Chummy

Abe is on the phone raging because Stefano is free. Hope paces and shares the rage. Bo comes in, "Everything OK?"

"It was until you came in," says Hope. Bo throws a fit and wants to share the rage, too. Abe thinks Stefano knows how to work the system and is just loving this. Hope wonders what made John change his mind about wanting to put Stefano away.

Trent calls Melanie and leaves a message and then has a pimpback to their phone call when he tried to get her to "have a drink" with Claude. Nicole runs into him. She's peeved to be around him again and wants to know what he's doing there. Trent tells her he's meeting John. Nicole tells him she's not giving him a dime. She looks inside and sees Marlena sitting at a table, "If you need money talk to the shrink inside. Maybe she'll pay you to be a lab rat." Nicole huffs inside. Trent follows and goes to Marlena's table. Marlena sits there, ignores him and concentrates. She mumbles, "OK, how do I calculate a 3% tip?"

Anna and Tony bicker as they come back to the DiMera mansion after a presentation. Tony tells her she was putting people to sleep. "That's not true," honks Anna, "The president never took his eyes off of me!"

Tony snorts, "PERVERT!" Tony decides to do some perving himself and moves in on her. Anna giggles and walks into the next room. She sees it all set up with fine wine and the trimmings, "Tony," she squeals, "You shouldn't have!"

"I didn't." They wonder who set the room up.

Stefano barges in, "I did. It's for a special occasion and you are not a part of it."

Tony grumbles, "I figured we'd find you slithering in sometime." Stefano tells them he is entertaining a lady. "If she's associating with you," says Tony, "she can't be a lady." Kate walks in.

The rage continues in Abe's office. The boredom continues in the audience. Bo wonders if there is something beside Stefano bothering Abe. Abe says he is feeling a bit out of sorts at home, "I'm feeling pretty useless these days." Lexie comes in and listens to the whining.

Marlena continues to concentrate, "So... three per cent of a buck for tea is... oh, this is impossible!" She finally looks up and sees Trent seeping sewage above her, "I wasn't looking for company." Trent wonders how things are going with John. She tells him she's decided on a divorce.

Trent suspects John wasn't happy about that, "I'll be he doesn't want to shell out money on a settlement."

Marlena is shocked Trent would even bring that up, "I don't care about his money. It's not about that."

"I understand," says Trent, "You're probably loaded in your own right."

"I wouldn't say I'm loaded," says Marlena, "I only put a few drops of booze in the tea."

Stefano and Kate smooch. Anna is completely grossed out, "Stefano, I know you've been going through a dry spell, but maybe you should try speed dating."

Stefano tells them he and Kate have been friends for a long time. He asks them to excuse themselves so he and Kate can have some privacy. Tony says he and Anna aren't going anywhere.

Hope and Lexie hug and cluck. Hope drags Bo out. Bo protests, "I wasn't through raging." Lexie tells Abe she overheard the conversation. She assures Abe Theo is making progress. Abe isn't so sure. He wonders if they couldn't take a vacation. Lexie no-can-do, "It would throw's Theo schedule off."

"Who the hell said anything about taking Theo," asks Abe.

Lexie gets a call. She listens and then goes into whine-mode, "Oh, I could have sworn it was tomorrow." She cups her hand over the phone and tells Abe she goofed and missed an important meeting, "The board wanted to decide if we should replace Twinkies with Ding Dongs in the vending machines."

Trent brings Marlena a cup of tea, along with one for himself. Marlena says she doesn't want it. "I'm feeling a frost," says Trent. Frosty Marlena asks when he last spoke to Max. Trent says, "All parents have issues with their children. I know you do."

Marlena says, "My life is not a topic of conversation. Neither are my children."

"Then don't cast stones,," says Trent. John watches from outside.

Tony asks the ladies to excuse them. He asks Anna and Kate also. They walk away. Tony turns to Stefano, "May I ask your intentions with Kate?" Stefano chuckles.

Anna tells Kate, "I didn't realize you two were still... uh... "chummy." Why did he invite you here?"

HACK – SPEW – HACK – WHEEZE – COUGH! "With Stefano, I know better than to ask questions."

Anna goes back to Tony, "I suggest we leave."

Tony looks up the word "suggest" in the guy manual... "suggest, v. – see command, demand or order." He and Anna leave.

Outside, Tony eavesdrops. Stefano says, "It's wonderful to look at a friendly and beautiful face. It's also nice to see your face." He talks about how wonderful it is to be free and makes a toast, "To new beginnings. To us."

Tony listens and turns to Anna, "What kind of game is he playing?"

Anna says Kate isn't in danger, "He probably wants a dinner companion and had the bad taste to choose Kate." Tony thinks Kate needs their help. He thinks they have to thwart Stefano's plan.

Anna drags him off, "I have an idea. I think I also know how we can help Kate."

John watches Trent and Marlena. Nicole comes out and talks about how disgusting Trent is. She tells him Trent will do whatever it takes to get what he wants, "In fact, I say Trent is more dangerous than Stefano because no one realizes what he is capable of."

"Well then," drones John, "he has to be stopped." John goes inside and walks up to Trent.

GRAB! SOCK!

Stefano thinks Kate seems restless. She says she can't get her mind off of work. He congratulates her on her newfound success. Kate tells him Tony produced a fabulous ad campaign. Tony and Anna come in wearing aprons and holding food and wine, "Cook had a little accident. We put the finishing touches on the food." Stefano wonders if they will be standing by to make sure they don't choke on their food during dinner. He wants Tony and Anna to go, but they insist on filling in for the cook.

Stefano sighs, "If we have any hope of a decent meal, I guess we have to put up with these idiotic antics."

Lexie gets back on the phone, apologizes for missing the Twinkie/Ding Dong meeting and says she will reschedule. Things get nasty. Lexie blows up and then hangs up. She tells Abe she missed an important meeting again. She says she's been making a lot of mistakes lately. Hugs.

Trent lies on the floor of the pub oozing blood and groaning. John kicks him. Marlena says, "John! Never kick a man when he is down!"

"You're right," says John. He kneels down and beats him to a pulp instead. Suddenly, John has an attack of his own. He goes to his knees and zones, then looks up at Marlena and blows his stack, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Kate says dinner was delicious. Tony is glad they enjoyed it. Stefano dismisses them. Anna says they haven't had dessert. Stefano declines. Anna is desperate, "How about a game of Scrabble?"

"I have a few choice words for you," says Stefano, "but I'm not in the mood for games." He tells them to leave.

On the way out, Tony gives a parting shot, "If you need help, just scream."

Stefano apologizes for the stupidity, but says he thinks Kate enjoyed needling Anna, "But now it's time for important discussions. I would like to make a proposal."

Trent struggles, gets up and threatens to call the police. John has his own problems now. He slams his hands up against his own head. Marlena says she wants an explanation. "I am the one who deserves an explanation," says John, "I thought you knew I didn't want you to be around Trent. You're still my wife!"

"Not for long," says Marlena, "I tried to love you because I thought some part of my husband lived inside you, but I was wrong."

John thinks Marlena doesn't understand. Marlena thinks John doesn't understand. Nobody understands. Marlena thinks he's exactly like Stefano and that's why she's divorcing him, "Stay the hell away from me."

John pulls a wad-o-cash out of his Pocket and tosses it at no one in particular, "This should cover the damage to the pub." Customers scramble and grovel for the cash.

Trent turns, "How about the damage to my face?" John tosses a wad-o-cash at Trent." More scrambling and groveling ensues.

As John storms out, "Joe Schmoe screams, "What about my pain and suffering?"

Marlena turns and tells Trent he isn't innocent in this, "If you try me again I will rearrange your face."

"What," asks Trent, "You mean you'll put it back the way it was?"

Abe gives Lexie a back rub. Lexie doesn't think anything can relieve her stress right now. She whines, "How will Theo ever learn how to socialize when I'm not there to teach him?"

Abe asks, "How are you going to teach him when you haven't learned yet yourself?" Insecure Abe wants to know what he can do to help. Lexie doesn't want him pulling back on work hours. She says she'll figure out a way to balance everything.

Lexie gets another phone call. She listens and then says, "Oh, great..."

Bo and Hope sit at their respective computers competing. Hope is really into it, "I love playing World Of Warcraft" on company time." Suddenly Hope stops playing and reads, "Wow, the name of Trent Robbins wife is... Misty Circle..."

"I recognize that name," says Bo. He then attempts to dislodge his foot from his mouth.

Kate thinks Stefano wants to talk about a business proposal. Stefano says his proposal is more intimate than business. Outside, Tony wonders what Stefano is talking about. Kate wonders what's up, "What are you interested in?"

"You," says Stefano, "I am proposing marriage."

Tony and Anna practically faint. Kate follows suit. "I adore you and respect you," says Stefano, "What do you say, shall we tie the knot?"

"Misty Circle is a porn star," says Hope, "Trent was married to a porn star? And how come YOU are so familiar with that name?"

Bo puts up the deflector shields, "I never saw the video."

At this point, Hope couldn't give a flying leap about he case, "Beauregard... How is it you know that name?"

Bo checks the guy manual, "You're on your own, buddy."

Desperate Bo finally says, "We're related."

Nicole comes up to John and says she saw what happened inside, "I hope it's not because of anything I said." John is silent. Nicole slinks away.

Marlena tells Trent to stay away from John and her and the Bradys. Nicole walks past, "Give him hell Marlena!" Suddenly Nicole turns, covers her mouth and runs out of the pub. Oh, no... she's either pregnant or she saw they were playing DOOL on the TV above the bar.

Anna thinks Stefano must be drunk, "Kate would have to be insane to accept."

"If that's the case," says Tony, "Lean in here with me and listen to her acceptance speech."

Kate says, "This is unexpected." She hesitates...

Lexie gets off the phone and tells Abe she's been summoned to appear before the review board. Abe says they have a few friends on the board and offers to make a few calls. Lexie tells him she can handle it. Translation: Lexie's prayers will be answered and she will have a lot of time on her hands to be a stay-at-home mom for Theo.

Bo stammers, "Misty Circle was my step mom. She was married to my biological father."

Hope gasps, "Trent was married to... Nicole Walker?" A referee steps in and gives Bo two points for a reversal.

Kate is stunned. Stefano is infatuated. Kate wants to know where this idea is coming form. Stefano says for the last few months all he could do was lie in his bed and think. He realized he wanted her.

Kate asks, "Are you saying you are in love with me?"

Stefano plays the diplomat, "I'm saying I want you to be by my side."

Kate asks, "What about Marlena? I thought she was your Queen of the Night."

"She was," says Stefano, "But your intern Chris is Salem's new Queen of the Night. I'm not done with Marlena. I have special plans for her."

Nicole hurls and curses Caroline and her chowder. She also curses John for not finishing off Trent.

Marlena leaves. Trent obsesses, "You shouldn't have messed with me, Marlena."

Outside, Marlena asks herself, "What's wrong with you, John?"

John is all decked out in safety glasses. He loads his gun, "I won't let you win. Even if it means I have to kill you." He aims the pistol...

BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG... BANG!


Previews
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