The Black Veil Of Despair

Phillip and Belle are home with Claire. Phillip is taking pictures and giving the kid the history of the place, "This is where Mommy's daddy used to live and where Uncle Brady used to live." Phillip has bought some supplies for the kid, including diapers, a new bassinet and other things. He tells Belle he hopes she likes them because he didn't know what he was doing. As if Belle does. Belle is going to go to a "Mommy and Me" class where she can make new friends, because she's dumping her old ones like yesterday's trash. "Billions of babies have been born," says Phillip, "but this one's ours. It's the most amazing thing ever." Belle breaks down and cries. Oh, it's so good to have the old Belle back.

Shawn has a bottle of wine Maggie gave him for a special occasion. This is it.

Marlena's music box music plays. She is feeling sorry for John. Alex says she has been forthright with him and really done him a favor. But Marlena thinks she hurt him when she asked him to move out. "You'll be much better off without him," says Alex.

John tells Kate, "I appreciate you inviting me up here but after what happened tonight I don't think I'd be very good company, so maybe I should just get a room somewhere…"

"Would you stop it," says Kate, "That's crazy. You're going to stay with me."

"So tragic," says Frankie, "The only thing which would have been worse is if she found out after Jack was gone he knew he was dying and didn't tell her." No, it would be even more tragic than that if this plot goes on much longer. Let's have that miracle cure and move on. "I've been telling him for weeks to tell her the truth."

"You mean you knew," gasps Lexie, "And you didn't tell Jennifer?" Frankie stares.

Jennifer begs Jack not to give up. Jack says they need to accept this. Jennifer protests but no, Jack is bound and determined to die and that's all there is to it, "You won't accept this and that is exactly why I didn't want to tell you."

Marlena asks Alex if he thinks she would be better off without John in her life forever. "You are the one who asked for the divorce," says Alex, "John is very controlling and you have been desperate for quite some time to get him out of your life. I think that might even be a contributing factor to your memory loss."

"But John wants me to remember our life because he loves me," says Marlena.

"Humpf," says Alex, "Maybe subconsciously you don't want to return to that life you shared with him."

"But how will I know until I remember? People keep telling me how wonderful our life was."

"I know what John wants you to believe," says Alex, "but if your marriage was so happy, ask yourself this: why did you sleep with your ex-husband?" Ouch.

"I don't know."

"And why," says Alex, "when he thought you were dead, was he so quick to pick up with your friend Kate Roberts?" Double ouch.

John says, "Since I'm not giving up on my marriage, I don't think it would be a good idea if..."

"John... John," interrupts Kate, "My suite has a guest bedroom. And I'm getting so tired of sitting here looking at these four blank walls wondering if I have a friend in the world."

"Kate, you know that isn't true."

"Oh," says Kate, "You mean I don't have an ex-husband who's not speaking to me, a son who's not speaking to me, a grandson who's not speaking to me, and another son who..."

"Austin didn't try to hurt you intentionally," says John.

"I know that," says Kate, "But Sami ruined his life and I can't understand why he would be defending her."

"Listen," says John, "I'm not making excuses for Sami, but somewhere in that girl is the sweet little thing I raised..." Kate doesn't want to hear it AT ALL. John suggest they just concentrate on positive things. "Austin is back and Billie found her daughter. It's good. It's all good, right?" Just peachy.

"Chelsea is a hellion, but she has potential." Kate offers John a drink.

"Hey," says John, "How about that new baby granddaughter of ours, huh?"

"She is beautiful," says Kate, "You know, when Phillip lost his leg I thought things would be terrible for him, but he has gained so much and is so happy. I'm proud of him, and I'm proud of Belle."

"Me too."

"It seems like a lifetime ago," says Kate, "but it really was just such a short time we thought Roman and Marlena were dead and we were planning our future."

"I blame myself for your marriage falling apart," says John, "and mine for that matter."

"Why would you say that," asks Kate, "Marlena came back pregnant with Roman's baby."

"And my proposing to you... I think we both knew Roman and Marlena didn't feel the same way about their marriages when they came back and saw my engagement ring on your finger," says John.

"Frankie," says Lexie, "I was bound by the Hippocratic oath, but why wouldn't you tell Jennifer?"

"He made me promise," says Frankie, "But now that she knows, she can be there for him. You wanna hear something really crazy? The only reason he told me is after he is gone, he wants me to marry Jen and be a father to his kids."

"How do you expect me to act," asks Jennifer, "I just found out my husband is going through one of the most terrible things he can face and he didn't even trust me enough to tell me."

"No." Yes.

"You did that before when Abby was sick. You never even gave us a chance to say goodbye. You just left Salem."

"No," says Jack, "It's not the same at all."

Jennifer says, "I grieved for you – twice. I thought you were never coming back again – twice. Everything about our life is a miracle. So tell me, how can you give up?"

"You and I are journalists," says Jack, "And journalists deal in facts. I am dying. That is a fact. I'm not afraid of dying. I am afraid of living and having you and our kids watch me die a slow, withering death."

"You don't have to worry about that, Jack. We are not going to let that happen," says Jennifer.

Phillip wants to know what is wrong. Belle tells him, "I just love her so much."

"So these are happy tears," he asks. No such luck, soldier.

"Everything-sob-just-blubber-seems-bawl-so-wail-intense-whimper-right-weep-now."

"See, look," says Phillip, "She's asleep already. You must have the magic touch." No, it's just a boring show. "You look a little tired yourself and maybe hungry, you wanna sit down?"

"Yeah," whines Belle, "You, too. Are you OK?" Always thinking of others, isn't she?

They decide to order Chinese. Belle doesn't want to get something that wouldn't be good for the baby. She doesn't want to be up with her all night. Phillip says, "I've thought about that. Whenever you're ready to pump, I want to help with that." The pumping, not the feeding. In the meantime, Phillip wants to get up with her so they can both be miserable.

"What did I do to deserve you two," asks Belle.

"I ask myself the same thing every day," says Phillip.

Mimi asks Shawn if this is really a special occasion. He can't ever remember her cooking before, so he declares it to be one. Besides, the wine will numb their taste buds. Shawn compliments her hair and goes to clean up. Mimi goes back to her cooking and we all anticipate the impending disaster.

Bonnie calls. Mimi gives her the play-by-play so far. She hasn't burned the dinner yet; Shawn brought her a rose, "Hey, that doesn't mean he's cheap. I don't need two-dozen roses. Besides, I still can't believe you keep a branding iron and a rope in your car... No, I don't want you to bring them over here for me to use on Shawn."

Alex tells Marlena, "You were unfaithful to your husband. He was unfaithful to you." A referee behind them throws the flag and gives Alex 15 yards for piling on. "That doesn’t seem like the perfect recipe for marriage to me. John is only thinking about himself. The more you were around him the more you wanted him to leave, didn't you?"

"I guess so," says Marlena, "You really are the only person I can trust, aren't you? I know you won't lie to me or hurt me."

"That's right," says Alex, "And as long as you trust me, I will do everything in my power to ensure your happiness."

"Do you think I will ever get my memory back?"

"You are a strong, intelligent and vital woman. Even if you don't get your memory back, you will still have a full and happy life. Your whole future is in front of you." And your past is behind you. "There are so many people out there who would jump at the opportunity to wipe the slate clean and start over. Maybe you'll be one of those lucky few who gets a chance to do that."

Kate says it's gallant of John to try to take the blame for what happened between her and Roman, "Our marriage was doomed from the start." Whenever the groom dies on his wedding night, the marriage usually doesn't get off to a great start. Kate underestimated Roman's love for Marlena.

"The fact is," says John, "Marlena would be married to Roman this very day if it weren't for the DiMeras. If Tony hadn't shown them that video tape of the two of us, I don't think they would have gotten together the way they did."

"No," says Kate, "but they did. Roman still loves Marlena. I also misjudged a parent's ability to overlook a child's love."

"Oh," says John, "So we're back to talking about Sami?"

Bingo. "The truth is," says Kate, "Roman loves Sami more than he does me. The truth is I love my children too much to put Sami above them... So, is Dr. North still at the penthouse?"

"Yeah."

"It's your house."

"North keeps telling her I'm pushing too hard, so when she asked me to leave I wasn't in a position to do anything else." Kate suggests John move in and they will team up and come up with a plan.

Phillip comes back with the food. Belle thinks it smells weird. Phillip says the smell is coming from across the hall. "Somethin's cooking over there, I'm telling you." Wink-wink.

"No,," says Mimi, "I don't think handcuffs would work either. Handcuffs don't have the best association for either one of us. OMG! The dinner is burning! Thanks a lot, Mom!" The smoke detector goes off.

Belle and Phillip hear the smoke alarm beeping. Phillip goes into action.

Jack tells Jennifer he has gotten used to the fact he is dying. He says Jennifer is in denial. Jennifer runs through the litany of all the times Jack has beaten death, "You never give up on anything – ever."

Jack doesn't want to waste any more time, "We all should live our lives as if today was our last day. The fact is, my last day is coming a hell of a lot sooner than we thought."

Crisis at Shawn and Mimi's apartment. Phillip assists. Everyone survived. Except for the dinner. Shawn comes out, "Oh, burned macaroni and cheese, my favorite." Phillip tells them they have enough Chinese to feed the entire building, so he invites them over. Phillip leaves. Mimi tells Shawn to go by himself because she doesn't think she can handle it right now.

Phillip returns and fills Belle in. "Daddy's home," says Belle, "Everything's going to be OK now."

Phillip fesses up, "I... invited Shawn and Mimi over for dinner." A lead balloon comes crashing down.

"It's OK," says Belle, "That was really nice of you." Translation: May you burn in Hell.

The black veil of despair descends upon Belle. Phillip asks what is wrong. "It's hitting home," says Belle, "Now that the baby is home, nothing is ever going to be the same again."

"No," says Phillip, "It's going to get better. Every day."

"It's beautiful," says Marlena.

"You certainly are," says Alex.

John asks Kate what people would think if he moved in with her. Kate tells him, "In my experience, people think the worst, regardless." That's because with you, Kate, it's usually true.

"That's a fact. I'll think about it long and hard," says John. He looks out the window, "Whoa! I had no idea you could see the penthouse from here." You couldn't, until today.

Frankie tells Lexie he was stunned and angry Jack put him in such an untenable position, but then he realized he still had the hots for Jennifer. "It's killing me to see them go through this." It's a tough job, but somebody has to do it.

Jack tells Jennifer their lives have been rich. There isn't much he really wants to do before dying. Maybe sky diving. A little accident now wouldn't mean so much. "What I want more than anything is just to enjoy my time with you. I don't want you to even think of the time I won't be here any more."

"I can do that," says Jennifer, "Actually, it won't be hard at all."

Every time Mimi looks at Claire, it's just another reminder she won't have a child of her own. Shawn reminds her, "If, God forbid, anything should ever happen to Belle and Phillip, that child will be our responsibility."

"Well," says Mimi, "When you put it that way, this may be the closest I ever come to having a child of my own."

"Don't say that," says Shawn."

"As long as you're there to support me," says Mimi, "I guess I can do it."

"OK," says Shawn, "So... Dinner across the hall?"

They go over to Phillip and Belle's apartment. Shawn provides the wine. Belle provides the whine. Everyone admires the kid. Claire pulls Shawn's finger. Shawn passes gas.

Marlena asks Alex, "Did you just call me beautiful?"

"Yes I did ," says Alex, "You are beautiful. Both inside and out. You're caring, intelligent, perceptive and vital."

Marlena giggles, "Too many compliments. I don't deserve that."

"Yes you do," says Alex, "Now where was I? You're compassionate, you're loving..."

"Giggle, giggle."

"All right," says Alex, "I'll stop. But on one condition."

Kate says, "I never realized you could see the penthouse from here. But they tore down the old Madison Hotel..."

John thinks he can see Alex and Marlena, "I wonder what they are up to."

Kate says, "I'm sure I have a pair of binoculars around here somewhere."

Phillip toasts, "To good friends, loving relationships and beautiful, healthy children." Belle dives into despair.

John watches Marlena and Alex, "I don't believe it."

"Dancing with you ," says Marlena, "Is not very difficult."

Alex says, "I hope you are not finding this too uncomfortable."

No, but Peeping John does, "What the hell is North up to?"

"I know you're probably already thinking this, but it's pretty obvious Dr. North wants Marlena for himself," says Kate. YA THINK? "He probably thinks no one is going to stop him from getting what he wants."

Frankie asks Lexie, "Why do you think it's been so many years since I've visited my family." Who would want to visit that bunch?

"Frankie," asks Lexie, "Why did you come back now."

"My brother Max was here," says Frankie, "At least that's the excuse I gave myself. I'll be honest. I wanted to see her. She's the best friend I've ever had. I knew she was madly in love with Jack. I just had to see it for myself to put it behind me. Now, everything's changed. I'm glad she knows – for her sake and Jack's. All I can do now is support them any way I can."

Jack asks, "It wont be hard to forget that I'm dying?"

Jennifer says, "No. It won't be. Because it isn't going to happen. You aren't. Jack, I know in my heart this isn't real." This is Salem, nothing is.


Previews
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Chelsea kisses a guy. A couple of girls wonder, "Wow, how much did she have to pay for that?"

"You aren't going to die," says Jennifer, "I won't let you, Jack."

Victor asks Kate, "How long has Lucas been working at Alice's?" Kate says, "Damn, Sami. I'm not gonna let her drive him back to the bottle."

Sami gives Nicole the bum's rush, "What do you want?" Nicole says, "Austin."