oldEpisode One-hundred-ninety-nine:
Jack Continues to Pose as Jennifer's Guard,
Unable to Deny His Feelings Any Longer He
Admits to Her How He Feels; Meanwhile, an
Explosion Meant for Bo Gets Steve Instead.

 

SCENE ONE: BACK IN SALEM, STEVE AND KAYLA HAVE DECIDED TO SELL THEIR HOUSE AND TAKE A YEAR TRAVELING AROUND THE WORLD. THERE IS A BIG PARTY PLANNED AT WINGS. HOWEVER, STEVE IS CALLED AWAY HALF WAY THROUGH TO FINISH AN ASSIGNMENT HE HAS BEEN WORKING ON WITH BO AND SHANE; IT HAS TO DO WITH FINDING OUT WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RIVER POLLUTION AND THE ACCIDENTS AT JENCON.

SCENE TWO: JENNIFER IS IN HER ROOM LOOKING AT THE ENGAGEMENT RING THAT LAWRENCE HAS GIVEN HER, WHEN THERE IS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR. THE CAPTAIN OF THE GUARDS TELL HER THAT SHE IS TO HAVE A NEW GUARD WITH HER AT ALL TIMES.

 

GUARD: This man is to be your guard.

 

JENNIFER LOOKS UP AND SEES THAT IT IS JACK.

 

JENNIFER: Are you sure that Mr. Alamain won't change his mind about this?

GUARD: (To Jennifer) Positive. (To Jack) You are to treat Miss von Leuschner as royalty. You will do what she says. Her word is law.

JENNIFER: (Jennifer seems to like this very much)Thank you for making that clear. I might enjoy this after all.

 

THE GUARD LEAVES; JACK AND JENNIFER ARE ALONE.

 

JENNIFER: Jack, what are you still doing here. Do you realize what kind of danger you are in right now?

 

JACK IS WEARING A FULL GUARDS UNIFORM AND CAP WITH A BEARD AND MUSTACHE. HE SALUTES TO HER AS HE SPEAKS.

 

JACK: (With a slight accent) The name is Alfred.

JENNIFER: What? I don't want to hear this. I want you out of here now Jack.

JACK: I said the name is Alfred.

JENNIFER: Jack leave, right now.

JACK: (Back to his normal voice) Are you planning on going with me?

JENNIFER: No, no I'm not planning on going with you.

JACK: Hmmm, you know I was hoping you would drop this ridiculous plan of spying on Lawrence but since you're not I guess I'll have to move to Plan B.

JENNIFER: Which is?

JACK: Well as a guard, I think I can spy on Lawrence without arousing too much attention.

JENNIFER: Are you serious? You'd really do that for me Jack?

JACK: Jennifer, we worked together once. I don't know if we could do it again but I know I'm willing to try.

JACK PUTS HIS HANDS ON HER ARMS AND HOLDS HER GENTLY. SHE LOOKS DOWN AT HIS HANDS AND CONSIDERS WHAT TO DO.

 

JACK: How about you? So what's it going to be?

JENNIFER: I can't give you an answer just like that. I need time to think about it.

JACK: We don't have time to think about it. Are you with me or without me?

JENNIFER: Well I....

 

THERE IS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR AND JACK RUNS BACK TO HIS GUARD POSITION.

 

LAWRENCE: It's Lawrence. Katerina?

JENNIFER: Yes Lawrence, come in.

 

LAWRENCE COMES IN THE DOOR. HE IS SUSPICIOUS OF JACK.

 

LAWRENCE: What's he doing here?

JENNIFER: He's the guard you assigned to me.

LAWRENCE: Oh yes I remember now. It was the chief guard's idea.

JENNIFER: I see.

LAWRENCE: What's your name again?

JACK: It's Alfred sir.

LAWRENCE: Alfred, Miss von Leuschner and I have something to discuss privately.

 

JACK TURNS AWAY FROM THEM BUT DOES NOT LEAVE THE ROOM.

 

LAWRENCE: I said privately.

 

JACK RELUCTANTLY BACKS OUT OF THE ROOM.

 

JACK: Yes sir.

 

LAWRENCE SHUTS THE DOOR.

 

LAWRENCE: There's something very strange about that man.

JENNIFER: What did you want to talk to me about.

LAWRENCE: A man called Jack Deveraux.

 

JENNIFER IS FRIGHTENED, BELIEVING HE KNOWS JACK WAS THE THE ONE WHO CRASHED THE BALL; HOWEVER, SHE TRIES TO CONCEAL HER EMOTIONS.

SCENE THREE: OUTSIDE JACK DECIDES THAT SINCE LAWRENCE IS TIED UP WITH JENNIFER, HE WILL SEARCH LAWRENCE'S OFFICE. HE GETS TO THE DOOR BUT THE CHIEF GUARD SEES HIM.

 

GUARD: What do you think you're doing?

JACK: Just checking the room sir, as per orders sir.

GUARD: This is Mr. Alamain's private office. No one is allowed near it, not even the chief.

JACK: I remember that sir.

GUARD: Carry on.

JACK: Sir.

 

THE GUARD LEAVES AND JACK USES HIS CREDIT CARD TO BREAK INTO THE OFFICE DOOR. HE SNEAKS IN AND DOESN'T SEE THE SILENT ALARM. HE RUMMAGES THROUGH SOME PAPERS AND FINDS ONE OF SPECIAL INTEREST.

 

JACK: "Dear Mr. Alamain, regarding our guest...."

 

JACK'S EYES WIDEN AS HE READS THE REST.

 

JACK: We better get out of here. Right now.

SCENE FOUR: BACK IN HER ROOM, JENNIFER IS BEING QUESTIONED BY LAWRENCE. JENNIFER IS NOW REALLY WORRIED ABOUT JACK, BUT ACTS AS IF NOTHING IS WRONG.

 

JENNIFER: Jack Deveraux?

LAWRENCE: The publisher from Salem. He ran an article about you, the mystery of the missing heiress. And did a lot of snooping around if I'm not mistaken.

JENNIFER: Yes I remember now. Warner got him to stop asking questions.

LAWRENCE: Do you remember why Deveraux wrote that story?

JENNIFER: Why?

LAWRENCE: He must have had some motive.

JENNIFER: Well I'm sure he just wanted to sell papers. I mean it couldn't be anything personal.

LAWRENCE: That article was an invasion of your privacy. I take that very personally. Mr. Deveraux has earned a place on my list.

JENNIFER: Your list of what?

LAWRENCE: Enemies. Fate does not treat them kindly.

 

AT THAT POINT GREGORY CALLS LAWRENCE AWAY BECAUSE OF A SECURITY BREACH. LAWRENCE LEAVES JENNIFER ALONE.

SCENE FIVE: JACK COMES ALONG TO TRY AND GET BACK INTO HER ROOM BUT THERE IS A NEW GUARD OUTSIDE.

 

JACK: I'm here to relieve you.

GUARD: I've just started my shift.

JACK: I'm under special orders from the chief guard. You could question him yourself.

GUARD: I have nothing against time off. She's all yours pal.

 

HE HANDS JACK A BUNCH OF KEYS.

 

JACK: See ya round the bunk house.

 

JACK TURNS AND USES THE KEYS TO GO BACK INTO JENNIFER'S ROOM.

 

JENNIFER: Jack.

JACK: Alright, where's Lawrence?

JENNIFER: I don't know but he left with Gregory. It was something about a security breach or something.

JACK: That's right. You're lookin at it.

JENNIFER: What? Jack you didn't, you're kidding me. If they find you do you any idea what they....

JACK: Just be.... sssshhhh.... be quiet for a minute. They're going to come back real soon and I've got to tell you something. I was in his office, going through his desk. This guy really is bad news. He could very easily go to jail and we could prove it.

JENNIFER: Wait a minute. What do you mean he could easily go to jail. What kind of proof did you find?

JACK: I found a memo on the desk that started referring to this.... this prisoner that he's keeping.

JENNIFER: A prisoner! Are they talking about me?

JACK: No, no, not you. They said it was a he. I don't know where he is, if they're keeping him here in the embassy or some place else. But he's somebody very important to them because they're not planning on killing him yet.

JENNIFER: What, do you really think they would go that far?

JACK: Yes, they said that in the memo. And that's why we are waving goodbye to Lawrence and Gregory and everybody else in this embassy tonight.

JENNIFER: No we can't leave. We can't go now that we know everything Jack.

JACK: Jennifer, just listen to me alright. This is what we're going to do. I'm going to figure a way to get around the guards and you....

JENNIFER: I said no and I meant it. Now stop telling me what to do Jack.

JACK: Jennifer, I'm not telling me what to do.

JENNIFER: Yes you are telling me what to do. Now you have a choice. You either treat me like an equal or you leave.

JACK: Wait a minute, let me get this straight. You just said you want me to treat you like an equal.

JENNIFER: Yes, that's the general idea.

JACK: Jennifer, I always treat you like an equal. At least that's the intention.

JENNIFER: No, no, that is not good enough. I want you to be honest with me.

JACK: Honest about what?

JENNIFER: Why you're here.

JACK: I'm here because I'm trying to keep you from getting yourself killed.

JENNIFER: That's not what you want Jack. You want me.

 

JACK THINKS FOR A FEW SECONDS ABOUT THAT AND THEN GOES ON THE OFFENSIVE.

 

JACK: (Beat) Alright if you want to be honest. I think it's time for you to admit a few things yourself.

JENNIFER: Such as?

JACK: Such as, you came to New York to run away, not to get a story. And don't try to deny that.

JENNIFER: No I won't deny that, I won't. You couldn't be more right Jack. Yes I did want to get away from you.

JACK: Yes.

 

JACK BEGINS TO NOD HIS HEAD AND FEEL SMUG THAT HE HAD HER RIGHT BUT THEN BEGINS TO REALIZE THAT HE DOES NOT WANT HER TO GET AWAY FROM HIM, NOR THE FACT THAT SHE MIGHT WANT TO BE AWAY FROM HIM.

 

JENNIFER: I wanted to get as far away from you as I possibly could.

JACK: Huh, uh.

JENNIFER: There, are you happy?

JACK: Well.... I.... I wouldn't exactly say happy.

JENNIFER: I mean the fact of the matter is that I was tired of playing your games and being manipulated by you and getting hurt.

JACK FEELS LOUSY ABOUT THIS.

 

JACK: Well that.... that obviously wasn't the intention.

JENNIFER: What was that?

JACK: I said that wasn't the intention.... to hurt you. I'm sorry that happened. (Beat) But I am who I am.... and if you don't like it, I'm sorry. That's just....

JENNIFER: Jack, but I do like it.

 

SHE SMILES AT HIM.

 

JENNIFER: Don't you understand, that is the whole point. I like.... I love everything about you, underneath all of your defenses. If you would just let go of them for one minute and let me see the real you.

JACK: You know something, I don't think you really want to see the real me.

JENNIFER: You're doing this again.

JACK: You don't.... no.... no....

JENNIFER: You do this all the time Jack. I don't even know why I bother to explain this to you because it's hopeless. You're hopeless. You won't even let me in for one minute, much less admit that you want me.

 

JENNIFER TURNS AWAY FROM HIM AND STEPS AWAY BUT JACK CONTINUES TO TALK.

 

JACK: What if I did.... what if I did admit that I wanted you?....Would you take me back?

 

JENNIFER TURNS VERY SLOWLY BACK TO LOOK HIM IN THE EYE.

SCENE SIX: BACK IN SALEM, STEVE ARRIVES AT THE PIER LOOKING FOR BO. HE SEES A BOAT MOORED THERE AND HOPS ON BOARD. THERE IS A BOMB ON THE BOAT. HE NOTICES A CARD FOR BO WITH LAWRENCE'S NAME ON IT. HE REMEMBERS THE NAME BECAUSE OF THE HELP HE GAVE JACK. THE NEXT INSTANT HE SEES THE TIMER A COUPLE OF SECONDS BEFORE IT IS DUE TO EXPLODE BUT HAS NO TIME TO GET OFF. THE BOAT BLOWS UP WITH STEVE ON BOARD.

SCENE SEVEN: BACK IN JENNIFER'S ROOM AT THE EMBASSY.

 

JENNIFER: Am I hearing things or did you just ask me to take you back?

JACK: Will you?

JENNIFER: How do I know this is not a one day thing. What if you change your mind tomorrow?

JACK: I won't.

JENNIFER: Yeah but how do I know that.

JACK: Because I.... because I promise.... I promise I won't hurt you again.... because you're right.... because I do want you.

 

JENNIFER WALKS OVER TO STAND BESIDE THE BED WITH HER FACE AWAY FROM HIS. HE WALKS UP BEHIND HER AND TOUCHES HER SHOULDERS.

 

JACK: Because I do.... want to make love to you.... even now.... even now.

 

SHE TURNS TO FACE HIM.

 

JENNIFER: Jack....

JACK: Because.... I love you. I think I always have.... and I know I always will.

 

HE BENDS TO KISS HER AND SHE INSTANTLY RESPONDS PUTTING HER HAND GENTLY ON HIS FACE.

 

JACK: You love a man with a beard?

JENNIFER: Heh.

JACK: Huh.

 

THEY CONTINUE TO KISS PASSIONATELY AS HE TAKES HER IN HIS ARMS AND LAYS HER BACK ON THE BED WHERE THEY BEGIN TO MAKE LOVE.