oldEpisode Two-hundred-twenty-two:
"Simply Elegant": Finally, Jo Helps Jack
Choose the Perfect Engagment Ring.

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[Air date early December 1990]

 

SCENE ONE: IT IS THE NEXT DAY AND JENNIFER IS WAITING AT WINGS. MELISSA COMES BY AND ASKS HER WHAT SHE IS DOING AND SHE SAYS WAITING FOR MICKEY SO THAT SHE CAN ARRANGE HER DIVORCE FROM LAWRENCE. MICKEY ARRIVES WITH GOOD NEWS AND SAYS THAT THE DIVORCE CAN GO AHEAD BECAUSE IT WAS NEVER CONSUMMATED. JENNIFER GOES VERY QUIET BUT DOES NOT SAY ANYTHING.

SCENE TWO: MEANWHILE JACK IS WALKING DOWN THE STREET WHEN HE SEES JORDAN'S THE JEWELRY STORE.

HE PAUSES AND THEN TURNS BACK AND GOES INSIDE. HE IS VERY NERVOUS AND TAKES IT OUT ON THE SHOPKEEPER. THOUGHOUT THE SHOKEEPER IS VERY OVERZEALOUS. JACK IS INSECURE, AND WANTS TO KEEP THE WHOLE THING QUIET.

 

MANAGER: May I help you?

JACK: Jack tries Yeah I.... ah.... I'd like to see some rings.

MANAGER: What kind of rings would you be interested in?

JACK: A round one.

MANAGER: Oh certainly. For a man or a woman?

JACK: (Mumbling) Woman.

MANAGER: Huh?

JACK: A woman!

 

JO MEANWHILE HAS BEEN SHOPPING TOO AND SHE SEES JACK THROUGH THE WINDOW AND COMES INSIDE TOO.

 

MANAGER: Oh, I see. Would this by any chance be an engagement ring?

JACK: (Mumbling) Yes it would.

MANAGER: Huh?

JACK: Yes it would be an engagement ring!

JO: (Overjoyed for Jack) An engagement ring?

 

JACK HAS BEEN NERVOUSLY FIDDLE AROUND, HEARING JO, HE TURNS AROUND. HE DOES NOT SEEM TOO HAPPY SEEING HER, IT MAKES HIM MORE SELF-CONSIOUS OF WHAT HE IS DOING.

JO (CONT.): Oh Jack, does this mean you and Jennifer are finally going go through with it.

JACK: Yes, I (Nervous cough) I su-suppose it does.

JO: Oh, it's a dream come true. She's going to make a spectacular bride. Oh, what did she say when you, when you asked asked her (Beat) was she excited?

 

JACK IS EVEN MORE NERVOUS. ALSO, IT IS OBVIOUS BY THE EXPRESSIONS ON HIS FACE, THAT WITH JENNIFER RECENT BEHAVIOR HE IS UNCERTAIN IF SHE WILL ACCEPT HIS PROPOSAL; THAT MIXED WITH HIS OWN FEARS ABOUT HIMSELF.

 

JACK: I (Nervous cough) I haven't asked.

JO: Oh, you haven't asked her yet.

JACK: No, I haven't

JO: Oh, well, it doesn't matter she'll say yes.

JACK: (With a worried expression) After all this, one would hope so.

SCENE THREE: JO AND JACK ARE AT THE JEWELLERS, CHOOSING AN ENGAGMENT RING FOR JENNIFER.

 

JO: Oh how about this one. This one's a beauty.

JACK: (Embarrassed)Too big.

JO: Oh okay, how about this one?

JACK: Too small.

JO: Oh alright, well what about this one? This is pretty.

JACK: It's too.... ah.... too medium.

MANAGER: What exactly did you have in mind sir?

JACK: I don't know.... don't you have something.... I don't know.... something simple but.... ah.... but elegant.... something.... something simply elegant. Don't you have something like that?

MANAGER: I'm not sure. But we can find something, excuse me (He leaves).

JACK: (To Jo) You see.... see.... they always bring the junk out first and then they leave the good stuff for later. That's how they work.

JO: Listen don't you worry. Look we are going to find you the perfect ring. You've already done the hard part. You found the perfect girl.

BRIAN SCOFIELD (VERN'S SON) ENTERS. HE IS DETECTIVE, AND IS INVESTIGATING NICK'S MURDER.

 

BRIAN: Hi guys.

JACK: Oh, the son also rises and I do say that earnestly.

BRIAN: It's good to see you back Jack in one piece.

JACK: Oh this is Jo Johnson, this is.... this is....

BRIAN: Brian.

JACK: Brian Scofield.

JO: Nice to meet you.

BRIAN: I've heard a lot about you.

JO: Oh, well I didn't know my son talked that much about me.

BRIAN: He hardly ever mentions you.

 

JACK GIVES BRIAN A LOOK.

 

BRIAN: It's my dad, Vern, Vern Scofield. He works with Jack; Jack works with him.

JO: Oh yes I remember him. I thought his name was Merv.

BRIAN: No I don't think so, he would have told me.

MANAGER: I have the very ring you want. It's simple, it's elegant, it's simply elegant, it's you.

JACK: Let's just hope it's her.

MANAGER: Don't let this one go by. It won't be around long.

JACK: Yeah I can see with price tags like that they just fly out of here everyday don't they?

MANAGER: I wish they did.

JACK: Just cut it with the hard sell alright or I'm out of here.

BRIAN: I guess you just get a little anxious when business falls off.

MANAGER: Like you wouldn't believe. The last big sale I had, that ring will probably be coming back into the shop anyday now.

BRIAN: Really, why do you say that?

MANAGER: Because the guy that bought it just got himself killed. You know, it was in all the papers. The guy who owned the restaurant.

BRIAN: You wouldn't happen to be talking about Nick Corelli would you?

MANAGER: Yeah that's the name. You've got a good memory for names.

 

JACK IS STILL DECIDING.

 

JACK: (To Jo) What do you think?

BRIAN: I kind of prefer the square one myself.

JACK: I was talking to her.

BRIAN: Oh I'm sorry. Don't mind me.

JACK: I'll try not to. So what do you think?

JO: I think it's beautiful.

MANAGER: It's clear blue white. Excellent taste.

JO: It's a little expensive.

JACK: I know, you don't have to remind me. Um.... alright, okay, okay, okay, okay.

 

JACK PULLS HIS CREDIT CARD OUT OF HIS WALLET.

 

JACK: I'll just close my eyes here. Here take this. Wrap it up.

MANAGER: Yes sir!

JO: Oh this is such a fine day. Jennifer's going to make such a difference in your life. Oh Jack, I just thought of something. Why don't I make a dinner just for the two of you and you can pop the question to her there. I'll do something special like my tuna casserole.

JACK: NO! I mean no, no, it's.... ah.... save that for some real special occasion.

JO: Well if this isn't special then I don't know what is.

JACK: You know when I was dying in that tunnel.... I thought about the tuna casserole and never tasting it again and I was.... I was low.... I was very low but now.... now that we're out and I have the prospect of many more to come, I think I'll just savor that thought for a while and besides I think I have something different planned for Jennifer.

JO: Oh Jack, I'm so proud of you.

JACK: (Uncertain) Well I hope she's proud of me too.

MANAGER Sir, here you are and if you'll just sign here.

JACK: Thank you.

 

THE MANAGER HANDS JACK THE RING AND HIS CREDIT CARD. JACK RIPS OFF HIS COPY OF THE RECEIPT AND WAVES.

 

JACK: Thanks. Thanks, let's get out of here.

JO: Goodbye, say hello to Van.

BRIAN: Ah.... Vern.... Vern.

 

JACK WALKS OUTSIDE AND LOOKS AT THE RING WHICH IS IN A NICE BOX BUT HAS A BIG PINK GIFT BOW ON TOP.

HE RIPS OFF THE BOW AND THROWS IT IN THE GARBAGE.

SCENE FOUR: BACK AT WINGS, MICKEY HAS LEFT AND JENNIFER IS SITTING ALONE LOOKING WORRIED. MELISSA COMES OVER AND ASKS HER IF EVERYTHING IS OKAY. MELISSA SAYS SHE COULD TELL SOMETHING WAS WRONG WHEN MICKEY WAS TALKING.

 

MELISSA: You can say this is none of my business but I have to ask you this. Was your marriage consummated?

JENNIFER: What?

MELISSA: Did you and Lawrence make love?

JENNIFER: Melissa, no. I didn't make love to Lawrence.

MELISSA: Okay, I'm sorry. I guess I was wrong.

 

JENNIFER CHANGES THE SUBJECT IMMEDIATELY BY ADMIRING THE RING THAT MELISSA IS WEARING. SHE AND EMILIO ARE ENGAGED, BUT SHE DOES NOT SOUND TO SURE. EMILIO, HAS BEEN ACTING STRANGELY, RECENTLY; ESPECIALLY SINCE NICK'S MURDER.

SCENE FIVE: JENNIFER GOES BACK TO THE LOFT AND HER FEAR OF LAWRENCE IS STARTING TO OVERWHELM HER. SHE LOOKS AROUND THE APARTMENT AS IF SHE IS SCARED. SHE GOES TO THE KITCHEN AND STARTS TO LOOK AROUND JUST AS JACK OPENS THE DOOR AND COMES IN. JENNIFER SCREAMS IN FRIGHT.

 

JACK: WHAT?

SCENE SIX: JACK IS WORRIED ABOUT HER; AND IS UNSURE IF HER FEELINGS FOR HIM HAVE CHANGED. SHE MAKES SOME TEA AND IS POURING IT WHILE JACK WATCHES HER.

 

JENNIFER: I'm just a little jumpy, that's all.

JACK: So what's wrong?

JENNIFER: I guess I'm just nervous about being here in the loft all by myself, that's all.

JACK: Lawrence, right.

JENNIFER: What?

JACK: Lawrence. Lawrence would tend to put one on edge right?

JENNIFER: Yeah I guess so.

 

JENNIFER SITS ON THE SOFA AS FAR AWAY FROM JACK AS SHE CAN GET. HE NOTICES.

 

JACK: I don't believe you have to worry about Lawrence anymore.

JENNIFER: Why because you're here now?

 

JACK SMILES.

 

JACK: No, no. But.... ah.... as Shane said, the ISA is keeping him under surveillance. (Beat) You know about that other thing you said, that.... that could be possible too.

JENNIFER: What? What other thing did I say?

JACK: About being afraid to be alone.

JENNIFER: Ah I still don't know what you're talking about.

JACK: Well I guess you'll find out Friday.

JENNIFER: Ah Jack, what is this Friday?

JACK: (Acting innocently, evading her question) This Friday is the seventh.

JENNIFER: No Jack, you know what I'm talking about. What is going to happen this Friday?

JACK: Let's just wait and see.

JENNIFER: What do you mean wait and see? I mean I know that we have a date but it's got to be more than that, you keep talking about it.

JACK: Perhaps....

JENNIFER: Jack!

 

THE PHONE RINGS.

 

JACK: It's the phone.

JENNIFER: I know but I'm not done talking with you. Jack!

 

HE PICKS UP THE PHONE AND HANDS IT TO HER. IT IS ROMAN.

 

JACK: What did he say?

JENNIFER: He said that Lawrence escaped the ISA surveillance and nobody knows where he is.

 

JENNIFER IS REALLY FRIGHTENED; JACK TRIES TO FIND A WAY TO HELP HER.

 

JACK: So.... so what do you want? I mean I could stay here.... on the couch. (Beat) Jennifer?

 

SHE TURNS AWAY FROM HIM.

JACK: Jennifer. (Beat) Jennifer you can tell me what's wrong. I don't have to stay here. That's alright.

JENNIFER: No, no, it's just ah.... god, I don't know what's wrong. I'm really emotional these days and I can't get control of things, that's all.

JACK: So you can't leave all the things that happened with Lawrence behind?

JENNIFER: Yeah I guess it probably has something to do with that. Ah.... um.... I'll be fine in a few days.

JACK: I tell you what, you go.... you go upstairs and go to sleep and I'll just stay down here on your couch. Just go, go ahead.

 

JACK IS SAYING THESE THINGS BUT THEY BOTH KNOW IT IS HURTING HIM TO BE REJECTED BY HER LIKE THIS.

 

JENNIFER: Okay.

 

JENNIFER GOES UPSTAIRS. JACK TAKES THE ENGAGEMENT RING OUT OF HIS POCKET AND LOOKS AT IT. HE IS VERY UNSURE THAT HE IS DOING THE RIGHT THING.

SCENE ONE: IT IS THURSDAY AND JENNIFER OPENS THE DOOR TO GET THE PAPER AND FRANKIE WALKS UP. SHE GETS A TERRIBLE FRIGHT. HE WONDERS WHAT IS WRONG WITH HER. SHE TELLS HIM NOTHING IS WRONG SO HE INVITES HER TO A PARTY THAT THE BRADY'S ARE GIVING FOR HIM. HE INVITES JACK TOO. BUT HE IS WORKING SO SHE SAYS SHE WILL GO ALONE.

 

FRANKIE: Well you know you shouldn't be here alone.

JENNIFER: Well I know. I'm just trying to work out something. I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet.

FRANKIE: Well what about Jack?

JENNIFER: Jack?

FRANKIE: Yeah, your boyfriend. Maybe he could stay here with you.

 

JENNIFER SHAKES HER HEAD.

 

FRANKIE: Jennifer what's wrong with Jack staying with you?

JENNIFER: Ah it's just not really a good idea that's all.

FRANKIE: Are you two getting along alright?

JENNIFER: Yeah, yeah it's not that.

FRANKIE: Then what then, are you afraid that Jack might not want to?

JENNIFER: No, it's not that. We already talked about moving in together.

FRANKIE: You did. Then what's the problem.... (Realizing something) wait a minute I think I understand now.

JENNIFER: What?

FRANKIE: Well you remember when we were living together, you know you felt pretty uncomfortable about the fact we were not married.

JENNIFER: No, that's not it at all.

FRANKIE: It's not?

JENNIFER: Frankie, I love Jack more than anything. And I went through a lot to be with him. And it took a while but then it finally happened, we finally got together.

FRANKIE: (Not at all happy that her first time was with Jack and not him.) So you're saying....

JENNIFER: Ah, yeah.

FRANKIE: You know you always said that you wanted it to be the right time and the right guy. I just always thought....

JENNIFER: That it would be you.

FRANKIE: I'm really sorry. I had no right to expect that. I just hope Jack is the right guy for you and that it was everything you wanted it to be.

JENNIFER: Well it was. I mean Jack was wonderful and he made me happier than I ever thought I could be.

FRANKIE: Then I'm really confused. What's wrong with him moving in with you?

JENNIFER: Frankie it's just....

 

THERE IS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR WITH A DELIVERY FOR JENNIFER HORTON. FRANKIE SAYS HE WILL GET IT FOR HER. IT IS A MASSIVE BUNCH OF BALLOONS WITH A CARD.

 

FRANKIE: Is it from Jack?

JENNIFER: Yeah. (She's crying)

FRANKIE: You know for somebody that is so.... happy, you seem pretty miserable to me. What's going on, tell me I just want to help Jen.

JENNIFER: Well you can't, nobody can.

FRANKIE: Jen what is the matter, is it something in Jack's note that set you off? What?

JENNIFER: No it's really beautiful.

 

SHE HANDS IT TO FRANKIE.

 

FRANKIE: (Reading) "Jennifer, this is only the beginning. Be ready for the most romantic night of your life. All my love, Jack. (Beat) Why would something like this upset you Jen?"

JENNIFER: Why, because it's really wonderful, that's why.

 

FRANKIE TRIES TO GET JENNIFER TO TELL HIM WHAT IS WRONG. SHE IS NOT READY TO DO SO. HE WANTS TO BE FRIENDS, AND TO HELP HER. THEY DECIDE TO BECOME ROOMMATES. JENNIFER IS SCARED TO BE ALONE; AND FRANKIE IS SAFE, SHE HAS NO ROMANTIC FEELINGS FOR HIM, SHE DOES NOT LOVE HIM. HOWEVER, DESPITE WHAT HE SAYS, FRANKIE WANTS HER FOR HIMSELF, AND BELIEVES HE IS BETTER FOR HER THAN JACK. THEY GO TO THE PARTY.

SCENE TWO: MEANWHILE, MANY PEOPLE ARE ACTING STRANGELY, INCLUDING JUSTIN AND EMILIO -- WHO HAVE BEEN ARUGING. THEY, AMONG OTHERS, INCLUDING APRIL AND EVE, ARE SUSPECTS IN NICK'S MURDER.

SCENE THREE: BRIAN SCOFIELD IS ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN MELISSA'S ENGAGMENT RING. IT APPEARS THAT THIS WAS THE RING NICK HAD BOUGHT FOR EVE. HOW DID EMILIO GET AHOLD OF IT?

SCENE FOUR: LATER THAT EVENING JENNIFER IS ALONE IN THE LOFT, READING THE CARD THAT JACK SENT.

 

JENNIFER: "Jennifer, this is only the beginning. Be ready for the most romantic night of your life tomorrow. Until then, all my love Jack."

 

SHE CLOSES THE CARD AND BEGINS TO CRY. THIS IS ALL SHE EVER WANTED. AND NOW, WHEN JACK IS FINALLY OPENING UP TO HER, SHE IS WORRIED THAT BECAUSE OF THE RAPE, SHE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RESPOUND.