Episode Summary from January 22, 1997 Transcribed by Sandra
 

Jack is downstairs in the living room, all dressed up wearing a shirt and tie.  Jennifer is coming downstairs to the living room, wearing jeans and and t-shirt under a cardigan and looks like she has her mind on other things.  She doesn't seem like she's in a very good mood and her tone of voice is rather curt.
 

Jack -- Jenn, good morning!
 

Jenn - Jack...
 

Jack -- You look a little tired.
 

Jenn -- Well, I didn't sleep very well.  I was worried about mom all night.  Thank you.
 

[she takes the glass of juice Jack offers her.  And they both walk to sit down on the couch]
 

Jenn  --   You know the things she said last night were really strange.  I mean, accusing Kristen of trying to harm her.  Insisting that Peter and Stefano are still alive.  I thought the medication was supposed to help clear her mind.  She seems more confused than ever.
 

Jack -- Right, Jenn.  Look, we don't know what happened to Laura while she was missing.  We do know it was something terrible.  But what she needs now is rest.  That's all.
 

Jenn -- Yeah, I guess.  She's still sleeping now so...
 

Jack --  So what about this nurse of hers, Lynn?
 

Jenn -- I heard her get up a couple times during the night.  I think she was looking in on mom, so I thought I'd let her sleep in.
 

Jack -- What about Laura's medication?
 

Jenn -- Lynn can give it to her when she wakes up.  I'm sure a couple hours won't make that much of a difference.
 

[Scene ends.  Next scene, Laura is sleeping in bed and having vivid nightmares of her time in captivity with Stefano, Peter and Kristen.  Laura wakes up convinced that she knows the truth -- that Peter and Stefano are alive.  The next scene, Jennifer arrives in her bedroom and tries to convince her mother that she's hallucinating and that there's no way Peter and Stefano could be alive or that Kristen would do anything to harm Laura.  Next scene, Marlena arrives to help Laura try to recover more of her memories about the DiMera "gang".  Lynn arrives just in the 'nick of time' to give Laura another magical memory-erasing pill.  But Laura still is able to tell Marlena that she can see the DiMera's in her mind.   Lynn worries that Laura will remember everything before the pill she gave her starts to take effect.]
 

[Next scene, Mickey has arrived at Jack & Jenn's house to discuss Jack's desire to plead guilty to Peter's murder.]
 

Jack -- You haven't filed the papers?!  Why not?!
 

Mickey -- Because Jack I was hoping you'd come to your senses and change your mind about pleading guilty to Peter's murder.
 

Jack -- I haven't changed my mind, Mickey.  I won't.
 

Mickey -- Jack, come here [Mickey and Jack sit down on the couch]  It's a mistake.  Look, we can still put on a good defence.

[Jennifer, in her hope to find out the truth behind Jack's decision to plead guilty, sits on the staircase and eavesdrops on Jack & Mickey's conversation.
 

Jack [sounds frustrated] -- Right! By blaming the victim!
 

Mickey [is almost yelling, but very quietly so as not to allow anyone to hear] -- By telling the jury about all the things that Peter did like trying to drive Laura insane, his relationship with Jude St. Clair, with Stefano.  We show them that he was capable of kidnapping Jennifer and Abby.  That you got into a fight with him because you were trying to protect them.  The gun went off accidentally.  The jury would convict you of involuntary manslaughter.  That's a couple years, Jack!   Not life!

[Jennifer is listening to this whole conversation and looks kind of stunned at what she's hearing.  She can't believe that Jack would refuse to put on a defence for his murder trial]

Jack [sounds mad and is almost yelling, but also quietly so as not to allow anyone to hear] -- Right... right... No Mickey!  I won't do it!
 

Mickey [shouting] -- Jack!  Come on!
 

Jack -- I told you.  I will not subject Jennifer and Abby to that kind of publicity.
 

[Jennifer is sitting there on the staircase looking confused.  She can't believe what she's hearing from Jack.  That he's willing to plead guilty and go to jail for life to protect her from bad trial publicity.]
 

Jack -- Abby's friends -- they'll tease her at school.  What about Jennifer's career?  And what about Laura?  What if the D.A. decides to grill her about our affair?  You know she's not strong enough to handle that kind of emotional assault.  No, Mickey!  I won't do it!  I won't subject my family to that kind of scrutiny.   I won't do it!  I love them too much!
 

Mickey -- You're willing to sacrifice your life and your future?
 

Jack -- [sounds dead serious and almost has tears in his eyes] -- I would do anything for my family.
 

[Jennifer is still listening to all of this and looks incredibly moved by what she has just heard.  It's almost as though a light has finally gone off in her head and she's realized just how unselfish Jack truly is and how much he loves her and Abby]
 

[Next scene, Marlena continues to question Laura about her memories of her kidnapping.  But suddenly Laura's memories of her kidnapping start to become confused as the pills start to take effect.]

Next scene, Mickey begins to leave.  Jennifer is standing on the staircase with her arms folded, looking like she doesn't care if anyone notices her there.  Surprisingly, Mickey and Jack do not notice her standing there.
 

Mickey -- So I'll file these papers entering your guilty plea later this week, Jack.  That will give you a few days to get your affairs in order and hopefully change your mind.
 

[Jack is now standing at the open doorway talking to Mickey who is just about to leave]
 

Jack -- No, Mickey.  I'm not gonna change my mind.  Remember -- Jennifer doesn't find out why I'm doing this.
 

Mickey -- I really think Jennifer ought to find out how much you love her and Abby.  But I'll respect your wishes.
 

[Mickey leaves.  Jack shuts the door and turns around.  He looks very worried.  Jennifer begins to walk downstairs and makes her presence obvious.  Jack looks shocked and realizes Jennifer heard his conversation with Mickey at the doorway and tries desperately to hide the truth to her, knowing full well it's too late to do that.]
 

Jack -- Jenn!  Hi!  Uh.. you know...
 

Jennifer [interrupting Jack]  -- Don't try to deny it, Jack.  I heard everything.
 

[Jack has his back towards Jennifer and looks worried that Jennifer just found out the truth.  Jennifer is almost at a loss for words.  She can't believe how unselfish Jack truly is]
 

Jennifer -- I am so sorry for what I said earlier.  I had no idea...
 

Jack -- [interrupting Jennifer, still with his back facing her and his arms folded]  -- I never wanted you.. I never wanted you to know about this, Jenn.
 

Jennifer -- [with sadness and love in her voice] -- I can't believe you would go to prison for us, Jack.
 

Jack [quickly turns around and says with tears in his eyes] -- I would do anything for you and Abby.
 

Jennifer -- If you mean that, Jack, then change your plea.  Please.  You can't do this.
 

[Jack looks at Jennifer although he has no noticeable reaction. Scene ends.]
 

[Jack turns around again, so his back is facing Jennifer.  His hands are on his waist and he seems very sad and very serious.  He looks like he is trying to hold back his tears]
 

Jack -- No, Jenn, I'm sorry.  I can't change my plea.  I can't let this publicity ruin your lives.
 

Jennifer [with tears in her eyes] -- We can handle it, Jack.
 

Jack -- [tears in his eyes, still with his back facing Jennifer]   No, no...
 

Jennifer [sounding desperate and shouts] -- Yes we can!  Listen to me -- Abby needs her father with her.  Not in jail!  Please Jack.  Please don't do this.
 

Jennifer walks towards Jack and turns him around to face her.  She then gives him a hug.  Jack also puts his arms around her and they share a warm embrace.  A photographer from the Papparazzi is lurking in the bushes in Jack & Jenn's backyard and captures the warm embrace on his camera.  The show ends.

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