Episode Fifty-four: Is Jack
Having a Change of Heart?
Jack Helps Jennifer Improve
her Article and Publishes it.

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SCENE ONE: JENNIFER AND EMILIO DECIDE TO GO TO THE BEACH. THEY STAY AFTER DARK AND BUILD A FIRE AND ARE KISSING WHEN THE POLICE COME ALONG. THE POLICE ARREST EMILIO BECAUSE HE FITS THE DESCRIPTION OF A GUY WHO BEAT UP AN OLD MAN ON THE BEACH. HE IS TAKEN TO THE STATION

SCENE TWO: AT THE STATION HE CANNOT FIND HIS WALLET AND THEY HOLD HIM UNTIL JENNIFER ARRIVES TO CLEAR HIM.

SCENE THREE: LATER JACK GOES TO THE EMERGENCY CENTER.

JACK: I'm here.

KAYLA: How can I help you Jack?

JACK: Well....you said to come in on Friday for a check up and I'm here to be checked up.

KAYLA: Right. Alright, why don't you come in the examining room and I'll have a look.

JACK: Right. Your wish is my command.

KAYLA: Take your coat off and pull your shirt up.

JACK: Okay. It feels good.

KAYLA RIPS OFF THE TAPE COVERING HIS WOUND.

JACK: Ouch....So what's the bad word? Am I going to live?

KAYLA: Yeah, I'm afraid so.

JACK: Well....don't sound so excited.

KAYLA: You know Jack, I don't understand you.

JACK: Yes you do.

KAYLA: No....I don't. You come to my mother's hospital room carrying flowers and for a second there it reminded me of the Jack I met in Hawaii. The one who cared about people.

JACK: Optical illusion really. No....no big deal.

KAYLA: Well it was to my mother. And I think there are some other people around who would like to see the old Jack again.

JACK: Kayla, look, let's not go spreading any nasty rumors about me. I really wasn't myself the other day, you know. Let's just chalk it up to a loss of blood. You know it's really incredible what a little street surgery can make a man say and do. Finished?

KAYLA: Yes. I am.

Click to listen to audeo [132 K]

JACK: Good. Well, I'll....I'll just be on my way. There are widows to fleece and mortgages to foreclose on and heroines to tie to the tracks. Busy, busy, busy. You know me.

KAYLA: Yes. Maybe I do.

JACK: Anyway....thank you.

KAYLA: No problem. (Beat) Jack! Think about what I said, would you?

Click to view video [839 K]

JACK: Think about what? (Grin)

JACK WALKS OUTSIDE AND STOPS.

JACK: The old Jack eh?

HE REMOVES THE PICTURE OF HIM AND JO FROM HIS POCKET.

JACK: Hmmm.

 

HE HURRIES AWAY.

SCENE FOUR: STEVE IS WORKING AT THE FISH MARKET WHEN JACK WALKS IN.

 

STEVE: Be right with you.

JACK: Oh take your time.

CUSTOMER: Listen if I'm going to stand here all day I'm going to miss Jeopardy. Let's go.

JACK IS SMILING.

 

STEVE: Okay. I don't want you to miss Jeopardy. Why don't you take this little baby right here? (He hands him a crab.) I'll put it on your account.

CUSTOMER: I don't have an account.

STEVE: Well this is your lucky day. You've got an account now. Here we go.

JACK: You know Steve. You have really got a knack with people.

STEVE: Listen Jackson. You can't do a thing to make me lose this job. I'm in tight with the owner. Besides I'm not gettin' paid.

JACK: I'm not here to make trouble.

STEVE: What is it, a holiday?

JACK: I'm not here to argue with you either.

STEVE: So you want some fish. The moment you walked in the door I put eel on special.

JACK: I want to talk to you about Jo.

STEVE: What about Jo?

JACK: Well I've been to her apartment. I've seen it and it's pretty small.

STEVE: So?

JACK: So, I thought I might help her out. I mean I've got the money and I don't really need it and she is....my mother.

STEVE: What are you talking about?

JACK: I'm talking about getting her a better place to live.

STEVE: What do you want Jack?

JACK: From you, nothing. From Jo, or anybody else, nothing.

STEVE: I don't believe it.

JACK: You don't have to believe it Steve. I'm doing it for her.

STEVE: So then what are you doing here bugging me about it?

JACK: Well I think we both know that Jo is not going to accept anything unless she gets it checked by you first. Huh? You don't trust me and I don't blame you. But the offer isn't jest, so please just think about it. (Beat) You know where I live.

JACK LEAVES.

STEVE: What the hell was that?

SCENE FIVE: A SHORT TIME LATER KAYLA ARRIVES AT THE FISH MARKET AND STEVE TELLS HER WHAT JACK WANTED. KAYLA THINKS THAT STEVE WANTS JACK TO CHANGE TOO BUT HE IS TOO AFRAID TO ACCEPT IT. SHE TELLS STEVE THAT HE MUST LEAVE HER OUT OF IT WHEN HE DEALS WITH JACK.

SCENE ONE: KAYLA ARRIVES AT THE EMERGENCY CENTER AND FINDS A THIEF INSIDE. HE BEGINS TO ROUGH UP KAYLA BUT JACK ARRIVES.

 

JACK: Kayla, Kayla, get out of the way. Alright.

JACK PUNCHES THE GUY AND GETS IN A FIGHT WITH HIM.

KAYLA: Jack.

JACK: Kayla. Stay back Kayla. Stay back.

THEY GUY PUNCHES JACK ON THE JAW AND THEN ON HIS INJURED SIDE THEN HE RUNS OUT.

KAYLA: Jack are you alright?

JACK: Oh god!....I'm okay, I'm okay. How about you? Are you alright?

KAYLA: I'm fine. He didn't get a chance to do very much, thanks.....to you.

JACK: Always glad to be of service....Kayla.

KAYLA: Why don't I have a look at this?

JACK: I have a feeling.....oh yah....oh well, like they say, no pain, no gain.

KAYLA: Right.

SCENE TWO: JACK HAS HIS COAT OFF AND HIS SHIRT UNDONE. KAYLA IS ON THE PHONE.

 

KAYLA: Thanks officer. I'll be here all morning.

JACK: Well I guess the police are going to get here when they get here.

KAYLA: Well it's not exactly urgent.

JACK: Oh, oooh, oooh. Speak for yourself Kayla.

KAYLA: I'll really think that you're going to be alright Jack.

JACK: I tell you one thing, if this thing busts open one more time I'm going to have to ask for my money back.

KAYLA: Free clinic.

JACK: Oh!....I knew that. I was just joking or at least....trying to.

KAYLA: He, he....well you can put your shirt back on.

JACK: Here's your hat, what's your hurry. (Beat) You can't get rid of me fast enough, can you?

KAYLA: I told you how grateful I was Jack.

JACK: But?

KAYLA: But I have work to do.

JACK: Yeah....

MIKE RUSHES IN AND JACK WITHDRAWS INTO HIMSELF AND WATCHES MIKE AND KAYLA.

MIKE: Kayla, did you stop by the hospital this morning?

KAYLA: No, Roman, said he'd call me if there was any change with mom.

MIKE: Well it looks like your mom is doing really good. The bypass went okay.

KAYLA: Great.

MIKE NOTICES THAT JACK IS STARING AT KAYLA.

MIKE: Hey.

JACK: Oh....Mike, really. I'll just get out of your way. Pretend I'm not here.

MIKE: Is everything okay?

KAYLA: Yes everything's fine. Listen I'm glad you stopped by.

MIKE: Well as a matter of fact I came by here because I haven't been by much lately and I want to volunteer my services unto you.

KAYLA: Really?

MIKE: Yes. As a matter of fact I will be by here most mornings until I go back on OR rotation.

KAYLA: No kidding.

MIKE: Shall I repeat that for you? I will be here most mornings until I got back on OR rotation.

KAYLA: Oh your hand is healing.

MIKE: Hmmm. Well it's not 100% but it is getting better.

KAYLA: Oh well that is great news. I am very very happy.

KAYLA GIVES MIKE A BIG HUG WHICH JACK OBSERVES.

MIKE: If I'm going to get hugs like this I'm going to go door to door. This is great.

KAYLA: You know you have not changed since high school.

MIKE: What, you don't think I've scored a little?

KAYLA: A little yes.

MIKE: So that's what broke us up?

KAYLA: Well maybe and maybe the fact that we both left town.

MIKE: You know that morning when you rode off into the sunset on that bus, you just broke my heart. It was devastating.

KAYLA: It was a plane and you weren't even there.

MIKE: Okay, okay, okay. I overslept. It was still no reason to dump you.

KAYLA: I did not dump you.

MIKE: You mean there is hope for you and me?

KAYLA: If you do the summaries on all of these, I'll think about it.

JACK OBSERVES THE BANTER BETWEEN MIKE AND KAYLA AND THEN LEAVES QUIETLY.

SCENE THREE: JACK GOES TO THE THE FISH MARKET TO SEE STEVE.

 

JACK: Hi Steve, what's happening?

STEVE: Nothin'.

JACK: Oh really, the sign outside says Shrimp seven bucks a pound.

STEVE: Oh really. Well we got a sign right here that says we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.

JACK: Well....what about the golden rule of business. The customer is always right.

STEVE: Never heard of that.

JACK: Oh. I see. Well Caroline Brady must rest easy know you're in charge.

STEVE: What do you want Jack? You want fish.

JACK: Oh, well, if you have a couple of minutes....

STEVE: No I'm busy.

JACK: I want to talk about Jo.

STEVE: I don't want to talk about Jo.

JACK RINGS THE BELL IN THE SHOP.

JACK: Excuse me. Good morning. I'd like to take a look at your shrimp.

STEVE: You want shrimp?

JACK: Or maybe some tuna, if it's fresh.

STEVE: You are my brother alright. Never quit do you?

JACK: I came here to talk. You want to play games, we'll play games.

STEVE: No I don't want to play games. Let's talk. What, something about Jo, go ahead, what?

JACK: I still think she should have a better place to live.

STEVE: Well she turned down your offer, don't you remember that? She's not interested.

JACK: I'm sorry she feels that way.

STEVE: Oh yeah I'm sure you're real sorry about how she feels.

JACK: Alright, okay, okay. Let's stop right here folks. Time out for our favorite sport, Jack Bashing in America. Now refresh my memory, tell me what a loss I am, tell me about all the times that I broke my poor mother's heart and when you're through....if you're ever through....save a little time for me because I've got something to say to you.

STEVE: By all means, go ahead. Say it.

JACK: I know what she wants. I know exactly what she wants. I'm not stupid. She wants me to come up, wrap my arms around her, hug her and say Hi Mom.

STEVE: So why don't you do it?

JACK: And be just like you, right? Just like you. (Beat) I know you. It took you a long time to give her her first Mother's Day card.

STEVE: Yeah well I never said I was perfect. I'm the first one to admit that it took me a long time to get around to accepting her. But the difference between you and me is that I did. When are you going to do it, eh?

JACK: Well maybe it's a little bit easier for you to get your feelings out, you know.

STEVE: Oh it's easier for me, eh?

JACK: People are different Steve. Everybody expresses their feelings in a different way. So maybe it's a little....it's a little har....Look, I'm not going to make any excuses to you but kindness, love and warmth weren't exactly the lessons I was reared with at Harper Deveraux's knee.

STEVE: Sounds like making excuses to me.

JACK: (Cynical laugh) Of course. Of course. I should have expected the love and compassion from my big brother.

STEVE: Don't give me that feel sorry for me crap. I'm not going to take that guilt trip you're trying to lay on me. Now I know all about how you like to show your feelings. I've got the scars to prove it.

JACK: You're right, you're right you do. And you know something else? All that lousy crappy low down stuff, all that stuff that you keep saying that I do. You're right, I've done it. I've done all of that. I admit it. (Long beat) So where do we go from here?

STEVE: What is your trip?

JACK: No trip. No angle. (Beat) I want to start over Steve. I want to bury the hatchet like they say. Starting with taking you out to dinner tonight.

STEVE: What?

JACK: You know nothing big, you know like a little....

STEVE LAUGHS.

JACK: What? Just a little dinner, small, informal, friendly....I want to take you....bring Kayla too. We'll sit down, we'll talk. We'll talk about a whole new career for you, a new job. What do you think?

STEVE: I think you're out of your mind.

JACK: Oh look I'm sorry. If it's the bill, if it's trouble paying the money, if it's the money....

STEVE: Don't you talk to me about money. Shut up! I got something to say to you and you're going to stand here and you're going to listen to me. (Beat) Jack, you are a liar, plain and simple. I don't know what you've got up your sleeve but I don't want any of it.

JACK: There's nothing up my sleeve Steve. I don't wan......

STEVE: I don't want to sit across from you. I don't want to eat dinner with you. I don't care if you pay the bill and give me $100 on top. You want to get close to our mother, you do it without me. You leave me the hell out of it.

JACK: Steve, I can't leave you out of it. You're her son, you're part of....

STEVE: You were responsible for me losing my job. Now how do you expect me to believe that you want to take me out to dinner and talk careers? Huh?

JACK: Well I can't blame you for being skeptical about that but....this is on the level. There is no ulterior motive.

STEVE: The answer's no.

JACK: No....as simple as that. Just no.

STEVE: NO! No. You want me to say it again.

JACK: No, no. You just save it for this afternoon. You can bellow at somebody else if you like.

STEVE: There you go. There's my baby brother again. You're back aren't you? I knew you couldn't keep that act up for long.

JACK: It's not an act, Steve. Now you can believe whatever you want to believe. You can go out and believe it is an act if that's going to make you feel better. But ultimately you are going to have to remember that this time you're the guy that turned his back.

KAYLA WALKS IN.

STEVE: Yeah, you're right and let me tell you why. (Beat) Remember her, my wife. Remember what you did to her? I'm not going to forget that and I'm not going to forgive it. Now do you understand?

JACK: Yeah, yeah, I understand. Look I'll just....I'll just get out of your way, eh? (Beat) Goodbye Kayla....Goodbye to you too. Have a good life.

JACK LEAVES QUIETLY.

STEVE: Damn him! Why doesn't he stay out of our lives?

KAYLA: Are you sure that's what you want?

STEVE: I don't know baby. I don't know what to believe. I can only believe you.

 

JACK WATCHES THROUGH THE WINDOW AS STEVE AND KAYLA KISS. HIS EYES FILL WITH TEARS AND REMORSE.

SCENE ONE: KAYLA AND STEVE ARE HAVING A MEAL AT SHENANIGAN'S WHEN JACK WALKS IN. HE WALKS OVER TO THE BAR AND WATCHES THEM DAYDREAMING ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO BE WITH KAYLA.....

JACK AND KAYLA ARE SITTING IN SHENANIGAN'S. HE IS KISSING HER HAND.

 

JACK: I love you Kayla. I always have.

KAYLA: I know. And I love you too.

JACK: You know I'd do anything for you.

KAYLA: Anything?

JACK: Hmmm. You name it.

KAYLA: Kiss me....now.

JACK LEANS OVER AND KISSES KAYLA TENDERLY....

THE SCENE FADES TO JACK WATCHING STEVE AND KAYLA. JACK WALKS AWAY.

SCENE ONE: JACK IS SITTING AT SHENANIGAN'S WHEN JENNIFER WALKS IN.

 

JENNIFER: Well thanks for letting me interrupt your lunch.

JACK: It's okay.

Click to view video [993K]

JENNIFER: You see this is really important to me and I was hoping if you liked it, maybe you could put it in tonight's addition.

JACK: It's good.

JENNIFER: Really?

JACK: Really. It's good. But I am going to make it . Watch my hand. This paragraph here. This is your lead. You put this up here so I can see what the story's about and I'll keep reading. Then you move this here and the part in the back here you put here. Alright? It's very simple. But now the article moves.

SCENE TWO: LATER THAT EVENING JENNIFER WALKS INTO SHENANIGAN'S.

JENNIFER: (To barman) Look do you know what time the evening edition of The Spectator comes out?

Click to view video [839K]

BARMAN: Yeah it usually hits the newsstand out front in about....

JACK: Don't bother. I've got what she wants.

JACK HANDS JENNIFER A PAPER.

JENNIFER: Thanks.

JACK: Hot off the presses. Page five.

JENNIFER: "A Man, A Horse and A Dream," by Jennifer Horton. Jack I got a byline!

JACK: That's right. You wrote it. It's good so you got it. The men in the newsroom liked it too and that's saying a lot because they only read the sports section.

JENNIFER: Really? You're kidding me.

JACK: No. If you keep writing articles like that and you might have a future.

JENNIFER: Oh you really think I can make it as a journalist?

JACK: No. I didn't say that. One article does not make a journalist. But if you continue to write articles like this one, you might have a career.

JENNIFER: Oh Jack you don't know how good this makes me feel. Oh I really hope Emilio likes it.

JACK: Emilio?....Is Emilio your literary critic? I think that Emilio would have a little bit of trouble getting through a comic book.

JENNIFER: Look the article is about him. I mean I want him to like it.

JACK: Jennifer, listen to your pal here. Running with street punks to get a story is one thing but caring about what about they think, well that's another thing altogether.

JENNIFER: Look Emilio is not like that. You just don't know him, okay.

JACK: Well maybe you're right. (Beat) You know something just hit me. I heard the funniest story about your brother Mike and Kayla. I heard that they were at item at one time or something like that.

JENNIFER: Oh yeah, yeah, they were inseparable. I thought they were going to get married and everything. But....you know how that goes.

JACK: Yeah.

JENNIFER: But this is great. Thank you so much. Excuse me.

JENNIFER LEAVES.

JACK: I certainly do know how that goes.

SCENE THREE: JENNIFER SHOWS EMILIO THE ARTICLE AND HE SAYS THAT IT IS NOTHING. SHE CALLS HIM A JERK AND STORM OFF.

[THE FOLLOWING TOOK PLACE OVER TWO EPISODES]

SHANE DECIDES TO TELL ANDREW A STORY ABOUT EVE, WHO IS MISSING, AND HE MAKES UP A FAIRY TALE THAT INCLUDES ALL THE CAST OF SALEM (EXCEPT JENNIFER).

PRINCESS EVE IS MISSING AND HE OFFERS A REWARD TO WHOMEVER FINDS HER. ROMAN, AND STEVE, STEVE HOOD ARE THE GOOD GUYS. KAYLA AND DIANA ARE THEIR PRINCESSES. JACK PLAYS, LORD JACK OF DEVERAUX, AKA BILLY JACKETH, AN EVIL PRINCE WHO IS PRETENEDING TO REDEEM HIMSELF. HE IS ACTUALLY DUPLICITUOUS AND IS HELPING VICTOR TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE MEDIEVAL KINGDOM. IN THE END, THOUGH, JACK, VICTOR, AND NICO DIE, EVE IS FOUND AND EVERYONE LIVES HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

1) Sir Jack Jack of Deveraux acts slimey Click to view video [993K] 2) Lord Jack sings Mac the Knife (audio only) Click to listen to audeo [710 K]