oldEpisode Two-hundred-seventy: The
Train Disaster Part XVI: "Direct,
Honest, and Open": Alone in Their
Hotel Room, Jack and Jennifer Try to
Find a Way to Spend the Night Together.

[Air early April 1991]

 

SCENE ONE: EVE HAS JUST FALLEN TO THE GROUND FROM THE RESCUE HELICOPTER AND KAYLA SAYS SHE WILL GO DOWN ON THE HOIST TO HELP HER WHILE FRANKIE, JACK AND BRIAN TRY TO KEEP HER WARM.

 

JACK: HEY WE NEED HELP! (Beat) HEY! WE NEED HELP!

 

FRANKIE PANICS WHILE THEY WAIT FOR KAYLA BUT JACK TRIES TO CALM HIM.

 

FRANKIE: What if it's too late?

JACK: Francoise, she's obviously not going to get up and sing and dance. Now relax and calm down until the help gets here.

FRANKIE: No, you relax Jack. Eve risked her life to help us.

 

KAYLA COMES DOWN ON THE HOIST WITH THE FIRST AID KIT AND GETS SHANE TO SEND A STRETCHER DOWN FOR EVE. THEY GET HER AND THE THREE GUYS IN THE HELICOPTER AND BACK TO TOWN.

SCENE TWO: THEY ALL HAVE TO BE EXAMINED AT THE HOSPITAL. EVE HAS A RUPTURED SPLEEN AND HAS TO HAVE AN OPERATION TO HAVE IT REMOVED.


SCENE THREE: JENNIFER IS IN AN EXAMINATION ROOM PUTTING HER SWEATER BACK ON WHEN THERE IS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR.

 

JACK: May I come in?

 

HE PEEPS IN BUT HOLDS HIS HAND OVER HIS EYES.
oldEp270A
JENNIFER: Yeah, yeah, come on in, Jack.

JACK: Oh, alright. So tell me, did the doctor check out your foot?

JENNIFER: Yeah, he did, among other things.

JACK: Oh.

JENNIFER: But he said there wouldn't be any permanent damage with my foot.

JACK: Good. Good, good, good. Hate to see you going through life all red and chapped. It would reek havoc with the hair and make-up of WATB.

JENNIFER: You know I don't know how to thank you Jack.

JACK: Thank me for what?

JENNIFER: You saved my life.
oldEp270B
JACK: No, no, correction. I saved your foot.

JENNIFER: You're not going to let me thank you, are you?

JACK: No, no, there's many more important things to discuss like what are we going to eat for the first big feast after two weeks without food.

JENNIFER: Yeah, but the hospital cafeteria is closed.

JACK: I know that but.... where there's a will, there's a way.

JENNIFER: Did you find a grocery store Jack?

JACK: No, no, but I did find one hell of a vending machine.

 

HE LIFTS BACK HIS JACKET AND BEGINS TO PULL OUT PACKET AFTER PACKET OF SNACK FOOD AND CANDY. JENNIFER'S EYES NEARLY POP OUT OF HER HEAD AS HE THROWS IT ALL ON THE BED.
oldEp270C
JENNIFER: JACK, OH JACK!

JACK: Eat 'em and weep!

JENNIFER: Oh Jack, this is like manna from heaven.

 

SHE RIPS OPEN A CANDY BAR AND TAKES A BITE.

 

JENNIFER: Oh my gosh, you didn't have to go to all this trouble you know.

JACK: Trouble? Well the only trouble was cashing in on my little emergency coin cache of quarters. But I figured this occasion was worth the four bucks.

JENNIFER: Coming from you, that means a lot Jack.

 

JACK LOOKS AT HER IN SURPRISE.

 

JACK: Are you saying that I'm cheap? Is that what you're saying?

JENNIFER: Now tell the truth, did you really spend all of our quarters Jack?

JACK: Well....

JENNIFER: Case closed.

JACK: No, wait a minute, wait a minute. Just because a person saves their last quarter doesn't mean that they're cheap. It means that they're being.... they're being...practical.

JENNIFER: You couldn't do it, could you? You couldn't spare that last little quarter, could you?

JACK: I most certainly can and will. Watch this.

 

HE PUTS HIS HAND IN HIS POCKET AND STRUGGLES FOR A BIT.

 

JACK: I can't.

JENNIFER: I didn't think so.

JACK: No, it's not that I can't. It's because there is something in the way.

JENNIFER: Yes, cheapness.

JACK: NO!

JENNIFER: Yes, cheapness in the way.

JACK: No, there is quite literally something in the way.

 

HE CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE WITH HIS PANTS AND SUDDENLY THE GUN FALLS TO THE FLOOR.

 

JACK: WHOA!.... Ouch.

JENNIFER: Jack, will you put this away. Someone's going to see that.

JACK: You're telling me. Wait a minute, just....

JENNIFER: Here give me that.

JACK: Hey, careful, careful. It might go off.

JENNIFER: Here let me help you.

 

JENNIFER TAKES THE GUN AND TRIES TO PUSH IT DOWN THE FRONT OF JACK'S PANTS. SHE GETS HER HAND RIGHT DOWN INSIDE.

 

JACK: Watch it. It's a lot harder than it looks. Oooooh....

 

BRIAN WALKS STRAIGHT IN THE DOOR AND SEES JENNIFER'S HAND DOWN THE FRONT OF JACK'S PANTS. THEY BOTH LOOK EMBARRASSED.
oldEp270D

HOWEVER, THEY ALSO SEEM TO LIKE THE CLOSENESS AS WELL.

 

BRIAN: I must...what's going on?

JACK: Damn.


SCENE FOUR: JENNIFER YANKS HER HAND OUT OF HIS PANTS.

 

JENNIFER: Ah, we didn't even hear you come in Brian.

JACK: Yeah, we were.... we were otherwise engaged, if you know what I mean.

BRIAN: Wow! Why don't tell me?

JENNIFER: Well what can we say?

JACK: Yeah.

JENNIFER: (Giving him a little pat to Jack's chest) We were so excited about being rescued that we got a little carried away, didn't we Jack?

JACK: Heheheh. Next time.... next time we're getting a hospital room with a boudoir. HAHAHAHAH!

BRIAN: Heheh, that's great. That's a very interesting story.

JACK: Oh if you like the story, you'll love the movie.

BRIAN: Ah, I prefer a cast of characters a little more believable.

JACK: Oh come now, comedies have plenty of characters that are unbelievable.

BRIAN: Well you know comedies, this and that but I prefer mysteries.... you know I always do love to solve the end of a mystery and I will.... solve this one.

JACK: Sure.

 

BRIAN LEAVES AND SHUTS THE DOOR.

 

JACK: Ah.... he's not going to stop until he nails us.

JENNIFER: Well we're not going to let him nail us Jack.

JACK: Oh that's right, Miss Horton. Never underestimate your opponent. Brian Scofield may seem like a bumbling incompetent yuppie but plenty of people who are bumbling and incompetent turn out to be quite intelligent.

JENNIFER: (Teasing Jack) Really? I had no idea.

JACK: Are referring that I'm a bumbling and incompetent?

JENNIFER: Bumbling with intelligence Jack.

JACK: Yes, yes, well. (Beat) The first intelligent thing I think we should do is.... ah.... get out of this hospital. Get back to the hotel where we can put on some nice clean warm clothes, take a shower and shave. Unless you'd like to stay here and have another run-in with Inspector Clusseau out there.

JENNIFER: But what about Eve?

JACK: Well I think that her daddy is with her, along with Francoise of course. And.... ah.... I get the feeling that they don't want anyone else there.

JENNIFER: Yeah, yeah, maybe you're right. I just really hope that Eve's going to be okay.

JACK: Well I'm certain we'll find out more in the morning.

JENNIFER: Right! (Beat) Right now we've got to figure out what we're going to do when we get back to Salem.

 

AS SHE IS TALKING, JENNIFER SCOOPS UP THE BOTTOM OF HER SWEATER AND LOADS IT UP WITH EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF SNACK FOOD AND CANDY THAT JACK HAS THROWN ON THE BED. HE WATCHES IN AMAZEMENT.

 

JENNIFER: The first thing we're going to do is use that gun and figure out what Lawrence is hiding.

JACK: I'm sure that we can do that.

 

JENNIFER PUTS THE LAST CANDY BAR IN HER MOUTH.

 

JENNIFER: Alright, then let's get started.

 

SHE WALKS OUT THE DOOR.

 

JACK: Hope you got it all!
oldEp270E

SCENE FIVE: THEY ARE AT THE HOTEL, AND THEY HAVE CHANGE INTO CLEAN CASUAL CLOTHES. JENNIFER IS WEARING JEANS AND A DENIM SHIRT; JACK HAS ON JEANS AND A RED AND BLACK PLAID FLANNEL SHIRT, AND LOOKS REALLY CUTE.

 

JACK: Well, not exactly my cut but it is clean and warm.

JENNIFER: Jack do you have any idea how to get fingerprints off a gun?

JACK: No, you?

JENNIFER: Do I look like a Mata Hari? No, I have no idea.

JACK: Alright, well we'll have to find someone who does. Someone who's quick, clean and discreet. I underline discreet because we have to make sure that no one finds out about that gun. If the police do we'll get no closer to the gun, to the letter, let alone Lawrence.

JENNIFER: Well we're not going to let that happen. We will find someone discreet to check out that gun.

JACK: Alright, I want you to get right on it. And who knows, this may all be over soon.

JENNIFER: That would be good wouldn't it? I mean Jack we have worked too hard and we have sacrificed too much to lose now.

JACK: Yes.

 

THEY BEGIN TO FEEL AWKWARD BEING TOGETHER LIKE THIS.

 

JACK: Well I suppose I should be.... trotting off down the corridor.

JENNIFER: Down the corridor?

JACK: Ah.... to my room.
oldEp270F

JENNIFER:
Oh!

JACK: What do you mean by, oh?

JENNIFER: Nothing! (Beat) Ah, just, oh.

JACK: I see.

 

HE WALKS TOWARDS THE DOOR. IT IS OBVIOUS THEY BOTH WANT TO STAY THERE TOGETHER.

 

JENNIFER: Jack?

 

HE TURNS BACK.

 

JENNIFER: What did you think when I said, oh?

JACK: I thought that you.... ah.... I though you were.... I thought you were trying to tell me something.

JENNIFER: What did you think it was?

JACK: Well I tend to wax a little egocentric and....

JENNIFER: Jack.

JACK: I thought you were trying to tell me to stay around for a while.

JENNIFER: Oh!

JACK: There's that word again.

JENNIFER: What did you think I wanted you to stay around for?

JACK: I don't know. What did you think I thought you wanted?

JENNIFER: Well I guess I thought that you thought that I might think that you would want to stay for dinner.

JACK: Oh!

 

THEY BOTH LOOK AT EACH OTHER FOR A SECOND OR TWO.

 

JENNIFER: I'll get the food?

JACK: Ah.... I'll tell you what. Why don't you save that food for the train.... for the plane ride home and we'll get ourselves a big dinner. We deserve it.

JENNIFER: Oh, did you want to go somewhere?

JACK: Ah, didn't you?

JENNIFER: You know what I thought, I thought that maybe.... um.... we could just call room service or something? (Beat) I mean I'm really tired and I thought that you might be a little tired too.

JACK: Oh! (Beat) I'll go get the menu.

 

JENNIFER SMILES TO HERSELF AS JACK TROTS OFF TO GET THE MENU.

SCENE SIX: A SHORT TIME LATER THEY ARE SEATED ON EACH SIDE OF A SMALL ROUND TABLE COMPLETE WITH CANDLES. THEY HAVE A MEAL OF MASHED POTATO AND CHICKEN.

 

JENNIFER: Well.... ah.... everything's real good, you know. JACK: Yes, I suppose if you've been eating weenies for weeks on end, ah.... this would taste good.
oldEp270G

JENNIFER: Ah, yeah, you're right.

 

JACK FROWNS A LITTLE AND HIS EYES WANDER THE ROOM.

 

JACK: Hmmm.

JENNIFER: This is a nice room, don't you think?

JACK: Ah.... it's great, it's great. It's got nice walls, nice desks, nice.... ah....

 

HE GLANCES AT THE LARGE BED AND SHE LOOKS TOO. THEY ARE STILL FINDING THEIR SITUATION TOGETHER TO BE A LITTLE AWKWARD.

 

JACK: Ah, it's.... it's very nice and clean.

JENNIFER: This isn't working, is it?

JACK: No, I suppose it's not.

JENNIFER: You know I thought that we got through the worst part. Why is it so hard for us to sit down and eat a simple dinner?

JACK: Hmmm, I suppose there is nothing simple about it.

JENNIFER: What do you mean?

JACK: I'm just saying that simple conversation has never been our strong suit.

JENNIFER: Well, you know, what do you think we should do about that Jack?

JACK: I haven't the foggiest.

JENNIFER: You know I think that we should talk. I mean really talk, directly and honestly and openly.
oldEp270H

JACK:
I abhor direct, honest and open.

JENNIFER: I know.

 

JACK PUTS A FORK FULL OF MASHED POTATO IN HIS MOUTH THEN BANGS DOWN THE FORK.

 

JACK: Alright, alright, if it will spice up the dinner conversation, let's give it the old college try.

JENNIFER: Alright, alright. I think that we should talk about how you feel....

JACK: How you feel....

JENNIFER: .... how you feel about us.

JACK: Alright. (Beat) I feel....

JENNIFER: You feel what? What do you feel?

 

HE PICKS UP A PIECE OF CHICKEN.

 

JACK: I feel that.... ah.... this chicken really stinks.

JENNIFER: Jack, that's great. That is a great start.

JACK: Not much of anything.

JENNIFER: No but it was honest. So let's make a deal. From now on, we are going to be direct, honest and open.

 

SHE PUTS OUT HER HAND TO SHAKE ON THE AGREEMENT.
oldEp270I
JACK: Alright....

 

HE TAKES HER HAND AND SHAKES IT THEN IMMEDIATELY FEELS HER RELUCTANCE TO TOUCH HIM LIKE THAT.

 

JACK: If I may open the floor to suggestions, I think I should go directly....

 

HE STANDS UP BUT SHE CONTINUES TO HOLD HIS HAND.

 

JACK (CONT.): .... honestly, really.

JENNIFER: Ah.... ah....

 

HE LOOKS DOWN AT HER HAND HOLDING ONTO HIS.

 

JACK: You don't.... want me to go?

JENNIFER: No.... I mean unless you want to go.

JACK: Excuse me. You're saying one thing, your body language is saying something else. Why don't you just simplify and just tell me what you want?

JENNIFER: I don't know. I'm not sure. I guess I'm just.... ah.... I guess what I want and what I'm trying to say is that I want you to spend the night with me.

 

JACK IS TAKEN ABACK AND SCARED.
oldEp270J
JACK: Well that was certainly direct, honest and open.

JENNIFER: Well?

JACK: Well you certainly surprised me because I didn't.... I didn't really expect you to be quite ready for that. I mean I know that I'm not.

JENNIFER: Ah.... you thought I meant that. I didn't mean that, if that's what you mean.

JACK: That is what I mean when I mention the word that which I only use in italics.

JENNIFER: Me too.

JACK: Ah.... so tell me what.... what did you mean by that.... when you asked me?

JENNIFER: (Shaking her head) Ah, nothing.

JACK: So much for.... open, honest and direct.

JENNIFER: No wait Jack, it was just force of habit. I didn't....

 

HE TURNS TO LOOK AT HER.

 

JENNIFER: Look, I just.... I want to be with you. (Beat) And I thought that maybe it would be nice if.... if maybe .... I mean just for a little while if.... if you could just hold me, that's all.

JACK: Really?

JENNIFER: Huh, uh.

JACK: Well if....that's what you want.

JENNIFER: So, you'll do it, you'll stay with me?

JACK: Why not?

JENNIFER: Well you know it's really getting late.

 

SHE WALKS OVER AND SITS ON ONE SIDE OF THE BED AND JACK WALKS AROUND AND SITS ON THE OTHER SIDE. THEY BOTH FEEL VERY AWKWARD. SHE LIES DOWN FACING AWAY FROM HIM AND HE MOVES OVER TO LIE DOWN BEHIND HER. AS HE SITS DOWN THE BED CREAKS, MAKING THE SITUATION EVEN MORE AWKWARD.

 

JACK: Ah, don't mind the creaking.

 

HE SETTLES HIMSELF DOWN AND GENTLY PUTS HIS HAND ON HER UPPER ARM.

 

JACK: How's.... that?

JENNIFER: That's perfect. (Beat) You know I was just thinking how right everything is, right now, being here with you like this. You know it makes me think that everything's going to work out. That maybe finally everything's going to be alright Jack.

 

JACK RESTS HIS HEAD ON HIS HAND AND HIS EYES GLAZE OVER AS HE DREAMS OF THEIR FUTURE.
oldEp270K

 

[Transcribed by Carol Vaughan
added material by Sally A. Wilson]