Episode One-hundred-forty-four:
Jennifer Interrupts the Thugs; They
Hide in a Warehouse; She Discovers
the Mystery of the Missing Diary Pages.

 

SCENE ONE: JACK IS STILL IN JENNIFER'S ARMS IN THE ALLEY. HIS FACE IS COVERED IN BRUISES AND HIS CLOTHES ARE TORN.

 

JACK: Jennifer, you have to get out of here, now.

 

JACK COLLAPSES AGAIN IN HER ARMS.

 

JENNIFER: Jack, Jack are you okay? Tell me you're okay. JACK!

JACK: What's it worth to you?

JENNIFER: Jack!

JACK: AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHH! Uh....uh....uh. I'm okay. I'm fine. I'm peachy keen.

JENNIFER: Are you sure?

JACK: Sure I'm sure. Just let me....AAAAHHHHH!

JENNIFER: Jack you're all cut and you're bruised.

JACK: Thanks for telling me.

JENNIFER: Jack those men were trying to hurt you. Why were they trying to do that?

JACK: Ah....ah....ah....ah.

JENNIFER: Jack what is it? That's it, I'm going to get you some help. Just stay right here, okay.

JACK: No, no, no.

 

HE GRABS AT HER LEG TO STOP HER LEAVING.

 

JENNIFER: You say you want me to go and the next minute you don't want me to go.

JACK: I want you to go and don't come back.

JENNIFER: You do this all the time. Everytime you need me, you push me away Jack.

JACK: Correction, I don't need you.

JENNIFER: What if those men come back?

JACK: Look if they come back, then you're going to need help. What do you do, hit 'em with your little high heels, give them a wedgy, what!

JENNIFER: Jack, that's it. I am going to get you out of here.

JACK: (Worried for her safety) Listen to me! These are not schoolyard bullies we're talking about here. They come back and you get hurt!

JENNIFER: That's why you want me to go! Jack I'm not going to leave you here alone, alright.

JACK: Listen don't worry about me. I'm going to be perfectly okay. Look I can get up by myself, see. Aaaaaah, oooooooh....

 

HE STARTS TO FALL ON HER.

 

JENNIFER: JACK! JACK! JACK!

 

THEY WRESTLE FOR A FEW SECONDS AS SHE TRIES TO SUPPORT HIM.

 

JACK: Are you okay?

JENNIFER: Yes. Come on Jack. Come on. I'm taking you to the warehouse. Hold on, wait I'll get my purse. Come on. I'm going to drag you to the warehouse even if you are kicking and screaming. Come on.

 

SHE DRAGS HIM INTO A NEARBY ABANDONED WAREHOUSE.

SCENE TWO: JACK AND JENNIFER ARE NOW INSIDE THE WAREHOUSE.

 

JENNIFER: Let me just set you down. Stay with me.

JACK: Get me straight.

JENNIFER: Now I'm going anywhere until I look at you, okay.

 

JACK HIDES HIS FACE WITH HIS FINGERS THEN OPENS THEM UP AND PEEPS AT HER.

 

JACK: You've seen me now okay. Now we've got that taken care of.

JENNIFER: Come on, come on. I am not taking one step out of this place until I get a good look at how bad you're hurt, okay. Sit down over here.

 

SHE HELPS JACK OVER TO A STACK OF LARGE BACKS. AND HE SITS DOWN AND RESTS AGAINST THEM.

 

JACK: Oh I know, this is karmic retribution. I was very mean to you in a previous life. I'm sorry about that. I was so mean. I was mean, I'm sorry. Ah, (Jennifer begins to undress him.) what are you doing?

HE LIES BACK AND SHE UNDOES HIS TIE. SHE THEN UNDOES ALL THE BUTTONS ON HIS SHIRT AND STARTS TO TAKE IT OFF.

 

JENNIFER: Just....um....does this hurt?

JACK: Ah....no.

JENNIFER: What about right here?

 

AS SHE BENDS OVER HIM, JACK LOOKS INTO HER EYES BUT SAYS NOTHING.

 

JENNIFER: What about if I press there, does that hurt?

 

SHE PUTS HER HAND INSIDE HIS SHIRT AND HE WINCES AND TRIES TO SIT UP.

 

JENNIFER: No, Jack, just lie back. Just relax. Just let me do all the work, okay. I'm just going to press right here and just....

 

SHE MOVES HER HAND DOWN HIS SIDE BUT STILL INSIDE HIS SHIRT AND HE STARTS TO GIGGLE.

 

JACK: Heheheheheh! It tickles.

JENNIFER: Jack, I'm not done yet.

JACK: Oh....I think I am.

JENNIFER: That's what you think.

 

SHE SITS UP AND STARTS TO TAKE OFF HER SHIRT.

 

JACK: Wait a minute, what are you doing?

JENNIFER: What does it look like I'm doing?

JACK: Is there....wait a minute, you're going to catch cold. This is the coldest May 7th on record. Jennifer, you wouldn't....

JENNIFER: There, okay.

 

SHE REMOVES HER SHIRT AND PRESSES IT UP AGAINST THE WOUND ON JACK'S CHEST.

 

JACK: What do you think you're doing?

JENNIFER: I just want to put this here. Just relax, just relax. You've got a cut right there and you're bleeding. How does that feel?

 

SHE LOOKS IN HIS EYES AS SHE LEANS OVER HIM. HE SMILES.

 

JACK: It's....ah....good.

JENNIFER: Don't worry Jack.

JACK: You're a real little candystriper, aren't you?

JENNIFER: That's right Jack. Don't worry, okay. I'm going to take care of you. I'm going to make you feel a whole lot better.

 

SHE MOVES HER HAND DOWN TO HIS BELT AND UNDOES THE BUCKLE. HE LOOKS DOWN AT HER HAND AND FOR A FEW SECONDS LETS HER CONTINUE. SUDDENLY HE ROLLS OVER AWAY FROM HER.

 

JACK: Oooooh, ooooh, oooh.

JENNIFER: Jack! What is it? what's the matter?

JACK: It's....ah....it's nothing.

JENNIFER: What do you mean, it's nothing. Something hurt you right there. Now let me see Jack.

JACK: No, it's nothing. It's....ah....it's personal. It's nothing-personal. I mean I don't want you to see it.

JENNIFER: Jack I want to see.

JACK: No, no, really it's nothing to look at, I swear. Let me rephrase that. It's....ah....

JENNIFER: Jack you don't have to be embarrassed, okay.

JACK: I'm not embarrassed. I'm....I'm not....I'm....

JENNIFER: This is no time to be modest, okay.

JACK: I'm modest, I'm modest. I mean you're an unmarried woman and I'm a strange man. At least I'm a man you're not married to and your fiancé, what would he say if he saw you trying to get into another man's pants?

JENNIFER: Don't flatter yourself Jack. This is for medical purposes only.

JACK: Oh, oh, for medical purposes. I've heard that old scam before.

JENNIFER: Jack will you stop acting like a jerk and just let me see what you have in your pants!

JACK: NO! NO!

JENNIFER: JACK! Let me help you!

 

JACK HAS HIS HANDS CLENCHED FIRMLY OVER HIS PRIVATE PARTS AND JENNIFER IS TRYING HARD TO WRENCH THEM FREE. IN THE STRUGGLE HIS PANTS TEAR.

 

JACK: OH!

JENNIFER: What is that?

JACK: NO! No peeking till the third date!

 

JENNIFER TRIES TO SEE WHAT HE IS HIDING BUT HE STRUGGLES AGAINST HER.

 

JENNIFER: Jack, come on. I want to see what you are hiding in there?

JACK: You know you are a lot more innocent than I thought.

JENNIFER: I'm not talking about that. I know all about that.

JACK: Well, we don't need to follow that conversation any further, do we.

JENNIFER: Jack, stop fooling round. I want to see what you have in your pants right now.

JACK: No, no.

JENNIFER: JACK! JACK!

 

SHE CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE WITH HIM.

 

JACK: MOMMY! MOMMY!

JENNIFER: I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Are you alright?

JACK: I was until you decided to help me.

JENNIFER: Jack, those men were after something that's inside your pants.

JACK: I most certainly hope not!

JENNIFER: Jack why don't you give them what they want?

JACK: I beg your pardon. Look I hate to be a pain in the butt about this but if they get what's in my pants a lot more people than me are just going to be hurt.

JENNIFER: Jack you're already hurt. And they're not going to stop at this. It's not worth getting killed for.

JACK: That's my point exactly. That's why I'm trying to keep your admittedly delightful hands out of my pants because you don't need to know.

JENNIFER: Yes I do Jack!

JACK: NO! Listen....

 

SUDDENLY THERE IS A LOUD NOISE OUTSIDE. THEY STOP ARGUING AND LISTEN.

JACK: Somebody's out there. More than one someone.

JENNIFER: Right, I'll go see.

JACK: No, no, no.

JENNIFER: Jack, don't move. Just stay there. I can't do it Jack. Just stay.

SCENE THREE: JENNIFER GOES OUTSIDE TO SEE WHO OR WHAT MADE THE NOISE. THERE IS NO ONE THERE. JACK MEANWHILE CHECKS THAT THE PAGES ARE STILL IN HIS PANTS. WHEN JENNIFER COMES BACK INSIDE SHE FINDS JACK ASLEEP.

 

JENNIFER: Jack it was false alarm. There's nobody out there. Jack! Jack! Jack talk to me. How do you feel?

JACK: I'm just going to sleep here now. A nice hard bed is good for the back.

JENNIFER: Jack, I wish you'd let me get you some help.

JACK: No, no, no, no....

JENNIFER: Okay, we'll have it your way okay.

JACK: Right....

JENNIFER: Goodnight.

 

HE FALLS ASLEEP AGAIN. JENNIFER PUTS HIS JACKET OVER HIM AND HE SINGS SOFTLY TO HIMSELF.

 

JACK: "Put the light on for me, for tonight I can see, another place that I would rather be....keep the light on for me, for tonight I can see....another place...."

 

WHILE HE IS DOZING JENNIFER SNEAKS OVER AND TAKES THE PAGES OUT OF HIS PANTS. JUST AS SHE GETS THEM, THEY HEAR THE DOOR OF THE WAREHOUSE OPEN.

 

JACK: Hey, hey, keep it down. (Waking up) Oh this is a bad dream. I told you to go.

JENNIFER: Jack, I think you're friends are back.

JACK: You're supposed to be gone by now. You'd be gone if you'd listened to me.

JENNIFER: I know but I didn't listen.

JACK: Why don't you listen?

JENNIFER: Well because you're usually never right but maybe you are this time.

JACK: HIDE! Hide now. Over there, behind the....don't argue with me. GO!

 

FROM OUTSIDE THEY HEAR THE THUGS.

 

THUG: WE KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE DEVERAUX! GET OUT HERE OR WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THIS DOOR DOWN.

 

JACK SIGNALS JENNIFER TO DUCK DOWN AND HIDE.

 

JACK: Get down, down!

 

THE THUGS BREAK IN AND COME RUNNING OVER TO JACK.

 

THUG: Deveraux, make this easy on yourself. We know you've got what we want so give it to us or we'll take it even if we have to kill you to get it.

 

SCENE ONE: JACK IS STILL BEING HELD BY THE THUGS IN THE WAREHOUSE AND JENNIFER IS HIDING.

 

THUG: Hand it over, Deveraux!

JACK: Jack, please. After all we've been through, who needs to stand on formality.

THUG: Come on, come on. We don't have all night.

JACK: Look I admire your persistence. I tell you what, I'll give you my wallet, my credit cards, whatever you want. Look I don't seem to have what you want.

 

THEY DRAG JACK TO HIS FEET. JENNIFER WATCHES, TERRIFIED FOR JACK'S SAFETY.

 

JACK: ARGH, ARGH, ARGH. Look why don't we just call it night....

THUG: If you're holding out on us Jackie, you're going to be real, real sorry.

 

THEY SEARCH HIM.

 

THUG: Anything?

THUG 2: He's clean.

JACK: He is? Yeah, I don't seem to have anything you want so it's been really nice. We'll have to do it again sometime.... (They thump him again.) ....time.

THUG: You're lucky this time Deveraux. But we'll be back.

JACK: You know sometime we're all going to look back on this and laugh. Be careful out there. It's a dang....it's a dang....

 

THE MEN LEAVE AND JACK COLLAPSES ON THE FLOOR. JENNIFER RUSHES OVER TO HELP HIM.

 

JENNIFER: Jack, Jack, are you okay. You don't look so good.

JACK: Oh thank you for your care nurse. I'll tell you one thing. I feel a lot worse than I look.

JENNIFER: Alright Jack, can you walk?

JACK: Oh I can walk really well but right now I'm just going to relax, right.

JENNIFER: No because I'm beginning to think this isn't the best place to unwind, okay.

JACK: What are you talking about? Those guys? That was just boys playing around. A little male bonding, don't worry about it.

JENNIFER: Good, good, Jack, get up. If you've got a sense of humor you can walk Jack. Let's go.

 

SHE WRENCHES HIM UP BY THE ARM.

 

JACK: Oooooh, you've got a grip like a truck driver.

JENNIFER: Oh good Jack, my hero. I don't want to wait around for Mutt and Jeff to come back tonight, okay.

JACK: We're not going anywhere until we talk.

JENNIFER: Really! Jack I really enjoy talking with you sometimes but maybe we can do it later okay.

JACK: No, right now! We have to talk about what you have to give back to me and you know exactly what I'm talking about. I want the pages!

JENNIFER: What pages Jack? I don't know....

JACK: THE PAGES! I want the pages.

SCENE TWO: JACK AND JENNIFER ARE STILL ARGUING OVER THE PAGES. SHE LETS GO OF HIS ARM AND HE FALLS OVER AGAIN.

 

JENNIFER: You see Jack, that's what happens when you accuse someone when you don't have any proof.

JACK: I got proof. You were the only one who was in my pants.

JENNIFER: Was I?

JACK: YES! Stop kidding with me. I want those pages.

JENNIFER: Come on Jack.

JACK: Okay stop playing with me. This is no game. Give me those pages or else.

JENNIFER: Or else what?

JACK: Or else a lot of people are going to get hurt a lot worse than I'm hurting right now.

JENNIFER: You really mean that don't you Jack.

JACK: Thank you for finally noticing.

JENNIFER: Alright, alright, alright. I do have them.

JACK: Surprise.

JENNIFER: But I'm not going to give them to you yet.

JACK: What the....why not?

JENNIFER: I want to read them first.

JACK: No, give....give....AAAAARRRGH!

 

JACK FALLS AGAIN AS HE IS TRYING TO GRAB THEM FROM HER. SHE STARTS TO READ THE PAGES. AS SHE READS WHAT IS WRITTEN SHE LOOKS FROM SURPRISED TO SHOCKED.

JACK: Give me the pages. Give me the pages.

JENNIFER: What is this all about Jack?

JACK: Give me the pages. Just don't look at them!

JENNIFER: I don't believe this.

JACK: Can I have back my private pages, please?

JENNIFER: Jack, Jack, this is incredible. How did you get these?

JACK: Alright, if you really want to know, I was the one who found the way to Toscano's diary and I was the one who (motioning) sliced the pages out before I gave the whole thing to Isabella.

JENNIFER: Jack this is the genuine article.

JACK: Yes, it's the Real McCoy.

JENNIFER: And you took these pages out so Isabella wouldn't see them.

JACK: Well knowing Isabella, don't you think it's the best thing to do?

JENNIFER: Jack you're a good friend to do that for Isabella. I mean this was dangerous for you.

JACK: Oh, give me a break. When I was slicing those pages out of that book I had no idea it was going to get so dangerous.

JENNIFER: Well who are those guys that attacked you and what do they want with these and why would they want to kill somebody for these?

JACK: Nice to know that you're using your journalistic training. Great questions but unfortunately I don't have the answers.

JENNIFER: Well all we know is whoever wants these means business Jack.

JACK: That's right! They mean business and they're not going to stop until they get what they want!

JENNIFER: Alright, well what kind of friend would I be if I let you face this alone, Jack?

JACK: No forget about it! You're not going to do it. I'm not going to get myself killed telling Emilio that you got yourself killed!

JENNIFER: You keep forgetting that I have the pages. As long as I have the pages, I'm involved.

JACK: No, I'll get the pages!

 

HE MAKES A LEAP TOWARDS HER BUT IS TOO HURT TO REACH THEM.

 

JENNIFER: Jack, if you want the pages so bad, you are going to have to come and get them!

 

SHE PUSHES THE PAGES DOWN THE FRONT OF HER TOP. JACK STARES AT HER.

 

JENNIFER: Come and get them Jack.

 

SHE PATS THEM DOWN IN PLACE.

 

JENNIFER: Well now that we have that settled Jack, maybe you'll listen to reason.

JACK: No, this is not up for discussion. You are not getting involved, period.

JENNIFER: Jack, hear me out, okay. We know that these people want these papers and they think that you have them.

JACK: And I will have them!

JENNIFER: No you won't because I have them and I can keep them safe until we find out who wants them so badly, okay.

JACK: But the people that want them are going to kill you as soon as look at you!

 

JACK COUGHS AND LAYS BACK AND JENNIFER USES THAT AS AN EXCUSE TO DISTRACT HIM.

 

JENNIFER: Jack! Jack! You look terrible.

JACK: I do?

JENNIFER: Jack you look so sick. Yeah, lets take a rain check on this discussion and get you home. Come on Jack, you look so bad.

JACK: Listen....I want to tell you something.

JENNIFER: I gotta get you home fast and bandage you up, okay.

JACK: Listen, I'm not going to give up on this.

JENNIFER: I know but I want to get you home. I'm worried about you Jack.

JACK: I'm going to get those pages sooner or later.

JENNIFER: Alright, come on Jack.

JACK: Just don't humor me, alright!

JENNIFER: I've got to get you home alright.

 

SHE HELPS HIM UP AND THEY STAGGER OUT THE DOOR.

 

JACK: You better get the door, there's a draft!

SCENE THREE: A SHORT TIME LATER JACK IS LYING ON HIS BED. HIS SHIRT IS UNTUCKED AND HE IS BRUISED ALL OVER. JENNIFER COMES OUT OF THE BATHROOM WITH A BOWL AND A WASH CLOTH.

 

JENNIFER: Okay, alright, um, let's see. Let's get your shirt off, okay.

JACK: Hold it! No one's had to help me take my shirt off since I was two years old. I think I can do it myself, thank you!

JENNIFER: Alright Jack.

 

HE TRIES TO LIFT HIS ARMS TO REACH THE BUTTONS BUT HE IS IN TOO MUCH PAIN.

 

JACK: Aaaarrgghh....aaaargh!

JENNIFER: Okay, okay, now that you've got your Superman attack out of your system, let me help you.

 

SHE LEANS OVER HIM AND SLOWLY BEGINS TO UNDO EACH BUTTON. JACK WATCHES HER CAREFULLY, ENJOYING EVERY MINUTE BUT IS SCARED AT THE SAME TIME. SHE PEELS BACK HIS SHIRT AND PICKS UP THE WASHCLOTH.

JENNIFER: Okay, alright I'm just going clean you up now, alright.

 

SHE GENTLY PUTS THE CLOTH ON HIS CHEST AND HE WINCES.

 

JENNIFER: You're hurt really bad Jack.

JACK: Thanks for the update, Little Miss Candystriper.

JENNIFER: No Jack, I mean it. This is really nasty. You know it's a good thing that I'm here.

 

JACK IS BEGINNING TO *REALLY* ENJOY HIS SITUATION.

 

JACK: Yeah....it's a good thing I'm feeling better.

 

SHE LEANS CLOSER AND CLOSER TO HIM UNTIL THEY BEGIN TO KISS GENTLY ON THE LIPS.

THEY KISS THREE OR FOUR TIMES THEN HE SLOWLY RUNS HIS HAND UP HER LEFT ARM AND SLIPS HIS HAND DOWN HER FRONT. SHE LOOKS UP IN SHOCK.

 

JENNIFER: Jack!

 

SHE SUDDENLY FEELS HIM SLIP THE PAGES OUT OF HER TOP. JACK HAS A SMUG, SELF-SATISFIED LOOK ON HIS FACE.

 

JACK: Told you I'd get it!

JENNIFER: That was the most.... most miserable mean, miserable thing mean sneaky thing you've ever done Jack!

JACK: Hey, hey, hey, remember I'm an injured man.

JENNIFER: Oh, yeah well, you haven't seen anything yet Jack Deveraux.

JACK: Neither have you!

JENNIFER: Give me that!

 

HE STICKS THEM DOWN HIS PANTS.

 

JENNIFER: You are a worm Jack!

JACK: I'd rather be a worm than a snake! I tell you something. You've given up the little Miss Florence Nightingale act haven't you?

JENNIFER: Oh yeah Jack! I always finish something that I start!

 

SHE PICKS UP THE CLOTH AND BEGINS TO WIPE HIS CHEST REALLY HARD. WITH EACH RUB JACK GROANS FROM THE PAIN. EACH TIME HE TRIES TO SAY SOMETHING SHE RUBS HIM HARDER, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIM TO SAY ANYTHING.

 

JACK: AAAARRRRGGGHHHH....OOUUCCCCHHH....AAAAARRRRGGGHH. Listen I was better off with the boys in the warehouse.

JENNIFER: Oh shut up Jack, alright. I don't even know why I'm helping you. It keeps slipping my mind why.

 

JENNIFER CONTINUES TO ROUGHLY RUB HIS BRUISING.

 

JACK: I'm the one helping you. I'm trying to keep you from getting ki....aaarrrgghh....I'm trying to get it through your thick sk....aaarrrggghhhh....

JENNIFER: My thick skull? You're the one with the thick skull Jack. You don't understand Jack, okay, even though I don't have the papers, I'm still in danger because I know the secret. And I know that you want me out of your life but we're in this together and there's no getting away from it, is there Jack.

 

SHE MOVES CLOSE TO HIS FACE AND RUNS HER HAND THROUGH HIS HAIR. THEY BOTH ARE ENJOYING THE CLOSENESS.

 

JACK: Well....ah....ah....

 

HE RUNS HIS LEFT ARM AROUND HER NECK AND SLOWLY PULLS HER CLOSER. THEIR LIPS ARE JUST TOUCHING WHEN THERE IS KNOCK ON THE DOOR.

 

JACK: (Asking Jennifer) Who is that? Shel....Sheldon? WHO IS THAT?

 

IT IS NOT SHELDON, BUT MELISSA.

 

MELISSA: Melissa.

JENNIFER: Give me the pages Jack.

 

JENNIFER STRUGGLES TO GET HER HANDS DOWN HIS PANTS TO GET THE PAPERS.

 

JACK: No. Get out of there. No you don't! MELISSA, MELISSA! GET IN HERE QUICK, QUICK!

 

JACK AND JENNIFER STOP STRUGGLING AS MELISSA WALKS IN. JENNIFER HAS SAT ON HIS HAND; JACK MOVES IT AWAY, AND SHAKES IT. MELISSA NOTICES THAT THEY ARE LYING TOGETHER ON THE BED AND JACK'S SHIRT IS OFF.

 

MELISSA: Hi, I hope I wasn't interrupting anything. I was worried about you Jen. (Noticing that Jack is bruised and bleeding.) What happened to him?

JACK: Him got mugged.

JENNIFER: He's fine now.

MELISSA: Are you sure?

JACK: Oh sure, sure. I'll be back in rare form in no time. Ah....please fire Sheldon on the way out.

MELISSA: Right. Then you won't mind if I steal my cousin away from you?

JACK: No, oh Nurse Diesel? No not at all

 

JENNIFER THUMPS HIM IN THE RIBS. JACK GROANS.

 

JACK: No please take her. You know something Jennifer, we have to remember not to do this again.

JENNIFER: Goodbye Jack. Forget about the chicken soup. I wouldn't deliver it to you if you were on your deathbed Jack.

 

JENNIFER AND MELISSA GO OUT AND SHUT THE DOOR. MELISSA NOTICES THAT DESPITE IT ALL, JACK AND JENNIFER SEEM TO HAVE FEELINGS FOR ONE ANOTHER.

 

MELISSA: Are you sure you wanted to leave?

JENNIFER: Of course. He's miserable, he's ungrateful, he's sneaky!

MELISSA: Do you still have feelings for him Jennifer? Be honest, not to me, it doesn't matter, but to yourself.

 

JENNIFER OPENS THE DOOR AND LOOKS IN AT JACK WHO IS READING THE PAGES.

JENNIFER: Oh Jack!

 

SHE SHUTS THE DOOR AND JACK MUTTERS TO HIMSELF.

 

JACK: Oh Jennifer!