Episode Eighteen: Jack, Steve
and Kayla Deal with the Rape.

---

SCENE ONE: KAYLA GOES BACK TO THE LOFT AND PACKS UP JACK'S THINGS INCLUDING THEIR WEDDING PICTURE. MARCUS ARRIVES TO HELP HER AND THEN ANJELICA ARRIVES TO COLLECT JACK'S THINGS. ANJELICA TELLS KAYLA THAT SHE NEVER UNDERSTOOD JACK'S ATTRACTION TO KAYLA. ANJELICA SAYS THAT SHE WILL NEVER FORGIVE KAYLA FOR WHAT SHE DID TO JACK. KAYLA GOES BACK TO THE HOSPITAL AND BRINGS STEVE BACK TO THE LOFT.

SCENE TWO: JENNIFER GETS DRESSED UP IN AN OLD DRESS OF ALICE'S AND WHEN FRANKIE ARRIVES SHE SETS UP THE WHOLE THING WITH OLD MUSIC AND DANCING.

SCENE THREE: FRANKIE TELLS STEVE THAT HE SLEPT WITH PAULA BUT THAT HE LOVES JENNIFER MORE THAN ANYONE IN THE WORLD BUT HE CANNOT GET PAULA OUT OF HIS MIND. STEVE TELLS HIM TO THINK BEFORE HE DOES ANYTHING AND THAT IT IS EASY TO HURT THE ONES YOU LOVE THE MOST.

 

SCENE ONE: KAYLA IS ABOUT TO ENTER THE RAPE COUNSELING ROOM IN THE HOSPITAL WHEN JACK WALKS UP.

 

JACK: Where in the hell do you think you're going?

KAYLA: You can't tell me what to do anymore Jack.

JACK: If you go in there that is like announcing to the world that you think I raped you.

KAYLA: That's what you did!

JACK: I loved you. I made love to you!

KAYLA: That's a lie and you know it.

JACK: We were married dammit. If you didn't want me why didn't you get out sooner? Why did you stay around?

KAYLA: I told you. I....I wanted to wait until the election was over.

JACK: I don't believe that. I think you wanted it all. I think you wanted both me and Steve.

KAYLA: That's not true.

JACK: You led me on. You let me think that you loved me, that you cared about me, that you wanted to be my wife. How could anyone blame me for what happened? I had every right to think that you wanted me....

KAYLA: You had no right! I don't care if you were my husband or some stranger down the street. You forced me to have sex with you against my will and that constitutes rape. Now get out of my way!

JACK: You can't do this to me.

KAYLA: Did it every occur to you that maybe I'm doing this to myself?....No, I guess not....You said you loved me but how can you love someone and hurt them like that?

JACK: You hurt me!

KAYLA: That doesn't justify what you did.

JACK: It justifies what you've done to me, what you're about to do now?

KAYLA: Jack, I'm not going to tell the world. I just have to talk to someone about it.

JACK: Kayla these things have a way of coming out.

KAYLA: Well you should have thought of that before you attacked me.

JACK: Look....Kayla....I am sorry that I hurt you. I never meant to do it that night. I was out of my mind. I'd just found out about you and Steve. I didn't know what I was doing. Don't you understand that?

KAYLA: I don't have to understand anything anymore Jack.

JACK: (Desperate) Look please, just don't do this. Please accept my apology and forgive me.

KAYLA: It's too late Jack, especially since you don't mean it.

JACK: I do mean it!

KAYLA: No you don't. The only thing that you're sorry about is what it might do to your reputation if someone finds out.

JACK: Oh that's what this is all about isn't it? Just getting back at me. I've tried to apologize, I've tried to explain but none of that is good enough for you. You won't be happy until you've nailed me up to a wall. Why are you so vindictive?

KAYLA: How can you call me vindictive? Do you any idea how much pain you've caused me?

 

STEVE WALKS IN.

 

STEVE: What's goin' on here?

JACK: I should have known he was behind all this. He probably made you run around behind my back. Is that what he did?

STEVE: You get the hell out of here, get the hell out of here.

JACK: Are you going to go through with this?

KAYLA: Yes! You can't stop me!

JACK: I just hope that you won't be sorry for it later.

STEVE: GO! You go!

JACK: I will.

 

JACK LEAVES AND STEVE COMFORTS KAYLA.

SCENE TWO: UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL JACK IS IN BED LOOKING AT KAYLA'S ENGAGEMENT RING. HE IS SWEATING AND LOOKS REALLY ILL. MELISSA COMES IN.

MELISSA: Hi Jack.

JACK: Oh Melissa hi.

MELISSA: Hope you don't mind my visiting like this?

JACK: No, not at all. It's kinda nice to see a friendly face.

MELISSA: Why, did something happen?

JACK: Yeh, my wife happened. I ran into her with Steve Johnson.

MELISSA: What was she doing here?

JACK: Well she wasn't seeing me!

MELISSA: You still love her don't you? After everything that's happened.

JACK: Melissa....Sometimes....sometimes it's hard to let go....even if somebody hurts you. It's hard to let go of someone you love. I....I wish she'd stop hating me. I wish she'd forgive me for what I've done.

MELISSA: Jack you haven't done anything.

JACK: Oh....well....we've all made mistakes. I wish I hadn't but I have. I wish she would listen to me. I wish she'd let me apologize....Is it hot in here?

MELISSA: Not really, why?

JACK: I don't know. It just feels like it to me. I just feel....(He moves in the bed and winches in pain.) Oh, oh.

MELISSA: Jack what's the matter?

JACK: Oh, oh, no, no, it's nothing. I'm just....tired. I shouldn't have taken that walk earlier. I just overdid it.

MELISSA: Jack what's wrong?

 

JACK BEGINS SHAKING.

 

JACK: I don't know. I'm kinda cold all of a sudden.

MELISSA: I'll get a doctor....I'll get a doctor.

SCENE THREE: JENNIFER IS MAKING A POT OF SOUP AT THE BRADY'S. SHE AND FRANKIE ARE ARRANGING A NICE NIGHT ALONE TOGETHER WHEN THERE IS A KNOCK ON THE DOOR. IT IS PAULA AND JENNIFER TELLS FRANKIE THAT IS SHE ASKED HER FOR DINNER SO SHE CAN INTERVIEW THEM BOTH ABOUT THE HOT LINE.

SCENE FOUR: UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL JACK IS LYING IN BED LOOKING VERY JAUNDICED AND ILL. STEVE COMES IN.

 

JACK: What are you doing here?

STEVE: I just came to see if you were alright. How you're doin'.

JACK: Well you've seen me now. Why don't you leave?

STEVE: Well there's another reason I'm here.

JACK: What is it?

STEVE: Jack, don't you think it's time we put this whole thing to rest? What I'm trying to say is that I want to make peace with you man, once and for all.

JACK: And what about Kayla? Does she feel the same way too?

SCENE FIVE: JENNIFER ASKS PAULA AND FRANKIE IF THEY ARE FRIENDS BECAUSE OF THEIR WORK TOGETHER. HER QUESTIONS CONTINUE TO MAKE FRANKIE AND PAULA FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.

SCENE SIX: EVE CALLS AND ASKS FRANKIE OVER FOR POPCORN. SHE ACTUALLY HAS A PLAN WITH ALAN TO GET JENNIFER AND FRANKIE APART.

SCENE SEVEN: JENNIFER AND FRANKIE GO OVER TO EVE'S AND END UP DANCING TOGETHER AND LEAVING EVE AND ALAN ALONE.

SCENE EIGHT: JACK STEVE. JACK IS IN BED.

 

JACK: Does Kayla want to forgive and forget too?

 

STEVE DOES NOT ANSWER AND KAYLA WALKS AWAY.

 

JACK: I guess not.

STEVE: Look dude, I didn't come here to talk for Kayla. I didn't come here to talk about Kayla. I'm here because the doctors tell me you're rejecting that kidney I gave you. Now that's really serious man, you know that don't you?

JACK: Yeh I know that.

STEVE: So what are you goin' to do about it? Are you just going to get sick all over again? Look if I'm the reason....

JACK: Get to the point. What are you doing here?

STEVE: I'm telling you what I'm doing here man. You're sick and you're getting worse by the day and if I'm the cause of it....I just want to clear things up so you can get better.

JACK: Just like that....You think it'll be that easy.

STEVE: Yeh I think it could be.

JACK: Wake up Steve. This isn't just between you and me. It's between you, me and Kayla and since Kayla's not here, why don't we just cancel due to lack of interest?

STEVE: Jack, I'm the one you were fighting with when you flew off that roof, not Kayla and it's my kidney inside of you right now.

JACK: Who were we fighting about on that roof and who did I find you with....on the roof....Kayla.

STEVE: Kayla, Kayla, everything's always Kayla. Why can't you just leave her out of this for a change?

JACK: (Chuckling) Because I can't. Forget about it Steve. It's too late. You hate me, Kayla hates me. So why don't you just leave and stop trying pretending that things are different than they are.

STEVE: Alright Jack, let's stop pretending.

SCENE NINE: JACK'S HOPSITAL ROOM, JACK AND STEVE CONTINUED.

 

STEVE: Alright Jack, let's tell the truth. Kayla is still mad at you for what you did to her. She's devastated and I'm mad too. But I want to tell you something, Kayla and I are going to get through this. We're going to get on with our lives. Now the question is, when we do, where are you going to be? You goin' to be livin' off some machine waitin' for the right kidney to come along, the perfect match? Well those doctors tell me that the chance of that happening are about a million to one.

JACK: I've played long shots before.

STEVE: So have I and I've had a few of 'em come in, just like you have but if you lose this one you don't have a second chance.

JACK: We'll see about that!

STEVE: Dammit Jack! I let those doctors slice me open so you could live a normal life. Now I don't like to see my sacrifices go to waste.

JACK: Sounds like we've got a bad case of guilty conscience here.

STEVE: No man, that's where you're wrong. When I risked my life for you I paid back our debt in full.

JACK: Then what are we doing here Steve?

STEVE: I told you man, I just want to make peace, alright?

JACK: Hey! Let's be friends!

STEVE: Why can't you give up your pride man? Why can't you just give up that pride?

JACK: Are you finished?....I hope so.

STEVE: What are you doing?

JACK: I'm going to call the nurse. Maybe she can get rid of you. (Steve wrestles Jack for the buzzer.)

STEVE: You don't have to do that....I'll leave on my own. First I want to leave you a little something to think about....You think this is all about Kayla, right....well let me tell you something about Kayla....what you did to her ripped her heart out. You understand me. So now she's fightin' for her life, she's fightin' to get better and I'm fightin' to be with her and to make her happy and you better believe that one of these days we're going to be together and we're going to be happy. So what you do with your life, that's your business dude. If you want to just throw it away because you're too damn proud, you go ahead because it's not going to hurt me and it's not going to hurt Kayla one little bit. The only person you're going to hurt is yourself.

JACK: Very poetic Steve. You know I never thought that you had it in you.

STEVE: What are we doing here dude? Were we just supposed to meet up and hate each other, is that it? Maybe that's right. But why do you want to throw your whole life away for that, just because you hate me. I don't understand that man. I don't understand you!

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JACK: You'll never understand me Steve. We're too different!

STEVE: May we're too much alike!....Doesn't really make any difference now though does it? You see Jack, I know that we're going to get through this. We could all get through this. I just hope you're not dead when we do.

 

STEVE WALKS OUT.

SCENE ONE: STEVE GOES BACK TO THE LOFT AND ASKS KAYLA TO GO AND SEE JACK BUT SHE SAYS SHE HAS DONE ALL SHE CAN TO HELP HIM. SHE MARRIED HIM.

SCENE TWO: JACK IS ALONE IN HIS ROOM WHEN ANJELICA ARRIVES.

 

ANJELICA: Hello darling.

JACK: Hello Anjelica. Thank you for coming.

ANJELICA: Oh Jack, you don't have to thank me for coming to see you. (He kisses her cheek.) I love you.

JACK: I thank you when you come halfway across the country. Is this what I asked for?

ANJELICA: It is but I have my doubts about whether I should let you have it or not.

JACK: Anjelica, we've been through this time and again.

ANJELICA: But the doctors want you to relax. They want you to rest. Not do anything that might upset you.

JACK: I won't upset myself, promise!

ANJELICA: You have a lot of courage Jack Deveraux.

JACK: Well as they say, IT'S IN THE BLOOD!

ANJELICA: Oh! That reminds me!

JACK: What?

ANJELICA: There's a special report on the primaries. (She turns on the tv.)

 

THE TV REPORTER SAYS THAT SENATOR DEVERAUX IS NOW LEADING THE POLLS AND WHEN ASKED WHERE HE GOT HIS INSPIRATION FROM HARPER IS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT HE WISHED HE HAD HALF THE COURAGE JACK HAD IN HIS FIGHT FOR HEALTH AFTER A COMPLICATED BUT SUCCESSFUL KIDNEY TRANSPLANT. JACK IS MOVED BY HIS FATHER'S WORDS.

 

ANJELICA: I'm very proud of your dad. I'm proud of you too Jack. You're a winner.

JACK: Don' t worry about me Anjelica. I'm going to get better. I know that now.

SCENE THREE: KAYLA GETS ANGRY WITH STEVE FOR TRYING TO HELP JACK. MARCUS ARRIVES AND TELLS THEM THAT JACK'S TEMPERATURE HAS DROPPED AND THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME IMPROVEMENT. MARCUS THINKS IT IS BECAUSE STEVE WENT TO SEE HIM. KAYLA IS SILENT ABOUT THE WHOLE THING AND STEVE ASKS HER IF SHE JUST WANTS JACK TO DIE. SHE STORMS OUT OF THE ROOM.

SCENE FOUR: UNIVERSITY HOSPIGAL JACK IS LYING ON HIS SIDE GETTING AN INJECTION IN HIS BACKSIDE.

 

JACK: Aaah....eeee.

NURSE: How's that for incentive? If you keep getting better I'm not going to have to give you these shots.

ANJELICA: Well that sounds good to me.

NURSE: Well if you need anything just call me.

ANJELICA: Thank you, he will. (The nurse leaves.) You don't seem to be very pleased about the progress you're making? May I say that I for one, cannot wait to get you home, where you belong. You know we have some plans to make for your future.

JACK: It's funny, it seemed like that future was going to be a lot different. (He picks up the wedding picture of he and Kayla.)

ANJELICA: Maybe it's going to be a lot better. You know Jack I told you from the very beginning....

 

JACK GIVES HER A CYNICAL LOOK.

 

ANJELICA: ....okay, you loved Kayla and that was certainly good enough for me. But maybe things work out for the best. Maybe you ought to think about....forgetting Kayla and moving on. (She strokes his hair as she talks.)

JACK: Maybe you're right. (Anjelica bends down and kisses him on the cheek.)

ANJELICA: I'll be back.

SCENE FIVE: KAYLA COMES BACK DOWN TO STEVE AND HE EXPLAINS HOW HE CANNOT ABANDON JACK BECAUSE HE IS HIS BROTHER BUT THAT HE STILL WANTS TO HELP KAYLA TOO.

SCENE SIX (MUSICAL MONTAGE ENDING: THE EPISODE ENDS WITH A MUSICAL MONTAGE OF JENNIFER AND FRANKIE KISSING AT THE BRADY'S; EVE WITH A SCAR ON HER FACE, ALONE IN HER LIVING ROOM; JACK ALONE IN THE HOSPITAL, REMOVES THE WEDDING PICTURE FROM THE FRAME AND TEARS OFF THE HALF WITH KAYLA AND THROWS IT AWAY; STEVE AND KAYLA TOGETHER AT THE LOFT BUT APART.

 

We.....we must go on now
Wherever people go, go on together.
And I......try to hold now,
Too many of us have run, run out of cycle.
Can you hear me?
Are you breathing?I need you near me.
No I'm not leaping, I'm in no hurry
To do this alone.

I am standing here with arms open wide
I am waiting here, heart in my hand on the corner.
Dreams, dreams may seduce you
Sooner or later they're gone and you're back where you started.
Oh look, look at these scars now.

 

THE FOLLOWING IS PLAYED WHILE JACK TEARS THE PICTURE.

How many wounds does it take before we are healing?
Can we go on now?
What we have done now?
We must go on, our questions unanswered
I know what we're after is right here in my eyes.
I am standing here with arms open wide
I am waiting here, heart in my hand on the corner.

SCENE ONE: KAYLA HAS A DREAM ABOUT STEVE AND JACK.

JACK AND STEVE ARE WALKING ALONG ARM IN ARM.

 

STEVE: Man I'm glad you're getting out of the hospital. I thought you were going to be in here a couple more days.

JACK: Wait a minute, you promised me a night on the town. You think I'm going to stay around this place when I could be out having a (Turns around to watch a nurse walk by) good time with you.

STEVE: Hey, hey, hey, just sign here.

JACK: Alright....The first round's on me alright. I'm gonna see if this kidney really works.

STEVE: (Thumping Jack) You're crazy man. (He puts his arm around Jack.) Hey you know, I'm glad we didn't let that little thing with Kayla come between us.

JACK: I know what you mean. She blew the whole thing out of proportion!

STEVE: She did, she did.

JACK: Yeh.

STEVE: Yeh well that's all behind us now. Let's get out of here. There's a couple of bar stools down at the Heart with our names on 'em.

JACK: Alright....

 

JACK AND STEVE GET IN THE ELEVATOR AND MESS AROUND WITH EACH OTHER.

 

JACK: Oooooah!

STEVE: The one-kidney brothers.

 

THEY LAUGH LOUDLY TOGETHER....

KAYLA WAKES UP SCREAMING AND STEVE COMES TO HER.

SCENE TWO: KAYLA IS AT THE LOFT AND ABOUT TO GO OUT. SHE OPENS THE DOOR AND JACK IS STANDING THERE.

 

JACK: Hello Kayla!

KAYLA: What are you doing here?

JACK: Is Steve here? (He walks inside.)

KAYLA: I asked what you're doing here.

 

STEVE COMES DOWNSTAIRS:

 

STEVE: Kayla, what's going on? Is somebody here?....What are you doing out of the hospital Jack?

JACK: They sent me home today.

KAYLA: I want you to leave.

JACK: I will, when I finish speaking.

KAYLA: I don't want to hear what you have to say.

STEVE: Look, I think it's best you go.

JACK: This will only take a minute, alright. I probably wouldn't even be here if it weren't for you, you know that. You know it really took a lot for you to give me one of your kidneys. I wasn't too grateful before but after you visited me in my room, you made me realize what an important thing it was and in spite of everything that's happened between us I just wanted to let you know how grateful I am.

STEVE: Well that's alright dude. Don't worry about it. I would have done it for anybody.

JACK: No, no, that's the whole point. I'm not just anybody. After everything that's happened between us I think you would be just as glad to see me die.

STEVE: Look if I wanted you dead, I would have let you die. Now I'm glad that all of this is over with. I never wanted any of it to happen.

JACK: I could say I'm sorry I did but it'd be too late for that.

STEVE: Well no I guess not. You can say you're sorry. That's alright isn't it?

KAYLA: JUST STOP IT....STOP IT BOTH OF YOU! I don't believe this. I don't believe you're going on and acting like this. It's wrong.

STEVE: Baby that's not it. That's not.....

KAYLA: Then what is it? The two of you are pretending like everything is going to be alright. Like you're ready to forgive and forget. Well I'm not ready. I can't forget what Jack did and I can't forgive him.

JACK: Kayla, I told you I was sorry.

KAYLA: Maybe that's good enough for Steve but it's not good enough for me. You raped me. You have to answer for that. You have to pay for it.

JACK: Kayla what are you saying?

SCENE THREE: THE LOFT CONTINUED, JACK, KAYLA, AND STEVE.

 

JACK: You're not thinking....you're not actually going through with....

KAYLA: I'm filing charges against you Jack....for rape.

JACK: No! You can't do this. You can't do something like this to me Kayla.

KAYLA: I'm not doing this to you. I'm doing something because of what you did to me.

JACK: Look, haven't we all suffered enough? I mean, look, I lost you, I fell off a roof, I lost my kidney, I almost died.

KAYLA: Those words have worked before Jack but not anymore. You're alright, you're recovered, but I haven't. I'm still hurting and I have to do something about that.

STEVE: Well look, we're all here right. Hey we've all been through a lot. Maybe we should sit down and try to talk this out.

KAYLA: Talk? Jack didn't feel like talking to me the night he raped me did he?

JACK: Kayla, I wish you wouldn't call it that.

KAYLA: That's the only word for it Jack. YOU RAPED ME!

STEVE: Come on baby. It's not going to help if you get yourself all worked up here, is it?

KAYLA: It isn't going away. I thought in time the hurt would be better but it's not and I can't keep going on like this.

JACK: Kayla, listen to me. Look if you go through with this, it's going to be just as hard for you and it is for me. Steve, please, tell her that I'm right. You care about her. Tell her that the hurt is only going to be more and more and more if she takes it to court.

 

STEVE IS SILENT.

 

KAYLA: Fine. I'm not afraid of what's going to happen. I didn't do anything wrong.

JACK: Well maybe the court will not see it the same way. Now let's remember that we were still married at the time and you were having an affair with somebody else.

STEVE: Hey wait a minute....

JACK: I do have the proof!

KAYLA: Jack, keep your stupid threats. They don't make any difference to me anymore.

JACK: Have it your way. But just remember this. If you think this is going to take away your pain, you're wrong. You're going to have more pain than you ever thought, much, much more.

KAYLA: How dare you talk about my pain. You have no idea what I'm going through. Neither one of you do.

 

KAYLA GRABS HER COAT AND LEAVES WITH STEVE CALLING AFTER HER.

SCENE FOUR: STEVE GOES TO SEE JO AND TELLS HER THAT KAYLA IS GOING TO LAY CHARGES AGAINST JACK. JO IS SHOCKED AT WHAT JACK DID BUT THINKS THAT MAYBE HE HAS IT COMING.

SCENE FOUR: JACK KNOCKS ON MELISSA'S DOOR.

 

MELISSA: Jack?

JACK: Can I come in?

MELISSA: Yes of course.

JACK: Thank you.

MELISSA: What are you doing here?

JACK: They sent me home today.

MELISSA: I know. I was at the hospital. They told me. Why aren't you at home?

JACK: I can't go home. Not yet. I'm not ready to face them yet.

MELISSA: What's the matter?

JACK: Right now you're my only friend. You're the only person that I can talk to.

MELISSA: Jack, did something happen?

JACK: Something happened....no, no I did something and I can't change it and now the rest of my life is going to be....changed because of it. What....wha....I can't explain this to you. You'd never understand. Nobody would.

MELISSA: Yes I will. Jack, I've always understood you. You can tell me what this is about.

JACK: I loved Kayla more than I thought I could ever love any other human being on earth. When we first married I was sick so we couldn't be together as man and wife but I knew deep down that I would make it up to her when I got better. I would make her happy. I would....what am I saying?

MELISSA: No it's okay, you can talk to me about her.

JACK: I thought that she wanted me as much as I wanted her. That's why I waited so long. As I got better, as I was finally able to make love to her, she pushed me away. Now first I thought it was because she was sick. Then I thought it was because she was having a hard time emotionally. I mean it didn't matter. I would accept any excuse from her. I would have waited for the rest of my life. I loved her that much. But then she didn't love me. I found that out. I found out she loved Steve Johnson. All those nights of waiting for her, of wanting her, I would never have her because of Steve Johnson. Yet she just kept pulling me along, just purposely, just playing me along into thinking that we had something, like we had some kind of future when we had nothing. So I lost my mind one night and I....I....

MELISSA: You what?

JACK: I forced her to make love to me. I....I didn....I didn't....I didn't mea....I didn't mean it.

JACK (CONT.): There's no point in me holding back anymore because tomorrow the whole town is going to know. Kayla is going to press charges. She's going to tell the world that I raped her and from now on I'll be known as some kind of sexual monster. Melissa, tell me, is that what you think of me as?

MELISSA: Jack. If you're asking if I agree with what you did, NO! I don't. It was wrong.

JACK: Alright. I'm going to go now, okay. You hate me, I understand, I totally understand....

MELISSA: JACK I DON'T HATE YOU. HAVEN'T YOU BEEN LISTENING TO ME THESE LAST FEW MONTHS? I COULD NEVER HATE YOU.

JACK: After what I did you don't hate me? (She grabs his collar.)

MELISSA: JACK, WILL YOU WAKE UP? What do you think I have been living? I know what it's like to love someone and not get that love returned. How you find yourself doing things you never thought you'd be doing, like you're driven to do them, like it's out of your control.

JACK: You really do understand don't you?

MELISSA: Yes of course I understand. I wish I could help you.

JACK: I think you already have. I better go.

MELISSA: Where are you going to go?

JACK: I don't know. I don't know. All I know is that I can't face dad and Anjelica right now.

MELISSA: You could always stay here....on the couch.

JACK: Look I really appreciate that but considering the trouble that's going on in both of our lives right now, that wouldn't be a very good idea.

MELISSA: You're probably right.

JACK: So anyway, don't you worry about me. I'm going to be just fine, A-Okay.

MELISSA: Jack come on. Knock it off. I know what you're going through. I know how alone you feel. But you're not, okay. You have me. You always have me.

JACK: Thank you Melissa....I know that....I do.

SCENE ONE: THE DEVERAUX MANSION. HARPER, JACK AND ANJELICA ARE SAYING GOODBYE TO SOME FINANCIAL BACKERS.

 

HARPER: Goodnight gentlemen and thank you for your generous support. You help put us over on Super Tuesday. We'll do even better tomorrow.

 

ANJELICA TAKES JACK ASIDE.

 

ANJELICA: Are you alright?

JACK: Why?

ANJELICA: You haven't been yourself all night. Think you should have stayed in the hospital a little longer?

HARPER: I was wondering the same thing myself. You don't look like you're doing too well son.

JACK: It's nothing really. I'm feeling fine.

HARPER: Well then, what's the problem?

JACK: There's something that I've been wanting to discuss with the two of you. I've just been waiting until we're alone.

HARPER: It sounds serious.

JACK: It is.

 

THE DOORBELL RINGS AND JACK'S FACE COLLAPSES.

 

HARPER: I'll get that....Lieutenant Carver, come in.

ABE: Senator.

HARPER: What brings you here at this time of night?

ABE: Police business, I'm afraid. I'm here to arrest Jack.

 

JACK IS BEING HANDCUFFED BY ABE.

 

ABE: Okay do you understand these rites as I've read them to you? (Jack nods his head.) Do you want to give up the rite to remain silent? (Jack shakes his head.) Do you want to give up the rite to an attorney and have him present during questioning? (Jack shakes his head.)

HARPER: What the hell is going on here? You can't arrest Jack!

ABE: I not only can but I am.

HARPER: On what grounds?

ABE: He's accused of raping Kayla.

ANJELICA: Oh!

HARPER: What?

ANJELICA: That's ridiculous!

HARPER: Jack, what's this all about?

JACK: It's a lie!

ANJELICA: Well of course it is. Kayla's only doing this to make herself look good in the divorce. to cover for the fact that she's an adulteress.

HARPER: I won't stand for this kind of harassment in my own home. You can't come in here with these trumped up charges and get away with it.

ABE: I'm sorry Senator, but I have no choice.

HARPER: But you heard Jack. It's all a lie!

ABE: Well that's for a court of law to decide. Come on Jack.

 

ABE LEADS JACK OUT THE DOOR.

 

ANJELICA: Harper, Harper, stop him! You can't just let him arrest Jack like that. Do something!

 

HARPER PICKS UP THE PHONE.

 

HARPER: Don't worry, I'm going to make a few calls, pull a few strings. Jack will back home in no time at all....Get me Judge Putenham, quickly!

SCENE TWO: STEVE AND KAYLA ARGUE OVER JACK'S ARREST. STEVE IS QUITE CONCERNED FOR JACK'S HEALTH AND WELL BEING AND KAYLA HAS NO SYMPATHY AT ALL.

SCENE THREE: JACK IS BOOKED, FINGERPRINTED AND PHOTOGRAPHED. HARPER IS WATCHING WHILE THEY DO ALL THIS. ABE'S PHONE RINGS AND HE TAKES THE CALL.

 

ABE: Well that was Judge Putenham.

HARPER: I had a feeling. Can Jack go now?

ABE: After the arraignment. The judge will see him right away. It means that Jack will probably be let off on his own recognizance.

HARPER: I knew this would be all cleared up.

ABE: Jack's not off yet. This just means that he won't be spending the night in jail.

HARPER: You'd like that wouldn't you? It'd really be a feather in your cap to nail an Assemblyman.

ABE: You know everyone who is accused of rape is treated the same here. Jack's just lucky he's going home.

HARPER: Now you listen to me Lieutenant Carver....

JACK: Dad, dad, it's alright. Lieutenant Carver is just doing his job.

HARPER: Well once all the facts are laid out, he'll see what a big mistake he's made.

ABE: Yeh, we'll see. (He walks away.)

HARPER: I know Judge Putenham. It should go by quickly. I'll get you home before....in no time

JACK: I think you better go home without me. I've got something I need to do first.

POLICEMAN: (To Jack) Come on. Let's go!

SCENE FOUR: THE NIGHT IS STORMY AND KAYLA IS ALONE AT THE LOFT. SHE HEARS THE DOOR OPEN.

 

KAYLA: Steve?

JACK: Sorry it's just me!

KAYLA: Get out of here Jack. Get out of here before I....

JACK: Before what? Before you do what? Scream for help. I don't see Stevie Wonder around here to help you. What are you going to do?

KAYLA: (Picking up the fire poker.) Stay away from me. I mean it.

JACK: Oh I'm not afraid of you anymore Kayla! You've done everything to me that you possibly can. Oh I just wanted to let you know, I just came back from the police station. Of course that is probably no surprise to you.

KAYLA: Well it shouldn't be a surprise to you either. I told you I was going to press charges.

JACK: Well you'll be happy to know that I just suffered every humiliation and indignity known to man.

KAYLA: You're getting everything you deserve Jack.

JACK: Well be forewarned that it isn't going to work! This little revenge tactic of yours is going to blow up in your face. If I go down then you are going right down with me and you can bet you are going to be just as unhappy as I am.

 

JACK (CONT.): I still can't believe you're doing this to me.

KAYLA: What I'm doing to you? What about what you did to me? Or have you forgotten about that already? You violated me in a horrible way Jack and I won't let you get away with it. That's why I went to the police. Not to get back at you. Not for revenge. Because I'm not going to let you ruin my life.

JACK: No, no, no. You are doing this to yourself. You are ruining your own life by going through with this.

KAYLA: Look I know it's not going to be easy but that's not going to stop me. I'm going to fight you every step of the way to see that you pay for what you did to me.

JACK: Good. I hope you're ready for this kind of battle because you're right, it's going to be hell. By the time I'm through with you, you won't even believe your own story.

KAYLA: You're trying to scare me....You won't.

JACK: I'm not trying to scare you at all. I'm just trying to tell it like it is. You married me but you were in love with another man but you led me on night after night after night, pretending that you cared, pretending that you loved me, pretending that you wanted to make love to me. But you pushed me away. Why? Because you were too busy rolling in the hay with your sleazy boyfriend.

KAYLA: That's enough!

JACK: No it's not! It gets better. You're going to love this. I have proof remember. Picture after picture after picture of the two of you sneaking away to try and find some soft spot where you can park your bodies together. Nobody's going to believe you Kayla! Nobody is going to believe I tried to rape you. I mean look at me. I'm an Assemblyman. I'm a respected man in this community and look at you. You've become nothing more than a slut.

 

KAYLA SLAPS JACK'S FACE.

 

JACK: Oooh! That hurt! But I liked it. I really liked it. You're really good at that you know, you're really good....

KAYLA: Let go of me Jack, let go.

 

STEVE COMES IN THE DOOR.

 

STEVE: Jack!

JACK: Steve! Hi!

STEVE: What are you doin' Jack? What are you doin'?

 

STEVE PUNCHES JACK ON THE LEFT CHEEK AND KNOCKS HIM TO THE FLOOR.

 

JACK: Ooooh!

STEVE: Don't you ever, ever, touch her again!

 

STEVE (CONT.): Get up, get up. Now you tell me what you were doin' touchin' her?

 

STEVE DRAGS JACK TO HIS FEET.

 

JACK: I don't owe you an answer. I don't owe you a damn thing anymore.

STEVE: Okay fine, you just get out of here right now. Do you hear me?

JACK: I will. But first I'd like to say something, please. Please?

STEVE: Make it quick and it better be good!

JACK: Kayla, I'd like to give you one more chance. If we drop all of this right now, we're going to save all of us a lot of trouble. If you don't, you're going to spend the rest of your life being dragged through the mud.

STEVE: THAT'S IT! WE DON'T NEED TO HEAR THAT.

KAYLA: If you think that a smear campaign, you're wrong. I don't care what you say about me. You're the one that was wrong and everbody's going to know that. You have a lot more to lose than I do, Jack!

JACK: I wouldn't be so sure of that!

 

STEVE SLAPS JACK'S FACE.

 

JACK: Oooh!

STEVE: Hey, what's the matter with you, eh? What's the matter with you? Haven't we all suffered enough here?

JACK: No. I think I suffered enough already. If anybody's going to suffer from now on, it's going to be....the two of you!

STEVE: Okay well I'm glad that's the way you feel because let me tell you something. If I ever see you around here again....you'll be in trouble. Do you hear me?

JACK: Loud and clear. See you in court, Kayla!

STEVE: Out, out.

 

STEVE MANHANDLES JACK TO THE DOOR.

 

JACK: Watch the suit!

 

JACK GETS TO THE DOOR THEN TURNS AROUND.

 

JACK: Ta, ta!

SCENE FIVE: THE DEVERAUX MANSION. HARPER AND ANJELICA ANSWER THE DOOR. JACK FALLS INTO ANJELICA'S ARMS.

 

HARPER: Jack!

ANJELICA: Sweetheart, are you alright? Your father told me what happened at the police station.

JACK: Don't worry about me. I'm going to be alright!

ANJELICA: I just can't believe they're actually going to go through with this, the most ludicrous thing.

JACK: That's exactly what it is, it's ludicrous! And no one will believe it!

ANJELICA: You're absolutely right about that and Kayla is just being spiteful. Now I don't want Kayla or that hoodlum boyfriend of hers to get you down. We're behind you. We know you're going to end up on top.

JACK: I know I will.

ANJELICA: Well, it's certainly been a long day. I think we should all go to bed.

JACK: I'll just unwind first. Sniff)

ANJELICA: Okay. Take care of yourself. (She hugs Jack.) And you know we love you very much.

JACK: Thank you Anjelica, thank you.

HARPER: I'll be along in a few minutes dear. (Anjelica leaves.) Jack, now that we're alone, I want you to level with me.

JACK: What do you mean?

HARPER: What really happened that night. No bull, just the two of us. I won't judge you.

JACK: I didn't rape her dad! No matter what she says, I didn't rape her. I mean, yes, yes, it got a little rough there for a little bit, but she's my wife! And she led me on for night after night after night and she made me think that she wanted me and that she wanted to make love to me and all the time she was running around with that scum!....You know I loved her, I really loved her dad and the worst thing of all is that no matter what's happened and no matter what she's done, I still love her.

HARPER: I'm glad you're able to see that. There isn't a court around that will convict you.

JACK: Then you believe me?

HARPER: Of course I believe you. You're my son. As far as I'm concerned you can do no wrong.

JACK: I know that this is going to ruin everything for you tomorrow. I mean it's going to come out in the morning paper. I don't know what it's going to do for your campaign.

HARPER: Forget about my campaign for a minute. You are the most important thing to me.

JACK: Dad, you had so many, so many dreams for me, so many plans and....Dad I didn't want to hurt you. (He hugs Harper.) I didn't want to hurt anybody.

SCENE SIX: THE DEVERAUX MANSION.

 

HARPER: Oh, Jack, you haven't hurt me. You couldn't hurt me. You're the best thing that ever happened in my life.

JACK: Sometimes I feel that all I've brought you is trouble.

HARPER: That's the furthest thing from the truth. The day your mother and I brought you home was the happiest day of my life. It's because of you I was able do all the things I did. It's because of you that I'm going to keep on moving forward and nothing's going to stop me now. I'm on my way to the White House and you're going to follow in my footsteps there some day.

JACK: You know I wish I could be that sure.

HARPER: Oh you can be. Trust me. We're not going to stop for this little incident. No by the time we get through with Kayla Brady, you're going to look like the saint that's been deceived by a whore!