oldEpisode Five-hundred-thirty-seven:
Kate Tries to Seduce Jack, but
He Is too Preoccupied Worrying
about Jennifer. Jack Escapes,
but His Car Breaks Down.

---

[Air date late July, 1993]

 

SCENE ONE: BECAUSE JACK CANNOT GO TO THE FUNERAL WITH JENNIFER, AUSTIN GOES INSTEAD. SHE LENDS HIM ONE OF JACK'S JACKETS AND A TIE BECAUSE HE DOES NOT HAVE THE PROPER CLOTHES.

SCENE TWO: IN CHICAGO, JACK IS TRYING TO CALL JENNIFER.

 

KATE: No answer?

JACK: No, no answer. Jennifer must still be at the funeral and I must have left the answering machine off the hook.

KATE: Well here have a drink. Relax.

JACK: Relax, huh! What is it? The fog is just rolling in.

KATE: It's nice. I love Chicago when it's gray and gloomy.

JACK: I despise gray and gloomy.

KATE: Well if you don't like it then come away from the window. Come here.

 

SHE PATS THE BED.

 

JACK: That's a good idea. If you'll excuse, I'll....

 

HE SITS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE BED TO HER. HE IS OBVIOUSLY TENSE AND WORRIED ABOUT JENNIFER.

 

KATE: I can't believe you don't feel the high.

JACK: The high? I don't know what's in your drink but mine....

KATE: No, no, no, the meeting. I mean don't you feel the tremendous amount of power that we hold knowing that we can manipulate to our advantage people of this caliber.

JACK: Well it certainly gives a little lift but....

KATE: Oh I bet it does. You love power Jack. I know. We're two of a kind.

JACK: I'm afraid that's true.

KATE: Why be afraid? What's wrong with a little ambition? A little dominance. A little control.

 

JACK NODS.

 

JACK: Well I like that kind of thing myself but I try to keep it under control. It's not exactly a high for Jennifer.

KATE: Yeah I kind of got that impression. What do you two talk about?

JACK: Oh we talk about a great many things. I mean don't get me wrong. We.... we like work, both of us. Jennifer's worked with me on a great many things. She just doesn't have the same.... ambition that I have.

KATE: Doesn't she find tremendous success appealing?

JACK: You have to define success. A nice little house. A happy family. A good marriage. A small interesting job at a little local TV station and that's what she defines as success.

 

HE WALKS OVER TO THE TABLE AND KATE FOLLOWS HIM.

 

KATE: What do you think of success?

JACK: I think of success as some of the same things you think of. Being on top. Being in control. Having the upper hand. It was when I decided to assert myself and step up from behind Harper's shadow that I finally clashed with Victor on that point.

KATE: You know I'm actually surprised.

JACK: Really? About Victor? The man wants to be in total control himself. That's the kind of man he is.

KATE: Yes but you see Jack, I happen to know he admires you. In fact he might even be a little jealous of you.

JACK: Jealous, really?

KATE: Oh come on Jack, you're much younger than he is. You're certainly good looking. And Victor knows that it's just a matter of time before you have just as much power as he does. You know it's interesting really. The three of us are so much alike.

JACK: Well I take that as a compliment, coming from you. Compare me to Victor Kiriakis, the man everyone claims has ice in his veins.

KATE: Maybe.

JACK: Well maybe I can get a hold of Jennifer in the other room. I will.... I'll let you know. I'll be back in a minute.

KATE: Alright but you'll come back right.

JACK: Yes, I'll be back.

KATE: Right.

 

JACK LEAVES. KATE FLOPS ON THE BED.

 

KATE: Ice in his veins Jack. I don't think so. Certainly not when he finds out that you and I are involved.

SCENE THREE: A SHORT TIME LATER, JACK RETURNS.

 

KATE: You're right. The fog is really rolling in.

JACK: I'd say our flight back to Salem is going to be canceled because of it.

KATE: Well let's not worry about anything until we have to. Did you get a hold of Jennifer?

JACK: No, no, I couldn't reach her.

KATE: Hmmm, well come here. Tell me more about you and Jennifer.

 

SHE PULLS HIM TO SIT ON THE BED.

 

JACK: Why should I do that?

KATE: Well because I'm curious. This relationship that you have....

JACK: You're killing time, yes.

KATE: Alright, maybe I am. But let me ask you something.

JACK: Huh, hmmm.

KATE: You know that she thinks you're a workaholic. She hates it when you work late hours.

JACK: Hmmm.

KATE: And yet you seem to think that you have a wonderful relationship.

JACK: I seem to think that, yes.

KATE: Well don't you ever fight?

JACK: We.... we fight quite a bit but we usually work it out.

KATE: Oh, so you most always usually agree?

JACK: Oh no, no, no, no. We never agree.

 

KATE LAUGHS.

 

JACK: But we work it out. The important thing is that we work.... we work.... we work together.

KATE: Amazing.

JACK: Hmmm. And you? You know I was wondering. Other than the gentleman who was trying to have dinner with you the other night at the Penthouse Grill, have you deliberately avoided having a serious relationship with someone because you're married to work?

 

KATE HITS HIM WITH A BELT.

 

JACK: Ooooh!

KATE: I've had my share.

JACK: Oh my.

KATE: No, but I've made some big mistakes. Learned one thing though. I need a lot more from a man than just love.

JACK: You don't like the idea of having a warm body to come home to?

KATE: Yes! But it can't just be any warm body.

 

SHE LOOKS ACROSS AT HIM. JACK IGNORES HER LOOKS AND THINKS ONLY OF JENNIFER.

SCENE FOUR: JACK IS GETTING MORE AND MORE ANTSY, HE WANTS TO LEAVE AND GET BACK FOR JENNIFER. KATE, IS PURPOSEFULLY STALLING.

 

JACK: I can't believe that it's taking them so long.

KATE: Well who knows why but you know as well as I do, you can't rush these things.

JACK: No but it would just help things if I could get a hold of Jennifer in the meantime.

KATE: Jack you've been trying to get a hold of her for hours. You know who's going to be pea green with envy when he finds out about this deal?

JACK: Let me guess. Victor Kiriakis.

KATE: Exactly.

JACK: Yes. That's what's this has been about since the beginning. Victor, of course, is still after The Spectator and you're just raising the ante.

 

THE PHONE RINGS AND KATE ANSWERS IT.

 

KATE: Excuse me. (Beat) Yes. (Beat) Yes Mr. Spear. Absolutely.

JACK: Absolutely what?

KATE: Alright. No we'll have our attorneys take a look at everything and make sure it's as we discussed. Thank you. Our pleasure.

 

SHE HANGS UP.

 

JACK: So what? We did it?

KATE: WE GOT IT!

JACK: We got it. YES! Good. Well I knew that. I knew....

KATE: We got it! I knew we'd do it. Didn't I tell you we would?

JACK: Of course. I shouldn't have doubted you and I won't doubt you in the future.

KATE: No you shouldn't have doubted me. You should believe in yourself too. Jack, you did this.

JACK: I don't think I should take all the credit for it.

KATE: Oh don't be modest with me. You are solely responsible for this and now I'm going to order champagne.

JACK: Please make that a split because I'm not going to stick around. I need to get back to Salem.

KATE: Wa.... wa.... wait. You can't leave until we have those contracts signed.

JACK: Well the contracts of course are going back to Salem.

KATE: No, they're being messengered here. Don't you think we should take a look at them to see if there's any snags?

JACK: Why would they be coming here when we can have the attorney's look at them in Salem in the morning?

KATE: Well I suppose we could but I don't know. I just don't want to give these people time to change their minds.

JACK: Damn!

 

KATE TRIES TO DISTRACT JACK.

 

KATE: Look we can't control the weather. Let's not worry about that. Let's just take a little break alright. You go take a little nap and I'm going to take a nice hot bath. I'll order us something to eat and we'll iron out these last minute problems, alright?

JACK: I suppose that's all we can do.

KATE: Okay. So I'll see you in.... one half hour? Heh.

 

KATE GOES TO THE BATHROOM. JACK IS ABOUT TO GO BACK TO HIS ROOM WHEN THE CONTRACTS ARRIVE. HE LOOKS AT THEM AND THEN TAKES THEM WITH HIM.

SCENE FIVE: A WHILE LATER, KATE HAS FINISHED HER BATH AND CHANGED INTO A PINK SATIN GOWN WITH A FLORAL ROBE OVER IT. SHE ADMIRES HERSELF IN THE MIRROR AND DECIDES TO KEEP THE ROBE ON.

 

KATE: No Kate, you want to sneak up on Jack, not scare him away.

 

SHE CHECKS THE CHAMPAGNE.

 

KATE: When I do look out Victor Kiriakis.

 

THERE IS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR.

 

KATE: Perfect timing. Come on in Jack.

 

SHE OPENS THE DOOR. IT'S THE BELLBOY.

 

BELLBOY: Ms Roberts?

KATE: Yes.

BELLBOY: Mr. Deveraux left this message for you. KATE: Thank you. Message?

BELLBOY: And this.

 

HE HANDS HER A LARGE ENVELOPE.

 

KATE: Oh thanks. Just a minute please.

 

SHE GETS OUT A TIP.

 

KATE: Thanks.

BELLBOY: Thank you Ma'am.

 

HE LEAVES. SHE OPENS THE MESSAGE.

 

KATE: "Kate, I made the changes in the contracts. You can make that call to the client. I'm sure they'll be pleased. You were right. The fog has all flights grounded so I rented a car to drive back to Salem. I didn't want to disturb you. See you tomorrow, Jack."

 

KATE IS MAD.

 

KATE: Oh bust!

 

SCENE ONE: JACK IS ON HIS WAY HOME, WHEN HIS RENTAL CAR HAS BROKEN DOWN. HE HAS JUST TRIED TO FIX IT.

 

JACK: Alright. That should do it.

 

HE TRIES TO START IT BUT IT WILL NOT KICK OVER.

 

JACK: Dammit.... dammit.

 

HE GETS OUT OF THE CAR AGAIN AND GOES BACK TO THE PHONE WHERE THE AAA HAS BEEN ON HOLD.

 

JACK: Alright, I've tried everything and it still doesn't work so I definitely need assistance and I need to get a hold of my wife in Salem immediately.

SCENE TWO: MEANWHILE THE FOG HAS LIFTED AND KATE HAS ARRIVED HOME BY PLANE. SHE HAS ORGANIZED TO SEND HERSELF A HUGE DISPLAY OF FLOWERS INDICATING TO VICTOR THAT PERHAPS SOMETHING WENT ON IN CHICAGO WITH JACK. HE ASKS HER HOW IT WENT WITH JACK AND KATE SAYS THAT JACK HINTED THAT THINGS WERE ROCKY BETWEEN HIM AND JENNIFER. VICTOR IS SURPRISED BECAUSE HE THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING FINE.

SCENE THREE: MEANWHILE ON THE ROAD, JACK IS SICK OF WAITING FOR ASSISTANCE AND IS TRYING TO HITCH A RIDE. HE SEES A CAR COMING AND PUTS DOWN HIS BRIEFCASE AND REALLY TRIES TO GET THE CAR TO STOP. EACH CAR THAT HE RAISES HIS THUMB TO JUST GOES RIGHT ON BY. HOWEVER A TRUCK STOPS. THE DRIVER COMES BACK TO SPEAK TO JACK. HE IS AN OLD FARMER.

 

JACK: Alright, yes, finally! Finally! Hi.

FARMER: Looks like you got some car trouble back there, young fella.

JACK: Ah, yes, yes. Actually I was hoping you could be of some assistance.

FARMER: Well, not in fixing a car. I'm a farmer, not a mechanic. But I can give you a lift in my truck.

JACK: Great, perfect. Thank you very much. Thank you. Ah I see that someone's riding with you already.

FARMER: Oh yep, that's my wife.

JACK: Ah, an expansive one at that. Are you sure there's room for me?

FARMER: Well if you don't mind sitting in the back.... with the chickens.

 

JACK PULLS A FACE.

JACK: Chickens!

SCENE FOUR: MEANWHILE JENNIFER IS GETTING MORE AND MORE UPSET THAT JACK IS NOT THERE AND SHE IS LEANING ON AUSTIN FOR SUPPORT.

SCENE FIVE: AFTER THE SERVICE, AUSTIN TAKES HER HOME WHERE JO ASKS IF SHE'S HEARD FROM JACK. JENNIFER SAYS NO AND JO TELLS HER TO COME UP AND SEE THE BABY. JENNIFER THINKS ABBY IS SICK AND RUNS UPSTAIRS.

SCENE SIX: MINUTES LATER, JENNIFER COMES BACK DOWN WITH ABBY AND JO AND THEY TELL AUSTIN THAT ABBY IS TRYING TO SPEAK. JO TAKES HER FOR A BATH AND WHEN SHE COMES BACK DOWN, THEY ALL HEAR HER SAY "DADDA". JENNIFER IS VERY EXCITED.

 

JENNIFER: Did you hear that?

 

AT THAT MOMENT JACK BURSTS IN THE DOOR.

 

JENNIFER: Jack you're not going to believe this. You just missed it.

JACK: I missed what?

 

HE IS ALL MESSY AND DIRTY; HE KEEPS STARING AT AUSTIN.

JACK: And what is he doing wearing my jacket and my tie?

JENNIFER: Jack, Austin came to Carly's funeral with me.

JACK: I see. Well I did my best trying to get here. To be here for it.

JENNIFER: Well you missed it all. While you were working I buried my best friend and our daughter spoke her first word. But I hope that you're meeting was everything that you wanted it to be.

 

JACK'S LOOK IS PURE HOPELESSNESS. IT SEEMS THAT NO MATTER WHAT HE DOES, HE CANNOT MAKE HER UNDERSTAND.

SCENE SEVEN: AUSTIN AND JO HAVE LEFT, JACK SITS WITH ABBY TRYING TO GET HER TO SAY "DADDA."

JACK: Nary a peep. Nary a single solitary sound.

JENNIFER: I'm going to make some tea Jack.

JACK: Jennifer wait a minute. Wait a minute. How many times can I try to apologize to you? I tried to get here. I tried to be here for you.

JENNIFER: But you weren't here.

JACK: I don't know what to say. Jennifer if.... if I could have postponed the meeting....

 

SHE PICKS UP HIS JACKET TO MOVE IT AND SUDDENLY SMELLS SOMETHING TERRIBLE. SHE SNIFFS THE JACKET.

 

JACK: What are you doing?

JENNIFER: What is that smell?

JACK: Chickens.

JENNIFER: Chickens?

JACK: Chickens. After I had to leave my rental car I hitched a ride with a farmer in a chicken truck.

JENNIFER: In your Armani blazer? You practically worship this blazer, Jack.

JACK: Yes, well I was rather anxious to get home. And for your edification, I didn't even

JACK (CONT.): think about the fact that the chickens were.... doing what chickens do.... do.... to it.

 

JENNIFER SMILES THEN LAUGHS.

 

JENNIFER: You realize that you and Abby are the only two people in the world that could make me laugh on this day. (Beat) But I don't need to laugh Jack. I need to cry. I need for you to tell me that everything is going to be alright somehow. I knew in your heart that you didn't want to go and that you did everything possible to be here with me. But I needed you so much. That's why I was angry because I needed you today. I nee....

 

SHE STARTS TO CRY AND WALKS INTO JACK'S OPEN ARMS. SHE IS STILL HOLDING THE JACKET AND HE TOSSES IT ASIDE.

 

JACK: Wait a minute.

 

HE HOLDS HER CLOSE.

 

JACK: I love you.

 

THEY ROCK IN EACH OTHER'S ARMS.