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Jack and Peter at the Bar
(Transcribed by Mystic)
This episode follows the previous episode titled Clark & Monica at Green Mountain Ski Lodge. It takes place in December 1994. Jack and Peter run into each other at the bar there. Jack knows who he is, but Peter has no idea that the guy he's talking to is Jennifer's ex- husband.
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[Jack is staring into space and Peter's looking at him like he's crazy]
Peter - Hellooo? (Jack snaps back to reality and looks at Peter) Can you pass me the peanuts?
Jack - (laughs and passes the peanuts) Yeah, sorry. My mind's somewhere else right now.
Peter - Yeah, I know the feeling.
[Jack casually gets up and leaves. He runs into Laura]
Laura - There you are!
Jack - (he grabs her arms) He's here in the bar!
Laura - Who is?
Jack - The guy who's trying to steal my wife and if he's here, that means she's gotta be here too.
Laura - But you don't know that for sure?
Jack - No, I know. That's true. But I gotta find out, okay? (he walks past Laura)
Laura - Wait! What are you up to?!
Jack - Look, he may recognize me, all right? He may not. But I've gotta take that risk. This is the perfect opportunity for me to find out the truth about the relationship. I intend to use it. Look, I'll meet you in the restaurant okay? (he kisses her on the cheek and leaves)
[Jack walks back into the bar and listens in on Peter's conversation with the bartender]
Bartender - I can put on the t.v. if you wanna catch the game. It's the Bears and the Chiefs.
Peter - No, no. That's okay. I'm a Jets fan.
Bartender - Sorry, we don't have a dish.
Jack - (in his mind) Perfect.
[Jack sits back down next to Peter]
Jack - (to bartender) How you doin'? I'll have draft. Can you put the Jets game on?
Bartender - Oh sorry. We only have the local games.
Jack - Oh, any place in town that's gotta dish?
Bartender - Sorry.
Jack - Me too.
Peter - Me three.
Jack - (to Peter) Are you a Jets fan?
Peter - I'm a Jets fanatic. (he slugs down the rest of his beer) (to the bartender) Give me another beer and one for my fellow Jets fan.
[Jack smiles]
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[when we get back to them, they're already deep into conversation. Take note: I guess this is what's called "guy talk"]
Peter - No, that's true what you say. We all wish he could have done a little better with the Health Care Plan. But I really think Clinton's gonna take off.
Jack - (in his mind) What a typical, limousine liberal. Always making excuses when another guy screws up. (to Peter) Well, let's hope so, huh?
[By the way, Jack's popping those peanuts into his mouth during his whole conversation with Peter]
Jack - But enough about politics. Let's talk about some more important matters -- cars and baseball.
Peter - (laughs) All right, uh..... I live and die with the Yankees. And I think the greatest car ever made was the Porsche Speedster.
Jack - (in his mind) You would. (to Peter) Great car! Great team! But let's face it. What really counts in life is having someone to share that with.
Peter - You're right there. I take it you have?
Jack - (hesitates) Well, in a way, yes. My girlfriend and I have what you might call a, uh..... stormy...... relationship.
[Peter laughs. It's so strange seeing him get along with Jack! Hey, if Jenn wasn't in the picture, I think these two could have been great friends! LOL!]
Jack - But luckily she doesn't like sports or sports bars so whenever I need some peace and quiet, I've always got a place to go. (Peter laughs again) (Jack smiles, proud of himself) So how about you? What's your story?
Peter - Oh, it's nothing like yours, I don't think. The woman I'm with, she's...... she's the best.
Jack - Really.
Peter - Oh yeah. Sometimes I don't know what I did to deserve someone so wonderful.
Jack - (in his mind) Funny. Neither do I. (to Peter) She sounds like a great girl! Where is she? (he looks around)
Peter - Uh......
Jack - (sensing something wrong) Look, I don't mean to pry. But you can tell me. Are you guys having problems or something?
Peter - It's funny. If you would've asked me that yesterday...... (sighs) I don't know. Today she's moody, she's distracted. I don't even know why. I mean, normally she is the most even-tempered, sweetest person in the world. I just don't understand why she picked today of all days to get so upset.
Jack - (pauses, obviously pleased) You know, this might sound kinda funny. But in these situations I kind of like to play the devil's advocate...... Maybe you're relationship is flawed. Maybe you two just aren't meant for each other.
Peter - (looks ticked off) Jennifer's the perfect person for me. And I'm exactly what she needs, especially after her last relationship which was a total disaster.
Jack - Oh yeah?
Peter - Yeah. After her marriage broke up, she was an emotional wreck.
Jack - Oh, so she was married before.......
Peter - Unfortunately, yeah. To the biggest jerk that ever walked the face of this Earth.
[Jack quickly looks at Peter after he said that. Jack just smiles]
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[when we get back to them, Peter's just finished telling Jack about his awful track record]
Peter - And to top it all off, he disappears without a word. Now I ask you, is this guy a jerk or what?!
Jack - (smiles, but doesn't know what to say) Maybe he had his reasons for leaving. Maybe he thought it was for the best.
Peter - Jack Deveraux did what was best for him. I mean, come on! You don't walk out on your wife and baby no matter what! No, he's a selfish bum who couldn't live up to his obligations. And there's nothing I hate more than a selfish bum.
Jack - (pauses) Yeah, me too..... But Jennifer did marry the guy. I mean, she must have really loved him. There's a chance that she still loves him.
[Peter stares at Jack. Jack just smiles]
Peter - Let me tell you something. Jennifer's in love with me now. And our relationship is perfect. And between you and me, that wasn't the case before. (Jack continues to eat those peanuts) Now Jennifer hasn't come out and said it but....... her husband wasn't the most sensitive, passionate guy in the world.
Jack - (irritated, but still smiling) Maybe he's changed.
Peter - No, not this guy. He's too big a loser. I don't blame him for wanting Jennifer back. What man wouldn't? I just don't intend to give him another chance.
Jack - What do you mean?
Peter - I've asked Jennifer to marry me. She hasn't given me an answer, but I intend to change all that tonight.
Jack - Change it? How?
Peter - Let's just say that I'm planning a very special evening for us.
[And Jack is still smiling. But he also doesn't seem to pleased about this]
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Peter leaves the bar telling Jack he hopes to run into him again (oh, if he only knew!). Jack finds Laura again and says that he hates Peter!! He says something like, "I can't stand my wife's boyfriend." Anyway, later Jack notices the newspaper Laura's holding in her hand. It's The Spectator and that triggers Jack to remember the promise he made to Jennifer. That was the end of that episode. In the next one, Jack spends the first half of the show writing the poem. Here it is...
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