Articles
Hook Or By Crook
Jenna and Harley join forces to rid Springfield
of Jeffrey once and for all
Cover Story: SID June 1997
| Although
Jeffrey momentarily has gained the upper hand in his battle to separate
Buzz from her permanently, Jenna is determined to see him lose his war.
She won't have to fight alone, either. An unlikely soldier of mercy
is walking into the firing line: Harley. She's afraid for her father's
well-being and at a loss as to why Jenna would turn her back on him.
Feigning a crisis with Buzz and Coop, Harley calls Jenna and beseeches
her to come to the diner at once. She then proceeds to lock Jenna
and herself in the restaurant's defunct freezer, demanding to know the
reason Jenna gave Buzz the heave-ho. Harley’s actions signal a major
about face for the character, admits Beth Ehlers, her portrayer.
"She doesn't like Jenna. She doesn't trust her, and she's jealous
of her. Harley just got her father back, and there he goes, falling
in love with someone and they have a baby.
"But as much as Harley dislikes Jenna," she continues, "her decision to help comes from the idea that she wants to protect her father from getting hurt. And also, there's a child involved here. There are a lot of motivating factors." Although Jenna is hesitant to spill the beans, Harley finally is able to drag a confession out of her: Jenna left Buzz, she admits, because she feared that if she didn't, the next time she'd see him would be at his funeral. On the same page at last, Jenna and Harley agree that they must get Jeffrey out of the picture. "they both think they know what's best for Buzz," elaborates Barbara Esensten, the show's co-headwriter. "Now they're forced into a situation where they have to work together.' Since Jeffrey has no idea that Harley is Buzz’s daughter, the dynamic duo concoct a scheme to team her with Jeffrey as partners in crime. The plan begins to unfold that very evening at the posh country club. Jenna tells her maniacal husband that they will need help if he hopes to pull off their next heist After planting that idea in his head, she makes tracks for the rest room, cueing Harley to move in for the kill. The cop 'accidentally' spills her drink on Jeffrey, and in the confusion, swipes his wallet. Jeffrey catches her but is impressed with her spirit. Harley brags that she can spot a mark faster than he can, and, to Jeffrey's amusement she chooses Jenna as her next victim. He is beginning to think that he's found just the sticky-fingered helping hand that he and Jenna need when Phillip arrives, threatening to expose Harley and Jenna's scarn. “Jenna’s not completely convinced that they are going to be able to outsmart Jeffrey," admits Fiona Hutchison, who plays the jewel thief and mom. "But desperation is a great motivator." *
As happy as Buzz made Jenna, she turned
her back on him.
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