oldEpisode Four-hundred-eight:
Someone Wants to Buy
The Spectator . Jack
Continues to not Be Mean.

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[Air early May 1992]

 

SCENE ONE: THE NEXT DAY AND VERN IS ON THE PHONE DEFENDING JACK'S NEW EDITORIAL STYLE.

 

VERN: No, it's not a joke. Jack's got the bankers convinced that these are the kind of stories that sell papers. What? (Beat) No, I won't accept your resignation. Now print the damn thing.

 

LISANNE GARDNER, A NEW LAWYER IN TOWN, WALKS INTO THE OFFICE. SHE SECRETLY WORKS FOR LAWRENCE BUT IS ALSO BRINGING CHARGES AGAINST THE HOSPITAL ON BEHALF OF THE LOMBARD FAMILY WHOSE SON WAS DIED THERE. [THIS PART WAS PLAYED BY LYNN HERRING WHO PLAYS LUCY COE ON PORT CHARLES.]

 

VERN: Oh, how can I help you?

LISANNE: Well maybe there is someway I can help you. My name is Lisanne Gardner.

VERN: Yes I know who you are, the attorney for the Lombard family. You're not very popular in this town.

LISANNE: Well I'm not interested in being popular. Mr. Scofield, your newspaper is going bankrupt.

VERN: Ah, now I know what everybody is talking about.

LISANNE: Well maybe you'll like me much better when you hear what I have to say. I have a client who is very interested in buying The Spectator.

VERN: What, with the overwhelming debt that we have? Who is this glutton for punishment?

 

JENNIFER WALKS IN JUST IN TIME TO HEAR LISANNE'S REPLY.

 

LISANNE: Well I can't disclose the identity at this time but my client is willing to make an offer on The Spectator, a very substantial offer.

JENNIFER: Excuse me. You seem to be under the impression that The Spectator is for sale. But you're wrong, it's not.

VERN: Jennifer I hate to say this but we're in debt up to here and if somebody's willing to pay it off I think the bank will grab at it.

LISANNE: Um, listen I understand that you and your husband might have a sentimental attachment to this paper but sentiment doesn't pay the rent.

JENNIFER: You know, you're right. That's why I can't understand why anyone would want to buy it. I mean it's really more trouble than it's worth, you know. I mean circulation is way down. We're operating at a loss. Our staff is ready to walk out on us. We're really in sad shape Miss Gardner.

LISANNE: Oh. Well you know it seems to me that circulation has improved since I've been in town and that hasn't been very long.

VERN: Well that's because of those trashy headlines Jack was allowed to work on.

LISANNE: Which turned the paper around.

VERN: Well yeah, but look, I mean....

JENNIFER: It's alright Vern, you don't have to explain because The Spectator is not for sale and that's the final word.

LISANNE: Well.... I guess we will just have to see what the bank says. Good day.

 

LISANNE LEAVES JENNIFER AND VERN ARE WORRIED.

 

VERN: You know, ah, I'm aware that you and Jack want to save your share of the paper, Jenny girl, but ah, I mean it is a drag on you financially. And she did say that it was a substantial offer.

JENNIFER: I can't believe that you really think that we should sell this newspaper.

VERN: Well I was designated as the Operating Financial Officer and it's my fiduciary responsibility to serve The Spectator's best interest and if....

JENNIFER: I can't believe that I am hearing this from you of all people Vern. When Jack hears about this, this is going to kill him.

 

JACK WALKS IN BUT HIDES AND HEARS THE LAST THING SHE SAYS.

 

JENNIFER: I mean it Vern. He is really going to die.

SCENE TWO: DOWN AT THE HOSPITAL, TOM GOES TO SEE MARCUS ABOUT JACK. HE IS WORRIED ABOUT HIS FAILURE TO IMPROVE. MARCUS TELLS TOM THAT HE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH JACK AT ALL. HE CHECKED OUT CLEAN. A NURSE OVERHEARS THEM TALKING AND WHEN THEY LEAVE SHE TELLS ANOTHER NURSE THAT EVERY TIME SHE HEARS JACK DEVERAUX' NAME SHE SHIVERS BECAUSE SHE GOT HIS FILE MIXED UP. SHE SAYS SHE IS GLAD HE NEVER SAW IT OR HE WOULD THINK HE ONLY HAD SIX MONTHS TO LIVE.

SCENE THREE: BACK AT THE SPECTATOR, JACK IS STILL LISTENING TO JENNIFER AND VERN.

 

VERN: Are you sure Jack said he was going to meet you here after his dinner with Jo?

JENNIFER: Yeah, I'm sure. Maybe he forgot. I'll call there.

VERN: Listen, I'm going to check the copy room. He might have stopped in there.

JENNIFER: Alright.

 

VERN LEAVES, JENNIFER PICKS UP THE PHONE AND JACK MAKES HIS APPEARANCE.

 

JENNIFER: Jack! (Beat) Hi Jack, hi.

 

SHE GIVES HIM A BIG HUG AND SEEMS REALLY REALLY PLEASED TO SEE HIM.

 

JACK: You don't.... you don't have to say anything.... it's.... it's alright. I know how you feel.

 

JENNIFER SEEMS PUZZLED.

 

JENNIFER: You do?

JACK: I most certainly do. I.... I can only say that is the probably worst thing that's ever happened to me so I....

JENNIFER: But you know what? It's not just happening to you Jack.

 

SHE STROKES HIS FACE.

 

JENNIFER: Really, we're going to go through this together. You'll see.

 

JACK: I.... I appreciate you saying this. I really do. But this is.... this teamwork thing can only go so far and after that it's....

 

HE PAUSES AND LOWERS HIS HEAD.

 

JACK: .... it's every man for himself. There is one thing I would like for you to do, however.

JENNIFER: What? Anything.

 

HE TAKES BOTH HER HANDS IN HIS.

JACK: I want you to....

 

HE STROKES HER STOMACH.

 

JACK: .... I want you to tell him or her.... ah, how it began. (Beat) How it.... how it all started right here with.... you and me working together.

JENNIFER: Well I will.... and you will too Jack.

JACK: Yeah, like Harper and Duke.

JENNIFER: Harper and Duke? Well, ah, what do they have to do with Lisanne Gardner's offer?

JACK: What do you mean, Lisanne Gardner's offer?

JENNIFER: Lisanne Gardner's offer. I mean I thought that it would kill you Jack.

 

JACK REALIZES THAT THEY HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS.

 

JACK: Kill me? Lisanne Gardner's offer kill me. Oh, is that all it is? Lisanne Gardner's offer.

JENNIFER: What do you mean is that all it is? I mean how can you be so casual about losing the newspaper for good Jack?

 

JACK LOOKS UP AND REALIZES HOW SERIOUS THAT NEWS IS.

JENNIFER: I mean Jack, don't you even care that you could lose the newspaper for good? This Lisanne Gardner, she's ready to buy it right from underneath you.

JACK: Yes, yes. But you see I've just come to realize that there is.... there's a silver lining behind every cloud. JENNIFER: What?

JACK: That is always darkest before the dawn.

JENNIFER: Jack, are you alright?

JACK: That's right. You have to live life to the fullest and that's what we're going to do. We're going to live, live, live!

JENNIFER: Alright, well I understand that but what are we going to do if....

JACK: You must never say die! (Beat) Did I.... did I.... just say what I thought I said?

JENNIFER: Yes, that's what you just said.

JACK: Well that's what I meant. We're not going to give up. Even.... even to the end.

JENNIFER: Well I'm glad that you're being so optimistic but Lisanne Gardner said that her client always gets what they go after Jack.

JACK: Yes, well, her clients have obviously never run up against Jack Deveraux, have they? Are you understanding that? They have to find out that I am prepared to fight.... even.... even until the death.