EXT. DIMERA LAWN
IN ON OVERGROWN BUSHES. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, THE BUSHES BEGIN TO SHAKE AS IF SOMEONE IS IN THEM.
JENNIFER: Jack, Jack, are you okay? (POPPING HER HEAD OUT OF THE BUSHES)
JACK: (POPPING HIS HEAD OUT OF THE BUSHES AND SPITTING OUT SOME LEAVES AND COUGHING) As well as to be expected. (HE STANDS UP AND BRUSHES HIMSELF OFF AND HELPS HER UP) Yourself?
JENNIFER: Fine. I'm fine.
(JACK SMILES AND NODS IN RELIEF AND THEN PEERS UP AT THE MANSION)
JENNIFER: (TRYING TO GET JACK'S ATTENTION) That was some fall, huh?
JACK: (NOT LOOKING AT HER) Uh-huh.
JENNIFER: (STILL TRYING TO GET HIS ATTENTION) I guess we're lucky these bushes were here.
JACK: (CONTINUING TO PEER AT THE MANSION) Uh-huh.
JENNIFER: (GETTING ANNOYED) Well, I'm glad you're okay, Jack. I mean if anything had happened to...
JACK TURNS AND WATCHES HER.
JACK: (ACCUSINGLY) You pushed me. I can't believe you pushed me.
SCENE 2:
IN PROGRESS
JENNIFER: (MOUTH FLYING OPEN IN SHOCK) I did not.
JACK: You most certainly did. And you better shut your mouth, you might catch flies.
JENNIFER: Jack, I did not push you.
JACK: Okay, then, how did I, who was very adamant about not jumping, wind up here (STOMPS HIS FOOT), the very place I did not want to be?
JENNIFER: (SMILING BECAUSE SHE CANNOT BELIEVE HE WOULD ACCUSE HER OF SUCH A THING) You, we, fell, Jack.
JACK: We fell? No, I think that I fell after you forced me to.
JENNIFER: Jack, I did no such thing...if you hadn't fought with me we'd probably still be up there (NODDING TOWARDS THE LEDGE).
JACK: How can you say that? I was simply, I was simply, sticking to my guns. I was happy there (POINTING TO THE LEDGE) and would've eventually made it here (JUMPING UP TO INDICATE THE GROUND). But no, Miss Jennifer Rose Horton, who has the arm power of a professional wrestler may I add, had to go and see that I fell face first into the DiMera flora. (HE FUSSES WITH SOME LEAVES)
JENNIFER: Jack, if you hadn't been so stubborn...
JACK SCOFFS AT THIS.
JENNIFER: (ROLLING HER EYES) If you hadn't been so stubborn, we would not be here (JUMPING UP TO INMITATE JACK), Jack. We would be there (POINTING TO THE LEDGE).
JACK: Here (JUMPS UP AND IMITATES HER), there (HE WAVES TO THE LEDGE). The point is you pushed me. I did not want to go and you pushed me.
JENNIFER: I did not.
JACK: Did so. (CROSSING HIS ARMS) I guess it's my word against yours, isn't it?
JENNIFER: No. Jack, come here (SHE PULLS HIM TOWARDS HER).
JACK: (GETTING NERVOUS) Miss Hor-(NOTICING HER SHIMMY HER BODY UP TO HIS) what are you doin--?
JENNIFER: I'm showing you. (SHE SMILES AT HIS NERVOUSNESS) I'm showing you that I did not push you. You see here you were (SHE PUTS HER ARM BEHIND HIS NECK TO STEADY HIS GAZE AT HER) and here I was (SHE TAKES HER OTHER HAND AND TOUCHES HER CHEST SLIGHTLY).
JACK: (GULPING) Hehehe. Here and there.
JENNIFER: (SMILING AT HIS NERVOUSNESS AGAIN) And then you said that you were not jumping. Any of this coming back to you yet, Jack?
JACK: (SMILING NERVOUSLY) Bits and pieces.
JENNIFER: Good. And then I said that you had to, that it was too dangerous and you said...
ALL OF A SUDDEN SHOTS RING OUT. JACK INSTINCTIVELY JUMPS ON TOP OF JENNIFER AND INTO THE BUSHES.
SCENE 3:
IN PROGRESS.
JACK: (PEEKING HIS HEAD OUT OF THE BUSHES) It's clear. Jennifer, Jennifer?
JENNIFER: (PEEKING HER HEAD ABOVE THE BUSHES AS WELL) Jack-
JACK: (PUTTING HIS FINGER TO HER MOUTH) Shhhh...Enough of this fighting. We've got to get out of here. Once I'm sure that we're safe, that they're safe (NODDING TO THE MANSION), then we shall resume our usual banter. Understood?
JENNIFER NODS.
JACK: Good. Now, Miss H, let's get to stepping. (HE GRABS HER HAND AND THEY RUN OUT OF THE BUSHES AND JACK STOPS)
JENNIFER: Jack, what's wrong? Why did you stop?
JACK: (SMILING SLYLY AT HER) Nothing.
JENNIFER: (SMILING) What?
JACK: You remember that arm power we were talking about earlier? Well (HE LOOKS DOWN AT HER HAND AND COUGHS NERVOUSLY)
JENNIFER: Jack! (SHE MOCK HITS HIM AND THEY RUN AWAY)
SCENE 4: INT. PUB.
JACK HAS JUST HUNG UP A PAYPHONE AND JENNIFER IS LOOKING NERVOUSLY AT HIM.
JENNIFER: Was that Shane?
JACK: (NOTICING HER CONCERN) Yes, yes it was. (HE WALKS PAST HER TO A TABLE AND SITS)
JENNIFER: (FOLLOWING HIM WITH A CURIOUS LOOK AND SITTING DOWN) Jack. Jack, what did he tell you?
JACK: (SMILING WEAKLY) He told me that the fish and chips are wonderful here and we should try them (HE OPENS A MENU).
JENNIFER: (TOUCHING HIS ARM) Jack, be serious.
JACK: (NOT LOOKING UP FROM THE MENU) I am being serious. A good Englishman would never lie about fish and chips and that's what Shane is you know.
JENNIFER: (PULLING THE MENU DOWN TO MAKE HIM LOOK AT HER) I'm serious, Jack. Tell me what he said.
JACK: (NERVOUS) I don't think-
JENNIFER: Jack, I don't care what you think. I have a right to know.
JACK: (TRYING TO TAKE THE EDGE OFF THE SITUATION) It's probably nothing really. I don't know why I'm so worried. You see those shots that rung out, somebody...(SEEING HER IMPATIENCE)...Somebody was shot, Jennifer.
OUT ON JENNIFER'S SCARED FACE.
SCENE 5: IN PROGRESS
IN ON JACK LOOKING AT JENNIFER'S FACE, WHICH IS SAD AND AFRAID. HE DOES NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO.
JACK: I...I shouldn't have told you. (INSTINCTIVELY PLACING HIS HAND ON HERS)
JENNIFER: (SQUEEZING HIS HAND INSTINCTIVELY) No...no, I'm glad you did.
JACK: How can you say that? I scared the bejeezus out of you.
JENNIFER: Jack, I needed to know. Thank you. (SHE MOVES HER HAND AND TURNS AWAY, SHIVERING AND WRAPPING HER ARMS AROUND HERSELF)
JACK NOTICES HER FRIGHTENED EXPRESSION.
JACK: (AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF SILENCE TOUCHES HER SHOULDER) Is there anything I can do?
JENNIFER LOOKS BACK AT HIM WITH TEARS IN HER EYES.
JENNIFER: Just be here. That's enough.
JACK: (CONFUSED) I...I don't...sometimes I don't feel like that's enough.
JENNIFER: (TURNING TO FACE HIM) It is to me, Jack. Sometimes I just need you with me.
JACK: (QUESTIONINGLY) Really?
JENNIFER: Really.
JACK: (AMAZED) Okay. Then I'm here, but not without reinforcements (HE DIGS IN HIS POCKET AND GOES TO THE PHONE)
JENNIFER WATCHES HIM CURIOUSLY.
JENNIFER: Jack, what are you doing?
JACK: You'll see. (HE PUTS MONEY IN AND BEGINS TO DIAL).
OUT ON JACK'S NERVOUSLY SMILING TO JENNIFER.
SCENE 6: IN PROGRESS
IN ON JACK ON THE PHONE AND THE PHONE RINGING. HE LOOKS OVER AT JENNIFER AND INDICATES JUST A MINUTE AND THEN SMILES WEAKLY AT HER. SOMEONE ON THE OTHER END PICKS UP.
JACK: Hello...hello...is there an Abigail Johanna Deveraux there? Could you tell her that her loving father would like to speak to her? (HE SMILES WIDELY AT JENNIFER WITH LOVE IN HIS EYES)
JENNIFER SMILES BACK AT HIM.
ABBY: (VOICE ONLY) Daddy, it's me.
JACK: Well, hello "me." You sound so mature. I better not come home and find you married-you know what we said about that.
ABBY AND JACK: No dating until your sixty-five. (JACK SMILES AT JENNIFER AND SHE BEAMS)
ABBY: (V.O.) You're so silly, Daddy. (BEAT) When are you and Mommy coming home?
JACK: (THROWING JENNIFER A LOOK) Soon, Abigail, soon. Speaking of that cool Mom of yours, why don't you say hi? (HE GESTURES FOR JENNIFER TO COME OVER AND SHE TAKES THE PHONE)
JACK STANDS BEHIND JENNIFER SO HE CAN LISTEN.
JENNIFER: (WANTING TO CRY. SHE MISSES ABBY SO MUCH) Hi, Baby. (SHE BEAMS AT JACK) Are you taking good care of Grandma Jo and Uncle Vern?
ABBY: (V.O.) I sure am. Grandma Jo's been making all sorts of dinners. She even made Daddy's favorite, tuna, tuna cass-(STUMBLING ON THE WORDS)
JENNIFER: Casserole (SHE GIGGLES AT JACK, WHO MAKES A FACE). Green noodle casserole.
OUT ON JENNIFER AND JACK BEAMING WHILE TALKING TO ABBY.
SCENE 7: IN PROGRESS
JENNIFER IS STILL ON THE PHONE WITH ABBY AND JACK IS STILL BEHIND HER LISTENING. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE OPERATOR COMES ON AND SAYS THEY ONLY HAVE 60 SECONDS LEFT ON THEIR CALL.
JENNIFER: Okay, Abby, Mommy's got to go. The operator-
JACK: (LEANING INTO THE PHONE) Tempus fugit, Miss Tuna Noodle. Tell Mommy that you love and miss her.
ABBY: (V.O.) I love you, Mommy. Come home soon.
JENNIFER: (LOOKING AT JACK AND SMILING) We will, Baby. Mommy (THROWING A LOOK AT JACK) and Daddy love you very much.
JACK: (INTO THE PHONE) That we do. (TAKING THE PHONE FROM JENNIFER) Say goodbye Abigail.
ABBY: (V.O.) Goodbye Abigail.
JACK SMILES AND HANGS UP THE PHONE AND TURNS TO JENNIFER, WHO IS SMILING AT HIM.
JENNIFER: Thank you, Jack.
JACK: (EMBARASSED) Well, I didn't do much.
JENNIFER: No, Jack, you did. You did more than I ever thought you would. About Colin, Jack-
JACK: (PLACING HIS FINGER UP TO STOP HER) Shhh. Not now. I think that something else is in order. Come on. (HE GRABS HER HAND AND GOES TO WALK OUT)
JENNIFER: (WALKING WITH HIM) Jack-
JACK: I, we, have something else to do.
JENNIFER: Jack-
JACK: (POINTING TO HIS WATCH) Time's a-wastin'...
JENNIFER: (SMILING) Alright.
OUT ON THE TWO OF THEM WALKING OUT AND JENNIFER WONDERING WHAT IS UP WITH HIM.
SCENE 8: INT. SMALL CHURCH
IN ON JENNIFER AND JACK WALKING IN THE CHURCH, WHICH IS SMALL AND QUAINT AND EMPTY. JENNIFER IS AMAZED THAT JACK BROUGHT HER HERE. HE WALKS BEHIND HER NERVOUSLY, TAKING IN HER REACTION.
JENNIFER: (TURNING TO HIM SMILING) Jack, it's a church.
JACK: (NERVOUS) Yes, yes, I believe it is.
JENNIFER: (AMAZED) Jack, you brought me to a church.
JACK: (MAKING NOTHING OUT OF IT) Now, now, don't go getting all weepy on me. I just...I just figured that it would be apropos for what you...what you needed to do.
JENNIFER: (SERIOUSLY) Thank you, Jack.
A FEW SECONDS OF UNCOMFORTABLE SILENCE ENSUES.
JACK: Well?
JENNIFER: Well, what?
JACK: Aren't you going to do what...what you're supposed to do. I mean you go to a restaurant to eat, you go to the mall to shop, you go to church to-
JENNIFER: To pray. (TURNING TOWARDS THE ALTAR) Okay. (TURNING TO HIM) Well, aren't you going to come with me?
JACK: (NERVOUS) I think I'll just stay back here and watch. Me and...me and the "big guy" (LOOKING UP) kind of have a...a complicated relationship if you will (SMILING NERVOUSLY).
JENNIFER: Yeah. (SIGHS) Okay. I'll be done in a minute. (SHE WALKS UP TO THE ALTAR AND KNEELS TO PRAY)
IN THE BACK OF THE CHURCH, JACK SITS DOWN IN A PEW AND WATCHES HER WITH GREAT LOVE.
SCENE 9: IN PROGRESS
IN ON JENNIFER WALKING OVER TO JACK, WHO IS LOST IN THOUGHT.
JENNIFER: (SMILING) I'm done.
JACK: (COMING BACK TO REALITY) Wh-what?
JENNIFER: I said I'm done, Jack. (BEAT) Are you okay?
JACK: Fine. (GOING TO GET UP) So, everything worked out for you?
JENNIFER: (SMILING) I feel much better, yes. Are you coming?
JACK: (PAUSING TO LOOK AROUND) Yeah, in a minute. I just...I just want to look around for a moment. You know how I like to look at old churches.
JENNIFER: For your collection, right. I'll be right outside, okay?
SHE GOES TO WALK OUT AND THEN STOPS.
JENNIFER: (SOFTLY) For what it's worth, Jack, the "big guy" likes you, even loves you. I know. I've been talking to him about you for some time now. (SHE SMILES AND WAITS FOR HIS REACTION).
JACK SMILES BACK HAPPILY. JENNIFER EXITS.
ALONE IN THE CHURCH, JACK NERVOUSLY WALKS UP TO THE ALTAR AND PLACES HIS HANDS IN HIS POCKETS. AFTER A MOMENT HE SPEAKS.
JACK: (SMILING NERVOUSLY) Hehehe. (TAKING A DEEP BREATH) I never thought that I...that I would be standing here...asking for help from...from frankly someone I really never thought existed. I mean you can't blame me, can you? I haven't exactly lived the most enchanting life, have I? But, but...I don't even know what I'm asking for...this is silly...Jenni-Jennifer says you know about me, that you love me, and...and for that I'm glad. I know I'm not easy to love-I've been told that enough, but...but I also know that there have been a few...a few who've gotten to me. I guess I'm just asking you to keep those people...those few...safe for me...if you can. (ABOUT TO CRY) And Miss Hor-Jennifer-especially. She needs someone...needs someone who makes her happy. I used to think that it was me. Hell-heck-I still do sometimes, but I don't understand it anymore-how I hurt...I tend to hurt the ones I love. I guess what I'm asking for in Jennifer's case is...is a sign-and no money raining from the ceiling mind you-something that tells me that I'm not crazy and that we can...we can...together we can do this...We can get through this. A sign.
THE CAMERA PANS OUT AND WE SEE JENNIFER STANDING IN THE BACK OF THE CHURCH, WATCHING HIM. JACK, FEELING SOMEONE IS THERE TURNS AROUND.
JACK: (HOPING SHE DIDN'T SEE HIM) Jennifer, I-
JENNIFER: (NODDING, ABOUT TO CRY. SHE HEARD IT ALL BUT LIES) You found what you were looking for? For your book?
JACK: (SMILING NERVOUSLY) Yes, yes, I did. (BEAT) We should get out of here...before lightning strikes, of course.
JENNIFER: Yeah we should.
SHE WAITS FOR HIM TO WALK TO HER AND THEY WALK OUT TOGETHER. JACK TAKES A PEEK BACK INTO THE CHURCH LOOKING FOR HIS SIGN. OUT ON A CARD SITTING ON THE ALTAR AMONG OTHER GIFTS. THE CARD READS "CONTRAMUNDUM". HE DOES NOT SEE IT.
END OF EPISODE 26
