to know.

 

ROMAN AND MIKE LEAVE JACK ALONE WITH ISABELLA.

 

JACK: Hi. Hey Isabella it's me Jack. Isabella. This sure is a mess I got you into. You were trying to help Steve and me and look at you. Well one good turn deserves another as they say.

 

HE REMOVES THE DIARY FROM HIS POCKET AND WRAPS HER HAND AROUND IT.

 

JACK: You feel that? You know what that is, that's a diary. That's your family diary. Family secrets complete. I say that's a pretty good reason for a wake, what do you think? You know right about now I think that Victor and his boy Nico are finding that there is no diary at the bottom of that hole. Because I got there first. Of course if he finds out it was me, he'll want to squash me flatter than a pizza. Ha! That's a joke. That's an Italian-American joke. Come on. Say it's at least worth a smile. Okay, how about a thank you for the diary, for bringing it all the way from Italy?....(Beat)

 

WHILE HE IS TALKING HE DOES NOT NOTICE KAYLA COME IN THE ROOM.

 

JACK: ....You know what I think. I think that maybe....maybe you're just afraid. Maybe you're just afraid of going on living. Listen I tell you there's nothing to be afraid of out here. You didn't do anything wrong. You didn't betray your father, you didn't betray your family. It's alright.

 

KAYLA KNOWS THAT JACK IS REFERRING TO HIMSELF AND SHE SIGHS.

SCENE FOUR: JACK HEARS HER AND HURRIEDLY HIDES THE DIARY BEFORE HE STANDS UP AND FACES HER.

 

JACK:Ah....Kayla.

KAYLA: Hi.

JACK: I didn't....I didn't....expect to see you here.

KAYLA: I didn't expect to see you here either.

JACK: Well it's good to see you looking so....in one piece.

KAYLA: Jack, I'm glad I ran into you here.

JACK: That's a first....in a long time.

KAYLA: I wanted to thank you for all your help.

JACK: I didn't do anything.

KAYLA: Well you found the key.

JACK: No, that was kind of by accident.

KAYLA: You saved my life Jack.

JACK: I think....um....Steve saved your life.

KAYLA: He couldn't have done it without your help.

JACK: If you're looking for a hero, there's one over here on the bed.

KAYLA: You both did a lot. I'm grateful to you both.

JACK: Well if she wakes up I'd like you to take her out to a dinner....maybe.

KAYLA: You're really worried about her, aren't you?

JACK: I just....I just want her to wake up.

KAYLA: So do I.

 

A NURSE ENTERS THE ROOM.

 

NURSE: Mr. Deveraux, you have a phone call

JACK: Thank you. (Beat) She's nothing like her sister. I just thought you'd like to know that.

 

JACK LEAVES TO TAKE HIS CALL.

SCENE FIVE: MEANWHILE MAGGIE COMES BY AND ASKS JENNIFER IF SHE WOULD LIKE TO WATCH EMILIO'S REHEARSAL. JENNIFER GOES AND THE WHOLE TIME EMILIO IS SINGING, JENNIFER IS THINKING OF JACK. EMILIO AND JENNIFER GET BACK ON THE SUBJECT OF JACK AND HE STILL IS COMPLETELY MYSTIFIED WHY SHE IS HUNG UP ON JACK.

SCENE SIX: JACK HAS FINISHED HIS PHONE CALL AND GOES TO THE STAFF LOUNGE FOR COFFEE. ROMAN IS THERE.

 

ROMAN: Well, well, well, look who's here.

JACK: I'm here for the coffee, not the conversation.

ROMAN: Well like it or not pal, you're about to get both.

JACK: I tried talking to Isabella. She didn't wake up.

ROMAN: Tell me something Jack. Why didn't you go to Miami with her?

JACK: I already told you, I had other important things to do.

ROMAN: Don't give me that.

JACK: I said I didn't think anything was going to happen to her.

ROMAN: You thought wrong, didn't you?

JACK: Look, Steve and I are not exactly friend. I thought it best to stay out of it.

ROMAN: Well it's kind of a lousy decision especially considering where Isabella is today.

JACK: I told you, I didn't think anything was going to happen to her.

ROMAN: Jack, you let her walk right into Kiriakis's trap man. He did everything except pull the trigger himself.

JACK: He didn't.....

ROMAN: Come on, you know him, he's lower than....most.

JACK: Yeah but....

ROMAN: What's the matter Jack? You looked rather shocked.

JACK: I....I....I just didn't think that Victor would....would hurt Isabella, that's all.

ROMAN: You better take the blinders off pal. I was right there. I watched her get shot.

 

ROMAN LEAVES AND JACK PULLS OUT THE DIARY.

 

JACK: What in the hell am I going to do now?

SCENE SEVEN: JACK RETURNS TO HIS OFFICE AND IS SITTING READING THE DIARY WHEN JENNIFER ENTERS.

 

JENNIFER: I see you're back.

JACK: Ah....yes.

 

HE HIDES THE DIARY.

 

JACK: I'm back....I'm back.

JENNIFER: I wasn't sure when you'd get back you know because I knew you were at the hospital and stuff.

JACK: Yes, yes. That's exactly where I was.

JENNIFER: Did you find Isabella?

JACK: Huh, uh.

JENNIFER: Oh. How is she?

JACK: Ah, she's not too good. She didn't take too well to the anesthesia. She didn't come out of it.

JENNIFER: I'm sorry.

JACK: Yeah your brother's saying that she doesn't want to come out of it. He's saying that somebody is going to have to find a reason for her to.

JENNIFER: Oh well that shouldn't be too hard then.

JACK: Why is that, Oh Medical Wonder?

JENNIFER: Well having somebody who cares about you should be reason enough to wake you up.

JACK: Yes it should.

JENNIFER: And you said yourself that you cared about Isabella.

JACK: I did say that, didn't I.

JENNIFER: Yeah you did, so that means she should be waking up anytime.

JACK: Yeah I hope so.

JENNIFER: Well, I'll be at my desk if you need me.

 

JENNIFER BACKS OUT OF THE ROOM ALL THE WHILE WATCHING JACK WHO IS TRYING NOT TO LOOK AT HER. HE IS AFRAID THAT IF HE LOOKS AT HER HE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STOP TELLING HER HOW HE REALLY FEELS ABOUT ISABELLA AND HOW MUCH HE NEEDS JENNIFER'S SUPPORT. HE GOES BACK TO READING THE DIARY AFTER SHE LEAVES.