oldEpisode Five-hundred-eighteen:
Jack and Jennifer Celebrate Their
Success Saving the Paper. However,
Do They Have Cause to Be Happy?

[Air date mid-May, 1993]

 

SCENE ONE: IT IS THE NEXT MORNING AND JACK AND JENNIFER ARE IN BED UNDER THE COVERS. JENNIFER IS GIGGLING AND JACK IS WRIGGLING.

 

JACK: Oooooh.... aaaaah.

JENNIFER: Aaaaah.

 

THEY BOTH APPEAR FROM UNDER THE COVERS AND JACK IS STILL WEARING THE SAME SHIRT HE HAD ON YESTERDAY.

 

JENNIFER: I don't think I can move.

JACK: I don't think I can move either. I don't think I can breath either.

JENNIFER: Other than that how are you Mr. Deveraux?

JACK: I.... ah, I couldn't be happier Mrs. Deveraux. How are you feeling this morning?

 

HE KISSES HER ON THE CHEEK.

 

JENNIFER: I couldn't be happier.

JACK: This is insane. I think we're still dressed. We were totally insane last night.

JENNIFER: Oh Jack, we were crazy. I mean negotiations by fax. I mean that's amazing. You know you can really tell that we are moving into the 21st century. The only problem is that we don't know who this mysterious backer is.

JACK: I don't care who it is as long as it isn't Victor. I'm back in control again and nobody's going to throw me off. Nobody except you.

 

HE IS PLAYING WITH HER CHIN AND KISSING HER EVERY NOW AND THEN.

oldEp518A

JACK: I'll tell you another thing. When I write my memoirs, I'm going to tell everybody how important you are to me.

JENNIFER: Ah, Jack, the whole thing was so exciting. Congratulations.

JACK: Congratulations to you. I owe it all to you anyway.

 

THEY KISS AND THE PHONE RINGS.

 

JENNIFER: Do you want to get that?

JACK: I tell you something, I wouldn't get that even if it was a fax. Let the machine pick it up.

JENNIFER: Okay.

 

THEY KISS AGAIN.

 

JACK: Mrs. D.

 

JENNIFER GIGGLES AND THEY GO BACK TO KISSING.

SCENE TWO: THEY EVENTUALLY GET UP AND JACK DRESSED AND ON THE PHONE.

 

JACK: Yes, well thank you for the call and consider.... yes consider yourself fairly warned. Yes, we'll be harder to scoop than ever. That's right.

 

HE HANGS UP.

 

JENNIFER: Well who was it this time?

JACK: HEHEHEHEH. Sam Daniels over at The Chronicle.

JENNIFER: I cannot believe the people that have been calling you.

JACK: Huh, huh. Contrary to popular belief, it is not lonely at the top.

JENNIFER: Well, it wouldn't be lonely at the bottom for you either.

 

THEY KISS AGAIN.

 

JACK: You know something?

JENNIFER: What?

JACK: You keep telling me that sort of thing. All along you know, you kept trying to prepare me for the worst. And I can't blame you for it because.... I've let you down in the past. I know that.

JENNIFER: I never doubted you, Jack. I was just worried about Victor. I was worried about what he might pull.

JACK: Oh I don't think we have to worry about Victor. I think we got the best of him last night.

JENNIFER: Are you sure that Victor Kiriakis isn't your anonymous backer?

JACK: Oh no no, I'm absolutely sure. Remember the look on his face when we gave him the good news. On top of that Victor wouldn't give me any ownership in The Spectator let alone 10%. So we....

 

THE DOORBELL RINGS.

 

JACK: Oh I think I know who that is.

 

HE RUNS TO THE DOOR TO JO AND VERN.

 

JACK: Come on in. Welcome to the partØ.

JO: I baked you some nice fresh muffins.

VERN: I brought the first edition right off the presses this morning.

 

THE HEADLINE READS. "JACK'S BACK/THE SPECTATOR'S GOT HIM."

 

JACK: YES! That's what I call a front page. That's a headline. YES!!! HEHEHEHEH.

JO: I haven't seen Jack like this in a long time.

JENNIFER: He's back all right. And I am so happy for him.

SCENE THREE: LATER JACK SITS ON THE COUCH WITH ABBY LOOKING THROUGH CATALOGUES.

 

JACK: I don't know. Which one do you think is better? The pink corvette or the Jaguar?
oldEp518B
JENNIFER: Those are toys that you're talking about, right Jack?

JACK: Yes they are toys and you don't have to worry. They only go up to 5 miles an hour. Look at this one.

JENNIFER: Look at the price on those. Those are too expensive.

 

JACK BLOCKS ABBY'S EARS.

 

JACK: Damn.... damn the expense. Expense is no object now.

JENNIFER: Jack, you're spoiling her.

JACK: Spoiling her? I'm spoiling me. I'm spoiling us. I'm spoiling everybody here. Now that I think of it, get your purse. We're going out.

JENNIFER: What? What do you mean we're going out? Where are we going?

JACK: We're going out and it's a big surprise. Don't worry, Jo's going to baby-sit. Go on, go on. Scoot.

JENNIFER: Come on Abby.

 

JENNIFER LEAVES WITH ABBY. JACK GETS AN IDEA.

 

JACK: Aaaaah, yeah.

SCENE FOUR: JO COMES OUT OF THE KITCHEN EATING A COOKIE.

 

JACK: Oh Jo, where's Vern?

JO: Oh he headed back to the paper.

JACK: Good, good. Oh nature's broom. That brings to mind all that vegetarian food in the refrigerator. Do you think you could clear it out.... heh so to speak. Jennifer and I tried it last night and it really didn't sit well.

JO: Well thank you. That will just mean there is more for Vern and me. Jack?

JACK: Good, good. Do you think you could baby-sit for a little while? I really want to take Jennifer out and go shopping.

JO: Well of course. Jack?

JACK: Good, good. And if you have a couple of spare dollars I....

JO: Jack, now that Jennifer is gone, I need to talk to you.

JACK: No, no, no. Nothing to worry about. We can say everything openly and clearly. I have no secrets from my wife.

JO: Oh except where the original downpayment for The Spectator came from. I took your messages off the answering machine. You have six urgent messages from Billie Reed.

JACK: Six messages from Billie Reed! Well.... Billie Reed would think that a hang nail is urgent.

JO: No, I think you better to her.

JACK: What do you mean? I don't want to talk.... I don't want to...I don't want to talk to her.

 

SHE HANDS HIM THE PHONE.

 

JACK: It's ringing. I don't want to talk to Billie Reed right now. Well she's obviously not there.

 

HE HANGS UP.

 

JO: You mean she doesn't have an answering machine?

JACK: Well if she does, she doesn't know how to use it. Now if she wants to talk or complain to me later, she'll just have to wait.

SCENE FIVE: JACK HAS TAKEN JENNIFER TO THE SALEM MALL.

 

JENNIFER: What are we doing here Jack?

JACK: We are going on a shopping spree. I want you to buy anything that your heart desires.

JENNIFER: I don't need anything.
oldEp518C
JACK: It's not a matter of need. It's a matter of desire. I want you to splurge. Be impractical. Do something spontaneous.

JENNIFER: All right, all right. There is one thing that I'd really like to have.

JACK: Great. Whatever you want. Go for it.

JENNIFER: Jack are you sure?

JACK: Absolutely.

 

AT THAT MOMENT A TV CREW SPOTS JACK AND JENNIFER.

 

REPORTER: Jack Deveraux, congratulations on The Spectator.

JACK: Thank you. Oh you're....

REPORTER: Regina Nelson. WGTB.

JACK: Right.

REPORTER: Could we get a quote for the five o'clock news?

JACK: Absolutely. Anything in my teeth?

JENNIFER: No.

JACK: Good. (Beat) Hi there. The Spectator is once again going to be a world class newspaper. I've got big plans. Big big plans.

REPORTER: You're known for your investigative reporting. For shaking up the status quo.

JACK: Yes.

REPORTER: Will that change?

JACK: Oh absolutely not. As a matter of fact I've stipulated that I take over as the editor-in-chief so I can focus on all the important stories that are going to move and shake all the movers and shakers in this town. But if you want to know more about that you're going to have to buy a Spectator yourself and read about it.

REPORTER: Thank you Jack. JACK: Certainly.

REPORTER: This is Regina Nelson. Back to you Harold. (Beat) Thanks again.

JACK: Certainly.

 

THE REPORTER AND CAMERAMAN LEAVE.

 

JACK: All right, enough business. Let's go shopping. I want you to buy whatever you want. You're going to find out what life with Jack Deveraux is going to be like from here on in.

SCENE SIX: THEY HAVE BEEN SHOPPING, JENNIFER IS GETTING WORRIED ABOUT WHAT JACK WANTS TO BUY ABBY.

 

JENNIFER: Designer snow suits for Abby. You know Jack I would say that is a little decadent.

JACK: A little bit of decadence every now and then wouldn't hurt anyone. That's what you tell me.

JENNIFER: I am very happy with what I got today.

JACK: You didn't get anything. You ordered a family photo.

JENNIFER: You told me that I could have anything I want and that's what I wanted.

JACK: All right, I'll tell you what. We're going to have Annie Leiberwitz take the picture. Just....

JENNIFER: Jack, the photographer at the mall is fine.

JACK: But.... you see don't have anything. You haven't bought a thing yet. There's nothing for you here.

JENNIFER: Jack, it's okay. I don't mind.

JACK: I mind.

JENNIFER: You're being ridiculous. Look I am just so happy spending time with you right now like this and seeing you like this. This is the best present you could ever give me.

JACK: You don't understand....

 

ALICE SEES THEM AND COMES OVER.

 

ALICE: Jack, Jennifer, congratulations to you both.

JACK: Thank you, thank you. I couldn't have done it without my lovely wife here.

ALICE: She is lovely, isn't she?

JACK: Just as lovely as her lovely grandmother.

ALICE: AAAAH, thank you. Billie's cream must be working. Have you seen her?

JACK: No I haven't.

ALICE: She's supposed to set up her stand here today.

JENNIFER: Well we've been through the whole mall. We haven't seen her anywhere.

ALICE: I wonder where she could be.

SCENE SEVEN: MEANWHILE, BILLIE IS BEING HELD CAPTIVE IN HER APARTMENT BY TONY. HE IS WAITING FOR JACK TO CALL BACK AND GIVE HIM THE MONEY.

SCENE EIGHT: JACK HAS GONE TO BUY SOMETHING WHILE JENNIFER HAS A TALK TO ALICE. JUST AS ALICE LEAVES, AUSTIN COMES OVER TO TALK TO JENNIFER. AS HE IS LEAVING HE GIVES HER A KISS ON THE CHEEK AND JACK SEES IT.

 

JACK: Excuse me, is this a business meeting or something I should be concerned about?

 

AUSTIN LAUGHS.

 

AUSTIN: I could never compete with you Jack. Congratulations.

JACK: Thank you. Thank you very much.

 

THEY SHAKE HANDS.

 

AUSTIN: You know Jen, why don't we do a show on Jack. Kind of a young entrepreneur of the 90s.

JENNIFER: That is a great idea.

JACK: I like the sound of that. Yes, yes. Sounds good.

AUSTIN: Well I've got to go meet Jonah and Wendy. I'll see you back at the studio.

JENNIFER: All right and we'll talk about that.

AUSTIN: Bye.

JACK: All right, now we'll get down to the real business. Close your eyes.

JENNIFER: Why?

JACK: Close your eyes.

JENNIFER: Oh Jack.

JACK: Trust me and close your eyes.

JENNIFER: What did you do?

JACK: You'll find out soon enough.

 

HE PUTS A PLATINUM CHAIN WITH A HEART SHAPED DIAMOND PENDANT ON IT AROUND HER NECK.

 

JENNIFER: I really hope didn't get carried away.

JACK: I didn't get carried away and I want you to turn to the right.

 

SHE STARTS TO TURN LEFT.

 

JACK: Turn to the right.

JENNIFER: Oh.

JACK: Yes. That right.

JENNIFER: The other right.

JACK: Yes, the other right. Now march, hup two, hup two, hup two.... watch out for the wall. No don't worry about the wall. Just get closer, closer, closer.

 

HE TAKES OVER TO A WINDOW IN A SHOP FRONT.

 

JACK: Okay, open your eyes.

JENNIFER: OOOOOOOH.... oh my gosh Jack. Oh Jack, this is so beautiful.

JACK: I believe you outshine every one of those diamonds. I also believe you can wear that in the family photo.

JENNIFER: Oh Jack, I love this necklace so much. But I love you even more.

JACK: That's good.

 

THEY KISS.

 

JACK: That's very good.

 

THEY KISS AGAIN.

SCENE NINE: THEY ARE STILL IN A PASSIONATE KISS WHEN VERN COMES BY.

 

VERN: Hey.... hey, hey, hey. I hate to break up this public display. Your mother told me I'd find you here.

JACK: Oh.

VERN: Listen Jack, this came in early this morning by special messenger. I thought it might be important.

 

JACK: Special messenger?

VERN: Yeah. That's a beautiful necklace, Jenny girl.

JENNIFER: Oh Vern thank you very much. Jack just bought it for me.

JACK: Yes.

VERN: Great.

JENNIFER: Actually I was just heading out. I've got to get to the studio. I've got some work to do.

JACK: Oh well I have work to do too.

JENNIFER: I'll see you later.

JACK: I'll see you. Miss you.

JENNIFER: I'll miss you too.

 

THEY START KISSING AGAIN.

 

JENNIFER: Bye.

JACK: Bye. Don't take it off.

 

JENNIFER LEAVES.

 

VERN: You two are like a couple of teenagers.

JACK: Well I feel like teenager Vern. I feel like I'm starting all over and nothing's going to stop me. Nothing and no one's going to get in my way. Now we've got a little special message from my secret backer here, huh.

 

HE OPENS THE ENVELOPE AND READS IT OUT LOUD.

oldEp518D

JACK: Jack before you start any type of investigation or prepare any kind of exposØ, we must discuss editorial policies of The Spectator. What the hell's this supposed to mean?

VERN: What did you get yourself into this time Jack?

[Transcribed by Carol Vaughan
added material by Sally A. Wilson]