Love Worth Fighting For, Part 1

(Jake is sitting in his office at The City Times about six months after Vicky’s death. He picks up a framed photo of Steven and Kirkland sitting on his desk and looks at it for a few moments. He places the frame back on the corner of his desk and smiles. He opens his desk drawer, where a photo of himself and Vicky taken shortly before her death lies. He glances at the picture, then closes his drawer and turns to his computer, and begins to type. Lucinda enters the office.)

Lucinda: Good morning, Jake.

Jake: (leaning back in his chair) Oh, just what I need to start my day. What are you doing here so early?

Lucinda: I think the same can be asked of you, Mr. McKinnon.

Jake: I thought I would get a head start on this Carter story. You know, before Lindsay tries to scoop me again.

(Lucinda walks over and picks up the framed photo of Steven and Kirkland. Jake looks at her, curiously.)

Lucinda: So, its the six month anniversary of your wife’s death.

Jake: Why do you always have to bring up Vicky?

Lucinda: Because she is always on your mind. Do you want to talk about it?

Jake: There is nothing to talk about. Vicky is gone, I’ve accepted that. Now I just need to move on with my life.

Lucinda: But you can’t seem to do that, can you?

Jake: (getting angry) How can I when you keep talking about her? I’m doing the best I can.

Lucinda: I know you are. I’m sorry. There are just a lot of people here that you can talk to.

Jake: (continuing to type) Thanks. I’ll be fine.

Lucinda: I know. Are there any new leads on this Carter story? This could be our Pulitzer story, you know.

Jake: (still avoiding eye contact with Lucinda) Cops aren’t talking. I am still waiting to see if this so-called source pans out.

Lucinda: Well, I will be in my office if you need me. (Jake remains silent. Lucinda walks over to the door.) I’ll just close this on my way out. (She exits the room and closes the door behind her)

(Jake reaches back into his desk and pulls out the photo of him and Vicky.)

Jake: (to himself) I will never forgive myself for what I did to you, honey. (his eyes fill with tears)


(Later in the day, Julia arrives at The City Times.)

Lucinda: Well, hello Julia. What brings you to The City Times today?

Julia: Actually, I stopped by to see Jake. (glances over towards Jake’s office) His door is closed, is he out of the office today?

Lucinda: No, he has been in there all day.

Julia: Well isn’t it kind of odd that his door is closed? Every time I have ever been here -

Lucinda: Darling, the man is missing his wife. Maybe you can come back at another time.

Julia: No, I think I exactly the person Jake needs to see. (she walks over to Jake’s door, knocks, and lets herself in)

(Lucinda rolls her eyes and returns to her own office)

Jake: If you’re here about the Carter story, the answer is no.

Julia: Hello to you too. Actually, I stopped in to see if you would like to have dinner tonight.

Jake: No.

Julia: Well maybe you aren’t willing to share information on this story, McKinnon, but I am.
(Jake zones out and has a flash of Vicky calling him McKinnon) Jake, are you okay?

Jake: Huh? Yeah, I’m fine. What kind of information do you have?

Julia: Well that depends.

Jake: On what?

Julia: On dinner. Lucinda told me you have been in the office all day working on this story. So in order to get this info, you have to agree to dinner.

Jake: You are unbelievable, Lindsay. When and where will this dinner take place?

Julia: How about your place?

Jake: My house?

Julia: Sure, why not. You know I bet you haven’t even used that oven since you’ve lived there. I’m an excellent cook. How does 7:00 sound?

Jake: (a little uncomfortable) Well, I suppose it couldn’t hurt. (reaches into his pocket and pulls out his keychain. He takes off a key and tosses it to Julia) Here, you’ll need this to get in.

Julia: Wow, I’m lucky enough to get a key to your house.

Jake: (laughing) Don’t press your luck. I’ll want that back.

Julia: Why are you giving it to me?

Jake: Because, I have a meeting and might be a little late.

Julia: Well don’t be too late. (She exits the office and Jake’s phone rings)

Jake: (picking up phone) This is McKinnon. (dead silence) Hello? Is anyone there? (there is a click and then a dial tone. Jake hangs up the phone) That was weird.


(That evening, Jake arrives to his house and finds that Julia has an made a very extravagant dinner, along with wine and candles.)

Jake: What is all this? I thought we were having a business dinner.

Julia: I know, I probably got a little carried away.

Jake: A little? This looks like an all out seduction attempt.

Julia: (laughing) Don’t flatter yourself. I just thought you could use a nice dinner.

Jake: (turning on the lights) I don’t think the low lighting is necessary.

Julia: Just sit down. Don’t be so tense, Jake.

Jake: I’m not tense.

Julia: Yeah, right. (She goes into the kitchen, as Jake sits down. Julia returns carrying two plates. She sits one down in front of Jake.) Homemade lasagna.

Jake: No offense, but I never would have taken you for the Suzy Homemaker type.

Julia: There is a lot you don’t know about me.

Jake: (taking a drink of his wine) I am finding that out. So what is this information you have about Carter anyway?

Julia: Oh, I see how this is. You were just using me for the info.

Jake: Hello, dinner was your idea Lindsay.

Julia: I know. Just be patient. We’ll get to the good stuff a little later.

Jake: (shaking his head) I knew this was a bad idea.

(As Jake and Julia continue eating, outside a woman walks up to the house. She is about to ring the doorbell, when laughter is heard from inside the house. She looks in through the front window and notices Jake and Julia sitting at a table in the dining room.)

Jake: I don’t really think that my falling flat on my face was that funny.

Julia: What is even funnier is that huge glob of spaghetti sauce that you have in the corner of your mouth. (Julia reaches across the table with her napkin in hand. Jake grabs her wrist before she can wipe off the sauce. They sit in an awkward silence for a moment. Suddenly, Julia reaches across the table and kisses Jake. He doesn’t resist.)

(Back outside, the woman is still looking into the house. She turns around, revealing herself to be Vicky. She has a look of disbelief on her face, and runs back to her car. She gets in the driver’s seat and begins to cry. She starts the car and drives away, screeching her tires.)

(Back inside the house, Jake hears the screeching tires and pulls away from Julia. They look at each other for a few moments.)

Jake: We shouldn’t have done that.

Julia: I’m sorry, that was my fault.

Jake: Julia, I am not over Vicky. I don’t want to be in another relationship.

Julia: You don’t have to explain anything to me. I should go. (she stands up)

Jake: Listen, I’m sorry.

Julia: Don’t apologize. (she runs out of the house)

Jake: (throws his napkin on his plate) Oh, McKinnon, what are you doing?


(A couple of hours later, Vicky has pulled up at the cottage in Bay City. She sits in her car for a couple of minutes. She replays in her mind the image of Jake kissing Julia. Vicky gets out of her car and slams the door. She walks up to the front door of the cottage and knocks a few times. Inside, Donna, who has been sleeping, walks over to the door.)

Donna: (shocked) Victoria! Is that really you? (starting to cry and hugging Vicky) Am I dreaming?

Vicky: (hugging Donna and walking into the cottage) No, its really me.

Donna: I just can’t believe this. (sits down on the sofa) Darling, what happened to you? We have to call the boys, and Jake, and Marley! Oh, Victoria, they are going to be so happy. We have missed you so much.

Vicky: (hugging Donna again) I have missed all of you so much.

Donna: Victoria, where on earth have you been for all of these months?

Vicky: Mom, I don’t want to talk about that right now. Where are the boys? Are they upstairs?

Donna: (looks down) No, they’re not.

Vicky: Mom, where are they? With Jake? Tell me where they are right now.

Donna: They’re in London with Jamie. We should call them right now. We need to call Jake too. Darling, I have been so worried about him.

Vicky: (under her breath) Oh, I think Jake is managing just fine without me.