oldEpisode One-hundred-forty-nine:
After Jennifer is Attacked and Jack's
Room is Trashed, He Thinks it Would
Be Better for Her if She Moved Out.

 

SCENE ONE: JACK IS IN HIS HOUSE GOING THROUGH HIS MAIL. HE FLICKS THROUGH THE ENVELOPES UNTIL HE COMES TO THE LAST ONE.

 

JACK: Ah Vern, thank you very much. It's exactly what I'm looking for. "You are cordially invited to attend the christening and maiden voyage of the cruise liner Loretta." Blah, blah, blah!

 

SUDDENLY JENNIFER COMES OUT OF THE BEDROOM.

 

JENNIFER: Whoa Jack, hi.

JACK: Hi. Um....

JENNIFER: It must be something very interesting.

JACK: Wha....wait a minute, what's this door doing open? Where do you think you're going?

JENNIFER: Well I'll tell what. You tell me what you have behind your back and I'll tell you where I'm going.

JACK: It's a deal. You first.

JENNIFER: Alright. This is my invitation to the cruise honoring Isabella's mother.

JACK: These are my new penny loafers. Got any change?

JENNIFER: Well I was just thinking how incredible it was to receive such an exclusive invitation. An invitation that spells major story potential, in capital letters.

JACK: Yeah, yeah, I agree with you about that. And?

JENNIFER: And since I was the only newsperson invited to cover this, I thought I would start assembling some background material right away.

JACK: Really?

JENNIFER: Really. And that's why I was going to walk down the hall, and down the steps and out the door to meet with Isabella.

JACK: Oh no you're not! No, no, no, no, no!

 

JACK PUSHES HER BACK INTO THE BEDROOM AND SHUTS THE DOOR WITH HIS FOOT.

 

JACK: You're not going to meet anybody!

JENNIFER: Jack! Jack I don't believe you.

 

SHE RUSHES TO THE DOOR BUT JACK PICKS HER UP AND DRAGS HER BACK IN.

 

JACK: I am not going to let you go blabbing all over town about this cruise.

JENNIFER: Jack.

JACK: Especially to Isabella.

 

JENNIFER RUNS TO THE DOOR AS SHE SPEAKS AND JACK DRAGS HER BACK EACH TIME.

 

JENNIFER: Look, why not? Don't you think she already knows about it Jack.

JACK: We don't know that!

JENNIFER: Look her father's estate put the whole thing together so she must be invited!

JACK: But we don't know that for sure, do we?

 

JACK IS EXHAUSTED FROM DRAGGING JENNIFER BACK FROM THE DOOR AGAIN AND AGAIN.

 

JENNIFER: Oh look, alright, alright. Why don't we just call her and ask her and then we'll know whether or not we're fighting for a reason. (Beat) Or just for the thrill of it.

JACK: You know something, you're right.

JENNIFER: I am?

JACK: You are absolutely right. We're just going to pick up the phone, call the loft and....

JENNIFER: Oh she's not at the loft. She's meeting Roman at the police station.

JACK: Really. You know something, that's even closer. Hold this.

 

HE HANDS HER THE PHONE.

 

JACK: I'll hold this.

 

HE HOLDS UP THE KEY AND RUNS TO THE DOOR.

 

JENNIFER: Wait! OH NO! NO JACK, NO! JACK THAT IS SO LOW. THAT IS THE LOWEST....JACK!

 

JACK RUNS OUT AND LOCKS HER INSIDE HIS BEDROOM.

 

JENNIFER: Jack, open the door, come on. That is the lowest thing....

 

JACK GRINS AND RUNS OFF

SCENE TWO: JACK ARRIVES AT THE POLICE STATION, WHERE ISABELLA IS WAITING TO SEE ROMAN.

 

JACK: Isabella!

ISABELLA: Jack!

JACK: Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you.

ISABELLA: No you didn't scare me. I'm fine.

JACK: Really.

ISABELLA: Yeah.

JACK: Well you don't look fine. What's going on?

ISABELLA: I just wish that Roman would leave things alone for a change.

JACK: Things? What do you mean, things?

ISABELLA: You know, things.

JACK: Animal, vegetable, transportational?

ROMAN: Thanks for coming down Guiseppe.

 

ROMAN SHOWS GUISEPPE TO THE DOOR. ISABELLA ASKS HIM IF EVERYTHING IS ALRIGHT. HE SAYS THAT ROMAN HAD QUESTIONED HIM AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. GUISEPPE LEAVES. ISABELLA TURNS TO ROMAN.

 

ISABELLA: Well, I hope you got what you wanted.

ROMAN: Not even close.

ISABELLA: What's that supposed to mean?

JACK: You know this all sounds really pretty bad, pretty grim. Maybe you could tell me what's going on? We're all buddies here, maybe I could help.

ROMAN: You want to help Jack? Alright both of you in my office, right now.

 

ISABELLA AND JACK LOOK AT EACH OTHER.

 

ROMAN: NOW!

 

THEY HURRY INTO HIS OFFICE.

SCENE THREE: MEANWHILE JENNIFER IS TRYING TO GET OUT THE DOOR. SHE FIDDLES WITH THE LOCK WITH NO SUCCESS AND FINDS THAT JACK HAS DISCONNECTED THE PHONE EXTENSION IN THE BEDROOM SO SHE DECIDES TO GO OUT THE WINDOW. SHE SLIPS HER LEGS OVER THE WINDOW SILL AND LETS GO.

SCENE FOUR: BACK IN ROMAN'S OFFICE.

 

JACK: You know Roman, if this is an official investigation, I really want take it all back. I'm not remotely interested in helping you.

ROMAN: Maybe not Deveraux but you are remotely interested, in fact drooling for information concerning her affairs, aren't you?

ISABELLA: Well why shouldn't he be, Jack's my friend.

ROMAN: Yeah right. He and Mother Teresa.

JACK: Alright, alright, alright. You can drag it out of me if you want. I'll tell you why I'm here. Just don't break out the rack.

ROMAN: Hey you're no fun man.

JACK: I....I'm here to see Isabella.

ISABELLA: Me?

ROMAN: Why's that?

JACK: Well I want to do a story, of course.

ROMAN: About what?

JACK: Well, wine making, what else?

ISABELLA: Oh wine making. Jack you should have asked Guiseppe, he's an expert.

JACK: Oh well, we don't really want to go in that direction. We want to concentrate more on the families behind the great wines. You know, the great personalities.

ROMAN: Oh that's tidy.

ISABELLA: Well whatever help you need Jack.

JACK: Well you know, we want to go with a little bit of basic family history. You know, funny little family anecdotes, anything about your mother or father!

ROMAN: Do you think maybe we can switch the subject here?

ISABELLA: No Roman, it's okay.

JACK: Yeah?

ISABELLA: Yeah.

JACK: Great....

 

SUDDENLY JENNIFER BURSTS IN THE DOOR. SHE HAS A TWIG IN HER HAIR AND HER DRESS IS DIRTY. JACK LOOKS HER UP AND DOWN WITH A SLIGHT SMIRK ON HIS FACE.

 

JENNIFER: Oh no you don't!

ISABELLA: My god Jennifer, what happened to you?

JENNIFER: Jack you are not stealing that story from me.

ISABELLA: Stealing?

JACK: Jennif....

JENNIFER: And I know that's exactly what you are trying to do.

JACK: Jennifer.

ISABELLA: Jennifer, are you doing a story on wine making too?

JENNIFER: Wine making, Jack? Who's doing a story on wine making?

JACK: Jennifer.

JENNIFER: I'm not doing a story on wine making. I'm doing a story on....

JACK: ....on, on Italy. The whole of Italy. It's a travel story. It'll be beautiful.

JENNIFER: I am doing a story on the cruise in honor of your mother.

ISABELLA: What?

JENNIFER: I got my invitation yesterday.

ISABELLA: You did? That's wonderful.

JACK: It is?

ISABELLA: Of course it is. It'll be wonderful if we.....

JACK: You know about it too?

ISABELLA: Of course I know about it. In fact I'm looking forward to it especially now that I know Jennifer is....

ROMAN: Wait, wait a second. I don't think anybody ought to be too fired up to go on this cruise.

ISABELLA: Why not?

ROMAN: Because the more I think about it, the more I think it's not such a hot idea.

JENNIFER: Roman why don't you think we should go on this cruise.

ROMAN: Oh just call it a gut feeling. There's something strange about this whole thing here.

ISABELLA: Come on Roman with reporters invited and the press on board? It's got to be on the up and up.

ROMAN: I don't exactly call that a guarantee. Excuse me will

 

ROMAN GOES OVER TO TALK TO A POLICE WOMAN.

 

JENNIFER: Isabella I don't mean to break up the debate here but can I ask you one really quick question?

ISABELLA: Sure.

JACK: Oh wait a minute, hey, hey!

JENNIFER: Can you do a favor for your favorite room mate?

ISABELLA: Sure, you name it, anything.

JACK: Not fair trading on room and board.

JENNIFER: Can I get the exclusive on your story?

JACK: Uh! Wait!

ISABELLA: Done. Thank you.

JENNIFER: Well Jack sorry. Looks like you were scooped. See you later, I have some research to do. Bye Isabella, by Roman.

JACK: Jennif....Excuse me!

 

JACK RUNS OUT THE DOOR AFTER JENNIFER.

 

JACK: Jennifer, wait a minute!

JENNIFER: Jack, look, you lost, alright. You tried to steal the story of a lifetime from me and you blew it.

JACK: Don't you understand? This has nothing to do with the damn story. Didn't you hear what Roman was saying in there?

JENNIFER: Jack, yes I did. He said he had a feeling Jack. And even if he's right, I think the trip is worth going on. Bon voyage, Jack.

JACK: Jennifer! JENNIFER!....JENNIFER!

SCENE FIVE: HE FOLLOWED HER OUT INTO THE ALLEY.

 

JACK: Jennifer!

JENNIFER: Don't bother. I don't want to argue with you anymore. I got my exclusive interview. And it's a good thing I got there when I did because Roman almost figured out you were hiding something. If he would have found out about those diary pages Jack....

JACK: Alright Wonder Woman. Congratulations. You flew out the window and you saved the day. Everybody thanks you. Now let's get you off the street before something else happens.

JENNIFER: Do you really expect me to go back to your room with you?

JACK: It's dangerous out here. I know it, the police know it. It's the only way I can keep an eye on you.

JENNIFER: Well I am not giving up my career and my freedom for the sake of your ego.

JACK: This is not about me ego! This is about....

JENNIFER: I don't need your protection anymore. You're worse than whoever it is who's after us. It's over.

 

JACK IS CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY, BUT HE ALSO ENJOYS HER STAYING WITH HIM.

 

JACK: Over?

JENNIFER: Over.

JACK: And what is that supposed to mean?

JENNIFER: It's means from now on I can take care of myself and there's nothing that you can say about it.

JACK: Oh yeah!

JENNIFER: Yeah. Because I am going on the cruise and you're not invited Jack.

JACK: Jennifer, I....

JENNIFER: You know what Jack, you can watch it on the news. You know the station and you know the time. See ya there.

 

JENNIFER RUNS OF. JACK STANDS THERE ALONE; HE REACHES IN HIS JACKET FOR HIS INVITATION.

 

JACK: See this! I'll see you there.

SCENE SIX: JENNIFER WALKS DOWN ALONG THE PIER AND SHE HEARS SOMEBODY FOLLOWING HER. SHE SUSPECTS IT IS JACK.

SCENE SEVEN: MEANWHILE JACK GOES BACK TO HIS BEDROOM, IT HAS BEEN TRASHED.

 

JACK: Jennifer! Talk about revenge. Come on, all I did was lock in you for a little bit. You didn't have to....

 

HE LOOKS OVER AND SEES A MESSAGE ON HIS COMPUTER SCREEN: "WE WON'T STOP UNTIL WE GET WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR!!!!!" JACK IS TERRIFIED FOR JENNIFER'S SAFETY.

 

JACK: They won't stop! Jennifer, no!

 

JACK PICKS UP THE PHONE.

 

SCENE ONE: JACK IS IN HIS TRASHED BEDROOM ON THE PHONE.

 

JACK: Come on, come on. "Hello this is Jennifer,...."

 

HE GETS HER ANSWERING MACHINE.

 

JACK: DAMN! DAMN!

 

HE RUNS OUT TO LOOK FOR HER.

SCENE TWO: SHE IS ON THE PIER AND IS NOW VERY SCARED BECAUSE SHE KNOWS SOMEBODY IS FOLLOWING HER. A GUY WALKS UP TO HER AND GRABS HER. HE THREATENS HER AND TELLS HER HE WANTS THE PAGES. WHEN SHE SAYS SHE HAS NO PAGES, HE THREATENS TO RAPE HER. HE BEGINS TO PUSH HER WHEN EMILIO ARRIVES AND PUNCHES THE GUY THEY FALL IN THE WATER. THE GUYS SWIMS AWAY.

SCENE THREE: EMILIO HAS RETURNED. HE WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE GUY. HE IS HOLDING JENNIFER AND COMFORTING HER WHILE MELISSA LOOKS ON. JACK COMES RUNNING UP IN A PANIC, BUT HE TRIES NOT TO REVEAL THIS.

 

JACK: What happened?

EMILIO: She got attacked my someone.

 

JENNIFER LOOKS AT JACK; SHE KNOWS HE WAS RIGHT.

 

EMILIO: Sit down. Maybe we should take you to the hospital to see if you're alright.

JENNIFER: No, no, I'm alright.

EMILIO: Well at least tell me what you remember. Did you recognize the guy, have you seen him before?

JENNIFER: No, no. I've never seen him before.

 

EMILIO KEEPS ASKING HER WHAT THE GUY WANTE; SHE KEEPS LOOKING AT JACK. EMILIO SAYS HE WANTS TO KILL THE GUY. JUST THEN ROMAN COMES UP.

 

ROMAN: Kill him? That's strong talk. Glad I took this call. Are you alright?

JENNIFER: Yes I'm fine.

ROMAN: You don't look fine to me.

JACK: Look I think this is really a small isolated incident. I think we can all be on our way.

 

ROMAN INSISTS THAT JENNIFER GO DOWN TO THE STATION AND FILE A REPORT. SHE INSISTS THAT EMILIO GOES BACK WITH MELISSA TO CHANGE HIS CLOTHES. JACK TRIES TO GET AWAY BEFORE ROMAN ASKS HIM ANY QUESTIONS.

 

JACK: I think my car's this way.

ROMAN: You're going to the cop shop too Jack. I've got a few questions for you.

JACK: Right.

 

JACK AND JENNIFER LOOK VERY WORRIED. THOUGH IT IS OBVIOUS THAT JENNIFER RATHER JACK BE WITH HER THAN EMILIO.

SCENE FOUR: ROMAN, JACK AND JENNIFER ARRIVE AT THE STATION.

 

ROMAN: Alright let's loosen up. Look I'm not going to play any games with you two. I want it straight. What the hell is going on here?

JACK: Going on? In terms of what?

ROMAN: I guess I'm just supposed to believe this was just a random mugging, huh. Especially the way you two have been acting lately.

 

JACK REMAINS QUIET.

 

ROMAN: Jennifer, would you mind if I had a word with your friend alone?

JENNIFER: Why, he doesn't know anything about this Roman.

ROMAN: Please!

 

JENNIFER STARTS TO WALK OUT OF THE ROOM BUT FIRST TURNS TO JACK WHO NODS FOR HER TO GO.

 

ROMAN: Alright Deveraux. What the hell are you two up to?

 

JACK JUST ROLLS HIS EYES.

 

ROMAN: Look, I can't force you to say anything but after that stunt you pulled on Isabella earlier today, I know that something's going on. Now it's crossed over to Jennifer. I'm telling you something. If you care about her, you're going to do something. This time they just scared her. Next time....and there will a be a next time....

 

ROMAN WALKS OUT AND LEAVES JACK TO THINK ABOUT WHAT HE SAID. JACK KNOWS THAT ROMAN IS RIGHT, AND HE FEARS FOR JENNIFER'S SAFETY.

SCENE FIVE: JENNIFER COMES BACK IN.

 

JENNIFER: Jack what happened? What did Roman say?

JACK: Jennifer, I don't think we're going to be seeing much of each other anymore.

JENNIFER: What do you mean, you don't want to see me anymore? Are you serious?

JACK: Very.

JENNIFER: What did Roman say to you?

JACK: It doesn't matter what he said. This is between you and me. Now you said this morning you didn't want to have anything else to do with me. You've gotten your wish. "Don't worry, be happy."

JENNIFER: Really I don't believe that I'm hearing this Jack.

JACK: Jennifer, you said you didn't want anything else to do with me.This is the way it's got to be.

JENNIFER: That was before Jack.

JACK: Jennifer, you've got....

JENNIFER: Jack, that man really scared me. He could have killed me Jack.

JACK: Jennifer I had no idea that you were this upset.

JENNIFER: Jack....

JACK: Look I didn't mean for this to happen. I didn't mean for it to go this far. I never wanted to see you get hurt like this. I mean this is the whole point of this. You're going to get hurt if you hang around with me so we can't hang around together like this....anymore.

JENNIFER: Okay. Then if you're not going to protect me, who is?

JACK: Emilio.

JENNIFER: No, I don't want him involved in all this.

JACK: Hire a guard.

JENNIFER: But you were against that before. You said that would be like we were trying to announce something Jack.

JACK: I was right....at that time. But now if you're attacked and you don't do something about it, people are going to ask even more questions. I'm going to call the agency.

JENNIFER: What about you? Who's going to protect you?

JACK: I need protecting! Is that your not so subtle way of saying that I need somebody to look after me? You know you're looking at a hundred and (He runs his fingers over his lips to obscure his weight, and also in a attempt to be funny and calm Jennifer.) bleh, bleh pounds of masculine maleness here.

JENNIFER: Jack, I'm serious.

JACK: So am I. I'm not going to have a mouth breather babysitting me.

JENNIFER: Then neither am I.

JACK: No, no, no, no. You're not going anywhere until your babysitter gets here. You may hate or you may love it. I don't care but that's the way it is.

JENNIFER: Jack....

 

JENNIFER IS INTERRUPTED BY EMILIO AND MELISSA WHO COME INTO THE OFFICE.

 

JACK: Better make that call.

EMILIO: What call's that?

JENNIFER: Jack thinks I need a bodyguard.

EMILIO: Well for the first time in his life, he's right. How are you feeling, everything alright?

JENNIFER: I could be better.

EMILIO: Had a lousy day, huh.

JACK: (On the phone) Hello, this is Jack Deveraux. I'd like to see about getting a bodyguard.

 

ABE CALLS EMILIO AND MELISSA TO GIVE A STATEMENT SO THEY LEAVE JACK AND JENNIFER ALONE.

SCENE SIX: A SHORT TIME LATER JACK IS STILL ON THE PHONE.

JACK: Oh that should be just fine. Great. Thank you.

 

HE HANGS UP, AND GOES OVER TO TALK TO JENNIFER.

 

JACK (CONT.): (Talking to Jennifer) It's all set. Your bodyguard is on the way.

JENNIFER: What about you?

JACK: I think I'm going to go home. (Beat) Look, I'm really sorry about today.

 

THEY BOTH HATE THE IDEA OF NOT STAYING TOGETHER ANY LONGER.

 

JENNIFER: Jack it's not your fault. You tried to protect me. I'm the one that ran away.

 

JACK HAS WALKED TO THE DOOR AND STOPS.

 

JACK: Well you know what they say. "The best laid plans...."

JENNIFER: Yeah I know. Why is it always the best plans that don't work out?

 

JACK KNOWS WHAT JENNIFER IS IMPLYING.

 

JACK: Why do you always ask questions that there are no answers to?

JENNIFER: There's always answers and there's always hope. If I didn't believe that Jack, I would....I don't know what I'd do.

 

SHE IS TALKING ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP. JACK IS UNCOMFORTABLE AND CHANGES THE SUBJECT.

 

JACK: Well you're not going to do anything until your guard gets here. I'll be downstairs.

JENNIFER: You know actually I'm looking forward to having a big strong handsome man looking after me....all day and all night.

 

JENNIFER TEASINGLY IS TRYING TO MAKE JACK JEALOUS, BUT IS ALSO REFERRING BACK TO THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS WHEN JACK WAS WATCHING OVER HER. JACK SMIRKS.

 

JACK: It's not a man. Your guard is a woman!

JENNIFER: A what?

JACK: A woman! Strong and tall, yes. But handsome? I think that you'll have to leave that to the eye of the beholder.

JENNIFER: Jack!

 

JACK WALKS OUT WITH A BIG GRIN ON HIS FACE. JENNIFER DOES SO AS WELL, SHE KNOWS *WHY* JACK HIRED A FEMALE GUARD.

 

SCENE SEVEN: A MONTAGE ENDING WITH JACK AND JENNIFER. THAT NIGHT JENNIFER IS LYING IN BED LOOKING AT A PICTURE OF JACK WHEN HE WON THE FERRARO AWARD. SHE GETS UP AND GOES TO THE WINDOW TO THINK OF HIM, CRADLING THE ARTICLE.

We'll be fine this time around
Hold the light this time around
All that stormy weather, getting so together now
There's blue sky all around.

JACK IS CLEANING UP HIS BEDROOM AND HE FINDS HER PAJAMAS ON HIS BED. HE PICKS THEM UP AND LOOKS AT THEM, LOVINGLY.

Once we gave into the night
Got it wrong but that's alright
There's a new day shining, there's a silver lining now
This time we both know how.
Take the love that I bring
Take the song that I sing
Melody harmony, you and me
We're going to play it right this time around.

No one breaks this time around
Life just takes us where we'll be
Hear the music playing, we know what it's saying now
We're lost until we're found
And we're found this time around.

Take the love that I bring
Take the song that I sing
Melody harmony, you and me
You see dreams will come true this time around
It's our time this time around.