Jack's Birthday Surprise
SCENE ONE - INT. - HALLWAY - SPECTATOR OFFICES - NIGHT
JACK is blindfolded and JENNIFER is leading him down the hallway to his office. As they're walking he bumps into the wall.
JENNIFER: Sorry, oh Jack, sorry.
JACK: I thought you were supposed to be my guide (He tries to lift the blindfold)
JENNIFER: (slapping his hand) I told you to stop and scoot to the left.
JACK: No, you said scoot left and then stop.
JENNIFER: I did not.
JACK: You did so, you said -
JENNIFER reaches up with one hand, covers his mouth, and then turns to the door.
JENNIFER: Whatever you say Jack. We're here now so it doesn't matter. But you can't take off the blindfold just yet.
JACK: Why? Do you have a little surprise for me?
JENNIFER leads him into his office.
JENNIFER: You're the reporter (pushes him down into a chair) you figure it out.
She walks around the office lighting candles as they speak.
JACK: Well, I'm a bit out of practice with investigative journalism.
JENNIFER: I'd guess so.
JACK: So this is my birthday surprise?
JENNIFER: Uh huh.
JACK: Hmm ... are you going to tie me up and have your way with me?
JENNIFER: (turning off the lights) Jack! (Smiles)
JACK: (chuckling) Well you must admit that would be a surprise.
JENNIFER: (walking over to him) But we only do that on Wednesdays. (Yanks off his blindfold)
JACK: So then it would be a sur - (looks around) The Spectator? This is your surprise?
JENNIFER: (smiling) Yep.
JACK: Jennifer, I'm here everyday and so are you, albeit sans the candlelight -
JENNIFER: And the dinner.
JACK: Dinner?
JENNIFER: Dinner and then even more of a surprise.
JACK: (mumbling) If it gets any more exciting I just might not die of a heart attack.
JENNIFER: (leans over and pinches his cheeks) You're gonna love everything I have in store for you tonight Jack. You just wait!
OUT on JENNIFER leaning down and kissing JACK
SCENE TWO - INT. - SPECTATOR - JACK'S OFFICE - LATER
JACK and JENNIFER are finishing up their dinner. JACK opens a second bottle of champagne.
JACK: Lucky I have this extra bottle lying around.
JENNIFER: Hmmm ... (kisses him) I'll replace the Pulitzer bottle tomorrow.
JACK looks at her and tries not to laugh. He says nothing, just pours them two more glasses of champagne.
JENNIFER: So how do you like your surprise so far?
JACK: It's not bad if you like Chinese food, champagne and the company of a bossy, but beautiful blonde. I happen to enjoy all three.
JENNIFER: Charmer.
JACK: So I believe that I was promised bigger and better surprises as the night continued.
JENNIFER: (sipping her champagne) Oh yeah. (BEAT) Can you see okay in this light?
JACK: (pulls her closer) Depends on what I need to see. (Tries to kiss her)
JENNIFER: (pulls away) No, no, no. Sit back down. (Hands him his glass) Here ya go.
JACK: I'm a little nervous.
JENNIFER: You're always a little nervous, but there's no reason to be. You see, Jack Deveraux, this is what you might call a retrospective - your life here at the Spectator and therefore your life with me.
JACK: Oh now I know I'm nervous.
JENNIFER rolls her eyes and holds up a mock newspaper with a picture of a younger JACK under the headline, "Former Politician Buys Paper"
JACK: (peeking through his fingers) Please Jennifer, stop the pain.
JENNIFER: (laughing and smiling) Sit back, relax and sip your champagne. You're just gonna love this.
OUT on JACK'S pretend embarrassment
SCENE THREE - JACK'S OFFICE - LATER
JENNIFER is sitting on JACK'S lap. They're laughing and kissing and various mockups are strewn around the office.
JACK: Well this certainly was fun. Thank you.
JENNIFER: You're welcome. But it's not quite over yet.
JACK: Oh please don't tell me Vern is hiding around here somewhere -
JENNIFER: No, he's not. (Kisses him)
JACK: Perhaps we should head on home for the rest of this evening? (Kisses her)
JENNIFER: Nope, not yet. (BEAT) Which one of these was your favorite?
JACK: My favorite? (Unsure) Well, I don't - which one is your favorite?
JENNIFER: Uh uh uh.
JACK: Damn if I didn't teach you too well. Hmm ... okay ... (looks at a few of the papers and smiles pointing to one) That one.
It is a story about their wedding.
JENNIFER: (smiling) Hmm ... that one was my favorite until I came across a better one.
JENNIFER hops up from JACK'S lap and walks over to his desk, picking up another newsaper. She returns to face him.
JACK: What, pray tell, do you have behind your back, Miss Horton?
JENNIFER: Wouldn't you just love to know?
JACK makes a move as though he's going to tickle her, but she steps back.
JENNIFER: Okay, anything but that. I'll show you.
JENNIFER brings the paper up in front of her face for him to read it.
JACK: (reading the headline) "Deveraux agrees to remarry former partner, Jennifer Horton" (He pushes the paper down so he can look at her) Wh - what?
JENNIFER: (tearing up) Will you marry me, Jack Deveraux?
JACK: This is highly unorthodox, Miss H.
JENNIFER: Not really, not for us.
JACK just smiles.
JENNIFER: (cont.) Besides don't you think you've asked me enough times for one lifetime?
JACK: (teasing) So does that mean I should turn you down until you catch up?
JENNIFER:(teasing) Well maybe this is a one-time only offer. Say yes tonight or I might not ask you again.
JACK: Come now Miss Horton, where's your sense of adventure? Where would we be today if I hadn't suffered the humiliation of seven separate proposals and rejections?
JENNIFER: Ah, incorrect information. I want a retraction.
JACK begins listing the proposals.
JACK: Rain, rooftop, courthouse, Santa suit, at our house, in the park, over dinner ... that's seven by my math.
JENNIFER: But I said yes twice so that's only five rejections.
JACK: You're going to argue with a man who was humiliated and crushed five times? I think you owe me those other two just for the embarrassment.
JENNIFER: (smiling) I had my reasons for most of those no's. (BEAT) So what's it going to be Jack, a lifetime together or more embarrassment in the future for you?
JACK: (sitting on the couch) Hmm ... let me think...
JENNIFER: It shouldn't be that hard of a decision Jack.
JACK: (pulls her onto his lap) Maybe I just need a sample of our lifetime together first.
JENNIFER: Jack! (Laughing) What kind of girl do you think I am?
JACK: (kisses her gently) I think you're the kind of woman ... the kind of woman I could spend the rest of my life with: loving, fighting, competing with, supporting -
JENNIFER: So would that be a yes?
JACK: Definitely yes.
JENNIFER wraps her arms around his neck and smiles seductively, although there are tears in her eyes, before leaning in for a kiss.
JACK: Mmm ... perhaps (kiss) we should (kiss) take this little show home (kiss)
JENNIFER: I can't wait (kiss) until we get home Jack. (kiss) Besides no one is here (kiss)
JACK: (pulls back) But I don't think the boss would like this.
JENNIFER: (pulls him closer and loosens his tie) I don't think the boss would mind at all. In fact I think the boss would appreciate this. (Unbuttons his shirt)
JACK shrugs his shoulders, easily giving into JENNIFER'S advances. As they begin to make love the camera pans over to JACK'S desk where one last newspaper rests. The headline reads, "Deveraux-Horton once again control the Spectator".
OUT on the headline.
THE END
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