Checkmate

Nicole and EJ are at the Java Café. Nicole begs EJ to go away from Salem and never come back. EJ isn't thrilled with the prospect.

Sister Claire and Sami are together in the convent. Sister Claire says, "With God, all things are possible. With His help, you might even grow up someday. There are many angels walking among us. Your life may be about to change right now."

Rafe contemplates in the park and figures Sami's baby is Sydney. He tells himself this is just a theory, though, "But what if I'm right?"

Lucas lectures Chloe. Chloe insists Daniel would never try to kill her, "We love each other. Nothing can change that."

Daniel lies tied up on the bed moaning. He works his jaw until his gag falls off, I have to find Chloe and make Kate pay." He yells for help. Grabowski comes in, removes his video equipment and moves it to a room where there is more action.

Kate has arrived at the DiMera mansion. She tells Stefano, "I need your help. You're my only hope."

EJ tries to talk some sense into Nicole. He'd have more luck trying to stop a speeding train. Nicole won't have any of it. She wants to leave and leave NOW. Sydney is neutral. EJ suggests they go on the honeymoon instead.

Sami says she wishes she had Sister Claire's optimism. Sister Claire suggests Sami spend some time in the chapel. She leaves. Sami spills her purse, finds a family picture and broods.

Rafe wonders how he can prove Sydney is Sami's baby. He decides he needs a new approach, so he makes a call, "Hey, man, it's been a long time, but I need a huge favor. Meet me at the Brady pub."

The guy on the other end asks, "What was your name again?"

Chloe says she never meant to hurt Lucas. She tells him she made a promise to God.

Stefano is congenial. He offers Kate a drink and suggests a game of chess. Kate ain't in the mood for no stinkin' chess. Stefano insists. They sit at the chessboard. Stefano starts the game by moving his pawn (the one named John). He asks what's up with Kate. Kate says she has done something and needs help.

"Yes," says the all-knowing Stefano, "You poisoned your son's wife and framed Dr. Jonas for it. Your move." Kate zones. Stefano notices her inattention, "You'd better protect your knight."

Kate tells him she got overconfident, "Daniel is now a loose end that can't stay tied up forever."

Daniel struggles and discovers one of the ropes is conveniently frayed.

Lucas says he already heard the God story from Daniel. Chloe tells him about his gas-explosion amnesia. She tells him she found him dead in the hall.

Lucas gets cute, "Dead? How did you know I was dead? Because you're a doctor?"

"Because I jump to conclusions," says Chloe, "So I made the promise to God and you came back to life."

"Yeah," says Mr. Sarcasm, "a walking-talking miracle – that’s' me."

"Especially talking," says Chloe.

Daniel struggles, yanks at the rope holding his left arm and it breaks. Things go blurry, "Oh... no..." Daniel goes out like a light.

Lucas wonders who might have tried to poison Chloe if it wasn't Daniel. We have a flashback to the kitchen scene after Lucas tried to eat the egg, and Kate freaked. "It was your mother," says Chloe.

Lucas screams, "Don't tell me that. My mother would never do anything like that!"

"You do realize Kate is still your mother," asks Chloe.

Stefano and Kate play chess and dance around each other. Kate says she didn't go to Victor for help because he is Daniel's godfather, "So... will you help me?"

Stefano moves a chess piece, "Check."

Nicole gets excited about Paris. EJ gets a call. He leaves to talk to Mr. Carlyle. Nicole tells Sydney they are going to France.

"Sounds great," says Sydney, "As long as you're leaving me here."

Rafe meets the African American version of Mr. Clean. Rafe fills him in and says he needs to find out who the child's parents really are. Mr. Clean tells him DNA samples are the only way. Outside, a mysterious figure watches the pair through the window.

Lucas tosses accusations, "Your brain has turned to mush!"

"My mush is better than your vacuum," says Chloe.

Lucas ramps it up, "You're talking to God and accusing my mom of murder!" Chloe reminds him Kate provided all the food and when she ate it, she got sick. Lucas continues to defend Kate and accuse Daniel.

Chloe says, "We were planning... OMG! I've been awake for a while. Why isn't Daniel here? What if Kate got to him?" Oh, the angst!

Stefano says he is flattered and moved that Kate came to him for help. He agrees to help her, "But there will be a price, a non-negotiable price." Suddenly, he captures the queen. Oh, the metaphor!

Lucas keeps up the ranting while Chloe worries about Daniel. He brings up the phone call for help Chloe allegedly made to Maggie. Chloe insists that never happened. She says she tried to remain true to Lucas but gave into her true feelings. "Your true feelings," mocks Lucas, "We don't have a future together."

Out in the audience, the Lumis let out a cheer.

Kate agrees to Stefano's terms. We have no idea, of course what those terms are, but you can use your imagination. Stefano tells her his help comes from the heart, "You have known how I feel about you for quite a while." He moves a piece in toward Kate's king, "Checkmate... Now, what do you say we go take care of your little problem?"

EJ comes back into the Java Café and joins Nicole. He says he has arranged the trip, "The family jet will be ready to go this evening."

She promises him the best time ever, "Nothing will spoil our happiness." Translation: The Everly Brothers sing Bye-Bye Love in the background. Fade to Sydney.

Mr. Clean agrees to help Rafe. They do the fist-butt, skin-slidin' over-and-back whiz-bang buddy-shake and Mr. Clean leaves. Rafe finds a picture of Sami and pines away. He remembers his recent call and thinks if he had been there at the birth none of this would have ever happened. He calls Sister Claire and asks for Sami.

Sister Claire says, "She's in seclusion."

Rafe asks, "Will you just tell her that Rafe called and it's very important?"

Sister Claire snorts, "What's in it for me, buster? " She hangs up and Sami comes in. Sister Claire tells her about Rafe's call. She advises Sami to call, "I think he really needs to speak with you."

Rafe leaves the pub and the mysterious figure follows.

Sister Claire tells Sami it has to be her decision whether to call Rafe.

A little known fact: Daniel used to play the cymbals in the Salem Philharmonic. He gave it up, however, and started banging Chloe instead.

Rafe arrives at Sami's apartment. He gets the hidden key from above the doorjamb and walks in. Inside, he finds Sami's purse, which apparently she didn't take to the convent. He takes a hairbrush out of it, makes sure he gets his cooties all over it, and puts it in a baggie. He also finds a bib he gave to Grace and decides to get it tested too. Meredith walks in. Rafe turns, "What are you doing here."

Loony Meredith says, "I came here to apologize."

Lucas and Chloe go down the same well-trodden path. On your remote, you will find a button labeled "FF." Don't worry about what that means, just press the button. Chloe worries that Kate is out trying to hurt Daniel. She starts to get up but Lucas stops her.

Nicole and EJ arrive back at the mansion. EJ wants to fill Stefano in. He's worried that Stefano will be there on his own while they are in Paris. He goes to find him. Nicole babbles and picks Sydney up. She rants about Mia and Rafe, "What your daddy doesn't know is we are never coming back."

Sami broods and wonders what she's doing hiding in a convent. She picks up her phone and looks at a picture of Rafe, "Rafe's not the problem. He was (say it with her) there for me when I needed him. I should have just thanked him when we talked. Sister Claire is right there is an angel walking beside me."

Meredith apologizes for being responsible for Rafe and Sami's breakup. Rafe tells her she doesn't have to do this. He says they just have to move on.

Wackadoodle Meredith says, "No, Rafe, I can't do that."

Kate and Stefano arrive back at the hotel room to find Daniel gone. Kate has a meltdown.

Lucas stops Chloe from getting up. She begs him to help Daniel. Lucas erupts, "What? You want me to help warn your boyfriend? No way!"

Kate seethes. Stefano urges calm. He takes out his phone.

EJ sees the bags piled in the foyer and says Nicole has packed too much. She makes excuses as EJ says he couldn't find Stefano, "We'll call him from the plane. EJ leaves to get the car.

Nicole looks the place over, "I'm going to miss this old mansion. This is the last time I will ever see it." She turns and walks out.

Rafe suggests he and Meredith talk later. Glassy-eyed, heavy breathing, nutcase Meredith wants to talk NOW, "You killed Emily Rafe, we have to deal with that."

"Actually," says Rafe, "I didn't kill her. It was an accident." His phone rings. It's Sami. He turns to take the call. Meredith gives him a fireplace poker job.

Rafe goes down like DOOL ratings during a sweeps period.

Sami waits as the phone rings, "Pick up, Rafe. Pick up."

Right now Rafe can't even pick himself up. He lies on the floor unconscious as Meredith towers over his lifeless body. She stares at the deadly fireplace poker. The whack job thinks about giving Rafe another whack job.

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