SCENE ONE: THE KIRIAKIS MANSION. ANJELICA HAS JUST COME DOWNSTAIRS TO FIND THE MAID LETTING JACK IN.

JACK: Ho, Ho, Ho! I'm looking for Ms. Deveraux, Curtis, Kiriakis.

ANJELICA: Thank you, Rhonda, I have it. Hello Santa, you're early.

JACK COMES IN COMPLETELY LADEN WITH CHRISTMAS PRESENTS.

JACK: Yes, I'm just must checking to see who's been naughty and who's been downright nasty.

ANJELICA: Oh, Santa, you know me.

JACK: That's why these are all for Alexander.

ANJELICA: AH!... I see the Christmas season hasn't affected your wicked sense of humor.

JACK: But it has affected my arms. Could you....

ANJELICA HELPS JACK CARRY THE PRESENTS INTO THE LIVING ROOM.

JACK: Thank you, thank you.

ANJELICA: It's so good to see you. Wanda, Wanda, Wanda, Wanda.

RHONDA: "Rhonda," ma'am. With an "R."

JACK: (Singing the Beach Boys' song) "Help me Rhonda. Help me.

ANJELICA: Rhonda, help with these. Oh Jack, look at you. Happy Holidays.

JACK: Don't worry, there is one especially for you.

JACK PRODUCES A SMALL PRESENT FROM HIS POCKET.

ANJELICA: Oooooh.

JACK: Just to let you know you don't have to be nice to get something.... nasty.

ANJELICA: And from the size of the box it looks like my favorite. Thank you Jack! Rhon, Rhon, why don't you put those under the tree and that will be all for now. And Jack, how about you? An eggnog, a Cognac, a coffee?

JACK: Ah, I.... I.... I.... really I can't stay.

ANJELICA: Oh come on you didn't have to make this special trip to bring all these wonderful presents. You could have brought them over Christmas morning.

JACK: Ah, well, I couldn't wait.

ANJELICA: Because you know I like to peek.

JACK: Because I'm not going to be here Christmas morning.

ANJELICA: You're not going to be here Christmas morning?

SCENE TWO: MEANWHILE BACK AT THE LOFT, ISABELLA IS PUTTING HER COAT ON.

JENNIFER: Morning.

ISABELLA: Morning.

JENNIFER: You're not going out are you?

ISABELLA: Not exactly.

JENNIFER: Well, if you're cold I can turn up the thermostat.

ISABELLA: I'm leaving town.

JENNIFER: What?

ISABELLA: I think it's best for everybody if I get out of here.

JENNIFER: Does Jack know about this?

ISABELLA: I was hoping you could tell him for me.

JENNIFER: Look Isabella, you can't leave, alright. I'll make you something to eat and we'll talk about it.

ISABELLA SAYS THAT SHE IS NOT HUNGRY BUT JENNIFER INSISTS SHE STAYS.

SCENE THREE: AS THEY ARE TALKING EMILIO BANGS ON THE DOOR.

EMILIO: Deveraux' here isn't he?

JENNIFER: Jack.

EMILIO: Yeah, you know, Jack Deveraux. About six foot, sloppy build, overpriced suits. Yeah that guy.

JENNIFER: You know that's so typical of you. Anytime one little thing is out of place you think Jack had something to do with it.

EMILIO SAYS THAT WHEN HE HEARS THE WORD TROUBLE HE JUST THINKS DEVERAUX. JENNIFER SAYS THAT HE SHOULD NOT THINK THAT ABOUT JACK. HE IS MAD AND LEAVES.

SCENE FOUR: BACK WITH JACK AND ANJELICA.

ANJELICA: Jack I really do apologize that I didn't send an official invitation to the Kiriakis Christmas but I assumed that you knew you should be here with me.

JACK: I've made other plans.

ANJELICA: Please change them.

JACK: I can't.

ANJELICA: Jack, what plans could be more important than spending Christmas with your family?

VICTOR IS LISTENING OUTSIDE.

JACK: There are none.

ANJELICA: Fine. Then we.... oh I know. You're spending Christmas with the Johnsons. Your real family.

JACK: No, no. It's not what you think.

ANJELICA: Huh, uh. What I think is that you do feel closer to them than you feel to me.

JACK: That's ridiculous.

ANJELICA: Is it really ridiculous?

JACK: Look, I am not spending Christmas with the Johnsons.

ANJELICA: Then please be a friendly face across the table and spend it with me.

JACK: Anjelica, I've made other plans. I hope you'll understand.

ANJELICA: Of course. You're a big grown up man. You can make your own plans. Don't let me or any family interfere with your plans. Merry Christmas Jack!

JACK: Anjelica, Anjelica!

VICTOR: Jack?

JACK: Victor.

VICTOR: I'm sorry to hear you won't be spending Christmas with us.

JACK: I think you should have an architect check these walls. I think they're far too thin.

VICTOR: Well, you must be spending it with someone very important to disappoint Anjelica that way. I wonder if it's someone old.... or new.

JACK: What are we doing here? Playing twenty questions?

VICTOR: Oh I thought you liked to play games?

JACK: Oh, only if I know I'm going to win. This is one match that I think I'll forego. Thank you.

JACK TURNS TO LEAVE AND FINDS JUSTIN STANDING BEHIND HIM DRESSED IN ALL BLACK.

JACK: Nice suit.

JACK LEAVES.

SCENE FIVE: VICTOR AND JUSTIN DISCUSS THE FACT THAT STEVE AND JACK HAVE BEEN SPENDING TIME TOGETHER WHICH IS VERY ODD FOR TWO BROTHERS WHO HATE EACH OTHER. VICTOR THINKS THEY ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO FIND THE KEY. VICTOR THINKS THAT THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO PLAY JACK AND STEVE AGAINST ONE ANOTHER BECAUSE OF THE PREVIOUS HATE BETWEEN THEM.

SCENE SIX: BACK AT THE LOFT, JENNIFER AND ISABELLA ARE ARGUING WHEN JACK COMES IN THE DOOR.

JACK: Hey. HEY! Do I have to be Mr. Safety here. We close the doors and we lock them.

JENNIFER: Well, it's nice of you to finally show up Jack.

JACK: Thank you. I was out doing a few things.

JENNIFER: Well, now that you're here can you work this out because I have something that I have to go work out. Isabella you're welcome to stay here as long as you like.

JENNIFER THEN GRABS HER COAT LEAVES.

ISABELLA: Jennifer has been more than nice. I don't want to impose anymore.

JACK: I think you're going to have to impose on her some more because you can't go out there.

ISABELLA: I think it's best for everybody if I leave today.

JACK: If you run away now, you're never going to find the key and Victor is going to find you. You know that he will and when he does you're going to be alone. Then what are you going to do?

ISABELLA: I'll figure something out.

JACK: Are you going to figure out a way to help Kayla?

ISABELLA: What?

JACK: Kayla. She's still missing remember. I need you to find her. So nobody's going anywhere until you're safe and until Kayla's home.

SCENE SEVEN: JENNIFER GOES DOWN TO THE PIER TO FIND EMILIO. THEY BEGIN TO TALK BUT END UP FIGHTING OVER HOW SHE REALLY FEELS ABOUT JACK. EMILIO ASKS HER TO TELL HIM EXACTLY HOW MUCH SHE CARES ABOUT JACK. SHE SAYS SHE DOES NOT KNOW. HER FEELINGS ARE ALL CONFUSED. HE WALKS AWAY HURT.

SCENE ONE: BACK AT THE LOFT.

ISABELLA: I thought it would be best for everyone if I left town today.

JACK: If you run away it's not going to solve anything.

ISABELLA: Especially Kayla.

JACK: Especially Kayla. She's still going to be in trouble if you leave.

ISABELLA: I guess I didn't think about it.

JACK: Victor's going to keep coming after you. It's not going to stop. He's going to send his men after you. It's only going to get worse.

ISABELLA: Maybe.

JACK: Maybe. (Beat) I'm not going to force you to stay here. I tell you right now that if you do stay here I can protect you. I can take care of you. I think we still need each other. What do you think?

JACK IS SO SINCERE AND CARING THAT SHE CHANGES HER MIND.

ISABELLA: So what's the next step?

JACK: The next step. (Beat) I'm going to break into Steve and Kayla's house.

ISABELLA: How's that going to help your brother?

JACK: Look, we didn't find the key over at Marina's place, did we?

ISABELLA: No.

JACK: So Marina wasn't in many places in this town. Unfortunately she went to Steve's a lot. So I think that's where the key is. I think she hide in a place right under Steve's nose.

ISABELLA: I want to come too.

JACK: No, no, no, no. It's too dangerous. You can't come with me.

ISABELLA: I'll be careful.

JACK: No, no. I want you to stay right here. Just stay put, okay.

ISABELLA: Jack where are you going?

JACK: I think they might have seen me come in so I'm going to go out the roof so people will think I'm still here.

ISABELLA: Jack!

JACK: Hmmm?

ISABELLA: Be careful.

JACK: I'll be right back.

SCENE TWO: A SHORT TIME LATER OUTSIDE STEVE AND KAYLA'S HOUSE, JACK IS HIDING BEHIND A LARGE CHRISTMAS TREE AS HE DRAGS IT TOWARDS THE FRONT DOOR.

JACK: Perfect.

ISABELLA: Jack.

JACK: What?.... What are you doing here? Stay where you are. I'll come over there.

JACK PICKS UP THE CHRISTMAS TREE AND HIDES BEHIND IT AS HE MOVES OVER TO ISABELLA AT THE CORNER OF THE HOUSE.

ISABELLA: I don't want you to do this alone.

JACK: What do you mean? It's dangerous for you to be here. Stupid.

ISABELLA: I'll be careful.

JACK: Well I hope you're being really careful because Victor spotted me half a mile from the loft.

ISABELLA: He didn't see you here, did he?

JACK: No, I ditched him in the Christmas tree lot. Hence my firy disguise. And you're going to get out of here. You're going to run back home.

ISABELLA: And what if you he followed you here? Maybe he's lurking around. He'll follow me back to the loft. I think I should stay with you.

JACK: Alright, alright. But you can't go in the house okay. There's two trees back there with your name on them. I want you to go back there and hide. You be the lookout. If you see anybody, you let me know.

ISABELLA: Okay.

JACK: Okay.

ISABELLA: Alright.

ISABELLA HIDES, JACK GOES BACK TO THE FRONT DOOR TO BREAK IN WHEN A GLOVED HAND LANDS ON HIS SHOULDER. HE TURNS AROUND IN SURPRISE.

JACK: Marcus!

MARCUS: What the hell are you doing here man?

JACK: Uh (Looking around for Isabella).

MARCUS: (Trying to get his attention) JACK!

JACK: Huh?

MARCUS: What are you doing here?

JACK: Me?.... I'm.... um.... I'm um here.... I'm here with my tree. I'm delivering it to Steve and Ka.... to Steve and Kayla.

MARCUS: Really.

JACK: Really. I was going to bring it here, bring it in, get it all decorated and looking really nice. I really figured they could use a little bit of Christmas cheer.

MARCUS: Yeah, yeah. Come on Jack. You're trying to break into their house. I have a feeling that you have more on your mind than Christmas and I have a feeling that it's not good.

JACK: Oh no. I'm trying to help them.

MARCUS: Oh really, really. And next thing you're going to tell me, there is a Santa Claus too.

JACK: You don't believe me?

MARCUS: Hey, you got two seconds to tell me what you are doing here.

JACK: I'm telling you the truth.

MARCUS: The truth? The truth is Jack, the truth is, you've been hurting Steve and Kayla for a long time now and I don't see any change.

JACK: Specially to me, right?

MARCUS: Hey, from where I'm standin'.

JACK: Come over here.

MARCUS: Look, now you may have been able to fool some people, you may even have been able to fool Kayla into believing that you've changed. But I don't trust you Jack and I don't want you near my friends so you get the hell out of here. Now!

MARCUS LEAVES AND JACK IS HURT BUT RESIGNED TO THE FACT THAT PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS THINK THE WORST OF HIM.

JACK: Ho, ho, ho.

JACK SEES ISABELLA.

JACK: Oh! My lookout. Come on, let's go home. Get over here.

JACK PICKS UP THE CHRISTMAS TREE AND LEAVES.

SCENE THREE: BACK AT THE LOFT, JENNIFER HAS JUST COME HOME. AS SHE OPENS THE DOOR, VICTOR APPEARS BEHIND HER. HE SAYS THAT HE IS THINKING OF BUYING SOME REAL ESTATE AROUND HERE AND WONDERS IF HE COULD LOOK THROUGH HER LOFT. SHE TELLS HIM THAT HE WILL HAVE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE MANAGER. HE LEAVES, ALMOST SURE THAT HE KNOWS WHY JENNIFER WAS RELUCTANT TO SHOW HIM AROUND.

SCENE FOUR: JENNIFER IS WAITING FOR JACK AND ISABELLA TO RETURN WHEN SHE HEARS THEM OUTSIDE THE DOOR.

JACK: You hold the tree and I'll get the door.

ISABELLA: I can't hold the tree.

JACK: Hold the tree and I'll get it.

ISABELLA: Jack I can't

JACK OPENS THE DOOR AND HE COMES IN HOLDING THE FOOT OF THE TREE WHILE ISABELLA IS TRYING TO CARRY THE TOP PART.

JACK: Everybody in the whole building can hear us out here. I thought you were trying to be quiet. Hi Jennifer.

JENNIFER: Jack, where have you been?

JACK: Ah.... out! Oh that's for me isn't it?

SHE IS HOLDING A WRAPPED PRESENT.

JENNIFER: Victor Kiriakis was here.

JACK: Socks?

JENNIFER: What is wrong with you? Victor was here. He was talking about buying this building.

JACK: I heard you.

ISABELLA: He must know something's going on.

JACK: Oh come on. Victor Kiriakis buys buildings like we buy socks. I mean it's just a coincidence.

ISABELLA: What if it's not a coincidence? What if he thinks that I'm here?

JACK: Don't worry. I own this place, I won't sell it to him. Don't worry.

JENNIFER IS HURT BY JACK'S LACK OF ATTENTION TO HER AND THE APPARENT INTIMACY BETWEEN HIM AND ISABELLA.

JENNIFER: Well look, now that you guys are here, I'm going to get out of here okay. I'm going to get some air. Excuse me.

JACK LOOKS AT JENNIFER FOR A SECOND THEN GIVES ISABELLA HIS FULL ATTENTION. JENNIFER WATCHES THEM AS SHE LEAVES.

JACK: You're freezing. What's the matter with your hands? You didn't wear gloves, did you? Are you alright?

ISABELLA: I'm scared.

JACK: Well, you're going to be scared and sick unless you're careful.

JENNIFER SHUTS THE DOOR AS SHE LEAVES.

ISABELLA: Jennifer's scared too Jack.

JACK: She'll be okay.

ISABELLA: Well, you still haven't told me what we're going to do if Victor shows up.

JACK: Well, I think that desperate times call for desperate measures. We're going to have to.....deck the halls!

JACK WALKS OVER AND PICKS UP THE TREE AND HOLDS IT ABOVE HIS HEAD AS HE CARRIES IT OVER NEAR THE FIREPLACE.

JACK: AAARRRGH! DECK THE HALLS WITH BOUGHS OF HOLLY AND VARIOUS OTHER THINGS!

ISABELLA: I'm serious.

JACK: I am serious. I'm very serious about tree trimming. Jennifer said she had all these balls and she didn't know what to do with them. I've got something for her to do with them.

ISABELLA: Thank you.

JACK: Thank you for what?

ISABELLA: For making me stay in Salem. For making me smile.

JACK: (Feeling awkward, not used to people enjoying being with him) Well you know there's a lot of people would want to send you back to Bayview for hanging around with me. You know that don't you?

ISABELLA: Like Dr. Hunter?

JACK: Yeah, for one.

ISABELLA: I heard you at the house. He was so angry. Jack I don't understand why people talk to you like that.

JACK: Well you know they've got their reasons.

ISABELLA: Why? Did you do something?

JACK: Yeah. I did something.

ISABELLA: Couldn't have been that bad.

JACK: Well it certainly wasn't good. I.... er.... I was married to Kayla once.

ISABELLA: You what?

JACK: Or should I say, she was married to me. (Beat) But she loved him. And I didn't want to let her go. So I.... er.... I did something. And a lot of people got hurt and er.... that's all in the past. And now I'm the guy that's trying to get them all back together. Whether Steve believes that or not, that is exactly what I am trying to do.

ISABELLA: I believe you.

JACK: You do? (Beat) Well I know I can't change the past but I'm certainly going to try to do something about the future. I'm going to really do something. I am.

SCENE FIVE: MEANWHILE JENNIFER GOES TO WINGS WHERE EMILIO IS PRACTICING A SONG. SAD BECAUSE SHE THINKS THAT JACK IS LOST TO HER FOREVER, SHE SOFTLY AND SADLY SHE SAYS JACK'S NAME.

SCENE SIX: AT THE SAME TIME, JACK IS DECORATING HIS TREE.

JACK: People? Yeah.... people. Yeah.

JACK IS WISTFUL AND THINKING OF JENNIFER.

ISABELLA: Well, there's not much we can do if we can't get into Steve's house.

JACK: Well, I think there is something we can do.

ISABELLA: What?

JACK: I still have this earring. You remember that?

ISABELLA: Yeah (She looks strange).

JACK: I figure when we find the owner of this earring, we'll find the person that has the key.