Episode One
SCENE ONE
INT. - BALLROOM - PARIS - NIGHT
The ballroom is beautifully decorated for GRETA'S coronation. Dozens of Salem residents are mingling amongst the wealthy of Europe - including many members of Europe's finest royal families.
JENNIFER, SHAWN, BO AND HOPE enter the ballroom.
JENNIFER: (looking around) Oh my word, it's - it's beautiful.
BO: Yes it is. Glad we talked you into coming with us?
JENNIFER: (rubbing her hands together in excitement) It's going to make a great story when I get back to Salem.
HOPE: Jen, we didn't bring you to Paris for a story. (sighing) Ever since you and Abby came home from Ireland, you've been upset and you've barely said two words to anyone outside of the family -
SHAWN: In other words Jen, mom is trying to find you a nice man.
They all laugh as the four of them make their way further into the ballroom and settle just off the dance floor.
JENNIFER: Believe me Shawn, I know exactly what your mother is up to. And while I appreciate the gesture, I'm not looking for someone to replace Jack. (she looks around again) I will admit this ballroom is beautiful and Paris is the city for lovers, but I think I'll leave all of that to your parents (BEAT) and perhaps yourself and a certain young lady who is going to be here tonight.
SHAWN grins sheepishly.
BO: Jen, we know you're still upset about you and Jack calling it quits, but it doesn't mean you can't enjoy all of this.
JENNIFER: I'm not upset about Jack and me. What's done is done where that is concerned.
HOPE: Jen, you were in love with Jack for a long time. It would be understandable if you were to shy away from another relationship --
SHAWN: (clearing his throat) You know, I believe mom mentioned something about dancing and enjoying yourself tonight. So can I twist your arm to dance with me Jen?
JENNIFER: (smiling in gratitude) Do you really want to dance with an old lady like me Shawn?
SHAWN: (taking her hand to lead her to the dance floor) I can't think of another woman around here more beautiful than you (BEAT) except my mother.
HOPE: (laughing) He only says that because Belle isn't here yet.
JENNIFER: I think that's our cue Shawn. (laughs) Let's go.
The cousins walk out to the dance floor to enjoy the festivities while BO and HOPE look on, smiling and whispering to each other.
SHAWN: I'm real sorry about my mom and dad. They're just worried about you.
JENNIFER: I know that and I can understand it. But there's really nothing for them to worry about.
SHAWN: (looking at her skeptically) Jen, it doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out you miss Jack.
JENNIFER: (sighing) It isn't just that. I mean, of course I miss him and Abby misses him, but - nevermind.
SHAWN: (reassuringly, sensing she needs to tell someone her secret) You don't have to stop. I won't tell mom anything Jen.
JENNIFER nods her head and glances around the room before leading SHAWN off to talk.
JENNIFER: It's (BEAT) It's just that I'm worried about him. When Abby and I left Africa, he was in the middle of something dangerous and he never contacted me like he was supposed to and I couldn't find anyone who knew where he was.
SHAWN: (the truth finally hitting him) You and Jack, you're not exactly finished, are you Jen?
JENNIFER bites her lip nervously. We see an arm come into the picture and slip around JENNIFER'S waist. Then we see a smile cross SHAWN'S face and then we pan up to see JACK smiling at SHAWN.
JACK: Oh come now Shawn Douglas, you know as well as anyone that Miss Horton and I could never be through entirely.
JACK flashes JENNIFER a brilliant smile and out on JENNIFER'S shock at his appearance.
SCENE TWO -- IN PROGRESS
SHAWN: (amused by JACK'S sudden appearance at the coronation and JENNIFER'S shock over it) Good to see you Jack.
JACK: (shaking hands) You too Shawn, no longer "D" as I understand it. (looks closely at the young man) It would appear your name isn't the only thing that has changed since I last saw you. You've gone and grown up while we were away, hasn't he Jennifer?
Both men turn to look at JENNIFER. Her face is a mixture of emotions: joy, relief, anger, love, etc. She just nods in response to JACK, her eyes never wavering from his face.
JACK: (CONT.) She appears to be speechless. It must be something I said. I have always had that affect on her you know. (JACK glances up and notices JOHN, MARLENA AND BELLE BLACK entering) Well, in the words of a great reporter I once knew - oh my my oh my.
SHAWN: Oh my - what? (follows JACK'S gaze)
JACK: Are my eyes deceiving me or is that Belle Black, namesake of Isabella Toscano Black, our good friend and one time roommate of yours Jennifer, I might add.
JENNIFER still says nothing.
SHAWN: (his gaze remaining on BELLE) Sure that's Belle.
Throughout JACK is looking at JENNIFER
JACK: Tell me something Shawn because the lovely woman on my arm isn't going to be doing that anytime soon, is there something in the Salem water that is making all of you look so old?
SHAWN: (laughing and turning to look at JACK) No Jack, we're just growing up. It looks worse when you've been away for some time.
JACK: So then I'm (gulps) getting older too? (BEAT) Oh the injustice of it all.
SHAWN: Nah Jack, you look better than ever. 'Course you're as weird as ever too, but what else would we expect.
JACK: Hehehe, thanks. (turns serious as he focuses on JENNIFER) Do you think we should get her some water or perhaps a glass of champagne?
SHAWN: (glancing at JENNIFER) She looks a little flushed, Jack. Maybe she needs to sit for a bit.
JENNIFER: (bewildered) Air. I just need air.
JACK: She speaks. In no time at all she'll be arguing away with me and we'll have our little Jennifer Rose back. Of course by then we'll be wishing we had this one back, but you know how it is Shawn, grass greener and that whole bit. Excuse us, while I guide the lovely lady out (JENNIFER walks away from them) to a balcony for air. Take care. (rushes off behind her) Jennifer! Jennifer wait up!
BO and HOPE walk up to join SHAWN.
BO: (to SHAWN) Was that who I thought it was?
SHAWN: (smiling and facing his parents) If you think you just saw Jack Deveraux then you'd be right.
HOPE: (shocked but excited) Jack? Here? (turning in the direction JACK and JENNIFER went) From the looks of things they have a great deal to discuss.
BO: Don't they always?
HOPE: True (BEAT) You don't - you don't think they might actually be able to reconcile, do you?
BO: (hesitant) Ah (BEAT) I don't know Fancy Face -
SHAWN: Pop, stranger things have happened. My best guess (BEAT) Jack and Jen won't ever be over.
OUT on the three of them smiling.
SCENE THREE
EXT. - BALCONY - PARIS - NIGHT
JENNIFER is leaning on the railing, looking away from the building over the gardens. JACK rushes out behind her. When he sees her out there he pulls up short and carefully closes the door. He turns and looks at her with a great deal of love in his eyes
JACK: Jennifer -
JENNIFER: (shaking her head) Don't - don't say anything.
JACK: (moving closer and placing a hand on her shoulder) Jenni -
JENNIFER: (turns to face him) Do you know how worried I've been about you?
JACK: (on the defensive) So worried you told your family that I abandoned you and the child.
JENNIFER: Technically you did.
JACK: You were supposed to wait in Ireland.
JENNIFER: (beginning to cry) I hadn't heard from you in months Jack. Colin disappeared too and suddenly Bo shows up. I was scared and missed my family - you and everyone else in Salem.
JACK: You could have put them or the child or (BEAT) or yourself in danger behaving so carelessly.
JENNIFER: (sobbing) I didn't know what else to do. How else was I supposed to explain Abby and me in Ireland without you? (BEAT) So I made up a story and I had to follow through with it.
JACK: (throwing up his hands in frustration) So, now your family hates me and thinks I'm a deadbeat?
JENNIFER is still crying, although she is calming down somewhat. She is still shaking and JACK notices this. He takes her hands and holds them in his.
JACK: (CONT.) I'm - I'm sorry, Jennifer. This isn't exactly how I intended for all of this to happen, you know that right?
JENNIFER nods.
JACK: (CONT.) But (BEAT) but maybe - maybe it's all for the best.
JENNIFER: Jack, what are you saying?
JACK: This story, it could be good. (JACK lets go of her hand and turns to lean against the railing as he contemplates) In fact, I think it's exactly what we need.
OUT on JENNIFER'S hurt
SCENE FOUR - IN PROGRESS
JENNIFER: Jack (tears falling again - she grabs his arm) Don't you say that. We've been down that road before and I won't do it again - I won't.
JACK: (looking at her hand on his arm and then looking up at her. He smiles at her determination) Miss Horton - Jennifer - I could be cruel and allow you to continue under your mistaken assumption that I meant we should make your story a reality. (leans down and whispers in her ear) But I won't.
JENNIFER: I don't understand.
JACK: I still haven't figured out who is behind the threats we received in Africa.
JENNIFER: (confusion) Then what - what are you doing here Jack?
JACK: (turns away from her and begins pacing) You're not the only one who was worried. Although I will admit it was easier for me since I knew where you were.
JENNIFER: You knew where we were and you didn't try to reach us?
JACK: (as though the answer would seem completely obvious) Jennifer, how could I do that? It would have alerted everyone else to where you two were.
JENNIFER: I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you. I was - we were scared.
JACK: I know that Jennifer. I don't blame you for what you did.
JENNIFER: Then why? Why do you think we should end everything?
JACK: There you go again, jumping to conclusions. Two and two does not always equal four Jennifer. I say that we should use your cover story for something. It doesn't mean I meant we should use it for a real breakup.
JENNIFER: (wide-eyed and through slightly gritted teeth) Jack Deveraux, could you stop talking me into circles and just tell me what you want to say? It drives me crazy.
JACK: (mock horror) The lady doth exaggerate. (BEAT -- his voice is now soft and almost seductive) You love it and what's more you know you love it.
JENNIFER: (moving closer to him so she can take his hands. She laughs nervously) Maybe - you know - I think you're right.
JACK: (takes one of his hands and cups his ear with it while the other hand continues to hold JENNIFER'S) I'm sorry Miss Horton. I don't, I'm not quite sure I heard you correctly. Could you repeat yourself?
JENNIFER smiles widely, her eyes brimming with tears. JACK is also grinning.
JENNIFER: (rising on her tiptoes to whisper in his ear) I said, you're right.
JACK: Ahh (BEAT) Now was that so difficult?
JENNIFER: No not really.
JACK: (brings his hands up to caress her face) Did I mention that I missed you?
JENNIFER: Jack -
JACK: (placing a finger to her lips) Shhh - enough talking.
They gaze at each other for a few moments before he leans down and kisses her gently on the lips.
JENNIFER: (eyes closed. JACK'S face is right near hers) So are you going to fill me in on this plan or do I have to guess?
OUT on JACK and JENNIFER, foreheads resting against each other, their lips turned up in identical smirks, the delight evident in their eyes.
SCENE FIVE - IN PROGRESS
JACK: (stepping away from her) Ah - the great plan. (BEAT) The great plan is not really all that great at all.
JENNIFER: (laughing) Come on Jack. This is me you're talking to and I know that you always have some great plan.
JACK: Hehehe (BEAT) Jack Deveraux, man with a plan. (He looks around the balcony. Spotting some stairs he grabs JENNIFER by the arm and leads her down them and into the garden where there's a bench) Would you care to have a seat? (JENNIFER sits while JACK paces) You have been safe while in Salem?
JENNIFER: I guess so Jack.
JACK: And Abigail - how is Abigail?
JENNIFER: (smiling at him) She's fine - safe. But she misses daddy terribly and doesn't understand why mommy said he wasn't coming home anytime soon when he promised her he would.
JACK: (visibly upset that he disappointed his daughter) Well, we'll figure out how to deal with that soon enough. In the meantime, after this little soiree is over, you and I will return to Salem, where we will live out this charade you've set up for us.
JENNIFER: (shaking her head) Wait a minute, Jack. We don't - we don't do that. I mean, we pretend to live together for safety sake, but we never have pretended to live apart for it. And when we are apart, look how things turn out.
JACK: Again with the rigid math, Miss Horton. Who said anything about us living apart? As you've pointed out, we have a long history of staying together when we weren't together, so for us to be separated but living together for the child's sake will be no different.
JENNIFER: (skeptical) That is crazy Jack. We've never actually fooled anyone but ourselves with that whole living together thing. I couldn't even fool my sixteen-year-old cousin that I was over you.
JACK: He's perceptive. (an idea begins to form) Perhaps the young lad would be interested in a career in journalism. (JACK'S eyes are wild with excitement) With a little guidance from yours truly we could hone his skills and begin a dynasty -- a dynasty to rival the Hearsts or the --
JENNIFER: Whoa there (grabs JACK'S hand and pulls him down next to her on the bench) Before you go corrupting him the way you did me.
JACK: I beg your pardon, you pursued me.
JENNIFER: (rolling her eyes) I meant professionally Jack.
JACK: (smirking) Oh you were always the epitome of professional, Jennifer.
JENNIFER: (points at his mouth which is still smirking at her) See - do you see that smile. It will give us away every time. No one who knows us or might be trying to hurt us is going to buy this.
JACK: (trying to regain his indifferent stance but failing miserably) For all intents and purposes Jennifer, we will appear to be two people who once were married and share a child, but who now share little else.
JENNIFER: So basically we just fight - a lot.
JACK: No different than usual then.
JENNIFER: Well -
JACK: What?
JENNIFER: Separate bedrooms?
JACK: (obviously disappointed) Yes, I suppose so.
JENNIFER: (groaning loudly. She stands up and paces) I think I like this plan even less than the great Ireland plan and I would like to point out that I was right about that one.
JACK: (mumbling) For once.
JENNIFER: (turning to him) What was that?
JACK: Nothing, nothing. (standing and holding out his hand to her) So do we have a deal?
JENNIFER: (unsure) Deal.
They shake hands and they're both smiling. When JACK removes his hand from hers he rubs his together in anticipation.
JACK: Just think Jennifer, we'll have a head start on our lives in Salem once we've put all of this Africa mess behind us.
JACK turns and does a little hop.
JENNIFER: (right behing him) Our what?
JACK: (continues walking up the stairs back to the balcony) Well think of it, we'll already have a beautiful home, perfectly decorated to our liking. Abigail will be in school and we'll be settled back into your favorite little town and mine. (JENNIFER has been following him but she stops at this) I can't see any reason for us to want to leave after that.
JENNIFER lifts up her skirt and runs around in front of him, visibly excited. JACK leans back, knowing what is coming next.
JENNIFER: Do you mean that Jack? You want us to stay in Salem?
JACK: Well (BEAT) it's what you want isn't it? (looks down at her excited face) And I will confess to missing the old stomping grounds a little.
JENNIFER is so excited that she forgets all thoughts of the plan and jumps eagerly into his arms, wraps her own around his neck and plants a kiss on his lips.
JACK: Whoa! Whoa! Down! Heel! (laughing as JENNIFER plants kisses all over his face) Jennifer! Do you really want to have to explain this to people?
JENNIFER: Well I could just tell them I'm trying to strangle you. (she smiles widely)
JACK: (smirking, he reaches behind his neck to pull her off of him) You almost did. (sets her down on the ground) What do you say we get this show on the road?
JENNIFER nods and straightens out her dress. Then she runs her hand over her hair to smooth it down. She turns to walk toward the door. When she reaches it, she looks back at him, on hand on her hip, the other on the doorknob.
JENNIFER: Well, what are you waiting for?
JACK walks over, hands in the pockets of his pants. He is obviously admiring JENNIFER.
JACK: Sorry, I was just enjoying the view. It's been a while.
JENNIFER: (wide-eyed) Jack! (she slaps him as he opens the door and walks through it, an amused grin on his face)
OUT on them bickering back and forth as the door closes
END EPISODE ONE
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