Hot As A Jalapeno

Frankie and Jennifer listen to music as Jack comes in.

“Frankie, of course,” whispers Jack. He walks on in “HI THERE!”

Jennifer says, “We were just taking a little trip down memory lane.”

“I hope you two will always be close. Always,” says Jack.

Rex can’t believe he will have a little brother or sister, “I just hope she doesn’t lose the baby.”

Mimi flashes back to her little talk with the abortion counselor, “I’m so sorry, Rex.”

“Something else is on your mind and I have a pretty good idea of what it is,” says Rex.

Belle and John hug. She goes to see Phil and Shawn, “This is a nightmare.”

“Just sit down and relax,” says Shawn, “Can I get you anything?”

“I can take care of her all right,” says Phillip.

Sami is frantic. “I’m sure you and John hope she miscarries,” she tells Kate.

Roman encourages her to go to the chapel and say a prayer.

Lexie comes out with bad news, “We couldn’t save the baby. We did all we could.” Hey, they could name it D.J. II.

“What about Marlena,” says John, “Is she gonna be all right?”

“Lexie,” bawls Sami, “Is my mother gonna die?” Lexie stares.

Frankie tells Jack he and Jennifer will always be friends. He doesn’t want to overstay his welcome like Patrick did.

“You’re welcome to bunk with us as long as you like,” says Jack, “Why don’t you just bring that tape inside and I’ll mix my hot-hot jalapeno dip and we’ll have a party.” Jack dances out.

“Well,” says Jennifer, “that was...”

“...strange,” says Frankie.

Jennifer says, “I have no idea what’s going on with him. I know something is wrong with him.”

Jack says to himself, “I’m not gonna be around much longer. the more I think about it Frankie is perfect.”

Flash forward. Jennifer can’t believe Jack is gone. Frankie tells her she has to go on for the kid’s sake. Frankie told Patrick to leave and never come back. Jennifer hugs Frankie, “I miss him so much.”

“I’ll take care of you,” says Frankie, “until you and Jack meet again in heaven.”

Back to reality.* “It’s the only way,” says Jack.

Rex says before Jan fell Mimi and Jan looked very angry.

“I told you,” says Mimi, “She wanted to break us up.”

Rex says, “It doesn’t make sense.** I’ve gotta know, Mimi, was Jan holding something over your head? Maybe a secret you don’t want me to know?”

“Marlena is critical,” says Lexie, “There is bleeding and head trauma. We’re doing everything we can.”

“Lexie, do more,” begs Sami.

“I wish I had better news,” says Lexie.

John wants to see Marlena. Lexie says, “Give us a few more minutes.”

“Why did this have to happen,” cries Sami. She turns to Roman, “She was going to have your baby. We could have been a family again.”

Phillip tells Kate she should be with Roman.

“He doesn’t need me right now,” says Kate, “I’ll be in the cafeteria.”

Belle comes up. “I have to be strong for my mom and dad,” she says. Belle goes over and comforts John, “Mom will be OK.” He hugs her and the pain comes. Forget the pain, she’s gong to go call Brady.

Roman, Sami and John ask to see Marlena. Lexie says she is still unconscious, but hearing familiar voices might help. Lexie tells John he can come in first.

This upsets Sami, “The last person she will want to see is John.”

Roman tells her to cool it, “There is enough blame to go around.”

“Lexie thinks you may be able to hear me,” says John, “Just know we need you back. You fight like hell to come back to us.”

Marlena opens her eyes, “John? The baby?” John stares.

Jennifer and Frankie look at a yearbook. Jack comes in with the food, “Let’s play truth or dare. If you lose, you have to try my jalapeno sauce. Truth or dare?”

“Truth,” says Frankie.

“What is your idea of the perfect woman,” asks Jack.

Frankie rattles off his qualifications, “Intelligent, kind, great sense of humor, good mother, good wife and has to put up with me.”

Jack says, “You’re looking for the all around perfect woman... Jennifer.”

Frankie takes a bite of the hot sauce and pours a pitcher of water down his throat, “You’re next, buddy. Truth or dare?”

“Truth.”

“Where do you see yourself in five years,” asks Frankie.

“That’s easy,” says Jack, “Heaven.”

Jennifer reacts, “What?”

“I mean,” says Jack, “I’ll be here with you and that’s heaven.”

Jennifer announces, “I am exercising my prerogative as hostess. We are changing the game to one I will always win.”

Marlena wants to know why no one will tell her about the baby.

John gives it to her straight, “The baby didn’t make it. You miscarried when you fell down the stairs.”

“NOOOOOOOOOOOO,” cries Marlena.

“I wanna know, Mimi,” says Rex, “What a re you keeping from me?”

Phillip wheels up and drops the news about the miscarriage. Rex and Mimi run off. He wheels up to Kate, “Are you sure you’re OK.”

Kate says, “I know Roman’s hurt. I wish I could help him.”

“This can’t be easy for him,” says Phillip.

Kate says, “Keeping it secret was the worst part. When did they think they were going to tell us? This whole situation is so difficult. I know John is hurt too. It’s going to be hard to get our lives back. I know this sounds terrible, but things probably would have been worse if Marlena hadn’t lost the baby.”

“So the truth++ is out,” sneers Sami, “Now my dad is going to know how evil you are.”

“Watch your mouth, Sami,” says Phillip.

“Now it’s payback time,” says Sami, “I have the truth++ on my side.”

Phillip tells her to go away.

Sami won’t let up, “I know you are guilty and now you will get what you deserve.”

Roman comes up and says, “Didn’t I tell you to stay away from Kate?”

Kate says, “I agree completely, Sami. Leave.”

Sami wails, “Not until you tell dad what you just said. If you won’t, maybe I should. She just told Phillip she’s glad Marlena lost the baby. She has no conscience. She is evil. Tell her you want a divorce and never want to see her again.”

John tells Marlena, “Belle and I are here with you. We’re thankful you will be OK.”

Marlena is in a trance. Postpartum statuation.

Lexie comes up. She sends Belle and John outside.

As they leave, Lexie yells, “Code blue! We’re losing her!”

Belle faints into Shawn’s arms as Phillip watches. Shawn yells, “What’s wrong, Belle? Open your eyes.”

Jack, Jennifer and Frankie play scrabble. Jennifer likes it because she likes to dazzle people with her word tricks. They argue about words like re-reiterate.

Jack has a flash-forward. Frankie and Jennifer play scrabble in front of a picture of Jack. Frankie says, “Do you remember that night we were playing and Jack was giving you a hard time about making up words? He was the love of your life.”

Jennifer says, “I’ll never be able to love a man the way I loved Jack, but I do love you. He was right about you. You are so great with Jack junior and his soccer team and the championships.”

“I’m just trying to be a good stepfather,” says Frankie.

Jack walks into the room in his angel-consume and watches. His picture winks at him.

“I think Jack is in heaven right now watching us,” says Jennifer.

Back to reality.* The game is a tie. Jennifer and Frankie 122, Jack 108. Frankie didn’t mean to ruin Jennifer's winning streak. Jack decides to celebrate the two champions. He’ll be right back.

“Belle was only unconscious a few seconds,” announces Lexie. Actually, with Belle it’s hard to tell the difference between conscious and unconscious. “Marlena was in cardiac arrest. Unfortunately her injuries ware more serious than we thought. I’ve called in two specialists.”

Phillip asks about Belle.

“She is stable,” says Lexie, “I’ll call the lab and put a rush on her test results. We can’t expect them instantly, it’s not like they’re DNA tests, you know.”

Phillip and Shawn go in to see Belle. Phillip feels responsible. “And I haven’t made things better,” says Shawn.

“What does that mean,” asks Phillip.

“Mom needs us,” yells Sami, “Don’t tell me you’re going to stay with Kate after this.”

“Kate and I gotta talk,” says Roman.

Sami rants, “The way you screwed with my life, Kate, I’m not butting out of yours. Didn’t you hear her, Dad? She’s glad Marlena lost her baby.” Rex comes running up with the cardiac arrest announcement. Sami and Roman run off.

“If you come back I will find a way to make this all work out,” says John. Marlena has turned to stone.

Belle wants someone to let Mimi know, “I’m gonna live.”

“We have a long happy+ life to live,” says Phillip.

Phillip leaves. Mimi comes in. Belle asks about her mom. “She has to be OK,” insists Mimi.”

Belle says, “Her losing this baby... you’re thinking about your own baby aren’t you?”

Mimi says, “Why did I do it? God is punishing me. Rex knows I’m keeping something from him.”

“You have to tell him,” says Belle, “The longer you wait the worse it gets.”

Mimi says, “I hear you, I’m just scared to lose him. Can we talk about this later?”

Belle shouts into a megaphone, “No, Rex deserves to know you were pregnant with his baby. You need to tell him now.”

Rex staggers into the room. He has heard it all.

“Stop it, Mimi,” says Belle, “Thank God he finally knows the truth++.”

Rex walks out. Mimi says, “How could you do this to me? Damn you Belle!” Mimi runs off.

Jack comes down dressed as a cowpoke, “HOWDY MA’AM! What are you looking at?”

“You.”

“Here, wear this.” He tosses clothes at them, “Let’s go paint this little cow town red.”

Shawn comes in to see Belle. She says, “Rex overheard me talking to Mimi about her baby. I didn’t mean for him to hear.”

“Things will be OK,” says Shawn, “Then you will be able to tell Phillip the truth++ about us.”

“I dream about that all the time. Isn’t that awful. I want my future to be with you. I’ve made such a mess of my life,” says Belle.

Mimi chases Rex down. Rex says, “Mimi, how could you lie to me. When did this pregnancy occur?”

Mimi whines, “I never meant for you to find out like this.”

Rex screams at her, “I’ve had a million questions for you and you never were going to tell me, were you? WERE YOU?” Poor Mimi. Four Time loser: Ex-con; Alleged baby-killer; Liar; And, unfortunately, not the brightest bulb on the tree. Great whiner, though.

Roman and Sami walk in. Roman asks, “How’s she doing John.”

“The same,” spits John.

Sami begs Marlena to wake up.

Marlena’s eyes pop open.

“It ‘s a miracle!” Sami smiles.

“Come on buckaroos, shake a leg,” says Jack, “Alice’s is having a dance contest. First prize a new car. Grab your partner don't let go, you’re as hot as a jalapeno-oooooooooo.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” says Mimi, “I tried to talk to you about it. You kept saying you wanted kids someday.”

Rex stammers, “No... Mimi... you didn’t...”

Mimi says, “I shouldn’t’ have...”

Rex gasps, “You had an abortion!”

“Yes.”

Belle and Shawn hug. Belle says, “Mimi may never speak to me again. I still think I did the right thing. Keeping Rex in the dark was torturing her.”

“I love you,” says Shawn, “Just promise me you won’t let anything else come between us.”

“I promise,” says Belle, “I’ve been doing some thinking over the last couple days. I’m gonna stay with Phillip for now until he gets better. When he is strong enough, I’m gonna tell him the truth. Once he knows how we really feel about each other he’ll give me an annulment and we can be together for all the Days Of Our Lives.” Smooch.

A doctor looks at Belle’s chart, “I think we have a reason why she fainted. She’s pregnant. Her mother lost her baby but Belle and Phillip are going to have one.”

Phillip says, “Losing my leg is the worst thing that’s happened to me. But I’m going to spend the rest of my life with Belle.”

Kate is distant, “Could you excuse me for a minute.” She goes into Marlena’s room.

Sami tells Marlena, “You’re going to be OK now. Mom, say something! Mom? Can’t you speak?”

“Marlena,” asks Lexie, “How are you feeling?”

The shell of a person that was once Marlena asks, “What are you all doing here? Who are you?” FF.


Previews
========

Sami lectures Kate, “You did everything you could to come between them. Just like you set me up, so you could ruin my chance at happiness...” Lucas breaks it up, “Sami, stop it! That’s enough!”

Belle says, “Mom, it’s me – Belle, your daughter.” Marlena says, “I’m sorry, I don’t seem to know you.”

“Is there really something wrong with you,” asks Billie. “I’m dying,” says Jack, “and I don’t have much time left.”

Rex whimpers, “It’s over, Mimi, I’m leaving Salem.” Mimi screams, “NOOOOOO!”

*Reality – as close an approximation as we can get to reality in Salem.

**Sense - as close an approximation as we can get to something making sense in Salem.

+Happy – as close an approximation as we can get to happiness in Salem.

++Truth - as close...