oldEpisode Four-hundred-thirty-five: Seeing
How Depressed Jack Is, Alice Gives
Him a Ticket to New York to
See Jennifer. Jack Surprises Jennifer.

---

[Air date early August 1992]

 

SCENE ONE: IT A FEW DAYS LATER AND JACK RUNS INTO TANNER DOWN AT FISHERMAN'S WHARF.

 

JACK: Tanner.

TANNER: Hey Jack, what's happening?

JACK: I'll tell you what's happening. I've been thinking about what you said earlier and I realize that money is tight for everyone all way round. And for that reason and because I have a soft spot in my heart for young love, I want to make you a deal.

TANNER: What kind of deal Jack?

JACK: I'll tell you. What do you know about the trade, the carpentry trade?

TANNER: Yeah sure I know some things. Why?

JACK: I found the perfect house. Well it's not exactly the perfect house. It needs a little bit of work. A little bit of carpentry work. That's where you come in. How would you like to help me remodel it?

TANNER: Well it depends. How much is it paying and how much of that money can I get up front?

JACK: Well, upfront I'd say you'll get a hammer, some nails and a saw. But in time, when we're finished you could see one.... maybe two thousand dollars. What do you say?

TANNER: When did you say you're going to be moving out of your apartment again?

JACK: As soon as this new house is finished.

TANNER: Okay I'll do it. When can I look at the house because I'd like to get started right away.

JACK: Well as soon as escrow closes which shouldn't be too long. And when it happens, I'll get a house, you'll get some money and an apartment and our drab little lives will take on a whole new meaning.

TANNER: Yeah, it's the plan, isn't it?

 

SCENE ONE: JACK WALKS INTO ALICE'S RESTAURANT.

 

JACK: Why did I buy this?

 

HE DUMPS HIS FINANCE BOOK IN THE TRASH.

 

ALICE: Jack, you look as if you have the weight of the world on your shoulders.

JACK: Not the weight of the world, just a modest six room colonial on half an acre with a stream running through it.

ALICE: I beg your pardon.

JACK: The house that I was trying to buy fell out of escrow, again.

ALICE: Oh that's too bad.

JACK: No, it's a bit worse than too bad.

ALICE: Now what does that mean?

JACK: It means that this is the second time it's happened. I've been jinxed or hexed or something like that.

ALICE: Oh darling you're not hexed. Things are bad right now but they're sure to get better.

 

THE PHONE RINGS AND THE WAITER CALLS OUT TO JACK.

 

WAITER: Are you Jack Deveraux?

JACK: Who's asking?

WAITER: There's someone on the phone asking for you.

JACK: Good news no doubt.

 

JACK TAKES THE PHONE.

 

JACK: Hello. (Beat) Well hello, yes. (Beat) I see. (Beat) Well thank you very much. (Beat) Yes, good day.

 

JACK HANGS UP.

 

JACK: That was Dan Ryan.

ALICE: What did Dan have to say?

JACK: Nothing much. He just said hello and.... you're fired.

ALICE: You're fired?

JACK: Yes, as of this moment I'm no longer in the employ of WTGB TV. (Beat) Now what were you saying about things are bound to get better?

SCENE TWO: JACK GOES ON TO TELL ALICE WHAT HE THINKS OF DAN.

 

JACK: Yes that's the whole pathetic story. Dan Ryan, a man who wouldn't know a reporter if he came up and bit him on the nose, said that the numbers weren't there so they just stopped the whole police reporter cops angle and it's all gone into the dumpster.

ALICE: Jack I am so sorry. I just.... but you've got a lot going for you.

JACK: I do. (Beat) I do?

ALICE: Huh, huh.

JACK: Name one thing.

ALICE: Well.... ah, for instance.... your job at The Spectator.

JACK: Oh yes, a perfect reversal of fortune. The establishment I used to own I must now use identification just to gain access to the restroom.

ALICE: Jack, I've never seen you so down.

JACK: I believe I have every right to be down.

ALICE: I don't believe for one moment that all of this gloom and doom is because of what happened at the station.

JACK: You don't, huh.

ALICE: No, I do not. I think you're lonely for your wife. You miss your wife.

JACK: I tell you something, it's been so long since I've seen her I've forgotten what the girl looks like.

ALICE: You see, there you are. Married couples should not be separated especially when they're having a baby.

JACK: Well that's.... sounds very nice but there's not much one can do about it now, is there? Excuse me.

 

JACK WALKS AWAY.

 

ALICE: Ja.... well maybe not. (Beat) Maybeeeee.

SCENE THREE: A SHORT TIME LATER, JACK IS STILL AT ALICE'S.

 

WAITER: Mr. Deveraux this just arrived for you.

 

THE WAITER HANDS JACK AN ENVELOPE.

 

JACK: Bad news I'm sure. It seems to be in the air today.

 

HE RIPS IT OPEN.

 

JACK: Salem Airlines Flight 611.... two o'clock today. (Beat) Where did this come from?

WAITER: I have no idea. It came by messenger.

 

JACK IS PUZZLED.

SCENE FOUR: JACK IS LOOKING AT THE LETTER, WHEN ALICE COME OUT OF THE KITCHEN.

 

JACK: Mrs. Horton, I was just coming in there to get you.

ALICE: Oh you were. What for dear?

JACK: To find out the meaning of this.

ALICE: Well.... er.... I think it means that you should stop lollygagging around and get to the Salem Airport and catch Flight 611.

JACK: But I'm not going to New York.

ALICE: Oh yes you are because I've made all the arrangements.

JACK: I'm sorry to inform you of this but I can't afford cab fare to the airport let alone air fare to the Big Apple.

ALICE: Well you don't have to. It's a gift.

JACK: A gift.

ALICE: Hmmm, yes from Tom and me. So that you can go and see Jennifer.

JACK: It's very touching Mrs. Horton, it really is but I cannot allow you or the good doctor to foot the bill for this.

ALICE: Oh you can't. Why not?

JACK: Because there is such a thing as self determination. There is such a thing....

ALICE: And there is Pride. Oh now come on Jack, you're not going to let a little thing like pride stand in the way of your seeing Jennifer. The thing that you want most in life.

JACK: When you put it like that, one can hardly argue, can he?

ALICE: No, one can't. So I think you should just get upstairs, get packed and get out there on time.

JACK: I will, as soon as I do something else.

ALICE: What dear?

JACK: This.

 

HE GIVES HER A BIG KISS ON THE CHEEK.

THEN RUNS UPSTAIRS.

 

ALICE: (Smiling) You're very welcome.

SCENE FIVE: A FEW HOURS LATER JACK ARRIVES AT JENNIFER'S HOTEL CARRYING A LARGE BUNCH OF ROSES.

 

JACK: Room 312. This is it.

HE IS NERVOUS AS HE KNOCKS ON THE DOOR.

 

JACK: Jennifer?

 

INSIDE, JENNIFER IS IN BED ASLEEP WITH A SLEEP MASK ON. SHE WAKES; SITS UP AND REMOVES THE MASK.

 

JACK: Jennifer?

JENNIFER: Who is it?

JACK: What do you mean who is it? You don't recognize my voice already.

 

SHE HURRIES TO THE DOOR.

 

JENNIFER: Oh, Jack is that you?

JACK: Perhaps you can open the door and find out for yourself.

 

SHE UNLATCHES THE DOOR AND PEEPS OUT.

JACK: Surprised? JENNIFER: Oh JACK, JACK, JACK!

SHE LUNGES AT HIM AND GRABS HIM AROUND THE NECK AS USUAL.

 

JACK: Oooooh!