oldEpisode One-hundred-eleven: Before Giving
Isabella the Diary Jack Removes Pages;
Jennifer Thinks Jack Is Lost to Her,
but Isabella Tells her not to Give up on Him.

SCENE ONE: IT IS THE NEXT DAY AND JACK IS VISITING ISABELLA WHO IS STILL UNCONSCIOUS. HE SITS BY HER BED AND MAKES A SIREN NOISE.

 

JACK: Alright Miss Toscano, come on out. We've got you surrounded. We know you're in there. Come on, no tricks now. Come on Isabella. I'm sick and tired of just hearing my own voice. You know that must be bad, huh? I'm telling you, it's alright. Everything's taken care of. The Toscano family secret is safe. You didn't let down your father, you didn't let down your family. What's more you helped Kayla get back to Steve. She owes you, he owes you. Another thing, I owe you. Why don't you just wake up so I can thank you? Come on! Remember me. The Bayview Escape. You said I'm the only one you'd ever trust. I think it's time to prove it. Rise and shine.

 

JACK IS EXHAUSTED AND HE STANDS UP. AS HE DOES SO, ISABELLA STIRS AND MAKES A SOUND.

 

JACK: Did you say something? Isabella? Alright, I knew you had it in you.

 

JACK PRESSES THE BUTTON FOR THE NURSE AND DOES NOT NOTICE JENNIFER AT THE DOOR. JENNIFER IS HURT BY WHAT SHE SEES, HOW CLOSE AND HOW MUCH JACK CARES FOR ISABELLA; SHE BELIEVES THAT HE IS IN LOVE WITH ISABELLA.

 

JACK: Okay, don't worry about a thing. Help is on the way, okay. Don't worry, it's going to be alright. Just keep on coming back, come on. Don't let me down, alright. Just keep coming back. I know you can do it. Come on. Come on Isabella. Open those big green eyes, come on. Come on, I'm counting on you, come on. Come on Isabella. Oh there we go. Welcome back to the land of the living. I missed you.

 

JENNIFER LEAVES THE ROOM BECAUSE SHE THINKS THAT SHE IS INTRUDING. JACK HAS NO IDEA THAT SHE WAS THERE.

SCENE TWO: BACK IN ISABELLA'S HOSPITAL ROOM. ISABELLA WAKENS.

 

ISABELLA: Jack?

JACK: Yeah, in the skin.

ISABELLA: What's going on?

JACK: Don't worry, you're in a hospital.

ISABELLA: Hospital? I don't understand.

JACK: Look, we don't need to talk about it now. Just take it easy, it's going to be okay.

MIKE: Well you decided to wake up. I'm Mike Horton, I'm your doctor. How are you feelin'?

ISABELLA: Strange.

MIKE: Well you should. You've been asleep for a while.

ISABELLA: How long?

MIKE: A couple of days. Do you remember why you're here?

ISABELLA: Somebody shot me.

MIKE: Well, so far, so good. Let's take a look here. I'm going to take a look at your wound okay.

ISABELLA: Why didn't I wake up?

MIKE: Hey, the important thing is that you did wake up. Well your wounds healing nicely and there doesn't seem to be any ill effects from that long sleep but I'm going to take some test just to be sure.

JACK: But she is going to be okay, right?

MIKE: Sure. If we keep all forms of stress away from her. Got that Jack!

JACK: Keep her calm cool and collected. Yeah, I got it. Yeah, yeah.

MIKE: Yeah. I'm going to order those tests. Hey, you're pulling through great champ!

 

MIKE LEAVES.

 

ISABELLA: Thank you.

JACK: Oh no, no, no. Thank you. Thank you. I think you just made both our days.

ISABELLA: I have so many questions.

JACK: Not now. I don't think you should talk right now.

ISABELLA: I remember when I was shot. I can help. I know who did this.

JACK: Just a minute. Take it easy. I don't think you should talk about this right now, okay.

ISABELLA: It was Victor.

JACK: I want you to take it easy.

ISABELLA: It was Victor.

JACK: Oh no, we can't be sure of that.

ISABELLA: He shot me. He hurts everybody.

JACK: I'm sorry that he hurt you.

ISABELLA: Thanks for being here for me.

JACK: Sure.

NURSE: Excuse me. We're going to do some tests now. I'm sorry sir, you're going to have to leave.

JACK: Sure. Well, you'll be up and running marathons in no time.

ISABELLA: Never could before.

JACK: Well I'm sure you're going to be a handful again.

ISABELLA: Will you come back?

JACK: Yeah, if you want to see me twice in one day.

ISABELLA: I think I can manage.

JACK: Then: (Imitating Arnie) I'LL BE BACK!

 

JACK WALKS OUT AND SHUTS THE DOOR. HE SEES A NURSE PUSHING A CART OF MEDICATION.

 

JACK: Ah....hi!

NURSE: Hi.

JACK: (Flirting) I don't if you remember me....Judy!

NURSE: Of course I do. You're Jack Deveraux.

JACK: Right. You're very....very....sharp.

 

AS HE IS TALKING TO HER, HE TAKES A SCALPEL OFF THE CART.

 

JACK: You look sharp in that little outfit. Tell me, when do you all take coffee breaks around here?

NURSE: Me....in two hours.

JACK: Really. I take mine with cream and no sugar.

NURSE: Oh really.

JACK: What say we meet back here at the Nurse's Lounge?

NURSE: Sure, I'll be there.

JACK: Good. Keep the hat. You've really made my day.

 

THE NURSE LEAVES ON ROUNDS.

JACK IS OUT ON THE STAIRWELL. HE FINDS THE PAGES HE IS LOOKING FOR IN THE DIARY, AND USES THE SCALPEL TO CAREFULLY REMOVE THEM.

SCENE THREE: HE THEN GOES BACK UPSTAIRS TO SEE ISABELLA.

 

JACK: Are we all tested?

ISABELLA: Yeah, I've had enough poking and prodding for a lifetime, I'd say.

JACK: I think it's time for a reward.

ISABELLA: I'd settle for a full recovery.

JACK: I think I might have something that could speed that along.

ISABELLA: It must be something pretty special.

JACK: It might be. You ready?

ISABELLA: I don't Jack. With you I'm never ready.

JACK: I copied the key!

ISABELLA: You what?

JACK: I copied the key. I went to Italy. I found what the key opened. I opened it and I took out the contents.

ISABELLA: Jack are you saying that....

JACK: Bingo!

ISABELLA: Victor doesn't have the treasure.

JACK: He doesn't and I do.

ISABELLA: What is it? What is it?

JACK: Hope you're surprised!

 

JACK HANDS ISABELLA THE DIARY.

 

ISABELLA: It was my mother's. It's a diary.

JACK: You're not disappointed are you?

ISABELLA: No. Why would I be?

JACK: I thought, you know, family fortune, treasure. You know you're thinking it's going to be jewelry or something.

ISABELLA: No. There must be some very deep secret hidden in here. After all, my father went to a lot of trouble to keep it safe.

JACK: There's only one way to find out.

ISABELLA: Yeah, I don't think I should open it just yet. I think I should wait until I tell Marina, you know.

JACK: Marina?

ISABELLA: Yeah. You know she's going to be so surprised that we got to it before Victor.

JACK: Isabella, don't you remember?

ISABELLA: Remember what?

JACK: Your sister was killed.

ISABELLA: Jack, what are you talking about?

JACK: You know what I'm talking about.

ISABELLA: Marina is not dead.

JACK: She was killed months ago.

ISABELLA: She was killed?

JACK: Look, I know all this is very confusing to you.

ISABELLA: I don't believe you. I don't believe any of this.

JACK: It's the truth.

ISABELLA: No, it's not true!

JACK: I wouldn't lie to you.

ISABELLA: I know but....I'd remember it.

JACK: She is dead. I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

ISABELLA: When did it happen?

JACK: I think we better talk about this later.

ISABELLA: No, I have to know.

JACK: We're going to talk about it when you're stronger.

ISABELLA: Jack you don't understand. I know that she and I had our problems but I loved her. She was my sister. I have to know.

JACK: I promise you I'm going to tell you everything there is to know, when you get better. Okay.

 

JACK BEGINS TO LEAVE AND OPENS THE DOOR WHERE THE GUARD IS STANDING.

 

ISABELLA: What's that man doing outside my door?

JACK: That man is a guard. He's guarding you.

ISABELLA: Me? Why?

JACK: Because Roman put him out there to guard you in case Victor came round.

ISABELLA: Well tell him to go away.

JACK: I can't do that.

ISABELLA: I can handle Victor.

JACK: Isabella, you....

ISABELLA: Jack I want you to have that guard removed!

JACK: What do you mean? Right now?

ISABELLA: Right now. Please.

JACK: Then I'm not going to leave you.

ISABELLA: I want to be alone.

JACK: Okay. I'll be back.

ISABELLA: You'll have that guard removed?

JACK: Yes, against my better judgment.

 

JACK GOES OUTSIDE AND TALKS TO THE GUARD.

 

JACK: Look I just talked to your boss, Roman, and he said that he wants you down at the precinct right away.

GUARD: Yes sir.

JACK: Yeah, take your time.

 

THE GUARD LEAVES AND JACK WALKS STRAIGHT INTO ROMAN.

 

JACK: Oh, speak of the devil.

ROMAN: So I hear she finally pulled out of it, huh?

JACK: Yeah. You're going to go in to talk to her?

ROMAN: What's going on here? Where's the guard?

JACK: Let me talk to you for a second, explain about that. Step into my office.

SCENE FOUR: JACK AND ROMAN GO INTO THE NURSE'S LOUNGE.

 

ROMAN: You're serious, man. She still thought her sister was alive!

JACK: Yeah! The odd thing is, she remembers everything else.

ROMAN: Well maybe it was just a little too much for her to deal with.

JACK: Maybe. Maybe you're right.

ROMAN: Ah, as much as I hate to do it, I still got questions I've got to ask.

JACK: Just go easy on her.

ROMAN: Well I'll try but now that Kayla's been arrested for Marina's murder, I've got to have the answers man. I just hope that Isabella can give them to me.

JACK: Remember what happened last time she helped. Actually I was wondering if I could be of assistance. I have something here that I didn't know what to do with. I was hoping you would.

 

JACK HANDS ROMAN THE EARRING HE AND ISABELLA FOUND IN MARINA'S HOTEL ROOM.

 

ROMAN: Is that an earring?

JACK: Yeah, not exactly my style. Marina....it was in her room. Isabella and I found it. Maybe it belonged to Marina, maybe it belonged to somebody else. Maybe a clue.

ROMAN: I'll check it out.

JACK: Roman, I just want you to know that I'm doing this because I want to help Kayla.

ROMAN: Yeah. Well so do I.

 

ROMAN LEAVES.

SCENE FIVE: MEANWHILE JENNIFER IS UPSET BECAUSE SHE SAW HOW MUCH JACK CARES FOR ISABELLA. SHE GOES TO SEE EMILIO. HE CAN TELL SHE IS UPSET AND SHE TELLS HIM THAT SHE NEEDS A FRIEND. HE KNOWS THAT JACK HAS DONE SOMETHING TO HURT HER AGAIN BUT HE AGREES TO BE HER FRIEND.

SCENE SIX: JENNIFER ARRIVES AT WORK AND A SHORT TIME LATER EMILIO DROPS BY. SHE DECIDES TO ASK EMILIO OUT ON A DATE THAT NIGHT; HE IS VERY HAPPY. SHE THINKS IT IS TIME SHE GOT A LIFE OUTSIDE THE OFFICE.

SCENE SEVEN: LATER THAT NIGHT THEY GO TO THE SANDOLLAR FOR DINNER. SHE TELLS EMILIO THAT SHE DOES NOT CARE WHAT JACK THINKS ANYMORE BECAUSE JACK IS A LOST CAUSE.

SCENE EIGHT: MEANWHILE JACK COMES BACK TO THE OFFICE. HE LOOKS AT THE DIARY PAGES HE REMOVED.

 

JACK: Well Dr. Deveraux, I think the operation was a success. No one's going to miss these pages.

VERN: Hello boss.

JACK: Ah....Vern, Vern, just the man I was looking for. Where is everybody?

 

IT IS OBVIOUS THAT JACK HAS JENNIFER IN MIND.

 

VERN: Gone home. It's time to sleep.

JACK: Everybody?

VERN: Everybody, as in Jennifer Horton?

JACK: No, Vern. Everybody as in everybody. Ah, she didn't happen to mention where she'd be going, did she?

VERN: Yes, matter of fact she did.

JACK: Huh, uh. (Beat) Well?

VERN: She said to tell you that she'd be at the Sandollar, if you needed her.

JACK: Well thank you but I don't think I'll be needing her.

VERN: Well, then that's it then, huh?

JACK: Goodnight Vern!

VERN: Goodnight Jack.

 

VERN LEAVES AND JACK STOPS AND THINKS FOR A MINUTE.

 

JACK: Maybe I will be needing her.

 

HE HURRIES OUT OF THE OFFICE.

SCENE NINE: A SHORT TIME LATER JACK ENTERS THE SANDOLLAR CARRYING A LARGE BOUQUET OF FLOWERS. HE SEES JENNIFER AND IS ABOUT TO GO UP TO HER WHEN EMILIO COMES BACK TO THE TABLE, HELPING HER ON WITH HER COAT. JACK HIDES ACROSS THE ROOM FROM THEM WITH HIS FACE BEHIND THE FLOWERS. HE WATCHES THEM AND DECIDES ONCE AGAIN NOT TO INTERFERE. THEY LEAVE. JACK WALKS UP TO A WAITRESS.

 

JACK: Excuse me.

WAITRESS: Want a table?

JACK: No, actually I want to give this to you.

 

HE HANDS THE FLOWERS TO THE WAITRESS.

 

JACK: Looks like you've had a hard night.

 

SHE IS THRILLED AND BENDS OVER AND KISSES HIM ON THE CHEEK.

 

JACK: Go ahead.

 

JACK WALKS OVER TO THE TABLE THAT JENNIFER WAS SITTING AT AND PICKS UP HER NAPKIN.

 

JACK: What the hell was I thinking!

 

SCENE ONE: JACK IS ON THE PHONE IN HIS OFFICE WHEN JENNIFER ENTERS.

 

JACK: Don't put me on hold, please. Please don't put me on hold, please, please.

JENNIFER: Jack.

JACK: I'm on the phone.

JENNIFER: You're on hold. You are, aren't you? Good. There's the research that you were barking for yesterday, here's the first draft on my interview and the final revision on the council meeting and I'm set and ready to go to the courthouse.

JACK: Cour....where?

JENNIFER: Kayla's hearing. I mean this is the first time that I'm going to get to cover a trial and you know what's really exciting, is that we're going to share a by-line on this Jack.

JACK: (On the phone) Yes, I'm right here! I'm right here. So where is.....what do you mean you don't think she's there? Check her name again. Her name is Isabella Toscano. "T" as in "tomato," "O" as in.....oh, well somebody's got to know where she is. Let me talk to the head nurse. Don't you know who you're dealing with here? Yes I have a pen right here, right here! (He snatches a pen form Jennifer.) Ah....okay, okay, where is she? (Pause) You don't say.

JENNIFER: What?

JACK: You don't say!

JENNIFER: What?

JACK: You don't say!

JENNIFER: You're not going to do that dumb joke on me Jack, are you, right?

JACK: I better not say! She's at the Salem Inn at this moment.

JENNIFER: The Salem Inn?

JACK: I know, I know.

JENNIFER: Alright Jack, alright. Let's go. I'm right behind you. Come on.

JACK: Wait a minute. Where do you think you're going?

JENNIFER: We're going to the courthouse right now.

JACK: I'm not going to the courthouse.

JENNIFER: What do you mean? We have to go to the courthouse. Kayla's hearing begins today.

JACK: I'm going to the Salem Inn before she remembers.

JENNIFER: Remembers what?

JACK: Isabella has somehow blocked out the fact that her sister was murdered. Now she's going back to the same hotel where her sister was murdered. Can you imagine what's going to happen if she remembers that her Alone!

JENNIFER: Alright Jack, I understand that but what about....

JACK: I've got to find her.

JENNIFER: Alright, but what about the hearing? Have you forgotten about Kayla's hearing?

JACK: Kayla's hearing. I'll drop into the Salem Inn on the way. I know I've got enough time.

JENNIFER: Right. Okay Jack, I said I'm going with you and I'm going with you.

 

JACK SLAMS THE DOOR ON JENNIFER.

 

JENNIFER: I'm going with you!

SCENE TWO: ISABELLA IS IN MARINA'S HOTEL ROOM WHEN THERE IS A LOUD KNOCK ON THE DOOR.

 

JACK: Isabella, are you in there?

ISABELLA: Jack.

JACK: Jennifer, this is the right room.

JENNIFER: How do you know Jack. This could be anybody's.

JACK: Jennifer, this is.....

 

ISABELLA OPENS THE DOOR.

 

JACK: Isabella, there you are. Are you okay? Come in here.

ISABELLA: I'm fine. They wouldn't let me out if I wasn't okay.

JACK: I'm not talking about the hospital.

ISABELLA: What's going on? Jennifer, hi!

JACK: Pay no attention to the girl behind you. Talk to me, this is important.

ISABELLA: Jack, what's the matter?

JACK: I want you to come over here right now and sit down and be calm. Be calm above all else.

ISABELLA: Jack, what's wrong?

JACK: Look, isn't there something? Something about this room, this place?

ISABELLA: Er.....

JACK: This is where it happened!

ISABELLA: What happened? Jack!

JACK: Your sister was killed here.

ISABELLA: No.....

JACK: No, not in the bed. Not even in this room but in this hotel.

ISABELLA: I knew before you came in. I just had a feeling. I've got to get out of here.

JACK: Wait a minute, wait a minute. Just take it easy. I want you to stay with me. It'll be okay.

JENNIFER: No, no. Why don't you stay at my place?

JACK: What?

JENNIFER: You were comfortable there, right, and the guest room is empty.

JACK: I'm sure Isabella appreciates your hospitality but....

ISABELLA: Well if you don't mind. I mean I don't want to put you out.

JENNIFER: No I really don't mind. You wouldn't be putting me out at all. It'd be fine.

ISABELLA: Okay.

JENNIFER: Alright, then it's settled. You're staying with me. Ah....you know the address don't you Jack?

JACK: Yeah, but....

JENNIFER: I mean in case you need one of us.

JACK: Yeah, but....

JENNIFER: Or either of us.

JACK: Yeah, but....

 

ISABELLA SMILES AT JENNIFER BECAUSE SHE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT JENNIFER MEANS.

 

ISABELLA: Don't forget my suitcases.

JACK: Yeah, but....

 

JENNIFER AND ISABELLA WALK OUT LEAVING JACK COMPLETELY PUZZLED ABOUT WHAT JUST HAPPENED.

 

JACK:What?

SCENE THREE: THE THREE OF THEM ARRIVE BACK AT THE LOFT. JACK IS CARRYING ALL THE LUGGAGE.

 

JENNIFER: Oh home sweet home. Just make yourself comfortable while I check out the guest bedroom

ISABELLA: Thanks Jennifer.

JACK: (Struggling with the heavy luggage.) Yeah, tha....anks Jennifer.

JENNIFER: Close the door Jack.

JACK: Yeah.

ISABELLA: Oh thanks Jack.

JACK: Don't mention it! Nothing a friend wouldn't do! (Beat) So....

ISABELLA: So!

JACK: Read any good diaries lately? Anne Frank, your mother's, Mommy Dearest?

ISABELLA: Yes Jack, I've read my mother's diary.

JACK: Is there anything enquiring minds would want to know?

ISABELLA: Well if you want to know, it's been quite an experience really. It's sort of like having my mother again. All of her thoughts and feelings.

JACK: Good, good.

ISABELLA: I'm grateful for what you went through to bring it to me.

JACK: Hmmm, it's nothing a friend wouldn't do.

ISABELLA: There's just one thing though.

JACK: Oh yeah.

ISABELLA: Everything that my father went through to make sure that the diary would be safe, that Victor wouldn't get it, it just doesn't make any sense. I mean there's nothing that my mother wrote in there that could harm anyone, that would come as a surprise. Everything that my father said about keeping the key inside our family to keep our family together, I don't understand why.

JACK: I'm sure it's just, you know, family sentiment, that kind of stuff, you know. That sort of thing.

ISABELLA: You think so.

JENNIFER: Well the guest room is ready. There's a lot of closet space and the drawers are all cleared.

ISABELLA: Thanks Jennifer.

JENNIFER: So we should head on over to the courthouse, don't you think? Unless you want to be here with Isabella.

JACK: The courthouse. I'm on my way. I got to go!

JENNIFER: Okay, I'm just going to grab my purse.

JACK: Whoa, whoa, wait a minute. I said I, not we, I.

JENNIFER: Jack.

JACK: No, you have to stay here and entertain your new houseguest.

JENNIFER: I have to help write....

JACK: You guys have to sit here and eat pizza and have girl talk. I'll be back later.

JENNIFER: But Jack I have to....Jack!

JACK: But nothing....

 

HE SLAMS THE DOOR.

 

JACK: But....

SCENE FOUR: JENNIFER AND ISABELLA TALK ABOUT HOW JACK REALLY FEELS.

 

JENNIFER: Why do I even bother?

ISABELLA: It's alright if you want to go to him Jennifer.

JENNIFER: No way! Jack doesn't want to be with me, the last place in the world that I want to be is with him.

 

THEY CONTINUE TO GO OVER JACK'S MOODS AND THE WAY HE FEELS ABOUT BOTH OF THEM.

 

JENNIFER: How can you say that? He's broken into the Sanitarium, he's gone nose to nose with Victor Kiriakis more than once. He would do anything for you, I know it. He cares a lot.

ISABELLA: Maybe but not the same way he cares about you.

JENNIFER: Oh, that's right, you just saw him. "I said I, Jennifer, not we! You stay here!" If I hadn't made the first move before, I would have been the one carrying the luggage in.

ISABELLA: Maybe, but Jack only cares about me as a friend, Jennifer. That's it.

JENNIFER: Why do you keep saying that?

ISABELLA: Because what you think Jack thinks, Jack doesn't really think!

 

JENNIFER LOOKS PUZZLED.

 

ISABELLA: When he's getting close to someone, it isn't because he's interested in them. It's because he isn't interested in them that he can get close to them, see?

JENNIFER: No, I don't.

ISABELLA: When he pushes you away, now that's when he wants you more than ever.

JENNIFER: Oh Isabella, that is crazy!

ISABELLA: Right, but that's Jack.

JENNIFER: Well why would he want to be that way? Why would anyone want to be that way?

ISABELLA: Oh don't ask me that. I mean that's the study of a lifetime. I'm just beginning to understand how complicated Mr. Deveraux really is.

JENNIFER: Well maybe he's too complicated. I mean why would anyone want to waste all their time not knowing if yes means no and I want to go to the movies means I would really like to stay home tonight? Maybe I should just be with a different person. I mean someone who says what they mean, knows what they want and just goes for it.

ISABELLA: Like Emilio.

JENNIFER: Yeah, like Emilio. I can tell you right now I have a much better time with him.

ISABELLA: Yeah but do you feel the same way about him? Do you feel the same way about Emilio that you do Jack? Jennifer?

JENNIFER: I just want to be happy, that's all. Is that too much to ask for? If Jack keeps acting the way he does with me, I'm beginning to think I won't ever be happy with him.