oldEpisode Two-hundred-twenty-one: After
Spending the Night on the Sofa with Jack,
Jennifer Suddenly Pulls Away; Jack Is Hurt and
Confused. Later, after a Talk with Jo, Jack
Asks Jennifer out on a Special Date.

---

[Air date early December 1990]

 

SCENE ONE: IT IS THE NEXT MORNING, JACK IS SITTING ON THE SOFA IN THE LOFT. HE IS ASLEEP AND JENNIFER IS LYING WITH HER HEAD ON HIS LAP. HE SLOWLY WAKES UP AND BEGINS TO STROKE HER HAIR. HE KISSES THE TOP OF HER HEAD AND HER HAND COMES UP AND COVERS HIS. SUDDENLY SHE SITS UP AND MOVES TO THE END OF THE SOFA AWAY FROM HIM. HE IS HURT.

JACK: Well good morning to you too!

JACK (CONT.) What's wrong Jennifer?

 

SHE GETS UP AND STARTS TO CLEAN UP THE DINNER THINGS.

 

JENNIFER: There's nothing wrong. I just.... I just want to clean up this mess, that's all.

JACK: I think that can wait.

JENNIFER: I really want to thank you for staying with me last night Jack.

JACK: It was nothing. I got a couple of kinks out of it but it was my pleasure, really.

JENNIFER: No Jack, you don't understand. After everything that's happened.... after everything that's happened to us, I really needed you.

JACK: Well....

 

JACK IS ABOUT TO TOUCH HER FACE BUT SHE TURNS AWAY FROM HIM AND ONCE AGAIN HE IS CONFUSED.

 

JENNIFER: I just want to forget about the whole thing okay.

JACK: Well I'm sure that you can do that.... in time.

 

JACK WALKS AROUND THE KITCHEN BENCH TO FACE JENNIFER.

 

JACK: But I don't suppose you really want to forget.... some of the things that we were saying down in that tunnel.

JENNIFER: Well we thought we were going to die.

JACK: Just like on that island, yes. But.... ah.... between you and me, hopefully we don't have to have brushes with death just to.... just to say how we feel. (Beat) We feel.... (Long beat )I want you to be a part of my life.

 

JACK HURRIES TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM. HE IS FIDGETY AND NERVOUS.

 

JACK: And I want to be a part.... of your life. Kind of like this, in the morning and the evening.... like this.

 

HE LOOKS AT HER EXPECTANTLY.

 

JENNIFER: Are you saying what I think you're saying?

JACK: I think we ought to move in together.

JENNIFER: Oh Jack, you don't know how much it means to me to hear you say that.

JACK: So you think we should.... move.... in together?

JENNIFER: No, we shouldn't.

 

JACK IS SURPRISED AND CONFUSED.

 

JACK: We shouldn't.

JENNIFER: No I don't want you to get the wrong idea. It's not that I don't want to live with you Jack.... because I do, it's just that when we finally do live together I want us to be married. You can understand that, right?

JACK: You know you were the one who.... brought up living together first after that cruise.

JENNIFER: You're right, you're right. I did. But things are different now, that's all.

 

JACK IS A BIT ANGRY.

 

JACK: Why are things different?

JENNIFER: I don't know, they just are.

 

JACK CONTAINS HIS ANGER AND BEGINS TO WALK AWAY FROM HER VERY FAST. SUDDENLY HE SPINS BACK AND WALKS BACK TO HER.

JACK: Is it because of Francoise?

JENNIFER: What?.... No, Frankie has nothing to do with this Jack, I promise you.

JACK: Then what does?

 

THE PHONE RINGS.

 

JENNIFER: Hello.... Dan, hi.

 

JACK IS VERY ANGRY AND IS WATCHING HER WITH HIS HANDS JAMMED IN HIS POCKETS. HE DOES NOT BELIEVE HER.

 

JENNIFER: Ah.... yes.... yes I'll be right there. That was Dan.

JACK: He wants you to go down to the studio now?

JENNIFER: Yeah but that might be good, you know. To get back to work, back into the swing of things. I'm going to get dressed.

JACK: Jennifer I think.... I think we're in the middle of a conversation here.

JENNIFER: I know but we could talk later, right.

 

SHE WALKS UP STAIRS LEAVING HIM ALONE.

SCENE TWO: JENNIFER GOES TO THE STUDIO WHERE DAN TELLS HER HE WANTS TO DO A SERIES ON LAWRENCE ALAMAIN. JENNIFER IS ABOUT TO TELL HIM SHE NEEDS MORE TIME WHEN THEY GET WORD THAT THE NEWSREADER HAS BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. DAN ASKS JENNIFER TO DO HIS PIECE. SHE LOOKS AT THE STORY AND TELLS DAN SHE CANNOT READ IT. HE INSISTS AND SHE GOES TO AIR READING A STORY ABOUT DATE RAPE IN COLLEGE. AS SHE IS READING IT, SHE REMEMBERS EVERY DETAIL OF HER RAPE BY LAWRENCE.

SCENE THREE: BACK AT THE LOFT, JACK ANSWERS THE DOOR TO FIND JO STANDING THERE.

 

JO: Oh come here to me. Oh I've been so worried about you.

 

SHE GIVES HIM A BIG HUG.

JO: I've looked everywhere for you. First I went to your house and then I went to your office and then I decided, oh well, he will be right here, that's what I decided.

JACK: I suppose I could have saved you the trouble and given you a call.

JO: Oh that's okay. I know that you've got a lot to do.

JACK: Well actually.... ah.... Jennifer had a rather rough time of it over there and I was just.... just helping her out.

JO: That's the best excuse I can think of.

JACK: Well it's not really an excuse. I was hoping to help her out on a more.... permanent basis.

JO: Did you finally tell her?

JACK: I.... ah.... I asked her.... if we could live together.

JO: Oh, what did she say?

JACK: She said no.

JO: Good!

JACK: Good?

JO: Huh, uh. Call me old fashioned but I believe that people should get married before they go living together.

JACK: I believe she said something to that effect.

JO: What are you going to do about it?

JACK: I'm not going to do anything.... about it. Jennifer.... ah.... is not going to live with me and I'm not going to live with her.

JO: Well she doesn't want to live with you because she wants to marry you.

JACK: You think that's all there is to it, huh.

JO: Well that's what you just said she said.

JACK: So?

JO: Okay I know you don't want to hear my opinion but it's mother's prerogative and I'm going to give it to you. Now you and Jennifer have decided that you love each other, right?

JACK: Look....

JO: Right.... right?

JACK: Ah....

JO: And you don't want to be with anybody else, is that right?

JACK: Ju....

JO: Okay, okay. So what are you waiting for? Life is too short to put things off. Especially when it comes to happiness. And I have learned a lot about that lately. I hope you do too before it's too late.

JACK: (Beat) I'll think about it.

JO: I hear Frankie's back in town. Don't lose the one girl that's so right for you. Think about that!

 

JO TOUCHES JACK ON HIS HEART AND THEN LEAVES. JACK PONDERS WHAT SHE SAID FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN PICKS UP THE PHONE.

 

JACK: Vern.... Vern, yes it's me. Jack, yes Jack is back. Yes, I'm fine thank you. Look I have something I need for you to do. I have.... ah.... a special assignment for Friday night.... Vern, wait, stay there.... VERN. No this is nothing out of the ordinary. As I said before, something.... special.

SCENE FOUR: JACK IS AT THE HOSPITAL. JENNIFER IS THERE TO SEE ALICE. SHE IS ABOUT TO GO IN THE DOOR WHEN JACK SEES HER.

 

JENNIFER: Jack.

JACK: How was your first day back at work?

JENNIFER: Oh it was great. You know they even let me fill in as anchor.

JACK: Oh, I'm sorry I missed that. Unfortunately I was here working with the staff.

JENNIFER: Oh that's okay, you didn't really miss much.

JACK: You're going to see your grandmother I take it. When you're through I'd like to talk to you about doing something special.

JENNIFER: Oh Jack you don't have to do that. I mean you don't.

JACK: No, no, I think it's.... ah.... I think it's something you've got coming to you. I mean you've had a really rough time and it's something I'd like to do. Anyway you go see your grandmother and I'll wait for you out here.

JENNIFER: Okay.

 

JENNIFER GOES IN TO SEE ALICE. WHITNEY COMES BY TO TALK TO JACK.

 

JACK: Dr. Baker.

WHITNEY: Well if it isn't my long lost patient.

JACK: No ex patient.

WHITNEY: Oh things are going that well are they?

JACK: I suppose you could say that, yes.

WHITNEY: Good, well I'd love to hear all about it.

JACK: Well I can tell you some time but unfortunately I don't really have the time.

WHITNEY: For you Jack, I'll always make the time.

SCENE FIVE: INSIDE WITH ALICE, JENNIFER TELLS ALICE THAT JACK HAS BEEN WONDERFUL TO HER BUT SHE THINKS THAT IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH HE IS REACHING OUT TO HER THE WAY SHE HAS ALWAYS WANTED HIM TO, SHE SAYS SHE IS AFRAID THAT SHE CANNOT REACH BACK TO HIM. ALICE TELLS HER TO FOLLOW HER HEART. JENNIFER GOES OUTSIDE AND SEES JACK TALKING TO WHITNEY.

 

JACK: No tomorrow's no good. How about Thursday?

WHITNEY: No, I'm going to be in a conference all day. How about Friday?

JACK: No, Friday's definitely out. I got a private party. I think.... oh hello Jennifer. How is your grandmother?

JENNIFER: She's really doing a lot better.

JACK: Really?

JENNIFER: Yeah.

 

JACK DOES NOT JENNIFER TO KNOW THAT HE IS WHITNEY'S PATIENT. JACK INTRODUCERS WHITNEY AS A FRIEND.

 

JACK: Um.... oh this is Dr. Whitney Baker, she's a.... friend of mine.

WHTINEY: Hi.

JENNIFER: Oh hi.

WHITNEY: It's nice to meet you.

JENNIFER: Yes it's nice to meet you too.

JACK: We're just.... ah.... having.... making an appointment to have lunch.

WHITNEY: Yeah, look why don't I have my secretary call yours and we'll set something up. I've got to run, I'm going to be late for an appointment. I've got a rape counseling session.

JACK: Sure.

JENNIFER: You...ah, run a rape counseling group?

WHITNEY: Yes, it's really the most important work that I do and I don't like to be late. It was nice to see you Jack. It was nice to meet you Jennifer.

JENNIFER: Yeah.

 

WHITNEY LEAVES.

 

JACK: So.... ah.... while I've got my little date book out here, let's.... ah.... set a date for Friday, okay.

JENNIFER: A date?

JACK: Yeah.

 

JENNIFER IS SURPRISED SINCE SHE AND JACK HAVE NEVER HAD A REAL DATE BEFORE. SHE KIND OF TEASES HIM A LITTLE.

 

JENNIFER: I didn't think that dates were your style Jack.

JACK: Just give me a yes or no. How's Friday?

JENNIFER: Jack what are you up to?

JACK: I'm not up to anything. (Beat) If I am I guess you're just going to have to trust me, huh. What's it going to be?

JENNIFER: Okay.

JACK: Okay.

 

JACK LEAVES AND JENNIFER THINKS THAT THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA.

 

JENNIFER: Yes it's a date.