Episode Twenty-three: Jack Plots
Against Steve and Kayla, Trying
To Close the Community Center.

SCENE ONE: THE SIEGE CONTINUES AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER WITH RAOUL HOLDING STEVE CAPTIVE. EMILIO WANTS TO GET OUT BUT A STRUGGLE ENSUES AND RAOUL IS SHOT AND KILLED.

SCENE TWO: JACK IS SITTING AT A TABLE IN SHENANIGAN'S WHEN MIKE COMES OVER TO SEE HIM.

 

MIKE: Jack. How are you doing buddy? Can I join you?

JACK: Sure, sit down. Would you something? Coffee, something to eat?

MIKE: Ah no. Actually Jack this isn't a social visit. I want to talk to you about Melissa.

JACK: What about her?

MIKE: I want to know where she is.

JACK: Well how should I know that.

MIKE: You mean you don't know?

JACK: No. I haven't seen her for days. I mean what are you talking about?

MIKE: Jack you have no idea where she is?

JACK: Come on Mike, you make it sound like she disappeared or something.

MIKE: Well that very well may have happened.

JACK: Wait a minute. I was just kidding. What are you saying?

MIKE: Jack, Maggie hasn't seen Melissa in days. Nobody knows where she is and we were hoping you might know.

JACK: Look Mike I've been so busy with this I haven't had a chance to talk to her. I was going to give her a call today. I hope she's alright.

MIKE: We all do. Look Jack if you hear anything, if she talks to you, anything, will you give me a call?

JACK: I certainly will. I hope you do the same.

MIKE: I will. Take it easy okay.

JACK: You too.

 

MIKE LEAVES AND ANJELICA ARRIVES.

 

ANJELICA: Hello sweetheart. Have you been waiting long? (She kisses his cheek.)

JACK: Oh no. I was just talking to Michael Horton.

ANJELICA: That's nice.

JACK: Ah....he was just asking to see how I was doing.

ANJELICA: I don't suppose you've seen today's paper have you?

JACK: No, why?

ANJELICA: Well it seems that your soon to be ex-wife and her hoodlum boyfriend are having a few problems.

JACK: What?

ANJELICA: There was a violent incident at the Community Center. One of the gang members was shot.

 

ANJELICA HANDS JACK A COPY OF THE CHRONICLE WITH THE HEADLINE: "DEATH OF GANG MEMBER ENDS HOSTAGE CRISIS AT RIVERFRONT COMMUNITY CENTER."

 

JACK: (Smiling) Well thank you Anjelica. I think I've just found a way to shut down that Community Center for good.

SCENE THREE: LATER ON THE PIER, JACK IS WAITING FOR SOMEONE. EMILIO COMES DOWN THE STEPS.

 

EMILIO: Hey Deveraux!

JACK: That's right. Why don't you come a little closer so we don't have to shout....Come here. I won't hurt you.

EMILIO: Ha, ha. Hurt me uh? Come on man I ain't scared of no sissy like you.

JACK: It was your brother that was shot at the Community Center right?

EMILIO: What's it to you man?

JACK: I imagine that you're pretty upset, angry over your brother's death, you want to get back at the people involved, right?

EMILIO: You got that right and I ain't lettin' no slick politician talk me out of it. So you can save it.

JACK: Wait a minute, wait a minute. I don't want to talk you out of anything. As a matter of fact I'm here to help you.

EMILIO: Right....Just as long as my buddies and I vote for you next week eh?

JACK: (Laughing) Hmmm.....it's not a bad idea! (Serious) But no I'm here to help you. No strings attached.

EMILIO: What's in it for you?

JACK: Well lets just say that I don't believe in the Community Center. I don't believe in special interest groups coming down here to tell you how to run your life on your turf. I want to help you get the revenge you deserve.

EMILIO: Tell me more.

JACK: Well I think you're just going to have to trust me on that one aren't you?....Trust?

 

JACK PUTS HIS ARM AROUND EMILIO AND THEY WALK OFF TOGETHER.

SCENE FOUR: KAYLA AND MARCUS ARE WATCHING JACK'S PRESS CONFERENCE ON TV AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER. EMILIO IS DRESSED IN A DARK SUIT AND TIE.

 

REPORTER: (On TV) Assemblyman Deveraux you called this news conference to discuss....

 

STEVE WALKS IN AND KAYLA TELLS HIM TO WATCH.

 

REPORTER: (On TV)....violence in the area surrounding the Community Center. Could you give us some specifics?

JACK: (On TV) I certainly can. Ever since the center's been open there's been an increase in gang warfare in the neighborhood.. The people who lived down here never wanted this center but they had no choice. It was forced on them just like they've been forced to deal with the tragic consequences. I'd like you to meet a friend of mine, Emilio.

STEVE: Oh Jackson, you are in trouble now dude.

EMILIO: (On TV) I can tell you about the violence down there. My brother was shot, in cold blood right inside the Community Center. He was murdered by a cop.

STEVE: Alright, that's it, that's it.

KAYLA: Wait. Where are you going?

STEVE: I'm going down there.

KAYLA: And what are you going to do?

STEVE: I'm going to shed a little light on the Assemblyman's press conference.

KAYLA: Be careful.

 

MARCUS AND KAYLA GO BACK INSIDE AFTER STEVE LEAVES.

 

REPORTER: (On TV) And what happened after your brother was shot?

EMILIO: (On TV) Well he died man.

JACK: (On TV) This whole situation is a clear cut example of what I'm trying to prevent by closing down the Community Center. I'm trying to put a stop to the senseless killing.

REPORTER: (On TV) But Assemblyman Deveraux, don't you think that the new center could possibly benefit the community?

JACK: (On TV) Absolutely not. It only promotes hatred and violence in an already unstable neighborhood.

EMILIO: (On TV) I agree with that. The center should've never been there in the first place. We could handle the streets ourselves.

SCENE FIVE: LIVE AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE, STEVE ARRIVES.

 

REPORTER: And the Community Center has done nothing to help the neighborhood. Is that correct?

EMILIO: I told you my brother got killed down there.

STEVE: Eh! Emilio! I love your new look. It's beautiful. Did Assemblyman Deveraux buy you those new clothes, uh?

EMILIO: So what if he did man, it ain't none of your business.

STEVE: I mean it's great, it's great. Your brother dies and you get a new wardrobe. You're comin' out on top man.

EMILIO: Eh these clothes got nothin' to do with my brother man.

STEVE: Eh I got one question here, one question. Did you get the clothes before or after he set you up to come down here and bad mouth the Community Center eh?

JACK: Folks I want to thank you all for coming. I think we've heard enough....

STEVE: No, no, no. We haven't heard enough yet. We haven't heard the truth.

JACK: Ladies and gentlemen thank you for listening to all the questions....

STEVE: Why don't you tell the ladies and gentlemen exactly what you were doing at the Community Center the day your brother was shot and killed?

EMILIO: We come down there to kick your head in that's what!

STEVE: WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO KICK MY HEAD IN EH?

JACK: Ladies and gentlemen....

EMILIO: BECAUSE YOU AND THE STINKIN' CENTER WAS BOTHERIN' US THAT'S WHY?

STEVE: How was I bothering you dude? What did I do to make you mad eh, eh? Come on tell us. Tell us right now what you did. Are you ashamed to tell us what you did?

EMILIO: No I'm not ashamed admittin' that I slashed some rich dude's tires because I'm glad I did it!

JACK: Ladies and gentlemen I....

STEVE: Just a minute. I got one more question for you dude. Now if that Community Center was gone right now, would you and your friends still be slashin' tires down there or would you stop?

EMILIO: What, are you crazy man? If you guys would just stay the hell out of the streets, we'd be able to handle 'em.

STEVE: Oh!

JACK: If you'd all excuse me.

 

STEVE MAKES A STATEMENT TO THE PRESS THAT THE COMMUNITY CENTER IS STAYING AND NO ONE IS GOING TO SCARE THEM OFF. JACK WATCHES FROM THE SIDE AND HAS A LOOK OF ANGER ON HIS FACE AS STEVE LEAVES.

SCENE ONE: JACK IS HAVING LUNCH WITH ANJELICA AT SHENANIGAN'S.

 

JACK: I just keep underestimating him. It was perfect, an interview on the pier with a surviving gang member all ready to blast the Community Center in his own words. Then Johnson shows up and turns the whole situation around to his advantage....Dammit I hate him so much!

ANJELICA: Jack forget it. Steve Johnson is not worth getting this upset about.

JACK: He knows how to turn a situation around to his advantage, well so do I. I'm going to get back at him if it's the last thing I do.

 

CANBY COMES UP TO THE TABLE.

 

CANBY: Excuse me Mr. Deveraux.

JACK: Canby, what do you want?

CANBY: Well I caught your press conference on tv today.

JACK: And I can safely assume you're not here to congratulate me?

CANBY: No, but I bet you hate Steve Johnson even more now. Am I right?

JACK: I think you know the answer to that. So, what do you want?

CANBY: So, I've got a plan to help you get even with Steve Johnson.

JACK: Really?

SCENE TWO: JACK HAS BEEN TALKING TO CANBY IN THE CORNER OF THE RESTAURANT. HE RETURNS TO ANJELICA AT THE TABLE.

 

JACK: Take heart Anjelica. I think we've finally got something.

ANJELICA: What are you talking about?

JACK: I've got a way to put Johnson out of business once and for all.

ANJELICA: Jack are you sure it's worth it? I mean if you have to deal with scum like him. (Indicating Canby.)

JACK: Look at this point I don't care if I'm dealing with the devil himself.

SCENE THREE: KAYLA IS PUTTING UP RAPE SEMINAR FLYERS ON THE PIER. JACK IS WATCHING HER FROM BEHIND.

 

KAYLA: There, that should do the trick.

JACK: It's very nice but a seminar like that should be taught by somebody who knows something about rape. Not you.

 

KAYLA TRIES TO WALK PAST BUT JACK BLOCKS HER WAY.

 

KAYLA: Let me go past Jack.

JACK: I'm not stopping you.

KAYLA: What do you want?

JACK: I want to help you.

KAYLA: With what?

JACK: With the seminar.

KAYLA: You're the last person who could help.

JACK: That's not true. I can suggest several ways wives can avoid that situation. One, never lead your husband on; two, never pretend you're going to make love to him someday and three, never get caught sleeping around.

KAYLA: It was your fault Jack.

JACK: There are both sides of the coin, say when the wife is at fault, say when she pushes her husband to the point where he can't handle it anymore. It's all cause and effect Kayla, we get what we deserve.

KAYLA: No one deserves to be raped. It's never excusable and I want to show as many people as I can. I want them to understand that.

JACK: Look while you're doing that make just sure you never mention my name otherwise that would be slander.

KAYLA: You raped me Jack.

JACK: Let me tell you something, I was convicted of assault, not rape. So if you go out and start accusing me of being a rapist outside the court, that is slander.

KAYLA: Not if it's true. It's not slander then.

JACK: Are you out of your mind? If you keep running around calling me a rapist we're going to end up in court again. You don't want that do you? I know I don't.

KAYLA: Well you should have thought about that before you raped me shouldn't you?

JACK: You just won't stop do you. Look I am warning you.

KAYLA: Look Jack, you can't stop me. Now let me go. I've got a seminar to get ready for.

JACK: Don't mention my name.

KAYLA: I'll do what I want Jack.

 

MELISSA WALKS ALONG THE PIER.

 

KAYLA: Hello Melissa. (She walks up the steps.)

JACK: Leave me out of it!

MELISSA: What was that all about?

JACK: Melissa! (He tries to hug her but she moves away.)

MELISSA: Jack what was that about?

JACK: Melissa, I'm so glad to see you here. I've been looking for you. I've been looking for you for days.

MELISSA: Well I haven't been around.

JACK: I know that. Mike and Maggie have been worried sick about you. So have I. What's going on?

MELISSA: I needed to get away for a few days and be by myself and think.

JACK: And think?....Er to think about me?

MELISSA: Yes.

JACK: That's kind of odd. I never thought that women would feel that way about me. It's kind of romantic you know. A woman kind of goes off on her own, kind of contemplating her man....

MELISSA: Jack it's not funny. I've been very upset about you wanting me to spy on the Community Center for you. I felt bad after I did it. Those people are my friends Jack. Friends don't spy on each other.

JACK: Does that mean you're going to turn against me?

MELISSA: Jack you know I can never do that. I just wish that being on your side didn't mean I have to turn my back against my friends.

JACK: I promise that you are not going to regret this. I promise. But there's one more thing I want to ask you to do for me.

MELISSA: What?

JACK: Go to the Rape Prevention Seminar for me.

MELISSA: Well I was planning to go anyway. It's important. Why do you want me to go?

JACK: I'm worried about Kayla. I think she's going to get out of line and start telling lies about me. I want to know what she says.

MELISSA: You're asking me to spy for you again?

JACK: She has no right to just go on and tell stories about me! Unless you think that she's not lying anymore. Unless you think that I really did rape her?

MELISSA: I don't know what to think Jack. I mean you did admit to me that you were strong with Kayla. And yes I believe that Kayla could have unintentionally led you on but that doesn't mean I agree with what you did.

JACK: Melissa I didn't do anything. I just accepted that assault charge just to make the whole thing get over with. That's the way the courts are these days. It's all plea bargaining between the judge and the jury and the lawyers and I didn't have to take that but I did because I thought....I thought it was going to be the best for all involved just to get the whole thing over with. I thought I was being a good guy. And Kayla keeps trying to crucify me for something that I did not do. Melissa how much longer am I going to have to pay for this?

MELISSA: Maybe you're right. Maybe you could have won the case.

JACK: I know I could have won the case. There is no way I could have been proven guilty....Melissa I was just trying to make peace by taking that lesser charge. You do understand that don't you?

MELISSA: I know you were hurt too.

JACK: I was hurt a lot and I'm going to keep on hurting as long as Kayla keeps opening the wound.

MELISSA: Well maybe she won't say anything about you.

JACK: That's what I have to find out. Don't you see that? So could you do this for me please? Go to the seminar for me.

MELISSA: Alright, I'll do it.

JACK: Thank you. Look I'll be....I'll be at Shenanigan's later alright. I'll see you then, bye.

 

JACK WALKS AWAY WITH A WINNING GLEAM IN HIS EYE.

SCENE FOUR: LATER AT SHENANIGAN'S.

 

JACK: Oh there you are. Come here. How did it go?

MELISSA: It went really well. I think a lot of women should benefit from it. It was very informative.

JACK: Great, great. So what about Kayla? Did she mention my name?

MELISSA: Jack she was just trying to help other people.

JACK: (Annoyed) Great....great. Yes she was trying to help other people by lying. Melissa how can you help other people by not telling the truth? Well I hope they didn't believe her. Did they?

MELISSA: I don't know.

JACK: Well at least you don't. That's the important thing....Melissa, Melissa she was lying. You believe me don't you?

MELISSA: Why Jack? It isn't like Kayla to lie.

JACK: Oh and it's like me!

MELISSA: I don't know! I don't know what to think anymore.

JACK: I confided in you. I told you everything.

MELISSA: Did you? Jack what really happened between you and Kayla that night. I need to know the truth.

JACK: I never meant to hurt Kayla. If anything she hurt me. (He holds her.) Honey you know me well enough by now to know that I would never hurt anybody deliberately.

MELISSA: I know, I'm sorry. I never should have said anything. I hope you're not angry with me.

JACK: (Smiling over her shoulder.) No, come on, I could never be angry with you.

SCENE ONE: THE OPENING OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER. KAYLA IS DRESSED IN SEQUINS AND WHITE LACE, STEVE IS IN A DINNER SUIT. KAYLA GOES INTO THE BACK ROOM AS JACK COMES IN.

 

STEVE: What the hell are you doing here? You have to ruin this for Kayla too?

JACK: Actually I'm here to talk to you Mr. Johnson.

STEVE: Oh really?

JACK: Yes. I've got a proposition for you.

STEVE: So you got a proposition for me, do you Jack?

JACK: Yes I do.

STEVE: There is nothing you could propose to me that I'd be interested in hearing.

JACK: Then I get right to the point.

STEVE: Why don't you do that?

JACK: It seems my lovely wife has been at it again.

STEVE: Wait a minute, wait a minute. I thought you were going to get to the point.

JACK: She referred to me in her Rape Prevention Seminar.

STEVE: Oh yeah.

JACK: She said some pretty ugly things.

STEVE: Oh, well you did some pretty ugly things didn't you Jack?

JACK: I was thinking this ceremony would be a good place for her to retract all the lies she's been saying about me.

STEVE: Ha, ha. Now you're dreamin'. (He hits Jack in the chest.) You listen to me. This night is real important to Kayla and I'm not going to let you ruin it for her.

JACK: Oh I wouldn't dream of ruining it for her....as long as she's willing to listen to me, to reason.

STEVE: Oh reason eh? I can't think of any reason why she should take back anything that she said about you Jack.

JACK: Well how about this? Either Kayla issues me a public apology or I'll see to it that we go through the dirtiest, longest, most difficult divorce in judicial history. Why it could be years before you make an honest woman of her.

STEVE: Is that right?

JACK: That's right. So why don't you talk it over with my wife and we can....

 

STEVE GRABS JACK AND PUSHES HIM AGAINST THE WALL.

 

JACK: Let go....

STEVE: I don't have to talk it over with anyone. I got your answer for you right now Jack. Kayla won't apologize to you in public or private, you understand, you understand.

JACK: Go ahead, go ahead. I'm sure all the press in there are going to love this. Go right ahead. Come on. Come on.

 

STEVE STRAIGHTENS JACK'S TIE.

 

STEVE: It's never going to happen.

JACK: Well then I guess Kayla and I are going to be married to each other for a long long time.

STEVE: Do you ever listen to yourself Jack. I mean do you ever listen to the garbage that comes out of your face? You know I used to think you were a real stand up kind of dude, that you really cared about people. Hell I was even out of the streets campaigning for you myself....

JACK: Nice excuse to be with my wife. Damn noble of you Johnson.

STEVE: You know I don't understand it. How a nice kid good grow up and turn out to be a smart mouthed jerk like you who doesn't care about anyone or anything but himself. How'd that happen?

JACK: Let me tell you something, no matter how much you care about something or people if you turn around and those people are stabbing you in the back, that's going to put out all the innocence, not to mention the good faith in people.

STEVE: Kayla saved your life!

JACK: SHE LIED TO ME, every day and every night of our marriage. But I'm not going to hold it against her because she taught me some very valuable lessons. You show me a trusting nice guy and I'll show you a guy who's losing. All those nice trusting guys always lose.

STEVE: You really believe that.

JACK: Oh yes I do. I've lost more than you can ever imagine. My mother, but that was out of my hands and now Kayla. I am never going to lose again Steve. Never again.

 

JACK LEAVES AND STEVE IS LEFT THINKING SADLY ABOUT JACK.

SCENE TWO: THE COMMUNITY CENTER OPENING CEREMONY. JACK ARRIVES IN A TUX AND MELISSA IS ALREADY THERE.

 

MELISSA: Hi.

JACK: (Walking past Melissa.) Mrs. Deveraux. You look lovely tonight.

STEVE: Jack can't you let up for tonight?

JACK: Not even for a minute!....So, I guess your answer is the same as Steve's then?

KAYLA: Answer? I don't know what you're talking about Jack.

JACK: What? You mean Steve didn't tell you about our little proposition?

 

JACK (CONT): Well that's basically it. You apologize to me now, publicly, or, you don't get a divorce for a long, long time.

KAYLA: You know Jack I don't know why your capacity for cruelty surprises me, but it does.

JACK: Stick around, it gets better. So, folks, what is it going to be? Are you going to stay married to me for long, long time, forever maybe, till death do us part like we said in our vows?

STEVE: I think I already told you the answer to that Jack.

JACK: Well that's the way it's going to be unless she retracts the lies she said about me.

KAYLA: Lies! They aren't lies. You know very well what you did to me Jack.

JACK: I know exactly what I did to you. You're the one that's confused....

STEVE: Shut up.

JACK: ....and that's why I'm here.

ALICE: Kayla. Hi I can't believe how smoothly everything is going.

CAROLINE: Kayla darling, you've really done a wonderful job. I'm very proud of you.

KAYLA: Well I really had a lot of help. I had two of the best co-chairpersons in the history of fundraising helping me.

CAROLINE: As co-chiarpersons we better tell you everything is set so we better get ready to start.

 

ALICE HAS NOTICED THE TENSION BETWEEN JACK AND STEVE AND KAYLA.

 

ALICE: Yes, I think it's time for your remarks.

JACK: Yes Kayla. We can't wait for you remarks.

STEVE: Come on baby.

 

STEVE AND KAYLA WALK AWAY.

 

ALICE: Jack, I think we better take our seats.

JACK: Yes, I can't wait for this. This way.

MELISSA: Jack what's wrong?

JACK: I can't talk about it now Melissa. I'll talk to you later.

 

KAYLA MAKES HER OPENING SPEECH WHILE JACK STANDS AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM. SHE TALKS ABOUT THE RAPE PREVENTION SEMINARS AND THAT NO MAN, EVEN HER OWN HUSBAND, CAN TAKE AWAY A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CONTROL HER OWN BODY. JACK WALKS OVER TO CANBY.

 

JACK: You find something. Something big, big enough to shut this place down and there'll be ten thousand dollars in it for you.

CANBY: You got it. For that kind of money I'll do a photo-composite if I have to.

JACK: Whatever. It has to be done in two weeks and it has to stick.

 

JACK LOOKS ACROSS AT KAYLA WHO GIVES HIM THE LOOK OF A WINNER. JACK LEAVES AND CANBY GRINS IN THE CORNER.