| Episode Summary | transcribed by Mystic |
[Jack, Laura and Dr. Perkins walk into the garden]
Dr. Perkins - I've reserved the garden so we'll have complete privacy.
Laura - Why did you want to see us, Dr. Perkins?
Dr. Perkins - Well, the two of you have completed your initial group
and individual sessions. And
now it's time to evaluate your progress.
Jack - (confused) So, what? We have to take a test or...
Dr. Perkins - Well, in a manner of speaking.
Jack - Okay. So what do we have to do?
Dr. Perkins - I want you to become lovers.
[Laura looks uncomfortable and looks at Jack. He doesn't look
back at her and looks uncomfortable too]
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Jack - Uh, excuse me here Dr. Perkins. Did you say that you wanted
Monica and I to become
lovers?
Laura - Surely you can't be serious.
Dr. Perkins - (smiles) I didn't want you to actually become
lovers. I just want you to act like lovers.
Jack - I still don't get it.
Dr. Perkins - (reaches into her briefcase and pulls out a script)
This is a script. It's about two
people falling in love, actually on the verge of making love for the
first time. And you each would
play the part of the would-be lovers.
[Jack and Laura both reach for a script]
Laura - (starts laughing) I see. (to Jack) It's a
psycho-drama.
Dr. Perkins - Well, in a way -- yes.
Jack - And uh, you would grade us?
Dr. Perkins - Oh no, not at all! In fact, I won't even be here.
Laura - Why? I mean, don't you need to evaluate us?
Dr. Perkins - No. You each came here because you felt that somewhere
you lost your way on
your path to your emotional growth. What we try to do here at
the Meadows is give you a map,
showing you various ways back onto that path. But only you can
choose which way is right for
you. And only you can evaluate how much progress you've made.
Before you're through, you'll
know far better than I. Good luck... (she picks up her
briefcase and leaves, leaving Jack and
Laura alone in the garden)
[Jack starts fidgeting around. Then he finally turns and looks
at Laura]
Jack - Well, lover. (he smiles) Shall we begin?
[Laura smiles back at him, a little embarrassed]
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[Jack and Laura are sitting on a bench, facing each other. They
are reading from the script]
Jack - (in character) You know, you mean a great deal to me.
And I'd like our relationship to
take a step forward tonight.
Laura - Are you saying you want to make a committment to me?
Jack - (clears his throat) Yes. Being with you has changed
my entire life. There are so many
things in my heart that I want to tell you. (turns the page)
That's it! End of test! That was easy!
(gets up)
Laura - (turns the page to and starts laughing) No, no.
(gets up and walks over to Jack) Clark,
I'm afraid that's not the end of the test.
Jack - Why? The last page is blank.
Laura - No. Look at the bottom. It says "improvise".
Jack - Improvise.
Laura - Yes. Obviously, Dr. Perkins wants us to go beyond this
script. She wants us to use our
own words. That's the real test. (Jack begins to look uncomfortable)
So, according to your last
scripted speech here, you were telling the woman that you love...
well, you were about to tell
her, anyway, how you feel about her. So, tell her. Tell
me.
Jack - (hesitates) I feel happy.
Laura - Happy in what way?
Jack - (looks more uncomfortable) Well, happy she had dinner with
me.
Laura - All right. (pauses) Clark, you know, a woman
needs to hear more than that. She needs
to know what you're feeling. So, tell her. I mean, what
is it that you want to say?
Jack - (hesitates again) All right, what I want to say is.......
I........ what I want to say........ (gets
frustrated) Look, what I want to say is that I can't do this,
okay?!! Let's just forget it! It's just not
me!! (he turns away from her, looking hopeless)
---------------------------------
Laura - (puts her hand on Jack's arm) Come on, Clark. Give
it another try.
Jack - (stubbornly) No.
Laura - But you know, you were doing so well with the script.
Jack - (turns and faces her) Those are somebody else's words.
Those are not my words!
Laura - You came here because you were determined to win your wife back.
You know that in
order to do that you are gonna have to face her one day and you are
gonna have to tell her
exactly what's in your heart!
Jack - No, I will never be able to do that.
Laura - Yes, you will. (pauses) Let's pretend I'm your wife.
Just say to me what you would say
to her. (Jack just stares at her, clueless about what to say)
Come on.
Jack - (frustrated) I don't know! (he walks past her and
picks up the script)
[Laura watches him, then walks right up to him and turns him so he is
facing her]
Laura - Clark, you are going to give this another try because if you
don't, you are going to regret
it for the rest of your life! Now come on. I'm on your
side.
Jack - (hesitates) Okay! Okay. I'll try. I'll
do anything to get my wife back.
Laura - Good. So let's begin again.
-----------------------------------
[Laura is sitting on the bench. Jack is standing up with his back
facing her. He turns and sits
next to Laura, facing her]
Jack - (in character) I want us to give our marriage another try.
Laura - Why should I believe you? Why should I take you back?
Jack - Well, because. Because I love you.
Laura - I've heard that before. I've never felt it. In fact,
I never really even knew what you were
thinking.
Jack - (with not much emotion) Well, I'm gonna try to be more
open. You'll see. I've changed.
Laura - (pauses) Clark, I don't hear the words. I mean,
I don't believe what you're saying. I
don't feel it. You're holding back!
Jack - (angry) Wo what am I supposed to say?!! Huh?!!
Laura - You know, I can't tell you what to say. I can't give you
the words. I don't know how you
feel about your wife. Only you know that! (pauses)
Just think of her.
[Jack gazes off, clearly thinking about Jennifer]
Laura - I know. Picture her in your mind. And then tell
her how you feel when you look at her.
And tell her from your heart.
[Jack has a dream of Jennifer. She's in the Horton cabin.
She unbuttons her blouse and lies
down on the bed. She's looking at Jack, by looking into the camera.
She holds out her arms,
inviting him to lie down with her. The dream ends and the scene cuts
back to Jack (close-up),
who has tears in his eyes]
Jack - You are so beautiful, you take my breath away. Your smile
warms me. Your laughter
makes me feel comfortable. Your love has given me more joy and
contentment than anything
ever before. Please, just let me be your husband again.
Let me share my heart and my life with
you. And I'll cherish and love you all the rest of our days.
Laura - (who also has tears in her eyes, says softly) Clark, that
was so beautiful. (smiles) You
did it!
Jack - (shocked) How did I do that?
Laura - You said the words from your heart. (Jack thinks about
that) And I'll tell you. If I was
your wife, I would be in your arms right now.
[Jack smiles]
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Laura - Clark, I'm so proud of you. (she gets up and pulls Jack
up too) What you said just now
was so beautiful and meaningful.
Jack - Yeah, I can't believe it. (looks up at the sky) I'm
surprised a bolt of lightning doesn't come
out of the sky and strikes me now. (Laura laughs) It's
amazing.
Laura - I knew you could do it.
Jack - (looks at her) I really owe a thanks to you. You
gave me the courage. (pauses) Thank
you.
Laura - (smiles) I'm glad I could help.
Jack - Now it's your turn.
Laura - Me?
Jack - (smiles and nods) It's time for you to deal with some of
your demons.
Laura - Well, I think one major breakthrough for the day is enough.
Jack - No, no, no. Turnabout is fair play, right? Now it's
my turn to help you. So just pretend I'm
that guy that you're afraid of having a relationship with. The
one that you were telling me about.
Laura - (pauses) I'm not afraid of having a relationship.
Jack - (nods, but looks like he doesn't believe her) But you couldn't
go to bed with him.
Laura - (looks uncomfortable) Well, yes. But it wasn't the
sexual part that I'm afraid of. It's the
intimacy. Trusting someone enough to give them my heart.
I'm just so afraid of being hurt again,
I..... I just freeze up. (starts to walk away)
Jack - (stops her) Hey, what was it you were telling me?
That if I didn't try, I'd have my whole
life to regret it? If you really want this guy, Monica, now's
the time. Hey, if I can open up and
deal with my feelings, you sure as heck can. You're a strong
woman, Monica. You're too
beautiful to go through life alone. Come on, just do it.
What do you say? (pauses, then smiles)
I dare you.
Laura - (cracks a smile and laughs) All right. I will.
[Jack smiles]
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[Jack and Laura are walking around in the garden, arm-in-arm.
They're in character again]
Laura - Dinner was wonderful. I had a lovely evening.
Jack - (takes her hands and faces her) The evening's too short.
I don't want it to end. Come
back to my place with me.
Laura - (hesitates) No, I can't. (How can anyone hesitate
to *that* suggestion?! :) )
Jack - But I love you. You said you loved me.
Laura - Yes, I -- I do.
Jack - Don't you want to have a relationship?
Laura - (very uncomfortable) Yes, but...
Jack - But what are you afraid of?
Laura - I -- I don't -- I don't know! I don't want to do
this anymore, all right Clark?!
Jack - Don't stop now, Monica. You can do it. Deal with
your emotions. Just take the step.
Laura - No, I can't do this.
Jack - Yes, you can. You're a beautiful and desirable woman.
You want to feel a man's arms
around you. You want to make love.
Laura - I don't know what I want!! (starts to walk away)
Jack - (stops her) Well, I do.
[Jack pulls her close to him and starts to kiss her]