SCENE ONE: IT IS THE NEXT MORNING JENNIFER HAS SPENT THE NIGHT ALONE AND HAS NO IDEA WHERE JACK IS. SHE HAS BEEN UP ALL NIGHT, AND HAS BEEN CRYING.

JACK APPROACHES HER DOOR. HE IS UNSHAVEN AND HIS HAIR AND CLOTHES ARE UNTIDY. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT HE HAS BEEN UP ALL NIGHT. HE SLOWLY PUTS HIS FINGERS ON THE DOORKNOB BUT PULLS THEM BACK AS IF IT BURNS. HE LEANS BACK ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE DOOR AND SIGHS HEAVILY.

SCENE TWO: THEN WHILE STILL LEANING ON IT, HE PUTS HIS HAND BACK AND KNOCKS HURTING HIS KNUCKLES.

JACK: Ouch!

 

JENNIFER OPENS THE DOOR AND IS SURPRISED TO SEE HIM.

 

JENNIFER: Jack!

JACK: Is this a bad time?

JENNIFER: Um, no, no, come on in.

 

JACK LOOKS AT HER WARILY THEN ENTERS.

 

JENNIFER: Ah.... I though that you weren't coming back.

JACK: Did you want me to?

JENNIFER: Well I don't know how to answer that.

JACK: You mean you don't know how you feel.

JENNIFER: No, I don't know how you feel and I have to. I have to know why you came back. I have to know what it means. (Beat) I need to know why you came back here Jack. If you want to talk, tell me. If you just came up to pick up your suitcase.... well.... come on, tell me Jack.

JACK: I want to talk.... if you do.

JENNIFER: I do, I think it'll help.

JACK: Good!

JENNIFER: Good.

JACK: Good.

 

HE PAUSES AND CLEARS HIS THROAT.

 

JACK: Well I had a lot of trouble sleeping last night. As a matter of fact I didn't really sleep at all. I was thinking about.... you and what you told me.

JENNIFER: And?

JACK: And.... ah.... I think it would be best if I just walked out and didn't come back.

 

JENNIFER IS VISIBLY SURPRISED AND HURT BUT BEFORE SHE CAN SAY ANYTHING JACK CONTINUES.

 

JACK (CONT.): But I.... I also.... realized that that's what happens everytime there is a problem, that we have a problem. It seems to be a pattern. (Beat) A pattern that doesn't really work.

JENNIFER: You're right. It doesn't work at all.

JACK: Right.

JENNIFER: Right.

JACK: So I'm thinking we should.... ah.... we should.... we should work together and see.... see where that takes us.... if you think you can do that. (Beat) If you think that you're up to it.

JENNIFER: I can, yes of course.

JACK: Good. So luckily this is one of those hotels that has stationary.

 

HE TAKES A CRUMPLED SHEET OF PAPER OUT OF HIS INSIDE POCKET AND HANDS IT TO HER. SHE LOOKS AT IT FOR A SECOND.

 

JENNIFER: It's blank. JACK: Oh sorry.... here.

 

HE TURNS THE PAGE OVER. IT HAS A SMALL FLORAL EMBLEM IN ONE CORNER AND THEN UNDERNEATH HE HAS DIVIDED THE PAGE INTO TWO COLUMNS AND WRITTEN "PROS" OVER THE LEFT ONE AND "CONS" OVER THE RIGHT.

 

JENNIFER: "Pros and Cons." Pros and cons of what?

JACK: Of us.

JENNIFER: Well there's nothing under "Pros."

 

KNOWING JACK AS SHE DOES, JENNIFER IS A BIT WORRIED ABOUT WHERE THIS IS HEADING.

 

JACK: Well I think that's.... that's a little personal to be putting on.... hotel stationary, don't you think?

JENNIFER: Well I think it depends on what it is. I mean....

 

JACK LOOKS UNCOMFORTABLE.

 

JACK: Alright, straight and to the point. You love me.

 

HE PACES ACROSS THE ROOM SO HE IS NOT FACING HER ANYMORE.

JACK: And you know how I feel about you.

 

THERE IS A GLIMPSE OF A SMILE ON JENNIFER'S FACE. SHE KNOWS THAT JACK IS TRYING TO SAY THAT HE LOVES HER TOO.

 

JENNIFER: Ah.... you know there's nothing under Cons either Jack.

JACK: I think that's pretty self evident, don't you think?

JENNIFER: No Jack, come on. If we are going to do this, we have to do it right. We have to be honest. We can't hold back anymore.

JACK: Alright. (Beat) You were raped. I raped someone. Do you think you can forget that? Now before you answer, please just think. Look me in the eye and tell me that you can say honestly that you can forget what I did.

JENNIFER: No.

SCENE THREE: JACK AND JENNIFER ARE IN HER HOTEL ROOM. JACK IS HER BY HER STATEMENT ABOUT HIS RAPE OF KAYLA.

JACK: Thank you. That was very good. No assimilation, no beating around the bush, just.... no. Clear, quick.... final.

JENNIFER: Final, Jack? Did I say anything about final?

JACK: You said that you couldn't forget. What else is there to say?

JENNIFER: There's a lot more to say and I would like you to listen to what I have to say.

JACK: If that's what you'd like.

JENNIFER: Yeah. (Beat) You know Jack, for a long time I pretended not to see that side of you. I didn't want to hear about and I didn't want to think about it. All I wanted to think about was the good things, the things I love about you. (Beat) But then I realized that if you love somebody you have to accept everything about them. You can't take the good and ignore the bad. And what we had together was so good Jack. I don't want to live without that. I don't know if I can.

 

JACK HAS BEEN STANDING UP STRAIGHT LOOKING HER IN THE FACE AND NOW HE FINDS IT HARD TO COME TO TERMS WITH THE FACT THAT SHE CAN BE NEAR HIM AND STILL WANT HIM.

JACK: I don't know if you.... I don't know how you can say that sort of thing. When you look at me you see Lawrence.

JENNIFER: That is not true. I do not.

JACK: Yes, when you see.... you see....

JENNIFER: I do not see Lawrence. (Beat) Alright, after Lawrence raped me Jack, I wanted to die, alright. But I didn't. Something inside me did. And the only time that I feel alive and happy is when I'm with you. That's what kept me going through all this, is the thought of being with you again. You kept me going. So when I look at you I don't see Lawrence. All I see when I look at you is our future together.

JACK: Not that I don't appreciate what you just said. I just don't understand how you could say it.

JENNIFER: Well you don't have to understand it. Just accept it Jack.

JACK: Then you have to accept this. You've been hurt before, maybe you could get hurt again.

JENNIFER: No! You would never hurt me.

JACK: I'm supposed to put that in writing now. I mean if I do put it in writing, are you going to read the fine print because I don't come with a warranty.

JENNIFER: I don't care.

JACK: I just have a track record. You....

JENNIFER: I believe in you.

JACK: How can you say that? How can you say.... how can you say I believe.... there is evidence going up to here pointing in the direction.... saying that I deal from the bottom of the deck. I always have. I always will. I mean do you need police reports, you need B? How about a call from Whitney Baker? She could tell you stories that would send you screaming from the room. (Imitating Munch's painting The Scream) AAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHHHHH!

JENNIFER IS WATCHING HIS PERFORMANCE WITH A SERIOUS FACE AND NO EXPRESSION.

 

JENNIFER: Alright Jack, we've looked at the pros and we've looked at the cons. It's time to make a decision because it's time to leave. (Beat) The question is, are we going to be leaving together?

 

JACK TAKES THE PAPER FROM HER AND FOLDS IT.

 

JACK: It's time to go, huh.

JENNIFER: Jack, you didn't answer my question.

JACK: I think there's enough time for a quick check. Socks, toothpaste, commemorative towels, ah.... the special shampoo with the promise to hair thickening properties, ah.... that's.... that's everything. Are we ready?

JENNIFER: Are we going to be finishing this trip together or not Jack?

JACK: (Sighs) I better check the suitcase to make sure. Only be a minute.

 

HE TRIES TO GET THE TINY KEY IN THE SUITCASE LOCK.

JACK: Just give me a second. Damn, these keys are made for midgets with hands.

JENNIFER: Jack?

JACK: I DON'T KNOW, alright. I don't have the answers. I.... I don't know what we should do.

JENNIFER: I want us to be together.

JACK: I would like to think that. But I can't and I.... I don't believe I ever will.

JENNIFER: Come with me. (Beat) I'll make you believe Jack.

 

HE BEGINS TO MELT AT HER WORDS BUT THEN PUTS HIS DEFENSES BACK UP. HE STANDS UP AND HOLDS THE SUITCASE UP AGAINST HIS CHEST LIKE A SHIELD.

 

JENNIFER: Come on, we only have a few minutes before the train leaves. Come with me.

JACK: Ah.... you go ahead, huh. I'll meet you.

JENNIFER: Alright, I'll go and I will wait for you there.

 

SHE WALKS OUT AND LEAVES HIM HOLDING THE SUITCASE AND THE NOTE OF PROS AND CONS.

JENNIFER PAUSES OUTSIDE AFTER SHE CLOSES THE DOOR.

 

JENNIFER: I know you're going to make that train.

SCENE FIVE: JENNIFER IS BACK IN THEIR COMPARTMENT ON THE TRAIN AND SHE IS CHECKING HER WATCH.

 

JENNIFER: Oh come on, come on Jack.

 

THE TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS FOR IT TO LEAVE.

 

JENNIFER: Oh come on, don't leave yet. Not yet, it's not even time. Shoot.

 

SUDDENLY THE DOOR BURSTS OPEN AND JACK STAGGERS IN PUFFING AND PANTING.

HE IS CARRYING HIS SUITCASE AND A SMALL PLANT IN A POT, BUT SHE CANNOT SEE IT. SHE IS THRILLED TO SEE HIM, BECAUSE SHE KNOWS IT MEANS HE WANTS TO TRY AND REBUILD THEIR RELATIONSHIP.

 

JENNIFER: Hi Jack.

JACK: Hi.

JENNIFER: You made it.

JACK: I made it.

 

HE FLOPS ON THE SEAT OPPOSITE HER AND SHE SHUTS THE DOOR.

 

JENNIFER: Sit down Jack.

JACK: You knew I'd show up sooner or later.... more like.... later.

JENNIFER: Well I mean I.... I didn't know what to think.

JACK: Oh ye of little faith.

JENNIFER: Jack, the train was leaving the station, it was moving.

JACK: Well, I've been known to leap tall buildings in my time.

JENNIFER: Well what took you so long?

JACK: Well this one was taller than most. And.... ah.... I had to make a stop for.... ah.... for.... for this.

 

HE HANDS HER A JADE PLANT WITH TWO PUNY BRANCHES AND A FEW SMALL LEAVES.

 

JENNIFER: What is it?

JACK: What do you mean what is it? It's a.... it's a plant.

JACK (CONT.): It's a.... it's a jade plant. It's.... sorry it's what it is but apparently the little gift shop was all out of rubber ferns and palm trees, strange enough.

JENNIFER: Well that's alright, I'd rather have something real anyway.

JACK: Well.... that's real. (Beat) Probably going to be a real pain in the butt too. I mean it's.... it's not well. It's been sick. It's been up all night, like me. I mean it's going to need a lot of work.... luck too.

JENNIFER: I'll make sure I keep that in mind.

JACK: It needs good soil, you know, rich in nutrients. You know, I mean the water should be not too much and not too little.

JENNIFER: You know that's a lot to remember.

 

THEY ARE BOTH AWARE THEY ARE TALKING IN METAPHORS; AND THEY CONTINUE TO DO SO.

 

JACK: Well there's a grand prize if you do remember because if this little thing lives through the winter, there's these flowers and.... they're little white flowers that.... I mean the little flowers don't live very long but the point is while they're alive, this little jade plant'll put on one hell of a show.

JENNIFER: I didn't realize you knew so much about plants Jack.

JACK: I don't. The.... the lady in the gift shop kind of considered herself an expert gardener. And a talker. I mean I could give you a home perm later if you'd like.

 

JENNIFER GRINS AT JACK'S JOKE.

 

JENNIFER: Well you know there's got to be some way to make them last.... the little flowers I mean.

JACK: Maybe there is.

JENNIFER: Yeah. (Beat) Maybe we'll find it.

JACK: Maybe I could give it a home permanent later.... maybe.

JENNIFER: Yeah, maybe.