oldEpisode Two-hundred-twenty-six: Jennifer's
Behavior Continues to Worry Jack; Jack
Hears Frankie Tell Jennifer He Loves Her.

---

[Air date mid-Decemeber 1990]

 

SCENE ONE: JENNIFER GOES TO THE HOSPITAL TO GET INFORMATION ON DR. BAKER'S RAPE COUNSELING SESSIONS. SHE GETS A PAMPHLET FROM HER RECEPTIONIST. JUST AS SHE IS PUTTING IT IN HER BAG, JACK COMES OUT OF WHITNEY BAKER'S OFFICE. THEY BOTH GET A BIG SHOCK. JACK'S SCARF IS CAUGHT IN THE DOOR. JACK IS EMBARRASSED, HE DOES NOT WANT JENNIFER TO KNOW HE HAS BEEN SEEING A PSYCHIATRIST

 

JACK: Jennifer!

JENNFIER: Jack! What are you doing here?

JACK: What am I .... what am I doing here. Well I'm just.... I was just visiting.... I was just having a visit with.... ah....

 

HE FREES HIS SCARF FROM THE DOOR.

 

JACK: EXCUSE ME.... Dr. Baker. You know as a member of the staff, I was just having a nice staff visit with.... Dr. Baker.

JENNFIER: No you weren't! You're one of Dr. Baker's patients aren't you?

JACK: Wait.... wait a minute. You think I'm seeing a shrink? You think.... you think I'm seeing a shrink. Listen....

 

HE CHECKS AROUND TO MAKE SURE NOBODY IS LISTENING.

 

JACK: You listen to me okay. This is between you and me. I'm seeing a shrink! Okay.

JENNFIER: Why?

JACK: Why do you think?

JENNFIER: Wait.... are you seeing Dr. Baker because of me?

JACK: Huh, uh. Of course the whole purpose was to get you out of my system, just to get you out of my hair but of course things got a little turned around. You see?

JENNFIER: No, no, I don't see at all.

JACK: You see, it's like this see. You see the shrink.... Dr. Baker made me realize there's more to me than meets the eye, especially when you are around. The point is.... I think that you always felt there was more to me than meets the eye and.... you actually got me thinking that too.

JENNFIER: I mean I can't believe that you're admitting all these things to me Jack. Dr. Baker, she's really helping you, huh.

JACK: No, no, not half as much as you did.... for free. Now this what I'm thinking. See I've already been able to tell you how I feel about you right.

JENNFIER: Yeah.

JACK: I think it's time to drop the shrink and just stick with you.

JENNFIER: You know.... I don't think that's a good idea Jack. I think that you should think about it a little more before you quit seeing Dr. Baker. Okay. I really have to go, I don't....

JACK: Wait.... wait a minute, if you really have to go. If you are in such a hurry to go, what are doing here?

JENNFIER: I just had some research that I had to work on, that's all and now I have to get back to the station.

JACK: Oh!

JENNFIER: Yeah.

JACK: Are we still supposed to go to your grandparent's tonight?

JENNFIER: Yes of course.

JACK: Yes of course, so.... should I pick you up at the station?

JENNFIER: Yeah, just pick me up there. I'll see you then.

JACK: I'll see you then.

JENNFIER: Right.

 

JENNIFER LEAVES BUT JACK KNOWS THAT SHE WAS ANXIOUS TO GET AWAY FROM HIM AND SPEND AS LITTLE TIME WITH HIM AS POSSIBLE.

SCENE TWO: JENNIFER GOES TO THE STATION AND HAS TO READ A NEWS PIECE ON A FOLLOW UP TO THE RAPE STORY SHE WAS DOING EARLIER. SHE IS VERY NERVOUS WHILE SHE IS READING THIS. AS SOON AS SHE HAS FINISHED, SHE GETS A CALL AT THE STATION WHERE SOMEBODY TELLS HER THAT SHE OBVIOUSLY DOES NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE RAPED. THIS REALLY UPSETS JENNIFER. THE CALLER HANGS UP AND THEN SHE GETS ANOTHER CALL FROM SOMEBODY WITH A TIP ON THE NICK CORELLI MURDER. HE INSISTS SHE MEET HIM AT PIER 22 AT 9 O'CLOCK. HE HANGS UP IMMEDIATELY. SHE GETS DAN'S PERMISSION TO WORK ON THE CORELLI CASE INSTEAD OF WORKING ON THE ALAMAIN CASE .

 

DAN: You know this will take a lot of investigative work and take up all your time.

JENNFIER: I know. I can't think of anything I'd rather do at this time.

DAN: Okay give it your best shot.

JENNFIER: I will. I'll give it my best shot.

 

JACK ARRIVES AT THIS MOMENT.

 

JACK: Give what a shot?

DAN: Oh, Jennifer will fill you in. I've got to skidaddle.

 

DAN LEAVES.

 

JACK: What does Dan want you to give a shot to?

JENNFIER: Oh it's just a story that he wants me to do. It's no big deal really.

JACK: It didn't sound like it wasn't a big deal.

JENNFIER: What, you expect me to tell you, competition.

JACK: Well it doesn't really matter. I could find out if I want. I could also find out if it's something else!

JENNFIER: What else could it be? (Beat) Come on Jack, let's head over to my grandma and grandpa's before we're too late, okay.

JACK: Hmmm, hmmm.

SCENE THREE: FRANKIE GOES TO VISIT ALICE. HE BRINGS HER A TAPE. ALICE NOTICES IT IS THE MUSIC SHE PLAYED FOR HIM AND JENNIFER YEARS AGO. SHE CAN TELL THAT FRANKIE IS NOT THERE JUST TO SEE HER, AND THAT HE STILL CARES ABOUT JENNIFER. FRANKIE DOES NOT SAY MUCH, BUT IT APPEARS THAT HE IS HOPING THAT ALICE BELIEVES THAT HE AND JENNIFER SHOULD BE TOGETHER. ALICE ACTS SYMPATHETIC TO HIM, BUT IT IS OBVIOUS THAT SHE KNOWS THAT JENNIFER NOW BELONGS WITH JACK.

SCENE FOUR: JACK AND JENNIFER ARRIVE AT ALICE'S TO FIND FRANKIE THERE. JACK FINDS THE SITUATION ACKWARD. AS FRANKIE SEES JACK WITH THE FAMILY HE TOO FEELS ACKWARD, AND LEAVES.

 

TOM: Look who's here, Jennifer Rose.

JULIE: Hi. TOM: And Jack. Hi.

JACK: Yeah.

 

JACK LOOKS ACROSS AND MAKES SURE THAT FRANKIE KNOWS THAT HE KNOWS HE IS ALWAYS AROUND.

 

FRANKIE: Mrs. Horton, I really should be going. Jen.... Jack.

JENNFIER: Ah Frankie, I didn't know that you were going to be here.

FRANKIE: Yeah.... I was just leaving anyway. Thanks.

 

JENNIFER RUSHES OVER TO TALK TO ALICE WHILE JACK WATCHES FRANKIE LEAVE.

 

JENNFIER: Jack, come here, look at our tree.

JACK: What tree is that? Oh.

 

JENNIFER TAKES JACK OVER TO SEE THE CHRISTMAS TREE AND FRANKIE WATCHES THEM THROUGH THE WINDOW.

SCENE FIVE: AS SOON AS DINNER IS FINISHED, JENNIFER LEAVES THE TABLE AND GOES TO THE LIVING ROOM. SHE LISTENS TO JACK TALK TO THE FAMILY.

 

MIKCEY: That was a great dinner mom.

JACK: Jennifer is always talking about what these dinners are like. I guess I'm finally finding out.

JULIE: Well I'm glad you got to experience it for yourself Jack.

TOM: May you experience many more in the future.

JACK: That's very gracious of you Dr. Horton.

 

ALICE COMES OUT TO SEE IF JENNIFER IS ALRIGHT. SHE TELLS ALICE THAT SHE IS FINE BUT SHE HAS TO LEAVE RIGHT NOW.

 

JENNFIER: You know what, tell Jack that I need to go but make him stay and have a good time, okay. Happy Thanksgiving.

ALICE: Happy Thanksgiving to you.

 

JENNIFER LEAVES. ALICE IS PRELEXED AND WORRIED ABOUT JENNIFER'S STRANGE BEHAVIOR. JUST THEN JACK WALKS INTO THE ROOM.

 

JACK: Well I noticed Jennifer just running out the door.

ALICE: Yes, she said that it was something to do with her job.

JACK: Yeah the old work excuse.

ALICE: You don't believe her do you?

JACK: No, no, no, she's.... she's hiding something.

ALICE: Jack, have you yet discovered what it is that she's so worried about?

JACK: No, no, no, I mean she keeps saying nothing's wrong but there obviously is and I'm not going to push her.... at least not tonight, if you know what I mean.

ALICE: I most certainly do.

JACK: Good.

 

JACK WALKS OVER AND LOOKS OUT THE WINDOW. ALICE FEELS FOR JACK, SEEING JUST HOW MUCH HE LOVES JENNIFER. SHE FOLLOWS HIM AND PATS HIM ON THE ARM.

ALICE: Jennifer is very lucky to have a man who loves her as much as you do.

SCENE SIX: EVERYBODY COMES INTO THE LIVING ROOM AFTER DINNER AND JACK DECIDES IT IS TIME TO MAKE HIS ESCAPE.

 

JACK: Oh well if you will excuse me, I really need to be getting back to the office. I have some pick-up work to do.

MIKCEY: Oh, they don't realize it's Thanksgiving, down there.

 

JACK SMILES AT MICKEY'S JOKE.

 

TOM: And speaking of Thanksgiving. I don't think I ever enjoyed a dinner more. Maybe it's because I never had a Thanksgiving to be more thankful for.

MIKCEY: What makes it even better is that this year we've got Melissa with us and Julie's here. Oh it's going to be a regular old fashioned family Horton Christmas this year with everybody around.

JULIE: Grandma darling, is there anything more that we can do for you.

ALICE: Oh my word, you've all been so wonderful. There isn't anything more I could possibly want.... except.... I haven't heard Melissa sing in so long.

JULIE: Oh.

ALICE: I'd like that if you don't mind.

MELISSA: Of course I don't mind. Any requests?

ALICE: Oh let's see, something pretty yet simple but festive, but not too bright. Just heartwarming and touching.

 

EVERYBODY LAUGHS AND JACK IS SORT OF ASTOUNDED AT THIS CLOSE FAMILY CAMARADERIE.

 

MELISSA: I think I got it. This is for you grandma.

 

SHE STARTS TO SING ALWAYS . JACK DECIDES THAT IS REALLY TOO MUCH FOR HIM WHEN EVERYBODY JOINS AND HE QUIETLY SNEAKS OUT. HE PUTS HIS SCARF AND COAT ON AND AFTER A FINAL LISTEN, HE LEAVES.

SCENE SEVEN: MEANWHILE JENNIFER HAS GONE DOWN TO THE PIER TO MEET HER CONTACT ABOUT THE NICK CORELLI MURDER. BEFORE HER CONTACT CAN COME ALONG, SHE IS HIT ON BY A GUY AND SHE STRUGGLES WITH HIM FOR A FEW SECONDS UNTIL FRANKIE COMES BY AND SCARES THE GUY OFF. AFTER THE GUY GOES FRANKIE GIVES JENNIFER A BIG HUG AND SHE TELLS HIM THAT HE COULD HAVE GOT HURT.

 

JENNFIER: Why did you do that Frankie, he could have hurt you?

FRANKIE: Because I love you.

 

SHE TURNS AWAY AND AT THAT MOMENT, JACK COMES DOWN THE STEPS AND STOPS TO CHECK IF THERE ARE ANY COINS IN THE PHONE.

HE HEARS WHAT FRANKIE IS SAYING BUT THEY DO NOT SEE HIM.