I'll Save A Bullet For You

Stephanie sleeps as dutifully vigilant Max lies in the other bed beside her leering. She dreams about her night of horror and wakes screaming, "Get off me! Get off me!" Max jumps out of his skin, goes over and assures her it's just a nightmare.

Hope and Kayla talk in the pub. Caroline has disappeared with Claire after saying something about a surprise in the kitchen. Ciara is out climbing the Andes. Hope can turn any conversation into an exercise in prying into someone's private life, "Speaking of kids, how did your appointment go with the fertility doctor?"

"It went great." Kayla smiles and follows up with a tongue move reminiscent of a garter snake with some sort of spastic tongue disorder. Definitely a replay moment. If Patch knew she could work her tongue like that they'd be out trying to have the kid right now.

She tells Hope Dr. Walters has a great success rate with older women. Hope assures her she isn't that old. In the meantime, the Guinness Book of World Records stands by in case she actually does have a baby. Kayla tells Hope now Steve has to go see the doctor and then it's a go, "He hasn't even tried to get out of it. I him to want the kid just as much as I do."

Roman tells Patch Abe wants an arrest and soon. Bo jumps in and tells him about Lucas being arrested, nearly murdered, yada, yada. They talk about the threats to Marlena and Claire. Roman tells him about Crystal. Bo tells him the building is rented to a dummy corporation and the owner is CB DiMera. They can't find a connection to Stefano. The judge has denied a search warrant for lack of probable cause.

Stefano comes into his study, "John, what are you doing?" John sits at Stefano's desk and smokes one of Stefano's finest Cubans. He also has a cigar going. Stefano is impatient. He wants him to study the dossier. John is silent. Stefano wants to know what is wrong.

John pauses to let the cigar smoke curl around him, "I wanna go out." Stefano shakes his head.

Marlena packs heat and remembers threatening Stefano. Belle is headed to pick up Claire. Hope is the last person Belle wants to see. Marlena wishes her luck. Belle nervously asks Marlena if she wants to accompany her, but Marlena says she has an appointment, "Keep the bodyguard close by."

Outside, the cop tells Belle he has to go with her for protection. "I hope you can protect me from my mother in law," says Belle.

"Who is she," asks the bodyguard.

"Hope Brady," says Belle. The bodyguard runs screaming down the hall never to be seen again.

As Belle and her bodyguard go off, Rob and Crystal follow. Crystal is on the phone, "The police are all over Belle. What do you want us to do?"

Roman and Bo tell Patch about Marlena's flameout at the police station. Patch thinks there are ways around not having one of those pesky little warrants. He offers to snoop. Kayla drags him off and reminds him of the appointment. He looks at the time and says he's got to go. She asks if he wants her to go with him.

Patch is resigned, "I can handle it."

"Do you really want to do this?"

"I'm starting to think you don't believe me."

Stephanie apologizes for breaking down like that. Max suggests talking to someone like a professional. Or Marlena. Stephanie is reluctant. She thinks there is more going on and she doesn't want to go there. Max presses. Stephanie whines. Max sits down and takes her hands, "I am not an expert but I do know if you have to fix a car, you have to do it piece by piece." He isn't much help with her psychological problems, but he offers to replace her fuel pump. Maybe while he's at it he could do something with the vacuum hoses running to her head. Stephanie doesn't want to relive it all over again.

"What if you had someone with you," asks Max, "Like me?"

Stefano tells John they have been lucky no one saw his face when he was out before. He has told him he is a wanted fugitive and will be thrown in jail if someone discovers him. Rolf interrupts and announces Marlena, "She won't leave." Stefano tells him to stall her. Rolf leaves. Stefano gives John a listening device and tells him to be quiet and stay out of sight.

Just as John leaves, Marlena barges in. She demands to know where Brady is.

Kayla says she knows Patch so well. He changed his mind quickly and she wants to know he's not just doing this for her. He insists he wouldn't bring a child into the world he didn't really want. She apologizes for being neurotic. He's used to it. He assures her they are on the same page, even though it's blank.

Stephanie has made her appointment with Dr. Whitney, the world-renowned shrink who just happened to have an immediate opening. Max offers to drive. She resists but he convinces her. "Thanks for everything," says Stephanie.

Max says, "We're friends. All right. What I said here last night about me being here every step of the way... I meant it."

Stefano insists he knows nothing about Brady. Marlena accuses him of being involved and also wants to know about the psychic. Stefano doesn't have a clue. Marlena doesn't buy it. Stefano asks Rolf to escort Marlena out. Suddenly, Marlena pulls the pistol out of her bag and points it gun at Rolf and Stefano, "I'm not going anywhere. Step back right now. I'll have some answers."

Rolf asks, "Did choo vant fries vith zat?"

Bo tells Roman they should make a trip to the storefront. Belle comes up with the bodyguard. They leave and Belle remembers one of Hope's patented lectures. Then another. Then she remembers her grand denouement when she threw Patrick Lockhart back in Hope's face.

Inside, Belle joins Hope and Kayla. Kayla decides this is a good time to skedaddle. Belle and Hope share small talk. Finally, Belle gets to the point. She says she knows she messed up and it's her fault.

Hope is soooo understanding, "Yes it is."

Marlena tells Stefano and Rolf she likes this gun of John's, "The serial number has been scratched off, so it can't be traced. I could blow you away, Stefano. No one knows I am here."

"Rolf knows," says Stefano.

Marlena turns to Rolf, "I'll save a bullet for you."

Stefano tells her to go ahead and shoot, "Unless you can't do it." John sneaks and listens. He remembers Marlena pointing the gun at him.

BANG-BANG-BANG!

Patch arrives for his appointment. He talks to Kathy and asks for Dr. Walker's office. He leaves and just misses Max and Stephanie as they come in for her appointment. Dr. Whitney meets them and assures Stephanie this will be confidential. Stephanie thinks her dad would freak if he knew.

Belle says she can't blame Hope for being happy her marriage is over. "I'm not happy it's over," says Hope, "My gossip mill has run dry."

Kayla comes back from the kitchen with Claire. Belle takes her and leaves. Belle isn't even out the door before Kayla is prying for details. Hope tells her what a saint she was.

Bo and Roman snoop around the old building. Roman pounds on the door, "Open up! Police!" So much for sneaking around to find clues.

Rob comes out and says he was just leaving. The boys ask what he's doing there. Rob tells them he's been hired to make building renovations. Bo and Roman are sharp as tacks. They just happen to notice Rob has no tools. Rob tells them he's just checking the place out today, but they haven't started making the renovations yet. Bo and Roman ask if he knows who owns the building. Rob says he's never talked to the owner. Bo asks, "Does CB DiMera ring a bell?"

Rob thinks the name sounds familiar, but says a company is paying him. Bo says they'd like to go in and look around. Rob asks, "Do you have a warrant?"

Bo smiles, "Nice chatting with you." Rob walks off.

Hope and Kayla talk about Belle and Marlena. Hope thinks what with John's death and everything, Marlena has been pushed to the edge. Knowing Marlena passed the edge a long time ago, Kayla hopes she doesn't take things into her own hands.

Shocked Stefano looks at the pile of wood splinters that used to be his desk, "My God you are insane Marlena!"

"I told you I wasn't bluffing," says Ma Barker.

"You could have killed me," gasps Stefano.

"Why don't you call the police," asks Marlena, "But, of course, you won't do that, because if they came, they would want to search the whole place. The shots were a warning. Next time I won't miss." Stefano smirks as Annie Oakley leaves.

Out in the hall, Marlena stops and looks around as if she senses something. John watches as she heads out the door.

Inside, Stefano laughs, "She's really something." John stares.

Roman and Bo speculate about the building. Roman decides to stake the place out. Put me down for the night shift," says Bo.

Max sits in the hospital waiting area and remembers Stephanie telling him about the rape. Stephanie and Dr. Whitney come out. Dr. Whitney tells Stephanie they got off to a good start. She leaves. Max asks if she is OK. She says yes, "Dr. Whitney was great. She asked me about my wreck on the racetrack. I told her I remembered it but she pointed out that although I remembered the pain, the pain was gone. I reminded her that the pain in the butt who caused the accident was sitting in the waiting room. She said we're all built to heal. And have flashbacks."

Max suggests lunch. Patch comes out as they start to leave. Then Dr. Whitney comes back and tells Stephanie she forgot to give her the prescription for sleeping pills.

BUSTED!

Patch jumps right on that and asks what she needs sleeping pills for. Max chickens out and heads for the hills. Stephanie says she talked to Kayla about this and Kayla is the one who set her up with Dr. Whitney, "It's no big deal."

"Meaning none of your Papa's business," says Patch, "It's OK, I know how it is. Some things are girl stuff. I'm not gonna pry, but..." Everybody say it with him, "I'm there for you."

She asks why he is at the hospital. He tells her just a checkup. Smoochies and goodbyes. After he leaves, Stephanie goes back to Max, "He'll go straight to Mom and not stop until he knows the truth."

"Would that be so bad," asks Max.

"What? Are you nuts," gasps Stephanie, "How could we drag this out forever if he knew the truth?"

Hope and Kayla are standing at the bar. Bo comes up and gooses her. She jumps like she's on a turbocharged pogo stick. Bo apologizes and says next time he'll grab Hope instead. He asks if she has plans for the evening. Hope says she is free. "How would you like to spend the evening with your favorite guy," says Bo.

"He's out of town," says Hope. Bo explains what he has in mind. "Thank goodness," says Hope, "A stakeout. I was scared silly it would be something like dinner and dancing. When do I get debriefed?"

Bo's feeling frisky, "I'd like to debrief you right now."

Patch returns and Bo tells him they'll let him know if they need some shady character to get into the building.

Kayla runs up to him, "That was certainly fast."

"I just thought about you," he chuckles, "Let's do it. Let's make a baby." Hugs and flashbacks to another century when they were only middle aged.

Stephanie rants about Patch knowing. She thinks he will freak out. She decides to call Kayla and do damage control.

Kayla gets the call. Patch leaves to give her privacy. Stephanie tells her Patch saw her at Dr. Whitney's office and she thinks he will ask Kayla what's going on. Kayla tells her he hasn't said a word. She thinks Stephanie needs to learn to trust him and promises she won't say anything.

Kayla hangs up, gives Patch a raised eyebrow and he comes back. He asks if everything is all right. Kayla thinks it will all be fine. She suggests going home and celebrating his test results. Patch is ready to go, "I learned some new techniques at the doctor's office."

"You should see what I can do with my tongue," says Kayla.

"Is it anything like what you do with your eyebrows," asks Patch.

Belle returns to Marlena's. She says things could have been worse with Hope. Marlena says she made her point in the meeting with her friend. Belle takes Claire to make tea. Marlena cocks her head.

Well, we'll give that ending a zero on a scale of ten.


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