Soulmates: The Unofficial Jack & Karen Site

Summary:

Grey-Hair Day
It's morning, Will has just found a grey hair on his chest, which he wouldn't find so too depressing if he had more than seven chest hairs! Grace points out that his depression probably has more to do with birthday being next week. She asks him what he wants to do this year to celebrate, Will tells her not to make a fuss because he's not really into birthdays.

Grace protests, claiming that she's seen all the home video's of his birthday's and that he's had some fun one's, "remember the one where your brother's dressed you up in your mom's clothes?" Will replies, "that was, um, like a Thursday!" He pauses, "so glad my dad captured that on film." He goes on to tell her that his eighth birthday was the worst, he really wanted a cowboy party and cake but his mom threw a clown party instead and he "fake-smiled" his way through the whole thing.

Will decides that he doesn't want anything big, just a meal with Grace and Jack. Grace pulls a face at the mention of Jack. Will corners her on it and Grace admits that she thinks Jack doesn't like her, "see - you're the hamburger and I'm that little cup of coleslaw. You don't order it, but - " she makes a raspberry sound, "there it is on the plate."

The Usual Suspect
Jack arrives at Will's office with suggestions for his birthday festivities, he proposes a 'skank' bar that Will wouldn't be caught dead in, or a gay singles weekend cruise. Will spurns both ideas, claiming that he wants a nice dinner with Jack and Grace. Jack pulls a face at the reference to Grace. Will picks up on it and asks him about it.

Jack confesses that he doesn't like Grace, since she moved in with Will he never gets any "Me" time. Will asks Jack to make more of an effort with Grace, Jack says he's already been trying and promises to try harder.

Two's Company, Three's Uncomfortable
At the apartment, Jack, Will and Grace are sat around the table having coffee, Will sits between them. Jack slurps his coffee and Grace fiddles annoyingly with a spoon. Trying to ease the tension between them, Will makes it worse.

Will suggests they play his new favourite game 'Love Her, Hate Him'. Jack declines and decides to watch television instead. Grace tries to encourage him to play, saying he'll be missing out on a fun game. Jack smiles fakely and replies, "I know it's fun - I invented it." He goes and watches the TV while Grace and Will sit on the sofa.

Grace flicks through the TV guide and without looking, randomly picks a page and name. 'Jada Pinket' "Hate her!" Grace states. Will agrees, Grace flicks again, this time landing on 'Michelle Kwan' who Grace absolutely loves. Will doesn't know who she is. "Figure skater, Olympic silver medal," Grace explains. Jack approaches them, adding, "goddess on ice!" Grace and Jack bond over ice-skaters and eat cookies together, Will mocks them for liking something as "lame" as ice-skating.

Happiness Is A Restaurant Reservation
Grace is on the phone in her studio, unsuccessfully trying to book a table for Will's birthday. Karen comes back from lunch ladened with shopping bags, asking, "what happened, what went on, who stopped by, what did I miss?" Grace explains about not being able to get a restaurant reservation for Will's birthday. Karen points out that she might not be any good at technical things such as working the computer and fax, but she knows how to get where she needs to be.

Grace hands Karen the phone, Karen dials and eyes Grace's outfit. She studies Grace for a moment, then indicates the shirt collar purposefully outside Grace's suit collar, asking distastefully, "honey - what's this?!"

On the phone she asks to speak to Layonte. She glances at Grace's outfit again and declares "o.k. - I'm starting to get it!" and pats Grace's behind. On the phone she books the best table at Balthazar for Tuesday night. Mistakenly thinking that Grace has included her, Karen invites herself along.

Balthazar Or Not Balthazar - That Is The Question
Will's office. Grace enters and tells Will that they are booked in at Balthazar, Will is excited until Grace reveals that it is Karen who got them the reservation, which is why she has to come along. Will pulls a face at the mention of Karen. Grace calls him on it, Will claims that he doesn't have anything in common with Karen. Grace offers to cancel, Will stops her, "what am I saying? It's Balthazar. It'll be great."

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream For Ice-Skating?
Jack runs into Will and Grace's apartment, he has tickets for all of them to see 'Champions on Ice' at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. Grace leaps into Jack's arms, screaming excitedly, until she realises it is the same night as Will's birthday dinner. Grace says they can't go, shrugging it off as not a big deal. Will intervenes, "not that big a deal?! You just jumped into Jack's arms, the last time a woman did that... a woman has never done that!" He says they can go to 'Champions on Ice', Grace covers him in kisses, promising they will go to Balthazar after the show.

Happy Birthday To... Who?
At the ice rink Karen leads the way to their seats, remarking "who do I have to tip to get out of here?" She and Will are both unimpressed, while Grace and Jack are wearing 'Soria' and 'Rudy' T-shirts and grasping 'Champions on Ice' brochures. They are seated. Karen and Will don't have much to say to each other, Karen glances about the audience, saying "lord - look at these people," she makes an 'L' shape on her forehead with her hand, exclaiming "losers!" The rather large, butch-looking woman sitting on Karen's right glares at Karen, who quickly adds, "not you!"

Karen pulls a bottle of champagne and glass out of her bag. Grace scolds her, then notices that Will doesn't appear to be having a good time. Will, unconvincingly, denies this. Karen offers him some champagne to help with the "illusion" that he's having fun, he rebuffs her and she pours herself a glass.

The show begins, Will tries to get the attention of the vendor for some popcorn, without success. Every time he stands and waves the vendor over to him, the whole crowd stands up to cheer the skating. Grace and Jack are too busy watching the show to notice. Will and Karen share a moment over the fact that they both have no interest in "this ice crap". Karen hands Will the bottle of champagne and he takes a swig.

Endless On Ice
Later... Will now has the glass of champagne and Karen has the bottle, both look fed up. Grace is snuggled up to Jack and they watch the skating dreamily. "Yeah - we get it Soria - you can skate!" Will exclaims, bored, he yawns and turns to Karen, asking how much longer the show is because he's starving. Karen leans forward, shouting "skate faster - we have reservations!" Will laughs. Grace turns to him, concerned that he's bored. Will assures her that as long as she and Jack are having fun, that's all that matters.

Will finally gets the vendors attention, after two hours of trying, and gets some popcorn - which is stale, he sighs "it's typical, my birthday, can't get what I want. Never do." He tells Karen a childhood story about his birthday. Seria does a flip, Jack and Grace leap up in excitement, Grace accidentally knocks the popcorn out of Will's hand and sends it flying all over the place. Grace apologises and calls for the vendor to get another.

Upset, Will exclaims that he doesn't want another popcorn, he wanted the one he had. Grace isn't really paying attention, her focus concentrated on the rink. Will gets angry that he is being ignored, the crowd stands to cheer another flip, when Grace and Jack sit down, Will is gone. Karen explains that he left. Grace goes after him.

Remains of the (Birth)day
At their apartment Grace finds Will sitting out on the balcony sulking. Will confesses that every year he does what he doesn't want to do for his birthday in order to make other people happy.

Jack arrives sporting his signed Rudy Galindo T-shirt, Will suspects that Jack signed it himself. just then Rudy Galindo appears in the doorway, asking if Jack is ready to go for coffee. Rudy wishes Will a happy birthday, saying to Jack, "He doesn't look 46." They leave.

Will decides to go to bed, Grace stops him, she has a surprise and takes a cowboy cake from the fridge, presenting it to Will. Grace asks what he wants for his next birthday, Will replies “a real cowboy!"

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