Episode
Forty-Three: The Homecoming Part VII:
Abigail Is Released from the Hospital,
Jack Tries to Find Information on Chelsea's Relatives.
[Air
date May 18, 2005]
Scene
One: At the hospital, the day after Abigail's accident, and Jack's
return and reunion with Jennifer. They have both changed, Jack is
wearing a pin stripped suit with pale blue button down Oxford shirt
which is not tucked in and hanging loosely. Jack has his arm around
Jennifer. Abigail is dressed and bandaged up, and is standing by
a wheelchair. She is not happy at the thought of having to leave
the hospital in a wheelchair. Jack and Jennifer try to convince
her otherwise.
ABIGAIL:
There is no way I am getting into that wheelchair.
JENNIFER: Sweetie, we want to take you home.
Jack
is about to say something in protest but Abigail interrupts him.
ABIGAIL:
Why can't I just walk home? (She frowns and looks
concerned) I-I.... Is there something you're not telling me?
JACK: No, no, no, no this is just regular hospital
policy. There's nothing seriously wrong with you, you're fit as
a fiddle, thank goodness.
JENNIFER: Yeah, Abby, it's a miracle, really.
ABIGAIL: (Sad) Chelsea didn't have a miracle.
Jack
and Jennifer look at each other. Realizing that Chelsea was not
as blessed as they were.
JENNIFER:
No, no she didn't.
JACK: (Softly) No.
ABIGAIL: How could we just leave her here all alone?
And.... And who's going to tell her that her parents died in the
accident.
Jack
and Jennifer look at their daughter, not knowing what to say.
JACK:
We don't know that either.
ABIGAIL: I have to see her before we leave.
Scene
Two: Abigail is visiting with Chelsea. When Chelsea asks about her
parents, and why they have not been in to see her. Abigail does
not have the heart to tell her.
Jack and Jennifer are watching from the hallway. Jennifer turns
towards Jack.
JENNIFER:
Ahh, I just feel so bad for Chelsea, Jack, she is a good kid. She
didn't deserve this.
JACK: Who does.
JENNIFER: I'm just so grateful that Abby's injuries
weren't serious, and that (touching Jack) you're here and you're
back (they hug each other tightly) and that we're a family again.
Jack
sees Abigail coming out of Chelsea's room, so he breaks the embrace.
JACK:
Ah, here she comes.
She
walks over to them upset over the fact Chelsea still has not heard
about her parents' death.
JENNIFER:
Hey, are you okay?
ABIGAIL:
She still doesn't know about her parents! (Almost
in tears) She asked me why they haven't come to see her and....
I.... (choked up) I couldn't tell her.
JENNIFER: (Feeling bad for her) I know, I know,
Honey, we.... we will figure out a way to break it to her.
Jack
looks at Jennifer as if he does not know how.
JENNIFER:
(Cont.) Okay, we will.
ABIGAIL: And then what? Where
is she gonna live?! (Pleading) What's gonna happen to her.
JACK: She doesn't have any relatives?
ABIGAIL: I-I.... I don't know she never talked
about any.
JACK: (Talking to Jennifer) She didn.... her parents
didn't mentioned anything to you?
JENNIFER: I don't know, Jack, I barely knew them.
Abby and Chelsea just got close this past year.
Jack
and Jennifer looked concerned as well.
ABIGAIL:
We've got to do something! I mean, Chelsea's all
alone. She's soo scared.
JACK: (Rubbing Jennifer's shoulder) I-I.... I'll
try to do some investigating, I'll find out what I can about her
family and her parents.
Scene
Three: Jennifer and Abigail are sitting in the lobby. Jack is off
trying to find out information about the Benson's. Jennifer is holding
her daughter's hand in hers. Abigail tells her, "I never gave
up hope of Dad being alive." Jennifer pats her hand trying
to comfort her. Abigail tells her mother that there is "no
hope for Chelsea." Abigail says that no amount of prayer will
bring them back. She says that Chelsea has "nobody left."
Jennifer hugs her daughter, saying she is sorry. Just then Jack
returns, and sits next to them.
JACK:
All right....
JENNIFER: Hey!
JACK: (Cont.) We've got a break. (Gesturing) I
found someone who's a veritable font of information about Chelsea's
parents.
ABIGAIL: Who?
JACK: Right here!
Jack
points over to Mickey. Jennifer and Abigail are confused.
Scene
Four: The three get up. Jennifer is confused as to how Mickey knew
the Bensons. Mickey explains that he was just recently hired by
them to be their attorney. Mickey explains that he was appointed
executor of their estate. Mickey tells them that there are no relatives,
"it was just the three of them." Jack looks on concerned.
Abigail looks saddened.
JACK:
(Concerned) Well, I mean, th.... they're taken care of financially,
right?
Mickey
tells them all that unfortunately they are not. He tells them that
recently they wanted him to help them apply for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Jack becomes even more upset by the news. Mickey tells them that
they both had lost their jobs, and that they had used up their savings
and even cashed in their life insurances policies. Jack looks over
at his family. Mickey tells them that it is even worse, they had
just come to see him and told him that they had defaulted on their
mortgage and were about to lose their house. Abigail is surprised
because Chelsea had not told her. Mickey is not surprised, he tells
her that they probably did not want to burden Chelsea with the bad
news. Jack cannot believe what he is hearing.
JACK:
(Frowning) R-r... right but you.... you're saying that there's....
there's nothing?!
MICKEY: Noo, (shaking his head) just bills. And
add to that the cost of two funerals now.
Jack
looks over at Jennifer and Abigail.
MICKEY:
That little girl didn't just lose her parents, she lost everything!
Jack
is as upset by the news as are Abigail and Jennifer. Jennifer puts
her arms around Abigail.
Jack walks over to them, standing in back of them he puts his arms
around them both.
JACK:
It's gonna be okay. (Softly) It's gonna be okay.
Jack
kisses his daughter's head for comfort. Abigail drinks in the love
of her parents' embraces.
Scene
Five: The Deverauxes and Mickey are still talking about Chelsea.
Jack has his arms around Jennifer and Abigail. Abigail wonders what
will become of Chelsea. Mickey promises to do all he can to help
her. He also plans on getting the Horton Foundation to establish
a memorial fund to pay for the hospital bills and for the funerals.
Mickey tells them that he will make the first donation. Looking
down at Abigail then Jennifer.
JACK:
And, ah, w-w... we'll contribute something, too.
Jennifer
looks up at Jack. Mickey tells them that she needs more than financial
help, she needs the help of her friends. Abigail vows to be there
for her. Mickey tells her how glad that *she* is fine. He tells
her that that the Horton family built the hospital, but "I
hate having my family have to use it." Jennifer thanks her
uncle.
MICKEY:
(Winks at Abigail) I'll see you all later (points and walks off).
JACK: We'll see you, Mickey. Thank you!
Jennifer
falls into Jack's arms, Jack gives them a big hug. They both enjoy
being back in his arms.
JACK:
(Sighing) Haaa.... I can't tell how good it feels
to have my two best girls with me.
JENNIFER: Hmmm!
JACK: There is nothing like family!
Abigail
smiles. Jack then kisses the top of Jennifer's and Abigail's heads.
At
that moment Billie turns the corner and sees the happy family
scene. She smiles and then has a fantasy of her, Bo and their
daughter having a similar scene; Bo says the same things to them
as Jack said to Jennifer and Abigail.
Billie then calls over to Jack.
BILLIE:
(Walking towards him) Jack! Jack!
Billie
stops. Jack notices her and is glad to see her. Jennifer laughs
and so does Abigail.
JACK:
Billie!
BILLIE: (Cont.) Hiiii (Laughing)!
JACK: (Jack walks towards him) Billie! (They hug)
Billie, Oohh, my gosh!
BILLIE: Oh gosh, my mom told me that you and the
others were alive, but.... but to see you this it's just.... oh
it's wonderful!
JACK: Oh, it's wonderful to see
you broken arm and everything, oh....
BILLIE: (Putting her hand to her forehead) I know,
I can.... I'm such a klutz. You're really home!
JACK: I'm home! Billie, I'm home!
Jack
walks over to Jennifer and puts his arm around her.
JACK:
(Cont.) I tell you right now, the di Meras don't always win!
Jennifer
looks up at Jack. Billie thinks about it and becomes optimistic;
it is obvious she is also believing that she will find Georgia and
that then she, Bo and Georgia will be a family.
BILLIE:
You're right! You're right, miracles can
happen!
Scene
Six: Billie continues her talk with Jack, Jennifer and Abigail.
Jennifer continues to look at Jack filled with love.
JACK:
Thanks for everything you did for Abigail after the accident. You're
a good friend.
BILLIE: Oh, you two must be thrilled
to have him home.
ABIGAIL: We are!
JENNIFER: Billie, it is still (chuckles) so hard
to believe, really.
JACK: Yeah, I bet your mother's going to be happy
to have Roman back, too.
BILLIE: Oh, she sure is. She is
very happy. But she made me promise not to tell
Bo anything because Roman wants to tell him himself
about Victor and Caroline.
JACK: That's gonna be hard hearing that both
his mother and father are gone.
This
makes them all remember Chelsea. Billie notices their expressions.
Jack
sighs. Not knowing what to say. He looks down at Jennifer. She finally
explains to Billie what is going on.
JENNIFER:
Ah, we.... we're about to break the same news to
Chelsea.
BILLIE: She still doesn't know?!
Jennifer
shakes her head. Abigail tells Billie that Chelsea does not even
have relatives.
JACK:
And she's broke. I mean, they were completely
in debt. I mean, the Horton Foundation is going to set
up a fund, but--
Jennifer
then says that now that they know she has no family she needs to
go in and tell her. Billie interrupts her saying that she will do
it. Billie says that she promised Chelsea's mother before she died
that she would take care of Chelsea. So, she thinks she should tell
her. Billie pats Jack's arm, and he hers for support.
She then goes inside and tells Chelsea about her parents, and comforts
her.
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