Return to Summary PageJack and Laura in Laura's office having an informal session (Week of August 13, 1996)
Transcribed by Mystic
The episode's a little messed up. I'm not sure if this is the very first scene, and it's definitely cut off in the beginning. So here's the first understandable part on......
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Jack - Look Laura, I appreciate your trying. I really do. But what's the use? My feelings for Jennifer are just so strong. There's no way I can get over them.
Laura - [putting her hands on Jack's shoulders] Maybe we can do it together.
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Jack - Laura, you don't have to worry about me. Really.
Laura - Oh, but I do. I want you to be happy. And you can't be until you get over your feelings for Jenn.
Jack - Okay, okay. All right. We'll have a session.
Laura - [smiles] Good.
Jack - And if it doesn't work then.... well, just know that I appreciate your concern and your kindness.
Laura - Well, if you've made up your mind that it's not gonna work, then we're both wasting our time.
Jack - Laura, I'm just being realistic.
[Laura stares at him]
Jack - You're a terrific psychiatrist. You're intelligent.
Laura - Mm.
Jack - You're wise.
Laura - Thank you.
Jack - Who knows? Maybe you do have some magic formula in here that will help free me of my love for Jennifer.
Laura - Do you want to be freed?
Jack - [hesitating] That's part of my problem.
[Jack turns away from Laura]
Laura - Why are you afraid?
Jack - Well, it's just that Jennifer and I were together for a long time. Her love, it's like a part of me. If I lost it, I'd feel like I was losing a part of myself.
Laura - Holding on to your feelings for Jenn has been the more painful choice.
Jack - Yeah. And it hurts so much sometimes that I can hardly stand it. I know. It's not healthy, especially for Abby. For her sake, I want to be able to start a new relationship.
Laura - That's what I want for you more than anything. (Yeah, I bet Laura wouldn't mind if Jack was starting the new relationship with her)
Jack - Okay. Where do we start?
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[Jack is walking around Laura's office, looking around]
Jack - You know, I just realized I haven't been in your office in a long time. These walls must hold a lot of secrets.
Laura - For my patients, yes. And for me. I almost went insane when these walls were painted. Someone made a serious mistake and mixed a deadly chemical in the paint. It almost killed Jennifer when she fell asleep on the desk there.
Jack - [he's sitting on the desk] You told me about that. You know, I always wondered why you didn't just sue the paint company.
Laura - It wasn't anyone's fault really. (yeah, except Peter's!) Besides, I felt it was better to move on with my life instead of being tied up in a court case for years. [she looks at Jack] Jack, that's what I want you to understand. You can't live in the past. We have to move on with our lives.
Jack - [pausing] Yeah..... The last time I tried to move on, I made a serious attempt. For Jennifer's sake. I went to the Meadows! I met this wonderful woman named Monica, who's real name happened to be Laura. And we grew close. And for one night we were lovers. And for one, beautiful night it seemed like we were the only people in the whole world. Laura, that time was very special to me. And you touched some feelings in me that I had just buried for so long. I buried them because I was afraid to express them. You just made me more sensitive. You made me a better lover. You helped me become more honest with myself and with other people. I really thought that Jennifer could love me. But then it all just fell apart. And you ended up getting hurt. And I'm sorry for that.... But that part of my life is over.
Laura - [with tears in her eyes, she gets up and walks over to Jack] No, it's not.
[Laura brushes Jack's cheek with her hand. Jack is looking up at her with tears in his eyes too. (Mark really did a lot of crying, didn't he?)
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[Laura is still standing in front of Jack, really close to him. (If you ask me, I think Laura wanted to take Jack on that desk right there and then! LOL!) Jack takes Laura's hands in his.]
Jack - When we left the Meadows, we agreed that we would just keep that time in our hearts. But that it was over.
Laura - [looking sad] Be that as it may, you're still the same sensitive, loving man that you discovered there, who wasn't afraid to express his feelings. If anything, I'd say you're more sensitive to others now.
Jack - Yeah, well it didn't seem to make any difference to Jennifer. [he gets off the desk and walks past Laura.]
Laura - Oh yes it did. [they both sit on the couch] Just not in the way that you want it. Jack, she's in love with Peter now. And in spite of averything that you've done to discredit him, I mean, you haven't been able to prove anything! You've gotta face the fact that you are never gonna convince Jennifer that he's ruthless or dangerous. I mean, it isn't that she thinks he's perfect of anything, I mean no one is but...
Jack - [frustrated] Laura, my instincts about people are never wrong.
Laura - Now what good has it done for you in this case? You have nothing to back them up.
Jack - Listen Laura, this talk about the Meadows, it's reminded me of someone: Daniel Scott. Now, you cared for him. You wanted things to work out with him. Not what happened?
Laura - [laughing sarcastically] I think Daniel was just playing with me. But this has nothing to do with Peter.
Jack - Yeah, but he was an associate of Peter's. And then he disappeared, everyone was asking all these questions...
Laura - [interrupting] Here we go again! You have never been able to prove that Peter was connected to that at all.
Jack - Oh, just because I can't prove that Peter's guilty doesn't mean he's innocent!
Laura - Daniel wasn't interested in me so he left town. It's as simple as that.
Jack - No Laura. When Peter's involved, nothing is simple. Nothing.
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(the tape has a minor glitch here...)
Jack - I had totally forgot about their connection. [Jack gets up off the couch, with Laura following him.]
Laura - You did not forget. You couldn't find any connections so you gave up trying.
Jack - You got a letter from Daniel, didn't you? Where was he?
Laura - Somewhere in Europe.
Jack - Laura, if I can track him down, just talk to him for five minutes...
Laura - [getting frustrated] You came here to deal with your feelings for Jenn.
Jack - Yeah!
Laura - And instead, you are off on this tangent about Peter trying to prove that he's no good. I mean, you've got to stop this!
Jack - I tried Laura, I really tried. I dated Sharon and she's really nice, but it just didn't work out.
Laura - Well, maybe she's not the right woman for you.
Jack - [smiles] The only woman for me is Jennifer.
[Jack walks past her again. Laura looks defeated. (Give it up, Laura!)]
Jack - Now if I can just find something against Peter...
Laura - If Peter had done something so horrible that Jennifer would leave him, I think you would've found it by now.
Jack - [pauses then smiles] Maybe not.
The end...
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