Return to Summary PageThis is the first of two episodes transcribed here, from February 4, 1997, when Jack kisses Jennifer, right after Jack definitely decides to plead guilty to Peter's murder. This summary was transcribed by Sandra...
Show opens with Jack, Jennifer and Abby sitting in the dining room. They are playing checkers. Jack and Jennifer are really smiling and are enjoying their time together with Abby. Abby is about to leave the room and Jack gives her a hug and tells her he loves her. Jennifer is looking at them lovingly. Abby leaves.
Jennifer (sounding serious) - "She loves you so much, Jack. She needs you."
Jack (pauses for a moment and looks sad) - "You know I know that, Jenn. (pauses) The thought of not being with her.... the thought of not seeing her grow up.... I can't stand it."
Jennifer looks back at Jack with a shocked look on her face and says - "Jack, does that... does that mean that you've changed your mind about pleading guilty to Peter's murder?"
Jack (pauses and takes a deep breath) - "Yes."
Jennifer looks completely surprised and starts to smile. She doesn't say anything. Scene ends.
Next scene. Mickey arrives at Jenn's house to discuss Jack's case with him. Mickey says he has "bad news" and shows Jenn a tabloid cover story of her and Jack which reads "Accused killer and ex to wed!"
Jennifer reads the paper out loud - " 'According to a close family friend, tv talk-show host and accused killer Jack Deveraux and his ex-wife, talk-show hostess Jennifer Horton are secretly planning a wedding, only weeks after the murder of her second husband, Peter Blake?' (Jenn is shocked and shouts) THIS IS A LIE! I want to sue them, Uncle Mickey. I think we should file a suit against them - five million dollars!" (Hmm... that's quite a lot of money for such a harmless tabloid story, Jennifer - LOL! I wish that story actually happened on the show)
Mickey - "Well, how do we prove that it's not true?"
Jennifer (still looks shocked) - "It's not true."
Mickey (smiling) - "Well, I mean if you go to court, we have to be able to prove it."
Jennifer lets out a deep breath, and walks away looking very frustrated.
Mickey - "Jenn, I'm sorry."
Jennifer - "It's not your fault, Uncle Mickey. And you know, we're going to have to deal with dozens of more articles like this, especially now that Jack's going to trial."
Mickey (very surprised) - "He's what?"
Jennifer - "He changed his mind about pleading guilty."
Mickey (kind of mad) - "Why didn't you say call me?"
Jennifer - "We didn't even have time to discuss this because Abby came in. (Jenn smiles) I'm so relieved. Jack didn't kill Peter in cold blood, Uncle Mickey. He was trying to protect us. They got in a fight, the gun went off. Just the thought of Jack going to jail to protect us, to keep our lives from being splashed all over the tabloids...."
Mickey - "Yeah, well I hated that idea too. But do you realize how rough this will be on all of you?"
Jennifer (sounding confident) - "We're just going to have to make up our minds not to let the publicity destroy our lives! We're going to find a way to deal with it. And no matter how bad it gets, it can't be any worse than worse than having Jack in jail. At least Abby won't lose her father...."
Jack walks downstairs and Jennifer looks up and notices him. She stops talking.
Jack - "Hey Mickey!"
Mickey - "Jennifer was just telling me that you decided to go to trial?"
Jack - "Yes! Is that going to be a problem? Have you filed the paper's yet?"
Mickey - "Well, as a matter of fact, I was holding off, hoping you'd change your mind, so it's no problem."
Jennifer looks thrilled and says - "Good! Let's get cracking on the defence."
Jack (notices tabloid) - "Hey, what's this?"
Jennifer (tries to grab paper from Jack) - "Nothing, Jack, that's garbage. Don't even read that.."
Jack (pulls the paper from Jenn's hand) - "No, no, no. (Jack reads the paper and begins to have this shocked look on his face. He starts to speak angrily) Hey wait, who is this CLOSE family friend? "
Jack continues to read the paper while Jenn and Mickey are talking.
Jennifer (sounds frustrated) - "They made it up! We know that if we ask them for a name, they won't give us one. They'll say they're protecting their sources. So just forget it!"
Mickey - "She's right. Now look, we've got to get cracking on your defence. Okay, so look, I have some things to do at the office. After that, I'm yours. So I'll call you."
Jack (grabs Mickey's arm as Mickey's leaving. Jack looks very worried and concerned) - "No, wait a minute, Mickey. We need to talk about this right now." Scene ends.
Next scene.
Jennifer (standing behind Jack) - "Can't we talk about your defence later, Jack?"
Jack (facing Mickey, his back is to Jennifer) - "Jenn, that's my problem! (He turns around to Jennifer) I don't have a defence!"
Jennifer (looks confused) - "You said you changed your mind?!"
Jack - "I change my mind every time I'm together with you and Abby. I feel I'll do anything to stay out of jail. (points to paper) But I look at this tabloid.... this story... and realize my ONLY choice is to plead guilty."
Jennifer (sounds frustrated and screams) - "We can handle it, Jack!"
Jack (raising his voice) - "Jenn, NO we can't. This is only the beginning. Now if I plead guilty, they'll lose interest really fast. But if I go to trial, we're gonna be on the front page of this for weeks! And not just you and me either -- it's going to be Laura. They're going to ruin her professionally and personally! I can't stand to let that happen!"
Jennifer (seems desperate and begins to cry) - "But you're not guilty of murder, Jack!"
Jack (still screaming, but begins to have tears in his eyes) - "We can't prove that, Jenn! Now what if I go to trial and they convict me anyway? I can't risk that. You've been through enough for me already. I can't ask anymore of you. And I'm not going to stand by and watch them ruin your life and Abby's!"
Jennifer (tears in her eyes) - "You have to try to save yourself, Jack."
Jack (not yelling anymore) - "Not at your expense and Abby's. No trial!"
Mickey - "Jack, you're absolutely sure this time?"
Jack - "Absolutely sure!"
Jack looks at Jennifer. Jennifer looks at Jack with tears in her eyes and looks completely shocked.
Mickey finally gives in. He says "let's just hope that we're assigned a judge that will weigh all sides of the case" (Yeah! LOL! We know how 'fair' that judge was -- he was blackmailed by Stefano) Jack walks by and looks a bit worried. Jennifer grabs Jack's arm and turns him around.
Jennifer (looking directly into Jack's eyes) - "Jack, there has to be another way."
Jack (looks directly at Jennifer) - "Jenn, this is the ONLY way!" Scene ends.
Next scene. Mickey is on the telephone and finds out some info. about the judge that will be presiding over Jack's case and reassures Jack and Jennifer that their judge is supposed to be a "fair" and "law and order" kind of judge. (LOL! In Salem? I don't think such a judge exists! ha!ha!)
Jennifer to Mickey (tears in her eyes) - "Can Jack change his mind about pleading guilty?"
Jack (tears in his eyes) - "No, Jenn. I've made my decision. There's no turning back." (Jack looks as though he is wondering if he made the right decision) Scene ends.
Next scene. Jack is sitting at a table, writing on some documents. Jennifer has just come downstairs and says Abby has been watching some tapes Jack gave her for Christmas. Jennifer asks Jack what he's doing. Jack says he'd like her to "have a seat" on the couch because there's some things he has to "go over" with her. Jack looks very serious and business-like. Jennifer seems like she has just finished crying. Jack shows her documents of a mutual fund he has been putting money into, for Abby. He says he hopes this and the interest from this fund will help take care of Abby up until she graduates from high school. Jenn is listening to this and starts to have tears in her eyes. She looks like she is hardly paying any attention to what Jack is even saying. She seems so depresed. Jack then talks about calling the pest company, the roofer and the plumber. He says he wants to make sure that everything is being taken care of before he goes. Jennifer is still looking at Jack in a very depressed manner and has tears in her eyes. Still, Jack tries to keep his cool and not show his emotions.
Jennifer - "Jack, don't make this any more difficult than it already is."
Jack (sounding very comforting. turns towards Jenn) - "Jenn, I want to make sure that everything is taken care of. I need to know that you and Abby are going to be okay when I'm in prison"
Jennifer (crying) - "How do you expect us to be okay, Jack? Don't you know how much she loves you? Don't you know that..." (Jennifer is about to say something. She was probably about to say that she loves Jack. But she stops herself and starts to lean her head down and wipe the tears out of her eyes)
Abby suddenly enter the room and screams, in her usual happy manner, "Daddy!"
Jack (smiling) - "Hey, sweetheart, come here."
Abby walks to couch and asks Jack if he'll read to her.
Jack lifts her up on his lap and says in a really happy tone. "You bet I'll read to you!" He says that they should both go and find a great book. He is smiling and looks at Jennifer. Jennifer is sitting there, still looking depressed. Jack then challenges Abby to a "race" upstairs and Abby agrees. Jack leaves room with Abby. Jennifer watches them leave and still has tears flowing from her eyes. Scene ends.
Next scene. Jennifer is standing in the living room, looking sad and in deep thought. Jack comes downstairs and she looks up, but not at him (she has her back turned towards the staircase). She looks a bit nervous and takes a deep breath. Jack is walking towards her.
Jennifer - "Are you okay?"
Jack (now standing in front of Jennifer. He takes a deep breath, and looks visibly much sadder) - "Yeah, yeah. (takes another deep breath and has tears in his eyes) Yeah... it's just that these... times that I spend with Abby, they're just so much more important to me now knowing that.... (takes another deep breath) I'm not going to be here much longer (Jack is very teary-eyed. He is clearly so filled with sadness that it's hard for him to even speak) I just want to hold on to these.. moments, so that when I'm in prison I won't be..."
Jennifer (tears in her eyes) - "Jack, you have to change your mind."
Jack (very quiet voice and still crying) - "I can't, Jenn. I won't. So don't make this tougher than it is." (Jack is trying to hold back his tears)
Jack walks away, behind Jennifer. Jennifer looks defeated and sad and shakes her head. She turns around towards Jack and takes a deep breath. Her head is kind of bent down, and she seems a bit hesitant. Jack is standing with his back towards Jennifer and is clearly trying desperately to hold back his tears. His arms are folded. They both take a deep breath.
Jennifer - "Is there anything else that you want to remember... before you go away?"
Jack (turns around to face Jennifer, and we see quite a few tears in his eyes. He tries to force a smile) - "Yeah. There is one thing (he takes a deep breath)"
Jennifer looks at Jack and she has tears in her eyes. Jack walks towards Jennifer and looks at her. He then takes his hand and places it on her chin and says "hey..." She then leans over and he kisses her gently on the lips. Scene ends. That's the end of the episode.
Next episode from February 6, 1997. Jennifer walks into the living room by herself. She is shutting off the lights. She grabs a picture of Jack & Abby and her from the table and looks at it.
Jennifer (looking at the picture) - "I can't be having these feelings for Jack. Not now..."
Jennifer then has a dream of her kiss she just had with Jack. Jack begins to walk downstairs. Jennifer stops dreaming and quickly puts the picture of her, Jack and Abby on the table in an effort to hide the fact that she has "feelings" for Jack.
Jennifer - "Is Abby asleep?"
Jack - "Yes, she's a little restless though."
Jennifer - "I'll check on her after you leave."
Jack - "Yeah, look Jenn. I didn't mean to stay so late. It's just that I wanted to check in on Abby one more time."
Jennifer (smiles and says quietly) - "I understand, Jack."
Jack (seems hesitant) - "And uh, I'm sorry about kissing you... before... well, I'm not sorry. It was wonderful - at least for me... it was... but you don't... feel the same way, do you?"
Jennifer (almost speechless, she begins to walk away from Jack) - "It's not a matter of how I feel, Jack. It's the circumstances..."
Jack (interrupts her. He clearly feels uncomfortable that he even brought up the subject. Jennifer's back is facing Jack) - "I understand. I understand, Jenn. And I ummm.. if I show my feelings more than I should tonight, it's just because this may be my last night of freedom before I end up in prison. (Jennifer turns towards Jack. She seems like she is emotionally moved by what Jack is saying. Jack pauses and seems a bit uncomfortable to ask the following) And I'd like to spend it with you. (another pause) Will you let me?"
Jennifer looks at Jack and kind of smiles. She doesn't say anything. Scene ends.
Next scene. Jack and Jenn are facing each other.
Jack - "Jenn, look, I have no right to ask you if I could stay. I should just leave..." (Jack begins to walk towards door)
Jennifer turns around and grabs Jack's arm - "Wait, wait, wait." (Jenn seems kind of hesitant)
Jack turns around and looks at her. "Do you want me to stay?"
Jennifer pauses and takes a deep breath. "I don't know what I want." She sits down on the couch. She continues "I just wish that you would change your mind about pleading guilty."
Jack - "Jennifer, I did shoot Peter."
Jennifer - "You felt like you were defending me and Abby."
Jack walks towards Jennifer and sits on couch next to her. "Jenn, how am I going to convince a jury that I thought Peter came here to kidnap you and Abby if I don't have any proof?"
Jennifer - "Well, you could at least try, Jack!"
Jack - "No, I'm not going to put you and Abby through that kind of publicity."
Jennifer - "Jack...."
Jack - "Jennifer, I won't do it! I hurt you before when I walked out on you and Abby and I'm not going to cause you that kind of pain again."
Jennifer (trying to sound confident) - "Ever since you came back to Salem, you've been trying to convince me that you've changed. And I can see now that you have. (Jack is looking at Jennifer with tears in his eyes) You have real integrity, character (she starts to cry) and strength. You're a good person."
Jack (seems overwhelmed by what Jennifer has just told him. He takes a deep breath) - "You have no idea... what it means to me to hear you say that... (he smiles through his tears) It'll keep me going when I'm in prison..."
Jennifer (very sad) - "The thought of you in prison, Jack ....." (Jennifer gets up off the couch and walks away. Her back is towards Jack) I just don't know if I can bear the thought of you leaving me. I just don't know if I can bear it..." (Jennifer is staring off and looks very sad) Scene ends.
Next scene. Jack gets off the couch and walks towards Jennifer. He speaks to her with her back still facing him.
Jack - "Jenn, you don't really want me to leave, do you?"
Jennifer (nods her head) - "No..."
Jack - "You still have feelings for me?"
Jennifer (turns around to face Jack) - "I just meant that I don't want you to go to prison."
Jack - "That's all?"
Jennifer - "You shouldn't sacrifice yourself like this for me and Abby, Jack."
Jack - "Jenn, this is my decision to make. I'm content with it. I just wish I made the right choices a little bit sooner, like staying with you and Abby instead of walking out on you. (seems sad) Things would be a lot different now, wouldn't they?"
Jennifer (says in a comforting tone) - "It was the past, Jack. I've chosen to put that behind me."
Jack - "I'm glad to hear that. (pause) It's ironic, isn't it? (Jenn asks "what?") We're just starting to.. to get along.. when I'm about ready to go away. (Jack smiles) If I weren't, do you think you and I could..." (Jack stops himself from finishing his sentence)
Jennifer (looking down at ground. She looks back up at Jack) - "Jack, I believe you when you tell me that shooting Peter was an accident. (she walks away from Jack, her back facing Jack) but it is... hard to forget, you know? ( She turns around) Jack, I'm sorry."
Jack (looks very sad) - "I understand. (long pause) I should go."
He walks towards door. Jennifer watches him leave. They don't say anything to each other. Jack puts on his coat and looks at Jennifer. She is still looking at him, but says nothing. It is almost as if he's waiting for her to say not to leave. He quietly and sadly says "Goodnight." Just as he's about to open the door, Abby comes downstairs and says "Daddy, don't go." Jack lifts up Abby. He looks worried and says "Hey, princess! What's the matter, sweetheart?" Abby responds, "I had a bad dream that you ran away. Don't go, daddy! Please!" Jack is looking at Abby and seems very upset by this. Jennifer is standing nearby and seems extemely sad, watching how upset Abby is to see Jack leave even for the night. Jennifer has tears in her eyes. Scene ends.
Next scene. Jack is sitting on the couch with Abby on his lap. He is still wearing his coat. He tells Abby it's just a bad dream. He kisses Abby on the forehead. Jennifer asks Abby if she's feeling better. Abby asks Jack if he'll stay at their house for the night. Jack looks at Jennifer as if to say 'what should I tell her?' He seems speechless.
Jack - "Well, I can't, sweetheart. I have to go."
Abby (shouts) - "It's just like my dream. I don't want you to go, Daddy!"
Jack looks at Jennifer as if to say "Hello! Our child is begging me to stay. How can I say no to her when I'm about to be going to jail forever?"
Jennifer (noticing thunder and lightning outside) - "Wow! It is really pouring outside."
Abby (quietly) - "Now I don't want you to go, Daddy."
Jennifer - "Abby's right. You know, you're going to get soaked if you leave right now. Maybe... maybe you should stay. Lynn's in the guest bedroom, but if you don't mind, you can sleep on the couch." (LOL! I'll bet you Jack slept on the couch or in the guest bedroom when he returned home from prison this past summer. This show is so realistic ;-)
Jack (smiling) - "No, I don't mind at all. Yay! How about that?"
Abby - "Yay! Daddy's staying!"
Jack (smiling and laughs) - "Yay, daddy's staying!" (Jack and Abby are both really smiling and look at Jennifer. Jennifer is smiling, but it is obvious she is still very sad about the fact that this might be the last night that Jack spends with his daughter, before he goes to prison) Scene ends.
Next scene. Jack is tucking Abby into bed. Abby says she can't sleep because she doesn't like thunder. Jack says to close her eyes and he'll tell her a story (Mystic, this is the same story that Jack told Abby at the Horton cabin that day)
Jack - "Once upon a time, there was a young prince."
Abby - "Was he handsome?"
Jack - "Yeah, well, he was okay.. (LOL! Just okay? Jack, please stop being so modest ;-)) But he was very rich, spoiled, and he was very used to getting his own way. He didn't care about other people's feelings. Then one day, he travelled to a far-off land and met a beautiful princess. She was sweet and unselfish as he was vain. And the prince fell in love with the princess. And she fell in love with him. And then they were married."
Abby (smiles) - "And they all lived happily ever after."
Jack - "Now you roll over and go to sleep. (Abby turns around and is sleeping. Jack kneels on the floor by her bed, looks very sad and has tears in his eyes. He continues quietly, speaking to himself) Well, they should have lived happily ever after. But the prince didn't appreciate what he had. He soon fell back into his old ways.... And he destroyed the marriage. When he finally... finally did come to his senses, by then it was too late. He had lost his princess forever (Jack pauses and looks very sad) He was destined to live alone.... without her love. But in later years, no matter how sad or lonely he became, (Jack looks at Abby) he never stopped loving his princess."
Jennifer is standing by Abby's bedroom door and we realize she has overheard Jack telling this bedtime story to Abby. She looks very emotionally moved by what she heard. She enters her bedroom. Scene ends.
Next scene. Jack is still kneeling on the floor by Abby's bed. Abby is asleep. He brushes back Abby's hair and says with tears in his eyes "The memory of your pretty little face is going to keep me going in these lonely years ahead..... I love you." (Jack leans over and kisses Abby on the forehead) Don't forget me."
Jack leaves her room. Jack then walks into Jenn's room. She is lying in bed, fast asleep. Jack walks up to the foot of her bed and stares at her. He calls out her name quietly but she doesn't answer. He walks over to where she is lying down and leans over her and kisses her very gently on the forehead. He then very quietly says "Don't ever forget me, Jenn."
Jack then walks away towards the foot of her bed. He kneels down on the carpet and looks upwards. He is very sad and has tears in his eyes. "Dear God, watch over the two people that I love most in this world -- Jennifer and Abby." He gets up and turns around and faces Jennifer. He looks at her and has this very sad look in his face. The scene ends. End of episode
