Days of our Lives Recaps: The week of December 15, 1997 on DAYS

Comprehensive daily recaps for Days of our Lives, dating back to 1996.
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Days of our Lives Recaps: The week of December 15, 1997 on DAYS
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the week of December 15, 1997
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December 8, 1997
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December 22, 1997

Monday, December 15

The show opens with Marlena and Roman watching a movie. It ends and Marlena says "And they lived happily ever after." Roman tells her that they could have a happy ending as well. He apologizes for her jealousy earlier over the necklace and promises her no more jumping to conclusions. He talks about how honest Marlena has been with him and he wants to do the same with her (she tries to stop him, but he is like a charging bull). He tells her he will not hide his feelings with her...nothing would make him happier than to finish the wedding they had started. But, he says he will not push her...they can do it whenever she's ready. He tells her that John even agreed to be his best man. Marlena is a bit taken aback by this announcement. He says that John may have bought her the necklace, but he wants to buy her the ring that will go on her finger. (Marlena flashes back to her & John's conversation about the ring).

At Salem Place we find out that John is back in town. He rushes to the jewelry store to pick up the necklace, but they are closed. He runs into Eric and they argue over Marlena. Eric tells him to stay away from them. He wants a family Christmas. John tells him he may be disappointed because Marlena loves him...not Roman. Eric calls Sami (more on that later) and when he gets off the phone, John is standing there waiting to use it. Eric warns him that he had better not be calling Marlena. John politely tells him to mind his own business.

Later, John hooks up with Bo and they talk about Roman and Marlena. Bo wants to know what's going on. John says they are trying to protect Roman from the truth (hooey). The conversation turns toward Billie and Bo says he knows how it is...trying to protect someone and ending up hurting them. They talk about the Jack and Jen case. Bo got some news on it (more on that later as well) and was going to tell Roman so John volunteers to do it for him. Bo can tell he was just looking for a reason to go over there.

Later, Marlena and Roman are wrapping presents and John shows up in the hallway vowing to tell Roman the truth TONIGHT! John tells them about the trip (he and Marlena cut longing looks at each other... ) He tells them that Jack has been caught. Marlena says "What next?" and decides maybe she had better go and be with Laura. Roman hugs her (as John watches on). Marlena offers him what looks like hot chocolate and they share a touch (he caresses her hand). Marlena gets a call from the hospital and takes it in the other room. John has noticed Roman watching him. Roman questions him about the necklace and tells him that he and Marlena have talked and were very honest with each other. Now he wants EVERYTHING out in the open. Does John think Roman knows EVERYTHING? Will he unintentionally spill the beans?

In the Jungle
Peter awakes covered in blood. He can't remember a thing about what happened. He looks around and sees the dead tiger. He decides to head back to the compound. He gets confused and realizes that he is walking in circles and is lost and the headaches begin again. Finally he arrives at the compound in the middle of the storm. He is beating on the door for Rolf to let him.

At Titan
Sami and Carrie are in the middle of an argument. Carrie vows to find out what Sami is up to and stop her. Sami swears that she has changed, but Carrie isn't buying it. Sami gets a call from Eric...he is coming over with a surprise. Austin and Kate are also talking and he promises her that he will try and protect her. He gives her obvious hints that for Christmas, he and Carrie are planning to have her a family portrait made. Billie calls her (upset over Bo) and Kate takes off. Later, Austin comes in to Sami's office looking for Carrie. She tells him that she and Carrie had a nice chat (Really?) and that they may be on the road to reconciliation. Eric shows up and finds Carrie in the hallway. She tells him of her suspicions that Sami is holding something over Kate and feels she is up to something. Eric says he can handle her...nothing is going to ruin the Christmas he has planned. Carrie tells Eric he did it once, could he help her expose Sami again? Sami asks Austin if he and Carrie can ever forgive her and he agrees. She hugs him just as Carrie and Eric walk in. Later Carrie questions Austin about it, but Eric and Sami come out of her office and Eric tells them to come on and go with them...he has got a surprise that includes them as well.

Bo & Billie
Bo apologizes to Billie. She wants to know if he loves her. He says he doesn't want to hurt her, but she says THAT is not enough to build a marriage on. Bo gets beeped and calls the Grand Canyon Ranger Station. They have an anonymous tip on Jack's whereabouts. Bo tells Billie he has to go. She asks him to think about it and he leaves. After he is gone, she thinks she MUST make Bo forget about Hope and love her. Billie flashes back to when she and Bo were together in Rome, when Kate comes stomping in like a wet hen. Billie asks how can she make Bo stop loving Hope. Billie is almost ready to give up on Bo. Kate pushes her and tells her it's time to knock Hope off her high horse and let her know that SHE has the upper hand. How? Billie asks. Kate says (get this!!) that she could take Sami's lead and get pregnant with Bo's child (Great advice, Kate!). Billie refuses to do that. She doesn't want Bo out of obligation to a child...she wants him to love her. Kate tells her that the obligation could lead to love (didn't work for Sami, did it Kate?) Kate blames herself for Billie's lack of self confidence and tells her that Bo is a fool if he lets her go. Billie says she can't MAKE Bo love her...he must do that on his own. Kate is disappointed and almost spills the beans saying "You mean you're just going to give up after everything that I've..." OOPS! Billie catches it and demands to know what she means. Kate stammers around, but the phone rings. Billie answers it and it's Sami. She tells her she is going to be late getting home (WHY is she telling Billie this??) She is going somewhere with Eric for a surprise.

In the Grand Canyon
Jack is STILL climbing that mountain and talking to himself (insert dialogue from last week here). He dropped something. I don't know what it was, but he seemed to get really upset over it. Finally he reaches the top of the mountain, only to get caught by a park ranger. Jack tries to explain what's going on but the ranger won't listen. (In his explanation, he refers to Travis as Trent Wallace). He begs the ranger to go to the cabin and check it out. The ranger says that the cabin has been abandoned for years and is boarded up. No one goes there, especially since the mine shaft closed (it seems that it had an elevator...A-ha! THAT's how everyone used to get there). He tells Jack he's taking him and calling the FBI...they can check it out. Back at the cabin, Jen hears a noise and hurries back upstairs. Travis has trouble with his key (giving Jen time to get back up). When he comes in, there is no Jen. She comes out of the other room wet. Tells Travis she was taking a shower. He tells her that Jack isn't coming for her...he stopped him dead. Later, we see Jen crying over Jack. Finally she composes herself and says she has to go on for Abby's sake. Travis comes out wet (with a towel wrapped around his waist) and makes it clear that he is a little on the "frisky" side. He says now, no one will interrupt what he has planned. Not so fast, Travis. Back at the ranger station, the ranger uncuffs Jack to make a call and decks him. He takes off to finder Jennifer.

Tuesday, December 16

Jack puts on the ranger's clothes so he can get back to Jen without being spotted. He says he is going to use the climbing gear so he can get back to Jen faster than if he takes the long way down the mountain like he and the ranger did. Jack manages to get back to the top of the mountain and spots the cabin and is on his way to get Jen. In the meantime, Travis told Jen he wants her and started chasing her around the cabin. He is about to grab her when the phone rings - it's Peter - calling to say that he was detained and told Travis he better not harm Jen in any way or he would kill him. Travis gets mad at Peter telling he what to do so he storms out of the cabin and tells Jen they will pick up where they left off when he returns. Jen knows she has to get out of there and heads to the cellar. She finds a shovel (probably the one he used to kill his parents she says) and starts working on breaking out of the cellar. She finally breaks out and is free about the time Jack makes it to the mountain top.

Sami, Eric, Carrie and Austin get all the things on their list and Eric says they have one more stop (a tree) before heading to Marlena's. Sami asks Eric if Carrie knows what they are up to and he says no and she says she sees that she is not the only one that can scheme. He says he is not hurting anyone when she asks well what about John. He doesn't have much to say as they head off to complete the adventure. John is at the penthouse thinking that Roman knows all because he said that Marlena told him everything but before John can say anything Marlena shows up and says that yes Roman knows that the necklace was a gift of friendship. John realizes that Roman still does not know about him and Doc. All of a sudden you hear laughter coming from outside and the doorbell rings. It's the gang with a tree and all the trimmings. Eric says they are going to have an old fashion Brady Christmas. He does a good job of excluding John from the happenings. Carrie looks at some of the ornaments and talks to Marlena about them when Marlena spots the one from Sami and Eric's first Christmas. She shows Sami and Sami asks if they were happy then. Doc says yes and you can tell Sami hopes for the same this year. With everyone decorating, Carrie speaks to John and says she is sorry for him not being able to be with Marlena. John says he is not a part of this family but she says she is and hugs him. Sami and Eric don't like it but Marlena is touched by Carrie's actions. Roman fixes his famous eggnog and they all are toasting. Sami tells of her new job at Titan and Roman says that he hopes she gets all she wants to which she comments that she will. (Sami asked Austin to take Will to see Santa, but when Austin said that Lucas should be the one to take Will, she lied and said that Lucas said he didn't have time to do it. Austin said he would think about). John is feeling really out of place and makes an excuse to leave. Roman goes to make more eggnog so Marlena uses the chance to scoot out into the hall before John can get on the elevator. She says she is sorry for this but John says he understands that it is important for Roman to have a good Christmas. He says he is sorry if he is not patient it just that he misses her so much. He says he loves her and she says she loves him and they share a very sweet kiss. He heads out and Marlena heads back inside where all the decorating is done. The tree is lit and music plays as everyone gathers round the tree. Carrie and Austin are very cuddly and Sami is very jealous. Roman wishes Doc Merry Christmas and she does the same as he puts his arm around her and kisses her on her cheek. Eric and Sami seem very pleased with themselves.

At Kristen's, she is so happy to have John Jr. and says it will be a good Christmas for him. She puts him down in the playpen to sleep when the doorbell rings. It's Stefano and she is worried he will see the baby. She remembers the threat he gave her to leave Elvis with Susan. She tries to get him to leave but he asks her what she is hiding. She says if he must know she just wrapped his present and doesn't want he to see it (well if it's wrapped what does it matter?!). She sends him to get some eggnog (we switched from tea to eggnog for the holidays) and she grabs John Jr. who is in the playpen behind the tree and pulls the bottle out of his mouth (that was smart) and he cries. Stefano comes in when he hears the crying to see Kristen has the baby. She lies and says that she was going to have him over tomorrow to spend the day with the baby and that Susan was letting him spend the night with her. He can't believe it but Kristen says that she and Susan have been getting closer. She notices the papers and is concerned Stefano will see them and he does but she grabs them from him and says they have to do with Tony's estate. Stefano wants to see them but the phone rings - it's Peter. Peter got back to the compound where Rolf is making the cure into a pill form. He's can't guarantee it will work but hopes for the best. Stefano tells Kristen about the jungle madness and what is going on with Peter.

Susan is wandering around Salem Place very upset that Kristen tricked her and got little Elvis from her. She remembers signing the papers and then Kristen telling her that the baby was hers now. She worries now that Kristen won't protect Elvis from Stefano as she promised and she dreams of the future with Elvis, Kristen, and Stefano playing poker and drinking. She arrives and tells him to stop drinking and he asks who she is. Kristen says remember I told you about your mother. He says she gave him up and tells her to get lost. Susan is so upset by all this (she is carrying Lisa Marie around and talking to her) and is going to go back to the convent but then she thinks that Sissy will be upset that she let Kristen trick her. She continues walking around and ends up down on the pier where John is also hanging out. He is thinking about Doc and is wondering if Doc will fall in love with Roman again as they spend time together but then he says no that Doc loves him and they will be together. All of a sudden he hears someone crying and looks over to see a woman...

Wednesday, December 17

Abby is helping put ornaments on the tree at Jenn's house. Mike is concerned that Laura is going a little overboard with Christmas this year, but Mickey assures him she's just trying to compensate for Jack and Jenn's absence. They comment on the great hot chocolate Maggie made . Abby said it's just like mommy's hot chocolate. Mickey gets a call saying that Jack escaped the ranger. He tells Laura that Jack would be much better off in custody as there's now a shoot to kill order on Jack. Laura freaks, Abe needs to tell them to forget about Jack and concentrate on Jennifer and Peter. Mickey and Mike say they aren't going to forget a man who assaulted one of their own, besides all they know is he is a convicted murderer. Laura asks Mike to say Abby's prayers with her, but she's going to the only other person who knows Peter is still alive besides her and Stefano. Mike pleads with her not to go to Kristen's, but Laura insists. Later Mike comes down stairs and said Abby's finally asleep. If he read that story one more time, HE would have been asleep. Mike, Mickey and Mike hope Jennifer will be found soon. Unless someone finds Peter Blake, Jack will be back in prison.

Kristen is remembering saying Susan saying goodbye to Elvis and her. She dreams of telling John that they have their baby back and John apologizing for the way he's treated her and he's glad to be back with them. The doorbell rings and Illiana goes to get it. Kristen asks her to take the baby upstairs and she'll get the door. Laura's there to appeal to Kristen's goodness somewhere in her. Kristen said she wants Jennifer away from that madman too. Laura said Peter or Travis and sets Kristen off. Laura covers and appeals to Kristen again by asking if she wouldn't be doing the same thing if HER baby were in the same position if it had lived. She knows she loved Susan's baby too and we hear a baby crying. Kristen said it's Illiana's sister's baby and she's watching it while her sister is doing some Christmas shopping. Laura begs Kristen to tell her if Jennifer is with Peter yet and safe? Laura, remembering her professional interpersonal skills, lashes out to Kristen that both she and Stefano want Peter to have Jenn. If Kristen helps them, John will see the good in her. Kristen considers it.

At the pier, John runs up and finds Susan caught on the pier while she was trying to jump in the water . He rushes over to help the lady, not realizing it's Susan She's crying about losing her baby in the water and John panics saying ELVIS and is starting to peal off his leather jacket when she cries no, save her, and he asks who? She tells him Lisa Marie and he tells her to calm down and scoops her out of the water. Susan hugs the wet doll and tells John she can't lose Lisa Marie too. He thinks she's finally given up on Elvis Sr., and she said Elvis could never be the father to that devil vampire boy. She tells John she really did love him and wished her baby could grow up big and strong like him. John hugs her and comforts her. He assures her that Marlena and him would always be there for her. If anything's bothering her, she can come to them. Susan remembers Kristen telling her that the adoption was legal and she can't do anything about it. John asks her if there's anything he can do. He asks where Elvis is, and she said with someone who can protect him from evil. He tells her that they can go back to the penthouse, Belle and Brady loved having her around . Susan asks John about him and Marlena. He tells her it's complicated, but yeah, they are going to get together. She asked if he and Marlena don't get back together, would he go back to Kristen? He said no, and she should know more than anyone else why, because Kristen is mean, mean, mean. Susan agrees quietly, she is mean. John tells her he's so comfortable with her and hopes she's the same way with him. She tells him her parents are dead. He tells them she has her sister and son to be with on Christmas. She says sissy is always busy feeding the homeless on Christmas. He tells her she can spend the day with him, Marlena, Belle and Brady. John offers to take Susan back to the convent, but she said it's not that far, she'll be ok. She assures him Elvis is with someone who'll protect him and again, he figures she's talking about Sister Mary. John leaves, and Susan said she couldn't tell him because he would hate her for signing that paper for giving Elvis up. Only one person can help her now.

Rolf finally gave Peter a new shirt and hopes the new drugs work. While Peter's hot to get back to Jenn, Rolf informs him he can't leave. The airstrip is washed out and it'll be days or weeks before he can leave. Rolf reinforces to Peter to take 2 pills every 8 hours until they're all gone, it's imperative. Instead of laying down like Rolf suggested, Peter uses the phone to call someone to pick up Jennifer for him. He hangs up saying Stefano won't help him. He's glad Peter is feeling better, but he's on his own. Rolf tells him he should stay there longer to make sure the medicine works. Peter calls Kristen for help with Laura in the background. Peter tells her someone has to go to the Grand Canyon and get Jennifer for him. Laura asks who it is. Kristen said it's a college roommate, want to talk with her, but Laura can tell something is wrong. Kristen tells Peter to call back tomorrow, but he keeps telling her he needs her help. When she asks for a phone number, Laura grabs the phone away from Kristen and asks if it's Peter. If he loves Jenn as much as he says he does, tell her where Jennifer is! Peter doesn't say anything and hangs up. Laura figures out that Peter doesn't have Jennifer and questions Kristen. Kristen tells her to leave as she doesn't like her answers. Laura appeals to the pain that Kristen felt when she lost her baby and that's how Laura feels now. It's working. Kristen says she's sorry and Laura leaves. After Laura leaves, she said if John ever found out, he wouldn't have anything to do with her. She's on her way back now as she has her baby back and a great chance of getting John back now that Roman and Marlena are together. Peter goes to leave and notices a shed. He asks Rolf what's in the shed and Rolf said a plane. He didn't tell Peter about it as it's his only way out of the jungle if the natives come after him. Peter said he's taking the plane and Rolf holds up the gun saying no, you're not.

Jack is beating the bushes down looking for Jenn. At the cabin, Jennifer should have just lurched out of the door after knocking the padlock off instead of talking to herself, as Travis and his gun came down and stopped her. Now he's pointing the gun at her. A helicopter is now circling over Jack with the spotlight searching for him. Jack realizes the ranger must have reported him . Jennifer and Travis hear the helicopter. He tells her they're probably getting Jack's body off the cliff. Jennifer tells Travis let's get our gear and meet Peter at the rendezvous location. She looks down at the shovel on the floor and Travis sees where she's looking. He asks her if she knows and to tell him. He said the shovel was buried down there, same with the clothes. He then finds his journal. He knows she found out he killed his parents and said you reporters, always have to be looking around and digging up dirt on people. His parents were hateful people and called him a loser. They made him go to counseling and deserved to die. He won't have any problems killing her or Peter if he crosses him. Travis disappointed them by never making the first team in football, but he was damn smart. He was going to disappear and change his name he was so smart. He waiting till they opened up their gifts and then he gave them their gift, the shovel. He's reading his journal with his back turned to Jenn. She picks up the shovel and as he turns, whacks him in the face with it. She take the keys out of his pocket and pulls herself up into the cabin. Just as she gets up in the cabin, he pulls her leg and yanks her back into the cellar. They struggle and Jennifer actually rides his back while they're fighting. He falls back down on the ground and is unconscious. She takes his gun and climbs back up into the cabin. This time she puts the floor back into place and pushes a dresser over the hatch. She goes outside and closes the cellar down and puts a rod through the handles and rushes off into the woods. Jack finally comments that the helicopters went somewhere else to search and now he can look for Jenn. He gets to the cabin and finds the ropes Jennifer was tied up with, thinking he's too late. Jenn's trying to figure out how to get off the cliff. Should she climb down or use the abandoned elevator, but she doesn't know where she is. All she knows is she has to get away from that cabin as much as possible.

Jenn figures she'll have to climb down the mountain in the night and without any gear, but then trips over a log and is unconscious. Jack is in the cabin and the helicopter is circling around it. He hears pounding in the cellar and wonders if it could be Jennifer. We see Travis beating on the trap door with the shovel

Thursday, December 18

Abe and Lexie wander through Salem Place doing Christmas shopping. They run into John and tell him about Jack's assault of the park ranger. While they are talking, Stefano comes up to them and asks Lexie to give him a hint on what she wants for Christmas. Lexie says that the only thing she wants is for Stefano to tell them where Peter is so Jack can be free. Stefano plays dumb, and John says that he will never tell them. Abe says Stefano would sell Peter out in a minute if it were to his advantage. John leaves to find Roman and Marlena, and Stefano goes his own way.

Roman, Marlena, and Eric go to Salem Place to do some last-minute Christmas shopping. They seem happy together, laughing and joking like a regular family. Roman starts talking about John and Kristen's problems again (nosy, isn't he?) and suggests that they invite John and Kristen over for Christmas, so that they can see how a loving family behaves. Eric goes off to find some fishing lures for Shawn, leaving Marlena and Roman alone. Roman remarks that Eric is a remarkable young man with unlimited potential. Marlena agrees with a smile. Roman says that although Sami doesn't seem to realize that you can't expect people to do something just because you want them to, Eric appears to have escaped that trap. Marlena's smile becomes a little fixed, as she remembers the pressure Eric has been putting on her to stay with Roman. Just then, John, who has been looking for them, walks up. He tells Roman that he has just spoken to Abe and Lexie and found out that Jack had assaulted the park ranger who arrested him, and is now considered armed and dangerous. Marlena and Roman react with dismay, and Roman goes to find Abe to discuss the case. As he leaves, he tells Marlena to ask John about Christmas. John sits down and asks, "What about Christmas?" Marlena tells him of Roman's plan to have John and Kristen over for Christmas. John says there is no way that's going to happen - he can't play out the charade with Kristen any more. Marlena says it makes her sick to see Kristen hanging all over him. John says the only way they are going to be free of her lies is to tell Roman the truth, and asks Marlena when that is going to happen. Marlena says that Mike will be taking a blood test after the holidays, and if Roman gets a clean bill of health, they can tell him then. John says he hopes so, not only for his own sake, but for Roman's. Marlena says none of this would be happening if Kristen hadn't lied. John walks around the table to comfort her, and Eric walks in on their embrace. Hostilely, Eric says he's glad it was himself and not Roman who walked in on them, and accuses John of being unable to keep his hands off Marlena. Marlena tells him he has no right to talk to John that way. Eric tells John to just leave them all alone so his mom and dad can be happy together. John tells Eric he is losing patience with him, and that Marlena has chosen to be with him, John, and there is nothing Eric can do about it. Eric leaves, obviously angry, and Marlena says that Eric will never accept their love. John is about to go, but before he leaves, he asks Marlena if she has noticed anything strange about Susan. Marlena asks why, and John says he saw Susan on the pier and she appeared to be very upset. Marlena asks where Elvis was, and John says Susan told him Elvis was safe - at the convent, he assumes. Marlena breathes a sigh of relief, and tells John about overhearing Kristen talking about getting her baby back, and seeing Susan at Kristen's house later, obviously hiding something. John says that Kristen must be having delusions of winning him back, thinking that Marlena will stay with Roman. He says that Kristen has no right to the child, and Marlena says that Kristen may believe she does have a right. John asks what she means, and Marlena drops the bombshell: she and Celeste believe that Stefano DiMera is the baby's father. John stares at her with disbelief.

Roman finds Abe and Lexie and they discuss Jack and Jennifer's case. Abe says that he is not satisfied with the way the case is being handled, and it's time for more drastic measures, especially in the face of the new orders. He tells Roman and Lexie that the new orders are for anyone who sees Jack to shoot to kill. They are horrified, and Abe tells them he is going to fly down to Arizona to get a closer look at the operation. Lexie offers to drive him to the airport, but he tells her to finish her shopping; a car from the station will pick him up. Lexie says that while he is gone, she will work on Stefano. Abe tells her to stay away from Stefano; he can't be trusted, and Abe already has too many loved ones in danger to think of the woman he loves most in the world being in danger, too. Lexie says she can handle Stefano.

In the jungle, Rolf holds a gun on Peter and warns him not to take the airplane, Rolf's only means of escape from the jungle. Peter pretends to acquiesce, but then disarms Rolf and gut-punches him, giving him time to escape with the plane. Rolf watches Peter go and then calls Stefano and tells him what the situation is. Later, when Rolf steps outside the compound, he is horrified to find that Peter's bottle of pills to cure his jungle madness has fallen to the ground. He knows that Peter will now be a danger to himself and anyone else he meets.

Peter disguises his voice (rather effectively) as Rolf's and asks for instructions from the tower to go around the storm. He manages to get clear and is on his way to the States, blissfully unaware that his pills are on the ground at the compound.

Kristen wanders around her mansion gloating over her latest acquisition - Susan's baby. She tries calling the convent to check on Susan, but learns that Susan is not there. Kristen hopes that means Susan took her advice and is going out of town. The doorbell rings, and Kristen opens the door to find Scott, her lawyer, there. Scott tells her the papers have been filed, and after a brief hearing, she should have sole custody of Elvis. Kristen is ecstatic to hear it, but as Scott is leaving, the doorbell rings again. Stefano comes in and asks what Scott is doing there. Kristen says it's more paperwork about Tony's estate. Stefano asks if there is a problem, and Scott says everything is under control, and leaves. Kristen brings baby Elvis downstairs to see his father. Stefano asks how long Elvis is going to be there, and Kristen says for a few days while Susan is out of town. Stefano expresses amazement that Susan would let Kristen take care of Elvis for a few hours, let alone a few days. Kristen says she is doing him a favor by keeping an eye on Susan and cultivating a friendship. Stefano seems to accept the explanation, but tells Kristen not to get too close to the baby. Stefano gets a phone call from Dr. Rolf, telling him that he gave Peter the cure, but Peter took Rolf's airplane and left to find Jennifer. Stefano is happy that things may finally be going smoothly for Peter, and warns Kristen not to betray her brother, regardless of her feelings about Jennifer. Then he tells her about seeing Roman and Marlena together at Salem Place, and that they seemed very happy. Kristen says she is sure Marlena will stay with Roman out of guilt, and John will be hers. She tells Stefano she has an ace up her sleeve, but won't say what it is. Stefano warns her not to tell anyone that he is Elvis' father, and Kristen assures him she's very good at keeping secrets.

Susan sits on a train going to Capital City, despondent over her loss of baby Elvis, but determined to find "the one man who can help" her get her baby back. She doesn't say who that is. While on the train, she has a dream that Elvis Presley sits next to her and tells her that everything will be all right, and that she is a good woman and she should forgive herself. She wakes up saying "Merry Christmas," and a woman who has come to sit next to her asks if there is anything she can do to help. Susan says no thanks, the only man who can help her is in Capital City.

On the mountain at the Grand Canyon, Jennifer, who is lying unconscious after falling in the woods, has a sudden nightmare vision of Travis coming after her with an axe. She wakes up alone, lost, and scared, and although she is devastated by the news of Jack's death, she tells herself she has to keep going, for Abby's sake. She sees a wolf growling at her, but manage to throw something and scare him off. Meanwhile, Jack hears the banging on the floor of the cabin and, thinking it's Jennifer trying to escape the cellar (I guess it never occurs to him to call down and make sure), moves the furniture and lets out - Travis, wielding the shovel he used to kill his parents. Travis and Jack struggle briefly, but Jack wins and shoves a gun in Travis' face, demanding to know where Jennifer is. Travis tells him that Jennifer escaped alone into the woods. Jack doesn't believe him at first, but finally, he realizes that Travis would have no reason to protect Peter, and tells Travis to get back down into the cellar. Travis tries to convince Jack to take him along to help find Jennifer, but Jack isn't buying it, and he knocks Travis back down into the cellar and boards up the floor again. Jack runs out into the woods to find Jennifer, while Travis, swearing to kill Jack and his "bitch," finds an axe in the cellar and begins to break out. Jack wanders through the woods looking for Jenn. He hears a rustling and doesn't know if it's Jennifer or a park ranger, so he doesn't call out. Jennifer, a few feet away, hears Jack rustling around and thinks it's Travis coming to get her, so she hides. They pass within a few feet of each other. Jennifer finds the entrance to an old mine elevator and remembers that Travis said people used to use it to get down the mountain. She wrenches a few boards from the door and opens it. She steps inside - and screams as she plummets down the shaft. Jack hears her scream, and realizes with horror that Jennifer is nearby and in danger.

Friday, December 19

John can't believe it at first when Marlena says that she thinks Stefano is the father of Susan's baby, but after they compare stories, all the pieces start to fall into place, and they are both convinced it is true. They are sure that Kristen is up to something evil, but Marlena says that if she is, the last thing she will do is tell them. John says that maybe the best way to draw her out is to catch her off guard. He tells Marlena that if he appears to give Kristen what she wants - the belief that John has forgiven her and wants to give them another chance - she may slip up and tell them what she is doing. Marlena looks apprehensive, but agrees to let him try. John goes over to Kristen's house, where she has been talking to Stefano, who warns her again that she has no part in his plans for Elvis and better not even be thinking of interfering. When she hears John in the house, Kristen makes Stefano hide. She goes downstairs and starts talking to him, and is elated when he says that he thinks Marlena and Roman are growing closer and she is shutting him out of her life. He tells Kristen that he has forgiven her for her evil deeds and is willing to give her another chance. Kristen, of course, is beside herself with joy and glee, and hugs him happily. Just when she is about to mention his extra special Christmas present, John hears what sounds like a baby crying. Kristen tries to distract him, but he goes upstairs to the nursery. Kristen fears he will find Elvis up there and it will all be over, but he finds no baby in the crib (Stefano has apparently removed him). He hears the radio and asks Kristen why she was listening to the radio in the nursery. She says that she likes to sit there and remember the good times when they were a family. John says that still, he could have sworn he heard the shrill cry of a baby. Kristen says it must have been a Kenny G. song (the best one-liner Days has had all year!). John leaves and Kristen hugs herself with joy. She does not tell him about the baby just yet because she wants it to be exactly as she had pictured it.

Meanwhile, Susan gets to her destination in Capital City - a seedy bar with prostitutes and lowlifes. She asks the bartender to tell Thomas that Susan wants to see him. The bartender says that NO one sees Thomas without an appointment. Susan gets pushy for once and tells him to just go tell Thomas that Susan needs his help. He goes, and comes back with a surprised look on his face, saying that Thomas will see her now. Thomas sits in a booth, surrounded by three hookers, who leave when Susan arrives. All that is visible of Thomas is black clothing and a black hat and sunglasses (kind of a Michael Jackson disguise). He never speaks, either, but when Susan pleads her case and asks him to come back to Salem to help her, he nods in agreement.

Marlena runs into Celeste at Salem Place, where Celeste tells her about turning up the death card in Susan's tarot reading. She says that it does not necessarily mean death, but possibly the loss of a loved one, such as a child. Marlena and Celeste are so nervous about Susan that they decide to go to the convent to check on her. The sister at the convent tells them she will go get Susan, but when she comes back, obviously distressed, she tells them that Susan, her baby, and all her things are gone.

Peter lands his airplane somewhere outside the U.S. for refueling. He tells an airstrip employee that he has just flown through the storm and is on his way to Arizona. The man tells him to get a night's rest, because it is a long flight, but Peter says that he has to get to the Grand Canyon tonight, for the sake of a woman. The employee laughs knowingly and warns him again to be careful. Peter gets up into the air and calls Travis to let him know that he is going to be landing soon.

Jennifer falls partway down the mine elevator shaft, but manages to catch herself on an elevator cable. She inches agonizingly up the cable (strong girl!), praying to herself, while the cable begins to unravel above her. A split second before it breaks, she makes it back onto the platform. She crawls out the door and rests - only to be discovered by Travis. Travis is furious with her for escaping and locking him in the cellar and tells her that it is all over now, and she and Jack will pay. Jack finally arrives and holds a gun on Travis, but Travis holds his gun on Jennifer and tells Jack to drop his weapon or he will kill her. Jack drops it and begs Travis not to hurt Jennifer. But Travis tells him to forget it, and to say goodbye. As Travis aims the gun, a helicopter suddenly appears overhead. The distraction allows Jennifer to knock Travis' arm, so that the bullet hits Jack, but only in the arm. Travis assumes he has killed Jack (again) and runs off with Jennifer. Jack is only down for a few minutes and chases after them. He catches up with them on a ridge line very near to the meeting spot with Peter. Travis and Jack struggle briefly, and suddenly, they both pitch off of the cliff into the ravine below. Jennifer screams with horror and tries to see what happened, but has no luck. As she is sobbing in disbelief, she suddenly feels a hand on her shoulder. She freaks out and struggles, until she realizes that the man holding her is Jack! Jennifer is stunned and so relieved that she can barely speak. Jack tells her that Travis fell to the floor of the ravine and is surely dead, while Jack only fell to a ledge a few feet below. Jennifer sobs and thanks God that they are both alive and the whole nightmare is over. Jack holds her and tells her that he will never let anything hurt her again, and they kiss passionately.

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