KEEPING UP WITH THE DEVERAUXES
By Jennifer-Lynn D'Anna
EPISODE 22
SCENE 1: IT IS THE NEXT MORNING. JACK AND JENNIFER ARE SEATED IN THE DINING ROOM FOR BREAKFAST. JACK IS LOOKING CLOSELY AT HIS BUTTER KNIFE FOR SPOTS. JENNIFER IS WATCHING HIM.
(THE DOOR OPENS AND JOHN, ABE, HOPE, AND BO WALK IN)
JENNIFER: (SHOCKED) What--?
BO: (SITTING DOWN) Calm down, Jenn. They picked us up last night. (HE SITS DOWN)
JACK: The transmitter was broken. We tried to get you a message.
JOHN: (SITTING DOWN) We know. Apparently DiMera is onto us.
JACK: (COCKING HIS EYEBROW) Ya think?
JENNIFER: (LOWERING HER VOICE) John, do you think Lexie is still here?
JOHN: I don't know, Jenn, I don't know. (BUTTERING HIS TOAST) All I know is that we need to somehow get a good look around this place.
JACK: And how (LOWERING HIS VOICE) how do you plan on doing that with (NODDING TO THE DOOR) Hercules and company out there?
HOPE: (LEANING FORWARD) Jack's right. Stefano's got us under close watch.
ABE: (LOOKING AROUND) Not close enough. Listen, I've got an idea.
(THE SCENE ENDS WITH EVERYONE LEANING IN AROUND THE TABLE)
SCENE 2: A FIGHT ERUPTS
(THE GANG ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF BREAKFAST AND HOPE AND JENNIFER ARE LOOKING AT EACH OTHER NERVOUSLY)
JENNIFER: (RAISING HER VOICE) I can't believe you'd say that, Hope!
HOPE: (LOOKING AT JENNIFER AND RAISING HER VOICE AS WELL) I only speak the truth, you little...(SEARCHING FOR WORDS AND STANDING UP) little blonde hussy!
(JACK AND BO CAN'T HELP BUT SMILE AT THIS)
JENNIFER: (GETTING UP) Hussy?! Look who's calling who a hussy? You little fancy faced--
(CUT TO OUTSIDE THE DOOR, WHERE THE GUARDS ARE LISTENING INTENTLY. THEY SPEAK WITH IRISH ACCENTS)
GUARD #1: Sounds like things are getting a wee bit heated in there.
GUARD #2: (PUTTING HIS EAR CLOSER TO THE DOOR) I'd say. My money's on the blonde.
GUARD #3: I don't know. The brunette is an ex-cop, you know.
GUARD #4: I've heard the blonde has a nasty temper, though.
GUARD #1: What do you say guys? Shall we break this little catfight up? (HE GOES TO OPEN THE DOOR)
GUARD #2: (SMILING) Awww, do we have to?
(THEY OPEN THE DOOR AND SEE JENNIFER AND HOPE ROLLING AROUND ON THE FLOOR COVERED IN FOOD, FIGHTING)
JENNIFER: (LOUDLY. TRYING NOT TO LAUGH) What, Hope, you don't remember how to punch? I'm not surprised.
HOPE: (SPEAKING LOUDER THAN JENNIFER AND TRYING TO HIDE HER SMILE) And you say you're a reporter? Is that the best you can do?
(BO AND JACK LOOK AT THE GUARDS, WHO, LIKE THEM, WANT TO DIE LAUGHING)
SCENE 3:
(JENNIFER AND HOPE ARE STILL ON THE GROUND FIGHTING)
BO: (STIFLING LAUGHTER) Okay, that's enough. Hope, leave Jennifer alone.
JENNIFER: (TRYING TO COVER HER SMILE) You want a piece of me, huh?
JACK: Jenn-Miss Horton, that's enough. (TO GUARDS) Would you gentlemen mind?
GUARD #1: (SMILING) Not at all.
(THE GUARDS LEAN FORWARD TO BREAK UP THE FIGHT AND JOHN SHOUTS "NOW" FROM BEHIND THEM. JACK, JOHN, ABE, AND BO BEGIN FIGHTING THE GUARDS. JENNIFER AND HOPE GET UP TO HELP.)
JENNIFER: (SEEING JACK IN TROUBLE) Jack! (SHE THROWS HIM A VASE AND HE KNOCKS OUT THE GUARD)
JACK: Thank you, Miss Horton. We do make a great team, don't we? (REACHING OUT TO GRAB HER HAND)
JENNIFER: (GRABBING HIS HAND AND SMILING WIDELY) That we do. (SHE SEES JOHN, WHO IS GETTING PUNCHED REPEATEDLY AND JUMPS ON THE GUARD'S BACK, SCREAMING)
(JACK SEES ABE, WHO IS ALSO BEING PUNCHED AND DECIDES TO DO THE SAME AS JENNIFER. HE JUMPS ON THE GUARD'S BACK SCREAMING. BO AND HOPE, WHO HAVE JUST KNOCKED OUT THE OTHER GUARD, LOOK AT HIM STRANGELY).
SCENE 4: QUICK CHANGE
(THE SCENE OPENS TO THE GUYS, WHO ARE NOW DRESSED IN THE GUARDS OUTFITS. THE GUARDS ARE KNOCKED OUT AND TIED UP WITH RIPPED UP TABLECLOTHS ON THE FLOOR)
JENNIFER: (BUTTONING JACK'S JACKET) Khaki is definitely not your color, Jack.
JACK: (SMILING) True. When this is all through, remind me to talk to Steffy about changing the regime's color to blue. I'll most certainly look dashing then.
JENNIFER: (LEANING IN AND GIVING HIM A QUICK PECK ON THE MOUTH) Most certainly. (SMILING, SHE STEPS BACK FROM HIM AND ADMIRES HER HANDIWORK) All done.
JACK: (TOUCHING HIS MOUTH IN SHOCK OVER THE KISS) Hehehehe. (SALUTING HER) So, do I look like a henchman?
HOPE: (WALKING BEHIND JENNIFER AND SMILING) A very handsome henchman indeed.
(BEHIND HER, BO CLEARS HIS THROAT)
Second to my husband, of course. (SHE TURNS AND GIVES BO A BIG KISS)
(JACK AND JENNIFER STARE AT EACH OTHER UNCOMFORTABLY)
JOHN: (WALKING OVER) Okay, troops, it's time to fall out. Kiss your women and children goodbye.
ABE: (SADLY) I just wish I could find my woman.
JOHN: We'll find her, Abraham. We will.
ABE: (QUIETLY) I just hope it's not too late.
(THE SCENE ENDS WITH EVERYONE LOOKING AT ABE WITH GREAT CONCERN)
SCENE 5: PARTING IS SUCH SWEET SORROW
(THE GROUP IS UNCOMFORTABLY LOOKING AT BO AND HOPE, WHO ARE KISSING AND CUDDLING AND DO NOT SEEM TO WANT TO LET EACH OTHER GO.)
JACK: (SNEAKING AN UNCOMFORTABLE LOOK AT BO AND HOPE AND THEM SMILING AT JENNIFER) The PDA's, again, I see.
JENNIFER: (SMILING) Those pesky PDA's.
JACK: (MATCHING HER SMILE) Pesky, indeed. Damn them all.
JENNIFER: (SMILING WIDER AND MOVING IN CLOSER) Damn them all you say.
JACK: Damn them all. (NOTICING HOW CLOSE SHE IS) Jennifer, what are you doing?
JENNIFER: Well, Jack, you heard John. Say goodbye to your women and children.
JACK: (OBLIVIOUS AND SMILING) Oh? Well, I said goodbye to Abigail back in Salem.
JENNIFER: (WANTING TO LAUGH AT HOW OBLIVIOUS HE IS) No, Jack, your women...your woman...(BATTING HER EYELASHES). Me...?
JACK: Oh, well...um (SEEING EVERYONE LOOKING AT THEM AND GETTING NERVOUS) Goodbye, Jennifer. (HE LEANS FORWARD TO KISS HER AND IS ABOUT TO WHEN HE GETS NERVOUS AND PLANTS A PECK ON HER CHEEK). Be careful. (HE STEPS AWAY)
JOHN: Okay, men...let's go. (NODDING TO JENNIFER AND HOPE) Ladies, you know the plan.
(JENNIFER AND HOPE NOD IN AGREEMENT. JENNIFER IS DISAPPOINTED AT JACK'S KISS)
(THE MEN GO TO LEAVE AND AT THE DOORWAY, JACK STOPS. BO, JOHN, AND ABE LOOK AT HIM)
JACK: (TO HIMSELF AND OTHERS) Oh, what the hell! (HE STORMS BACK IN AND GRABS JENNIFER, WHO HAS TURNED TO TALK TO HOPE, BY THE ARM AND SPINS HER AROUND, CATCHING HER OFF GUARD)
JENNIFER: (EYES WIDE WITH SURPRISE) Jack!
JACK: (HE PLACES A FINGER TO HER LIPS) Shhhh. (HE DIPS HER AND GIVES HER A HARD, PASSIONATE KISS AS THE OTHERS LOOK ON IN AMAZEMENT)
SCENE 6:
(JACK AND JENNIFER ARE STILL KISSING WHEN THE SCENE OPENS. THEY BOTH COME UP FOR AIR AND SMILE AT EACH OTHER)
JENNIFER: (QUIETLY, AS IF THEY WERE ALONE) Jack.
JACK: (PUTTING HIS FINGER TO HIS MOUTH) Shhhh. You wouldn't want me to resort to dire tactics again, would you?
JENNIFER: (SMILING) Well...
JACK: (KISSING HER AGAIN AND WIPING SOME FOOD OUT OF HER HAIR) Can I consider my woman sufficiently bid adieu?
JENNIFER: (KISSING HIM AND SMILING) Sufficiently.
JOHN: Okay, you two. I know it's been awhile, but the sooner we leave...
JACK: (PULLING A FACE) The sooner we get back. (TO JENNIFER) You be careful, okay? I don't want anything to happen to you. I (EMPHASIZING I) don't want anything to happen to you.
JENNIFER: I will. I promise. You and me against the world, remember?
JACK: (SMILING) Contramundum.
JENNIFER: (SMILING BACK) Contramundum.
(AT THE DOORWAY, JOHN TAPS HIS FOOT)
JACK: (ROLLING HIS EYES AT JOHN) I really should be going.
JENNIFER: You should. (SHE PULLS AWAY BUT STILL HOLDS HIS HAND) Oh, Jack?
JACK: Yes, Jennifer? (HE DOESN'T WANT TO LET GO OF HER HAND)
(JENNIFER GRABS JACK AND KISSES HIM, DIPPING HIM BACKWARDS. WHEN THEY COME UP, JACK WIPES HIS LIPS)
JACK: (SHOCKED BY HER BEHAVIOR) Jennifer!
JENNIFER: (SMILING) Does my man consider himself sufficiently bid adieu?
JACK: (STRAIGHTENING UP) Well...uh...uh...yes. Yes, he does. (HE WALKS OVER TO THE MEN, STANDING AT THE DOOR) Show's over, gentlemen. (HE GLANCES BACK AT JENNIFER)
JOHN: Now that that's over with. Once again, ladies (HE NODS TO JENNIFER AND HOPE).
(THE MEN LEAVE. JENNIFER IS LOOKING AT THE DOOR WISTFULLY AND TOUCHING HER LIPS)
HOPE: (WALKING IN FRONT OF HER AND SMILING) What the hell was that all about?
(JENNIFER STANDS THERE LOOKING AT HER IN SHOCK)
SCENE 7:
(HOPE HAS JUST ASKED JENNIFER WHAT THE WHOLE KISS WITH JACK WAS ABOUT)
JENNIFER: (PLAYING DUMB) What was that all about? What are you talking about, Hope?
HOPE: Jenn, your lies are as weak as your right hook. (SMILING) Are you and Jack on the road to recovery?
JENNIFER: Well...(WALKING AWAY AND THEN STOPPING AND SMILING WIDELY) We want to try again. But slowly. So don't expect wedding bells to ring anytime soon.
HOPE: (SMILING) I knew it. You and Jack back together. I'm getting my baby back. This may be a banner year for us Hortons yet. So, he understood about Colin? How it wasn't anything?
(JENNIFER DOESN'T ANSWER)
HOPE: You told him about Dr. Colin Murphy, right Jenn?
(JENNIFER LOOKS DOWN. HOPE HAS HER ANSWER. BEHIND THEM, ONE OF THE GUARDS STIRS)
GUARD #2: What do you lasses know about our boss?
HOPE: (WALKING OVER TO THE GUARD) Your boss?
GUARD #2: The lad--Colin Murphy.
JENNIFER: (RUNNING OVER TO THEM) You know Colin Murphy? How?
GUARD #2: Me should. I've only been working for him and his uncle most of me life.
(THE SCENE ENDS WITH JENNIFER AND HOPE LOOKING AT EACH OTHER VERY NERVOUSLY)
SCENE 8: WITH MY OWN TWO EYES
(THE MEN HAVE SPLIT INTO GROUPS OF TWO. BO IS WITH JACK AND THEY ARE GOING THROUGH THE DRAWERS IN AN OFFICE)
BO: (FLIPPING THROUGH PAPERS) I don't get it Jack. We haven't seen hide nor hair of Lexie. (BEAT) I just want to get this baby back and get back to Salem.
JACK: (TURNING AROUND TO BO, CONCERNED) We'll get your son back. I know it.
BO: (SMILING) Does this newfound optimism have anything to do with that kiss you laid on one Miss Jennifer Horton back there?
JACK: (SMILING NERVOUSLY) Well...let's just say Jennifer has a way of bringing out the best in me.
BO: And vice versa.
JACK: (SURPRISED) Vice-?
BO: Jack, I won't say that you've always been my favorite person to hang out with, I mean, we really have nothing in common, but take away that potato/po-tot-oe stuff and I can see that deep down, you really are a good guy. And Jennifer, Jennifer, is at her best when she's with you. I'm glad you're back, man (HE CLAPS JACK ON THE SHOULDER)
JACK: (EMOTIONAL) Thank you. (CLEARING HIS THROAT) So, you think I have a chance?
BO: Well, judging from how lost Jenn's been without you, I say that you are in the running. (SMILING) Besides, I want JT to know his Uncle Jack. You could help him with his algebra or something.
JACK: (MOVED BY BO'S SUGGESTION) Well, Jennifer and I are going to give it the old college try. Maybe I'll teach young John Thomas about the newspaper biz...I'll be a real asset come term paper time.
(OUTSIDE, THEY HEAR VOICES AND SCRAMBLE TO HIDE. THEY DECIDE TO HIDE BEHIND THE LONG WINDOW CURTAINS)
(TWO MEN ENTER SPEAKING WITH THICK IRISH ACCENTS. WE DO NOT SEE THEIR FACES ONLY HEAR THEM AND SEE THEIR GESTURES)
MAN #1: So you're saying that these lads are on the loose here?
MAN #2: Unfortunately so, sir. What shall I do?
(MAN #1 SITS DOWN AND LOOKS AT A PICTURE ON HIS DESK. IT IS A DOUBLE SIDED FRAME WITH PICTURES OF BOTH STEFANO AND SHAWN BRADY. HE LOOKS OVER AND SEES A PAIR OF SHOES STICKING OUT FROM UNDER THE CURTAIN)
MAN #1: Kill them. Find them and kill them. I don't want Stefano after me.
MAN #2: What about the lasses?
MAN #1: Get rid of the brunette. Leave the blonde for me. Jennifer Rose...she always was a hot little number.
(CUT TO JACK AND BO BEHIND THE CURTAINS. BOTH ARE NERVOUS)
JACK: (VOICEOVER ONLY) Could that be? (HE PEEKS THROUGH THE SIDE OF THE CURTAIN AND GULPS) Colin Murphy? What's he doing here? And what does he know about Jennifer? I don't like this at all, not at all.
END OF EPISODE 22
