Part three
JACK and JENNIFER have just fallen through the wall. BO is standing over them grinning. GRETA and HOPE are neaby snickering while COLIN is fuming.
BO: (teasing) Well do you two have anything to say for yourselves?
JENNIFER smiles.
JACK: That the old adage that they don't make things the way they used to is a myth?
JENNIFER stifles a giggle.
COLIN: (walking over) Funny Jack, very funny. (holds out a hand to JENNIFER) Jen?
JENNIFER: (busy making a face at JACK) Huh? (looks up and notices COLIN's hand) Oh, sorry.
COLIN helps JENNIFER to her feet and she instinctively turns around and helps JACK.
JACK: Ohhhhhh (rubs his back as he stands) I'm getting too old for this sort of thing.
JENNIFER: I don't think so Jack.
JACK and JENNIFER exchange one of their signature looks. COLIN is not happy.
HOPE: (sensing the tension) So how did you end up coming through that wall?
JACK: Oh well you know, we were looking for a way out of there because we were trapped and I lost my balance and the next thing you know --
JENNIFER: -- we're tumbling in here. (BEAT) How did all of you end up in this part of the house?
GRETA: It turns out that this is some sort of central room.
HOPE: All roads lead here.
JACK: (thinking) Or perhaps all roads lead out.
COLIN: What does that mean?
JACK: It seems fairly obvious. Whoever owned this house wanted a myriad of places to run and hide at a moment's notice.
COLIN: That's ridiculous. Why would anyone need such a thing, Jack?
JACK: (Unconvinced by COLIN's "Mr. Innocent" act) Why indeed?
COLIN seems to sense JACK's intent but says nothing.
BO: Well, it doesn't much matter since that would have little bearing on us finding Mrs. H's ruby.
JACK: Au contraire, mon ami. If we're --
JENNIFER: If we're going to figure out where the ruby is, we should start by having a better understanding of the former occupant of this house. After all, this is the best lead we've had so far on it.
JACK: Precisely my dear Watson.
JACK and JENNIFER grin at each other again. They can't seem to help themselves.
GRETA: How do we know the person who built all these secret tunnels is the person who has the ruby?
JACK: Well I guess we don't, but we know that at some point theyw ere here.
BO: So what can we do tonight?
JENNIFER: (looking at JACK) Nothing really.
JACK: (focusing his attention on JENNIFER) Right. We probably should go back to our hotel and then you know --
JENNIFER: Sleep?
JACK: Right, sleep. (growing aware of everyone watching them he looks away and continues) And then tomorrow we should do research in the town. Blueprints for the house to try and figure out if the tunnels were additions or original. We should question people about the family who built this place and any subsequent families who might have owned it.
BO: Sounds like a plan.
HOPE: (looking over at COLIN) Yeah, it does. Jack, it's getting late and I don't like to drive at night in unfamiliar territory. Would you mind driving me back to the hotel?
JACK: (watching JENNIFER) Huh? Oh well wouldn't you rather -- (points at BO)
HOPE: No, I think I'd rather have you drive me back.
JACK: Uh -- (looks at COLIN and then realizes what HOPE is doing) Oh! You know I'd love it, I really would. In fact, we spend so little time together Hope and I miss that, don't you?
HOPE: (smiling and truthful) I do Jack. I really do.
JACK: Well it's a capital idea if ever I've heard one. Jennifer, our coats. Everyone?
COLIN, BO and GRETA grab their jackets from around the room. JENNIFER goes back through the wall to retrieve hers and Jack's trench coats which they had removed in the closet.
HOPE: (whispering) A little slow on the uptake tonight, Deveraux?
JACK: Hehehe (whispering) I was slightly distracted. Thank you.
HOPE: (whispering) Well you're welcome. It buys you some time, but watch out for him. He's mad and I don't trust him much. In fact, if I were you, I'd find somewhere else to sleep tonight.
JACK: (whispering) Oh come on, he's more civilized than that Hope. You don't think -- I mean --
HOPE: (puts a hand on his arm) Jack, we'd all have to be a great deal slower than you were tonight to not be able to figure out just what was going on before you two burst through the wall.
JACK: (looks at HOPE -- shocked) What? (protests loudly) We were trapped!
HOPE: (nodding) Right Jack. (walks out)
JACK: We were -- (to himself) We were.
JENNIFER walks by and smiles. She hands him his coat, but doesn't say anything. COLIN also walks by silent and sullen. BO follows behind them.
JACK: (to BO) Didn't you have a leather jacket like that one once?
BO: You know man, I did. But I misplaced it around the same time I misplaced my bike.
BO walks out the door.
JACK: (puzzled -- to GRETA) How does one go about misplacing a motorcycle?
GRETA: (taking JACK's arm and leading him out the door) I'm sure I have no idea.
JACK: Tell me princess, do you and Miss Horton have any rooom in your bathtub tonight?
OUT on the door closing
END PART THREE
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