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KEEPING UP WITH THE DEVERAUXES
By Jennifer-Lynn D'Anna
EPISODE 34

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

JO: (BOUNCING UP AND DOWN AND TALKING INTO THE PHONE) She's tied up at the moment. Can I take a message? (BEAT) Uh-huh. Colin (FLASHING A LOOK AT VERN WHILE WRITING DOWN THE NOTE) at Salem Inn. Uh-huh. (BEAT) Will do. Bye-bye now. (SHE HANGS UP) I can't believe the nerve of that guy. Calling here like...

VERN: Calm, down, how do we know he's the one?

JO: Oh I know. I know. (LOOKING AT THE PHONE) That smarmy little...

UNBENKNOWNST TO THEM, JENNIFER HAS WALKED IN BEHIND THEM.

JENNIFER: (CONFUSED. SMILING.) Smarmy little? Who are you talking about Jo?

OUT ON JO AND VERN TURNING AROUND AND GIGGLING NERVOUSLY.

CUT TO


SCENE 2: EXT. JACK AND JENNIFER'S HOUSE.

JACK IS WALKING UP THE WALK WITH HIS HANDS IN HIS POCKETS, THINKING. ALL OF A SUDDEN HARPER AND DUKE APPEAR, WEARING GARDENERS' CLOTHING. HARPER IS HOLDING SOME GARDEN SHEARS AND DUKE IS CARRYING A WATER HOSE.

JACK: (SEEING HARPER AND DUKE) Aaahh! (HE JUMPS BACK A FEW FEET)

HARPER: (CLOSING THE GARDEN SHEARS) We have to stop meeting like this, son. Honestly, you're not making us feel welcome at all.

DUKE: Yeah, Billy. You always act like you're seeing ghosts or sometin'.

OUT ON JACK'S UNAMUSED SMILE AS THE TWO OF THEM BREAK INTO LAUGHTER.


SCENE 3: EXT. JACK AND JENNIFER'S HOUSE.

IN PROGRESS

DUKE: (TO JACK) What's so funny? Harp, do I have sometin' in my teeth? (HE TURNS TO HARPER AND SMILES AND WIDELY FOR HIM TO CHECK).

HARPER: (TO DUKE) Can't say that you do. You do have something on your shoulders, though.

DUKE: What's that?

HARPER: Your ugly mug!

THEY BOTH COLLAPSE IN FITS OF LAUGHTER.

HARPER: (LOOKING AT JACK AND STOPPING, HE TAPS DUKE TO PAY ATTENTION) Oh right. We're not here to do that. We're actually here for something bigger, son.

JACK: What-a sequel to the film you showed me on the isle of Erin? (TRYING TO STEP AROUND THEM) No thank you, I think I've seen enough footage to last me a lifetime.

DUKE: (BLOCKING JACK) Oh no you don't. We're not through with you.

JACK: (FLASHING A SLY SMILE) Well, I'm through with you.

HARPER: Now why are you doing this son?

JACK: Doing what, might I ask?

HARPER: This....running away...you know it doesn't work.

JACK: This running away, as you call it, is precisely what I need to do. (BEAT) After all, I don't need my new neighbors to think I'm crazy already. I prefer to take my sweet time in proving my insanity. Now, if you'll excuse me. (HE WALKS PAST THEIR PARTED BODIES)

HARPER: (TURNING AROUND TO LOOK AT JACK WALKING AWAY) Oh no, I'm not talking about running away from us, son. That, itself, is futile. We're talking about you're running away from your problems, Jack...

DUKE: (WATCHING JACK AS WELL) Running away from Jennifer.

OUT ON JACK STOPPING DEAD IN HIS TRACKS.


SCENE 4: INT. JACK AND JENNIFER'S LIVING ROOM

IN PROGRESS

JENNIFER: (LAUGHING) I'd hate to be on the other side of that phone. (BEAT) Who was it anyway, Jo? Was it Jack?

JO: (NERVOUSLY GIGGLING) I...I thought Jack was with you.

JENNIFER: He went out for a... (QUIETLY) for a walk.

JO: (SMILING WIDELY AND TRYING TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT) Oh that's nice.

VERN: (FOLLOWING JO'S LEAD) Fresh air's good. (BEAT) Maybe we should go for a walk ourselves. Whaddya say Jo? Shall we? (HE PUTS OUT HIS ARM FOR HER TO TAKE)

JO: (GIGGLING) What a wonderful idea! Jennifer, we'll be right back. (THEY GO TO THE DOOR AND OPEN IT)

JENNIFER IS CONFUSED BY ALL THIS AND IS CONVINCED THEY ARE HIDING SOMETHING.

JENNIFER: Oh no you don't. (SHE RUNS OVER, SHUTS THE DOOR, AND STANDS IN FRONT OF IT) Who was that on the phone?

OUT ON JO AND VERN'S NERVOUSNESS.


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

IN PROGRESS

JENNIFER: Jo, who was that on the phone?

JO: (PLAYING DUMB) The phone?

JENNIFER: The phone-you were just on it.

JO: Oh, that's right. (GIGGLING) Silly me. It was-it was...

VERN: (INTERRUPTING HER) Those damn telemarketers. Always trying to sell you something. What was it this time? (HE TURNS TO JO)

JO: (CAUGHT OFF GUARD) Sell? They were trying to sell...uh...(SHE LOOKS AROUND AND SEES VERN'S GLASSES IN HIS POCKET) Glass...glass (SHE SPOTS JENNIFER'S SHOES) slippers.

JENNIFER: (NOT BUYING IT) It was a telemarketer trying to sell glass slippers? Glass slippers, Jo?

JO: (ADAMANT) Like the ones in Cinderella.

VERN: (SHAKING HIS HEAD AT JO'S ANSWER BUT GOING WITH IT) Very popular with the younger set. I hear they're all the rage at prom.

JO: (NODDING) At prom. (BEAT) In fact, Vern and I actually contemplated buying you a pair.

JENNIFER: A pair of glass slippers?

VERN: They'd look lovely on you...(BEAT) Now for that walk....

JENNIFER RELUCTANTLY STEPS ASIDE AND THEY WALK OUT AND CLOSE THE DOOR. OUT ON JENNIFER'S CONFUSION.

CUT TO


SCENE 5: EXT. JACK AND JENNIFER'S PORCH.

VERN: (WHISPERING) Glass slippers? You couldn't just say magazines or encyclopedias, could you?

JO: (WHISPERING) I couldn't think. (BEAT) You think she bought it?

VERN: Not for a moment. (BEAT) Why didn't you just tell her who called?

JO: Because...because I...I don't know. (SHE LOOKS AT THE NOTE, WHICH IS STILL IN HER HAND) I did a bad thing, didn't I?

VERN: Yes. No. I mean, I know why you did, I'm just not sure that it's the best way to go about this.

JO: (GUILTY) Oh...I'm so mad with myself. This is something Jack would do. Oh. I'm going to go and put this back. I should, shouldn't I?

VERN: (SADLY NODDING) You know you should.

JO: I know. (SHE FLASHES HIM A RELUCTANT LOOK AND OPENS THE DOOR) Jennifer? Jennifer? (WHEN SHE GETS NO ANSWER, SHE WALKS IN) Hmmmm...(SPOTTING THE DESK) I'll just put this right back here. (SHE RUNS OVER AND PLACES THE NOTE BY THE PHONE AND RUSHES BACK OUT)

VERN: You put it back?

JO: (HOLDING UP HER HANDS TO SHOW SHE NO LONGER HAS THE NOTE) All gone. What's wrong?

VERN: Nothing. (HE NARROWS HIS EYES AND LOOKS TOWARDS THE FRONT YARD) It's Jack. Who is he talking to?

JO: (TRYING TO SEE AS WELL) I don't know. Knowing Jack, probably himself. Come on, let's go...(SHE TAPS HIM TO GET HIS ATTENTION AND THEY WALK OFF IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION)

OUT ON THE NOTE BY THE DESK, READING:

COLIN MURPHY, SALEM INN ROOM 14B. 555-8993.


SCENE 6: EXT. JACK AND JENNIFER'S HOUSE

IN PROGRESS

JACK: (TURNING AROUND TO FACE HARPER AND DUKE) And what makes you think I'm-what did you call it? Running away from my problems...my problems with Jennifer?

DUKE: History.

JACK: (ANNOYED) History what? We have history? If you don't learn from your history, you're deemed to repeat it? HARPER: (MULLING IT OVER FOR A MOMENT) The latter.

JACK: (CONFUSED) The latter?

DUKE: (REPEATING HARPER, ALTHOUGH IT IS CLEAR HE DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THE WORD MEANS) The latter.

HARPER: (SHAKING HIS HEAD AT DUKE'S STUPIDITY) The latter being you're bound to repeat history.

JACK: (NERVOUSLY SMILING) It's a bit cliché, don't you think?

HARPER: We just use them, we don't make them up, son. In this case, I can think of nothing better.

JACK: (TURNING AWAY TO THINK AND THEN TURNING BACK) And the little slideshow--?

DUKE: Dat was meant for you to see dat you should stay.

HARPER: To work things out. (BEAT) Come on son, Jennifer did tell you that nothing went on didn't she?

JACK: You knew about that?

HARPER: Well...

DUKE: If you mean we knew she didn't wind up in the sack with him, yeah...

HARPER: (LOOKING AT DUKE UNAPPROVINGLY) Now that was crass...

DUKE: (SMILING WIDELY AT THIS COMMENT) Thank you.

HARPER: (WAVING HIM OFF) What Duke said was right. We did know about that minor detail.

JACK: And you couldn't, I don't know, inform me of such information?

HARPER: You had to hear it from her. Didn't you?

JACK: (THINKING ABOUT IT) Yes. Yes, I guess I did. (BEAT) But that doesn't change things. She still...she still lov---lov-(HE CAN'T SAY IT. FRUSTRATED.) felt something for him.

DUKE: Well, you would too if he was there with you when you lost-(HE COVERS HIS MOUTH QUICKLY AS HARPER LOOKS SHOCKINGLY AT HIM)

OUT ON JACK'S CONFUSION AT THIS STATEMENT.


SCENE 7: INT. JACK AND JENNIFER'S LIVING ROOM

IN ON JENNIFER, WHO IS NERVOUS ABOUT JACK'S "THINKING ABOUT IT". SHE IS WALKING THROUGHOUT THE ROOM, ANXIOUSLY SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING TO DO. SHE FINALLY SETTLES ON A MAGAZINE AND SITS DOWN ON THE SOFA TO READ IT. SHE OPENS IT AND TRIES TO CONCENTRATE BUT CANNOT AND SHUTS IT IN FRUSTRATION.

JENNIFER: (TO HERSELF) Oh, Jack. (SHE GRABS A THROW PILLOW FROM THE COUCH AND HUGS IT TO HERSELF) I hope you can get through this. (BEAT) I hope I can get through this. (SHE THINKS BACK TO AFRICA)

CUT TO

FLASHBACK: INT. J & J'S HOUSE IN AFRICA

IN ON JENNIFER WHO IS ON THE PHONE AND IS LOOKING SHOCKED AND SADDENED BY WHO IS ON THE OTHER END.

JENNIFER: (INTO THE PHONE) No, I will be there. (BEAT) Thank you, Dr. Jackson. (SHE HANGS UP THE PHONE SLOWLY AND IS TEARING UP)

ABBY RUNS IN.

ABBY: (SEEING JENNIFER'S FACE) Mommy? Mommy, what's wrong? (BEAT. SEEING JENNIFER'S HAND ON THE PHONE) Was that Daddy? (HER FACE LIGHTS UP) Is Daddy coming home?

JENNIFER: (SLOWLY KNEELING DOWN TO MEET ABBY) No, it wasn't Daddy. (BEAT. SMILING) But I'm sure he'll be home before we know it.

ABBY: For good?

JENNIFER: (SMILING) I hope so, Baby, I hope so.

ABBY: (PLAYING WITH JENNIFER'S HAIR) You miss him, don't you?

JENNIFER: (NODDING AND WEAKLY SMILING) Yeah.

ABBY: It's okay, I miss him too. When he gets back, we'll have the wedding and then maybe I could have a baby brother? (FAKE PLEADING) Please...I won't ask till I ask again.

JENNIFER: (TRYING TO SMILE THROUGH HER TEARS) We'll see about that. (BEAT) You know that Mommy and Daddy love you, don't you? (SHE PLAYS WITH ABBY'S HAIR)

ABBY: Yes. (BEAT) And you know that Daddy loves you, don't you?

JENNIFER: (BREAKING DOWN YET SMILING) Yes.

CUT TO

FLASHBACK: INT. DOCTOR'S OFFICE-AFRICA

COLIN: You have to tell him, Jennifer Rose.

JENNIFER: I don't know what to do, Colin. I didn't need this right now. We didn't need this. I just wish...

COLIN: You wish what?

JENNIFER: That it could be the way it was when I found out we were having Abby. I mean, Jack was a little scared, but...

COLIN: But he was there. (BEAT) Jennifer, find him, tell him. He'll be thrilled.

JENNIFER: But will he be here?

COLIN: I don't know. I wish I could tell you yes, but...you love him, don't you?

JENNIFER: Yes.

COLIN: And he loves you, right?

JENNIFER: (SADLY) Yes. In some warped way I know that.

COLIN: And he's a great dad, isn't he?

JENNIFER: (PENSIVELY) Yes.

COLIN: Tell him, then. Tell him.

CUT TO

FLASHBACK #3: J & J'S HOUSE-AFRICA

IN ON JENNIFER, WHO IS PACING NERVOUSLY AROUND THE HOUSE. SUDDENLY THE PHONE RINGS. SHE PRACTICALLY RUNS TO IT.

JENNIFER: (OUT OF BREATH) Hello?

IT IS A BAD CONNECTION, BUT IT IS JACK.

JACK: (ON A PHONE IN A DUSTY LITTLE BAR. HE NODS TO BILL, JENNIFER'S FATHER, WHO IS SITTING AND HAVING A BEER) Hello? Hello, Miss Horton?

JENNIFER: (SMILING AT THE SOUND OF HIS VOICE. SHE IS SO HAPPY SHE COULD CRY) Jack.

JACK: Indeed. (BEAT) We've got a bad connection here. Can you hear me?

JENNIFER: (CLUTCHING HER OTHER EAR SO THAT SHE CAN HEAR HIM BETTER) Yes. I can hear you.

JACK: (SMILING) Good. How's Abigail?

JENNIFER: She's good. She misses you. Jack-

JACK: I miss her, too. And you. (HE LOOKS OVER TO BILL NERVOUSLY) Miss H., whaddya say we make it legal as soon as I get back?

JENNIFER: (SMILING) Jack, when do you think that will be? I mean, I have news-

JACK: News? (NOTICING BILL WAVING AND SAYING IT'S TIME TO GO) News? It can wait, can't it (HE DOESN'T WANT TO GO, BUT HAS TO). I have to run.

JENNIFER: But Jack-you just got on the phone.

JACK: (SADLY) I know. Time is money you know (HE LOOKS ANGRILY AT BILL).

JENNIFER: Jack, this news really can't wait.

JACK: (ANNOYED WITH BILL) It...it has to. I'll call you when we get where we're going.

JENNIFER: (UPSET) When you get--? Jack-

JACK: I've got to run. I lo-(THE PHONE LINE GOES DEAD) (TO HIMSELF) I love you. (HE LOOKS SADLY AT BILL AND HANGS UP THE PHONE).

JENNIFER: (NOT HEARING JACK'S LAST PART) Jack? (SHE IS DUMBFOUNDED AND SETS THE PHONE HANDLE DOWN ON THE TABLE) How can I do this? How can I? (SHE STARTS TO CRY AND THE PHONE STARTS MAKING NOISE BECAUSE IT'S OFF THE HOOK)

CUT TO PRESENT DAY

IN ON JENNIFER, WHO IS STILL CLUTCHING THE PILLOW AND IS VERY SAD.

JENNIFER: (TO HERSELF) I know we can do this, Jack. I know we can.


SCENE 8: EXT. JACK AND JENNIFER'S HOUSE.

IN PROGRESS.

JACK: (CONFUSED BY DUKE'S COMMENT) What did...what did Jennifer lose?

DUKE: Nuttin'. It's just me runnin' my mouth again.

HARPER: (CHASTISING DUKE) You know we're not supposed to do that. He's got to find out himself.

JACK: Find out what?

HARPER AND DUKE: (IN UNISON) Nothing.

JACK: (RUBBING HIS CHIN IN DEEP THOUGHT) So this...this nothing is something?

HARPER: (WAVING IT OFF) Nothing. Something. Who cares? Point is, you have to work this out.

JACK: I don't have to do anything. Jennifer...who knows? Jennifer might be better off without me.

DUKE: You know that's not true.

JACK: Yeah...well, I've been proven wrong before, haven't I? Not much, but once or twice.

HARPER: Answer me this, son...Do you love her?

JACK: What kind of a question is that? Of course I do.

DUKE: And does she love you?

JACK: Yes, in some warped way I know she does.

HARPER: Then why can't this work?

JACK: (FRUSTRATED) I don't...I don't know.

DUKE: It's just so simple.

JACK: (TO HIMSELF) I've heard that somewhere before.

HARPER: What was that?

JACK: I said I heard that somewhere before. (BEAT) Wait a minute, what are you two trying to do here? Are you still trying to get your wings?

DUKE: (TO HARPER) He found us out!

HARPER: (SLAPPING DUKE ON THE HEAD LIGHTLY. TO JACK) Forget what he said. Jack, we just want to help...for you and that little girl. She wants the best for you two.

JACK: (INCREDULOUSLY) And the best is Jennifer with me-Mr. Unemotional?

HARPER: Like we said, son, we don't make them up, we just use them (HE TURNS JACK TOWARDS THE HOUSE) Now, just go back in there and try. We're not asking for miracles, but try.

JACK: (NERVOUSLY SMILING) Try?

DUKE: (STANDING BESIDE HARPER) Try. You can do that, can't you, Billy boy?

OUT ON JACK STANDING AND FACING THE DOOR NERVOUSLY.


SCENE 9: EXT. JACK AND JENNIFER'S HOUSE

IN ON JACK, LOOKING NERVOUSLY AT THE DOOR.

JACK: (TURNING AROUND TO SEE HARPER AND DUKE, BUT THEY ARE GONE) You know....(HE TURNS BACK AROUND AND TAKES A DEEP BREATH AND THEN OPENS THE DOOR)

JACK WALKS IN. JENNIFER IS NOW LYING ON THE COUCH WITH A QUILT AND WAS TRYING TO NAP. SHE SITS UP AND SEES HIM WALK IN.

JENNIFER: (SOFTLY) Jack.

JACK: (TAKING A DEEP BREATH) Miss Horton. (HE WALKS IN AND SITS DOWN BESIDE HER)

JENNIFER: (STUDYING HIM FOR A MOMENT) Did you have a good walk?

JACK: Yes. (BEAT) Are Jo and Vern still here?

JENNIFER: No. (BEAT) They went for a walk themselves.

JACK: That's nice.

A FEW MOMENTS OF SILENCE ENSUES. JACK AND JENNIFER GO TO SPEAK AT THE SAME TIME.

JACK: Jennifer-

JENNIFER: Jack-

THEY BOTH GIGGLE A LITTLE AT THIS.

JENNIFER: You go ahead.

JACK: Okay. (BEAT) I was just thinking...I was just thinking that we should (CHICKENING OUT)...that we should maybe watch some television.

JENNIFER: (DISAPPOINTED AT HIS SUGGESTION) Oh, okay. (SHE GETS THE REMOTE AND TURNS IT ON) Oh, look at that...it's "Breakfast at Tiffany's". (SHE SMILES AT HIM SLIGHTLY, REMEMBERING THEIR EARLIER CONVERSATION)

JACK: Look at that.

A FEW SECONDS OF SILENCE ENSUES WITH JACK SNEAKING LOOKS OVER AT JENNIFER.

JACK: Jennifer?

JENNIFER: Yes, Jack?

JACK: Um...you...you know the drill. (HE PATS HIS SHOULDER NERVOUSLY)

JENNIFER: (CONFUSED) The-?(SHE BREAKS INTO A HUGE SMILE WHEN SHE REALIZES WHAT "THE DRILL" IS) Yeah, I do.

JENNIFER EXCITEDLY MOVES TO JACK'S END AND PLACES HER HEAD ON HIS SHOULDER AND COVERS THEM UP WITH THE BLANKET. JACK IS NERVOUS, BUT HE LOVES WHERE THEY ARE. HE BEGINS TO PLAY WITH HER HAIR AND PUTS HIS OTHER ARM AROUND HER BACK AS THEY SETTLE INTO THE MOVIE.

JENNIFER: (VERY HAPPY) This is nice, isn't it?

JACK: (OVERCOME WITH EMOTION) Yes, it is. (BEAT) Yes, it is.

OUT ON THE TWO OF THEM VERY COMFORTABLE WITH ONE ANOTHER .

END OF EPISODE 34

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