SCENE ONE: MELISSA IS AT THE PIER WAITING FOR JACK AND MIKE TELLS HER THERE HAS BEEN AN ACCIDENT.

 

MELISSA: Who?

MIKE: Jack Deveraux.

MELISSA: Oh my god, how bad? What happened?

MIKE: I don't know, I'll call you.

MELISSA: No I'm going with you.

MIKE: No Melissa, stay.

MELISSA: I'm coming with you.

SCENE TWO: JACK IS WHEELED INTO THE HOSPITAL STILL UNCONSCIOUS WITH STEVE AND KAYLA FOLLOWING.

 

BILL: I was told he fell from a roof, is that correct?

STEVE: Yes, he fell off Kayla's roof.

 

BILL GIVES JACK AN EXAMINATION AND PRESCRIBES EMERGENCY TREATMENT.

 

BILL: I think he may have a ruptured spleen.

STEVE: What does that mean? What's that? I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!

KAYLA: It's just a preliminary diagnosis. It might mean nothing.

 

THEY WHEEL JACK AWAY FOR SURGERY AS MELISSA AND MIKE RUN IN.

 

MIKE: Bill do you need me?

BILL: I'll let you know.

MIKE: What happened?

STEVE: He fell off Kayla's roof.

MIKE: You saw it!

SCENE TWO: LATER KAYLA TELLS JO THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.

SCENE THREE: JACK IS IN SURGERY FOR THE REMOVAL OF HIS SPLEEN. THEY ALSO FIND HIS LEFT KIDNEY IS BLEEDING. HIS HEART STOPS DURING SURGERY AND THEY REVIVE HIM BUT HIS KIDNEY IS PERMANENTLY DAMAGED.

SCENE FOUR: HARPER AND ANJELICA ARRIVE AT THE HOSPITAL AND ASK MELISSA WHAT HAPPENED BUT SHE CANNOT TELL THEM ANYTHING.

MIKE COMES OUT TO TALK TO HARPER.

 

HARPER: You've got to help him. He has a brilliant future.

MIKE: We're going to do everything we can.

HARPER: Of course.

SCENE FIVE: MELISSA IS LEFT STANDING LOOKING AT THE ADOPTION PAPERS.

SCENE SIX: STEVE IS WAITING OUTSIDE JACK'S ROOM. HE WAITS FOR A WHILE AND THEN GOES IN AND TALKS TO THE UNCONSCIOUS JACK.

 

STEVE: Hey Billy. I remember when mama brought you home from the hospital. Everybody was so worried about you because you wouldn't smile....thought there was something wrong with you....till I looked in your crib....you smiled at me....the first time....I was the first one. I always remembered that. I loved you so much. I loved you so much that when I finally found you and you were sick I GAVE you the one and only person that I ever loved besides you. I just gave her to you. And what did you do?....How could you do a thing like that to Kayla?....Huh?....How could that sweet little baby that smiled at me from the crib do something like that?....You're like a stranger to me now....Kayla's right though. We've all hurt each other too much now. (Crying) In spite of everything that's happened....you're still my brother.

 

[During this time, you can hearing Jack, err probably Matthew snoring, rather obnoxiously. It is a real hoot. I do not think that this was part of the script.]

SCENE ONE: THE NEXT DAY, STEVE RETURNS TO JACK'S ROOM. HE IS STILL UNCONSCIOUS. KAYLA FOLLOWS HIM. STEVE STANDS THERE STARING AT JACK.

 

KAYLA: Steve, how are you doing?

STEVE: He's sleeping like a baby.

KAYLA: I asked how you were doing?

STEVE: I'm not the one you should be worried about Kayla.

 

HARPER WALKS IN THE ROOM.

 

KAYLA: Senator Deveraux.

HARPER: Johnson, what are you doing here? For that matter what were you doing on that roof. I want an answer now Johnson. Why did you push my son off that roof?

 

HARPER IS CALLED AWAY BEFORE STEVE CAN ANSWER AND STEVE AND KAYLA ARE STILL IN JACK'S ROOM. STEVE DECIDES TO LEAVE BEFORE HARPER RETURNS.

 

STEVE: I just can't believe this. (To Kayla) You'll call me if anything changes, right?

KAYLA: The minute I hear.

STEVE: You know maybe he was right. Maybe I am responsible.

KAYLA: Don't say that. It was an accident.

STEVE: I know it was an accident Kayla. I didn't push him, not with my hands anyway. But he was pushed. Ever since I started playing with everybody's life, trying to make decisions for you and Billy....

KAYLA: You did what you thought was right.

STEVE: Oh that's a big deal isn't it? I can't even take care of my own life. I really screwed things up. You call me if you hear anything, if anything changes. I'll be at mama's.

 

STEVE LEAVES.

SCENE TWO: ANJELICA IS KEEPING VIGIL OVER JACK. HE STIRS.

 

JACK: Er....eerr.

ANJELICA: Baby are you awake?

JACK: Anjelica....

ANJELICA: Oh, yeh, it's me.

JACK: What's happening?

ANJELICA: Don't you worry about a thing. You're going to be fine and I'm right here.

JACK: Where's dad?

ANJELICA: He's outside. Boy you are the most important thing in the world to him. You know that don't you? To both of us.

JACK: Ah.....I'm glad you're here.

ANJELICA: Well who else would have me?

JACK: You know since mom....my mother....you've....you've been so good to me....and....and if I should die before I wake....

ANJELICA: You know what, I don't want you to talk like this alright. Jack Deveraux, you are the closest thing I'm ever going to have to a son and I'm here because I want to be here and I'm not leaving here until you're well. Your father and I and Kayla....

JACK: Kayla?

ANJELICA: Yeh, baby. She's been with us the whole time.

JACK: She has?

ANJELICA: She's outside. Do you want me to get her?

JACK: No, no, no. I....I just want....I want to sleep now. I'll talk to her later.

ANJELICA: Okay, okay, okay....You rest. (She kisses his forehead.) Love you, ssshhh.

SCENE THREE: STEVE AND JO DISCUSS THE SITUATION WITH JACK AND CAN FIND NO RESOLUTION AND DECIDE TO CONTINUE TO KEEP HIS ADOPTION A SECRET.

SCENE FOUR: STEVE RETURNS TO SEE A SLEEPING JACK. HE WALKS UP TO HIM AND GENTLY BRUSHES HIS HAND ACROSS JACK'S FOREHEAD.

AND BEGINS TO DAYDREAM ABOUT THE TIME WHEN JACK WAS A BABY....

BABY JACK CAN BE HEARD CRYING AND A VERY YOUNG STEVE WALKS UP TO THE CRIB.

 

YOUNG STEVE: Don't worry Billy. I'll take care of you. It's okay Billy why don't you stop?

 

STEVE COMES BACK TO REALITY.

 

STEVE: Dammit Billy!

SCENE FIVE: JACK'S KIDNEY BEGINS TO FAIL COMPLETELY AND BECAUSE HIS OTHER KIDNEY IS DAMAGED FROM HIS HODGKINS DISEASE, HIS ONLY HOPE IS A TRANSPLANT. DESPITE PROTESTS FROM THE DOCTORS THAT IT IS USELESS, STEVE INSISTS THAT THEY BE TEST HIM FOR A DONOR MATCH.

SCENE SIX: KAYLA COMES TO VISIT A VERY JAUNDICED JACK. HE IS ASLEEP AND SHE WALKS TO HIS BEDSIDE AND TOUCHES HIS FOREHEAD. HE STIRS AND SHE MOVES AWAY FROM THE BED.

KAYLA: You're awake!

JACK: Ka....Kayla?

KAYLA: Yeh, it's me.

JACK: I....I can't see you. Please come closer.

KAYLA: How are you feeling?

JACK: Ah....aaaaaahhhh....I'm alive, sorta.

KAYLA: Jack....

JACK: Kayla....you don't have to be afraid of me now. I can't hurt you anymore. Come here....please....please.

 

JACK EXTENDS HIS HAND AND KAYLA ATTEMPTS TO TOUCH IT BUT THEN WITHDRAWS.

 

JACK: Kayla, I love you so much. I love you so much....and look where it's got me. A fatal flaw....greater men than I....

KAYLA: You're not going to die Jack.

JACK: I guess you and Steve are finally getting what you wanted. You're finally going to be together and there's nothing I can do about it, if I even wanted to.

KAYLA: Jack believe me, you know we didn't want it to be like this. We never meant for this to happen like this.

JACK: So tired....(He falls asleep.)

SCENE SEVEN: STEVE TELLS KAYLA THAT THEY ARE TESTING HIM TO BE A DONOR BUT KAYLA IS CONCERNED FOR STEVE'S HEALTH. HE TELLS HER HE HAS TO HELP BILLY, IT IS THE ONLY WAY.

SCENE ONE: THE NEXT DAY MELISSA COMES TO SEE JACK.

 

JACK: Melissa, hello.

MELISSA: Hi! How are you feeling?

JACK: Pretty good. Thank you for coming by.

MELISSA: Why did you want to see me?

JACK: A few days ago you said something about some important news that was going to make a big difference to a lot of people. I was on my way to come see you but my friend Johnson had some other plans for me.

MELISSA: You mean you remember our talk?

JACK: Of course I remember. Now I want you to tell me what that news is.

SCENE TWO: STEVE IS GETTING FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THE TESTS ARE TAKING SO LONG. HE IS WORRIED THAT JACK'S HEALTH IS DETERIORATING FAST AND THAT THEY NEED TO GET ON WITH THE TRANSPLANT.

SCENE THREE: BACK WITH JACK AND MELISSA.

 

MELISSA: Listen Jack, we can talk about this later when you're feeling better.

JACK: Come on. Deveraux are tough. Look I had a little accident, that's all. I'm not going to lie in this hospital bed like the end of the world has come. My dad would kill me. Tell me, what was the news?

MELISSA: You know, somehow it doesn't seem that important anymore. Not as important as your getting better. Now right now you have to concentrate on that Jack.

JACK: Look, I will. I don't have to worry about getting better. I'm worried about my constituents and I'm worried about my dad's campaign for the Presidency.

MELISSA: Jack, look I know you care about your father but you really should put yourself first right now. Just think about getting out of here.

JACK: I will. I told you, Deveraux are tough!

MELISSA: Aren't Deveraux ever scared?

JACK: (He looks away at the equipment monitoring his condition.) I'll feel a lot better when I know they've found a donor.

SCENE FOUR: MIKE TELLS STEVE THAT HE IS A PERFECT PHYSICAL MATCH BUT THAT HE IS CONCERNED THAT THE RIVALRY BETWEEN STEVE AND JACK WILL CAUSE JACK TO BE UNRECEPTIVE TO THE KIDNEY. HE TELLS STEVE THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE RECIPIENT IS TOTALLY CONVINCED THE TRANSPLANT WILL WORK AND HAS NO STRESS ABOUT THE DONOR.

SCENE FIVE: ANJELICA COMES IN TO SEE JACK WHILE MELISSA IS STILL THERE.

 

ANJELICA: Hi Jack.

JACK: Hi.

MELISSA: Hi Anjelica.

ANJELICA: Melissa, would you leave me alone for me to speak to my stepson in private please?

MELISSA: Of course. Bye Jack. I'll see you later, okay?

JACK: Thank you for coming by Melissa.

MELISSA: Bye, take care. (She leaves the room.)

JACK: You were pretty cold with Melissa don't you think?

ANJELICA: Cold?....She's lucky I....Never mind sweetheart. Tell me how you're feeling?

JACK: Not very good.

ANJELICA: Well I have fabulous news.

JACK: You do?

ANJELICA: Mm....mmm. They found you a donor.

JACK: They did!

ANJELICA: They did indeed. A perfect match. In fact the doctors are amazed at such a good match.

JACK: Alright, when do we start?

ANJELICA: Well....there are these procedures. They....they like to have the donor and the recipient meet to make sure that they're compatible in every way.

JACK: Yeh....so where is he. Let's get it together.

ANJELICA: Well you're going to find out that part in a minute. Right now....I want you to know that you are the most important thing in the whole wide world to me. You know that don't you?

JACK: Yeh....

ANJELICA: And I would do anything in my power to get you well and I want you to do the same.

JACK: Anjelica, who's the donor?

SCENE SIX: STEVE AND KAYLA ARE OUTSIDE DISCUSSING WHAT TO TELL JACK TO CONVINCE HIM TO ACCEPT THE KIDNEY.

SCENE SEVEN: BACK WITH JACK AND ANJELICA.

 

JACK: Anjelica!....Tell me who's the donor?

ANJELICA: Mike and the doctors will talk to you about that in a minute.

JACK: Yeh but why don't you talk to me about it?

ANJELICA: All I'm saying is I want you to keep an open mind. Please remember at all times what's at stake.

JACK: I don't....

 

MIKE COMES IN THE ROOM.

 

MIKE: Hello.

ANJELICA: I'm going to get going. Just remember what I said, okay?

MIKE: Hi ya Jack!

JACK: Hi.

 

KAYLA COMES IN THE ROOM.

 

MIKE: I hope you don't mind. We....

JACK: Kayla?

KAYLA: Jack. Hello.

MIKE: Kayla wanted to be here if that's alright with you.

JACK: Well of course it's alright. She's my wife.

MIKE: Okay Jack, here's the scoop. Getting a transplant means inserting a foreign body in the system and then trying to fool the system into not thinking that it's not a foreign body. If not it will reject it. Now we all these fancy ways these days of matching up blood and tissue type. Now the closer the match the better. Now in this case we found somebody who's willing to donate his kidney and Jack I gotta tell you, it's an amazing match.

JACK: Someone's going to donate their kidney. Just give it.

MIKE: Right. And to be honest I've never seen a closer match. And to be honest again, you have to be willing to accept this organ. Not just physically but psychologically and emotionally. If not your body could reject it. Now it doesn't matter if your body if your body rejects it psychologically or if it rejects it physically, rejection is rejection....Jack, I'm going to be blunt here. You don't have that many chances so if I were you I'd take this one and I'd say Thank you.

JACK: Alright, I hear you. Let's go with it. Where's the donor?

MIKE: He's waiting outside.

JACK: Good.

 

MIKE OPENS THE DOOR AND STEVE WALKS IN.

 

JACK: ....Oh....no....I'd rather die!....I TOLD YOU I WOULD RATHER DIE!

STEVE: If you want to die Jack, you can die man. Come on. Just forget about where the kidney is coming from. Just take it.

JACK: You just forget about it. YOU GET OUT OF HERE!

STEVE: Jack, you want to live, don't you want to live?

JACK: No I don't want to live if I have to thank you for it.

STEVE: I don't want your thanks.

KAYLA: Jack, Steve, come on....

JACK: I DON'T WANT THE KIDNEY, ALRIGHT!

MIKE: Jack, you hate this guy so much that you're not going to let him save your life?

JACK: THAT'S RIGHT!

STEVE: Oh that's it. I can't take it....

JACK: GOOD, THEN PLEASE GET OUT OF HERE!

KAYLA: Stop....

STEVE: Jack....Look Kayla you heard what he said. He doesn't want my help. I'm trying to give him a kidney here but he'd rather die than take it alright.

KAYLA: Is that what you want?

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STEVE: NO!

JACK: As if you really care about me!

STEVE: Oh you'd be surprised buddy. YOU'D BE SURPRISED!

JACK: (Laughing) RIGHT. I KNOW WHAT YOU CARE ABOUT IS PLAYING GOD WITH PEOPLE'S LIVES. CONTROLLING PEOPLE'S LIVES.

STEVE: WHY DON'T YOU JUST FORGET ABOUT WHY I'M DOING IT AND TAKE IT?

JACK: IF YOU WERE THE LAST PERSON ON EARTH I WOULDN'T TAKE IT!

STEVE: I'm not going to beg you man.

JACK: See that door?

STEVE: Jack, come on....

JACK: USE IT!

MIKE: Right Steve.

STEVE: Jack, forget about your pride here dude. Take the kidney man. You have your whole lifetime ahead of you TO HATE ME.

MIKE: Steve, you're upsetting my patient. Get out.

STEVE: I'M NOT GETTING OUT!

JACK: GET OUT. I'M GOING TO DIE!

STEVE: (As he manhandled to the door by Mike.) YOU WANNA DIE, DIE!

JACK: I'D RATHER DIE....GET OUT!

 

JACK IS LEFT ALONE WITH KAYLA. HE IS VERY SHAKEN UP.

 

KAYLA: Jack please listen to him.

JACK: I....It's lunch time....I wonder what I'm going to have for lunch.

SCENE EIGHT: STEVE IS OUTSIDE WITH MIKE AND HE SAYS JACK IS THROWING HIS LIFE AWAY. MIKE SAYS THAT IT IS JACK'S LIFE TO THROW AWAY. LATER STEVE DECIDES THAT MAYBE IT IS TIME TO TELL JACK WHO HIS REAL FAMILY IS IN AN EFFORT TO GET HIM TO ACCEPT THE KIDNEY.

SCENE NINE: ANJELICA IS WITH JACK. SHE TAKES HIS HAND IN HERS AS HE STARES INTO SPACE.

 

ANJELICA: Jack....

 

MELISSA ENTERS THE ROOM.

 

MELISSA: How is he?

 

ANJELICA SHRUGS HER SHOULDERS.

 

MELISSA: Could I....Would you let me talk to him for a minute?

 

ANJELICA LEAVES QUIETLY. MELISSA SITS BY JACK'S SIDE.

 

MELISSA: Jack?

JACK: Hello Melissa.

MELISSA: Jack....I think....I think you're giving up hope. I think you're not fighting.

JACK: I'm not giving up.

MELISSA: You've got to fight this Jack. It's not good if you don't fight.

JACK: Melissa I am....

MELISSA: If you don't fight you could end up dying.

JACK: They'll find another donor.

MELISSA: Well maybe not in time.

JACK: I'll take my chances.

MELISSA: JACK! You know most of us won't make that big of a difference in this world., but you will. You're a very special person.

JACK: (Sigh)

MELISSA: And you were meant to do great things. I knew that from almost the time we met. Do you remember that time we took those kids from the riverfront to see their first ballet and that little boy came up to your afterwards and asked how does somebody get to do that. And sure enough you found out he had dance talent and you paid for him to have lessons.

JACK: Oh big deal.

MELISSA: Well it is to that kid. But I agree with you. Most people would have let it go at that. But you didn't. You got the funds to start a new program to help find underprivileged kids who might have talent and get them training. Do you realize what a difference you made with just that program. I mean thanks to you the world might have another Mikael Baryshnikov or another Picasso. Jack, I know it might sound crazy but it could be....and you've barely even gotten started....You know I used to have these daydreams about you. I'd see you as a Senator or maybe even the President....It didn't matter. You'd be doing something wonderful, something great, something to make the world a better place. And everybody, everybody that looked at you, knew that you were the one that made the difference.

JACK: In these daydreams, where were you?

MELISSA: ....I was by your side. Loving you, making the difference for you, making it possible for you to do the things you wanted to do. Jack, please....please....take Steve's kidney. Do those great things. I want you to live that life I've dreamed about. I want us both to....Please....

JACK: Melissa, I want you to get Bill Horton. I want to talk to him.

MELISSA: Bill? Yes I'll get him right away....I'll get him right away.

 

MELISSA RUNS OUTSIDE WHERE STEVE, KAYLA, JO, ANJELICA AND BILL ARE WAITING.

 

MELISSA: Uncle Bill! Jack's asking for you. He want's to talk to you.

STEVE: Does that mean he'll do it?

MELISSA: I don't know what it means.

BILL: Somebody find Mike.

 

BILL AND ANJELICA GO INTO SEE JACK. MELISSA AND JO WAIT AT THE DOOR.

 

BILL: You wanted to see me?

JACK: Yes. I want you to do it!

BILL: You'll let Steve be your donor?

JACK: I'll let Steve be my donor!

ANJELICA: Oh thank god. I'm so glad.

JO: I'm so glad. (She leaves.)

 

MELISSA HAS TEARS IN HER EYES AS SHE LOOKS AT JACK. HE LOOKS BACK AND SHE SMILES.

JO RUNS OUTSIDE TO STEVE AND KAYLA.

 

JO: He's going to do it, Steve. He said he would do it.

STEVE: He did!

MIKE: That's great Steve, lets go and get you prepped.

 

STEVE AND MIKE LEAVE. KAYLA WALKS UP TO THE DOOR AND LOOKS THROUGH THE GLASS AT JACK. HE LOOKS BACK.