Provided By Eric
Proofread by Jen

Roman: Hey, thanks. Drive careful.

Kate: You know what?

Roman: What?

Kate: There's snow out there.

Roman: Yeah. First of the season.

Kate: Well, I guess there were a lot of firsts last night, weren't there?

Roman: I was about to, uh, bring you breakfast in bed.

Kate: Oh, I am so glad to see that there are other people who order out for breakfast, too.

Roman: I'd say we're compatible in A... in a lot of ways.

Sami: Yeah, it's Sami Brady. Oh, well, hi, Kim. No, I'm not late for work. Today is my day off. Um, is Brandon there? Well, will you page him, please? It's urgent.

[Knock on door]

Sami: Oh, there he is. Hi.

Will: Just me, mom.

Sami: Oh, hi. Shouldn't you and your dad be on your way to school?

Will: I need my boots and gloves. Who are you talking to?

Sami: The hospital. You know what? I'll help you look for them in a second.

Will: I can do it.

Sami: Okay.

Brandon: Hello?

Sami: Brandon, hi.

Brandon: What's the emergency?

Sami: I need to meet you. Please? How soon can we meet?

Brandon: There's no way. Forget it.

Victor: This calls for a celebration.

Nicole: Oh, um, we really should get back to the office.

Victor: Oh, forget about titan. Your neurologist just gave you a clean bill of health. Let me take you for a drive out in the country. We'll stop at that little inn, have some lunch, sip some champagne...

Nicole: Great. Why not?

Victor: While you're here at the hospital, why don't you make an appointment with that fertility specialist?

Nicole: No, Victor. No more doctors for a while, please. It's too soon after the shooting. Look, I-I... I want to have a child as much as you do, but I need time to heal emotionally.

Victor: Of course. Understand. You're so young. There's hardly any rush.

Nicole: No ticking clock here.

Victor: Certainly not. What about setting a date for the wedding? It's not too soon to do that, is it?

Craig: Hi.

Nancy: You spent the night here again, didn't you?

Craig: Right here next to you.

Nancy: Craig, if anything should happen to me, if I should lose consciousness or something, I want you --

Craig: Nancy, I am not going to let anything happen to you.

Nancy: If something should happen to me, don't let Dr. Bader take our baby to save my life. Promise me. Craig, every day that our baby is alive inside of me means that she has a better chance of -- of getting stronger and living and -- well, for you and Chloe. And that is the most important thing to me. So... promise me that you will honor my wishes.

Brady: Marlena?

Marlena: Brady.

Brady: Sorry to bring you back from wherever you just were.

Marlena: Get in here.

Brady: Ha ha ha.

Marlena: I'm so glad to have you home.

Brady: Thank you. It's good to see you.

Marlena: How was your trip?

Brady: It was...perfect.

Marlena: I want to hear everything. Over coffee?

Brady: Yes, please. Great idea.

Marlena: Yeah, yeah, yeah?

Brady: Uh, are you okay, by the way? I mean, I walked in here, and it looked like something was really bothering you.

Marlena: Unh, unh, unh. That will all handle itself. All righty, Chloe -- how is she?

Brady: The happiest I've ever seen her... while we were away. As soon as we got back to Salem, everything just seemed to fall apart.

Chloe: Hi. Can I have a latte to go, please?

Philip: Yeah, coming right up. Well, look who's back.

Chloe: Philip.

Philip: How was your trip? You don't have to hide it. I know you went away with Brady. Belle told me.

Chloe: Look, I'm kind of in a hurry.

Philip: Yeah, sure. Brady must be waiting for you.

Chloe: No, he's not.

Philip: What's wrong? Did he do something to you?

Chloe: It's not Brady. It's me. I was wrong.

Philip: It's okay. We could make it right again the way it was. Together, we can do anything. 

Sami: Brandon, why are you shutting me out?

Brandon: Samantha, I'm working. I'm seeing patients back to back.

Will: Mom!

Sami: I'll be right there, honey. Look, how about lunch, then? We can't leave things the way they are.

Brandon: I can't do this. I need to go.

Will: Boots are too small. I'm staying home.

Sami: No, you're not. Look, obviously you misunderstood something that I said or did last night. Whatever it is, we can work it out.

Brandon: I don't think so. Goodbye.

Sami: Well, bye.

Will: I need new boots, mom.

Sami: Talk to your father about it. He'll buy them for you. Come on.

Will: Who are you fighting with?

Sami: No one, all right? We just have to go, or you'll be late for school.

Will: You going to work?

Sami: No. Come on. Um, I just have to fix something that's broken before it gets trashed.

Craig: I am not going to choose between you and our daughter, okay? I'm going to fight for the two of you, and you're both going to make it. You got that? I got a little surprise for you. Chloe's home again.

Nancy: She is?

Craig: Mm-hmm.

Nancy: Oh, Craig, does she know about the baby?

Craig: Well, she knows that there's a problem, yeah.

Nancy: Oh, my God. She must be so upset, Craig.

Craig: She's just worried about you, that's all.

Nancy: Yeah, but I don't want anything to shake her confidence. I mean, she's been through so much already. I don't want her giving up hope.

Craig: Nancy, there is no reason for her or for any of us to give up hope, okay?

Nancy: Okay. You're the doctor.

Brady: Anything and everything that could possibly go wrong on this trip did. But you know what the funny part is? The worse things got, the better they became for the two of us... until we got home.

Marlena: And she got the news about Nancy.

Brady: Mm-hmm. Marlena, she blames herself.

Marlena: Now, why would she do that?

Brady: Because Chloe feels that Nancy and Craig only tried to have a baby, you know, because of her, and she feels cursed that anybody who cares about her is just going to suffer.

Marlena: Now she's shutting you out to protect you. Is that it?

Brady: Right. And, Marlena, I don't get it, you know? I-I don't understand. I know what we felt when we were on that trip alone. You just can't turn off feelings like that. You can't.

Marlena: No, you can't. You can't. Not when you love somebody. Brady... you love her.

Philip: I'd almost given up. I should have known our love was strong enough to bring you back to me.

Chloe: No. Philip, we're not getting back together, and I'm not with Brady, either. I can't be with anyone.

Philip: What? Oh, my God. Something's happened, hasn't it? Are you sick again?

Chloe: No, but I wish it had happened to me and not --

Philip: Tell me, whatever it is. Let me help you.

Chloe: It's Nancy and the baby -- my little sister. Their lives are in danger, and it's because of me.

Victor: Why don't we get married over the holidays? A new year's eve wedding -- perfect way to start 2003. What do you say?

Nicole: There's Brandon.

Victor: Oh, what timing. Let's tell him the good news.

Nicole: No, we can't.

Kate: You're staring.

Roman: That is my dress uniforms shirt you got on there.

Kate: Oh. I hope you don't mind.

Roman: It works for me. I'm glad last night happened.

Kate: I think we do better without words, just letting go.

Roman: Not too scary for you, letting down all those good, sound defenses?

Kate: Hmm. No, no, I feel safe here... with you. What's that saying, that if you save someone's life you're responsible for them forever?

Roman: I can handle that. If you're ever in trouble again...

Kate: Well, what, are you going to be my own personal 911?

Roman: Well, I was thinking more... friend -- good friend.

Kate: You know something? I think I could handle that, even if I'm not in trouble.

Brady: This is not about what I feel.

Marlena: I'm sorry. You're right. I shouldn't have asked that. I apologize.

Brady: No, no, it's okay. Really, it is. It's just -- I don't know.

Marlena: Well, never mind. It really is about Chloe anyway, so tell me -- tell me about Chloe. Tell me about the problem.

Brady: Well, okay. When -- when we were away, when things were going really well, I gave her hope. I made her believe that everything was going to be okay, and she actually felt optimistic, you know? Like she was dreaming about her future.

Marlena: And now?

Brady: Well, now this news about Nancy really shook things up. See, Chloe's been programmed her entire life to -- to believe that something is -- something is wrong with her, and she would eventually bring misery to all those people who loved and cared about her, and that she didn't deserve to have anything good happen to her. And if it did, she couldn't trust it because that meant that next, something really horrible would happen to her.

Marlena: The first thing she's got to do is get rid of that "I don't deserve" tape going on in her head. You can help her there. Make sure she knows that those are self-destructive thoughts, and, yes, she deserves to be happy and to be loved and to live a long life. You tell her that, and when she expresses negative thoughts, you listen very carefully, and when she's done talking about that, you say to her emphatically, "those thoughts are invalid. They're not permitted. They're part of an old tape. Erase that tape and move on."

Brady: You're right. You're right. Erase it. Yeah -- thank you.

Marlena: If it doesn't work, I'll see her as a patient.

Brady: No, no. Thank -- thank you, but, um, let me take care of this myself. Let me take care of her. And I don't want her to give up on herself or us.

Philip: Man, this cannot be happening.

Chloe: Why? Because it all seemed so perfect -- Nancy getting pregnant, the baby being a bone marrow match, the promise of a great future? How could it all be taken away from me, right? Is that what you're wondering?

Philip: Yeah. Yeah, I am. I-I can't accept that Nancy and the baby aren't going to pull through, and that you're not going to get your transplant. It's going to happen, Chloe. You just have to keep believing.

Chloe: Why, because you say so? Things don't work out for me. I'm congenitally unlucky, if there is such a thing. Born to fail, born to be unhappy.

Philip: No, Chloe, don't --

Chloe: You know what? I've always known it, but I lost sight of it for a while. I even allowed myself to dream, to hope, but now it's back to reality, and I'll never get what I really want.

Philip: What is that? Is it Brady?

Brady: You're right. I mean, Chloe, just -- just edit "erase."

Marlena: It's no accident that you and Chloe are together at this point in your lives.

Brady: I believe that. I just hope that I'm strong enough to be there for what she needs.

Marlena: You just be exactly who you are. That's all you can do, no matter how much you love somebody.

Brady: You know what? I knew I came to the right place this morning.

Both: [Laugh]

Marlena: I'm here anytime.

Brady: Thank you so much.

Marlena: Mm-hmm.

Brady: It's great to see you. Thanks for the coffee.

Marlena: You bet. Anytime.

Victor: I don't understand. Why wouldn't you want to mention the wedding to your brother?

Nicole: Because we already had one wedding ceremony that went belly-up, and I don't want to get everyone excited again until we are sure everything is set. So is your invitation for lunch still good?

Victor: I'll make the reservation. Talk to your brother. I'll see you back at Titan.

Nicole: Am I glad to see you.

Brandon: You and, uh, Victor in a lovers' quarrel?

Nicole: No. You want to hear my good news?

Brandon: If it's wedding bells, I'll pass.

Nicole: It's my medical report. I got a clean bill of health.

Brandon: Oh, Nicky, that's great. I'm happy for you.

Nicole: Thank you.

Brandon: You know, you deserve to have everything go right from here on out.

Nicole: You too.

Brandon: Well, I'm working on it.

Nicole: Could have fooled me.

Brandon: Well, you know, it's been one of those days.

Nicole: "Days" spelled s-a-m-I?

Brandon: Ah, we had a deal, remember? I don't knock Victor, you keep your claws in when it comes to Samantha.

Nicole: Yeah, but that doesn't mean that I don't get to care about you. Something happened between you guys. What -- what is it?

Brandon: I hate secrecy, and she's not leveling with me. End of story, okay?

Roman: You know, we don't want to get this shirt wrinkled.

Kate: Oh, no words, remember?

Sami: Dad, are you here?

Roman: Sami.

Kate: Don't you ever knock?

Sami: Don't you ever sleep in your own bed? Dad, are you out of your freakin' mind?

Craig: Hi.

Marlena: Craig?

Craig: Hey, Marlena.

Marlena: How are you doing?

Craig: I'm tired.

Marlena: I'm not surprised.

Craig: Mm.

Marlena: Is Nancy up to having visitors?

Craig: No, uh, Dr. Bader's in there with her right now.

Marlena: I'll stop and see her later. How's she doing?

Craig: Well, we're doing everything we can medically. What we need is a miracle.

Marlena: I don't have any patients at the moment. Why don't you come by my office? Talk, rest, whatever you need.

Craig: Thanks. I appreciate the offer, but --

Marlena: You need some downtime here. The strain is showing on you.

Craig: That obvious, huh?

Marlena: We've worked together for a long time.

Craig: I've just been trying to hide my concern for Nancy, and, Marlena... I'm scared. I'm -- I'm scared for her, and I'm scared for us.

Chloe: Thanks for the coffee.

Philip: Hey, don't go. You shouldn't be alone right now.

Chloe: I'm fine.

Philip: Look, I'll go with you, okay? Wherever you want to go, I'll take you.

Chloe: You're working.

Philip: To hell with this stupid job. You're the most important person in the world to me.

Chloe: No, don't ever say that.

Philip: I'm not going to let you go back to that dark place inside you, okay? And I see it happening. Nancy and Craig need you to keep believing. They're not giving up, and neither can you.

Chloe: I don't need this.

Brady: Yes, you do. For once, Chloe, Philip's right. Listen to him. Listen to us.

Chloe: Don't you two ever know when to give up?

Philip: No.

Brady: That's why we have to go to the hospital together to see Nancy.

Chloe: I can't.

Brady: Yes, you can, Chloe. She needs to see you, and you need to be with her.

Chloe: Not yet.

Brady: Chloe, listen to me. I know this is going to be hard for you, all right? But I also know that you're strong enough to handle it.

Philip: Would you stop hammering her? If she doesn't want to go, don't make her go.

Chloe: It's okay, Philip. Brady's right. I do need to see her.

Brady: My jeep's out front. Come on.

Philip: Damn you, Brady.

Sami: I won't let you do this. Yore not going to use my father.

Roman: Sami, hold it!

Sami: How could you do this? Dad, she's a man-eating, conniving, vicious, brutal --

Roman: Time for you to leave, all right?

Sami: You're going to choose her over your own daughter?

Roman: Right at this moment? Oh, yeah.

Sami: I hate you for this. I am never going to forgive you.

Kate: Sami, wait.

Roman: Let her go.

Kate: No, no, no, not like this. Sami. Sami. Don't do this to your father.

Sami: You stay away from him, or Victor's plan to bury you will seem like a picnic compared to what I'm going to do.

Kate: S--

[Monitor beeping]

Nancy: My two little girls are going to be here -- side by side... no matter what it takes.

Chloe: You can leave now, Brady. I'll take the bus home.

Brady: No, you won't.

Chloe: I want you to go, please.

Brady: Chloe, don't shut me out.

Chloe: We're back in Salem now, not out on the road living some kind of fantasy.

Brady: Chloe, what we felt when we made love -- it was real then, and it's real now.

Chloe: It was a mistake.

Brady: Chloe, listen to your heart, okay? Not your fears.

Chloe: Brady, don't.

Brady: I love you.

Chloe: You're only going to get hurt.

Brady: You love me, too, Chloe.

Chloe: Nancy is going to lose this baby, and I'm going to lose my life, so don't waste your love on a dead person.

Brady: Chloe, don't say that. I don't ever want to hear you say that again.

Marlena: I think this could be the most healing news Nancy could have. Craig, tell her. Tell her you're Chloe's father. The two of you can decide how to -- how to break it to Chloe.

Craig: You think that Chloe may not be able to handle this?

Marlena: I don't know. I-I don't know. Brady was here earlier, and he was all concerned about Chloe. She -- she's taking the news about Nancy's illness very badly, but what's happened is she's withdrawing into herself the way she used to.

Sami: Mom, you have to help me!

Marlena: [Gasps]

Sami: Oh, um...

Marlena: What are you doing, Sami?

Sami: Your -- your secretary said you weren't with a patient.

Craig: It's all right. Marlena, really, I'm -- I'm on my way out. Thank you for everything. I'll -- I'll let you know how it goes.

Marlena: Yes, yes. I'll be waiting to hear.

Sami: Oh, God.

Marlena: How dare you walk in here like that.

Sami: Please -- please don't turn on me now. I couldn't take it. I just couldn't.

Marlena: Really? What's happened now, Sami?

Sami: My life is over, mom!

Brandon: I am the one person that Samantha doesn't have to hide things from. So what's with all the secrecy?

Nicole: Maybe she can't help herself. Just doing what comes naturally.

Brandon: There is no point in being in a relationship unless there's trust, openness, and commitment.

Nicole: That leaves Sami out.

Brandon: Oh, and I suppose Victor has all of those qualities, right?

Nicole: But -- but I don't set the bar as high as you do. It's enough for me that Victor loves me and wants to take care of me.

Brandon: And what about you? Do you love him?

Nicole: He's everything I ever wanted in a man.

Brandon: Then why haven't you set a date for the wedding?

Nicole: We want it to be right.

Brandon: It's not going to be right -- not with him. Nicky, you're not in love with him, not even close. You are not going to be happy as Mrs. Victor Kiriakis, and you know it.

Victor: How soon can you take a break?

Philip: Come on, dad, don't mess with my career path. I might not get that big promotion I'm expecting.

Victor: Put that thing down. I've got news that concerns you.

Philip: What now?

Victor: Nicole and I have set a date. We're being married new year's eve.

Philip: Congratulations. I'm glad Nicole is doing well. It means she's recovered from her coma and all.

Victor: You don't sound glad.

Philip: No. No, I am. I just -- I just wish Chloe were okay.

Victor: Last I heard, she was in remission.

Philip: But she needs a transplant, dad, and the one hope -- the one chance she had to stay alive -- it may be gone.

Chloe: I need to go in and see Nancy now.

Brady: Please give her my best... and tell her that we're all praying for her.

Craig: Chloe? Oh, sweetie, I'm so glad you're back here. Your mom's been asking for you.

Chloe: How is she?

Craig: Well, she needs to stay calm. If she sees that you're upset --

Chloe: No, don't -- don't worry. I know what to do.

Chloe: Hi.

Nancy: Hi, sweetheart.

Roman: I'm going to get the locks changed in this place today.

Kate: Well, we can't lock our children out of our lives.

Roman: One child -- mine.

Kate: No, no. It's not just Sami. Lucas just isn't as loud, but believe me, he doesn't favor me seeing you. And Billie -- Billie would rather I take a vow of celibacy than go out with you.

Roman: Okay, what about Philip? Is he for us, or is he against us?

Kate: He wants his mom and dad back together again, although that's never going to happen.

Roman: Well, I'll tell you this -- I'm sure as hell not about to ask permission of my children to see you.

Kate: Roman, I just got my children back. After all these years, it's -- it's wonderful. I don't want to lose that.

Roman: And I don't want you to.

Kate: So where does that leave us?

Roman: Well, we could go out of town, meet in seedy motels, or we could rack up last night to a very lovely evening, shake hands, and say goodbye, or we could go for it, take the flak from the kids as it comes. I vote for the latter. How about you? What's it going to be?

Sami: Mom, mom, seriously --

Marlena: Sami, Sami, Sami, calm down, calm down. Is it Will?

Sami: No. No, it's dad. He needs your help. I mean, he's having, like, a midlife crisis or something. You need to get him counseling before he ruins his life and mine.

Marlena: You had a fight.

Sami: He kicked me out of the house, and it is all her fault.

Marlena: Whose fault?

Sami: Kate. She was there. She was practically naked. I mean, how desperate can he be?

Marlena: Oh, don't you dare judge anybody, Sami. If your father wants to have a relationship, he can do that, even with Kate. Anybody that he wants to. Don't -- don't give him a hard time.

Sami: I should have known that you would take his side. I shouldn't have come.

Marlena: I am not taking a side. I don't do that. What's going on with you?

Sami: Mom, Brandon and I went away together and we had a magical time. He -- he gave me this bracelet, and it has the infinity symbol, and -- and then we came home, and I said one stupid thing, and he took it all wrong, and now I've lost him. He won't even talk to me.

Marlena: What stupid thing did you say?

Sami: Nothing. It was no big deal.

Marlena: Oh. Oh. That's right. It's always no big deal. Whatever you say is always no big deal, and then it turns out that it's a very big deal.

Sami: Mom, okay, help me! Just tell me what to do to make it better.

Marlena: I don't know, Sami. I'm not even sure that you and Brandon belong together.

Sami: How could you say that? He -- he's the only man in my whole life who -- who knows the real me. He knows the real Sami, and he really cares about me.

Marlena: All right. Give him some space. Apologize to him. If the relationship is solid and he cares, it'll be all right.

Sami: You're right. Thank you, mom. He's not going to dump me. I-I won't let him. I'm going to hold onto him no matter what it takes.

Nancy: Come on, honey. Tell me all about your trip.

Chloe: It was okay.

Nancy: Just okay?

Chloe: Well, how are you?

Nancy: Ha ha. Craig is hovering over me like a mother hen. You look like you could use a hug. It's so good to have you back.

Chloe: I'm glad to be back. I wish I'd never left in the first place.

Nancy: Come on, now. Sit. Tell me everything.

Chloe: Um...

Nancy: Though I'm sorry. It must have been a disappointment not to get to Los Angeles. Oh, but it must have been a wonderful adventure staying at a remote cabin. Was there much to do out there?

Chloe: It was pretty quiet. Uh, really beautiful countryside, but it was so cold. I'm glad to be back here with you and the baby.

Nancy: Ha ha. She and I are just fine, although the room could be a bit cheerier.

Chloe: Yeah, hospital rooms need all the help they can get. Remember how many stuffed animals were in my room when I was here?

Nancy: Ha ha. Mm, you're right. Maybe a few throw pillows, some family pictures?

Chloe: I'll bring photos next time I come here, and I'll bring you some of your favorite foods.

Nancy: Oh, I'm afraid you'll have to smuggle them in.

Chloe: Well, I just happen to have an in at university hospital, which is good, considering how much time our family has spent here this year. You know, if Craig wasn't chief of staff, we'd have to ask for the family rate.

Nancy: Ha ha.

Chloe: Nancy, I'm going to be here for you just like you were here for me when I was hospitalized. You and Craig and my friends were the only things that kept me going.

Nancy: Chloe... you are the best medicine I could have. I love you so much.

Kate: Roman, you know as well as I do that last night was just a brief moment in time.

Roman: And this morning is...

Kate: Reality.

Roman: So what you're saying is...

Kate: This can't happen again.

Roman: It's over.

Kate: Yes.

Roman: It doesn't feel over.

Kate: Well, it will once I'm gone. So I guess I should go get dressed.

Roman: Whatever you want.

Kate: This is the way it has to be.

Roman: Then this is goodbye.

Kate: This is goodbye.

Marlena: John can't be Tony's brother. It can't be true. But if it's true... God help us all.

Philip: It seemed so perfect. Chloe -- she was going to have a little sister who was a bone marrow match. Now she's blaming herself for the danger that Nancy and the baby are in.

Victor: I'm sorry.

Philip: Well, she's scared. All I want to do is help her.

Victor: From what you've told me, that's not what Chloe wants.

Philip: Dad, she doesn't know what she wants. Brady hardly gives her any time to herself.

Victor: Listen, it hurts, I know, Philip, but she's chosen to be with him, not you. Isn't it time that you faced that, tried to accept it?

Philip: I'm a Kiriakis, and when we give our hearts to someone, we don't give up that easily. In fact, we never give up.

Victor: You got me there.

Brandon: Nicky, you almost died when you took that bullet for Victor. I mean, you got a second chance. Don't waste it on a guy you don't love.

Nicole: That near-death experience taught me what's important, all right.

Brandon: I don't buy it.

Nicole: Trust me, I know what I want and why. I'm not walking around kidding myself like you.

Brandon: I know what I want. It's Samantha. I've always wanted her. Just can't stand the secrets and lies.

Nicole: Oh, speak of the devil. Good luck giving her the third degree. Bye.

Sami: Hi, Brandon. Look, I know you didn't want to see me, okay? But we can't leave things the way that they are. I can't stand it. Whatever I've done, I'm sorry.

Brandon: Are you ready to tell me what was really going on last night?

Sami: I wanted to make love to you. Why does that mean that I'm up to something?

Brandon: You wanted unprotected sex. Why? What are you up to, Samantha?

Craig: Is she okay?

Chloe: She's fine.

Craig: Are you sure?

Chloe: Yeah, Nancy's so amazing and strong, positive.

Craig: You know what, Chloe? You have no idea how happy I am to have you back home.

Chloe: I'll be back here later with some of Nancy's things from home.

Craig: Okay. Thanks. Thank you. You too.

Brady: How are you doing?

Chloe: Fine. Shall we go?

Brady: Chloe, please. Don't shut me out again.

Chloe: What do you want me to say? I will do anything to help Nancy and that baby, but what good will it do? We all know it's a waste of time, and there's nothing we can do to save them.

Sami: So... we're okay now?

Abe: Ha ha ha ha. A baby, a baby, a baby.

Cassie: How does that feel?

Shawn-D: Good. Oh, that feels really good.

Cynthia: [Thinking] Wait till Belle hears about this.