Part 90
Hope: Sami, time to get up. Shopping awaits.
Sami: Hey Aunt Hope. Did I drink an entire bottle of Champaign last night?
Hope: No, but close. How do you feel?
Sami: Fine. I just can't believe I drank that much. I guess I didn't realize EJ kept filling my glass until we got back here.
Hope: Where is EJ?
Sami: He slept in his room. He's trying to be a gentleman before the wedding. He said we should wait until our wedding night before we sleep together again.
Hope: That's romantic. How long until you're ready so I can tell Nico?
Sami: Just a couple of minutes. Is Nico going with us?
Hope: Yeah, Bo thought it would be safer for two women in Paris to have Nico with us.
Sami: Does that mean we can buy more stuff since Nico's there to carry it?
Hope, shaking her head in laughter: Sami. Okay, finish up, I'll have Nico bring the car around.
Hope leaves and as soon as she's gone, there's a knock at the door.
Sami: Aunt Hope, did you forget….oh, hi EJ.
EJ: Good morning. You look radiant this morning.
Sami: Thank you. I'm excited about shopping in Paris.
EJ: Wonderful. (handing Sami an envelope) This is for your excursion. Have fun. There should be plenty of Euros in there for you to get anything and everything you want, but just in case there's a credit card too.
Sami: EJ, thank you, but this is too much!
EJ: No it isn't. You would have been my wife and it would have been yours regardless had your aunt and uncle not shown.
Sami: Oh, EJ, don't do this again. They aren't here to hurt us, my aunt is being really supportive.
EJ: If you say so. Samantha, just don't let her talk you out of marrying me.
Sami: Why would you think that's why she's here?
EJ: She's your family. Your family is against this union.
Sami: Aunt Hope isn't like that. We're just going to go shopping and have fun. She's not going to try and talk me out of marrying you.
EJ: Fine. I'll just have to trust you.
Sami: Are you and my Uncle Bo going to do anything today.
EJ: Your Uncle Bo and I "hanging out", that could be interesting now, couldn't it.
Sami: EJ, give him a chance. Take him fox hunting or go play polo with him.
EJ: I don't get the idea that your uncle is the polo type.
Sami: Fine. Just play nice!
EJ: What are you saying?
Sami: I'm saying I don't trust either of you so I'm telling you, go to town, find a pub, get drunk. That you two can do together.
Bo: Did I hear find a pub?
Sami: Hi Uncle Bo.
EJ: Yes, your niece seems to think our getting drunk together will solve all the worlds problems.
Bo: Well, it may not solve the worlds problems, but it doesn't sound like a bad idea.
Hope: BO BRADY!
Bo: What, it was Sami's idea.
Hope just shakes her head: You ready to go?
Sami: Yeah.
Hope: You two, be good!
Bo: Yes, dear!
EJ: Good bye, darling. Be safe.
Hope: Good bye boys!
Sami: Aunt Hope, can we trust them?
Hope: I don't even want to know.
Part 91
EJ: So, old chap, how about a trip to the pub?
Bo: Who you calling old?
EJ: Well, if the tankard fits.
Bo: Oh, I see how it is. And I bet you think you can out-drink me too.
EJ: Well, I'm sure you aren't used to our fine English Ale.
Bo: Listen, English, I'm Irish, it's in my blood to be able to drink YOU under the table.
EJ: You think so.
Bo: I know so.
EJ: Alright, then let's hit the pub.
In the car on the way to Paris, Hope and Sami talk as Nico listens and watches from the rear view mirror.
Sami: Aunt Hope, EJ's not right, you aren't here to talk me out of marrying him, are you?
Hope: Sami, would I be on my way to Paris to take you shopping if I was trying to break you and EJ up?
Sami: EJ's just so sure that's why you are here.
Hope: Sami, I promise, I didn't fly all this way just to break you up. Yes, Bo and I are concerned but we also want to see you happy. If EJ makes you happy, then we are happy.
Sami: What do you think the two of them are doing today.
Hope: I think they are doing exactly what you told them to do.
Sami: What do you mean?
Hope: Going to a pub and getting drunk together. Hey, Nico, we probably should have sent you with the boys. I think they'll need you more than Sami and I.
Nico: Mrs. Brady, I think I'll have an easier time keeping an eye on you two than I would trying to keep Mr. Brady and Mr. Wells out of trouble.
Hope: You could be right about that.
Sami: You don't think they would hurt one another, do you?
Hope: No, but I do think there will be a lot of self inflict pain between the two of them.
Sami: What do you mean?
Hope: I think they are going to find a pub and get drunk and act like "men" and that's one contest I don't want to witness.
Nico: I think you are right, Mrs. Brady.
Hope: Thank you, Nico.
Back at the castle, EJ and Bo have managed to make it to the local pub.
EJ: Two half-yards of stout.
img Half-yard? Just a half? Not man enough for a whole yard?
EJ: Seriously, Bo, you should really pace yourself.
Bo: I think you are the one who needs to pace himself.
EJ: Are you seriously challenging me?
Bo: Not challenging you, just putting you in your place.
EJ: Ah, I see. (turning back to the bartender) apparently we'll make those full yards.
Bartender: Sure buddy.
Bo: So, EJ, how are you at darts?
EJ: I can hold my own.
Bo: Good, let's play some darts.
Part 92
Sami and Hope have arrived in Paris. As they depart the plane, Sami is in awe of the city.
Hope: Sami, did you ever imagine you'd be shopping for your wedding and honeymoon in Paris?
Sami: Aunt Hope, I can't believe this might really happen. EJ's still sure you are here to break us up and now he and Uncle Bo are off together. I'll probably get back and EJ will be convinced he doesn't want to be part of this family.
Hope: Sami, don't say that. Bo isn't going to try and change his mind. What I think Bo is going to do is try and show him who's the bigger man by getting drunk and arm wrestling or something. Just "boy" stuff. He's not going to do anything to EJ.
Sami: I hope you are right. I'm just worried.
Hope: Well, stop. We have shopping to do. (turning) Nico, did Bo ever get in touch with Victor?
Nico: Yes, Mrs. Brady, Mr. Kiriakis said to have a wonderful time in Paris and congratulations to Miss Brady.
Hope: Good. Let's go! What do you need?
Sami: Everything except a dress. Anna made one for me and made sure it fit before she left.
Hope: Okay, so veil, something new, something blue, I'll buy something that you can borrow, and I have a surprise on it's way for the something old.
Sami: Something being sent? Aunt Hope, you didn't tell my parents.
Hope: Sami, I promised you I wouldn't and I didn't. Victor is sending the surprise. Everything is going to be fine. Now lets find something sexy for your wedding night.
Sami: Aunt Hope!
Hope: Sami, you're a grown woman and a mother, I think I know you aren't a virgin.
They both laugh and head off to shop in the best stores in Paris. As they shop, Bo and EJ continue to drink and play darts. They are tied, each one matching the other throw for throw and well on their way to being drunk.
Bo: Man, this isn't getting us anywhere. I can't win, you can't beat me.
EJ: Beat you? Beat YOU? Interesting phraseology.
Bo (beginning to slur): "Phraseology," do you ever just use normal words?
EJ: Does my vernacular bother you?
Bo: See, that's what I mean. Can't you talk like a regular guy?
EJ: What is it with you Americans that makes life so problematic when one converses in the Queen's English?
Bo, unknowingly repeating himself: See, that's what I mean. Why can't you just say "what's your problem"?
EJ: Because that would lead to an entirely different set of answers.
Bo: Ah, the hell with this. BARTENDER two more yards.
EJ: Thank you, Bo.
Bo, pointing at EJ: And put it on his tab.
EJ: Ah, I stand corrected, you're welcome, Bo.
Bo: Thank you, EJ. Now, since you can't beat me at darts, wanna try some pool?
EJ, laughing: Certainly, I'll engage you in a game of billiards.
Bo: Just rack 'em.
Both men laugh.
Part 93
Hope: Sami, look at this. (Hope holds up a beautiful white negligee).
Sami: Oh, Aunt Hope, that's beautiful.
Hope: It would look great on you on your wedding night, but maybe we could find something sexier.
Sami: Aunt Hope, will you stop that!!
Hope: Why? It is so fun to see you get so flustered.
Sami: Aunt Hope!
As the girls continued to shop, the boys were still at the pub. After playing darts with no winner, they'd moved on to pool, or billiards as EJ preferred it be called, a game that generally had a winner, but not with these two.
Bo: So, EJ, you know how to play darts, you know how to play pool, you certainly don't seem like some snooty Oxford man.
EJ: What, Bo, you don't think that Oxford men can play billiards or shoot darts?
Bo: Not ones whose names are DiMera.
EJ: Ah, DiMera. I was waiting for that to come up.
Bo: Well, it's not like you can deny it. You are a DiMera.
EJ: By name only. As I have told every member of your family, I was not raised by the DiMeras and I didn't even know Stefano was alive until all of you did that day at the courthouse.
Bo: That's what you say, but I have to wonder.
EJ: Well, it looks like Samantha was correct, you are here to stop the wedding.
Bo: No, that is not why we are here. We are here to make sure you are on the up and up and if you and Sami do get married, you bring her back to Salem.
EJ: Bo, now you are being ridiculous. Of course I'm bringing Samantha back to Salem. Why wouldn't I bring my wife back to our home?
Bo: Well, Salem was never exactly your home. And why are you and Sami so against Marlena and Roman knowing about this wedding?
EJ: For the same reason I decided to bring Samantha to England to get married because they are against the marriage simply because of my name, not who I am. It doesn't matter to them that I saved their daughter from nearly dying in a cabin in the middle of no where. It doesn't matter that I love Samantha with all my heart. It doesn't matter I would die for her before I would allow my "family" to hurt her. All that matters to them is that I'm a DiMera.
Bo: Is that really what you think?
EJ: Bo, you and John were the ones who told Samantha that I was a DiMera in the first place. You were the ones who tried to keep her from me. Your family would rather she be with a murderer who tried to send her to death row for his crimes.
Bo: What Lucas did was a long time ago.
EJ: So that makes it all alright because it was a long time ago, it doesn't change that it happened, just that it was a long time ago. There is absolutely no evidence of any wrong doing on my part but you prefer to think the worst of me simply because of my father's name. You high and mighty Bradys can't even see when someone is the best thing to ever come along for your niece simply because I don't have the right name by your standards.
Bo: EJ if that's what you really think of the Bradys why do you want to marry Sami?
EJ: Because regardless of what I think of the Bradys, I love Samantha more than any of you can imagine. It is simply unfathomable to me that a feud that Samantha and I aren't even involved in is your reasons for not wanting us to wed.
Bo: EJ, the DiMeras have done a lot to our family.
EJ: But I've not been any part of that. I didn't even know about what had happened until you and Samantha told me.
Bo: You know, maybe you're right. Maybe we are being too hard on you. Tell you what, how about one more game of pool. You win, I back off for good, you lose, I take Sami home and this wedding is off.
EJ: Absolutely not! I will not gamble for my fiancé. As a matter of fact, I'm done here, you can find your own way back.
Bo: What's the matter, Wells? Chicken?
EJ: As a matter of fact, yes I am, but I'm not afraid of you. I'm afraid of what Samantha would do to me if I lost.
Bo: Yeah, I might be afraid of that too.
EJ: Well, from what I've heard, if I were you I'd be even more afraid if I lost because she would kill you if you took her from here.
Bo: You could be right. You absolutely could be right.
EJ: Alright then, another yard and a friendly game.
Bo: Sounds good!