oldEpisode Five-hundred-thirty-six:
It Is the Day of Carly's Funeral,
Kate Maniuplates Jack into Going to
Chicago, or Else; Jennifer Is Hurt .

---

[Air date mid-July, 1993]

 

JACK AND JENNIFER ARE BACK AT THE FUNERAL HOME TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH CARLY. SHE IS LAID OUT IN A COFFIN IN A PRIVATE ROOM.

JENNIFER: Oh my god.

JACK: Jennifer.

JACK: There she is.

JACK: I knew this was a bad idea.

JENNIFER: No I have to see her.

 

THEY WALK OVER CLOSE TO THE COFFIN.

 

JENNIFER: Oh my god. Oh Carly. Oh my god.

JACK: I shouldn't have let you come. Come on.

JENNIFER: I had to come here. I had to see my best friend for the last time and tell her.... tell her how much I love her. And how much I'll miss her. God Carly what happened? What happened? Oh Carly.

JACK: Come on.... come on.

 

AS JACK DRAGS JENNIFER OUT OF THE ROOM, WE HEAR CARLY'S VOICE CALLING TO JENNIFER. SHE CAN HEAR BUT SHE IS UNABLE TO RESPOND OR OPEN HER EYES.

SCENE TWO: JACK TAKES JENNIFER HOME.

 

JENNIFER: I still can't believe she's gone. I keep thinking the doorbell's going to ring and it's going to be Carly and she's going to hug me and tell me that it was all a terrible nightmare.

 

JO COMES DOWNSTAIRS.

 

JO: I thought I heard somebody come in.

JENNIFER: Hi Jo.

JO: Oh honey, what you must be going through. Are you okay?

 

JENNIFER KEEPS LOOKING AT JACK.

 

JENNIFER: I'm okay. I think I'm just really numb and I think I need to see my baby. I think I need to hold her.

 

JENNIFER GOES UPSTAIRS.

 

JO: She's asleep.

JENNIFER: What do you mean she's asleep? I mean it's a little early for her nap isn't it?

JO: Well she seemed a little tired so I gave her a bottle and she went out like a light.

JENNIFER: What do you mean, she seemed tired? Was she acting funny, did she have a fever, is she sick? JO: Well no, not that I noticed. I think it was just because she played a lot this morning. I put on some music and she was bouncing around, playing and laughing.

JENNIFER: So that's good then, right. I mean she's probably fine then.

JACK: Of course she's is. She's going to be fine. It's you actually that I'm worried about. I think in your present condition you shouldn't be thinking about going and doing this memorial service.

JENNIFER: I'm going Jack.

JACK: Jennifer, you....

JENNIFER: I already told you that. I'm going.

JO: Honey, you're so upset. I'm sure people would understand if....

JENNIFER: Jo I have to do this. I'm sorry but no one is going to stop me. I have to tell people what a wonderful caring person Carly was. I have to do that.

 

SHE CURLS UP IN JACK'S ARMS.

SCENE THREE: A SHORT TIME LATER, KATE ARRIVES.

 

JACK: Kate.

KATE: I'm glad you're still here.

JACK: Yes I am still here. I didn't go into work today.

KATE: I noticed. Good morning.

JO: Good morning.

JACK: You'll have to excuse. Things are a little upsetting around here since Carly Manning died.

KATE: I'm sure. It's such a.... such a tragedy. I do hope that Jennifer can manage to do without you for a few days.

 

JACK LOOKS SURPRISED.

 

JACK: What?

KATE: Well I see your mother's here so that should be helpful?

JACK: Huh, what.... what are you saying?

KATE: Jack I've arranged for the two of us to go to Chicago today.

JACK: Today!

KATE: Business.

 

JACK LAUGHS.

 

JACK: No, no, no.

KATE: Urgent business Jack. It cannot be postponed.

JACK: Maybe you didn't realize this. Today we're going to a funeral. Jennifer's best friend has died. She's speaking and I'm going to be there for my wife.

KATE: Jack I can understand if you're upset.

 

JO LEAVES THE ROOM.

 

KATE: But I think you need to understand what is so important for the future of The Spectator. Now listen we need to finalize the contracts with our biggest advertisers on this trip. I need you there. I suggest that you put your emotions aside and do what's best for the paper. Frankly what's best for the survival of The Spectator.

JACK: Kate, I don't believe this.

KATE: Jack, the flight leaves in two hours. I'll see you at the airport.

 

SHE GIVES HIM A VERY SERIOUS LOOK AND WALKS OUT. JACK IS MAD BUT DOES NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO.

JO COMES BACK IN THE ROOM.

 

JO: Jack.

JACK: Tell Jennifer I'm going.... I have to go out for a couple of minutes. I have to take care of some business.

JO: You are going to set Ms Roberts straight aren't you? Now I know I shouldn't interfere but Jennifer does need you right now. And I know that you're the kind of man who stands by his woman, just like your brother Steve, right. (Beat) You're not saying anything Jack.

JACK: I don't think I have to. Just tell Jennifer I'll be back.

JO: Jack!

 

HE LEAVES QUIETLY AND JENNIFER COMES OUT OF THE KITCHEN.

 

JENNIFER: Jo I thought I heard the door slam. What's going on?

JO: Ah, yes, it was Jack. He had to take care of some business.

JENNIFER: Oh but he'll be back soon, right?

JO: Oh yes, definitely.

JENNIFER: Oh good because I couldn't make it through this day without him.

SCENE FOUR: JACK ARRIVES ATKATE'S OFFICE.

 

JACK: Kate!

KATE: Oh I thought we were meeting at the airport.

JACK: No, we're going to meet here first. There is something I need to talk to you about.

KATE: Well why don't you talk to me in the limo. Whatever you have to say. Where's your carry-on, whatever?

JACK: I'm not going to Chicago with you Kate. I'm staying here with Jennifer.

KATE: Oh well isn't that touching. The devoted little husband.

JACK: I believe so. She needs me.

KATE: Well dammit Jack, so do I. I need you too.

 

JACK LOOKS QUITE ANGRY UNDER THE SURFACE.

 

JACK: Kate, perhaps you don't understand the situation.

KATE: NO! Maybe you don't understand. I have risked my neck making sacrifices for you.

JACK: Sacrifices?

KATE: Sacrifices, yes. Victor Kiriakis wanted to throw a ton of money into The Spectator but no. No you made it very clear from the very beginning that you did not want him involved so I deferred to you desire. I kept him away and mind you it has not been easy. But I respected your wishes because I knew it was important to you.

JACK: Wait a minute. The two have nothing to do with each other.

KATE: Oh don't they? My trip is equally important Jack. The Spectator is at a very crucial time right now. I need you! Now can I count on you or have I chosen the wrong partner?

 

JACK KNOWS THAT SHE IS MANIPULATING HIM AND THAT HE HAS HIS JOB ON THE LINE.

 

JACK: You put me in a very difficult position.

KATE: No, no, if I've chosen the wrong partner just tell me so I can get another one. Somebody I can count on.

JACK: My wife has just suffered a tremendous loss today and I would hope that....

KATE: AND WHAT? SHE DOESN'T REALIZE YOU'RE PUTTING YOUR JOB ON THE LINE FOR THIS!

 

JACK GIVES HER AN ANGRY LOOK.

 

KATE: I thought that Harper Deveraux was your role model. That you wanted so badly to succeed that you would do anything. Conquer any obstacle.

JACK: Harper's hardly my role model.

KATE: Oh, you're right. Maybe I was wrong.

JACK: Huh, huh.

KATE: Maybe you take after your mother's side of the family. Which is fine if you're prepared to fade into the woodwork and never distinguish yourself in any way.

JACK: I think you're being rather unfair Kate.

KATE: Just honest. And if you were honest Jack, you'd admit that that isn't what you want. You want power and you want prestige. (Beat) Come on Jack, you want to be a Trump, not a Johnson.

 

JACK JUST LOOKS AT HER.

A SHORT WHILE LATER, HE RETURNS HOME WHERE JENNIFER IS WRITING HER EULOGY FOR CARLY.

 

JENNIFER: There you are Jack. Where have you been? We're going to be late for the funeral. We've got to go.

JACK: Jennifer, look I have to talk to you.

JENNIFER: Jack, we've got to get a move on.

 

HE STOPS HER.

 

JACK: Jennifer I have to talk to you. (Beat)I'm not going to the funeral.

JENNIFER: What?

JACK: I'm not going to the funeral. There's.... there's nothing I can do for Carly Manning. Nothing that can help her. But there's something I can do to help me and mine.

JENNIFER: What are you talking about?

JACK: I am talking about going to Chicago.

JENNIFER: Chicago!

JACK: Chicago. There's a business meeting in Chicago that has to do with The Spectator.

JENNIFER: When?

JACK: Today. I'm supposed to leave right now.

JENNIFER: I don't believe this. I really don't believe this.

JACK: I didn't believe it either. Kate showed up and she.... she put a lot of pressure on me. Telling me there was a lot at stake.

JENNIFER: How can you be thinking about business when I just lost my best friend?

JACK: I don't want to be thinking....

JENNIFER: I need you here. I need you here! Does that mean anything to you at all?

JACK: That means more than you know. (Beat) And more than I can say.

 

HE CANNOT LOOK HER IN THE EYE.

 

JACK: I just think that.... huh.... the fact that you need me and the fact that I'm needed here.... we could lose all of this unless I.... huh.... it means I need to go.

JENNIFER: So you're really going to go.

 

THEY BOTH HAVE TEARS IN THEIR EYES BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE A TURNING POINT IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP.

JACK: I'm afraid so.

JENNIFER: What am I going to say? Where am I going to tell people that you are? What am I going to do?

JACK: You're going to do the best you can.

 

HE TAKES HER HAND.

 

JACK: You're going to be just fine. You're very strong, you know that.

 

HE HALF SMILES AT HER.

 

JACK: I know that too. (Beat) If I didn't think you were strong I couldn't do this.

 

SHE REALLY LOOKS HARD AT HIM AND TRIES TO UNDERSTAND WHY HE'S DOING THIS.

 

JENNIFER: When will you be back?

JACK: I'll be back very soon, as soon as possible. (Beat) I love you.

 

HE GIVES HER A QUICK KISS THEN PICKS UP HIS BRIEFCASE, GIVES HER A QUICK LOOK AND LEAVES.

 

JENNIFER: How could you do this? How could you do this Jack? How could you just leave?