A Bloated Rag Doll

Here is a recap of the episode we missed yesterday, based on a poor audio backup:

Trent and Marlena have words at the Java Café.

Max and Stephanie discuss how to handle Max' sister if they ever find her. Max meets an old friend in Paris who might be able to help him find Melanie. Stephanie is curious about who SHE is. Max and his friend reminisce, especially about the fact he forgot to say goodbye. Stephanie flirts with a guy while Max and his friend talk. She asks the guy about Melanie. He recognizes her and points out a guy who knows her. Max' friend agrees to investigate Melanie. Stephanie talks to the guy the bartender pointed out and finds out he is Melanie's former boyfriend. The guy whines about losing Melanie and tells Stephanie he isn't the type she would want to be with. Stephanie thinks he deserves better than Melanie given the way she has treated him. He warns Stephanie Melanie is big trouble. Max and his old friend, Stephanie and her new friend part company.

Marlena tells EJ he stepped way over the line when he threatened to take Johnny. EJ insists Sami would have done the same thing if she were in his position. She confronts him about bribing the immigration agent. Marlena tells EJ she notified the immigration people and Mr. Burke will soon be out of a job. She vows this isn't over. EJ assures Marlena his days with Sami are numbered. Marlena is skeptical. Whatever his feelings for Sami, EJ know they are not reciprocated and he tells Marlena he is moving on.

EJ and Nicole discuss their relationship. Nicole implies Trent is making her uncomfortable. Nicole says she really likes EJ but can't continue the relationship with him. EJ presses her to give it a chance. Nicole won't as long as Sami is in the picture. Trent catches EJ and Nicole being cozy. After EJ leaves Trent warns Nicole to stay away from him and wants to know why EJ was holding her hand. Nicole denies that and tells Trent to go to hell. Trent tells her she will always crave attention. He wonders if she wants to test whether or not he can still control her. He threatens to reveal her little secret, which turns out to be the fact that they are still married. More threats and Trent asks Nicole to find out what Max is doing in France.

Nick and Trent discuss physics. Trent tries to convince Nick there is more to life than nuclear physics. Trent suggests a going away thing for Professor Fergus and wants Nick to talk to Max about renting the Brady pub. Nick suggests he talk to Caroline.

And now, on to today's boreiffic episode...

Daniel harps on the multitude of people who want to come into Victor's room. Bo harps on the fact that Daniel won't let him see Victor. Daniel harps on the fact that the fool's parade in and out of Victor's room is causing him stress. Bo harps on the fact that maybe Daniel keeping people away is causing the stress. Victor the vegetable comes to and tells Daniel he wants to talk to Bo. Daniel gives Bo two minutes with him and notifies the morgue to prepare for a new arrival.

Outside, Daniel snaps at Kate about being in Victor's room and sending him into cardiac arrest. He wants to know what she said that almost killed him.

Ava wants to celebrate the good fortune that she won't be extradited. John is distant. Ava tries to cheer him up by telling him she'll be around for a while now that the extradition is off. John is more concerned about Paul and Phillip, "Phillip taking that bullet wasn't in the equation."

Ava reassures him, "Phillip is going to be just fine and when he is... we have to find a way to pin everything on him." So much for Ava the redeemed.

Morgan sobs over Phillip's lifeless body. She kisses him, but the prince doesn't come back to life. Morgan pines away, "I think I'm falling in love with you."

Chloe stands at the door to Phillip's room with her set of radar ears, "AHEM!!"

John says he doesn't want Ava worrying about anything, "I still have an ace up my sleeve."

Daniel gets snippy about Kate practically killing Victor. Kate says that wasn't her intention. Chelsea walks up and stops the lover's spat. Kate admits she dropped the Phillip bomb on Victor. Daniel wins an overacting Emmy as he tells Kate he'll be the judge of who can send his patients into cardiac arrest.

Chelsea bawls Daniel out for talking to Kate that way and demands an apology.

"Don't concern yourself about it," says Daniel, "Kate likes it rough."

Bo assures Victor Phillip will be OK as soon as the body part shipment arrives. Victor tells Bo he can get his hands on as much of Phillip's blood type as they need, "I have a lifetime membership at Bed, Bath and Body Parts."

Morgan assures Chloe Phillip is dong better. Sarcastic Chloe is sure Morgan's love is all he needs. Hope butts in and asks to talk to Morgan. After Morgan and Hope leave, Chloe sits and whines like a lost puppy, "OMG Phillip, how did we end up here? I'm so sorry for the way things turned out for us. I tried though, didn't I? I went down like a two-foot putt. I should have done everything I could to keep you from getting involved with her."

John wants the place cleaned up and then he has something to show Ava that will take away all her fears.

Compassionate Hope says she realizes this is a difficult time for Morgan, so she doesn't want to upset her. She then proceeds to grill her like Public Enemy #1. Morgan doesn't want to do this but Hope the Horrific prevails. She asks Morgan the same old questions. Morgan tells her everything but Hopeless wants to go over it again. She thinks the "proof" is missing from the package.

Kate don' wan' no stinkin' apology. She doesn't want anything from Daniel. She walks off and Chelsea wonders why he treated her like that. Daniel insists he's just doing his job. He blows up and rants about the importance of keeping Victor calm. Chelsea says she's never seen him like this before. She wants Danny and Granny to be civil with each other.

Victor says one of his men can get the blood supply. Bo rants about compromising his career. Victor says what Bo did was in the best interests of the family. "Well," says Bo, "Hope is my family too, and Shawn and what's-her-name."

John takes Ava down to the DiMera dungeon.

Victor assures Bo no one ever needs to know about the tape. "Yeah, but I know," says Bo. Daniel comes in to take Victor down for tests. Victor says, "I'm sorry Bo." Bo leaves and Victor tells Daniel he knows someone who can give Phillip blood. Daniel says they have all the blood they need.

Victor protests, "But Phillip has a rare blood type."

"Salem Hospital is working hard to reduce the bureaucracy in medicine," says Daniel, "In order to be more efficient and save time, we've stopped typing blood. I want you to focus on getting well."

Victor wants to see Phillip. Daniel vetoes it, but offers to bring some parts of him to Victor's room.

Hope badgers Morgan, who is too worried about Phillip to focus.

Chloe says, "I'll be praying for you, Phillip and I'll..." The audience chants with her in unison, "always be there for you." She gets up to leave and runs smack into Morgan. Chloe tells her if she can make Philip happy that's all that matters.

Ava and John walk into the dungeon. The camera focuses in on a pair of shoes. We pan up to the socks. Slowly, we traverse a pair of Dockers. The suspense is killing you, isn't it?

PAUL!

Paul shoots out of bed and snorts at Ava, "Your boys roughed me up!"

John drones, "There is no reason to adopt that attitude. You could be floating like a bloated rag doll in the Salem River right now. Instead you're yelling at the rag doll."

Ava bawls John out for harboring Paul.

Paul wants to see Morgan and let her know he's all right. John refuses. Paul reveals John forced him to write the second note. John wonders why the tape hasn't surfaced.

Hope nags Bo about Victor and Phillip. She tells him about her conversation with Morgan. Hope thinks there was more to the package than the money and the letter, "I see a gap in the chain of events. You were alone with that package and I wonder if you found something else in there." Bo is silent... a skill Hope has never developed. "OMG," gasps Hope, "There was something else in the package wasn't there?"

If Morgan is right for Phillip Chloe says she will support that. Chloe turns to leave but can't resist a parting shot, "Don't hurt him."

"He doesn't have any parts left to hurt," says Morgan.

Chelsea wonders why Kate isn't more upset since Daniel is so much out of line. Kate brushes it off. Daniel comes up and asks to speak with Kate alone.

John gets off the phone, "My mole inside the SPD has reviewed things and the tape hasn't surfaced yet."

"I have," says Paul, "Isn't that enough?"

Ava thinks Bo may have made the evidence disappear. Paul goes into another tirade about wanting to see Morgan. John shuts him up, "Phillip can't be framed for your murder if you're still breathing, so you might want to be more helpful." All Paul wants is to see Morgan and let her know he is OK. John tells Paul Morgan has fallen in love with Phillip. Ava tells him Phillip took a bullet for her.

Nicole rushes into the hospital waiting area. Chloe tells her Phillip is still unconscious. Chloe thinks Phillip would be shocked if he saw them together being civil. She tells her Morgan is in with him, "Philip took the bullet for her. He's her hero and she's in love with him."

Morgan fantasizes about dancing with Phillip. This would be a good time to go fix those Bologna sandwiches for the kids' lunch.

Phillip's machines beep. Morgan asks him to wake up.

Chelsea wants to stay and hear Daniel and Kate's juicy conversation, but Kate sends her packing. Daniel apologizes for making a scene earlier. Kate says, "I shouldn't have said anything to Victor, but I was afraid someone else might and I called dibbs on giving him a heart attack." She knows Daniel is under strain what with having a relationship with both her and Chelsea, "You have a kind heart and are a good man which is why I..."

"What?"

"Never mind."

Ava leaves. John tells Paul about Eddie shooting at Morgan and Phillip taking the hit. Paul explodes, "What was that moron doing firing the gun at her."

"Firing a gun at her was the best way to make sure he hit her," says John.

Paul vows to get out of John's dungeon and reveal all. John tells him to be patient. He says when this is all over Morgan will have nothing to do with Phillip.

Back to Morgan's fantasy. If the kids want seconds... Phillip picks her up and carries her off. Things get serious on a conveniently located couch.

Morgan smiles. Phillip vegetates.

Chloe and Nicole just know Phillip will make it. Chloe doesn't think she has a chance with him if he does, though. Nicole thinks they are becoming friends.

"Let's not get too crazy," says Chloe.

"It's too late to make that decision," says Nicole.

Ava wanders into the Java Café and gets on her laptop.

Chelsea comes into Victor's room looking for him, "Where's my grandpa?"

Brooding Daniel looks up at her, "He's out having a cat scan."

"Oh, no," gasps Chelsea, "He's allergic to cats."

Daniel apologizes for his tirade earlier, "Things are all good with Kate now."

"She's a very forgiving lady," says Chelsea.

"Oh, I thought we were talking about Kate," says Daniel, "And how about you? Are you OK?"

Chelsea tells him Victor is lucky to have him in his life and so is she. She moves in for some liplock. Granny watches.

John is disappointed in Paul's betrayal. Paul insists it was a lapse in judgment and he will do what it takes to make it up to him. John tells him that's why he is there. Paul wonders if his plan is to keep him there forever. John tells Paul he's lucky his men fished him out of the water. He smacks Paul's chest and snorts, "I gave you a second shot at life."

"And I'm eternally grateful."

"So shut up," growls John, "And do what I tell you."

A nurse passes by. Chloe stops her, "Do you have any word on Phillip Kiriakis?"

"No," says the nurse, "I've been assigned to his brother's case. Lucas Roberts."

"Thank goodness," says Chloe, "For a minute there I thought you meant Lucas Horton."

Bo insists there was nothing else in that package. A cop comes up to Hope, "We got this anonymous email," he says, "I thought you'd like to see it."

Bo overhears, "An anonymous email? Who's it from?" "

Hope reads, "What happened to the evidence in the Paul Hollingsworth case looks like a police cover-up. What do you think?"


Previews
========

You can watch the previews later today on our PREVUZE II website. Prevuze II should be up no later than noon, Eastern Time.