Episode Twenty-nine: In Los
Angeles Steve Prevented Jack's
PI from Discovering the Truth;
Jack Breaks into Steve's and
Finds a Baby Picture of Himself.

SCENE ONE: LATER AT SHENANIGAN'S. MELISSA ARRIVES TO MEET JACK.

 

JACK: Oh.

MELISSA: Hi.

JACK: Thanks for coming. I really needed to talk to somebody.

MELISSA: Sure what's up?

JACK: I just came from seeing Kayla. She sent for me.

MELISSA: Why?

JACK: I don't know how it happened but she knows that I'm looking for Billy. She even tried to talk me out of it.

MELISSA: Did she give you a reason?

JACK: No. Don't you think it's rather curious?

MELISSA: What is?

JACK: Everybody and their mother is trying to talk me out of looking for the mysterious Billy Johnson.

 

MICKEY AND MAGGIE WALK IN.

 

JACK: Melissa, maybe your father can help me out?

MELISSA: What? Why would he? You know how he feels about you.

JACK: That's why you have to talk to him. Tell him how important this is.

MELISSA: No Jack I won't ask him. There's no way.

JACK: Melissa. I can't tell you how important this is. You have to talk to your dad for me.

MELISSA: How can I do that? He hates you Jack.

JACK: Don't tell him it's for me. Tell him it's for Jo or Adrienne, anybody.

MELISSA: No Jack, I won't do that. Not even for you. I'm sorry but you know how much I love you. My god you have to know by now but sometimes you ask the impossible.

JACK: Melissa, I know I ask a lot of you but I need your help. With your help I can get through this whole Johnson thing and put it behind me. How about it?

 

MELISSA STANDS UP.

 

JACK: Where are you going?

MELISSA: I'm going over to say hello to my folks.They've been looking over here ever since they came in.

JACK: Then you'll talk to your dad for me?

MELISSA: No Jack I won't. I'm sorry but this is the one time I can't help you.

 

JACK WALKS OVER TO THE PAY PHONE AND DIALS.

 

JACK: Yes, operator. I'd like to make a collect call to Detective Steele from Jack Deveraux. Thank you. (Beat) Detective? Yes, Jack Deveraux. Look, have you been able to crack into the orphanage yet? (Beat) Well look, you do whatever it takes. (Beat) Yes, yes, even if it means something illegal. Look I'm telling you I want those documents, tonight!

SCENE TWO: LATER JACK THEN CALLS ADRIENNE.

 

ADRIENNE: Hello.

JACK: Adrienne?

ADRIENNE: Yes.

JACK: Hi, this is Jack Deveraux. I have some very good news for you.

ADRIENNE: About Billy?

JACK: That's right. My man in LA has got the files and he's bringing them back from LA tonight.

ADRIENNE: Oh Jack. I'll never be able to thank you enough.

JACK: Oh no, no. No thanks are necessary. I want this to be a favor the Johnsons will never forget.

SCENE THREE: LATER THAT NIGHT JACK AND MELISSA ARE WAITING AT THE SALEM AIRPORT FOR THE DETECTIVE. STEVE GETS OFF THE PLANE AND HIDES FROM JACK.

 

STEELE: Thank you for meeting me Mr. Deveraux.

JACK: No problem at all. You do have the file?

STEELE: Here you are sir as promised. You'll find everything you need to locate Billy Johnson. I had a rough time.

JACK: I'm sure you did. Thank you for your help. Just send me a bill to my office. I'll see that it's paid immediately. If I need you again, I'll give you a call.

STEELE: Thank you.

JACK: Thank you, thank you again. You were great. I'm sure we'll be talking in future.

STEELE: Well I'm glad. Goodbye Mr. Deveraux.

JACK: Goodbye. (Beat) Alright!

MELISSA: Jack.

STEVE: Well, how sweet of you two to come down here and meet me. I'm serious. I'm really touched that you went to all this trouble for me. Do I get to ride in the limo too?

JACK: Well I'm sorry Steve. It may look as big as a bus but it's not public transportation.

STEVE: Ha, ha, ha. That's alright. I've got the bluesmobile downstairs. So if you didn't come to greet a weary traveler, what are you doing here? Maybe you and Missy have a one way ticket someplace.

JACK: Well I don't see how that's any of your business.

STEVE: You're right. I guess it's not. Well you two have fun!

 

STEVE LEAVES.

 

JACK: He wouldn't be so smug if he knew what I had in my hands. (Opens folder.)

MELISSA: Jack don't be a fool.

JACK: What do you mean, don't be a fool?

MELISSA: You can't look at it here. Steve almost caught you. Anybody could walk up while you're looking at that.

JACK: You got a point there.

MELISSA: Why don't we go back to my apartment? It would be much better to read the file in private.

JACK: That makes sense. It would also be fitting. After all the cloak and dagger we're going through we should meet in secret when we find the truth about the mysterious missing Billy Johnson.

MELISSA: Yes that would be much better.

 

LATER IN THE LIMO.

 

MELISSA: Well I completely reworked your schedule for next week. You should probably take a look at it. I've changed some appointments.

JACK: I can't even think about that right now. All I want to do now is get a look at that Billy Johnson file.

MELISSA: Jack it isn't very good light in here. Don't you think you should wait?

JACK: Melissa I will look over the whole thing thoroughly when I get over to your house. Right now I want to see what Steele came up with.

 

CAR PHONE RINGS.

 

MELISSA: Well here.

JACK: (Snidely) Thank you Melissa. (Beat) Hello, Jack Deveraux. Dad? (Beat) Ya, are you all right, I mean is it serious? (Beat) No, no, no. That's alright. I'll cover for you. No problem at all. I'll call you later alright. (Beat) Alright Stevens, we've got a change in plans. We're going right over to the court house. City Hall, right, okay. Dad's not feeling well. He had to cancel out on a big fundraiser and he wants me to cover for him.

 

MELISSA: Well we should get to work right away on a speech.

 

JACK: Yeah, I guess this is just going to have to wait.

SCENE FOUR: WHILE JACK IS AT THE FUND RAISER, MELISSA GOES TO SEE STEVE AND KAYLA. SHE TELLS HIM THAT THEY SHOULD TELL JACK BEFORE HE JUST FINDS OUT BUT STEVE SAYS THAT IT IS IN JACK'S HANDS AND THAT HE HAS TO FACE THE CONSEQUENCES. HOWEVER AFTER MELISSA LEAVES, STEVE REALIZES THAT THE INFORMATION WILL DESTROY JACK AND DECIDES TO STOP HIM FINDING OUT.

SCENE FIVE: IN THE LIMO, AFTER THE FUNDRAISER. JACK IS LOOSENING HIS TIE.

 

MELISSA: Jack I'm very impressed. For a speech practically off the top of your head you were brilliant.

JACK: I couldn't even think about that speech. All I could think about was that file on Billy Johnson. If you don't mind?

MELISSA: Jack don't you think you should wait until you have better light. It's dark in here.

JACK: Melissa! (Turns on the reading light) Now, satisfied? Now please, the file. Here we go.

MELISSA: Jack I know this is going to be hard for you to understand at first. It'll be difficult for you but I want you to know that I'm here for you, whenever you need me. It will take time but you've got plenty of that.

JACK: Having the time is going to be the least of my problems and I will need your help, especially if I decide to go down to Alabama.

MELISSA: Alabama?

JACK: That's right. Tuscaloosa, Alabama. That's where the people who adopted Billy Johnson come from. I think I'll send Mr. Steele down there right away to start investigating and in a few days I'll be face to face with Mr. Billy Johnson.

MELISSA: Yeah that'll really be something Jack.

SCENE ONE: AT THE KIRIAKIS MANSION. JUSTIN AND ADRIENNE ARE THERE WHEN JACK ARRIVES.

 

BUTLER: Excuse me, sir. Mrs. Kiriakis, Jack Deveraux to see you.

JACK: Justin, how do you do? I'd like to thank you again for all the support you've given to my father's campaign.

JUSTIN: Thank you.

JACK: Hello Adrienne.

ADRIENNE: Hello Jack.

JUSTIN: Look I have some business to take care of. Are you going to be okay?

ADRIENNE: Yeah I'll be fine.

JUSTIN: Excuse me.

JACK: Certainly.

ADRIENNE: Well, I have the feeling you have some news for me.

JACK: I certainly do. About a certain person we've both been looking for.

SCENE TWO: AT THE KIRIAKIS MANSION. JUSTIN AND ADRIENNE.

 

JACK: The information put us on the right track right down to the city where he lived.

ADRIENNE: Jack, that's great! Did you see him? Did you talk to him?

JACK: Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news but no we didn't.

ADRIENNE: What happened? Has he moved?

JACK: Not exactly.

ADRIENNE: Jack what?

JACK: He was never there Adrienne!

ADRIENNE: What, how could that be possible Jack? Was there something wrong in the files?

JACK: You could say that. After careful investigation I found out that I had the wrong guy completely.

ADRIENNE: How can that be?

JACK: Because somehow, someone switched the files on us Adrienne.

ADRIENNE: Oh no Jack.

JACK: No wait a minute, wait a minute. Now, don't get down. I told you that I was going to find Billy and I will. But I can't tell you how much easier it would be if I had that baby picture or any other information from his past.

ADRIENNE: Jack, Jack I can't!

JACK: Please, Adrienne, please. I promised you that I would find Billy and I will, with or without the pictures, with or without Steve's help. (Beat) It's just a matter of time. Just a matter of time until I track Billy down.

SCENE THREE: LATER AT THE DEVERAUX MANSION.

 

MELISSA: You have three phone calls to return this afternoon.

JACK: I can't deal with this right now Melissa, please.

MELISSA: Well the only reason I mentioned it is because all three are faithful contributors and supporters of Assemblyman Deveraux.

JACK: They're going to have to wait for Assemblyman Deveraux then because I can't talk to anybody right now especially people who want favors from me.

MELISSA: Jack what's bothering you?

JACK: I'll tell you what's bothering me. We chased a bum lead all the way down to Tuscaloosa, Alabama looking for Billy Johnson and we came up empty handed.

MELISSA: You did?

JACK: Yes. After all of that, we have nothing. No clues whatever.

MELISSA: Well that's too bad.

JACK: You know why we came to a dead end? Because somebody switched the files, because somebody meddled with the information and now I have to find who did that as well. You know something? Steve Johnson was on that flight from Los Angeles. I wouldn't be surprised if he was involved.

MELISSA: Oh come on. Don't you think that's a bit too coincidental?

JACK: What's too coincidental is that he was on that flight at all. The more I think about it, the more I believe Steve did it.

MELISSA: Jack do you really believe this is worth another wild goose chase? This could get expensive and very time consuming.

JACK: Melissa I'm already consumed. At this point it's worth every penny, every dime, every minute I'm involved, to know, to know, that Steve Johnson can't stop me from finding Billy Johnson.

SCENE FOUR: MEANWHILE ANJELICA GOES TO SEE NEIL CURTIS AND FINDS OUT SHE IS PREGNANT. SHE ASSUMES IT IS FROM HER AFFAIR WITH JUSTIN BUT SHE DOES NOT TELL NEIL.

SCENE FIVE: LATER AT THE DEVERAUX MANSION, HARPER IS LOOKING AT BLACK AND WHITE SLIDES OF JACK AS A LITTLE BOY. JACK AND MELISSA COME IN AND JACK SIGNALS MELISSA TO KEEP QUIET AS THEY WATCH THE SLIDES.

 

HARPER: Oooh. I didn't realize I had company.

JACK: Oh dad. Sorry. Sorry to startle you.

HARPER: It's alright, it's alright. Don't worry, don't worry.

JACK: Tell me what are these slides of anyway? (Plonks on the sofa next to Harper.)

HARPER: (Placing his hand on Jack's shoulder.) Oh you've seen them before. I was home from Washington and we spent the whole day together.

JACK: Uh, huh. Melissa, see that one there. The cute one, that's me!

MELISSA: Yes I sort of guessed.

JACK: Oh they were some good times dad. Some of my favorite memories.

HARPER: Mine too Jack. Mine too.

SCENE SIX: LATER AT THE DEVERAUX MANSION JACK IS ON THE PHONE.

 

JACK: Detective Steele what do you have for me?

STEELE: Well it seems an acquaintance of yours was in Los Angeles. My sources tell me that Steve Johnson visited the City of the Angels and was seen near the orphanage the day before I was there.

JACK: Bingo! That confirms my suspicions.

STEELE: It should. If I was a betting man and I am, I'd say that Patch Johnson got his mitts on the Billy file.

JACK: I'd put my money on that too. It seems he has some important secret he's trying to keep from the world.

STEELE: For sure he's hiding something. He didn't go to California for a suntan I'll guarantee that. So do you want me to take the next step?

JACK: No. No, I'll do myself, thank you.

SCENE SEVEN: AT THE STEVE'S APARTMENT UNDER SHENANIGAN'S, JACK IS BREAKING IN. HE SEARCHES THE DRAWERS AND FINDS A BOX CONTAINING A PICTURE OF HIMSELF AS A BABY. HE IS STUNNED AND SHOCKED.

JACK: A picture of me! What are you up to Johnson? What are you trying to pull on me?

 

JACK LEAVES AND STEVE COMES HOME AND REALIZES THAT JACK HAS THE PICTURE. HE IS VERY WORRIED.

SCENE ONE: A DAY OR TWO LATER AT SHENANIGAN'S. JACK COMES OVER TO SPEAK TO ADRIENNE.

 

JACK: Adrienne I want to thank you for joining me today.

ADRIENNE: That's okay Jack. How's the search for Billy going? Did you find anything?

JACK: Not much, but we're getting closer.

ADRIENNE: Great, that means you found something new?

JACK: Possibly. Yes.

ADRIENNE: Well what is it?

JACK: Look Adrienne I had to do something. Maybe it wasn't the right thing to do but it was my only choice. I'm tired of running into dead ends.

ADRIENNE: What did you do?

JACK: Before I tell you I want you to know that the only reason I'm looking for Billy is for you and for your mother.

ADRIENNE: Well Jack I know that. I know how important it would be to my mother to find Billy. It'd bring our family back together.

JACK: Exactly. Family. Bringing the family back together. And that is why I had to break into Steve's place and get this.

ADRIENNE: You stole something from Steve's room?

JACK: I borrowed something I want to know why in the hell Steve had it in the first place.

 

JACK IS HOLDING THE PICTURE WHEN JO COMES UP BEHIND HIM AND SEES IT.

 

JO: Jack! (Beat) Adrienne. What's going on here?

 

JACK PUTS THE PICTURE BACK IN HIS WALLET.

 

JO: Will someone please tell me what's going on around here?

ADRIENNE: Jack and I were just talking momma, that's all.

JACK: Yes, that's right. We were just talking about (Beat) about the fundraiser the other evening and I was just telling Adrienne what a fine job she did. As a matter of fact I was showing her a picture we took there. Here, a picture of dad and me.

JO: Isn't that funny? I didn't realize Adrienne was so interested in fund raising.

ADRIENNE: Well Momma it just reminded me of the time I filled in for you.

JO: Aaah.

JACK: And speaking of work, you've probably started back at Dr. Curtis's haven't you? As a matter of fact you're probably on the way to the job right now.

JO: Well I am going to check in on Noel. Dr. Curtis still won't let me carry a full load.

JACK: Oh, we don't want to hold you back from your half day's work.

JO: Listen, I've got some time. I was thinking maybe I'd have a little breakfast with you. do you mind if I join you?

JACK: No, no, not at all. Please sit down but I'm sorry I can't join you. So why don't you two ladies have breakfast together.

JO: Now Jack. Now don't rush off on my account.

JACK: No, no, no. I'd love to have breakfast with you, but duty calls.You know how it is.

JO: Well sure. Well it was a pleasure seeing you.

JACK: It was a pleasure seeing you too. Adrienne, I'll talk to you later.

ADRIENNE: Yeah, sure.

 

JACK LEAVES AND JO SITS DOWN.

 

JO: I know what you are Jack are up to and I want you to stop it right now.

 

JO GOES ON TO TELL ADRIENNE WHY SHE MUST STOP LOOKING FOR BILLY.

SCENE TWO: LATER ON THE PIER. JACK COMES DOWN THE STEPS AND MEETS MELISSA.

 

MELISSA: What took you so long?

JACK: Melissa, I had a meeting. I couldn't get away from it, sorry.

MELISSA: I don't remember you having a meeting for that time.

JACK: Well it just came on all of a sudden. You know how those things are.

MELISSA: Who was it with?

JACK: What is this? The third degree.

MELISSA: No. I'm your assistant. I think I should know what's going on.

JACK: Well look I had this meeting all of a sudden and I couldn't let you know because I knew you were on your way down here.

MELISSA: Well I just don't like standing around her by myself for so long, specially with that Knifer on the loose.

JACK: I know. Melissa I'm sorry. I know, I was totally wrong and I promise it won't happen again. I just er....look I....I have something I need to talk to you about.

 

JACK TAKES HIS BABY PICTURE OUT OF HIS POCKET.

 

MELISSA: What?

JACK: This.

MELISSA: Well who is it?

JACK: Who is it? It's me. It's a baby picture of me. I found it in the dresser in Steve's apartment.

MELISSA: What were you doing in Steve's apartment?

JACK: What do you think? I broke in there. You don't think he'd let me waltz in there willingly do you?

MELISSA: Jack it's not right to break into people's homes.

JACK: Melissa, it wasn't like that at all. It wasn't like I was stealing money or anything. I tell you what when this is all over I'll give Steve my baby picture back, how about that?

MELISSA: You still shouldn't have taken it!

JACK: IT'S MY PICTURE! I want to know what the hell he was doing with it in the first place.

MELISSA: Well how should I know.

JACK: Well, Melissa, I'm not saying that know. I just think it's very strange that he would have my baby picture, don't you?

MELISSA: I suppose so.

JACK: You suppose so. I'm telling you there's a very good reason for it.

MELISSA: What?

JACK: He's trying to get something on me and I'm not about to let him.

MELISSA: Well you certainly were a cute baby.

JACK: Yeah I know. But it bothers me that he would have my picture.

MELISSA: Come on, what difference does it make?

JACK: WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE? Melissa you know how much he hates me after what happened with Kayla. Crazy psychos do this kind of thing, collecting things on people they are trying to get. Who knows, maybe he's the Riverfront Knifer? Maybe he's into voodoo or something.

MELISSA: Jack, you're being paranoid now.

JACK: I am not! I know that he hates me. Now how did he get this picture? Probably when he donated his kidney. Then he felt he was suckered into the whole thing. He probably wants his kidney back!

MELISSA: Jack! You sound ridiculous.

JACK: Look, maybe I do. But tell me a better reason. Why would anybody want this?

MELISSA: I don't know why. Maybe somebody gave it to him.

JACK: Who? Who would want somebody else's picture?

MELISSA: Look, I don't think grasping at straws like this is going to help you figure out anything. I think you should drop it.

JACK: Maybe. Maybe you're right but I'm not going to stop my investigation until I find out why Steve had my picture.

MELISSA: Jack why are you doing this? Why do you have to find out about this stupid picture?

JACK: Because he's playing cat-and-mouse with me, can't you see that? He's knows that I'm on to Billy Johnson and he's trying to get something on me.

MELISSA: Even if you find out who Steve's brother is, what could you do with that information?

JACK: I don't know! Maybe I could answer some of these questions! It's suddenly become very important to me. It's become very, very important.