EPISODE 145

Written by A. Washington-Beeby
Story Consultants: C. Nathaniel Richardson & Nick Monarco

 

Billie stands, arms crossed, inches from Kim, as they face off in the University Hospital lounge. Billie never backs down or looks away from an equally determined Kim.

 

BILLIE: You really think that I would poison Theresa?
KIM: I wouldn't put anything past you.

 

Kim steps away from Billie, but continues to rant.

KIM: I mean, really, Billie. Remember Phil?  My ex-husband you made porn films for drug money with? And then you insinuate yourself in my daughter's life afterwards so you could...poison her mind against him, and against me. 
BILLIE: Oh COME ON, Kim, that was not how it--
KIM: Oh the Hell it wasn't! Someone blackmailed the two of you over this. You helped my daughter lie about...

 

Kim stops herself from continuing, trying to keep a cool exterior before carrying on.

 

KIM: You ruined my relationship with my husband, and my daughter, and you put my relationship with my son AND his father at risk.
BILLIE: No, YOU did that. You and you alone. 

 

---

 

Brady looks away from Anita as they both stand in Anita's living room in her cabin in the woods. Anita walks slowly over to Brady, who is deep in thought, and gently puts a hand on his shoulder.

 

ANITA: Brady. I need you to understand. I care about you. More than you probably realize. And I didn't want you to leave before you were ready. 
BRADY: (sigh) Look, I know that.

 

Brady turns to face Anita again, feeling a bit badly for having reacted as strongly as he had about Anita knowing his identity.

 

BRADY: And I realize you probably didn't nurse me back to health for some kind of...financial windfall. I just...(sigh) I...I guess I was running away from...all the problems I had in Salem...the pressure Victor put on me...my ex- put on me...

 

Brady chuckles momentarily, despite his thoughts going back to a dark place.

 

BRADY: My ex- sleeping with my priest brother and him having the audacity to call it rape.

 

Brady looks down at the ground a moment, deep in a troubling thought.

 

BRADY: Losing my fiancée in an explosion. I just...I haven't been dealing with it all. And...I guess trying to end it all was another step in my running away from it.

 

Anita puts her hand up to Brady's cheek, as she pulls him into a tender, warm hug. Brady fights off tears, as he and Anita begin to open up to each other.

 

---

 

The Kiriakises huddle around an excited Maggie in the living room to the family mansion. Noelle looks particularly stunned, as Justin, Adrienne, Sonny, and Alex all look on surprised and confused by Maggie's news.

 

ALEX: Maggie...I don't get it. Why can't we say anything about Victor waking up?
MAGGIE: Well...apparently he doesn't want so much press attention right now with the whole...Titan shakeup, and...quite frankly, he's pretty weak right now. So...I think the best thing we can all do is give him some space for the time being.

 

Justin nods, as Sonny and Alex look at each other, understanding the situation. Adrienne looks Maggie's way in cautious agreement, as Noelle looks on, trying to mask her interest.

 

SONNY: So...I heard we had a guest coming for dinner?  But mom wanted to wait until we were all here before she talked about it?
ALEX: Oh...that. 
ADRIENNE: So...I ran into Anjelica Deveraux in the square today and...

 

Adrienne grimaces, looking at the others almost apologetically, as Noelle looks over at her husband, slightly confused, before her eyes spot the door to the living room open.

 

Maggie turns, as the rest of the household look on, mostly in displeasure, but also in shock, as Anjelica walks in.

 

ANJELICA: Hello, family! I hope I'm not late for dinner!

 

Anjelica smiles widely as the rest of the family appears shocked by her arrival. Adrienne, meanwhile, motions half-heartedly at the door.

 

ADRIENNE: Surprise!

 

---

 

 

---

 

Billie stands with Kim in the hospital lounge, venting her anger at Kim's continued vilifying of her.

 

BILLIE: The only reason I ever stepped in to help that girl was because she knew she could trust me, because I was the only person in her life that didn't think that Phillip Collier was some kind of saint.
KIM: Oh please. You never gave her another option. You saw an opening and you took it.
BILLIE: Why would I do that, Kim?

 

Kim shakes her head, taking a cool, composed tone as she responds to Billie's question.

 

KIM: Because you were grieving your own daughter. You thought Chelsea was dead, and you used the relationship you'd built with my daughter as a tool to replace Chelsea in your empty little waste of a life.

 

Billie laughs sarcastically, in awe of Kim's statement.

 

BILLIE: Oh my God, you have absolutely no shame, do you? When are you going to take even a little responsibility for what happened between you and Theresa? When are you going to admit that if you had just believed her when she came to you in tears, shaking because Phillip Collier had been molesting her for longer than she cared to remember, none of this would've happened?

 

Kim stands in stunned silence, as Billie lets loose.

 

BILLIE: She would never have turned to drugs, she would never have gotten herself in trouble with the law, she certainly would never have ended up in a coma because Brady Black wanted to commit suicide and take her with him! But I guess that's all well and good so long as you have your scape goat to blame the fact you couldn't keep your head together long enough to actually be a parent when it mattered!

 

Kim slaps Billie hard across the face, snapping Billie out of her rage with the shock of the attack.

 

---

 

Brady and Anita sit on the sofa, as a fire crackles in the fireplace before them, talking about Brady's problems.

 

ANITA: I know where you're coming from. This home...such as it is...

 

Anita and Brady share a laugh, before Anita stops after a moment, sighing, as she looks around her quaint home.

 

ANITA: This is my refuge.

 

Anita looks intensely at Brady, as he senses her pain.

 

ANITA: I've had a lot of...pain to go through. Losing two of my children...I nearly died. I withdrew. I...I didn't want to be around people. It was safer here.

 

Anita looks off, as though looking at a ghost from the past.

 

ANITA: My umm...you asked about why I was looking at the news story about Titan, I...my late husband, he bought up shares in Titan when they first began publishing Bella Magazine. He was...he was certain he was onto a good thing, and that...(laughs) he figured he could retire off the dividends. When he died, he left them to me. And...with how the company's doing now...well...

BRADY: You're thinking of selling, aren't you?

 

Anita shrugs, looking solemnly past Brady.

 

ANITA: We could use the money. This house...it needs some work.

 

Brady looks down, nodding in understanding of her situation.

 

BRADY: I think it's a good idea. Titan's in a lot of trouble, and...with Nick Fallon at the helm...it's only gonna get worse from here.

 

Anita smiles half-heartedly, clearly still worried for the future.

 

ANITA: Thank you.

BRADY: Anita, we're gonna make this work for you. I won't let you down.
ANITA: Oh I know, Brady...and I know that...you've been put in so many difficult situations, and I know that you thought that the only solution was to run away, but...

 

Anita takes Brady's hand into hers, and holds it tightly, never taking her eyes off his.

 

ANITA: ...I need you to know that you don't have to run anymore. Not here. You are always safe here. We can really help each other. Whenever you're ready, I am here for you.

 

Brady smiles warmly at Anita, nodding back at her.

 

BRADY: Same for me, Anita. Same for me.

 

Anita and Brady come together for another warm hug, as they sit on the sofa, enjoying the warm fire.

 

---

 

 
Gabi finishes signing the modelling contract with MadWorld, as Sami, Kate, and Gabi had discussed. She stands in her living room, with Will looking on, as Sami and Kate look on approvingly. Gabi lurches up, pen in hand, as Sami smiles up at her.

 

SAMI: Congratulations. You are officially the new spokesmodel for MadWorld cosmetics.
GABI: Great. Why don't I feel as excited as I should be?

 

Gabi hears her text tone go off, causing her to jump slightly as she looks around for her phone. Finding it on the side table in the living room, she picks it up. Kate notices as Gabi looks at the message, that her expression changes, becoming more sombre.

 

KATE: What is it?

 

Gabi looks up from her phone, nervously.

 

GABI: It's time. I have to meet Nick at Club TBD in an hour. What's our game plan?

 

Sami and Kate look at each other, confidently. Gabi's eyes dart between the two, far less confident that their plan will go off.

 

---

Maggie turns toward Anjelica, who stands in the entranceway of the Kiriakis living room, smiling widely. Maggie looks back, less than enthused.

 

MAGGIE: Anjelica.
ANJELICA: Maggie! Long time, no see!

 

Anjelica quickly walks over, giving Maggie a big hug, which makes Maggie immediately uncomfortable and more than a little confused.

 

MAGGIE: Anjelica, I wish I'd known you were coming to dinner sooner.

 

Anjelica remains enthused, almost to spite Maggie and the rest of the Kiriakises. She carries on talking as she helps herself to a drink from the bar in the corner or the room.

 

ANJELICA: What? And ruin the surprise? You've got to be kidding me. I mean, this is my first time back in Salem in over 20 years! Where else would spend it than with my loving son and his family?
JUSTIN: A jail cell, maybe?
ANJELICA: Oh Justin, always the joker!

 

Anjelica turns back to face the rest of the room, now with drink in hand, smiles as she takes a sip.

 

ANJELICA: But in all seriousness, I'm here because I am on the campaign trail to the state governor's house...and I think I could be a big help to all of you.

 

The family look at each other, curiously, as Anjelica smiles slyly and takes a sip of her drink.

 

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