Paris 1996
John and Abe are in the jail cell and just realized the man in the cell isn't Stefano. John asks the man where Stefano is. Marlena has just learned that Stefano was behind the veil not Rachel. She turns away from him in shock. Stefano tells Marlena to relax because it’s going to be a long flight. Marlena is speechless. Stefano suggests they sit down and talk like they did that night when he had amnesia. Marlena says he was masquerading around as someone else but Stefano says he is still the same person. Marlena runs to the cockpit door and starts to bang on it asking for help and Stefano says the Pilot can't help her because he hired him. Marlena begs Stefano not to do this and bring her back to the Belle and the people she loves. He asks if she stills loves John and she says yes but Stefano says soon she won't feel that way. She tells him he toke her away all those years ago from her children and it has destroyed Sami and that she has time now to make it up to Belle. Stefano says he can not take her back to Salem. Stefano leaves the room for a second to talk to the pilot about flight plans and Marlena goes to search through Stefano's things. She finds a phone and calls John. John doesn't want to pick up because he doesn't know its Marlena but he picks up. She tells him she doesn't have much time but wants to tell him about Kristen and that she loves him. John doesn't hear her because of the static and Stefano comes back in and takes the phone from Marlena. Stefano tells John that Marlena is his now as Marlena screams in the background for John to help her. Marlena tells Stefano that John will find her but Stefano tells her that he will stop searching when he finds out that the object he is looking for is dead. Marlena asks if he's going to kill her but he says no he would never harm her but he is going to make it appear as if she is dead. Marlena begs him not to do this but Stefano says it’s the only way he can make sure he has her forever. Marlena tells him that he does not know the meaning of love and if he truly loved her that he would let her be with John but Stefano says he can not. Marlena goes to walk away but Stefano grabs her and holds her and goes to inject her with a drug. Marlena begs him not to do it but Stefano tells her he will not harm her and he wants to spend the rest of his life with her. He injects the drug in Marlena and she collapses as Stefano drags her to the couch and holds her. Marlena is on a couch in some room and is dreaming about John. Stefano is behind Marlena and she thinks he's John but then realizes that it's Stefano and pulls away. Marlena can't believe he nearly even touched her. Stefano goes and gets Marlena something to drink. He gives Marlena the drink and Marlena drinks it but then realizes that it tastes funny and that it’s drugged. Marlena falls back on the couch and Stefano says he will not need to drug her anymore because where they are going she will never escape. Marlena wakes up in a dark place, not knowing where she is. She hears Stefano tell her not to be afraid. Suddenly the lights turn on and we see she’s in a cage. Marlena says “Oh my god, you’ve got me in a cage.” She tells Stefano he can’t keep her locked in there and he says of course he can, she’s his. Marlena refuses Stefano and Stefano leaves Marlena in the dark. Stefano tells Marlena she has to eat something and Marlena refuses, one of Stefano’s servants leaves Marlena the food and they leave. Marlena doesn’t eat but she takes the knife for the food and hides it. When Stefano comes back in Marlena tells him to let her go or she will kill herself (taking out the knife.) Marlena pretends to stab herself and Stefano rushes in to get her but Marlena holds him with the knife on his neck telling him to let her go. Then the guards come in and take Marlena off Stefano. Stefano tells the guards to let Marlena go and tells Marlena it was such a waste of time trying to kill him. Marlena says she will never give up until she’s free but Stefano tells her once she gives into him her soul will be free. Stefano says she will give into him and he will give her the purest love ever. Marlena tells him that if he really loves her, let her be with her family. Stefano says she misses her family that much they could have a child of their own, Marlena tells him that he’s mad but Stefano says that they will have a son, and their child will bind them together forever. Marlena dreams about being with John but then she dreams Stefano comes in and says its time for them to make their baby. Marlena can’t take it anymore and goes to find a place to bathe. While she takes a shower, Stefano walks in. John is watching through the VR goggles and is not happy. Once again Marlena tells Stefano that all she wants to do is see her children. Stefano brings in a box and Marlena asks if he is going to hurt her but he says don’t be foolish I only want to give you pleasure and touches Marlena’s face but she turns away. Stefano says that he will let her see her children if she behaves herself. He tells her about the VR goggles and how she will be able to see Belle through them. Marlena asks what he wants in return and he tells her can’t she guess. She tells him he has know right to ask her that and Stefano says she is right but she must promise to at least open up to the possibility of having a relationship with him. She agrees and he tells her he will let her see Belle after everything is set up. Marlena is still skeptical though. When the VR goggles are ready and Marlena puts them on and sees Belle but then Kristen and John walk in. Marlena gets upset because Kristen tells Belle that she is going to be her new mommy. Stefano tells Marlena that they are moving on and Marlena tells him that Kristen will never take her daughter from her. Marlena puts the goggles back on and sees John talking to a picture of her. Saying that he loves her and that he should have never kept it from her and he hoped deep down in her heart he still loved her. Stefano tells Marlena that the goggles are running out of batteries and he has to recharge them. Marlena is upset and wants to keep watching. Stefano tells Marlena that they can’t see her and she will never see them again so put them out of her mind forever. She tells Stefano that it would be easier for her if she could have a journal to write in. While she is writing in her journal (about how much she loves John and all the things Kristen has done), John is watching through the VR goggles and Stefano knows he is watching. Stefano’s henchman plants a bomb in the warehouse (where John is with the VR goggles). Marlena asks Stefano who he keeps talking too and Stefano tell her that he is fulfilling a promise he made to himself a long time ago. The bomb goes off in the warehouse where John and Kristen are and the henchman tells Stefano that they are dead. Stefano tells Marlena he is very sorry but John is dead. Marlena gets really upset and lies down on the bed, sobbing. Marlena now thinks John is dead (though he’s really not) and feels extremely upset. Stefano tells Marlena that he is ready to grant her freedom, he will take her outside for a festival the city is having. Marlena says there has to be a catch because she could run away but he says she wouldn’t try because there’re people she loves that she does not want to get her. Stefano gives Marlena time to think about the offer but when he asks her again she refuses. Stefano says the offer still stands though. One of Stefano’s servants comes in and talks with Marlena telling her that she should go outside because she can’t stay coupe up in this cage forever. Marlena doesn’t want to give into Stefano but know she can’t stay in the cage any longer or she will go insane. She tells Stefano that she wants to go outside and she won’t run away. Stefano tells Marlena she will be his Queen of the Night but Marlena still is disgusted by him. Later on the servant brings Marlena her costume for the night and she tells him that she has no choice but to go along with Stefano. Outside on the streets of Paris there’re are fireworks going off and a celebration going on. When Marlena is starting to have a good time, Stefano has to bring Marlena back to the cage because Vivian and Ivan spotted. Stefano goes to get Vivian before she calls to tell John where Marlena is and tells Vivian not to say a word or he will kill her. Stefano knows that John is watching through the VR goggles and asks Marlena what she would do for her freedom. She says anything and Stefano tells her that if she gives him one night of love that he will let her go. Stefano gives Marlena time to think about it, taunting her with memories of Belle. After thinking about being back home with Belle, Marlena agrees to spend the night with Stefano. (I have some missing scenes here) Marlena and Stefano are having dinner (I believe the next night). Stefano goes out to get more wine as Marlena thinks about John and her sharing strawberries in 1986. She has another flashback of john and her with the kids in Aremid. Even though she was told he was dead she still feels his presence with her. Stefano in the meantime is being told that John has gone missing and they have no idea where he went to. Stefano tells the servant to tell him if there are any updates. Marlena and Stefano are eating dinner as Marlena reminds him of their deal. Stefano tells her he intends to keep his promise but believe after their one night of love she will want more and not want to leave him. Marlena startles and knocks over her wine which has not calmed her down. Stefano goes behind her and massages her neck as he tells her to relax and he begins to kiss her neck. Stefano and Marlena are now standing up as Stefano is kissing her neck and Marlena remembers that she must do this so she can get back to Belle. She tells herself he can take her body but not her heart and soul. Stefano removes Marlena’s dress and she only has a black under thing (okay no idea what you call it). Marlena tells Stefano she is thirsty and he gets her some water. When she finishes it he takes her over to the bed and tells not to be afraid, he will make this a beautiful experience for her. When he begins to kiss her neck, there’s a knock at the door. Marlena stops him and he goes to see what the servant wants. He tells Stefano that John had been located, right there in Paris. Stefano is angry and tells the servant to not interrupt him and Marlena anymore. When Stefano comes back in he goes back to kissing Marlena but she feels John’s presence and stops him. She puts her dress back on and tells him she will never give him what he wants. He yells at her and tells her someday she will as he leaves. The next morning Stefano comes in and tells Marlena he hopes she’s in a better mood than yesterday. He then goes to the servant who gives him a newspaper with an announcement for the ball for that night. Stefano goes into the cage and shows Marlena the newspaper and leaves it with her. She reads it and has the idea that she could get Stefano to take her to the ball and she could write a letter to give to Belle and give it to someone at the ball. She asks Stefano but he tells her it’s impossible. She reminds Stefano that he told her he would do anything for her but Stefano tells her that he still can’t take her to the ball. Stefano talks to the servant about the risk that this could be a setup and how he wants to take Marlena but he can’t. He wants to steal the crown and give it to Marlena. He decides to take her and goes back into the room and tells her that he will take her if she at least opens up to the possibility of having a relationship with him. She agrees to just that. Stefano then goes and arranges for the costumes. Marlena is dressed in a gold gown. While she is dreaming about John, Stefano comes in and kisses her hand and tells her that her beauty overwhelms him. They then leave the cage. Marlena is enjoying the people and Stefano tells her there is much more he has planned for the night. Marlena manages to get away from Stefano for a minute and runs into Kristen. Kristen seems happy to Marlena but Marlena calls her a bitch and she is the reason John is dead. Kristen does not tell Marlena that John is alive and Marlena storms off. She runs into a hallway that John happens to be looking for Marlena into. He sees her running and yells out Doc. Marlena turns around and is in shock to see John. She cries and goes into his arms; they are both so happy to see each other. Marlena asks John if she told him about Kristen but John does not respond. She asks if he’s okay and looks up to see that Stefano injected a shot into him. She gasps as John falls to the ground. Stefano’s guards carry him out as Marlena contemplates escaping but she could never leave John. Stefano locks Marlena back up in the cage as she begs him for her to help John. Stefano refuses and tells Marlena that he does not know if the drug will have killed John or not. Marlena waits in her room praying to God that John is okay. A servant brings in a TV for Marlena and Marlena turns it on too see John held in a cell. She watches him while he tries to escape but Stefano comes in and she turns off the TV. Stefano tells her John’s fate is out of his hands. Servants begin to bring in chairs in front of Marlena’s cage as Stefano’s people come in. John comes in and goes over to Marlena. She asks him if he’s alright and he said he’ll be okay. They want to know what’s going on and Stefano tells them that John is on trial. Stefano’s people convict John of treason and the murder of Tony. They sentence him to death but Marlena speaks for John, saying that he would never hurt anyone; he is the kindest man in the world and doesn’t deserve this. Stefano tells them that there’s nothing they can do now, he has spoken. The guards take John away and Marlena tries to plead with Stefano. She tells him he can have her if he lets John go but he tells her he wants her to come to him willingly, not just for John. Stefano takes Marlena the room where John is. He shows them how John will die, through the guillotine. Marlena asks Stefano one more time to save John’s life but he refuses. She then asks him to speak to John one last time or she will never speak to him again. He let’s her talk to him. John and Marlena both confess their love for each other and John tells her to take good care of the children and Abe and Lexie will get her out of there. The guards struggle with John and put him into the guillotine. Marlena manages to break away from the guards when the guillotine is let free and puts her head in to save John. Stefano stops the guillotine before its too late and John and Marlena get out of it. They immediately go into each other’s arms as Stefano tells the guards to separate them. The guards drag Marlena out of there. John is put back in the guillotine when Vivian and Ivan show up. They talk to Stefano as John manages to escape. Stefano tries to choke John when Vivian and Ivan get him off John. John runs away to Marlena’s cell. He goes to find Marlena in her cell and she is overjoyed to see that he is still alive. He grabs her as Stefano is trailing behind them. There is a cave-in in the tunnel and Marlena is hurt. John carries her but Stefano catches them with a gun at hand. He tells John to put Marlena down. John does and tells him to do whatever he wants with him but Marlena needs medical help because she is hurt. Stefano tells her he will get it for her just as Rachel shows up. She removes her veil to show Stefano her scars and when she does John goes to grab the gun from Stefano. Stefano is shot in the arm and John gives Rachel the gun so he can carry Marlena.