IN PROGRESS

A few moments have passed and JENNIFER is growing uncomfortable. She keeps sneaking peaks at the door and is twiddling her thumbs. MARLENA is writing in her notebook and is sneaking peaks as JENNIFER as well.

MARLENA: (PUTTING DOWN HER PEN) Jennifer, are you quite allright?

JENNIFER: (NERVOUS) Yeah, why wouldn't I be? (FIDDLING WITH HER PURSE) Jack and I are fine.

MARLENA: I'm not talking about Jack, I'm talking about you. You seem a little stressed as of late.

JENNIFER: Well, I guess it's because it's weird, you know. Usually you and I are fine and now, now, I feel weird talking to you.

MARLENA: I'm not here to judge, just to help and I know how you and Jack are. I'm worried about you, Jennifer, as a psychiatrist and as a friend.

JENNIFER: Well, I...I appreciate your concern, Marlena, but I'm fine. I am. Boy, I really am thirsty. (SHE GETS UP TO POUR HERSELF A GLASS OF WATER) Can I get you some?

MARLENA: (GETTING UP AND WALKING OVER TO HER) No, that's quite alright, I don't want any water. What I do want is you to tell me what is going on. What's the matter Jennifer?

OUT on JENNIFER, who is uncomfortable with answering that question.

SCENE 2: INT. RESTROOM-MARLENA'S OFFICE LOBBY

IN on JACK, now sitting on the closed toilet and biting his pen furiously. He is sweating profusely.

JACK: (TO HIMSELF) Why, why, why can I not think? Happy. Think happy. (PUTTING DOWN THE PAPER AND PEN) I don't know how to think happy. (STANDING UP AND LOOKING AT HIMSELF IN THE MIRROR) Why hello, how are you today handsome? No, no, no time for games. Look at yourself, look at yourself. You have a beautiful intelligent woman in there who loves you and who you (STRUGGLING WITH THE WORDS) lo...lo...lo...love back and all you have to do is write down what you feel. What you feel. Okay, okay, let's try it again. (SITTING BACK DOWN ON THE TOILET AND BEGINNING TO WRITE)

All of a sudden, there is a pounding on the door.

JACK: (YELLING) It's occupied.

MAN'S V/O: Come on. How long you gonna be?

JACK: (BALKING AT THE LANGUAGE) I'm going to be...(SHAKING HIS HEAD.IMITATING THE GUY'S VOICE) I gonna be awhile, so...so scram.

MAN'S V/O: (POUNDING ON THE DOOR) Who do you think you're talking to?

JACK: (FRUSTRATED. GOING TO THE DOOR AND OPENING IT A SMIDGE TO FACE THE MAN) I think, in fact, I know I'm talking to you, kind sir. Now if you'll excuse me, what I'm doing in here will either make or break my marriage or what was my marriage.

MAN: (SHAKING HIS HEAD) You're a sicko, man, a real sicko.

JACK: I may be sick, but I am in here, aren't I? And you, sir, are out there. So, if you would (CLOSING THE DOOR ON THE MAN), there is a restroom down the hall, I believe. (RUBBING HIS HANDS TOGETHER AND THINKING) Okay, where was I? Oh yes, trying to save my future. Back to work (HE SITS BACK DOWN AND BEGINS WRITING AGAIN).

SCENE 3: INT. MARLENA'S OFFICE

IN PROGRESS

MARLENA: I want you, Jennifer, to tell me what's going on with you, your fears.

JENNIFER: I think...I think we've already established them, don't you. Jack and I can't communicate, he's scared of loving me completely. (SMILING) It's a lot, but hey, we can do it.

MARLENA: Not if you're not completely honest with me. Jennifer, I need you to tell me what's going on. There was more than just miscommunication that sent you to Ireland, wasn't there?

JENNIFER: (SHUFFLING THROUGH THE CUPS AND STUFF TO FIND SOME SUGAR) You know what? I think I feel like coffee. Don't you have any sugar around here?

MARLENA hands the sugar bowl to her without a word. JENNIFER realizes it was right in front of her.

JENNIFER: (CONT.) Thanks. If it was a snake, it would've bit me. Now, where were we?

MARLENA: You were avoiding my question. What was it that drove you to Ireland, Jennifer? Was it another man?

OUT on JENNIFER'S shock over MARLENA guessing what it was.

SCENE 4: INT. RESTROOM

IN PROGRESS

JACK: (TRIUMPHANTLY SETTING HIS PEN DOWN) Done! A masterwork in a matter of minutes. And they say that good work can't be done quickly. (GETTING UP) Wait, Jennifer will know I didn't write it out if she sees it on this. I wonder....(GOING TO LEAVE, BUT THEN JUMPING BACK TO FLUSH THE TOILET).

JACK opens the door and finds the man still waiting there.

JACK: (TO THE MAN) All yours, sir. (HE BOWS DOWN AND POINTS TO THE BATHROOM)

MAN: (WALKING INTO THE RESTROOM) Whatever, sicko.

JACK: (NOTICING MARLENA'S SECRETARY TYPING ON THE COMPUTER) Hmmmm...(WALKING OVER) Excuse me, miss?

MARY: (TURNING TOWARDS JACK) Yes sir?

JACK: Miss, um (READING THE NAMEPLATE) Mary, is it? Would you mind terribly if I borrowed your computer for just a moment? I have something I have to type up and...

MARY: Sure. It's all yours (SHE GETS UP), Mr. Deveraux.

JACK: (SMILING AND SITTING DOWN) Thank you. You know my name?

MARY: You are Dr. Evans' 10:00, you know.

JACK: (SETTLING INTO HER SEAT) Right. Would you mind keeping that yours and mine and perhaps the good doctor and the miss' secret, well, a secret? Wouldn't want the neighbors to get nervous, you know?

MARY: I understand. Would you mind terribly if I ran to the cafeteria to get something to eat very quickly?

JACK: No, no, go right ahead. I can hold down the fort. It can't be that hard. Skee-daddle. (HE MOTIONS TO HER TO GO ON)

MARY throws him a curious look and then heads off. The second she does, the phone begins to ring.

SCENE 5: INT. MARLENA'S OFFICE

IN PROGRESS

MARLENA: That's it, isn't it? You followed another man to Ireland.

JENNIFER: (WALKING PAST MARLENA AND SITTING DOWN) Don't be silly, I would never, (SARCASTICALLY) not me, not good Jennifer Rose.

MARLENA: Jennifer, I'm not judging you. I'm not. We all make mistakes.

JENNIFER: (WISTFULLY) We do, don't we?

MARLENA: (WALKING BACK OVER AND SITTING BEHIND HER DESK) Tell me about him.

JENNIFER: (PLAYING DUMB) About who?

MARLENA: This man, this other man. He had to be something special to make you leave Jack.

JENNIFER: (NERVOUS) He was. I mean, I thought he was. His name is Colin Murphy.

MARLENA: Bo's cousin?

JENNIFER: (NODDING) Yeah, we met in Africa. He was everything I thought I wanted...charming, heroic, smart, he loved kids...

MARLENA: And since Jack wasn't there, you turned for him for comfort?

JENNIFER: Yeah. (LOOKING DOWN) It wasn't anything, though. (MEETING MARLENA'S EYES) It wasn't like we you know.

MARLENA: I didn't say anything, Jennifer.

JENNIFER: I know, I just didn't want you to think that of me. I would never.

MARLENA: Why does it matter so much to you what I think of you?

JENNIFER: Well because I'm Jennifer.

MARLENA: A good friend but also human.

JENNIFER: (STANDING UP AND WALKING AWAY) Am I? I mean, you've seen the way Jack talks about me, like I'm the second coming or something. All my life that's how everybody's been with me. Good Jennifer Rose, she'll stand up for the good and just, always defend the underdog. Jennifer never'd do that, not in a million years, (HER VOICE CRACKS) and I did and I did, Marlena, I did. I doubted Jack.

MARLENA: But you're not upset about that are you? You doubted yourself. That's who you're mad at, isn't it Jennifer?

SCENE 6: INT. MARLENA'S OFFICE

IN PROGRESS

JENNIFER: (TURNING TOWARDS MARLENA, CRYING) I doubted me. Marlena, I've never been so lost in my life. Even when Jack and I, in the beginning, when Jack and I had no idea where we were going, I knew that it would work out. There was something inside me that told me it would be okay, that everything would be okay, and now I can't find that. I thought I could find it, that Jack and I working this out would lead me to it, but it's not...it's not...

MARLENA: Jennifer, you are all that you just said, you are a good person, you are, but you are also capable of making mistakes, both you and Jack. You do love Jack, don't you?

JENNIFER nods.

MARLENA: And what about Colin?

JENNIFER: What about Colin?

MARLENA: Do you love him?

JENNIFER: No. I...I don't know. I think I loved the idea of him.

MARLENA: Which was the complete opposite of Jack?

JENNIFER: (SMILING WEAKLY) Yeah. Marlena, Jack's not a bad guy-

MARLENA: I never said he was.

JENNIFER: Right. I just...there is so much there that nobody sees... with Jack, that is.

MARLENA: Do you still see it? Do you still see what nobody else sees, Jennifer?

OUT on JENNIFER not knowing how to answer that question.

SCENE 7: INT. MARLENA'S LOBBY

IN PROGRESS

IN on JACK, trying desperately to balance the ringing phone lines and trying to schedule people. His jacket is now off, his sleeves rolled up, and he has a pencil in his mouth. He is frustrated.

JACK: (INTO THE PHONE WITH THE PENCIL STILL IN HIS MOUTH) Uh-huh, uh-huh (BEAT) Tuesday at nine a.m. (BEAT) I'm (BEAT) Can you hold on a moment? (HE SEARCHES FRANTICALLY FOR THE "HOLD" BUTTON AND THEN ANSWERS ANOTHER RINGING LINE) Dr. Marlena Evans' office. How may I help you?

BO enters

BO: (SURPRISED) Jack?

JACK: (DROPPING THE PENCIL OUT OF HIS MOUTH AND HANGING UP ON A TALKING PERSON) Officer Brady.

BO: (LAUGHING A LITTLE) What are you doing here? No, no, don't tell me, you finally found a job?

JACK: Very funny. Actually, I was...I was...just helping out. The regular girl...

BO: Mary.

JACK: Yes, Mary had to run and I just happened to be at the hospital.

BO: Jack, you don't have to lie. Hope told me that you and Jennifer were going to therapy to help your marriage.

JACK: Our former marriage.

BO: Whatever. I'm really proud of you for doing this, Jack. It takes a lot of guts.

JACK: Does it now?

BO: Yeah, it does. One question, though, why is Jennifer in there while you are out here?

OUT on JACK, smiling nervously.

SCENE 8: INT. MARLENA'S OFFICE

IN PROGRESS

JENNIFER: Wow, that's a difficult question.

MARLENA: It shouldn't be. Do you or do you not still see Jack the same way you did then?

JENNIFER: Well, no. I mean...yes, sometimes. Jack is wonderful, Marlena and when it's good, it's good...

MARLENA: And when it's bad, it's bad?

JENNIFER nods.

MARLENA: Jennifer, why don't you have a seat and we'll talk a little more about this, huh?

JENNIFER: (QUIETLY) Okay. (SHE WALKS OVER AND SITS BACK DOWN)

MARLENA: Jennifer, what did you think marriage would be like?

JENNIFER: (CONFUSED) What did I think-

MARLENA: (SMILING) What did you expect when you and Jack got married?

JENNIFER: Well, I guess...I guess I expected for all the bad things to go away. I mean as long as we were together, it was good.

MARLENA: Go on.

JENNIFER: I guess I expected him, or wanted him to come home every night and hold me and we'd spend the weekend on the coast with the baby. He'd come home every night and we'd talk about our days and he'd sweep me in his arms and we'd...we'd always be in love.

MARLENA: (CURIOUS) And you married Jack expecting this?

JENNIFER: Seems pretty unrealistic, huh?

MARLENA: No, it doesn't. It doesn't if you didn't know who Jack was before you got married. (BEAT) Jennifer, did you think that you'd be married and boom (SNAPPING HER FINGERS) everything would be perfect?

JENNIFER: No...(SMILING WEAKLY) Close to perfect, yes. I mean, look at you and John and Bo and Hope and...

MARLENA: Neither mine and John's nor Bo and Hope's marriage is perfect, Jennifer. We have our problems, too.

JENNIFER: You do, don't you? Marlena, I didn't mean to...

MARLENA: That's okay. Like I said before, we're all human, we, as Belle would say, we screw-up.

JENNIFER laughs a little.

JENNIFER: It's just when Jack and I got married, I thought it'd be perfect. We finally made it. I thought we got past all that stuff-Jack's schemes, his inability to say he loves me.

MARLENA: But you didn't.

JENNIFER: No, we didn't. And it was growing and I guess when he left us, when Abby got sick...

MARLENA: It was the last straw?

JENNIFER: In a way, yes. Marlena, I had never been so hurt in my life and maybe it was because of everything we went through. I've been in love before but not like this. Jack was amazing, he made me feel like I was the only person in the world.

MARLENA: Then I have to ask, why did you decide to try again? After he came back, that is.

JENNIFER: I (VOICE CRACKING) missed him. I really and truly did. Those few months without him were the worst of my life. Abby being ill and her crying. It was hard, so hard.

MARLENA: You took him back without addressing the problem at hand.

JENNIFER: We established it was a problem, but...

MARLENA: You thought he could change?

JENNIFER: Yes.

MARLENA: Are you sure he hasn't?

JENNIFER: No, I know he has, but so have I. I just wish...

MARLENA: You wish it could be the way it used to? The magic? The heart pounding closeness?

JENNIFER: (WIPING HER EYES) Yes. I'm crazy, aren't I? A woman in her mid-thirties wanting some form of love normally reserved for teenagers.

MARLENA: You're not "crazy", Jennifer. I think all of us want that kind of love, that rush. You just can't seem to get it back because you and Jack never worked through your problems, you just put a band aid on them and decided to have another go at it.

JENNIFER: So, there is hope for us yet?

MARLENA: (SMILING) More than you'll ever know. You're finally addressing the problem, problems at hand. It took a lot of growth and maturity to come here, Jennifer. For you and for Jack.

JENNIFER: It was his idea, you know.

MARLENA: It doesn't matter who's idea it was. It was a good one.

JENNIFER: (SMILING) Yeah. It was, wasn't it?

OUT on MARLENA and JENNIFER giggling a little and MARLENA handing JENNIFER a tissue.

SCENE 9: INT. MARLENA'S LOBBY

IN PROGRESS

JACK: (NERVOUSLY LAUGHING) That is a good question, isn't it?

BO: (LAUGHING WITH HIM) Nevermind, Jack. It's really none of my business. I'll come back in a little bit (HE TURNS TO LEAVE)

JACK: (LEANING FORWARD AND IGNORING THE RINGING PHONES) No, wait-Offic-Bo?

BO: (TURNING AROUND) Yeah?

JACK: (STANDING UP) You consider me a...a friend, right?

BO: Well, yeah, I guess. I mean, you're a cool enough guy, Jack.

JACK: Well, thank you, I think. I just...I just wanted to say thank you...for the whole "guts" comment. It meant a lot.

BO: You don't have to thank me for speaking the truth, Jack.

JACK: I...I know. I guess "friends" confide in each other, right?

BO: Usually.

JACK: Okay...well I'm out here on the computer completing some homework for the soul that Marlena, Dr. Evans, told us-Jennifer and I-to do. It seems I forgot to do mine. I was going to use the old canine digesting the assignment excuse, but....

BO: (SMILING) I'll tell Jennifer that you ran out here to get it and ran into me and we got to talking. (GOING TO LEAVE) By the way, Jack, it's "my dog ate my homework". It sounds better.

JACK: (MOVED) Thank you. I'll try to remember that.

BO: (SMILING) You should. (HE OPENS THE DOOR AND GOES TO STEP OUT BUT LEANS BACK IN) Oh, can you tell Marlena I stopped by? I'll be back in a bit to talk.

JACK: Will do.

BO: And can you not mention this around Jenn? I don't want Hope to get any ideas...

JACK: Why would she---Oh, okay.

BO: Covering your butt, Jack, that's what it's called. Friends do that for each other. See you later.

BO exits.

JACK: (SMILING TO HIMSELF) Covering your butt? Not exactly the most pleasant term, but it will do....

MARY enters.

JACK: (TO MARY) Well, it's about time. I...I could've died here. This phone has been ringing off the hook since you left.

MARY: I'm...I'm sorry.

JACK: (REALIZING HIS TONE) No, I am...just a little frustrating, you know. Thank you for use of your computer. Now to get back to my head shrinking.

JACK walks over to the door to MARLENA'S office and stops to reread his list, now typed out.

SCENE 10: INT. MARLENA'S OFFICE

IN PROGRESS

JENNIFER: So, you're saying that I turned to Colin because Jack wasn't there? That what I did was...

MARLENA: Perfectly normal. Jennifer, we need love in our lives. It's a fact that we tend to seek love out when we need some.

CUT to JACK, standing outside the door. HE can hear them, but missed the first part of the conversation. At first he's surprised, but then he leans in to hear more. MARY is oblivious to him, her back is towards him and she is answering the phone.

CUT to MARLENA and JENNIFER

JENNIFER: That explains everything but...

MARLENA: But what?

JENNIFER: Why can't I stop thinking about him?

CUT to JACK, smiling because he thinks she is talking about him.

MARLENA: You've been thinking about Colin?

JENNIFER: All the time. I can't get him out of my head.

JACK'S face sinks at COLIN'S name. HE can't take anymore. Suddenly, he bursts in.

JENNIFER: (SURPRISED) Jack!

JACK: (HURT BUT SMILING) Sorry that took so long. Ran into Bo in the parking lot, you know. Got to chatting about guy stuff.

MARLENA: Oh, Bo was here?

JACK: (LOOKING AT JENNIFER AND REMEMBERING BO'S FAVOR) No, not here. Here as in the hospital, but not here as in your office. He was...was following up on a case-that's it.

MARLENA looks confused.

JENNIFER: (CONFUSED) Guy stuff?

JACK: Games, drag racing, wrestling...

JENNIFER: Guy stuff?

MARLENA: Nevermind that. Jack, do you have your list?

JACK: (PULLING IT OUT OF HIS JACKET POCKET) Right here. (HE COMES AND SITS DOWN NEXT TO JENNIFER)

JENNIFER: You typed it?

JACK: But of course. Nothing but the best for Mr. D.

JENNIFER: To be honest, Jack, I thought you had forgotten it.

JACK: Me? Forget? Never. (TO MARLENA) Shall I?

MARLENA: (SMILING) Go ahead.

JACK: (CLEARING HIS THROAT AND TURNING TOWARDS JENNIFER) "My Happiest Times with Jennifer" by Jack Harcourt Deveraux. Number one: When she first walked into my office all those years ago with talk of a horse named after her. "Jennifer's Beauty" as I recall. Nothing could be named more appropriately. From that moment on, I knew I was in for a change. Little did I know what a great and...and wonderful change it would be. (HE GETS EMOTIONAL READING, AS DOES JENNIFER LISTENING). Number two: Our wedding. To be perfectly honest, which Jennifer knows I've not always been, I wasn't sure she'd go through with it. I kept having to...to...pinch myself to remind myself that she wanted to, chose to be with me. Number three: When Jennifer and I had Abigail. She may say I was focused and calm, but she was the real hero. She was at her strongest and her most stubborn then and she never...she never looked more beautiful. Number Four: When Jennifer...when Jennifer... decided to take me back after leaving. That strength and stubbornness were still there but luckily, for me, so was her heart. And (VOICE CRACKING REMEMBERING WHAT SHE JUST SAID ABOUT COLIN) number five: Right now. When I finally get a chance to tell her how much she means to me. I don't say it often enough, I know, but I do...I do...love (LOOKING AT HER, HURT BUT IN LOVE)...love...her more than anything she'll ever know.

JENNIFER has begun crying. JACK looks embarrassed.

JACK: (TO MARLENA) And that just about sums it up.

OUT on JACK leaning back, emotional, embarrassed, and nervous.

END OF EPISODE 45

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