Episode # 10250; Tape Date: 1/24/06; Air Date: 2/13/06; Director: Roger Inman

Summary: Zack’s funeral winds down with the graveside rites and Hope says her last goodbyes (I don’t know how Kristian delivers such strong performances day after day, but there’s another one today)…the cops arrive to arrest Chelsea…Bonnie finally gets through to Mimi...John makes a startling discovery…Abe tries to convince Marlena that John loves her…Lexie tells Tek to leave her alone.

At the Penthouse…Alex goes to leave but Marlena won’t let him and wants to know what is going on. Alex tells her that it’s Valentine’s Day and he wants to go out and get her a gift. She says it’s not necessary but he says he wants to get her something special (yea, like a knife through the heart?) She finally says okay, BUT, she is going with him. He tries to talk her out of it but she is determined to tag along. He pleads for her not to ruin the surprise and kisses her hand and sweet talks her until she relents. He promises he won’t be gone for long and rushes out. After he leaves, she finds a picture of her and John in the drawer and has flashbacks of a previous Valentine’s Day of them in the bed (surrounded by candles) kissing. She sighs.

At the Hospital…Lexie is look for Abe in his room when Tek comes in, saying he can’t let her go. In the hallway, Abe tells the cop to take the paperwork to the station but he refuses to go, saying he has responsibility there. Abe threatens to call Roman so the cop gives in and leaves. In the room, Lexie asks Tek to leave her alone but he says he can’t…he loves her. Abe walks in and says that they look serious…is there something they want to tell him? Lexie tells Abe they were looking for him and were worried. He tells them he was doing John a favor. Abe tells Tek he wants to talk to his wife alone so he leaves. Lexie asks him about the favor for John and he tells her he was helping John get Marlena back. He says he knows how he feels…he almost lost Lexie. She asks him what can John do…Marlena has chosen Alex. Abe says that John and Marlena belong together…as he and Lexie do. They hug as she sees Tek watching them from outside.

Meanwhile…John is in Lois’s room, ready to inject her with truth serum when she wakes up and asks what the hell he is doing. She demands to know why he is there and he says he is going to stop her from hurting Marlena. He asks her if she has a grudge against her because she got the man Lois wanted. She smiles saying she won’t have him long. John prods her and she says she is going to have a wonderful Valentine’s Day gift. John tells her to share…he can keep a secret…what is Alex really up to? She goes for his throat as he pops her in the arm with the syringe. She panics, asking what is that? John says he wants the truth from her…so start talking…he wants to know what she knows about Alex. She realizes her shot her with truth serum as she tells him that she and Alex will be together. She says Marlena will be out of the picture soon…permanently. He asks what Alex has planned as she giggles. She asks him if he remembers the St. Valentine’s Massacre…people got a nasty surprise that day…just like Alex has in store for Marlena. She cackles as she tells him it is a surprise and it won’t be pretty. Alex has now arrived at the hospital and is watching them through the window on the door. Marlena is also now at the hospital and sees Alex, walks over and asks what he is doing there. But the doctor turns around and it’s not Alex and she apologizes. But, Alex DOES see her and says she can’t see him there. He says he must stop John and is worried about what Lois may be telling him. John pulls up a chair and asks Lois what Alex is up to. He threatens to have her committed. She says Alex loves her but John tells her that Alex is planning to have her transferred to a permanent psychiatric facility. She doesn’t believe him and says that she and Alex are in love and are partners…he is going to kill Marlena so they can be together forever. Cue the dramatic music as John tells her that he is going to stop Alex. Meanwhile, Alex has gone into a psych observation room and can see/hear what is going on in the room. He can see and hear as Lois is spilling her guts. She says that she and Alex will be together forever after he erases Marlena…permanently. John says “over my dead body” as Alex smiles and says “that could be arranged.”

In Abe’s room…Marlena goes to visit and he tells her that he knows she still has amnesia and may think she knows Alex, but she may be wrong about him. He urges her to keep her eyes open…this man may not be who she thinks he is. (You can see that Marlena doesn’t like hearing this). He tells her on the other hand, John has loved Marlena for as long as he (Abe) has known him and he knows that John’s love will never die. He says he understands how John feels…for he turned his back on Lexie but has come to his senses. He says that kind of love only comes around once in a lifetime, if you are lucky, and it is too precious to lose. She is skeptical and says she doesn’t remember John, but she owes Alex…he saved her life. Abe asks (sarcastically, I think) if she has ANY idea how many times John saved her, nd she says no, Abe, I don’t (IMO, Marlena is being a little snotty with Abe). Abe tells her (as a FRIEND, he says) to stay alert and keep her eyes open…she may change her mind. Marlena confidently says that she doesn’t think Alex would EVER betray her…unless someone can prove otherwise…she is staying with him.

Later, Tek finds Lexie and she tells him it is over between them. She and Abe share a lot and her future is with him. She asks him to please keep his distance. He says that she can’t ignore her feelings but she says she must. He tries to change her mind and asks her to just think about it. He leaves as she sobs.

At the Loft…Bonnie tells Mimi she isn’t staying there and starts packing. They argue over Mimi telling Shawn the truth as Bonnie says no good will come of it. Mimi tries to calm her down and says if they don’t stop arguing, she will have a heart attack. Bonnie fesses up and tells her that there is nothing wrong, she is healthy as a horse, and she faked it all. Mimi says “I KNEW IT”…she suspected all along. Mimi is determined to tell the truth and says she won’t marry Shawn based on a lie. But Bonnie is sure they can have a great life and begs her not to blow it…she tells her to play the “C” card. Mimi is confused and Bonnie explains…the “Cinderella” card. Bonnie talks about how she used to read it to her when she was little and how Cinderella never let anyone stop her. Mimi says that Cinderella had a fairy godmother. Bonnie says you have a REAL mother…even better. Mimi points out that Cinderella never lied to her prince, but Bonnie says she did keep things from him…even Cinderella had her secrets…every woman does. Bonnie says she has found a great guy…they love each other…she has it all. She says he is the grandson of Victor Kiriakis on one side…and on the other, the great grandson of Tom Horton. She says “that old coot” founded University Hospital. In Salem, Shawn is like royalty…her prince…and she can be his Cinderella…so shut up and put on the glass slipper as Mimi sighs. Shawn returns from the funeral (see below) saying he is glad it is over. Bonnie (thinking she lost the argument) is packing, telling Shawn she is going home…she will be fine. Mimi tells him that she needs to ask him something. She asks him if he still wants to get married. He says yes, so she says let’s do it…as soon as possible…as Bonnie beams.

At St. Lukes…There is a replay of the Bo/Patrick scuffle where Zack’s picture is broken. Hope picks it up and yells at Bo to stay away from her. Chelsea tells Billie she thinks they should leave (yea, you have done your damage). But before they are gone, Hope says that Chelsea is going to pay for what she did. Hope cries as she talks to Zack’s picture about how she loves him and wishes she could have protected him. In the vestibule, Chelsea whines to Billie about killing Zack. Kate comes out there and says there is only one way to make sure she doesn’t go to prison. The next we see of everyone, they are going to the grave site. The crowd has now dwindled down to Hope, Shawn, Bo, Victor, Kate, Caroline and Patrick. (Chelsea and Billie follow at a safe distance). Father Jansen says a prayer and says if they can say a final farewell to Zack if they wish. Most of them just place a white rose on the casket. Shawn does so and says “You were the best…nothing will be the same without you”. Bo says “I am sorry Tiny man, I let you down…I should have protected you but I didn’t…I will never stop loving you.” Hope places her rose and says she can’t say goodbye…he will always be in her heart, she has loved him since the day he was born and will until she takes her last breath. She weeps as Shawn holds her. Billie asks Chelsea if she wants to say goodbye but she says she can’t…it’s all her fault. Bo and Hope both continue to cry as the cops arrive and the casket is lowered into the ground. Everyone begins to leave except Bo and Hope. Shawn tries to take her home but she refuses to go. She hugs him and tells him he is a good son and to go be with Mimi. He kisses her and walks silently by Bo. Bo and Hope stare at each other. Victor whispers to Kate, warning her to not do to take advantage of the situation and try to come between Bo and Hope. He says if she does, she will live to regret it. Patrick offers to give Billie and Chelsea a ride home, but Billie tells him no, they are not his problem. Bo asks Hope if she can ever forgive him but she tells him she just wants to be alone with her son. Everyone is gone now but Hope (and the grave workers) as she cries alone. Bo walks into the church as the cops are cuffing Chelsea. Billie tells Bo to stop them but he asks them to let him handle it as he begins to recite her Miranda Rights…and Billie just stares at him. By the grave, Hope kneels down, talking to Zack as a hand reaches out to her. The camera pans back to show it is Patrick. She takes his hand and cries…as the previews show…

John (to Marlena): Listen to me…Alex has been plotting with Lois all along…they are in love and planning to kill you…

Alex: Desperate times…desperate measures…

Mimi (to Philip and Belle): Look at the engagement ring Shawn gave me…(Philip): WOAH!...(Shawn): We are planning to get married as soon as possible…(as Belle stares at them)…

Bo: (walking on Patrick and Hope hugging): What the hell is going on here…get your hands off my wife…

As the credits roll…
Laney