oldEpisode Two-hundred-thirty-two: Jack
Visits Kayla; Jennifer Fantasizes about
the Wedding. She Makes Lies to Avoid
Spending New Year's Eve Alone with Jack.

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[Air date late December 1990]

 

SCENE ONE: IT IS THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS, JACK HAS GONE TO SEE KAYLA WHO IS NOW STAYING AT SHANE'S HOUSE. HE IS HOLDING A LARGE CHRISTMAS PRESENT.

 

KAYLA: Jack.

JACK: Hi, mind if I come in?

KAYLA: No, please do. Can I get you some coffee?

JACK: No, no, I just wanted to bring this by for the baby. I figured better late than never. I mean it is better, isn't it?

KAYLA: Of course it is. Thank you, it's very sweet.

JACK: Well you know I figured why let her grow up knowing right off what a scrooge I am.

KAYLA: Yeah we wouldn't want that, would we.

 

JACK REALIZES THAT SHE IS TRYING TO TELL HIM THAT HE IS OKAY.

 

KAYLA: So how was your Christmas?

JACK: Actually.... ah.... it was alright. It was rather exceptional.

KAYLA: Really, why, what happened?

JACK: Well.... Jennifer happened to accept my proposal of marriage.

SCENE TWO: BACK AT THE LOFT, JENNIFER HAS JUST RETURNED WITH BREAKFAST AND A COPY OF ELEGANT BRIDE. SHE LOOKS AT THE COVER AND DAYDREAMS ABOUT HER WEDDING DAY.... SHE IS DRESSED IN A BEADED GOWN WITH A LONG VEIL AND IS DOING SOME FINAL ADJUSTMENTS TO IT WHEN JACK WALKS UP BEHIND HER AND PUTS HIS HANDS OVER HER EYES. HE IS DRESSED IN BLACK TAILS.

JENNIFER: UH!.... Oh Jack.

JACK: How did you know it was me?

JENNIFER: How did I know it was you. Who else would sneak in on me like this. Come on Jack, today of all days.

JACK: No, no, no. It's bad luck for the bride and groom to see each other on the wedding day.

JENNIFER: Yeah but you can see me.

 

JACK TAKES A GOOD LOOK DOWN HER BODY.

 

JACK: Yes I can.

 

SHE SLAPS HIS HAND.

 

JENNIFER: Jack! Come on that's the bad luck part, the groom seeing the bride.

JACK: Are you sure?

 

SHE PUSHES HIS HANDS AWAY AND TURNS TO FACE HIM.

 

JENNIFER: Am I sure? I am Alice Horton's grand-daughter. If there is a custom, legend or tradition that wasn't passed down on her family, it doesn't matter. Besides I don't believe in bad luck anymore.... not after I told you what happened with Lawrence and what he did.

JACK: Jennifer....

JENNIFER: No Jack, I want to tell you. I mean I knew that if I told you, you would still feel the same way and you'd still want to marry me.

JACK: I do. I've never wanted anything more in my life.

JENNIFER: I know that now but before I was afraid. I mean everything was so good between us and I didn't want anything to spoil it.

JACK: Nothing ever will.

JENNIFER: I know that I shouldn't say this. I mean it's a terrible precedent but I'm glad that came here.

JACK: How could stay away.... especially when you're so beautiful.

 

HE GENTLY STROKES HER FACE.

 

JENNIFER: So are you.

 

HE LOOKS EXPECTANTLY AT HER AND SHE SHAKES HER HEAD.

 

JENNIFER: We shouldnçt.

JACK: Well it's not really traditional.

JENNIFER: I don't care.

JACK: Well, then neither do I.

 

HE MOVES CLOSE TO HER AND THEY KISS.

JENNIFER COMES OUT OF HER DAYDREAM AND SMILES TO HERSELF. FRANKIE COMES DOWNSTAIRS AND SHE TELLS HIM THAT SHE AND JACK ARE ENGAGED. HE ASKS HER IF SHE IS SURE AND SHE TELLS HIM THAT SHE IS. HE IS UNSURE OF HER DECISION BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT LAWRENCE RAPED HER; OR COULD THERE ALSO BE ANOTHER REASON. HE LEAVES WITH EVE TO DO SOME WORK ON HIS RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT.

SCENE THREE: BACK AT SHANE'S HOUSE.

 

KAYLA: You know I'm really happy for you Jack and I know that Steve would be too.

JACK: Thank you, thank you very much.

KAYLA: I know it's going to work for you Jack. And I hope that you and Jennifer are going to find the same kind of love that Steve and I had.

JACK: Ah.... listen are you doing anything tonight?

KAYLA: Why?

JACK: I thought.... I thought perhaps you could have dinner with Jennifer and myself.

KAYLA: Jack you don't have to feel sorry for me.

JACK: That's not why I asked.

KAYLA: Yes it is and it's okay. I'm okay.

JACK: Are you?

KAYLA: Yeah. Christmas was kind of tough. I missed Steve a lot. (Beat) But hey.... I made it through.

JACK: Well other than dinner is there anything I could do?

KAYLA: I'm managing.

JACK: Are you?.... Sure?

KAYLA: Yes I'm sure.

 

JUST THEN SHANE ENTERS THE ROOM.

 

SHANE: Oh I'm sorry I didn't know you had company.... Jack.

JACK: Shane.... hello and.... ah.... goodbye. Actually I need to be getting to work.

KAYLA: Well thank you for coming and for the present.

JACK: Ah.... sure. I'll give you a call sometime.... Shane.

 

JACK LEAVES.

SCENE FOUR: AT THE SPECTATOR, VERN GOES INTO JACK'S OFFICE TO TALK TO HIM. SOMEBODY IS SITTING AT JACK'S DESK READING THE SPECTATOR.

 

VERN: Listen Jack, I can't wait anymore for those re-writes. I've got a whole crew down there. They're screaming their heads....

 

THE PERSON LOWERS THE PAPER AND IT IS LAWRENCE.

 

VERN: Where the hell's Jack? You're not Jack.

LAWRENCE: You must be Vern Scofield.

VERN: Yeah, how did you know?

LAWRENCE: I'm a great admirer of skilled journalists. I've enjoyed your work for some time.

 

HE SHAKES HANDS WITH VERN.

 

VERN: Yeah right, well thank you Mr.... ah....

LAWRENCE: Alamain. Lawrence Alamain.

VERN: Alamain!

 

LAWRENCE WALKS OVER AND BEGINS TO POUR HIMSELF A GLASS OF WATER.

 

LAWRENCE: I understand The Spectator does quite well for a paper in a mid-size market Vern.

VERN: Well we do our best, yeah.

LAWRENCE: No doubt your circulation reflects that.

VERN: We can usually count on 200,000 give or take a few.

LAWRENCE: Well, no small achievement in these troubled times. You must be very proud.

VERN: Well, I can't take any credit for it. I mean the reason for our success currently is Mr. Deveraux.

LAWRENCE: Ah yes, Jack Deveraux, the publisher. And I believe also the owner of the paper.

VERN: Well he's.... he's the controlling interest. But his predecessor still holds a sizable share of the stock.

LAWRENCE: His predecessor?

VERN: Diana Colville.

 

AT THAT POINT JACK COMES BURSTING IN, WAVING PAPER AND SHOUTING AT VERN. HE DOES NOT SEE LAWRENCE AT FIRST.

 

JACK: Oh Vern, look I'm sorry.

VERN: Jack.

JACK: I know you're looking for those re-writes but they're not here yet. I haven't had time to....

VERN: JACK!

JACK: .... do them. Just get out of here and give me a couple of minutes....

VERN: Jack!

JACK: .... just get, get, get and I'll....

VERN: Jack!

 

JACK SPINS AROUND TO SEE LAWRENCE.

JACK: Wha.... wha.... what are you doing here?

LAWRENCE: I should think it's rather obvious why I came here Jack. I came to talk to you.

JACK: Well.... as I've said before, we really.... we really have nothing to say to each other.

 

JACK WALKS TO THE DOOR TO SHOW LAWRENCE OUT BUT HE DOES NOT MOVE.

 

LAWRENCE: I disagree.

VERN: Well listen, this is between the two of you guys, so I'm going to get lost, okay.

JACK: Vern.... Vern.... VERN!

 

VERN LEAVES AND JACK TRIES TOEXPLAIN WHY HE WAS CALLING VERN BACK.

 

JACK: Ah.... little labor dispute. Ah, I don't know if Mr. Scofield told you but this is a newspaper and we are very busy with deadlines and if you don't have any business.... any newspaper business anyway, perhaps you could just leave us be, thank you.

LAWRENCE: You're absolutely right, Jasper.

 

JACK IS VERY NERVOUS.

 

JACK: Thank you and perhaps the same could go for.... Miss Horton, thank you.

LAWRENCE: You have no right to speak for her.

JACK: Well.... ah.... we are planning to.... to be married.

LAWRENCE: You are?

 

AT THAT MOMENT JENNIFER WALKS IN AND GETS A FRIGHT TO SEE LAWRENCE THERE.

 

JENNIFER: Jack I want....

LAWRENCE: Hello Jennifer. Jack was just telling me about your engagement. I'd offer you congratulations but that wouldn't be in very good taste as you're still married to me.

JACK: WELL....

 

JACK STANDS UP TO DEFEND JENNIFER, THEN BACKS DOWN A BIT.

 

JACK: .... well that's not.... not for long.

WRENCE: We'll see Jack. (Beat) I hope you had a good Christmas.

 

HE WALKS TO THE DOOR.

 

LAWRENCE: I'd wish you both Happy New Year but I'm sure I'll see you both before Monday.

 

HE LEAVES AND SHUTS THE DOOR BEHIND HIM.

 

JACK: I.... I'm very sorry.... very sorry about that.

JENNIFER: It's okay.

JACK: You're right. I tell you what, I'm not worried about that. (Beat) I'll tell you what we can do. Let's just get.... let's just get out of town for New Years Eve. We'll just...ah.... we'll find that little log cabin out there in the woods and just.... and just say goodbye to 1990 together. Just the two of us, just you and me.

 

JENNIFER LOOKS AT HIM AND IS VERY UNSURE OF HIS IDEA.

 

JENNIFER: Jack I don't know what to say. I'm....

JACK: I believe a simple yes would suffice.

JENNIFER: No, I'm really excited. I just.... I don't want you to go to all that trouble for me. I....

JACK: I tell you what, this is way I figure it. We both could use some time away. I mean I know that since I've come back to Salem well I've had Vern and everybody else throwing all their problems on me and quite frankly I'm a little bit burned out.

JENNIFER: No, I can imagine.

JACK: On top of that, I think we could both use some time away at a place that's relatively.... Lawrence free. At least for a while.

JENNIFER: Jack....

JACK: That's a yes?

JENNIFER: (Beat) Yes.

JACK: That's.... that's good. I think it's a good plan. It'll be good for both of us.

JENNIFER: Yeah...well I'll see you later. I really have to go.

 

HE KNOWS THAT SHE IS RUNNING AWAY AGAIN.

 

JACK: Jennifer?

JENNIFER: Yeah.

JACK: What's wrong?

JENNIFER: Nothing's wrong. Everythingçs fine. I just don't want to be late for work. But I'll talk to you later, okay.

 

SHE LEAVES. HE KNOWS SHE IS LYING AGAIN.

SCENE FIVE: JENNIFER IS AT THE STUDIO WHERE DAN COMES OVER AND ASKS HER WHAT SHE'S DOING AT NEW YEAR. SHE LIES AND SAYS NOTHING AND HE OFFERS HER A BIG ASSIGNMENT IF SHE WANTS IT. SHE GLADLY TAKES THE JOB KNOWING THAT WAY SHE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GO AWAY WITH JACK. THE PARTY IS THE MURDER PARTY WITH A SECRET HOST. IT IS ACTUALLY LAWRENCE WHO HAS ORGANIZED THE PARTY SO THAT THE SUSPECTS IN NICK'S MURDER ARE AWAY FROM THEIR HOMES AND HE CAN HAVE THEM SEARCHED.

SCENE SIX: LATER THAT DAY JACK COMES OVER TO SEE JENNIFER. AS HE WALKS IN HE DELIBERATELY TRIPS ON THE WHEEL OF A MICROPHONE BOOM DOLLY.

 

JACK: OH GRIEVANCE, GRIEVANCE! I'LL SUE, I'LL SUE. Just kidding Dan. Just kidding.... I just.... hahahah.

JENNIFER: Hi Jack.

JACK: What's the matter, is this a bad time?

JENNIFER: Well yeah, actually it is. I really need to go over this copy.

JACK: Well just hurry up and do it, okay I'll wait for you.

JENNIFER: Well I don't know how long I'll be, actually.

JACK: Well wait.... wait a minute. We need to iron out some details with this New Year's Eve thing.

JENNIFER: Ah.... there's something that I need to tell you.

JACK: What?

JENNIFER: I can't.... I can't go away with you.

JACK: You're joking, right?

JENNIFER: No, I'm not joking. You see there is this charity party on New Year's Eve and Dan wants me to cover it. He's making me cover it. JACK: I see.

 

HE DOES NOT REALLY BELIEVE HER.

 

JACK: Huh, uh.

JENNIFER: I mean I tried to get off of it but I couldn't. I mean he insisted. I'm sorry. I know how much you were looking forward to this trip.

JACK: No, it's quite alright.

JENNIFER: Are you sure?

JACK: Certainly. As a matter of fact I think I've one of my reporters covering a New Year's Eve benefit. If it's the same thing, I'll just.... I'll just take his place and we'll go to the party together.

JENNIFER: That's great, that would be great.

JACK: So what's wrong?

JENNIFER: Wrong? I don't understand.... I don't know what you're talking about?

JACK: Why is he still bothering you?

JENNIFER: Why is who still bothering me?

JACK: Why is Lawrence Alamain still bothering you?

 

JENNIFER WALKS AWAY FROM JACK BUT HE FOLLOWS HER.

 

JACK: Jennifer who are we kidding here? I saw the look on your face when you came into the office and Lawrence was standing there.

JENNIFER: Look I really don't want to talk about, okay Jack.

JACK: Does he still bother you?

 

HE TURNS HER ROUND TO FACE HIM.

 

JENNIFER: Are you scared of him?

 

HER FACE SHOWS THAT SHE IS.

 

JACK: Jennifer there is no reason to be afraid of him anymore. Look you're in Salem now. So is he. This is not the villa. He can't.... he can't hurt you anymore, I mean nobody can.

 

JENNIFER IS STILL SCARED NO MATTER WHAT JACK SAYS. SHE STEPS TOWARDS HIM AND NESTLES INTO HIS CHEST AND HE PUTS HIS ARMS AROUND HER.

 

JACK: He can't.