Thursday - 7/22
DIMERA MANSION
HAWK: Are you sure that’s a good idea? Yes, I know. That’s a good point. All right, if you think so, I’ll trust you. Yeah. Of course I will, you know that. All right, how soon? Gotcha. Sounds good. I should be going. I’ll talk to you soon. Give her a hug from me. I love you, too. Bye, Mom.
Hawk hung up.
HAWK (thinking): Well, this is gonna be interesting.
Meanwhile, E.J. came up from downstairs onto the main level of the Mansion. He looked around to make sure nobody had seen him exit Dr. Rolf’s lab, and shut the door behind him. He went into the living room and looked up at the portrait of Stefano.
E.J.: Father, how I wish you were still around to see how Johnny is growing. He is becoming a true DiMera. You’d be so proud of him.
TONY: Until he did something that Stefano didn’t agree with.
E.J. turned to see Tony walk in.
TONY: You and I both know how that goes, don’t we, Elvis?
E.J.: Tony. Sorry, I didn’t see you there.
TONY: That much is evident. You must have had quite a night, I didn’t hear you come in last night.
E.J.: I never left. I’ve just been in my study the whole time, working on plans for my latest business venture.
TONY: Oh?
E.J.: Yes. I’m afraid it’s rather a secret at the moment, but as soon as I have things squared away, I’ll be happy to tell you, Anna, Chad and Abigail all about it.
TONY: I look forward to it.
E.J.: Speaking of which, have they returned yet?
TONY: No, Chad and Abigail won’t be home until this afternoon. I do wish I’d known you were home, you completely missed meeting our guest.
E.J.: Guest? What guest?
TONY: Our nephew, Steven Hawk. Benjy’s son. He’s come to town to meet the family.
E.J.: Has he? Well, I suppose I’ll see him tonight, then.
Down the basement, André stood in the lab, looking at something the size of a business card. It was blank on one side, and on the other, had a stylized
image of what looked to be a bird of prey.
ANDRE: Bart, have this image searched. This is clearly a calling card, I want to know who it belongs to.
BART: You got it, bossman!
MORALES HOUSE - BURNT HILL
Allie and Manny were in the backyard of her house, kicking a ball back and forth to each other across the yard.
MANNY: So, he told you, then?
Allie nodded.
ALLIE: Yeah, just yesterday.
MANNY: Oh, chica. How’re you doing?
ALLIE: I’m okay, actually. I mean, I wasn’t thrilled at first, but we talked for a long time, and we’re gonna give long distance a try.
MANNY: That’s good. You two are so cute together! I’ve been hoping you’d make it since we were freshmen.
ALLIE: Me too. And thanks. I’m sure we’ll be fine. We have phones and stuff, so we’ll be able to keep in touch as often as we want.
Manny nodded.
ALLIE: Anyway, I can’t wait to start at Salem U! I never thought I’d be excited to go back to school, but now that I know what I wanna do, I really am!
MANNY: I’m excited too! College is gonna be a blast! You goin’ to that open house in a couple days?
ALLIE: I was thinking about it. Are you?
MANNY: Yep.
ALLIE: We should talk to our parents and see about having a sleepover the night before.
MANNY: That’d be awesome! Hey, how’s your cheek doing, by the way?
Allie touched her cheek, then pushed a lock of hair behind her ear.
ALLIE: It’s a lot better, thanks. My Mom made me keep it bandaged for a few days longer than necessary, but there wasn’t even any blood after the first day. Now I just have a small scar.
She pointed to a thin line on her cheek. Manny walked over and took a look at it.
MANNY: I kinda like it.
Allie giggled.
ALLIE: Thanks. You had fun on the camping trip, right?
MANNY: Totally! Your family and friends are awesome! Thanks again for inviting me!
ALLIE: Of course!
BRADY PUB
Will kissed Sonny and sat down opposite him at the table.
SONNY: Hey, thanks for coming.
WILL: No problem. The office is just down the street from here, and there’s nobody I’d rather spend my lunch hour with.
SONNY: Well, I’m glad to hear that.
They chuckled slightly.
WILL: So, what’s on your mind?
SONNY: What, I can’t just want to have lunch with my husband?
WILL: Of course you can. But, from the way you were talking on the phone, I can tell there’s something on your mind.
SONNY: You know me too well.
WILL: I’m guessing it’s something to do with that package we got this morning?
SONNY: That would be correct.
WILL: What did Grandpa John say?
SONNY: It’s exactly what we figured it would be when you found it. We’re the latest recipients of a mystery tape. And the stuff that’s on it...well, people weren’t exaggerating when they said they were creepy.
WILL: What exactly was on it?
SONNY: It was almost like a low budget horror movie, or a snuff film. There were these people wearing masks made to look like you, Sami and E.J., and they did a reenactment of you shooting him in the back at their first wedding.
Will exhaled.
WILL: Wow. That’s intense.
SONNY: You’re telling me. You didn’t have to see it.
WILL: No, living it was bad enough.
Will took Sonny’s hand.
WILL: I’m sorry you had to see that.
SONNY: Me too. The thing I’m glad of is that Ari didn’t have to see it. If she didn’t have that summer camp during the day, she’d have had to come with me.
WILL: Yeah, I know what you mean.
SONNY: Speaking of Ari, what are we gonna tell her?
WILL: Do we have to tell her anything?
SONNY: Of course we do. She saw the package this morning, and you know what she’s like, she’s curious about everything. She’s gonna want to know what was in the package, and not telling her isn’t an option. I just don’t know how we’re gonna explain to our eight year old daughter about that tape.
