Chapter 17

Twelve Hours Later

Interior EJ's Room

EJ wakes up. He can't move from his neck down. One tear runs down his face.

Lexie(reasurringly) EJ this might not be permanent.

Sami(coming in the room) EJ oh thank God you're awake. Is there anything I can do for you.

EJ(firmly) Yes you can get the hell out.

Lexie ushers Sami out.

Lexie(shutting the door) What the hell was that about.

Fade Out.

Interior Dimera Mansion

Tony walks in the door of the mansion. He walks over to the bottom stair and takes a seat.

Tony(calmly) Oh Anna my darling what would I do without you. I need you so much right now.

Sami(entering the house) Oh Tony thank God you're here. Its EJ he's awake.

Tony(motioning for Samantha to join him) Please how is EJ. How is John dealing with news about Marlena.

Sami(concerned) You mean John's not here. Lexie said he left with you.

Tony(calmly) Fortunately we are no longer suffering from the virus. But John is in no condition to go off on his own. I know John won't stop until he finds out what really happened on that mountain so maybe we should just let him be. He just doesn't need answers he needs to be the one who finds the answers. How is EJ doing.

Sami(calmly) He's paralyzed Tony from his neck down. He is just so angry right now. Some one needs to talk with him.

Tony(ushering her into the living room) You didn't tell him that we found out about his true paternity.

Sami(looking down at a photo of Anna) I think you should. I'll stay here.

Tony(leaving the house) Well wish me luck.

Sami(picking up the photo) Good Luck.

Fade to…

Bo and Hope's House

Bo(walking in from the kitchen) Carly I think we should talk about what happened at the hospital.

Carly(coming down the stairs) I don't need to talk Bo I think its perfectly clear that Hope is the one you want. And I guess I always knew that. It still isn't easy to accept but I have come to the realization that Hope is your soul mate but if you ever need some one to lean on you know who to call.

Carly Leaves. Bo stands alone.

Bo(calling Hope) Fancy Face I need to see you now. (hangs up)

Hope(comes in the door) Bo was that Carly that I just saw pull out. Bo she was carrying a lot of luggage whats going on.

Bo(smiling) I want you back.

Hope(turning away) No.

Fade To…

Interior Ej's hospital Room.

EJ lays on the bed looking at the ceiling.

EJ(trying to reach for lexie) Lexie there is no use in trying I can't move. I will never be able to hold my children. I'll never be able to hug my wife. You might as well have let me die.

Tony(entering the room) How dare you say that. Lexie could you leave us for a moment.

EJ(coughing) Tony please don't come in here like you know what I'm going through. You have no idea what I'm going through.

Tony(sitting down) I came here to help you with this transition. Lexie says that in five days you can leave and I would like you to stay with me at the mansion. That means you could still see your children and maybe just maybe.

EJ(angry) Just stop right there I've already made arrangements to go to a facility that specializes in these sort of matters. I'm prepared to sign over my rights to my children if necessary and father's estate. I have no use for the money and my children have no use for me.

Tony(calmly) What about Samantha what will she think. Where does she fit into this little plan of yours.

Fade To..

Forest Area away from Salem

Marlena lays in the dirt and mud. She's left alone and the drugs are worn off.

Marlena(yelling) Some one help me. Please some one help me. I can't see anything. John help me John.

The rain begins to pour.

John(picking up Marlena) Doc come on its ok now. Marlena can't you see me.

Marlena(calmly) Yes but its so dark out here I can barely see you. How did you find me.

John(wiping her face) I followed Andre to the cabin site and hiked along the trail until I found you.

Marlena(hugging John) I love you and I'm so sorry. I have to apologize to Anna . Where is she?

John(looks away)

Marlena(worried) John no Anna's ok right. John tell me the truth. What happened to her? Is she with Tony.

John(serious) I'm afraid she didn't make it. Tony is in denial about the whole thing. I think today is when he is going to identify the body.

Marlena(hugging John) Poor Tony. How did it happen?

John(confused) You don't remember the explosion?

Marlena(crying) No I guess I don't. Is that how she died.

John(wrapping a blanket around Marlena) Yeah she was crushed when the building collapsed. No one knew until we got back to the hospital. You know this isn't your fault right. I can't even imagine how you must have been feeling. All of the drugs you were on and the death of Will on top of that. Is Andre still here or did he leave you.(picking Marlena up)

Marlena(wiping her face) He was here but he said he had some place to be. I don't know where.

Fade To..

Interior Hospital Outside Salem

Anna sits in the bed with her face bandaged. She is dressing herself when Andre comes in.

Andre(smiling) Hello Anna are we ready to go.

Anna( limping over to the door to shut it) I think first we need to set up some ground rules.

Andre(sitting down) Yes well go ahead. You know Anna I've missed having you around.

Anna(firmly) Rule number one there will be nothing romantic between us ever. You will leave Tony and my family alone. You won't ask me to do anything to harm anyone. In return I will do everything I can to help you take charge of Dimera interprises. Deal(holds her hand out)

Andre(shakes her hand) Deal.

Anna and Andre leave.

Fade To..

Interior Dimera Mansion

Sami(running to the door) I'm coming keep your shirt on.

Roman(smiling) Hi sweetheart. Is Tony Home?

Sami(ushering him in) No he went to the hospital to see EJ and identify Anna's body.

Roman(sitting down) Well that's actually what I came to talk about. There is a little problem with that.

Sami(confused) What sort of problem?

Roman(calmly) They lost her body.

Sami(shocked) What!

Fade to..

Interior EJ's hospital room

EJ(angry) Samantha is free to do whatever she wants to do. Look at me Tony. I can't walk. I can barely move what kind of father and husband would I be.

Tony(standing up) Ok fine be weak. Give up. Don't fight for your family. EJ the choice is yours but don't make the wrong one. Choose to live.

EJ(angry) What kind of life am I going to have. I can't even love my woman. Hold my babies. So don't you tell me not to make the wrong choice. I'm making the only choice.

Tony(angry) No you're making the easy choice. If you want to stay in the hospital and not work everyday for your family. You're all I have left. You and your kids. My wife is gone. But if my wife was still here. I would fight like hell to get back to her. (slams the door) You're pathetic.

Fade To Hospital Morgue

Tony walks into the dim lit morgue where he finds Lexie.

Lexie(reaching for Tony) Tony I have something to tell you.

Tony(confused) What is it Lexie?

Fade To….

Interior Dimera Living Room

Roman (calmly) Well aparently this morning when they checked the cooler she was gone. No one has any idea where she is.

Sami(sitting down) There is something you need to know. Anna is EJ's mother. EJ is the son of Tony and Anna.

Roman(calmly) Tony must be going out of his mind. Speaking of mothers. John called me this morning. He found your mother and she's ok. It seems Andre just left her up there in the mountains. John's bringing her home as we speak.

Sami(calmly) Good that's very good. When will she be home?

Marlena(coming in the room) I'm home now.

Sami(excited ) Mom you're home.(hugs Marlena) I'm so glad you're alright.

Marlena(sitting down) I'm fine Sami I just wasn't sure you'd want to see me after everything with EJ and Anna.

Sami(sitting with her) We know about the drugs Mom we don't blame you. We don't blame you for any of it. I don't even think Tony blames you.

John(pouring himself a drink) How is EJ doing?

Sami(excuses herself) I have to check on the twins.

Roman(calmly) He's paralyzed. From the neck down.

Marlena(calmly) I'll go check on her. (leaves the room)

John(curious) Is he really paralyzed or this just one of the Dimera tricks.

Tony(coming into the room) Yes John he is paralyzed no tricks no lies no games and now thanks to your wife falling off the deep end there is no Anna either. I know you think EJ and I are ruthless just like my father but we're not. If you want ruthless why don't you look at your wife.

John(calmly) She was drugged Tony. Andre drugged her.

Tony(calmly) When she was on that mountain she was not drugged she was just deranged. Marlena needs help John. I'm sure Marlena didn't mean to kill Anna.

John(anger rising) It was an accident. She died from an explosion.

Tony(curious) Did no one tell you that Anna was stabbed multiple times. That's what killed her. She was still alive during the explosion.

John(calmly) What are you talking about?

Roman(calmly) Its true John Anna was stabbed to death. The explosion wasn't even strong enough to spread the virus. We assumed Andre murdered Anna.

Tony(calmly) I know you don't want to hear this John but Marlena and Anna we're at odds the last time they spoke. She hated that Anna was so close to Sami. That could of turned deadly with Will's death being so traumatic for her. If you want to help Marlena. Then you need to be sure that she didn't kill Anna.

John(shocked) Roman can you believe this.

Roman(calmly) I agree with Tony. I think Marlena needs some professional help.

Tony(calmly) Where is she now?

Sami screams off stage.

Sami(screaming) Mom Mom stop!

Tony and Roman rush upstairs.

Roman(holding Marlena) What happened here.

Sami(calmly) Allie called Mom Anna and she freaked out. She threw Anna's picture and started screaming.

Marlena(breaking lose of his grip.) Shut up do you hear me just shut up. Anna's dead do you hear me dead(smacks Sami) Dead damn you dead. I'm your mother you're my daughter mine.

Tony(carefully) Marlena calm down.

John(sneaks up on Marlena) Doc why don't we take you to the hospital.

Tony(calmly) I think we should all calm down.

Marlena(pushes Tony down the stairs) You calm down.

Tony lands at the bottom of the stairs.

Fade To..

Apartment Building in Chicago

Anna takes her cane and sits down on the couch.

Anna(touching her cut face) I love you so much Tony. Everything I did I did for you my darling I love you. But you wouldn't ever be able to recongnize me now thanks to Marlena

Andre(calmly) Anna we've got three hours until we have to go pay a visit to your dear friend Tony and get him to turn over the company.

Anna(calmly) How do expect me to get Tony to sign over the company to you.

Andre(firmly) I don't have to worry about that one of my little friends is taking of getting him out of the way. Then you and I will slip over there and take care of everything else. Ok Annie.

Anna(hiding her face) Don't ever call me Annie again. Lets go.

Andre(following her out) Right behind you.

Fade To…

Interior Nursing Home Salem

EJ is wheeled into a private room where Melanie is waiting for him.

Melanie(smiling) EJ I will be your nurse for the remainder of your stay here with us and your physical therapy starts tomorrow. Your doctor will be here shortly.

EJ(coughing) I didn't want physical therapy.

Melanie(calmly) This is about what you need. Not what you want.

Nathan( comining in the room) Yeah EJ but I think we can all agree that you want to walk again. So lets make sure that your therapy is started right away. After all you can have what you need and what you want.

Melanie(smiling) Yeah you can.(leaves the room) Nathan can I see you outside.

Nathan(leaving the room) What?

Melanie(angry) What the hell was that about?

Nathan(formally) I don't know what you're talking about.

Melanie(calmly) I think it was farely obvious that those comments were meant toward me. You think that I'm still in love with you.

Nathan(interupting her) Melanie

Melanie(smiling) And I am.

Fade To..

Bo and Hope's house

Bo(shocked) What do you mean No. Hope we belong together. That's how its always been and how its supposed to be.

Hope(calmly) I love you. You know that but.

Bo(hugs Hope) No buts if you love me then that's enough

Hope(calmly) Is it really?