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Keeping Up With the Deverauxes
By Jennifer-Lynn D'Anna
Episode 3
Jack and Jennifer remember their special relationship.

[IT IS A FEW DAYS LATER AND JENNIFER AND HOPE ARE AT SALEM PLACE SHOPPING. THEY ARE RESTING FOR A MOMENT AND HAVE DECIDED TO STOP AT THE CAFÉ FOR COFFEE]

HOPE: (SITTING DOWN) Wow, it sounds like Abby is loving this house situation.

JENNIFER: Yeah, she is. (SITTING DOWN ACROSS FROM HOPE) Hope, I cannot tell you how good it feels to see that smile of hers. Jack and I were talking the other day about old times and

HOPE: (SMUGLY SMILIING) Uh huh.

JENNIFER: What?

HOPE: (OPENING HER MENU AND LOOKING DOWN) You.

JENNIFER: Me?

HOPE: (LOOKING AT JENNIFER) Yeah, you. Jenn, have you even listened to yourself at all lately? In the last fifteen minutes you have mentioned Jack at least twenty times.

(JENNIFER JUST STARES AT HER)


Scene 2: Meanwhile, Greta is at the florist shop. She is buying flowers to bring to Lucas when Jack walks by. He is whistling a tune from "Peter and the Wolf" when he spots Greta through the window. He decides to go in.

JACK: (GESTERING TO GRETA WHO IS HOLDING A BOUQUET) For me? Princess, you shouldn't have.

GRETA: You know, I'm really starting to think that you are following me, Jack Deveraux.

JACK: Never. I just happened to be walking along in search of a decent newspaper in this town and well, we know that's not going to happen, when I happened to peek in this lovely shop and spotted your heiness. (HE BOWS) Dare I ask who the lovely array of flora is for?

GRETA: Actually, Jack, they are for Lucas. I figured that that old hospital room needed some cheering up. Even if Lucas couldn't see them, someone could enjoy them. Like Kate or

JACK: Or Austin.

GRETA: (SMILING) As a matter of fact I think Austin would like them also.

JACK: Yes, I'm sure he will. If, of course, he likes your run-of-the-mill bouquet.

GRETA: What is wrong with my bouquet?

JACK: Nothing, of course. It just lacks a little joie de viv, a lust for life, if you will.

GRETA: I'm sorry, Jack, I didn't realize that you were a flower connoisseur. What do you suggest I get?

JACK: Ah, yes. Newspaper man by day, closet florist by night. I mean, what you have there is fine, but you want something spectacular, something that says "Your girlfriend is no good for you, please choose me." See, right over here we have the rose which for years has been known go stand for lo--

[THE SCENE ENDS WITH JACK PUTTING HIS ARM AROUND GRETA AND WALKING HER THROUGH THE STORE POINTING OUT DIFFERENT TYPES OF FLOWERS]


Scene 3: Hope has just basically accused Jennifer of falling for Jack hook, line, and sinker. Jennifer tries to justify herself to Hope.

JENNIFER: Hope, are you trying to accuse me of falling for Jack? I mean, I know that I may have mentioned him quite a bit today, but we do share a daughter and now a house together, but if you think for one moment that I am falling back into Jack Deveraux' arms, you are terribly wrong.

HOPE: (ALOOF) Whatever you say, Jenn.

JENNIFER: No, Hope, I'm serious. Jack and I are over, done, finished, finito. There is nothing in this world that could make me fall for his lines all over again. That may have worked when I was young and naïve, but not now

HOPE: (SMILING) Jenn, if there's anyone I know better than Bo, it's you. And I also know that we've heard this whole story before. When Jack left because of Hawk, when he left because he thought he hurt Abby. Do you remember those times, Jenn? (BEAT) You've got to understand that my reason for doubting you comes from your history together. Come on, this is the same guy who told you to marry someone else and then kidnapped you on a firetruck to stop you from making that mistake.

(JENNIFER SMILES AT THIS)

What you two had, Jenn, was never conventional. I didn't understand it, Grams didn't understand it. In fact, no one did. But you two somehow made it work. When you looked into Jack's eyes and said that you'd take him for better and for worse, you knew what you were getting into. And after all that's passed, Jenn, after everything Jack did wrong, you forgave him. What's stopping you now? What did Jack do in Africa that's so horrible that you can't forgive him this time?

(JENNIFER IS SILENT AND LOOKS VERY SAD)

Scene 4: Jack and Greta are still in the flower shop. He has just finished telling her what all the different types of flowers are when they come across the delphiniums.

GRETA: Oh, delphiniums. I've always thought these were pretty. Maybe Lucas would like these, Jack. What do you think?

(JACK HAS JUST SEEN THE DELPHINIUMS AND IS SPEECHLESS. HE KNOWS THAT THEY ARE JENNIFER'S FAVORITE FLOWERS AND IS SADDENED BY THE SIGHT OF THEM)

Hello? Earth to Jack?

JACK: (BREAKING HIS SILENCE BUT STILL VERY UPSET) Wh-wh-what was that?

GRETA: (CONFUSED AT JACK'S REACTION) Delphiniums, Jack. I was thinking about getting delphiniums for Lucas' room. So, tell me, what do they mean?

JACK: (PUTTING HIS HANDS IN HIS POCKETS AND LOOKING AWAY) Actually, I don't know anything about delphiniums.

GRETA: You mean to tell me that you, Mr. Newspaperman by day, closet florist by night, do not know something? You know I should really write this down for posterity's sake.

JACK: (VISIBLY SHAKEN) Yes, maybe you should. You can list it under the "Rare and Abnormal Occurences" section at the library, right next to love at first sight and three-legged livestock (MOVING TO THE DOOR) Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be waiting outside. (HE LEAVES LEAVING GRETA WONDERING WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH HIM)

GRETA: (CONFUSED, TO HERSELF) I wonder what that was all about.


Scene 5: Greta has just left the flower shop and has decided to buy delphiniums, much to Jack's chagrin. He is seated on a bench outside the florist shop at Salem Place when she comes out. She notices that he looks sad.

GRETA: (SITTING DOWN NEXT TO JACK AND SPEAKING QUIETLY) You know, I had no idea that buying something as beautiful as flowers could put someone in such a bad mood.

JACK: (FORCING A SMILE) Who me? I'm just dandy. High as a kite, free as a bird. Don't mind me, after a while the smell of the flowers just gets to me that's all-all that nature packed in a little space. Sometimes it's a bit much for this city boy to take.

(HE NOTICES SHE BOUGHT THE DELPHINIUMS)

Ah, I see you went with the delphiniums. At least they are nice (GETTING FLUSTERED). I remember one time I tried to buy them for Jennifer and they were the most gorgeous shade of blue. Kind of in between the color of the sky and

GRETA: (SEEING HOW UPSET THE FLOWERS MADE HIM AND KNOWING THAT THEY MADE HIM THINK OF JENNIFER) Jack, are these Jennifer's favorite flowers?

JACK: (HURT AND LYING) No, no. Miss Horton? She wouldn't know a rose from a ragweed. I mean-

GRETA: They are, aren't they? These are Jennifer's favorite flowers.

JACK: Well (BEAT) well (HIS FACE DROPS) yes.

GRETA: Jack, I'm sorry. I can go get another bouquet (SHE STARTS TO GET UP)

JACK: (GRABS HER ARMS AND SITS HER BACK DOWN) No, you most certainly will not. I mean, there is no rule about not being able to buy certain types of flowers just because one's ex liked them. At least I haven't heard about it.

GRETA: You know what I think, Jack? I think you need to talk to somebody about this.

JACK: About the fact that I can't stay in flower shops very long because of the smell of them? I really don't think that talking about it could help much? Maybe a simple operation on my adenoi-

GRETA: No, Jack. I'm serious. About the fact that you still love your ex-wife.

[THE SCENE ENDS WITH JACK JUST LOOKING AT GRETA AS IF SHE HAD OPENED AN OLD WOUND]


Scene 6: Hope and Jennifer are still sitting at their table at the café and Hope had just asked Jennifer what Jack did wrong in Africa. Jennifer is very uncomfortable with the question.

JENNIFER: You know, Hope, you are not going to let this die, are you? You are still convinced that no matter what I say or do that I am still in love with Jack. Well, if you must know, Jack did nothing wrong in Africa-nothing out of the ordinary, that is. It was me, sweet little old Jennifer. Predictable Jennifer, butter-would-melt-in-her mouth-Jennifer. Me, Hope! Do you understand that? Now if you want to, you can hold onto these illusions of me and Jack getting back together-about us finding out that we can't live without each other-but if I were you, I'd get rid of them (BEAT) That's what I did. (GETS UP TO LEAVE)

HOPE: (GRABS HER HAND) Jenn, don't leave. I'm sorry, I won't talk about it anymore...

JENNIFER: (REGAINING COMPOSURE AND FEELING VERY BADLY FOR BLOWING UP AT HOPE) No, no, I'm sorry, Hope. I shouldn't have blown up at you like that. I just really think I should go. I just want to be alone right now.

HOPE: Are you sure?

JENNIFER: Yeah, I am (GATHERING UP HER BAGS AND LOOKING AS IF SHE WANTS TO CRY). I'll call you later, okay?

(HOPE NODS AND LOOKS VERY SADLY AT JENNIFER AS SHE WALKS AWAY)

HOPE: (TO HERSELF) Oh, Jenn.


Scene 7: Greta and Jack are still sitting on the bench outside the florist shop and Jack is hurt by Greta's suggestion that he still loves Jennifer.

JACK: That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of. Jennifer and I are divorced (GETS UP AND PACES). Things are over between us.

GRETA: Jack, just because your divorced, it doesn't mean you don't love each other still.

JACK: (GLARING AT HER) Are we quite through with this drugstore psychology?

GRETA: (STANDING) Hey, hey, don't get mad at me. I was just trying to help.

JACK: Well, help is the last thing I need on that subject. Decorating my house---now, that, that could use the h-word. Now, back to the reason I accosted you at the floral shop, I was thinking about a patio set for the warm weather. Nothing metal or wicker, something tasteful. What do you think?

GRETA: So that's it, huh? The subject of you and Jennifer is closed?

JACK: (HURT)) I didn't realize it was even open. Hehehe. (PUTS HIS ARM AROUND HER) Now, shall we?

(GRETA AND JACK WALK AWAY FROM THE BENCH AND JACK CAN BE OVERHEARD TALKING ABOUT THIS PATIO SET THAT HE WANTS)


Scene 8: Jennifer, upset, has left Hope and is wandering around Salem Place. She is growing more upset by the moment because there are people all around her very much in love. She sits down on a bench in the middle of the court and sighs.

JENNIFER: (TO HERSELF) It was me that messed up. It was me.

SHE STARTS TO THINK ABOUT HER AND JACK'S RELATIONSHIP

SHE THINKS ABOUT WHEN THEY WENT TO ATLANTIC CITY AND HE GOT DRUNK

SHE THINKS OF THEIR FIRST KISS IN STEVE AND KAYLA'S SECRET ROOM

SHE THINKS ABOUT WHEN JACK SHOWED UP AT HER GRANDMOTHER'S DRESSED IN ALL LEATHER

SHE THINKS ABOUT WHEN HE WHISKED HER AWAY FROM HER WEDDING ON THE FIRETRUCK AND WHEN HE BROUGHT HER THE LEATHER DRESS TO WEAR IN THE MOUNTAINS

SHE THINKS ABOUT WHEN THEY WERE ON THE LORETTA DRESSED AS ARTHUR AND GUINEVERE

SHE THINKS ABOUT THEM JUMPING OFF THE SHIP AND THEN MAKING LOVE IN THE CAVE

[MEANWHILE, JACK IS WAITING OUTSIDE A STORE FOR GRETA AND IS HOLDING THE DELPHINIUMS FOR HER, HE SMELLS THEM AND BEGINS TO THINK ABOUT JENNIFER]

HE THINKS ABOUT WHEN THEY ARE BATHING TOGETHER AFTER MAKING LOVE FOR THE FIRST TIME

HE THINKS ABOUT WHEN THEY WERE OUTSIDE THE LEDGE OF WARNER BAYER'S ROOM AND HOW HE HID IN THE CLOSET DRESSED AS A DIGNITARY

HE THINKS ABOUT HOW HE FOLLOWED HER TO NEW YORK AND HOW HE DANCED WITH HER AT THE BALL

HE THINKS ABOUT THE SWORD FIGHT WITH LAWRENCE AND HOW HE TOLD HER TO TELL EVERYONE HE LOVED HER AND SHE DID

HE THINKS ABOUT PROPOSING TO HER ON THE ROOFTOP

HE THINKS ABOUT THEIR WEDDING AND HOW BEAUTIFUL SHE WAS WHEN HE LIFTED HER VEIL

HE THINKS ABOUT THE BIRTH OF ABBY

HE THINKS ABOUT WHEN HE LEFT ABBY AND JENNIFER

HE ALSO THINKS ABOUT A SERIES OF SCENES WE HAD NEVER SEEN:


Scene 9: Flashback of a never before aired scene. Jack has sneaked into Abigail's nursery about 6 months after he left Jennifer.

[THE SCENE OPENS TO A DIMLY LIT NURSERY. A FIGURE IS SNEAKING IN THROUGH THE NURSERY WINDOW. HE IS DRESSED IN ALL BLACK AND HAS A BLACK SKI CAP ON. AFTER MUCH GRUNTING, HE MAKES IT THROUGH THE WINDOW, STOPS TO BREATHE FOR A SECOND, AND THEN WALKS OVER TO THE CRIB WHERE ABBY IS LYING AWAKE. BY THE NIGHTLIGHT, WE SEE THAT IT IS JACK]

JACK: (LEANING OVER TO PEEK AT ABBY AND WHISPERING) Hello Abigail. How are you today? (BEAT) Ah, not up for talking? Well, that's fine. Have you been taking good care of your mother? (BEAT) Good. She needs you, you know. (KNEELS DOWN TO BE CLOSER TO HER) (BEAT) I need you. And you know what? I need her too.

(BEAT)

Listen, I know that you're not going to understand this now and when you're older, you're probably going to understand this even less, but I am going to be here for you (BEAT) No matter where you are, I will be there. Given, I may be lurking in the catacombs, but I will be there. I'll never leave you. You'll always have me right there in your heart (TOUCHES HER CHEST). Just like I have you and your mother in mine. (TOUCHES HIS HEART) Right here.

(JENNIFER HAS WOKEN UP AND NOTICES A FIGURE IN THE ROOM WITH ABBY. SHE GRABS AND UMBRELLA OUT OF THE HALL CLOSET AND COMES IN AND STARTS BEATING HIM, NOT KNOWING IT IS JACK)

JACK: (FENDING OFF JENNIFER) HEY, HEY! WHAT'S THE BIG IDE-

JENNIFER: (DROPS HER HANDS TO THE SIDE, STILL CLUTCHING THE UMBRELLA) JACK!?

(HE TURNS AROUND AND FACES HER AND YOU COULD SEE THE IMMENSE LOVE IN THEIR EYES. JENNIFER PICKS UP THE UMBRELLA AND BEGINS BEATING HIM AGAIN)

[A FEW MOMENTS AFTER JENNIFER HAS REALIZED IT WAS JACK IN THE NURSERY, THEY ARE NOW IN THE LIVING ROOM OF THEIR OLD HOUSE]

JENNIFER: (VERY MAD AT JACK, YET STILL LOVING HIM) HOW LONG?! HOW LONG JACK!?

JACK: Jennifer, I...

JENNIFER: HOW LONG JACK!? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SNEAKING INTO OUR DAUGHTER'S ROOM?

JACK: Maybe you should sit down..I'll get you some tea. Do we still keep it in the cupboard by the--

JENNIFER: (CRYING AND SHAKING) NO! THE LEAST YOU CAN DO IS ANSWER ME! HOW LONG?!

JACK: Well, I guess about 6 months now. Since I (BEAT. HE IS ABOUT TO CRY SEEING HOW HURT SHE IS) left.

JENNIFER: (CRYING AND SHAKING MORE VIOLENTLY) Since you left? Since you left me Jack? Since you left me and your newborn daughter? Do you know what that feels like, Jack? To have the one person in the world that you trusted, that you loved more than life itself, to not be there when you woke up?

JACK: (LOOKING AS IF HE WANTS TO CRY) As a matter of fact I do. (HE SITS DOWN AND LOOKS AT HER WITH GREAT LOVE IN HIS EYES) I love you, Jennifer. I never stopped loving you or Abigail I love you both more than anything else. I just couldn't-

JENNIFER: (CRYING VIOLENTLY) YOU COULDN'T?! YOU COULDN'T?! AND I COULD? WHY, WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO ME, JACK? I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DO IT, BUT I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THIS. YOU LOVE ME?. I LOVED YOU, JACK DEVERAUX, AND YOU, YOU....

JACK: (SHAKEN BY HOW OUT OF CONTROL JENNIFER IS AND KNOWING THAT HE MADE HER FEEL THAT WAY) I felt responsible. It was me who got Abigail sick. I didn't know how you could look at me after that. (BEAT ) I couldn't even look at me.

JENNIFER: AND YOU THINK I COULD LOOK AT YOU NOW? AFTER YOU LEFT ME AND YOUR DAUGHTER TO GO FIND AN ANSWER GOD KNOWS WHERE?

JACK: (GETTING UP TO LEAVE) Maybe I should go.

JENNIFER: (CALMLY) No.

JACK: No? (HE STOPS TO LOOK AT HER)

JENNIFER: No, Jack. You are not going anywhere. For the first time in your life, you are going to have to stay, Jack. You are going to have to deal, because, because (BEAT, SHE IS CHOKING ON HER TEARS) Jack, if you really do love me and have any intention of us ever being a family, you have got to listen to me. If you walk out that door right now, you give up and everything (BEAT) everything we ever had never mattered. I never gave up on you, Jack. What did you think you were going to do if I didn't catch you. Sneak in and visit your daughter until she's eighteen, Jack? You left me and I was beyond mad, Jack, you will never know how much I wanted to (BEAT) how much I wanted to hate you.

JACK: (STANDING BY THE DOOR LOOKING AT HER) How much you wanted to hate me? You don't hate me now? Jennifer, I---

JENNIFER: (INTERRUPTING HIM, GOING ON WITH WHAT SHE WAS SAYING) When you left the first time, I defended you. I held on to what little shard of hope I had because I knew, in my heart of hearts, that you would be back. And when you (BEAT) when you, came back that Christmas, I wanted to kill you and at the same time I wanted to put my arms around you and never let go. I thought we could do it, Jack. I thought it was you and me against the world. Remember, contramundum? And as strange as it may seem, that's exactly what I feel right now. I want to kill you for what you did to me and Abby. I look at you and I know that's it's you, Jack, and that I married you knowing this is how you are. I just thought we got passed this, I thought I could trust you to do the right thing. And then I remember how your idea of the right thing is anything but. How could you do this to me, Jack? How can you do this to her? She needs her father. She needs you. I don't want to, I should hate you. I should stand right here and tell you to leave and never come back. When I got the divorce papers, Jack, I have never felt as empty as I did at that moment. All my hope just left, and yet I knew you weren't far. The mysterious phone calls, the anonymous leads on stories, the deposits into Abby's savings account and the presents left at the daycare. I knew you were there, Jack. I just don't...

I don't want this and yet I do (TEARS START STREAMING DOWN HER FACE). I look at you, Jack, and I know how it must've hurt you, but you will never have any idea how much it hurt me. I know why you left, I went to Victor, and I know that the Old Jack came back and he was like a wolf knocking on the door. You were afraid. But, why, why couldn't you talk to me? Why? And why did you have to come here and make it hurt all over again? Why couldn't you have just stayed away? I don't want to look at you and be in love with you, Jack I want to hate you, Jack Deveraux, I want to hate you.

(SHE FALLS INTO HIS ARMS CRYING. HE WRAPS HIS ARMS AROUND HER)

JACK: Jennifer, I...(BEAT) I never meant to hurt you or Abigail. I just couldn't take it anymore. The guilt (BEAT) I thought you'd hate me for harming our child. (BEAT) I have been watching you. You are such a strong woman, Jennifer. (BEAT) Do you know how many times I have wanted to reach out and just tell you that I was there with you? Do you know how many nights I have been in here watching you, watching Abigail? I can't do it anymore, Jennifer. I would give anything to be back here. I want to be able to reach out and tell you I was here with you (BEAT) To be able to watch you and Abigail and you know I was there. I just didn't think that you would want me

JENNIFER: (STEPPING BACK AND LOOKING AT HIM STILL CRYING) I always knew you were there, Jack and I always wished you would walk back through that door and it would be over. This bad dream would be over. You would wrap your arms around me and tell me that we've got to be a family, that you were sorry, that you (BEAT) would change. And now you're here and I know that it can never be the same (BEAT) but I want it to be. Am I wrong for wanting that, Jack? Part of me wants to throw you away just like I threw everything that reminded me of you. The other part of me just wants to jump into your arms and tell you that we can work this out. Can we? Is it possible? After all the hurt and pain, can we actually do it? (BEAT) I just don't know what to do. (SHE TURNS AWAY FROM HIM) I don't know what to do, Jack.

JACK: (SOFTLY AND PUTTING HIS HANDS ON HER SHOULDERS) I'm not going anywhere, Jennifer. Just tell me what you want and I'll do it. I owe it to you and to our daughter.

[THE SCENE ENDS WITH BOTH OF THEM LOOKING AT EACH OTHER AND CRYING]


Scene 11: The next scene, also unaired, takes place a few months later. Jack, Jennifer, and Abby are at Alice's house where they have just told the family that they were moving to Africa and making a clean break from Salem.

MAGGIE: (SURPRISED) AFRICA! Oh my, that's great! I'm so surprised.

MICKEY: (ALSO SURPRISED, BUT WARY OF JACK STILL) Wow! All the way there! I mean, that's about as far away from Salem as you can get (LOOKS AT JACK) Are you sure you two can survive out there?

JACK: (KNOWING MICKEY IS NOT TALKING ABOUT THE JUNGLE, BUT RATHER THEIR RELATIONSHIP) Hehehehe. I'm sure we'll be just fine.

MICKEY: Are you sure, Son? I mean, we don't want you running away every time you hear a growl or something (PUTS HIS ARM AROUND JACK, WHO KNOWS HE'S STILL TALKING ABOUT HIS AND JENNIFER'S RELATIONSHIP)

JACK: (LOOKING OVER AT JENNIFER AND ABBY WITH GREAT LOVE, WHO ARE TALKING TO MAGGIE AND ALICE) You know what, Mickey? I think I couldn't run if I tried. My heart, um, feet, wouldn't let me.


Scene 12: The scene ends and moves back to the present. Jennifer is still sitting on a bench, crying, and thinking about Jack.

JENNIFER: (TO HERSELF) It was me who messed up this time, Jack. I gave up.

(SHE LOOKS UP AND OVER TO A SHOP WHERE SHE SPOTS JACK WHO IS STILL OUTSIDE WAITING FOR GRETA TO COME OUT. SHE NOTICES THAT HE IS LOST IN THOUGHT SMELLING A BOUQUET OF DELPHINIUMS, HER FAVORITE FLOWER. HER HEART LEAPS A BIT. JUST THEN GRETA COMES OUT OF THE SHOP AND CATCHES JACK LOST IN THOUGHT. HE TURNS AROUND AND HANDS HER THE FLOWERS WHICH HE WAS HOLDING FOR HER AND PUTS HIS ARM AROUND HER AND SPIRITS HER OFF, STILL TALKING ABOUT THE PATIO. JENNIFER CANNOT BELIEVE WHAT SHE IS SEEING AND IS VERY HURT.)

END OF EPISODE 3

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