Episode One-hundred-one:
Jack and Jennifer Try to Fool
Victor; Isabella Realizes That
Jack Cares About Jennifer.

 

SCENE ONE: JACK HAS COME BACK TO SEE ISABELLA. THEY ARE COMING DOWN THE STAIRS IN STEVE'S HOUSE.

 

JACK: I figure it's about time to get out of the attic and start looking for the key. Are you sure you're okay?

ISABELLA: It's getting a little lonely. Hopefully I won't be there much longer.

JACK: Yeah.

ISABELLA: Are you sure nobody's here?

JACK: Yeah I checked. Steve's not here. He's probably out with Kayla.

ISABELLA: I don't think so Jack.

JACK: What do you mean? Do you know something I don't.

ISABELLA: Kayla's been kidnapped.

JACK: I know. By Steve.

ISABELLA: No. For real. I heard Steve on the phone.

JACK: Wait a minute. You're kidding me.

ISABELLA: No.

JACK: Chalk one up to our pal Victor Kiriakis.

ISABELLA: I wouldn't exactly consider him a pal.

 

THERE IS A LOUD KNOCK ON THE FRONT DOOR.

 

JACK: Ah quick, hide back in the wall.

 

ISABELLA HIDES IN THE SECRET PASSAGEWAY WHILE JACK CREEPS TO THE DOOR AND PEEKS THROUGH THE GLASS.

 

JACK: Jennifer!

 

JACK OPENS THE DOOR.

 

JENNIFER: Good morning Sunshine!

JACK: What do you think you're doing? Borrowing a cup of sugar?

JENNIFER: Why are you so angry Jack?

 

JACK GRABS HER BY THE COLLAR AND PULLS HER INSIDE.

 

JACK: Get in here, quick!

JENNIFER: That's a good way to start off the day.

JACK: What the hell do you think you're doing here?

JENNIFER: Looking for you.

JACK: Wait a minute. How did you know that I was here?

JENNIFER: I followed you.

JACK: No, no, no, no. I didn't see you following me.

JENNIFER: Of course you didn't see me because you taught me how to follow someone without being seen.

JACK: Correction. I taught you to be a good journalist, not a pain in the butt.

JENNIFER: Well they are one and same, I mean, don't you think Jack?

JACK: Wai....ah....forget it. What do you want from me?

JENNIFER: Where's Isabella?

JACK: I thought you came here looking for me.

JENNIFER: Only because I knew looking for you would lead me to her. She is here, isn't she?

JACK: I don't have to answer twenty questions. I'm the boss. And as the boss, I'm telling you it's time to get out of here.

JENNIFER: I am not leaving Jack.

JACK: Yes you are leaving here.

JENNIFER: No I'm not. Another thing you taught me is how to be stubborn. Why are you hiding Isabella here?

JACK: What do you mean? As opposed to a suite at the Continental?

JENNIFER: No, as opposed to my apartment.

JACK: Oh I get it. I get it. Look I really appreciate your hospitality Jennifer.

JENNIFER: I'm not expecting a tip. I'm looking for an explanation.

JACK: Okay. Here it is. What I'm doing is best for everybody involved.

JENNIFER: Was it really that dangerous for her to be at my house?

JACK: YES IT WAS THAT DANGEROUS! And I'm....and I'm....and I'm trying to look after you as well.

JENNIFER: I want to be a part of this.

JACK: YOU WERE A PART OF IT.

JENNIFER: Were isn't good enough.

JACK: Look, can't you just be a good little journalist and run back to the office?

JENNIFER: Oh great Jack. What am I supposed to do at the office? Just tell me that.

JACK: Ah....I don't know. How about look for a new assignment?

JENNIFER: Okay. I'll look for an assignment.

JACK: Good.

JENNIFER: I'll go there and I'll get one and I'll bring it back here and we can talk about it. How's that?

JACK: NO! Go home.

JENNIFER: Don't I get any say in this Jack?

JACK: Yes! Say goodbye Jennifer. Have a good day.

 

JENNIFER SLOWLY WALKS TOWARDS THE DOOR AND JACK GIVES A HUGE SIGH OF RELIEF. SHE STOPS AND LOOKS BACK AT HIM WITH A LOOK OF DEFIANCE. HE LIFTS HIS LEG AS IF TO KICK HER OUT AND REPEATS IT THREE TIMES BEFORE SHE REACTS. THEN SHE HALF GRINS AND LEAVES.

AFTER SHE HAS GONE ISABELLA COMES OUT FROM BEHIND THE SECRET PASSAGE. SHE IS RATHER SADDENED HAVING HEARD THEIR CONVERSATION BECAUSE SHE REALIZES JUST HOW MUCH JACK CARES FOR JENNIFER.

 

JACK: Isabella.

ISABELLA: You really care about her, don't you?

JACK: (Trying to evade the question.) What do you mean? I'm just trying to get her out of here so she doesn't mess things up.

ISABELLA: And I thought I was the one you were protecting from Victor.

JACK: Well I....you are....I am. I mean, what else could be going on here?

ISABELLA: Jennifer Horton. That's who you're protecting.

JACK: Can we stop talking about Jennifer for a minute?

ISABELLA: Why, you haven't.

JACK: Look, we're here to find the key, remember?

ISABELLA: I remember.

JACK: Well it's got to be here someplace.

ISABELLA: I don't know where else Marina would have hidden it.

JACK: Well we better start thinking because this place is a lot bigger than a broom closet.

ISABELLA: We have to find it Jack before Victor finds me.

JACK: Or maybe convince Victor that you've left town.

ISABELLA: Yeah, thanks for trying to make me feel better.

JACK: No, I'm trying to make me feel better. I mean it's about time we pulled another one over on Victor.

ISABELLA: What are you going to do?

JACK: I'm going to find a way to take care of you and Jennifer at the same time. I do have an idea.

ISABELLA: Tell me.

JACK: I'll tell you later. Right now I want you to try and find that key. I'll be back. You just be careful.

ISABELLA: You too Jack.

JACK: Okay.

 

JACK LEAVES.

 

ISABELLA: You too.

SCENE TWO: JENNIFER COMES BACK TO THE LOFT AND OPENS THE DOOR TO FIND A FEW PAINTERS COVERING HER FURNITURE WITH DROP CLOTHES.

 

JENNIFER: Um, excuse me. Excuse me, what's going on here?

PAINTER: Ma'am, we're finishing a rush job.

JENNIFER: What do you mean a rush job? What is this all about?

 

DOWN THE STEPS COMES JACK, DRESSED IN HIS SUIT AND TIE BUT COVERED WITH WHITE COVERALLS AND A PAINTERS CAP: LOOKING EXTREMELY CUTE.

JACK: It's about time this place had a facelift. Surprised?

JENNIFER: Jack!

JACK: In the pink. What do you think?

JENNIFER: You did this?

JACK: Yeah. It's kind of a little New Year's gift from slum lord to the tenant.

JENNIFER: I don't get it.

JACK: We're redoing your apartment.

JENNIFER: Well you might have asked me first.

JACK: Well if I'd asked you, it wouldn't be a surprise.

JENNIFER: What makes you think that you can just come in here and tear my home apart Jack?

JACK: Jennifer, what happened to your sense of adventure?

JENNIFER: Jack you didn't even ask me what colors I might like in here.

JACK: I didn't? Oh! Well what colors would you like in here?

JENNIFER: There's something very weird about this Jack.

JACK: Jennifer, what happened to your sense of trust and don't tell me you learned it from me in the newspaper.

JENNIFER: (Whispering) Aren't you supposed to be worried about Isabella?

JACK: (Whispering) I am.

JENNIFER: And Kiriakis?

JACK: Him too.

JENNIFER: To say nothing about Kayla.

JACK: Look I can worry all those people and still be concerned about....upkeep of my assets.

JENNIFER: Bull!

JACK: What did you say?

JENNIFER: I said BULL, Ja.....

 

JACK TAKES HER FACE IN HIS HANDS AND KISSES HER ON THE LIPS

SHE IS TOTALLY SURPRISED AND JUST AS THEY ARE BOTH ENJOYING IT, JACK PULLS AWAY AND LAUGHS. JACK NOTICED THAT VICTOR HAD WALKED IN AND HE KISSED JENNIFER TO PUT ON AN ACT FOR HIM, BUT IT IS OBVIOUS THAT IT WAS NOT ALL AN ACT AND THAT JACK ENJOYED KISSING HER. JENNIFER IS A LITTLE OFF BALANCE FROM THE SHOCK AND PLEASURE OF THE KISS.

 

JACK: Ha, ha, ha. Well look who's here.

VICTOR: I hope I'm not interrupting.

JACK: Nothing we can't get back to.

VICTOR: I see you're freshening the place up.

JENNIFER: Yeah. It's a present from Jack.

JACK: Yeah, you know, a little New Year's gift. You know how it is.

JENNIFER: Yeah you know. I was thanking him, you know.

VICTOR: Yes, so I saw.

JACK: Well what can I do for you gentlemen?

JENNIFER: Ah, my maintenance fee isn't late, is it?

MANAGER: No, but you're supposed to get permission before you paint.

JACK: Oh, spoken like a true Super. Well shall we cut away with idle chatter and get right down the capitalistic conversation?

VICTOR: Oh romance and blossom interrupted by the realities of business.

 

JENNIFER TOUCHES HER LIPS WITH HER FINGERS.

MANAGER: I'm showing Mr. Kiriakis the building.

VICTOR: I told you Jennifer I'm interested in buying.

JACK: Well she's not interested in selling. But I maybe. You see I'm the owner, she's the sublet. So please, feel free to look around and just stay away from the ladders. I mean you go under one and it's bad luck for the investment.

VICTOR: We could come back at a more convenient time.

JACK: Oh no. If you're ready to buy, please go for it.

VICTOR: You're sure?

JACK: I'm sure. I mean we don't have any skeletons in our closets. Jennifer, do you have any skeletons you're not telling me about?

JENNIFER: (To Jack) NO! Go ahead Mr. Kiriakis. Feel free to look around.

VICTOR: We will. You can go back to whatever it was you were doing.

JACK: We will.... if Jennifer lets me.

 

JENNIFER SMILES AT JACK.

SCENE THREE: VICTOR BEGINS TO LOOK THROUGH THE APARTMENT WHILE JACK AND JENNIFER WAIT. JENNIFER IS STILL THINKING OF THE KISS AND KEEPS TOUCHING HER LIPS. JACK MEANWHILE IS SUPERVISING THE PAINTERS AND RUNS HIS FINGER ALONG THE WINDOW SILL ENDING UP WITH A PAINTED FINGER.

 

JACK: Well Jennifer, what do you think of the paint job?

JENNIFER: Huh?

JACK: Earth to Jennifer, what do you think?

JENNIFER: Uh....what? I was just thinking.

JACK: Yeah. Well what do you think of this?

 

JACK TOUCHES HIS PAINTED FINGER ON THE END OF HER NOSE.

JENNIFER: What?

JACK: I think this paint brings out the color in your eyes.

JENNIFER: What are you doing?

JACK: Victor, tell me, what do you think? Don't you think that this paint brings out the color in her eyes?

VICTOR: You're sure you wouldn't rather I came back at another time?

JACK: Very roomy, don't you think?

 

JENNIFER IS SMILING AS JACK STANDS WITH HIS ARM AROUND HER.

 

VICTOR: Lots of closets.

JACK: Hmmm. Oh please feel free to look in every single one. Or if you'd like to go to the roof, please go right up. There's a window right off the bedroom.

VICTOR: How convenient.

JENNIFER: Jack, Jack.

JACK: Actually, anything you want to do. Just make yourself at home.

 

VICTOR GOES UPSTAIRS.

 

JENNIFER: Jack. Why are you being so helpful?

JACK: The only reason that Victor's here is to see if Isabella is.

JENNIFER: Oh really. That's a brilliant observation.

JACK: Observe this. Why do you think I have these painters all over this place?

JENNIFER: Right. Who would hide in a house overrun by workers.

JACK: Great minds think alike.

JENNIFER: What about Isabella?

JACK: Well obviously she knows that Victor's looking all over town for her.

JENNIFER: Alright but in a few minutes he's going to know that she's not here. What then?

JACK: Er....then is then and now is now. Right now I'm taking care of you.

JENNIFER: Oh!....Okay.

 

JENNIFER IS REALLY DELIGHTED.

 

JACK: Oh by the way, I'm sorry about the kiss. That was necessary.

JENNIFER: Oh no. I understand. I do.

JACK: Okay. So, ready for another adventure?

JENNIFER: Sure, as long as it doesn't have to do with interior decorating.

JACK: Oh no, no, no.

 

JACK PUTS HIS ARM AROUND JENNIFER AND SHE LOOKS AT IT AND FEELS COMFORTABLE AND HAPPY.

 

JACK: No more adventures in interior decorating. Just taking care of friends in need.

JENNIFER: Oh, you....you mean Isabella.

 

JACK PUTS HIS FINGER ON HER LIPS TO STOP HER TALKING.

 

JACK: Is in serious need of our help.

JENNIFER: Right.

SCENE FOUR: A SHORT TIME LATER JENNIFER IS SEARCHING UNDER A DROP CLOTH FOR HER PHONE AND JACK IS LOOKING AT HER BACKSIDE AS VICTOR COMES DOWNSTAIRS.

 

VICTOR: Very nice....place you have here Jennifer.

JENNIFER: (From under the Cloth) Thank you.

 

JACK GIVES HER A SMALL SLAP ON THE BEHIND. JENNIFER COMES OUT FROM UNDER THE CLOTH AND HITS HIM.

 

JACK: Oh! Actually I think this place would make a very nice investment for you Victor.

VICTOR: Really? In what way?

JACK: I mean look at the property. It's just going up and up and up. And I mean the building is an architectural gem.

VICTOR: You should be in real estate Jack. You seem to have a knack for it.

JACK: So what about the building?

VICTOR: Oh I don't know. I don't think lofts are quite my style.

JACK: Really. Seems to me you'd make a real killing.

VICTOR: A killing?

 

JACK BECOMES MORE AND MORE SMUG THINKING HE IS OUTWITTING VICTOR AND STARTS GOING OFF AT THE MOUTH MAKING REMARKS ABOUT VICTOR'S DUBIOUS BUSINESS. THROUGHOUT JENNIFER CANNOT BELIEVE WHAT JACK IS SAYING, AND HER FACIAL EXPRESSIONS REVEAL THIS.

 

JACK: That is what you do....like, I mean?

VICTOR: Are we still talking about real estate?

JACK: Well aren't we? I'm sorry. Somebody must have changed the subject. I'm sorry.

VICTOR: Somehow I don't really think you are.

JACK: You know on second thought, you're right. You shouldn't buy this building.

VICTOR: Why's that?

JACK: Well you know, the neighborhood. People are very particular about who they live next to and it's family neighborhood. Unfortunately not the kind of family that you have in mind.

VICTOR: I didn't know you were in to living dangerously Jack. One can get in trouble talking like that. But it was nice chatting with you. Jennifer.

 

VICTOR AND THE MANAGER LEAVE.

 

JACK: Huh, made my day!

JENNIFER: Are you crazy? I can't even believe you said those things to him.

JACK: Well I don't know. I just started talking to him and all of a sudden my mouth just, you know, flew one way and my brain flew in another.

JENNIFER: Right.

JACK: I mean, the guy's....does he know who he's talking to? I'm going to fix his wagon.

JENNIFER: (Jennifer is smiling and enjoying all this intrigue, and especially enjoying the fact that Jack is getting her involved with his schemes.) Okay. I want to help you Jack.

JACK: Are you sure?

JENNIFER: Yes. Just tell me what I can do for you.

JACK: Okay. We've got to figure out a way to convince Victor that Isabella has left the country.

JENNIFER: Great! Great! Okay. How?

JACK: Ah....I'll tell you how. With this!

 

JACK PULLS OUT A LARGE ROLL OF NOTES AND JENNIFER EYES NEARLY FALL OUT.

JENNIFER: Ooooh. I don't understand. But I can hol......

 

SHE TRIES TO GRAB THE NOTES.

 

JACK: No. I'll explain on the way to the airport.

JENNIFER: On the way to the where? The airport? I'll hold it for you Jack.

JACK: No I'll hold it.

SCENE FIVE: JACK IS SITTING IN HIS CAR AT THE AIRPORT; JENNIFER RETURNS.

 

JENNIFER: Okay, I'm back.

JACK: Mission accomplished?

JENNIFER: Have I ever let you down Jack?

JACK: So you found a woman that looked like Isabella Toscano?

JENNIFER: Well it wasn't really hard because you dropped me off at the Italian airlines.

JACK: Well, what happened?

JENNIFER: Well I found this woman who was all by herself and I asked her if she was going to Italy. And she said: Sí! And I did exactly what you told me to do.

JACK: What? Tell me what I told you.

JENNIFER: Well I told her that I would pay her not to use her ticket and to buy one with someone else's name and she started speaking Italian and I didn't know if she thought I was crazy or some sort of spy or something.

JACK: Wha, wha, what happened?

JENNIFER: Well you see I showed her my press ID and I told her that I was doing a story. An adventure travel story and that it was going to be a movie for television and she believed that.

JACK: Good.

JENNIFER: So when she heard it was for television, she wanted a little bit more money. Jack look.

 

 

JACK AND JENNIFER BOTH LOOK AS A PLANE TAKES OFF OVER THEIR HEADS.

JENNIFER: We pulled it off Jack.

JACK: We sure did, Kid.

JENNIFER: You couldn't have done it without me.

JACK: Yeah. I'll have to remember that next time I want to lose a lot of money at the Italian airline counter.

JENNIFER: Okay, so what can I do now to help you.

JACK: Well you can try to make the deadline at the newspaper.

JENNIFER: No! I mean with you and Isabella.

JACK: Look, Jennifer, I really appreciate all your....

JENNIFER: Jack, you need me.

JACK: Um, I'm grateful for everything that you....

JENNIFER: Wait a minute. You're grateful?

JACK: Or....or....overwhelmed, overwhelmed. But....I've got to help Isabella on my own.

JENNIFER: (Feeling rejected and hurt) Oh, I mean I understand that. I was just offering.

JACK: Yeah, I know, and I said that....

JENNIFER: That you were grateful. You said you were grateful. I know.

JACK: Yes....well I better get over to Isabella and tell her that she just took off for Italy.

JENNIFER: Right, okay.

SCENE SIX: JACK ARRIVES AT STEVE'S AND GOES UP TO THE ATTIC TO SEE ISABELLA.

 

ISABELLA: Jack?

JACK: Yep. Just me and the spiders. I can tell by the look on your face, you didn't find the key.

ISABELLA: I'm running out of places to look.

JACK: Well it's got to be someplace.

ISABELLA: No. I've tried to second guess Marina and I can't figure out where she hid it.

JACK: Eh, it'll turn up.

ISABELLA: You're in a good mood.

JACK: You would be too if you put one over on Victor Kiriakis.

ISABELLA: I could stand some good news.

JACK: Get this. Isabella Toscano has just taken off for Italy.

ISABELLA: What?

JACK: At this moment she is enjoying fine Italian airplane food instead of that nasty Chinese stuff that I was feeding you.

ISABELLA: Jack what are you talking about?

JACK: Jennifer and I found an Italian girl who looks just like you who's already going to Italy. We paid her and she's going as Isabella Toscano. It's very simple.

ISABELLA: I'm learning nothing Jack Deveraux does is simple.

JACK: Or inexpensive. It cost a pretty penny.

ISABELLA: Oh I see. I forgot to pay you for the Chinese dinner.

JACK: Oh no, no, no, no. The point is, Victor thinks you've already left Salem.

ISABELLA: You haven't seen him have you?

JACK: Well....actually Jennifer and I were just entertaining him at the loft.

ISABELLA: You're kidding.

JACK: No, no. He was there looking for you under the guise of looking at the building.

ISABELLA: You don't think he'll be back?

JACK: No, other than the Italian airline ruse, I was having the whole place repainted. Workmen all wrappin' and runnin' around and Jennifer was even saying, nobody in their right mind would think you'd be hiding there with all these workmen running arou....What are you smiling about?

 

ISABELLA IS UPSET, BUT TRIES NOT TO SHOW IT. IT IS EVIDENT BY THE WAY JACK IS ALWAYS MENTIONING "JENNIFER'S" NAME, AND THE WAY HE SPEAKS ABOUT HER THAT HE CARES DEEPLY FOR HER, AND NOT ISABELLA.

 

ISABELLA: Jennifer. She's all you talk about.

JACK: Well yes, I'm talking about her but I'm doing this for you.

ISABELLA: I appreciate it Jack but I don't think you're doing it for me. I think you're doing it for her, even if you don't know that.

SCENE SEVEN: JENNIFER IS BACK AT THE LOFT. SHE PUTS ON THE ELVIS RECORD OF LOVE LETTERS THAT WAS JACK'S DAYDREAM OF JENNIFER AS A 50S BOBBYSOCKSER, AND HIM AS ELVIS. SHE WALKS OVER TO THE MIRROR AND SEES THAT HER NOSE STILL HAS A BIG PAINT SPOT ON THE END THAT JACK PUT THERE. SHE HAS HAD IT ON ALL DAY AND HE NEVER TOLD HER. SHE SMILES WISTFULLY.

Love letters straight from your heart,
Keep us so near, while apart .
I'm not alone in the dark,
When I can have all the love that you write.
I memorize every line;
And I kiss the name that you sign;
And darling then I read again right from the start

Love letters straight from your heart.
I memorize every line;
And I kiss the name that you sign.
And darling then I read again right from the start:
Love letters straight from your heart

 

JENNIFER: He thinks I'm just a kid.

 

SHE RUBS THE PAINT OFF HER NOSE AND SMILES. YET SLIGHTLY SADDENED, WRONGLY INTERPRETING JACK'S FEELINGS FOR HER.

SCENE EIGHT: BACK IN STEVE'S ATTIC.

 

JACK: I don't know what you're talking about with Jennifer. One of us is not....

ISABELLA: Maybe it's none of my business then.

JACK: Well, I'm not going to argue that. But the point is there's nothing going on between Jennifer and me.

ISABELLA: Jack it's okay to talk about your feelings.

JACK: Look, my....look I feel that my past is like a weight and it drags me down and it gets in the way of a lot of relationships.

ISABELLA: Well everybody has something in their past they're not proud of.

JACK: Well I don't know if their pasts are as bad as mine.

ISABELLA: If you want to talk about it....

JACK: Look I don't want to talk about it! I don't want to talk about me. I don't want to talk about Jennifer or any relationship in between.

ISABELLA: Okay. Are you sure or are you just writing it off?

JACK: Both! End of discussion.

 

DESPITE HOW MUCH JACK PROTESTS, ISABELLA IS OBVIOUSLY CORRECT ABOUT JACK'S FEELINGS FOR JENNIFER. JACK IS TOO SCARED TO ADMIT IT, *ESPECIALLY* TO ADMIT IT TO HIMSELF.