KEEPING UP WITH THE DEVERAUXES
By Jennifer-Lynn D'Anna
EPISODE 53
SCENE 1: EXT. ROOFTOP-TUSCANY-EARLY MORNING
IN on JACK and JENNIFER, asleep in one another's arms. The sun is beginning to come up and their faces are awash in bright sunlight. JENNIFER rolls over and nuzzles herself further into JACK'S face, causing him to wake up. He looks pensively at her for a moment and then eases her onto her makeshift pillow and goes over and sits on the rooftop ledge, looking out over the city.
After a moment, JENNIFER wakes up and instinctively looks for JACK. Spotting him sitting on the ledge, she gets up and walks over to him.
JENNIFER: (LIGHTLY TOUCHING HIS BACK) Penny for your thoughts.
JACK: (JUMPING UP A LITTLE) Good God, Miss Horton, are you trying to kill me? (CLUTCHING HIS HEART DRAMATICALLY) I could have very well fallen down there and been a part of...a part of (NARROWING HIS EYES TO SEE WHAT IS DOWN BELOW) a part of Wales Street.
JENNIFER: (LAUGHING A LITTLE) Jack, we're only three flights up.
JACK: That's three flights too many, thank you very much.
JENNIFER: (FLINGING HER LEGS OVER THE SIDE TO SIT DOWN BESIDE HIM) This is not like you, Jack.
JACK: The bitter sarcasm? Surely you know me better than that.
JENNIFER: No, the sitting on the ledge. I thought you couldn't stand heights.
JACK: I can't. I just...I just needed some clarity and a decent place to sit. I hope Maggie knows she's going to be paying for this tux to be cleaned.
JENNIFER: (SMILING) I'm sure she won't mind. (BEAT) You're thinking about last night, aren't you?
JACK: How could I not? It's not-(STOPPING HIMSELF) I'm actually thinking about...about swingsets.
JENNIFER: (KNOWING HE'S LYING) Swingsets? Jack, I don't understand.
JACK: Swingsets, Miss H., the kind with the slide and the jungle gym (MOCKING HOLDING ONTO A SWING AND KICKING HIS LEGS OUT A LITTLE) Whee! I was thinking, I was thinking that Abigail would like one.
JENNIFER: (CONFUSED) I'm sure she would. (BEAT) Jack, are you sure you don't want-Never mind. We'll talk swingsets.
JACK: (WEAKLY SMILING AT THE FACT THAT SHE WON'T PROD HIM) Good. Swingsets, it is.
JENNIFER: (REACHING OVER AND TOUCHING HIS HAND. HE LOOKS DOWN AT ITS TENDERNESS) Swingsets, it is.
OUT on JENNIFER, knowing that he is starting to retreat back into his shell. She is worried, however, that he might not come out of it this time.
SCENE 2: EXT. ROOFTOP-TUSCANY
It is a little while later. JACK and JENNIFER are still holding hands and watching the rest of the sunrise. JENNIFER keeps sneaking looks at JACK, who cannot bear to face her. Behind them, they hear someone coming up the stairs, so they turn around. It is MAGGIE.
MAGGIE: (ACTING SURPRISED) Jack! Jennifer! What are you two doing up here? Wait a minute, were you two the raccoons the staff was complaining about all night? How 'bout that?
JACK: (SWINGING ROUND AND STEPPING ONTO THE ROOF) Hehehe.
JENNIFER: (HOPPING DOWN TO JOIN HIM) Well, we've been called quite a few things before in our life but never raccoons. (LAUGHING) It's okay, Aunt Maggie, we know you and Gramma were behind this.
MAGGIE: (LYING) I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about.
JACK and JENNIFER exchange amused looks.
MAGGIE: (CONT.) Anyhow, I know that breakfast is not our normal venue and that it's technically not your birthday anymore, but could I interest the two of you in a little morning sustenance?
JACK: (WANTING TO GET OUT OF THERE. VERY QUICKLY.) No, thank you. Unless, of course, the Missus wants some eggs or the like (THROWING JENNIFER A LOOK)
JENNIFER: (CRESTFALLEN AT THE PROSPECT OF SHARING SOME MORE ALONE TIME WITH JACK) No...I'm not really that hungry.
MAGGIE: (NOTICING JENNIFER'S DISAPPOINTMENT) Are you sure?
JACK: We're...we're sure. Thank you much. Miss H? (HE STARTS TO WALK DOWN THE STAIRS AND JENNIFER DOESN'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON)
JENNIFER: I'm coming. (THROWING MAGGIE A LOOK OF CONFUSION, SHE FOLLOWS HIM DOWN THE STAIRS)
MAGGIE: (KNOWING SOMETHING IS UP) Oh, dear.
SCENE 3: INT. TUSCANY STAIRCASE
MAGGIE is walking down the stairwell and is humming to herself. She is about to open the hall door when something in the trash can catches her eye.
MAGGIE: (TO HERSELF) What's this? (SHE REACHES OVER AND FISHES OUT A CRUMPLED UP PHOTO OF JACK AND JENNIFER.) Oh Alice, I think this might be your first failure. (SHE WALKS OUT INTO THE HALLWAY, WORRIED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN JACK AND JENNIFER THE NIGHT BEFORE).
CUT TO
SCENE 4: INT. JACK'S CAR
JACK is driving and not speaking. JENNIFER looks over at him several times for some reaction. At a stoplight, he finally looks over.
JACK: Is my head on fire?
JENNIFER: (LOST) No. What do you mean by that?
JACK: That means you keep staring at me as if something's wrong.
JENNIFER: I do? I mean, I...nothing's wrong. You're just being a little quiet, that's all.
JACK: I thought you preferred it that way.
JENNIFER: (SMILING A LITTLE) Sometimes. (BEAT) Jack, I think we need to talk---
JACK: (BEGINNING TO DRIVE AS THE LIGHT CHANGES) About what? I mean, didn't we have quite the extensive discussion of swingsets just a little while ago.
JENNIFER: About us, Jack...about last night.
JACK: (TRYING TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT) It was a wonderful party, wasn't it?
JENNIFER: No, about after the party.
JACK: (PAINED) Oh.
JENNIFER: Oh? Jack, it took a lot for me to open up like that.
JACK: I...I know...I'm not saying it didn't. I just...I just think we should...we should leave that alone...for now.
JENNIFER: Jack, don't do this-
JACK: (STOPPING THE CAR AND PARKING. LOOKING OVER AT HER) Don't do what?
JENNIFER: You are ignoring it. You are ignoring what happened last night, what I told you.
JACK: (SHOUTING) I AM NOT! (LOWERING HIS VOICE) Jennifer-I'm...I'm just saying, I...I need a little time, that's all...to...to sort out what...what we talked about last night.
JENNIFER: (STUDYING HIS FACE FOR A MOMENT. NEAR TEARS) A little time?
JACK: (SWALLOWING HARD. LYING.) Yes, time. Before long, I'll be that loud, obstinate Jack Deveraux you always loved.
JENNIFER: (VOICE CRACKING) I hope so. (GOING TO GET OUT OF THE CAR) Are you coming?
JACK: Actually-I...have something I have to do...
JENNIFER: (LOST) Jack, you're in the same clothes from last night...
JACK: (LOOKING DOWN AT HIS TUX) I am, aren't I? Fancy that.
JENNIFER throws him a look.
JENNIFER: Jack-
JACK: Go on inside. I'll be back in...in two shakes of a lamb's tail...
JENNIFER: Two shakes of a lamb's tail? Jack, what are you up to?
JACK: Nothing....(TOUCHING HER HAND AND SQUEEZING) There's just something I have to do.
JENNIFER: (LOOKING AT HIM FOR A MOMENT) Okay. (SHE GETS OUT OF THE CAR AND LOOKS AT HIM INTENTLY BEFORE CLOSING THE DOOR) I'll be waiting.
JACK smiles weakly at her as she turns and walks up to the house. He then sighs heavily and puts the car into drive.
SCENE 5: INT. JACK AND JENNIFER'S LIVING ROOM
IN on JENNIFER, walking inside the door. JO hops up from the couch.
JO: Jennifer, I'm so glad you're home.
JENNIFER: (WEAKLY SMILING AND PUTTING HER KEYS DOWN ON THE SIDETABLE) Yeah.
JO: (ALARMED) Where's Jack?
JENNIFER: He, um, he had something to do. Did Abby get off to school okay?
JO: (SENSING SOMETHING IS WRONG) Yes. She was talking all about the party and how dashing her mommy and daddy looked. (BEAT) Jennifer, is something wrong?
JENNIFER: Wrong? N...no...I'm just a little tired, that's all. I think I'm going to go lie down.
JO: (CONFUSED) Okay.
JENNIFER: Yeah, I'm going to lie down. (WALKING WEAKLY UP THE STAIRS) I'll see you in a little while, Jo.
JO: In a little while (NERVOUS LAUGH)...In a little while. (JENNIFER EXITS AND JO KNOWS THAT SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG)
SCENE 6: INT. UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
IN on JACK, determinedly down the hall. He is disheveled, hair is sticking up and tie undone. He looks nervous.
SHAWN-D: (WALKING AROUND THE CORNER, CARRYING ISAAC AND INTO JACK) Whoa, Jack, I'm sorry.
JACK: (BRUSHING HIMSELF OFF) Shawn-Douglas! And Isaac, too. It's quite allright. No harm done.
SHAWN-D: (THROWING HIM AN ODD LOOK) Yeah. Great party last night, Jack.
JACK: (UNCONFORTABLE) It was, wasn't it? (ISAAC BEGINS TO CRY)
SHAWN-D: Oh, shoot. Come on, little guy, not now-you'll wake all the other patients. (HE TRIES TO BOUNCE HIM AS JACK LOOKS ON UNCOMFORTABLY)
JACK: (PUTTING HIS ARMS OUT) Here, let me try. (TAKING ISAAC FROM SHAWN-D)
SHAWN-D: Okay, but I don't think it'll work...I mean, he's really fussy as of late, especially since Mrs. Carv-(HE LOOKS ON IN AMAZEMENT AS JACK CALMS ISAAC DOWN) That's really amazing. He likes you. Wow, we've been having such a hard time with him.
JACK: (EMBARRASSED) It's nothing. (HE LOOKS AT ISAAC LOVINGLY AND THINKS OF THE CHILD HE AND JENNIFER LOST) Just a little something I learned with Abigail.
SHAWN-D: (SMILING) Abby's very lucky to have you, Jack. (TAKING ISAAC FROM JACK) Who knows? Maybe soon you and Jenn will be able to work your magic on a new member of the Horton family.
JACK: (A LITTLE TAKEN BACK) The ever growing Horton family tree...like rabbits, I tell you.
SHAWN-D: (ODD) Yeah. Well, it was nice talking to you, Jack. I'll see you later.
JACK: Later, dude (TRYING TO ACT COOL. SHAWN LAUGHS AT HIM AND WALKS AWAY) Horton babies....(ALL OF A SUDDEN, THERE IS A TAP ON JACK'S SHOULDER. HE TURNS AROUND AND SEES WHO IT IS)
COLIN: Jack? Nurse Brenda said someone was looking for me. (CURIOUS) Was it you?
JACK: (SMILING NERVOUSLY) Yes, yes it was...Can we...can we go somewhere and have a...(LOOKING AROUND AND WALKING OVER TO THE NURSES' LOUNGE)
COLIN: Jack, we shouldn't go in there...it's against hospital policy.
JACK: Please, I do this all the time.
They both enter the lounge. Once inside, COLIN walks over to pour some coffee.
COLIN: Can I pour you a spot of coffee?
JACK: No...
COLIN: (BACK TOWARDS JACK, WHILE FIXING COFFEE) I must admit, Jack, I was really surprised when I saw that it was you out there. I mean, after everything we've been through with each other and Jennifer...
JACK: (RUBBING HIS MOUTH NERVOUSLY. HE CANNOT BELIEVE WHAT HE'S ABOUT TO DO.) Actually, that's what I came here to talk about.
COLIN: (TURNING AROUND. INTERESTED) Come again?
JACK: (NERVOUSLY MEETING COLIN'S EYES) I came here to talk about someone, someone we both care deeply for. I came here to talk about Jennifer.
OUT on COLIN, interested in what JACK has to say.
END OF EPISODE 53
