SCENE ONE: IT IS TWO DAYS AFTER JACK TOLD HER THAT HE DOES NOT BELIEVE IN SHELL RINGS. JENNIFER HAS GONE TO SEE ALICE FOR ADVICE. SHE TELLS ALICE THAT SHE IS REALLY EARLY FOR A JOB INTERVIEW AND SINCE IT IS NEARBY SO SHE THOUGHT SHE WOULD VISIT. ALICE SUSPECTS SOMETHING IS WRONG.
ALICE: You just didn't happen to drop by, did you?
JENNIFER: No grandma.
ALICE: Well Jennifer, it's Jack, isn't it?
JENNIFER: Oh grandma, I think I'm losing him. I really think I'm losing him.
ALICE: Jennifer, now what do you mean, you're losing him? Is Jack seeing someone else?
JENNIFER: No grandma, it's not that easy. Believe me with Jack, nothing's ever that easy.
ALICE: Well maybe you better tell me what happened.
JENNIFER: But that's it grandma. Nothing happened. Not to us anyway. I mean it should have brought us closer.
ALICE: It? You mean his father.
JENNIFER: Yes.
ALICE: Harper. What happened the day of the wedding?
JENNIFER: Huh, uh. Yeah he's afraid that he's going to end up hurting me too. So ever since Harper died, he's been pushing me away. But that's not what he wants, it's not how he feels, I know it.
ALICE: You do.
JENNIFER: Grandma when we were on that cruise, everything was so right, it was perfect. Jack is the most gentle and sensitive man I've ever known. So why does he want to do this? Why does he want to throw it all away?
ALICE: Oh Jennifer, if you're looking for a simple answer darling, I don't think you'll find one. After all you chose to become involved with a very complicated man, to say the least. Now that kind of relationship can be rewarding eventually but meanwhile you just are left with the complications.
JENNIFER: But grandma, we got past all that though.
ALICE: In a strange exotic place in unusual circumstances? Now Jennifer, I'm not questioning how you felt about Jack or how Jack felt about you, on that island. But back here, things aren't so simple between you. And, making love never settled any serious problem, not permanently.
JENNIFER: Surprise.
ALICE: So with Harper's death and Jack's involvement it obviously dragged up some unfinished business. So it's perfectly natural that he'd push you aside. Can you understand that?
JENNIFER: It's just that he's all alone and he's in a lot of pain. I just can't do nothing.
ALICE: Oh darling, the way he's feeling now, he could even push you aside further before he lets you in. But that's a chance you'll have to take if you really love him. If that is what you decide to do.
JENNIFER: I know.
JENNIFER THEN MAKES A PHONE CALL.
JENNIFER: That was New York City. I applied for a job there and they want me to fly in tomorrow for an interview.
ALICE: Well that sounds like a wonderful opportunity. A big city, exciting and far away from home and far away from Jack.
JENNIFER: Yes but grandma this could be exactly what I need to wake Jack up. I mean I'm always the one chasing after Jack. Maybe if he thinks I'm not in Salem, he's going to lose me.
ALICE: Jennifer!
JENNIFER: No this could be perfect. Maybe this will scare him.
ALICE: Jennifer, dear. Now you're the one who's always complaining loudly and often that it's impossible to have a relationship with someone who isn't perfectly honest about their feelings.
JENNIFER: I understand that but I'm meeting him on his own ground grandma.
ALICE: But that would just cause twice the trouble, twice the complications. And from what I hear now, that's the last thing either of you need. And never make a threat especially an emotional threat unless you are prepared to back it up. Are you?
JENNIFER: Okay, grandma you're right. You are perfectly right. No threats and no games. I'm going to be completely honest with Jack about how I feel. But to tell you the truth, the way he's been acting these past few weeks, I don't think it's going to make that much of a difference.
SCENE TWO: MEANWHILE JACK IS AT HOME SITTING ON HIS BED READING THE LETTER THAT KAYLA WROTE FOR THE CHRONICLE.
JACK: Let's see.... "....if I can say that then all you people who don't even know Jack, can do the same. I never expected to feel this way and I'm sure some people will find it hard to believe that I do. Because if there's anybody who has a right to hold a grudge against Jack Deveraux it's me. But it's time to let go. We can't forget what he did but we can forgive him. And I do. Kayla Brady Johnson." Alright ladies and gentlemen, will the real Jack Deveraux please stand up.
THERE IS A KNOCK ON THE OPEN DOOR AND JACK LOOKS UP TO SEE STEVE STANDING THERE.
JACK: What are you doing here?
STEVE: You called me didn't you?
JACK: Oh yeah right, I did, of course I did, of course I did.
STEVE: What's on your mind?
JACK: Well you've read this.
STEVE: What?
JACK: Yeah, what?
STEVE TAKES THE PAPER FROM JACK AND SCANS KAYLA'S LETTER.
JACK: Come on, you can go ahead and tell me. What did you have to do to get Kayla to write that?
STEVE: Wow.
JACK: Come on, come on, say something. Tell me why she did it.
STEVE: Why the hell are you always asking me why she did something? This is Kayla. I guess she's trying to do her best to put the whole thing behind us. Maybe it's time.
JACK: You've got no argument there. I mean I know it's time. I've been working on it too. I've been trying to make changes. I.... you know I finally broke up the little office romance with Jennifer.
IT IS OBVIOUS JACK DOES NOT BELIEVE WHAT HE IS SAYING, NOR DOES HE WANT TO LIVE WITHOUT JENNIFER.
STEVE: Oh.
JACK: Yeah I realize that it was bad for me, bad for her. I mean bad for both of us. Really.
STEVE: You trying to convince somebody?
JACK: No! No, no, no. No convincing needs to be done. The decision's made, the girl has been dumped. It's over and done with....
JUST THEN VERN BUSTS INTO THE ROOM.
VERN: Oh Jack, listen I'm sorry to interrupt. Oh hi Steve, how are you doing?
STEVE: Hi Vern.
VERN: Listen Sheldon let me in. You said this was top priority.
JACK: What's top priority?
VERN: That tape, this tape.
JACK GRABS THE TAPE AND GIVES A QUICK GLANCE AT STEVE. IT IS OBVIOUS HE DID NOT WANT STEVE TO KNOW ABOUT THIS.
VERN: You were right Jack, all along. Listen it's a phony. It's the real thing.
JACK: Oh it's a real phony! Did you hear that Steve? Heh, that's good.
STEVE: What's he talking about there Jack?
JACK: I don't know, it sounds kind of stupid to me.
VERN: Jack, don't you get it? This copy is not made from the broadcast. It just looks like it.
JACK: Vern we really have to talk about these liquid lunches, alright.
VERN: Listen to me Jack. I know what I'm talking about. This is a new tape. Someone put it together to make it look like a videotape of the news broadcast.
JACK: Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Thank you Vern, thank you.
VERN: Wait a minute. There's no doubt about it Jack. I triple checked before coming up here....
JACK: I know.... thank you.
VERN: ....because I know how worried you are about Jennifer.
JACK REALIZES THAT NOW THAT STEVE KNOWS HE STILL CARES.
VERN: You were worried about Jennifer, right?
JACK GIVES VERN A LOOK TELLING HIM TO SHUT UP.
VERN: Maybe this is something we can talk about later, right?
JACK: I think so. Say goodbye Vern.
VERN: Goodbye Vern.
JACK SLAMS THE BEDROOM DOOR AND SIGHS.
STEVE: So.... you dumped her, huh? So what's with this video tape business here Jack?
JACK: It's nothing. It's just a little investigation into TV journalism. It's nothing.
STEVE: TV journalism. That's Jennifer's line of work isn't it?
JACK: Alright, alright, the tape has something to do with Jennifer. You're right.
STEVE: So Vern there was right. You're kind of worried about her?
JACK: No, no. It's just the concern for a fellow colleague.
STEVE: Oh.
JACK: You know Jennifer. She can get herself into trouble faster than anybody you know.
STEVE: Trouble with a video tape.
JACK: Alright, do you want the long version or the short one?
STEVE: Better give me the short one.
JACK: Right. It all started when Jennifer was doing this research into this missing heiress.
STEVE: Oh you mean that, you mean that ah wedding arrangement, that thing with the oil people. The von Leuchners.
JACK: The von Leuchners, right, right.
STEVE: Right, I read the papers.
JACK: Yeah. (Jack grins) So anyway she's doing this research into the von Leuchner family.
STEVE: Huh, uh.
JACK: And The Spectator scoops her. Boom, like that. So she comes back to me and she tells me to drop the whole story. And I have a whole series planned but she gives me no explanation.
STEVE: Huh.
JACK: So, out of nowhere this little video tape shows up. A brand new video tape of a fake broadcast that says missing heiress has been found.
STEVE: Sounds tidy.
JACK: Huh, uh. That's why I had Vern check into it. Something's rotten in the state of Denmark and I'm going to find out what it is.
STEVE: Well, if you need some help. I mean if you want me to check into it, I'll find out what I can. If you want me.
JACK IS SURPRISED AND PLEASED THAT STEVE IS WILLING TO HELP HIM.
STEVE: So do you want the help or not, yes or no, what's the big deal?
JACK: It's no big deal. I'd appreciate your help.
STEVE: Good. No problem.
STEVE GRABS THE TAPE AND WALKS TO THE DOOR.
JACK: I mean I could.... I need your help. That's the important thing. As long as you understand this has nothing to do with Jennifer.
STEVE: I didn't say that.
JACK: Well I said it. This has nothing to do with Jennifer. It's not....
STEVE: Oh come on, why don't you give it up Jack? Anybody who gives a damn about you, knows how you feel about her.
JACK: (Reluctant) Right, right.
STEVE: Right. Why don't you make yourself feel better, you know. Get it out of yourself. Say how you feel. It gets easier.
JACK: That's what I'm afraid of. It gets easy.
STEVE: I know you're afraid, I can see that. But there's nobody around. It's just you and me. Come on, just give it a shot. Say how you feel.
JACK: Say how I feel?
STEVE: Yeah come on, try it.
JACK: Sure, okay, Steve. I feel that.... ah
AS THEY ARE TALKING JENNIFER WALKS UP BEHIND STEVE AND JACK SEES HER.
STEVE: Steve I feel that ah.... come on man, you were doin' fine. Why did you stop?
JENNIFER: Stop what?
SCENE THREE: STEVE TURNS TO SEE JENNIFER STANDING THERE LISTENING INTENTLY.
JACK: Nothing.
STEVE: Jennifer!
JENNIFER: Nothing? I don't believe you Jack. I mean I have no idea what you were talking about but I'm sure it wasn't nothing. I know you too well.
STEVE: (Hiding the tape in his hands) Well it looks like the two of you have a whole lot of nothing to talk about so I'll just boogie on down the road here. I'll see you later. Hang tough there baby alright. (Waving the tape at Jack, behind Jennifer) I'll see you soon huh.
JACK: Right, right, thanks.
STEVE LEAVES AND JACK SHUTS THE BEDROOM DOOR.
JACK: Well I guess because I can't tell when you're going to show up anymore, I have to assume that you've got Sheldon wrapped around your little finger.
JENNIFER: Jack....
JACK: No, no, no. No let's pick up from where our last exciting episode. You were pretty ticked off with me, right?
JENNIFER: Yes and that hasn't changed.
JACK: Good, good, good, good. It's nice to know exactly where we stand. A little emotional.... stability.
JENNIFER: Yeah that's good. I'm sure it is. Of course I wouldn't know. I mean since everytime I turn around you change your mind, you change the rules.
JACK: Well I'm not the king of emotional consiste....
JENNIFER: That's it Jack. That's enough, okay.
JACK: What? I didn't say.... what did I say, what did I sa....?
JENNIFER: I don't want to do this anymore. Alright. I am hurt, I am angry and I'm tired of it. I was willing to deal with whatever I had to to get through to you and to keep things open between us as long as we were moving ahead. But that's now what's happening okay. Ever since we got back from the island we're going backwards and I don't want to do it anymore.
JACK IS LISTENING WITH HIS ARMS FOLDED TIGHTLY ACROSS HIS CHEST.
JENNIFER: It hurts too much to be shut out of your life all over again. It was bad enough the first time but now that I know for sure how you feel about me it's even worse. And I don't want to do it anymore. I'm not going to let it happen again. When we made love, you told me that you loved me and I believed that you meant it. Are you denying that know?
JACK: No I'm not denying that. I said that.
JENNIFER: And? Do you mean it? Do you still feel the same way about me? Are you saying that you still love me?
JACK: Yes, Jennifer I love you! I've said it before and I'm saying it again now. I'm not going to just turn it on and turn it off.
JENNIFER: Alright, but Jack then why....
JACK: Yes Jennifer, we made love. And I have felt closer to you than I've ever felt to any other person. I'm not going to be stupid enough to pretend it didn't happen.
JENNIFER: But you are the king of emotional stupidity. You just said that Jack.
JACK: No, no, no. I said the king of emotional.... inconsistency, not stupidity. I didn't say that.
JENNIFER: Jack I would say denying what you feel and pushing the person you supposedly love as far away as you possibly can, stupid. What do you call that?
JACK: I think that's smart. I think that's selfless. I mean when you really care about somebody, you....
JENNIFER: No, when you love somebody.
JACK: That's what I was.... that's what I meant. When you really love somebody, when you love them, you will do anything you can to help them, to keep them out of trouble, to protect them. That's what I'm doing.
JACK SITS ON THE END OF THE BED AND JENNIFER SITS DOWN BESIDE HIM.
JENNIFER: Jack I don't need protection, if that's what you're trying to do, don't. I don't need you to protect me from you.
JACK NODS AS IF HE AGREES WITH SOME OF WHAT SHE HAS JUST SAID.
JENNIFER: You're much too good at already protecting yourself. Now if we work together, if we have problems, we can work them out Jack, we can, together.
JACK: It sounds like somebody's had a trip to Grandma H's. Had a little tea, sympathy and donuts.
JENNIFER: I just had some advice which I already knew. I just needed to hear it from somebody else.
JACK STANDS UP AND STARTS PACING AS HE TALKS.
JACK: Jennifer.... listen. This is 1990 alright. Read the papers, they're right here. Love is not enough. Things are just too big, too complicated and too fast for love just to fix it. You know one little kiss will not fix what ails you. It won't fix what ails me. It won't fix my life.
JENNIFER: Alright, so you're telling me that you would be better off dealing with this alone than with me? Come on Jack, just say it. I mean like Steve said when he was here, just say it, if that's what you feel. Just tell me right now. Look me in the eye and tell me right now that you never want to be this close to me ever again.
JENNIFER STANDS UP AND MOVES IN CLOSE TO JACK.
JENNIFER: That you never want to kiss me again. And you never want to hold me close and feel your arms wrapped around me and listen to me breathe in the middle of the night and wake up to me the next morning.
NOW JENNIFER IS PRESSED UP AGAINST HIM AND HE IS TRYING TO RESIST HER.
JENNIFER: Just say it. It's as easy as that Jack, just say it.
SHE TAKES HIS FACE IN HER HANDS AND PULLS IT TOWARDS HER. SHE KISSES HIM.
JENNIFER: Just tell me that's what you want. Tell me that's what you believe.
JACK: Ah.... this is not about what I want or what I believe. This is about what's....
SHE KISSES HIM AGAIN.
JENNIFER: You know what Jack, why don't you let me worry about what's best for me, okay?
JACK: You know Jennifer, if....
SHE KISSES HIM AGAIN WITH EACH KISS JACK LOSES HIS RESOLVE; HE CANNOT FIGHT HIS FEELINGS FOR HER.
JENNIFER: You know Jack, I'm a really big girl now. (Kiss) And I know what I want. (Kiss) And I know what I need. (Kiss) And I can take care of myself. (Kiss) Do you know what you want Jack? (Kiss)
JACK: (Sighs and Kisses back) Jennifer.... (Kiss)
JENNIFER: What? (Kiss)
JACK: I know (Kiss) I know....
JACK BENDS DOWN AND PICKS HER UP.JACK: I know my back's going to kill me in the morning but I know what I want. (Kiss)
HE WALKS OVER TO THE BED AND THEY BOTH FLOP ON IT TOGETHER. HE GRINS AND TAKES HER IN HIS ARMS AND KISSES HER. SHE SMILES AND KISSES HIM BACK.
SCENE FOUR: IT IS SOME TIME LATER THAT NIGHT AND THERE IT IS STORMING IN SALEM. JACK AND JENNIFER ARE IN BED. JENNIFER IS LYING WITH HER HEAD ON HIS BARE CHEST. HIS LEFT ARM IS AROUND HER AND HE IS STROKING HER HAIR WITH HIS RIGHT HAND. SHE IS HOLDING HIS FINGERS ON HER SHOULDER.
JENNIFER: We just have to stop fighting each other Jack. We're too smart for that.JACK: Yeah, too smart.
JENNIFER: You know I almost walked away from it you know today. When I went to talk to my grandma, I got a call from New York....
JACK IS SUDDENLY VERY INTERESTED BUT JENNIFER CANNOT SEE HIS FACE.
JENNIFER: ....about a job that I applied for and I was seriously thinking about taking it. I mean for half a second I was trying to convince myself that this was never going to work out and I'd be better off in New York.... away from you. But I was wrong. I'm going to call them in the morning and I'm going to tell them I'm not interested, Jack. We can't work away from this. Neither of us can. I'm never going to leave you Jack, never. I'm going to be right here.... always.
JACK IS FROWNING AND THINKING DEEPLY ABOUT WHAT SHE IS SAYING. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT JACK IS THINKING THAT BECAUSE OF HIM SHE IS LOSING AN OPPURTUNITY OF A LIFETIME, THAT WITHOUT HIM SHE COULD DO BETTER.
SCENE FIVE: MEANWHILE SHANE HAS BEEN ACTING STRANGELY. IT SEEMS AS IF HE IS ENVOLVED WITH SOME SHADEY ACTIVITIES. HOWEVER, HE IS ACTUALLY WORKING UNDERCOVER, INVESTIGATING GENCON, A NEW COMPANY THAT HAS RECENTLY RELOCATED IN SALEM. HE AND STEVE, WHO IS WORKING FOR THE POLICE, HAVE A SECRET MEETING AT THE CHEATIN' HEART. THEY LEAVE. IT IS STILL STORMING. A SONG PLAYS IN THE BACKGROUND.Rain, rain go away...
SCENE SIX: THE SONG CONTINUES. JENNIFER STIRS IN JACK'S BED. SHE REACHES OUT TO TOUCH HIM BUT HE IS GONE. SHE SLOWLY SITS UP AND NOTICES A NOTE BESIDE THE BED. SHE REACHES ACROSS AND PICKS IT UP. THE NOTE SAYS: "HAVE FUN IN NEW YORK!"Little Sally [Nice name!!!] wants to play.
Rain, rain, go away.
JACK IS WALKING ALONE ALONG THE PIER IN THE RAIN. HE TURNS HIS FACE TO THE SKY AND OPENS HIS MOUTH TO TASTE THE RAIN.It's raining, it's pouring,
The Old man is snoring.JENNIFER IS SHOCKED BY THE NOTE AND SCREWS IT UP. SHE LIES BACK ON THE PILLOW AND CRIES.He went to bed and he bumped his head,
He couldn't get up in the morning.JACK WALKS TO THE WATER'S EDGE AND LEANS ON A POLE. THE RAIN IS POURING OVER HIS FACE.It's raining, it's pouring.JACK TAKES ANOTHER NOTE OUT OF HIS COAT POCKET AND READS IT. IT SAYS: "I'M SORRY I HAD TO DO THIS, LOVE JACK." HE LOWERS HIS FACE IN SADNESS.Rain, rain, go away....THERE ARE TEARS IN HIS EYES. HE LOOKS UP AT THE DARK RAINY SKY, THE RAIN AND THE TEARS MIX TOGETHER; AND AND LETS THE RAIN TRY AND WASH HIS PAIN AWAY.
