Episode 9
SCENE ONE - EXT. - JACK AND JENNIFER'S HOUSE - NIGHT
JACK and JENNIFER have just found COLIN outside of their house. COLIN is holding ABIGAIL in his arms as they look out on JACK and JENNIFER'S shocked faces.
COLIN: Well I don't expect you to rush into my arms like the little one here, but don't I even deserve a hello?
JENNIFER and JACK exchange a look
JENNIFER: We're just - of course, Colin, of course we're happy to see you.
She walks over and gives him a hug but JACK remains somewhat aloof.
JACK: How was your flight over from ... where were you exactly?
COLIN releases JENNIFER from their hug and sets down ABIGAIL. He walks closer to JACK.
COLIN: It was fine. Just flew in from Rome.
JACK: And the first thing you do is check in on us? (BEAT) We're flattered.
COLIN: Come now Jack. I've no other reason for being here but to check on all of you.
JENNIFER: (sensing the tension) Well, why don't you come in Colin (she turns and puts her key in the lock) and we'll visit. I'm afraid we already had dinner with Grandma but I'm sure we can find you a little something.
COLIN: Oh no, I'd hate to impose -
JACK: (clapping his hand on COLIN'S shoulder) No, no. We can't have you spreading the word around the globe that Jennifer Horton and Jack Deveraux are bad hosts.
COLIN smiles weakly and JENNIFER and ABIGAIL head into the house.
JACK: And we've so much to catch up on, my friend.
OUT on JACK guiding COLIN through the door.
SCENE TWO - INT. - JACK AND JENNIFER'S HOUSE - NIGHT
JENNIFER and ABIGAIL have walked through to the kitchen. JACK and COLIN are in the living room. COLIN walks over to one of the shelves and picks up a picture. He appears nervous. JACK is watching his every move.
COLIN: One of my favorite pictures of your family Jack.
JACK: Hmmm ... as I recall you took that picture of us and Bill at Lake Victoria.
COLIN: (setting it down and moving to the desk) No, I think it was your friend Eve that took that one. She had quite an eye for that sort of thing.
JACK: Yes she did and still does. She's enjoying herself. Traveling, taking pictures, men fawning all over her ... it's everything she's ever wanted.
COLIN: Photography ... a fun hobby ... one of my favorites.
JACK: Among many.
COLIN turns to look at him curiously. JENNIFER pops her head through the doorway.
JENNIFER: How about leftover lasagna?
COLIN: (smiling) Sounds great.
ABIGAIL: (V.O.) Oh no mommy. This one has the nasty green stuff too.
JENNIFER grimaces and JACK smirks at her
JACK: We always have never-ending fuzzy leftovers when you cook.
JENNIFER: Funny Jack.
ABIGAIL: (entering the room) There's leftover Chinese from last night, mommy.
JACK: (jokingly) No potstickers though. Miss Horton and her mini Miss Manners ate them all.
ABIGAIL AND JENNIFER: (laughing) We only eat them because you let them go to waste -
ABIGAIL: Daddy!
JENNIFER: Jack!
JACK: (To COLIN) Daddies and Jacks get no respect around here. (BEAT) Well what are you waiting for, our friend Colin is probably starving. Quit it, quit laughing (He walks over and hustles them both off to the kitchen. The girls are still giggling)
COLIN sighs and quietly opens the top drawer of the desk, pulling an envelope out and slipping it in his pocket.
COLIN: Too close.
OUT on COLIN
SCENE THREE - INT. - JACK AND JENNIFER'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
It is sometime later. ABIGAIL is sitting on JENNIFER'S lap on the couch. JACK sits on the chair and COLIN is on the opposite side of the couch.
COLIN: (setting his plate on the coffee table and wiping his mouth with a napkin) That hit the spot Miss Abby.
ABIGAIL: (deadpans) I slaved over it for hours.
JACK: Or five minutes in front of the microwave. It's a lifetime to a child. (smiles) She'll be as fine a cook as her mother someday with skills like those.
JENNIFER: (enjoying the teasing) Hmmm ... no one can whip up a frozen dinner in the microwave like I can.
JENNIFER turns to look at JACK and they exchange wide grins
COLIN: I'm so glad to see you all well and happy, back together as you belong.
ABIGAIL: Mommy found daddy in Paris and brought him home for us.
COLIN: Oh really?
ABIGAIL nods excitedly
JACK: Yes she did. (BEAT) And now I think it is time for you to go find your toothbrush Abigail.
ABIGAIL: But daddy!
JACK: No buts and don't even try giving me that look with your eyes that mommy taught you because it won't work. (ABIGAIL smiles at JENNIFER and they both turn to JACK, giving him 'the look'. JACK squeezes his eyes shut) It won't work!
JENNIFER: Daddy is right baby. It's time for bed. You have a long and busy day at school tomorrow.
ABIGAIL: Okay. (she jumps up and runs to COLIN) We have a field trip tomorrow. We're going to the science center where you can see all sorts of fun things, like tornadoes and dinosaurs.
COLIN: (tousles her hair) Sounds like a great deal of fun.
ABIGAIL: Will you be here tomorrow to visit some more Uncle Colin?
COLIN: (unsure) We'll see darlin'.
ABIGAIL: (hugging him) I hope you are. (runs back to JENNIFER and hugs her) Good night mommy. (scoots over to JACK and looks him in the eye) Good night daddy. Hurry up and come tell me my story! (hugs him) Tonight is the pillow story.
JACK: Oh the pillow story ...
JENNIFER: One of my favorites.
JACK: Hehehe. (To ABIGAIL) Okay princess, we'll be up in a bit. Go get ready.
ABIGAIL: I'll be waiting.
ABIGAIL runs out of the room. JACK, JENNIFER and COLIN are all silent for a few moments.
COLIN: (clears his throat) So you're back working for a newspaper? I didn't figure you'd go back to that after the mess in Africa.
JENNIFER looks at him surprised
JACK: Not working for one - we own it. We bought back our paper - The Spectator.
JENNIFER: How did you know that we were working on the newspaper Colin? I thought you just got into town.
COLIN: (smoothly) I did. I heard Abby mention it to you both when you were coming up the walk.
JENNIFER: Oh.
JACK: Well you seem to know what we're doing here in Salem, Colin. So why don't you tell us exactly what you are doing here?
OUT on JACK'S curious face
SCENE FOUR - IN PROGRESS
JACK and JENNIFER are anxious to find out what COLIN is doing in Salem. He seems cool as he answers them.
COLIN: I told you Jack. I came to check on all of you.
JACK: (unconvinced) Check on us?
JENNIFER: What Jack means is that most people would call to check on someone rather than fly from Rome to Salem without so much as an email saying you're coming.
JACK: (standing and pacing) What Jack means is how the hell did you find us?
COLIN: Well you're not exactly keeping a low profile. Your story covering the coronation was all over the papers in Europe and a fine piece of journalism it was too. So I knew you'd been together in Paris and when you'd been there. I had some friends search for your destination when you left Paris and it was Salem. I located Jennifer's grandmother's phone number and asked her where you were living.
JENNIFER: Grandma didn't mention a phone call when we ate dinner.
COLIN: I phoned yesterday. She probably forgot.
JACK: (still suspicious) Humph. (BEAT) So why don't you explain to me how you could abandon my - how you could abandon Jennifer and Abigail in Ireland when I trusted you to watch them for me.
COLIN: I'm really sorry about that Jack. We are friends and ya know I'd hate it if you thought ill of me for it. But you all weren't the only ones receiving threats. I thought it best if I -
JACK: (interrupting) You thought it best for you to abandon them, to leave them alone in a strange country without letting me know where you were going or that there was even a change in plans?
COLIN: (standing to face JACK) It all worked for the best. You're all home and safe now, with no worries but who's going to order takeout.
JACK: No worries? (laughs) Right now my only concern is you leaving. I'm going to tuck my child in for the night and I don't want to see you here when I return.
JACK storms off up the stairs. JENNIFER stands.
JENNIFER: I'm sorry about that Colin.
COLIN: No, he's right. I let all of you down - left you open to danger -
JENNIFER: (walking him to the door) It's just that - well Jack is having a rough time right now with some things.
COLIN: What things?
JENNIFER: Just some things he has to deal with right now. I'm sure in no time he'll be relaxed and more understanding. I hope you'll afford him that time.
COLIN: Of course Jenny. (opens the door) Good night. Kiss the little one for me.
JENNIFER: I will. We'll see you soon. (closes the door)
CUT TO: COLIN outside
COLIN: Some things to deal with, huh? (BEAT) What problems are you having Jackie boy? And how can your old pal Colin help?
OUT on COLIN
SCENE FIVE - INT. - JACK AND JENNIFER'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
They've told ABIGAIL her bedtime story and JENNIFER is in bed as JACK paces nervously.
JENNIFER: (trying to distract him) Abby really loved the story tonight.
JACK: Uh huh.
JENNIFER: I'm thinking of buying her an English-German dictionary and a polka CD tomorrow.
JACK: Sounds nice.
JENNIFER: And then I'm going to see if I can't arrange a marriage between her and Hans Kalterborn, the sweet little German boy we met in Paris. I know he's fifteen, but seven years is nothing in the grand scheme of things.
JACK: Great.
JENNIFER: Jack Deveraux! Are you even listening to me?
JACK: (stops pacing. Looks up at her and then goes over to the bed) Yes, you're buying the child a bunch of German things including a husband. I was listening.
JENNIFER: Uh! And you don't even care?
JACK: Nonsense. I care, but we've been ma - (takes her hand) we've been together long enough for me to know when you're serious and when you're trying to distract me.
JENNIFER: (reluctantly giving in) True.
JACK: (settling on his side of the bed) Besides I know for a fact that you have no intention of being a grandmother before you're sixty, so I know you won't be looking for a husband for Abigail for another fifteen (a jab in his side) Ooof! Thirty ... err ... forty, I meant forty years.
JENNIFER: (smiling) That's better.
JENNIFER is looking at JACK expectantly
JACK: (looking at her - teasing) What? What?
JENNIFER raises an eyebrow
JACK: Oh, perhaps this is what you're eagerly anticipating? (he leans down and gently kisses her forehead and then her lips) Am I forgiven?
JENNIFER: Hmm ... (smiles wickedly) On one condition.
JACK: (inches away from her face - very intrigued) Oh really. What did you have in mind?
JACK begins kissing her neck
JENNIFER: (obviously enjoying this but staying focused) That we discuss this problem rationally, rather than you continuing to brood.
JACK pulls his head back to look at her. There is a determined look about her.
OUT on JACK'S surprise
SCENE SIX - IN PROGRESS.
JACK: Brood?
JENNIFER: Yes brood.
JACK: (putting some distance between them) I don't brood Jennifer. I may be solemn and on occasion I might be thinking pensively, but I do not brood.
JENNIFER: (crossing her arms) Then what do you call what you were doing earlier, pacing about the room with a perma-scowl on your face?
JACK: That (looks at her) that was, I was - (dejectedly) Okay so I was brooding.
JENNIFER: (smiles triumphantly) So are you going to talk about it with me or not?
JACK: Talk about what?
JENNIFER: Try again Jack. Do you think for a second that I'm going to let you out of this that easily? Uh uh. So spill. What exactly is your problem with Colin?
OUT on JENNIFER
SCENE SEVEN - IN PROGRESS
JACK opens his mouth to answer her, but can't seem to find the words so he closes his mouth again.
JENNIFER: (staring at him, her head tilted to the side) Well, I'm waiting.
JACK: I'm thinking. (she rolls her eyes and starts to get up from the bed) Okay, okay, please stay.
JENNIFER: Are you going to talk or joke with me?
JACK: Talk, I promise. (nods his head and smiles) Talking is what I do best after all.
JENNIFER: (sits Indian style facing him) That's debatable.
JACK: (smirks) Why, thank you. (BEAT) Okay don't you find it the least bit odd Jennifer that Colin is here?
JENNIFER: Well of course I find it strange Jack, but what good does it do us to be nasty to him?
JACK: What are you saying?
JENNIFER: I'm saying if we want to figure out what Colin is doing here, we have to have him comfortable with us. If you're bearing down on him every time you see him, he's going to be on his guard with us. (smiles)
JACK: So we give him enough rope -
JENNIFER: And he hangs himself with it.
JACK: (looking at her proudly) My God, I've finally corrupted your sweet mind. (grabs her face and kisses her)
JENNIFER: (laughing) It was never that sweet.
JACK: (calming) Okay so we - oh no. (BEAT) How do I make up for my reaction to him tonight?
JENNIFER: No problem. I told him you're a little stressed and just needed to calm down a bit. I'm pretty sure he bought it. (a long pause) Do you think Colin is involved in the threats?
JACK: (sighs) I don't want to think that Jennifer. I want to think he's our friend, that we're wrong. But there's just too much here that isn't adding up right.
JENNIFER: (holding JACK'S hand and thinking out loud) Or that adds up to something we're not ready to face yet.
JACK: (noticing her worry. He leans over and turns off his bedside lamp and then reaches over and does the same on JENNIFER'S side of the bed) Come here (He pulls her close to him) I don't want you to worry about this.
JENNIFER: How can I not worry?
JACK: I know. (kisses her forehead gently) I know you will worry, but I promised you that I'd take care of everything.
JENNIFER: Yeah, well someone has to take care of you.
JACK: Are you implying that I can't take care of myself?
JENNIFER looks up at him as though his question should sound ridiculous even to him.
JACK: (CONT.) Okay, I'm big enough to be able to admit when you're ri - when you're ri -
JENNIFER: Uh huh. Big enough are ya?
JACK: I guess you'll just have to take my word for it.
JENNIFER: (smiling) At least I will tonight. (BEAT) Good night Jack.
JACK leans over and kisses her and she settles in closer to him as he leans back on the pillow.
JACK: Pleasant dreams Jennifer.
OUT on a pensive JACK
SCENE EIGHT - INT. - HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
COLIN is on the phone - ONE WAY
COLIN: No worries here. Deveraux came home earlier than I thought he would, but it all worked out fine. (BEAT) I know it was a bit of a risk for me to take care of this myself, but it has to be done. (BEAT) No you just stay there. I will let you know when we're making our next move.
COLIN hangs up the phone
COLIN: In the meantime, I have to figure out what Deveraux is up to exactly.
OUT on COLIN
END EPISODE NINE
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