The Jack Deveraux Story, Episode 309

SCENE TWO: JACK AND JENNIFER ARE STANDING IN FRONT OF EACH OTHER, THEY ARE NOT EVEN AWARE OF ANYBODY ELSE BEING THERE. JACK IS NERVOUS BUT VERY MUCH IN LOVE. JENNIFER IS OVERJOYED AT REACHING THIS POINT.

JENNFIER: Hi.

JACK: (Beat) Hello.

THEY STARE IN EACH OTHER'S EYES.

JACK: Ah, I know I wasn't at the rehearsal but I believe we're supposed to be holding hands at this point.

JENNFIER: Oh, that's right.

HE EXTENDS HIS RIGHT HAND AND TAKES HER LEFT HAND.

JENNFIER: Gosh it's so funny. I feel like I'm dreaming.

JACK SMILES BRIGHTLY.

JACK: Not me. I just woke up from one, thank you very much.

JENNIFER GIVES A NERVOUS GIGGLE.

JENNFIER: This is real isn't it? I mean we're here and this is really happening.

JACK: And they said it would never happen.

JENNFIER: But it did. We made it Jack. In spite of everything we made it. But maybe it's because of everything. I mean maybe.... maybe it wasn't supposed to be easy. Maybe that's why we had to fight so hard.

JACK: (Beat) Contra mundum, huh?
JENNFIER: Yeah. Contra mundum.

JACK: My.... ah.... my tie, could you check it please? I had to get dressed rather quickly.
JENNFIER: Do you want me to straighten it for you?

JACK: Please.

JENNFIER: Okay.

SHE LEANS FORWARD AND REACHES UP TO FIX HIS TIE. THEIR LITTLE INTIMACIES KEEP THEM COMPLETELY OCCUPIED.

JENNFIER: There you go, okay.
JACK: Thanks.

MINISTER: Excuse me.

THEY DO NOT EVEN HEAR THE MINISTER.

JENNFIER: How does my veil, how's my veil look? Is it crooked?

JACK: Um, I'm no expert but maybe a little bit.

AS HE LEANS OVER TO STRAIGHTEN IT, MARCUS AND THE GUESTS BEGIN TO LAUGH QUIETLY.

JACK: If you could just....
JENNFIER: Don't mush my bun.

JACK: It's the bun, it's the bun.

MARCUS: Jack.... Jack?

JENNFIER: Don't touch my hair.

MARCUS: Jack!

THIS TIME JACK HEARS MARCUS. SLIGHTLY IRRATED.

JACK: What?

HE SUDDENLY REALIZES WHERE THEY ARE.

JACK: (Slightly embarrassed) Um...oh! Excuse.

MINISTER: I'd like to begin now if it's alright with you.

JACK: Well.... er, certainly. We're so sorry to.... ah.... hold everything up. It's just that we've.... we've never really been through this before.

JENNFIER: Together.

JACK: Together, if you know what I mean.

MINISTER: I understand.

JACK: Thank you.

THEY FACE EACH OTHER SOLEMNLY.

SCENE THREE: THE SERMONY BEGINS:

MINISTER: Dearly beloved, we come together today to join Jack Harcourt Deveraux and Jennifer Rose Horton in marriage, reminding them that it is an estate desired and cherished by the peoples of all generations. With a love that will not falter and an abiding faith in one another, they will now make their vows as we, their witnesses and friends, will vow to support them as they begin the weaving of their lives in an endless togetherness. (Beat) Jennifer, will you take Jack to be your husband? Will you love, honor and cherish him now and forever more?

JENNFIER: Yes I will.
MINISTER: Jack, will you take Jennifer to be your bride? Will you love, honor and cherish her forever more?

JACK IS OVERCOME WITH LOVE AND TAKES A FEW SECONDS BEFORE ANSWERING.

JACK: Yes, I will.

MINISTER: And now there's something I believe Jennifer wants to say.

JACK: (Whisper) What?
JENNFIER: I know this isn't really traditional but I found this poem and it talks about marriage. And it sort of expresses.... I'll let you decide.

JACK STEPS A LITTLE CLOSER AS SHE BEGINS.

JENNFIER: "Now we will feel no rain,
For each of us will be shelter to each other.
And now we will feel no cold,
For each of us will be warmth to each other.
Now there is no loneliness.
We are two bodies but there is one life before us,
And one home.

AS SHE SPEAKS TO JACK, JENNIFER'S VOICE STARTS TO BREAK AND HIS EYES SLIGHTLY FILL WITH TEARS. HE SWALLOWS HARD.

JENNINFER (CONT.): When evening falls I'll look to you and there you'll be.
And I'll take your hand and you'll take mine,
And we'll turn together and look to the road we traveled to reach this.
The hour of our happiness.
It stretches far behind us and our future lies ahead.
A long and winding road,
Where every turning means discovery.
Old hopes, new laughter, shared tears.
The adventure has just begun."

JACK: (Very emotional) Um.... what she just said.... that...that goes double for me.

JENNIFER SMILES AT JACK AND HE GRINS.

SCENE FOUR: JENNIFER HAS JUST RECITED AN EMOTION POEM ABOUT LOVE AND MARRIAGE. THE MINISTER THEN CONTINUES WITH THE REST OF THE CEREMONY.

MINISTER: Jennifer, repeat after me. (Beat) I, Jennifer, take you Jack, to be my husband.

JENNFIER: I, Jennifer, take you Jack, to be my husband.
MINISTER: To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer.

JENNFIER: To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer.

MINISTER: In sickness and in health, to love and cherish always.

JENNFIER: In sickness and in health, to love and cherish always.
MINISTER: Jack, repeat after me. (Beat) I, Jack, take you Jennifer, to be my wife.

JACK: I, Jack, take you Miss....

JACK AND JENNIFER LAUGH.

JACK (CONT.): ....take you Jennifer, to be my wife.

MINISTER: To have and to hold from this day forward.

JACK IS SO OVERCOME THAT HE BEGINS BEFORE THE MINISTER HAS FINISHED.

JACK: To have and to hold from this day forward.

MINISTER: For better....

JACK: For better, for worse....

MINISTER: For richer, for poorer.
JACK: For richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health. (Beat) To love (His voice breaks)....

JACK (CONT.): ....to love and to cherish from this day forward.

JACK IS SO FILLED WITH LOVE AND EMOTION THAT HE IS BREATHING HEAVILY.

MINISTER: May I have the rings please?

MARCUS HANDS THE RINGS TO THE MINISTER.

MINISTER: Bless oh lord these rings, as a sign of the vows by which this man and this woman have bound themselves together. In the name of Jesus Christ Our Lord, Amen.

MARCUS TAKES JENNIFER'S RING AND HANDS IT TO JACK. HE TAKES JENNIFER'S HAND AND THEY SMILE.

JACK: Jennifer, I.... I give you this ring as a token and a pledge.... of our constant faith and abiding love.

HE SLOWLY SLIDES THE RING ON HER FINGER. JENNIFER HANDS CARLY HER FLOWERS AND TAKES JACK'S RING.

JENNFIER: Jack, I give you this ring as a token and pledge of our constant faith and abiding love.

SHE SLIPS THE RING ON HIS FINGER AND SQUEEZES HIS HAND.

MINISTER: You have declared your consent and your vows before God and this congregation. May God confirm your covenant and fill you both with grace.

MINISTER (CONT.): Now, that Jack and Jennifer have given themselves to each other with solemn vows, by the joining of hands and the giving of rings, I announce to you that they are husband and wife.

THEY BOTH HAVE THE BIGGEST AND BEST SMILES ON THEIR FACES.

MINISTER: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Those whom God has joined let no one separate. Amen.

THE GUESTS ALL SAY AMEN. JACK AND JENNIFER STAND STARING AT EACH OTHER WITH HANDS JOINED.

MINISTER: You may kiss the bride now.

JENNIFER GIGGLES.

JACK: Thank you.

JACK SLOWLY FOLDS BACK HER VEIL AND LOOKS AT HER WITH LOVE IN HIS EYES.

THEY MOVE TOGETHER AND SLOWLY HE BEGINS TO KISS HER AS THE GUESTS AND CROWD START TO CHEER. HE CONTINUES TO KISS HER AMIDST MORE APPLAUSE AND CHEERING.

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