Episode Eighty-eight: Adrienne is
Trapped in a Collapsed Building;
Jack Holds a Vigil with Jo, and
Jennifer Remains by Jack's Side.

SCENE ONE: MEANWHILE AJ CONSTRUCTIONS HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR NEW PROJECT. ANJELICA IS SO DETERMINED TO GET JUSTIN FOR HERSELF THAT SHE BRIBES A GUY TO HAVE THE SITE DAMAGED. ADRIENNE GETS A CALL TO GO DOWN THERE AND JUSTIN FOLLOWS. THE GUY SETS OFF THE EXPLOSION AND ADRIENNE AND JUSTIN ARE TRAPPED AND THE GUY IS KILLED. THE GUY IS A BROTHER OF THIS WOMAN NAMED AJ WHO HAS POPPED UP IN TOWN, AND WHO IS BEFRIENDED BY ADRIENNE.

 

SCENE ONE: IT IS EARLY EVENING AND JENNIFER IS STILL AT WORK. MELISSA CALLS TO TELL HER TO COME OVER TO WATCH THEIR SECOND BIG NIGHT ON STAGE. AS THEY ARE TALKING ON THE PHONE, JACK COMES IN AND SNATCHES THE PHONE FROM JENNIFER'S HAND.

 

JACK: Forget it, you're not going anywhere.

MELISSA: What gives you the right to burst in on a person's personal phone calls.

 

JACK IS OBVIOUSLY EXTREMELY PREOCCUPIED, AND IT IS NOT ONE OF HIS GAMES.

 

JACK: This phone is for business calls.

MELISSA: Business hours ended a long time ago Jack. Put Jennifer back on.

 

JACK COVERS THE MOUTHPIECE AND TALKS TO JENNIFER.

 

JACK: Okay, tell her that you're getting off. You've got work to do.

JENNIFER: Jack, I'm almost finished with my story.

JACK: TELL HER! Tell her you've got work to do. Don't argue with me. Do it!

 

JENNIFER TAKES THE PHONE FROM JACK.

 

JENNIFER: Melissa.

MELISSA: What did you have to do, wrestle him for the phone.

JENNIFER: Melissa I have to go, okay.

MELISSA: No Jennifer, you're not going to let him bully you into....

JACK: JUST TELL HER YOU'RE GETTING OFF!

JENNIFER: HEY, alright! I'll try and meet you and Emilio later, okay. Bye.

 

SHE HANGS UP.

 

JENNIFER: There are you satisfied? I hung up on my cousin, alright. Is there anything else I have to do for you to tell me why you're being so rude and obnoxious. What if I walked into your office and I took the phone and made you.... don't you walk away from me when I'm talking to you Jack!

 

JACK GRABS HER COAT.

 

JENNIFER: What are you doing?

JACK: Put it on. We're leaving.

JENNIFER: What?

JACK: We've got a story to do. That's a news story. Remember the business you used to be in.

JENNIFER: What happened?

JACK: There's been an explosion downtown. A couple of people are trapped in it.

JENNIFER: Well that's Metro. Why didn't you send McLeod?

JACK: I've got to go down there myself. I might as well do it anyway.

JENNIFER: Why?

JACK: Because a couple of people I know are trapped inside. Adrienne.

 

JENNIFER FEELS FOR JACK AND HIS PAIN, SHE REALIZES HOW MUCH ADRIENNE MEANS TO HIM. JENNIFER WANTS TO BE THERE FOR HIM.

 

JENNIFER: Oh my gosh Jack. I'm sorry.

JACK: And Justin's there with her and another guy that they.... they don't think he made it.

JENNIFER: Alright, alright. Jack, Adrienne's going to be fine. Everything's going to be fine.

JACK: I know. Let's go, let's go.

JENNIFER: Come on.

SCENE TWO: JACK AND JENNIFER RUSH TO THE CONSTRUCTION SITE WHERE THE EXPLOSION HAS DESTROYED THE WHOLE BUILDING TRAPPING ADRIENNE AND JUSTIN INSIDE.

 

JACK: Hey, hey, hey are you in charge here?

ABE: Yeah but I don't have time for you.

JACK: Look if you want an accurate story, just co-operate alright. Talk to Jennifer here. I'm going to see what I can do over here.

ABE: Oh no, no, no. No unauthorized personnel go in there.

JACK: So authorize me. Go ahead.

ABE: Get out of here Jack. If you interfere again I'm going to have you arrested. Now get out of here.

JENNIFER: Jack wait.

JO: Jack!

JACK: What are you doing here?

JO: Oh I'm so glad you're here.

JACK: How long have you been here?

JO: Oh I've been here for hours. Thank you, thank you for coming.

JACK: Well what about Steve? Have you seen him? Did somebody call him?

JO: Oh I tried to call him, I tried, but I couldn't get an answer.

 

ANJELICA IS WORRIED ABOUT JUSTIN. SHE WANTED TO HURT ADRIENNE TO GET HER OUT OF THE WAY SO SHE, JUSTIN AND ALEXANDER COULD BE TOGETHER. SHE IS ALSO ANXIOUS BECAUSE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THEY FIND OUT SHE WAS INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT.

 

ANJELICA: (To Jack) What are you doing here?

JACK: Anjelica! Ah....I'm.....I'm working on my story. What do you think I'm doing here?

 

JO KNOWS THAT JACK IS THERE FOR HIS SISTER.

 

JO: Oh Jack, that's not the only reason you're here.

JACK: Well what else? What do you think? Of course I'm here....

JO: Your sister. You're worried about your sister.

JACK: I...I've got to get back to work. I'll be here. (To Abe) Come on, you've got to tell me something.

JO: Jack.

 

JACK IS BEING SHORT TEMPERED TOWARDS ABE, BUT IS TRYING TO HIDE HOW WORRIED HE IS AND HOW MUCH HE CARES ABOUT ADRIENNE. JENNIFER REALIZES THIS AND TRIES TO CALM JACK, AND COMFORT HIM.

 

JENNIFER: Jack.

ABE: We're doing all we can but I tell you if we make one false move down there, we're going to have 50 tons of concrete and steel coming down.

JACK: Well how long is this going to be going on? Just tell me that.

ABE: Well not much longer.

JACK: What does that mean?

ABE: Listen to me. I want to tell you something. I didn't want say this to Anjelica or Mrs. Johnson but there's no reason you might as well not know the facts. The truth of the matter is that even if Adrienne and Justin survive that second collapse they could be badly injured. And even so they could be in a small confined area. The problem is that there might not be >enough air left to breath.

JENNIFER: Jack are you okay?

JACK: Yeah, I'm fine.

SCENE THREE: A SHORT TIME LATER JACK WALKS OVER TO TALK TO JO. JACK IS STILL TRYING TO PRETEND THAT HE IS THERE ONLY FOR A STORY AND THAT HE DOES NOT CARE. JO IS UPSET. JACK WANTS TO COMFORT HER, BUT IS SCARED TO LET INTO HIS FEELINGS. JACK STRUGGLES WITH ALL HIS PAST FEELINGS ABOUT JO, HIS FAMILY, THE PAST.

 

JACK: I think there's some coffee and donuts over there if you'd like them.

JO: Oh, oh I can't eat anything.

JACK: I think I can use a sugar rush myself.

JO: Would you stop it? Would you stop acting like this is just another news story because I know better.

JACK: Look, I'm just trying to do my job here.

JO: I don't want to talk about your job. I don't want to talk about your job right now.

JACK: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM ME ANYWAY?

JO: We are family and I want us to support each other. That's what I want. And I want you to understand once and for all that you are Adrienne's brother and you're my son.

JACK: I don't know. I'm not a part of your little family circle, alright.

JO: Yes you are.

JACK: IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS ALL THAT, ALRIGHT? IT'S NOT SIMPLE. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN I DON'T CARE. I DO CARE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THERE. I....I CARE ABOU....I care about it. I care.

 

JO BEGINS TO CRY AND GIVES JACK A BIG HUG.

 

JO: Oh son, that means so much to me to hear you say that. It really does.

 

JENNIFER LOOKS ON AS THEY HUG. SHE IS HAPPY THAT JACK IS GETTING SO CLOSE TO HIS FAMILY. JACK HAS TEARS IN HIS EYES.

 

JENNIFER: Mrs. Johnson can I get you anything? Coffee or....

JO: I'm better Jennifer, thank you.

JENNIFER: You're sure there is nothing I can do for you.

JACK: Oh you can sit around and wait like everybody else or you can go and interview people. That's what I'm going to do.

 

JACK WALKS OFF.

 

JO: Go help him.

JENNIFER: We'll be back.

JO: Okay, go on.

SCENE FOUR: ANOTHER HOUR OR SO HAS GONE BY WITH NO WORD ON THE RESCUE.

 

JENNIFER: Alright Jack, I'm going to write this up for the early edition.

JACK: NO!

 

IT IS OBVIOUS THAT JACK NEEDS HER AND WANTS HER THERE, BUT IS UNABLE TO CONVEY THIS TO HER.

 

JENNIFER: What do you mean? It's only an hour till deadline.

JACK: Look, you just call them with an update, that's all you do but nobody walks out on an assignment without a full story.

JENNIFER: What full story? I....

JACK: Look have you talked to everybody here?

JENNIFER: No.

JACK: Have you talked to him? What about that one over there?

JENNIFER: No.

JACK: Then you haven't done everything. START THINKING LIKE A NEWSPAPER MAN OR WOMAN....OR WHATEVER!

JENNIFER: Alright, I'll call rewrite and I'll get back to the story.

JACK: Good!

 

SCENE FIVE: THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE TIME THERE ARE SCENES WITH JUSTIN AND ADRIENNE TRAPPED. JUSTIN SINGS I WILL FROM THE BEATLES' WHITE ALBUM, THE SONG HE SANG TO HER AT THEIR WEDDING.

SCENE SIX: MEANWHILE VICTOR ARRIVES. HE IS FRANTIC. HE VOWS THAT THE PERSON WHO DID THIS TO JUSTIN WILL PAY. ANJELICA HEARS THIS, AND IS TERRIFIED.

SCENE ONE: THE WAITING HAS GONE ON THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT. JACK STARTS TO LOSE IT.

 

JACK: Alright, that's it. I've had enough.

ABE: Jack!

JENNIFER: Jack!

JACK: LOOK YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET THEM OUT OF THERE. I'M GOING TO TRY NOW.

ABE: You get the hell out of here.

JACK: Don't get your hands on me. Do you know who you're dealing with here? I CAN GET THEM OUT OF THERE IF I WANT. LISTEN YOU DON'T....

ABE: LISTEN TO ME JACK. If you go off half cocked, you're going to make things worse for Adrienne. Now is that what you want? Jennifer, get him out of here.

JACK: He doesn't know who he's dealing with here.

JENNIFER: Jack, JACK! He's only trying to do his job.

 

JACK IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE FRANTIC, AND JENNIFER IS SUFFERING ALONG WITH HIS PAIN, AND WANTS TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP HIM.

 

JACK: I'M TRYING TO DO MY JOB TOO. I'M TRYING TO DO SOMETHING!

JENNIFER: I UNDERSTAND THAT!

 

JENNIFER GETS JACK SOME COFFEE.

 

JENNIFER: Jack, are you alright?

JACK: Oh yeah, yeah, I'm fine. If Abe Carver thinks he can keep me out of this mess, he can think again. I mean I'm not going anywhere until I find out what's happened.... what's happened to Justin and Adrie....Adrienne. I'm sure they're....I'm sure she's going to be fine. She's got to be. She will be.

JENNIFER: I'm not leaving either. I'm going to stay here for as long as you need me.

JACK LOOKS UP AT JENNIFER AND SHE PUTS HER HAND ON HIS SHOULDER AND HE RUBS HER HAND GENTLY WITH HIS FINGER. THEY SILENTLY SHARE THIS TENDER MOMENT BETWEEN THEMSELVES.

SCENE TWO: ANOTHER FEW HOURS GO BY AND ADRIENNE AND JUSTIN ARE STILL TRAPPED.

 

JACK: Come on Abe. What are you doing? Have you found her yet?

ABE: Get him out of here.

JENNIFER: Jack, I just wish we knew if they were okay.

JACK: And I'm just tired of hanging out here.

JENNIFER: Abe's men are doing the best job they can Jack.

JACK: What are you talking about? They haven't found anything. We've been here all night.

JENNIFER: Well we've got to be patient.

JACK: Patient about what? If they haven't been squashed flat they're probably out of air by now.

JENNIFER: Jack, getting in the way isn't going to help.

JACK: So what should be do? I'm tired of donuts and lousy coffee.

JENNIFER: Go where you're help is needed and I don't mean digging.

JACK: I'm not going back to the paper.

JENNIFER: No I mean you're mother.

JACK: Jo?

JENNIFER: Look at her. She's scared to death. You gotta go to her. Jack she needs you. You're the only person who can help her. Jack she's trying so hard to be strong. You have to go to her.

JACK: Oh, I don't want to interrupt her and....

JENNIFER: Jack, come on. She thinks that Adrienne is going to die. You can't stand here and not help her.

JACK: Just....don't go away. I'll be back.

 

JACK WALKS OVER TO JO.

 

JACK: (Nervously) Ah....hi.

JO: I thought you would have left by now.

JACK: Oh no, no, no. As long as there's a story, I'll be here. Look I've been through this kind of thing a thousand times. Look, nothing....nothing's going to happen. Adrienne's okay.

JO: I'm afraid.

JACK: She's okay....

JO: I'm so afraid.

 

JO SINKS INTO JACK'S ARMS AND CRIES. JACK LETS INTO HIS FEELINGS AND CONSOLES HER. JENNIFER WATCHES.

 

JACK: I am too. I am too.

JO: Thank you son.

JACK: Sure.

JENNIFER: Mrs. Johnson, is there anything I can do for you?

JO: Oh that's very nice of you. I'm fine Jennifer.

JENNIFER: Maybe you should go get some rest . Maybe both of you should.

JACK: And maybe you should mind your own business.

JENNIFER: Jack, all I said was that I....

JO: No, I can't leave her until I know that Adrienne's safe.

JACK: And I'm going to stay here....until....until we get a story.

 

THERE IS COMMOTION FROM DOWN IN THE PIT. ABE APPEARS EXCITED.

 

ABE: Everybody, we've broken through.

JACK: You hear that. Let's go! (Beat) Okay, they don't know if they're going to be alright (Jack is overjoyed, but tries to mask his feelings).

JENNIFER: Jack they'll be fine. They'll be out soon.

JACK: I'm going back there. I'm going to find out.

JENNIFER: Stay back Jack.

 

JACK RUSHES OVER, HE IS DETERMINED TO HELP WITH THE ACTUAL RESCUE.

 

JACK: Comin' through, coming through. I'm going to help.

ABE: We're trying to save your sister.

JACK: I'm going to help you save her.

 

THEY SLOWLY LIFT AN UNCONSCIOUS ADRIENNE OUT OF THE RUBBLE AND JACK TAKES HER IN HIS ARMS.

JACK: I got her. Okay.

 

HE GENTLY CARRIES HER TO SAFETY.

 

JACK: Abe, get the paramedics over here.

 

JACK IS BRUSHING DIRT OFF HER FACE AS THEY DRAG JUSTIN FREE AS WELL. JUSTIN RUNS TO ADRIENNE'S SIDE AND SHE REGAINS CONSCIOUSNESS.

 

JACK: She's definitely alive!

 

AS SOON AS EVERYBODY CROWDS AROUND, JACK MOVES AWAY FROM THE CROWD. JENNIFER IS HAPPY FOR JACK.

 

JENNIFER: I'm glad she's going to be alright.

JACK: Yeah, yeah. Just a couple of cuts and bruises. She'll going to be okay.

JENNIFER: Yeah. Hey, where are you going?

JACK: I'm going to my car.

JENNIFER: Why, Adrienne will want to see you.

JACK: She's got Jo.

JENNIFER: What about you?

JACK: Well I've done my bit. It's time to go home.

JENNIFER: I think her family should be here.

JACK: She has a mother and an ex-husband. That should be enough.

JENNIFER: And what about an older brother Jack?

JACK: Steve will be along.

JENNIFER: You're part of a family, Jack.

JACK: Look, thanks for sticking around okay.

JENNIFER: My pleasure. That's what friends are for.

 

JACK WALKS AWAY FROM HER.

 

JENNIFER: (To herself) I'm not going to give up on you Jack.

SCENE THREE: ABE HAS CLEARED THE SITE AND TELLS THE POLICE THAT THEY WILL NEED TO BEGIN A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. JACK IS WALKING AROUND THE SITE ALONE. JENNIFER COMES LOOKING FOR HIM.

 

JENNIFER: I thought I'd find you here.

JACK: Ah....yeah. I was looking for (Trying to think up an excuse.) my....ah....my pen. My favorite one.

JENNIFER: (Smiling) Ah, right, right. I won't give away your secret Jack.

JACK: What secret?

JENNIFER: The past 24 hours I saw that side of you that you're always trying to hide, you know. I mean the way you were with your mom and with Adrienne, that was very special.

JACK: Ah you know. I stay up longer than 24 hours and it brings out the frustrated social worker in me, you know.

 

JENNIFER KNOWS HOW JACK FEELS. SHE IS VERY PROUD OF HIM, AND DESPERATELY IN LOVE WITH HIM.

 

JENNIFER: You were wonderful Jack. And it's obvious how much you care for Adrienne.

 

JACK STOPS TO THINK. HE THEN LETS HIS GUARD DOWN AND OPENS UP TO JENNIFER

 

JACK: Um....I think, er, I think it's really because Adrienne is the one person, ah, she stood by me when things were really bad. And um, I never thought that you could ever really miss something that you'd never had but when they pulled her out of that hole, I don't know....

 

THEY MOVE TOGETHER AND PUT THEIR ARMS AROUND EACH OTHER IN A LONG AND INTIMATE AND TENDER HUG.

SCENE FOUR: THEY ARE STILL HUGGING EACH OTHER. JACK SEEMS TO ENJOY BEING COMFORTED BY JENNIFER, AND BEING HELD BY HER, AND HOLDING HER.

JENNIFER'S FACE REVEALS HOW HAPPY SHE IS, SHE RESTS HER HEAD ON HIS CHEST AND TIGHTENS HER HOLD ON HIM. JACK LETS GO, REALIZING HOW CLOSE THEY ARE.

JACK: Hey, enough of these outbursts of emotion.

JENNIFER: I wasn't complaining.

JACK: I tell you what. This is what the game plan's going to be. I'm going to go back to the hospital and you are going to go to the office and write this story.

JENNIFER: (Disappointed) All by myself?

JACK: I think you can remember how to turn on the word processor.

JENNIFER: Yeah I remember. I just thought that maybe you were going to be there to help me do it.

JACK: (With pride for her, and lovingly) Do I detect insecurity from the journalist who won The Ferraro Award?

JENNIFER: No it's not insecurity. I just....I need your company that's all.

JACK: You don't need me Jennifer. You're a big girl now.

 

SENSING JENNIFER'S FEELINGS AND TRYING TO MAKE HER FEEL BETTER, BUT STILL NOT LETTING ON TO HOW HE REALLY FEELS FOR HER, JACK, WALKING AWAY DOWN SOME STAIRS, HITS THE METAL FRAMEWORK WITH HIS ARM, IT MAKES A CLANKING NOISE.

JENNIFER LOOKS OVER. HE PRETENDS HE HIT HIS HEAD.

 

JACK: OUCH!

 

HE LAUGHS. SHE LAUGHS, KNOWING THAT JACK IS JOKINGLY AROUND.

 

JACK: Just checking. Watch your foot on the way out.

 

HE WALKS AWAY AND JENNIFER IS LEFT ALONE.

 

JENNIFER: (Wistfully) I do need you Jack.