Pipsqueak

Prevuze fully supports the efforts of the brothers and sisters of the Writers' Guild in their fight against oppression. We openly condemn the efforts to restrict writers' God-given rights to pump sewage, filth and muck into viewer's minds while sipping Perrier in their Hollywood cabanas. How dare viewers demand quality, consistency and intelligence in programming! Television is the opiate of the people!

OK. The Prevuze part of the strike is over. Now, let's have some fun.

Kate pays Phillip a visit. Phillip, it seems, has finally returned to his office. It must be "Bring Your SELF To Work Day" in Salem. "Work," he says, "Really piled up while I was gone. It's amazing how much you miss in a year."

Kate asks if he regrets giving Tyler up. Phillip thinks it's the right thing to do. And Belle has told him to stop coming around. Kate says he had to know that would happen. "They are staying together out of guilt," says Phillip, "The man she loves is me."

Shawn waits for a reaction from Bo and Hope. Crickets chirp in the background. Finally, we learn Bo and Hope just can't contain their enthusiasm. Bo hugs Belle without touching her. He invites Shawn downstairs for a father-son drink, leaving Belle and Hope to share their discomfort. Belle tells Hope this was all Shawn's idea, "If I had said no, he would have asked why."

"That's what lies do," says Hope, "They grow."

Sami wants more time. EJ turns up the heat. Lucas plays the part of the gadfly. "In 36 hours we will be husband and wife," says EJ.

Shawn wants to know what's up, "If this is a facts-of-life speech, you're way late." Bo wonders if this is the best time to get married. Shawn wonders how this would not be best for everybody, "This might not be the best time, but if we don't do it now, we may never do it." Bo stammers. He just wants to know this is what Shawn really wants.

"Belle is as committed to me as I am to her. If Willow were alive, she'd back me up on that," says Shawn. Bo says he wants Shawn to see the big picture. He points to the wall where we see a big picture of Belle and Phillip romping. Shawn asks, "Why don't you just come out and tell me what is on your mind?"

Belle vows it will never happen again. "I won't lecture you," lectures Hope, "But if you are marrying him out of guilt..."

Belle interrupts, "That's not it. I'll make him happier than anyone else ever could."

Hope says, "In spite of the fact that tells me he will have a dreadful life, that's exactly why we've decided not to tell him."

Belle gasps, "Bo Knows?" This would be an excellent place to put in a Bo Jackson reference except for one small problem... nobody remembers who the heck that flash in the pan was.

"Keeping secrets destroys marriages," says Hope, "I said I wouldn't tell Shawn. Bo knows people make mistakes because he's been married to me for a long time. What counts is what you do afterward."

Kate wants to know what's going on. She wonders how Phillip can be sure he's the man Belle loves. "Nothing happened," he claims, "At least not yet. We had sex, but sex with Belle doesn't amount to much."

Kate says it had better stay that way. She thinks Phillip needs to be reminded Belle is with Shawn. "When we are together," says Phillip, "it adds up to something special – three faces, three legs and the combined IQ of a sand flea. The only reason she wants Shawn is he is Claire's biological father."

Kate tells him to back off, "If you love her as much as you say you do, then you have to let her go."

"You mean like you did when they were together before," asks Phillip, "Or like you let go of Lucas to let him be with Sami." A shrill whistle blows. A yellow flag flies. A referee runs out and gives Phillip a double "unsportsmanlike conduct" penalty.

Lucas gives EJ the third degree. He wonders if EJ will be making the decisions for Sami in the marriage, just like his unilateral decision to get married tomorrow. EJ reminds Lucas he's marrying Sami on her terms and doesn't see how that makes him a bad guy. Sami insists this isn't enough time. EJ says they don't have time, "Father has taken a turn for the worse. It has to be tomorrow. We don't have a choice."

Kate insists the thing with Sami and Lucas is different, "Sami destroyed Austin's life."

Phillip drones, "She loves him mom."

"Yes," says Kate, "She probably does love EJ."

"You know I meant Lucas," says Phillip, "So it's OK for you to interfere in Sami and Lucas' life, but not OK for me to interfere with Shawn and Belle."

"You're becoming an important executive and a powerful man," says Kate, "You shouldn't be caught in the arms of another man's wife."

Phillip disagrees, "Belle isn't Shawn's wife and I intend to make sure she never will be."

"I'm sure Shawn will always be grateful if you can pull that off," says Kate.

Belle is sure she wants to be Shawn's wife, "I've known that since I had a high school crush on him. Last week. Phillip has to accept it. I will never betray Shawn again." Hope wants her word. Belle promises.

"I'll never forget this," says Belle, "Even though remembering anything is a challenge for me. What about Bo? Do you think he will keep my secret?"

"He'll do whatever is best for his son," says Hope.

Bo beats around the bush, "I'm not beating around the bush. This just isn't the time to get married." Shawn asks if this has something to do with Belle. Bo chokes on his beer, "It has something to do with both of you. You've both been married before and it didn't work out."

"That's because we are meant to be with each other," says Shawn, "What are you not telling me?"

Lucas tells Sami she doesn't have to do this. EJ says Stefano will be unhappy if they postpone the wedding. Sami says, "Lucas, my stepfather is still dead. As far as I know, that is. The Brady's have been terrorized for decades, but the vendetta will end tomorrow night for good."

Lucas steams. He decides to leave them so they can plan the wedding, and stomps out.

"I'm sorry," says EJ.

Sami strikes like a rattlesnake, "You're not sorry about anything."

"This is a new beginning," says EJ, "for us and our family. Speaking of which, get me my son, Samantha, now!"

Lucas is with Stefano. Stefano tells him this wedding ends the feud, so Lucas' sacrifice isn't in vain. Lucas says he doesn't believe anything Stefano says, "And I can't believe how you sacrificed my mother."

"What's that supposed to mean," asks Stefano.

"You sent your goons to kill her."

Stefano denies it all, "If I wanted somebody dead, they would be."

Lucas asks, "But for how long?"

Stefano asks where the alleged attack happened. Lucas tells him to go to hell and storms out. "At least you didn't sucker-punch me," says Stefano, Someone should teach you some manners, you little pipsqueak."

Kate and Phillip argue. Kate finally tells him about Sami and Lucas' divorce, "And now she will marry EJ."

Phillip says, "You finally got what you were after. You earned the victory and made me realize there is hope for me yet."

Shawn presses. Bo swills his beer, "I think Belle will make a great wife... not to mention a great fence post."

Shawn toasts, "To my future bride to be. The next in a long line of great Brady women."

Hope and Belle keep it up. Belle worries Bo will tattle. Hope tells her there is not guarantee he won't. The guys come back. Belle tries to be cheerful and asks what took so long.

"You'll get sick if you drink three pitchers of beer too quick," says Shawn, "Besides, it took Dad a while to say what he had to say. And it took me longer to understand it. But, in the end, he gave us his blessing." Hope perks up and smooches Bo. We share hugs all around as Hope and Bo have a staredown.

Sami brings little Johnny D out to EJ. EJ beams. Sami would rather he didn't hold him. EJ grovels. Sami has him sit down and hands the kid over, "This is it, EJ. From this moment on nothing will ever be the same. His needs have to come first, before yours and mine and Stefano's." EJ agrees. Johnny D coos.

"What he needs right now," says Sami, "is to be with his sister."

"OK," says EJ, "He can stay tonight, but tomorrow the three of us start our lives together. We will live happily for all the Days Of Our Lives."

Lucas is really making the rounds today. He busts into Phillip's office. He tells Kate Stefano said he had nothing to do with the attack on Kate, "And I believe him because neither of us is a Brady."

"John wasn't a Brady," says Kate.

"He was an honorary Brady," says Lucas, "This has your and EJ's name written all over it."

Kate asks, "What do you think, I did it myself, and cut my own forehead?"

"You made it up so I would go ahead with the divorce," says Lucas.

"That hurts me," says Kate. Lucas takes out his cell phone and calls EJ. EJ answers. "Awright, EJ," booms Lucas, "my mother has just admitted you faked the attack on her."

EJ snorts, "It was her idea."

"That's all I needed to know," says Lucas. He hangs up.

Kate realizes she has just been hornswaggled, "If you're gonna take his word..."

Lucas goes off the scale, "You did it again! You betrayed me!"

Lucas rants. Kate backpedals. She claims she was scared. None of them are safe until Sami marries EJ. She wants the vendetta to end. Lucas thinks the vendetta was a godsend to her. It allowed her to break up his marriage.

STOP THE PRESSES! LUCAS DISOWNS KATE!

EJ can see little Johnny D is special. Sami wants to know why Lucas called, "I heard you say, 'It was her idea.' Who were you talking about?"

"You'll have to ask Lucas," says EJ, "It's a shame he doesn't understand what we are doing."

"You mean what we are forced to do."

EJ assures her they will be happy together. He thinks what she finds out may surprise her. He says he will see her tomorrow night and leaves. Sami sighs, "God, this isn't what I wanted."

"Try watching it," says God, "It's so boring it's making me regret ever saying, 'Let there be light.'"

Colleen pays Sami a visit, "Don' be tellin' lies to y'rself, Samantha. Yer gettin' what ya wanted, as we both know."

Bo and Hope come downstairs and sit at a booth in the pub. "I know Belle knows I know and I know she knows I know she knows I know," says Bo.

"I know you both know," says Hope, "I'm not sure why Shawn is doing this, but I laid down the law to Belle. She says she won't do it again."

"Do you believe her," asks Bo.

I think she believes it. And I think she thinks I think she thinks she believes it." They both hope they are doing the right thing. I think they think they are doing the right thing and I know they know I think they think they are doing the right thing...

Shawn and Belle hug. Belle pries about the conversation he had with Bo. Shawn tells her and says, "On Thanksgiving I'll be giving thanks for the best thing that ever happened to me. If the Lions win."

Sami claims all she feels for EJ is disgust. Colleen says if that's the case, there is nothing that would make her marry him, "A stone isn't a potato na matter how ya cook it."

"A potato is a stone if I cook it," says Sami, "Are you lecturing me? You're the reason for the vendetta."

"And it's fitting you should end it the right way."

"What was so special about Santo," says Sami.

"The same things ya see in his grandson," says Colleen, "Danger. Desire like nothin' ya have e'er known. Freedom ta be the woman I was – not what athers wanted me ta be."

"That's not how it is for me," says Sami.

"I think t'is," says Colleen, "We are alike. Look in the meerror and inside yerself to see the man you desire the most."

EJ tells Stefano the wedding is set to go. They talk about his grandson. EJ says he's perfect. He tells Stefano he left him for one more night with Sami. Stefano is not certain that is best. EJ doesn't want to take him to Italy, "I can't do that to Samantha."

"What bout my grandson," asks Stefano, "All he can learn from the Bradys is buffoonery and weakness."

"Lucas isn't a Brady," says EJ.

Phillip reaches for the phone and hesitates.

Belle and Shawn smooch. "You smell like beer," says Belle, "That certainly is an improvement."

Shawn chuckles, "And you hate beer."

"I think I've just learned to love it," says Belle. Shawn wants this to be perfect. He runs into the bathroom and brushes his teeth while Belle sits and contemplates her sin. Her cell phone interrupts the fantasy. She sees it's Phillip and snaps, "What do you want?"

"I need to see you to talk," says Phillip, "Someplace public. I can't stop thanking about you." Belle tells him about the Thanksgiving wedding plans. Shawn comes out and Belle claims it was a wrong number. Shawn says that's good because he doesn't want any distractions. Belle is distracted.

Phillip stares out the window and seethes.

Lucas rushes up to Bo and Hope, and tells them about the wedding. He wants to stop Sami. Bo and Hope wonder how they can pull that off. "Just tell me you will be there," says Lucas, "I need all the Bradys there for an intervention."

Sami protests. She claims she doesn't feel anything for EJ. Colleen says she will know the truth soon enough. Sami has a meltdown, "SHUT UP AND LEAVE ME ALONE!" Colleen dematerializes. Sami huffs.

EJ insists he and Sami will raise the child together, but the boy will be a DiMera through and through. Stefano can't wait to get back to Toscana, "Santo would be proud of you. I'm proud of you. You have given your grandfather's soul the rest he deserves. Your work is not done. The future of this family is in your hands and Little Johnny D's hands, too. Don't forget that – no matter what."


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