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Clark & Monica at Green Mountain Ski Lodge
(Transcribed by Mystic)
This episode took place in December 1994. Jack and Laura were still 'Clark and Monica' and they were sent from the Meadows to the Green Mountain Ski Lodge.
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[Jack and Laura walk into the lodge after skiing. They're both wearing ski clothes, and Jack has on this cute little ski hat]
Laura - You skied down that mountain like a madman! I bet you didn't even notice the view.
Jack - Well, if I want to see the view, I'll buy a postcard. The important thing is I took a minute off my first time down that mountain.
Laura - This isn't the Olympics!
Jack - Well, I'm competitive, what can I say.
Laura - You know, Dr. Perkins sent us out here so we could gain confidence in social situations. You can't communicate with anyone while you're speeding down a mountain.
Jack - That's not true. I've gained more confidence than ever. I know I can get Jennifer back. (I think that was blooper! Jack mentioned Jennifer's name! Remember, Laura doesn't know that her own daughter Jennifer is the woman "Clark" is trying to get back together with.) I conquered that mountain, didn't I?
Laura - Conquering that mountain, Mr. King Kong, is not gonna win your wife back. Being able to express your feelings will.
Jack - Well, I plan on making a major breakthrough. If you'll help me.
Laura - (smiles) You know I will.
Jack - Good. I think tonight's the night. (he smiles back)
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[Jack and Laura are sitting down on a couch, taking off their ski boots]
Laura - Do you remember what you said to me when we got off the lift at the top of the mountain?
Jack - (thinks) No.
Laura - (smiles) That's because you didn't say anything to me at all. You just raced ahead of me and went barreling down that mountain like you were being chased by demons.
Jack - Well, I like a challenge..... but I see your point. I need to slow down, to relax, to look and enjoy the things around us. Right?
Laura - Yes.
Jack - I know. A major attitude adjustment is in order or else this weekend for me will be a complete waste. But I'm determined to get my wife back. That's my goal and I'm gonna go after it.
Laura - Clark. Goal? Win? Don't you understand? This isn't a business deal. It's not a competition.
Jack - Yeah well, it is for me! That's how you get what you want. You set a goal, then you set a time limit on achieving it.
Laura - No, it isn't possible to --
Jack - (interrupts) What's the date today?
Laura - (looks slightly irritated) I don't know. (shows Jack her watch that has the date) There you go.
Jack - (looks at the date) In two weeks, I plan on being back home with my family. (he looks at her triumphantly)
Laura - Clark....
Jack - I know..... wait a minute. There's something about today's date that I should have been remembering. There's something that I feel I should've remembered. What is it?
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Jack - (standing) I wish I could remember what was so important about today's date.
Laura - Is it someone's birthday? Anniversary?
Jack - No, no. (thinks) Well, maybe it'll come to me.
Laura - (stands up too) Well in the meantime, why don't we get out of these ski clothes and go for lunch?
Jack - (smiles) Fine.
Laura - Okay. Why don't you pretend you're making a special lunch for your wife?
Jack - (thinks about that, then smiles) All right.
Laura - Okay. I'll meet you here after I've changed.
Jack - Okay.
Laura - And remember, you're doing this to prove to her how different you are.
Jack - I'll remember.
Laura - (smiles) Okay. (she leaves)
Jack - (to himself) I just wish I could remember what is so significant about today's date.
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Well, Jack is supposed to be remembering a certain promise he made to Jennifer. Meanwhile, Jenn is at home in Salem with Alice. Jenn is really upset and Alice wants to know why. Jenn finally gives in and tells her, and it's told in a flashback...........
Jennifer's flashback...
Jenn is sitting at the desk reading The Spectator. Jack walks in the front door (he's wearing a suit!) and puts his briefcase down. He says, "I'm home!"
Jenn - Jack! This is a great article!
Jack - (walking over to Jenn) Every article in The Spectator is Pulitzer-material with me as the editor-in-chief.
Jenn - (stands up) Oh, my husband's greatest virtue -- his modesty. (she gives him a quick kiss on the lips)
Jack - What article is it?
Jenn - (picks up the newspaper) It was this human interest piece about this couple in Salem that have been married for 75 years!
Jack - (takes the newspaper from her) Oh yeah, I was at a publishers conference. I gave that to an assistant. How'd it turn out?
Jenn - It's wonderful! And you know, when the reporter asked them what their secret was to a successful marriage, they said they never let the romance out of the relationship. Can you imagine?! After 75 years?!
Jack - What did they do? Wash their dentures together?
Jenn - Jack no!! (she hits him with the newspaper) See, the husband would write his wife this love poem once a year. And they would pick this certain day for this poem, and even when he was overseas during World War II, he wrote his wife this poem. And it was his way of saying to never forget their love for each other. And they never did. (pauses, waiting for any kind of reaction from Jack. He says nothing) That is so romantic, don't you think?!!
Jack - I think he makes other husbands look bad. (he grins)
Jenn - Oh! (sighs) It's all right. I know you. You don't like all that romance, mushy stuff.
Jack - But you like all that romantic, mushy stuff, don't you?
Jenn - Well, yes I do.
Jack - I'll tell you what I'm gonna do. (he puts his hands on her shoulders) I'm going to do the same thing for you.
Jenn - (smiles) You're gonna write me a love poem?
Jack - (smiles and nods) On the same day, every year.
[Jenn looks at him lovingly]
Jack - Do we have a calendar?
Jenn - Well.... yes! As a matter of fact I do. I just bought a 1993 calendar. (she walks over to the desk, opens a drawer, and hands Jack the calendar and a pen)
Jack - Okay, let's see. Let me find today's date... (Jenn points to it) Okay, here it is. (looks at Jenn) I'm going to circle it. (he circles it) And every year on this date, I promise you, no matter where I am you are going to get a poem for the rest of your life.
Jenn - (smiles) Oh, Jack.
[Jenn throws her arms around him and they begin kissing passionately]
end of flashback
Back in the present, Jenn says to Alice, "...and he never did."
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[The setting - a little, informal restaurant in the lodge. Jack has set up a romantic, candelight dinner for Monica. With her hand in his, he takes her over to their table]
Jack - This is our table.
Laura - Oh, it's beautiful.
Jack - Yeah, it's nice. (he pulls out the chair for Laura and she sits down) I took the liberty of ordering.
Laura - Thank you.
Jack - We will start with ___________ (I'm not even going to attempt to spell out this foreign food! LOL!), ___________ with grilled vegetables, and for desert -- __________ (geez, I can't even spell the desert! Must be some really fancy food!)
Laura - All my favorites!
Jack - So how am I doing on my assignment?
Laura - Well, so far you're sensitive, considerate, thoughtful, and uh..... really quite romantic. (Jack looks at her and smiles) If I were your wife, I would be very pleased.
Jack - (raises his glass) See? I can change. (they clink glasses)
Laura - (laughs) I never doubted it. (they both take a sip)
[Laura pulls out some pictures]
Laura - Here are the pictures we took this morning. It is so gorgeous here. Look. (she hands him a picture) You know, when I was up on that mountain today, I..... I don't know, a part of me felt so small and insignificant and then, I don't know, at the same time I felt like I was a part of..... it all. I don't know how to explain it. It was a very spiritual moment. Anyway, I began to really appreciate this life I've been given. With all of it's joys and sorrows. It is truly wonderful to be alive. Isn't it Clark?
[She looks at him and finds that he was paying absolutely no attention to her! He didn't hear a word she said. He's looking past her. Then he finally realizes that she just asked him a question]
Jack - What? Yeah! Yes.
Laura - Clark? (he looks at her with the guiltiest of faces) What are you --
[She turns around to see what he was looking at.]
Laura - You're watching television?!!
Jack - Look, I just wanted to see the ball scores, okay? (he nervously laughs)
Laura - (looks disappointed) Oh, well this is never gonna work.
[She gets out of her chair and starts to walk away. Jack jumps up and stops her]
Jack - Monica, I'm sorry. I knew I was wrong, okay?
Laura - I wonder how many times you said that to your wife. (and she storms off)
[Jack just watches after her]
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[Laura's still walking away from Jack, and he's running after her]
Jack - Monica, just wait! I made one little slip!
[Laura stops and turns around]
Laura - You just don't get it, do you?!
Jack - What?! What? I did everything else right.
Laura - Clark, anyone can order candles and champagne and fancy food. Those are just props.
Jack - But you're always saying that these props.... it's important for women.
Laura - Well, yes it is. But only on one level! I mean, what's far more important to a woman, I mean, the thing that really wins her heart is not so much the attention to material things. It's the attention that you give to her. (Jack is listening carefully) A woman needs to know that she's important to her man. That he listens to her. And that she has far greater value to him than anything else. Including t.v.!!
Jack - (looks embarrassed) You're right. I'm sorry, but I want to keep trying, okay? There's a lot you can teach me.
Laura - (hesitates and sighs) I really don't know.
Jack - Look Monica, I've learned an awful lot from this experience. And you have changed an awful lot since you've been at the Meadows. You know that. Now come on, we're buddies right? Buddies are supposed to stick together.
[Laura tries to hide her smile, as Jack contines to try and persuade her]
Jack - Come on, let's just give it another shot. (I think he's purposely using that cute smile of his to get what he wants!) What do you say?
[Laura finally laughs and gives in]
Laura - You are very persuasive!
[She grabs him and gives him a quick kiss on the lips.]
Laura - Oh, all right. (she touches her shoulder) Oh boy, it's been so long since I've skied. I've gotta get some aspirin before I am sore.
Jack - Wait, I've got an idea. Come with me. (he takes her hand and pulls her after him)
Laura - What? Where are we going?!
Jack - I've got something for sore muscles that's better than aspirin. (he continues to pull her along)
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Meanwhile, Peter and Jenn have decided to go off somewhere to spend some time together. Guess where they end up? Right! The Green Mountain Ski Lodge!! Coincidence? No way. But those at Days want us to believe it could happen. Anyway, Jenn is still in a really bad mood because of the significance of that day. Peter can't understand why. She excuses herself to get some rest in their room alone.
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[Well, Jack's idea is to give Laura a massage. Laura is lying face-down on a massage table. She has no clothes on, and only a white sheet covering her. Her back is showing. Jack is standing over her, giving her the massage]
Laura - That feels so good. This is so thoughtful of you, Clark.
Jack - I'm just trying to make up for my boorish behavior at lunch. They say I got an ulterior motive for everything.
Laura - I think your only motive was to just save me from that terrible pain I was surely gonna feel tomorrow. You know, you're really so sweet and so giving. Why does that embarrass you?
Jack - I guess I didn't see much unselfish behavior when I was growing up. I was just this rich, spoiled kid who was used to having everybody wait on me. I don't think I ever learned how to give. I definitely didn't learn how to show my emotions.
Laura - Well, you can change your behavior. You are right now.
Jack - Well if I am, I have you to thank. (he pulls the sheet up to cover her) How's that?
Laura - I feel so wonderful. (Jack sits on the table next to her) Well, except maybe a little hungry, since I walked out on that fabulous lunch you arranged.
Jack - (smiles) Let's go have an early dinner.
Laura - It's a date!
[Jack looks uneasy]
Laura - What's bothering you?
Jack - (pauses) You just reminded me about the date again. Why do I keep thinking it has some special significance?
Laura - (shrugs) I don't know. But you'll think of it.
Jack - (hesitates) Yeah. (he rubs Laura's leg) See you soon.
Laura - Okay. (she watches Jack leave)
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[Peter is sitting at the bar by himself, drinking a beer. Jack walks over to the bar. (he's now dressed in a suit, no tie though) He sits down right next to Peter but doesn't notice him. Peter looks at Jack]
Peter - Excuse me. Can you pass the peanuts?
[Jack looks at Peter and his face freezes. He realizes that he's sitting right next to his ex-wife's boyfriend.]
Jack - (in his mind) It's that jerk that Jennifer claims to love. Does this mean that she's here?
fades to black -- end of show
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