oldEpisode Four-hundred-ninety-one:
Billie Loves Jack's Manuscript,
She Thinks He Should Have Victor's
Titan Publishing Publish It.

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[Air date late February 1993]

 

SCENE ONE: IT IS THE NEXT MORNING, BILLIE IS AT THE MALL. SHE HAS BEEN READING THE MANUSCRIPT ALL NIGHT AND WHEN SHE SEES JACK WALKING BY SHE CALLS OUT TO HIM.

 

BILLIE: JACK.... JACK!

JACK: What did I do to deserve this, this morning?

BILLIE: Jack Deveraux, wait.

 

SHE RUNS IN FRONT OF HIM HOLDING THE MANUSCRIPT.

 

JACK: My manuscript!

 

HE GRABS IT FROM HER. HE HEADS BACK TO THE PAPER WITH BILLIE IN TOW.

SCENE TWO: BACK AT THE SPECTATOR, BILLIE IS TRYING TO CONVINCE JACK TO PUBLISH HIS MANUSCRIPT.

JACK: I can't believe you did this. I mean this is outrageous. Where do you get the nerve to do this sort of thing?

BILLIE: I know, I've got nerve?

JACK: To come into my place, to go through my things, to take my personal property!

BILLIE: Like you've never taken anything from me.

JACK: Oh no.

BILLIE: Like you didn't take ninety-seven thousand five hundred dollars that belonged to me.

JACK: I didn't. Billie.... I didn't take anything. I was in a barn. Money fell on my lap. I didn't break in. I didn't steal a thing.

BILLIE: Well neither did I. I just wanted to see what makes my partner tick, that's all. Is that a crime? Is it a crime to love something so much you can't put it down. To be so totally moved that you can't believe that this book is not a national best seller.

JACK: I can't believe you actually like this.

BILLIE: Jack, you could have a fabulous career.

JACK: Not writing this stuff, I couldn't.

BILLIE: Oh what, just because you went to Yale you think it's beneath you? (Beat) You're just embarrassed, that's all. That's why you used Miranda Miller as a pen name.

JACK: Let me tell you something. We're going to drop this whole thing. We are not going to talk about Miranda Miller or this manuscript again. We will come up with another way to get the money.

BILLIE: Another way?

JACK: Yes.

BILLIE: Jack, there is no other way. I need that money. I need that hundred thousand dollars before Tony comes back into town. So we're going to get that book published. AAAARGH!

 

JACK IS JUST IGNORING HER AND SHE NOTICES HIS INVITATION TO THE OPENING OF TITAN PUBLISHING.

 

BILLIE: I think I found a way that we can do that. HAHAH. I think I've just found the answers to our prayers Jack. (Beat) I know we can get you a hefty advance. That way you can give me my money plus interest. I can give it to Tony and I can get on with my life. YES!

JACK: You can get on with your life?

BILLIE: Yes.

JACK: And I can get on with my life.

BILLIE: That's right.

JACK: Then we can join hands and go down to the seaside together.

BILLIE: Yeah.

JACK: What a wonderful idea and you make it sound so simple. So very simple. Just take this little manuscript and get it published. What could be simpler?

BILLIE: It is that simple.

JACK: And the fact that twenty-four publishers have rejected it shouldn't discourage us in any way.

BILLIE: Jack you will take that book to the party....

JACK: No.

BILLIE: And you will show it to all the editors.

JACK: No, no.

BILLIE: Yes, you will. It's called networking.

JACK: No.

BILLIE: You show your charm. You sell it.

JACK: NO! I will not take this to Victor Kiriakis's party and go there hat in hand trying to sell it to him. Especially when the people at Titan Publishing are doing everything they can to steal The Spectator out from underneath me. Now consider this. Why would Victor's editors do anything that would benefit Jack Deveraux?

BILLIE: Jack do you think Victor Kiriakis would turn down a chance to make mega bucks? His editors will convince him that this is a fabulous opportunity and he won't be able to.... he'll have to buy it.

JACK: In our dreams Billie. In your dreams. Now in the real world however, books that have been turned down by this many people do not become overnight hot properties. In the real world, Victor Kiriakis would never help the likes of Jack Deveraux.

BILLIE: I don't understand you and I hardly ever do. Jack, the manuscript says Miranda Miller on it. Victor would never know you're involved until he makes a commitment. That way I can go to the party and schmooze. You can just stand back and watch. What do you say, come on?

JACK: I say forget it. Absolutely forget it. First of all, first of all, you don't even have an invitation to this party.

BILLIE: No, not yet I don't.

JACK: And you're not going to get one. Not from me. It's not going to fall down from the heavens, is it? Let me ask you something Billie. Why would the likes of you be invited to a party like this?

BILLIE: Hey, who says I need an invitation?

JACK: I do. And I want you to forget this whole Miranda Miller thing. Just forget it and forget you are going to this party.

BILLIE: We'll see about that.

 

SHE WALKS OUT. JACK SIGHS HEAVILY. JACK PUTS HIS INVITATION IN HIS POCKET.

 

JACK: Jack Deveraux

SCENE THREE: HE IS ABOUT TO LEAVE WHEN THE PHONE RINGS.

 

BILLIE: (Disguising her voice) Mr. Deveraux, we need you here in the press room right away.

JACK: Is there a problem?

BILLIE: I think you better just get down here, pronto.

JACK: I have to go.... ah, I'll be right there.

 

HE HANGS UP.

 

JACK: Dammit.

 

HE RUNS OUT TO THE PRESS ROOM.

SCENE FOUR:, A SHORT TIME LATER, BILLIE COMES BACK INTO THE MAIN OFFICE. SHE FINDS THE MANUSCRIPT UNDER HIS COAT AND HIDES IT UNDER HERS JUST AS JACK COMES BACK TALKING TO HIMSELF.

 

JACK: I forgot my coat. I forgot your keys. If you didn't have your head screwed on, you'd....

 

HE STARES AT BILLIE.

 

SCENE ONE: [NOTE: THE LAST SCENE OF THE PREVIOUS SHOW WAS RESHOT FOR THE BEGINNING OF THIS SHOW] JACK RUNS OUT TO THE PRESS ROOM AND BILLIE COMES BACK INTO THE MAIN OFFICE. SHE FINDS THE MANUSCRIPT UNDER HIS COAT AND HIDES IT UNDER HERS JUST AS JACK COMES BACK TALKING TO HIMSELF.

SCENE TWO: JACK HAS CAUGHT BILIE SNEAKING AROUND IN HIS OFFICE.

 

JACK: I forgot my coat. I forgot your keys. If my head wasn't put on tight, I'd.... what are you still doing here Billie?

BILLIE: I came to borrow pen and I didn't think you'd mind since you have so many of them.

JACK: Yes but what are you.... really doing here?

BILLIE: Nothing, I swear.

 

JACK IS SUSPICIOUS.

 

JACK: Well if you need that pen to try to get some autographs of the people going to Victor Kiriakis' party, let me remind you, that's as close as you're going to get. You know that?

BILLIE: Yes. That's what you said Jack, huh, huh.

JACK: I'll say it again. (Beat) If you think you're going to con your way into Victor Kiriakis' party trying to palm off my manuscript to him, forget it!

BILLIE: I know. You said don't do it and I heard you.

JACK: Good. I will come up with the money to pay your friend Tony. That's a promise.

BILLIE: Yes you will Jack.

 

SHE PATS HER JACKET.

 

BILLIE: Yes you will.

JACK: Why do I get the feeling that you're not exact....

 

AT THAT MOMENT JENNIFER ENTERS HIS OFFICE.

SCENE THREE: JACK AND BILLIE ARE SURPRISED BY JENNIFER APPEARANCE. JACK DOES NOT WANT HER TO DISCOVER WHAT IS GOING ON, AND ESPECIALLY DOES NOT WANT HER TO KNOW ABOUT THE MANUSCRIPT.

 

JENNIFER: Oh Jack, there you are.

JACK: Jennifer, hello.

JENNIFER: Hi.

JACK: What a surprise.

BILLIE: I'll see you guys later.

JENNIFER: Bye.

JACK: Wait a.... you....

BILLIE: Bye.

 

BILLIE WALKS OUT. JACK IS STILL VERY SUSPICIOUS.

 

JENNIFER: What's she doing here? Did you find her a job?

JACK: A job? Aaaah, yes, yes, actually. I was looking through something. I got her a position as an assistant.

JENNIFER: That's good. I didn't know you needed one.

JACK: Part time, yeah. (Beat) What are you doing here?

JENNIFER: I came to pick you up. I wanted to make sure that we get to the Titan party on time tonight.

JACK: Party, yeah.

JENNIFER: Yes, the party.

JACK: The party, yes.

SCENE FOUR: MEANWHILE, BILLIE HAS GONE TO TITAN. SHE TRIES TO SCAM A TICKET TO THE TITAN PARTY. HOWEVER SHE IS ON THE OFFICIAL GUEST LIST. AS SHE IS ABOUT TO LEAVE, SHE OVERHEARS THE CATERER ORGANIZING THE WAITERS. SHE WALKS STRAIGHT UP AND TELLS THE GUY IN CHARGE THAT SHE IS HERE TO PICK UP HER UNIFORM. HE'S SO BUSY THAT HE BELIEVES HER AND GIVES HER A UNIFORM.

SCENE FIVE: BACK AT THE SPECTATOR.

 

JENNIFER: You know I really do appreciate you going to this party with me Jack. I know you don't want to be there.

JACK: Ah, I do want to be there. Actually I'm.... I'm looking.... forward to it.

JENNIFER: You are?

JACK: Yes. You know, I don't want Victor to think I'm running scared. I mean we're both equals. We're.... we're both fellow publishers.

JENNIFER: Yeah, but he did try to hustle you out of buying The Spectator.

JACK: He didn't though, he didn't. And.... I won in the end. Or we won. I mean one day we'll have Victor over here to one of our little soirÿes.

JENNIFER: Well it's very different to see you positive and upbeat for a change.

JACK: Yes.

 

SHE GIVES HIM A HUG.

 

JENNIFER: And you know what Jack. I have faith in you. I think that you are going to make The Spectator ten times more wonderful than anything Victor Kiriakis would.

JACK: I agree.

JENNIFER: Come on. Hey Vern, how are you doing?

VERN: Hi you guys. How are you doing?

JENNIFER: Fine.

JACK: Ah Vern if you happen to see a little man.... oh never mind. If.... oh I'm going to be with Jennifer....

JENNIFER: Jack.

JACK: I'll be with Jennifer at the Kiriakis....

JENNIFER: Goodbye Vern.

VERN: Goodbye.

JACK: Yeah.

SCENE SIX: SHORTYLY AFTER JENNIFER DRAGS JACK OUT OF THE OFFICE, THE WOMAN WHO WAS SPYING ON JACK AND JENNIFER AT THEIR HOUSE ENTERS. IT TURNS OUT TO BE KATE, THE NEW MANAGING EDITOR THAT VICTOR HAS HIRED FOR TITAN.