A Bad, Bad Girl

We pan up from a picture of Ford on a poster. Chelsea, Nick, Stephanie and Cordy sit at a table and try to figure new and more irresponsible ways to get back at him. Cordy and Stephanie tell about Ford showing up at Patch and Kayla's apartment making threats. They think he will keep it up since he's really mad about the flyers.

Chelsea defends passing out the flyers. She says they had to warn people. Nick says a guy like Ford will retaliate.

Cordy whines, "We put flyers up... we had to warn people..."

Chelsea interrupts, "No. These aren't enough. We have to give him ammunition for a really big defamation suit. He's never going to stop unless we stop him first."

Officer Ohanion talks to Bo about his irresponsible son, "Hey, Bo, you told me to treat him like everyone else." Ohanion turns and leaves. Shawn admits to ruining the footprint. Bo lectures, "You screwed up man, and when a cop screws up, he owns up." Shawn plays the bobblehead.

Marlena wanders around her place. She stokes the fire in her fireplace and zones. She flashes back to her conversation with Hope about Belle's "mistake." Belle calls from a distance and brings Marlena out of her stupor. Temporarily, that is. Hearing Belle, Marlena dives into another flashback. She finally gets up and goes to the door. Belle opens it and we have a full-blown hugfest. They establish that each is not OK. Marlena asks how married life is. Belle ignores the question and says she was worried about her when she didn't come to the reception.

"What did you expect," asks Marlena, "I was just the mother of the bride. So, really, how is married life?" Belle claims it's perfect. Marlena tells her it's OK if things aren't perfect. Marlena asks if Belle is really happy, "I'm trying to ask you if you're happy, or if you wish you'd married somebody else."

Belle faces a paradox, even though she doesn't realize what that is. The thing is, Belle is never happy unless she's unhappy. While she contemplates this, Marlena asks, "What about Phillip?"

"Been there, done that," says Belle.

"I know," says Marlena, "But have you done Phillip recently? " She dances around things and tries to get more from Belle.

Belle gasps, "Hope talked to you, didn't she. Does she not think you are dealing with enough right now?" Marlena digs deeper.

Shawn knows he made a mistake but thinks Officer Ohanion overreacted. Bo doesn't give a damn. He will understand if Ohanion wipes the floor with Shawn. Bo continues the lecture. Shawn continues being the bobblehead.

Cordy claims she just can't fight Decker anymore. She breaks down and Nick tells Chelsea to back off. Stephanie comforts Cordy but Cordy says everything comes back to her when she sees the flyers. Stephanie offers to take Cordy back to the sorority house. They leave.

Chelsea says she didn't mean to make things harder for Cordy. Nick changes the subject and asks if she has plans for tonight. "I'd like to do something private," says Chelsea.

Nick wants to hear more, "Private – you... or private – you and me?" Chelsea wants to include Nick. Nick likes what he hears.

"Of course it might be kind of illegal," says Chelsea, "I want to break into Ford Decker's room."

The sound of the lead balloon crashing startles everyone in the pub. Nick asks, "Are you serious?"

Chelsea says they have to stop Ford. Nick resists. Chelsea makes the case. She wants to get in and find evidence to take to Bo. Nick refuses to be a part of it.

Bo continues the lecture, "...And when someone chews you out, you gotta suck it up. You don't wanna ruin a good thing."

Belle thinks Hope has it in for her. Marlena asks, "Does Hope have any cause to... did you sleep with Phillip?"

Belle tries to be evasive, "Is that what she told you?"

Marlena sees through it, "You're not answering me."

Belle says, "She found me in the room right after Phillip left. It looked bad and Hope assumed the worst. Maybe Hope is lying."

"Hope isn't a liar."

"And I am?"

Marlena knows there is something Belle isn't saying. Belle tries to worm her way out of it. She says Hope accused her with no proof at all but promised she wouldn't say anything if Belle promised not to do it again.

"Do it again? So you did sleep with Phillip?"

"I just made that promise to get Hope to keep quiet."

"So you didn't sleep with Phillip?" Belle rambles. Marlena interrupts, "Stop right there, Belle. I really want to help you. I'm just sad and disappointed. I'm so glad you came. It's so good to see you. Let yourself out. I have some things to do."

Belle whines, "Mom, wait."

Chelsea says she can't do this without Nick. Nick suggests she not do it at all.

Chelsea says, "So... I Guess this is how you'll always be there for me."

"That was a cheap shot," says Nick, "I work for the university and if we get caught, I'll lose my job. I already lost my job at the lab trying to help you."

Chelsea apologizes and asks him to forget it, "I'll see you later."

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to stake out Ford's room and then break in." Chelsea runs out. Nick chases her.

Shawn says, "You know, I didn't get into the academy. If I would have, I would have learned how to work a crime scene. Then this wouldn't have happened. If Belle's letter hadn't ruined my chances... I mean Phillip's letter..."

Bo interrupts, "Shawn, who wrote that letter?"

Shawn hems and haws and then comes clean, "Belle. She's the reason I didn't get into the academy."

Belle pouts. Marlena asks again if there is something she has to say. Belle tells her it hurts her that Marlena doesn't believe her. Marlena says Hope doesn't jump to conclusions. She wants to help Belle, "You can talk to me. I am so on your side." Belle wonders what makes her so sure Hope is right and she is lying.

Marlena tells her Hope checked her messages, "Now there are only two people in Salem who don't know you were with Phillip the night before your wedding. Shawn and Jan Spears. And Jan is in a coma. Trust me!" Belle is a tower o' tears.

Outside, Nick catches up with Chelsea and insists he won't let her break in herself. "And how are you going to stop me," she asks.

"By appealing to your sense of reason." Even Nick realizes how ridiculous that sounded. Chelsea's sense of reason has long since left the building, "What if you get caught?"

"If I get caught you get all my CDs."

Nick does a 180, "If we're going to be there all night, we need sandwiches." Hugs.

Shawn and Bo argue about Belle's motives for writing the damning letter. Bo goes off the deep end but Shawn claims they are past it. "Tell me something," says Bo, "Do you trust Belle?"

Belle wails, "Phillip said this would happen! He said Hope and Bo would tell everyone."

Marlena tries again, "You did sleep with Phillip?"

Belle evades again, "How could Hope check my messages? I just needed a friend to talk to."

Marlena asks, "Do you want to save this marriage?"

"Yes."

"Then you've got a big decision to make," says Marlena, "You and Phillip as friends won't work. That can't happen. You can't be around each other. You have to give him up. You have to get him out of your mind."

Belle cries, "But if I get Phillip out of my mind, my brain cell will be so lonely."

Marlena insists, "You have to give him up forever."

Nick goes though his knapsack and takes inventory of the food they have for their night of crime. He wants to stop and pick up a throwaway camera so they can take pictures of the evidence, but won't have to take anything from the room. Chelsea says they can use her phone camera. "Maybe Bo could get a warrant based on the photos alone," says Nick. Chelsea plants a hot one on him.

Nick smiles, "How did such a good guy like me end up with such a bad, bad girl?"

Chelsea skips out of the pub, "Just lucky I guess."

Shawn thinks Bo isn't telling him something. He presses for more info. Bo just says either Belle has changed or he didn't know her at all in the first place. Shawn defends Belle and says he trusts her. Bo sighs, "I hope you're right."

Belle blubbers. She insists she has chosen Shawn, "Sometimes I just... I want Shawn to be Shawn but just be more confident. Or competent." Marlena recognizes a confused cookie when she sees one. She asks how Phillip makes her feel. "Different. Phillip is always in control. Shawn needs me. Phillip takes care of me. But I must admit, Shawn is a real stud."

"You mean he's good in bed," asks Marlena.

"No," says Belle, "I mean he has the IQ of a two-by-four."

"You can't have them both," says Marlena, "You can't have two men."

"WAH."

Roman interrupts Shawn and Bo. Shawn decides he wants to go apologize to detective Ohanion. Bo thinks that's a really bad idea. Roman tells Shawn OMB isn't feeling well so he should go tend bar. Shawn tramps through the crime scene on his way out.

Bo tells Roman if Shawn gets written up it might jeopardize his chances. Roman wants to talk to Ohanion and ask him to go easy on Shawn. Bo asks Roman to stay out of it, "Getting written up is part of the job. If word gets out that we are protecting Shawn, he'll never fit in with the guys. Tough love will do Shawn good. I know he has problems with authority..."

Roman jumps in, "Oh, and I wonder where he got that."

Ohanion interrupts, "I found some shell casings in the cabin."

Marlena tells Belle she knows all about being caught between two men. Or three... or... "We both lost John and that makes us both vulnerable and, of course, justifies slumming."

"I wish I had talked to you about this sooner," blubbers Belle.

Marlena asks, "You mean before you married Shawn?" Inquiring minds want to know.

"Just sooner."

Marlena tells her she has to honor her marriage and decide soon, "You are not a girl who sneaks around or cheats. Much. Make up your mind before you start to tear yourself apart." Too late.

Belle says she will, but asks Marlena not to say anything to Hope. Marlena says, "You just have to make your decision before you lose everything."

Nick and Chelsea sit in his car and watch Ford's apartment. They see the light go out. Chelsea asks how they will get in there. Nick points out a tree standing right outside his window, "That's our ticket in."

Bo looks at the casings Ohanion has gathered and put into a baggie, "I wish we could compare these casings to the one in EJ's spine." Roman reminds him EJ was shot with a bullet, not a casing. They wonder who might have known about this cabin. Roman figures Kate wouldn't touch a place like this with a ten-foot pole. Bo thinks it looks like it's a place kids might come to get some privacy.

Roman says, "I'll bet that mattress over in the corner could tell some stories."

Bo looks at the mattress with disgust, "I don't want to get near that mattress, let alone be entertained on it. I prefer to be entertained in a gas-filled pit, myself."

Belle comes into the pub and gooses Shawn. Shawn is distant. He tells Belle about fouling up the crime scene. "Nobody's perfect," says Belle. Shawn tells her he thinks Bo had something else he wanted to say to him, "I don't think he has faith in me anymore."

Belle feels guilty, "You would be in the academy if it weren't for me."

Shawn shrugs it off, "Everything is good as long as I've got you. You and Claire. Speaking of Claire, she's upstairs with Caroline. You could go up and say 'hi.'"

Belle thinks that's a good idea, but has to get something from her car first. Outside, she makes a call, "Phillip... if you can guarantee you can help Shawn's career I'll give you what you want... one night alone with me."


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