SCENE ONE: JENNIFER HAS JUST RECORDED HER FIRST SHOW WITH PHILIP AS PRODUCER. JACK HAS BEEN WATCHING WITH ABBY.

 

JENNIFER: Was I good?

JACK: Good? You were yourself. You were confident. You were not the attack dog that Malcolm tried to turn you into.

JENNIFER: I wasn't as nervous this time at all.

JACK: That's right, you weren't nervous.

PHILIP: You were not nervous at all. I could tell. It was beautiful and totally helped your performance. You were charming, you were spontaneous, you were genuine. It was beautiful.

JENNIFER: Thank you Philip but what about the chief network guy? Did he see it?

PHILIP: He was in the booth with me.

JACK: Hmmm.

JENNIFER: Well that's great. It doesn't matter what we thought of the show. The question is what did he think?

PHILIP: The network loved you. They thought you were bright, they thought you were motivated. Not to mention attractive.

JACK: Well they hit the nail on the head there. I me....

JENNIFER: Jack let him finish, let him finish. Go on.

PHILIP: They were also thought you were highly marketable. But....

JENNIFER: But what? I knew, here it comes. What?

PHILIP: No it's not bad. They just thought the show was a little soft, you know. Your topic on women who make millions, they thought it was interesting but it wasn't really controversial.

JENNIFER: Controversial? What.... that is what I'm trying to stay away from. It's not me.

PHILIP: I know it's not. We just have to work on the format and find a style that's going to support you and is going to play well and is also going to please the top brass.

JENNIFER: Philip, listen to me, alright. I don't think that's possible. I want white, they want black. We're going to end up with a gray muddled mess. Do you understand what I'm saying?

PHILIP: I know but it doesn't have to be that way. I like your show. I really do or else I wouldn't be involved in it. I wouldn't believe in it the way I do. But to be honest, I do think there is room for a little improvement. Now if you want your show to work we're going to have to get a little innovative, you know. Just a little, nothing big. So I'm going to go back to the booth and appease all the guys and make sure that everything is working well here and your job young lady is to calm down, take a big breath and.... brainstorm.

 

PHILIP WALKS AWAY.

 

JENNIFER: I really hate this. I really hate this Jack.

JACK: Well what are you going to do? You can't just quit.

 

JENNIFER LOOKS UP AT HIM AND HE IS NOT SURE WHAT SHE IS GOING TO DO.

SCENE TWO: THE STUDIO, CONTINUED.

 

JACK: Jennifer?

JENNIFER: I already told you Jack I can't quit my job because we need the money.

JACK: I agree, I agree. Quitting is not the answer. The answer's for you to do what you want to do. And if that means you staying on the show for twenty years, great, great, or.... or staying home. But the important thing is that it has to be what you want and you have to able to live with it and work with it.

JENNIFER: I understand. The question I'm trying to answer to answer, all right. Is it possible to do everything? Is it possible to have it all? Can I have a career? Can I be a good mother and a wife? Can I be a good role model for Abby? That's the question.

JACK: I think if anybody can do it, you can. I mean if anybody could have it all, do it all and be it all, that's you.

JENNIFER: I don't know if I want it all at the same time, right. I don't know if I can handle it.

JACK: I don't think you should make a decision in this state of mind. I think you should wait a little while and.... think about it. Give it....

JENNIFER: You know Jack I have never walked away from a fight in my life but maybe this is a fight that I can't win.

JACK: I don't know. I think you should just think about it. Just....

JENNIFER: What's there to think about?

 

AS THEY ARE TALKING, TWO OF THE SET MOVERS ON JENNIFER'S SHOW WALK PAST CARRYING A BACKDROP.

 

GUY 1: I don't know about you but this job saved my life.

GUY 2: Yeah well tell me about it. My unemployment was about to run out.

 

THEY WALK PAST AND JACK AND JENNIFER WATCH THEM GO.

 

JENNIFER: Well it seems like timing is everything isn't it?

JACK: Huh, huh.

JENNIFER: I have to stick it out. I have to do it because people are counting on me. I can't let them down.

JACK: I think that's a good decision. I'm proud of you.

 

THEY HUG.

 

JENNIFER: I love you Jack.

SCENE THREE: A LITTLE LATER, JACK AND JENNIFER ARE HOME; JACK SETTLES ABBY IN HER BASSINET.

 

JACK: You were rather quiet on the ride home tonight.

JENNIFER: I was just trying to figure out a way to strike a balance between my show and my family. You do this very well. What's your secret?

JACK: Well I.... I....

 

THE PHONE RINGS AND JENNIFER GOES TO ANSWER IT.

 

JENNIFER: Hold on. (Beat) Hello. (Beat) Speaking. (Beat) What? You can't cater the.... why? (Beat) Food poisoning? Your entire staff has food poisoning? (Beat) Um.... can you give me another caterer? Can you recommend me another name? (Beat) Hello.... hello. I don't believe this.

JACK: What.... what happened?

JENNIFER: He hung up on me. He got sick and he hung up on me. Now I have to find a caterer because the shower is tonight Jack. I will do this. I will find a caterer.

JACK: Look there is nothing to worry about. I'm sure there is more than one healthy caterer in town who can squeeze you in.

JENNIFER: You're right. I'm just stressing out because I'm under pressure but I'm going to do this. I'm going to let my fingers do the walking. I'm going to....

 

THE PHONE RINGS AGAIN.

 

JENNIFER: If that is for me, and it's bad news, I don't want to talk, okay.

JACK: I'm sure it's not bad news. I'm sure....

JENNIFER: I don't want to talk to anybody Jack.

JACK: Hello. (Beat) Oh Philip, yes. She's right here.

JENNIFER: NOOOO! NOOOO!

JACK: She's right here yes. Just a moment, let me get her.

 

JACK COVERS THE MOUTHPIECE.

 

JACK: He says it's very important. He needs to talk to you.

JENNIFER: Carly's shower is more important. You tell him.

JACK: I think it's more important that you talk to Philip. While you're schmoozing with your producer and let me work on the caterer. Really, how hard could it be?

 

JENNIFER TAKES THE PHONE.

 

JENNIFER: Philip, hi.

 

JENNIFER TALKS TO PHILIP WHILE JACK WRITES DOWN THE NUMBERS OF DIFFERENT CATERERS.

SCENE FOUR: A LITTLE LATER, JENNIFER IS STILL ON THE PHONE WITH PHILIP.

 

JENNIFER: Okay, thank you. Tell Kimberly we're looking forward to seeing her tonight. Okay, goodbye.

JACK: How's everything going?

JENNIFER: Ooooh whose idea was it for me to stick with this show?

JACK: To my best recollection, it was yours.

JENNIFER: Well that's too bad because I was hoping I could blame it on you Jack.

JACK: And why is that?

JENNIFER: Philip Collier is a typical producer. He is.

JACK: Yes.

JENNIFER: I didn't think he was but he is Telling me what to do, telling me how I should be. Everything has to be his way.

JACK: Well he must be better than Malcolm.

JENNIFER: But I just don't understand why they want me to be something that I'm not. Why can't they just let me be myself and do what I want on the show?

JACK: Listen, I think Philip is very reasonable. I think you could just sit down and talk to him and work the whole thing out.

JENNIFER: I don't have time. I have to find a caterer. I have to feed Abby.... who's going to be the caterer? Where are we going to get this food Jack?

JACK: Wait a minute, I have whole list of people right here. I'm ready to call them. If you'll go upstairs, feed the child and clothe her, I can take care of that.

JENNIFER: All right, all right. I'll do that. I don't know what I'd do without you.

JACK: Well fortunately you don't have to find out.

 

JENNIFER GOES UPSTAIRS AND JACK CALLS THE FIRST CATERER.

 

JACK: Hello, Quickie Caterer? Yes, yes. I have a bridal shower tonight.... tonight.... hello? Hello.... bad connection, huh.

 

JACK REDIALS.

 

JACK: Hello, Quickies.... this is.... I have.... hello.

 

THEY HANG UP ON HIM AGAIN. JACK GETS BACK ON THE PHONE.

 

JACK: Hello.... hello.... damn. All right that's the last person on the list. Nobody will cater a party at this late date.

JENNIFER: All right, that's it. I'm going to the market. I'm going to do it myself.

JACK: What? You can't do it by yourself.

JENNIFER: Look, I am Carly's matron of honor. I promised I would give her a shower. She's going to get a shower.

JACK: Who's said she wasn't going to get a shower?

JENNIFER: You said you couldn't get a caterer.

JACK: Yet! Not this minute, not the next minute but maybe a few minutes after that.

JENNIFER: How?

JACK: I.... I have my ways.

JENNIFER: I don't like the sound of that Jack.

JACK: Well you don't have to like the sound of it. Just trust me. Everything's going to be all right. Don't think about the shower. Go take a shower. Relax. Soak. Ruminate on your shower.

JENNIFER: The reality of this situation is that this shower is going to be washout.

JACK: It's going to be wonderful.

JENNIFER: That's the reality.

JACK: Just relax. It's going to be great.

 

JACK BUNDLES JENNIFER UPSTAIRS.

 

JACK: Boy, desperate times call for desperate measures.