KEEPING UP WITH THE DEVERAUXES
By Jennifer-Lynn D'Anna
EPISODE 35
IN ON JACK, WHO IS WAKING UP. HE IS SMILING ABSENTMINDEDLY, AS IF HE WERE HAVING A GOOD DREAM. HE SITS UP, WONDERING IF IT WAS A DREAM OR NOT AND THEN SMILES REMEMBERING JUST WHAT HAD HAPPENED THE NIGHT BEFORE. "ALL I HAVE" BEGINS TO PLAY SOFTLY IN THE BACKGROUND, AS JACK STEPS OUT OF BED AND THINKS BACK TO WHAT HAD HAPPENED BETWEEN JENNIFER AND HIM THE NIGHT BEFORE. HE IS, FOR THE FIRST TIME, IN WHILE, HOPEFUL ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP.
You can say you love me
And I'll believe that's true
Trusting you is easy
'Cause I believe in you
There is nothing I would miss
As long as we're in love like this
All I have is all I need
And it all comes down
To you and me
How far away this world becomes
In the harbor of each other's arms
HE PICKS UP A PICTURE FRAME CONTAINING A PHOTO OF HIS HAPPY LITTLE FAMILY AND WANTS TO CRY AT HOW UNBELIEVABLY HAPPY AND OPTIMISTIC HE IS.
CUT TO
INT. JENNIFER'S BEDROOM
I feel like I've known you
Forever and ever
Baby, that's how close we are
Right here with you is where
My life has come together
And where love has filled my heart
You know I'd go anywhere
As long as I have you to care
All I have is all I need
And it comes down to you and me
How far away this world becomes
In the harbor of each other's arms
JENNIFER IS RUMMAGING THROUGH HER HOPE CHEST FRANTICALLY. SHE FINALLY FINDS WHAT SHE IS LOOKING FOR-THE LOCKET JACK GAVE HER "TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON". SHE OPENS IT AND SMILES AT THEIR PICTURES AND THEN PLACES IT ON HER NECK AND LOOKS AT HERSELF IN THE MIRROR, DRESSED IN A WHITE SATIN NIGHTGOWN AND ROBE. SHE IS NERVOUS BUT OPTIMISTIC ABOUT SHE AND JACK'S DECISION TO TRY AGAIN. SHE TAKES A DEEP BREATH AND SMILES.
THERE IS A KNOCK ON THE DOOR. IT IS JACK.
JENNIFER: (SOFTLY AND NERVOUSLY) Come in.
JACK OPENS THE DOOR SLOWLY AND THEN STEPS INSIDE. HE IS OVERWHELMED BY HOW BEAUTIFUL SHE LOOKS.
OUT ON JENNIFER'S NERVOUS SMILE.
SCENE 2: INT. JENNIFER'S BEDROOM
IN PROGRESS
JENNIFER: (NOT SURE WHAT JACK IS THINKING) Hi.
JACK: (TAKING HER IN. NERVOUSLY) Hi.
A FEW SECONDS OF SILENCE ENSUE.
JENNIFER: (NOTING THE FACT THAT JACK CAN'T KEEP HIS EYES OFF HER) Are you okay, Jack?
JACK: Am I--? Of course I am. It's just that...that you look...
JENNIFER: Amazing? That's because you make me feel that way, Jack. You always have.
JACK: (EMBARASSED) Well, I wouldn't go that far.
JENNIFER: (WALKING OVER AND GRABBING HIS HAND. SHE DOES NOT BREAK EYE CONTACT WITH HIM) You wouldn't?
JACK: Well, something about good genetics and basic grooming habits.
JENNIFER: (SMILING AT THIS COMMENT) Have I ever told you that I love you, Jack Deveraux?
JACK: (SLIPPING HIS HANDS AROUND HER WAIST AND SMILING) Once or twice.
JENNIFER: Well, I do.
JACK: (SMILING) You do? Well, that's good.... Reciprocation is always a good thing. Do you know what else is a good thing? (HE LEANS IN TO KISS HER)
JUST AS THEY ARE ABOUT TO KISS, THE PHONE RINGS.
JACK: Ignore it. (KISSING HER)
JENNIFER: Ignore what? (SHE KISSES HIM BACK AND SMILES)
JACK: Exactly. (HE LEANS IN TO KISS HER AGAIN)
THE PHONE CONTINUES TO RING. FINALLY IT STOPS. JACK AND JENNIFER LOOK SLIGHTLY AT IT AND CONTINUE TO KISS. ABBY IS NOW AT THE DOOR WATCHING THEM. WHEN THEY DON'T NOTICE HER, SHE CLEARS HER THROAT.
BOTH JACK AND JENNIFER LOOK OVER NERVOUSLY AT HER.
JENNIFER: (SURPRISED AND EMBARASSED) Baby, we were just....(SHE LOOKS TO JACK FOR HELP)
JACK: We were just. Hehehehehe...
ABBY: (SMILING KNOWINGLY) It's Dr. Marlena...(FUMBLING FOR THE WORDS)...Marlena Evans on the phone.
JENNIFER: (REMEMBERING SOMETHING) Oh, Marlena. (SHE HOPS TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BED AND PICKS UP) Marlena?
JENNIFER CONTINUES TO SPEAK TO MARLENA WHILE JACK AND ABBY STARE AT EACH OTHER NERVOUSLY.
JACK: Okay, Miss Googly-Eyes, what's with the face?
ABBY: (SMILING WIDELY) Nothing.
JACK: (SMILING WIDELY BACK) Nothing, eh?
ABBY: Yup, nothing.
JACK: (SITTING DOWN ON THE BED AND PATTING HIS KNEE) Why don't you have a seat on your old man's knee and tell him what this "nothing" is, little Miss-Couldn't-Tell-a-Lie-to -Save Her-Life.
ABBY: (HOPPING ON JACK'S KNEE) Daddy, you're so funny.
A FEW SECONDS OF SILENCE ENSUE.
JACK: Well?
ABBY: Well...are you and Mommy getting back together?
JACK: I knew that was coming. Well, you see...Your Mommy are...are
ABBY: Are feeling things out?
JACK: (SURPRISED BY HER INTUITION AND THAT STATEMENT) Feeling thi--? (SMILING) Yes, I guess you can say that. Mommy and I are feeling things out.
JENNIFER: (WALKING OVER AND SMILING) Speaking of feeling things out, Marlena has an opening free at ten, I told her it would be okay. Is that allright?
JACK: (TENTATIVE) That's fine. (TO ABBY) You know what that means, don't you Miss-I-Have-All-Summer off? Another day at day camp, (PICKING ABBY OFF AND CARRYING HER TO THE DOOR) but not until we have a healthy breakfast because...
ABBY: Because it's the most important meal of the day. (TO JENNIFER) Mommy, are you coming?
JENNIFER: (SMILING NERVOUSLY) In a minute.
JACK LOOKS AT HER, KNOWING SOMETHING IS WRONG.
JACK: (SETTING ABBY ON THE FLOOR) Tell you what, Miss, why don't you go on downstairs and pick out what you want. Mommy and I will be down in a minute.
ABBY: Okay. Don't be too long. (SHE EXITS)
JACK MAKES SURE THAT ABBY IS GONE BEFORE SPEAKING.
JACK: Okay, spill it, what's wrong, Miss Horton?
OUT ON JENNIFER'S NERVOUSNESS AT THE QUESTION.
SCENE 3: INT. JENNIFER'S BEDROOM
IN PROGRESS
JENNIFER: (LYING) Wrong? What's wrong? Nothing's wrong. (SHE AVERTS HIS GAZE)
JACK: You're lying.
JENNIFER: Jack,--
JACK: Don't Jack me, you're lying. You're doing that nose thing.
JENNIFER: What nose thing?
JACK: (POINTING TO HER) That nose...(SCRUNCHING UP HIS NOSE) this nose thing....you do it when you lie.
JENNIFER: (OPENING HER MOUTH IN SHOCK) I am not (COVERING HER NOSE) I am not lying. (SHE OPENS HER DRAWER AND STARTS THUMBING THROUGH IT)
JACK: Jennifer-(HE WALKS OVER AND TOUCHES HER SHOULDERS AND SHE MELTS) Jennifer, I know you're scared.
JENNIFER: (TURNING SLOWLY TOWARDS HIM) I am, Jack. (BEAT) I am.
JACK: (STROKING HER HAIR) And you know scared I am of anything...of anything that makes me open up.
JENNIFER NODS.
JACK: (CONT.) If you don't want to do this, we...
JENNIFER: (TOUCHING HIS HAND ON HER HAIR AND SQUEEZING IT) But we do, Jack. (BEAT) We do. We can't go on like we have been...hurting each other.
JACK: (SMILING) Why do I have a Carpenters' song in my head right now?
JENNIFER: (PULLING A FACE) Jack.
JACK: (HUMMING THE TUNE) Can't we stop hurting in each other? Gotta stop hurting each other? Making each other cry...(CATCHING HER FACE) No...no, you're right. I've got to learn how to be more serious.
JENNIFER: (SMILING) And I've got to learn to lighten up a little more.
JACK: We can work on that. Come on. (HE GRABS HER ARM TO ESCORT HER OUT OF THE ROOM) You can be Karen and I'll be Richard...no, no...on second thought, I'll be Karen, you be Richard. (SINGING) Can't we stop (POINTING TO HER) hurting each other?
JENNIFER: (GIVING IN) Gotta stop-
JACK: (SMILING AT HER PARTICIPATION) Hurting each other...
THEY EXIT AND WE ONLY HEAR THEIR VOICES OUTSIDE THE DOOR.
JACK AND JENNIFER: (V.O.) Making each other cry....
SCENE 4: INT. JACK'S CAR
IT IS SOME TIME LATER. JACK AND JENNIFER HAVE JUST RETURNED TO THE CAR FROM DROPPING OFF ABBY AND ARE GETTING IN.
JENNIFER: (SETTLING INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT) I think Abby really likes it here.
JACK: (TURNING THE IGNITION) The day camp?
JENNIFER: That too. Salem in general.
JACK: (NODDING AND SMILING AT HER) It's a good little town.
JENNIFER: (LAUGHING) Jack, it's not that little anymore. Have you seen how much it's changed since we've been back?
JACK: You're right. I guess a lot of things here have changed, huh?
JENNIFER: (SMILING WISTFULLY OUT THE WINDOW) Yeah, but not the important things.
JACK: (LOOKING OUT HIS WINDOW AS WELL) There's at least one good restaurant run by a Horton woman, Bo Brady is still fighting the DiMeras, and your Grandma is still wowing the women down at the church luncheons with her doughnut recipes. Yes, Miss H., the gods must be smiling down on Salem. (HE TURNS TO HER)
JENNIFER: (TURNING TO HIM, WEAK AND HOPEFUL) And us, Jack.
JACK: (SMILING REASSURINGLY) And us, Miss Horton...and us. (BEAT) So, whaddya say, Miss H., ready to go get our heads shrunk?
JENNIFER: (SMILING WEAKLY) Yeah. (BEAT) Jack?
JACK: (PULLING OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT) Yes?
JENNIFER: You'll still love me no matter what, right?
JACK: (STOPPING THE CAR AND LOOKING AT HER CURIOUSLY) What kind of a question is that? Nothing short of you pulling off your head and revealing you are an alien would make me not l-
JENNIFER: (TOUCHING HIS HAND) No jokes, Jack. (BEAT) Please.
JACK: (CURIOUS) No jokes? Jennifer, if I can't joke, I can't-
JENNIFER: You can't speak. I know. I just want to make sure that we're really trying this time.
JACK: (SERIOUSLY) I-we're-really trying. We are. We can do this. I...I believe in you.
JENNIFER: (TEARING UP) You do?
JACK: (SMILING WEAKLY) I do. (BEAT) You trust me, don't you?
JENNIFER NODS.
JACK: (CONT.) Then let's go do this. Make this a better place for you, for me, for Abigail, and for all the future little Deverauxs of the world. Okay?
JENNIFER NODS AND SMILES VERY WEAKLY.
JACK: (TAKING IN HER ANSWER) Okay. (HE BEGINS TO DRIVE).
OUT ON JACK'S WARINESS OF JENNIFER AND JENNIFER'S LOOK OF WORRY. SHE IS SCARED OF WHAT MIGHT BE SAID AT THEIR THERAPY SESSION.
END OF EPISODE 35
