KEEPING UP WITH THE DEVERAUXES
By Jennifer-Lynn D'Anna
EPISODE 51
SCENE 1: EXT. ROOFTOP-TUSCANY
IN on JACK, standing behind JENNIFER, watching as she shivers and tries to avoid his question.
JACK: Whaddya say, Miss Horton?
JENNIFER: (TURNING TOWARDS HIM) About what?
JACK: About what? About this...about this conversation you so adamantly refuse to have with me.
JENNIFER: I do not adamantly refuse to have this conversation with you.
JACK: You do so. Now you're being adamant about not being adamant about having this conversation with me. (BEAT. CHANGING TO A SOFTER TONE.) Jennifer, listen...the sooner we talk about it--
JENNIFER: (GROWING ANGRY WITH HIS QUESTIONING) Talk about what, Jack? Talk about the fact that you were never there? Talk about the fact that I had to keep telling our daughter that I didn't know where you were?
JACK: (HURT) I know all that. Jennifer, why are you so reluctant to tell me what happened?
JENNIFER: (QUIETLY) Because...
JACK: Because why? Because you think I can't handle the truth? I can handle the truth! In fact, I thrive on the truth. I report. I pursue truth. I already know you didn't...you didn't...(VOICE LOWERING. JUST THE THOUGHT OF IT HURTS HIM) you didn't make love. What did you do, Jennifer?
OUT on JENNIFER, unable to answer his question.
SCENE 2: EXT. ROOFTOP-TUSCANY
JENNIFER: Why does it matter so much to you, Jack?
JACK: Why does it matter so much to me? Surely, you jest. I mean, come on, can I expect him to show up everywhere we go? Can I expect him bearing trinkets at every important function? Can I expect my wife, my ex-wife, to always allow him to have a hold over her?
JENNIFER: (ANGRY) He does not have a hold over me.
JACK: He doesn't? I know what a hold looks like, Jennifer, and you, you touching your cheek was definitely a sign of it.
JENNIFER: How can you say that?
JACK: I speak from experience. I...I once did that to you. I remember you walking out of my office touching your cheek or your lips or something.
JENNIFER: Jack-
JACK: No, don't "Jack" me, I know what a hold is like because you...you do that for me and for a long time...a long time I thought I was the only one who could do that to you. (QUIETLY. NEAR TEARS) I hoped I'd be the only one who'd do that to you. (TURNING AROUND AND LOOKING OVER THE CITY)
JENNIFER: (REALIZING HOW HURT HE IS) Jack, I don't want to talk about it. Not only because of you, but because of me. It hurts too much.
JACK: (TURNING AROUND AND PLEADING WITH HIS EYES) Then let me....then let me try and take away some of that hurt. (BEAT) Give me a chance, Jennifer.
OUT on JENNIFER, wrestling whether or not to tell him. She is biting her lower lip.
SCENE 3: EXT. ROOFTOP-TUSCANY
IN PROGRESS
JACK: Please, Jennifer. For us.
JENNIFER: (LOOKING DOWN AT HER SHOES. NEAR TEARS) I was lonely, Jack...
JACK: (WALKING OVER AND KNEELING DOWN AT HER FEET TO LOOK UP AT HER. HE GRABS BOTH HER HANDS) I know that, Jennifer. You were lonely and I wasn't there. I'm sorry for that, Jennifer. I am. You have to believe me.
JENNIFER: (ABOUT TO CRY. NODDING) I know.
JACK: (STANDING UP AND TOUCHING HER CHIN TO LOOK AT HIM) So (CHOKING ON THE NAME) Colin came in and he talked to you, made you feel needed?
JENNIFER nods.
JENNIFER: (WIPING A TEAR AWAY) Jack-
JACK: (PUTTING HIS FINGER TO HER MOUTH) Tell me what he said, Jennifer.
JENNIFER: It's not what he said, Jack, it's what he did.
JACK: (STEPPING BACK. WORRIED.) Did? Jennifer, you said you didn't-
JENNIFER: We didn't. (BEAT) Jack, I can't do this (TURNING AROUND WITH HER BACK TOWARDS HIM)
JACK: (UPSET) Why can't you, Jennifer? It's me, Jack. The same old cocky, sarcastic guy you fell in love with.
JENNIFER: That's the problem, Jack.
JACK: (HURT) The problem?
JENNIFER: (TURNING AROUND TO FACE HIM) You're the problem, Jack.
JACK: (WINCING AT THE STATEMENT) Don't mince words here. I can take it, really I can.
JENNIFER: Can you, Jack? Can you handle what I'm about to tell you? I...I don't think so...
JACK: Try me. You never know.
JENNIFER: But I do, Jack, (BEAT) I do.
JACK: (VOICE GROWING LOUDER. HE IS ANGRY THAT SHE DOESN'T HAVE CONFIDENCE IN HIM) How do you know that I'll run?! I can name countless times that I haven't ran-when you went off as that heiress, I didn't run, when you told me when you were rap-(STOPPING. CHANGING HIS TONE) when you told me what Lawrence did to you, I didn't run. Given, I did step out, but I did come back-
They begin to shout angrily back and forth at each other.
JENNIFER: But you have run, Jack!
JACK: When?!
JENNIFER: When?! Jack have you forgotten everything?! You ran when I said I loved you-
JACK: That doesn't count!
JENNIFER: Why doesn't it count, Jack?!
JACK: Because I came back...because of this, we married, had a baby-
JENNIFER: And when Abby was sick, Jack?! You ran then too! You left me to face the world alone when I needed you most! Just like you did in Africa! (STARTING TO CRY) I needed you, Jack and you left me!
OUT on JACK, upset that she brought that up.
SCENE 4: EXT. ROOFTOP-TUSCANY
IN PROGRESS
JACK: (TAKING IT IN) It all comes back to that, doesn't it?
JENNIFER: (PAUSING TO WIPE HER EYES) How couldn't it, Jack? You left me.
JACK: But I-
JENNIFER: (AVOIDING HIS EYES) But you came back. I know, Jack.
JACK: I'm sorry, Jennifer. I wish I could do more.
JENNIFER: You can't, Jack. You can't. And I'm sorry for bringing it up. We already knew it...It just all built up and then in Africa.
JACK: (TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON) Does what happened in Africa have to do with me leaving you when Abigail was a baby?
JENNIFER: Yes...yes and no.
JACK: Was it Abigail? Did she have a relapse and you didn't tell me?
JENNIFER: No, Jack.
JACK: Jennifer-you can tell me now, I could handle it if she got sick again. I'm not going anywhere.
JENNIFER: It wasn't Abby, Jack.
JACK: Did you think I left you? I've told you time and again there could be no other.
JENNIFER: I know. I was stupid for thinking it, Jack.
JACK: Dammit, what made you rush off to Ireland in pursuit of an Irish doctor with a bad accent? Did you really think you loved him, Jennifer?
JENNIFER: No! I loved, I love, you, Jack! Colin just helped me...
JACK: (ANGRY. STARTING TO SHOUT) Helped you with what, Jennifer?! Helped you get over me?!
JENNIFER: No! He helped me with-(TURNING AWAY FROM HIM AND CLUTCHING HER STOMACH IN PAIN)
JACK: With what?!
JENNIFER: With the baby! (BREAKING DOWN. QUIETLY) With the baby.
JACK: (CONFUSED) With the bab--? Jennifer, I thought you said this had nothing to do with Abigail.
JENNIFER: It doesn't, Jack.
JACK: Then what's this baby you're talking about? (FINALLY CATCHING ON. IN SHOCK) Jennifer, you weren't-
JENNIFER: (STILL NOT FACING HIM) I was, Jack. Colin helped me when I lost my, our, baby, Jack. (BREAKING DOWN HARDER) I lost your baby, Jack.
OUT on JACK, looking as if he's been punched in the stomach. He doesn't know what to say or do.
END OF EPISODE 51
