CHAPTER 6

ACTUAL SCENE, POSSIBLY MODIFIED

Stefano is on his phone.

"Yes, Dammit. Find her!" he bellows into the phone. Then he remembers something possibly vital: Bo, on the phone earlier, after confronting him about Hope's sudden disappearance:

"How long has he been gone?" Bo is silent as he listens to the caller on the other side of the

line.

"Okay, tell me where are you?" Bo asks, behind him Stefano is listening to the one sided

conversation with a big frown. "Yeah, yeah, I know exactly where that is, I'm on my

way…"

Bo hangs up.

"Something wrong, Bo?" Stefano enquires.

Bo swings around.

"That's none of your business. I'll be back to deal with you later."

As Bo leaves, Rolf Joins Stefano.

"Rolf? Do you remember how quickly Bo rushed out of here earlier… almost as if he has something to hide…. And he said: How long has he been missing…?Where the hell is Gina? You know, Rolf…"

"Yes, Stefano…"

"I am starting to think that when Gina hit you over the head in the forest, she has been following her own plan all along…."

Rolf remembers a time with the original Princess Gina, after John left…

She came to see him, in tears.

Gina: Oh, Rolf! I am completely alone. Steffi.. he doesn't understand. I can't do this anymore. Please Rolf, I beg of you, just find someone who can replace me. This world…. This life… is not for me anymore….

"Stefano, I fear that perhaps this Gina is deteriorating in the same manner that the Original Princess did…."

Stefano looks angry, but also worried. If that is the truth, then Gina has become a loose end that must be dealt with. Immediately!

ACTUAL SCENE

"John and Hope…?" Marlena asks…

"I know it sounds farfetched…" Bo starts.

"No, It sounds impossible."

"Dimera has been controlling Hope for the past couple of months. He's been using her."

"Using her how?"

"For whatever it is that he used Gina for. He has transformed her back into Princess Gina."

"What?"

"I mean, that would explain her recent behavior, wouldn't it? Why she has been so close to Dimera, why she has been so obsessed with John and his past memories?"

Marlena shakes her head, Bo continues.

"Think about it. Why would she be so insistent on talking with John just before the two of you were supposed to be married…."

"Because she wanted to give us a wedding present…"

"A portrait. That she painted. Hope doesn't paint. Gina does."

"I'm trying to follow this right now, but it is not relevant. John is in danger."

"Listen to me, please!"

Marlena turn her face towards him.

"I watch her very carefully at your wedding ceremony… she was devastated. She was feeling Gina's feelings. Gina was in love with John."

"What are you saying? Are you saying that you think Hope orchestrated John's disappearance?"

"Yeah… in a way. I mean, Dimera has gotten away with things like this before…"

"Look I saw John go into the water… I saw him trying to save that woman who was drowning."

"Right Marlena, but you didn't see him come back. The coast guard hasn't found a trace of him, or the woman."

"Look, this can't be…. I… I don't believe it." Marlena turns around, feeling like she can flee from the entire situation.

"Marlena, I know… I understand… It's difficult to accept, but… my gut tells me, John and Hope are together. And Dimera is responsible."

Marlena swings around to face him as the enormity of what he is saying hits home…