Episode # 10204; Tape Date: 11/7/05; Director: Herb Stein

Summary: This is one of those difficult shows where everyone is in the same place (the hospital this time) with lots of little conversations going on, so sorry if this seems jumbled up. Claire continues to fight for her life…Hope spends time with “her boys”…John makes another plea to Marlena…Sami calls Carrie, while she schemes to get Austin…Kate spends time lurking around, as both Lucas and Austin seek her advice about the “other woman” in their lives.

Hope arrives at the hospital for Zack’s checkup and meet Shawn there. Shawn asks about Zack’s Christmas list as Hope explains that it is short this year because of all the unfortunate children in Mississippi and Louisiana (Zack says “because of the hurricane”) and Hope says he is even donating some of his things to them. Shawn can see that something is bothering his mom and she says she is upset over Jack’s death. She asks about Claire and he gives her an update on her condition. The whole time, Kate is lurking and listening, thinking that she is HIS baby, but he will never know that. Shawn and Hope get coffee as they chat. He talks about how sick the baby is and how much he and Mimi have been helping. He says all that has made him think about all the troubles he put her and Bo through. He says he has realized how important his family is to him and hope that someday he will be ready to marry and raise his own family. He talks about how he and Mimi are getting closer and how she can’t have kids, but they would love to adopt. Hope is surprised at how he has matured and is so proud of him…if only he would go back to school. She says she only wants the best for him and wants him to be happy. Later, Zack is finished with his checkup and the doctor says he was so brave and is perfectly healthy. Hope talks about how lucky and blessed she is and prays that nothing ever happens to either of them. Shawn tells her not to worry about them…Zack is healthy and he has straightened out his life. As Shawn is holding Zack, she walks around behind and puts them both in a huge bear hug.

Austin and Sami arrive at the hospital as she is chattering on about Carrie and he tells her it is none of her business. He tells her that since returning to Salem, Carrie has been on his mind, but that’s it…and he is NOT going to try and split up Carrie and Mike. Sami says he deserves better and he shouldn’t be pining away for Carrie. Austin says he is trying to get his company off the ground right now and is NOT looking for anyone. Lucas (who overheard some of this) comes over and wants to talk to Austin, against Sami’s wishes. Austin tells her to go find Belle and find out about the baby as he and Lucas talk. Lucas tells Austin that he has a surprise for him…do not underestimate him as he has done in the past. Austin asks what he is talking about, but Lucas is evasive. He goes and calls Carrie to see if they are still on for dinner. She asks him if he sees this as a “real date” and he asks her what’s the problem. She says she just isn’t ready to get involved as of yet. He tells her that he will see her in a few hours. Her assistant Becky (?) comes in and asks her about it, but she says she and Lucas are just friends.

Lucas talks to Kate and she asks him what happened to his dinner date. He tells her that the woman he is interested in also has someone else interested in her. Kate advises him (that if he loves her) to go for it and show no mercy. Lucas tells her not yet, but maybe on down the road. Kate tells him to grind his opponent into the dust. Austin walks up as Lucas wonders what Kate would say if she knew his “rival” was another of her sons. After Lucas leaves, Kate thanks Austin for being there and supporting Philip. She asks him how business is going and he assures her all is well and hopes to be giving Titan a run for it’s money some day. He tells her that Nicole is working on a proposal right now and she pays Nicole a back-handed compliment and talks about how ruthless she is…just what Austin needs. She warns him about Sami and Nicole both being after him but he tells her he isn’t interested…there is someone else. Of course Kate is dying of curiosity, but he won’t tell her who it is, BUT she would approve. Kate says good…at least I know it isn’t Nicole or Sami. She gives him the same advice she gave Lucas…to go for it. Austin tells her that this person is very far away and is also involved with someone else and that he will deal with all that when and if the time comes. Kate tells him he needs to make his move…if he waits too long he may lose her…just as Sami walks up to hear this, and scowls.

John is in the waiting area as Marlena and Alex arrive and he gives them an update on the baby. Alex asks John to NOT call her “Doc”, being as that is a term of endearment, and he finds it inappropriate. Through clenched teeth, John says “okay, no more Doc”. John asks her if she thinks she may regain her memory sometime and realize that HE is the one she loves. Marlena tells him that “Doc” was his wife, but she is not that person anymore…it’s all gone, her future is with Alex. John stares in disbelief as she tells him that she and Alex are planning on moving away soon. He asks her again what will she do when her memory returns. She claims she will stay with Alex and would have never married either him or Roman if Alex hadn’t disappeared. Sami comes over as Marlena explains that she and John have separated. Sami is excited over this…until Marlena explains that she is married to Alex. Sami wants answers and is skeptical when she gets them. She says it is a mistake…it is Roman that she loves. But her mom insists she married Alex first and that will not change her love for her children. Sami asks if Roman knows this and is sure that he won’t accept it. Marlena leaves to find Belle and check on the baby as Sami fumes. She ponders all the problems swirling around her and says she can’t do anything about them, she can only deal with her own problems and decides she will do whatever it takes to snag Austin. She says at least Carrie is half-way around the world. She decides to give her sister a call and check up on her. Carrie answers her cell phone as Sami starts asking how she is. Immediately, Carrie is suspicious, wondering why Sami is calling and asks if there is a problem with Claire. Sami is surprised that Carrie knows about that situation and she claims that Roman told her. Carrie asks if she should come home, but Sami tells her no. She assures the “good sister” (Sami’s words) that they have been through a lot since she has been gone and can weather this storm as well. Sami asks about Mike and Jeremy. Carrie skirts that question and tells Sami that she heard she was working with Austin and Nicole. Sami says she sure has good sources and is surprised over how much Carrie knows. Carrie tells her she has good sources (lol). Carrie asks if Austin ever mentions her and Sami says no. Austin has forgotten all about her and that there may even be wedding bells in his near future. She assures Carrie that he has not been pining away for her. Carrie cuts the conversation short, telling her that she is busy and needs to go. Sami pretends to be talking to Austin and tells Carrie he needs her and hangs up as Carrie goes “ARRGGH!”

Philip and Belle are in the chapel hugging and crying over Claire when John comes in asking how they are doing. He tries to be reassuring but Belle says she feels their family is cursed…he lost mom and now she is losing her baby, as Marlena walks up to hear this and comes over and hugs Belle. As they talk, John and Alex go into the hall. John tells him that he has been researching him and his story checks out. He asks Alex not to take advantage of the situation and not to be intimate with Marlena until she gets her memory back. Alex is shocked that he asked this and they start arguing…as Marlena listens. She breaks them up, wanting to talk to John privately. She tells him that this has to stop…she has chosen Alex and he must accept it, but John says he can’t. Later, he goes to get a soda and beats up the machine out of frustration. She sees him and comes over, noticing he hurt his hand. He tells her that he is just so frustrated because he can’t protect Belle and the baby…like he used to protect HER. She bandages his hand as he says she has always taken care of him in so many ways over the years. He wishes it could always be like that. She tells him that there are some things in life they must just accept. But he says he must fight for what is right. She tells him that he can’t fight for things that are right for her. She says that she is with Alex and there is nothing more to say abou tit. She leaves with Alex as John seethes.

Back at her office…Carrie tells Becky that she just cannot get Austin off her mind…as Lucas is now in the other room listening. Becky advises her to call him and tell him how she feels. Lucas walks in as Carrie asks him if something is wrong. He tells her it’s nothing. As he helps her on with her coat, he tells her she is in for a night she will never forget…as the previews show…

Nicole (to Sami): Power and money…I thought that’s what you wanted. (Sami): Of course I do, who doesn’t? (Nicole): Okay then, stay out of my way and let me do what I do best…

Kate (seated at a computer): This is a very dangerous thing I am doing…(as a security guard walks in and asks): What are you doing ma’am?...

Carrie (to Lucas): I feel bad about leaving Salem…I just felt it would be easier to start over some place new…

Frankie (to Jen): Are you saying it’s time for me to go?... (Jen): I think it’s time for all of us to move on…

As the credits roll…
Laney