EPISODE EIGHT
SCENE ONE - INT. - JENNIFER'S OFFICE - SPECTATOR - DAY
It is a few days later. JENNIFER is sitting in her office, going over some assignments for the day. She is also on the phone speaking with one of the reporters.
JENNIFER: I'm sorry but this story is not going to cut it. (BEAT) I understand that it is the type of story you've been turning in, but stories on mutant babies being born in farmhouses on the outskirts of Salem are not in line with the editorial policy of our new owner. (JULIE'S face appears in the doorway to JENNIFER'S office. JENNIFER sees her and waves her inside.) I'm sorry you feel that way. Feel free to take it up with Mr. Scofield. His new extension in 215. But he's just going to tell you the same thing I did.
JENNIFER sighs and hangs up the phone
JULIE: (sarcastically) Pleasant day?
JENNIFER: It will be easier once we sift through all of the good and the bad around here. Vern and I have had at least a million meetings discussing the new policies and they're still not getting it.
JULIE: You'll get through it.
JENNIFER: We have to Julie. All of us really want to see the Spectator back on top where it belongs. You wouldn't believe how run down Titan let it get. I don't know how Vern held out as long as he did.
JULIE: Ah yes, Vern. How's he doing now that he's back to being Jack's right hand man?
JENNIFER: (laughing) Well you know Jack and Vern. They fight a great deal, but it's only because they respect each other so much. Jack will exasperate and abuse Vern and Vern ... well Vern will take it all in stride, like he always has.
JULIE: Sounds like someone else I know in Jack's life.
JENNIFER: (smiling but ignoring JULIE'S insinuation) So what can I do for you Julie?
JULIE: Well actually there's a couple of things I wanted to ask you. The first has to do with Hope. Have you noticed her strange behavior lately?
JENNIFER: (thinking) Well, she's seemed stressed, but I figured that was planning the wedding and JT's illness.
JULIE: (shaking her head) No, this is more recent.
JENNIFER: I'm sorry Julie. Since we returned home from Paris, we have been so busy house hunting and moving and now all of this with the Spectator that I feel like I see Jack and Abby and that's it.
JULIE: I understand.
JENNIFER: I could call her though and just let her know that I'm here if she needs to talk about anything that might be worrying her. Sometimes, just getting things out can help.
JULIE: (reaching across the desk and squeezing JENNIFER'S hand) That would be wonderful darling. Thank you.
JENNIFER: I'd do anything to help Hope if she's in trouble, you know that. (BEAT) Now what was this second thing?
JULIE: Something much happier. Jack has been home for almost a month and you've been here a bit longer. Now you two and Abby have a new home and some of us were thinking that it's about time that we have a Welcome home Jack, Jennifer and Abby - slash - housewarming - slash - Congratulations on regaining the Spectator party for all of you.
JENNIFER: (touched by the gesture) That's very nice of you Julie, but you know Jack doesn't like that sort of attention.
JULIE: I know he pretends not to like it, but Jennifer, darling, he loves our family. I know he does. And even if you're not back together (arches her eyebrow at JENNIFER) we all adore him too.
JENNIFER: (hating the lies) Julie, there's - (the phone rings) Just a second. (PICKS UP THE PHONE) Hello? (BEAT) Yes Jack (BEAT) I'll be right in there. (BEAT) Okay ... okay ... yes Jack ... please just calm down. (hangs up the phone - JULIE is amused) I'm sorry Julie, more problems with the reporters. (She stands and begins to gather some folders)
JULIE: What should I do about the party Jennifer?
JENNIFER: Umm ... I really just don't think (walks to the door and opens it - looking back at JULIE) You know what? I'll talk to Jack about it and see what he says and I'll call you tonight, how's that?
JENNIFER spins and walks out
JULIE: (waving) Good ... bye darling.
OUT on JULIE shaking her head and getting ready to leave
SCENE TWO - INT. - JACK'S OFFICE - DAY
JACK, JENNIFER and VERN are all in JACK'S office, discussing their reporter problems.
JACK: Well if they won't cooperate, we fire them.
JENNIFER: Jack they're good reporters -
VERN: They've just been skating through on their stories for the past few years. They've got to get out of those lazy habits -
JACK: (looking intently at VERN) Which reminds me of something. How could you let that happen to our paper?
VERN: Do I need to remind you that you were the one who lost "our" paper?
JENNIFER: Alright you two, both of you to your respective corners. (JACK takes a seat in his chair and VERN takes the couch) Okay. The three of us sniping at each other won't do any good for this place. We have to show a united front.
VERN: (dejectedly) You're right Jenny-girl.
JENNIFER looks at JACK
JACK: (mumbling) I still think we should fire the lot of them and start fresh.
JENNIFER: If we do that, it would be the three of us putting out this paper and that wouldn't make a whole lot of sense.
JACK: (looking as though it makes perfect sense to him) Yes and (nods realizing she is right) - and that is not practical. (sits back in his seat and contemplates the situation) So you think if I were to call a meeting with everyone where we outline, clearly, the new editorial policy and what is expected of them that it would help?
JENNIFER and VERN look at each other in disbelief that JACK would give in and ask for their opinion on something.
VERN: Well at least if we do that, we'll have something legal and official to fall back on if we do have to fire someone.
JENNIFER nods. She looks at JACK and can tell he's upset.
JENNIFER: Vern, why don't you go to Mary and tell her to send out an email to everyone about the meeting. Tell them it will be mandatory and take place the day after tomorrow. (turns to JACK) Jack? The day after tomorrow?
JACK: (faraway look in his eyes) Huh? Yes, yes, the day after tomorrow and make it bright and early too.
VERN: (concerned) Sure Jack. I suppose we should all meet this afternoon ... discuss this policy?
JENNIFER: (equally concerned) Yes, Vern. About two-thirty?
VERN nods and glances once more at JACK before leaving
JENNIFER: (turning to face JACK) So, are you going to tell me what's bothering you?
OUT on JACK
SCENE THREE - IN PROGRESS
JACK: Isn't it obvious? These reporters are going to drive me crazy.
JENNIFER: Oh it's not the first time you've had problems with reporters.
JACK: (sighs) Hmm ... but they have twice the attitude, half the talent, little of the enthusiasm and (slight pause) none of the beauty that pesky cub reporter had.
JENNIFER: (smiling) Well you know I still have plenty of attitude and enthusiasm and we're gonna get through to them. (BEAT) And I know you better now too.
JACK: Oh no I think you had me pegged then too.
JENNIFER: Jack, I know this is frustrating you, but it isn't all of it.
JACK: No, it isn't (He stands up and walks to her, taking her hands in his) We worked so hard Jennifer to build this, our little newspaper, into something special and Titan neglected it, ruined it, turned it into some cheap, second-rate tabloid.
JENNIFER: (wrapping her arms around him) Jack, I know you love this paper, that it is your baby. But we can rebuild it again. (BEAT) This isn't like you at least not when it comes to this paper. You've always believed in it.
JACK: This isn't just my baby. I meant it when I said our paper. It's yours and mine and Vern's and it's Abigail's future. I want it to be something we all can take pride in -
JENNIFER: And we will (backs up and looks in his eyes) You're still not telling me everything. There's more to it, I can tell Jack Deveraux. You can't hide from me, not anymore.
JACK walks back around to his chair and takes his seat but says nothing
JENNIFER: (frustrated) Fine Jack. Nothing to say. Well, I have something to tell you. (BEAT) Julie wants to throw you a welcome home party.
JACK: (groans) Jennifer, I hate those things.
JENNIFER: (goes over and kneels in front of him) Do you think I don't know that? That's exactly what I told her. But you know what Jack, I think it would be fun. (BEAT - softer now) I almost told her the truth today. She kept dropping all of these hints about us. I can't take this anymore Jack. Our family (JACK turns his face from her, but she grabs him and makes him listen to her) Our family wants to be happy for us and I don't see any reason why we shouldn't allow them to be.
JACK sighs. He turns away from her and reaches into his desk, pulling out a few pieces of paper. He hands them to her and then stands up and walks over to get a glass of water from the side table.
JENNIFER: (reading) When - when did you get these?
JACK: The first one came when we were staying with your grandmother. (takes a sip of his water) I found the last one yesterday morning on the desk in our living room.
JENNIFER: In our house? Someone broke into our house and left these little "warnings" for us and you didn't tell me?
JACK: I didn't want to worry you.
JENNIFER: That's it Jack. We're done. (drops the letters and walks over to him) I'm not going to play this little game anymore. Whoever is sending these threats obviously knows that we're still together, so we're telling our family and we're telling them soon.
JACK: (mumbling) Agreed.
JENNIFER: What?
OUT on JENNIFER
SCENE FOUR - IN PROGRESS
JACK and JENNIFER are standing near the side table, facing each other
JACK: I agree. Obviously the person or group or whomever is sending us these messages know what we're up to, so there is no point in lying to your - to our family. (BEAT) But we're not going to tell them at this little party. If I know Julie, half of Salem will be there and those people don't need to know the details of our private lives. Let them have the party and then we'll tell the family at some other time.
JENNIFER: Okay.
JACK: It'll be easier this way and -
JENNIFER: (wrapping her arms around him and resting her head on his chest) Nothing about this is easy Jack. I know you're worried and scared for Abby -
JACK: And you.
JENNIFER: (her head still on his chest, she smiles) And me, but you don't have to bear the brunt of this alone Jack. We got into this thing together (pulls back and looks at him) and we're going to get through this together.
JACK: Hmm ... (walks away and sits in his chair)
JENNIFER: (turning to him) We can Jack.
JACK: We don't even know who we're beating here Jennifer. And I - I can't shake this feeling that this is something more than just our investigations in Africa.
JENNIFER: I don't know what you mean.
JACK: Why would they follow us to Salem? For all intents and purposes, we finished those investigations when we left Africa. So why, months later, are we still receiving threats? (getting more agitated) And why the hell don't they just get it over with already? The anticipation is trying my patience.
JENNIFER: (horrified to see him this way) You don't mean that.
JACK: Don't I? I spent six months away from you and our daughter to try to keep you safe and it didn't do a damn bit of good.
JENNIFER walks over and stands behind his chair, massaging his shoulders
JACK: (softly) I hate fighting phantoms.
JENNIFER: (wraps her arms around his neck, he places a hand on her hands) We will figure this out Jack and then we won't be fighting phantoms anymore. We'll be defeating people who have tried to hurt us.
JACK sighs and leans his head back in the chair and closes his eyes.
OUT on JENNIFER leaning over and kissing him gently.
SCENE FIVE - INT. - JACK AND JENNIFER'S HOUSE - EVENING
It is getting dark and we see a shadowy figure making his way through the quiet, deserted house. After a few moments he glances around and then walks out the door.
SCENE SIX - IN PROGRESS
In the glow of the porch light we can make out a face. We recognize him as COLIN, JACK and JENNIFER'S friend from Africa, who was supposed to stay with her when she and ABIGAIL went to Ireland. He is closing the door.
ABIGAIL: (V.O.) Did you have a hard day at the newspaper?
We see panic cross COLIN'S face
JENNIFER: (V.O.) Well it was a little difficult in the morning -
JACK: (V.O.) But it got better and better in the afternoon.
COLIN is calming down as he turns in their direction. We see JENNIFER and JACK walking up the front walk. ABIGAIL is in between them, holding each of their hands. JACK and JENNIFER are completely focused on their daughter so they don't notice COLIN.
JENNIFER: And how do you like spending the afternoon with Grandma after school?
ABIGAIL: Oh I like it just fine (looking up at the door) Oh my goodness (letting go of JACK and JENNIFER'S hands and rushing forward) Uncle Colin! (She leaps into his arms)
JACK and JENNIFER are both obviously shocked to see him
OUT on COLIN'S smiling face
END EPISODE EIGHT
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