Days of our Lives Recaps: The week of April 14, 1997 on DAYS

King shot Bo during a showdown at the Snake Pit. John told Marlena that terrorists had tortured and killed Roman. Roman's death triggered Sami's memory of her mother's affair with John. Susan hatched a plan to take over Kristen's identity. Laura remembered her kidnapping and drew close to exposing Kristen's lies.

Monday, April 14, 1997

by Marcia Elgart

Upstairs in the nursery, Celeste told Kristen that the baby wasn't hers. She heard an Elvis song playing in her head when thinking about it. Kristen was furious and ordered her to leave. John picked up John Jr. and remarked that the child had Kristen's eyes. He asked Celeste what she thought. She said, somewhat unconvincingly, that the child had his mother's eyes. Later in the park, Celeste continued to feel a connection between John Jr. and Susan.

John was shocked by what Shane told him about Roman. When he again asked Shane about the truth of the information, Shane verified it over the phone. At the penthouse, Marlena learned from Caroline that John Jr.'s nurse was going through Brady's old clothes. While Marlena reminisced over Roman, Caroline asked her what was wrong. Marlena just said she was finding herself thinking of Roman more than usual. Marlena said that Roman had been hurt by her affair.

When Marlena made a comment that John and Kristen were married "for now," Caroline asked her what that meant. Marlena told Caroline she couldn't talk about it yet. Marlena wanted very much to meet the nurse, so they headed up there. John and Kristen showed up with news on Roman. John told them that Roman was dead, and Marlena and Caroline were overcome with grief. As they comforted each other, Kristen spotted Susan. Kristen told John to go be with Marlena, and then Kristen told Susan to go home immediately.

When Kristen asked if there was anything she could do, Marlena said she had done enough. And if looks could kill, Kristen would be dead.

Hope and Franco were at the Snake Pit, trying to learn who the drug kingpin was, and Hope thought J.L. King would help her because he had donated so much money to the effort to stop drugs in Salem. King was worried over what Bo might or might not have learned from Viper and waited for Nan to call.

King went down to the club to talk to Hope. He told her he had offered a reward for the man who had shot her son, so she thanked him. When J.L. asked what Hope was doing, she told him she was looking for Salem's drug boss and asked him to help her. King asked why, and she said that she wanted to get the man who had shot her son.

Tuesday, April 15, 1997

by Marcia Elgart

Hope and Billie were still in J.L. King's club. Hope wanted to know why Billie was using again, and Billie again lied in order to protect Bo. Then they all learned that a cop had been shot in the back alley, and they all rushed out.

At the penthouse, Kristen was asked to take Caroline to the pub so that Shawn could be told of Roman's death, and John would wait for Major Dodd to arrive with further information.

Major Dodd arrived and explained that Roman had been on assignment in the Middle East, had been captured, and his death had been sudden. Marlena took the news very hard, blaming herself. The nanny interrupted about Belle, and Marlena went up to see. It was at that point that John asked Major Dodd what had really happened.

It seemed that Roman had actually been held in captivity for several months, and the rescue attempts that had been made had been futile. He also explained how one night, the song from An Officer and a Gentleman had affected Roman deeply. Marlena heard that, and said, "Oh, our song..." The major left, and John said that people needed to be told.

At the mansion, Kristen was having problems with Susan, the doctor, and the contractor. Susan was found to have been dressing like Kristen again, and Kristen didn't like it. The doctor wouldn't let Kristen change John Jr. to formula, and the secret room needed to be finished as soon as possible. Susan asked Kristen if she had stolen Marlena from John.

Back at the alley behind King's club, Hope and Billie saw that Bo had been shot, but he'd had on a bulletproof vest, so he was only stunned. Everyone was happy that he was fine, but since J.L. was watching, Billie tried to get to Bo, Franco grabbed Hope, and they left.

It also seemed that Abe's shot had hit Viper in the arm, and Bo's had hit him in the leg, and he had died from a shot to the heart. Bo was sure that King had killed him to prevent being named as the drug lord of Salem. At that point, John arrived with the news of Roman's death, and all headed off to the pub to be with family.

In Marlena's penthouse, she was in a nightgown and put on a song, "Up Where We Belong." She sat, reflected, and started crying.

Wednesday, April 16, 1997

by Marcia Elgart

Jennifer and Laura discussed Jack, the prison, Laura's memory loss, and other various issues. Lynn reminded Laura to take her pill. Laura said not to worry and put the pill in her pocket. In prison, Jack and Travis discussed Jack's situation of loving Jennifer and Abby and his desire to protect them. Travis was really encouraging in his efforts to cheer up Jack by telling him of a story similar in nature to his problems. They then discussed finding Jennifer someone else to love, via the Internet.

Kim arrived at home. Jeannie, Andrew, and Kayla were still in Los Angeles, partly due to Kayla's strained tendon. Caroline was still in pain over the loss of Roman, and they went to the church. Meanwhile, Kristen was waking up with thoughts of "now's a great time for Roman to die" and that John wanted Marlena to move in with them again. Kristen tried to change John's mind, but then the phone rang. It was Marlena's housekeeper reporting that Marlena had been up all night, holding a picture of Roman. John immediately went to the penthouse without seeing Kristen throwing a temper tantrum.

At Marlena's penthouse, John tried to comfort her, but she felt responsible for Roman's death. John said no, Stefano was. Marlena knew that, but she felt responsible nonetheless. John broached the subject of her moving back to the mansion, and she said, "No, no, no, no, no." John told her she wouldn't deal with the situation alone; he'd be there for her as long as he was there. Still throwing a fit, Kristen learned more about the secret room, and Bart questioned her about the other loose ends in her life. It didn't please her one bit.

Austin was helping Sami with her physical therapy when Carrie walked in to have Austin sign some papers. Austin explained what was happening regarding the kiss for motivation. Carrie said she had to get to work and left. John and Marlena showed up, and without saying anything, Carrie figured out that Roman was dead. She broke down. Kristen was the one to break the news to the Hortons.

Lynn showed up to remind Laura about her pill. Kristen had a contempt-filled conversation with Laura, and Laura said that she knew Kristen had had something to do with her disappearance, and when she remembered, she would be exposed.

Sami had a minor memory breakthrough. When Marlena and Laura met in the park, they discussed John and Kristen, unaware that Kristen was listening to the entire conversation.

Thursday, April 17, 1997

by Diane Dix

Jack was still incensed at Travis' suggestion that he help Jennifer get on with her life by finding her a date on the Internet. Travis realized he was not getting very far with Jack and enlisted another inmate to help. The inmate greeted Jack in the weight room, supposedly by chance, and revealed that he was a lifer who had forced his wife to get on with her life by remarrying, and his wife and kids were happy. Jack began to wonder if he was just being selfish by holding on to Jennifer and Abby.

Meanwhile, Jennifer sat at home, thinking about Jack. Kimberly Brady stopped by to visit and realized immediately that Jennifer was upset by more than Roman's death. Jennifer confided in Kimberly about Laura's affair with Jack and her concerns about Laura's stability, especially the days when she had been missing. Kimberly was sympathetic and pointed out that maybe Laura hadn't been imagining things about Stefano -- he had been known to return from the dead before.

Jennifer assured Kimberly that she was at least sure about Peter's death, since she had seen the body, and Laura thought Peter was still alive. Kimberly wasn't sure what to think, but she told Jennifer that she had read about a new memory enhancement drug that might help Laura. Kimberly said she would get back to Jennifer on it. Nurse Lynn overheard the conversation. Jennifer left with Kimberly to visit Sami and Carrie.

At Austin's apartment, Sami's outburst that she remembered something about her past had Carrie running into the apartment. Sami concentrated and had a brief flashback of a bitter fight with John. Sami couldn't remember the details and questioned John and Carrie about it, asking whether they could think of any reason why she would ever have been upset with John. They were evasive, especially when Sami remembered that the fight had had something to do with an accusation that John had been trying to hurt her father, Roman. Sami's frustration, combined with her grief about Roman, caused her to dissolve into tears.

Carrie and John were unsure of how much they should tell Sami, although they were encouraged that her memory was returning. Carrie called Marlena on her cell phone to tell her to head over immediately. Marlena interrupted her meeting with Laura at the park and headed over. Laura had tried to convince Marlena to go to John about Kristen's deception because Laura was more certain than ever that Kristen was up to something. Marlena had confessed her guilt over Roman's death, and Laura had told her it was wrong to blame herself for a choice Roman had made.

After Marlena left for Carrie's, Laura noticed Kristen hiding out behind a shrub. Laura confronted her and demanded to know what she was doing eavesdropping. Their conversation quickly turned nasty as Laura accused Kristen of being involved in her disappearance, and Kristen accused Laura of being crazy. Laura promised to expose Kristen to John, despite her promise to Marlena to keep silent. Kristen tried to play on Laura's integrity, but Laura was unmoved. Laura left, and Kristen called Lynn to demand that Laura's medication be increased. Lynn went out and hunted for Laura.

At the DiMera mansion, Susan talked to Elvis about being with John someday. She started pawing through Kristen's jewelry and her belongings in her room and discovered some videotapes of Kristen. Susan began to study and consciously emulate Kristen's voice, movements, and gestures. Clearly, she was planning to assume Kristen's identity at some point. She was nearly exposed when Kristen arrived home unexpectedly, but a cry from the baby distracted Kristen, and Susan was able to put away all of her things.

Kristen was doubly frustrated because she was unable to calm the baby, while Susan had no problem with it. Susan made tea for Kristen and carefully imitated Kristen's every gesture while drinking. Kristen, distracted and worried about Laura and angry that John wasn't home, did not notice. Kristen went to her room and called over to Sami's apartment, looking for John.

Meanwhile, Marlena arrived at Sami's apartment and comforted her grieving daughter. Sami asked about the memory she had of being angry at John, and Marlena dodged the question. She gave Sami a sedative and put her to bed. Austin and Carrie took the opportunity to escape to the rooftop and mend some fences. Austin was at last able to comfort Carrie about Roman's death.

Jennifer and Kimberly arrived, and Kimberly talked to Austin and Carrie about the pretense of his marriage with Sami. Carrie told Kim that Sami had had a minor breakthrough, and Kim warned Carrie not to push Sami, or her memories might be locked away for good. In the apartment, John and Marlena remembered their affair, and John was surprised when Marlena passionately admitted that she wanted John just as much as he wanted her. Just as things were about to get steamy, Kristen called. John told her he would be there for a while longer, and Kristen pretended not to mind, although she was furious.

Austin and Carrie returned to the apartment just in time to hear Sami calling out in a nightmare. Everyone crowded into her room. Sami awakened and had a vivid flashback of a memory -- John and Marlena making love on the conference room table at Titan. She gazed at John and Marlena with shock and said that she remembered what they had done.

Laura Horton drove by St. Luke's, the site of Peter's funeral, where she'd had her last clear memory before her disappearance. It didn't spark any memories, so she headed out to the Blake house, where she believed she had been held. Nurse Lynn was unable to find her anywhere and called Kristen in desperation. Kristen was livid and told Lynn to stay at the park, and they would find Laura together. Kristen left, telling Susan to stay with the baby.

When Jennifer and Kimberly returned to Jennifer's house, the phone was ringing. Jennifer was delighted to hear from Jack, who had a brief but touching conversation with Abby. Jennifer told Jack about Roman's death and said that it was more important than ever not to give up hope. Jack was distressed at the thought that he might be causing Jennifer to put her life on hold, but before he could say anything, a prison guard cut him off. Jennifer was depressed because she sensed Jack was losing hope. Jack, meanwhile, approached Travis about getting more time on the Internet because he was ready to think about Travis' plan to find Jennifer a love interest that way.

Friday, April 18, 1997

by Diane Dix

Sami stared with shock at John and Marlena as Austin, Carrie, and Lucas, who had just arrived, looked on. Lucas asked what was happening, and Carrie told him Sami was getting her memory back. Sami told John and Marlena that she remembered the truth -- that her mother and John had had an affair, and that was what had caused Roman to leave town, take the dangerous assignment, and eventually lose his life.

At first, Sami was horrified and disgusted with John and her mother, and Marlena was devastated by the accusation that she was responsible for Roman's death, which echoed her own feelings of guilt. Marlena and John feared that the memory would alienate Sami from Marlena once again and cause her to turn bitter and manipulative, as she had the first time. But Marlena was able to explain how Stefano's machinations had left her and John victims of an unresolved passion.

Sami was rocked to the core by her parents' divorce, and turned to Austin for support. In front of Carrie and Lucas, Sami made Austin promise he would always be there for her and Will and that he would never leave. Carrie was wounded by his words and retreated to her apartment, closely followed by Lucas, who was supportive and comforting. Austin was able to break away a few minutes later, and was irritated as he asked Lucas to leave. But Lucas stayed outside the door to eavesdrop.

At first, Austin tried to talk about Lucas always hanging around, but Carrie cut him off and said Lucas was her friend, and she needed friends at that moment. Austin tried to apologize about what he'd had to say to Sami, but Carrie said she wasn't buying it anymore. Austin insisted he was supporting Sami for the sake of his love for Carrie, but Carrie exploded and said the real reason was that Austin felt guilty, and he was doing it for himself. Austin asked what kind of person he would be if he didn't feel guilty about Sami's accident and responsible for Will.

Carrie had no answers, and Austin begged her to wait just a little bit longer, since it seemed Sami was regaining her memory. Carrie said she wished she could, but emotionally, she had reached her limit. Lucas was silently exulting in their conflict. Just then, Marlena called over to the apartment to say that she and John had to leave, and Sami needed Austin at her side.

Carrie told Austin to just go, and he was forced to leave things unresolved. He caught Lucas listening outside the door, but Lucas said he had just gotten back from a walk and told Austin to ease up. Austin didn't believe him, but Carrie did, and after Austin returned to Sami, Lucas used the opportunity to comfort Carrie. Marlena and John left Sami, and although Sami had not forgiven them, she at least allowed them to kiss her goodbye.

Back at the penthouse, Marlena and John were hopeful that Sami would not react as badly to the memory of the affair as she had the first time. Marlena's grief over Roman's death started to overwhelm her again, and John comforted her. Marlena said she couldn't help hoping it was like the last time, and Roman was not really dead. John told her Shane wouldn't have told them if he'd had any doubt at all. Marlena insisted she wouldn't really be convinced until she saw the body. John left then to return home to Kristen. A few minutes later, Marlena got a call from Major Dodd, who told her Roman's body had returned to Salem and was ready for burial. Marlena was devastated.

At John and Kristen's house, Susan had been taking advantage of Kristen's absence to try on Kristen's beautiful clothes. Although Susan still had a few pounds to lose to fit them perfectly, she was more determined than ever to lose the weight, assume Kristen's identity for a while, and make John fall in love with her. She had comical fantasies about making love to John without her disguise on. Feeling giddy, she put on her entire Kristen disguise -- the wig, teeth, makeup, and contact lenses -- and paraded around Kristen's room in a pretty white robe.

Suddenly, without warning, John called from downstairs that he was home, and before Susan had a chance to escape, John entered the room. He assumed she was Kristen and told her what a horrible day he'd had and how he just wanted to make love to her and forget about all of it. Susan was ecstatic at the chance to make love to John, even though he thought she was Kristen. John lowered her to the bed, and to Susan's utter delight, began to kiss her passionately. Kristen was nowhere to be seen.

Meanwhile, Laura arrived at the Blake house and climbed in through an unlocked window. The first floor sparked no memories, so she went upstairs to the bedroom where Stefano had held her. While she was there, she had vivid flashbacks to the time when she had been kidnapped. Suddenly, she remembered the secret room, which was accessed by the curio table. She pulled on the table, and the room was revealed. She entered the room in triumph, sure that all of her memories would return to her.

In the meantime, Kristen and Lynn had been combing Salem for any sign of Laura, and on impulse had checked the Blake house. Once they realized Laura was there and in the secret room, Kristen crept up behind her. As Laura stood there, trying to remember, the lights suddenly went out, and just as Laura screamed, Kristen clubbed her on the head with a heavy vase. Laura was immediately knocked unconscious, and Lynn screamed, "What have you done?"

Lynn checked Laura's pulse and was relieved to find she was alive but knocked out for some time. Kristen suffered a momentary pang of conscience and asked aloud what kind of person she had become, to deliberately harm another person. Lynn asked sarcastically, "Is that a rhetorical question?" Kristen told her to shut up and help her think of a plan. Kristen decided the best plan would be to convince Laura that the whole episode had been a dream.

Jennifer, alone at her house with Abby, received a call from Mike. Mike asked Jennifer if she had seen Laura anywhere, because she was supposed to have been at the hospital and had patients waiting. Jennifer said no, and they both grew concerned because it was unlike Laura to forget about her patients. Mike told Jennifer not to worry. However, when Mike returned home later, neither of them had heard from Laura. Jennifer worried that it would be like the last time Laura had disappeared and nearly died.

Abby called Jennifer to read a story to her, and Jennifer went upstairs while Mike started to make phone calls. Soon afterward, Nurse Lynn staggered through the door, propping up a semiconscious Laura. Mike and Jennifer were relieved but worried about where Laura had been. Laura told them she had been at the Blake house and that she had found a secret room. Mike and Jennifer were dubious, and Jennifer said Peter had promised not to build any secret rooms but conceded that Peter was not honest and could have done it behind her back.

Mike suspiciously asked Lynn what she had been doing at the Blake house. Lynn played dumb and said she had found Laura passed out next to her car a few blocks away and had driven her home. Lynn pretended she didn't even know where the Blake house was. Laura was furious and said that it would be easy to verify her story -- all they needed to do was go back to the Blake house and open the secret room. Mike and Jennifer were reluctant because Laura had a nasty bump on her head, but Laura insisted. Lynn went with them, and so did Jennifer, after finding a sitter for Abby.

Lynn prayed that Kristen had left immediately and would not be found there. But Kristen had lingered, thinking dreadful thoughts about what would happen if Laura remembered and Kristen were exposed -- how Jennifer would hate her, and John would leave her. Just as Kristen was about to head home and check on Susan, she heard the sound of voices in the house. Desperately, she ran to hide in the secret room. But with shock, she recognized one of the voices as Laura's, and Kristen was forced to pull in the door handle with all her strength as Laura tried to open the secret room from the other side.