Scene 1: It is early the next morning and Jack is waking up to go sneak in the bed with Jennifer so that Abby doesn't get suspicious of the two of them.
[THE SCENE OPENS TO A DIMLY LIT BEDROOM. THE CLOCK ON THE NIGHTSTAND READS 5:59AM AND THE PERSON IN THE BED IS SNORING DEEPLY. IT SEEMS THAT HE OR SHE IS WEARING A BLACK SATIN EYEMASK]
[SUDDENLY THE ALARM CLOCK RINGS AND THE FIGURE SITS STRAIGHT UP IN THE BED AND PULLS OFF THE EYEMASK. IT IS JACK, WHO APPARANTLY WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY ODD DREAM]
JACK: WHOA, WHOA-I SAID I WANTED PINK LEMON--
(STOPS AND REALIZES HE IS DREAMING, HE LOOKS OVER AT THE CLOCK)
JACK: (TO HIMSELF) Well, well, Miss Horton. Let's get this show on the road.
[HE CLIMBS OUT OF THE BED AND PUTS ON HIS SLIPPERS AND ROBE, NOT REALIZING THAT HE STILL HAS THE EYE MASK AROUND HIS HEAD, HE QUICKLY MAKES THE BED AND WALKS TO THE DOOR, FINALLY RIPPING OFF THE EYE MASK AND TOSSING IT ON THE FLOOR]
[THE SCENE JUMPS TO JENNIFER'S ROOM, SHE COMES OUT OF THE BATHROOM WHERE SHE HAS CHANGED INTO A REALLY UGLY FLANNEL NIGHT GOWN. WHEN SHE HEARS JACK'S LIGHT KNOCKING, SHE HURRIES UNDER THE BED TO PRETEND LIKE SHE WAS SLEEPING]
JENNIFER: (SOFTLY) Come in.
[JACK ENTERS AND SEES THAT JENNIFER HAS CHANGED. HE CANNOT HELP BUT SMILE. SHE HAS NO IDEA THAT HE PEEKED IN ON HER LAST NIGHT]
JACK: (PLACING HIS HANDS IN THE POCKETS OF HIS ROBE) I trust you had sweet dreams?
JENNIFER: They'd be even sweeter, Jack, if you weren't here when I woke up.
JACK: (GOES TO GRAB THE DOORKNOB TO LEAVE) Your wish is my command.
JENNIFER: (SITTING STRAIGHT UP IN THE BED AND WHISPERING LOUDLY) JACK! WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING?
JACK: Look, Jennifer, as much as I love the thought of waking up next to your pretty face every morning, I would rather wake up to one sans scowl. Now if you don't think we could be civil to each other for a mere hour, I shall be retreating to my quarters (GOES TO GRAB THE DOORKNOB AGAIN). Of course, Abigail will be quite disapp-
JENNIFER: (GETTING VERY ANNOYED AND WHISPERING EVEN LOUDER) JACK DEVERAUX! YOU GET BACK IN THIS BED THIS VERY SECOND!
JACK: (SMILING SLYLY ANDPRACTICALLY LEAPING INTO THE BED) Well, when you put it like that...
JENNIFER: Very funny, Jack. We are doing this for Abby's sake, remember?
JACK: For the child
(JENNIFER HAS TAKEN ONE OF HIS TWO PILLOWS AND PUT IT BETWEEN THEM IN THE BED. JACK IS STARING AT HER)
Hey! What do you think you're doing?
JENNIFER: (TURNING AROUND TO FACE HIM) What does it look like I'm doing, Jack? Separating us. I don't want you to get any ideas like you did with that plant last night.
(JACK JUST LOOKS AT HER)
For the child, remember? The child and that's it. It's bad enough that we are co-habitating , but sharing a bed too? Remember this is for Abby and Abby only. And if it takes a pillow to separate us, so be it. That's the deal, Jack. Separate lives, separate sides. Now if you don't mind, I'd like to get some more sleep.
(SHE TURNS AROUND SO THAT HER BACK IS FACING HIM. HE IS LEFT SITTING IN THE BED, ASTOUNDED AT HER TREATMENT)
JACK: (TO HIMSELF, SOFTLY) For the child.
[THERE IS A KNOCK ON THE DOOR. IT IS ABBY, WHO HAS JUST WOKE UP]
Abby: Mommy? Daddy? Can I come in?
JENNIFER (SITTING UP IN THE BED AND HITTING JACK TO MAKE HIM SIT UP): Yeah, Baby, come on in.
[THE DOOR OPENS AND ABBY BOUNCES IN AND JUMPS IN THE BED BETWEEN THEM, SHE IS DRESSED IN A PASTEL BLUE NIGHTGOWN AND IS CARRYING A STUFFED BEAR. BOTH JACK AND JENNIFER CATCH HER IN THEIR ARMS]
JACK: (LOOKING DOWN AT HER) Well, Miss Abigail, (IN A TERRIBLE SOUTHERN ACCENT) I do declare-those gymnastics lessons are paying off!
(JENNIFER LOOKS AT JACK LIKE HE HAS LOST HIS MIND)
JENNIFER: So, Baby, how did you sleep? Do you like your new room?
ABBY: I do. I think that it's perfect. You know what makes it perfect?
JENNIFER: What makes it perfect?
ABBY: That you and Daddy are here. I can't wait to tell my friends all about it (SHE BOUNDS OFF THE BED AND TURNS TO FACE THEM) Daddy, are you going to make me breakfast?
JACK: (GETTING OUT OF BED AND PUTTING ON HIS ROBE) Breakfast, I guess I can do that. What would you care for today, Miss Abigail? Daddy's famous scrambled eggs or maybe some oatmeal or maybe even
ABBY: (GRABBING HIS HAND AND LEADING OUT OF THE ROOM) Pancakes. (BEAT) the ones with the smiley faces. You can write my name on them
(SHE LOOKS BACK AT JENNIFER WHO IS STILL IN THE BED, OBVIOUSLY REMEMBERING JACK'S "I'M SORRY" PANCAKES)
Hurry up, Mommy! Daddy will make you a pancake, too. Won't you, Daddy?
JACK: (LOOKING DOWN AT ABBY AND THEN AT JENNIFER, THINKING ABOUT THE "I'M SORRY" PANCAKES AS WELL) Hehehehe. I certainly will.
JENNIFER: (GETTING OUT OF THE BED) Good. I'd love that. (UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT JACK AND HER RENEWED FEELINGS) Tell you what, why don't you and Daddy go on down and get started on those pancakes and I'll be down in minute.
ABBY: Okay
(SHE GRABS JACK HAND AGAIN AND HE GLANCES AT JENNIFER BEFORE THEY BOTH EXIT)
JENNIFER: (BEGINNING TO MAKE THE BED) I'll eat those pancakes, Jack Deveraux, but I won't like them. I won't like them at all.
[THE SCENE ENDS WITH JENNIFER STANDING AT THE BED, CLUTCHING JACK'S PILLOW TO HER CHEST. SHE LIKES LIKE SHE WANTS TO CRY]
JACK: So nice of you to join us.
[JENNIFER JUST IGNORES HIM AND SITS DOWN ACROSS FROM HIM AT THE TABLE AND POURS HERSELF A GLASS OF ORANGE JUICE]
ABBY: Daddy made you some pancakes too, Mommy. Don't you think that they are pretty?
[JENNIFER LOOKS DOWN AT HER PANCAKES AND REALIZES THAT JACK HAS ALSO WRITTEN HER NAME ON THEM]
JENNIFER: (TO ABBY) Yeah, they are very pretty, Baby.
ABBY: (LEANS FORWARD TO WHISPER SOMETHING INTO JENNIFER'S EAR) Tell Daddy thank you.
JENNIFER: (ADJUSTING HERSELF BACK IN HER CHAIR AND FEELING VERY UNCOMFORTABLE) Thank you, Jack. The pancakes are very pretty.
ABBY: (LEANS FORWARD TO WHISPER SOMETHING INTO JACK'S EAR) Tell Mommy that she's welcome.
JACK: (ADJUSTING HIMSELF BACK IN HIS CHAIR AND FEELING VERY UNCOMFORTABLE) You're welcome, Jennifer. (TURNING TO ABBY) So, Abigail, what do you have planned today? How many hearts do you plan to break at school today?
(JENNIFER SMILES AT THIS)
ABBY: Daddy, you are so silly-boys are icky.
JACK: Abigail, in case you haven't noticed, I am a boy. And I most certainly am not icky.
(ABBY LAUGHS AT THIS)
ABBY: I'm finished (GETS UP). I'm going to go get changed for school (SHE BOUNDS OFF UP THE STAIRS LEAVING THE TWO OF THEM ALONE).
JENNIFER: (CALLING TO HER) I put your clothes on the bed! (TURNING TO JACK) Well, that was a pleasant start to this morning.
JACK: (CONTINUING TO EAT) What, the uncomfortable silences or the mere fact that she had to force us to be nice to each other?
JENNIFER: (PUTTING DOWN HER FORK AND KNIFE AND LEANING IN SO THAT ABBY WON'T HEAR) Jack, now do you see what I mean? Hope was right. No child should be subjected to this. We're going to wind up hurting Abby, not helping her. I mean, we can't even spend one night together without killing each other. And you know what, Jack...Abby's a smart kid, she's going to be on to us if she isn't already.
JACK: (PUTTING DOWN HIS FORK AND LEANING INTO SPEAK TO HER) Well, what do you suggest we do, Jennifer? Take away the family she's just happy to get back together? I don't know about you, but I will not hurt my daughter that way.
JENNIFER: Jack, how many times do I have to tell you? I would not hurt my daughter. And as much as I hate to admit it, you are right. I would never do anything to hurt my daughter.
JACK: (VERY ANGRILY) Does that also include spiriting her away from her father in the middle of the night? Does that include taking her over a thousand miles away without a single note? I mean, Jennifer, a simple line would've sufficed.
JENNIFER: (WAGS HER FINGER AT HIM) DON'T YOU DARE BRING UP AFRICA, JACK! YOU HAVE NO IDEA-
JACK: (THROWING DOWN HIS NAPKIN) No, you're right. I don't. I don't have any idea what you were thinking at that moment. I just know what you are thinking about at this moment and it's not our daughter.
JENNIFER: (CALMING DOWN AND RUBBING HER HEAD) You know what, Jack? I don't have the time or the patience for this. Let's just deal with the question at hand, what do you suggest we do for Abigail?
JACK: (SEETHING, YET CIVIL) Well, the way I see it there is only one solution.
Scene 4: Jennifer and Jack have just had another heated argument where he suggested that there is only one solution that will make this situation bearable for Abby. She is awaiting his oh-so-brilliant idea.
JENNIFER: Well...
JACK: (EATING AGAIN) Well, what?
JENNIFER: (ANNOYED) Well, are you going to tell me your oh-so-brilliant idea?
JACK: Ah, yes...my idea (STOPS EATING, PUTS HIS NAPKIN DOWN, AND CROSSES HIS HANDS). Well, it's really quite obvious. To me, anyway. You and I, as Abigail's parents and utmost supporters, have really got to brush up on our acting skills.
JENNIFER: (LIVID) Our acting skills, Jack? Our acting skills? You know you really are crazy, Jack Deveraux.
JACK: Oh, come on. It's not like we've never done it before. Baby Howie, the foster agency, your maid to my porter. As I recall, we made a helluva team. Ranked right up there with the greats (HIS HANDS ARE UP AS IF MAKING A SPEECH)...Hepburn and Tracy, Scarlett and Rhett...
JENNIFER: (SHE WANTS TO HATE THE IDEA BUT ACTUALLY LOVES IT DEEP INSIDE) Abbott and Costello.
JACK: (FROWNING) So be it. What do you say, Jennifer? Shall we give it the old college try? You did make a fetching heiress (REFERRING TO HER STINT AS KATERINA VON LEUSCHNER)...
JENNIFER: You know what, Jack? Abby is right.
JACK: If you mean that I am fetching and charming and have a great sense of humor-
JENNIFER: No, Jack. What she said about boys-you are icky! (SHE THROWS DOWN HER NAPKIN AND IS ABOUT TO GO TO THE KITCHEN WHEN ABIGAIL COMES DOWN THE STAIRS DRESSED FOR SCHOOL, COMPLETE WITH A BACKPACK).
Oh, hi Baby (UNCOMFORTABLE AND HOPING THAT ABBY DID NOT SEE THEM FIGHTING).
You're ready already? Just give me a minute and I'll be ready and I'll-
(JACK HAS COME AND PUT HIS ARM AROUND JENNIFER)
JACK: (WHISPERING) There's no better time than the present.
JENNIFER: I mean, we'll, take you to school. Okay?
ABBY: (HEADING TO THE DOOR) That's okay. I think I want to take the bus today. My friend Sam rides it and she says it's fun.
JENNIFER: (HURT, KNEELING DOWN TO SPEAK TO HER) You don't want Mommy
JACK: (ALSO HURT, KNEELING DOWN NEXT TO JENNIFER) And Daddy
JENNIFER: To take you to school?
ABBY: No, really. I'll be fine (LOOKS OUT THE WINDOW) Oh, there's Sam now. Bye Mommy (KISSES JENNIFER). Bye Daddy (KISSES JACK). I'll take the bus home so that you can have more time to unpack and talk
(GOES TO WALK OUT THE DOOR)
Oh, and don't worry. I will be fine.
JENNIFER: What about your lunch?
ABBY: In my backpack. I'll be fine. Really.
[ABBY EXITS, LEAVING JACK AND JENNIFER HURT AT THE REALIZATION THAT THEIR BABY IS GETTING OLDER]
JENNIFER AND JACK: Bye.
Scene 5: Abby has just left the house and caught the school bus. Jennifer, realizing how quickly Abby has grown up, is sad and is watching her from the window with her arms crossed. Jack is standing behind her, still in his pajamas, watching her with great sadness.
JENNIFER: There she goes, Jack. My, OUR, Baby. (SHE TURNS AROUND WITH HER ARMS STILL CROSSED AND IS NOW LOOKING DOWN VERY SADLY)
JACK: (SEARCHING FOR THE RIGHT WORDS TO SAY) She's become quite the little independent woman, hasn't she? (LAUGHS NERVOUSLY)
JENNIFER: (FORLORNLY) Yeah, I guess she has (SHE MOVES TO THE COUCH AND SITS). It seems like yesterday she was placed in my arms.
JACK: (MOVING OVER AND SITTING BESIDE HER WITH HIS ARM ON THE BACK OF THE COUCH) By yours truly, nonetheless.
JENNIFER: (LOOKING AT HIM) I remember that, Jack. How could I forget? You were so nervous.
JACK: (GETTING EXCITED AT THE FACT THAT JENNIFER IS NOT ACTUALLY YELLING AT HIM) Me? No, I was the picture of calmness. You, however, as I recall, practically refused to give birth at that cabin.
JENNIFER: (SMILING) Me? (BEAT) I guess I was pretty scared, huh?
(JACK JUST SMILES)
(THERE ARE A FEW SECONDS OF UNCOMFORTABLE SILENCE)
JACK: Do you remember her first day of school?
JENNIFER: When they had to practically call in security to make us leave? Or how 'bout when I taught both you and Abby to swim?
JACK: Correction-when you taught Abigail to swim. All I remember was tons of water rushing in my mouth and nose and the unmistakable sound of my wife and daughter's giggling.
JENNIFER: (UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT HEARING THE WORD WIFE) You know, I've got to go get changed (GETS UP TO LEAVE)
JACK: (SAD THAT SHE IS GOING AND GENTLY GRABBING HER HAND) Wait!
JENNIFER: (PULLING HER HAND AWAY FROM JACK) What, Jack?
JACK: (PUTTING HIS HAND NERVOUSLY IN HIS LAP) Um, what's the rush? This was actually, really, um, nice....I mean, walking down memory lane with you.
JENNIFER: (NOT WANTING TO ADMIT THAT SHE WAS LOVING RELIVING THE STORIES) Yeah, Jack I guess it was, but that was then, this is now. Now if you'll excuse me (SHE WALKS UP THE STAIRS AND GLANCES AT HIM SADLY FROM THE TOP).
JACK: (SOFTLY, TO HIMSELF) The question is, Jennifer, how did we get to now?
[THE SCENE ENDS WITH JACK PICKING UP A PHOTO FROM THE TABLE BEHIND THE COUCH. IT IS OF HIM , ABBY, AND JENNIFER ON WHAT APPEARS TO BE GRASSLANDS IN AFRICA. IN IT, JACK IS HOLDING ABBY ON HIS HIP AND HAS HIS ARM AROUND JENNIFER. THEY LOOK VERY HAPPY AND VERY MUCH IN LOVE]
[UPSTAIRS IN HER ROOM, JENNIFER IS UNPACKING A FEW THINGS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING AND SHE COMES ACROSS ANOTHER PICTURE OF THEM. IN THIS ONE, SHE, JACK, AND ABBY ARE UNDER WHAT APPEARS TO BE MISTLETOE AT A CHRISTMAS PARTY. BOTH SHE AND ABBY ARE KISSING JACK ON THE CHEEKS AND HE IS UTTERLY HAPPY. THE FRAME ON THIS PICTURE SAYS SIMPLY "MY TWO GIRLS"]
JENNIFER: (TO HERSELF) Where did we go wrong, Jack?
End of Episode 2
