SCENE ONE: JACK AND VERN ARE STILL AT THE MALL.

 

JACK: Vern, this is all legit. Whoever this mysterious backer is, he's dotting all his i's and t's. I have no complaints.

VERN: Except for the stipulation about having to discuss all editorial policies with him before we print anything. We don't operate that way.

JACK: You forget who you're talking to. I can deal with whoever it is and whatever he has in mind.

VERN: Well I certainly hope so Jack. Look I know you're excited about getting The Spectator back from the bank but I just want you to go a little slower, that's all. At least until we find out who this mystery person is.

 

JACK AND VERN LOOK AT THE AGREEMENT.

 

VERN: Now unless you sign right here, you can still back out of this deal.

JACK: Back out?

VERN: These have to be returned properly signed before the deal is final. Call if off right now.

JACK: Give me your pen.

VERN: No.

JACK: Give me your pen.

VERN: No.

JACK: Give me your pen.

VERN: No, I'm not going to give you my pen.

JACK: Give me your pen!

 

HE TAKES IT FROM VERN.

 

JACK: Vern you don't have a choice and neither do I, all right. If I don't sign this paper right here, I'm going to lose my paper. I've gone through hell and high water to get hold of The Spectator and I'm not going to let go of it now. Now some mysterious angel has come out of nowhere to pluck me from the depths. I'm not going to stop them. I'm signing.

VERN: Even if you don't know who that mysterious angel is?

JACK: Especially if I don't know who that mysterious angel is. It's fait d' accompli.

VERN: All right Jack, okay. I just don't.... I just don't see why you're taking this so easily. I mean it's obvious from this letter that the backer isn't going to give you that much money without wanting a certain amount of control.

JACK: Of course he wants control. We all want control but that doesn't mean we're going to get it. Just look at this way, Vern. It can't be that bad. At least it's not as bad as dealing with Victor Kiriakis.

 

VERN LEAVES.

SCENE TWO: JACK IS ABOUT TO WHEN BO WALKS BY CARRYING A POT OF FACE CREAM.

 

BO: Jack.

JACK: Hello Bo. I see Billie pawned some of that cream off on you. I hope you didn't pay too much.

BO: No I didn't pay anything for it Jack. She wants Carly to try it out.

JACK: Oh well you better warn Carly her face might fall off.

BO: I think she's got a handle on the safety factor Jack.

JACK: Well that's one thing she has a handle on then.

BO: Actually I think Billie's doing really well. She's got her life back. She's staying out of trouble. She's got her own business. She's even got her own boyfriend.

JACK: Oh really, that's good. What's his name?

BO: Tony, from Vegas.

JACK: Tony from Vegas. Oh that's.... that's about her speed.

BO: Yeah right. Say hello to Jennifer for me, would you Jack?

JACK: I certainly will. Heheheh.

 

BO WALKS OFF.

 

JACK: Tony from Vegas. (Beat) Tony?.... Tony from Vegas. Good god, that's what the phone.... that's what all the messages were about. She's in trouble. Billie's in trouble. Bo knows what.... Bo doesn't know anything. I got to.... it's all up to me.

 

JACK RUNS OFF TO BILLIE'S.

SCENE THREE: HE ARRIVES IN A RUSH AND INSIDE TONY IS STILL HOLDING BILLIE HOSTAGE. JACK LISTENS AT THE DOOR AND CAN HEAR NOTHING.

 

JACK: Oh that's great. I run all the way over here and you're not even here Billie. Forget you.

 

AS HE IS WALKING AWAY, TONY MAKES A MOVE ON BILLIE AND SHE STARTS TO SCREAM. JACK HEARS HER AND BURSTS IN THE DOOR.

JACK: FREEZE!

 

JACK HOLDS UP HIS PRESS PASS AND TONY POINTS THE GUN STRAIGHT AT HIM.

 

JACK: Well I guess that's that.

TONY: Yeah right, now get in here and close the door, bucko.

JACK: Certainly.

TONY: Who is this clown anyway? (Beat) Wait a second, you're that.... you're that newspaper guy, huh? The guy who took my money, right?

JACK: The who?

TONY: Where's my money Mr. Newspaper Tycoon?

JACK: Your money? Your.... your money. Well you want your money? Well that's no problem at all. You see I just borrowed your money temporarily you see.

TONY: Huh.

JACK: I was a little short on funds. But now it's no problem. I'm back in the money.

TONY: Well keep talkin'.

JACK: Keep talking. That's exactly what I plan to do. You see, I needed your money for my newspaper because I didn't have a backer. But I've resolved that problem because I have a backer now with more money than you could ever imagine. Isn't that right Billie?

BILLIE: Yes, he's telling the absolute truth.

TONY: Why should I believe either of you? Why shouldn't I just take the two of you and blow you away, right now?

 

TONY'S PHONE RINGS AND HE PICKS IT UP.

 

TONY: Yeah. (Beat) I got the girl and I got the guy who blew the money. What do you want me to do with them? Huh, huh, right.

 

TONY HANGS UP.

 

JACK: Well, what did he say?

TONY: He said I should take the two of you to the edge of town and get rid of you. For permanently.

BILLIE: So long Jack. It's been nice knowing you.

JACK: Ah, wa.... wait a minute, wait a minute. Let's not rush things here. I think I have an answer to all our problems, right here in my pocket. Seventy-five thousand....

TONY: Hold it!

JACK: It's not a gun otherwise I would have shot you by now.

TONY: Slowly.... slowly.

JACK: It's a check. A check for seventy-five thousand dollars.

 

JACK GETS OUT THE CHECK AND HOLDS IT UP FOR TONY TO SEE.

 

BILLIE: Seventy-five thousand dollars! Where did you get seventy-five thousand dollars?

JACK: It's just collateral. It's a downpayment from my backer.

BILLIE: You really do have a backer?

JACK: Yes I have a backer. Last night I made a deal to pay off the whole newspaper. That's why I was out negotiating, celebrating. That's why I didn't get your messages. And I must say when I got them it was real downer. A real damper for the old evening.

TONY: Shut up.

JACK: I'm sorry. I was just explaining my good fortune to....

TONY: I said SHUT UP!

JACK: Yes.

TONY: Let's go.

BILLIE: Where?

TONY: To the bank and don't try anything stupid or else I'll use this on the both of you. I'm telling you.

BILLIE: He'll use it.

 

THEY PUT THEIR HANDS.

SCENE FOUR: THEY ARRIVE AT THE BANK WHERE VERN IS WAITING FOR THEM.

 

JACK: Good, there he is. All right Vern, don't ask anymore questions. Just do as I ask. Take this check. Take it to the bank and cash it.

VERN: What? I don't understand any of this Jack. I mean tell me something. Is everything all right?

JACK: Everything is just fine. Please do as I ask. Go cash the check.

VERN: Okay.

JACK: Thank you.

TONY: What are you looking for? The Canadian Mounties to come in here and save you?

BILLIE: Yeah, something like that.

SCENE FIVE: BILLIE IS HOPING THAT BO WILL FIND THEM BECAUSE WHEN HE DROPPED BY EARLIER AND SHE GAVE HIM THE CREAM, SHE ALSO TRIED TO SLIP HIM A NOTE ASKING FOR HELP. HE HAS DROPPED THE NOTE AND IT IS ON THE FLOOR UNDER HIS DESK AT THE SALEM PD.

SCENE SIX: BACK AT THE MALL.

 

JACK: Here he comes.

 

VERN HANDS JACK THE CASH IN A BANK MONEY BAG.

 

JACK: Well Vern, you got what I asked for?

VERN: I got it. All seventy-five thousand of it.

JACK: Good, well I guess you can just run off to work then.

VERN: Aren't you coming in today?

JACK: I'll be in later. Much later. Thank you.

VERN: Okay. I'll see you Billie.

BILLIE: Bye.

 

VERN LEAVES.

 

BILLIE: I guess I'll never have to work with you again, huh Jack?

 

TONY GRABS THE MONEY BAG FROM JACK.

 

JACK: Is that a promise? No really I have no problem with that.

 

TONY CHECKS THE MONEY.

 

JACK: I have no problem if you want to count all the money either.

TONY: What, do you think I'm going to stand out here and count it?

JACK: Well that's good. Well then I guess we've done all our business then. We can just run along, right?

TONY: WRONG! You're still twenty-five thousand short and I still go my orders.

BILLIE: What orders? What do you mean? I mean you got your money.

TONY: Some of it. Not all of it.

JACK: What.... orders?

TONY: You know this is kind of cute when you think about it. When this money shows up missing and the two of you are gone....

JACK: Missing?

BILLIE: Missing as in dead Jack.

TONY: It's going to make a great story for your newspaper when they find the two of your bodies. Come on, let's go.

SCENE SEVEN: JACK HAS HIS ARM AROUND BILLIE AND TONY HAS A GUN PUSHED INTO JACK'S BACK.

 

TONY: Keep walkin'. I said, keep walkin'

JACK: Look, I just gave you seventy-five thousand dollars.

TONY: You owe me a hundred.

JACK: Who's counting, huh? I tell you what I'll do. I will come up with another twenty-five thousand. You know that you can trust me. Give me one week. I will come up with another twenty-five thousand. You will have a full hundred grand. You can go back to your friends in New York and everybody's happy.

TONY: You got it all figured out, right. I trust you and you tell the cops on me. What do you think I am, dumb?

JACK: No. No I don't think you're dumb but you must think I'm very stupid if I'd allow you to push us all the way over there to that little car and just drive us off to our deaths at the edge of town. Now do you want another twenty-five thousand, yes or no?

TONY: Keep walkin'.

JACK: I'll take that as a no. All right Billie we're walking but it's the other way. Come on.

BILLIE: Jack, he's got a gun.

JACK: I know he's got a gun. He's not going to shoot here.

 

RIGHT AT THAT MOMENT, BO WALKS UP TO THEM.

 

BO: Billie, Jack. How's it going guys? Hey, don't I know you from somewhere? That's right. I met you over at Billie's earlier. Your name's Tony, right?

BILLIE: Right.

BO: What happened to the mustache?

TONY: I.... ah, I shaved it off.

BILLIE: Bo did you give those creams to Carly? You know they had label on them. Did she read that label?

BO: No I never got a chance. They're still back at the office.

BILLIE: Well you have to give them to her now. NOW!

BO: I'm not going to be able to do that till later. Carly's busy. Listen why don't you and I have some dinner later on?

JACK: Maybe I could join you. My wife Alice is really busy and I'd like to celebrate my purchase of The Chronicle.

BILLIE: Hmmm.

TONY: Bo, Billie, Jack and I have some other plans.

JACK: Oh that's right. I'm sorry. Besides, we're going to go over to Titanic Publishing and go to that, what is it, The Pits. The low house grill.

 

BO IS STARTING TO FIGURE OUT SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG.

 

BO: Right. Obviously the party's already started so why don't you guys go ahead. Have a good time. JACK: All right, take care.

 

JACK ESCORTS BILLIE PAST BO AND THEN BO STEPS IN FRONT OF TONY.

 

BO: Hey Tony that's a hell of a watch. Do you mind if I take a look at it?

TONY: Sure, I got it in Vegas.

 

BO GRABS TONY'S ARM AND TWISTS IT BEHIND HIS BACK AS LEXIE ARRIVES AND PULLS A GUN ON HIM.

 

JACK: All right, who's the bucko now!

 

BO AND LEXIE TAKE TONY AWAY.

 

JACK: Who's the bucko now!

SCENE EIGHT: THEY ALL GO TO THE POLICE STATION WHERE BO QUESTIONS TONY.

 

TONY: The money's clean.

BO: Yes because you laundered it.

TONY: That money came from Jack's bank. Money he borrowed from me and now he's paying it back.

JACK: No no, that's not precisely how it happened. I did not get a loan from this gentleman. Actually it was money he allegedly gave to Billie to hold on to.

BILLIE: What do you mean allegedly? That is precisely what happened Jack.

JACK: I'm telling the story from my point of view. You tell yours later.

BILLIE: Well you just make sure you tell it truthfully mister.

JACK: I certainly will. You see there was this barn and I found the money in the barn and it turned out it was an abandoned barn. I tried to find someone who owned.... well I just cut to the chase. I put the money into The Spectator. It was later I found out from Billie that the money was hers.

BILLIE: No it was Tony's money and I was just holding it for him.

JACK: Look I did everything I could to repay that money.

TONY: Twenty-five thousand short pal.

JACK: Listen, you watch who you're calling pal, all right?

 

TONY TRIES TO GO FOR JACK.

 

TONY: Ooooh....

BO: Book him.

JACK: Watch it. He's dangerous.

 

THEY TAKE TONY AWAY.

 

BO: Jack, you can go. Next time you find a hundred thousand dollars, you let the police know, okay.

JACK: There is one other thing. If the media gets word of this....

BO: Jack, I will take care of it all right.

JACK: Thank you. (Beat) I'll talk to you later.

BILLIE: Yes I will talk to you later because I've got a few choice words for you....

JACK: Yes, yes. Thank you.

 

JACK LEAVES.

SCENE NINE: LATER HE IS AT THE BRADY PUB WHEN BO ENTERS.

 

JACK: Just the man I was looking for.

BO: Yeah.

JACK: Bo were you able to address that little problem we were discussing earlier?

BO: Tony Becker was one of six people picked up for illegal weapons possession. I don't think the police beat reporters will even take a notice.

JACK: Thank you, thank you.

BO: Oh Jack, you don't happen it know if Billie Reed was involved in any more scams besides this one with Tony Becker, do you?

JACK: No. No I don't think so but, um, I wouldn't want to testify to that. I'll see you later.

BO: Yeah.

 

JACK LEAVES. OUTSIDE HE RUNS INTO VERN.

VERN: Jack I've been looking all over for you.

JACK: No, not more bad news please.

VERN: Listen you got a fax from that secret investor. They want to see you right away at The Spectator.

JACK: Is there a cover letter? Perhaps a name I could attach to it.

VERN: No dammit, no name.

JACK: No problem. No problem at all. We'll just meet the man face to face at The Spectator.

 

VERN AND JACK WALK OFF TOGETHER.