SCENE ONE: THE OPERATING ROOM. JACK AND STEVE ARE IN ADJOINING BEDS.

 

DR.: We're going to put you to sleep now Mr. Deveraux.

JACK: Go for it!

STEVE: (To himself) Good luck Billy.

 

BILL AND MIKE INSERT JACK'S KIDNEY AND REMARK ON WHAT A PERFECT FIT IT IS. JACK TAKES THE SURGERY WELL BUT STEVE GETS INTO TROUBLE.

SCENE TWO: MELISSA AND JO ARE TALKING OUTSIDE ABOUT JO'S DEVOTION AND CONCERN FOR JACK.

 

MELISSA: This must be quite a worry, feeling as close as you do to Jack. You know sometimes I think you think of him as your real son.

JO: Oh don't be silly. Jack has his own family. He doesn't need me.

SCENE ONE: JACK IS BACK IN HIS ROOM AFTER SURGERY AND MELISSA COMES IN.

 

JACK: Melissa.

MELISSA: Hi, I was just looking in to see if you were alright.

JACK: Come on in.

MELISSA: Sure you don't mind.

JACK: No, no.

MELISSA: So how are you feeling?

JACK: I feel pretty good.

MELISSA: Good.

JACK: How am I doing?

MELISSA: Well Mike says you're doing just fine.

JACK: And how about Steve? How's he?

MELISSA: Um....I'm not really sure how Steve is. I haven't been in to see him.

JACK: What have you heard?

MELISSA: Not much.

JACK: Tell me what you've heard.

MELISSA: Jack I really think you should get your rest.

JACK: Melissa, look if can't tell me then I'm sure somebody else will.

MELISSA: Alright. I don't know anything for sure but I did hear there were some problems with Steve during the surgery.

JACK: What! What kind of problems?

MELISSA: I don't know Jack. I'm not a doctor.

JACK: Well ask a doctor!.... Melissa, please, find out what's wrong with Steve.

SCENE TWO: JACK IS ALONE IN HIS ROOM WHEN KAYLA ENTERS.

 

KAYLA: You wanted to see me?

JACK: I figured it would be easy to find you. Just look in Steve's room. I suppose you've been there since the operation?

KAYLA: You know Jack. Steve might die because of what he did for you. I know that you hate him but he gave up a lot for you. He gave up his kidney so you could live a full and healthy life.

JACK: Why Kayla? Why did he do that? I didn't ask him for his kidney.

KAYLA: Does it really matter? All that matters is that he lives.

 

MIKE AND MELISSA COME IN.

 

MIKE: Hey buddy.

JACK: Hi.

MIKE: How are you doing?

JACK: Not bad Mike.

MIKE: Well that's great. That's what a doctor likes to hear.

JACK: I want to ask you a favor.

MIKE: What?....Come on Jack, no Filet Mignon until you're feelin' better.

JACK: No, no. I'm serious. I want you to do something for me.

MIKE: Okay, what is it?

JACK: I want you to take me to see Steve.

MIKE: Uh....maybe in a few days Jack.

JACK: No, no, no, no. I want to see him right now.

MIKE: Jack I don't think you should be moved at this point.

JACK: Look....I GOT THE MAN'S KIDNEY INSIDE ME. I THINK I HAVE THE RIGHT TO SEE HIM IF I WANT.

MELISSA: Mike would it hurt that much. Steve's just in the next room.

MIKE: Alright, I'll see what I can do but I'm not making any promises.

SCENE THREE: KAYLA OPENS THE DOOR TO STEVE'S ROOM. JACK IS IN A WHEELCHAIR BEING PUSHED BY A NURSE. MIKE COMES IN. STEVE IS UNCONSCIOUS.

 

JACK: Is he going to die?

MIKE: He shouldn't. We don't understand why this happened but he's in pretty bad shape and there's no telling when or if he'll ever come out of the coma.

JACK: I want you to leave me alone with him for a minute.

MIKE: I don't think that would be a very good idea right now.

JACK: I am not going to do anything to him.

MIKE: Kayla?

KAYLA: ....I....guess....

MIKE: Alright but the nurse is going to stay in here, hospital rules.

 

MIKE AND KAYLA LEAVE.

 

JACK: What is it with you Johnson? You say you gave up Kayla to save my life and then you ruin it by taking her away again. And now what are you doing? What are you doing? Dying on me now? WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME? What do you want? Do you want forgiveness, is that it? Is that what you want? Well you're not going to get it from me. I'm never going to forgive you for what you did. You played me like a puppet and if you think you're going to finish it up now by....by throwing in the towel, you've got another thing coming....I want you to snap out of it. It's not over yet, you hear me. It's not over yet. You can't die, not now.

SCENE FOUR: STEVE BEGINS TO DAYDREAM WHILE IN THE COMA.

THE SCENE IS THE LOFT. STEVE IS HOLDING TWO KIDS, A BOY AND A GIRL ALONG WITH JO. THERE IS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR AND KAYLA OPENS IT. JACK IS THERE ALL DRESSED UP IN A SUIT. HE IS HOLDING A GIFT.

 

KAYLA: Billy....Hi. (She and "Billy" kiss.)

JACK: Hi birthday boy.

STEVE: Bill....

JO: Hi son.

JACK: Sorry I was at meeting that would not end.

STEVE: Well that's the life of a Senator, huh? Just glad you could make it.

JACK: What are you talking about. I'd never miss the birthday of my brother. Happy Birthday. (Steve and Jack hug.)

JO: And where's that beautiful wife of yours?

 

THE LOFT DOOR OPENS AND MELISSA WALKS IN.

 

MELISSA: I'm here. Hi Steve, Happy Birthday!

STEVE: Thank you.

MELISSA: I just saw Adrienne and company on the way up. All four of them.

JACK: Oh great. While we're waiting I want to propose a toast.

KAYLA: Oh champagne.

JACK: Yes a toast. Is everyone ready?

STEVE: Yeh. What the heck.

JACK: Here we go. A toast to Steven Earl Johnson, the best brother, the best buddy, a guy could ever have. Here, here.

KAYLA: Happy birthday honey.

 

THEY ALL GATHER ROUND STEVE AND SIP CHAMPAGNE.

SCENE ONE: STEVE COMES OUT OF THE COMA

SCENE TWO: LATER ON MELISSA IS TALKING TO HIM.

 

MELISSA: Why did you give Jack your kidney?

STEVE: What in the hell sort of question is that?

MELISSA: Everyone knows how much you and Jack hate each other so why would you risk your life to save his?

 

AS HE SPEAKS JACK ENTERS IN A WHEELCHAIR.

 

JACK: That's what I've been wondering Steve? Why did you save me?

SCENE THREE: A LITTLE LATER IN STEVE'S ROOM WITH MELISSA AND JACK.

 

NURSE: Just call me when you need me.

 

THE NURSE LEAVES.

 

JACK: Alright! So tell me, why did you give me your kidney?

STEVE: I guess I'm going to have to take an ad out in the newspaper so I don't have to keep on repeating myself....It was my fault you needed one, I had a spare and I gave it to you, that's all.

JACK: That's it?

STEVE: That's it.

JACK: Let me get this straight. You risked your life to save mine. That....that's the story?

STEVE: Yeh, take it easy here man. This is not some plot, some Alfred Hitchcock movie. I owed you so I paid you back, that's all. It's just that simple.

MELISSA: Well whatever the reason, I'm glad you did it Steve and that you both came out of it alright.

STEVE: Well like I always say, comin' out alive is always the most important thing. What do you say Jack?

 

JACK IS SILENT AS HE STARES AT STEVE.

 

MELISSA: Well I....I guess I better go. Take care Steve.

STEVE: Yeh, yeh I will.

MELISSA: Jack I guess I'll see you later.

 

MELISSA LEAVES.

 

JACK: I would like that. Right now Steve and I have a lot of talking to do.Alright Melissa's gone now tell me the truth.

STEVE: What truth is that Jack?

JACK: Oh come on. Now maybe Melissa bought that fairy tale about why you donated your kidney but....

STEVE: You better hope she bought it, you better hope everybody buys it because if they don't there's going to be a whole lot of ugly questions flying around that nobody wants to answer.

JACK: Don't jerk me around Johnson!

STEVE: I'm not jerking you around. Jack, why don't you just forget it man. I have.

JACK: Not till you give me an answer.

STEVE: I gave Melissa the official report. So it was a little condensed. I'm not telling anyone anything else, so why don't you just relax?

JACK: That's another thing that I don't understand. Why don't you give everybody the whole story. Then you could have Kayla all to yourself and you could get your revenge on me by ruining my life at the same time.

STEVE: Maybe I don't want to ruin your life.

JACK: Oh, oh, oh. Now did we just touch a nerve Steve?

STEVE: Jack, everybody has been hurt enough already.

JACK: Meaning....that you think you're going to have Kayla anyway, right?

STEVE: Meaning that you have put Kayla through hell and I'm not going to add to that. Now I don't want to talk about this anymore.

JACK: So let's just drop it right. Let's just forget the whole thing, pretend it never happened. Well I can't do that. Up there on that rooftop you were really trying to kill me. Then after I fell and you found out I'd lost my kidney, all of a sudden you jump up and you donate it. Why?

STEVE: I already told you man.

JACK: You didn't tell me anything Steve! Now this isn't about some big sacrifice. There's a lot more to it and you might as well tell me because I'm not leaving until you do.

SCENE FOUR: ANJELICA AND KAYLA ARE DISCUSSING HIS UPCOMING PRESS CONFERENCE IN THE DOCTOR'S LOUNGE.

 

ANJELICA: Are you telling me that you've decided to turn your back on Jack?

KAYLA: I am not going to that press conference.

 

ANJELICA IS FURIOUS AND WONDERS WHY KAYLA IS SUDDENLY TURNING AGAINST JACK.

SHE ASKS MELISSA WHAT IS GOING ON BETWEEN JACK AND STEVE.

SCENE FIVE: BACK WITH JACK AND STEVE.

 

JACK: Look stop trying to smooth talk your way out of this because it's not going to work. Just tell me what you're trying to do. WHAT IS YOUR GAME?

STEVE: Jack, isn't there enough bad blood between us already? Can't we just bury the hatchet?

JACK: ANSWER MY QUESTION!

STEVE: Ain't you been listening to those doctors man? If you keep hating me you're going to lose that kidney and you gonna die!

JACK: Alright, alright. You don't have to tell me because I already know. I do, I know why you gave me your kidney?

STEVE: You do eh?

JACK: Yeh. You want me to OWE you. You want me to be grateful to you for saving my life. To be so grateful that I'll just excuse myself from my marriage and you can slip right in there with Kayla. WELL FORGET IT!

STEVE: Oh man.

JACK: There's one other thing that you forgot in all your figuring. For everything that's happened, I still love Kayla. Now more than ever.

STEVE: Jack would you just give it up.

JACK: NO! I'm going to fight for her and I'm going to keep fighting for her and I'm not going to stop, do you hear that? I'm not going to stop. Never!

STEVE: Kayla can only be with one of us. Do you hear me? ONE OF US! AND SHE'S ALREADY MADE HER CHOICE!

JACK: I wouldn't be so sure of that if I was you! (He turns around to call the nurse.) JODIE?

SCENE ONE: ANJELICA IS TALKING TO REPORTERS BEFORE THE PRESS CONFERENCE.

 

REPORTER: Where's Jack?

ANJELICA: He's on his way. He was having some tests taken.

 

JACK IS WHEELED IN TO FACE THE PRESS.

 

ANJELICA: How did the tests go Jack?

JACK: Fine, just fine. Why don't you you folks give me a chance to get settled here and we can begin.

 

JACK SCANS THE ROOM FOR KAYLA AND ANJELICA WHISPERS THAT KAYLA WILL NOT BE THERE.

 

REPORTER: Where's your lovely wife Jack? Isn't she going to be joining us?

JACK: Actually she's otherwise engaged. She sends her regrets, she's sorry she can't be here but not to worry. I can handle you all just fine on my own.

SCENE TWO: THE PRESS CONFERENCE IS ENDING.

 

JACK: Thanks Mike, thanks for coming.

REPORTER: I'm really very happy for you Jack. Looks like you've beaten the odds again.

JACK: Looks like I did Tom. Bye.

REPORTER: No problem. Take care.

JACK: Thank you very much.

 

THE REPORTERS ALL LEAVE AND JACK AND ANJELICA ARE ALONE.

 

ANJELICA: You know Jack Deveraux, you are amazing.

JACK: You know I'm really grateful to you for all the help you've given me Anjelica.

ANJELICA: All day long I've been going crazy trying to figure out what's wrong with you and Kayla, how it's going to affect you. You seem to be taking it in stride.

JACK: We Deveraux come out on top. You know that.

ANJELICA: When you were a little boy....I wonder if I should tell you this....

JACK: Hmm....mmm.

ANJELICA: I used to worry about you all the time. Boy I never wanted anything bad to happen to you but now I see you can do anything and get anything you set your mind to.

JACK: Sometimes I wonder if that's true.

SCENE THREE: KAYLA AND JO ARE IN STEVE'S ROOM WHEN JACK ENTERS STILL IN A WHEELCHAIR.

 

JACK: Thanks Jodie....Excuse me!

STEVE: We're having a private conversation here.

JACK: Well I said excuse me but I need to see my wife. So Kayla if you wouldn't mind wheeling me back out, we could go talk.

 

STEVE AND KAYLA HOLD HANDS AND JACK WATCHES.

 

JO: Jack you are looking so much better. I think you're going to be okay.

JACK: Thank you Mrs. Johnson. I think I'm going to be alright too.

JO: Well I better get going.

STEVE: No don't go.

JO: No I really should. You take care of yourself son.

STEVE: Alright.

JO: You take of yourself Jack.

JACK: I will.

STEVE: Boy you really know how to clear a room junior.

JACK: I've got to talk to Kayla....alone.

STEVE: If you have something to say to Kayla, you're going to have to say it here cause she's never going to be alone with you again.

JACK: Is that true?

KAYLA: Yes.

JACK: Well I didn't plan to make this a public declaration but since I have no other choice. Kayla, I know how you feel about me right now and I would understand completely if you walked right out of the room or slapped my face but all I'm asking is that you listen to me....That rainy night when I showed up on your porch, it was no accident. I came to Salem looking for you. When we met in Hawaii, Kayla, I fell in love with you, instantly, and I knew right then that I was going to ask you to marry me and in my dreams, in my fantasies, you said yes and we were happy. We lived happily every after with children and family all around us. Surrounded by happiness. Now I never intended for things to come to this but with all the pain that's come between us, I'm ready to put my dream to rest and walk out of your life forever if that's what you really want....But before I do I want you just to answer one question....is there any chance, however small that some day you might forgive me and love me?

KAYLA: What you did to me is not something you cannot pay to be fixed and you cannot undo. The pain you caused me is something I'll never forget and I'll never forgive you.

 

JACK SINKS IN HIS CHAIR.

 

JACK: Jodie, Jodie. (He calls the nurse who wheels him out of the room.)

SCENE FOUR: JACK IS BACK IN BED IN HIS ROOM LOOKING AT KAYLA'S WEDDING AND ENGAGEMENT RINGS.

ANJELICA ENTERS.

 

ANJELICA: How did it go baby? What did Kayla say?

JACK: She told me the truth. She told me that she never loved me. She never did.

ANJELICA: She said that?

JACK: Hmm....mm. (Dejected)

ANJELICA: Oh Jack I'm so sorry....(Brushing his hair off his face) but you know it's lucky you're a Deveraux. You can get through it. Deveraux get through everything.

JACK: I don't know if I can....if I can live without her.

ANJELICA: Oh Jack....

JACK: I loved her so much.

SCENE FIVE: MEANWHILE JENNIFER AND FRANKIE ARE GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER BUT HE STILL HAS NOT TOLD HER ABOUT HIS FIRST TIME AFFAIR WITH PAULA. THERE ARE RUMORS SPREADING AROUND THE COLLEGE BUT JENNIFER SEEMS TO BE UNAWARE OF THEM.

SCENE SIX: JACK IS ALONE IN HIS ROOM WHEN MELISSA BEGINS TO COME IN AND CHANGES HER MIND.

 

JACK: Melissa, no, no, wait. Come in.

MELISSA: Hi.

JACK: Hey. You know I never got a chance to tell you, thank you, for saving my life.

MELISSA: Jack. I can't take any credit for that.

JACK: Oh yes you can. You were the one that gave me the reason to go on living. Sometimes....sometimes a guy needs to be reminded of that. Sometimes it takes a friend....to tell him. (He takes her hand.)

 

SCENE ONE: STEVE IS FEELING BETTER AND MARCUS TELLS HIM HE IS READY TO LEAVE HOSPITAL.

SCENE TWO: STEVE AND KAYLA MOVE BACK TO THE LOFT. ANJELICA TELLS KAYLA THAT SHE HOPES KAYLA GETS A DISCREET DIVORCE. KAYLA TELLS HER THAT SHE WILL PACK JACK'S THINGS UP AND HAVE THEM SENT TO THE DEVERAUX MANSION. STEVE HAS TO HAVE SOME EXTRA TESTS SO KAYLA GOES AHEAD TO PACK UP JACK'S THINGS.

SCENE THREE: JENNIFER AND FRANKIE ARE STUDYING TOGETHER FOR ART HISTORY. FRANKIE EXPLAINS MOTIVATION BEHIND THE SCULPTURE THE KISS AND THE TALK LEADS TO THEM KISSING. JENNIFER GETS NERVOUS THAT HER GRANDPARENTS WILL WALK IN AND THEN FRANKIE SAYS HE HAS TO SEE STEVE AND HE LEAVES.

SCENE FOUR: FRANKIE LIES TO JENNIFER AND ACTUALLY GOES TO SEE PAULA BECAUSE HE IS WORRIED ABOUT THE RIVERFRONT KNIFER WHO HAS BEEN KILLING WOMEN ALL OVER SALEM.

SCENE FIVE: JENNIFER TELLS HER GRANDMOTHER THAT SHE AND FRANKIE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SEX AND THAT SHE STILL WANTS TO WAIT UNTIL THEY ARE MARRIED BUT HOW LONG WILL FRANKIE WAIT. MRS. HORTON TELLS JENNIFER ABOUT THE ICE CREAM SOCIALS THEY USED TO HAVE IN THE OLD DAYS AND SETS ONE UP FOR JENNIFER AND FRANKIE.