Chapter 1
NARRATOR: It is said that in the final days of Salem, everyone had bad dreams...
OUTSIDE OF AN OLD SHACK
A hooded figure is standing in front of it.
NARRATOR: To the west of that town, there stood a lonely old cottage. An abandoned chack. The Salemites had passed it many a time. But they forgot, because they must. They forgot their dreams of fire, insanity, and the shack. They forgot. All except this woman...
The figure lowers her hood to reveal that she is Marlena Evans-Black. She opens the door of the shack, walks in, and begins speaking to a person who is off-screen.
MARLENA: I'm here to check up on you. I promise, I'll let you out as soon as I get the key. Unfortunately, I won't be able to get the key until André is out of the Mansion, and it doesn't look like he'll be leaving anytime soon...
POLICE STATION
Commander Roman Brady was busily sorting through the massive amounts of paperwork on his desk. A knock came on the door of his office.
ROMAN: Come in.
The door opened, and John Black stepped in.
JOHN: Didja miss me?
Roman looked up, saw John, and stood up.
ROMAN: John?
The two men laughed and shook hands.
ROMAN: You look good, partner. Up and walking again, I see.
JOHN: All thanks to this miracle therapist that Doc hired. I've never felt better in all my life, and that's a fact.
ROMAN: Good, good. So, speaking of which, where is Doc?
JOHN: Well, Roman, that's why I came to see you. I don't know where Marlena is...
DiMERA MANSION
ANDRE: A deal? And just what kind of deal did you have in mind?
LAWRENCE: I want you to hand me over the reigns to DiMera Enterprises.
ANDRE: You can't be serious.
LAWRENCE: I'm dead serious.
ANDRE: And just what would I get in return for handing over DiMera Enterprises?
LAWRENCE: I've been doing research on you, André. I know that you have a history of being a psychotic, compulsive, rutheless, psychopathic murderer. I know things about you that I'm sure the Salem PD would love to find out. In exchange for DiMera Enterprises, I shall keep quiet about all your crimes.
ANDRE: Thanks, but no thanks. I can cover my own rear quite nicely, thank you.
LAWRENCE: Very well, then. I suppose I'll just have to tip off the Salem PD about who really killed Benjy. About who really commited the Salem Stalker and Salem Slasher crimes. I'm sure that they'd be very interested to know about all that, and all of the other dirt that I have on you.
ANDRE: You're bluffing.
LAWRENCE: Can you be sure?
ANDRE: I...
LAWRENCE: Can you really be sure that I'm bluffing, André?
ANDRE: What does it matter to you, anyway? You've already got Alamain Industries and JenCon Oil, after all. Why do you need DiMera Enterprises, as well?
LAWRENCE: Because you and Stefano run the only business in this town that has licked me. Aside from Titan, and that's only because Aunt Vivian has a soft spot for old man Kiriakis.
ANDRE: Yes, well, the answer is still no, Alamain. Good day to you.
André turned to leave.
LAWRENCE: Wait.
André turned back.
LAWRENCE: My final offer...
ANDRE: No means no.
LAWRENCE: Just hear me out. My final offer, in addition to keep quiet about your crimes, once I am in control of DiMera Enterprises I shall merge our two companies together and split the profits 50/50.
ANDRE: No.
LAWRENCE: Did I mention you can use Ivan as your personal slave?
ANDRE: All right, you've got a deal.
LAWRENCE: Good man.
The two shook hands.
ANDRE: But, you must keep this under your hat. Nobody must know about this agreement, do you understand? Nobody. Especially not Stefano. It would just break his heart if he found out that his most loyal servant was betraying him like this.
LAWRENCE: Trust me, André, I will keep quiet. Aunt Vivian would have me killed if she found out I was making a deal with a DiMera. My lips are sealed.
The two shook hands again.