Episode Thirty-two: Jack's
World Is Further Destroyed
When He Discovers That
Harper Is the Riverfront Knifer.

SCENE ONE: LATER THAT DAY STEVE CALLS THE LOFT AND GETS NO ANSWER. HE IS CONCERNED BECAUSE HE AND KAYLA HAD MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO MEET. SHANE CALLS KIMBERLY AND SHE IS MISSING TOO.

SCENE TWO: JACK IS THE PRIME SUSPECT IN THE RIVERFRONT KNIFER CASE BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN SEEN AT MOST OF THE MURDER SCENES JUST BEFORE OR AFTER THE CRIMES. HE IS CALLED IN FOR QUESTIONING AND ARRIVES AT ABE'S OFFICE.

 

JACK: Sargent Carver!

ABE: That's Captain Carver to you Assemblyman.

JACK: Captain, Sargent, whatever! You better have a damn good explanation for dragging me out of my office and down to this office like some common street punk.

STEVE: Jack, you better calm down there. These people aren't playing games.

JACK: I should have known he'd be behind this. He can't resist any opportunity to publicly humiliate me.

STEVE: If you don't calm down here you're going to get yourself buried, you're going to get in a hole. Now be careful.

JACK: I don't recall asking you for your advice Mr. Johnson.

STEVE: No you didn't ask but obviously you need it because you don't know how to take care of yourself....

JACK: You don't think I know how to handle myself?

STEVE: ....you're a spoilt little brat.

JACK: Oh I don't!

 

JACK AND STEVE ARE GLARING AT EACH OTHER.

 

SHANE: Steve, just leave him alone. Jack we've got some questions for you. Now the sooner you answer them, the sooner you can get back to your celebrations. So why don't you take a seat over there and help us out, eh?

JACK: Of course. I'd be than happy to co-operate (Staring at Steve) with the police!

SHANE: Alright Jack. Do you know what that is?

JACK: No.What is it? Or rather, what was it?

SHANE: It's the gold buckle off a pair of riding gloves.

STEVE: Does that sound familiar?

JACK: Why should it?

ABE: Because you purchased it. From a local exclusive men's wear store.

SHANE: You remember that Jack?

JACK: Well I do remember buying a pair of riding gloves recently, why?

GABRIELLE: Did you buy the gloves for yourself Jack?

JACK: Well no. I got them as a present.

SHANE: Alright! Do you remember who you bought the gloves for?

JACK: Certainly. I got them for my fa....(Stares at Steve)....I got them for Harper Deveraux.

SCENE THREE: MEANWHILE AT THE LOFT, KIMBERLY IS TRYING TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY CALL TO SHANE. THE RIVERFRONT KNIFER HAS BROKEN INTO THE LOFT AND GRABS HER. KAYLA CANNOT HEAR HER SCREAM BECAUSE SHE IS STILL DEAF. KIMBERLY PULLS OFF THE SKYMASK HE IS WEARING AND REVEALS HARPER AS THE KILLER.

SCENE FOUR: HARPER DRAGS KIMBERLY UP THERE TOO. HE TIES UP KIMBERLY.

SCENE FIVE: KAYLA FINDS THE PHONE OFF THE HOOK AND HANGS IT BACK UP.

SCENE SIX: SHANE AND STEVE TRY AGAIN TO CALL THE LOFT BUT THERE IS NO ANSWER. EVERYONE AT THE STATION IS VERY WORRIED. JACK LOOKS PUZZLED BY THEIR CONCERN.

SCENE SEVEN: HARPER GOES DOWNSTAIRS AND DRAWS A KNIFE ON KAYLA. HE TAKES HER TO THE ROOF AS WELL. KIMBERLY CONVINCES HARPER TO UNTIE HER HANDS SO SHE CAN SIGN TO KAYLA. HARPER ADMITS THAT HE TRIED TO POISON KAYLA BECAUSE SHE KNEW JACK WAS NOT HIS SON. HE ADMITS THAT HE KILLED THE PROSTITUTES BECAUSE THEY ARE TRAMPS LIKE KAYLA WHO SLEPT WITH STEVE WHILE SHE WAS MARRIED TO HIS SON.

SCENE EIGHT: BACK AT THE POLICE STATION.

 

ABE: Jack we want you to be very sure about this.

JACK: I'm absolutely sure. I got the gloves. What is the big deal here?

ABE: Do you know where Senator Deveraux is right now?

JACK: Certainly. (Looking at the watch Harper gave him for his birthday.) Right now he is picking up Anjelica and they are heading over to the park for the fireworks festivities. The two of us should be setting off the first round.

ABE: I think I better be getting over to the house to see if Senator Deveraux is in.

SHANE: Yeh, good idea. We should bring him in as soon as possible.

JACK: Now wait a minute. Somebody tell me what's going on here. What to you want my fa....(Stares at Steve)....my father for?

STEVE: You don't want to know Jack.

JACK: I think maybe I do want to know. What do you want him in for? (Looks around the room) Wait a minute, you don't think that he's the knifer do you? (Beat) Oh you gotta be out of your minds. How could you entertain that kind of suspicion for even a moment? We're talking about Harper Deveraux! Our United States Senator!

ABE: Listen Jack, why don't you come over to the house with me? I mean if the Senator's there he can speak for himself. Maybe he can clear this whole thing up.

JACK: I'm sure he'll be more than happy to do that. Let's get over there right now. The sooner the better.

ABE: Alright come on.

 

JACK LEAVES WITH ABE WHILE STEVE TRIES TO CALL KAYLA AGAIN.

SCENE ONE: AT THE DEVERAUX MANSION, JACK AND ABE ARRIVE.

 

JACK: Dad?

ANJELICA: Jack what's going on?

ABE: I'd like to speak to your husband Mrs. Deveraux. Is he here?

ANJELICA: No he's not. I'm sorry.

ABE: Do you know where he is?

ANJELICA: No, Lieutenant. Look I don't appreciate this line of questioning in my own home. If you'd care to tell me what's going on I'm sure....

ABE: When is the Senator expected?

ANJELICA: I have no idea, Lieutena....Captain. I'm waiting for him!

ABE: Alright, fine. May I use your phone?

ANJELICA: By all means.

 

ANJELICA GIVES JACK A QUESTIONING LOOK AND HE GIVES HER A WORRIED LOOK AND SIGNALS HER TO BE QUIET.

 

ABE: Yes this is Carver here. Listen I want four officers over at the Deveraux residence right away. We're looking for Senator Harper Deveraux. Look I want them to guard the front and the back entrances and I want him arrested on sight. Yeah. He'll be armed and dangerous. Yes thanks a lot.

 

ANJELICA AND JACK LISTEN TO THE CONVERSATION IN SILENCE EXCHANGING WORRIED AND AMAZED LOOKS.

 

ABE: Now my advice to the two of you, if you hear from him, tell him to give himself up.

JACK: Well Captain, what's your next move?

ABE: I'm going over the riverfront with a fine tooth comb and I'm gonna put out an APB. We will find him.

 

ABE LEAVES.

 

ANJELICA: They're going to hunt him down like an animal?

 

JACK IS SILENT.

 

ANJELICA: You think my husband's a killer?

JACK: Ridiculous uh? (Beat) Of course it's ridiculous. Harper Deveraux, the Riverfront Knifer? Come on.

ANJELICA: Jack. What if it's true?

SCENE TWO: ANJELICA THINKS BACK OVER A CONVERSATION SHE HAD WITH HARPER ABOUT HOW HE WOULD DO ANYTHING TO PROTECT HIS PRECIOUS SECRET. SHE SUGGESTS TO HIM THAT HE WAS SO PASSIONATE ABOUT KEEPING JACK'S PARENTAGE A SECRET THAT PERHAPS HE POISONED KAYLA. HARPER THREATENS HER AND SAYS SHE BETTER KEEP QUIET OR HER AND HER UNBORN BASTARD WILL BE OUT ON THE STREET.

 

JACK: That's not the truth. Don't even think that! Come on, it couldn't be!

ANJELICA: Jack, what if it is? (Beat) Jack it can't be can it?

JACK: Anjelica, you listen to me. We have been through some tough times in the last couple of days. We know that. And I admit I've been attacking Harper right and left but I know that there's no way he could have....he could have done anything so violent.

ANJELICA: Jack....well I've just....I've come to the conclusion that I don't know my husband the way I thought I did.

JACK: You're not going to believe them are you? (Beat) Anjelica, I can't believe them. This is my fa....this is the man that raised me, he taught me, he loved me and I know there is no way he could....he could have murdered all those women. There's no way he could be that brutal. There's no way.

 

JACK WALKS OUT OF THE ROOM LEAVING ANJELICA SITTING ALONE AND SCARED.

SCENE THREE: MEANWHILE STEVE AND SHANE ARRIVE AT THE LOFT AND FIND HARPER ON THE ROOF WITH BOTH WOMEN. HARPER HOLDS KAYLA OVER THE EDGE OF THE ROOF BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT STEVE DID TO JACK. STEVE BEGS WITH HARPER TO LET HER GO. HARPER IS RANTING AND RAVING WITH REVENGE WHILE SHANE CREEPS UP BEHIND HIM AND CAPTURES HIM.

SCENE FOUR: AT THE DEVERAUX MANSION, JACK IS WALKING ABOUT THE ROOM CRYING WAITING FOR NEWS OF HARPER. HE FINDS THE PICTURE OF HIM AND HARPER WITH THE BROKEN GLASS. HE REMOVES THE GLASS THEN SLIDES THE PICTURE OUT OF THE FRAME AND TEARS IT UP. REGRETTING WHAT HE DID HE THEN TRIES TO PUT IT BACK TOGETHER AND FINDS THE PIECE SHOWING HARPER'S FACE ON THE FLOOR. HE PICKS IT UP AND CRIES.

JACK: It can't be true. It can't be. Dad. It's a lie dad. It's a just a lie. It's just a cruel and vicious lie. (He screws up the picture.) It's a lie.

SCENE ONE: THE NEXT DAY, HARPER IS IN JAIL AND JACK CALLS A PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE DEVERAUX MANSION. HE READS THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT.

 

JACK: If you please. As you know, my father Harper Deveraux is being held in the Salem jail. He is under arrest for numerous counts of murder in the first degree. According to the police he is suspected of being the Riverfront Knifer. This, ladies and gentlemen of the press, is an outrage to us. He is being held on trumped up charges and I swear to you that he is innocent. Completely innocent. Thank you very much.

 

THE REPORTERS BOMBARD JACK WITH QUESTIONS.

 

JACK: No comment at this time.

 

ONE REPORTER, LISA, INSISTS.

 

JACK: No comment, Lisa. Thank you. You all know where the door is.

ANJELICA: You certainly made that sound convincing.

JACK: That's because I believe it.

ANJELICA: Really Jack? Then why haven't you been to visit your father?

JACK: I truly have been busy Anjelica and I do believe he's innocent.

ANJELICA: Jack. It's okay. You can drop the act with me. We both know your father's is in big trouble and it's entirely likely he's going to be convicted.

JACK: Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?

ANJELICA: Jack wake up! Don't put your head in the sand. Honey I'm sorry. I know how hard this is on you but you and I, we have got to take care of ourselves. We have to salvage whatever we can out of this disgusting situation.

JACK: Wh....what are you saying Anjelica?

ANJELICA: Look Jack, you have a very successful career as an Assemblyman. Am I right?

JACK: Yes I do. So?

ANJELICA: You have a future in politics. Am I right?

JACK: Yes.

ANJELICA: You have to protect that career. You have to protect your future. (Beat) That's what I've decided to do Jack.

JACK: What are you planning to do?

ANJELICA: I'm going to cut myself off from Harper. (Beat) Completely. And I think you should do the same. You have to save yourself while you still can.

JACK: You really are serious, aren't you?

ANJELICA: Oh Jack, I'm dead serious. I want you to amend your statement to the press. I think you should make a public announcement that Harper is not in fact your natural father, that you are still in question about his guilt or his innocence. Jack you've got to do it.

JACK: Anjelica, Harper raised me and protected me since I was a baby. I trusted him then and I have to trust him now. I can't just turn my back and forget everything that's ever happened between us. This man....this man (Beginning to cry) is in this jail. This man is the only....this man is the only father that I've ever known. Now I'm going over to that jail to see him right now. Will you come with me?

 

ANJELICA SLOWLY SHAKES HER HEAD AND JACK LEAVES. ANJELICA BREAKS DOWN.

SCENE TWO: HARPER IS SITTING AT A TABLE IN THE JAIL AREA, READING A NEWSPAPER. JACK IS LET IN TO SPEAK TO HIM.

 

HARPER: (Beat) Hi Jack, it's good to see you son. (Hug) How are you Jack, uh?

JACK: Well how do you expect, I mean under these circumstances?

HARPER: I know. I know it hasn't been easy. But we'll get through it. We Deverauxs always do.

JACK: Dad. You've got to tell me the truth right now. Did you kill those women?

HARPER: No. No way.

JACK: Then what were you doing in Kayla's loft with a knife?

HARPER: I went there for you son. I was so angry at Kayla for everything she put you through. I mean she nearly ruined your life, your career, with her lies and deceit. The more I thought about it, the more outraged I became. So last night I guess I just hit my boiling point and I went over there to give her a piece of my mind. Maybe just to throw a little scare into her, just teach her a lesson. Not to mess with the Deverauxs.

JACK: We....well dad, don't you think that threatening her with knife was a little bit extreme?

HARPER: I suppose you're right. I wasn't going there to hurt her, no not at all. I just wanted to, you know, scare her a little bit. I had no idea that sister of hers was going to be there. No not at all. Believe me this was going to be strictly between Kayla and me and the affair has been blown all out of proportion. Now I admit, I admit, I had no business going there. I let my temper get the best of me but as far as committing those murders and being the Riverfront Knifer, that's a lot of bull and you know it Jack. Jack I couldn't kill or hurt anyone. You believe that don't you?

JACK: Of course, of course I believe it. (Hug)

SCENE THREE: UPSTAIRS IN ABE'S OFFICE STEVE AND KAYLA ARE WAITING. JACK COMES IN.

 

JACK: (To Steve) You! I want to ask you something. How many lies did you have to tell to get Harper into this mess? Humiliate the father to get to the son, right? That's what you're trying to do here Johnson?

STEVE: Jack, I told you man, I don't want to hurt you anymore. I don't want to get back at you. I don't.

JACK: What are you talking about? Every time I turn around it's something else. I know it's you. You set this whole thing up.

STEVE: No I didn't set anything up. Look I was just trying to protect Kayla from your old man. I'm sorry. He was trying to kill her all along man. You've got to face that. That's the truth.

JACK: No! It's not the truth. Now look you've been trying to control my life for too long now. It's come to an end. I will not let you destroy his life, this good man's life, just to make me suffer, or else you're going to suffer more than I ever had.

 

JACK WALKS OUT AND ABE COMES IN AND TALKS TO STEVE. THEY DEVISE A PLAN TO CONVINCE JACK THAT HARPER IS GUILTY. A SHORT TIME

SCENE FOUR: LATER, ABE CALLS JACK BACK INTO HIS OFFICE.

 

ABE: Jack, Jack. Excuse me. I need to ask you a few questions. Could you just go in the office there?

JACK: Certainly, if it doesn't take too long.

ABE: No, no, just a few minutes, that's all. Oh I'm sorry, I left a file out here. Can you wait just a second?

JACK: Sure, no problem. No problem at all.

 

ABE LEAVES AND SHUTS THE DOOR.

SCENE FIVE: STEVE IS WITH HARPER.

 

HARPER: What do you want? Guard, who authorized this visit? I don't want to see this man. Get him out of here.

STEVE: You're not happy to see me Senator?

HARPER: No I'm not, no I'm not. In fact you're the last person in the world I want to see. Now get out, get out!

STEVE: If you're worried about a lull in the conversation, don't worry. I think you and I have a lot to talk about.

 

STEVE PLANTS A BUG UNDER THE EDGE OF THE TABLE. MEANWHILE A TAPE RECORDER STARTS PLAYING UP IN ABE'S OFFICE AS JACK LISTENS.

 

HARPER: I don't have anything to say to you.

STEVE: Oh I think you do Senator.

 

JACK IS WORRIED.

 

JACK: No!

 

BACK ON THE TAPE.

 

HARPER: Just go away and leave me alone.

STEVE: Listen, I really want to know your secret, dude.

HARPER: I don't have any secrets. I'm a politician, I'm a Senator. I tell my constituents everything.

STEVE: Do you really? Did you tell them how you managed to murder all those women and still be a big deal politician?

HARPER: I don't know what you're talking about.

STEVE: Why did you want all those women dead, dude? You must have wanted them dead for a reason. Why, what did they do to you?

HARPER: Shut up! Shut up! I told you, I don't know what you're talking about. Guard, guard, get him out of here!

STEVE: That was very creative the thing you did, you know, to clean up the prostitution problem. I wonder if you told your constituents on the hill about that. Listen, just one thing between you and me. How did Kayla fit into this whole thing man? What did she do?

HARPER: Kayla had to die for what she did to Jack!

STEVE: Why?

HARPER: Nobody scorns a Deveraux and gets away with it. I tried to kill her with that damn poison but you stopped me but not for long. I found a more efficient method. Not the knife. I'm glad I used it on those worthless whores on the waterfront. I just wish I could have got rid of more of them. And your precious Kayla. She was going to be my prize.

 

JACK HEARS THIS STATEMENT AND REALIZES THAT HARPER IS GUILTY.

SCENE SIX: HE RUSHES DOWN TO CONFRONT HIM.

 

JACK: YOU LIED TO ME! YOU ROTTEN FILTHY LIAR! I'M GOING TO GET YOU. I'M GOING TO GET YOU.

STEVE RESTRAINS JACK FROM ATTACKING HARPER.

STEVE: Jack no.

HARPER: Jack, you're wrong. You've got it all wrong. Believe me....

JACK: STOP! STOP IT! STOP LYING! Stop it right now. I heard it all. I know everything that happened. Everything!

HARPER: You're wrong Jack, you heard it wrong. I didn't....

JACK: STOP IT! STOP IT RIGHT NOW! PLEASE JUST STOP IT! (Crying) I believed you. You were the decent hard working family man. You're nothing but a monster. You're a monster. Ladies and gentlemen, my father Harper Deveraux is the Riverfront killer. Who'd have believed it? Not me. No, boy, not me, not until I heard it. Not until I heard it with my own ears. (Throws the tape on the table) How about that Senator? How about it?

HARPER: (Breaking down) I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. I was getting these irristible urges. I just couldn't help myself. I know I need help, I know it. I'm sorry Jack, I'm sorry.

JACK: You knew all along that I was under suspicion for murder and you just went right along with it didn't you? You would've let me take the rap for the whole thing, for all the murders that you committed.

HARPER: No! I would never do that. I would never let it go that far. I would never let anything harm you Jack. I love you, son.

JACK: Stop it! Stop it. Don't you ever say that word. You don't know what love is. I don't know....I don't know you. I don't feel anything for you, anymore, nothing! You're nothing to me. (He spits at Harper) YOU'RE NOTHING!

SCENE SEVEN: JACK RUNS OUT OF THE ROOM AND STOPS OUTSIDE. HE TAKES A FEW DEEP BREATHS AS HE CRIES. HE GOES BACK UP TO ABE'S OFFICE WHERE STEVE IS WAITING TO TALK TO HIM.

 

STEVE: Look man, I'm sorry. I'm sorry you had to find out this way. I....er....I didn't know any other way. You had to know the truth and now that you do maybe....you know maybe you can start all over, you know, have a good life. Get it together, you know. I'm gonna do that. That's what I'm gonna do. I want you to be happy man. I really do.

JACK: (Almost crying) I....er....I suppose I should thank you but I can't. I don't want your advice and I don't want your blessing. And I don't want to be part of your fa....your foretell happy ending. (Beat) I just want you to leave me alone.

STEVE: Alright.

 

STEVE LEAVES AND JO COMES IN.

 

JO: Jack?

JACK: I have nothing to say to you.

JO: Yes you do. You're my son and we have got to talk.

JACK: Well I guess I should have been expecting this. (Beat) So tell me. Why did you give me up if you loved me so much?

JO: I did it because I loved you so much. I wanted you to have a good life, a life much better than any I could have given you.

JACK: If that's true, then why did you come back? Did you want to ruin my life, hurt me?

JO: Oh Jack. I wouldn't do anything to hurt you.

JACK: But you did! You did a good job too. Why didn't you just stay away, forever?

JO: Look, I've made mistakes. I don't deny that. But I never, ever, meant to hurt you. Jack, please, please. (Puts her hand on his shoulder.) Won't you just give me a chance?

JACK: You had your chance!

 

JACK WALKS OUT.