At the Spectator...

[Jennifer is on the phone with Abby]

Jack: I can handle that front page spread if you want to get home to Abigail.

Jennifer: Well, uh, you know, I know that you would do a really great job but I don't feel right asking.

Jack: You're not asking. I'm offering. But I understand if you have any reservations. I don't want to step on any toes.

Jennifer: No, it's not that.

Jack: Oh, you're saying that other people are complaining. Out there they're saying I'm leap-frogging over them, spending way too much time in the big boss' office.

Jennifer: No, no one is complaining, because 'A', they know how good you are -

Jack: Of course.

Jennifer: - and 'B', you were such a nice guy to work for when you ran this place.

Jack: Right. So, really, what is the problem?

Jennifer: You know what? There is none. I appreciate your help and so does Abby. So, thank you, I will accept your offer.

Jack: Good. Good, great, good. Well, I'll get to work right now. Since this is where you started, this is where I'll finish.

Jennifer: Okay, yeah, I mean, whatever's best for you.

Jack: Good. Oh, wait, I got one file out here in my computer. I'll be right back.

Jennifer: Oh, no, I can - I can pull it up for you right here. [at her computer]

Jack: You can do that?

Jennifer: Yes. That's why we call it a network.

Jack: Ah...technology.

Jennifer: Yes, it is amazing how much has changed in ten years.

Jack, gazing at her: And how much has stayed the same. [Jennifer gazes back for a split second]

Jennifer: Okay. Well, here you go. "Jack's files."

Jack, panicked: You can see my whole hard drive.

Jennifer: Oh, yeah, every little last byte.

Jack: Um, uh, you know, let me - hey, let me try that. No, just show me how you do that.

Jennifer: What, right now?

Jack: Yeah, I need to learn. I really do. How does it -

Jennifer: What are you up to? What are you up to? [she gasps] AHA!

Jennifer: "Murphy.doc?"

Jack: Uh, yes, you see, I thought that I would write a story about, um, Murphy's Law, being intimately acquainted with the subject myself.

Jennifer, not buying it: Really? Oh, I want to read it because I'm really curious what you think about Murphy's Law.

Jack: No, no, no! Never open a Murphy's Law file. That's bad juju - bad, bad. Terrible things would happen.

Jennifer: You know what? I really thought that we could have a very cordial working relationship. I actually thought that we could be normal people, Jack.

Jack: We can! We will!

Jennifer: No, we can't, because you keep things like this from me. This file is about Dr. Colin Murphy.

Jack: It is. It is. You're right. It is, and, actually, maybe it's for the best that you found out.

Jennifer: Found out what?

Jack: You'll see. Go ahead, Jennifer, read it and weep.

[Jennifer is reading Jack's file, as Jack sits on her desk]

Jack: Is Victor Kiriakis a man that you take seriously? Do you think he was mistaken when he said that Colin Murphy has huge gaping holes in his past, that he's a dangerous man?

Jennifer: If you would just let me read this in peace for a minute... What does "O.H." Mean?

Jack: Oh. O-H, O-H. "Overheard."

Jennifer: Overheard at Titan? What were you doing at Titan? Why do you think Victor is interested in Colin if Colin and Nicole are history?

Jack: Now you're asking journalistically sound questions. You're intrigued, you're entranced, you're enticed.

Jennifer: No, it's my basic instinct to just ask a lot of questions, Jack.

Jack: Okay, very good. What do your instincts tell you about this? Does Bo Brady distrust his own cousin for no reason? Hmm? And you saw the look between Colin and Tony when Tony showed up at the Penthouse Grill. Right? And what about the fact that Colin just happens to be an expert when it comes to this very rare blood disease that Tony was miraculously cured of? Roman, Bo, John, Abe - they all know that Tony came back to this town to cause trouble.

Jennifer: Oh, I see. So Colin is guilty -

Jack: Yes.

Jennifer: - by association?

Jack: No, no!

Jennifer: That is weak!

Jack: Oh... [he covers his face with his hand, frustrated]

Jennifer: That's so weak, Jack. You're talking about a man who has traveled the entire globe just to help disadvantaged children, do you know that?

Jack, rolling his eyes: Okay, fine. Fine. He's done a couple of good deeds. But let us not forget that even Luke Skywalker has a dark side.

Jennifer: All right, you know, you're projecting on this man. That's what you're doing.

Jack: Okay, Jennifer, it's obvious that - it's obvious to me that this man has turned your head, and that is fine. Especially since you decided that you don't love me anymore, so -

Jennifer: What!?

Jennifer: What do you mean I 'decided I didn't love you anymore'? How do you know what I decided?

Jack: You don't need to spare my feelings, Jennifer.

Jennifer: No, who told you that? Because I never - I never said that I made any kind of decision like that.

Jack: Dr. Colin Murphy. He told me in Africa that's what you told him - that you no longer loved me.

Jennifer: I didn't say that. I never said that. I know that I didn't.

Jack: Well, maybe you didn't use those actual words, but it must have been evident from your behavior, so he must have felt justified in drawing that conclusion.

Jennifer: Yes, I suppose he did.

Jack: This is actually the least of his sins. I mean, considering the fact that you and I are now split. And although I freely admit to having been jealous of Colin in the past, I'm merely seeking the truth. This is about your safety and Abigail and all of our friends and family.

Jennifer: I understand that.

Jack: All right, then look at the evidence. Look at it, Jennifer, and tell me you don't believe me.

Jack: Well?

Jennifer: You know what, Jack? I-I'm not going to jump to any conclusions about this man based on hearsay from people who don't even like him.

Jack: It's your choice, Jennifer. Your choice.

Jennifer: No, I mean, really, why don't you talk to his uncle, Shawn Brady? What about his co-workers at the hospital - Marlena, Craig? Come on, Jack, we're reporters. What's the other side of the story, right?

Jack: Okay, okay, we'll start with you. What do you have to say about Colin Murphy?

[Jack holds up a pad of paper]

Jack: Perhaps you'd like to write something - a biographical essay, since you don't seem to be able to speak objectively about the man.

Jennifer: I don't know what to say.

Jack: Jennifer, come on! Why do you think Colin came to Salem? He didn't tell you he was a Brady, obviously. He just happened to be in Africa when you were in Africa. He just happened to be here when you're here. Did it ever occur to you that maybe, just maybe, he has plans for you?

Jennifer: Plans for me? What do you mean, to use me and corrupt me? Is that what you're saying? Do you really think I would let him do that to me?

Jack: Well, I just have to say that if I couldn't corrupt you, no one could.

Jennifer: Well, thank you for your vote of confidence.

Jack: Okay, fine. Fine, fine, fine. This is - it's personal. This is personal for me, because he hurt you! He - I know he hurt you, just like I hurt you. And I know I can never make up for it. I was just - I was just thinking that maybe, maybe I could try... to make sure that he doesn't make things any worse for you than I've already made them.

Jennifer: I really need to be alone right now, Jack.

[Jack slaps the doorframe in frustration]
Jack: You cannot trust Colin Murphy. He is as bad, as dangerous, as Tony. And if, in your official capacity as boss, you will not allow me to prove that to you, then I QUIT!

[end on Jennifer's face, upset]