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KEEPING UP WITH THE DEVERAUXES
By Jennifer-Lynn D'Anna
EPISODE 36

SCENE 1: INT. SALEM UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

IN ON JACK AND JENNIFER STEPPING OFF OF THE ELEVATOR AND WALKING DOWN THE HALL TO MARLENA'S OFFICE.

JACK: Maybe we should get some coffee or something.

JENNIFER: No. I don't want to be late. I'm just glad Marlena had time for us.

JACK: (STOPPING HER) Exactly. (BEAT) What's a few minutes, anyway? (TRYING TO READ HER FACE, WHICH IS NERVOUS) Listen, I'm going to go and get us two cups and I'll be right back. Okay? (HE LOOKS TO HER FOR AN ANSWER)

JENNIFER: (SOFTLY) Okay. (TO JACK AS HE STARTS TO WALK AWAY) Make mine-

JACK: (SMILING REASSURINGLY) Light and sweet. I know. Don't move. (HE SEARCHES FOR SOME SIGN THAT SHE WON'T AND THEN HEADS OFF TO THE CAFETERIA)

JENNIFER IS LEFT ALONE AND IS VISIBLY NERVOUS. SHE BEGINS TO SLOWLY PACE IN THE HALLWAY AND ADJUSTS HER PURSE. SHE STOPS IN FRONT OF A PICTURE OF HER GRANDFATHER AND WISTFULLY TOUCHES THE NAMEPLATE READING "DR. THOMAS HORTON, CHIEF OF STAFF" AND THE YEARS OF HIS TENURE.

JENNIFER: (SOFTLY, AS IF SPEAKING TO THE PICTURE) Oh, Grandpa, where did we go wrong?

BEHIND HER, COLIN WALKS UP.

COLIN: (LEANING DOWN INTO HER EAR) Where did who go wrong, Jennifer Rose?

JENNIFER JUMPS UP SLIGHTLY AND TURNS AROUND NERVOUSLY.


SCENE 2. INT. SALEM UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

IN PROGRESS

JENNIFER: (NERVOUSLY) Colin.

COLIN: In the flesh. (BEAT. NODDING UP TO THE PICTURE) Talking to ghosts, are you?

JENNIFER: (NOT SURE WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT) Ghosts? (REALIZING HE IS TALKING ABOUT THE PICTURE) Oh no, that (TURNING TOWARDS THE PHOTO) that's my grandfather. (BREAKING INTO A SMILE) He was-

COLIN: (TAKING A CLOSER LOOK) Chief of Staff here for some time, I see. He passed away some time ago, didn't he?

JENNIFER: (FROWNING) Yeah, yeah he did.

COLIN: You miss him sometimes, don't you?

JENNIFER: Yeah, yeah, I do. (BEAT) It's just...he and my grandma were like parents to me.

COLIN: (FLASHING THE PICTURE A SMILE) Well, he looks like a great man.

JENNIFER: (CURIOUSLY) Really? How can you tell? (SHE TURNS TOWARDS THE PICTURE TO LOOK)

COLIN: Well, you see, (HE PUTS HIS ARM ON HER BACK AND LEANS IN TO POINT IN SOMETHING ABOUT THE PICTURE) he has some great lines of wisdom right her, and look at the way his eyes light up when he smiles, and...

JENNIFER IS SMILING AT COLIN'S COMMENTS JUST AS JACK STEPS OFF THE ELEVATOR. SPOTTING THEM LOOKING SO HAPPY, HE STOPS DEAD IN HIS TRACKS.


SCENE 3: INT. SALEM UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

IN ON JACK'S FACE, WHICH IS CRESTFALLEN AT THE SIGHT OF JENNIFER AND COLIN TOGETHER.

COLIN: And of course, there's you as proof.

JENNIFER: (STEPPING BACK AND SMILING) Me?

COLIN: Yes, he must've done something right. He has you as a granddaughter.

JENNIFER: (A LITTLE WARY AND EMBARRASSED BY THIS STATEMENT) Well, thank you. I'll just have to take your word for it. You are a good judge of character, I'll give you that.

COLIN: I only am a judge of good character. You see when I look at you, I see-

JACK: (WALKING UP TO INTERRUPT) I see a damsel in dire need of some coffee (HE HANDS A NERVOUS JENNIFER HER COFFEE).

JENNIFER: Jack? Jack, Colin was just over here and I was showing him a picture of my grandfather.

JACK: (LOOKING AT THE PICTURE AND THEN BACK TO COLIN) Yes, the good doctor. He was quite the mainstay in Salem. Good man.

JENNIFER: (LOOKING AT JACK FOR SOME SIGN OF WHAT HE'S THINKING) That's what we were saying. (TO COLIN) I'm sorry, Colin, what ever are you doing here? I'm an awful conversationalist, I should have asked.

COLIN: No, no, that's quite alright. (HE LOOKS NERVOUSLY AWAY FROM JACK AND FOCUSES ON JENNIFER) I'm actually looking for a job. I have a meeting here with Dr. Wesley.

JACK: Dr. Wesley? (SARCASTICALLY) If you'd like, I could have a word with him for you. At one time, the Deverauxes were quite the mainstay in Salem as well, you know.

JENNIFER LOOKS NERVOUSLY FROM JACK TO COLIN.

COLIN: No, no. I wouldn't dream of it. (BEAT. TRYING TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT) What are you two doing here? Here on business?

OUT ON JENNIFER AND JACK'S LOSS-FOR-WORDS EXPRESSIONS. JENNIFER LOOKS TO JACK FOR AN ANSWER.


SCENE 4: INT. SALEM UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

IN PROGRESS

JACK: Actually, (CLEARING HIS THROAT) we're here on family business. You know, family. Jennifer, Abigail, and myself.

JENNIFER: We've decided to work this out. Jack and I have decided to work this out. (SHE FLASHES JACK AN OPTIMISTIC LOOK)

COLIN: (SHOCKED. COVERING BY LYING.) Good, that's great. You're here to tell everyone then? I think I saw your cousin Hope over by the nurses' station if you're looking for her.

JENNIFER: No, we're actually here for...for...

JACK: Counseling. We're here to work things out as Jennifer said. Tog-(GRABBING HER HAND AND SQUEEZING IT TIGHT) Together.

JENNIFER: (SMILING AT THIS GESTURE AND SQUEEZING BACK) Together.

COLIN: (NOT LIKING THIS AT ALL) Wow. I'm so glad for you two. Maybe after your session, if I'm still around, we could get a bite to eat or something.

JACK: (SMILING FAKELY. UNDER HIS BREATH) Don't hold your breath.

COLIN: What was that, Jack?

JENNIFER: (COVERING FOR JACK) He said...he said that he could really go for chicken breast.

COLIN: (SHAKING HIS HEAD ODDLY) Okay.

JENNIFER: (LOOKING AT HER WATCH) Look at that. (TO JACK) Jack, we've really got to run. Marlena must be waiting. (TO COLIN) We'll look for you when we get out. (SHE GRABS JACK'S HAND AND STARTS DOWN THE HALL)

JACK: (UNDER HIS BREATH) But not hard.

COLIN: What was that?

JENNIFER: (TURNING AROUND AND SHOUTING) Starved. He said he was starved. (SHE TURNS BACK AROUND, FLASHES JACK A LOOK, AND THEN PULLS HIM DOWN THE HALL)

COLIN: (STANDING ALONE IN THE HALL. TO HIMSELF) No worry, Jack. You won't have to look hard at all. I'll be right here.


SCENE 5: INT. MARLENA'S OFFICE

JACK AND JENNIFER ARE SEATED IN THE SEATS OPPOSITE MARLENA'S DESK. JACK IS NERVOUS AND IS BOUNCING HIS LEG UP AND DOWN. JENNIFER IS NERVOUS AS WELL AND IS TWIRLING HER HAIR. THEY ARE NOT SPEAKING, BUT RATHER LOOKING AROUND THE ROOM. JACK BEGINS TO WHISTLE.

JENNIFER: Will you stop that?

JACK: (PULLING A FACE) Stop what?

JENNIFER: (TURNING TO HIM) Stop what? (ANNOYED) What do you think I mean?

JACK: (LOOKING AT HER) What do you think I mean? What could be anything...What could be bouncing my leg, what could be whistling, what could have been not speaking and what can be speaking now and asking what what is.

JENNIFER: (TAKING IN WHAT HE SAID) What? What IS the leg bouncing, the whistling. What was not the not speaking. What now is you asking what.

JACK: (CONFUSED) What?

MARLENA HAS JUST STEPPED IN THE DOORWAY BEHIND THEM AND IS SHAKING HER HEAD IN AMAZEMENT AT THEIR CONVERSATION.

JENNIFER: Are you listening? What is what you were doing not what you are doing, but now it is.

JACK: It is? You mean what was what I was doing not what I am doing and what was not me not speaking.

JENNIFER: Exactly.

JACK: (SMUGLY. SITTING BACK IN THE CHAIR) Well, I'm glad we have that settled.

MARLENA: (SHUTTING THE DOOR CAUSING THEM TO SIT UP AND LOOK HER WAY) Jennifer, Jack, how nice to see you. (SHE WALKS OVER BEHIND HER DESK). I'm glad you called. (THEY START TO GET UP BUT SHE WAVES THEM OFF) No, don't get up. (SHE SITS DOWN AND SIGHS) Well?

JACK: Well what?

MARLENA: Well? I'm sorry for being a little bit upfront, but Jennifer, you said that you and Jack wanted to see me. (BEAT) Is it Abigail? Is she having trouble adjusting to the divorce?

JENNIFER: No. (BEAT) Actually, Marlena, the problem isn't Abby at all. She's fine. It's-

JACK: It's us. (BEAT) We're...(FLASHING JENNIFER A LOOK) we're having trouble with the divorce.

OUT ON MARLENA'S INTERESTED LOOK.


SCENE 6: INT. MARLENA'S OFFICE

IN PROGRESS

MARLENA: You're having trouble with the divorce? (SMILING) Well, most divorced couples have a bit of trouble with it, but I must say, you two are doing a stellar job at working things out for Abby's sake.

JACK: That's the thing. The problem...the problem that we have with the divorce is that...

JENNIFER: Is that we never wanted to be divorced. (BEAT) We still don't want to be divorced. We want to be together for our sake, not Abby's. (SHE LOOKS TO JACK FOR REASSURANCE).

JACK: (FLASHING A SMILE) In short, we want to work things out. That's where you come in.

MARLENA: (SMILING) Are you sure?

JACK: (LAUGHING IT OFF NERVOUSLY) Are we sure? Are we (TURNING TO JENNIFER NERVOUSLY) Are we?

JENNIFER: (SMILING AND NODDING NERVOUSLY AT HIM AND THEN TO MARLENA) We're sure.

MARLENA: (SMILING) Good. I'm sorry if I scared you, but I just want this to help the matter, not hinder it. And in order for me to help you, you have to want to help yourselves, and that means the truth (TO JACK) the whole truth.

JACK SMILES UNCOMFORTABLY.

MARLENA: (CONT.) What you say in here is going to affect everything you had, you have, and what the future holds, but I need you to be totally honest, no matter how much that hurts. Are you willing to do that?

OUT ON JACK AND JENNIFER NERVOUSLY LOOKING AT ONE ANOTHER.

SCENE 7: INT. MARLENA'S OFFICE


IN PROGRESS

MARLENA: Are you willing to be truthful despite what the consequences are?

JENNIFER: (LOOKING AT JACK FOR AN ANSWER) Yes. (SHE TAKES HIS HAND AND SQUEEZES IT) Yes. (SHE SIGHS).

JACK: (LOOKING AT JENNIFER WITH GREAT LOVE) Yes, we are. (TO MARLENA) So what do you say, Marlena, let's get to head shrinking.

MARLENA: Alright. (SHE OPENS A NOTEBOOK ON HER DESK) First things first. Jack, no head shrinkage jokes.

JACK: (PLAYFULLY) Aw, come on.

JENNIFER HITS HIM SOFTLY.

MARLENA: Okay, the first thing I need to know about you is fairly simple. When you left Salem, you were happy, I saw that as a friend. Jennifer, you always talked about remarriage. Why didn't you two remarry? What stopped you from that?

OUT ON JENNIFER AND JACK'S LOOKS OF WORRY. JENNIFER DOESN'T REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

END OF EPISODE 36

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