oldEpisode Three-hundred-ninety-seven: Jack's
Waits for the Results of His Test; He Tells
Jo That He Thinks His Hodgkin's Disease
Is out of Remission; Jennifer Returns Home.

---

[Air mid-April 1992]

 

SCENE ONE: IT IS A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER AND JACK IS AT THE APARTMENT ON THE PHONE TO MARCUS.

 

JACK: Come on now Marcus, when am I going to have these test results?

MARCUS: I told you Jack. I will let you know as soon as I get them.

JACK: Look it has been two days. I mean what has taken.... unless.... unless something's.... does it mean that.... that....

MARCUS: Jack all it means is that the lab is backed up. Now just relax alright.

JACK: Oh that is easy for you to say. You know your intestines weren't put through the proverbial wringer.

MARCUS: Look, listen, calm down Jack.

JACK: Listen I will calm down when I get some answers.

 

HE SLAMS DOWN THE PHONE JUST AS JENNIFER ENTERS.

 

JENNIFER: Answers to what? Who are you talking to?

 

JACK FROWNS.

 

JENNIFER: Jack who are you talking to right now?

JACK: Let me take that. You shouldn't be carrying that in your condition.

 

HE TAKES HER SUITCASE OUT OF HER HAND.

 

JACK: Let me get you a drink of water. You just sit down.

JENNIFER: Jack, I'm fine. The question is, are you?

JACK: I'm fine, of course I'm fine. (Beat) Stupid thing.

 

THE FAUCET HAS SQUIRTED WATER IN HIS FACE.

 

JACK: Of course I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be fine?

JENNIFER: Well, whoever you were just talking to on the phone got you pretty worked up obviously.

JACK: Oh that was.... ah, that was the guys over in circulation. You know they never do their work, get a report out on time. You got to stay right on them or they slack off which reminds me I have to talk to Vern.

JENNIFER GRABS HIM AS HE WALKS PAST AND PULLS HIM DOWN FOR A BIG KISS.

JENNIFER: I missed you.

JACK: You missed me, huh?

JENNIFER: Yeah I missed you a lot. I mean I had a great time with my dad but I just kept thinking about coming home to my husband.

JACK: That's funny. You actually came home a day early. You must have missed me a lot.

JENNIFER: Get out of here. You knew I was coming home today. But when I didn't see you at the airport I figured that you'd just got confused with the time or whatever so I just took the shuttle.

JACK: Well I.... I really.... I thought.... I thought you were coming home on Thursday.

JENNIFER: Well it doesn't matter, it's not that big of a deal. But seeing as how you're in this forgetful phase I hope you didn't forget about tonight Jack.

JACK: What about tonight?

JENNIFER: Well I hope your best suit is cleaned and pressed.

JACK: Pressed for what?

JENNIFER: Jack, tonight is our first Crossfire segment and you were the one who was so adamant about doing this. We are going to be on the news tonight.

JACK: (Beat) I knew that, I knew that.

JENNIFER: No you didn't. What is it? What's wrong with you?

JACK: Nothing. There's nothing. What could possibly be wrong with me? Why would you think something's wrong?

JENNIFER: I don't know. It's just.... maybe you missed me so much it affected your brain Jack.

JACK: Yeah, that's it. That's exactly what it is.

JENNIFER: Well you know what, I hate to cut our homecoming short but I got home later than I expected and I've got a few errands to run and I need to meet with Carly so that'll give you some time alone to come up with a game plan.

JACK: A game plan?

JENNIFER: Yes, for tonight. You better prepare yourself for the kiss....

 

SHE KISSES HIM.

 

JENNIFER (CONT.): .... of death.

 

JENNIFER LEAVES AND JACK IS EVEN MORE WORRIED.

SCENE TWO: A LITTLE LATER, JACK HAS ASKED JO TO COME OVER.

 

JACK: I need to talk to you. Um, it would be best if you just sat down.

JO: Jack, you're scaring me.

JACK: Let me just try to explain this.

JO: Please, please do.

JACK: At first we thought this was about the.... about the pregnancy. You know the sympathetic morning sickness.

JO: Oh that's very sweet.

JACK: But it's not that. It's not that at all. The point is it's something else and it's time to realize it and to prepare for it.

JO: Prepare for what?

JACK: Prepare for the worst. Now I didn't want to talk to anybody about this but I heard you coming down the hall and I just thought it was.... I thought it was time to just get it off my chest.

JO: Well I'm glad that you feel that you can come and talk to me.

JACK: Yeah.

JO: Well go on, let it out. (Beat) What is it son?

JACK: It appears that my.... Hodgkin's Disease may have come out of remission.

 

JO SUCKS IN HER BREATH AND PULLS JACK INTO HER ARMS.

JO: Oh no...oh no. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. Oh Jack, this must be such a burden for you. Why couldn't you just talk to somebody?

 

JACK'S EYES FILL WITH TEARS AS SHE HOLDS HIM TIGHT.

 

JACK: I think this is why.

SCENE THREE: DOWN AT FISHERMAN'S WHARF, JENNIFER AND CARLY ARE TALKING.

 

CARLY: What about Jack, how did he survive without you? Is he still doing that morning sickness thing? JENNIFER: Well I.... you know I only saw him for a few minutes earlier and he was acting kind of strange. I don't know, I think it's this whole money thing that's got him down really, though. So I probably shouldn't tell him about all the money that my father gave me that I should use for the baby. (Beat) Oh Carly, look at all that baby stuff. Come on, let's go spend all that money before Jack finds out I've got it.

SCENE FOUR: JO IS STILL AT THE APARTMENT WHEN THEY HEAR JENNIFER RETURN.

 

JACK: Quick it's Jennifer. Promise me, promise me, not a word. This is just between you and me, okay.

JO: Yeah.

 

JO BLOTS HER TEARS JUST BEFORE JENNIFER ENTERS.

 

JENNIFER: Jo, hi.

 

JO CANNOT HOLD IN HER TEARS AND WALKS STRAIGHT PAST JENNIFER AND OUT THE DOOR.

 

JENNIFER: Goodbye? (Beat) What's wrong with her?

JACK: Ah, I don't know, it's probably that.... that hysterical laryngitis. It just runs in the family.

JENNIFER: But what was she so upset about? Why was she crying?

JACK: I don't know.... (Beat) I.... I told her about the Crossfire piece and you know it comes at the same time as her favorite courtroom show and I guess she was just overwhelmed.

 

JENNIFER LAUGHS AT JACK'S JOKE.

 

JENNIFER: Well you know what Jack, you are going to be overwhelmed too when you see how brutal I'm going to be. You better prepare yourself for a long and painful death.

 

SHE WALKS INTO THE BEDROOM.

SCENE FIVE: JACK AND JENNIFER GO TO THE STUDIO WHERE ARNIE THE BOSS IS STILL UNSURE ABOUT THIS NEW SHOW.

 

ARNIE: I still can't believe I let Dan talk me into doing this segment. I hope you both know it's do or die.

JENNIFER: Well don't you worry Arnie because I am going to do and Jack is going to die.

 

JACK HAS A VERY PROPHETIC LOOK ON HIS FACE.

 

JACK: (To himself) Quite literally.

ARNIE: You say something Jack?

JACK: Ah, no Arnie. Just going over my strategy.

ARNIE: Okay kids, you're on in one minute. Now just give me what I want here. And keep in mind, you've got a one way option contract. I can terminate you at any time.

JENNIFER: Oh. Alright Jack, come on.

 

JACK DOES NOT MOVE.

 

JENNIFER: Aren't you coming?

JACK: No.... I can't. Not like this. I can't.

JENNIFER: What? What are you talking about? We have to go on in less than 30 seconds Jack.

JACK: I.... just go ahead. I'll be right there.

JENNIFER: Alright, well hurry up, okay.

 

JACK STARTS TO TALK TO HIMSELF.

 

JACK: I've got to do this. I said I'd do it and I'll do it. I'll just do it.

 

JACK STARTS TO WALK ON STAGE WHEN MARCUS RUNS ONTO THE SET.

 

MARCUS: Jack, there you are. I've been looking all over for you. Jo said you were going to be here.

JACK: Wait a minute, Marcus does this mean....

MARCUS: Yes it does mean that I have the results of your test.

JENNIFER: Jack we have 15 seconds. Come on.