SCENE ONE: JACK GRABS HER TRAIN AS SHE RUNS AND THEY END UP NEAR THEIR DRESSING ROOMS.

 

JACK: Oh, whoa, whoa, just a minute here.... whoa, whoa.... whoa.

 

JENNIFER SUDDENLY STOPS RUNNING.

 

JACK: What is it? What?

JENNFIER: Jack?

JACK: Yes.

JENNFIER: We're married.

JACK: Yes.... that is the rumor, yes.

JENNFIER: I can't believe it. I mean I heard the minister say the words and I heard you and I heard myself....

JACK: And?

JENNFIER: And it's wonderful Jack. It's incredible. I can't believe that it happened. I feel like I'm going to cry.

 

SHE WRAPS HER ARMS AROUND HIS NECK.

 

JACK: No, no, please.... please don't. You'll.... you'll scare the horses.

JENNFIER: Do you think we can get out of here on time before Mr. Crenna wants to start the show?

JACK: I don't think we have to worry about that. Forget about Mr. Crenna. I have something else that I need to do with you right now. Come on.

JENNFIER: Jack what are you doing? No Jack, we can't go. Everyone's lining up to congratulate us.

JACK: Don't worry about them. They'll wait, in the reception line, right. There's something important we have to do.

JENNFIER: What are you talking about?

JACK: Don't worry, just follow me, come on.

JENNFIER: Wait a minute Jack.

JACK: Quick, they're coming. They'll hear me. Get in here quick.

 

HE TAKES HER INTO THE DRESSING ROOM SHE USED.

 

JENNFIER: Now Jack you do realize that all of Salem....

JACK: Ssssshhhh!

JENNFIER: .... is waiting to congratulate us at Fisherman's Village, don't you?

JACK: All of Salem can wait, alright. I have something.... I have something I need to.... ah.... talk about.

JENNFIER: Well what do you want to talk about?

 

JACK HESITATES.

 

JACK: Well.... look I wasn't going to get into this but you.... you kind of.... ah.... you kind of surprised me with that, um, that poem. So, um, I just thought I had to say.... well I had to get my feelings out and.... ah.... well, you can read my feelings out. There you go.

 

HE PULLS A LETTER OUT OF HIS INSIDE POCKET.

 

JENNFIER: What is this Jack?

JACK: This is just a couple of things that I jotted down on paper. It's, ah.... well I wasn't sure I was going to be able to speak in time for the ceremony. So.... ah, it's just my feelings that I got down on.... that I got down on paper. Please?

JENNIFER BEGINS TO READ THE LETTER AND JACK STANDS BEHIND HER WATCHING HER REACTION.

 

JENNFIER: "Dear Jennifer, In the past few days I've been something that I've rarely been at any other time in my life. Silent."

 

SHE LAUGHS. SHE CONTINUES TO READ.

 

JENNFIER: "But you're at least partly to blame. From the day we met you've surprised me, challenged me, and engaged me in a way that no other human being ever has. And I've never been able to tell you what that meant to me. But today of all days I have to find a way. Before I knew you, I wasn't living, I was waiting and hoping. Because even though I've lived my life in a gray and...." Jack I can't read this word.... "even though I lived my life in a gray and...."

 

HE TAKES THE LETTER.

JACK: "In.... in a gray and.... in a gray and soulless city...." (Beat) ".... I've.... I've always known that somewhere.... I've always known that somewhere in the heart of it there is a wall and then there is a door and if you're lucky enough to have the key and you're lucky enough to get inside.... you'll be about as close as any of us are ever going to get.... to the Garden of Eden."

 

JACK'S VOICE STARTS TO BREAK AND JENNIFER'S EYES FILL WITH TEARS.

 

JACK: And I know this is going to sound ridiculous but...ah.... I feel that's pretty much where I'm standing right now. (Beat) That's sans the snakes and the apple trees of course.

 

SHE NODS WITH EMOTION.

 

JENNFIER: Now I am going to cry.

JACK: Being happy is no reason to cry.

JENNFIER: Happy? Jack Harcourt Deveraux is admitting to being happy?

JACK: Er.... um.... well you know, I just thought the day was kind of sufficient for the moment. I just hope that I can make you.... as happy.

JENNFIER: Jack you already have. I have never been happier in my entire life. I love you so much Jack.

JACK: I love you so much too.

SCENE TWO: AT THE RECEPTION, EVERYBODY IS WAITING FOR THEM TO ARRIVE.

 

MARCUS: Okay ladies and gentlemen. Yes, the moment you've all been waiting for. They're here. Yes they are. Mr. and Ms Jack Deveraux!

 

EVERYBODY CHEERS AND CLAPS AS THEY WALK IN AND JACK GIVES A LITTLE WAVE. JENNIFER HANDS CARLY HER FLOWERS AND TURNS TO JACK. THEIR SONG, ALL I HAVE BEGINS TO PLAY.

 

CAROLINE: Well?

JENNFIER: Jack?

 

JACK LOOKS QUESTIONINGLY AT JENNIFER.

JACK: Huh?

JENNFIER: Ah, the music.

JACK: Yes, yes, very, very nice.

 

 

JENNFIER: The music's for us. We're supposed to.... dance. Everyone's waiting for us to dance.

JACK: May I have this first dance?

 

HE PUTS HIS HAND OUT AND SHE TAKES IT. EVERYBODY SIGHS, AND COMMENTS HOW ROMATIC THEY LOOK. JACK TAKES HER IN HIS ARMS AND THEY START TO DANCE SLOWLY AND THE GUESTS APPLAUD.

THEY CONTINUE TO SHUFFLE AROUND BUT ARE MORE INTERESTED IN LOOKING IN EACH OTHER'S EYES AND WHISPERING THAN ANYTHING ELSE. THEY BEGIN TO KISS ON THE DANCE FLOOR AND ALICE SIGHS.

MARCUS: Yes.

 

THE GUESTS APPLAUD AGAIN AS JACK CONTINUES TO KISS HER.

SCENE THREE: LATER MARCUS GATHERS THE GUESTS AGAIN.

 

MARCUS: Okay ladies, ladies, ladies. It's about that time. Yes siree. All the single ladies over here. Over here. Bouquet time, bouquet time.

JENNFIER: Okay, is everybody ready? (Beat) Alright, okay, here it goes.

 

JENNIFER TURNS AROUND AND TOSSES THE BOUQUET OVER HER HEAD AND KAYLA CATCHES IT.

 

SHANE: It seems to me that someone up there may be trying to tell you something.

 

KAYLA JUST SMILES.

 

MARCUS: Okay guys, it's your turn now. All the single guys over here. Okay, move along. Single guys over here.

 

VERN GETS JENNIFER A CHAIR.

 

VERN: Here you are Mrs. D.

JENNFIER: Thanks Vern.

MARCUS: Now all we've got to do is find Mr. D. Where's Jack? JACK?

CROWD: There he is.

 

JACK HAS BEEN TRYING TO REMAIN INCONSPICUOUS AND HIDE.

 

JACK: Wait a minute, no.... wait....

 

THE GUYS ALL PUSH HIM TOWARDS JENNIFER.

 

JENNFIER: (To Frankie) You know I knew that this was not going to be a typical wedding reception. I just knew that.

FRANKIE: You said it. Listen since I have you alone, there is something I have to say.

JENNFIER: What?

MARCUS: Come on Jack, come on.

FRANKIE: Well by the time you get back from your honeymoon, I'll be gone. So this is it, this is goodbye.

JENNFIER: Oh I didn't realize that. Oh Frankie I'm going to miss you so much.

FRANKIE: I'm going to miss you too. We'll write, we'll definitely write.

JENNFIER: Yeah but it's not the same.

FRANKIE: I know.

 

IN THE BACKGROUND EVERYBODY IS ENCOURAGING JACK TO STEP FORWARD AND THEY ARE TEASING HIM.

 

FRANKIE: I gotta admit I had my doubts about you two in the beginning. But not anymore Jen. I'm really happy for you and I'm glad you're happy.

JENNFIER: Thanks. I just hope that you and Eve are as happy as me and Jack.

FRANKIE: Yeah well that makes two of us.

 

FRANKIE GIVES JENNIFER A HUG AS MARCUS SUCCEEDS IN GETTING JACK OVER THERE.

 

MARCUS: Come on Jack get over here.

JACK: No.... I'm just not.... I am not.... let me say this now, I've said it once. I am not a big fan of this.... this garter ritual. I think.... Francoise, or somebody, just stand in for me.

JENNFIER: NO! No one's going to stand in for you. You're going to do this yourself Jack.

MARCUS: Do it Jack!

JACK: I suppose I should rephrase the question.

FRANKIE: Just do it Jack!

ROMAN: Do it Jack!

 

ALL THE MEN START CHEERING HIM ON.

 

JACK: Certainly, I'll do it. Thank you for making it so easy to pretend you're not here. Thank you.

JENNFIER: I'll help you okay.

JACK: Thank you.

 

JENNIFER SITS DOWN AND LIFTS UP HER RIGHT LEG FOR JACK. HE TAKES HER FOOT IN HIS HAND.

JACK: Ah, this one?

 

THE GUYS ALL START HOOTING.

 

JENNFIER: Yeah, it's up there.

 

SHE THROWS HER HEAD BACK AND LAUGHS AS JACK SLIDES HIS HAND UP HER LEG UNDER HER DRESS.

 

MARCUS: Go Jack.

 

JACK SLIDES THE GARTER DOWN HER LEG AND OFF HER FOOT AS THE CROWD HOOTS AGAIN.

JENNFIER: Okay.

 

SHE STANDS UP NEXT TO HIM.

 

JACK: So now I throw it, okay?

JENNFIER: Yeah, [?] throw....

JACK: Okay.

 

HE CATAPULTS IT ACROSS THE ROOM AND ROMAN CATCHES IT. THE CROWD CHEERS AGAIN AND THE DANCING BEGINS.

SCENE FOUR: SOME TIME LATER, JACK AND JENNIFER ARE SWIRLING AND DANCING UNTIL THEY ARE BOTH TIRED.

 

JACK: Oh.

 

JENNIFER LOOSENS HIS TIE.

 

JENNFIER: Come on Jack, let's go.

JACK: Go where?

JENNFIER: I want to go back to the penthouse and start our honeymoon. But let's just say all of our good-byes first, okay.

JACK: Well.... ah, how fast can you say goodbye?

JENNFIER: Very fast.

JACK: Well let's try to set a record then, shall we?

JENNFIER: I'll be right back.

 

SHE WALKS OFF TO SAY GOODBYE TO HER FAMILY.

 

JACK: Alright. Ah, Marcus?

MARCUS: Yeah, is it about that rice time, huh?

JACK: Ah, I think it's time for the minute rice. As a matter of fact, the bride is in a bit of a hurry.

MARCUS: Got it.

 

MARCUS STARTS HANDING OUT RICE.

 

MARCUS: Rice, everybody, let's go!

 

JENNIFER GOES OVER TO BILL TO SAY GOODBYE.

 

JENNFIER: Daddy, Jack and I are going to be leaving in just a minute.

BILL: Well then, this is goodbye.

JENNFIER: I know. I'm going to miss you.

BILL: I'm going to miss you too.

 

THEY BOTH HUG.

 

BILL: Hey, I better let you go.

JENNFIER: What?

BILL: I think your husband's waiting.

JENNFIER: Yeah. Goodbye daddy.

BILL: Goodbye baby.

 

ALL THE GUESTS GO OUTSIDE READY TO THROW RICE AND JACK AND JENNIFER ARE LEFT ALONE.

 

JACK: Well?

JENNFIER: Well, when we walk out that door it's going to be whole new life for us.

JACK: Don't I know it.

JENNFIER: Are you ready?

JACK: I'm ready if you're ready.

JENNFIER: It's kind of like jumping out of an airplane, isn't it?

JACK: No, with one exception. This time you don't have to push me out first.

 

JENNIFER LAUGHS.

 

JACK: What do you say? Are you ready to run the gauntlet?

JENNFIER: Yeah.

JACK: Let's run.

 

JACK TAKES HER HAND AND THE RUN OUT THROUGH THE CROWD AS THEY SHOWER THEM WITH RICE. JACK WAVES AS THEY LEAVE.

SCENE FIVE: INSTEAD OF GOING STRAIGHT BACK TO THE PENTHOUSE, THEY GO BACK TO THE ARENA TO SPEND A LITTLE TIME WHERE THEY WERE ACTUALLY MARRIED. ALL THE WEDDING DECORATIONS ARE GONE NOW AND THERE'S ONLY A SMALL BOX LEFT SITTING IN THE MIDDLE.

 

JENNFIER: Whoooo!

JACK: Listen, I'm telling you the truth. This guy Mahoney, he never showed up. He missed his plane so they thought he was me.

JENNFIER: Come on Jack, did they really lock you up?

JACK: Scout's honor. I mean I was locked up all night long with no one but the Lone Ranger and Tonto to keep me company.

JENNFIER: You know this could only happen to you.

JACK: You're telling me.

JENNFIER: But the important thing is that you got out and you got here and you married me.

JACK: (Beat) So know what?

JENNFIER: Well it's like the poem said. When the evening falls, I'll look up and there you'll be. And I'll take your hand and you'll take mine. Jack this marriage is going to be an adventure. I can feel it.

JACK: Well, I don't mind it being an adventure as long as those things that only happen to me.... stop happening to me.

 

HE PUTS HIS ARM AROUND HER AND THEY STROLL BACK TO THE SMALL BOX. JACK SITS DOWN ON IT AND JENNIFER SITS ON HIS KNEE.

 

JACK: I mean, I've just, I just got this feeling, you know, as long as nothing else goes wrong.

JENNFIER: Come on Jack, what could possibly go wrong now?

 

SUDDENLY THERE IS A MASSIVE EXPLOSION BEHIND THEM AND THE WHOLE FACADE OF THE WILD WEST SALOON COMES CRASHING DOWN OVER THEM. THEY ARE ONLY SAVED BECAUSE THE DOORWAY IS RIGHT WHERE THEY ARE SITTING.

JENNFIER: What is that?

 

THEY SLOWLY TURN TO FACE EACH OTHER AND SCREAM.

 

JACK AND JENNFIER: AAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!