Week of 12/11/06 Edition

ERIC AND NICOLE WED!!

Family and friends rally around Eric to make his final wish come true this week on Salem Lives and Nicole couldn't be happier. "Eric is the man she loves and she has done more to hurt him then he has done to hurt her," says EP/HW Tim Lowery. "That is the key. He was the first person to give her the time of day in Salem and was the only guy that never led her on or hurt her to the point where she couldn't stand him. He came back to her even after she broke his heart." Family and friends prepare and gather for the simple, romantic ceremony in Eric's room. "It's sweet and not alot of fanfare but it's nice," promises Lowery. "It's a nice break from the darkness over Salem." Eric and Nicole are pronounced husband and wife but then thinks take a turn for the worse on many accounts. "Bad news about Roman surfaces and Eric also worsens," says Lowery. "Nicole has no choice but to call Fr. Jansen for last rites." Is the honeymoon already over for the newlyweds?

SAMI AND ROMAN: FINALLY!!!!

Sami finally comes to terms with accepting John as Roman and, more importantly, as her father this week on Salem Lives . The action picks up with Sami helping Roman, who has given far too much blood in an effort to save Eric. "We see Sami finally worried about him for the first time since the island," says EP/HW Tim Lowery. "Something clicks in her when he doesn't wake up and she just calls him daddy. She shocks even herself and seems overjoyed when he awakens." Roman recovers but then gets upset when he sees Caroline thanking Victor for volunteering to go to the clinic near Chicago to help Eric. "Roman goes into a rage and doesn't want his family to owe anything to Victor," adds Lowery. "He doesn't want him using anything to manipulate his mother into falling into his trap again so he follows Victor up to the roof to meet the helicopter as Sami follows."

On the rooftop, a desperate Roman faces off with Victor and pushes him out of the way and boarding the helicopter himself. He pulls a gun on the pilot and co-pilot and orders them to fly away on his orders as he is a member of the Salem PD. Meanwhile, on the rooftop, an angry Victor leaves but seeing all that Roman is doing for Eric has affected her. "She has flashbacks to the years John as Roman raised Eric and her and to all the fights between them and to all the recent happenings," says Lowery. "She realizes he was right and that she was afraid to accept him. It goes against everything she has beleived and she was embarassed by how she treated him after how he raised her. Seeing what he is doing for Eric is different then seeing what he has done for her in recent weeks as when Roman did things for her she thought he was trying to impress her but, with Eric, he is pretty much ok with Roman so there is no reason to do this other then caring for him. She used her bad childhood and what she witness in that night at Titan as a reason for her actions for years. Now she can't and she is just afraid to accept him as her dad even though she knows he is and wants to."

Lucas then joins Sami on the rooftop and a there is a cute moment. "He asks her what is going on and she says that her dad went off to save her brother and she smiles," enthuses Lowery. "She seems proud and she realizes that part of her redemption is accepting John as Roman and her father. It's like one of her last steps and it seems ok to do it now as she has seen how much he loves and cares for Eric and that tells her alot." Lucas is proud of her and they share a close moment. By week's end, the lightheartedness dissipated as bad news about Roman prompts Sami to take action. "It's another way to prove herself and to redeem herself but she also wants to make everything up to Roman in a way," previews Lowery. "Plus, she needs to help her brother." The question is how far will Sami go to prove she has changed?

VICTOR AND MAGGIE KISS!!!

Victor and Maggie's relationship moves to a new level...sort of this week on Salem Lives when they share a kiss under the mistletoe. "Victor is upset about what happened in Sydney and Roman's interference in his helping Eric and so on so Maggie arranges a private dinner for them at Chez Rouge," previews EP/HW Tim Lowery. "They are all alone as the restaurant is not yet open to the public and it's romantic, even if it wasn't intended to be." The friends end up talking and dancing and express how much they mean to each other. "It becomes clear as they talk more that they feel quite strongly for each other and they question how deep their feelings are," says Lowery. "Maggie fears being alone and Victor has been alone for so long and has been hurt by Caroline. Maggie and Victor don't judge each other and they have been there for each other. They express these feelings to each other and, in a vulnerable moment, they kiss." However, the kiss is under the mistletoe so they both claim they were going along with tradition but, privately, it's clear to both of them it might mean more. What will Caroline do when she hears about this? "It may get ugly," laughs Lowery.

BELLE AND PHILIP COME HOME!!!

Belle and Philip return to Salem with Claire this week on Salem Lives and it is clear not all is right with the recently reunited family. The young Kiriakis family is reunited with friends and family at the hospital. "Belle knew she had to come back because of Eric and Philip wanted to return too for his family," says EP/HW Tim Lowery. "The immediately immerse themselves in the happenings in Salem but it is clear there is something else going on. They are being asked questions left and right but don't really give answers. They are being secretive about something." By week's end, Kate witnesses a tense moment between Belle and Philip and it soon becomes clear that something happened in San Francisco during Philip's recovery and that all is not right with the now-united family. "They claim they worked out their differences in San Francisco but it's not clear if they are telling the truth," says Lowery. "Philip is having a hard time adjusting to life after the plastic surgery and all the rehab so he is very temperamental. Whether that is the source of the tension remains to be seen but there is definitely something going on." As for who will be playing the new Philip since Kyle Brandt left the role this past summer, tune in on Tuesday December 12 for the answer!!!

COMINGS AND GOINGS

COMING

Shayna Rose (Stephanie Johnson): Look for Steve (Stephen Nichols) and Kayla's (Mary Beth Evans) daughter to return for the holidays to finally meet her presumed dead father. She first airs on December 18.

Christie Clark (Carrie Brady): Clark returns after a short hiatus on December 19.

Patsy Pease (Kimberly Brady): As previously reported, the actress is returning for an umlimited run. She first airs on December 19.

Tom Welling (Andrew Donovon) and Michelle Williams (Jeannie Donovon): As previously reported, Andrew and Jeannie return to Salem with their mother but won't stick along with her after the holidays. They first air on December 19.

Previews and Peeks into Week of 12/11/06

-Roman's actions touch Sami and she has a change of heart.

-Hope begs Bo to end his alliance with Victor.

-Victor and Roman face off.

-Katherine and Cal make progress...bot on on his past.

-Belle, Philip, and Claire return to Salem.

-Victor and Maggie get cozy.

-Belle and Philip are hiding something.

-Eric and Nicole take a leap of faith.

-Kate's curiosity is piqued where Belle and Philip are concerned.

-Abby and Chelsea wake up but remain in the dark about their conditions.

-News about Roman rocks the Brady's.

-Sami takes action.

-Nicole asks Fr. Jansen to give Eric his last rites.

-Laura's wish comes true.

-Bo's memory flashes continue as he gets a mysterious phone call.

-Greta encourages Chelsea to tell Hope the truth.

RED LETTER DAYS!!

Tuesday December 12: Sami has a breakthrough as Belle, Philip, and Claire return to Salem.

Wednesday December 13: Victor and Maggie kiss!!!

Thursday December 14: Eric and Nicole wed as news of Roman surfaces...

Next Week: Chelsea tells Hope the truth. Romance is in the air on Christmas Eve for Jack and Billie and Max and Abby. Salem celebrates Christmas as the Horton's trim the tree once again and miracles abound in Salem. Carrie returns. Stephanie, Kimberly, Andrew, and Jeannie return. Bo has a surprise for Hope. Two surprise returns shock Salem. Sami and Roman share a special Christmas moment. The Johnson's enjoy their first Christmas together.