Episode # 10243; Tape Date: 1/14/06; Air Date: 2/2/06; Director: Roger Inman

Summary: Patrick spills the beans to Hope (FINALLY she knows the truth!)…Chelsea begs Max to help her run away…Mimi struggles with the truth about Claire…and Lucas has a proposal for Carrie.

At Lucas’s Place…Carrie is moping around as he comes in asking what is wrong. She is still beating herself up about what happened to her. She says she doesn’t think she can ever forgive Austin. She also tells Lucas that she talked with Sami at the courthouse and discovered that she still loves him. Lucas doesn’t believe it but Carrie says she believes that Sami was telling her the truth. He says that Sami lied too much to him and he doesn’t want to get hurt again. He is going to move on with his live and says that Carrie needs to do the same. He tells her he has a proposal for her and leads her to the sofa. He asks her to come to work with him at Titan, saying they will make a good team. She is a bit taken back and tells him that she appreciates the offer, but can’t help but wonder if he has ulterior motives. He swears it is strictly business and says he needs her help to crush Austin Reed and Company as their first order of business. He keeps pushing and says that as their first order of business, they will go after Austin’s company just like he did her and teach him a lesson. He asks her if they have a deal as she says yes and they shake on it.

Across the hall…Sami and Austin are also back home (I think I heard someone say that Billie didn’t want any of them there for the arraignment). Austin is worried about Billie but Sami is clearly on the other team’s side. She says she can’t get Zack out of her head and what Bo and Hope are going through. She says she wishes she could do something for them, but a lot has happened while Austin was gone and she isn’t on very good terms with them. But she recalls how Zack was always happy to see her…perhaps he just didn’t know any better (LOL). Austin tells her that HE cares about her and she thanks him for being her friend. He talks about how she is trying to turn her life around. He says he should have listened to her as she tried to stop him from going after HighStyle (as she has a LONG series of flashbacks of discovering Carrie was the CEO as well as Nicole being suspicious of her). She says she isn’t perfect and she could have done more. But Austin says she tried, but he just wouldn’t listen. She tells him that she talked with Carrie earlier and she tried to get her to forgive him, but she said it is over between them. But Austin vows to not give up on her. Sami changes the subject and says they have a lot of work to do and they need to focus on the business, Titan in particular. Austin says he knows she still has feelings for Lucas and can she handle going up against him. She says she will be fine. He made it clear that there is nothing left between them…all bets are off and she will find her happiness elsewhere.

At the Loft…Shawn and Belle are with Claire (where is Philip?) as Belle talks about what a good dad Shawn will be someday. They talk about the upcoming wedding and Belle agreeing to be Mimi’s maid of honor. Meanwhile in the hall, Mimi is in shock of Bonnie’s declaration. She says it can’t be true and even if it were, how could Bonnie know? Bonnie says it is fact and that she must marry Shawn ASAP. Shawn asks Belle if she is happy for him and Mimi and she (of course) says yes but thinks that with all that is going on, maybe they should wait a while and he says they are going to. Mimi tells Bonnie that it can’t be true, for she knows that Belle and Shawn never made love…Philip was her first. But Bonnie tells her that she checked things out and reminds Mimi about them being found naked in the burning barn, she talked with the EMT, and says that is the night it happened. Mimi says there is no proof, but Bonnie says that CLAIRE is the proof. She points out the blood connection and the liver match with Zack, etc. Mimi is still in denial and becoming hysterical as Bonnie says what Philip and Belle don’t know won’t hurt them. She then plays her trump card, telling her that she confronted Kate…and she knows the truth as well…THAT is why she is being so supportive and generous with Mimi. She says that Kate is only trying to protect Philip. By this time, Mimi is crushed and says that there is NO WAY she can marry Shawn now. Shawn and Belle put Claire down for her nap as Shawn talks about how Philip and Belle have the perfect family and love each other even more since Claire came along. Bonnie is angry with Mimi for saying she can’t lie to Shawn. Bonnie insists that it won’t do any harm. But Mimi’s conscience is working on her and is bound and determined to tell the truth. She says that baby Claire tips the scales for her and points out that when Shawn finds out the truth, he will want Belle and Claire…leaving her out in the cold. Bonnie says that Shawn loves her (Mimi) and will marry her but Mimi refuses to live a lie as she says “been there…done that…even have the t-shirt”. She says that Shawn has to know and she is telling him right now…just as Caroline walks up. Apparently she didn’t hear as she says she is there to talk to Mimi about the wedding dress and even has an engagement gift for her (she left the hearing for that?). Seeing that Mimi is upset, she asks if she is okay but Bonnie covers, saying that she is just excited. She wants to go congratulate Shawn as well and goes in to see him. Mimi and Bonnie continue to argue as Bonnie vows that this wedding will happen. But Mimi goes inside to tell everyone the truth, as Bonnie follows, trying to stop her. Inside, Caroline is cooing over the baby and notes that she looks just like Shawn did as a baby (as Mimi has a flashback of overhearing the nurses talking about how Shawn’s blood was a match). Bonnie says that all babies look alike and Caroline agrees that is true. Mimi tells Bonnie that she can’t do this any longer…she is telling the truth RIGHT NOW.

At the Courthouse…Patrick tells Billie that he won’t let her do this as Bo and Hope walk up. Hope asks what the hell is going on as Bo tries to get her out of the room and Chelsea goes running off. She runs into Max outside as she cries that her life is over, the truth is coming out. Patrick blurts out that Billie was not driving…it was Chelsea…she killed Zack. Max tries to convince Chelsea to go back inside and face the truth. Hope is in shock and disbelief at what she is hearing as Billie tries to say that Patrick is lying. Bo looks at Billie and says it’s over. Outside, Chelsea is bawling, saying that her life is over and she is going to go to prison and accuses Max of not caring about her. He says it is for the best that it is coming out now before she gets into more trouble. She says there is only one thing for her to do and goes to leave. Patrick apologizes to Billie but she continues to swear he is lying. But he says he has proof. Hope demands to see his proof as he hands her a surveillance photo (with a time stamp) showing Chelsea behind the wheel. Hope screams at Billie for covering up for Chelsea and she says she is sorry…but she couldn’t let her daughter go to jail. Hope becomes hysterical, crying that Chelsea is reckless and irresponsible and has lied to everyone.

Chelsea tells Max that she is going to run away and begs him to help get her out of town where no one will find her. But her talks her out of it, saying that everything will be okay and begs her to go back inside and face what she did. Bo tries to comfort Hope and then leads Patrick to another room. As soon as Bo starts, Patrick realizes that Bo knew the truth all along and helped cover it up as well. Bo says he was trying to protect her as Patrick asks who?...Hope or Chelsea? Bo says he was going to tell Hope…but in his own time. Chelsea goes back inside as Billie hugs her. Hope walks up behind them and says “MURDERER” as Chelsea turns to face her…and the previews show…

Austin (to Sami): What is going on with you?...Do you not want Carrie to be a part of my company?...or my life?...

Caroline (to Belle): Belle, what is it?...(Belle): I still love Shawn…and I want Claire to be HIS baby…

Shawn (to Mimi): My future is with you…(Mimi): I can’t take this anymore…I have to tell you the truth…

Chelsea (to Hope): Dad gave me permission to drive his car…(as Hope turns and stares at Bo)…

As the credits roll…
Laney