DAYS #108: Billie and Lucas trick Sheryl, Brady needs driving lessons (07/16/14)

EPISODE 108
Written by A. Washington-Beeby
Story Consultants: ML Cooks & C. Nathaniel Richardson

Lucas walks over to his office desk at Titan and picks up the phone. A heavy look on his face, he frets about his sister's plan to plant a bug in Sheryl's office. He dials the extension to Sheryl's office.

...


Sheryl, in her own office, fixated on her computer, stops and picks up the ringing phone on her desk.

SHERYL: (into phone) Sheryl Connors.

...

Lucas answers sternly, trying (and failing) to feign enthusiasm.

LUCAS: (into phone) Sheryl! It's Lucas.

...

SHERYL: (into phone) Lucas! Hey, babes. How are you doing?

...

LUCAS:  (into phone) Fine. Look, I...uh, needed to see you when I had a chance, could you possibly meet me in my office a minute.

...

Sheryl raises an eyebrow at this, taking on an alluring tone on the phone with Lucas.

SHERYL: (into phone) Oh, I see. Well, it's a good thing too. You left something behind last night at my place.

...

Lucas cringes slightly at Sheryl's obvious attempts at seduction, replying in a cold, but polite manner.

LUCAS: (into phone) Oh, great. Can you be here in five and bring it with you?

...

Sheryl, put off by his aloof response, shifts in her seat, her face suddenly frowning in confusion.

SHERYL: (into phone) Sure. I'll be there.

Sheryl hangs up the phone, and, getting up from her seat, she takes her blue blazer off and rests it on the back of her office chair. She walks out of her office.

...

Lucas hangs up his office phone and sits down at the edge of his desk. He texts Billie immediately.

ready to go shes heading up now

Lucas looks up, a concerned look on his face.

LUCAS: (sigh) Oh Billie. This better work.

---


Jordan stands outside Rafe's loft, having knocked on the door. A bright smile is on her face that she's trying to mask as the door opens. As the door opens, she turns quickly to face Rafe, and immediately leans in to kiss him. Rafe is pleasantly surprised by Jordan's arrival and wraps his arms around her as they kiss deeply in the doorway.

RAFE: This is a surprise.
JORDAN: (giggles) You have no idea.

Jordan lets go of Rafe and steps into his loft. Rafe, still smiling, closes the door and walks over toward a positively giddy Jordan, who plops her purse down on the sofa.

RAFE: So what's got you in such a good mood?

Jordan tries to calm herself down before giving Rafe her news, her hands shake in excitement.

JORDAN: I...I...ahah, oh my God, I have some news for you. And I think...you're gonna be really excited.

Rafe looks at Jordan, unsure what to make of her demeanour.

RAFE: Heh...okay. Go ahead.

Jordan takes a moment before she speaks, trying to contain her excitement.

JORDAN: I did a test today....and....we're pregnant.

Rafe looks at Jordan, stunned by her news, Jordan studies Rafe's face to see whether he's excited or disappointed.

---


Brady sits on the sofa at Anita's cabin. He quietly reads a book  near the crackling fire as Anita walks in carrying a tray with hot chocolate on it.

Brady looks over and smiles at the elderly woman.

ANITA: I figured you could use something to keep you warm.

Anita sets the tray down on the old oak chest she uses as a living room table. Brady eagerly grabs the hot chocolate from the tray.

BRADY:  That sounds actually really good.

Anita sits down and looks at Brady, a motherly concern on her face.

ANITA: You know, Brady. You've healed up very well here...physically, I mean. And I'm really pleased to see your progress, and you've been a real help to me out here...
BRADY: Anita, it's no big deal. Trust me, you've helped me do a lot of healing.
ANITA: I'd like to keep doing that, Brady. You've been troubled since I found you. Now...I have no idea what happened to you before I found you washed up on the shore all those months ago...but I think you should try to talk about it with me. It might help you.

Brady looks away, frustrated by Anita's prying.

---


Marlena sits across from Valerie at Valerie's desk at University Hospital. She's stunned by Valerie's news about Roman.

MARLENA: I'm sorry?
VALERIE: Roman Brady's hospital records prior to 1997 have completely vanished. I have absolutely no idea what's happened to them.

Marlena looks down, in disbelief at what she's hearing. Valerie looks at Marlena, a concerned curiosity on her face.

VALERIE: Marlena...did something happen to Roman that year that was at all...significant?

Marlena looks at Valerie, dead seriously. An intense look in her eyes as she responds.

ROMAN: Yes. We thought Roman was dead...Kristen DiMera brought him back the night John and I were going to be married.

Marlena flashes back to that day, his bandaged face.

***

Marlena's memory (YouTube link)

***


Marlena breathes in deeply, realizing suddenly the possibility that something's been amiss all this time.

MARLENA: Oh...oh my Lord.

Valerie looks on, puzzled by Marlena's reaction.


---

---

Marlena paces Valerie's office as Valerie gets up from her seat, a deep concern on her face as she walks away from Valerie.

VALERIE: Marlena...what is it?

Marlena takes a moment and turns around to face Valerie. She stutters as she tries to repsond to Valerie, still stunned by all the new information coming her way.

MARLENA: Valerie...di...(sigh)...you say there was absolutely no record whatsoever for Roman Brady prior to 1997?
VALERIE: Well, no. I pulled up John Black's file and found some records in his folder also marked Roman Brady for the years 1985 through...
MARLENA: ...1991. We...initially thought John was Roman...Stefano...he led us to believe that Roman and John were the same person.

Valerie looks on, understanding the situation a bit more clearly.

VALERIE: Oh. I see.

Marlena steps back toward Valerie's desk, an intense look in her eyes as she looks down at the floor, weighing the situation.

MARLENA: And nothing from Roman's childhood?
VALERIE: No. That's what I found so odd. There isn't a single record anywhere in Roman's folder from before 1997, and nothing in the new database to suggest that Roman was even born at this hospital.

Valerie stops for a moment, as Marlena's face doesn't change, and she continues to look away. Valerie steps over to Marlena, putting a hand on her friend's shoulder.

VALERIE: Marlena...what happened when Roman came home in 1997? Is there some kind of connection between Kristen bringing him home and his records disappearing?
MARLENA: That's what I'm starting to think. When Roman came back, his face was...bandaged up. He didn't look like the man who left Salem a couple years before. I refused to believe that was him.
VALERIE: ...Marlena...are you starting to think that the man that's been living as Roman all these years...you think that he may not be Roman Brady?

Marlena's focus suddenly crystallizes, she turns to look at her friend, a confused, and petrified look on her face.

MARLENA: I don't know...I don't know what to think.

---

Sheryl walks out of her office, heading for the elevators up to the executive floors at Titan.

After a moment's wait, the door for the elevator going up arrives and Sheryl steps on. The door closes behind her. As the door to her elevator shuts, the elevator heading down stops on the same floor and the door opens.


Billie steps off that elevator, purse in hand and looks around carefully. Observing she's alone, she takes her pumps off, and shoves them in her purse, trying to unzip, then zip the bag as quietly as possible.

Looking around cautiously as she steps around the corner toward Sheryl's office, she observes the coast is clear and approaches Sheryl's door. She steps up to the door, and, as slowly and gently as she can, Billie opens the door a crack, observing the lights are off, Billie opens the door and sneaks in, turning the light on as she shuts the door behind her.

---


Gabi stands, hands on her hips, looking annoyed at a shocked Sami and Kate, who sit around her coffee table in her apartment. Sami reaches down and looks at the contracts on the coffee table, both addressed to Gabi.

SAMI: She...you mean we both were asked to offer Gabi a modelling contract?
KATE: Evidently. And he threatened to expose us if I didn't make sure you signed with us.
GABI: So, obviously, we know what's going on. Nick's trying to start a bidding war to pit the both of you against each other and potentially implicate both of you in trying to drown him.

Sami and Kate look at each other, stunned by how easily they were both duped.

SAMI: Alright, ladies. Now that we know what's going down...how are we gonna get the jump on Nick Fallon?

---

Rafe stands in his living room, in disbelief after the news that Jordan's pregnancy test. He looks at Jordan and struggles to say anything to her for a moment.

RAFE: Uh...wow. Jordan, this is...
JORDAN: It's fantastic news, isn't it?

Rafe looks at her, smiling for a moment before pulling her into an embrace. He looks deep in thought before having a moment of realization and pulling Jordan abruptly out of the embrace.

RAFE: Ma!
JORDAN: Huh?
RAFE: My mom, she...ohhh she's gonna have something to say to me about this...

Rafe begins to pace the room, as Jordan looks at him, a bit concerned.

JORDAN: Well, Rafe, I mean...your mom will understand, I mean...you're a grown man.
RAFE: Yeaaah it's not that easy. She's ah....a bit of a traditionalist, and...

Jordan steps toward a pensive Rafe, putting a hand on his shoulder as he looks away from her.

JORDAN: ...And she won't be happy that you're having a baby with a woman you aren't married to. Am I getting warm?

Rafe takes a moment before a smile appears on his face. A moment later, he turns to Jordan, a certain excitement in his voice.

RAFE: ...I got it.
JORDAN: You got what?

Rafe leans in excitedly, pulling Jordan in close and gives her a quick kiss. And then another, and another.

RAFE: I got it, I got it, I got it!
JORDAN: WHAT?? What is it?? (laughs)

Rafe puts his jacket on, beaming as he answers Jordan.

RAFE: You'll see.
JORDAN: Well, wait, wait wait wait!
RAFE: What??

Jordan steps toward Rafe, and takes his hands in hers.

JORDAN: Look, I just...I want to be absolutely sure of this before we make any big moves so...I'm gonna pop into the hospital and make an appointment to get a proper pregnancy test, you know, just in case.
RAFE: Good idea. Look, how about I meet you at the hospital in about an hour and a half?
JORDAN: Alright.

Rafe and Jordan lean in to kiss each other, and then Rafe steps out of his apartment, followed by Jordan. After he locks up, he kisses her again.

RAFE: Congratulations, honey. You're gonna make a fantastic mother.
JORDAN: Thank you, Rafe. I love you.
RAFE: I love you, too. See you in a bit.

Rafe and Jordan kiss again as Rafe heads for the elevator. Jordan turns the other way from Rafe, smiling widely with excitement.

---

Brady sits, stonefaced on Anita's couch, staring ahead silently for a moment near the crackling fire, before Anita speaks up, breaking the tense silence.

ANITA: Brady...I think you need to talk about what happened the night of your accident...it might help you to--
BRADY: ...No, it won't! There's no point dredging up the past.

Brady cuts Anita off, quickly getting up from the sofa and walking toward the door. Anita looks on in shock.

ANITA: Brady! Where are you going?

Brady grabs his coat from the coat rack by the door of the cabin and starts to put it on as he answers Anita's question, a certain coldness in his voice.

BRADY: I'm going to take the truck out to the gas station. See if I can get some more marshmallows for that hot chocolate.

Anita starts to get up from the sofa, struggling a bit as Brady steps out the door, closing it behind him.

ANITA: Brady! Brady, wait!

As the door slams shut, Anita's left behind, worried about Brady's state of mind.

---


Liam drives towards Salem, down a gravel road. It's close to dusk, and the light outside is getting increasingly dim. He sets up his bluetooth to through the in-car stereo to call Jennifer at the hospital.

The phone rings through the car stereo.

JENNIFER: (over the stereo) Jennifer Horton.
LIAM: Jenn, it's Liam.

...


Jenn sits at her desk at University Hospital, all smiles as she speaks to her beau.

JENNIFER: (into phone) Liam! It's good to hear your voice. Is this about dinner tonight?

...

Liam shouts over the sound of the gravel under his tires.

LIAM: Yeah, babe. I'm ah...I'm just heading home now, I should be back in about half an hour. I'll pick you up from the hospital, that okay?

***

Brady drives down the gravel road on his way off of Anita's property. By now, the light of dusk has dimmed tremendously, and Brady struggles to see, even in the heightened view from his older SUV.

Still somewhat upset by the events of a moment ago, Brady is slightly distracted and nearly veers off the driveway, quickly correcting his path immediately thereafter.

BRADY: Woah! Brady! Focus...focus...

Brady approaches the end of the driveway, fumbling with the headlights on the older vehicle.

***

Jenn notices the background noise on Liam's phone call, and strains to hear him.

JENNIFER: (into phone) Yeah, Liam. The Hospital's fine...where ARE you?

...

Liam shouts over the sound of the gravel road beneath him so Jenn can hear him on the phone.

LIAM: Just had to make a detour at a gas station in the country, that's all.

***

Brady turns on the switch for the truck's high beams as he approaches the turnoff to the county road, not slowing down as he approaches the turn-off.

The SUV juts out into the intersection as Liam's car passes, causing Liam to swerve suddenly to avoid hitting Brady's car.

***

Jennifer hears the commotion from the scene and is immediately frantic.

JENNIFER: Liam?? Liam? Are you okay?

***

Liam swerves violently,as he's about to be hit by Brady's large older SUV. Brady's headlights shine brightly into Liam's car, momentarily blinding Liam as he looks up at Brady's car, shouting out in panic.

---

DAYS #107: Gabi calls Sami and Kate to a meeting (07/15/14)

EPISODE 107
Written by A. Washington-Beeby
Story Consultants: ML Cooks, Nick Monarco & C. Nathaniel Richardson

Abigail stands in Nicole's office at WXIR with her cameraman. She is surprised as she's just heard a voice from the doorway, and looks over, stunned by EJ's arrival.

ABBY: EJ!

EJ looks at Abigail, smiling warmly at her as he stands expectantly in the doorway.

He steps into the room, and motions to the cameraman.

EJ: Would you mind if I spoke with Ms. Deveraux alone?

The cameraman nods obediently, heading immediately for the door.

CAMERAMAN: Oh! Certainly, Mr. DiMera.
EJ: Cheers.

The cameraman stops just at the doorway and turns to tell Abigail something.

CAMERAMAN: I'll be in the editing suite if you need me.

Abby looks over at the cameraman and smiles.t

ABBY: Okay, sounds good. Thanks again!

As the door shuts behind him, EJ steps in closer to Abigail. His demeanour changes immediately to a serious one, which is offputting to Abigail.

ABBY: So....EJ, what did you need to talk to me about?
EJ: You and I need to have a chat about your little adventure in Italy.

Abigail looks at EJ seriously, she folds her arms in discomfort.

---


Gabi sits at the apartment, bottle feeding Ari, when the doorbell rings. She puts Ari in the basinette, before walking over to the door.

GABI: Just a second!


Gabi walks over and opens the door. It's Sami.

SAMI: Hey! Gabi!
GABI: Sami! Just who I wanted to see!

Sami looks on, surprised, as Gabi moves out of the way so Sami can step inside.

SAMI: Oh! Well...great! Uh...are Sonny and Will here?
GABI: No, Sonny's at the hospital checking up on Victor, and Will's just finishing up at the office. Did you want a coffee or something?

Sami closes the door and takes a seat in the easy chair, Gabi comes around and sits on the sofa, after pouring herself a cup. Sami looks over into the basinette and says hello to Ari.

SAMI: No, no thanks. Well HELLO Arianna!

After Sami finishes with the baby, Gabi sets her coffee down and looks at Sami seriously. Sami looks curiously back.

SAMI: So did you go over the papers I gave you? What did you think?
GABI: Well...I don't know if you're trying to get us all thrown in jail, or if you're just trying to throw me under the bus, but it stops right now.

Sami looks on, aghast at Gabi's accusation.

---

Aiden Jennings sits at his desk, reviewing a case file when he gets buzzed by his secretary outside his office. He picks up his office phone.

AIDEN: (into phone) Yes?
SECRETARY: (on phone) A Nick Fallon to see you.
AIDEN: (into phone) Send him in.


Aiden gets up from his desk, as Nick steps into the room, a mischevious smile on his face. Nick approaches Aiden's desk, hand outstretched in preparation for a handshake.

NICK: Mr. Jennings.

The two men shake hands firmly as Aiden responds.

AIDEN: Mr. Fallon. To what do I owe the pleasure?

Nick sits casually down at Aiden's desk, the smug, satisfied smile quickly becoming his trademark on his face.

NICK: I think it's time we gave our dear friend Eric Brady a nice little wedding gift.

Aiden looks confused at Nick, who stares back, smiling evilly.

---

--

Sami looks on, confused by Gabi's accusation. She takes a second before repsonding to Gabi.

SAMI: Gabi, what are you talking about?
GABI: Oh come on, Sami. First Kate makes me an offer to model for MadWorld, and now you're offering me about 50% more to go to Countess W. This reeks of the exact same kind of crap Nick was doing behind my back the last time, remember? Except now, he's starting a bidding war between you and Kate.

Gabi gets up from her seat upon hearing the doorbell ring again. She walks over to the door as Sami looks over at her, stunned.


Gabi opens the door, Kate is there.

KATE: Gabi! I got here as soon as you called.
GABI: Great! Come in!

Sami looks on, still in shock at what's just been revealed to her.

SAMI: I'm sorry, what? Kate already made an offer to you for MadWorld.
GABI: Mmmhmm! So, would either of you like to explain to me then exactly what's going on, and how Nick ties into it, because I know for a FACT it's him who's behind it.

Kate and Sami look at each other, stunned.

---

Aiden looks confused at Nick, who sits opposite him at his office desk.

AIDEN: Somehow, Nick, I don't see a flash drive, a small leather box, and an envelope with a single sheet of paper inside as being a particularly grand gesture.

Nick chuckles before responding, he gets up from his seat and leans on Aiden's desk, his casualness confusing Aiden even further.

NICK: Ahhh Aiden, you have absolutely no idea how grand this gesture really is.

Nick turns back around and begins to pace Aiden's office, again to Aiden's chagrin.

NICK: See, that flash drive has all kinds of information, and really valuable stuff on it that I think will be so...

Nick is hit by another headache at this moment, but he tries to hold it in as he finishes his thought.

NICK: ...pertinent.

Nick spins around, masking his increasing pain as he walks back toward Aiden.

NICK: I don't think he'll be able to resist. And also, just...so we're clear, we're only presenting the flash drive and the envelope. The flash contains just a tiny little....smidgeon of the info that's in that box, so...I'm going to be holding onto that box for myself, you see.

Aiden nods, increasingly curious as to what Nick is alluding to.

AIDEN: I see. So would you rather I send a messenger to deliver it to Mr. Brady or...
NICK: No, no. I want you to hand deliver it to him tomorrow evening. I am almost 100% certain he will be at Nicole Walker's residence for the evening, but if I find out differently, I'll be sure to let you know.

Aiden looks at Nick, more puzzled than ever.

AIDEN: This sounds like something that's time sensitive.
NICK: It is. I can't really say more than that.

Aiden nods in understanding, before continuing his thought.

AIDEN: No, that's fine. Without getting into details about it, then...should I contact Mr. Brady myself and try to arrange a meeting point?
NICK: Absolutely not. Leave all that to me. You just deliver the goods to Eric Brady when I give the go-ahead, and where.

Aiden nods silently, as Nick looks back at him, an almost crazed level of intensity in his eyes.

---

Abby stands in her office with her arms folded, looking irritated and uncomfortable around EJ.

ABBY: There's nothing to talk about, EJ.
EJ: Yes, there is still. We need to be absolutely clear on this: you cannot tell anybody about your baby.
ABBY: EJ, I wasn't planning on it. I'd rather forget that I even gave birth in the first place, let alone that I gave the baby up for adoption to a couple I never got to meet.

EJ looks down as he sits down in the chair in front of Abby's desk. He leans in and speaks gently to her.

EJ: I am sorry about that. I did think it was best though that we kept the arrangements of the adoption as impersonal as possible. I felt it would be less painful for you.

Abby cuts EJ off, an embittered tone in her voice.

ABBY: Don't you think you should've let ME decide that? It was my baby too, EJ. All I know is that an American couple with a good home in the country adopted my baby, I didn't get to speak with them, I didn't get to meet them, nothing.

EJ nods sheepishly.

EJ: You're right. But I couldn't let anything happen to jeopardize our plan. Too many people would get hurt if they knew about the baby.

Abby looks off, distantly, as though she's barely listening to EJ anymore.

ABBY: I know. I remind myself of that every day.
EJ: I know it mustn't be easy for you. Believe me, it's hard enough on me.

Abby nods, trying to find something to distract herself to mask her anger and upset.

ABBY: Yeah, welll...you have your other kids...you have Sami. And I....have work, so...if you don't mind.
EJ: Abigail.

Abby sits down at her desk, before looking up at EJ.

ABBY: Yes?
EJ: I'm sorry.

Abby nods, looking away from EJ to try to keep from crying. She barely chokes out a response.

ABBY: So am I.

EJ steps out, as Abby tries to hold in her tears. Once he's out, she sits in still silence, tears forming in her eyes.

---


At a cabin far outside Salem, a baby lays in his crib, gurgling. A woman we can't identify plays with him, as, in the background, Liam steps toward the door.

LIAM: If there's anything you need, just call.

Liam smiles as he steps out the door, before turning back.

LIAM: I'm glad you're home.

Closing the door behind him, Liam breathes in the crisp winter air, as he texts Jennifer.

ur place 4 dinner 2nite? txt me

He smiles to himself as he walks down the front steps of the cabin towards his car and gets in.

---


Valerie sits in her office at University Hospital, as Marlena pokes her head in. Valerie looks up, and smiles.

VALERIE: Marlena! Hi, darling, come on in!

Marlena smiles half-heartedly as she steps into Valerie's office, Valerie gets up and hugs Marlena.

MARLENA: Ohhh thank you for seeing me.
VALERIE: Anytime for you. I'm actually glad you stopped by.

They separate from their hug and take seats on either side of Valerie's desk. Marlena looks on surprised.

MARLENA: Oh? Is it about Roman?
VALERIE: Yes. (sigh), I'm assuming that's what you wanted to talk to me about?

Marlena's face drops as she looks down, concern now plain on her face.

MARLENA: Yes...I uh...Roman was out all last night, he had a huge lapse in his memory and...he ended up spending the night in the park.

Valerie looks on, aghast at Marlena's news.

VALERIE: In this weather? Marlena, it's so cold out this time of year!
MARLENA: I know. Lucas Horton managed to find him and brought him to Club TBD to warm up, thankfully, but...Valerie, he's off again working the EnerNext protest as we speak. I'm...I'm worried he's in over his head, so I need to know if you found....anything in his medical history that would give some small clue as to what's going on.

Valerie draws herself up, visibly uncomfortable having to say what she has to say.

VALERIE: Well...I guess this leads into what I was going to tell you....I wish I could tell you anything about Roman's medical history, but I can't...because before 1997....it doesn't exist.

Marlena looks at Valerie, stunned by the revelation.

---

DAYS #106: Nick figures out Nicole and Eric's plans, Jordan's moment of truth (07/14/14)

EPISODE 106
Written by A. Washington-Beeby
Story Consultants: ML Cooks, Nick Monarco & C. Nathaniel Richardson

Abigail stands in the field before Percy Ruggles' cabin outside Salem, with the televison camera on her, as she reports on the protests against Titan and EnerNext's plans to commence extracting oil out of the land near Salem. The crowd of protesters chanting behind her means Abby must speak loudly over the din into her microphone.

ABBY: ...And as the protests begin, many in Salem's west end are showing their support tonight, by using only sparse electricity throughout the evening hours in their own protest, aimed at encouraging EnerNext and Salem City Council to invest in more environmentally-friendly sources of power, such as wind and solar panels. For Salem's own WXIR News, I'm Abigail Deveraux.
CAMERAMAN: Aaaand cut! Great work, Abby, especially for your first time out.

Abby smiles sheepishly as she walks toward the cameraman.

ABBY: Well, thanks! Now I just have to convince the rest of Salem of that.
CAMERAMAN: You'll be fine. Besides, it's only for today while Nicole runs her errand, and if she isn't satisfied with how you covered it, she can voice over it for the news tonight.


Abby nods in understanding as they pack up. Heading for her car, she looks back over and spots Jerome looking her way. Abby smiles back him, holding her hand up in the air to give him an "ok" gesture with her fingers before stepping into the car.

Jerome, facing the crowd of protesters he's leading, smiles back, deeply intrigued by the young woman.



From the edge of the crowd, Hope, Rafe, and Roman all stand together, watching their fellow officers patrol the protest, maintaining order. Hope looks as Abby and Jerome look at each other, and continues to feel discomforted by their interaction.

---


Jordan walks into her suite at the Salem Inn with a shopping bag in hand. Hastily slamming the door, she makes a beeline for the vanity, where she lays down her purse and pulls a pregnancy test out of the shopping bag.

She stares intesnely at the pregnancy test box, sighing heavily as she contemplates it.

JORDAN: This could be everything you've ever hoped for, Jordan. But you can't tell Rafe until you know for sure. And if you are pregnant...then you might finally get the chance to have everything you thought you'd never have in your life.

Jordan smiles at the thought of potentially having a baby and starting a life with Rafe, but is so nervous the smile fades.

---


Billie puts down the phone in her office at Titan, a wide smile on her face as she looks up at Lucas and Kate, who've reassembled there.

BILLIE: It's on. Shane just gave us the go-ahead to put surveillance on Sheryl and Jordan's computers, and they'll be remotely guiding us through disabling the virus installation through live chat tonight.

Lucas and Kate beam, surprised by the good news.

LUCAS: Fantastic! So that means this nightmare's gonna finally be over.

Billie looks cautiously at Lucas, holding up a finger to remind him.

BILLIE: Might. I can't guarantee anything, but based on the evidence that one of them was responsible for hacking into the city council's server this morning and erasing the files on the expropriation of Percy Ruggles' land? We've got enough to at least make charges stick if we catch them in the act tonight.
KATE: And what about the rest of the Titan executive? Should we fill them in now on what's going on, or is it safe yet to do that?

Billie looks at Kate, a look of uncertainty remaining on her face.

BILLIE: Shane said that until we know for certain that it is Sheryl and Jordan working on this and that they aren't being helped out by anyone higher up in the company, that we should keep everything within these four walls. There are too many unknown factors at play, especially with all the rejigging and new hires they've had to do since EnerNext merged with Titan.
LUCAS: Makes sense.

Kate looks over at Lucas, then back at Billie, the whole time extremely pensive. Billie, meanwhile, begins to rummage through her bag, looking for something in particular.

KATE: Alright. So...now what?

Billie pulls out a tiny bugging device from her bag, and holds it up for Kate and Lucas to see.

BILLIE: Lucas? Wanna go on one last little mission for me?

Lucas looks on, deeply uncomfortable with this idea, knowing interacting with Sheryl will be required.

---

---

Hope, standing with Rafe and Roman, stares off from the edge of the anti-EnerNext protest as Abby and Jerome stare at each other from a distance. Concern plain on her face, but she doesn't move toward Abigail as Abigail steps into the WXIR News vehicle. Her moment of observation is interrupted by Roman.

ROMAN: Alright, so we're gonna have to just keep this contained, but I suggest we try to break this up sooner rather than later.

Rafe and Hope look at Roman, confused. Hope speaks up.

HOPE: Roman, I don't know if that's such a good idea.

Roman cuts in, curtly speaking over Hope's suggestion.

ROMAN: Hope, with all due respect, I don't feel it's right that I should have my authority overruled right now.

Rafe, stepping in to defend his partner, tries to maintain a calm demeanour as he responds to Roman.

RAFE: The protest is soon to end anyway, Roman. Besides, there's no need to escalate things. It's been a peaceful protest so far.

Roman looks at Hope, feeling cut down by Hope and Rafe. He sighs and looks down as he responds.

ROMAN: Yeah. Fine.

Roman begins to walk toward his car, while Hope quickly speaks to Rafe.

HOPE: I think we're gonna be fine if you wanna head home.

Rafe nods, also concerned about Roman, but obliges.

RAFE: Sounds good. I'll call you in a bit.
HOPE: 'Kay.

Hope and Rafe separate and Rafe heads for his car. Roman's also heading for his car when Hope pulls him aside, a great deal of concern on her face.

HOPE: Roman...I'm sorry, okay? I'm just...I'm worried about you.

Roman hisses back, agitated by Hope's concern, but trying to keep word quiet on the force about his memory lapses.

ROMAN: Don't...okay? Dammit, Hope, I don't want you treating me like I'm incompetent because of my memory lapses, okay?
HOPE: You know that's not what I'm doing. But last night was really scary, Roman. And I don't think any of us want you making any rash decisions that could cost you or one of the other officers their lives.
ROMAN: Don't you think I want to keep you all safe? Dammit, Hope, you're gonna have to trust my judgment.

Hope, thinking back to Jerome's recent false arrest, and Roman's recent memory lapse that saw him spend a frigid night in the park, looks down, a tense, pensive look on her face.

HOPE: I don't know if I can do that right now, Roman. But I'm going to try. Just know that this isn't coming from a place of disrespect or trying to...pull some kinda power play on you. I'm just concerned.

Roman looks at Hope, dejected and embarrassed.

ROMAN: Spare me your concern, Hope. I need you to trust that I know what the right thing to do is, and if my officers can't do that, then I can't do my job. And I'm not going to give up this job without a fight.

Hope looks at Roman, a look of respect and sadness in her eyes.

---

Abby steps back into the office at WXIR with her cameraman and sets down her bag. She and he laugh as they joke about the goings on of the day.

ABBY: I can't believe it all was so easy. And I am SO not telegenic, Nicole is totally gonna scrap my on-camera bit.
CAMERAMAN: Don't be so sure, Abby. You know, you've definitely got your mom's touch in front of the camera.


A voice calls out to Abby from the doorway of the office, startling both her and the cameraman.

EJ: That she does.

Abigail looks over, stunned by EJ's arrival.

ABBY: EJ!

EJ looks at Abigail, smiling warmly at her as he stands expectantly in the doorway.

---


Inside the Titan Lab, the sound of test tubes bubbling under the heat of bunsen burners colour the otherwise silent air. Nick leans back against one of the counters in the lab, playing with the prescription pad that had been placed in his laptop bag earlier in the day. He closely analyzes the pad. The name on the pad: Dr. Marlena Evans.

NICK: Dr. Marlena Evans.

Looking over at his open laptop on the desk nearby, Nick saunters over to the desk. He places the prescription pad down next to his laptop and begins to think as he stares at his screen.

NICK: Now she wouldn't do this herself...so...who is connected to Dr. Evans...Sami...but Stefano's got her right where he wants her...it couldn't be Eric...

Nick's eyebrows raise slightly when he makes a quick realization.

NICK: Nicole.

Nick quickly opens a program and pats himself down to try to find his new cell phone. Opening that up, he quickly hunts through his contacts to try to find Nicole's phone number.

NICK: Okay...23...4.

Nick waits a moment before a map of Salem appears, with a chain of red dots appearing across the map, indicating where Nicole's cell phone's been today. Nick looks up at the strings of dots scattered across the map, before changing the time parameters in the search bar at the top of the map.

NICK: Between 11am and 3pm.

Nick hits 'enter', and the chain of red dots mostly disappear, except for a small series of dots moving from the DiMera tower to City Hall, then Club TBD. Nick looks up from his screen, remembering the fleeting moment he spoke to Nicole that afternoon.

***

FLASHBACK TO EPISODE 103
 

Nick stands outside Salem U's main hall, on the phone with Nicole. He speaks to her on the phone, increasingly agitated in his tone.
 
NICK: (into phone) I asked YOU to be there, not your assistant. And I don’t appreciate you trying to pull one over on me. Or ignoring my phone calls.
 
…
 
Nicole rolls her eyes, as she drives down the road to meet up with Eric, already exasperated by Nick’s constant demands, she fights hard not to snap at him.
 
NICOLE: (into phone) Oh, get over it. You’ll get your story, Nick. Abby’s not exactly an amateur, you know. Look, I gotta go. I have an appointment and I have to meet Eri—I gotta go.
 
Nicole hangs up quickly, kicking herself for slipping up as she presses “end call” on her phone, and carries on driving.

***

Nick snaps out of his memory, and immediately smirks, realizing he has a good idea what the meeting was about.

NICK: City hall. Eric Brady.

After a moment of clicking his mouse and frantically typing, Nick accesses the Salem City Hall server, and searches through their database for Eric Brady.

After a moment, a result, from today.

Nick looks it over and starts to laugh to himself.

NICK: Gotcha!

---

Lucas gets up from his seat in Billie's office, enraged by his sister's request.

LUCAS: Dammit, Billie! No! I'm not going to do anything else to keep this charade going between me and Sheryl. I'm done.

Billie gets up from her seat, trying desperately to calm Lucas down.

BILLIE: Lucas! It's...woah...it's just one last thing. It'll just take five minutes and it'll give us everything we need to get this whole operation over with today.
LUCAS: No! Okay, I'm done.

Kate, still in her seat, goes to touch Lucas' hand, but Lucas flinches and draws his hand away from his mother.

KATE: Lucas, calm down! Hear Billie out.
LUCAS: Na--come on, both of you! I have been the bait in this operation for way too long, and I'm so fed up of it.

Billie walks around to the other side of her desk and looks at Lucas, standing close to him. She reaches to him to put her hands on his shoulders, but Lucas starts to back up.

BILLIE: Look...Lucas. All I need is for you to call down to Sheryl's office and ask her to come to your office. Once she's there, I'll slip into her office and get the bug planted and I'll be right back out. She won't even know I'm there. All you need to do is distract her for a few minutes in your office. Make it something simple, and something believable so she doesn't get suspicious, and we'll be in and out.

Lucas looks at Billie, knowing she's right, but still reluctant to agree. He finally nods.

LUCAS: Yeah, sure. But this is the LAST TIME, I'm telling you, Billie!

Billie raises her right hand, smiling goofily at her little brother.

BILLIE: Promise. Now! Lucas, give me a call on my cell the moment you've got off the phone with Sheryl and confirm to me that she's alone in that office, okay?

Lucas, already headed for his office, responds as he opens Billie's office door.

LUCAS: Got it.

Kate gets up from her seat, and grabs the bottle of champagne she'd left in Billie's office earlier. Holding it as she walks over towards Billie, who's now gone back behind her desk.

KATE: And hopefully, by the end of tonight, we will be toasting to the downfall of Jordan Ridgeway and Sheryl Connors.

Billie smiles and nods in agreement with her mother.

---

Jordan emerges from her suite's bathroom, pregnancy test in one hand, her cell phone in the other, as the timer ticks slowly down. She looks on, nervously anticipating the result. She thinks of the possible future she would have with Rafe, and begins daydreaming.

...

In her dream, Rafe and Jordan stand in the opposite corner of the room peering lovingly into a bassinet. Rafe looks up at Jordan and smiles warmly.
 
RAFE: You know...I never imagined I'd ever be this lucky.
JORDAN: Neither did I. I can't believe that this is my life. A wonderful man like you to love and cherish me...and our beautiful baby. It's...Rafe, it's everything I ever wanted in life.
 
Rafe and Jordan stand up, looking deeply into each other's eyes as they lean in closer. Jordan wraps her arms around Rafe as they kiss.
 
RAFE: It's everything I've ever wanted...and so much more.
 
Rafe immediately kisses Jordan again, as they begin to kiss passionately.

...

Jordan's knocked out of her dream by her cell phone's alarm noise. Shutting off the alarm, she holds up the pregnancy test, shutting her eyes in nervous anticipation.

JORDAN: The moment of truth.

Jordan opens her eyes, and looks at the result, the shock is plain on her face.

JORDAN: Oh my God!

---