[Air
date April 1989]
SCENE ONE: JACK WALKS INTO BLONDIE'S AND DUMPS
HIS BRIEFCASE RIGHT NEXT TO CALLIOPE.
JACK: You know it's funny. I've been looking
everywhere for a Seat Yourself sign and I can't seem to find one
anywhere.
CALLIOPE: In your case it's suit yourself.
Excuse me, I'm sorry. Have you been waiting long sir?
JACK: Well, I haven't gathered any cobwebs
yet.
CALLIOPE: Because spiders never gather them,
they just weave them. It just so happens that I have been working
on my column. "The Lonely Hearts" column for your newspaper.
JACK: Well, if it takes as long to write your
column as it does to seat people, I won't hold my breathe.
CALLIOPE: Well, hold onto this and listen to
how well I'm doing. "Dear Miss Lonely Hearts, How can I ever
thank you enough? Now I know there's help. Because of your letter
of encouragement, I have finally figured out who is the perfect
woman for me. I want a woman who is can make me laugh, likes dogs
and is a spiffy dresser too." Is this a man after my own heart
or what? Professionally speaking of course.
JACK: Professionally speaking I don't think
you should give up your day job. Speaking of which, why don't you
get me a table seeing as I'm waiting for someone very important
and I need to get my act together.
CALLIOPE: Why must I be all things to all people?
It's a curse. Even the likes of you I have to deal with. Come this
way. Here's your table. Would you care for drink. God knows you
could use one.
JACK: No thank you.
CALLIOPE: So you want to stay sober for your
very special guest.
JACK: Yes, yes.
CALLIOPE: Might I know the name of your guest?
JACK: No, no. Look I don't want to talk about
it.
JACK STARTS TO GO OVER SOME PAPERS AND CALLIOPE
BEGINS TO READ THEM OVER HIS SHOULDER.
JACK: Calliope, is there something you could
be doing?
CALLIOPE: Nah, nothing.
JACK: Well, how about getting me a phone?
CALLIOPE: If you don't want to talk about
it, why would you need a phone? HA!
CALLIOPE GOES TO GET A PHONE.
JACK: You know this just might work.
SCENE TWO: TOM IS IN WITH JENNIFER, WHO
IS STILL UNCONSCIOUS. THE PHONE RINGS AND IT IS JACK CALLING
FROM BLONDIE'S. HE IS CLENCHING A PEN BETWEEN HIS TEETH TO DISGUISE
HIS VOICE.
JACK: Ah... Ah.. Hello. Is.... is this Jennifah Hawton's room?
TOM: Yes, it is. This is her grandfather.
JACK: Ah, could I speak to Jennifah please?
TOM: I'm afraid she's sleeping. May
I ask who's calling?
JACK: No. No message. Thank you.
CALLIOPE BENDS DOWN AND STARES AT JACK, AND CLEARS HER THROAT.
JACK: (Embarrassed) I need a menu.
CALLIOPE TAKES THE PEN OUT OF HIS MOUTH.
CALLIOPE: You need more than that.
JACK: Ehh.
SCENE THREE: ADRIENNE TRIES TO DEAL WITH THE
NEWS ABOUT ALEXANDER.
SCENE FOUR: JACK IS STILL AT BLONDIE'S AND THE GUYS HE IS
WAITING FOR TURN UP ONE IS ARCHER DOYLE, WHOM JACK MET THE OTHER
DAY, AND THE OTHER IS A COL. ALFRED JERICHO. THEY ARE THE TWO
INTERESTED IN THE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT IN SALEM.
JACK: It's a pleasure to meet you.
COL. JERICHO: It's a pleasure to finally meet
you Mr. Deveraux.
JACK: Jack please. And please sit down. (Beat)
I'd like to be the first to welcome you to Salem and I can't tell
you how much I look forward to doing business with you.
COL. JERICHO: Well, let's get right to it then
shall we. I appreciate the fine write up you gave me.
JACK: I'm glad you liked it.
COL. JERICHO: Yes almost as much as The
Esquire piece.
JACK: "The Walls of Jericho."
COL. JERICHO: Oh you read it.
JACK: Yes. Quite a success story. Very impressive.
I mean the self made man of the eighties and it all started with
one building.
COL. JERICHO: Yes. In Chicago and then we developed
in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Hawaii. That's where I met Doyle.
JACK: What's amazing to me is how you amassed
so much money so quickly.
COL. JERICHO: Well, let's not confuse brains
with the bull market. It was very difficult to lose money in the
last few years. Particularly on west coast real estate.
JACK: I guess the question now is if the walls
of Jericho will ever come tumbling down?
COL. JERICHO: Not with the plan I have for
Salem. I think we'll all prosper. With the master plan we'll inject
a lot of jobs into the local economy. We'll build a lot of affordable
housing for people of all incomes.
JACK: All this and a philanthropist too. You
should make a lot of friends in Salem.
COL. JERICHO: Well, as fate would have it,
I have a good friend here already. I really would like to call him.
Would you excuse me?
JACK: Oh no, no. Please, go ahead. (Beat) So
tell me Doyle, what's it like working for a living legend?
DOYLE: Well, you may find out for yourself.
We all end up working for Colonel Jericho, one way or another.
JACK: (Jack has an odd expression; is he intrigued or
concerned) Is that so?
JACK AND JERICHO ARE STILL TALKING WHEN SHANE, KIM AND EVE
WALK. SHANE RECOGNIZES HIS OLD FRIEND COL. JERICHO. JERICHO
AND SHANE GREET ONE ANOTHER. IS JACK GOING TO BECOME INVOLVED
WITH JERICHO?
JACK: (Jack seems interested that they know each other)
Well, I guess you've met your friend.
JERICHO: Yes. Donny and I go way back.
JACK: Well, if you'll excuse me, I have something
I need to attend to. I will see you later. Excuse me. Good day all.
SCENE FIVE: JACK IS AT THE HOSPITAL. HE
PEEPS THROUGH JENNIFER'S DOOR AND AS NO ONE IS WITH HER HE GOES
IN, CARRYING A DOZEN LONG STEMMED PALE PINK ROSES WITH A LARGE
PINK BOW AROUND THEM. HE REACHES OVER HER AND PLACES THEM NEXT
TO HER ON THE BED. HE STANDS BY THE BED AND LOOKS AT
HER LOVINGLY, NEARLY KISSING HER CHEEK.
AS HE GOES TO LEAVE SHE SLOWLY WAKES UP AND SEES THE ROSES.
JENNIFER: Jack? What are you doing here?
JACK LOOKS BACK AT HER IN SHOCK.
SCENE SIX: JENNIFER HAS JUST COME WOKEN UP,
SURPRISING JACK. SHE IS DISORIENTATED.
JENNIFER: Jack what's going on? What am I doing here?
JACK: Ah.... we.... well, you're here because
you were involved in a major accident down on the pier. I mean
the whole revival tent collapsed on top of you.
 JENNIFER:
That's right, I remember. OUCH!
SHE TRIES TO SIT UP BUT HER HEAD ACHES.
JACK: (He gentlely eases her to lie down)
No, no, no. Take it easy, take it easy. I mean you're going to
be okay but you've got a mild concussion here. Lay back, just
relax. There you go.
JENNIFER: Why are you here?
 JACK:
Ah.... well.... I.... er.... I had a board meeting you know and
I just thought I'd just drop in and see how you were doing, you
know.
JENNIFER: Oh. Are these from you?
JACK: (Embarrassed. No, no. They're from
the gift shop downstairs. But I.... um.... yes I brought them
up, yes.
JENNIFER: Thank you.
JACK: Think nothing of it.
JENNIFER: Well, I mean you really didn't
have to do this.
 JACK:
Well, I.... actually I did want to see you and tell you some news
about Sally.
JENNIFER: What about Sally, Jack?
JACK: Well.... er.... I think there's going
to be some good news for her very soon.
JENNIFER: Well, Jack tell me....
JACK: Well, now don't get yourself all excited.
Just relax.
JENNIFER: Jack I want to know.
JACK: You'll know when you get out of here.
JENNIFER: Well, I can't wait that long.
 JACK:
Well, think of it, think of it, as an incentive to get better.
Alright?
NURSE: Mr. Horton, I'm afraid you have to
leave now. We have to check on her
JENNIFER: (Whispering) Mr. Horton?
JACK SIGNALS JENNIFER TO BE QUIET.
JACK: Sure, sure. (Whispering to Jennifer.) I said I was a
member of the family.
JENNIFER GRINS.
JACK: (Cont.) Look you just.... you take care okay and....
ah.... I tell you what, maybe I'll sneak back in here tomorrow.
Check in on you.
JACK LEAVES. JENNIFER IS LEFT WONDERING.
[Air date
May 1989]
SCENE ONE: JENNIFER IS READY TO BE DISCHARGED. SHE
HAS A BAND AID ON HER FOREHEAD AND IS WAITING AT THE NURSE'S STATION.
JENNIFER: Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up. Let me out of here.
 JACK
GETS OUT OF THE ELEVATOR. AND IS IN MANIC, HAPPY JACK MODE. HE SPOTS
HER AND RUSHES OVER TO HER.
HE PUTS HIS ARM AROUND HER.
JACK: I'm so glad you're still here. Excuse us.
JENNIFER: Excuse me.
JACK: This way.
JACK GUIDES, PRACTICALLY PUSHING, JENNIFER INTO THE STAFF
LOUNGE. JENNIFER IS SOMEWHAT RELUCTANT. THE NURSE WAS SPEAKING
SMILES AND LAUGHS. THEY GO INSIDE THE NURSES' LOUNGE.
JENNIFER: Jack, tell me what's going on here.
JACK: I just figured out a way to stop Hannah from going
to absolute strangers.
JENNIFER: Well that's great but tell me.....
JACK: No, no, no. There's no time to explain. I'll handle
everything. You just have to do one small thing.
JENNIFER: What?
JACK: Lie your head off.
SCENE TWO: JACK HAS JUST DRAGGED JENNIFER
INTO THE NURSES' LOUNGE AND TOLD HER HE HE AS A WAY TO HELP SALLY
AND HANNAH, HE TELLS HER THAT TO DO SO SHE WOULD HAVE TO LIKE,
WHICH MAKES JENNIFER LEARY.
JENNIFER: Jack I don't care what you say, there is no way
I'm going along with this unless you tell me....
JACK: Do you want the kid or not?
JENNIFER: Of course I do.
JACK: Okay. Don't argue just smile, okay.
JENNIFER: No. I want to know what's going on. I want to know
the full story Jack. I want to....
JACK RUNS TO THE DOOR AND LOOKS OUT. HE SEEMS TO SEE WHAT
HE WAS LOOKING FOR. HE TURNS TO JENNIFER.
JACK: Huh, oh!
JENNIFER: What?
JACK: She's coming.
JENNIFER: Who's coming?
JACK RUNS BACK TO JENNIFER AND STANDS NEXT TO HER
WITH HIS ARM AROUND HER.
JENNIFER: What are you doing?
JACK: I'm acting like your husband.
JENNIFER: My what?
JACK: Your husband. I told her we were married. Here. Put this
on. Just like that. Good.
JACK PUTS A WEDDING RING ON JENNIFER'S FINGER. JENNIFER, HER
EYES BUG OUT IN SHOCK; SHE DOES NOT KNOW WHAT TO THINK AND JACK
IS NOW IN *FULL* HAPPY JACK MODE.
JENNIFER: What are you doing Jack?
JACK: Just be glad it fits.
MRS. SIMMS, THE SOCIAL WORK HANDLING SALLY AND BABY
HANNAH'S CASE, WALKS INTO THE LOUNGE.
JACK IS OOZING THE CHARM AND IS REALLY PLAYING THE WHOLE
THING UP — AND DOES SO THROUGHOUT THE INTERVIEW. HOWEVER, IT
APPEARS THAT IT IS NOT ALL PLAY ACTING, THAT JACK REALLY SEEMS TO
ENJOY IT ALL, AND THE PROSPECT OF HIM AND JENNIFER AS A COUPLE.
JENNIFER: What?
MRS. SIMMS: Hello.
JACK: Mrs. Simms. It's so nice to see you again? Jennifer,
you remember Mrs. Simms?
JENNIFER: Yeah. Hi. It's nice to see you again.
MRS. SIMMS: We were so sorry to hear that you were ill but
we're so glad that you're feeling better Mrs. Deveraux.
JENNIFER: Yes I'm.... I'm feeling much better, thank you.
JACK: Oh yes. It was a miraculous recovery and we.... and
we are so.... (Jennifer has elbowed him, causing him to grimace
slightly)
JACK: (Cont.).... thankful (Jack caresses the top of her
head) you're here today and came all the way down to see us.
MRS. SIMMS: Oh I don't mind making an exception when there
are special circumstances involved.
JACK LEANS HIS HEAD AGAINST AND PUTS HIS ARM AROUND JENNIFER.
JENNIFER GLARES AT JACK.
JACK WALKS OVER TO MRS. SIMMS AND GETS
A CHAIR FOR HER
JACK: Well, we certainly do appreciate it. Well shall we
get on with the interroga.... with the interview?
MRS. SIMMS: Oh by all means. It shouldn't take long. Just
a few questions and then we'll get moving on your application.
JACK: Ask away. Our life's an open book. (Jack flashes a
grin) Isn't it.... darling?
JENNIFER FLASHES JACK A LOOK.
MRS. SIMMS: Oh, by the way, congratulations on your marriage.
JACK: (Flashing a grin) Thank you.
JENNIFER CONTINUES TO GLARE AT JACK, NOT BELIEVING HE REALLY
IS DOING THIS.
SCENE THREE: A LITTLE LATER,
JACK POURS A CUP OF COFFEE FOR MRS. SIMMS AND IS BLOWING IT TO
COOL IT DOWN. JENNIFER LEANS OVER AND BLOWS IT TOO.
MRS. SIMMS IS AT A TABLE AND IS GOING OVER SOME PAPERS. JACK
BRINGS HER THE COFFEE AND HOVERS BEHIND HER. JENNIFER STILL IS
UNCERTAIN AS TO *WHAT* IS GOING ON.
MRS. SIMMS: Let's see. You've never been treated for any substance
abuse, alcohol, drugs, anything of that nature?
JACK KEEPS LOOKING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN MRS. SIMMS
AND JENNIFER, WITH A BIG GRIN ON HIS FACE.
JENNIFER: No, no. Never.
MRS. SIMMS: Not that you would be automatically disqualified
but it could slow down the evaluation process considerably.
JACK: Oh we wouldn't want that would we?
JENNIFER: Is there anything else that I can tell you.
MRS. SIMMS: No, you told me everything I need to know.
JENNIFER: Really. So you've already made up your mind?
MRS. SIMMS: Well not quite. I still have to speak to the
people you gave as references but that shouldn't take but a few
days.
JENNIFER: Then we can have Hannah?
JENNIFER IS OVERJOYED, AND JACK IS STANDING BY THE DOOR EXCITED
HIMSELF. HE SEEMS HAPPY TO BE HELPING HANNAH, AND ESPECIALLY THRILLED
FOR JENNIFER. JACK IS ALMOST BEAMING.
MRS. SIMMS: Well that's just the idea. I must say that you....
I've never seen two people more eager for a child in my life.
JACK: Well we're planning to have five or six ourselves someday
and this way we can get out feet wet so to speak and help out our
friend Sally at the same time.
JENNIFER LOOKS AT JACK AS IF HE IS LAYING IT A LITTLE
TOO THICK — WHICH HE IS. BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN A *LONG*
TIME THAT JACK SEEMS HAPPY, AND COMFORTABLE WITH THINGS AND HIMSELF.
MRS. SIMMS: Well I'm glad to see that's important to you and
that you are friend's of Hannah's mother. Well that's a real plus
in my book.
JENNIFER: Oh I'm so glad because I thought it might be the
other way round.
MRS. SIMMS: Oh no. We're not looking for neutrality. We're
looking for people who genuinely care about a child's welfare and
happiness.
JENNIFER: I promise you Mrs. Simms. I really do care about
Hannah.... (Jack looks as Jennifer, and raises his eyebrows as a
cue.) Ah, we both do, very much. (Jack smiles.)
MRS. SIMMS: Well I want to get started on this as soon as possible.
It was so nice seeing you Mrs. Deveraux.
JENNIFER IS DISTRACTED LOOKING AT THE WEDDING RING ON HER
FINGER.
JACK PROMPTS HER, BY ELBOWING HER.
JACK: Thank you.
JENNIFER: Thank you. It was good to see you again.
MRS. SIMMS: Okay. We'll be in touch.
JENNIFER: Bye bye. Thank you.
JACK: Bye, bye. Take care.
 MRS.
SIMMS: Oh I almost forgot. I need to see your home.
JACK AND JENNIFER ARE THROWN BY HER REMARK. THEY STAND MOMENTARILY
IN SHOCK. THEN EACH LOOKS AT THE OTHER.
JACK AND JENNIFER (TOGETHER): Our home?
MRS. SIMMS: Yes. Just to make sure you provide a warm and loving
atmosphere for the baby.
JACK: Oh sure.
JENNIFER: Oh sure, great, great.
MRS. SIMMS: It's standard procedure. I'll call you in a
day or two okay?
JACK: (To Mrs. Simms, as she is leaving the lounge.)Yeah sure.
Don't call us, we'll.... I mean call us, call us. (Beat) She's gone.
Okay. Now before you say anything I know what you're thinking.
AFTER SHE HAS LEFT.
JENNIFER: No you don't Jack. I'm going to strangle you for
putting me through this. It's all for nothing.
JACK: What are you talking about? Come on she loved us.
She thought we were the best thing since Fred and Ginger.
JENNIFER: Yeah, well I think she'll change her mind when
she finds out we have separate addresses.
JACK: Just leave that up to me, alright?
JENNIFER: No! Forget it Jack.
SHE TAKES OFF THE RING AND PUTS IT IN HIS HAND.
JENNIFER: As of now we are officially divorced.
SHE RUSHES FROM THE ROOM. JACK IS LEFT ALONE, HOLDING THE
RING, HIS MOUTH HANGING OPEN.
SCENE THREE: JENNIFER RUNS
OUT AND JACK CHASES HER ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE PIER.
 JACK:
Jennifer, Jennifer, Jennifer wait.
JENNIFER: Jack. We've nothing else to say to each other
alright?
JACK: Why are you being so unreasonable?
JENNIFER: Unreasonable? You want me to walk around and pretend
that I'm your wife.
JACK: Look it's for a very good reason. You want to help
the baby don't you?
JENNIFER: Of course I do.
JACK: Then prove it.
JENNIFER: By going along with this whole scheme of yours?
JACK: Yes.
JENNIFER: Jack there is no way we could convince Mrs. Simms
that we're living together.
JACK: You leave that up to me.
 JENNIFER:
I can't believe that I'm actually considering this.
JACK: If you want to help the baby, this is the only way.
JENNIFER: You understand that this would just be pretend.
JACK: I wouldn't have it any other way.
JENNIFER: Alright Jack, I'll do it.
JACK: (Jack smiles) Good.
JENNIFER: If you try one funny move this whole deal is off
and I  will
figure out another way to help Hannah.
JACK: Well you don't have to be so gracious about it?
JENNIFER: You're not the easiest person in the world to
trust.
JACK: (Hurt) Well I guess you pegged me on that one.
JENNIFER: I gotta go. My grandparents are expecting me....
Ah Jack?
JACK: Yeah.
JENNIFER: Thank you.
JACK: You're welcome.
JACK WATCHES HER WALK AWAY WITH LOVE IN HIS EYES. |
