Episode Thirty-one:
Jack Tries to Deal with
the Truth about His Parentage.

SCENE ONE: FOURTH OF JULY. THE DAY AFTER JACK FINDS OUT HE IS ADOPTED, HARPER CALL A PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE PIER ABOUT FAMILY UNITY. JACK HAS BEEN UP ALL NIGHT AND IS STILL IN THE SAME CLOTHES.

 

ANJELICA: You really think you can fool all of people all of time, don't you Harper.

HARPER: Anjelica, please.

JACK: What the hell is all of this?

HARPER: Jack. I'm so glad you could make it. Come over here for a minute, come over here. (Beat) I've called a press conference to show we're one family, indivisible.

JACK: Laying it on a little thick don't you think?

HARPER: Don't worry about that. I'm just as happy as can be that you decided to come here and join me today.

JACK: It's your press conference. I don't know why I need to be here.

HARPER: Well with all the rumors flying around about us I want to make sure we show everybody that they are totally unfounded.

JACK: Rumors, huh? What kind of rumors?

HARPER: When you're a public figure running for office you live life in a fish bowl. Sometimes when you're the subject of rumors you don't even know that you are the subject of them. One thing I've found out in my long career is that you nip those rumors in the bud before they become self fulfilling prophecies.

JACK: Oh! Like what?

SCENE TWO: A SHORT TIME LATER.

 

JACK: I don't think my participation in this press conference would be such a good idea.

HARPER: Why not? No matter what anybody thinks, you are my son and that's all that matters. This press conference has to be held. We have to put an end to these rumors once and for all.

JACK: Why do we have to deny it in public?

HARPER: Jack, believe me when I say, reporters have been calling the house every day. Pretty soon it's going to be all over the newspapers. We have to publicly and formally deny every one of these malicious accusations.

JACK: Well I wish you luck, I really do but I don't think I'm going to be able to get up the old Deveraux spirit.

HARPER: Oh come on Jack, you've got to snap out of it. Do you think that piece of paper changes the way I feel about you? I've loved you ever since the moment I adopted you, from the moment I saw you. You're my son legally and emotionally. As far as I'm concerned you are my flesh and blood.

JACK: I know what you're saying, I do. You've been very good to me and I'll never forget it.

HARPER: Jack, there's too much love between us for us to just throw it away like that, for nothing. After what you said, are you willing to do that? Look, I took you and I loved you when you were abandoned by your mother. Are you going to abandon me now?

JACK: I will always be grateful to you. I will.

HARPER: Jack, you were raised a Deveraux. You will always be a Deveraux in spite of what some dumb piece of paper says.

JACK: Being a Deveraux is all I've ever known.

HARPER: Then will you stick by me son? Will you stand by my side at the press conference?

JACK: (With bitterness) Oh sure, why not? Count me in!

HARPER: Oh good, I can't tell you how much this means to me.

ANJELICA: I couldn't help but overhear Jack. Well I think it's very big of you considering everything that's happened.

JACK: I felt an obligation to the campaign.

HARPER: Years of love and loyalty can't and shouldn't be wiped away by one big single surprise. I mean even if you aren't my biological son, I still feel like you are my son in every sense of the word.

SCENE THREE: LATER AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE, JACK HAS CHANGED INTO A SUIT AND IS WATCHING HARPER GO THROUGH HIS PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH HIS ADVISOR.

 

REPORTER: Is it true that your son is adopted?

HARPER: What's the best way to answer that?

ADVISOR: Okay, we think the best approach is straightforward. Now I think it would be good if you just said no and then if you can just change the subject.

 

JACK LOOKS ON WITH ANGER.

 

HARPER: Alright. How's this? I've heard those vicious rumors and I'd like to lay them to rest once and for all therefore I must say they are groundless and not based on fact. Then I'll go into how I'm sponsoring legislation on the floor of the Senate to make it easier for people who can't have children on their own to adopt.

ADVISOR: Nice touch Senator.

HARPER: Good.

ANJELICA: (To Jack) How are you doing?

JACK: Oh I don't feel so hot about going on television and lying about this. That's how I feel.

ANJELICA: Jack, sometimes we have to do things we don't want to do. But remember you're just bending the truth a little bit. You're not under oath, you're just on television.

JACK: Do you think people should tell the truth only when they're under oath?

ANJELICA: Who are you hurting if you tell a little fib? No one. And if you don't do what you have to do you're hurting yourself and your father.

JACK: What's the difference?

ANJELICA: Sweetheart, I know this is difficult for you but you've got to make the best of it.

JACK: I appreciate what you're trying to do here, Anjelica, I really do. But you don't understand what I'm going through here. I just found out I'm not the person I thought I was. My entire life has been a lie.

ANJELICA: I think maybe I understand how you're feeling a little more than you think! Don't forget, I was lied to too.

JACK: It's not the same thing. The people that I thought were my family are not. Instead, I'm related to my worst enemy.

ANJELICA: The only thing that is changed is your attitude. Jack, your father and I still love you as much as ever.

JACK: I appreciate that. I really do. But things have changed. It's not the same. I'm not his son. I'm not his true heir. His true heir is that little baby whose inside you. That's his true heir. It's going to be the child that he always wanted that I never could be.

ANJELICA: Jack. This baby is never going to replace you and don't you forget it. Look, politics is the art of compromise. You have got to go on that press conference or you'll ruin your father's bid for the Presidency. Unless in fact you feel so bitter for him, that's what you want to do.

JACK: You know something, no matter what he's done to me, no matter how much he's lied to me, I could never hate him. He may not be perfect but he's the only father I've ever known.

SCENE FOUR: LATER AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE JACK IS BEING INTERVIEWED.

 

REPORTER: Assemblyman Deveraux, is there any truth to the rumor that you may not be the natural son of Senator Deveraux?

JACK: (To camera) Oh I'm glad you asked me that. It gives me the opportunity to clear the air on this subject once and for all. My father, Harper Deveraux, has raised me from birth and taught me everything I know. He's the only father I've known.

REPORTER: Are you saying you weren't adopted?

JACK: Let me put it to you this way. If I'm not a Deveraux, then I don't know who I am.

 

STEVE AND KAYLA ARE WATCHING ON TELEVISION AND GET UPSET ABOUT JACK'S STATEMENTS.

 

JACK: I'd like to wish everyone a very happy July 4th and as the Deveraux son I'd like you to pay attention to Anjelica Deveraux and the new addition to our family. I'm sure the baby will be a bouncing baby boy and I can't tell you how happy we are about it. We will be one big happy family.

 

THE REPORTERS TAKE A SERIES OF PICS OF JACK AND HARPER AS ANJELICA LOOKS ON. THE REPORTERS LEAVE AND JACK'S FACE RETURNS TO ONE OF PAIN.

 

HARPER: Well son I think the press conference was a big success. Thanks to you.

JACK: I did my best.

HARPER: You were brilliant. What are you talking about? Listen, after the fireworks, why don't we go to Blondie's and celebrate with a real old fashioned family dinner?

JACK: Perhaps some other time!

HARPER: Are you sure?

JACK: Look, I got the press off your back and that's what you wanted but everytime I had to refer to you as my father (Beat) I couldn't stand it when you called me your son.

HARPER: Why?

JACK: You know why!

HARPER: But it isn't a lie. It's the truth. I raised you and I love you just as much now as when I first saw you. To me you're my son and nothing can change that.

JACK: No matter what you say, it's changed.

HARPER: Take it easy Jack, don't be so hard on yourself.

SCENE FIVE: LATER A VERY DISTRESSED JACK IS IN THE ALLEY BEHIND SHENANIGAN'S, THE AREA WHERE THE PROSTITUTES HAVE BEEN MURDERED. STEVE SEES HIM.

 

STEVE: Hey, hey, what are you doin' around here?

JACK: Hi, how you doin'?

 

JACK IS ABOUT TO WALK AWAY.

 

STEVE: Hey!

JACK: I'm just out taking a walk that's all.

STEVE: Are you alright?

JACK: Sure, just out walkin' the streets.

STEVE: I saw the press conference on TV man. It must have been hard for you to lie like that?

JACK: Why can't you just leave me alone?

STEVE: I'm just trying to make conversation.

JACK: Why don't you try and make it somewhere else?

 

JACK WALKS AWAY.