Jennifer has just returned from Paris after discovering most of Peter's deceptions and lies.  She walks through the door and closes it.  She has a coat draped over her right arm and is carrying one suitcase in her left hand.  She drops the suitcase by the couch and makes her way across the living room to the desk.

Jennifer -- (talking to herself)  Well, now that I'm home, maybe I can make some sense out of what's happened.  (she smiles and looks up the stairs)  But I know one little girl who will cheer me up in no time.

Jack enters with a travel bag flung over his shoulder as Jennifer makes her way to the stairs.

Jack -- Jen.  I was looking for you at the baggage claim.

Jennifer -- Yeah, well my bags came early and I grabbed a taxi.

Jack -- Listen, I know you are probably angry with me but I need to talk to you for a minute.

Jennifer -- Jack, I thought I made myself perfectly clear when I changed seats on the plane.  I've heard all you have to say, so back off.

Jack --  No.  I can't.  This is just too important, Jen, cause you and I both know that Peter is going to come crawling back with promises to change.  You've got to tell him that you want him out of your life.

Jennifer -- How do you know that is what I want Jack?

Jack --  (very surprised)  After all the lies and deceit.  You've not seriously considering taking him back, are you Jen?

Jennifer just stares at Jack.  Jack takes off his coat.

Jack -- (he can't believe what he is hearing)  Come on Jen.  You can't even consider taking back a low life criminal like Peter.

Jennifer -- (in a calm but angry voice)  Will you lower your voice!

Jack -- I won't let it happen and if I have to I will take matters into my own hands.

Jennifer -- How dare you.  This is my life we are talking about, Jack and I don't need you telling me what to do or fighting with Peter over me.

Jack -- Okay.  I'm sorry.  But just remember the bottom line is he's guilty.  He's guilty of lying to you from day one and that's a fact that you are never going to change.  Peter admitted it himself.

Jennifer -- (she is hurt)  Don't you think I know that.  Don't you think that I re-play that moment over and over in my mind.

Jack -- (realizing that she is hurting)  I know this must hurt you Jen, but it's good that you are thinking about it.  And keep thinking about it until you realize you only have one option.  That is to dump Peter.

Jennifer -- How can you be so unfeeling?  I love him and he loves me.

Jack --  And he is going to hurt you again.  Jen, can't you see that I am the only man for you.

Jennifer --  No.  I will not get into this, not now.

She walks by him closer to the door.

Jack -- Well Jen I didn't expect you to thank me for exposing Peter, but I did not expect you to hate me either.

Jennifer -- I don't hate you Jack.  But if you think that you can reclaim me like some lost puppy dog or a piece of luggage, you are wrong.

Jack -- No, I don't think that.  And it might come as a surprise to you but I have all the respect in the world for you.  And I understand that you need some time to sort things out.  But I'm not going to lie to you Jen.  I love you.  And I hope that some day you will give me another chance.  (pauses)  Well, do you think that is possible, Jen?

Jennifer stares at him with a blank expression.

Jack -- So do you think that we might have a chance some day Jen?

Jennifer -- Jack, I'm not sure about the next five minutes, much less the rest of my life.  So please don't ask me how I feel about you or Peter or anyone else right now because I really don't know.

Jack -- (immediately responds)  Okay.  I'll give you some space. (he walks over to the desk)  Have you seen Abby yet?

Jennifer -- No.  Grandma spent the night last night.  Maybe they are still sleeping.

Jack -- (smiles when he thinks of his daughter)  Let's go up and surprise her, alright.

Jennifer -- (stops him)  Jack, wait a minute.  I know Abby is going to be thrilled to see you but I think I should talk to her first.  She thinks she is flying to Paris today to go on a cruise with me and Peter and I have to tell her that we're not going.  And I have to explain the situation with Peter.  And I don't know what I am going to say.

Jack --  (still sporting a black eye, by the way)  Well you'll think of something Jen.  If anyone can get through to Abby, it's you.

Mrs. Horton -- (coming in from the dining room) I agree.

Jennifer -- Oh Grandma.

Mrs. Horton -- Oh darling. (Jennifer goes to hug her grandma)

Jennifer -- I have missed you so much.

Mrs. Horton -- Oh I missed you too, but not half as much as that little girl upstairs.

Jack -- Mrs. Horton, you look like a million bucks.

Mrs. Horton -- Thank you, Jack.

Jennifer -- (notices her hair cut)  You're hair.  I love it.

Mrs. H -- Well I thought it was time for a change.

Jennifer -- I think I have the hippest Grandma this side of the Mississippi.

Jack -- Both sides of the Mississippi actually.

Mrs. H -- Well I don't know about hip but I'm worried about you (to Jen).  Maggie told me what Peter did.

Jennifer -- Grandma, I feel like a fool.

Mrs. H -- Don't you blame yourself.  He took advantage of you.  Of your trust and your love.

Jennifer -- I know.  I think I want to see my little girl now.

Mrs. H -- Well I let her sleep but she'll be wide awake when she sees you.
 
Jennifer -- Thanks Grandma.

Jennifer hugs Alice once again and heads up the stairs.  Jack turns and follows her with his eyes.

Mrs. H -- Are you alright Jack?

Jack -- Well things have been better Mrs. Horton.
 
Mrs. H -- Ahh.  I overheard some of your conversation with Jennifer from the kitchen.  I'm sorry.

Jack -- I just hope that she just doesn't listen to Peter's sweet talk and takes him back.

Mrs. H -- She's in a lot of pain now.  So give her time.

Jack -- You're right, as usual. (he smiles)  I think I'm going to take a walk and let some of this sink in.

Mrs. H -- Alright.  (offers some of her famous homemade donuts)  Here take one of these for the road.

Jack -- Thank you very much.  Jennifer was right, you are the best grandma. (he kisses her on the cheek)  Bye.

Mrs. H -- (stops him before he can walk away)  Darling wait a minute.  There . . . A letter arrived for you this morning by messenger.  It looks very important.  It's from one of those broadcasting stations.

Jack -- (as he eats the donut)  Chinese News Network?  (Alice oohs and ahhs)  Tell Jen I'll be back.

Jack exits with his his coat.

Mrs. H -- Oh Jack I just hope you don't get your heart broken again.

Jennifer has a heart to heart with Mrs. Horton about the difficulties of telling Abby the truth.  Alice tells her to look into her heart.  Hope arrives to lend some support.  She offers a shoulder to cry on.   Alice is going to leave the cousins and friends alone together to talk about both Peter and Jack.

Jack in the meantime has gone to Salem Place where he catches up with Billie.  He fills her in on all of the events that have happened in Paris.  He thinks that it would be best to leave town.  He tells Billie that he has been offered a foreign correspondent job with a news agency in Hong Kong.
Billie tries to discourage him from leaving and Jack really hesitates.  She tells him to wait to see what Jen has to say and that is exactly what he is going to do.  He admits that he has never felt this nervous in his life.

Hope eventually leaves and Jennifer is alone with her Grandmother once again.

Mrs. H -- Have you decided what you are going to do about Peter?

Jennifer -- No.  I just know that when he does get back we are going to have a lot to talk about.  Grandma, this is all such a mess.

Jack enters.

Jack -- Well it doesn't have to be Jen.

Mrs. H -- Well I'll give you two some privacy.

Jack -- Thanks, Mrs. Horton.

Jennifer -- Jack, I don't know what you are up to, but I'm really not in the mood.

Jack -- Jen, look, I didn't come here to pressure you.  I just think there is something that you should know.

Jennifer -- What?

Jack -- I think it's best if you read it. (he hands her the letter)

Jennifer -- (she reads and is surprised)  You've been offered a job in China?

Jack -- Yeah.  It's a great opportunity.

Jennifer -- Yeah, it's once in a lifetime.

Jack -- Yeah.  Once in a lifetime.

Jennifer -- So are you going to take it?

Jack -- Well I wanted to see what you thought
about it first.

Jennifer -- (she hesitates and then answers)  Why does it matter what I think Jack, it's your life.

Jack -- (upset but tries to brush it off)  Yeah well I guess I got my answer.  (his eyes are red and a little bit teary)  I better get upstairs and start packing.

Jennifer -- Wait!  You're leaving right away?

Jack -- Well the sooner I get to Hong Kong the better.  I'm lucky they held on to this job for me as long as they did.

Jennifer -- I didn't realize it was going to be so sudden.

Jack -- (after staring into her eyes)  Well you know the news business right.  When they make a decision, they want you there yesterday.  There's nothing really holding me back so . . .

Jennifer -- What about Abby?  She's gonna be really devastated.

Jack -- I'm not going to lose touch with my daughter, not again.  But I can't just keep hanging out here, Jen, just messing up your life.  Taking this job, I think, I think it's a good opportunity to give you some time to decide what you are going to do with your life without any interference from me.  I'm just going to go talk to Abby and start packing.

He slowly turns to head up the stairs.

Jennifer -- (calmly) Jack wait.

Jack -- Yes.

Jennifer is torn.  She really doesn't know what to do or say.

Jennifer -- I . . . nothing.

Jack -- (he is hurt once again and looks like he could cry)  Okay, I'll come back downstairs and say goodbye.

Jennifer -- Okay.

Jack walks up the stairs as Alice walks into the room.

Mrs. H --  Jack's leaving?

Jennifer -- He got offered a job in Hong Kong.

Mrs. H --  Well you're just going to let him walk out of your life like that?

Jennifer stands there perhaps still in shock from all of today's events and the developments in Paris.
 

END