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KEEPING UP WITH THE DEVERAUXES
By Jennifer-Lynn D'Anna
EPISODE 32

SCENE 1: INT.-JACK AND JENNIFER'S LIVING ROOM-MORNING

ABBY AND JO ARE SITTING ON THE SOFA PLAYING "GO FISH". BOTH ARE STILL IN THEIR PAJAMAS. IN ON THE DOOR OPENING AND JACK ENTERING WITH JENNIFER BEHIND HIM. JACK SETS DOWN HIS BAGS AND BENDS DOWN SO THAT HE CAN BE AT ABBY'S HEIGHT.

ABBY: (THROWING DOWN HER CARDS AND RUNNING OVER TO JACK) Daddy! (THEY EMBRACE WHILE JO LOOKS ON LOVINGLY)

JACK: (SQUEEZING HER TIGHT AND CUPPING THE BACK OF HER HEAD) I think somebody missed me.

JO: (GETTING UP AND WALKING OVER TO THE TWO OF THEM) I'd say. We've been up since the crack of dawn because she was so excited.

ABBY: (BREAKING THE HUG AND GOING TO HUG JENNIFER, WHO BENDS DOWN TO MEET HER AS WELL. BESIDE THEM, JACK LOOKS ON LOVINGLY) We've missed you.

JENNIFER: (SOFTLY) And we missed you, too, Baby. (BREAKING THE HUG TO LOOK AT HER) Were you good for Grandma Jo and Uncle Vern?

ABBY: (NODDING) Uh-huh.

VERN: (IN THE DOORWAY) She was more than good, she was excellent. (WALKING OVER TO JO, WHO IS GIDDY LOOKING AT HIM) It was her Grandma and I you should be worried about. (HE SQUEEZES JO'S ARM AND SHE MOCK HITS HIM AND BLUSHES).

JENNIFER AND ABBY ARE LOOKING AT THEM WITH SILLY GRINS ON THEIR FACES. JACK DOES NOT LOOK PLEASED AT THIS FLIRTATIOUSNESS. JENNIFER: (RAISING AN EYEBROW AT JO AND VERN AND THEN TOSSING JACK A LOOK) Really?

JACK: (WALKING BETWEEN VERN AND JO AND STEERING THEM TO THE COUCH) Well, do tell. I mean, we have all day, do we not? (HE MOTIONS FOR THEM TO SIT AND THEY DO SO CAUTIOUSLY. WHEN THEY FINALLY DO, JACK SETTLES IN BETWEEN THEM AND LOOKS BACK AND FORTH AT THEM) Now isn't this comfy?

VERN: Jack, really-

JENNIFER: (WALKING OVER AND GRABBING JACK'S HAND TO PULL HIM OFF THE COUCH. MOCKING VERN.) Jack, really---

JACK: (PLAYING DUMB) What?

JENNIFER TOSSES HIM A LOOK. ABBY GRABS JACK'S OTHER HAND AND GOES TO PULL HIM UP AS WELL.

ABBY: (MOCKING JENNIFER AND VERN.) Daddy, really-

ABBY AND JENNIFER PULL HIM TO THE KITCHEN AND HE PRETENDS TO BE UNHAPPY ABOUT IT, BUT HIS FACE SHOWS OTHERWISE. WHEN THEY GET TO THE DOOR, HE TURNS AROUND TO VERN AND JO, WHO ARE WATCHING THEM WITH DELIGHT.

JACK: Now don't you two go anywhere now. I-(BEFORE HE CAN FINISH THE SENTENCE, JENNIFER AND ABBY GIGGLE AND PULL HIM THROUGH THE KITCHEN DOOR)

JO: (SMILING AT THE "HAPPY FAMILY". NONCHALANTLY.) Any day now.

VERN: (CATCHING WHAT SHE SAID) I'm sorry, Josephine, any day now?

JO: (SHE TURNS TO VERN) Did I say that out loud? (SHE GIGGLE NERVOUSLY) Silly me, I'm just so happy about it. I just want my son to be happy and any day now he will be.

VERN: He looked very happy just then.

JO: (GUSHING) I know. Imagine how happy he'll be when he and Jennifer remarry, which should be any day now. I mean, a long engagement would never do. I'm thinking an outside wedding like the first and wouldn't Abigail look adorable in a flower girl's dress? Marcus is not around, so... (NOTICING VERN'S WORRIED LOOK) Oops, I must be getting ahead of myself. First things first, we've got to make sure that Jack finds the perfect place to ask her. (GETTING MORE DISTURBED BY THE LOOK ON VERN'S FACE) Vern, what's wrong?

VERN: (TRYING TO COVER UP) Nothing. (HE GETS UP AND WALKS OVER TO THE DESK AND STARTS FIDDLING WITH SOME PAPERS)

JO: (GETTING UP AND FOLLOWING HIM THERE) Oh no, Vernon Scofield, don't you do this to me.

VERN: (PLAYING DUMB AND NOT MEETING HER EYES) Do what?

JO: (HER MOUTH OPEN IN SHOCK) Oh my-It's finally happened! He's rubbed off on you.

VERN: (SCRUNCHING UP HIS FACE IN CURIOSITY) Who?

JO: (MOTIONING TO THE KITCHEN DOOR) He. Him. Jack. He's finally rubbed off on you. This, this, hiding the truth.

VERN: (SIGHING. SINCERELY) I just don't want to upset you or anything. You seem so worked up about it.

JO: About what? (PUTTING HER HANDS ON HER HIPS) Vern, will you please just tell me?

VERN: (RELUCTANTLY) Okay, okay. I don't...I don't think there's going to be another wedding.

OUT ON JO'S CONFUSED FACE.


SCENE 2: INT. JACK AND JENNIFER'S KITCHEN.

JACK IS LEANING AGAINST THE COUNTER WITH A CUP OF COFFEE IN HIS HAND, WATCHING JENNIFER AND ABBY, WHO ARE AT THE TABLE HUNCHED OVER A MAP. ABBY IS IN JENNIFER'S LAP AND IS POINTING TO PLACES ON THE MAP. JENNIFER IS LEANING OVER AND POINTING AS WELL.

ABBY: (TO JENNIFER) You and Daddy were here? (POINTING OUT A PLACE ON THE MAP)

JENNIFER: (SMILING) Yup. And here...(SHE POINTS TO ANOTHER LOCATION)

ABBY: (LOOKING OVER TO JACK) Daddy, show me where you've been.

JACK: I think Mommy's doing a good job at it.

ABBY: (GIVING HIM HER FAMOUS PUPPY DOG EYES) Please. Please. I won't ask till I ask again.

JENNIFER TURNS TO LOOK AT JACK SMUGLY BECAUSE HE TAUGHT HER THAT PHRASE.

JACK: (GIVING IN AND SETTING HIS COFFEE CUP ON THE COUNTER) Oh, alright. (TO ABBY) You, Miss Sleepy Eyes, drive a hard bargain. (HE WALKS OVER AND LEANS OVER JENNIFER TO SEE THE MAP. THEIR CHEEKS ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO TOUCH AND HE IS UNCOMFORTABLE) Maybe I should stand on the other side....to...to get out of your light.

ABBY: No, Daddy, you're fine where you are. Mommy doesn't bite.

JACK: (RAISING AN EYEBROW AT HER COMMENT) You think?

JENNIFER MOCK HITS HIM ON THE SHOULDER. ABBY GIGGLES AND THEY SETTLE IN TO LOOKING AT THE MAP. JENNIFER IS HAPPY HE DIDN'T MOVE OUT OF "HER LIGHT".

JACK: (POINTING OUT A LOCATION) Let me tell you about an island that Mommy and I visited years ago...

OUT ON JENNIFER SMILING WIDELY AT JACK'S MENTION OF THE ISLAND. AFTER A MOMENT OF NERVOUSNESS HE MATCHES HER SMILE AND PROCEEDS.

CUT TO


SCENE 3: INT. JACK AND JENNIFER'S HOUSE-LIVING ROOM

IN PROGRESS

JO: (WAVING OFF HIS IDEA THAT THERE WON'T BE A WEDDING) That's nonsense. Of course there will be a wedding. Those two love each other too much for there not to be.

VERN: Yes, but....(HE TURNS AWAY FROM HER)

JO: (TURNING HIM AROUND TO LOOK AT HER) But what? Spill it, Vern. Why can't these two be happy again?

VERN: Because...because....(QUIETLY) because maybe they're not as right for each other as we thought..

JO: (TAKING A MOMENT TO TRY AND UNDERSTAND WHAT HE IS SAYING) That's...that's...crazy. The way those two look at each other...

VERN: I know, I know. It's just...(TRYING TO SAY IT WITHOUT SAYING IT) I mean...maybe Jack was right, maybe there was someone, somebody out there that...that maybe Jenny-Girl wanted.

JO: If this is the mess about the affair again, I don't want to hear it.

VERN: (SHAKING HIS HEAD IN DISBELIEF) I know. I felt the same way too. Never in a million years would I (REALIZING WHAT SHE'S DOING) Jo...Jo...what are you thinking?

JO: (STOPPING TO LOOK AT HIM) I'm thinking, Vernon, that how that affair mess is the biggest line of bull I've ever heard.

OUT ON VERN'S CURIOUS EXPRESSION.


SCENE 4: JACK AND JENNIFER'S KITCHEN

IN PROGRESS

JACK: But it wasn't over then, Abigail, by no means. Mommy and I were tossed about the sea (HE MAKES WAVE MOTIONS WITH HIS HANDS) and then a big giant shark came by and I thought that I was going to have to save Mommy again.

ABBY'S EYES WIDEN AT THIS.

JENNIFER: (GIGGLING) Jack, there was no shark.

JACK: (NERVOUSLY SMILING) Did I say shark? I meant, I meant dolphin, this dolphin swam by and-

ABBY: (NOT BELIEVING HIM) You had to save Mommy from a dolphin?

JENNIFER SMILES BEHIND ABBY SMUGLY.

JACK: Most certainly. But not just any dolphin...a super big dolphin wearing a fedora.

ABBY: (GIGGLING) Daddy, you're so silly.

JACK: Hmmm...that's what the dolphin said to me.

ABBY: (YAWNING AND RUBBING HER EYES) What happened next?

JACK: Oh no, Miss Christopher Columbus, I saw that.

ABBY: (PLAYING DUMB) Saw what? (SHE YAWNS AGAIN AND QUICKLY COVERS HER MOUTH TO HIDE IT)

JACK: (ACKNOWLEDGING THE YAWN) That. (HE FAKE YAWNS)

JENNIFER: (LOOKING AT ABBY) Baby, are you tired?

ABBY: (TO JENNIFER) A little.

JENNIFER: (HOLDING UP HER FINGERS APART TO INDICATE A SMALL AMOUNT) A little?

ABBY: (PULLING JENNIFER'S FINGERS APART TO INDICATE MORE. DEFEATED.) Okay, a lot.

JENNIFER: (SETTING ABBY ON THE FLOOR AND GETTING UP) Then it's back to bed for you, (TRYING ONE OF JACK'S NAMES OUT) Miss...Miss Americo Vespucci (SHE SMILES TRYING TO DELIVER THE LINE)

ABBY DOESN'T GET IT AND JUST LOOKS AT HER AND THEN TO JACK.

JACK: (TRYING TO HELP JENNIFER OUT) A mapmaker, Abigail...like Columbus.

ABBY: Oh. (SHE GIGGLES AT THE JOKE) Mommy, you're so silly sometimes too.

JENNIFER: I try. (BEAT) Let's go. (THEY TURN AND GO TO WALK UP THE KITCHEN STAIRS WHEN JENNIFER STOPS) You're going to be here when I get back, right?

ABBY GOES ON UP THE STAIRS AND JACK LOOKS AT JENNIFER PAINFULLY.

JACK: Well, I was going to go out for a walk, you know. Maybe play a few rousing matches of croquet...Yes, I'll be here.

JENNIFER: (SMILING WEAKLY) Good. I want to talk to you for a little bit.

JACK: (HOLDING UP HIS FINGERS TO INDICATE A SMALL DISTANCE) A little bit?

JENNIFER SMILES AND WALKS OVER AND PUSHES HIS FINGERS APART TO INDICATE A BIGGER DISTANCE. JACK SMILES AT HER A BIT AND THEY BOTH DO NOT WANT TO BREAK THE TOUCH.

ABIGAIL: (V.O.) Mommy?! Are you coming?!

JENNIFER: (STILL LOST IN JACK'S EYES AND NOT WANTING TO LOSE THIS CLOSENESS) I'll be right there! (TO JACK) You're really going to be here when I get back?

JACK: (SMILING WEAKLY) With what do they say? Bells on?

JENNIFER: (FLASHING A HOPEFUL SMILE) Good. I'll be right back. (SHE WALKS OVER TO THE STAIRCASE AND GLANCES BACK AT HIM BEFORE HEADING UP).

OUT ON JACK WALKING OVER AND BRUSHING THE MAP ON THE TABLE LIGHTLY. HE DOES NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO.

CUT TO


SCENE 5: INT. JACK AND JENNIFER'S LIVING ROOM

IN PROGRESS

VERN: Bull? I told you, Jo, I heard it straight from the horse's mouth.

JO: The horse being my son, of course?

VERN: (FRUSTRATED) The horse is a horse of course--of course Jack. (SHAKING HIS HEAD AT THE MR. ED REFERENCE)

JO: And you honestly believe him after everything he's done in the past?

VERN: Normally, I wouldn't. I mean, you know how Jack and Jenny-Girl are, but Josephine, you had to see them when I picked them up at the airport.

JO: But they looked perfectly fine a few minutes ago. You thought so, right?

VERN: That's what makes this all confusing. I thought so, too. But something must've happened after we last talked to them. At the airport and in the car, Jo, they practically acted like strangers to each other.

JO: I just have a hard time believing it, that's all. (SHE SITS DOWN ON THE COUCH TO MULL IT ALL OVER) I mean, I know Jack isn't exactly the most open type.

VERN: (SITTING DOWN NEXT TO HER AS WELL) Open? Please. To get to know Jack Deveraux, you need two things: a crowbar and thick skin.

JO: Are you sure we didn't hear him wrong? How does he know this exactly?

VERN: The details are sketchy. All I know is that he overheard Jennifer's grandmother and Julie talking about it one day. When they first got back, he wanted me to help him dig up dirt so that if a custody battle arose-

JO: (SHOCKED) He wouldn't!

VERN: No, he wouldn't. You know that and I know that. Truth be told, I think he was just trying to figure out what went wrong for his own sanity.

JO: (LETTING IT ALL SINK IN) I haven't had time to think about it. I guess I was just hopeful. (TO HERSELF) My poor baby. He must be dying inside. That's why he was so adamant about not wanting to get back together.

VERN: No, I think he wanted to get back together after everything. I mean, I have a hard time believing it myself-Jenny-Girl cheating on Jack, after all they went through, but I think that wasn't important to him. It was, but that was just phys--

JO: (GETTING WHAT HE IS SAYING) Oh my. (BEAT) He really does think that Jennifer was in love with this other man, doesn't he?

OUT ON JO'S SHOCKED FACE.


SCENE 6: INT. JACK AND JENNIFER'S LIVING ROOM

IN PROGRESS

JO: ( TO HERSELF) This is not good. Not good at all. It must be killing him.

VERN: (CARESSING HER HAND) You'd never know with Jack. He wouldn't say anything if it was.

JO: Vern, I just don't get it. They seemed so happy in Africa. Jack was off on business and Jennifer spent time with her father, but when they were together it seemed like magic. I would show Adrienne all my letters from them. And Jennifer, Jennifer's not the type to turn her back on magic.

VERN: Well, normally I'd agree, but there is something missing about her nowadays.

JO: What do you mean?

VERN: I mean...(HE TAKES HIS HAND OFF HERS AND WRINGS HIS NERVOUSLY) I mean...have you noticed that she's not the same? Do you remember how she'd have this spark in her eye and this energy around her? It makes no sense, but...

JO: (PROMPTING HIM TO GO ON) But what?

VERN: She seems sad. Yes, she's still smiling and yes, I see the Jenny-Girl who lit up the Spectator offices all those years ago, but only rarely and only when she's with Jack. Have you seen the way she looks when she's alone? No Jack, no Hope, no Abby. When she is standing by herself alone, there is an incredible sadness about her, like...

JO: (FINISHING HIS SENTENCE. THOUGHTFULLY.) She lost something that she can't get back.

OUT ON JO AND VERN'S PENSIVENESS

CUT TO


SCENE 7: INT. JACK AND JENNIFER'S KITCHEN

IN ON JACK, POURING HIMSELF SOME MORE COFFEE AT THE COUNTER AND LOOKING AT THE PAPER. JENNIFER WALKS SLOWLY DOWN THE STAIRS AND STARES AT HIM.

JACK: (LOOKING OVER AT HER) She fell asleep before her head even hit the pillow, huh?

JENNIFER: (SMILING WEAKLY) Like a log. (SHE WALKS OVER TO THE COFFEE MAKER AND JACK HANDS HER A CUP HE ALREADY PREPARED FOR HER)

JACK: Light and sweet.

JENNIFER: (STIRRING THE COFFEE) Light and sweet. (SHE GOES TO SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE AND FIDDLES WITH THE MAP FOR A FEW MOMENTS)

BEHIND HER, JACK WATCHES HER CURIOUSLY. THEY BOTH GO TO SPEAK AT THE SAME TIME.

(SIMULTANEOUSLY)

JACK: Jennifer-

JENNIFER: Jack-

THEY BOTH LAUGH NERVOUSLY AT THIS.

JACK: (NODDING TO HER) You go ahead.

JENNIFER: (QUIETLY) Okay. I was just going to say that THAT is why I love you, Jack. It's why I missed you. You know how I like my coffee-

JACK: Light and sweet.

JENNIFER: (SMILING WEAKLY AT HIS INTERRUPTION) What my favorite movie is-

JACK: "Breakfast at Tiffany's".

JENNIFER: (SMILING WEAKLY AGAIN AT THIS INTERRUPTION) What I order on my pizza, who I wanted to marry as a teenager, how I sleep.

JACK: Everything on it, I've been picking anchovies off for years (PULLING A FACE), Jon Bon Jovi, on your left side with your knees curled up.

JENNIFER: (TEARING UP YET SMILING) You know me. And I know you. I know that your favorite movie is "Citizen Kane", that you had an crush on Wonder Woman as a child-

JACK: Hey, she did wear those cute little shorts-

JENNIFER: And that you quote Shakespeare at the drop of a hat. I remember that, Jack. I didn't want to, I didn't think I did, and then you come into my life again and every little thing comes rushing back to me. I missed you, Jack. And if you listen to me, it will be okay. It will all be okay. (SHE WALKS OVER TO HIM WITH TEARS IN HER EYES AND TOUCHES HIS FACE) "To what was lost, to what was found..."

JACK: (LETTING DOWN HIS GUARD AND BRUSHING HER FACE WITH HIS HAND) "To what will always be..."

OUT ON JACK AND JENNIFER LOOKING AT EACH OTHER WITH PAIN IN THEIR EYES AND WANTING SO BADLY TO KISS AND KISS THE PAIN AWAY.

END OF EPISODE 32

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