oldEpisode Four-hundred-twenty: "If It Were
Done.... 'Twould Be Well It Be Done
Quickly": to Keep Jennifer Financial Secure
Jack Decides to Sell the Paper to Julie.
Jennifer Thinks That Jack Plans to Leave Her.

---

[Air date mid-May 1992]

SCENE ONE: IT IS THE NEXT DAY, JULIE AND JACK ARE SITTING AT A TABLE AT WINGS LOOKING OVER THE PAPERS THAT WILL GIVE HER OWNERSHIP OF THE SPECTATOR.

 

JACK: So the funding doesn't come in until then.

JULIE: That's how the bank wants it scheduled.

JACK: As long as they don't renege.

JULIE: Oh they're very enthusiastic about this Jack. You have no worries on that score.

JACK: I won't have any worries on any score before long.

JULIE: What?

JACK: Nothing, nothing. Could I see that second paragraph again?

JULIE: Sure.

 

JENNIFER ENTERS.

 

JENNIFER: Hi.

JULIE: Oh hi Jennifer. Gee I didn't know you were coming.

JENNIFER: I'm not, actually I mean I wasn't.

 

SHE SEES JACK HIDE THE PAPERS.

 

JENNIFER: (To Jack) I didn't know you were either. You told me you had a meeting with a financier.

JACK: Ah....no, no, no, that's FinanciØe, the French tennis shoe company that's interested in coming to Salem to open an outlet here.

 

JULIE REALIZES THAT JENNIFER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT SHE AND JACK ARE DOING.

 

JULIE: Does this mean?

JACK: It means that you will still get the regular shoes at the regular price. Don't worry, the Frenchies have a really good business sense but they can't take over the market that soon.

JULIE: (Whisper) Jack, Jennifer doesn't have any idea about this?

JACK: Actually, no she doesn't.

 

HOWEVER JENNIFER HEARS ALL THE WHISPERING.

 

JENNIFER: Jennifer doesn't have any idea about what?

JACK: About the tennis shoes. But don't worry you'll get your own pair of the American brand and the French brand. Now if you'll excuse us Julie, we want to have a little lunch over here. We'll get our own table.

 

JACK TRIES TO DRAG JENNIFER AWAY TO ANOTHER TABLE.

 

JENNIFER: Wait Jack, it's nine o'clock in the morning.

JACK: We'll have breakfast then.

JENNIFER: I've already had breakfast and I'll have you for lunch if you don't tell me what's going on right now. I mean it Jack. I want to know what's going on. I want to know whatever it is that I don't know.

JACK: Sorry, if you could answer my question first. What are you doing here?

JENNIFER: I'm here to meet Brian.

JACK: Really! How very interesting. Are you here to talk, play cards, get the adrenaline up? I understand he's awfully good at that.

JENNIFER: As usual I have no idea what you are talking about.

JACK: I was just wondering why you're here with Brian.

JENNIFER: You're kidding me right? You hired Brian to be my body guard right, remember? You hired him.

JACK: Yes I hired him but I had no idea that you were going to run with it this way.

JENNIFER: I'm not running anywhere. He left his watch at our apartment and I wanted to return it to him. Now I want to know what's going on right now, please.

JULIE: Excuse me, excuse me. I want you to know Jennifer, I would never have consented to any of this if I realized that you hadn't even been told.

JENNIFER: I know that Julie. And Jack is not going to tell me so I would appreciate it if you would please.

JULIE: Gladly. I'll be delighted.

JACK: No, I'll do it. "If it were done, whence it were done, 'twould be well it be done quickly."

JENNIFER: What are saying Jack?

JACK: Shakespeare. I did the Scottish play in school. Of course I played Lady Mc in the Scottish play. It was a boys school.

JENNIFER: Who cares?

JULIE: No kidding, really.

JACK: Alright, I'm sorry. I've been under a tremendous amount of pressure from the bank and as you know it's been my determination that Lawrence will never get his hands on this paper.

JULIE: Jack, cut to the chase!

JACK: So, I have decided to let Julie....pay off all our debts to the bank in return....she takes full ownership of The Spectator.

 

JENNIFER IS STUNNED.

SCENE TWO: JENNIFER CANNOT BELIEVE THAT JACK HAS AGREED TO SELL THE PAPER TO JULIE. SHE SITS DOWN WITH JACK SO HE CAN EXPLAIN FURTHER.

 

JACK: So when we get fundal fining....

JULIE: Final funding.

JACK: Yes, when we are fundly finaled....

JULIE: Finally funded.

JACK: Right! The point is when we get the money, we're going to be able to....Jennifer please, just cut me off anytime, say something.

JENNIFER: I think you're making a very big mistake.

JULIE: I cannot believe you never told her.

JENNIFER: This paper has been your life's blood Jack.

JULIE: Look I wanted to help you Jennifer. I wanted to help you Jack. But my darling if you're having difficulty with this, I'll just forget it.

JACK: No, no, no, Julie you can't.

JENNIFER: Yes, we can.

JACK: No, we Can't. We....

JENNIFER: Yes we have to. I'm not going to let you do this to appease your own guilt.

JACK: My guilt?

JENNIFER: You know what I'm talking about and don't say that you don't because I know that you do.

JULIE: Children, I think I'll let you settle this one by yourselves.

 

JULIE WALKS AWAY FROM THE TABLE.

 

JACK: I....Julie. Jennifer I have no idea what you're talking about.

JENNIFER: Would you just tell me why you are doing this? Can you just tell me why, please?

JACK: I'm not doing this to anyone. I'm doing this for us.

JENNIFER: Oh, oh I see. You think that this is going to make you appreciate me more, right? Is that how people are justifying it these days? Is this the trendiest new pretense?

JACK: I really have no idea what you are talking about?

JENNIFER: Really? What a refreshing switch. Now you know how I feel 99 per cent of the time you open your mouth.

JACK: Okay I understand that you're angry with me....

JENNIFER: Well I'm glad we've got that very clear.

JACK: Would you just let....please, please. Now you have to know how much it's killing me to let this paper go. It's a dream, it's always been a dream. I have to realize that's all it will ever be. We have to focus now on the future, a very realistic future that has a child in it. We have provide for the child and I have to make sure that you do not have to go back to work as soon as you have the baby.

JENNIFER: Are you saying that you don't think I am capable of raising a child and having a job? This is 90s. Women juggle careers and families all of the time. What is the big deal?

JACK: The big deal is that there's husbands involved in all that. There's....

JENNIFER: OOOOH! Oh are you saying I don't have a husband?

JACK: No, I'm saying that....that....I'm saying that as your husband I have to make sure that everything is set up and that you're fully provided for. That's what I'm going to the bank for right now. I'm going to the bank to make sure that everything is all set up. So just calm down and accept it....(He kisses her).... and we'll both be a lot happier.

 

HE GATHERS UP THE PAPERS AND LEAVES.

SCENE THREE: JENNIFER HAS STAYED AT WINGS. SHE IS THINKING ABOUT WHAT JACK SAID. JULIE COMES OVER TO REASSURE HER.

 

JULIE: Jennifer, nothing is more important to me than my family and if you are having a problem with this deal, I'll back out of it right now.

JENNIFER: No, no I mean if this is what Jack wants, why should I stop him?

JULIE: Why should you stop him? Because you are miserable. Isn't that a good enough reason?

JENNIFER: I am not unhappy about the newspaper. I....I mean I am but it's not what's making me most unhappy.

JULIE: Are you two having problems?

JENNIFER: He doesn't seem to be.

JULIE: Can you talk to me about it?

JENNIFER: I don't know. I feel like I am losing touch with him. I mean everytime I think that I have finally figured out what he's feeling and everytime I think I have a grasp on him, he changes completely. (Beat) You know sometimes I think that he's crazy about me. And then other times I....I don't know. I can't keep up with him and I feel like I've lost control.

JULIE: Well I can scarcely comment on the change in your relationship. Ah, Jack has always been something of an enigma to me. Not that I don't like him very much but if I told you I think I understand what makes him tick I'd be lying. But....who knows, maybe being inscrutable is his real charm.

JENNIFER: Yeah, yeah, maybe that's what it is.

JULIE: Anyway I want you to feel secure about The Spectator and I will do everything in my power to save the paper.

SCENE FOUR: AT WINGS, JENNIFER AND JULIE ARE STILL DISCUSSING JACK, JUST THEN BRIAN COMES RUNNING IN.

 

BRIAN: Oh I'm sorry, I'm sorry I'm late. I didn't know what time it was. I forgot my watch.

JENNIFER: Oh good excuse but I always think you have some good ones, don't you?

 

SHE HANDS BRIAN HIS WATCH THAT HE LEFT AT THE APARTMENT.

 

JULIE: How are you Brian?

BRIAN: Oh I'm so much better now that I've got my trusty watch. Beautiful.

 

JULIE HAS TO GET BACK TO WORK, LEAVING JENNIFER AND BRIAN ALONE. BRIAN SENSES SOMETHING IS WRONG AND MANAGES TO GET JENNIFER TO ADMIT TO HIM WHAT IT IS.

 

JENNIFER: Jack's having an affair.

 

BRIAN DOES NOT BELIEVE A WORD OF IT.

 

BRIAN: We're talking about Jack, here. Jack, Jack Deveraux. He loves you. He cares about you. All he ever does is talk about you. How much he loves you, he cares about you, your future....

JENNIFER: That's because he's guilty. It's all because of guilt. He's doing it because he's leaving me for another woman.

BRIAN: Alright, well do you have any proof that there's somebody else?

JENNIFER: Come on, you have been wondering the same thing. I mean he comes home late. He always seems like he's hiding something. Now he wants to sell the newspaper to Julie. Do you know how unlike Jack that is, to get help from my family? He would rather die.

BRIAN: Oh, well what makes you think he's having an....

JENNIFER: An affair? What makes me think that? He's selling The Spectator to bail himself out of his marriage. That's what he's doing.

BRIAN: He is? Well that's what he's doing. Do you have any proof of that or anything like that?

JENNIFER: You're still skeptical?

BRIAN: Yeah.

JENNIFER: Alright, you want to see proof? I'll show you proof.

BRIAN: Yeah, I want to see something.

 

JENNIFER SEARCHES THROUGH HER BAG AND PULLS OUT THE HANDKERCHIEF WITH THE CHEAP LIPSTICK ON IT.

 

JENNIFER: Here is the proof.

BRIAN: Jack's handkerchief.

JENNIFER: Huh, uh.

BRIAN: This is not your lipstick here.

JENNIFER: Have you ever seen my wear highway cone orange lipstick? I have never worn that color. I never will in my whole life.

BRIAN: Okay, alright. Did you ask him about it? I mean maybe there's some mistake here.

JENNIFER: Jack is a germ freak. He would never loan out his hanky. He was wiping off lipstick, somebody else's lipstick.

BRIAN: Oh Jennifer, I don't know what to say.

JENNIFER: You can say what you're thinking.

BRIAN: I think Jack's a fool.

JENNIFER: Then you know it's true.

BRIAN: No, I don't. I know what you're telling me here.

JENNIFER: Brian, tell me.

BRIAN: Tell you what?

JENNIFER: Come on, you've hung out at the Cheatin' Heart with Jack. You've had long talks, you've had drinks. He must have confided in you about this.

BRIAN: No I swear, he hasn't, he hasn't said....nothing, not a word.

JENNIFER: So you don't have any idea at all who this could be?

BRIAN: No. I really....I told you, I can't imagine.

JENNIFER: Can you try to imagine? Can you....can you help me please? Will you do that for me?

BRIAN: Jennifer you know I will help you anyway I can. You have to promise me one thing here, okay. Now listen, we've got to give Jack the benefit of the doubt here because you know we just have to, okay. Please.

 

JENNIFER IS NOT SURE SHE CAN DO THAT.

SCENE FIVE: JENNIFER IS HOME AT THEIR APARTMENT, THERE IS A KNOCK ON THE DOOR.

 

JENNIFER: Coming.

 

SHE OPENS THE DOOR AND A STRANGE MAN IN A SUIT IS STANDING THERE.

 

MAN: Hi there. I was in the neighborhood. Thought I'd make an offer you can't refuse.

JENNIFER: Ah, who are you?

MAN: Your friendly video camera salesman.

JENNIFER: Oh, you know what, we're really not interested in one right now. Thank you very much.

MAN: Ah, Jack Deveraux's not your husband?

JENNIFER: Oh yes he is. Did he talk to you about buying a video camera?

MAN: No he rented one. To take pictures of some woman, he said. It must have been you. He must want to record the happy event, huh?

 

JENNIFER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

 

JENNIFER: Um....yeah, I'll get back to you. Thanks.

 

SHE SHUTS THE DOOR AND IS SURE NOW THAT JACK IS HAVING AN AFFAIR.

SCENE SIX: A LITTELE LATER, SHE IS READING A BOOK ON PREGNANCY WHEN JACK COMES HOME.

 

JACK: Oh good, you're home. You can hear the good news.

 

JENNIFER IGNORES HIM.

 

JACK: Do you want to hear the news?

JENNIFER: Yeah sure.

 

HOWEVER SHE CONTINUES TO LOOK AT HER BOOK.

 

JACK: Good. It looks like a sure thing. The bank is going to approve of Julie's buying The Spectator.

 

SHE BRUSHES PAST HIM WITHOUT A WORD.

 

JACK: You....ah, you don't seem too thrilled about it.

 

SHE TURNS A PAGE ON THE BOOK.

 

JACK: You don't even seem to be able to look me in the eye.

 

HE SNATCHES THE BOOK FROM HER.

 

JACK: Jennifer, listen to me. This is a good thing. We have to face the reality here. We cannot continue to try to make these payments to pay off the bank. Now we're going to be able to support the baby, provide for it.

JENNIFER: Well that's good. Do you think maybe we can rent a video camera to record the baby's birth Jack? Don't you think that's a good idea?

 

JACK LOOKS A BIT SICK.

 

JENNIFER: You know I just thought that since we sold our video camera, we can rent one for the baby's birth and I heard they're not very expensive so maybe you should look into that.

JACK: Well I don't think that's a good idea at all.

JENNIFER: Why not?

JACK: Well I just think that having a video camera there will just take away from the joy and the spontaneity of the birth. I mean if....if....I think just being there is....is more than....more than I can ever wish for. (Beat) But you know if....you know if there's a chance that I might not be there, I mean sometimes husbands can't make it to the....

JENNIFER: Wait a minute, wait a minute, what are you saying, if there's a chance that you might not...are you saying that you're not going to be there for the birth of our child now? With everything else that's going on, you're telling me that you're not even going to be there Jack?

 

SHE STORMS OUT OF THE ROOM.

 

JACK: Jennifer, no, I'm....

 

HE JUST CANNOT EXPLAIN TO HER.