oldEpisode Three-hundred-eighty-one: Jack and
Jennifer Plan for Hawk to Think That He Has
Shot Jack; However, Their Plans Backfire,
and Jack May Actually Be Shot or Worse.

---

[Air date early February 1992]

SCENE ONE: IT IS STILL THE SAME NIGHT AND JACK AND JENNIFER ARE SITTING ON THE COUCH.

JENNIFER: I don't think we should go through with this. I think it's a bad idea.

JACK: Alea iacta est!

JENNIFER: Please don't do that Latin again!

JACK: It's Latin for the dye has been cast.

JENNIFER: I know that.

JACK: You when Caesar crossed the Rubicon....

JENNIFER: The Rubicon. You've told me this a hundred times.

JACK: The point is that when Caesar crossed the Rubicon he knew that he'd set himself on a course of action and there was no turning back. And we're in the same situation with Baby Howie.

JENNIFER: Well I understand that but I don't want you getting hurt.

JACK: I'm not going to get hurt. I mean for all we know at this moment because you just scared the hell out of him, he may just have packed up his things and run out of town.

JENNIFER: Well I hope that's the case. I mean there is a part of me that wants to get him for what he did to us but I don't want to risk ever losing you again.

JACK: I don't think you'll ever be that lucky again.

JENNIFER: Jack that's not funny. I'm serious.

JACK: I'm serious too. (Beat) I mean we've done everything we can. (Beat) And I think it's in the hands of the gods.

JENNIFER: Well let's just hope they're on our side.

JACK: I just hope that they're not on Baby Howie's.

 

JACK PUTS HIS ARM AROUND JENNIFER FOR COMFORT.

SCENE TWO: MEANWHILE, HAWK WALKS DOWN TO THE PIER. HE STOPS AND TAKES A SMALL REVOLVER OUT OF HIS POCKET AND CHECKS THE BULLETS.

HAWK: Come and get me Jackie Boy. I'm ready for you.

SCENE THREE: BACK AT THE PENTHOUSE, IT IS NOW VERY EARLY MORNING OF THE DAY OF THE BIG CON AND JACK HAS BEEN UP ALL NIGHT. JENNIFER COMES OUT IN HER ROBE AND SHE FINDS JACK OUT ON THE BALCONY WITH HIS ARMS CROSSED AND LOOKING NERVOUS. SHE WALKS OUT AND TOUCHES HIS ARM.

 

JENNIFER: Hey.

JACK: OH!

 

HE SHIVERS WITH FRIGHT.

 

JENNIFER: I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you.

JACK: You didn't startle me. I was just thinking.... well I guess you did startle me.

JENNIFER: You're pretty nervous about today aren't you?

JACK: Nervous? Don't be absurd.

JENNIFER: Jack look you don't have to put on this brave front for me. I mean we can call this whole thing off right now.

JACK: NO! We are not calling this thing off. This is the only way we figured out that we were really going to get Baby Howie. I'm not backing out of it now.

JENNIFER: Why not? Don't you see how dangerous this could be Jack?

JACK: Look we have figured everything out. Everything's falling into place. It's a piece of cake.

 

A CAR DOWN ON THE STREET BACKFIRES AND JACK JUMPS IN FRIGHT AND DUCKS DOWN.

JACK: OH, WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT? (Beat) Oooooh!

JENNIFER: It was a car. It was just backfiring.

JACK: I know that. I know what it was.

HE SIGHS AND LEANS ON THE COLUMN ON THE BALCONY.

JACK: Who the hell am I trying to kid? I'm using this pole just to keep my knees from shaking.

JENNIFER: Look if you're trying to say that you're scared Jack, just....

JACK: Well I'm trying to state a simple fact. That's what I'm trying to do. (Beat) This really could fall apart. At best, I could be the world's worst con man. (Beat) At worst.... I just wind up dead.

 

JENNIFER IS JUST AS SCARED AS JACK NOW. HE WANDERS INSIDE.

SCENE FOUR: INSIDE THE PENTHOUSE, JACK IS NEVEROUS AND IS UNABLE TO STOP PACING AND THINKING.

 

JACK: This is bad. I mean he.... he'll be onto us in a second. He'll know it's a setup from the word go.

JENNIFER: Alright, then we'll do exactly what I said. We will call the whole thing off. I mean I've been saying it all along. It's too dangerous Jack.

JACK: I agree. I agree.

JENNIFER: Okay, alright so I'll call my grandmother, we'll call Jo, we'll call DesirØe and we'll just tell them to forget the whole thing.

JACK: Okay, okay.

JACK NODS BUT HE DOES NOT SEEM SO SURE. SHE WALKS TOWARDS THE PHONE.

JENNIFER: Okay.

JACK: No, no wait a minute.

JENNIFER: NO, NO! We are going to come up with something else.

JACK: NO, NO! We are not going to back down from this. I will not back down from this. I'm not going to have you and the rest of this town thinking I'm a coward.

JENNIFER: You think that you're a coward because you're scared of something like this? I think you're pretty stupid if you're not scared.

JACK: I just don't want the whole town knowing about it, that's all.

JENNIFER: Why, who cares what people think Jack?

JACK: I care what people think. I care what I think. If I don't go through with this I don't know what I'm going to think of myself.

JENNIFER: Oh you're going to let some macho pride make you do something that you're going to regret.

JACK: IT'S NOT MACHO PRIDE! It's.... alright maybe it is a little macho pride. But it's also the principle of the thing. AFTER EVERYTHING THAT BABY HOWIE HAS DONE TO US.... ATTENTION MUST BE PAID.

JENNIFER: I understand that but we'll come up with something else. Something that is not so risky.

JACK: If we get through this it will be worth the risk.... to both of us. Am I right?

JENNIFER: Look I know that we have pulled off crazier stunts before but....

JACK: That's right, we have and they've always worked out. The only time it hasn't is when I've gone off on my own but if we work together everything will be fine.

JENNIFER: Okay, I'm not going to argue with you if your mind is made up.

JACK: That's right, my mind is made up. And I'm not going to let the dime store cowboy intimidate me.

JENNIFER: I know you won't.

JACK: Damn right I won't.

HE IS EXTREMELY NERVOUS AND IS CHEWING HIS KNUCKLE. HE TURNS BACK TO JENNIFER.

JACK: It's going to be hasta la vista Baby Howie!

SCENE FIVE: DOWN AT ALICE'S RESTAURANT, HAWK IS HAVING BREAKFAST. JO ENTERS, AND WALKS OVER TO ALICE AT THE COUNTER AND TALKS LOUD ENOUGH FOR HAWK TO HEAR.

JO: Mrs. Horton. I don't know what I'm going to do. You've got to help me.

ALICE: Well Jo what's the matter darling? You seem absolutely frantic. Now come over here. Sit down. Now, you're worried about Jack aren't you?

JO: Well I'm out of my mind with worry. I don't know what's happened to him.

ALICE: Neither does Jennifer. She's terribly upset.

JO: Well can you blame her? I mean he's talking crazy. I can't believe he would do anything so dangerous.

ALICE: Well you know he has a terrible temper. After all you should, he's your son.

JO: Well he's not the son I know. He's acting crazy, he's acting wild, he's out of control almost.

ALICE: Have you tried talking to him?

JO: Of course I've tried talking to him but it doesn't seem to do any good. Mrs. Horton, we are talking about murder here, murder.

ALICE: OOOOOH!

JO: Now I don't know how I'm going to talk him out of it.

ALICE: Well I guess all we can do is pray. Pray that Jennifer can talk to Jack and they can work it out in time.

JO: Well of course I will pray but I don't know if it's going to do any good. Nothing is going to stop my son from having his revenge.

JO PRETENDS TO LEAVE AND HAWK FOLLOWS.

SCENE SIX: A BIT LATER, DESIRüE MAKES SURE THAT HAWK IS AT ALICE'S WHEN JACK AND JENNIFER COME DOWN TO THE RESTAURANT. JACK IS WEARING A BIG OVERCOAT WHICH LOOKS LIKE HE IS HIDING SOMETHING UNDERNEATH.

ALICE: Jack, here they come.

HAWK AND DESIRüE WALK IN AND JACK IMMEDIATELY STARTS ARGUING WITH JENNIFER. HE BANGS HIS FIST ON THE TABLE.

JACK: FORGET ABOUT IT JENNIFER, FORGET ABOUT IT. I don't care. You're not going to talk me out of this.

JENNIFER: You are not thinking rationally Jack.

JACK: WHO CARES ABOUT RATIONAL?

HAWK HIDES NEAR THE DOOR TO LISTEN.

JACK: YOU KNOW WHAT HE DID TO US. WAS THAT RATIONAL?

JENNIFER: You cannot do this.

JACK: WILL IT GET HIM....

JENNIFER: You cannot blame him for everything. I mean he didn't force you to have an affair with that woman.

JACK: IT WAS HIS FAULT! If he hadn't try to come between us, drive a wedge between us. That's what he did, DELIBERATELY, DROVE A WEDGE BETWEEN US.

JENNIFER: What's done is done. What you're going to do isn't going to change a thing.

JACK: HE RUINED OUR MARRIAGE! HE RUINED MY LIFE. WHY SHOULD HE HAVE A LIFE? HE DOESN'T DESERVE TO LIVE. JENNIFER: Listen, calm down alright.

JACK: HE DOESN'T DESERVE TO LIVE.

MEANWHILE BY THE DOOR, DESIRÉE WORKS ON HAWK, WHO IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE FRIGHTENED.

DESIRüE: He's crazy and he's coming after you daddy.

HAWK: Yeah, no kidding.

DESIRüE: Look you gotta get out of here before he sees you. Come on let's go.

THEY BOTH LEAVE.

SCENE SEVEN: BACK INSIDE THE RESTAURANT.

 

JACK: I'm sorry. I'm very sorry but if I can get him back, I don't care. I will go to prison. I'll get out. I know I will.

JENNIFER: How can you say that Jack?

JACK: Look I will get him back.

ALICE: Jack?

JACK: I will make him crawl.

ALICE: Jack?

JACK: I will make him eat mud like a worm.

ALICE: Jack, Jack. They're gone!

JACK SIGHS WITH RELIEF AND FEAR.

JACK: Did he buy it?

JO: I could see his face and I'm telling you he bought!

ALICE: He really looked scared to me.

JENNIFER: I was scared. It was great.

JACK: Good, good. Let's not dwell on our past glories. It's time to get ready for the final. The grand finale.

JENNIFER: Oh come on Jack, I mean don't you think you scared him enough that he would just leave town? We can skip the grand finale. We won't have to go through with it.

JACK: We can't skip anything. He's got to get a taste of his own medicine.

JENNIFER: Are you sure that you can pull this whole thing off?

JACK: I'm sure that we can ALL pull this off. (To Jo and Alice) And you were both terrific. (To Jennifer) And you.... you know what you are.

HE TAKES HER FACE IN HIS HANDS AND KISSES HER THEN RUNS OUT.

SCENE EIGHT: OUT IN THE BACK ALLEY, DESIRüE IS TALKING TO HAWK.

 

DESIRüE: I'm not kidding Hawk, the guy was unglued. The guy was foamin' at the mouth. You saw it. He's dangerous daddy.

HAWK: Well it's definitely not the Jack Deveraux I know and love.

DESIRüE: Why are you so calm? I'm telling you Hawk the guy is going to do something nuts. I know it. You better get the hell out of town before you get yourself hurt.

HAWK: Yeah well Jack Deveraux is not going to run me out of Salem, Dessy, no way.

DESIRüE: You heard the guy Hawk. He's coming at you. He's coming here. You better figure out some way to protect yourself.

HAWK: Yeah.

HE PULLS THE GUN OUT FROM HIS POCKET.

 

HAWK: Don't you worry about me Dessy cause I've got my own way to deal with Jack Deveraux.

DESIRüE: What you going to do with that thing?

HAWK: Well like you said, I gotta protect myself.

DESIRüE: Hawk, you're scaring me to death here. (Beat) I know, go to my room in the Salem Inn and wait there. He'll never think to look for you there Hawk.

HAWK: Oh there ain't no way I'm going to hide from a.... a Jack!

DESIRüE: Well you don't have the brains I gave you credit for having. Hawk, come on, I know you want Jennifer. You can always find yourself another woman. Hawk, come on, use your head. Use your head buddy. Get over there to the Salem Inn. If I run into Jack, I'll point him in the wrong direction.

HAWK: Wait a minute, do you really think Jack Deveraux is going to try to kill me?

DESIRüE: You really want to hang around and find out?

HAWK: Oh hell Dessy. You know what I'm.... I'll just go over there and I'll give this guy the chance to just....

RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT, DAVE COMES OUT OF THE RESTAURANT WITH A HUGE BACK OF GARBAGE. HE TRIPS AND "ACCIDENTALLY" TIPS IT ALL OVER HAWK. IT SEEMS ALICE IS RECRUITING EVERYBODY TO GET HAWK. AS HAWK TRIES TO PUSH DAVE, THE GARBAGE AND THE GARBAGE BAG OUT OF HIS FACE, HE DROPS THE GUN AND DESIRüE MANAGES TO PICK IT UP. SHE TURNS AWAY WHILE DAVE KEEPS HAWK OCCUPIED AND REPLACES THE BULLETS WITH BLANKS.

HAWK: GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME!

DAVE: I'm sorry.

HAWK: GET OFF ME!

DAVE: Sorry.

HAWK WALKS OVER TO DESIRüE.

HAWK: Here, give me that. They should have left that idiot over there at Wings. Come on.

SCENE NINE: BACK AT THE PENTHOUSE, JACK IS WEARING A SHOULDER HOLSTER AND HE IS PRACTICING A QUICK DRAW.

JACK: Alright.

JENNIFER: Jack what are you doing?

JACK: I'm just getting ready. That's all.

HE SPINS THE CYLINDER AND THEN PRACTICES HIS AIM.

 

JENNIFER: Wait a minute, you're scaring me. You told me you were going to use that gun to intimidate Hawk and that's it.

JACK: I'm just trying to look proficient, alright. I mean it will really surprise Baby Howie when he sees I can handle this baby.

JENNIFER: I'm sure he will be surprised.

JACK AIMS THE GUN AGAIN.

JACK: Alright, Baby Howie, make my day.

JENNIFER: You're not going to say that, are you?

JACK: Well I.... I was watching a couple of Clint Eastwood movies last night and.... I mean he says it. It sounded like a pretty good line.

IT IS OBVIOUS THAT JENNIFER IS TERRIFIED FOR JACK'S SAFETY, AND ALL HIS MACHISMO IS MAKING HER MORE CONCERNED.

JENNIFER: It was a great line eight years ago. You are not Clint Eastwood. Don't try to be Clint Eastwood Jack. Don't try to be anybody. You've got to be careful.

JACK: You still worrying aren't you?

JENNIFER: Yes I am still worrying. That is a real gun and Hawk is a real con man. And it's a very dangerous situation.

JACK: Look I know it's dangerous. We've gone over this before. Everything is being handled, everything is being taken care of. We have nothing to worry about.

JENNIFER: You know you're being really brave and I'm really proud of you.

SHE GIVES HIM A HUG.

JENNIFER: But I don't want you to do anything that's unnecessary Jack. I want you to come home to me, do you hear?

JACK: I hear you. Don't worry, I'll come home. (Beat) But I better go first. I mean your grandmother and Jo are going to be here any minute, right?

JENNIFER: Yeah they should be here.

JACK: I think this is the time I'd like to say goodbye, while we're still alone.

JENNIFER: Why are you saying it that way?

JACK: Well you know in the movies when the hero is about to face the bad guys he always has a scene alone with the girl first. I figured that this would be the scene.

JENNIFER: Oh okay.

JACK: So.... goodbye.

HE TURNS TO LEAVE THEN TURNS BACK SMILING AND GRABS HER IN A LOW SWEEPING KISS. HE CONTINUES TO HOLD HER OVER ON HER BACK AND KISS HER PASSIONATELY.

JENNIFER: WELL!

JACK: Well what?

JENNIFER: How about take two?

JACK: What do you mean? (Beat) Oh!

SHE GRABS HIM AND TRIES TO SWOOP HIM LOW BUT HE USES THE ARM OF THE COUCH FOR SUPPORT. HE BRUSHES HER HAIR FROM HER FACE.

JACK: Why don't you give me final edit, huh?

THEY KISS LONG AND PASSIONATELY.

SCENE TEN: A SHORT TIME LATER, ALICE AND JO ARRIVE. THEY ARE EXCITED AND CANNOT STOP TALKING.

ALICE: And poor Dave, he was covered in garbage from head to toe. I had to send him home.

JACK: Well please, thank him for us. But the important thing is DesirØe said that Howie had a gun. He did have a gun?

ALICE: Dave saw the gun.

JACK: Alright.

JENNIFER: It's a good thing that DesirØe's on our side.

JO: Well I still don't like it. It's too risky.

JACK: Look, risk or no, it'll be over in a couple of hours. The plan will work.

JO: Well I wish I was as sure about this as you are.

JENNIFER: Look Jo, Jack is right. I mean everything's been going exactly the way we want it. There is no reason to think that the rest of the plan won't go just as smoothly.

 

JACK CHECKS HIS WATCH.

 

JACK: Speaking of which I must be going.

JO: Already?

JACK: Baby Howie can't be left waiting.

ALICE: Good luck Jack.

JACK: Thank you.

HE GIVES HER ALICE A KISS.

JO: You be careful, you be careful.

JACK: Yes, thank you, I will, I will.

HE GIVES JO A KISS AND RUNS TO THE DOOR.

JENNIFER: Jack.

JACK: Don't you worry. We're going to get through this and we're going to get on with the rest of our lives.

JENNIFER: I hope so.

JACK: Trust me.

HE KISSES HER AND LEAVES.

JENNIFER: Well would anyone like some coffee?

ALICE: No, no, no coffee. Maybe mineral water if you've got any. JO: Yes, me too.

JENNIFER: Okay, I think I'll join you.

SUDDENLY THE DOOR BELL STARTS TO RING AS IF SOMEBODY IS IN A HURRY TO GET IN.

JO: Who could that be?

JENNIFER: Oh he must have forgotten something.

ALICE: Jack must have forgotten something.

JENNIFER OPENS THE DOOR AND IT IS DESIRüE AND SHE IS IN A PANIC.

JENNIFER: DesirØe, what?

DESIRüE: Where's Jack? He's still here isn't he?

JENNIFER: No, he's not. Didn't you see him get off the elevator?

DESIRüE: No I took the stairs. I didn't have time to wait for that elevator.

JENNIFER: DesirØe what's wrong?

DESIRüE: Hi ladies.

ALICE: Hi.

JO: Hello.

DESIRüE: We got trouble. We gotta stop Jack from getting to Hawk.

JENNIFER: Why?

DESIRüE: It's the gun. I didn't have enough time to replace the bullets with the blanks. There's still one bullet left in Hawk's gun.

JENNIFER: WHAT? DesirØe! Oh my god, I've got to do something. YOU CALL THE POLICE RIGHT NOW, ALRIGHT.

ALICE: Jennifer, what's wrong?

JENNIFER: DesirØe will tell you. I gotta go. DesirØe, tell them.

 

JENNIFER RUNS OUT THE DOOR.

SCENE ELEVEN: MEANWHILE JACK IS IN HIS CAR DRIVING TO THE SALEM INN. HE IS NERVOUS AND HE IS IMPATIENT WITH TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND OTHER CARS.

JACK: Come on, come on.

SCENE TWLEVE: BACK AT THE PENTHOUSE, DESIRüE HAS CALLED THE POLICE.

DESIRüE: Well the cops won't listen to me.

ALICE: What do you mean?

JO: What did they say?

DESIRüE: They said, when and if there's a shooting, give 'em a call. Can you believe this?

JO: Oh!

ALICE: No I certainly can't. I.... well I'll take it up with Brian Scofield.

DESIRüE: Well I certainly have no intention of sitting around here and hoping for the best.

JO: Wait a minute, where are you going?

DESIRüE: I gotta go to the scene of the crime. Forget I said that. I mean I'm going to my hotel room.

ALICE: Now please call us the minute you know anything.

DESIRüE: I sure will Mrs. Horton.

JO: And you be careful too.

DESIRüE: Thanks.

DESIRüE LEAVES.

SCENE THIRTEEN: JACK HAS NOW ARRIVED AT THE SALEM INN WHERE HAWK IS WAITING. HE BURSTS STRAIGHT IN THE DOOR CATCHING HAWK A LITTLE OFF GUARD. JACK HAS HIS GUN DRAWN.

HAWK: JACK, what are you doing?

JACK POINTS THE GUN AT HAWK.

JACK: I've had it. You've ruined my life now I ruin yours.

HAWK: Jack, now hang on.

JACK: JUST SHUT UP! NO MORE TALKING.

HAWK: Hey, hey, Jack, come on. I think we can just talk about this. Hang on a second here. Now I know you're upset and you have every right to be upset Jack. But this is not the way to handle this....

HAWK SLOWLY MOVES BACK TOWARDS THE CHAIR WHERE HIS JACKET IS HANGING WITH THE GUN IN THE POCKET. HE REACHES INSIDE AND GETS THE GUN.

HAWK: .... because you're only going to be hurting yourself by doing this. ALRIGHT JACKIE BOY, DROP IT RIGHT THERE. DROP IT JACK!

HAWK POINTS HIS GUN AT JACK.

HAWK: DROP IT JACKIE BOY!

OUTSIDE IN THE HALL, JENNIFER IS RUNNING TOWARDS THE ROOM, SHE IS HOPING TO BEAT JACK AND STOP HIM, BECAUSE THERE IS ONE BULLET LEFT IN THE GUN. SHE HEARS A SHOT AND SCREAMS TERRIFIED THAT JACK MIGHT REALLY BE SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED.

 

JENNIFER: AAAAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHHH! Jack.

SHE OPENS THE DOOR AND SEES JACK LYING ON THE FLOOR. SHE RUNS TO HIM AND ROLLS HIM ONTO HIS BACK. THERE IS A PATCH OF BLOOD ON HIS LEFT CHEST.

 

JENNIFER: JACK! JACK, JACK, look at me, oh no, oh no Jack.

HAWK IS IN A BIT OF SHOCK.

HAWK: I didn't mean to. He had a gun and he was going to kill me Jennifer. (Beat) He was going to kill me.

SHE LOOKS UP AT HAWK IN GRIEF AND HORROR.

 

JENNIFER: He's dead! You killed him Hawk. You killed Jack. You killed him. You killed Jack.

SHE LEANS DOWN AND PUTS HER HEAD ON JACK'S CHEST SOBBING.