oldEpisode Four-hundred-sixty-six : Jack
Helps Jennifer with Carly's Shower. Later,
Everybody Parties at the Brady Pub. That Night
Jack and Jennifer Share a Romantic Moment.

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[Air date mid-December, 1992]

 

SCENE ONE: IS TIME FOR THE SHOWER AND JACK HAS THE WHOLE LIVING ROOM DECORATED AND HE IS HELPING JO CARRY IN LARGE PLATTERS OF FOOD.

 

JO: I hope that Jennifer doesn't find out that I'm doing this and not a caterer.

JACK: How is she going to find out? I know I'm not going to tell her.

JO: I know, I know. I tell you what. We'll tell her that.... we'll tell her that we found a caterer that cooks it all there and just drops it by here.

JACK: Exactly, exactly. No frills. Just plenty of food and plenty of.... plenty of food and plates and flowers and.... frilly little birds.

 

JACK LOOKS AROUND THE ROOM AND THEN BACK AT JO.

JACK: I owe you a great deal for this. (Beat) Actually both Jennifer and I owe you a great deal for all the assistance in the last few weeks but you know that.

JO: I know. I was just glad to help. You know I am your mother and when one of my kids gets into trouble and needs help....

JACK: It won't be necessary for much longer, believe me. When I get this book published I'll be able to afford a whole staff of people that handle this sort of thing.

JO: Do you really think.... do you really think you're going to get this published?

JACK: Don't you?

SCENE TWO: JENNIFER COMES DOWNSTAIRS.

 

JENNIFER: Oh my gosh. I can't believe this. I thought that we struck out with every caterer in town. How did you manage this?

JACK: Ah, connections.

JO: Um, I'm going to go into the kitchen and make sure that the.... caterer didn't forget to bring everything.

JACK: Yes.

JENNIFER: Thanks Jo. Your mother is the best, I'm telling you.

JACK: You don't know the half.

JENNIFER: I really wish she could fill in for me tonight.

JACK: What do you mean by that?

JENNIFER: You didn't hear the phone ring ten minutes ago?

JACK: No I didn't.

JENNIFER: I've been called to a meeting.

JACK: I realize that Jo is ultimately important but you are the matron of honor and giving the party tonight. Don't you think unwise just to run out on the whole thing?

JENNIFER: The network is expecting me. If I don't turn up they could fire me, they could cancel the show.

JACK: Well perhaps.... perhaps you could meet with them tomorrow during regular business hours.

JENNIFER: Philip said the network chief is leaving on a plane tonight.

JACK: Well perhaps Philip could meet with him tonight.

JENNIFER: Jack there's big decisions to be made all right. My show is only in a handful of markets and the network wants to get ratings so they can pick up more.

JACK: Look it's important not to appear desperate and drive them off. Let them handle the business matters and you handle the creative matters. They can manage without you I think.

JENNIFER: I don't want to get them mad at me, okay. And I don't want to get fired. We need this job. We need the money. We have to clothe our baby. We have to feed our baby. And this food probably cost a fortune.

JACK: No, no, as a matter of fact it was a deal. It was a steal as a matter of fact. Trust me Jennifer. (Beat) Trust me. Let them handle it and give it to you all in the morning. All right?

JENNIFER: Maybe you're right. Okay, maybe I can miss one meeting, maybe.

JACK: I think that's the best thing. You should miss the meeting tonight and come back with a fresh attitude.

 

THE DOORBELL RINGS.

 

JACK: You should just enjoy yourself, greet your guests and have a good time.

JENNIFER: Okay. All right, you take this.

 

SHE HANDS A BALL OF PLASTIC WRAP THAT SHE HAS REMOVED FROM THE FOOD PLATTERS.

 

JENNIFER: Okay, we're going to have a great shower.

JACK: Yes.

 

JENNIFER OPENS THE DOOR TO ALICE AND JULIE.

 

ALICE: Jennifer, darling, hello.

JULIE: Hi darling. We came early so we can help.

JENNIFER: Well you know what, we don't need any help because Jack did a wonderful job. He found these caterers and they did everything.

ALICE: Oh my dear you've done a wonderful job with your little house.

JENNIFER: Well thanks to Jack and once Julie redecorates it, you're not even going to recognize this place.

ALICE: It really has worked out well for you, moving in here. Hasn't it?

JACK: Well, we've had a couple of kinks. We have to work them out but I'd say that moving in here was one of the best things we've done in quite some time. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a.... bachelor party I'm supposed to attend. I'll just let myself out.

 

IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT JACK WAS NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THE BACHELOR PARTY AND JENNIFER, ALICE AND JULIE CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHY.

SCENE THREE: THE SHOWER GOES WELL WITH JULIE ASKING JO IF SHE KNOWS THE NAME OF THE CATERER JACK USED BECAUSE THE FOOD IS SO GREAT.

SCENE FOUR: J ACK HAS GONE TO BRADY'S PUB FOR BO'S BACHELOR PARTY. JACK GIVES BO A SET OF FULL LENGTH RED LONG JOHNS FOR BED.

 

BO: These are really hot Jack.

JACK: Ah, Jennifer picked it out. She said something about keeping warm while Carly's on night duty.

BO: Yeah, well I better wear these while she's not around or she'll jump ship.

SCENE FIVE: LATER, THE GIRLS ARRIVE TO SURPRISE THEM ALL.

 

CARLY: Thanks a lot for a great shower. You too, Jennifer told me you organized all this.

JACK: Ah, well it was nothing really.

JENNIFER: It was a lot. It was wonderful. I never could have done it without Jack. Things have been kind of difficult lately with the show and Abby and the house and Jack has made it wonderful. And Abby is wonderful. I mean everyday she does something new and I don't want to miss any of it. I want to be there with her every minute of my life.

CARLY: I know what you mean. I need to make a phone call. Will you excuse me?

JENNIFER: Yes.

JACK: Certainly.

 

CARLY MAKES HER CALL AND LEAVES.

 

JACK: I haven't seen you looking this relaxed in quite some time.

JENNIFER: Well not since I started the Jennifer Deveraux Show. I really feel that I've complicated our lives Jack.

JACK: I'm not complaining mind you, really.

JENNIFER: I know but that's you. You drive me crazy. You never complain.

JACK: All right, to solve that I'll start complaining again right away. Oh no, I'll start complaining tomorrow morning after tonight.

JENNIFER: You know I just wish you would tell me how you always manage to keep everything together.

JACK: Well it's not for you to worry about. Just remember that if anything ever goes wrong, you can count on me to fix it.

 

SHE TURNS TO HIM AND THEY KISS.

 

SCENE ONE: CARLY'S SHOWER TEA AND COMBINED BACHELOR PARTY FOR BO IS CONTINUING AT THE BRADY PUB WITH SHAWN AND CAROLINE DOING AN IRISH JIG. JACK AND JENNIFER ARE WATCHING WHEN CAROLINE DECIDES SHE HAS HAD ENOUGH AND SHAWN IS LOOKING FOR A NEW DANCING PARTNER.

 

JENNIFER: Me? Oh no I have a baby to hold onto. Jack?

 

SHAWN TRIES TO GET JACK UP DANCING.

 

SHAWN: Come here lad.

JENNIFER: Come on Jack.

SHAWN: You can come here and do this. Watch me.

 

SHAWN STARTS TO DANCE IN FRONT OF JACK.

 

JACK: You should get treatment for this sort of thing.

SCENE TWO: JACK MANAGES TO AVOID DANCING AND THEN JENNIFER SETTLES ABBY IN HER CARRY BASSINET.

 

JACK: She's quite the party girl.

JENNIFER: She was really whooping it up there for a while, huh. She just ran out of steam.

JACK: Like yours truly.

JENNIFER: Now Jack how dare you run out of steam. I mean after everything you did today. The house, Abby, your job, me. How dare you run out of steam.

JACK: You?

JENNIFER: Yes. You always know how to take care of me. You always know exactly how I'm feeling.

JACK: Well I just know what it's like to have to keep dozens of people employed at the same time. It's draining, believe me.

JENNIFER: And you miss it.

JACK: Well maybe I do miss it. I don't know. It's just not the reality at this moment. The fact remains, reality is.... I don't own the newspaper anymore. I.... ah.... I just write for it, thanks to your cousin.

JENNIFER: Jack, Julie may be a relative but she is also a very smart businesswoman. She didn't hire you out of the goodness of her heart. You are a commodity.

JACK: And you are my wife.

JENNIFER: That doesn't mean I can't be objective.

JACK: Point, counterpoint, Ms. Deveraux.

JENNIFER: Yes. Why don't you come on my show and....

JACK: Oh no, no. The Jennifer Deveraux Show. That's exactly what it is. It's your show. The last thing I need right now is to be riding on your coat tails.

JENNIFER: I really wish I were like you.

JACK: No, you don't.

JENNIFER: Yes I do. You keep everything so together. You are so incredible.

JACK: I'm also exhausted. Perhaps we could leave this establishment and go home.

JENNIFER: You want to carry Abby.

 

JACK LOOKS TIRED AND UPSET.

 

JENNIFER: Are you okay? Anything wrong?

JACK: No, no, I'm just a little tired of Irish jigs and it's time to get this little one home.

JENNIFER: Okay. I'll just get my coat.

SCENE THREE: AWHILE LATER, JACK AND JENNIFER ARE HOME AND HAVE PUT ABBY TO BED.

 

JACK: Well I'd certainly say she takes after the Horton side of the family. She liked that party and all the people.

JENNIFER: Yes and she was wonderful at the shower and all that loud music at the Brady's. So many babies would be cranky with all that excitement.

JACK: Yeah, one would almost say she thrived on it.

JENNIFER: Do you know what I thrive on?

JACK: What?

JENNIFER: Hanging out with you. We haven't done that in so long.

JACK: Well I think there's a reason for that. We've been very busy following our careers and there hasn't been much time.

JENNIFER: Well you know what, we're going to make time. We're going to forget about this whole mess and we are.... wait a minute.

JACK: What?

JENNIFER: There's no mess. There's no party mess.

JACK: Well, no, the.... caterers cleaned up all the food, I guess.

JENNIFER: Jack, this caterer that you hired was amazing. I don't know how you do it.

JACK: Well, the best part of that is that you don't have to wonder. All you have to do is.... relax and enjoy all the peace and quiet.

JENNIFER: Oh that sounds good to me.

 

JACK HOLDS HER TIGHT.

SCENE FOUR: JACK AND JENNIFER GET READY FOR BED. JACK GOES TO THE KITCHEN FOR A CUP OF COFFEE AND WHEN HE COMES BACK OUT JENNIFER IS HOLDING ABBY.

 

JACK: I mean I thought.... I thought she was down for the night, upstairs.

JENNIFER: She just woke up a few minutes ago. She wasn't really crying. She was just a little hungry. There we go.

 

AS JENNIFER IS SETTLING ABBY IN BED, JACK IS LOOKING AT WHAT JENNIFER IS WEARING. IT IS PALE PINK NEGLIGÉE WITH MATCHING ROBE.

JACK: Where did you get that?

JENNIFER: Where did I get what?

JACK: What you have on. Where did you get it?

JENNIFER: Obviously you have not seen this in a while. I used to wear this before I got pregnant. And now that I'm in a little bit better shape I thought I'd wear it again.

 

JACK SIGHS.

 

JACK: Aaaah, this is so strange.

JENNIFER: What? What's so strange?

JACK: That negligee. I had a dream about that negligee. You know actually you were in it. I mean in the negligée and in the dream also.

JENNIFER: Really? What was this dream about?

JACK: Well I.... modesty forbids.

 

JACK IS SOMEWHAT EMBARRASSED ABOUT HIS DREAM AND JENNIFER LAUGHS THE GRABS HIM FOR A BIG KISS.

 

JENNIFER: I've missed you Jack.

JACK: Well I don't know what to say. I've been right here.

JENNIFER: No you haven't. I haven't either. But that is going to change because you know what, my only dream is to be here with you. To be here with you and Abby and to love each other. That's all I've ever wanted.

JACK: Well that's all I've ever wanted too.

JENNIFER: All right. So we are going to forget about everything else tonight and we are going to realize that everything that we need is right here, right now at this moment.

 

JENNIFER TURNS ON ROMANTIC MUSIC.

 

JACK: With a little bit over there.

JENNIFER: Yes.

JACK: Yes.

 

THE MOVE TOGETHER AND BEGIN TO DANCE SLOWLY TO THE MUSIC.

 

JACK: You know I think this negligée is the reason why you got pregnant.

 

JENNIFER GIGGLES.

JACK: You only wear it once a year.

 

JENNIFER LAUGHS AGAIN. [IT ISOBVIOUS THAT MATTHEW IS AD-LIBBING THESE REMARKS AND MISSY IS LAUGHING AT THEM.]

 

JENNIFER: Hi baby.

 

JENNIFER SMILES DOWN AT ABBY WHO IS VERY CONTENT WATCHING HER MOM AND DAD. JACK LAUGHS.

 

JACK: Look at me.

 

JENNIFER LAUGHS BACK AT HIM AND HE BENDS DOWN AND KISSES HER.

SCENE FIVE: JACK AND JENNIFER LIGHT CANDLES AROUND THE LIVING ROOM AND JACK IS WANDERING ABOUT LOOKING AT THEM. HE PICKS UP AN OLD PICTURE OF HE AND JENNIFER. HE POLISHES THE GLASS WITH HIS SLEEVE JUST AS JENNIFER COMES DOWN THE STAIRS.

 

JENNIFER: Well she went right to sleep when I put her down. What are you looking at?

JACK: Huh? Oh it's a picture of us.... looking so....

JENNIFER: So, what?

JACK: Young.

JENNIFER: Young? Jack that picture was only taken two years ago.

JACK: No, not young. It just looked simpler, less complicated.

JENNIFER: Oh Jack, let's not talk about trivial stuff okay. Let's talk about important things.

JACK: Like.... us.

JENNIFER: Yes, like us.

 

SHE WRAPS HER ARMS AROUND HIM.

 

JENNIFER: Hmmm, this feels so good. We don't do this a lot lately do we? I already said that didn't I?

JACK: Oh I think it bears repeating. I can think of something we haven't done it quite some time.

JENNIFER: What?

JACK: This.

JACK BEGINS TO KISS HER A FEW TIMES.

 

JENNIFER: I miss that too.

JACK: Well as long as you've missed it, perhaps that bears repeating too.

 

SHE GIGGLES AS HE GUIDES HER TO THE SOFA.

 

JACK: I say we take this window of time....

JENNIFER: Yes.

JACK: .... that we have to ourselves and try to get re-acquainted.

 

THEY BEGIN TO KISS PASSIONATELY.