SCENE ONE: JACK IS DOWN AT ALICE'S RESTAURANT FILLING GINGER IN ON HIS PLAN TO SCAM HAWK.

 

JACK: Alright, alright, I hate to see a grown woman cry, so we'll go over my scheme to get Baby Howie one more time.

GINGER: Well I would appreciate that.

JACK: Okay, we know that Jennifer is Baby Howie's Archilles' heel, right?

GINGER: Right.

JACK: Right. So I'm going to use her to get to him because he'll do anything to get me out of town.

GINGER: But you're not going out of town?

JACK: No! I'm not going out of town. I want him to give me money for Jennifer to appease my guilty conscience.

GINGER: Your guilty conscience about....

JACK: About Cindy. The luscious Cindy that I've been going after.

GINGER: Cindy, so you made up the story about a person named Cindy?

JACK: Yes, yes.

GINGER: So what you're really trying to do is call Hawk's bluff because if he cares as much about Jennifer as you think he does he will cough up the money. Am I right?

JACK: Right. But the money that he coughs up will not be from his inheritance.

GINGER: You know I bet you're right because I think old man Hawkins lost that fortune a long time ago.

JACK: Absolutely.

GINGER: But you see then what happens when Hawk doesn't have the money to give you?

JACK: Oh he'll have the money to give me because that money will be my money. My five million dollars.

GINGER: Oh, you really think he wants to get rid of you that bad that he would part with the money?

JACK: I'm betting my life on it. (Beat) Yes I am betting my life on it. But I tell you something, if he doesn't come up with that money I'm going to show him up for the phony he is.... to Jennifer and the rest of this town.

 

JACK STAYS AT THE RESTAURANT UNTIL HAWK ARRIVES.

SCENE TWO: A LITTLE HE COMES OVER TO THE JACK'S BOOTH.

 

HAWK: Hey Jack, I've been looking for you.

JACK: Well, you found me.

HAWK: Yeah.

JACK: Have you thought over my proposition?

HAWK: Yes Jack, actually I have. And I don't think I'm going to be able to float you this loan.

 

JACK IS SURPRISED BUT HIDES IS WELL.

 

JACK: Well, ah, why not?

HAWK: Because Jack my conscience just won't let me give you the means to run out on Jennifer and just break her heart all over again. I'm sorry, I can't help you.

JACK: I tell you what, why don't you think of this as a favor for Jennifer.

HAWK: A favor? Well how do you figure that?

JACK: How long do you think I can keep this pretense going? I mean think about Jennifer. Sooner or later she's going to find out that I've been running around behind her back.

HAWK: Well, maybe she won't find out Jack.

JACK: Oh come on now. You know women. They always find out. They've got that.... that sixth sense. I mean I'd be surprised if she hadn't suspected something by now.

HAWK: Jack are you sure that you want to give up a good woman like Jennifer? I mean this Cindy gal, I don't think that she can be anywhere near as good a woman as Jennifer.

JACK: I have no argument that Jennifer's a wonderful woman. But with Cindy.... we.... we have a chemistry like you would not believe.

 

JACK GIVES A SLEAZY CHUCKLE.

 

HAWK: That powerful huh?

JACK: Ruff.... ruff!

 

HAWK CHUCKLES ALONG WITH JACK.

 

HAWK: I don't know Jack, I've heard these things can happen.

JACK: Oh they can happen alright. And it did happen, to me.

HAWK: Yeah, well I still.... I don't know Jack, I don't know.

JACK: What do you mean you don't know? If you can't do it for me, please.... do it for Jennifer. She doesn't deserve to have a husband that doesn't love her.

HAWK: No she sure doesn't. You're right about that.

JACK: So you'll do it?

HAWK: Jack, I tell you what, okay, I need a little time to think about this, okay.

JACK: Sure.... sure, if you need it, sure.

HAWK: Well I just really feel like I do. And I tell you what, I will be in touch with you. You can count on that.

 

HAWK GETS UP TO LEAVE BUT JACK GRABS HIS ARM.

 

JACK: Just.... remember. Keep this between us.... men.

HAWK: Right. My lips are sealed Jack.

 

HAWK WALKS OUT AND GINGER COMES STRAIGHT OVER.

 

GINGER: Well? Did he fall for it?

JACK: I think maybe he did. (Beat) As a betting man and I am a betting man, I think he believed me. So if he doesn't come up with that money.... ?

 

GINGER LAUGHS.

 

GINGER: You can expose him for the phony he really is.

JACK: Yes I CAN do that.

SCENE THREE: DOWN AT WINGS, ALL THE LADIES OF SALEM ARE WAITING FOR CARLY TO ARRIVE FOR THE SURPRISE SHOWER. THEY HEAR SOMEBODY COMING, SO THEY TURN OFF THE LIGHTS AND HIDE.

 

THE LADIES: SURPRISE!!!!

 

THE LIGHTS GO ON AND JACK IS STANDING THERE WITH A BIG GRIN ON HIS FACE.

 

JACK: HEY, IT'S NOT EVEN MY BIRTHDAY. Good thing I wore the tux, huh! HEHEHEHEH.

 

THEY ALL SIGH IN DISAPPOINTMENT AND JENNIFER GOES OVER TO FIND OUT WHAT HE HE IS DOING THERE.

 

JENNIFER: What are you doing here?

JACK: I came here to see you. That's what I'm doing here.

JENNIFER: This isn't a party for you. This is Carly's shower and I don't have any time to talk to you right now.

JACK: Don't worry about this. This won't take a minute, alright.

JENNIFER: I don't have.... alright, what is it?

JACK: Okay, I just wanted to let you know that the plan is working out great. Just great.

JENNIFER: What are you talking about?

JACK: I'm talking about not giving up on you and you not giving up on me.

JENNIFER: I don't have time for this right now, Jack.

JACK: I know you don't have time. I know you're busy and even more importantly, I know you're angry with me. But I'm telling you, this plan is going to work out sooner than you think.

JENNIFER: Another plan Jack?

JACK: Yes, a plan TO WIN YOU BACK!

 

THE WHOLE ROOM STOPS TALKING BECAUSE JACK IS SPEAKING SO LOUDLY.

 

JACK: TO WIN ME BACK, TO WIN US BACK! TO WIN BACK EVERYTHING THAT YOU AND I EV....

HE REALIZES THE WHOLE ROOM IS POISED FOR HIS NEXT WORD.

 

JACK: Well that's all I wanted to say. So I'll....

 

HE GRABS SOME FOOD OFF THE TRAY.

 

JACK: .... see you round. Have a nice shower. I mean.... ALL have a nice shower. Excuse me.

 

HE WALKS OUT. JENNIFER IS FRUSTRATED BECAUSE SHE CANNOT HELP BUT BE CHARMED BY HIM AT EVERY TURN.

SCENE FOUR: A SHORT TIME LATER, CARLY ARRIVES WITHOUT BO. ACTUALLY BO HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED (THIS WAS WHEN PETER RECKELL LEFT THE SHOW).

SCENE ONE: IT IS LATER THAT NIGHT, JACK IS BACK AT ALICE'S RESTAURANT. HE HAS GOTTEN RID OF THE TUX AND IS NOW WEARING A BEIGE DOORMAN'S UNIFORM WITH A LONG COAT AND MATCHING TROUSERS. IT IS *NOT* HIS COLOR.

 

JACK: Will you just sit down over there and stop serving alright.

 

GINGER SITS DOWN OPPOSITE JACK.

 

JACK: Tell me, are you ready or not?

GINGER: Well I guess I'm ready as I'm ever going to be. I just wish I knew that this plan of yours was going to work.

JACK: It is too late for that. This is the only chance we've got.

GINGER: Hey, weren't you just wearing a tux?

JACK: I changed!

GINGER: Into an usher?

JACK: Into a doorman's uniform.

GINGER: Why are you wearing that?

JACK: What I am wearing or what I'm not wearing is none of your business.

GINGER: Thank god.

JACK: Look, let's just get down to the business at hand. Are we or are we not ready to move?

GINGER: I don't know. You know messing with Hawk can be pretty dangerous.

GINGER: You knew that from the start. Now this is my only chance to win back everything that I lost and that includes Jennifer, so I'm doing this with or without you.

GINGER: So you're really set on this?

JACK: If you're talking about me getting my wife out of the clutches of the gold digger in pants....

JACK AND GINGER: .... in tight pants!

JACK: You're absolutely right. Then all I need is yours.

GINGER: My what?

JACK: Your pants and your help along with it.

GINGER: Alright, you can count me in.

 

HAWK WALKS IN THE RESTAURANT.

 

JACK: The Hawk just entered. Scoot!

 

GINGER MOVES AWAY FAST AND JACK SITS, DETERMINED TO GET HAWK THIS TIME.

 

JACK: (Whispering) It's time to make you my pigeon.

SCENE TWO: HAWK HAS ARRIVED AT ALICE'S, HE HAS STOPPED AT THE COUNTER. JACK JUMPS UP TO SPEAK TO HIM, AND TO CONTINUE PUTTING HIS PLAN IN MOTION.

 

JACK: Howie, Baby Howie, oh I'm glad you're here. Listen, I want to talk you about that loan. It's very important that I get that....

GINGER: IS THERE ANYBODY HERE NAMED JACK DEVERAUX?

JACK: Ah, right here.

GINGER: There's a phone call for you. Somebody named Cindy I think.

JACK: Ah, excuse me just for a minute.

HAWK: HEHEHEH.

JACK: I have to get that.

HAWK: HEHEH, ooooh Jack!

 

JACK GOES TO THE PHONE.

 

HAWK: I just bet you do Jackie Boy.

 

JACK SIDLES UP TO THE PHONE WITH HIS BEST SLEAZY VOICE.

 

JACK: Hi. (Beat) Tonight? Oh I don't know if.... (Beat).... well when you put it that way. HEHEHEHEH. I guess I could shake loose for a couple of hours, yeah. Ah.... okay.... okay.... room no 11 at the old Notell Motel. 10PM sharp, yeah. (Beat) I'll be there. You just bring that little black lace teddy. HEEHEEHEEHEEH. Yeah that sounds.... oh, why not? Sure. Of course.... oh don't worry about a thing. Sure, okay. Alright, bye.

 

HAWK LEAVES AT THE END OF JACK'S CONVERSATION. GINGER COMES UP TO HIM.

 

JACK (CONT.): (To Ginger) Did he swallow it?

GINGER: HAH, every last drop!

JACK: Good, good.

GINGER: You know Jack, I really think we got something here.

JACK: I think you're right. I think you're right.

GINGER: Too early to congratulate ourselves?

JACK: It probably is but when you're in cahoots with someone, it's the only time you can be. Let's work together okay.

GINGER: Oh, oh, Jennifer's here.

 

MEANWHILE ALICE AND JENNIFER HAVE COME IN.

SCENE THREE: GINGER WALKS OVER AND JACK TURNS TO WATCH JENNIFER.

 

GINGER: My, my Mrs. Horton, what's wrong? It looks like the end of the world is happening.

ALICE: Well I'm not sure it isn't. Bo Brady has been kidnapped.

GINGER: Kidnapped?

 

JACK IS LISTENING AND IS WORRIED HOW JENNIFER IS TAKING ALL THIS.

 

ALICE: Roman and Brian are out looking for him but there's.... they've had no luck yet.

JENNIFER: I just can't stop thinking about Carly. I mean a few hours ago at her shower she was so happy and....

GINGER: I tell you what. Why don't you two just come with me and sit down. I'll get you some coffee or cocoa.

JENNIFER: Ah no thanks Ginger. I'm going to be heading home actually. Goodnight grandma. I'll call you later.

ALICE: Good night darling.

JENNIFER: I'll call you later.

 

SHE TURNS TO GOT BUT JACK STOPS HER.

 

JACK: Jennifer, wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute.

JENNIFER: What? What is it?

JACK: Why don't you let me drive you home?

JENNIFER: No that's really not necessary.

JACK: I.... really, I think it's very necessary.

JENNIFER: Why?

JACK: Well you're obviously upset about Bo disappearing and.... well I think when people are missing their loved ones they sometimes are thinking about one thing and doing another and when you're driving that's just not a good thing. So it would make me feel a lot better if.... if I knew that you were home safe and sound.

JENNIFER: Okay. Okay, let's go home.

 

JACK IS EXCITED THAT SHE SAID YES.

 

JACK: Yeah.

SCENE FOUR: JACK AND JENNIFER ARRIVE BACK AT THE PENTHOUSE.

 

JACK: Look are you sure you're alright?

JENNIFER: I'm fine, really. I am.

JACK: Let me get your coat. Maybe a sedative or something. I could call Marcus and....

JENNIFER: I don't need a sedative, Jack.

JACK: A cup of tea. A hot cup of tea would be.... cause I can't get out to get a cup of tea because it's that side of the line.

JENNIFER: It's alright, I don't need a cup of tea really.

JACK: Coffee's over there too.

JENNIFER: Jack, stop fussing over me, alright. I'm.... I'm going to be okay. It's not me that I'm worried about. It's Carly, she must be out of her mind right now. I don't know what she must be thinking.

 

SHE SITS ON HER SIDE OF THE SOFA AND HE SITS DOWN NEXT TO HER BUT ON HIS SIDE OF THE LINE.

JACK: Yeah, you're right. (Beat) It must be scary. I mean you're there one minute and you've.... ah.... you've got everything. You got.... you got someone else, you got family. You got a home.... and then....

 

HE STARTS TO PLAY WITH HER HAIR.

 

JACK: .... I don't know.... and then the next minute, it's all gone. No return, no deposit.

JENNIFER: Yeah I know all about that first hand. It's pretty scary.

 

THE MOMENT IS BECOMING QUITE INTIMATE WHEN JACK REALIZES THE TIME.

 

JACK: Oh my gosh, it's 10 o'clock.... it's almost 10 o'clock.

 

HE JUMPS UP.

 

JACK: It's time to go. I have to go.

JENNIFER: What do you mean go? Where are you going?

JACK: Ah.... I'm going back to the office. I have to work on a story on Bo. I want to make the deadline.

JENNIFER: Oh, you're going to do something about all this? I mean you're going to work?

JACK: Does that surprise you?

JENNIFER: Well I mean you tell me that you have all this work that you do at the office and then everytime I turn around you're glued to one of the booths at my grandmother's restaurant. So I'm just surprised.

JACK: Well can you blame me. I mean I can't eat here. It's on that side of the line.

JENNIFER: That's right. The kitchen is on my side of the line.

JACK: Everything is on your side of the line. The kitchen, the dining room, everything, including that little key, the one and only key, that will get into the storage locker that has all my clothes in it. How can you expect me to go to work and have kind of sense of self if I have to show up wearing the borrowed suit of the doorman.

 

JENNIFER DOES FEEL A BIT GUILTY ABOUT HIS CLOTHES.

 

JENNIFER: It's a nice color on you Jack.

JACK: I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THE COLOR. Look if you're going to turn our lives into a Kathleen Turner movie why don't you make it.... make it Body Heat or....

JENNIFER: What are you talking about?

JACK: Body Heat! The movie.... well what am I saying. You're not picking that. You're picking the one where Kathleen Turner draws this big line down the center of her house and she turns her marriage to Michael Douglas into a.... a bloody battlefield [Another Jack/Matthew allusion, this time to War of the Roses].

JENNIFER: Well I've never seen that. I'll have to rent it sometime.... soon.

JACK: No you're not, not to me. You're not going to get this boy into a chandelier of death. I tell you something, I'm making a declaration of war right now.

JENNIFER: Of What?

JACK: A declaration of war! I'm going to accomplish one.... no, not one, I'm going to accomplish two things. One, I'm going to get rid of that line and two.... I'm going to get you back.

 

HE STORMS OUT THE DOOR. SHE IS PRETTY HAPPY ABOUT HIS INTENTIONS.

SCENE FIVE: A SHORT TIME LATER, DESIRÉE COMES TO SEE JENNIFER. SHE IS THERE BECAUSE JENNIFER IS GUILIBLE TO HER ADVICE, AND HAWK WANTS HER TO GET JENNIFER TO BELIEVE THAT JACK IS HAVING AN AFFAIR.

 

JENNIFER: DesirØe, hi.

DESIRÉE: Dollface, I'm so sorry to have come in here unannounced and everything but I am here on a professional capacity.

JENNIFER: You are?

DESIRÉE: Huh, uh, yeah. (Beat) Well don't look so shocked Jennifer. Come on now, aren't you the one who's been nagging me, nagging me, nagging me to have a reading.

JENNIFER: Look DesirØe, this isn't a good time alright. I have a lot on my mind. This isn't a good time.

DESIRÉE: Yeah I know, I have a lot on my mind too so that makes this a very perfect time. Sit down please.

JENNIFER: Well what are you trying to tell me? Are you telling me that you have these vibes about me?

DESIRÉE: Darling I have had the strangest.... the strongest vibes I have had yet about you. I'm telling you they just won't let me be, okay. That's why I thought I had to come over here and discuss it with you, Maybe then I could purge myself of this.

JENNIFER: Alright, then what kind of vibes are we talking about that you are having?

DESIRÉE: Well you've heard of visions of sugarplums? I'm having visions of rump roasts.

JENNIFER: Rump roasts?

DESIRÉE: Huh, uh. And veal shanks, Canadian bacon, ah, London broil. You get my connection yet?

JENNIFER: No DesirØe, not at all. I.... I don't have anything to do wi.... oh, maybe it's a connection to Jack. When he was on the run he worked at a meat packing plant. I don't know.

DESIRÉE: Huh, uh. And you two had a rendezvous there, didn't you? Right?

JENNIFER: Wrong. No we didn't.

DESIRÉE: You're telling me you didn't get lucky between the London broil and the loin shank?

JENNIFER: No, we didn't. I didn't even know where Jack was that whole time.

DESIRÉE: Ooookaaaay, wrong number.

JENNIFER: What, you made a mistake, right?

DESIRÉE:No.... it doesn't seem like I could but maybe those meaty memories were meant for somebody else. (Beat) Look Jennifer, I'm so sorry to trouble you darling. I have to go now. I really do.

JENNIFER: No wait a minute DesirØe, let me just ask you one more question.

DESIRÉE: No, let's just have some lunch sometime very soon, okay. Remember I'm a vegetarian when you make the reservations. Thanks Doll.

 

DESIREE WALKS OUT AND JENNIFER DECIDES TO CALL JACK AT THE SPECTATOR.

 

JENNIFER: Yeah, hi, could I speak to Jack Deveraux please? (Beat) He isn't? Oh.... okay, well thanks anyway.

 

NOW SHE IS SUSPICIOUS.

SCENE SIX: DOWN AT THE NOTELL MOTEL, JACK IS IN A HEAVY CLINCH WITH CINDY [PLAYED BY PAMELA ANDERSON IN PROBABLY HER FIRST ROLE ON TV]. THEY ARE KISSING MADLY WITH THEIR HANDS ALL OVER EACH OTHER. JACK'S SHIRT IS UNDONE AND SHE IS WEARING A BLACK SLIP.

AS JACK SUSPECTED, HAWK HAS COME TO SEE IF JACK IS REALLY HAVING AN AFFAIR. HE IS HIDING OUTSIDE THE WINDOW WATCHING IT ALL.

JACK NOTICES THAT HAWK HAS LEFT BUT CINDY WILL NOT LEAVE HIM ALONE.

 

JACK: Ah.... ah.... just.... YES.

CINDY: What's the matter baby?

JACK: Nothing's the matter. Very good. Here.... here's your money. Here, why not just take all of it.

 

HE HANDS HER ALL HIS CASH WHICH IS NOT MUCH.

 

JACK: Thank you very much. You buy yourself some candy or some nylons or whatever you girls like.

CINDY: Keep your cash lover.

 

SHE TOSSES THE MONEY AWAY.

 

JACK: Keep it?

CINDY: I'm just getting started.

 

SHE MOVES IN AND STARTS TO KISS HIM AGAIN.

 

JACK: Wait a minute, wait a minute.... ah.... I think we should.... um.

 

SHE PULLS HIM DOWN ON TOP OF HER ON THE BED. THEY CONTINUE TO WRESTLE AS HAWK COMES BACK WITH A CAMERA. HE TAKES A SERIES OF SHOTS OF JACK WITH CINDY ROLLING ON THE BED.

SCENE SEVEN: LATER THAT NIGHT, JACK GETS HOME. HE CREEPS IN LOOKING VERY DISHEVELED. AS HE IS TAKING OFF HIS COAT, HE GLANCES IN THE MIRROR AND SEES CINDY'S LIPSTICK ALL OVER HIS SHIRT COLLAR.

 

JACK: What's that.... oh my gosh.

 

HE IMMEDIATELY STARTS TO TAKE IT OFF. JENNIFER CALLS TO HIM.

 

JENNIFER: Jack is that you?

JACK: Ah.... who else? Of course it's me.

 

HE PUTS THE DOORMAN'S COAT BACK ON OVER HIS UNDERSHIRT AND STUFFS THE SHIRT DOWN BEHIND THE CUSHION ON THE SOFA. JUST THEN JENNIFER ENTERS THE LIVINGROOM.

 

JACK: Ah.... phew!

JENNIFER: How did tonight's work go?

JACK: Oh well you know. It wasn't that much. It was really kind of uneventful actually.

JENNIFER: Really? Uneventful enough that you lost your shirt?

JACK: My.... oh my shirt. Ah.... well you know actually I was so busy trying to get a story put together, I forgot and I took my fountain pen and I spilt it all down my shirt. Too bad I wasn't wearing one of those pocket protectors. But a good thing, I took it out to the 24 hour cleaners.

JENNIFER: 24 hour cleaner? You know, I didn't think we had a 24 hour cleaner.

JACK: You know something, I.... I'm so tired. I was just trying to get this story together. I'm just going to run off to bed now. Just shuffle off to my little room over here and go nightie night. I hope.... I hope you do the same. Goodnight.

 

IT IS OBVIOUS THAT JACK IS TRYING TO GET AWAY.

AFTER HE HAS GONE OFF TO BED, SHE SITS DOWN ON HIS SIDE OF THE SOFA AND FINDS HIS SHIRT HIDDEN UNDER THE CUSHION. SHE IMMEDIATELY SEES THE LIPSTICK ON THE COLLAR AND SHE IS VERY SURPRISED AND HURT.