oldEpisode Three-hundred-ninety-two:
Jack's Symptoms Get Worse; Jennifer
Takes Him to See Marcus Hunter.

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[Air early March, 1992]

SCENE ONE: IT IS THE NEXT DAY AND JENNIFER IS SERVING UP A MEAL WHILE JACK PACES.

JENNIFER: You know Jack everytime that phone rings I think it's Dan telling me that I'm fired.

JACK: Right.

JENNIFER: Well I learned how to make a new dish.

JACK: Good, good, I'm starved.

JENNIFER: You know you can really stretch your food dollar if you can get past the necks and the backs.

SHE HANDS JACK A PLATE OF SOUP AND HE LOOKS SUSPICIOUSLY AT IT.

JACK: Really.

JENNIFER: Yeah.

JACK: Past those little necks and....

 

HE TAKES A SMALL SIP AND THEN HE REALIZES WHAT SHE JUST SAID.

 

JACK: The what?

JENNIFER: Well that's what gives chicken soup it's flavor. It's the bones. It's something to do with the marrow and the blood.

JACK HOLDS UP HIS HAND TO GET HER TO STOP. HE IS FEELING SICK AGAIN.

JENNIFER: What's the matter? Is something wrong?

JACK: Ah, nothing. Nothing's the matter. Nothing's wrong, nothing at all. Everything is perfect.

HE COMES OVER TO HER AND STARTS TO KISS HER MADLY.

JENNIFER: Jack, what are you doing?

JACK: Hmmm, what does it look like I'm doing? Isn't it obvious?

HE GOES BACK TO KISSING HER.

JENNIFER: Well I know but why?

JACK: Why? Why, because I love you, that's why.

JENNIFER: Well I love you too. But your dinner's going to get cold, now stop.

SHE LEANS OVER AND BEGINS TO EAT HER SOUP. SHE PUTS ONE SPOONFUL IN HER MOUTH AND PULLS A FACE.

JENNIFER: Now I get it.

JACK: Now you get what?

JENNIFER: All this lovey dovey stuff.

This soup is awful Jack.

SHE LEANS OVER TO PICK UP HIS PLATE AS WELL AS HERS.

JACK: Is it really? You know I didn't notice.

JENNIFER: Yes, it is. You know where this soup belongs? I'll show you, right now.

JACK: I think maybe you....

JENNIFER: You think maybe what? That I'm over reacting? I don't think so.

JACK: I think that....

SHE TIPS THE SOUP DOWN THE SINK.

JENNIFER: Now what are we going to do about food?

JACK: I don't know. Maybe we should just go out.

JENNIFER: Alright, do you have any money on you?

JACK: No, no, what about you?

JENNIFER: I used it all on the soup.

JACK: Oh, well perhaps you have a straw.

THE DOORBELL RINGS.

JACK: Perhaps somebody will have a straw. Who is it?

 

JACK OPENS THE DOOR AND TOM AND ALICE ARE STANDING THERE HOLDING PLATES AND POTS OF FOOD.

SCENE TWO: ALICE AND TOM ARE AT THE DOOR, WITH FOOD.

ALICE: It's dinner.

JENNIFER: Dinner?

ALICE: Yeah.

JENNIFER: That's perfect timing grandma. Hi, what is this? What did you bring?

ALICE: I made you chicken soup, and meatloaf and vegetables, and donuts.

TOM: Some of your favorites.

JENNIFER: Oh my gosh Jack, can you believe this?

JACK JUST CANNOT ACCEPT CHARITY LIKE THIS.

JACK: Take it back.

JENNIFER: What?

JACK: Doctor, Mrs. Horton.

ALICE: Yes.

JACK: I appreciate your generosity. Here you go and here you go.

HE HANDS THE PLATES AND POTS BACK TO THEM.

JACK: Thank you very much but take it back. This is not a soup kitchen.

JENNIFER: Well it isn't anymore, thank god.

JACK: Look just take it back. The Deveraux's have never taken charity and we're not about to begin now.

ALICE: This isn't charity.

TOM: Far from it. It's a gift.

JACK: Look it's the same thing as far as I'm concerned. We may be down on our luck but we're not going to have other people feeding us.

JENNIFER: Jack, it's just one dinner.

JACK: Just one dinner. You don't understand do you? Just one dinner. You know it's like that old proverb. A man gives you a fish, what do you do? You eat it. But if a man teaches you how to fish, well then.... then you can.... then you can eat chicken soup for the rest of your life. Or words to that effect. The point is, if we can't learn how to feed ourselves how are we going to learn how to feed ourselves plus one more? I mean you're always saying stand on your own two feet, well that's what I'm try.... trying to do.

JACK SIGHS AND LEANS ON THE BENCH. HE LOOKS QUITE ILL AND JENNIFER RUNS TO HIS SIDE.

JENNIFER: What, what's the matter, what's wrong?

TOM: I may not be an OB but I think Jack is suffering morning sickness again.

ALICE: What, morning sickness?

TOM: He's having a sympathetic pregnancy.

JACK: No, no, it's nothing. I don't know what it is but it.... hurts. I think I'm really sick.

JACK GETS WORRIED ABOUT HIS HEALTH AND THE CRAMPS HE IS HAVING AND

SCENE THREE: JENNIFER TAKES HIM TO THE HOSPITAL. HE IS STILL HOLDING HIS SIDE AS THEY GET OFF THE ELEVATOR.

JENNIFER: You're going to be fine Jack.

JACK: I don't know, I just....

JENNIFER: Just wait for Marcus. He'll be here in a minute.

JACK: Well is he.... oh there he is.

MARCUS: I just got the page. The baby alright?

JENNIFER: No, Jack's really sick.

JACK: I think he was talking about the other baby.

MARCUS: Well I better take a look at you. This might take a few minutes. Why don't you go see Carly?

JENNIFER: Oh, is she back on duty?

MARCUS: You didn't hear? She was admitted tonight.

JENNIFER: What, what happened to her?

MARCUS: Well she's sick, apparently the flu. She was over Lawrence Alamain's house. He was taking care of her and apparently she got worse.

JENNIFER: Wait a minute, what was she doing there?

MARCUS: I have no idea.

JENNIFER: Well is she going to be alright?

MARCUS: Well it's hard to say. I think it's pretty serious.

JENNIFER: Alright Jack, I'm going to go see Carly.

JACK: I don't think that's such a good idea.

JENNIFER: What do you mean? She's my best friend.

JACK: She's sick and she's got all these flu germs going round and that wouldn't be good for you in your delicate condition, not to mention mine.

JENNIFER: Well it's probably too late. You probably already have the flu Jack.

MARCUS: Come on, let's check you out. Come on.

JACK: Alright.

JACK GOES OFF WITH MARCUS.

SCENE FOUR: JENNIFER GOES TO THE NURSES' STATION.

JENNIFER: Excuse me, could you tell me what room Dr. Manning's in

LAWRENCE APPEARS OUT OF NOWHERE.

LAWRENCE: It's Room 546, east.

JENNIFER: Look I haven't any idea why she was at your house but if anything happens to her, I'll know who to blame.

JENNIFER WALKS OFF TO SEE CARLY. SHE HAS A HIGH FEVER AND DESPITE THE FACT THAT CARLY IS NOT REALLY WELL ENOUGH TO HEAR, JENNIFER TELLS HER THAT SHE AND JACK ARE HAVING A BABY.

SCENE FIVE: AFTER A PRETTY THOROUGH EXAMINATION, MARCUS COMES BACK OUT WITH JACK.

MARCUS: Well as I was telling Jack, he seems to be in great shape.

JENNIFER: Yeah, well what about these stomach cramps that he keeps having.

MARCUS: Well it must have been the soup or morning sickness.

JACK: Or the flu. You know the flu is going around here.

MARCUS: Whatever it was, you're doing fine now so I wouldn't worry about it, okay.

JACK: Are you sure we shouldn't call a specialist maybe

JENNIFER: A specialist? I don't think they have one for sympathetic pregnancy Jack. Come on, we're going home. Thank you Marcus.

MARCUS: You're welcome.

JENNIFER: Come on. He'll be fine.

JACK: Thank you. This is covered by insurance, right.

JENNIFER SMILES AT JACK.

JACK: Well I mean it's important.

SHE PUSHES HIM INTO THE ELEVATOR.

JACK: Medical care costs. It does.

SCENE SIX: LATER THAT EVENING, JACK IS SITTING ON THE COUCH FIDDLING WITH THE BABY TOYS LYING AROUND.

JENNIFER: You know I saw something tonight Jack, when you turned down my grandparent's help.

JACK: Huh.

JENNIFER: That was the old Jack. I haven't seem him in a while. I'm really proud of you. Our baby's going to be proud of you too.

JACK: What, are you Desirÿe? Do you psychically know what the child is going to think?

JENNIFER: Yes I do.

SHE LEANS OVER AND KISSES HIM BUT THE PHONE RINGS AND INTERRUPTS THEM.

JACK: Alright psychic, who is it?

JENNIFER: That's Dan, it is. I'm telling you right now, that's Dan.

JACK: Oh yeah.

 

SHE HURRIES TO ANSWER THE PHONE.

 

JENNIFER: Hello. (Beat) Hi Dan. (Beat) Huh, huh. Yeah, sure. Alright. Okay goodbye.

JACK: Ah, well I don't have your psychic capabilities. Would you tell me what he wanted?

JENNIFER: He wants us both to meet him at the studio tomorrow. So that can only mean one thing. He's going to fire me.