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Jack and Jennifer at the Horton Cabin
(Transcribed by Mystic)
This episode took place in early 1995. If you remember, both Jack and Jennifer ended up at the Horton cabin by accident. Jack wanted to spend some time alone; Jennifer wanted some time alone with Abby. Of course, they ended up in the same place. This episode reflects back on their first night there.
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[Inside the Horton cabin, Jack and Abby are sitting on a couch side-by-side. Jennifer if outside. Abby's in her pajamas. Jack's wearing a long sleeved white shirt and jeans does look . Jack is holding Abby's 'magic box' (the one that proved Gina was Hope) and he's telling Abby a bedtime story]
Jack - One day, after many a long journey, the handsome prince came back to the castle to look for his princess. And brought with him this box.
Abby - Why daddy?
Jack - Well, this box is magic. Any wish you make on it will be granted.
[Jennifer quietly walks in the door and listens in on the story. Jack and Abby don't see her]
Jack - And the prince wished that his beautiful princess would fall in love with him again. He wished that she would take him back. And guess what? She did.
[Jennfier seems touched by what Jack is saying, and sort of looks at him lovingly]
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[Jack and Abby are still on the couch and he realizes that Abby had fallen asleep]
Jack - Good night, little princess. [he kisses her] Sweet dreams.
[Jack gets up and Jennifer closes the door loudly so Jack think she just got there]
Jenn - Is she asleep already?
Jack - Yeah. Yeah, I just told her a story.
Jenn - Oh, about what?
Jack - Uh, just a fairy tale.
Jenn - Oh, that's good. She loves fairy tales.
Jack - Yeah. It's too bad life isn't like a fairy tale. They always have happy endings.
Jenn - [hesitates] Yeah they do.
[Jack stares at Jenn for awhile. I think it gets her nervous so she changes the subject]
Jenn - What's that? [pointing to the box in Jack's hand]
Jack - [still stares at Jenn for awhile before realizing she just asked a question] Oh, this is just some box I picked up at a rummage sale. I was hoping that Abby would like it but it's useless. You can't even open it. So I think I'm just gonna throw it it the fire. [he shrugs] It's firewood.
[Jack goes outside. Jenn watches after him with a concerned look on her face. There's a campfire outside and Jack sits down on a rock in front of it.]
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[Jack has the box in his hand and is about to throw the box into the fire]
Jack - [talking to himself] If only this box could make my wish come true. Well, up in smoke! S--
Jenn - [running outside] Jack wait! Wait, don't throw it away.
Jack - Why not?
Jenn - I don't know, uh... There's just something about it, you know, it just really intrigues me. Can I see that?
Jack - Sure. [he hands her the box and scoots over so Jenn can sit next to him on the rock]
Jack - Well, something about it kind of attracted me too. I don't know why.
Jenn - [who's still admiring the box, looks at Jack] Don't throw it away.
Jack - But it's useless. It doesn't even open.
Jenn - Yeah, I know, but something doesn't always have to have a practical purpose to be appreciated. You know, they can simply be admired for their craftsmanship and their beauty. Some individual feeling that it inspires in us. I don't know, like art or poetry or music. Some people believe that they're not important either but they are. And they touch our souls and they lift our spirits. I hope that one day Abby learns to develop a sense of beauty. I think it's important. And you know, maybe this box will do that. [laughs]
[The way Jack is looking at her is so nice. His face is full of admiration, passion and respect, all in one. It's really sweet and powerful]
Jack - [after a long pause] You sounded so much like a Horton.
Jenn - [looks at him + smiles] What do you mean?
Jack - [gives a cute grin + laughs] Well, your ability to find something good or beauty in everything, everybody.
Jenn - My grandparents gave that to me.
Jack - I hope you'll pass on those values to our daughter.
[Jenn smiles]
Jack - Then she'll be as unique and as special as her mother.
Jenn - [looks at Jack, truly touched] Thank you, Jack.
[Jack continues to look at her with love in his eyes.]
Jack - [takes the box from her] You know, you're right about there being some beauty in the workmanship here. I think Abby should have it.
[Jenn looks at Jack and smiles.]
Jack - Well, I'm going for a walk. [places the box down on the ground] I just suddenly got a lot of things to think about.
[Jack gets up and walks off into the darkness. Jenn, alone now, picks up the box again and stares at it, lost in her thoughts. After a while, she hears.....]
Jack - HELP! Jennifer! Help!!
Jenn - Jack! [she throws the box downbox was and runs off to find Jack]
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[Jennifer is in the woods looking for Jack]
Jenn - Jack! Where are you?!
Jack - [heard from a distance] Jennifer! Over here! Hey, wait! Be careful! I fell into a pit!
Jenn - [finds him] What?! Oh my God, are you all right?!
Jack - Well, yes! I'm fine. I just feel a little stupid for not looking where I was going but I'm fine. [Sure enough, we see Jack in this pit. I think he's all right. No damage to the face. His body seems to be fine. Nothing to worry about ; ) ]
Jenn - [kneeling on the ground, leaning over the edge] It's so dark out here. What is this?
Jack - I don't know. Somebody must be digging a well or something.
Jenn - Well, didn't they think to put up a barrier or something?!
Jack - [sighs] No..... hey, is Abby okay by herself?
Jenn - Yeah, she's fine. She's asleep. But we gotta get you outta here so we can get back to her. Can you get out?
Jack - No, I can't! I tried. My feet keep sinking in and I can't get out.
Jenn - All right. Well here. Try to reach my hand.
[Jenn stretches out her hand and Jack tries all he could to reach it but can't]
Jenn - Can you reach it?
Jack - [giving up] No, I can't.
Jenn - Great.
Jack - My feet, they keep sinking into this dirt. [thinks] Is there a rope at the cabin?
Jenn - I don't know but we don't have time to look for one. Look, I have an idea. It's a long shot but it might work.
Jack - All right. I'll try anything!
Jenn - All right. Take off all your clothes.
[Jack seems shocked to hear her say that.]
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[Jack now has all his clothes off, with the exception of his boxers. Jenn is tightening the knots on the clothes-rope she just made]
Jack - What are you doing?
Jenn - I'm making a rope out of your clothes. I'm gonna throw it over the side to see if you can climb out of the pit, all right?
Jack - Okay.
Jenn - Here we go!
[Jenn throws the rope to Jack. He tries to reach it]
Jenn - You got it?
Jack - [still trying] No, it's too short. I can't reach it... And modesty prevents me from taking off anymore of my clothes.
Jenn - Jack, how can you joke at a time like this?
Jack - Well, there's not much else to do down here.
Jenn - [thinks and then realizes there's only one thing she can do. She starts unbuttoning her blouse] Shoot!
Jack - What are you doing?
Jenn - I'm taking off my blouse so I can make the rope longer to get you out of this pit.
Jack - [pauses] Well, you better tie it in a very tight knot.
Jenn - Don't worry. I got a knot-tying badge in the Girl Scouts.
Jack - [interested] You did? Really? How come I never knew that?
Jenn - [sarcastically] Well, probably because I've never had to rescue you out of a pit before!
Jack - Fine. Be that way.
Jenn - Just shut up and grab the rope Jack.
[Jenn throws the rope over the side again. This time Jack gets ahold of it and he climbs himself out. On the the way up, he gets a leaf caught in his mouth and spits it out. When he's finally out, we can now have a great look at him in only his boxers. Light blue ones. Jack and Jenn both sit on separate rocks, catching their breath]
Jack - [looks at the rope] That was quick thinking. Thanks for rescuing me.
Jenn - Well, you've rescued me a few times.
Jack - I didn't think you were strong enough. [he kind of looks over Jenn's body] Did you start working out?
Jenn - [while untying the clothes] Yeah. Yeah, I did about a year ago.
Jack - That's right after I left.
Jenn - Yup. It helped me keep my mind off things. [she puts her blouse back on]
Jack - [thinking about what he did to her in the past] Look Jennifer....
Jenn - [interrupts him] That was the past, Jack. I gotta get back to Abby.
[Jenn runs off leaving Jack there, who's still only in his boxers. He watches Jenn leave]
Jack - I've got so much to make up for, Jennifer. And I will. Maybe then we can finally start over.
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[Back in the cabin, Jenn pulls Abby's blanket over her. Abby's still asleep. Jenn walks over to the stove, scratching her arms. Jack, fully dressed now, walks in the door]
Jack - Hey, is Abby okay?
Jenn - Yeah, she's sleeping.
Jack - [walks over to Jenn] I wanted to tell you how impressed I was by the way you handled that situation just now.
Jenn - You sound so surprised. Did you think I would panic?
Jack - Well, I think a lot of people would have.
Jenn - You know, women are just as capable as handling a crisis as men are.
Jack - [quick to defend himself] Well, I didn't say they weren't.
Jenn - Well, I know. But sometimes you can be a little chauvanistic.
Jack - [thinks about that] That was the old Jack. See, what I want now more than anything is a relationship that is totally equal. Where the partners share everything. That it's really and truly a partnership. Two minds.... two hearts.....
Jenn - [interrupts him] I hope you find that Jack. I really do. [she walks away]
Jack - [sees 2 tomatoes on the table] Two tomatoes...
[Jack turns and looks at Jenn, who is folding Abby's clothes. After awhile, he walks over to her again]
Jack - Look, I'm sorry Jennifer.
Jenn - [confused] For what?
Jack - For everything!! For taking you for granted while we were married. [Jenn's still scratching] For all the hundreds of thoughtless mistakes I made. [Jack scratches his head] For not having the strength or character to stick around when the going got tough.
Jenn - [still scratching] It's okay. You've already apologized for everything that happened.
Jack - No, but I can't apologize enough! If only I realized how lucky I was to have you and our baby.
[Jenn is still scratching and now she's looking really irritated]
Jack - [scratching his back] Why are you scratching? .......... Why am I scratching?
Jenn - I feel like my whole body's on fire!
Jack - Me too. What the heck is this?!
Jenn - Oh my God!
[Jack and Jenn continue to scratch away...]
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[Jenn is outside the cabin waiting for Jack, still scratching. Jack comes out with lotion]
Jenn - Oh good!
Jack - Thank goodness Alice keeps a supply of kalamine lotion.
Jenn - I'm so itchy! It must be poison ivy.
[Jack takes off his shirt and hands Jennifer a bottle of lotion. Jack and Jenn start rubbing lotion on themselves]
Jack - You think Abby's got it?
Jenn - No, I checked her. You know, I'm sure we got it near that pit. It was so stupid of me not to check. There's poison ivy all over the place out here.
Jack - No, you had enough to worry about without looking for poison ivy.
Jenn - Well, at least this stops the itching. [keeps on rubbing the lotion on herself] Oh, this is great. I'm not gonna be able to reach my shoulder blades though]
Jack - Neither can I.
Jenn - [pauses and looks at Jack] Well, this is so ridiculous. My relief is more important than my modesty at this point. [takes off her blouse and hands Jack the lotion so he can put it on her back] Please? Thank you.
[Jenn sits on this log and Jack stands behind her and rubs the lotion on her back. Jenn lets out a big sigh of relief. "Thank you," she says. Jack looks like he's enjoying this. Jenn says, "Okay, now you." They switch places. Jenn says, "Are you ready?" Jack says, "Yeah." She rubs the lotion on his back, and then he lets out the big sigh of relief. "Feel better?" asks Jenn, and she laughs. "Yeah," answers Jack. Then quietly to himself he says, "Much better."]
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[Jack and Jenn are fully dressed again, and they have white lotion on their faces]
Jack - Well, it's not itching so much anymore.
Jenn - Yeah, I just hope this rash goes away soon. You know, we have to start taping shows in a few days.
Jack - Yeah, I'm sure it'll be all right. [pauses] Look, I'm gonna go to bed. Thanks again for rescuing me.
Jenn - [smiles] Sure..... Pits and poison ivy! What a day, huh? Good night, Jack.
Jack - Good night.
[Jenn walks back into the cabin. I guess Jack's sleeping outside tonight. He picks up the box and sits on down on a hammock]
Jack - I wish this box were magic. And I wish that I could be inside there with my family, instead of out here alone.... Someday...... Someday we'll be a family again.
Jack smiles and the scene fades out, ending the show
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