SCENE ONE: EXT. SALEM PLACE-AFTERNOON

ALICE is sitting on a park bench with a cup of coffee in her hands. HOPE comes around the corner with the boys in a double stroller and smiles her way.

HOPE: (rushing over and planting a kiss on her cheek) Gram! I’m sorry for running late. Bo came home for lunch and then JT wound up spilling juice on his shirt, and-

ALICE: Nevermind, dear. We have more important things to talk about.

HOPE: (handing the babies a cookie each and sitting down) You sound serious.

ALICE: I am serious.

HOPE: (worried) What’s wrong? Are you alright?

ALICE: No, dear, I’m better than ever. It’s your cousin I’m worried about.

HOPE: Which one?

ALICE: Jennifer, of course. Now tell me, when was the last time you spoke to Jennifer Rose?

HOPE: I…I…don’t know. I guess before she went to the hospital. I sent a note with Bo, but I just assumed that Jenn had been so busy with things that she hadn’t had a chance to get back to me.

ALICE: By things, you mean Colin?

HOPE: It makes no sense to you, either, huh?

ALICE: Of course not. She and Jack seemed so happy. And it’s unlike Jennifer Rose to go so long without talking to her family. Remember when she lived in Africa? The letters we’d receive?

HOPE: Weekly. That’s how I knew it was Wednesday. I’d open the mailbox and there would be a new letter from Jenn. Like clockwork.

ALICE: As Jack would say, “something is rotten in the state of Denmark.”

HOPE: You haven’t heard from her either?

ALICE: No. I was wondering-

HOPE: Say no more. (standing up) If you’d watch the boys-

ALICE: (squeezing her hand) I knew I could count on you, darling.

HOPE: (squeezing back) Always. I’ll get to the bottom of this.

ALICE: I hope so. See you in about an hour.

HOPE: (walking off) About an hour. Don’t worry, Gram.

ALICE: (laughing) That’s impossible, you know that.

HOPE: (laughing as well) I do. I do.

SCENE TWO: INT. LOFT

JENNIFER is standing at the door, signing a clipboard for a MOVING MAN. The living room is filled with boxes, marked “JENNIFER” or “ABBY”. Another MOVING MAN is carrying in a few more.

MOVING MAN #2: (setting the box down on the floor) That’s the last of it, ma’am. (he nods and walks past the two of them at the door)

JENNIFER: (smiling weakly) Thank…thank you.

MOVING MAN #1: Smile ma’am, it’ll look good on ya.

JENNIFER: (chuckling a little at his insistence) Thanks. I just don’t have much to smile about anymore.

MOVING MAN #1: Aw, c’mon now, you have a cute place here and I heard that you’re getting married. That should make you happy.

COLIN: (hearing all this from the stairway and heading down) Oh, now, all this moving must be making my lovely fiancée tired (slipping his arm around her). Isn’t that right, love?

JENNIFER: Um, yes. I am a little…a little tired.

COLIN: I thought so. (handing the man a $20) For your services, sir.

MOVING MAN #1: (looking at the bill with disgust and then surveying the “happy” couple) Well, thank you. Good day, ma’am. I hope you feel better soon.

JENNIFER: Thank you. Goodbye.

COLIN sees him out and then closes the door behind him.

COLIN: (smiling) See, that was painless.

JENNIFER: Married?

COLIN: Don’t sound so surprised, love. After all, you wouldn’t want this child growing up to be a bastard now, would you? (touching her belly).

JENNIFER: (flinching and walking away) Don’t-I never agreed to marry you, Colin.

COLIN: Well, you never agreed to that exact question, but as part of our other agreement, it was implied. And don’t worry, I know that in your delicate condition you cannot be bothered planning such an occasion, so I’ve made all the arrangements.

JENNIFER: What?

COLIN: Rings, vows, justice of the peace, little reception at the Brady Pub…that sort of thing. The ceremony’s tomorrow.

JENNIFER: To..tomorrow?

COLIN: The sooner the better, right?

JENNIFER doesn’t answer. Instead, she turns away and looks out the window. COLIN watches her for a second before speaking.

COLIN: The wee one?

JENNIFER: She’s at day camp.

COLIN: I see. What are your plans for today?

JENNIFER: I don’t know. I was thinking that maybe I’d sit here and play solitaire again. (turning towards him) Is that alright with you?

COLIN: Jennifer, you’ll see your family soon enough. They should be receiving their invitations today, matter of fact.

JENNIFER: You-you invited my family?

COLIN: Of course. Why wouldn’t I?

There is a knock on the door. COLIN goes and opens it to find HOPE.

COLIN: Hope. What a pleasant surprise.

JENNIFER’S face lights up in the background. HOPE cannot see her yet.

HOPE: (dryly) Hello Colin. I’m here to see my cousin.

COLIN: Well, Jennifer’s-

JENNIFER: (rushing over) Hope! I’m so glad to see you. Come in.

HOPE shoots COLIN a triumphant look and steps inside. Defeated, he closes the door behind her.

SCENE THREE: JACK’S ROOM-AFRICA

JACK is now untied and unshackled and is pacing back and forth. The GUARD comes in with some food for him.

JACK: Still no word?

GUARD: Nope…nothing.

JACK: Dammit!

GUARD: Don’t be getting your panties in a wad. I’m sure he’ll respond soon.

JACK: Soon? I don’t need soon. Look, I have to get back to Salem. I’ve been in here over a week and am…am (sniffing his shirt) starting to smell like it. Can’t you do something?

GUARD: I’ve done all I can. If my bosses found out that I unchained you-

JACK: They won’t. I promise you that. I just…What am I doing here anyway?

GUARD: Wish I could help you there, too, buddy.

JACK: I have to get back. I have to get back to Jennifer.

GUARD: Jennifer? She sounds pretty special.

JACK: (sadly, slumping on the bed) She IS pretty special.

SCENE FOUR: JACK’S ROOM-AFRICA

GUARD is sitting at the little table eating his lunch and waiting for JACK to eat his. JACK, however, is otherwise preoccupied, trying to figure out how he can get home.

GUARD: Well, aren’t you going to eat? It’s getting cold.

JACK: Let it get cold. I know longer crave for nourishment of the stomach.

GUARD: Them’s pretty dangerous words. I am kinda hungry, you know. (when JACK doesn’t laugh) Look, I know you’re pretty upset. Why don’t you tell me a little about this Jennifer person?

JACK: (smiling a little) Really?

GUARD: Really. And talk while you eat. I’m not supposed to be in here, remember?

JACK: (walking over and sitting down. After a bite of roast beef, he begins to speak) Well, Jennifer and I, well, we met under strange circumstances. See, I was the owner of this little rag called the-

OUT on JACK, telling the GUARD about his favorite subject.

SCENE FIVE: INT. LOFT-SALEM

HOPE: (giving JENNIFER a big hug) Jenn, I’ve missed you so much. Why haven’t you called?

COLIN: She’s been busy.

HOPE looks his way suspiciously.

JENNIFER: I’ve…I’ve been busy with moving and all, and-

COLIN: And the wedding.

HOPE: (to JENNIFER) The wedding?

JENNIFER: Yeah…I was going to tell you about it, but-

HOPE: But what? Jenn, a marriage is something kinda big to forget about.

COLIN: Forgive her, us, Hope, but Jennifer’s pregnancy has been tough on her as of late. (slipping his arm around JENNIFER again) The morning sickness has been horrid.

HOPE: (shocked) Preg…Jenn, you’re pregnant?

JENNIFER: (throwing COLIN a look) Yes…yes, I am.

HOPE can tell something is wrong and wishes COLIN would leave them be.

COLIN: (squeezing JENNIFER closer to him) Aren’t you going to congratulate us? Pretty soon JT and Isaac will have a new playmate.

HOPE: (trying to read JENNIFER’S face) Yes. Um, congratulations. (she tentatively pulls COLIN into an embrace and lets him go rather quickly)

COLIN: (throwing JENNIFER a warning look before heading to the door) I trust you’ll take good care of my fiancée while I’m away?

HOPE: (not taking her eyes off of JENNIFER) Definitely.

COLIN: ‘Til we meet again.

JENNIFER doesn’t respond, just waits for him to exit. After she is sure he is gone, HOPE turns to her.

JENNIFER: (lying, trying to ease the tension) Isn’t he the greatest?

HOPE: Yeah.

JENNIFER: Not you, too, Hope.

HOPE: Yes, me too. Jenn, what the hell is going on here? Why are you marrying Colin Murphy when you know perfectly well that you’re heart belongs to Jack Deveraux?

OUT on JENNIFER, not wanting to go through this again.

SCENE SIX: INT. JACK’S ROOM, AFRICA

GUARD is crying into his napkin as JACK finishes his tale of he and JENNIFER’S love.

JACK: …and so that’s what happened. She and I finally married and a little later had our daughter, Abigail.

GUARD: (sobbing) And you lived happily ever after?

JACK: Well, not exactly. If you recall, I’m here, locked up with you and she, only God knows where she is right now.

GUARD: (blowing his nose) That was the most beautiful story I’ve ever heard of. Especially that word. What was it again-contra-

JACK: Contramundum. (Nostalgically) Contramundum.

GUARD: Contramundum.

JACK: So now you see why I’m so anxious to get out of here? I’ve got a wif, well, I’ve got a Jennifer and a daughter who are waiting for me.

GUARD: I see. (he gets it and carries his tray with him towards the door) I wish I could help you. I really do.

JACK: (Standing up and pleading) You can. Please, I just need to know why I am here.

GUARD: (nodding down the hall) The same reason he is here.

JACK: Lot of good that does me. Bill won’t even return my messages.

GUARD: Bill? If you’re talking about the guy down the hall, then-

JACK: (lost) That’s not Bill? Who is it then? And what do I have to do with him?

GUARD: Think.

JACK: Think? That’s all I’ve been doing these past seven days. Thinking. I can’t think anymore. I need to act.

GUARD: You’re a good fellow. I really do wish I could help you.

JACK: Show me the man.

GUARD: What?

JACK: Show me the man down the hall. I need to know why we’re both here.

GUARD: Oh, I don’t know if that’s a good idea. My boss would hate that.

JACK: And I would love it. You did say I was a good fellow, didn’t you? If you can’t help me escape, at least help me figure out a way to do it on my own. Please. (near tears) For Jennifer. For…for Abigail.

GUARD: (upset) I’m…I’m sorry.

He leaves as JACK sinks slowly back down on the bed. He may have blown his only chance.

SCENE SEVEN: INT. LOFT

JENNIFER: Hope, I’m marrying Colin because I love him.

HOPE: That’s bull.

JENNIFER: (in shock) Hope!

HOPE: You’re lying. Bo said you were out of your mind and now, seeing it for myself, I finally believe him. Jenn, he’s threatened you, hasn’t he?

JENNIFER turns away.

JENNIFER: No.

HOPE: Then it’s Jack. He’s threatened Jack.

JENNIFER: (turning towards her) Hope-

HOPE: That’s it! You are marrying him to save Jack. It’s so simple.

JENNIFER: You cannot tell a soul.

HOPE: And this baby? It’s Jack’s, isn’t it?

JENNIFER nods.

HOPE: Gram will be so happy to find out.

JENNIFER: She can’t find out, Hope. She can’t.

HOPE: Maybe not now, but she will later.

JENNIFER: (near tears) Do you honestly think there will be a later?

HOPE: I hope so, Jenn. (beat) Why didn’t you tell Bo all this?

JENNIFER: I can’t. Hope, let me go through with this. Let me handle this.

HOPE: Jenn-

JENNIFER: Please. I have to save Jack. I have to. I owe it to him.

HOPE: Do you honestly think he’ll want saving once he realizes he’s lost everything?

JENNIFER: No. He’s not the type to give up. I, of all people, know that.

HOPE: So you’ll pass this baby off as Colin’s to save him from certain death?

JENNIFER: I have to.

HOPE: Not without me, you won’t. I can help you, Jenn.

JENNIFER: No, I can’t ask that of you.

HOPE: You didn’t. I offered. Let me stand up for you tomorrow. Let me help you save Jack.

JENNIFER: I…(crying into her arms) Thank you.

HOPE: (lifting her face to look at her) We will find a way, Jenn. We will find a way.

OUT on JENNIFER, hoping what she says is true

SCENE EIGHT: INT. JACK’S ROOM, AFRICA

It is awhile later. JACK is lying in his bed, trying to sleep. The incessant sound of harmonica playing down the hall is keeping him awake. He covers his ears with the pillows as GUARD opens the door.

GUARD: I’ve changed my mind.

JACK: (bolting upright) You have?

GUARD: What could it hurt? I’ll let you see the other fellow and that’s that. It’s not like I’m opening the door for you and letting you out into the street.

JACK: (standing up, grateful) Thank you.

GUARD: You’re…you’re welcome. And if you should find your way out of here, give that daughter of yours a big kiss on the cheek from me. If you should get out of here, that is.

JACK nods.

GUARD: Follow me.

The two of them exit and walk down the hall and stand outside GIDEON’S room. The sound of the harmonica is blasting from inside.

GUARD: (to JACK) He likes playing that thing. Says his grandfather taught him how to.

JACK senses some familiarity in the song but says nothing. GUARD unlocks the door and steps in to find GIDEON sitting on the window seat, playing away.

GUARD: Got someone here to see you.

GIDEON: If it’s Nigel or Oliver, send them away.

GUARD: It’s neither.

Without a word, he pushes JACK in front of him. GIDEON stands up in shock, as if he recognizes the stranger before him and JACK, seeing that it is STEVE, goes completely pale. His brother, back from the dead, is standing before him.

END OF EPISODE 90

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