SCENE ONE: KAYLA IS AT THE JAIL WAITING TO SEE JO. LAWRENCE WALKS OUT OF A ROOM, HE HAD BEEN TALKING TO JO ASKING FOR THE LETTER. KAYLA GOES INSIDE TO TALK TO JO. JO APOLOGIZES FOR WHAT SHE DID. KAYLA WONDERS IF THERE IS ANYTHING SHE CAN DO. JO ASKS HER TO CALL JACK, SHE HAS TO SEE HIM.

SCENE TWO: JACK IS IN HIS OFFICE TALKING TO MICKEY ON THE PHONE.

 

JACK: Mickey, Mickey, look, I'm sorry I don't want to hear anymore excuses. The fact remains that Jo just spend the whole night in jail and we've got.... we're not any closer to getting her out. So I want you to do something. Get to work alright. I'm tired of waiting around.

 

HE PICKS UP A COPY OF THE CHRONICLE WHICH HAS HEADLINES ABOUT JO'S ARREST.

 

JACK: Oh this is great. My life is making headlines and I'm getting scooped by the competition.

 

HE HURLS THE PAPER ACROSS THE ROOM JUST AS JENNIFER OPENS THE DOOR. IT HITS HER AND FALLS TO THE FLOOR.

 

JENNIFER: Jack....

 

JACK TRIES NOT TO SMILE.

 

JENNIFER: Well you could have warned someone.

JACK: Well that's what you get for showing up during target practice.

JENNIFER: Target practice?

JACK: Target practice. I was working on my pitching arm, you know. I've got a whole contingent of young newspaper boys and girls who are looking up to the old man. I mean they can't look up to me if I can't hit the porch on the first try.

JENNIFER: Jack, you don't have to make up stories for my benefit. If you want to throw things, throw things. If you want to scream and hollow, that's fine. You have a right to after everything that's happened.

JACK: Well thank you for the advice, Ann Landers.

JENNIFER: Well I mean this whole thing is so amazing. Here we go off looking for this gun determined to find Nick's killer, never in a million years imagining that it would end up....

JACK: .... to be Jo Johnson. Yes I know.

JENNIFER: I know how much all of this hurts you.

JACK: Oh it doesn't hurt me. It just eats at me, that's all. I mean here's this woman stuck in this little holding cell and then there's.... there's lawyers on one side and there's.... there's the sheriffs on the other side and they're just shuffling papers back and forth. I mean you know there is something seriously wrong with our judicial system if you ask me. And I think you should ask me because.... because I'm the one that's putting out all the money here. And what do I get back, I don't get.... nothing but a.... heartache and hemorrhoids and I think I deserve more. Like some respect and a little consideration.... and ah a little more respect and.... ah....

JENNIFER: I think.... ah.... maybe what you could use right now.... is a little comfort.

 

SHE WRAPS HER ARMS AROUND HIM.

 

JENNIFER: It's going to be okay, I promise you.

JACK: The point is we haven't even dealt with what we're supposed to deal with yet.

JENNIFER: I know that, I know, the letter.

JACK: I mean I didn't even care about that damn gun. It was just.... trying.... trying to get to that letter.

JENNIFER: Right, well we don't have to think about the letter right this minute. Alright, there's more important things....

 

THE PHONE RINGS AND JACK PICKS IT UP.

 

JACK: Yeah. Hello Jack Deveraux.

KAYLA: Hi Jack, it's Kayla.

JACK: Hello. (Beat) I suppose you've seen the headlines. If you're looking for a scoop, you better go look over at The Chronicle.

KAYLA: Actually no, I'm over here at the jail with Jo and she wants to see you right away. Can you come?

JACK: Ah.... yeah.... sure. I'll.... I'll be right down there.

JENNIFER: What is it, Jo?

JACK: I.... I think we're going to get a chance to deal with this sooner than we thought.

JENNIFER: Jack what is it? Jack, wait.

JACK: It's.... it's.... ah.... you just wait Miss Horton and I'll fill you in later.

 

JACK RUNS OUT OF THE OFFICE AND LEAVES JENNIFER. JACK ARRIVES TO SEE JO.

SCENE THREE: SHE IS DRESSED IN THE SAME PRISON BLUE DENIM SHIRT SHE FIRST GOT TO WEAR AND HER HAIR IS UNTIDY.

 

JO: Jack, thank you for coming by.

JACK: And not a moment too soon. Look at you. They're going to make you wear the same outfit two days in a row?

JO: Jack....

JACK: Oh come on, you know it's very obvious that the wardrobe mistress in this place has no sense of style or taste or fashion. I mean I'm going to get my secretary go on a mission of mercy. She's going to go shopping for you, alright. All you need to do is give her your size and your fabric preferences. As long as it's not denim.

JO: Jack, please don't worry about me. I'm alright.

JACK: You're sure? You know if you don't like the food in this place remember I own a newspaper. I've got a lot of influence in this town and....

JO: Jack, Jack, I'm alright. You're going to find this odd but I find a strange sense of relief in confessing. I don't have to keep that secret anymore and I don't have to worry about who it's going to hurt next.

JACK: Ah.... well speaking of hurting. There is something that I thought you ought to know.

JO: Yes, go on.

JACK: You know when we started looking for the person that killed Nick, I had no idea that any of this was going to happen.

JO: Jack.

JACK: I mean, I mean I didn't even care about the damn gun. I'm only concerned what the gun is linked to.

JO: The letter.

JACK: You have it?

JO: Yes I have it.

JACK: Good. (Beat) Ah. by the way it's not one of those sweepstakes things, is it?

JO: No, it's not.

JACK: I mean I knew it had to be important in some way otherwise Lawrence wouldn't have been chasing after it the way he did. I mean it has to be some kind of incriminating evidence.

JO: Well there's one thing for sure, Lawrence Alamain definitely wants that letter. He even came by to talk to me about it today.

JACK: You didn't tell him you had it?

JO: No. I pretended I didn't know anything about it but I don't think he believed me.

JACK: Then he will be back.

JO: Well.... so. I'm giving the letter to you.

JACK: That's what I wanted to hear.

JO: I'm going to tell you where the letter is but I may as well warn you. What's in that letter may not be what you are expecting.

 

JO TELLS JACK WHERE IT IS HIDDEN.

SCENE FOUR: JACK AND JENNIFER ARRIVE AT NEIL'S HOUSE TO LOOK FOR IT IN JO'S ROOM.

 

NEIL: Well I think it's very nice of you to get Jo's things together for her.

 

THEY ALL WALK IN THE ROOM AND JACK CANNOT KEEP HIS EYES OFF ONE PARTICULAR BUREAU.

 

JENNIFER: Well you know we thought it would be nice for her to have some of her personal belongings around her.

NEIL: Well that's very thoughtful. Maybe I can help.

JACK: Ah.... no. Actually she just gave us a list and we can just zip right through it. Just zip, zip, zip.

NEIL: Well at least I can take them over to her. I mean I'm planning on visiting her this afternoon anyway. We can put them in her overnight case. I think it's somewhere over here.

JACK: Oh no, no, no.

 

JACK GRABS NEIL'S ARM.

 

JACK: We wouldn't dream of that. I mean Jo would have our head if she found out that we made you go to all that trouble. Right Miss Horton?

JENNIFER: Right, yeah, you know she didn't want to impose.

NEIL: Well it's no imposition. Actually I would like to help.

JACK: Well that's really.... nice but.... um....

JENNIFER: .... um....

JACK: .... um.... well you know....

JENNIFER: Um, Dr. Curtis, excuse me, come here.

 

JENNIFER TAKES NEIL ASIDE TO TALK PRIVATELY TO HIM.

 

JENNIFER: I think.... um.... I think it would mean a lot more to Jack if he could do this for his mother on his own.

NEIL: Oh.... well when you put it that way.

JENNIFER: Thanks.

 

 

NEIL: Well, listen, I'll let you two get to work, alright.

JACK: Oh thank you, sure.

 

NEIL LEAVES AND SHUTS THE DOOR.

 

JACK: You sure know how to clear a room. What did you say?

JENNIFER: Nothing.... I just.... alright which bureau is it supposed to be in?

JACK: Right here.

JENNIFER: Oh this one.

 

THEY BEND OVER TO START LOOKING FOR THE LETTER AS NEIL POPS HIS HEAD BACK IN.

 

NEIL: Oh listen, I forgot to tell you....

 

JACK GETS A FRIGHT AND JUMPS UP.

 

JACK: Oooooh.

NEIL: I'll be leaving so you can let yourselves out.

JENNIFER: We will, thank you.

JACK: Spooked me.

 

NEIL LEAVES AGAIN AND THEY GO BACK TO SEARCHING FOR THE LETTER. JACK PULLS STUFF OUT OF THE DRAWERS.

 

JENNIFER: Jack don't.

 

JENNIFER PUSHES ALL THE CLOTHES BACK IN.

 

JACK: Wait a minute, where is it, where is it?

JENNIFER: It's not in here?

JACK: It's not.

JENNIFER: It's supposed to be in here Jack.

JACK: I know it's supposed to be in here. She told me it was going to be here. She said it was this metal box and....

JENNIFER: Wait a minute Jack.

JACK: .... it's not there. It's not there.

JENNIFER: Oh my gosh.

JACK: It's not there.

JENNIFER: Metal box? You're right, it's not there.

JACK: I told you it wasn't there. You don't have to repeat what I'm saying.

JENNIFER: Alright, let's just take a minute. Let's try to remember what your mother told us.

JACK: Well she told me that it was in the left bureau.

JENNIFER: Right, it was in the left. (Beat) Maybe it was the right.

JACK: Wrong, no. I'm sure it was the left.

JENNIFER: But it's not in this one.

JACK: That would mean.... the right is left?

JENNIFER: Alright, for argument's sake, let's check the right, okay.

JACK: Right.

JENNIFER: Right, I hope it's there.

 

JACK BEGINS TO RUMMAGE IN THE RIGHT BUREAU.

 

JACK: It must be there.

JENNIFER: Here it is, here it is. It's right here.

 

JENNIFER LIFTS OUT A METAL BOX FROM THE BOTTOM DRAWER. SHE GENTLY PUTS IT ON TOP.

 

JACK: Is it locked?

JENNIFER: No.

 

JENNIFER OPENS IT AND TAKES OUT THE LETTER.

 

JENNIFER: Oh my gosh, here's the letter, just like she said.

JACK: Blood stains complete.

 

THE ENVELOPE HAS BLOOD STAINS ON IT.

 

JACK: Careful with it.

JENNIFER: This is it, this is it. This could be everything that we need to implicate Lawrence.

JACK: Well let me have the envelope please? Let me take it....

JENNIFER: No, let's.... let's do it together, alright.

JACK: Alright, go ahead.

 

JENNIFER REMOVES THE LETTER AND OPENS IT.

SCENE FIVE: THEY ARE BOTH SHOCKED WHEN THEY READ IT.

JACK: Jo's right. This is useless.

JENNIFER: Useless, this is worse than useless. Not only doesn't it tie Lawrence to Nick's murder, it lets him off the hook for practically everything he's ever done.

 

JACK GRABS THE LETTER.

 

JACK: I'd hate to have Lawrence get a hold of this.

JENNIFER: We have to make sure that he doesn't Jack.

 

NEIL'S BUTLER COMES IN AND JACK HIDES THE LETTER IN HIS JACKET.

 

BUTLER: Excuse me. The gentleman you were expecting is here.

JACK: Gentleman we were expecting?

JENNIFER: Ah, we weren't expecting a....

 

LAWRENCE WALKS IN THE ROOM.

 

LAWRENCE: Ah, the turmoil twins. What a surprise.

JACK: Well, speak of the devil.

LAWRENCE: Well it's always nice to be thought of Jack.... in any context.

JENNIFER: What are you doing here Lawrence?

LAWRENCE: To see you actually. I had a hunch I'd find the two of you here.

JACK: So you waited till Neil left and then you talked your way past the butler?

LAWRENCE: Well that wasn't difficult, convincing the man that you were waiting to see me. Little did he know that he was helping me satisfy my penchant for the element of surprise.

JACK: Well.... now that your penchant has been satisfied and.... Miss Horton and I have been properly taken aback, what do you want?

LAWRENCE: I think you know.

JACK: Well if you have a penchant for women's lingerie, you're certainly in the right place. But if you don't, you're not. We're just here to fill a valise for Jo. She didn't have the chance to pack before she had to go. Miss Horton?

JENNIFER: Yeah.

JACK: Ah.... how's it going with the.... nightgown?

 

JENNIFER GRABS A NIGHTGOWN OUT OF THE DRAWER.

 

JENNIFER: It's going very well. I have it right here.

JACK: Oh good. I tell you what, you know I really think we should just forget about the valise and just take it right over to the spa before the.... the visiting hours are over. Excuse us.

LAWRENCE: Not so fast! (Beat) I haven't gotten what I came for yet.

JACK: Really! What is that?

LAWRENCE: I want the letter Jack. And I want it now. (Beat) I know that letter's here somewhere Jack. Why don't you make it easier on all of us and just give it to me.

JACK: A letter? (Beat) I'm sorry.... I mean haven't seen any letters here. I haven't seen any letters anywhere. Miss Horton, have you seen any letters?

JENNIFER: No, no, I've just been looking for nightgowns for Jo.

JACK: Well, what can I say, I guess you made a mistake. Maybe you were looking for the post office. Heheheh.

LAWRENCE: You know Jack, this little act of yours might be amusing if it wasn't so pathetic. But it's obvious you're no better a player than your mother and your brother. But then being a loser must run in the family.

JACK IS ANGRY BUT HE DECIDES TO IGNORE LAWRENCE.

 

JACK: I thank you for your opinion.... but we really have to be going. So if you don't mind.

 

AS JACK WALKS PAST, LAWRENCE GRABS HIS ARM.

 

LAWRENCE: But I do mind, Mr. Deveraux.

 

JACK TURNS IN FURY.

 

JACK: Please let go of my arm!

LAWRENCE: Or what? You'll amuse me to death Jack? Or perhaps strangle me with your bare hands?

 

JACK'S FACE TURNS WHITE WITH ANGER.

 

LAWRENCE: Isn't one Johnson incarcerated for murder enough?

JENNIFER: Don't.... do this, please. don't do this!

 

JENNIFER PUSHES JACK AWAY FROM LAWRENCE AND STANDS IN FRONT OF HIM. JACK IS TRYING HARD TO KEEP HIS TEMPER.

 

LAWRENCE: Well I'm.... I'm touched, coming to our rescue that way Jennifer.

JENNIFER: (To Jack) We're going to get him Jack, we will. But not now, not like this.

 

JACK IS LOOKING AT THE FLOOR AND TRYING TO LET IT GO.

LAWRENCE: Oh and so confident. Very inspiring.

JENNIFER: That's because you can't hurt us anymore Lawrence because we won't let you.

LAWRENCE: Not that I'd ever want to do anything to hurt you but I see no reason for this sudden optimism.

JENNIFER: Really, then how do you explain this? You came here today looking for a letter and you're leaving here today without it.

LAWRENCE: A minor setback.

JENNIFER: It's just one of many Lawrence. We have a lot of surprises in store for you.

LAWRENCE: Well, I suggest you two savor this victory. (Beat) Because I guarantee you, there won't be another.

 

LAWRENCE WALKS OUT AND JACK LOOKS ACROSS AT JENNIFER. HE IS WORRIED AND SO IS SHE.

SCENE SIX: JACK AND JENNIFER TAKE A WALK ON THE PIER TO SORT OUT WHAT TO DO NEXT.

 

JACK: Those threats that you leveled at Lawrence came dangerously close to being menacing. Too bad you can't do anything about them.

JENNIFER: What if I told you there was?

 

JACK SPINS ROUND TO FACE HER.

 

JACK: What, what are you talking about, the letter? The letter is a dud. I mean it's the biggest dud since Geraldo raided Al Capone's basement. We have nothing. We're all out of ammo. I mean the only way that we could get to Lawrence now is to mess up his hair or steal his tie clip.

JENNIFER: Jack I'm serious.

JACK: What, you don't think I'm serious. What do you have to be serious about?

JENNIFER: I know another way that we can get Lawrence, a way that can't fail.

JACK: Oh, please be specific.

JENNIFER: Yes I can be. (Beat) I'm going to press charges against Lawrence. (Beat) I'm going to publicly accuse him of rape.