oldEpisode Two-hundred-sixty:
The Train Disaster Part VI: Jack
Reacts to Hearing about the Rape.

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[Air mid-March 1991]

 

 

SCENE ONE: JENNIFER HAS JUST TOLD JACK THAT SHE WAS RAPED. HE IS FROZEN IN TIME, UNABLE TO BELIEVE WHAT SHE JUST SAID.

JACK: What did you just tell me?

JENNIFER: I was raped.

 

JACK CONTINUES TO STARE AT HER AS HE FEELS ALL CHANCE OF HAPPINESS WASH AWAY. THIS IS THE ONE THING THAT HE CANNOT HANDLE.

JENNIFER: Jack? Say something. (Beat) I don't care what it is, just say something, anything. Tell me you're mad at me because I didn't tell you, tell me that you hate me for letting it happen. I don't care, please.... say something.

 

JACK STILL CANNOT SPEAK. HE EVENTUALLY MOVES AWAY FROM HER.

 

JENNIFER: Jack, talk to me. (Beat) Please.

JACK: It was.... Lawrence, wasn't it?

JENNIFER: Yes it was.

 

JACK'S FACE DROPS IN PAIN AND HE PANICS.

 

JACK: I have to go.

JENNIFER: You're not going anywhere. Don't you walk away from me Jack.

JACK: I have to.... I really can't stay.

JENNIFER: Please don't do this. That's why I didn't want to tell you in the first place because I knew that you would take it this way.

JACK: What way?

JENNIFER: This way. You take it like this because of what happened.

JACK: Because of what I did.

JENNIFER: No, I don't want you to feel that way.

JACK: That's why you called me.... a rapist, isn't it?

JENNIFER: I didn't call you a rapist. I was talking about Lawrence. I just couldn't tell you at the time.

JACK: Because of what I did...because I raped someone. I know.... I know.

JENNIFER: Jack, no please.

JACK: That's why you couldn't talk to me, isn't that why?

JENNIFER: There's a lot more to it than that, alright. You have to try and understand.

JACK: I understand why you couldn't let me get closer.... touch you. I understand that.

 

JACK'S LIFE IS FALLING APART AND HE WANTS TO RUN AWAY. HE GOES TO THE DOOR.

 

JENNIFER: Jack you've got it all wrong. Jack, don't, don't!

 

HE STOPS AT THE DOOR.

 

JACK: I know what he did. (Beat) I know.... because I did the same thing.... to Kayla. JENNIFER: It's not the same thing.

JACK: It's no difference, it's rape.

JENNIFER: No, I don't feel that way about you. Lawrence is the one who raped me, you didn't.

JACK: I can't.... I'm sorry I can't hear this.

 

HE PUTS HIS HANDS UP OVER HIS EARS AND WALKS AWAY.

 

JENNIFER: Jack, don't!

JACK: Sorry, I'm sorry!

 

HE WALKS AWAY LEAVING JENNIFER CRYING AT THE DOOR. SHE GOES INSIDE AND PACES THE ROOM THINKING.

SCENE TWO: THERE IS A KNOCK ON THE DOOR A SHORT TIME LATER.

 

FRANKIE: Jen, Jen, you in there?

JENNIFER: Yeah, yeah.

FRANKIE: Jennifer, hello, hey. (Beat) Are you alright?

JENNIFER: Yeah, I will be.

FRANKIE: What's the matter?

JENNIFER: Well I did it. I finally told Jack.

FRANKIE: And?

JENNIFER: And he.... ah.... ah.... he....

FRANKIE: He, he what, what did he do?

JENNIFER: Nothing. He didn't do anything. He got very upset.

FRANKIE: What happened?

JENNIFER: It was my fault. I mean I told him the wrong way. I blurted it out and I caught him off guard and I....

FRANKIE: Where is he?

JENNIFER: Um, he had to leave.

FRANKIE: What do you mean, he had to leave? What do you mean, he ran out on you?

JENNIFER: Frankie, I told you he was very upset.

FRANKIE: HE was upset? What about you Jen?

JENNIFER: Look I am very worried about him alright. I shouldn't have said anything. And now I wish I hadn't. He's going to feel worse about himself than he did before. I just shouldn't have never said a word.

FRANKIE: No, that's no reason for him to run out on you. Dammit you need him right now. I thought he was supposed to love you.

JENNIFER: Yeah, I thought so too.

FRANKIE: I'm sorry for saying that. He should be here right now with you.

JENNIFER: Don't worry about it. It'll be okay.

FRANKIE: No, it's not okay.

JENNIFER: Look I knew that this could have happened. And I can handle it, I can. I'll be alright.

FRANKIE: Yes you will be alright. I'll make sure of that. You're going to be alright.

 

FRANKIE WALKS OUT.

SCENE THREE: MEANWHILE JACK HAS BEEN WANDERING THE WOODS IN THE SNOW. HE COMES ACROSS AN AX STUCK IN A TREE STUMP AND HE PICKS IT UP AND BEGINS TO HACK AT THE STUMP. AGAIN AND AGAIN HE WIELDS THE AX INTO THE WOOD AND PULLS IT BACK OUT, SWEATING AND CRYING AS HE CHOPS. FRANKIE FINDS HIM.

 

FRANKIE: What the hell do you think you're doing Jack?

 

HE CONTINUES TO CHOP AWAY WITH THE AX.

 

FRANKIE: I ASKED YOU A QUESTION.

JACK: I'm.... I'm chopping wood.

FRANKIE: I'm talking about Jennifer, dammit.

 

JACK KEEPS CHOPPING.

 

FRANKIE: You know what she's doing right now Jack, huh? She's barely holding on because of you. That's right, because of you man. (Beat) WHAT IS IT WITH YOU? DON'T YOU CARE MAN, DON'T YOU EVEN CARE? DOESN'T IT MATTER TO YOU THAT SHE'S BLAMING HERSELF FOR WHAT HAPPENED WHILE YOU'RE HERE FEELING SORRY FOR YOURSELF? (Beat) OH MAN, I AM SO SORRY THAT I EVER TOLD HER TO TELL YOU!

 

JACK STOPS AND IS SHAKING WITH RAGE.

JACK: You already knew.

FRANKIE: That's right I knew.

 

JACK'S ANGER IS TOO MUCH AND HE STARTS WIELDING THE AX AGAIN.

 

FRANKIE: But only because she couldn't keep it inside anymore man. SHE HAD NOBODY TO TALK TO. She couldn't talk tell you. Now I know why.

 

FRANKIE GRABS THE AX.

 

FRANKIE (CONT.): WILL YOU STOP IT AND LISTEN TO ME FOR A MINUTE!

JACK: Excuse me.

FRANKIE: Just.... look just stop thinking of yourself for once and think about Jennifer. Dammit she loves you, she needs you right now Jack.

JACK: This is how people get hurt.

FRANKIE: Do you have any idea the kind of pain she's in right now? ANY IDEA AT ALL! ANY?

JACK: I have a fairly good idea. JACK TURNS AWAY FOR A SECOND OR TWO THEN TURNS BACK.

FRANKIE: No, I don't think you do. I don't think you do. FRANKIE PICKS UP THE AX AND CHOPS.

FRANKIE: BECAUSE YOU'RE TOO SELFISH MAN. YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT JENNIFER, NEVER.

JACK: You don't even know what I think about, do you?

FRANKIE: Yeah.... you blew it! That's all I want to say, is you blew it. You had a good thing man, you had a real good thing. I just want you to know that. Just remember that.

 

FRANKIE LEAVES.

THE BETH NEILSEN CHAPMAN SONG ALL I HAVE BEGINS TO PLAY AS JACK PICKS THE AX UP AGAIN AND FRANTICALLY TAKES OUT HIS PAIN ON THE LOG.

You can say you love me
and I'll believe that's true
Trusting you is easy, cause I believe in you.

JACK CONTINUES TO CRY OUT AND CHOP UNTIL HE RUNS OUT OF ENERGY AND FALLS OVER THE LOG, CRYING.

There is nothing I would miss
As long as we're in love like this
All I have is all I need And it all comes down to you and me
How far away this world becomes
In the harbor of each other's arms.

SCENE FOUR: BACK IN THE HOTEL, JENNIFER IS CRYING TOO AS SHE THINKS OF WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN. THE SONG CONTINUES TO PLAY.

I feel like I've known you forever and ever
Baby that's how close we are
Right here with you is where my life has come together....

JENNIFER CONTINUES TO CRY INTO HER PILLOW WHEN SHE HEARS A KNOCK ON THE DOOR.

 

JENNIFER: Jack.... Jack.

 

SHE OPENS THE DOOR BUT IT IS FRANKIE.

 

FRANKIE: Sorry, it's just me.

JENNIFER: What, you went to find Jack, didn't you? You saw him?

FRANKIE: Yeah I saw him.

JENNIFER: What did he say? Is he okay? I mean did he say anything?

FRANKIE: Jen, stop worrying about Jack, please.

JENNIFER: What did he say?

 

FRANKIE IS SILENT.

 

JENNIFER: Frankie?(Beat) It didn't do any good did it?

FRANKIE: No, he wouldn't listen to me. He's too darn stubborn Jen.

 

SHE STARTS TO CRY EVEN MORE THAN BEFORE.

 

FRANKIE: Come on, come here.

 

FRANKIE GIVES HER A BIG HUG.

 

FRANKIE: I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry I can't do anything or say anything to make you feel better.

 

THE DOOR SLOWLY OPENS AND JACK ENTERS. FRANKIE SEEMS AND THEN JENNIFER TURNS AROUND HER FACE COVERED IN TEARS. JACK IS JUST A PICTURE OF PAIN. JACK AND JENNIFER STARE AT EACH OTHER FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES NOT SAYING ANYTHING.

FRANKIE: Ah.... I'll leave you two alone. Are you going to be okay?

JENNIFER: Huh, uh.

 

FRANKIE LEAVES AND SHUTS THE DOOR. JACK IS STILL STANDING STILL STARING AT HER.

 

JENNIFER: I'm glad you came back.

JACK: Tell me what happened.

JENNIFER: Okay, okay. (Beat) It was.... it was the night that I married Lawrence, right after the wedding. And I went to his room because we were going to meet there, remember, so that we could get away. And I was waiting for you and Lawrence showed up.

 

JACK IS STARING AT THE FLOOR VISUALIZING THE WHOLE EVENT.

 

JENNIFER: And he caught me and I had to think of something so I pretended that I was there to see him. I had to stall for time Jack. So I was pouring him this champagne and he got the wrong idea. I mean he started kissing me and it just got out of hand and I told him to stop and he wouldn't Jack. (Beat) He.... ah.... he.... he threw me down on the bed. He forced himself on me and then he raped me.

JACK WINCES IN PAIN. THIS IS JUST TEARING HIS HEART OUT.

 

JACK: He raped you and I never showed up.

HIS EYES TURN TO HER KNOWING THAT THIS IS DOUBLE PAIN FOR HIM.

 

JACK: If I'd shown up, this whole thing would...

JENNIFER: No Jack.

JACK: You wouldn't have had to go through with it, you see.

JENNIFER: This is not your fault.

JACK: Yes but if I'd have shown up like I was supposed to, I.... you wouldn't....

JENNIFER: What are you talking about, you were locked up in some room Jack. You could never have gotten to me. Alright, it's me. I should have thought differently. I should have fought harder. There were more things....

JACK: Please, please, no!

JENNIFER: Yes, Jack, you have to understand....

JACK: NO! (Beat) You had no choice from that point. It was out of your hands. (Reliving what he did to Kayla) I know what it's like. I know how it feels to be that angry.... at someone. To want them.... and to hurt them so much. (Beat) I.... apologize for putting you in that situation.

JENNIFER: Jack, I told you already that this is not your fault.

JACK: I apologize.... I apologize for putting you in this situation, for making you get involved with Lawrence in the first place. I apologize for getting you that angry with me.

JENNIFER: Jack, please, let me say something.

JACK: I apologize for actually thinking you might have slept with Lawrence on a whim or the way....

JENNIFER: You didn't know. You had no idea. I should have told you....

JACK: I apologize for walking out on you when you finally did tell me.... for thinking of myself.

JENNIFER: But Jack, the important thing is, is that you came back.

JACK: Is it?

JENNIFER: I don't know what you mean.

JACK: After what you've been through.... after what I've.... done.... I'm.... I'm amazed that you can be around me.

JENNIFER: Jack like I said before, what happened to me, it has nothing to do with you.

JACK: Now that you know first hand.... what it's like.... what I'm.... capable of....

JENNIFER: No.

JACK: You see there is no difference between Lawrence and myself.

JENNIFER: That is wrong. There is a big difference. You are nothing like Lawrence, nothing.

JACK: You can't tell me that, I'm sorry. You can't tell....

JENNIFER: I can tell you that because I love you.

 

JACK PAUSES.

 

JENNIFER: And I know that you would never hurt me.

JACK: I've already hurt you.

JENNIFER: No, we hurt each other and that's why it is time for it stop. That's why I told you. Because if there is any hope for us ever to be together you had to know. All the secrets have to be put out in the open.

JACK: You really think that will make a difference.

JENNIFER: It will if we want it to be. I mean we can work this out Jack. We can work this out so that we can be together. We both have to want it though. (Beat) I know I do.

 

JACK SIGHS. HE IS SO UPSET HE CAN HARDLY SPEAK.

JACK: I.... I want.... ah.... I'm sor.... I just can't. (Beat) I.... I better just go.

JENNIFER: Jack where are you going?

JACK: I know you need help. I know that.

 

HE RUSHES TO THE DOOR AND OPENS IT.

 

JACK: It would be best if you got it from someone else.

 

HE TURNS AND LEAVES.

JENNIFER SHUTS THE DOOR AND BEGINS TO CRY. JACK TURNS BACK TO THE CLOSED DOOR AND SLOWLY PUTS HIS HAND ON THE KNOB BUT IS UNABLE TO TURN IT.

INSTEAD HE PLACES HIS HAND OVER HIS HEART TO TRY AND STOP THE ACHE INSIDE. HE RUNS HIS HAND OVER HIS FACE AND WALKS AWAY.

INSIDE JENNIFER SITS ON THE FLOOR AND CRIES.

 

JENNIFER: Oh Jack.