oldEpisode Four-hundred-twenty-five:
Jennifer Is Devestated by Jack's News.
Later, Tom and Alice Come to Celebrate
Jack's Birthday; Then Clear up Things.

---

[Air date mid-June 1992]

 

SCENE ONE: JACK HAS JUST TOLD JENNIFER THAT HE IS DYING. HOWEVER SHE DOES NOT SAY ANYTHING BUT SHE DOES COME BACK INSIDE.

 

JACK: Didn't you hear what I said?

JENNIFER: Yes I heard you Jack.

JACK: Well don't I get some sort of response?

JENNIFER: Oh I don't know. What exactly were you expecting?

JACK: Well I don't know. I mean I am your husband, the man you allegedly love. I've just told you that I am dying. I think that deserves some sort of comment.

JENNIFER: Dying how? Are you dying of boredom?

JACK: No.

JENNIFER: Are you dying to get rid of me and our baby and our marriage? Is that what you're dying of?

JACK: No. You don't understand.

JENNIFER: You're right, I don't understand. But I'm getting really good at this so I can probably take a little bit more Jack.

JACK: Wait, you have got me all wrong here.

JENNIFER: Oh of course I do. Everybody always has you wrong. Poor Jack, no one understands you.

JACK: Would you just let.... would you stop it for a minute and just listen to me? I AM DYING! Dying as in dead dying, deceased dying, dyed in the wool dying.

 

JENNIFER'S EXPRESSION CHANGES FROM ANGER TO PAIN.

 

JENNIFER: Dying?

JACK: In the box, buying the farm, burying the cow, casting off this mortal coil, checking in, checking out, cashing in your chips, playing in the field of dreams, the worms go in, the worms go out, but poor Jack Deveraux he's got no clout cause he's dead, six feet under. Dead. (Beat) I'm dying Jennifer!

SCENE TWO: JACK HAS TOLD JENNIFER THAT HE IS DYING; IT HAS DAWNED ON HER THAT HE IS NOT MAKING UP EXCUSES, SHE IS SHOCK BY THE DEVASTATING NEWS.

 

JENNIFER: Wait a minute, wait a minute, are you saying....

JACK: I'm dying Jennifer. I didn't want to tell you this way.

 

JENNIFER'S EYES START TO FILL UP AS SHE REALIZES HE IS NOT JOKING.

 

JENNIFER: No you're not.

JACK: Obviously this is so much worse than I even imagined. I am very sorry.

JENNIFER: Wait a minute.

 

HE PUTS HIS ARMS AROUND HER.

 

JACK: I am.... Jennifer, I am sorry. I am sorry but it's going to be alright.

JENNIFER: Wait a minute Jack. You are not going to die. I won't let you die.

JACK: Listen there is nothing that you or I can do about it.

JENNIFER: Wait a minute, who told you that you were going to die? Somebody must have....

JACK: No one told me. I found out all on my own.

JENNIFER: How did you find out?

JACK: I looked at my medical records.

JENNIFER: You what?

JACK: I looked at my medical records. I got into Marcus's office and I found my files and I read them. Right there in black and white it said six months to live.

JENNIFER: Six months?

JACK: Now it's down to three months.

JENNIFER: Wait a minute, there must be some kind of mistake Jack. Some one must have screwed up on the blood tests or samples or something. I mean you're not going to die, you're not.

JACK: If you say so then I guess....

JENNIFER: Don't do that.

JACK: Don't do what?

JENNIFER: Don't agree with me.

JACK: Listen I don't know what to do. What do you want me to do?

JENNIFER: I want you to be yourself. I want you to argue with me and fight with me and be obnoxious and opinionated and.... I.... I can't believe you're telling me this. I just can't.

 

HE STANDS BEHIND HER AND WRAPS HIS ARMS AROUND HER.

JACK: Jennifer, listen, I don't you worry about a thing okay. Everything is going to be taken care of. I mean it. Your future's going to be taken care of.

 

SHE TURNS AROUND AND THEY HOLD EACH OTHER.

SCENE THREE: JACK AND JENNIFER'S APARTMENT, JENNIFER IS TRYING TO DEAL WITH THE HEARTBREAKING NEWS. THEY THEN SIT TOGETHER ON THE COUCH WITH HIS LEFT ARM AROUND HER. SHE HAS HER HEAD ON HIS SHOULDER.

JACK: It's going to be alright okay. You feeling better now, huh?

JENNIFER: I don't know Jack. How am I supposed to feel? You just told me that you were dying.

JACK: Well I know I did. It's crazy but I'm telling you it's going to get better. You're going to get over this. You're.... you're going to get over me too.

JENNIFER: No I'm not. I don't want to get over you.

JACK: Well I appreciate the sentiment but one of us has to deal with the realities here and not just the financial ones.

JENNIFER: Don't talk to me about money right now Jack.

JACK: We don't have to talk about money. Everything is taken care of. You don't understand. That's my legacy to you. After I'm gone you're going to be set up. You're going to have a much better lifestyle. And don't think it was easy either. I'm not just talking about selling off the newspaper to take care of the finances. I'm talking about Brian Scofield as well.

JENNIFER: What about Brian?

JACK: Brian.... was going to be your second husband.

JENNIFER: My.... my what?

JACK: Listen I just.... I didn't think you were going to be able to take care of this but I knew that the child had to have some kind of surrogate father and you'd be too distraught to take care of all the details.

JENNIFER: You mean that's why you hired Brian to be my bodyguard?

JACK: Yes, I knew that if Brian was there and you had to lean on him and he could comfort you then sooner or later nature would take its course.

JENNIFER: You expect me to marry Brian?

JACK: No, not right away. I mean after a long period of mourning. I know it's a stretch. I know he's not your ideal man but.... it was an exhaustive search I'm telling you and he was the best I could come up with.

JENNIFER: I'm telling you right now I have no intention of marrying Brian or anybody else. I don't want anybody else. I want you.

SCENE FOUR: JENNIFER WALKS INTO THE LIVING ROOM, JACK FOLLOWS HER; SHE LOOKS AT THE JO'S HANDKERCHIEF WITH THE LIPSTICK SMEAR.

 

JENNIFER: So then, the lipstick on this handerkchief....

JACK: ....The lipstick is JO's It's JO's lipstick.

JENNIFER: And all the strange meetings at weird hours, and all the running behind my back....

JACK: ....And the letter to the Baby... just me pre.... preparing for the both of you.

JENNIFER: (Letting out a deep sigh, and looking ashamed about not trusting him) Ah, and all this time, all this time I thought you were having an affair with....

JACK: Oh, to set the matter straight, all this time I was just preparing for the inevitable.

JENNIFER: It is not inevitable Jack!

JACK: I think we should just enjoy the time we have left.

 

JENNIFER DOES NOT WANT TO BELIEVE THIS, IT IS TOO MUCH TO TAKE. HER FACE REVEALS HOW SHE COULD NOT ENDURE LIFE WITHOUT JACK.

 

JENNIFER: Alright, alright, because we have years ahead of us.

JACK: This may sound funny (Beat) but I'm actually starting to feel okay about this, (His voice catches a little) about all of this. I think it took me to opening up, and sharing the truth with you. I mean.... (With a slight smile on his face) It's a helluva lesson to learn.

JACK (CONT.): I learned it late (Smiling), but at least I learned it.

 

JENNIFER LOOKS AT JACK, LISTENING INTENTLY TO WHAT HE HAS TO SAY, TRYING TO BE BRAVE, BUT HER HEART IS BREAKING.

 

JACK (CONT.): Right, (softly) Jennifer?

 

JENNIFER IS NEAR TEARS.

 

JENNIFER: It's not going to go away, is it? (Beat) No matter how much we fight it or, or much we talk about it (Beat) you really are dying, aren't you?

 

JACK NODS HIS HEAD.

 

JACK: Ye... Yes, I am (Thinking, as if having a realization) But I am not afraid. Not any more (Smiling, and his face reveals his deep love for her).

 

THIS IS ALL TOO MUCH FOR JENNIFER SHE WALKS OVER TO THE COUCH AND SITS DOWN. JACK SITS NEXT TO HER, AND TRIES TO EXPLAIN.

 

JACK (CONT.): I'm not.... you don't understand this, I'm not afraid anymore. Not since I met you; got to know you; and began to love you. You've given me so much. (He smiles, and his face reveals how deeply he feels for her). You've taught me so much -- how to live.

JACK (CONT.): I mean I may not have had not much of a life, a long one in any way, but I have lived it, it's been a life; nobody can take that away from me.

 

JENNIFER CONTINUES TO LISTEN, SILENTLY. JACK'S WORDS ARE NOT ANY COMFORT TO HER. IT IS OBVIOUS BY HER EXPRESSION THAT SHE CANNOT COMPREHEND ANY LIFE WITHOUT JACK.

JACK (CONT.): I tell you something else. It's not the end. I mean.... not.... not just with me, or even with you, or even with this little one here.... It's never going to end, Jennifer.... It's never going to end.

 

JENNIFER CANNOT HOLD BACK ANY LONGER SHE FALLS INTO JACK'S ARMS AND RESTS HER HEAD ON HIS SHOULDERS; HER EYES FILL WILL TEARS. JACK SMILES, HE SEEMS CONTENT, THOUGH IN THE CORNERS OF HIS EYES THERE ALSO ARE TEARS.

SCENE FIVE: JENNIFER GETS MORE AND MORE UPSET AND BEGINS TO CRY.

 

JENNIFER: But what about our future together Jack and all the plans that we made? It's all over isn't it?

JACK: No, no, wait a minute, it's not over yet. I mean don't rush me out.

JENNIFER: And what about the baby? I mean this baby is never going to get a chance to know you and I can't imagine that. I can't even imagine raising this baby on my own. I just can't do it.

JACK: Let me tell you something. When you first told me that you were pregnant.... well quite frankly I didn't know how to feel. So I didn't. (Beat) Now (Sighing) let's be honest with each other. What kind of a father could I really be?

JENNIFER: You don't still think that do you?

JACK: (Beat) No I don't. (Trying to fight back tears) I mean I may not be around for the big show but I'll tell you something, (Smiling) right now I wouldn't trade what I have, I mean what I've experienced right now, I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

JENNIFER: Oh god....

JACK: What?

JENNIFER: Oh give me your hand, quick

 

SHE PLACES HIS HAND ON HER STOMACH.

 

JACK: What, what, is that....?

JENNIFER: Did you feel that? Did....

JACK: Heh, it's nothing.

 

JACK IS DEPRESSED, YET AGAIN HE MISSED FEELING THE BABY KICK.

 

JACK: I'll tell you something if I could have one wish and have it come true....

 

SHE WRAPS HER ARMS AROUND HIS NECK.

 

JENNIFER: I'm telling you right now Jack, I'm not going to let you go, alright. I am not going.... we're going to do something. I don't care what the files say. We'll try alternative medicine. We'll try something.

JACK: Been there, tried that. I gave it a shot.

JENNIFER: Well I'm not just going to stand here and watch you die. Do you understand me?

JACK: What are we talking about me dying? It's a ways off. Three months. I mean for a fruit fly that's eternity. I mean most sitcoms don't last three weeks. And here we are finally talking to each other, finally understanding. I say let's just live every minute, every second to the fullest. That's what I'm going to do. And that's a promise.

 

THE DOORBELL RINGS.

 

JENNIFER: What?

JACK: Are you expecting anybody?

JENNIFER: No, are you?

JACK: I wasn't even expecting Brian.

JENNIFER: Well it sounds like they're not going to go away unless....

JACK: Unless one of us asks them. Yes.

JENNIFER: Come on, we'll get rid of them.

JACK: Agreed. Just a quick hello and goodbye and then they're gone.

JENNIFER: Thirty seconds and that's it.

 

THEY BOTH OPEN THE DOOR AND TOM AND ALICE ARE STANDING THERE WITH A BIRTHDAY CAKE WITH A BIG THREE AND A ZERO CANDLES ALIGHT ON TOP.

 

TOM & ALICE: SURPRISE!

TOM: HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACK!

ALICE: AND MANY MANY MANY MORE.

JENNIFER: Oh god!

JACK: Jennifer.

 

JENNIFER WALKS WAY AND STARTS TO CRY.

ALICE: What.... JACK: Well that's your granddaughter. I mean she's nothing if not.... sentimental.

SCENE SIX: ALICE AND TOM HAVE JUST ARRIVED. ALICE AND TOME ARE BOTH EXCITED THAT THEY ARE TOGETHER. THEY PUT THE CAKE DOWN AND SING HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JACK.

 

TOM & ALICE: Happy birthday dear Jack, Happy birthday to you.

ALICE: And I knew you'd be together. There's nothing in the world now that can separate two of you.

TOM: Especially when the baby gets here.

ALICE: Yes, your first child.

TOM: It will make you feel like you can do anything. Like you can live forever right?

JACK: Ah.... yes.... yes.

ALICE: Wait a minute, the wax is getting all over my beautiful cake.

TOM: Alright Jack, come on, come on now, blow it out.

ALICE: And make a wish, make a wish. Something.... make it count.

 

JACK LOOKS SADLY ACROSS AT JENNIFER.

 

TOM: Go on.

ALICE: There must be something dear. Jennifer you help him. Something that you want more than anything.

JENNIFER: Oh grandma....

JACK: I'll just do it.

 

JACK BLOWS THE CANDLES OUT AS JENNIFER THROWS HERSELF INTO ALICE'S ARMS.

 

ALICE: Jennifer Rose.

TOM: What's going on?

ALICE: I don't know.

TOM: Why is she upset?

ALICE: Well it doesn't make sense, darling.

JENNIFER: It would make a lot of sense if you knew what I knew right now.

TOM: And what is that?

ALICE: Darling, what is upsetting you so?

JENNIFER: It's Jack.

TOM & ALICE: JACK!

ALICE: What has he done now?

JENNIFER: Oh you don't understand Grandma. He's.... dying. Jack is dying.

JACK LOOKS ON, ANGRY AND PAINED AT THE THOUGHT OF DYING.

SCENE SEVEN: JENNIFER IS HANGING ON DESPERATELY TO JACK, HOLDING HIM; AND HE HER. ALICE AND TOM ARE CONFUSED BY WHAT JENNIFER HAS SAID.

 

TOM: Is that supposed to be some kind of joke?

JACK: Joke? Yes sir, I wish it were a joke.

JENNIFER: Grandpa, Jack's telling the truth. He's really dying.

ALICE: He's....

TOM: What.... what happened? What's wrong with him?

JACK: Well I don't know. It's kind of a medical thing. It's very.... ah, complicated you know.

TOM: Well I'm a doctor Jack. If you understand it, I certainly can.

JACK: Well that's just the point. I'm a layman. I don't understand it. I mean if anyone thought I did I'm sure they would have told me but you know they use such big long complicated words.

ALICE: Now wait a minute, Jack. Who is they? Who is treating you? I'm sure Tom can talk to them.

JACK: (Frustrated at Dr. Horton) The important thing is that Marcus should have talked to me. Don't you understand? He should have told me what's wrong with me, what the matter was.

ALICE: No, I don't understand.

JACK: It doesn't matter anymore. I found out for myself. I got my own records and I did my own little investigation. And let me tell you something doctor, I do not appreciate what you and the rest of the doctors at your hospital did to me.

TOM: Which is?

JACK: You never told me what my condition was. I was supposed to go around thinking I was going to live forever. Just waiting for that social security which will probably never come anyway.

TOM: Jack, when did you start to investigate this? Was it April, early April?

JACK: Well as a matter of fact it was. Why do you ask?

TOM: Where is your phone?

JENNIFER: It's right over here grandpa. What?

TOM: I just know something sweetheart.

JACK: Oh you do? What do you suddenly know?

TOM: Well I know that you're not dying.

JACK: What? Wait a minute!

TOM: You're not dying and I can prove it. (On the phone) Yes, this is Dr. Horton. Call Marcus Hunter to the phone right away.

 

JACK, AND JENNIFER AND ALICE, WATCH ON CONFUSED AS TOM GOES TO THE PHONE.

SCENE EIGHT: TOM HAS CALLED MARCUS, HE KNOWS JACK IS NOT DYING, HE HAS CALLED MARCUS ON THE PHONE, TRYING TO CLEAR UP JACK'S MISUNDERSTANDING. HE HANGS UP.

 

TOM: Well that explains it.

ALICE: What, what, what happened? What did you find out?

TOM: Edna Mae. She made a full confession.

JENNIFER: Edna who?

TOM: Edna Mae Marshall, one of dietitians. When all the lay offs at the hospital happened, everyone tried to pitch in to fill in. She tried to do a lot of filing. You ought to see what she did to accounts receivable.

JENNIFER: Wait a minute, are you saying that she mixed up Jack's file with someone else's?

TOM: Exactly, exactly, exactly. And after she found out her mistake, she corrected it but by that time Jack had already sneaked into Marcus's office and well you know what happened.

JACK: Wait.... just a moment.... wait a minute, alright. Before I.... before I offer you an apology I have to get one thing straight.

ALICE: No, I think you've got it straight Jack.

JACK: So you're.... you're telling.... you mean, you mean that....

TOM: I mean you're a totally healthy perfectly neurotic human being. Congratulations.

JACK: I'm.... congratulations. CONGRATULATIONS, do you understand?

JENNIFER: Yes.

 

EVERYONE IS SMILING AND LAUGHING. JACK AND JENNIFER ARE ECSTATIC. HE TAKES JENNIFER'S HANDS FOR A DANCE, VERY HAPPY AND VERY MUCH IN LOVE.

 

JACK: I'm going to live. I'M GOING TO LIVE, I'M GOING TO LIVE. Do you understand that? You heard me, you heard that?

JENNIFER: Yes.

 

HE BENDS DOWN AND YELLS AT THE BABY.

JACK: Did you hear that down there? I'm going to Live !

 

HE KISSES HER STOMACH.

 

JACK: I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. You're not going to be fatherless at all. You're not going to have some sad subordinate father. You're going to have me. You can hate me like every normal kid in America. Oh this is great. I'm going to be here for your birth. I'm going to be here for your first steps, your first teeth, for your first birthday.

ALICE: Alright, speaking of birthdays, let's try it again.

JACK: Let's try what?

TOM, ALICE AND JENNIFER: Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you....

JACK: I forgot.

JENNIFER: And many (Kiss) many (Kiss) many more (Kiss).

TOM & ALICE: ....happy birthday dear Jack. Happy birthday to you.

JACK: I don't believe this. You know I'm going to be around for as many birthdays as you want. Till you throw me out.

 

JENNIFER JOINS TOM AND ALICE AS THEY SING ALICE THE LAST LINE "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO *YOU*"

JACK AND JENNIFER HAVE A BIG HUG.

 

JACK: OOOOH!

JENNIFER: Oh, did you feel that?

JACK: Was that?

JENNIFER: Yes.

JACK: Was that it?

JENNIFER: Yes.

JACK: Heheh. I felt it.

JENNIFER: You felt it.

JACK: I FELT THE BABY.

JENNIFER: Oh Jack.

JACK: (Ecstatic, laughing out loud) I FELT THE BABY, I FELT THE BABY.... I FELT THE BABY! HAHAHAHAH!