KEEPING UP WITH THE DEVERAUXES
By Jennifer-Lynn D'Anna
EPISODE 54

SCENE 1: INT. HOSPITAL LOUNGE

IN on COLIN, looking curiously at JACK, who nervously dips his hands in his pockets.

COLIN: (LOST) You want to talk about Jennifer?

JACK: I believe I said that, yes.

COLIN: Jack, I don't know what to say-I mean, (SIGHING) this is mind boggling.

JACK: Be that as it may, I would...I would like to try. (LOOKING AWAY) Seems I've been doing a lot of that lately.

COLIN: (HANDING JACK HIS CUP OF COFFEE AND THEN GOING TO MAKE ANOTHER FOR HIMSELF) I must say, Jennifer Rose is quite the special lass...

JACK: (LOOKING LEERILY AT THE COFFEE. QUIET.) You're preaching to the choir here.

COLIN: (TURNING AROUND AND FACING HIM) What?

JACK: Nothing...nothing...stupid American expression. (BEAT) Now where were we?

COLIN: We were about to discuss one stubborn American blonde who stole both our hearts.

COLIN walks by and settles into a seat as JACK looks on with regret that he decided to do this.

SCENE 2: INT. HOSPITAL LOUNGE

A few moments has passed. COLIN is now seated in one of the chairs and is waiting for JACK to speak.

COLIN: You know Jack, I am on the clock, so if you would kindly...

JACK: Yes, yes, I know, time is money. (WALKING OVER AND PUTTING SUGAR IN HIS COFFEE)

COLIN: Money is the least of my worries, Jack.

JACK: (STOPPING AND GLARING AT HIM) Are you saying it's one of mine?

COLIN: (SMILING TO BREAK THE TENSION) Come on, Jack, it's no news that you come from rich blood. It's only natural that you want to make it rich once again.

JACK: You think you know a lot about me, don't you?

COLIN: I know enough.

JACK: Then you know that this...this being here...talking to you after...after everything is not easy for me.

COLIN: I know that. I also know that the subject matter is very important to you. And I can't say that I'm not happy about it. It's about time you realized just how special Jennifer is.

JACK: (LAUGHING SARCASTICALLY AND TAKING A SIP OF HIS COFFEE) Let me tell you something. I knew how special Jennif...I knew how special she was before you...before you could even walk...

COLIN: It sure didn't seem like it to me. Leaving her and Abby home alone whilst you went on with your life. For chrissake, Jack, you left her with a sick toddler.

JACK: (ANGRY. THROUGH GRITTED TEETH) You have no idea why I did that.

COLIN: I'm afraid I do, Jack. (STANDING UP) You left her because you were too scared to face the music. You left her because you didn't want to hurt her. Let me tell you something, though, you wound up hurting her tenfold by leaving. And she took you back...Just like she took you back when you found her at the coronation.

JACK: (CATCHING THAT) How do you know about the coronation?

COLIN: (COVERING) I...I must have heard about it from me family.

JACK: (MAKING NOTE OF IT) Right. Right. (BEAT. BEGINNING TO PACE) I guess everyone is entitled to his own opinion, wrong as it may be. Contrary to your belief, I did not intend to hurt Jennifer, just as I don't intend to hurt her this time. That's where you come in.

OUT on COLIN, looking wary of what JACK is about to say.

SCENE 3: INT. HOSPITAL LOUNGE

IN PROGRESS

COLIN: Where I come in? I'm sorry, but I'm not following you.

JACK: That's okay, not many people do. (BEAT) Now, it's established that Jennifer is a good, warm, caring individual....

COLIN: One of the best.

JACK: Correction. The best. And she deserves...(PAINED) she deserves all the happiness in the world.

COLIN: If you plan on rubbing salt in the wounds about chances not taken, don't.

JACK: Would I do that? Wait, don't answer that. (BEAT) Jennifer....Jennifer needs someone who is there for her, who could be there for her....Someone who (SITTING DOWN AND WAVING FOR COLIN TO SIT OPPOSITE OF HIM) is...is stable...someone who is kind and who can do all this stuff that I, how did you put it-a coward cannot.

COLIN: What are you saying, Jack? (BEAT) Do you plan on hurting her again? If you do, I'll-

JACK: You'll what? Relish in my downfall? Actually, helping her is more like it. And you'll do...

COLIN: I'll do?

JACK: Do...suffice. (WITH EACH WORD, HE BECOMES MORE AND MORE PAINED) She likes you already. You have a good vocation, and...and I assume you have money in the bank?

COLIN: Money in the-

JACK: Yes, yes, I'm sure you do. (GETTING UP) You will need a haircut, though, and a good tailor. Where do you get those suits anyway? I'll see what I can do about that minor detail.

COLIN: (LOOKING DOWN AT HIS TIE AND THEN TO JACK) Are you mad, man? (GETTING UP AND TURNING TOWARDS A PACING JACK) What are you up to?

JACK: Up to? Why must everything be a plan or a scheme to you? Have you one of your own?

COLIN: (CONFUSED) No, I-

JACK: I thought so. Actually, Colic, you are going to get everything you want if you stick with me.

OUT on COLIN'S nervousness.

SCENE 4: INT. HOSPITAL LOUNGE

COLIN: (WALKING TO THE DOOR AND OPENING IT) Jack, as enjoyable and confusing as this has been, I must bid you adieu---

JACK: (HURTING HIMSELF WITH THE WORDS) Do you love her?

COLIN: (SLOWLY TURNING AROUND TO FACE HIM AND CLOSING THE DOOR) What?

JACK: (PAINED) Do you love her...do you love Jennifer?

COLIN: Jack, this is ridiculous. You won, you got the girl--

JACK: I don't want the girl!

COLIN: How can you say that? She's smart, she's funny, she's beautiful-

JACK: (RAISING HIS VOICE) She's wonderful. Listen...I...I know all of that. I could write volumes about just how amazing she is!

COLIN: Then why are you doing this? She chose to be with you! She loves you! And you're willing to give that up? Why are you torturing yourself like that?

JACK: I wouldn't necessarily call it torture. This is not about me. It's about Jennifer.

COLIN: How?

JACK: She means...she means a lot to me. You know that. I'm just saying that things may happen and she may need a friend to help her pick up the pieces.

COLIN: That friend being me?

JACK: Now you've got it. You...you (ALLUDING TO THE MISCARRIAGE) helped her once before and I'm...I'm giving you the chance to do it again.

COLIN: Jack-

JACK: No, no, thank me later.

COLIN: (FINALLY SEEING THAT JACK IS GIVING HIM LEEWAY) You are a fool, man, giving her up so easily.

JACK: Once again, your opinion. I'd just feel better knowing that she has someone...someone to lean on. That someone being you, of course.

COLIN: Let me get this straight, you want me to pursue Jennifer?

JACK: (HURTING) Pursue, propose, marry. That stubborn American blonde is all yours.

COLIN: You are even a bigger fool than I imagined, but I would be one if I didn't take my chance. (BEAT) You know about what happened in Africa, don't you?

JACK: (LYING) I know that you were close, yes.

COLIN: That's all?

JACK: Isn't that enough?

COLIN: (KNOWING JACK KNOWS ABOUT THE BABY) Yes, I suppose it is.

JACK: (FORCED SMILE) Good. Now, I'll see you at a later date to discuss what to do about that pesky fiancée of yours.

COLIN: Lizzie?

JACK: (WALKING TO THE DOOR) Yes, "Lizzie." You can't have your cake and eat it too, can you? (OPENING THE DOOR)

COLIN: What about you?

JACK: What about me?

COLIN: What are you going to do?

JACK: Do?

COLIN: With your life-now that Jennifer's gone?

JACK: (THICK WITH EMOTION) Oh, I don't know. I'll think of something...(HE EXITS, LEAVING A THOROUGHLY CONFUSED COLIN TO PONDER A POSSIBLE FUTURE WITH JENNIFER)

Outside, JACK sighs heavily at the sacrifice he just made.

SCENE 5: INT. UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL-MATERNITY WARD

IN on JACK, walking somberly down the hall and looking over at the babies. He smiles painfully to them and walks smack into GRETA.

GRETA: Jack! What are you doing here? Wait, are you and Jennifer-

JACK: (NOT WANTING COMPANY BUT BEING CORDIAL) Are Jennifer and I what?

GRETA: (GIGGLING) Oh, I'm sorry, I was jumping the gun again. I just thought that you were in the maternity ward...

JACK: Oh...gotcha...no, Jennifer and I are not with...with child. Are you?

GRETA: (LAUGHING) No...no. I was just visiting a friend and-it's silly.

JACK: What's silly?

GRETA: I sometimes come down here and look at the babies. Silly because I can't even get a date, much less someone to father my child.

JACK: What about Austin? I thought he rocked your tiara for awhile there.

GRETA: (PULLING A FACE) With Sami.

JACK: And pass up a princess like you? Please!

GRETA: Now if every man thought like you--

JACK: We'd be in a lot of trouble.

GRETA: (NOTICING SOMETHING TROUBLING HIM) Hey, what are you doing here anyway?

JACK: (FORMULATING A PLAN IN HIS HEAD) Nothing...(PUTTING HIS ARM AROUND HER AND WALKING AWAY) Actually, Princess, I was hoping I'd run into you. Maybe I could be of assistance with increasing your dating potential.

GRETA: Jack, I'm thinking we won't increase it much by being seen together at the hospital.

JACK: Then how 'bout another time?

GRETA: Another time? Aren't you and Jennifer a little busy putting your marriage back together?

JACK: That, that-piece of cake! Actually, I'm going to have some free time now...a lot of free time. Shall we? (THEY EXIT WITH GRETA LOOKING ODDLY AT HIS MENTION OF "FREE TIME")