The Jack Deveraux Story, Episode 271

SCENE ONE: JACK AND JENNIFER ARE BACK IN SALEM. THEY HAVE A FEW CUTS AND BRUISES BUT ARE WELL. JENNIFER OPENS THE DOOR TO SEE JACK STANDING THERE LOOKING VERY CUTE. THEY ARE ALL SMILES AT EACH OTHER.

JENNIFER: Good morning.
JACK: Good morning.

JENNIFER: Ah, do you want to come in?

JACK: Come in? Certainly why not.
JENNIFER: Okay.

JACK STEPS INSIDE AND LOOKS VERY MYSTERIOUS. HE HAS HIS HANDS HIDDEN BEHIND HIS BACK AND NO MATTER HOW HARD SHE TRIES TO SEE WHAT HE'S HIDING, HE KEEPS HIS BACK HIDDEN.

JENNIFER: What are you doing?
JACK: Ah....

JENNIFER: Would you mind me asking what you have hidden behind your back, Jack?

JACK: Well you may ask but I certainly can't give you a simple answer.

JENNIFER: Why not?

JACK: Well it's just suffice to say that.... ah.... that, ah.... that the answer is.... well what I have behind my back will make you.... happy. Does that appease you?

JENNIFER: No. I want to know what's behind your back Jack.

JACK: Behind your back Jack. That's a lovely little.... phrase. I think it rhymes, doesn't it?

JENNIFER: Let me see what you have Jack.
JACK: Well just.... just please don't be too.... jaded.

JACK SHOWS THE JADE PLANT THAT THEY LEFT ON THE TRAIN AND SHE IS VERY EXCITED.

JENNIFER: Jack, it's our plant! (Beat) Jack I just can't believe that you found our plant.
JACK: Perhaps it's a reasonable facsimile thereof.

JENNIFER: No, it's not. This is it. I know it. How did you get it?

JACK: Well I called the officials down at the train station and had them look for my luggage and at the same time I suggested that they try to find that.

JENNIFER: Yeah but it couldn't have been easy for them to do that.

JACK: Are you kidding? Was it easy what they did to us? In any event, they did find it in the compartment so.... ah.... I had Vern go down to the station and pick it up and there you have it.

JENNIFER: You went to all that trouble just for our plant.
JACK: Well I knew that it was important to you. (Beat) And I was curious to see if the little weed was still living myself.

JENNIFER GOES TO THE KITCHEN AND WATERS IT.

JACK: It had quite the survival instinct.
JENNIFER: Yeah well some things are like that. Nothing can kill them.
JACK: Try as we might.

THERE IS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR.

JENNIFER: Let me get that. You watch that plant for me.

JENNIFER WALKS TO THE DOOR.

JENNIFER: Who is it?

JO IS STANDING THERE WITH A HUGE SMILE ON HER FACE.

JENNIFER: Hi!
JO: Jennifer.
JENNIFER: How are you?

JO GIVES JENNIFER A BIG HUG.

JO: Oh, it's so good to see you home and safe. Oh Jack...oh Son, come here to me.

SHE GIVES JACK A BIG HUG TOO. JACK SEEMS TO BE GLAD TO SEE HER AS WELL, BUT REMAINS HIS USUAL RESERVED SELF.

JO: Oh you have no idea what it was like when you were missing.
JACK: But you're going to tell us right?
JO: It's so good to see you. I knew exactly where you'd be. You'd be right here with Jennifer.

JENNIFER AND JACK GLANCE AT EACH OTHER, THEN GRIN.

JO: I saw that.

JACK: Saw what?
JO: Oh that look that the two of you give each other when something's going on. (Beat) What's going on?

JACK AND JENNIFER LOOK AT EACH OTHER AGAIN.

JO: Well are you two together or what?
JENNIFER: Well.... ah.... I mean it's not exactly the way it looks.

JACK: No.... it's.... ah.... it's....

JENNIFER: You know what, I'll leave the two of you together and he can explain everything.

JACK: Well thank you very much!
JENNIFER: I'm going to go see my grandma and grandpa at the hospital and I'll also check in on Eve.
JACK: Oh yes, say hello to the little woman for me.

JO: Jennifer, before you go. I'm planning something sort of special for you and Jack, tonight.

JACK IMMEDIATELY STARTS SIGNALING JENNIFER FROM BEHIND JO. HE SHAKES HIS HEAD AND SIGNALS A BIG NO NO TO JO'S PLANS.

JO: Do you think you could come around dinner time?

JENNIFER GLANCES AT JACK.

JENNIFER: Ah you know it's really not necessary for you to go to all that trouble.

HE NODS AT JENNIFER.

JO: Oh it's no trouble at all and I think the two of you deserve something special. So could you be there for it?
JENNIFER: Sure.

SHE GRINS AT JACK'S ANTICS.

JO: Good.
JENNIFER: If it's okay with Jack.

JACK IS GRINNING NOW HIMSELF.

JACK: Oh me, oh no, no, there's really no point in arguing, at all, really.
JENNIFER: Okay, well we'll see you later. (Flashing Jack a grin) Goodbye.
JO: Bye.

JENNIFER LEAVES AND JACK CANNOT STOP SMILING AT HER. IMMEDIATELY THAT SHE SHUTS THE DOOR JACK MAKES AN ANNOUNCEMENT.

JACK: Okay, before the inquisition starts, as the subject of Miss Horton and myself.... arhhm.... you know it's really just too long of a story. It is.
JO: I have got lots of time.

JO SITS DOWN AND LOOKS AT HIM.

SCENE TWO: JACK HAS BEEN PACING UP AND DOWN IN FRONT OF JO, TELLING HIS STORY.

JACK: So to sum it all up, if Miss Horton would listen to me and follow my advice, we could work very closely together. But obviously look at our track record. From the office to the island to the villa to the train. Ah, need I say more? Do you know what I mean? JO: What you're saying is that no matter what happens, you and Jennifer always end up together.

JACK: That's.... that's not the point. At least that wasn't supposed to be the point.
JO: Well that should tell you something.

JACK: What?

JO: That you and Jennifer belong together.

JACK: No! What I'm saying.... the point is that she.... she just doesn't know when to give up, that's all.
JO: Are you together?

JACK: Ah.... there are some things that need to be dealt with. So.... um.... so the answer to that is.... there is no response at this time.
JO: Well, no response is better than no, period. At least something good happened from that trip. (Beat) Um, the gun, did you ever find the gun, the weapon that killed Nick?

JACK: Ah.... as a matter of fact, yes, we found the gun. But you know something we lost it. But it was a good thing because we don't need that gun anymore.

JO: What do you mean?

JACK: Well I don't need the gun to prove that my wife is innocent. You see, as it turns out, Tanner kind of fibbed a little so his testimony is going to be thrown out of court.

JO: Oh, well I'm glad to see that no one else is being hurt. Too many people have been hurt already.

JACK: Here, here.

JO: Okay, I'm going to go and plan my very special surprise for you, okay.

JACK: The surprise, yes of course.

JO: Don't you forget, okay.
JACK: Oh.... I couldn't if I would. (Beat) I mean I wouldn't.... I wouldn't if I could.

JO LEAVES.

SCENE FOUR: LATER THAT EVENING, JACK AND JENNIFER COME BACK TO THE LOFT. THEY CAUTIOUSLY COME THROUGH THE DOOR, WONDERING WHAT SURPRISE JO HAS ORGANIZED.

JACK: Alright, brace yourself. You take the low road and I'll take the high road. Who knows what she may have cooked up figuratively or literally.

JACK TAKES THE STAIRS AND LOOKS AROUND WHILE JENNIFER LOOKS AROUND DOWNSTAIRS.

JACK: JO! Alright, hello, hello Jo.
JENNIFER: Hello.

JACK: Jonah! (Beat) Well.... I tell you what, maybe she got the message.

JENNIFER: What message?

JACK: That we don't want any fuss made.

JENNIFER: Oh...oh, right.

JACK: Yes, no special dinners, no special occasions, no surprises.
JENNIFER: No, no, not for us.

THEY ARE BOTH JUST A BIT DISAPPOINTED THAT SHE DID NOT GO TO ANY TROUBLE. THEY SIT ON THE COUCH.

JACK: It's nice to find out that she finally got the message and figured out that her idea of a good time is not my idea of a good time or your ide....

JACK STOPS AND LOOKS AT THE COFFEE TABLE.

JENNIFER: What?
JACK: Perhaps I spoke too soon.

HE REACHES OVER AND PICKS UP A FOLDED CARD ON THE TABLE.

JENNIFER: What is that?

SCENE FIVE: THEY GO UPSTAIRS AND OUT ONTO THE ROOF.

JENNIFER: You know Jack we don't have to go through with this if you don't want to.
JACK: I think.... you know I don't want to but we have.... listen we're all the way up here and we....

JENNIFER: Oh gosh, look at this.

JACK: I believe I'm experiencing dØjù-vu.

JENNIFER: Well if you are, we both are. Look at this.
JACK: That would make it dØjù-nous, so to speak.

JO HAS SET UP A TABLE FOR DINNER COMPLETE WITH FLOWERS, CANDLES AND WINE. IT LOOKS VERY LIKE THE ONE JACK HAD SET UP WHEN HE PROPOSED.

JENNIFER: You know this looks a lot like the night when you proposed to me.

JACK: It would be fair to say that it is exactly like that night. So the question becomes, how did Jo know what that night was like.
JENNIFER: Obviously she is very intuitive.

JACK: Hmmm, Jo knows. She's so intuitive she knows every little detail about that evening.

JENNIFER: You know what, I might have told her a little smidge or two about that night, just a little smidge.
JACK: Hmmm, just a little smidge about that....

JACK WALKS OVER TO THE TABLE AND PICKS UP A BOOK.

JACK: Like the Romeo and Juliet. Huh, uh. Which happens to be open to the exact chapter and verse that I read.
JENNIFER: Alright, alright, maybe I told her everything. It was a romantic night Jack. I had to share it with somebody.
JACK: You shared it with the biggest mouth in Salem.

JACK LOOKS AROUND THE OTHER ROOFTOPS.

JACK: ALRIGHT, THAT'S IT, IT'S ALL OVER NOW. COME ON DOWN. THE PARTY'S OVER. OLLY OLLY OXENFREE.
JENNIFER: Jack what are you doing? What are you doing?

JACK: You know, she is up on top of one of these roofs. She's perched up there watching, with binoculars. I guarantee it. And she's watching to see if this works.

JENNIFER: You know what, maybe we should do our best to enjoy it.... for Jo's sake.

JACK: What do you mean, for Jo's sake?

JENNIFER: Maybe you should read Romeo and Juliet again, to me.
JACK: But you've already heard it.

JENNIFER: But I could listen to you over and over.
JACK: Why don't you say that a little louder for Jo.

JENNIFER: I COULD LISTEN TO YOU, OVER AND OVER, JACK.
JACK: ALRIGHT, IT SOUNDS A BIT LIKE PURGATORY TO ME BUT LET'S GIVE IT A SHOT.

DESPITE ALL HE SAYS, HE SEEMS TO BE ENJOYING IT ALL JUST AS MUCH AS JENNIFER. HE OPENS THE BOOK AND HE WALKS AROUND BEHIND HER AND BEGINS READING.

JACK: "With love's light wings did I o'er perch these walls, For stoney limits cannot hold love out, And what love can do.... that.... that dare's.... love attempt."

HE LOOKS AT HER WITH DEEP LOVE IN HIS EYES WHILE SHE LOOKS UP AT THE STARS. SHE TURNS TO FACE HIM.

JENNIFER: You read it just as beautifully as you did last time.
JACK: I tell you what, I think.... I think we better go sit down and eat before the food gets all cold.

HE PULLS HER CHAIR OUT AND SITS HER DOWN THEN SITS OPPOSITE HER HIMSELF.

JENNIFER: You know this was really nice of Jo to do this for us.

JACK LIGHTS THE CANDLE.

JENNIFER: But I don't think that we can ever recreate that night.
JACK: Well that's true. Time travel has yet to be perfected. What was, was.
JENNIFER: Yeah that night's gone forever. I mean there is no way we could duplicate it because there's no ring. We had a ring that night.

JACK IS POURING WINE AND HE PAUSES FOR A SECOND AND THEN CONTINUES.

JACK: That's correct. Let me propose a toast.
JENNIFER: Okay, a toast.

THEY BOTH PICK UP THEIR GLASSES AND HOLD THEM TOGETHER.

JACK: To what was lost.... JENNIFER: To what was lost.

JACK: No, no, I'm not quite finished. (Beat) To what was lost, to what was found. To what.... will always be.
JENNIFER: What are you talking about?

JACK: Ah.... it seems fairly evident to me.
JENNIFER: I don't know what you mean Jack.

JACK: Um.... neither do I. But it will all be clear in time. In good time.

JACK RAISES HIS EYEBROWS, THEN THEY CLINK GLASSES AND SIP THE WINE. JACK HAS A WISE EXPRESSION ON HIS FACE; IT IS OBVIOUS THAT "THE SOMETHING LOST" AND "WHAT WAS FOUND" REFERS TO THEM, BUT ALSO SOMETHING ELSE.

SCENE SIX: LATER AFTER DINNER, JACK IS STILL AT THE TABLE, QUIETLY READING ROMEO AND JULIET. JENNIFER GETS UP AND TURNS ON THE MUSIC. SHE WALKS OVER AND TAKES THE BOOK FROM HIM AND PULLS HIM UP TO DANCE. HE LOOKS AROUND THE ROOF AND SIGNALS THAT JO IS PROBABLY LOOKING THROUGH BINOCULARS.

SHE GRABS HIM TO DANCE ANYWAY. AS THE MUSIC PLAYS, HE CONTINUES TO LOOK AROUND AND SHE KEEPS PULLING HIS FACE BACK TO HER.

SHE RESTS HER HEAD ON HIS CHEST AND TOGETHER THEY SLOWLY DANCE; THEY ARE ENJOYING THE QUIET MOMENT IN EACH OTHER'S ARMS.
I've been missing you,
And I don't know what there is for me to do,
But hope and wish and pray,
That love will finds its way
From me to you one day,
And I will stay, Inside your world forever more.

There's no place to hide,
I could never run from what I feel inside,
Seems all I have is you,
And I want to make you love me deep and true,
And if you do, I want my love to be a part of you.

When there's no one to believe in,
My fantasies run wild, I make it easy on myself,
I just dream of how the world would be,
If there was only you and me, And no one else.

I could easily believe in love,
Because you'd never let me down,
You bring such happiness to me,
And to prove how true my love would be,
I'd hold you very high for the world to see.
I'll be missing you,
And I don't know what there is for me to do,
But I'll remember you....

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

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