Chapter 14

What Happened to You?

Exterior Country Road

Marlena gets out of her car screaming and running to Sami and EJ's car. She is covered in alcohol and blood but her injuries are mild.

John parks his car leaving the kids in his car. He runs to keep Marlena from seeing the accident.

Sami starts screaming from inside the car. She is scared and in pain but she tries to wake up EJ. Her hands are covered in his blood and he is motionless.

John opens the door to Sami and carries her kicking and screaming out of the car. Leaving EJ inside.

Sami [ screaming] John put me down. You have to help EJ you have to save him. You have to get him out of the car. You have to help him. John please I'll stay out of the way you have to help him please.

John [ setting her down] Fine I'll help him. But you have to stay out of the way. Just call 911. Check on your mother.

Sami [ calling 911] I need help My boyfriend is trapped inside the car. Please you have to come here and save him. Please.

John turns slowly to head to the car and it explodes.

Sami [ screaming] EJ Oh My God EJ . No John you have to save him. You have to. He's still n there you have to save him. You have to get him out. You can't let him burn to death in there. You can't just stand here and let him die. I'm going after him. I won't let him die.

John grabs her and holds her back while the car burns in the distance. John tries to hold her back but she breaks free and heads back to the burning car. The ambulance arrives.

John [ yelling] Sami, come on. Let them do their job. Let them save him. You can't do it Sami. You need to call Stefano.

Sami [ crying] No I'll call his real family. I call the people who really love him.

Fade Out.

Interior Tony and Anna's Bedroom

Anna wakes up and just looks at Tony. She is careful not wake him up. She just looks at him.

Anna [ looking at Tony] I love you so much. And I am never ever going to leave you again.

Anna tries to get out of bed and is immediately pulled back into bed. Tony grabs and pulls her back playfully.

Tony [ laughing] Is that a promise. Uh is it.

Anna[ smile fading] It is on my part what about you. Do you promise not to leave me.

The serious moment is interrupted by Anna's phone ringing. Anna gets up out of bed to answer it.

Anna [ calmly] Hello Sami are you and EJ at the airport. Sami what's wrong.

Sami [ crying] Its EJ he's been in an accident. Its bad Anna very bad. He was in the car and it exploded. They're trying to get him out but they don't know if he'll make it or not. He's burned really burned and he's not breathing. It was my mom Anna she hit us. Now EJ is fighting for his life. Can you please.

Anna [ looking over at Tony] We'll be right there Sami just stay strong. You won't have to go through this alone. I promise

Anna hangs up the phone and looks over at Tony.

Anna [ shaking] Tony.

Tony [ coming over to Anna] What happened Anna.

Anna [ looking away] EJ is in the hospital and he might not make it. He's burned to death and Sami said he wasn't breathing.

Tony [ calmly] What happened.

Anna [ shocked] Marlena hit them. Apparently she was drunk and hit them.

Tony [ getting Dressed] We have to go back to Salem.

Fade Out.

Interior Salem Hospital

EJ is wheeled in unconscious and barely breathing. His entire body is burned beyond recognition. Sami heads into the ICU behind EJ and Lexie. Daniel runs past her. It feels as if everything is playing in slow motion. She wants to turn back the clock. She wants to switch places with EJ but she can't. That just makes her feel useless. She feels as if her world is ending. Her heart is in her throat.

EJ's entire body is burned and achey. His lungs are collapsing. He can barely catch his breath. The doctors circling around him are making him dizzy. Inside he just wants some sort of family support system that he thought he had with Stefano. He wants a father to support him and a mother who would do anything for him. He lies there wondering who his real parents are and what they are like.

Sami [crying] Lexie you can fix him right you can fix him. You can make him better. He'll be alright right. He won't die. You won't let him die.

Anna runs in and puts her arms around Sami.

Anna [ calmly] I'm sure Lexie and Daniel won't let anything happen to EJ right.

Lexie [ calmly] That's right Anna why don't you take Sami to the chapel.

Anna [ leading Sami out of the room] Come on Sami.

Sami [ calmly] When I called you said we were coming. Who came with you.

Tony [ coming up behind Sami] I did.

Sami [ hugging Tony] Its so good to see you again. EJ wanted to talk to you. He said there was something he had to tell you.

Sami's conversation is cut short when Daniel enters the room.

Daniel [ calmly] I'm sorry Sami. EJ is in a coma. We don't expect him to make it through the night so you need to get everyone together to say your goodbyes. I think that your best bet is not with science but with science but with prayer. I'm so sorry but that's all we can do.

Sami [ hysterical] So you're just going to give up. You're going to let him lay in there and die. Without doing a damn thing.

Anna sits Sami down and tries to calm her down without any help from Tony. Tony goes to see EJ. When Stefano enters the room. Stefano walks over to Samantha. He is angry.

Stefano [angry] Where is Elvis what the hell do you do to my son. What was he not good enough for you so you tried to kill him. You Bradies will stop at nothing. You know I told Elvis you were nothing but a common whore.

Anna [ rising] Stefano I know you consider yourself a good judge on whores especially since you are married to one but I don't think this is not the time or the place

Stefano [ calmly] Where is my son.

Sami [ crying] He's safe because he's the hell away from you.

Anna [ sarcastically] I think you can tell that your presence is not welcome here.

Interior EJ'S room

EJ lays in the bed motionless as Tony enters.

EJ [ calmly] Tony, what are you doing here.

Tony [ calmly] I came to tell Anna the truth. I did but we came to check on you. Samantha is very worried about you. She is worried you wouldn't wake up but here you are awake. Wait how is that possible.

EJ [ calmly] Its not this is a dream. I'm really in a coma. You just need me to figure out what Stefano is hiding. I am the key to unlocking that secret.

Tony[calmly] How are you the key. You don't even know who your parents are.

EJ [ smiling] No but you do. Just think about who Stefano would want to hurt most in the world who would he hurt by taking their child. Who do I remind you of. Answer that question and you will find many more answers. You will be able to stop Stefano. Once and for all. If I were you I would start in the mansion. That is where you are most likely to find the answers you need. And Tony for what its worth you have been wonderful to me. As far as I'm concerned you are my true family.

Tony [ seriously] You are like the son I never had.

Tony wakes to find EJ badly burned and unconscious. He touches his hand and makes him a promise.

Tony [ calmly] I promise you I will find out who your parents are. They deserve to know they have a son as great as you are. I promise Anna and I will do everything we can for you. But you have to promise me that you will keep fighting to come back to us.

EJ squeezes Tony's hand. He looks down and smiles.

Tony [ calmly] Ok I will find out who your parents are.

Anna[ calmly] How's EJ.

Tony [ calmly] There's no change. Where's Samantha.

Anna[ calmly] Roman and John took her to change clothes. Caroline took the kids. Where are you going.

Tony [ calmly] I'm going to the mansion. To find out what Stefano's other secret is.

Anna [ sternly] No you're not going anywhere near that house.

Tony [ quietly] Anna would you keep your voice down. What will it take for you to let me go.

Anna [ smirking] Take me with you.

Tony [ firmly] Absolutely not.

Anna [ firmly] Well then I guess you're not going.

Tony [ firmly] But I am.

Anna [firmly] Not without me you're not anywhere near that place.

Tony [ firmly] And just how do you plan on stopping me.

Anna [ firmly] Take me with you. Or you are not going anywhere. You do not want to try me. I went through pure hell. Hell that you put me through. So you can either take me with you or stay right here by yourself. Because I will leave you so fast your head will spin.

Tony [ firmly] Oh really. You want to go over there and look through Stefano's things. Even though there is real danger. And if I don't allow you to accompany me you will leave me. Since when have I allowed you to do anything. Haven't you always done as you pleased.

Anna [calmly] Not this time. This time you have to choose. Me or Them.

Tony [ shocked] What are you talking about You or them.

Anna [ angry] If you would not have insisted on staying behind to protect EJ and take down Stefano you would have been with me and you never would have been near that ledge. He might not have killed you Tony but he sure came close. Do you know what its like to live life without the person you love the most in the world. It's a horrible feeling.

Tony [ calmly] Anna I think you're overreacting. I'm here now. Nothing is going to separate us again.

Anna [ calmly] I remember you saying that to me before here in this very hospital and you still leave me behind to take down Stefano. And I know you want to protect me but I would rather die beside you than live without you. Do you understand me.

Tony [calmly] I' m sorry Anna but it is to dangerous.

Anna takes off her wedding rings. She hands them to Tony.

Tony [ shocked] You can't be serious.

Anna [ calmly] You made your choice. I won't lose you again Tony not the way idea before.

Tony [ quietly] Anna you can't leave me.

Anna [ calmly] Sorry

Tony [ firmly] I'm going to find out who EJ's parents are.

Anna [ quietly] I'm going to the Salem Inn.

Tony and Anna both leave the hospital passing each other without speaking.

Interior Tony's Room

Tony enters his bedroom at the mansion and begins to pack his things. He puts all of his things into suitcases. Then he heads across the hall luggage behind him and grabs Stefano's two boxes of EJ's baby records.

Tony [ opening the box] Oh my God. This cannot be possible. How on earth. This can't be true. I have to get this stuff out of here. I have to show this to Anna.

Anna [ sneaking up on Tony] Show me what.

Tony [ surprised] Don't go sneaking up on me like that. But since you're here I think you should see these.

Tony hands Anna a stack of newspaper articles. She holds the articles in her hands staring down at the fine print.

Anna [hysterically] Why are these in there. Why are they in with all of EJ's baby things. Why did Stefano put them in here. Why are their articles about the death of our unborn baby in with EJ's birth certificate.

Tony [reading a letter from Stefano out loud] Dear Andre do whatever you have to keep this baby safe. I have gone through way to much trouble to keep this baby alive. He can never know who is parents are. He must grow up in the dark about this entire ordeal as well as his biological parents. Take him to the orphanage until I can arrange his safe passage to Tuscany. That's all it says.

Anna [opening another letter] Here's another letter and it's a reply from Andre to Stefano. Stefano I demand a permanent seat in the family business. I want to know you will protect me just as I have agreed to protect your secret. If you do not compensate with my demands I will reveal to all who are concerned of your wicked baby misfortunes. If you do not wish to be revealed as the horrible monster that you are. I suggest that you help me and therefore I'll help you. What the hell are you thinking?

Tony [rummaging through the box] I think that we have to find out what Stefano is hiding. I think EJ is

Anna [looking at Tony] you think EJ is what.

Tony [calmly] What's that.

Anna [picking up a baby book] I think it's the answers we are looking for. It appears EJ was held at an orphanage in Russia and he was adopted by Stefano when he was six weeks old. He was moved to Tuscany. He was an actor in high school. There is a lot of information missing. It says here he was born at only four months and is kept in a highly equipt to handle extremely premature babies. He was so small Tony.

Tony [ calmly] Anna right here it says he was delivered by a c section and the mother said she did not wish to raise her son. His father and mother were married but separated at the time of his birth. There are no names mentioned.

Anna[shocked] EJ was born the same year I lost our baby.

Tony [calmly] We need to get out of here now. We have to get these records out of this house. We have to get out before Stefano comes home. I think we need to help each other.

Anna [ calmly] Alright come on. I have a plan follow me.

Anna and Tony stop at the top of the stairs. They follow by going down the stairs and exiting the main house.

Tony puts his thing into his car and Anna gets into hers. She drives off. Then he gets inside his car and pulls out of the driveway.

Tony [ calmly] I t is way to late to do this alone. I can't keep going back and forth. I won't do this anymore.

Interior Salem Inn

Anna comes out of the shower in her robe to answer the door.

Anna [ running to the door] I'm coming keep your shirt on.

Anna opens the door to see Tony standing there.

Tony [ smiling] Hello Anna.

Anna [ calmly] Hello Tony.

Tony hands Anna her wedding rings.

Tony [ stepping inside the room] I believe those belong to you.

Anna [ kissing Tony] You know you don't have to keep your shirt on.

Tony [ kissing Anna] That's good to hear.

Fade Out.

Interior EJ's Hospital Room

Stefano sits beside EJ while he lies fighting for his life.

Stefano[ whispering] Elvis there is something I have to tell you. I should have told you long ago. You are not my son. You are my grandson. You were delivered and stolen when you were taken to a hospital. Your real mother doesn't even know you're alive. I took you to hurt them and then you got very sick and I didn't know you would make it I thought you were going to die. I wanted to hurt them so badly.

Marlena comes in and listens at the door.

Stefano [ calmly] You see I knew Tony was my son. I knew he would never be able to be like me so I took his son. My daughter tried to kill your mother and in that same accident she thought she lost you and I let her think that. Tony and Anna would have been wonderful parents to you. I just pray that they still get that chance.

Stefano leaves.

Fade Out.