oldEpisode Two-hundred-twenty-seven:
Jack Hears Jennifer Tell Frankie That
She Loves Jack. Later Finding out
About Alice's Heart Attack Jack Tells
Jennifer. They Go to the Hospital.

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[Air date mid-Decemeber 1990]

 

SCENE ONE: FRANKIE AND JENNIFER ARE ON THE PIER, HE HAS JUST TOLD HER THAT HE STILL LOVES HER. JACK IS THERE TOO AND HAS HEARD HIM, BUT THEY DO NOT NOTICE HIM.

 

FRANKIE: That's right, I still love you Jen.

 

JACK DECIDES TO HIDE AND HEAR THE REST OF THIS CONVERSATION. HE HIDES UNDER THE PIER SO HE CAN JUST SEE THEM.

 

FRANKIE: Jen, please, just forget I said anything.

JENNIFER: What are you talking about? I can't forget what you said, you just said that you loved me Frankie.

FRANKIE: Jen....

JENNIFER: Look I know how hard it is sometimes, hard being honest about what's going on inside and I'm glad that you told me.

FRANKIE: You are?

 

JACK IS SAD.

JENNIFER: Yes and I feel like I owe you the same kind of honesty. I mean you have the right to know how I feel about you and if you want me to tell you I will.

FRANKIE: (Believing that she will say she loves him too.) Yeah I want you to.

 

JACK IS VERY NERVOUS THAT HIS WORST FEARS MAY BE REALIZED, JENNIFER DOES NOT LOVE HIM, BUT STILL IS IN LOVE WITH FRANKIE.

 

JENNIFER: Frankie, I care about you very much. I always have....

FRANKIE: But?

JENNIFER: But a lot's changed. I'm not the same person that I was when you left. And I had to face a lot when that happened, about myself. I had to figure out who I was and what I was going to do with my life. (Beat) And then I fell in love.... really in love Frankie. And Jack means everything to me and that's never going to change.

FRANKIE: You said that before, once.

JENNIFER: You don't believe me.

FRANKIE: Well I believe that's what you think. But the way you really feel....

JENNIFER: Yeah, what, go ahead.

FRANKIE: It's not the way you're acting Jen. I mean you haven't accepted Jack's proposal.

JENNIFER: No you're right, you're right, I haven't, not yet.

FRANKIE: (He does not seem to believe her) Well why? Why? I mean if you love him so much what are you waiting for?

JENNIFER: Frankie there's a lot of things going on that you don't....

FRANKIE: Well what is it that's holding you back Jen, it's something. I mean if.... if Jack is alright now, maybe it's not a question of who he is as who he used to be and what he did. Maybe that is in the way, huh? You're not saying anything.

JENNIFER: Well you know I really don't know what to say. I mean I feel like that some of this is really none of your business Frankie.

FRANKIE: We just said that we cared about each other, didn't we? Well if you care about somebody you tell them the truth. Jen, I'm not trying to hurt you.

JENNIFER: I know that. I know you're not trying to hurt me.

FRANKIE: I hope you do because it wasn't that long ago, you and me.

JENNIFER: It seems like it was.

FRANKIE: I remember everything. You know the fact that we couldn't hold anything back from each other. We didn't know how. We were so young and falling in love for the first time. I know you, I do. Yes lots of things have changed since I left Salem but you are still the same. I think you need the same things, you know, somebody who is kind, gentle....

JENNIFER: Yes and Jack is that.

FRANKIE: We both know what Jack is.

JENNIFER: No you don't, you don't know Jack at all.

FRANKIE: Or was.... or was, okay. Well we know what he did and you have to be honest with yourself Jen. Look I am not judging Jack or what he's gone through to get where he is. All I'm saying is that people think and feel things sometimes you know and sometimes they think something they they're not really feeling you know.

JENNIFER: Jack Deveraux is the man I love Frankie. Every part of me loves him. All of it, and all of him.

FRANKIE: Then what's the problem?

JENNIFER: What's the problem? The problem is that I'm married to someone else. I'm married to Lawrence and until that is taken care of I can't say yes to Jack. I just can't do it. It wouldn't be right, it wouldn't feel right.

FRANKIE: Who are you trying to convince here?

JENNIFER: Nobody Frankie. Jack and I are getting married very soon.

 

JACK FEELS CONTENT HEARING HER SAY THAT.

 

JENNIFER: And I just hope that until after that happens and up until then, we can still be friends.

FRANKIE: Come on we'll always be friends Jen, you know that.

JENNIFER: I know. Come on, I've had a long day. Let's just get out of here.

FRANKIE: Yes, it's starting to get cold anyway.

JENNIFER: Yeah well Christmas is coming.

FRANKIE: Yeah.

 

THEY BOTH GO UP THE STEPS AND JACK IS STILL A LITTLE UNSURE OF THE REAL REASON SHE WILL NOT SAY "YES."

 

JACK: Yes Christmas is coming. Merry Christmas.

SCENE TWO: MEANWHILE CARLY HAS FOUND ALICE AND HAS BROUGHT HER TO THE HOSPITAL. TOM IS WITH HER, TOM TELLS HER THAT HE HAS JUST GOT HER BACK AND CANNOT LOSE HER NOW.

SCENE THREE: JACK IS AT THE HOSPITAL, DEBATING ABOUT GOING INTO WHITNEY'S OFFICE. JUST AS HE IS ABOUT TO OPEN THE DOOR, CARLY CALLS HIM. HE STOPS, AND TRIES TO HIDE THE FACT THAT HE IS THERE TO SEE DR. BAKER.

 

CARLY: Jack....Jack.

JACK: (Trying to be nonchalant) Ah... yes.... Ah... yes.

CARLY: I'm glad you're here.

JACK: Oh, here? I'm not really glad to be here. (Flustered) I'm glad to be here, not here in the....

CARLY: Look, they just bought Alice Horton she had another heartattack.

JACK: Here!

CARLY: Yes, Dr. Horton asked me to call the family, I was going to talk to Jennifer.

JACK: No, no, no ahh I'll.... I'll talk to Jennifer.

CARLY: Yeah?

JACK: Yeah.

CARLY: Thank you, thank you I'll talk to you later.

 

CARLY RUSHES OFF. JACK IS ALONE AND WORRIED, NOT KNOWING HOW HE IS GOING TO BREAK THE NEWS TO JENNIFER.

 

JACK: (Talking to himself) But not on the phone. That's not the kind of thing you want to hear on the phone. I'll talk to her in person.

 

JACK LEAVES TO GO TALK TO JENNIFER.

SCENE FOUR: FRANKIE TAKES JENNIFER BACK TO THE LOFT. EVE IS THERE AND HE GOES OFF TO HAVE DINNER WITH HER. AFTER HE LEAVES, JENNIFER THINKS OVER WHAT FRANKIE SAID ABOUT JACK, THAT HIS RAPE OF KAYLA DISTURBS HER. SHE TRIES TO DENY TO HERSELF THAT IT HAS ANY TRUTH. NOT LONG AFTER, THERE IS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR.

 

JENNIFER: Who is it?

JACK: It's me. Jennifer it's me, Jack. Open up.

JENNIFER: Jack, hold on for one second. Hi.

JACK: I'm glad you're here.

JENNIFER: Come in, I'm glad you're here too because I want to tell you something and I don't want you to say anything alright. I'm really sorry I left the party the other night but something....

JACK: Forget about the party. That's not important.

JENNIFER: Well what are you talking about? What's important, what's up?

JACK: Your grandmother had a heart attack. She's at the hospital right now.

JENNIFER: What?

JACK: She had a heart attack.

JENNIFER: I gotta go. I've got to go to the hospital.

JACK: Let's go.

JENNIFER: Is she going to be okay?

JACK: I.... I don't know. Come on, come on, let's go please.

 

JACK GRABS JENNIFER AND LEADS HER OUT OF THE LOFT. SHE SHRUGS HIM AWAY AND IT IS OBVIOUS SHE DOES NOT LIKE HIM TOUCHING HER IN ANY WAY.

 

JENNIFER: Wait a minute, I have to lock the door.

JACK: Alright.

SCENE FIVE: THEY ARRIVE AT THE HOSPITAL AND FIND TOM WAITING OUTSIDE ALICE'S ROOM.

 

JACK: He's here. There he is.

JENNIFER: Grandpa.

 

TOM SAYS THAT ALICE WILL PROBABLY BE OKAY BUT SHE IS ASKING FOR JENNIFER. JENNIFER HANDS JACK HER BAG AND COAT AND GOES IN TO SEE ALICE. JACK WAITS WITH TOM.

 

JACK: Here.

TOM: Jack.

JACK: You don't look too good yourself. Maybe you ought to sit down and I can get you something to drink or something.

TOM: No, I'm glad you're here for Jennifer. She needs you very much now.

JACK IS SURPRISED AND PLEASED THAT TOM ACCEPTS HIM WITH JENNIFER.

 

JACK: To tell you the truth, I don't think I'd be here if it wasn't for you.

TOM: You mean, my call to Dr. Baker?

JACK: Yes I think so. (Smiling) Um.... to tell you the truth, I have a long ways to go but I think I'm up for it. And I believe Jennifer thinks I'm up for it too.

SCENE SIX: JENNIFER SEES ALICE. ALICE UNCONSCIOUS. JENNIFER TELLS HER THAT SHE NEEDS HER MORE THAN EVER. ALICE STIRS, SHE PROMISES THAT SHE WILL BE ALRIGHT. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT SHE FEELS GUILTY ABOUT ALICE'S ATTACK, BECAUSE OF WHAT ALL ALICE DID TO HELP HER, DURING THE TIME SHE WAS MASQUERADING AS KATERINA.

SCENE SEVEN: JACK HAS TAKEN JENNIFER HOME TO THE LOFT.

 

JACK: Look between you and me, she'll be right. She just needed to rest that's all.

JENNIFER: Yeah I know.

JACK: By tomorrow morning we.... we'll go back and we'll see here for visiting hours. That's the best we can do. The hospital people know what they are doing.

JENNIFER: I know, you're right. It's just.... I mean Jack, this is the second time this has happened and this time was much worse than the first. That's what you said.

JACK: Maybe I shouldn't have said anything.

JENNIFER: No, no, I'm glad you told me. I want you to. I never want you to hold anything from me, okay. Ever.

JACK: Ever?

JENNIFER: Ever.

 

JACK TURNS AWAY AND OBVIOUSLY IS THINKING THAT HE SHOULD TELL HER SOMETHING. JENNIFER CAN SEE THIS AND WORRIES THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG. JACK WANTS TO TELL HER HE SAW AND HEARD HER AND FRANKIE EARLIER, BUT IS WORRIED THAT IF SHE KNOWS HE WAS LISTENING SHE MIGHT BE ANGRY WITH HIM.

 

JENNIFER: What, did the doctor say something else?

JACK: Ah.... no, no. This isn't about the doctor. This isn't about your grandmother.

JENNIFER: Then what is it?

JACK: I was on the pier when you were talking to your room mate. I heard what you said. (Beat) I can't say that I'm very pleased with his feelings for you. (Beat) So, now what, are you angry? Should I have said anything now?

JENNIFER: Angry? Jack why should I be angry. Everything I said was true. I don't love Frankie. I love you.

 

JACK LOOKS AT HER LIKE HE IS NOT SURE SHE MEANS THAT ANYMORE.

 

JENNIFER: I mean ever since we came back everything's been really strange or at least I've been. But that doesn't have anything to do with my feelings for you or my feelings about us.

JACK: Well I.... I.... have been rather worried.

JENNIFER: You've no reason to be worried Jack.

JACK: He's not going to give up easily you know.

JENNIFER: Jack it doesn't matter.

JACK: But then again, neither am I. I suppose you can say I'm committed. (Beat) I just want you to be happy.... with me. And now that's all that's important to me.

JENNIFER: That's all that's important to me too Jack.

JACK: So once this annulment is finished and gone, your memories of Lawrence and his country and the tunnels will be nothing but that. Diminishing memories, they'll be gone.

 

JENNIFER TURNS AWAY UPSET.

 

JENNIFER: Right.

JACK: We can look forward to the future.

 

HE IS TRYING TO REASSURE HER.

 

JACK: Really.

JENNIFER: Yeah I know.

 

THERE IS A LOUD KNOCK ON THE DOOR.

 

JENNIFER: Ah, one of us should get that.

JACK: I suppose one of us should.

CARLY: Jennifer!

JENNIFER: Oh it's Carly, I should get that.

JENNIFER: Carly.

CARLY: Hi. Look I know this isn't the best time but I didn't think I should put off telling you.

JENNIFER: What? Tell me what?

CARLY: I talked to your uncle Mickey about the money, the von Leuschner estate. Hi Jack. I can't turn the money over to Lawrence. There are all these stipulations in my father's will and I tried talking to Lawrence and....

JACK: What did he say?

CARLY: He's not going to back off. It's the money or else. He's not going to make it easy to get out of this marriage Jennifer.

 

JENNIFER GETS VERY UPSET.

 

JACK: Jennifer, come on, what is this? You're going to get out of this marriage. I mean consider yourself out of it.

JENNIFER: How Jack, how? How is that going to happen?

JACK: I don't know how. How's not important. I mean look I have made a career, a short career but a career none the less, of making the impossible, possible. So we cannot let a little bit of legal mumbo jumbo get in the way.

CARLY: Well I'll do whatever I can to help.

JACK: You certainly will do whatever you can. And you can expect a call from me.

CARLY: Okay. Great, look I've got to go. It's been one of the longest days of my life.

JACK: Well you're not alone. I tell you, get some sleep tonight and tomorrow morning it's time for plan B.

CARLY: Which is?

JACK: Ah.... which is.... I don't which one it is but it will be a good one. It will be a really good one because all of my plans are good and none of them fall through.... more or less. I mean I've got a reputation to.... to.... stick with here.

CARLY: Right, goodnight Jen.... Jack.

JENNIFER: Goodnight. Thank you for trying.

JACK: Goodnight.

 

CARLY LEAVES AND JACK TRIES TO CHEER UP JENNIFER.

 

JACK: So.... could you do me a favor?

JENNIFER: Yeah sure.

JACK: The only thing you have to worry about right now is figuring out a way for me to get.... for me to get past your snoring.

 

JENNIFER SMILES IN SPITE OF HERSELF.

 

JACK: I mean it. I was thinking maybe a diving bell helmet with a door that opens and closes but if you have any better ideas, okay, I'm open.

JENNIFER: Okay, okay Jack.

JACK: Good.... good. I'm telling you once this annulment gets through you won't even be able to remember what's his name's name. (Beat) What is his name?

JENNIFER: You're right, you're right. Once we get this annulment we're going to forget about it. We're going to forget about everything.

JACK: That's right.

JENNIFER: Right.

JACK: Right.

 

SHE SAYS IT BUT JACK KNOWS SHE DOES NOT BELIEVE IT.

 

JACK: So what's wrong?

JENNIFER: Nothing.... I'm just worried about my grandmother, that's all. I'm just thinking about her.

JACK: Stop thinking about her. She's going to be alright. Just let her sleep okay.

JENNIFER: Yeah.

 

SHE IS ABOUT TO CRY AND JACK TAKES HER IN HIS ARMS AND HOLDS HER CLOSE.

 

JACK: You get some sleep too. It's going to be alright.

 

JACK IS NOT SO SURE IT IS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT. HE HOLDS HER CLOSE AS THE SHOW ENDS.