Overcoming Obstacles Part II

Scene 11
Characters: Vicky
Setting: the swings in lassiter

(Vicky is swinging and begins to think of the wonderful things that have happened with Jake. Music Montage (Song is Because You Loved Me by Celine Dion). Clips from when they were kids begin the montage, Jake helping her during the baby switch, Jake finding her on the swings when he came back from the dead, Jake helping Ryan rescue Vicky when Justine held her prisoner, Jake being there for her when Ryan died, the kiss in the bathroom floor, their NYC trip, Vicky's proposal, the first night they made love, their wedding, their honeymoon, them tearing up the divorce papers and then them deciding to have a baby. Vicky stops swinging and gets up to leave.)

VICKY: I know exactly what I want.

Scene 12
Characters: Paulina & Vicky
Setting: Carlino's

(Vicky walks in and sees Paulina and stops.)

PAULINA: (looks up at Vicky from the counter) You might as well come on over here.

VICKY: (walks over to Paulina) I didn't know if you were still speaking to me.

PAULINA: Vicky, why wouldn't I? You are my friend. I don't like the way you have hurt Jake but I am trying my best to stay neutral here.

VICKY(hugging Paulina) Thanks. How is Jake?

PAULINA (rather briskly): How do you think? (Vicky looks down.) Sorry. He is managing.

VICKY: Do you know where he is? I really need to talk to him.

PAULINA: (shaking her head) Maybe you should just leave him alone.

VICKY: I can't do that Paulina. I have been doing some serious soul searching and I really need to talk to him about it.

PAULINA (hesitating): He is over at Sassy's. I just sent Joe over to check on him to make sure he wasn't getting too drunk.

VICKY: Well I better get over there if he is drinking. Thanks Paulina. Bye (Vicky runs out.)

PAULINA: (watches Vicky leave) I hope you know what you're doing.

Scene 13
Characters: Jake, Joe and Serena
Setting: Sassy's

(Jake is sitting alone at a table nursing a drink and Joe walks in and over to the table.)

JOE: Paulina was worried about you so she sent me to check up on you.

JAKE: Hey Carlino are you here to arrest me again? I haven't even done anything yet, but then again I didn't the last time you arrested me.

JOE: I'm just here to try to keep you out of trouble.

SERENA(walks up to Jake): Hi, remember me?

JAKE(looking up at her): Yeah, you bought me a drink the other night, right?

SERENA: Yes. (glances at Joe, then looks back at Jake) Listen I don't want to intrude but I was wondering if maybe you might like to dance with me.

JAKE(an image of Vicky pops into his head, he looks and Joe and shrugs) Okay.

(Jake & Serena walk out on to the dance floor.)

JOE (to himself): What are you doing McKinnon?

Scene 14
Characters: Jake, Joe, Serena & Vicky
Setting: Sassy's

(Jake and Serena are on the dance floor. Joe is sitting at the table watching.)

JAKE: Mind if I ask you a question?

SERENA: Not at all? What's the question?

JAKE: Why did you ask "me" to dance? You don't even know me.

SERENA: That is true. You just seemed like a nice guy but kind of sad the other night and I thought maybe I could cheer you up.

JAKE: Well I appreciate that, but I don't think that anything could cheer me up. My wife and I just split up. She was the love of my life but I wasn't hers.

SERENA: Oh I'm sorry. That is really hard to go through. My husband and I split up about a year ago and it was tough to get through it.

(Vicky walks in and goes over to Joe's table.)

VICKY: Hey Joe, Paulina told me Jake was here. Do you know where he is?

JOE(hesitantly points at Jake) On the dance floor.

(Vicky turns and is shocked to see that Jake is on the dance floor with another woman. Vicky starts walking toward them.)

(Camera switches back to Jake and Serena dancing. Serena notices Vicky walking towards them.)

SERENA: Your, uh, wife wouldn't happen to be a petite blonde would she?

JAKE: Yes a beautiful blonde.

SERENA (sees an agrivated look on Vicky's face and thinks to herself): He is wrong about that woman. Maybe I can make them both realize that. (she moves in closer to Jake and starts to kiss him).

VICKY (tapping the woman on the shoulder): Excuse me, would you mind if I cut in and dance with my husband?

SERENA (stepping away from Jake): Sure no problem (she smiles to as she walks off).

JAKE (starts to walk away from Vicky. She follows him): What are you doing here Vicky? I told you I didn't want to see you anymore.

VICKY: I know you told me that Jake, but I have to talk to you. (she grabs his arm) And you need to listen to what I have to say.

JAKE: Why should I listen Vicky? What's different now?

VICKY: Jake please. Let's go somewhere private so we can talk. I will tell you what is different now. I have a lot to say.

JAKE(reluctantly): Okay but I can tell you now that it isn't going to change anything.

Scene 15
Characters: Jake & Vicky
Setting: the docks

(Jake and Vicky have just walked up and are staring out at the water.)

JAKE: Isn't it ironic that we are standing in the very spot where I said goodbye to you before?

VICKY: (looks into Jake's eyes) I was confused back then but not now.

JAKE: Vicky I don't know if I can do this again.

VICKY: Jake you need to know that I have been doing some serious soul searching ever since you walked out on me. Not just about what happened with Grant but about what happened with Shane and our whole relationship. Do you realize that we have never really discussed what happened with Shane? I think that we need to talk about everything that has happened, no matter how painful it is for both of us. We have to for both our sakes.

JAKE (says nothing for a few moments): Okay, I accept that. Who knows maybe the truth will set me free.

VICKY (mumbling to herself): Don't count on that Mckinnon!

Scene 16
Characters: Jake & Vicky
Setting: the docks

VICKY: Were you kissing that woman to get back at me?

JAKE: Oh come on Vicky, she kissed me. Besides what difference does it make?

VICKY: It makes a big difference to me because no matter what you think, I love you. I am totally "in love" with you. I don't want anyone else kissing and holding you.

JAKE (angrily): It doesn't feel too good to watch someone you love in someone else's arms, does it?

VICKY: When I saw you with that woman I realized how you must have felt
seeing me with Grant or with Shane.

JAKE: Yes. Seeing you kiss another man just about kills me, Vicky.

Scene 17
Characters: Jake & Vicky
Setting: the docks

VICKY: You have been there for me my entire life. You have loved me unconditionally for so long and I know now that I took your love for granted. You put up with all the crap I put you through with Shane and the funny part is that I realize now that it wasn't really totally all about Shane. Jake, I was never in love with Shane. I admit that I was confused about how I felt about him, but I realized that it was a combination of things that was adding to my confusion. It was about Shane being my last connection to Ryan, it was about Lila and her lies and keeping things stirred up with Shane all the time. Her lying about Shane's research is what led me to that cabin in the first place.

JAKE: What do you mean?

VICKY: She lied about the date that Shane started getting better which caused him to think that his research was wrong. I found out about it that night. I tried to call him but the phones were down and that is why I went there.

JAKE (remembering that he knew Lila had lied to Shane about him dying): I never knew that. I knew that she had lied to Shane but I never said anything. I just kept it to myself because I didn't think it mattered. I could have prevented the whole thing if I had just told Shane the truth.

VICKY: You knew that she lied about his research?

JAKE: No, not about his research but that she had made him go on believing that he was dying.

VICKY: Jake you couldn't have known that her lies impacted his research. I know the things I have just told you don't excuse what I did but I hoped that it would help you to understand what it was about.

JAKE: Vicky that was in the past and I got over it and moved on.

VICKY: Did you really get over it completely Jake?

JAKE: Yes. It took me sometime but I did because I loved you enough to get past it and to trust that you loved me.

VICKY: So why can't you trust in my love now?

JAKE: You promised me after the Shane mess that you would never lie to me again. You got out of that hospital, came home and you started obsessing over Grant. You took things too far. You lied to me, you let me go to jail for this obsession. And worst of all you let that man kiss you in our bedroom. It didn't matter how much it hurt me. It was only about what you wanted and to heck with me and our marriage.

VICKY: I felt like I had no choice but to go after Grant.

JAKE: You had a choice Vicky.

VICKY: It didn't feel that way to me. It started out with me wanting to get him because he knew I was in that basement and did nothing to help me so that it would give him a better chance of getting custody of Kirkland. Then he threatened to kill you and I was scared that he might try to take Kirkland away. I couldn't stand by and let that happen Jake. I know what that man is capable of. I couldn't let him try to take my family away from me.

JAKE: Why couldn't you tell me the truth and talk to me about how you were feeling instead of lying to me?

VICKY: You just went all macho on me and started ordering me around. I felt like I had no choice but to lie to you. You refused to believe that I knew what I was doing.

JAKE: Vicky I was only trying to protect you.

VICKY: Well I couldn't stand by and let him hurt you or possibly kill you or take Kirkland. I know I should have done things differently, but Jake I don't think you know just how much those lies tore me apart and how disgusted I was everytime that Grant touched me or kissed me. Don't you understand that you are the only man I love. I want a life with you, the boys and God willing a baby.

JAKE: I want so much to believe that you love me and want to build a life with me. But I am afraid to

VICKY: Please at least let me try to prove to you how much I love you and want you in my life forever.

JAKE: I can't promise anything but I will think about what you have said. I've got to go. (he starts walking away) Goodnight Vick.

VICKY: Goodnight Jake, I love you. (Jake leaves.) I am going to prove it to you no matter what it takes.

Scene 18
Characters: Vicky & Paulina
Setting: Paulina's house

(Vicky is knocking on Paulina's door.)

PAULINA (opening the door): Hi Vicky, what's up?

VICKY: Can I come in? I really need your help.

PAULINA: Sure, what do you need my help with?

VICKY: (walks into the house) I am determined to prove to Jake just how much I love him. He is my life Paulina, and I am not going to lose him.

PAULINA: Vicky are sure about this because Jake loves you so much. If you hurt him like this again I think you might just destroy that man.

VICKY: I'm 150% sure!

PAULINA: Okay so where do I fit in?

(We see them talking but can't hear what is being said.)

Scene 19
Characters: Jake & Chris & A delivery man
Setting: the Herald

(Jake & Chris are working in Jake's office.)

JAKE: Chris, do you have the background information on the lead story we are working on?

CHRIS: I think it is on my desk (he leaves the office).

JAKE (hearing a noise and sees a delivery man standing in the doorway holding a bouquet of I love you balloons which have a box tied to the end) Can I help you?

DELIVERY MAN: Are you Jake McKinnon?

JAKE: Yes.

DELIVERY MAN: These (hands over the balloons) are for you.

JAKE: There must be some mistake.

DELIVERY MAN: Not if you are Jake Mckinnon (he turns to walk out the door)

JAKE(digging in his pocket): Wait.

DELIVERY MAN (holds up his hand): No need to tip me. The lady already took care of it.

(Jake is just standing there when Chris walks back in.)

CHRIS: Why don't you open the box and see what Vicky sent you.

JAKE: Who said it was from Vicky? (opens the box and inside he finds a figurine of a boy and girl sitting on a swingset and a note that says "I love you forever") I can't believe she did this.

CHRIS: Why don't you give her a call and thank her?

JAKE: I might. You know we talked a little the other night.

CHRIS: And?

JAKE: She says she loves me and wants a life with me.

CHRIS: Tell me something I don't already know. Even if you don't want to believe it.

JAKE: I just don't know Chris. I don't know if any of this is true.

CHRIS: I think you do buddy. Just look inside yourself and I think you will know.

(As Chris leaves the room Jake is sitting staring at the figurine.)