oldEpisode Four-hundred-twenty-seven:
Jack Is Lonesome with Jennifer
Away. Jack, Isabella, and Baby
Brady Share a Sweet Moment Together.

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[Air date mid-June 1992]

 

SCENE ONE: IT IS A FEW DAYS AFTER JENNIFER HAS LEFT FOR NEW YORK. JACK IS DOWN AT ALICE'S RESTAURANT TELLING ALICE ABOUT JENNIFER.

JACK: So it appears that Jennifer is having a wonderful time in New York and she said that Calliope is quote unquote....a doll.

ALICE: Well this is a wonderful opportunity for her but I can see how this might present problems with your marriage, that is if you let it threaten you.

JACK: I never said I was threatened. I said I'm feeling a little envious of the business she's in right now but it's not because she's in the limelight.

ALICE: Oh, then what?

JACK: Well....well I'm a reporter now at The Spectator and obviously I don't pull in the money I used to and that....well that makes Jennifer the primary bread winner. What I'm trying to say is this. There was a time when Jennifer and I first met when I had so much money I could....I could give her and anyone in her environment whatever they needed.

ALICE: Jack, you're giving Jennifer the thing she wants most in the world right now, yourself.

JACK: Yeah but who knows how long that's going to be true.

ALICE: Jack, you mustn't let this opportunity for her make you feel that it's excluded you. Now this may be a wonderful chance for you. You can sit down. You can think over what you want to be, what you want to do. It's a great chance. You've done it before. You can do it again.

JACK: You think so?

ALICE: I know it. You have great possibilities.

SCENE TWO: JACK HAS RETURNED BACK TO THE APARTMENT AND SITS DOWN TO READ A BOOK CALLED MAKE OPPORTUNITY KNOCK AT YOUR DOOR. AS HE'S READING IT, SOMEBODY KNOCKS ON HIS DOOR.

 

JACK: Well, who knows, perhaps opportunity is knocking as I speak.

 

HE OPENS THE DOOR AND IT IS ISABELLA HOLDING BRADY, HER BABY BOY.

 

JACK: Hello.

ISABELLA: Hello.

JACK: Isabella! I really didn't expect you or....the little one. Please come in and make my day.

ISABELLA: Well thank you. You see Brady and I were just out doing the town and he had this wonderful idea that we should come and meet his mommy's first friend in Salem, Uncle Jack.

JACK: Not that I made it to the wedding/birth but thank you. Thank you very much.

 

SHE SITS ON THE SOFA WITH THE BABY AND JACK SITS NEXT TO HER.

 

JACK: You always manage to pull me out of the doldrums.

ISABELLA: Oh, Jack's in the doldrums. Well we always managed to pull each other out of the doldrums before.

JACK: Yes. I suppose those were faraway and complicated times, right?

ISABELLA: Yeah well I think times are better now huh? Jack, you're going to love being a parent.

JACK: Oh I'm sure I will. I....I couldn't have imagined it before but after life with Jennifer I think I've developed a whole new perspective on things.

ISABELLA: Oh, speaking of Jennifer, we heard that she's going to be doing that show in New York with Calliope. That's pretty exciting, huh?

JACK: Oh yes, it's going to be kind of a Nightline show only during the day. It could be a really big break for her.

ISABELLA: That's exciting. How do you feel about it?

JACK: Me? I couldn't be prouder....of Jennifer.

ISABELLA: Yeah? Well you know what Jack, I am proud of you.

JACK: Proud of me? For what? What did I do?

ISABELLA: You've changed so much. (The baby cries) Oh my goodness. Jack you are going to love being a parent, you are, you are, you are.

JACK: Yes, speaking of loving, I, ah, I realize I am going to have someone for this little one to play with before long.

ISABELLA: Heeheeheeh. Well that'll be fun, won't it Brady?

JACK: Fun, yes. Speaking of the fun, this could hopefully cut down on the fighting and....here.

 

HE HANDS ISABELLA A CARD.

 

ISABELLA: What is this?

JACK: Here, I'll open it up for you.

ISABELLA: Oh my goodness. Congratulations Mr. Black, you are now a lifetime member of the Book of the Month Club. Well thank you Jack but he's only two months old.

JACK: So?

ISABELLA: So, he can't read yet.

JACK: Well that doesn't matter. By the time he's five years old he'll have a complete collection of the classics. You know, Shakespeare, Dickens, Melville....Moby Dick.

ISABELLA: Ah yeah, well he'll be the most well-read kid in class, huh. Thank you Jack.

JACK: No, no, no, call me Ishmael.

ISABELLA: I miss you Ishmael. Come on, give us a hug.

 

HE LEANS OVER AND GIVES ISABELLA AND BRADY A BIG HUG.