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Three’s Company Reunion
FADE IN.
INT. HOUSE. DAY.
A close-up of a feminine hand carefully writes a letter. A voice-over begins to read.
JANET’S VOICE: Dear Jack. How are you these days? It’s been ages since I saw you at your wedding. I was overjoyed that you and Vicki finally got married! Philip and I are always busy with the kids, but I hope that we can get together sometime. I was surprised when Larry called the other day. He said Mr. Furley raised his rent again and he needed a loan to cover it. Good ‘ole Larry. Always mooching off of someone. He’ll never change. As for Furley… I think he’s been pretty happy since he met Lorraine. I told him I thought it was time he tied the knot!
The letter fades out to another one. The voice-over continues.
JANET’S VOICE: …Susan is in 4th grade now and little Jimmy is in 2nd. And I have some news! We are going to have another baby girl in a few months! Or so the doctor thinks. Chrissy was ecstatic to learn I was expecting again and is just certain I will name the baby after her. I told her this was going to be an Easter baby, not a Christmas one!
The letter fades out to another one. The voice-over continues.
JANET’S VOICE: …I was so sorry to learn that you no longer have the restaurant. I thought I’d bring the family down one night so they could all meet their “Uncle Jack.” Boy, was I surprised to see Angelino there instead of you! I was eager to have little Jessica try some great French food. On a lighter note, Terri visited last month and she is thinking of moving back to the mainland. I hope she does. It’d be wonderful to see her more often.
The letter fades out to another one. The voice-over continues.
JANET’S VOICE: …Was I ever surprised when I received your letter! I never would have guessed you would end up in Paris! I’m so glad you got over your fear of flying. I guess it makes sense for you to work in the city you learned so much about in school. Don’t worry Jack. I’m sure that everything will be fine. And if you ever need a friend, you know how to reach me.
INT. HOUSE. EARLY EVENING.
Janet, Philip, Susan (20), Jimmy (18), and Jessica (12) are sitting around the table having dinner.
JESSICA: Mom, can I sleep over at Stephanie’s house tonight?
JANET: Honey, we’ve been through this before. You know better than to ask me the night of.
JESSICA: But I already told her I could. Dad said it was okay.
JANET: Well, your father has forgotten one very important thing.
PHILIP: What’s that?
JANET: (Jokingly) I’m the boss! Why don’t you find out if you can sleep over tomorrow night?
JESSICA:(Dejected) Okay, mom.
PHILIP: So Susan… How was class today? Did you pass that Trig test?
SUSAN: I hope so. Although there was this cute boy who kept winking at me during the test.
JIMMY: The only cute boy winking at you are gay plastic dolls in those stupid magazines you read.
SUSAN: Shut up dirtboy!
JANET: Quiet Jimmy! Tell me about this boy, Susan. Was he really winking at you?
SUSAN: Yeah, but I think he had something in his eye.
PHILIP: Don’t worry about it sweetheart. You’ll get over Matt. Trust me on that one.
JANET: Oh yes. Why, I remember back before your father and I got married. I was going out every night.
PHILIP (Feigning surprise) Every night huh? That’s not what you told me!
JANET: Quiet! I did go out practically every night… To play Scrabble with the landlord! (smiles.)
SUSAN: Mmmm… Was that Mr. Furley?
JANET: Yes. He was such a nice man. Full of energy and life. His one downfall was that he lacked self-esteem. (Looks towards Susan.)
The phone rings.
PHILIP:(Gets up to answer the phone) I’ll get it.
JANET: You’re a beautiful and smart girl Susan. I know Mr. Right is out there for you somewhere.
JIMMY: (Mocking) Oh, Mr. Right! Mr. Right! Wherefore art thou Mr. Right?
SUSAN: Shut up twerp!
JANET: Knock it off, the both of you! Philip? Who’s on the phone?
PHILIP: Well, speak of the devil! It’s Mr. Furley! He needs to talk with you.
JANET: (Jumps up to grab the phone from Philip.) Mr. Furley? Really? (Goes into the kitchen to talk.)
JANET: Hi, Mr. Furley! How are you these days?
FURLEY: Fine, fine Janet. Things are just peachy with me. But there is something I think you should know.
JANET: What’s that?
FURLEY: Well, my nephew Bart Jr. has decided to level the apartment building and turn it and the surrounding land into a housing development.
JANET: Oh my! Really? I didn’t think there was all that much land to do something like that?
FURLEY: You’d be surprised. There’s about 20 acres back there. If you tear out the other three buildings that is.
JANET: That’s just awful. What are you going to do?
FURLEY: I was thinking that Lorraine, Johnny, and I would move to Florida. There’s lots of places for old folks like us down there.
JANET: Johnny isn’t that old is he?
FURLEY: No, he’s 25, but I’m sure they take youngsters down there too.
JANET: I’m sure you’ll be very happy.
FURLEY: Sure sure. Listen, the reason that I called was to tell you about the building, but I thought maybe you’d like to stop by and have lunch with us? You haven’t been by in a couple of years and I thought it’d be nice if we could say goodbye. And you could also take one last look at your old place before they tear it down?
JANET: I don’t know. Maybe we could meet for lunch somewhere else. I just don’t like reminiscing about the past. And it just wouldn’t be the same without also seeing everyone who meant so much to me during those years. Jack, and Terri, Chrissy, Cindy, and even Eleanor.
FURLEY: I’m sorry to hear that. (Dejected) Well, take care Janet. You were always my favorite. Call me when you decide where you’d like to meet for lunch.
JANET: I will. Thank you Mr. Furley. Goodbye. (Janet hangs up the phone. She is misty-eyed.)
PHILIP: So, how is Mr. Furley?
JANET: Oh, he's fine. He says they’re tearing down the apartment building.
PHILIP: That’s awful. I heard you say he was moving to Florida?
JANET: Yes. He wanted me to stop by to see the old building.
PHILIP: And you’re not going to go? Why not?
JANET: Oh Philip! That was such tumultuous time in my life! I’d rather not dwell on the past but move forward instead.
JIMMY: Oh come on mom. You’re always talking about Uncle Jack and all the trouble he got into. It sounds like you had a great time when you lived there.
JANET: I did, I truly did. I loved every minute of that life. But, I’ve moved on. And now I love every minute of this life.
PHILIP: It’s up to you honey. But I can’t see how it would hurt to see the old place. Is Larry still living there too?
JANET: I don’t think so. Or at least I hope not! (Stops for a moment to think.) Ok, so is everyone done? Let’s clean up these dishes!
EXT. HOUSE. EARLY EVENING.
Janet is sitting out on the back patio. All is quiet and Philip enters and hands her a cup of hot chocolate.
PHILIP: Here you go. This’ll help you sleep.
JANET: (Chuckles.) I always used to snicker at how Mr. Roper always needed his cocoa. I guess when you get older you do need it. (Pause) Are the kids asleep?
PHILIP: Jimmy and Susan are. Or, at least I think they are. I went ahead and let Jessica go out.
JANET: I can’t believe you did that! After all I said.
PHILIP: I didn’t think it was a big deal to stay over at a friend’s house.
JANET: Oh, you’re probably right.
PHILIP: Yes, I know I am. (Smiles) Anyway, I didn’t come out here offering hot chocolate to talk about the kids.
JANET: Oh? (Realizing) Oh. Really Philip. I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to go back to that building. I’ve put that part of my life behind me.
PHILIP: Really? If that’s true, why do you keep writing letters and emails to Jack?
JANET: This doesn’t have anything to do with Jack. It has to do with that place. I don’t know what it is exactly. There’s something strange about that apartment building. It’s almost as if normalcy doesn’t exist there. Like it’s in some kind of “lunacy” bubble. (Pause) So, maybe it’s just as well that they tear it down.
PHILIP: Maybe you’re right. I’m sure Mr. Furley will be just as happy to visit you at a restaurant before he moves to Florida.
JANET: Yeah. (Ponders a moment.) You know, I do sometimes wonder who moved into our apartment after we left.
PHILIP: Oh, probably some really boring people. No one could be as interesting and as lovable as you were. (Philip reaches over and hugs Janet sweetly) How did I get so lucky?
JANET: You are lucky.
PHILIP: Just imagine. If you hadn’t been working at that flower shop we never would have met.
JANET: Yep! (Giggles) And if I wasn’t in such financial straights back then, I never would have been working there. I owe a lot to that flower shop.
PHILIP: Yep. We owe a lot to that flower shop. And to the apartment for that matter. After all, we were married there.
JANET:(Starring off into space.) Yes…
PHILIP: You okay honey?
JANET: Oh, yes. I was just thinking. (Kisses Philip.)
FADE OUT
INT. FURLEY’S APARTMENT. MORNING.
Boxes are piled up as Mr. Furley, his wife Lorraine, and step-son Donnie pack up their things. Donnie is about 25 years old and is about 6 ft tall.
DONNIE: Hey dad. You got any need of this?
FURLEY: What is it?
DONNIE:(Hold up a hula girl lamp.) This?
FURLEY: Oh that. Heh, I wondered where that ran off to. I guess your mother hid it from me. Here, let me have it.
DONNIE:(Jokingly) Is that something macho guys decorated their apartments with back in the old days?
FURLEY: Old days? I just bought it a few months ago! Yeah, (examining the lamp) she’s a beauty all right! It’ll look great in our new living room!
Lorraine appears. She is in her late 50’s with curly short red hair, not unlike Mrs. Roper.
LORRAINE: Ok, Ralph. I’ve got the bedroom all packed. Are we going to have lunch?
FURLEY: I dunno. What did you have in mind?
LORRAINE: I thought maybe you could make us a nice lunch. You know, like you used to do before we were married?
FURLEY: (Chuckles) Do you mean?
LORRAINE: Yes! Peanut butter sandwiches!
FURLEY: Well, all right! (Smiles) I’ll get to it right away. I just gotta move a few things out of my way here…
LORRAINE: Uh, Raphie… What’s that?
FURLEY: Uh, what dear?
LORRAINE: What are you holding behind your back? Is that a girlie magazine?
FURLEY: Absolutely not! Why I’ve never looked at those things!
LORRAINE:(Scoldingly) Ralph… Let me have it.
FURLEY: (Dejected) Oh here. Take it. (Hands over the hula girl lamp.)
LORRAINE: Thank you dear.
FURLEY: Just for that, no crunchy peanut butter for you! (Storms out into the kitchen.)
LORRAINE:(Chuckling.) Oh dear, that man. What a character.
DONNIE: Yeah, you picked a great one mom.
LORRAINE: Well, anyone would have been better than your father. But Ralphie truly is one of a kind.
The doorbell rings.
DONNIE: I’ll get it.
Donnie opens the door to reveal Janet standing there in a blue dress.
DONNIE: Hello. Can I help you?
JANET: Hello. My name is Janet Dawson. I wonder is Mr. Furley here?
DONNIE: Yeah, he’s home. Won’t you come in?
JANET: (Hesitating) Yes, thank you.
DONNIE: (Yells towards kitchen) Dad! Someone is here to see you!
FURLEY: (Yells from the kitchen) Ok. I’ll be out in a minute. (Muttering) Darn peanut butter!
LORRAINE: Janet! How good it is to see you again!
JANET: Lorraine! Why, you haven’t changed a bit since I saw you at the wedding!
LORRAINE: Well, I like to think so! Sorry about the mess, we’re in the midst of moving. Won’t you sit down?
JANET: Thank you.
Janet, Lorraine, and Donnie move around the boxes to sit on the couch and chair.
LORRAINE: So what brings you back, Janet? Did you decide to take up Ralphie on his lunch date?
JANET: Well…
LORRAINE: Because he’s still a terrible cook. And right about now, I’ll prove it to you. (Looks at watch.)
Furley enters from the kitchen with a plate of peanut butter sandwiches.
FURLEY: Who was at the door honey bunch…? Janet! Why it is you! In person no less!
Furley hands the plate to Donnie and rushes over to hug Janet.
FURLEY: After that phone call, I never thought I’d see you again.
JANET: Well, Mr. Furley, I got to thinking just how important this place really is to me.
FURLEY: I guess you like reminiscing about the past more than you thought, huh?
JANET: You were right after all. It means a lot to me to see it one last time before they tear it all down.
FURLEY: That’s great! You know, I tried calling the other kids, but I lost track of them over the years.
JANET: I talk to Terri and even see her regularly. I’ve been writing letters and emails to Jack, but I rarely hear from him. Chrissy is happily married these days and living in Fresno. Her and her husband travel to Africa now and then. He's a missionary you see. And you’d be surprised what happened to Cindy.
FURLEY: Wasn’t she going to be a veterinarian?
JANET: When she was at UCLA going for her veterinary degree, she got bitten by the acting bug! Who would have thought little Cindy would become an actress! I always thought she shouldn’t give up on being a vet, but she was always hard headed. She was on that nighttime soap opera about the oil barons. Do you remember that?
LORRAINE: I do. That was the show that ended and we find out it was all a dream.
JANET: Yes! (Pause)
FURLEY: So, I suppose you want to see the old place, huh?
JANET: Certainly! Can we go right now?
FURLEY: Why not? The last tenants moved out last week.
JANET: Let’s go!
INT. THE FAMOUS APARTMENT. MORNING.
The lights are darkened. The door slowly swings open revealing Mr. Furley and Janet. Furley turns on the lights while Janet takes several tentative steps inside. The apartment is relatively unchanged. There are no pictures, decorations, or furniture because of the impending demolition.
JANET: Oh my…
FURLEY: Is it how you remember it?
JANET: Absolutely! Incredible. I never thought I’d be standing here again.
As she examines the apartment, Janet begins to tear up. She walks over to where the couch used to be.
JANET: Right here. Right here is where Jack always pretended to be so athletic. He tried to show Chrissy and me how to exercise. He also tried the same thing with Terri and me. Oh Jack. What a clown he was then.
FURLEY: I’m sure he hasn’t changed all that much.
JANET: I wouldn’t know. I haven’t heard from him very much since he got married to Vicki.
FURLEY: That was the most amazing day I had ever seen. Jack getting married! I never thought I’d see the day! But then again, (smugly) when you learn macho from the master, you learn from the best.
JANET: (Smiles at Mr. Furley)
There is a light knock on the door. Larry Dallas appears. He has a full head of silvery hair.
LARRY: Mr. Furley? Lorraine said you were up here… Oh my god! If it isn’t my little princess! Janet! What on earth are you doing here?
JANET: (Rushes over to hug Larry) I came to see the old place before it’s torn down. What are you doing here?
LARRY: What do you mean? I live here.
JANET: After 20 years, you still live here?
LARRY: Well, I moved out a couple of times, but ever since I convinced Mr. Furley to stop raising my rent, it’s the cheapest place in town.
FURLEY: Watch it Larry. Don’t say “cheap.” It’s economical!
LARRY: Right, economical. Of course there still that great ocean view, which I’m sure you remember. It’s nice for spotting the bikini-clad ladies strolling on the beach.
JANET: Larry, I thought you would have gotten married by now?
LARRY: I thought about it a few times over the years. But there was always something that got in the way.
JANET: Like what?
LARRY: Usually it was her parents… They don’t like used car salesmen for some reason.
JANET: You’re still selling cars too?
LARRY: Nah, I gave that up after my stock deal. But that stigma has stuck with me forever.
JANET: Gee Larry, I’m sorry. I wish you could experience how wonderful marriage is.
LARRY: Eh, I get the same thing from Lucy. We’ve been living together for about 8 years now. Might as well be married.
JANET: Why don’t you?
LARRY: After so many years of being a swinging single, it’s hard to lock yourself down. I could never commit.
FURLEY: You can say that again. Your idea of commitment is ordering a sandwich and finishing it all in one sitting.
JANET: So Larry. What are you going to do now that the building is going to be demolished?
LARRY: I really hadn’t thought about it much. How much time do I have left?
FURLEY: About 6 days.
LARRY: Eh, I’ll figure something out. No problem. I don’t worry about stuff like that anymore.
JANET: You’d better think of something soon! Unless you like living in your car.
LARRY: We’ll probably go and stay with Lucy’s parents for awhile.
JANET: I guess that means someone’s parents like you, Larry. Perhaps you should reconsider that marriage thing.
LARRY: We’ll see about that. So, I guess you’re here to take one last look?
JANET: Yes. It seems this is a very special place for me. After all, I did live here for nine years, I met some of my best friends here, and I was even married here. So, I thought it was important to see it one last time.
LARRY: Well, don’t let me stop you. Let’s check out that kitchen.
The trio enter the kitchen. There are no appliances, table, or chairs, but it is otherwise as we remember it.
FURLEY: It doesn’t look too different, does it Janet?
JANET: (Examining the kitchen.) No. It’s exactly the same. Jack spent a good deal of his time cooking in here.
LARRY: He also spent a lot of time cooking in that living room. (Chuckles at his own bad joke.)
Janet almost dreamily walks out of the kitchen and heads for her bedroom. The bedroom is empty.
JANET: Oh, our old bedroom. You know, I did keep the furniture from here. I gave the bed frames to my kids and they still use the table and lamp.
LARRY: Wow. They must be heirlooms for you to keep them.
JANET: Not really. They were just sentimental things. I have a lot of things from my years here at my house.
Janet moves out of her old bedroom and into Jack’s. It too is empty, but the walls are still painted blue.
FURLEY: The last few tenants liked the blue and decided to keep it. That was fine by me. It saved me from having to buy new paint year after year.
JANET: Well, as far as I know, this room has always been blue.
Janet sits down on the floor. Her eyes begin to well up.
JANET: This place… This place is just too important to me. It’s a connection between me an all the friends I’ve lost. Do you know I haven’t heard from Jack in years? I hardly ever see Terri or Chrissy anymore. And the only time I see Cindy is when she’s on TV selling vegetable choppers. And this is the first time I’ve seen you two in years.
LARRY: (Leans down to console her.) Janet…
JANET: No, Larry. I’ve got to do something about it. I can’t let this building go anymore than I can let all my friends go. (Thinks for a moment.) Mr. Furley, is there nothing we can do to save the building?
FURLEY: I don’t think so. My nephew is adamant about demolishing it. He stands to make a ton of money on it.
JANET: What if we bought the building from him?
FURLEY: You might be able to do that, but he’d never sell it for it’s actual value. We’ll have to think of something else.
LARRY: Does that mean you want to save the building too, Mr. Furley?
FURLEY: Damn straight! I hate Florida! Besides, I’ve been wanting to give my jerk of a nephew a good swift kick in the can for years.
JANET: (Stands up and faces Furley.) That’s good to hear, Mr. Furley! (Turns to Larry.) How about you, Larry?
LARRY: Sure. I like the cheap… er… “economical” rent I’m paying these days. Besides, anything that’ll make you happy Princess is something I want to be a part of.
JANET: Oh, thank you Larry! Mr. Furley, thank you. Now, we just have to think of a plan…
FADE OUT.
INT. RESTURANT.
Janet and Phillip are having a nice dinner alone.
JANET: …So Mr. Furley thinks his nephew might cave in if we can double the amount of money he’d make on it.
PHILLIP: (Chokes on food) And where exactly do you think you’re going to come up with that kind of dough?
JANET: We’ll, here’s my plan… I’ll call everyone up so we can have a little reunion. You know, we’ll hang out and talk about old times and just have a good old time. Then we’ll hash out the details and figure something out. I just know that with all of us together again, we can figure it out.
PHILLIP: So that’s it? You’re just going to call everyone together and try to come up with a plan? Honey, I think you’re going to have to have a plan up front if you expect everyone to show up.
JANET: I know, it’ll be tough for them to buy in especially with no real plan, but I think it’ll all work out. Things always do when we’re together.
---------------------------------------- Note: The rest of the script is incomplete, but here is the outline for the remaining scenes. ----------------------------------------
Scene – Picking up Terri
Janet is seen at the airport baggage claim looking for Terri. They see each other and embrace. “It’s so good to see you!” they both say.
In Janet’s little red car, they talk about what Terri has been doing in Hawaii all this time. She tells Janet, “Well, you remember that patient I was telling you about? We ended up getting married.” Janet wonders why she never said anything. Terri continues, “You see, he had cancer and only had a few months to live, so I never said anything.” She still lives in the beach house where they lived together. It’s clear that Terri never got over the death of her husband.
Janet changes the subject and they start talking about plans for the reunion party and how they’re going to save the building.
Scene – The Reunion
Janet & Terri arrive straight from the airport. Larry, Ralph, and Lana are there already. Janet introduces Terri to Lana and then pulls Lana into the kitchen to make drinks.
Lana married a few more times and now lives in Beverly Hills in a 1920’s house. She’s semi-wealthy, but most of it is tied up in real estate so she can’t buy the apartment outright. Janet has always wanted to know why she moved out so suddenly. “Remember that time I thought you or Chrissy was having an affair with Jack? That got me so mad that I just up and moved out. Plus I got a job offer in San Francisco. Oh, and Ralph was getting especially annoying.”
The doorbell rings and Terri answers it to find Cindy waiting! Everyone is glad to see her and gives her a hug. Larry asks for her autograph. “I’ll make a fortune on Ebay!” he says. Turns out Cindy went on to be an actress after giving up on Veterinary medicine and was on the tv show called “Texas” among other shows and movies. Now she works for a local TV station selling items during their Home Store hours.
Right then, Chrissy walks out of the bedroom. “What’s all this commotion out here? I’m trying to take a nap!” Janet and Cindy greet her and Janet says, “Larry, why didn’t you tell me Chrissy was here already?” Larry replies, “You didn’t give me a chance.” Janet introduces Terri to Chrissy. She reaches out and hugs her. “Janet has told me so much about you it’s as if we’re already good friends.” Terri says. “Janet has told me a lot about you too. But I never figured out how you could be a ‘norse.’” Terri chuckles, “That’s nurse!” Chrissy looks surprised. “That good. Because I was having a hard time picturing you with a giant Viking horned hat!”
Larry, Ralph, and Lana talk while Chrissy, Cindy, Terri and Janet catch up. Chrissy talks about her missionary trips to Africa with her husband Robert. “But we stopped going when he had out little boy Johnny.” Cindy looks at a photo and says how cute he is. “Well, he’s a lot older now!” Chrissy asks how the farm was since Cindy inherited it. “It’s good. I go check it every so often. I hired someone to take care of it. I still love those animals.”
So they all talk and catch up. They have a nice lunch set up and all enjoy themselves.
Janet then brings the “meeting” to order. Ralph asks “Hadn’t we better wait for Jack?” Janet explains that he was the only one who didn’t respond to her letter. Even Eleanor responded, but she couldn’t make it and lives in Canada now.
So they talk about what to do to save the building. Ralph says the building and 20 acres is worth about $900,000 (or that’s what Bart Jr. is getting for it.) Janet asks what can everyone give (or maybe Lana starts it off by offering 200K.) Cindy offers another $150K, Janet and Philip give $150K, Chrissy doesn’t have much, but she offers her savings of $50K. Larry & Lucy pitch in another $100K. Lorraine (Ralph’s wife) puts in $150K. (“You didn’t know I was rich did you Ralphie?”) Terri also has saved a bit and pitches in $75K. But they are still $175,000 short.
That’s when the doorbell rings. Janet answers it and finds Jack standing at the door wearing his old denimn jacket and carrying a duffel bag. He looks tired. Janet gives him the most tremendous hug. “Jack! We’re so glad to see you!” “Well, the feeling is mutual Janet!” Jack smiles.
Everyone greets Jack with hugs and kisses. Except for Ralph who finally does hug him. “You’ve been macho for over 20 years now, so I’m okay with it.” Larry and Jack go into the kitchen to get Jack some water. They talk for a bit. “So how’d you end up in Paris Jacko?” “Well, the divorce hit me pretty hard. And it didn’t do anything for Joy either. She’s our daughter. I did tell you about her, right?” Larry is surprised at Jack. “Of course you told me about her. She’s all you ever talk about!” Jack continues, “Anyway, I thought moving to Paris would help me forget, but it didn’t. I just miss Vicki and Joy even more.”
Lana walks in to get the guys. “Janet has a surprise for us.” The guys exit and rejoin the group. Janet mentions a gift she received from Mrs. Roper a week before she died. “I went to visit her in the hospital. She really went downhill after Mr. Roper died.” Janet pauses a moment. “Anyway, she gave me this package and said to me, ‘Janet, if you Jack & Chrissy ever meet up, I want you to open this.’” Janet opens the package and discovers a note enclosed that reads:
“Dear kids,
You three were the closest thing we ever had to having kids of our own. Mr. Roper even once told me that he loved Jack like a son despite his being a ‘tinkerbell.’ I think maybe deep down, he knew the truth. Please find all my old jewelry enclosed plus several stock certificates given to us by my mother. I hope this will be of some use to you. Thank you for your kindness over the years. All our love, Mr. & Mrs Roper.”
Janet looks though the box and finds the stock which is IBM. Along with the jewelry she finds the Ropers’ wedding rings, Stanley’s pipe wrench, and a bunch of love letters Stanley wrote to Helen.
Larry, being the stock market maven that he is, projects that the IBM stock is worth about $80K, which means they need another $95,000 to buy the building. But how to get the remaining money? Chrissy mentions game shows and Cindy remembers this “Extreme Cooking Survivor” show her network is going to air soon that pays $100,000! But it doesn’t air for two weeks and Bart Jr. is closing on the deal soon. Terri suggests offering Bart Jr. two weeks in the house in Hawaii to delay him. Janet says, “If Jack could win that show, we could pay Bart Jr. for the building. And I know Jack could win, right honey?”
Jack scratches his chin. “Well, sure Janet, but you remember the last time I tried to cook on TV. Or the last time I was in a cooking contest. It didn’t work out too well.” Chrissy chimes in, “Oh come on Jack. We know you can do it!” Lana says, “And we’ll do anything to help out.” Jack thinks on it for a moment. “Well, if everyone thinks it’s the only way…” Chrissy says “Well, now that I think of it, maybe we can…” but she is interrupted by Ralph, “Let’s do it Jack!” Larry says, “We have faith in you buddy!” Cindy, “If you can’t win, no one can!” Janet and Terri crowd Jack. “It’s a great idea Jack! What do you say?”
Jack finally says, “I’ll do it!” He jumps up and lands a soft punch on Ralph.
Scene – After the Party
Everyone has gone home except for Jack, Janet, Terri, & Chrissy. Jack is saying goodbye to Larry at the door. Janet is preparing to go home and Jack, Terri, & Chrissy are going to stay in the apartment. “Just like old times, huh?” Jack says.
Terri & Chrissy are chatting and talking about what bed they’ll take (because they both originally slept in the same one!) “Why don’t both of you sleep in that one, and I’ll sleep in Janet’s old bed” Jack says. “No way Jack!” says Chrissy. Terri says, “We’ve got too much to do than to play games Jack.”
Jack replies, “Oh. Okay. But I bet my old peephole is still there…” He goes to check his bedroom. “Yup! There it is!” He announces from his room. “Have fun getting undressed ladies! G’night!” Chrissy and Terri look at each other… “Nah…” and go unpack.
Scene – The Next Morning
Chrissy & Terri wake up to the smell of Jack’s cooking breakfast. “Thanks Jack. You’re so sweet.” Says Chrissy.
Terri says “Hey Chrissy. Remember the time I made breakfast and Jack nearly choked on it? It was so bad!” Chrissy looks puzzled. “No, I don’t remember that.” Terri smacks her forehead, “That’s right! You were already moved out and married by then!”
Chrissy asks Terri, “Do you remember the time when Jack taught us to be happy by spilling milk all over himself?” Terri looks puzzled. “No.” Chrissy looks sheepish, “Oh. Sorry.”
Jack sits down to eat, “It’s so good seeing the two of you getting along!” Before Jack can get a bite of food, Janet walks in saying, “Jack! Why aren’t you ready yet?” Jack replies, “I thought Cindy was taking care of all that?” Janet looks incredulous, “She’s setting up the audition, not getting you on the show! Now go get ready!” Jack gets up to go take a shower. “Ok, but I might need some help. Maybe you three could all wash and dress me?” They exclaim “Jack!”
Janet sits down and starts eating Jack’s food. As he exits Jack says, “Ok. But you girls are still taking advantage of me all these years later. Enjoy my breakfast Janet!”
Scene- The Audition
Jack and Janet enter the meeting room and meet with Cindy. Of course she bumps into Jack a few times, disorienting him. When the producers meet him, he is clumsy and knocks over several bowls of ingredients.
The producers talk and think that his klutzy act might draw viewers so they give him the shot. He will be a part of 8 other contestants to become the “Extreme Cooking Survivor.” The show will be filmed over the next 10 days and the winner will be announced on the last day, right at the day Bart Jr. will get back from Hawaii (assuming he accepts Terri’s offer.)
Scene – Bart Jr’s Office
In this scene, Terri tries to convince Bart Jr. to hold off on selling the apartment building for a few weeks so Jack can try to win the Cooking Survivor show. To sweeten the deal, she offers him the use of her house in Hawaii for two weeks.
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