SCENE ONE: IT IS THE NEXT DAY AND JACK IS SITTING AT HIS COMPUTER AT THE SPECTATOR. HE IS TYPING FAST.

 

JACK: Turn the other cheek and crack a smile. "A key to forgiveness in the 90s by Jack Deveraux."

 

JUST READING THE TITLE GIVES JACK A COLD SHIVER.

 

JACK: Well.... it's another mark for the good. So why doesn't it make me feel good? (Beat) DAMN.

 

HE GETS THE POTION OUT OF HIS INSIDE POCKET.

 

JACK: Dr. Miller said one before or after.... I'm just going to have to go see him and find out.

 

HE TAKES A SWIG OF POTION.

 

JACK: In the meantime, to life. I just hope it's worth it.

 

JENNIFER WALKS IN AND SURPRISES HIM.

 

JENNIFER: Hi Jack!

JACK: Ah, what are you doing here Jennifer?

JENNIFER: What am I doing here? I'm here to meet Julie. We're going to give her a tour of the newspaper. Don't tell me that you forgot.

JACK: Aaaah, yes I did. It slipped my mind.

JENNIFER: Well you better put it back in your mind because she's going to be here any minute Jack.

JACK: Ah, I think you'll just have to be the perfect hostess without me.

JENNIFER: Don't think you're going to get out of this right now.

JACK: Ah, I have to get out of it. There's something more important that I have to do.

JENNIFER: What could be more important than saving The Spectator right now?

JACK: There are alot of things more important than work Jennifer.

JENNIFER: Like what?

JACK: Like life! Alright, like life.

 

HE WALKS AWAY FROM HER BUT SHE FOLLOWS.

 

JENNIFER: Well! What was that all about?

JACK: Um, I'm sorry, that was nothing, really. It's just, ah.... I'm sorry I blew up at you. It's just, ah.... conflicting schedules, that's all.

JENNIFER: What, are you getting a haircut Jack?

JACK: Yes, as a matter of fact, I think I am.

JENNIFER: This is no time to joke.

JACK: No, I'm not joking. I think I need a little trim, don't you?

JENNIFER: I don't care about your hair. I am talking about our livelihood, our future, our children's future. Doesn't that matter to you?

JACK: Listen, I will be gone for a little while. I will be back as soon as I can. In the meantime I trust you implicitly to take care of things.

JENNIFER: Oh well thank you. That's very touching but I don't think you realize what's at stake here. This newspaper is what we're leaving behind and I want us to be proud of it because it is something that we have built. It is our legacy.

JACK: That's guilding the lily a little, don't you think?

JENNIFER: And even though I'm working at WTGB, you know that this newspaper is my first love Jack.

JACK: I suppose you have a point there.

JENNIFER: Alright, then cancel your appointment.

JACK: Listen I wish I could but I can't. This is.... all kidding aside, this is something more important than you'll ever know. JENNIFER: I don't understand how it could possibly be more imp....

JACK: Jennifer, this is more important than you'll ever know. Trust me.

 

HE KISSES HER LEFT CHEEK, HER MOUTH AND THEN HER RIGHT CHEEK.

 

JACK: Trust me.

 

HE LEAVES.

SCENE TWO: JACK GOES TO SEE DR. MILLER, THAT ALTERNATIVE DOCTOR WHO SEEMS TO BE IN SOME KIND OF TRANCE WHEN JACK GETS THERE.

 

JACK: Look, would you just come down for a minute and listen to me?

MILLER: No, your bad vibes are interrupting my meditation Jack. I've got to clear my mind before I can deal with your dilemma.

JACK: Doctor, YOU are my dilemma. You and this bogus concoction you came up with. The concoction that doesn't work.

MILLER: Well if that's true, there's only one possible explanation.

JACK: Oh really, what is it?

MILLER: Lack of faith. You just didn't believe in it.

JACK: Now wait.... wait a minute, I believed it. I swear.

MILLER: Did you believe to depths of your soul every time you took a swallow?

JACK: Well yes, every.... every.... alright maybe not every time. But almost every time.

MILLER: Alright, so you're there. That's what I'm talking about. That's called negative karma. You've got to believe, now first in yourself, then in me and then this special new elixir I'm going to whip up for you.

JACK: Oh I see. You're going to mix up a little miracle cure just like that.

MILLER: Yeah, it's a little secret ingredient for non believers.

JACK: Oh, I see. I'm a non believer alright Doc. I'm a non believer in quacks like you.

MILLER: What did you just say?

JACK: I said quacks like you. Now in case you've burned a few too many brain cells since Woodstock, what I'm saying is you're a fake, you're a fraud and you're a phony.

MILLER: Okay, okay man I get the picture. You don't have to rub it in.

JACK: I'm just telling you, you have nothing to worry about. I learned my lesson. I do have faith, in me. I'm the one who's going to solve my problems. I'm the one who's save my life. I can do it all on my own. THANK YOU very much.

 

JACK SLAMS THE DOOR AS HE LEAVES THEN PAUSES TO CONTEMPLATE HIS FUTURE.

 

JACK: I wish.

SCENE THREE: DOWN AT THE SPECTATOR, JENNIFER HAS BEEN SHOWING JULIE AROUND.

 

JENNIFER: I don't know. I mean I just can't understand why he walked out of here with no explanation. I mean, maybe he just doesn't want to be around me right now.

JULIE: Oh Jennifer, you know that isn't true.

JENNIFER: Well I don't know. I've been reading some books and it says that fathers to be sometimes they have a hard time seeing their wife fat and I mean I look down and I see this enormous protruding stomach. So maybe that's what's driving him away. I don't know.

JULIE: Jennifer Horton, you are too smart to even consider an idea like that. You have never looked more beautiful and radiant.

JENNIFER: You really think so?

JULIE: Yes, I really think so. Now I'm sure that Jack's behavior is only because this newspaper is in a precarious position right now.

JENNIFER: Yeah, maybe you're right. Here you go.

 

SHE HANDS JULIE A CUP OF COFFEE.

 

JENNIFER: I just can't help feeling that he's hiding something from me but I don't know what it is.

JULIE: Jennifer, Jack asked you to trust him didn't he?

JENNIFER: Yeah.

JULIE: Well maybe this is Jack's idea of a test. You know Jack. You just prove to him, really prove to him that you do trust him and he'll open up to you.

 

JACK COMES RUNNING IN.

 

JACK: Excuse me, sorry I'm late.

JULIE: Quite alright Jack. We were just.... catching up.

JENNIFER: Yeah, and you know what Jack, I'm not even going to question you about where you were because I trust you. I really do. I trust you and I always will.

JACK: Right, right. Well let's.... carry on with the tour.

SCENE FOUR: A SHORT TIME LATER, THEY FINISH THE TOUR AND RETURN TO THE MAIN EDITORIAL OFFICE.

 

JULIE: Yes, the chaos, it's very impressive.

JACK: Well the judge and bankers have agree upon you so the ball's in your court. Are you ready to take over The Spectator, Julie?

 

HE FINDS IT VERY HARD TO SAY THOSE WORDS.

 

JULIE: That depends Jack. (Beat) Are you really prepared to give me complete editorial control?

 

JACK IS FINDING THIS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE BUT HE HAS NO CHOICE.

 

JACK: If it'll keep my paper out of Lawrence's hands, absolutely.

JULIE: Think about this carefully. I don't want you coming to me in a year saying I'm sorry Julie I changed my mind.

 

JACK HAS A WRY SMILE ON HIS FACE.

 

JACK: I doubt I'll have any objections.

JULIE: Then you can live with it?

JACK: I wish.

JENNIFER: What did you say Jack?

JACK: I.... I said I wish Julie all the best. I really do. I think you're the best candidate for this job. You're family, you're Jennifer's cousin. If Jennifer ever needs you for anything, I'm sure you'll be there, no questions asked.

JULIE: Jack, I'm just taking over the day-to-day management of the paper. I am not moving in with you two, at least not for now.

JACK: Well, one never knows, does one?

JULIE: Don't worry so much. We are going to beat Lawrence Alamain, beat him at his own game. It's going to be fine.

JENNIFER: Thank you Julie, thank you so much.

JULIE: I love you darling. I appreciate this challenge. Jack, check with me every twenty minutes. You may need too.

 

JACK SIGHS HEAVILY.

 

JULIE: Don't worry so much.

 

JULIE LEAVES.

 

JENNIFER: Thank you Jack.

JACK: Thank you for what?

JENNIFER: For proving to me once again what an incredible sentimentalist you really are.

 

JACK FROWNS.

JENNIFER: I love you very much. Do you know that?

JACK: I love you too.

JENNIFER: I don't know what I've ever do without you.

JACK: Oh I don't know. I'm sure you'd muddle through, somehow.

JENNIFER: No I wouldn't, never. You and.... our baby, you keep me going, you know. You're what makes me happy. You always make me happy, always.

 

SHE GIVES HIM A BIG HUG, AND LEAVES.

SCENE FIVE: SOME TIME LATER, JO ARRIVES TO SEE JACK.

 

JO: Hello son.

 

JACK SIGHS.

 

JO: Oh Jack, I hate to see you like this.

JACK: Oh I'm fine. I'm just coming to terms with my destiny.

JO: Well now wait a minute. What happened to that magic potion that you were so sure was going to cure you?

JACK: Oh, it cured me alright. It cured me of thinking I could beat this thing. I know now that I can't. All that remains is thinking of the future. Jennifer's specifically. I know that there is nothing to worry about financially, now with Julie coming aboard. But her personal life is something else all together.

JO: Wait a minute, what in the world are you talking about?

JACK: I'm talking about finding Jennifer a.... another husband.

JO: Jennifer has got a husband.

JACK: For now she does but not for much longer. I want to make sure she has a life and I want to make sure that the child has a.... father.

JO: I can't imagine seeing Jennifer with anybody else but my son.

JACK: Unfortunately neither can I.