SCENE ONE: JACK AND JENNIFER HAVE LEFT THE AIRPORT AND ARE AT THE NEWSPAPER TO WORK ON GETTING ROBARDS TO BACK THE PAPER. JACK IS TALKING TO HIM ON THE PHONE.

 

JACK: Thank you Mr. Robards.... ah yes. Clayton, it's good to talk to you too. Yes.... yes, I'll talk to you later.

 

JACK HANGS UP.

 

JENNIFER: Okay so he's going to give you backing for The Spectator or not?

JACK: He wants facts, figures, projections....

JENNIFER: Okay, that means he's interested.

JACK: If the project is right and the proposal looks good, we got a deal.

JENNIFER: Oh Jack, that is so fantastic.

JACK: Oh you're telling me. This man has got a higher net worth than most small countries in the world. If he goes for this we can just tell Victor Kiriakis to.... kiss my press pass. I gotta get to work, I tell you right now. The deadline for the bank is tomorrow night.

JENNIFER: Jack I really hope this works out for you. I really do.

JACK: So do I. I'll tell you why. Because it's do or die. And I'll tell you one thing. Jack Deveraux never says die.

 

JACK GETS ONTO WORK.

SCENE TWO. A SHORT TIME LATER JACK THINKS JENNIFER HAS LEFT UNTIL SHE WALKS BACK INTO THE OFFICE WITH A COFFEE POT.

 

JENNIFER: Coffee?

JACK: Jennifer what are you doing back here? I thought you were going to go home and get some shut eye before your show tomorrow.

JENNIFER: Don't worry about that. We've got a newspaper to save Jack.

 

JACK STOPS FOR A MOMENT.

 

JACK: We?

 

JACK IS SURPRISED AND GLAD THAT JENNIFER WANTS TO HELP HIM. HE THOUGHT SHE DID NOT CARE WHETHER OR NOT HE SAVED THE PAPER.

 

JENNIFER: We are in this together.

JACK: Well that's odd coming from you after you've continually told me that I don't need a newspaper to be a successful human being. Let alone powerful and politically connected.

JENNIFER: Well this is about what you want. My needs may be different but I want you to be happy and if owning this newspaper is what makes you happy then I am behind you 100%.

JACK: And what.... brought on this sudden metamorphosis?

JENNIFER: I told you that tonight changed everything.

JACK: Excuse me. Shouting at the top of your lungs at airplanes changed everything?

 

SHE SITS ON HIS DESK, LIKE OLD TIMES.

 

JENNIFER: No, listening to you shout at the top of your lungs changed everything.

 

SHE LEANS DOWN RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIS FACE.

 

JENNIFER: I got to hear what your heart had to say.

JACK SMILES.

 

JACK: Jo told me that.

JENNIFER: Jo told you what?

JACK: Jo told me to.... to try to speak to you from my heart and.... oddly enough I actually took her advice when I least realized it.

JENNIFER: But Jack, that's what made it so wonderful, don't you realize. You weren't even thinking about it. You weren't reading mental notes.

JACK: I do tend to do that, don't I?

JENNIFER: Not tonight. We shared something tonight that we haven't shared in a long time. We got closer than we've ever been before. I feel like it was a whole new beginning for us.

JACK: So do I.

JENNIFER: Let's make a pact.

JACK: A pact?

JENNIFER: Yes. A pact that we will support each other no matter what and we'll never keep things from each other.

 

JACK NODS.

 

JENNIFER: I think we work much better as a team.

THEY COME TOGETHER SLOWLY FOR A GENTLE KISS.

 

JACK: I.... ah, I commend your team spirit.

JENNIFER: So is it a deal?

JACK: Ah, enough of this carrying on. There is work to be done.

 

JACK STOPS AND LOOKS UP AT HER.

 

JACK: For both of us.

JENNIFER: Here we go.

 

SHE WALKS OVER TO THE FILING CABINET AND BEGINS TO SORT THROUGH PAPERS AS JACK WATCHES HER CLOSELY, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT JUST WHAT IS WAS THAT BROUGHT ABOUT THIS CHANGE IN HER ATTITUDE.

SCENE THREE: TIME GOES BY WITH THEM BOTH WORKING HARD TO GET ALL THE FIGURES THAT CLAYTON ROBARDS NEEDS.

 

JENNIFER: All right Jack I want you to take a look at this. Right here.

JACK: Ah, this is a woman's magazine.

JENNIFER: Yes I realize that but there's an article in here about Clayton Robards. I was reading it in the dentist's office and luckily they had another copy downstairs.

JACK: Ah this is very nice but I really need to know more about his financial situation not about his favorite recipes and what kind of decor he likes.

JENNIFER: Jack listen to me. Sometimes you can find out a lot about what someone eats or how they live. Now look at him here. There's a picture of him right here at his country home.

JACK: It's not very fancy.

JENNIFER: I know but it says he likes the simple things in life and he also said that his favorite thing to do is potter around the house and fix it up.

JACK: Clayton Robards, pottering around the house with a can and spackling paste.

JENNIFER: That's right. When he's not hosting fund raisers for anything from endangered species to AIDS research.

JACK: Yes, how very politically correct.

JENNIFER: Very caring and concerned. I think that he would probably like to see an expanded feature section tackling these issues more in depth than other newspapers.

JACK: You may be onto something there.

JENNIFER: And I think that you might want to hire some more personnel for consumer affairs. It says in that article that he is very interested in protecting the consumer.

JACK: You're right. You're absolutely right. This is brilliant. Jennifer this is brilliant.

 

HE PICKS HER UP AND SWINGS HER AROUND AND AROUND.

 

JACK: You did it. You did it. You figured out a way to get to the man. You found out a way to clinch this deal with Clayton Robards. The Spectator is going to be mine. No, no, The Spectator is going to be ours. Thanks to you.

 

HE HUGS HER AGAIN.

 

JACK: Hahahah. Thank you. Thank you very much.

SCENE FOUR: JACK HAS FINISHED PREPARING THE FIGURES AND REPORTS, HE GIVES IT TO JENNIFER TO READ.

WHILE SHE IS READING IT, HE LEANS OVER HER SHOULDER AND READS IT AS WELL WHILE HE MASSAGES HER SHOULDERS.

 

JENNIFER: Oh Jack, this is so good. This is really really good.

JACK: Let's just hope Robards thinks so.

JENNIFER: Of course he will. Okay you did it.

JACK: Correction Jennifer. To coin your phrase from earlier, we did it.

 

HE KISSES HER CHEEK AND GETS UP TO POUR SOME COFFEE.

 

JENNIFER: You're a very good writer Jack.

JACK: Ooooh....

JENNIFER: This is clear. It is concise. It's very impressive. Just like your article on Wendy. You have a very wonderful way of expressing yourself.

JACK: Yeah.... as long as I can print it and not have to put it into words.

JENNIFER: I have a hard time with that too, sometimes. I am so proud of you.

JACK: Well thank you. We're not going to lose.

 

JENNIFER SUDDENLY LOOKS WORRIED.

 

JACK: At least I think we're not going to lose. I didn't overlook something, did I?

JENNIFER: Victor Kiriakis. He wants this paper as much as you do and he doesn't play fair.

JACK: Oh let's not worry about Victor Kiriakis. I'm onto his tricks. He's not going to pull anything again.

JENNIFER: Well I want you to know that whatever happens you are still the winner to me.

JACK: Well.... that goes vice versa. You're a winner to me too. I couldn't have done any of this without you.

 

HE KISSES HER CHEEK AGAIN.

 

JENNIFER: You know what tonight reminds me of? When we used to work here at the newspaper together. Remember how much fun we used to have?

JACK: Fun! Huh, are you telling me you miss it?

JENNIFER: Yes I do miss it.

JACK: Huh.

JENNIFER: I mean I love doing the television show but I mean Jack, this newspaper, this is where we first got together.

JACK: Well this is where you got your Ferraro Award.

JENNIFER: And I was here when you were nominated for the Peabody.

JACK: This is where we both worked on getting the Ferraros and the Peabody Award.

JENNIFER: Well I think I'm going to keep on working and helping you because I realized something else tonight, that this newspaper is part of both of us. I mean this newspaper is part of our history.

JACK: Oh it's more than that. It's part of our future.

 

HE TAKES THE REPORT FROM HER.

 

JACK: It's only the beginning. We're going to be the beginning of a dynasty. I can see it. A whole new publishing empire. It's going to be move over Pulitzer. Move over Hearst. We'll build our own castle, our own.... our own Xanadu. We'll expand into broadcast and we'll take control of the entire media world. Get out of here Ted Turner. Here comes the Deverauxs.

 

JENNIFER DOES NOT LIKE THIS KIND OF TALK AT ALL.

 

JACK: But first, here comes the fax machine. I have to fax this down to Robards before it's too late.

 

HE KISSES HER CHEEK AGAIN AND RUNS OUTSIDE TO THE OUTER OFFICE.

 

JENNIFER: Oooooh Jack, I don't want control over the whole media world.

 

SHE PULLS TWO CHAIRS TOGETHER SO SHE CAN LIE DOWN.

 

JENNIFER: I would just like to have some control over our lives.

SCENE FIVE: JENNNIFER HAS FALLEN ASLEEP AND DOES NOT WAKE UP WHEN JACK RETURNS. HE WAVES HIS HAND IN FRONT OF HER FACE TO MAKE SURE SHE IS REALLY ASLEEP.

 

JACK: Jennifer....

 

HE LEANS IN AND WHISPERS TO HER WHILE SHE IS ASLEEP.

 

JACK: You know I meant what I said before, about you meaning everything to me. But there were some other things that I couldn't put into words like the fact that....

you're like a.... you're like a vital organ in my life. You're like something that I can't live without anymore. It's scary but it's wonderful too. I think about my life, if that's what you can call it, before we met and what it would be like without you now and it's.... it's nothing.

 

HE LIGHTLY BRUSHES HER NECK WITH HIS FINGER.

 

JACK: That's because you give meaning to everything I do. And that's why I'm doing all of this. To give it back to you. I know there's time when you wish I wasn't a Deveraux. I know there's time when you wish I didn't have this desire for this elevated lifestyle but.... this kind of lifestyle can give us so much. It can be so full, so rich and I don't mean money. I mean rich, just in life. I can give you everything. Jewels, clothes, travel. I.... our child can go to the best schools, everything. And we can live in a place, an estate. A place with acres and acres of land with a summer place, a winter place. Ah.... who knows? Maybe a private jet. A yacht maybe. (Beat) And everything in between. It's the kind of life we deserve Jennifer. We're going to live in the lap of luxury Jennifer. The lap of luxury.

SCENE SIX: WE SLOWLY DRIFT INTO JENNIFER'S IDEA OF THE PERFECT LIFE. SHE IS TENDING THE GARDEN INSIDE A PICKET FENCE. SHE IS WEARING SIMPLE PEASANT BLOUSE AND SKIRT WITH A FLOWER IN HER HAIR.

 

JENNIFER: There you go. I knew you'd perk up with a little loving care.

 

SHE HEARS JACK WHISTLING.

 

JENNIFER: Oooh, he's coming.

 

SHE RUSHES TO MEET HIM. HE ARRIVES AT THE FRONT GATE WEARING JEANS, A DENIM SHIRT AND A BROWN SLEEVELESS VEST. HE IS ALSO WEARING A RED BASEBALL CAP AND WHITE SNEAKERS WITH A PENCIL BEHIND HIS EAR. HE IS CARRYING A WORKMAN'S LUNCH BOX AND WEARING A BACKPACK.

 

JENNIFER: Hello there.

JACK: Hello beautiful.

JENNIFER: How was your day?

 

HE KISSES HER.

 

JACK: Hmmmm better and better now that I've seen you. Well the response from the public from our campaign to stop the overfishing in the river has been amazing. And I got us some new advertising.

JENNIFER: We do?

JACK: We've got it. Mr. Sam from Mr. Sam's Garden Center said he wants to help keep our little weekly running and?

JENNIFER: And what?

JACK: And I'm going to be the next speaker at the Chamber of Commerce meeting. The president himself said he wants me to help him to keep the paper running and keep it free.

JENNIFER: You know Jack with a few more advertisers we can keep it free.

JACK: Well that's all that matters to me, next to you of course.

JENNIFER: You know what, come on. We are going to go in and celebrate. I am going to fix you the most wonderful dinner Jack.

JACK: Meatloaf?

HE ACTUALLY SOUNDS ENTHUSIASTIC.

 

JENNIFER: And mashed potatoes.

JACK: Let me help.

JENNIFER: I am so happy. I have never been so happy Jack.

 

SHE HUGS HIM.

 

JACK: Oh you know I had no idea what happiness was till I met you.

 

WE SLOWLY DRIFT BACK TO THE SPECTATOR WHERE JENNIFER IS STILL ASLEEP.

 

JACK: I will make you happy Jennifer. I'm going to make all your wishes and dreams come true. Champagne, caviar, nothing but the best.

 

HE GOES BACK TO HIS DESK AND GETS ON WITH WORK.

SCENE SEVEN: A SHORT TIME LATER, SHE WAKES UP A SHORT TIME LATER.

 

JENNIFER: Jack.

JACK: Oh I'm sorry. I woke you up from you nice little nap.

JENNIFER: Oh, how long was I out?

JACK: Oh just a little while but it was nice to see you resting there.

JENNIFER: Wait, did you send the proposal to Robards?

JACK: Oh yes, yes, yes. It's all been sent. It'll be waiting for him when he wakes up in the morning. Actually I wonder what time he does wake up in the morning.

JENNIFER: Well Jack, now try not to be nervous.

 

HE IS POURING COFFEE.

 

JACK: Nervous? Oh no, no, no. I'm not nervous. I don't have a nervous bone in my body.

 

HE IS RUSHING AROUND THE OFFICE.

 

JACK: Not a nervous bone in my.... of course I'm nervous. What am I saying? Damn I'm nervous.

 

HE LAUGHS.

 

JACK: I mean, you know. Tomorrow night our entire fate is decided for better or for worse. I mean what's to worry about?

JENNIFER: I hate to tell you this Jack but it's already tomorrow.

JACK: It most certainly is. That means I can call him right now.

JENNIFER: No, no, Jack. It's the middle of the night. You can't call him Jack.

JACK: You're right. I'm just trying to kill time. That's because.... ah, I'm nervous and I hate to wait.

JENNIFER: This is all going to work out for you. I know it is.

JACK: Of course it's going to work out. Because this is brilliant. And he would be a fool if he didn't realize this was brilliant. He's going to accept it in a minute. It's a done deal. Heheheheh.

JENNIFER: In the meantime....

JACK: In the meantime I think we should look over it one more time and just check it out. There's a few things we might want to change. We still time if we want to fax it in. Page one.

JENNIFER: I have a proposition. A different kind of proposition that we should talk about Jack.

 

SHE CLOSES THE FILE AND PUSHES HIS CHAIR BACK SO SHE CAN SIT ON HIS LAP.

 

JENNIFER: I had a little dream while I was sleeping.

JACK: A dream?

JENNIFER: Huh, huh. And there was this beautiful white picket fence and we lived in this beautiful cottage. Abby had a swing in the backyard. And we had.... we had this little local newspaper that we were running.

JACK: Ooooh.

JENNIFER: And it was free.

JACK: Heheheheh.

JENNIFER: And it was so wonderful because we were so happy. I mean we had each other.

JACK: You know something? We'll always have each other. But.... dreams are nothing compared to the reality that we have in front of us. I mean the sky's the limit with this and we did it.

 

HE SHOWS HER THE REPORT.

 

JACK: There's nothing we can't accomplish with this.

JENNIFER: But Jack I don't mind a really simple life.

JACK: You don't understand. That's because you haven't experienced the things that I've experienced. When you get a taste of real fame and real fortune, you'll just.... you'll never want to settle for less. You won't.

JENNIFER: Well if that's what you want I hope that this works out for you because I want you to be happy. Because if you are happy, then I am happy and that's all that matters to me.