Scene 1: JACK, JENNIFER, and HOPE arrive at their hotel room.
(HOPE, JENNIFER, and JACK have just entered their hotel room. It is very modest with two double beds. JACK looks disappointed with the lodgings and is looking around and dusting off the furniture)
HOPE: (SETTING HER SUITCASE DOWN ON ONE OF THE BEDS) Well, it's quaint.
JACK: (SCRUNCHING UP HIS NOSE IN DISGUST) If that's what you could call it.
JENNIFER: (PUTTING HER SUITCASE DOWN ON THE BED NEXT TO HOPE'S) It's not that bad.
JACK: Yes, I suppose it could be worse. We could actually have a clean room (HE HOLDS UP HIS FINGER WHICH IS GRAY WITH DUST).
(HOPE AND JENNIFER JUST LOOK AT HIM)
JENNIFER: Jack, I told you that we had to stay somewhere inconspicuous.
JACK: (OPENING THE CLOSET AND CRINGING) You never said run-down.
JENNIFER: (GETTING UP AND CLOSING THE CLOSET DOOR) Jack, just deal, okay?
JACK: You put us in the worst no-tell motel and you want me to deal? Jennifer, that cave we stayed in when we were stranded was better than these accommodations.
JENNIFER: (GOING BACK OVER AND BEGINNING TO UNPACK) It's not like I had a great budget to work with, Jack.
JACK: (HIS MOUTH OPENS IN SHOCK) Are you saying that I'm cheap?
JENNIFER: (TAKING HER CLOTHES AND PUTTING THEM IN THE DRAWER WITHOUT LOOKING UP AT HIM) Cheap, egotistical, and full of
(JACK'S EYES WIDEN. JENNIFER CATCHES HOPE'S EYE AND CORRECTS HERSELF)
Cheap and egotistical, Jack.
JACK: Well I never-
JENNIFER: (STOPPING TO LOOK AT HIM) You never what, Jack? You never heard the truth?
HOPE: I hate to break this up, you guys, but do you mind telling me one thing?
(THEY BOTH LOOK OVER AT HER)
JACK AND JENNIFER: What??
HOPE: Could someone please tell me what the plan is? And why exactly we're all sharing one room?
(JENNIFER LOOKS UP AT JACK, EXPECTING HIM TO EXPLAIN. JACK LOOKS DOWN AT HER AND NERVOUSLY SMILES)
SCENE 2: THE PLAN
JENNIFER: Well, Jack, you heard the lady, what's the plan, big guy?
JACK: (MOUTHING "BIG GUY?" TO HER) The lodging situation is, well, as Jennifer explained, for budget reasons.
(JENNIFER STANDS BEHIND JACK AND MOUTHS "CHEAP" TO HOPE AND POINTS AT JACK. HOPE SMILES AND JACK TURNS AROUND TO LOOK AT JENNIFER, WHO PRETENDS TO JUST BE STANDING THERE)
(TURNING BACK AROUND TO HOPE) I figured that you two ladies would sleep in one of these lovely beds. And I, (SITTING DOWN AND BOUNCING ON THE EMPTY BED A LITTLE) I would just rest here. (HE LEANS BACK ONTO THE PILLOW AND CLOSES HIS EYES) Just like this. Ahhh.
JENNIFER: (CREEPING UP NEXT TO HIM AND GETTING RIGHT IN HIS FACE) And the plan?
(JACK JUMPS AT HER VOICE)
JACK: The plan? (HE SITS UP) Ah yes, the plan...
(JENNIFER SITS ON THE OTHER BED WITH HOPE. THEY ARE BOTH NOW LOOKING AT JACK WHO IS FACING THEM ON THE OPPOSITE BED)
JACK: Well, actually, I've been meaning to talk to you about that...You see, I really, I really, I really haven't got one. (HE LOOKS AT THEM GUILTILY)
SCENE 3:
JENNIFER: (GETTING UP FROM THE BED AND PACING) What do you mean, Jack? You don't have a plan?
JACK: I don't have a plan. It's as simple as that.
JENNIFER: As simple as that? Jack, you always have a plan.
JACK: Well this time I don't. A guy can't be prepared all the time.
JENNIFER: Jack, you were born prepared. Ill-prepared, but prepared.
HOPE: (WATCHING JENNIFER PACE) Okay, so we don't have a plan. We'll make one. We'll just sit back and figure something out. We can do that, right?
JENNIFER: I suppose. (SHE SHOOTS JACK A LOOK)
JACK: (CROSSING HIS ARMS) I saw that.
JENNIFER: (PLAYING DUMB) Saw what, Jack?
JACK: That, that, I don't-want-to-work-with-him look. I've seen it enough times in my lifetime to recognize it, thank you very much.
JENNIFER: I was not giving you a look.
JACK: Yes you were.
JENNIFER: No I wasn't.
HOPE: Okay, okay (SHE STANDS UP AND PUTS HER ARMS OUT TO SEPARATE THE TWO OF THEM) Clearly we are not going to get any work done with you two arguing. (SHE IS ANNOYED) I'm going to just go outside and call my husband on my cell phone. Maybe if we know where Bo is we can figure out where to go from here.
JENNIFER: Hope, you don't have to go.
HOPE: (ANGRY ABOUT THEIR CHILDISHNESS) No, Jenn, I do. You two need to talk and I, I, need to get some air and get away from this (LOOKING DISAPPOINTED AT THE TWO OF THEM) this, child's play. (SHE GOES TO LEAVE BUT PAUSES AT THE DOOR) When I come back in here, I expect this to be resolved. Or else...(SHE LEAVES)
(OUT IN THE HALLWAY, HOPE CALLS BO ON HIS CELL PHONE. SHE LIES AND SAYS SHE IS IN SALEM, BUT HE HAS A FEELING THAT SOMETHING IS UP. IT TURNS OUT THAT JOHN, ABE, AND BO DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START EITHER. UPSET THAT SHE HAS LIED TO BO, HOPE DECIDES TO TAKE A WALK AFTER HANGING UP)
SCENE 4:
(JACK AND JENNIFER ARE STILL IN THE SAME PLACES THEY WERE WHEN HOPE LEFT. JACK IS ON THE BED WITH HIS ARMS CROSSED AND JENNIFER IS STANDING UP WITH HER ARMS CROSSED NOW. THEY ARE NOT SPEAKING TO EACH OTHER)
JACK: (BREAKING THE SILENCE) Mommy (REFERRING TO HOPE) seems a little mad.
JENNIFER: (UNCROSSING HER ARMS) Well, Jack, she should be. We're really not making any progress jumping down each other's throats.
JACK: (UNCROSSING HIS ARMS AS WELL) Well, you started...
(JENNIFER HOLDS A FINGER UP AT HIM)
(SOFTLY) Well, you did.
(JENNIFER SITS DOWN ON THE BED NEXT TO JACK)
JENNIFER: That's beside the point, Jack. Hope needs us to stand united right now.
JACK: (SMILING. HE LIKES JENNIFER BEING SO CLOSE TO HIM) I can do that.
JENNIFER: (SMILING BACK AT HIM) I can too. At least I could try.
JACK: (SMILING SARCASTICALLY) What do you say we try by doing something we always did so well together? I mean, it's the perfect place for it.
(JENNIFER'S EYES WIDEN AT THIS SUGGESTION)
Well, we've done it before. It's familiar territory.
(JENNIFER'S EYES WIDEN EVEN MORE)
(ENJOYING TEASING HER) Good. That way it wouldn't be awkward. And it will get our mind off of how much we despise each other right now. You always did have the magic touch. (JENNIFER'S MOUTH DROPS OPEN. SHE CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT JACK IS "SUGGESTING".)
Who knows? We might still be good at it. Let's see...I think I still have the equipment. It is necessary in this day and age, you know (HE GETS UP AND GOES TO HIS SUITCASE WHERE HE PULLS OUT THE LAPTOP. HE SMILES WIDELY, KNOWING HE GOT JENNIFER) A man should always come prepared.
(JENNIFER LOOKS EMBARASSED. SHE CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT SHE THOUGHT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT)
SCENE 5:
JACK: What? You look disappointed.
JENNIFER: (FLUSTERED) Um, well, I...I'm just thinking that work would be a great idea right now. (SHE WALKS OVER AND GRABS THE LAPTOP FROM JACK AND GOES BACK TO THE BED AND SETS IT UP)
JACK: (GLAD THAT JENNIFER IS NOW BEING CIVIL TO HIM) Yeah, well I thought that maybe when we get through this little adventure of ours we could maybe write a series of articles on it for TIME or LIFE. Or maybe MAD magazine, knowing the way you write. (HE SITS DOWN ON THE BED NEXT TO HER)
(JENNIFER SHOOTS HIM A LOOK BUT THEN SMILES)
And we could maybe add a Pulitzer to our list of awards. Not that it isn't impressive already. I mean between us we've got Ferraros and Peabodys. (HE PUTS HIS ARM AROUND HER AND WAVES HIS ARM) Picture it, "and the Pulitzer goes to Jack Harcourt Deveraux and Jennifer Rose Dever, um, (CORRECTING HIMSELF) Jennifer Rose Horton for their piece "THE DOWNFALL OF THE DIMERA EMPIRE".
JENNIFER: (SMILING) "THE SAGA OF STEFANO"
JACK: (SMILING. HE IS ENJOYING THIS CLOSENESS) "BABY SWITCHING FOR THE MILLENIUM. WHAT NOT TO DO"
JENNIFER: (GIGGLES, THEN STOPS HERSELF) Well, Mr. D., I hate to tell you this but there will be no crime solving and no story, unless we get down to work. Do you have anything here on the DiMera's already (SHE LOOKS DOWN AT THE COMPUTER)?
JACK: (SCOOTING HER OVER AND LEANING IN REAL CLOSE TO WORK) Well, actually you see right here I have a few files that a few of my friends from Washington were kind enough to send down. Being that I'm a Deveraux and all
(THE SCENE ENDS WITH THEM HUNCHED OVER THE COMPUTER LIKE OLD TIMES. JENNIFER IS VERY AWARE OF HOW CLOSE SHE AND JACK ARE AND IS NOT BREAKING AWAY)
SCENE 6:
(IT IS A SHORT WHILE LATER. JACK AND JENNIFER ARE STILL WORKING FURIOUSLY. THEY ARE STILL LOOKING DOWN AT THE COMPUTER AND JENNIFER KEEPS SNEAKING PEEKS AT JACK)
JACK: (ALSO NOTICING HOW CLOSE HE AND JENNIFER ARE. ALTHOUGH LIKING IT, IT SCARES HIM. HE LOOKS AT HIS WATCH) Shouldn't Hope be back by now?
JENNIFER: I told you, Jack, she called and said that she was going to get a bite to eat.
JACK: Eat? I could go for some grub right now (HE RUBS HIS STOMACH) Does this place even have room service (HE GETS UP AND LOOKS THROUGH THE DRAWERS)?
JENNIFER: I don't think so, Jack. (SHE GETS UP AND LEADS HIM BACK TO THE BED TO THE COMPUTER) I think I saw a pub around the corner. I could get their number and call them if you like (SHE GOES TO THE PHONE).
JACK: (NOT WANTING TO INTERRUPT THEIR QUALITY TIME PUTS HIS HAND OVER HERS) No.
JENNIFER: (SMILING. KNOWING WHAT HE IS UP TO) I thought you said you were hungry, Jack.
JACK: (NERVOUSLY SMILING) I, I, I can manage. Probably all potatoes anyway.
JENNIFER: Now that you mention it, Jack, I am getting a little hungry. (SHE GRABS THE PHONE AGAIN)
JACK: (PUTTING HIS HAND OVER HERS TO STOP HER AGAIN) Jennifer, I...I.
JENNIFER: (PLAYING WITH HIM) What, Jack?
JACK: I'm just saying...if you eat now, you'll spoil your dinner.
JENNIFER: Dinner, Jack? I'm hungry now. Maybe I'll just get a little something to gnosh on (SHE GOES TO GRAB THE PHONE)
JACK: I mean you'll spoil our dinner.
(JENNIFER LOOKS AT HIM CONFUSED)
Yes, OUR dinner. Don't look at me like that. It's the least I can do. I mean, with seeing as I came in here with no plan and all.
JENNIFER: (SMILING) Jack, that's so sweet. You're going to take me and Hope out for dinner?
JACK: (NOT PLEASED WITH HOPE COMING, BUT COVERING) Yes, you,...you and your cousin.
JENNIFER: (TEASING HIM) How nice.
JACK: (SMILING WIDELY) Nice. (BEAT) Did you see the floor plans that Vern sent us? (HE POINTS TO THE COMPUTER) DiMera's gotta have 40 rooms here.
JENNIFER: (SITTING DOWN NEXT TO JACK AND LOOKING AT THE COMPUTER) The better to store his daughter in.
JACK: (REPEATING WHAT JENNIFER SAID) The better to (HE LOOKS AT HER ODDLY) That made no sense.
JENNIFER: It was supposed to be funny, Jack.
JACK: Oh. (HE LOOKS BACK DOWN AT THE SCREEN) Now if we can only figure out a way to get in there.
JENNIFER: What about here, Jack? (SHE LEANS IN TO POINT IT OUT) Do you really think that all the entrances will be guarded at all times? I mean, they just moved in. (HER HAIR IS RIGHT IN JACK'S FACE)
(THE SCENE ENDS WITH JACK SMELLING JENNIFER'S HAIR AND HER LOOKING AT HIM SLIGHTLY AND SMILING. SHE HATES TO ADMIT IT, BUT SHE LIKES IT.)
(MEANWHILE, HOPE HAS RUN INTO BO, JOHN, AND ABE. SHE TRIED TO RUN AWAY BUT THEY FOUND HER. BO IS MAD AT HER FOR COMING. THEY ARE GOING BACK TO THE HOTEL ROOM TO SEE JACK AND JENNIFER)
SCENE 7:
(STILL WORKING AND LIKING IT, JENNIFER AND JACK HAVE SPREAD OUT ON THE BED. THEY ARE ON THE FOOT OF THE BED ON THEIR STOMACHS AND ARE LOOKING AT THE LAPTOP AND GOING THROUGH PAPERS)
JENNIFER: Jack, did you find the blueprints?
JACK: (LOOKING THROUGH PAPERS) No, but I did find a rather long rap sheet of Stefano's henchmen. You'd think that he would surround himself with smarter company.
(JUST THEN THE DOOR OPENS AND HOPE WALKS IN)
JENNIFER: (JUMPING UP) Hope, you're back.
JACK: (JUMPING UP AS WELL. PERTURBED THAT THEY WERE INTERRUPTED) Yes, you're back.
HOPE: And I'm not alone.
JACK: You're not al--?
(JOHN, BO, AND ABE WALK IN. JACK AND JENNIFER'S FACES DROP)
I guess the, pun not intended, jig is up.
BO: I'd say so, Jack.
JOHN: What the hell we're you two thinking?
BO: I'd like to know the answer to that myself.
HOPE: Bo, don't start with them. It was my idea. They came along to keep me company.
BO: (STARING AT JACK) Looks like they're doing a good job. You walking around by yourself out there. Fancy Face, you could've been killed out there. The Bradys are not very liked in these parts.
HOPE: Bo-
JOHN: The question is, what do you three plan on doing now?
(JACK, JENNIFER AND HOPE LOOK AT EACH OTHER. THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO SAY)
SCENE 8:
HOPE: I tell you what I'm not going to do. That's leave. I'm here now Brady, like it or not.
JENNIFER: And we're not going anywhere. Isn't that right, Jack?
JACK: (SCARED OF BO AND JOHN. STEPPING IN FRONT OF JENNIFER) What Jennifer means by anywhere (JENNIFER KICKS HIM) Ow. Like the lady said, we don't plan on going anywhere.
ABE: (LOOKING THROUGH THE PAPERS ON THE BED) Actually, that might not be such a bad idea.
BO AND JOHN: What?
ABE: (TURNING TO THEM) You heard me. It might not be such a bad idea. Jack has the ability to get some information that we can't get without involving higher authorities and Jennifer, Jennifer knows the area pretty well.
BO: But what about Hope? She doesn't need to be here, right?
ABE: I wouldn't be so sure of that, Bo. I mean we may need her.
JOHN: Need her for what?
ABE: In case I can't talk to Lexie. (TO HOPE) You and Lexie were really close. I might not be able to get to her and you may.
HOPE: Abe has a point, Bo.
BO: I don't like it.
JOHN: Neither do I.
HOPE: It doesn't matter. I'm staying. (TO JACK) Tell us what you got, Jack.
JACK: Well, (HE PICKS UP SOME PAPERS) you see right here...
(THE SCENE ENDS WITH THE SIX OF THEM GOING OVER SOME PLANS)
SCENE 9:
(JACK AND THE GANG HAVE JUST FINISHED GOING OVER THE PLANS)
BO: So we're settled. No one makes a move until it's agreed. That means you two also (HE LOOKS AT JACK AND JENNIFER). I don't want you leaving this hotel room without us.
JACK: Well, we could get something to eat right? I'm really starving now---
(JENNIFER NODS BEHIND HIM)
BO: I don't even want you breathing without us, Jack. (JACK AND JENNIFER LOOK WORRIED) We'll have the pub send something up for you two. Fancy Face, let's go.
JACK: Go?
HOPE: Yeah, I'm going to go back with my husband, Jack. I hope that's okay (SHE LOOKS AT JENNIFER).
JENNIFER: It's fine, Hope. Jack and I will manage...won't we? (SHE LOOKS AT JACK)
JACK: (GULPING) We will? We will.
BO: (GRABBING HOPE'S BAG) I'm serious. No leaving. (THEY ALL EXIT)
(AFTER THEY LEAVE, JACK TURNS TO JENNIFER)
JACK: I'm sorry, I didn't hear him, did he say something about not leaving?
JENNIFER: (ROLLING HER EYES) Whatever. (SHE WALKS TO THE BATHROOM)
SCENE 10:
IT IS LATER THAT NIGHT. JENNIFER AND JACK ARE GETTING READY FOR BED. JENNIFER IS ALREADY IN HER BED. JACK IS COMING OUT FROM THE BATHROOM.
JACK: I just remembered how much I hate potatoes. (HE GOES OVER TO THE MIRROR AND TAKES OFF HIS PAJAMA TOP)
JENNIFER: (LIKING WHAT SHE IS SEEING) What are you doing?
JACK: It's hot in here. Hottest June on record. (HE GOES TO HIS BED) Goodnight, Miss Horton. (HE TURNS OFF HIS LAMP)
JENNIFER: (ROLLING OVER TO LOOK AT HIM FROM HER BED) Jack?
JACK: Yesss?
JENNIFER: I'm scared.
JACK: It's just the dark, Miss Horton. You can leave your lamp on if you like.
JENNIFER: No, Jack, I'm scared of what might happen. (BEAT) Bo sounded serious.
JACK: What clued you in? (BEAT) I'm sorry. What do you want me to do about it?
JENNIFER: Could you tell me a story, Jack? It always works for Abby.
JACK: I could try. No promises, though.
JENNIFER: (SETTLING UNDER HER COVERS) No promises.
JACK: Okay. There was once this little princess with hair as golden as the sun, with cheeks as white as the snow...
(THE SCENE ENDS WITH JACK LOOKING UP AT THE CEILING TELLING THE STORY. JENNIFER IS IN HER BED LOOKING AT HIM LOVINGLY.)
SCENE 11:
(JACK IS STILL TELLING THE STORY)
JACK: And then the dragon was slain and (HE HEARS JENNIFER SNORING) Jennifer? Miss Horton, are you there? I'm just getting to the good part... Why'll (HE GETS UP TO SEE IF SHE'S ASLEEP). I know I'm long-winded, but this is ridic-(HE STOPS SEEING JUST HOW BEAUTIFUL HE LOOKS)ulous.
(HE LOWERS HIS VOICE) Jennifer? (HE WAVES HIS HAND IN FRONT OF HER FACE TO MAKE SURE SHE'S ASLEEP) I know you can't hear me right now or maybe you can, but you have really nothing to be scared of. I just wanted to tell you that I, I once stood in front of our family and friends and promised you something...something I, I still intend to uphold. I won't let anything, anything, happen to you, as long as I'm still on this earth. Hell, I wouldn't let anything happen to you if I wasn't still on this earth. I cared, I care, so much about you. I always will (HE TOUCHES HER CHEEK AND SHE STIRS A LITTLE)...I always will. (HE LOOKS AT HER SOMBERLY, TURNS OFF HER LAMP, AND GOES TO BED, WISHING SHE STILL FELT THE SAME WAY ABOUT HIM)
END OF EPISODE 18
