24

Vivian arrives at the Kiriakis mansion and compliments Henderson. She hands him a bottle of champagne, "Don't drop this bottle — it's worth more than your retirement annuity." Henderson leaves as Victor comes in and asks who died. "Why do you ask that," asks Vivian.

"Because you came in with booze, a new haircut, touching Henderson inappropriately... I've got it! You have Carly in the trunk of your car!"

Vivian gushes, "No need for that... Carly Manning's life has already gone up in flames."

"Right," says Victor, "Because she came back to Salem and it's full of flaming idiots."

Kate walks outside the pub talking on the phone with Stefano, "EJ is getting impossible to deal with. Did you have any time with the baby? We'll just keep trying." She hangs up, looks in the pub and goes inside where Phillip is playing with his phone. They chitchat about Melanie. Kate asks where she is.

Chloe finds Daniel at the hospital. He tells her Melanie has been released and says she went to the courthouse to clear her mother.

"Why would she do that," asks Chloe.

"I asked her to."

Back at the courthouse, Carly tries to get close to Melanie, but Melanie doesn't want Carly to touch her.

"I'm a toucher," says Carly.

"Wow," says Melanie, "What a pair of parents... a toucher and a groper. I kept you from prison because it was the right thing to do. I don't want anything to do with you."

Anna advises Nicole to move on. Nicole mocks her and threatens to call people. Anna doesn't admit anything but asks what Nicole wants. "Just a small little thing," says Nicky the con, "I want you to get me out of here."

Carly wants to be Melanie's mommy. Melanie don' wan' no stinkin' mommy, "Stay out of my life."

"I can't."

"You were great at it for years." A referee penalizes Melanie for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Anna can't believe it, "You want me to bust you out of this joint?"

Justin calls Phillip and tells him about Carly getting off. Phillip hustles out to find out why. Kate mumbles, "Not everyone is going to be as happy as Carly about this." She makes a call, "It's me. I need you to track down Vivian. I have wonderful news for her."

Vivian walks into the den and sees it's set up for a party. Victor says he's throwing a fundraiser for the Governor. Vivian gushes about how great it will be and goes through everything she has to do before the party. Victor growls, "What makes you think you're invited?"

Chloe wonders why Daniel asked Melanie to help Carly. Daniel wonders if Chloe is upset because he has a kid and she can't give him one. Chloe insists she's handling it. Daniel says he knows otherwise and says he hopes she's talking to Dr. Gilbert, her shrink. Chloe claims she's feeling better. Daniel says he is glad the secrets in their relationship are over.

Carly asks if Phillip knows what Melanie did. Melanie says no and Carly figures that means Victor doesn't know either. She says she's grateful for what Melanie, did, but thinks it will make some people unhappy and it could wind up hurting Melanie.

"Don't make me out like Joan of Arc," says Melanie, "This was my way of cutting ties with you, just like you did when you gave me away. I grew up with a psycho because of you."

Carly whines, "I want so much to be in your life."

Melanie whines back, "You can't. I came here because my dad asked me to. My father. The one you kept from me. I did this for him."

Anna can't believe Nicole's request, "What do you think this is, a movie. Babes in the big house?"

"They show that a lot here," says Nicole, "It's very popular. But I don't want you to bust me out of here. I want out legally."

Anna asks, "What am I, a lawyer?"

"No," says Nicole, "But you do carry a lot of clout, right?"

"Yes," says Anna, "But I've been on a diet."

Carly doesn't want a misty-eyed momma. She gets misty-eyed herself and says Daniel said he would have loved to be her dad for her whole life. Carly says she's glad the two of them are getting closer but Melanie cuts her off. Carly says she wants a chance to make things up. Melanie blows her stack as Phillip walks in. He gives Carly a dirty look as he escorts Melanie out.

Victor tells Vivian she isn't on the guest list. Vivian thinks there was an oversight, "If I were living here, I would have known about this."

"Your nosiness is one of the reasons you're not," says Victor, "That and the fact that you tried to bump off my daughter-in-law. I really hate it that Victor steals so many of my snarky remarks. Victor says he hopes Phillip and Melanie will move in but knows they won't as long as Vivian is there. Vivian insists she's going to the party. She leaves saying she has to find just the right dress to wear.

Nicole says she read in the paper the gov is visiting Salem, "You know, Governor Ford, your old boyfriend."

"He wasn't really my boyfriend," says Nicole, "I haven't seen Jim in ages."

"Well," says Nicole, "This is an opportunity for you and Jim to catch up."

Anna asks, "What do you get out of this?"

"A pardon."

Anna gasps, "He liked me, but not that much! Besides, he's married."

"He's a politician," says Nicole, "Dry those tears and start working that mojo or you'll wind up in the cell next to mine."

Carly walks by Phillip and Melanie on her way out. Melanie has reached the Sami-Brady-level of hysteria. Phillip wonders why Melanie didn't tell him what she was going to do.

"You would have tried to stop me," blubbers Melanie.

"Well look how happy it made you," says Phillip. He tells her Justin called and told him. Melanie hugs and says she's glad he's there. He says she shouldn't have gone through this, "I wish I would have taken the bullet for you."

"No," cries Melanie, "You don't have any places left to destroy."

Phillip vows, "I am never going to let anyone hurt you again." Translation: Except me. They head for home.

Vivian is at the Java Café. She calls and makes an appointment for a manicure as Kate walks up. Kate assumes Vivian is getting ready for the Governor's party and they trade a few wisecracks. Vivian expresses her joy over Carly's misfortune.

Kate savors the moment, "You haven't heard, have you? She's free. They dropped charges."

Vivian practically has a stroke, "That's not possible!"

Daniel moves in and gropes and tells Chloe how great she's been. A call interrupts. Daniel looks at his phone, says it's not important and says he wants to keep talking. Chloe tells him to go save the world. Dan leaves as Carly comes in. Chloe asks her to talk. Carly says she can't because she has an appointment. "It has to wait," says Chloe, "We have to straighten some things out.

Anna refuses to help, "You don't have a single thing on me." Nicole threatens to talk to EJ and Anna immediately changes her tune.

"What do you know," gloats Nicole, "I think I finally hit pay dirt.

Phil guides Melanie up to Maggie's back door, "Keep your eyes closed."

"I've had my eyes closed all the way over here," says Melanie, "I'm getting dizzy."

"Your dizziness has nothing to do with the fact your eyes are closed," says Phillip.

Melanie asks, "Is this the place you put the bid on?"

"I put that on hold," says Phillip, "Sub-prime mortgages are hard to come by these days. I think you will like this place. Open your eyes."

Melanie opens her eyes and sees they're at Maggie's' house. Hey, What's a 60-room mansion when you can have a run-of-the-mill crackerbox? Phillip says, "I thought you were happy here and this could be our new home together." He carries her across the threshold.

Chloe says she thinks Carly has put Daniel through enough. Carly says she's at the hospital to see about being reinstated on staff. Chloe isn't sure that's a good idea. She thinks Daniel needs time and doesn't need to deal with anything else. Daniel waltzes up and says he will take care of things himself. He suggests Chloe meet him at the Java Café. Chloe snorts, "Fine." She turns on her heel and leaves.

"That," says Daniel, "was the special Chloe 'fine' with the unspoken phrase, 'you big jerk.'" Carly thanks him for convincing Melanie to speak in her favor. "I did this for Melanie," says Daddy Dan, "not you."

Anna protests and says she figures EJ would hang up on Nicole. Nicole insists EJ would stay on the line if she said she knew the person who took Sydney. Anna thinks EJ wouldn't believe her.

"Well, there is always Stefano," threatens Nicole, "He hates you and loves to torment you. If I call the cops they'll make you my bitch. If I go to Sami and Rafe — same result. Stefano doesn't have people arrested, so I prefer the option of you working your magic on the Governor. You have 24 hours. Otherwise let the games begin."

Anna gets up to leave. As she opens the door, Nicole reminds her, "24, Anna... 24."

Phillip and Melanie stand in the kitchen and talk about Maggie's Myasthenia Gravis. Phillip says they are there to help Maggie out and Melanie thanks him. She wonders how Maggie agreed to this. "Daniel and I are the only ones who know about her condition," says Phillip, "so I talked her into letting us help her and also keep it quiet." They kiss as Maggie walks in.

"Maggie averts her eyes, "I'm going to have to learn to knock." Phillip goes off to make calls. His excitement about being with his new bride is just boundless.

Melanie squeees, "That's my husband!"

"And I know you love him very much," says Maggie, "So why are you moving in here to take care of me?"

"You took care of me when I was at my most obnoxious," says Melanie.

"I didn't realize I had taken that much care of you," says Maggie.

Carly says the only way she'll have a connection with Melanie is through Daniel. Daniel says he's had enough of secrets, "I will protect my daughter. I'm sorry but I can't help you."

Vivian is livid. Kate drops the other bomb and tells Vivian Melanie is the one who exonerated Carly. Vivian stands stunned. Kate meows, "I really hate to burst your bubble. But I tell you what... I'll call Helga and take your manicure appointment because I really need to keep my nails... well, I need them for emergencies."

Anna walks outside and makes a call, "I'm an old friend of Governor Ford and I wanted to leave him a message... Anna DiMera... What do you mean I'm not on the list? You can't take a message? A fund raiser? I'd like to know everything about that."

Chloe and Phillip meet at the Java Café and exchange pleasantries, "I'm good," says Chloe.

"Good," asks Phillip, "As in... kind of a mess?" Chloe tells him she hasn't told Daniel about not seeing the therapist, "The longer this goes on the worse it will be when he finds out the truth."

Daniel walks out of a shop with a big bouquet of flowers.

Maggie tells Melanie she has her good days and her bad days, "You're here, so it's a bad day. How are you feeling?"

"I have my good days and my bad days. Today was a little bit of both. The good news was finding out I was going to live with you. The bad news is a scene I had with Carly." Maggie tries to convince her to try some mommybondification. Melanie insists she needs Maggie.

Kate meets Carly at the pier. While waiting to watch them turn the Salem River green for St. Patrick's day,* Kate congratulates her on her freedom. Carly says Daniel isn't happy with her. Kate says Daniel isn't happy with her either and they have a mutual enemy in Vivian. Kate tells Carly Vivian knows she got off and she needs to watch her back.

*Oops. Too late. The Salem River is always green.

Nicole makes a racket in her cell, "LOIS! LOIS!" McTavish walks up. Nicole asks, "What time is it?"

McTavish is irritated, "It's twelve minutes later that the last time you asked."

"Good," says Nicole, "I only have 22 hours and 16 minutes left in here."

McTavish rolls her eyes, "Whatever you say." She walks off.

Nicole says, "Come on, Anna, you'd better come through for me."

Anna is at the Kiriakis door practicing her speech to Victor. She looks to the heavens, "God, help me."

"Sorry," says God, "You know the Governor a lot better than you know me."

Anna continues to fret, "I'm on my own. What is wrong with me? Why do I do these things? You don't have a choice or you'll wind up in the joint with the roommate from hell."

Victor answers the door, "Well, Little Orphan Annie DiMera. What a surprise. And I distinctly remember telling Henderson to take the trash all the way to the curb."

Daniel walks into the Java Café. Chloe picks up a megaphone and announces, "I won't tell Daniel I'm not seeing the shrink and and will keep pretending. I don't know what else to do."

Phillip says, "Daniel is my father-in-law and I don't want in the middle."

Daniel goes back out and comes back in. Phillip passes him on the way in and tells him they are living with Maggie.

Daniel walks up to Chloe and hands her the flowers. Chloe senses something is amiss, "What's wrong."

Daniel growls, "Why have you been lying to me?"

Maggie tells Melanie she can't ignore her mother, "Carly is part of your life, like it or not."

"I'm gonna go with not," pouts Melanie, "Carly can fall off the face of the earth for all I care."

Carly calls Bo. She tells him Melanie still wants nothing to do with her, "Yeah, tomorrow is another day. Another day, another cliché." She hangs up.

Vivian walks up to her, "You didn't live up to your part of the deal. What am I supposed to do about that?"

Hey, happy St. Pat's, everyone. To help celebrate, here's an old Irish toast: "May ye have food and raiment, a soft pillow for your head. May ye be out of Salem before the devil knows you’re dead."

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