Return to Summary PageThis is a summary of an episode from October 26, 1995. Thanks to Salem for transcribing this episode for our page:
Jack is in the middle of dressing when there is a knock at his door. He grabs his shirt with one hand and opens the door with another. "Sarah!"
Sarah looks into the room. "Can I come in? I have something important to tell you."
"Sure." Jack steps back from the door as he puts a long sleeved T over his head. Sarah enters and closes the door behind her, just as Jack pulls the shirt to his waist.
"How's the thumb?" she asks him. Jack had injured it the day before.
"It's fine." Jack fusses with his shirt.
"So what do you have to tell me?" Jack faces Sarah.
"I know how to stop Jennifer from marrying Peter," she says.
Jack's body freezes over and his blue eyes widen. "I've been trying for months to break up Jennifer and Peter. You hardly even know them, or me!" Jack reaches for a vest.
"I know how much you love Jennifer, and I know how much you want to marry her, again. You said that the love you shared with Jennifer was true love. Then you just have to make her love you again. Then you can go back to Aremid and prove . . ."
"No. No just stop right there. Jennifer almost kicked me out of her life. In order to stay in her good graces I can't mention the fact that I still love her nor say anything about Aremid."
Sarah is confused. "How can any good come from hiding love or denying that something is going on in Aremid?"
Jack pulls a navy blue vest around his back and shoulders. "Well maybe nothing was going on in Aremid."
"How can you think that?" Jack tries to calm his frustration. "Well maybe I was so desperate to break up Jennifer and Peter's wedding that I just talked myself into believing that there's some terrible secret about the Blake family there."
Jack walks towards his bed and begins to loop his belt through his pants. Sarah turns to face Jack. "You saw the lady in white and we both heard her crying in the cemetery."
"Well I woke up from a sound sleep. Maybe there was no lady in white and I was only dreaming it, huh."
"Uhn ah. No. There are secrets in Aremid, Jack, and you know that!"
"Listen Sarah, you're a sweet girl. I think of you as a good friend. But I can't go back to Aremid with you. I've got to figure this out on my own, right here. Look, I've got to get dressed and when I finish, I'll take you to the bus station."
Sarah is noticeably upset but leaves the room without saying another word. She closes the door behind her. "I swore I wouldn't go back to Aremid without Jack. I have to do something," Sarah says to herself.
Downstairs, Peter has prepared a surprise pancake breakfast for Jennifer. Those pancakes must smell good because Abby heads down the stairs and joins them. Jennifer tells Peter about Abby's school project which involves pressing leaves in a book. Jennifer leaves her seat to get Abby some juice. Peter, eager as ever, wants to get Abby some exotic leaves and tells the adorable little girl that he will be back soon. He grabs a heavy coat and leaves Abby alone with some pancakes.
"Where's Peter?" Jen says as she re-enters the room.
"He went out," Abby quickly retorts.
"Oh, he went out. Well I'm sure he'll be back any minute."
Jack bounces down the stairs. "Good Morning. Wow what's all this," he asks after observing the table.
"Peter made me breakfast."
Jack picks up Abby, takes her seat and replaces her in his lap. Jack is curious why Abby isn't in preschool, but Jennifer explains that they are installing a new furnace at the school.
Jennifer continues, "And this morning, we are going to work on a school project. We are going to collect leaves, right? And then we are going to press them in a book." She then explains to Jack, "But we don't have any leaves in our backyard, so we are going to Grandma's house to look for some."
As Jack lovingly strokes his daughter's hair, he says, "I know where we should go to get some leaves -- Brookfield Park. Remember, we went there when we were dating. We buried each other in piles of golden and red leaves."
Jennifer is stunned. Her cheeks turn a rosy shade of red. She remembers a time from the not so distant past . . .
Jack picks up Jen and carries her to a pile of leaves. He says, "Look at all the leaves over here. Maybe I'll toss you right in them." He gently drops Jen into the pile and proceeds to throw leaves on her. All the while, Jen screams with glee and tosses leaves back at Jack. She gets up and an all out leaf battle begins. Jack grabs Jennifer by the legs and pulls her down to the ground. Jen brushes her hair back with her hand and caresses Jack face. Jack grabs her and pulls her in for a passionate kiss.
Jack is remembering too. He blankly stares across the room but Abby's stirring brings him back into the present. He looks to Jen. "Well, do you remember?"
Jen tries to hide her emotion. She humbly nods. "Yes. I do."
"So is it okay if I take Abby there?"
Jen agrees.
A smile illuminates Jack's face. "All right. Why don't you come along with us?"
Jen is getting fidgety in her chair. "No, I don't think so."
Abby is disappointed. "You come with us. You and daddy and me."
Jack proudly smiles and looks for Jen's response.
"All right, sweetheart. I will do it for you." Jennifer starts to clean up and gets Abby to help bring some of the dishes to the kitchen.
Jack is left alone to ponder. "Mommy and daddy and Abby. It's the way it used to be. The way it should be," he says.
Part Two -- The family goes to Brookfield Park...
It is a brisk yet pleasant day at the park. The ground is littered with leaves and the trees are as colourful as one of Abby's drawings. Jennifer holds Abby's hand as they enter the park. "Where did your daddy go?"
Jack follows. "Right here." He is behind a video camera that is focused on Jen and Abby.
"There he is. He's got that video camera again. Say, hi daddy."
Jennifer waves for the camera and Abby follows in unison. Jack motions Abby over to him. "He's what we do," he whispers in her ear. He grabs some leaves and gives them to Abby. "Here take these over to mommy and throw them right in her face." Abby is reluctant. "Go, quick," he whispers.
Abby moves over to Jen slowly while Jack grabs more leaves. Jennifer opens her arms expecting Abby to place the bundle in her hands. But Abby throws the leaves in Jen's face. Jack then throws his load of leaves and gets a direct hit on Jen.
"Hey!" Jen moans. "What's that all about?" She grabs some leaves and throws them at Jack. Abby begins throwing leaves at Jack too. Jack and Jen are laughing hysterically. The girls gang up on Jack and he is soon flat on his back in a bed of leaves. Jack sits up as Jennifer sits down and pulls Abby into her lap. "Wait a minute," he says. "You're telling me the fight is over."
"It's over. We won."
Jack fakes disappointment for Abby. "Oh no. Daddy always loses!" He sobs and punches the ground in a mock rage. He looks up at Abby and gives her a smile. He then looks up at Jennifer and can't help but to remember their passionate kiss in that very park. Jennifer too, can't forget and stares at the man she once loved. Their eyes meet and the world stops for a brief moment as two soulmates connect. Their love has never died.
Jennifer quickly looks away. "Come on Abby, lets go collect some leaves."
"Wasn't that fun Abby? Isn't it the best time in the whole wide world?"
Abby cheers as Jen takes her to get some leaves.
Jack, Jennifer and Abby return to their home with a bag full of leaves. They spread the leaves out across the table. The three of them sort through their diverse collection. Jack suggests a trip to the cider mill and the apple orchard. With Halloween just around the corner, Jen suggests going to the pumpkin farm. Sarah enters but doesn't want to interrupt the bonding family. They laugh as they get up to go to the porch out back to press the leaves.
Jack starts, "Well, I'm hungry so we can . . . "
"Hungry, your daddy is always hungry," Jen quickly responds.
They disappear into the kitchen. At that exact moment, Peter returns and Sarah explains the great day that Jack and Jennifer had with Abby. Peter controls his anger and disappointment. He has to come up with some way to Jack from interrupting his life with Jennifer. Sarah heads upstairs and bumps into Jennifer, who is carrying one of the bridesmaid dresses. Sarah can't but help to think of the impending wedding and implies that Jack would make a great groom. Jen sets her straight. Sarah hands Jen a note and tells her to read it and then explain how she feels.
Jack hears something at the front door and opens it to reveal a very cheerful Hope. She explains that she is there to try on the dress for the wedding but quickly stops herself realizing it could be difficult for Jack to hear. But Jack is fine with it. After his wonderful day at the park, he is more hopeful than ever that he can win his family back.
Jennifer looks at the note that Sarah has given her. She can hear Jack's voice recite the printed words, "My heart aches, and a numbness dulls my mind. Jennifer, my love is gone. And I am left forlorn, with an emptiness. A void which love once filled to overflowing. My Jennifer, my love, my life."
Jennifer is deeply moved but attempts to hide it from Sarah. She tells her to get her things ready for her trip back to Aremid. Sarah bashfully walks away. Jen then pulls the note close to her heart but snaps out of it and continues down the stairs. She welcomes Hope. Jack offers to leave but Jen stops him. She lets him know that he is welcome in his home. As a result, Jack is more hopeful than ever. He thanks Jen for a great time in the park. While she insists it was for Abby, she lets him know that she wants them to be friends.
Jen heads upstairs to check up on Abby just as Peter returns from another secret meeting with the corrupt and nefarious Jude St. Clair. Peter recruits Jude in his attempt to keep Jack at bay. Jack and Hope let Peter know Jennifer is upstairs. As he heads up the stairs, Jack tells Hope that he just needs to spend more time with Jen and Abby to remind her of their love.
"As long as Jennifer is in this house in Salem, we have a chance."
Unfortunately, things aren't moving fast enough for Peter. After hugging Jennifer he tells her that he has a surprise for her. They are leaving for Aremid -- today! Jennifer tries to smile but is nonetheless shocked.
