♥ Never Ending Story 1997 ♥ Note on soap magazine publication dates and content of articles/interviews regarding multiple soap stars: Many of the monthly or every other month (and sometimes quarterly) magazines back in the 1980's would be on the newsstands a long time before the date on the actual magazine. We've noticed, for instance, that DAYTIME TV magazine did an interview with Drake in late 1986 about his upcoming wedding, which was scheduled for December 1986, yet the interview didn't appear until the July 1987 issue several months later. Therefore, it might be a bit confusing to read about his "upcoming" wedding in an interview dated July 1987 when you happen to know he was married in December 1986. We've tried to date the articles to match the date on the magazine, regardless of when the events talked about took place. Hopefully it will make sense as you go along! We've also edited some of the articles/interviews to just include John's storyline, since this is a Drake/John website. We've left out comments and sections about other actors or storylines unless they're involved with John's storyline. This too should be very apparent and clear when we've done that so it makes sense and you don't have to skim through a long article to find the "John parts." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kristen's Labor Of Lies The Secret: Kristen's pregnancy is bogus. She miscarried, padded her tummy and has a truly pregnant look-alike, Susan, keeping her doctor's appointments for her. Who's Keeping It - And Why: Kristen, with help from Stefano, is the master manipulator of myth. She plans to keep John any way she can, and having his baby is the only strong hold she has on his devotion. Although John loves Kristen, he also deeply loves Marlena and has a child with her already. Kristen knows that Marlena loves John and would snatch him in a heartbeat if the welfare of his unborn child were not at stake. What Happens This Week: Kristen confesses all to her priest and has more "pregnancy" complications as Susan gets crazier by the minute! While Kristen is with Father Jansen planning her secret wedding to John, Susan is in labor. Marlena, who's nearby, overhears which sex the baby will be. After doctors stop the contractions, Susan slips away before John gets to the hospital. Meanwhile, Kristen has confessed everything to her priest, who cannot give her absolution until she tells John and Marlena the complete truth. When John and Marlena get back to the DiMera mansion, Kristen is there, unaware of Susan's close call. She manages to evade discovery, but rips into Susan for not telling her about the false labor. Then she presses her for details she may need to know to keep her cover. Father Jansen arrives and tells John he cannot perform the wedding between him and Kristen. While Kristen is solving that problem, Marlena walks in and hears her say she doesn't know that the baby she is carrying is a boy. Marlena is stunned and calls her on that point. Kristen covers by bursting into tears and saying she just wanted to surprise John later. Kristen calls Susan and warns her about any more screw-ups. Susan promises there won't be any, but after she hangs up the telephone, the unstable woman picks up a doll and talks to it as if it were a real baby. To add to her worries, Kristen has to give Dr. Robbins a blood sample - and she knows she and Susan are not the same blood type. Luckily, when the test results come in, Dr. Robbins simply believes they'd used a faulty blood-sample kit. Kristen scrambles to reach Susan before they draw new blood. "Writer Jim Reilly never stops surprising me," laughs Eileen Davidson (Kristen). "There's always one more thing right after another! And Kristen is so beyond the point of no return now that she has to do whatever's necessary to keep her secrets." If The Cat Gets Out Of The Bag: Kristen would be labeled the biggest witch in Salem and figuratively burned at the stake! Her pregnancy fraud alone would alienate John. And if Marlena learns she's not pregnant, she'll also tell John that: 1. Kristen gave Stefano info that helped him kidnap her; and 2. Kristen got her hands on the death-row love letter John had written to her and kept it from her. As if those aren't secrets enough, Laura knows Kristen stood by as Stefano had her memory erased. Will Kristen be thrown to the wolves, or will Headwriter James E. Reilly find yet another new angle to keep her - and DAYS' fans - twisting slowly in the wind? Don't too many people know too much about Kristen's secrets to give her delusions of "happily ever after" any foundation? And John and Marlena's dedicated love and decades of devotion cry for validation. Just as Austin and Carrie had a brief breath of fresh air before Sami pulled them under again, we bet there's happiness ahead for John and Marlena - however fleeting. Happy couples, however, do not make great drama. Lorraine Zenka, SOAP OPERA MAGAZINE, 1/28/97 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ With This Ring... Kristen Watches In Horror As John Marries Another Woman It's A Must-See DAYS Episode... Who Will Be The Next Mrs. John Black? Wedding Days: Who Will Be The Next Mrs. John Black - Kristen, Susan, Or His True Love Marlena? John Black becomes a husband and father again this week. But the baby isn't his - and the bride isn't who he thinks she is. At the beginning of the week, Kristen's in a state of reverie as she counts down the hours until her wedding to John. Her day-dream is broken by a nurse who calls to inform John that "Kristen" is in labor. Luckily for Kristen, she takes the call, then sends John out for ice cream before dashing to the hospital. (Please Note: To our recollection, Susan was supposed to give birth at St. Mary's Hospital but instead went to University Hospital when her contractions began. In an effort to keep John away from University Hospital, Kristen asked John if he could please go and pick up the Chinese food that she had ordered over the phone, since that particular restaurant wouldn't deliver. Kristen also wanted John to pick up ice cream, but we just wanted to make it clear that the location of these places were all clear across town.) Even as Kristen's phony pregnancy scheme reaches its apex, John remains in the dark. How could he be duped into thinking that Kristen's stomach padding is really a baby for all these months? It's just his trusting nature, says Drake Hogestyn (John). "He trusts her and believes she's being truthful. He realizes things aren't the way they should be, but he has no reason not to trust Kristen. John gives Kristen a wide margin for her choices and behavior. There are many reasons why she's behaving oddly." As far as John can see, Kristen's lost her newfound mother, foster dad Stefano and brother Peter all within a matter of months. (OOPS! This is wrong. When Kristen and Peter’s parents were killed, Stefano voluntarily and legally adopted the orphaned children and raised them as if they were his own. This sentence should say "adopted dad Stefano" not "foster dad Stefano.") While John's on his ice-cream errand, Marlena reaches him via his car phone, telling him to get to the hospital pronto, as "Kristen" is about to give birth. Meanwhile, Kristen arrives and quickly slips into nurse's garb. She berates Susan for not going to the private hospital as they had planned, then is nearly busted when a doctor asks her for help. Things go from bad to worse for both Kristen and Marlena when John arrives: He's intent on marrying Kristen before the baby comes. Susan, as Kristen, manages to win some time by asking John to let her primp first, but Kristen is livid. And Marlena, who's visiting with Sami when she learns of the impromptu wedding, rushes to try to stop the vows. "John loves Marlena and always will," Drake explains, "but he has responsibilities to Kristen and the child. He will always sacrifice himself and his personal happiness for the sake of that child having an identity, a name, a father. He would not want his child raised without parents." Which is not to say that John doesn't have strong feelings for Kristen. "John loves both Kristen and Marlena. He'll never get past the fact, however, that Kristen doubted him in Aremid and that Marlena gave him unconditional support," notes Drake. "That goes back to his platform of trust. He trusts unconditionally and expects that from others. When he gives his heart to someone, it's usually to someone as trusting as he is." "He will always be a father to Belle and be in Marlena's life, too," Drake continues, "but his primary responsibility right now is Kristen and his new baby. As strong as his connection to Marlena is, he has to pull back as he cares for Kristen and the baby. John cannot think about Marlena as much as he might like. It's a clear-cut decision, a choice. He does what's right within the context of the situation." Marlena arrives too late. She is heart-broken as she watches John marry "Kristen" (actually Susan), with Vivian as a witness. Vivian, who has been part of devious weddings before, makes sure Susan signs Kristen's name to the wedding certificate. The real Kristen, meanwhile, experiences mixed emotions. Although she's devastated that Susan's living her dream of becoming John's wife, "Kristen is also relieved, because at least John thinks he's marrying her," observes Eileen Davidson (Kristen/Susan). "Still, she's cheated out of this joyful moment with him, which is devastating, but at least Kristen has her baby. She's looking forward to being a wife and mother." Kristen doesn't think of Susan as a real threat. "Susan isn't malicious," Eileen says. "Kristen has some idea of Susan's instability, but she doesn't think she's a threat to her in terms of taking over her life. She still thinks Susan is manageable." "Kristen believes that no matter what comes out now, John will work things through with her. John would never back out of a marriage vow. She knows the road will be bumpy, but she expects to survive." At week's end, it looks like Kristen will have one more crisis to overcome - the baby may have to be delivered by Cesarean section. How will Kristen explain to John that she doesn't have a surgical scar? Also, despite John's marriage, Laura encourages Marlena to tell him everything she knows about Kristen. How would John react if Marlena spilled the beans? "(With) anger, outrage," Drake speculates. "That would be quite natural. But I think his first reaction would be sheer disbelief. The shattering of trust would shake him to his foundation. Personally, I think he would back off from everyone for a time. I don't believe he could stay with Kristen. With John, it would have been better had she come to him with the truth and been open and honest from the start. He finds a way to work through everything, but the extent of her deception would destroy that relationship." But what about Marlena's "deception"? She was aware of some of Kristen's lies but kept silent. Isn't that a kind of deception, too? "In Marlena's case, she's making choices that John would likely have made himself in the same position," Drake points out. "He'd put the welfare of the baby first, and sacrifice his own comfort and happiness to do that." That's totally unlike Kristen, who sacrifices everyone else's comfort, happiness and peace of mind for her own goals. However, now that Susan is Mrs. John Black, Kristen is likely to get her just desserts! Lorraine Zenka, SOAP OPERA MAGAZINE, 2/25/97 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ Days Of Our Wives Susan Begs Marlena For Help As Breast-Feeding Crisis Threatens To Expose Kristen... Feeding Frenzy: On DAYS, mother's milk nearly betrays Kristen's lies to John - even as a desperate Susan seeks help from (of all people!) Marlena. There's a real feeding frenzy on DAYS OF OUR LIVES this week - a breast-feeding frenzy, that is. Here's how it happens. Certain of John's love, Kristen finally begins to feel a sense of security, assured that Marlena won't tell John the truth. And she's right. Yet, Kristen realizes that it will still be necessary to get Susan out of the way. Only when she is finally free of Susan can she begin a new life with her new baby. Armed with the business card that Hope gave to her, Susan goes to see Marlena. But Kristen's scheme is nearly exposed when she and John make an unannounced appearance at Marlena's office to give her a photo of the baby. Just when Susan has the opportunity to expose the lies and deceit around her, she remains cryptic with Marlena. "She doesn't tell her anything except that the person she loves most was taken away from her," says Eileen Davidson (Kristen/Susan). "And that a woman took that person away." Kristen is eager for Susan to leave town, but is concerned because the other woman has begun to lactate. "It's just the one-hundredth dilemma Kristen's been faced with," says Davidson. "Every day, literally, it seems to be something new, and she can't possibly fake this one!" Uncertain of what to do, Kristen pressures Vivian to get a drug that will stop Susan from producing milk. "Kristen trusts Vivian, mainly because she doesn't have any other options," Davidson continues. "She didn't want to get involved with her, but she really didn't have any other choice. And Vivian has proven herself to be a really terrific ally." Vivian goes to see Dr. Wu, who once helped her give Carly a drug to make her look as if she was dead, and asks him for assistance once again. At first he refuses, but Vivian prevails, although he makes her promise to never come back. But then Kristen is trapped. She and John are in the nursery, and he asks the nurse to bring the baby so that Kristen can nurse her son. "The doctor comes in and says Kristen can start breast-feeding right away," says Drake Hogestyn (John). "I go, 'Isn't that great? Let's do it now!' Then the nurse comes in and says, 'Oh, John Junior was just fed some formula so you don't have to do it right now.'" So Kristen gets a momentary reprieve. Prompted by Vivian's interference, John and Marlena finally have an intimate conversation. "John goes to Marlena and asks her point blank: 'Do you have feelings for me?'" reveals Hogestyn. "But she remembers what John was saying in church and she says, 'Well, I just want you to be happy.' She simply sidesteps the issue and says, 'I don't know why Vivian is saying all this stuff anyway.'" Indeed, Marlena knows that if she reveals her love to John and tells him all the evil things that Kristen has done, then he'd be trapped in this marriage - since he would always honor his vows. "John will always have feelings for Marlena," says Hogestyn. "But he has just hurt her in so many different ways, he doesn't want to put her through that again. And besides that, he's a man of conviction and right now he's committed to Kristen. He married her of his own free will." Meanwhile, Kristen is panicking. So she gets Susan to dress up as her to breast-feed the baby. "She didn't want to have to resort back to Susan, but she has to," says Davidson. "She wants the bonding experience to be between her and the baby and she's denied the whole thing." Kristen is aware of just how far Susan is from reality, but she has no choice - she has to let Susan nurse John Junior. "Susan's like a ticking bomb waiting to go off," adds Davidson. "And Kristen's getting really smart about that - that she's still trouble." Meanwhile, Ivan, who was accidentally given the anti-lactation injection by Vivian, is terrified that a side effect of the drug will turn him into a woman. So he has to go to Dr. Wu to get an antidote. Later, returning with the "prescriptions," he tries to pull a trick on his Madame, but she catches him and punishes him in a surprising way. Meanwhile, Kristen is busy donning a surgical robe so that she can watch Susan feed the baby when Marlena walks in and asks if she can join Kristen. Knowing that this will totally blow her cover, as Susan is already in full "Kristen gear," Kristen explodes at Marlena, demanding that she stay out of her life. After Marlena leaves, Kristen is forced to hide as she watches Susan and John bond with John Junior. The sight tears her up inside, but Kristen knows she has no other choice - at least for the moment. Susan, naturally, is thrilled to be finally nursing her baby, but her joy is not meant to last. Kristen shows up with a breast pump and demands that Susan use it. She then orders Susan to use a messenger to deliver the milk back to her, not wanting to take the chance that Susan will be discovered and that her own plan will be exposed. But in her head, Susan is trying to figure out how she's going to take her baby home. "All that is going on with Susan is that she wants her baby," says Davidson. "She never anticipated feeling this kind of a bond with the child, but now that she feels it, she wants her baby back - no bones about it." But Susan also knows the wrath she could incur if she breaks her deal. "She does understand the power of Stefano DiMera, which is why she hasn't taken the baby back," Davidson says. "But, unfortunately, the maternal instinct is proving to be stronger than any fear she has." While plotting, Susan runs into Marlena and tells her that she'll be around a while longer and would like to continue seeing her. Can she help? Marlena agrees, and Susan makes an appointment to see the doctor. Little does Marlena know that Susan is the key to her future with John. Will Susan be able to steal her baby away from under Kristen's watchful eye? And what will Stefano do if she does? Will John ever find out the truth about Kristen? Don't touch that dial if you want to know - not that you ever would! Jeffrey Epstein, SOAP OPERA NEWS, 3/25/97 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ News Flash DAYS' Kristen Goes To Extremes To Thwart Susan... The News - DAYS: How Long Can Kristen Keep Susan At Bay? With the threat of Marlena temporarily behind her - she has decided not to tell John about all the evil things Kristen has done - Kristen is faced with fending off an even bigger obstacle this week on DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Susan. First, Susan arranges a counseling session with Marlena. "Susan doesn't know Marlena Evans from Adam," says Eileen Davidson (Kristen/Susan). "She's unaware of her connection to John and Kristen." But Susan panics and flees, never meeting Marlena. Before Susan leaves the hospital she visits the nursery and sees Kristen holding John Junior; Kristen realizes that the threat of Susan "is far worse than anything she's been up against before," Davidson says. "Susan keeps saying, 'The baby's my baby.' How can you fight Mother Nature?" Kristen calls Vivian and pressures her into getting a drug to stop Susan's lactation. Vivian complies by visiting her old friend Dr. Wu. Meanwhile, the cardiologist tells John and Kristen that John Junior is fine and Kristen can start nursing. Kristen hurries to Susan's, hoping to get there before Vivian drugs her. "Kristen needs Susan to dress up as her again and nurse the baby," Davidson says, noting that Susan's more than thrilled to help. Susan returns to the hospital and nurses John Junior while John looks on lovingly. For Susan, it's a dream come true. "Are you kidding?" Davidson says. "She's got this great-looking guy who dotes on her and tells her she's beautiful." Susan's bliss, however, is short-lived when Kristen presents her with a breast pump. From now on, Kristen wants Susan to pump her milk and send it to the hospital by messenger. Needless to say, Susan doesn't go for the idea. "Susan doesn't think it's good for the baby. She thinks she should be nursing him herself," Davidson says. That's the least of Kristen's problems. Susan has made another appointment with Marlena to discuss her baby and the unbearable situation she's in. Janet Di Lauro, SOAP OPERA WEEKLY, 3/25/97 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

At Last! What Fans Have Been Waiting For Ever since Marlena found the Aremid letter last May, viewers have been anxious for her to spill the beans to John about his deceitful "wife," Kristen. Just when it looked like Marlena was going to deliver the goods, she stepped aside to preserve the sanctity of John's wedding vows. "The audience says they've had it; they've waited for nine months for Marlena to tell John the truth," says DAYS Headwriter James Reilly. "They have to realize that they love the characters of Marlena and John. Marlena is not going to hurt John just to get revenge on Kristen and leave him in a loveless marriage." So Marlena will continue to spend her days counseling Kristen's dotty look-alike, Susan, who is John Junior's nanny, real mother and John's real-wife. "Susan is the loose cannon, living in the house and going to Marlena for therapy," Reilly explains. "In the meantime, we will have Marlena trying to figure out how she can get John unhitched from Kristen, because that's the only way she'll get him back. Susan can tell Marlena that it's an invalid marriage." It's wacky characters like Susan, Vivian and Ivan who keep this storyline moving, asserts Reilly. "I could have ended the John/Marlena story in a very traditional kind of way, but that would have cost us Susan, a wonderful character who Eileen (Davidson) created, and the Vivian/Ivan involvement with Kristen," he says. "We would have lost this next wonderful arc of John, Kristen and Marlena. The story is always there; we just pumped it up to the next level." The next level hinges on Susan's sanity and Kristen's luck. "We know that sooner or later, something is going to break," Reilly teases. "And believe me, it will." Stephanie Sloane, SOAP OPERA DIGEST, 4/22/97 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ The News DAYS' Susan Starts Taking Over Kristen's Life Susan gets a taste of the good life - Kristen's life - this week on DAYS OF OUR LIVES when she has a romantic encounter with John. As the week begins, Susan is dressed as Kristen, "when John just assumes she's Kristen," says Eileen Davidson (Kristen/Susan). "So she goes along for the ride." Susan becomes more and more passionate as she and John kiss. "When she's in the clinch with him, she decides to really go with it," Davidson notes. "And she's rather boisterous." At first, John is taken aback, but also turned on by "Kristen's" aggressiveness. The two almost make love, but a third party interrupts them. Pleased that she was able to bamboozle John, "Susan starts formulating a plan," Davidson adds. "She thinks that if she can fool everybody, then why doesn't she? Plus, she's starting to lose weight." Susan goes even further when Vivian calls the DiMera house to speak with Kristen and check on things. Susan answers as Kristen, and Vivian is completely fooled. With two victories under her belt, Susan (as Kristen) goes to Salem Place, where she bumps into Laura, who also is fooled. Susan is now ready to kick off her master plan. "Susan's kind of messing with Kristen," Davidson says. "There's even a scene where she apologizes to Kristen. She tells Kristen she's sorry about impersonating her again, but that she just wanted to feel what it was like to be beautiful one last time." Of course, it's hardly the last time. Janet Di Lauro, SOAP OPERA WEEKLY, 4/29/97 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ DAYS OF OUR LIVES Kristen's Busted! "This Is The Week To Watch!" Judgment Days Kristen's Busted! It's been a frustrating year for John and Marlena fans on DAYS OF OUR LIVES. Just when it looked like these two were about to reunite, thanks to that telltale Aremid letter, Kristen triumphantly announced her pregnancy. During Marlena's subsequent kidnapping ordeal in Paris, Kristen secretly miscarried. Enter Susan, the pregnant simpleton who transformed herself into Kristen with a wig and false teeth. But Kristen didn't factor in Susan's attachment to John Junior/Elvis, and had no idea that Susan was seeking psychiatric help from Doc Evans. That's the misstep that finally does Kristen in this week... "It all comes together when Marlena begins to realize that her patient, Susan might be Kristen's baby nurse," previews Headwriter James E. Reilly. "At first, she dismisses it entirely because it's too preposterous, but it finally hits her and she confronts Kristen. Other things fall into place and we have the great reveal, the great confrontation between Marlena and Kristen. This is definitely the week to watch if you love this story." Most of DAYS' devoted following would agree it's about time. So would Eileen Davidson (Susan/Kristen): "Well, yeah, something's gotta give here," she laughs. "And I guess it does. At least to certain people." The first of those "certain people" is the long-suffering Marlena, who has put her happiness on the line time and again for the man she loves. "At the end of the week, Marlena is waiting for John to come home," reveals Reilly. "She's sitting in a chair, facing the door. Kristen is freaking out, knowing Marlena won't budge." While this revelation is taking place at the DiMera mansion, John is off finding out some information of his own from Marlena's confidante, Laura. "Laura isn't taking her medication anymore and blurts out that Marlena loves John," explains Reilly. "So John is on his way home, confused by what Laura said and needing to talk to Marlena." But the revelations don't end there: When Kristen's house of cards falls, there are far-reaching effects. "Marlena clues in to the fact that Laura is telling the truth and Jack shouldn't be in jail (for killing Peter)," says Reilly. "She also realizes that Kristen isn't legally married to John. She clues into everything." When the chips finally fall, where will John end up? He has been the unsuspecting, noble hubby all this time - not only will he have to face the pain of losing a child, he will learn the enormity of Kristen's deception, Susan's involvement and Marlena's sacrifice. "I don't know which one would devastate him the most," acknowledges John's portrayer, Drake Hogestyn. "His trust has been betrayed, and that's all he has in a relationship. Since he became John Black, all he has dealt with is confusion, lies and deception. Family and his offspring are so important, and to find out that he lost an offspring so long ago...there are a lot of areas to cover. I think as a whole, he would be so overcome, he would be speechless." Speechless may also describe Kristen once the truth comes out. But Davidson is looking forward to her character's comeuppance, especially in light of her recent dastardly deeds. "I enjoy Kristen getting nailed, and it's fun to have Marlena do that," says Davidson. "At this point, I can't rationalize or justify her behavior anymore. She's just bad. She's knocking Laura over the head and kind of enjoying it. It's my choice to play it that way, so I've kind of succumbed to the whole thing." Through this story will play out for a while, Reilly reveals that there are wedding bells ahead. "This whole thing leads to a marriage for John this summer," says the scribe. "There could be a remarriage, Kristen may want to reaffirm vows; Marlena and John may want to get married on their own. We'll see." And Susan? "She's not going anywhere," promises Reilly. That is good news for Davidson, who is thoroughly enjoying her dual role. "I can't say enough about her," raves the actress. "I love playing her." What will become of the character from now until Davidson's contract expires in December? "Maybe they'll have Kristen bite the dust and have Susan stick around," muses Davidson. "Jim's pretty unpredictable." And of course, look for the identity of Elvis' dad to be part of this unfolding tale. "Let's just say it's someone identifiable," winks Reilly. In the meantime, Kristen will have to face the ramifications of her actions. But Davidson doesn't foresee that being a roadblock in her character's path. "Redemption is the word on soap operas," she believes. "There's always something they can do. Jim doesn't really seem to let logic or rational thinking confine the way he writes. It works - the character is more interesting now for the audience and for me." And, as with most DAYS stories, there's more to tell, especially with that secret room in the DiMera mansion ready for occupancy. "There will be twists upon twists," Reilly promises. "There are things that are going to happen that are bigger surprises and shocks than this. There's a lot more ahead. It's far from over." Stephanie Sloane, SOAP OPERA DIGEST, 5/13/97 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ News Flash DAYS' Kristen Locks Marlena In The Secret Room... The News - DAYS' Kristen Locks Up Marlena: The walls start closing in on Kristen this week on DAYS OF OUR LIVES when Marlena confronts her about all her schemes. "She's figured out everything, step by step," Executive Producer Tom Langan says. "And she's waiting to tell John for two reasons - to expose Kristen and to be reunited with him." Kristen begs for mercy, but Marlena searches the house for John. When she heads downstairs, Kristen comes up with a plan. "Kristen knows that if she can get Marlena downstairs, she'll be able to put her in the secret room," Langan explains, adding that Kristen proceeds to knock out Marlena and lock her in the room. Later, John comes home and waits up for Marlena. When he wakes up on the living room couch the next morning and Marlena is not home, he assumes she has gone to the hospital. However, John learns that not only is Marlena not at work, but she hasn't called to cancel her appointments. John heads for the garage, finds Marlena's car, and suspects the worst - Stefano has kidnapped her again! "Kristen is relieved that John assumes Stefano has taken Marlena and that she's probably been taken out of Salem," Langan says. "It gets him off the track." While John works with Abe to locate Marlena, Kristen breathes a sigh of relief at finally having gotten her nemesis out of the way. Then Celeste arrives and tells John that she senses a connection between Susan and Stefano. John is intrigued and wants to hear more, but Kristen quickly tries to quiet Celeste. "Basically, Kristen sort of maneuvers Celeste. She maligns her," Langan says. "She says, 'You're crazy. You're out of your mind. Susan has nothing to do with Stefano. Where are you getting these vibes from - outer space?'" A desperate John goes to church to pray for Marlena's safety, while Marlena prays for John to rescue her. Meanwhile, Kristen has her hands full with Susan, who thinks that vampires kidnapped Dr. Evans and took her off in a spaceship. Afraid that Susan will say something to John, Kristen takes control. Kristen tells Susan that Stefano kidnapped Dr. Evens, and if she doesn't behave, he'll come after her, too. "Kristen threatens to burn down Graceland," Langan adds. "That's sacrilege to Susan, and she knows that Kristen will do it. It sends her into a tailspin." Janet Di Lauro, SOAP OPERA WEEKLY, 5/20/97 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ Stefano Slinks Back Into Salem Watch out, DAYS OF OUR LIVES: The Phoenix rises again on June 17. "He'll be around for a while," previews Executive Producer Tom Langan. As usual, Stefano has a full agenda... Marlena: "Marlena is the love of his life, and he doesn't like to be told no," Langan reminds us. "He's going to get her whether she likes it or not." However, DiMera doesn't realize that his daughter is in the secret room with his beloved. "When he looks in the secret room, Kristen is in the bathroom, so he says to Marlena, 'I'm coming down to get you.' And she tells him she wishes he were dead," laughs Langan. Stefano doesn't even recognize Susan as the look-alike he hired - he thinks she's his daughter. Laura: Trouble starts when Kristen (actually Susan) tells Lynn to stop medicating Laura. "Stefano finds out and decides to investigate," says Langan. By the end of the week, look for Lynn, of all people, to help Laura out of a dangerous situation. Jennifer: Stefano gets Travis out of prison and has him move next door to Jennifer, using the alias "Trent." Why is The Phoenix targeting Jenn? "Stefano is punishing Jack for (interfering in) his son's marriage," explains Langan. "He wanted to put him away for good because Peter is going to come back someday and get her back." Soon? "No," says Langan. Look for things to come to a head at "Kristen" and John's wedding. "There will be a lot of excitement," Langan promises. SOAP OPERA DIGEST, 6/24/97 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ DAYS Bonus Stop This Wedding Can Marlena And Kristen Escape In Time? Wedding Daze: Susan has stolen Kristen's groom and her dress. Will heartbroken Marlena and desperate Kristen be able to stop this wedding in time - or will wacky Susan finally get her man? Preparations continue as the day Kristen and John plan to renew their wedding vows draws near. Actually "renew" is what John thinks they're doing, but Kristen and the audience know the truth - John and Kristen never got married in the first place. It really was Susan who married John that day in the hospital. Because John is so understanding, he goes along with whatever Kristen wants. "The delivery room is not the most romantic setting for a wedding," concedes DAYS OF OUR LIVES star Drake Hogestyn (John). "Besides, Kristen, for some reason, feels this urgent need to have a real ceremony, John thinks she feels a little insecure because it wasn't a real wedding in front of family and friends and once we submit those vows in front of all the witnesses, she'll feel better about our marriage." But now Susan has taken Kristen's place and plans to go through with the marriage herself. Still trapped in the secret room, Marlena and Kristen overhear Susan talking on the phone to Stefano. Kristen rejoices, certain that her father will realize it's an impostor on the line with him, but Marlena is terrified that Stefano will once again come and take her away from Salem. Hogestyn, however, feels strongly that even if that happens, John will somehow find Marlena. "Because John has been through this situation before with Marlena being kidnapped by Stefano, he's pretty comfortable with the fact that Stefano's not going to hurt her," Hogestyn contends. "She's out there somewhere - he just has to find her. And whether that be today, tomorrow, next week or next year, he will find her. He won't give up the search." But, the actor adds, life must go on. "And the life that he is going on with right now is with Kristen. He's a man of his word. The marriage vows are very important to him - he's already legally married to her. He's not going to get a divorce." But perhaps that will all change when Kristen's schemes are revealed. Realizing that Stefano is close by, Susan is desperately trying to figure out a way to get her and little Elvis (John Junior) out of town before the evil man comes knocking on the DiMera mansion door. Kristen is smug, ready to be freed, but Marlena prays John finds them first before she can be taken away. Unaware of his daughter's plight, Stefano has plans of his own and is making trips to the prison where Jack is being held as well as to the hospital bed where Laura lies. "I go all over the place," hints Joe Mascolo (Stefano). "Stefano likes to play games and sneak in and out of places. There have been a lot of disguises, worming his way in and out. He's glad to be back - even though they've been calling him on his islands." Mascolo adds that the costumes help him find out exactly what's going on. "He finds out Marlena is in a hole somewhere down in another secret room." Salem's greatest villain arranges for Travis to be released from jail and has him move in next door to Jennifer under the assumed name of Trent. Using all of his knowledge about Jennifer and Abby, Trent/Travis is able to integrate himself into Jennifer's life and she begins to confide in her newfound "friend," not knowing that he is on Stefano's payroll and every word she says could cost her dearly. Stefano, unaware that Susan is dressed as Kristen, stops her from leaving town and makes his way to the mansion, unaware that Abe and John are heading there at the same time to make preparations on security for the wedding. "John's not nervous at all," states Hogestyn. "In fact, I'm hoping that if Stefano decides to peek in to watch his daughter get married in a real ceremony, he makes some kind of a move. It makes my job easier because I don't know where Marlena is." Abe mentions to John that Stefano won't be too happy when he finds out his daughter is marrying John. "I'm his number one enemy, and he is mine," Hogestyn points out. "Abe tells me we're going to have policemen surrounding the house and I say, 'You know, I hope he does try something. Let him come to me! It could even work to my advantage to have a wedding out in the open to flush him out.'" For her big day, Susan will be wearing Kristen's wedding dress and she is even able to get John to dress as Elvis Presley - her hero - in a black leather jacket. (Please Note: John did don a black sequined leather jacket, but it seems that Susan admired John's chiseled hairy chest as much as the women of Salem because she had John wear a black leather jacket sans a shirt, LOL! The icing on the cake was a pair of matching leather pants that he wore to complete this ensemble! WOW!) But is Susan headed for Heartbreak Hotel once Stefano and John learn who she really is? The biggest surprise is that Susan manages to fool Stefano into thinking that she's really Kristen, but she still needs to cover up her tattoo before John discovers her true identity. Meanwhile, a trapped and heartbroken Marlena is desperate to escape the secret room before Stefano can take her away. Just as Stefano talks to her via the intercom, John goes down to the wine cellar. Marlena shouts for John to rescue her, but the soundproof room prevents him from hearing her cries. When the day of John and "Kristen's" wedding finally arrives, Vivian and Ivan are busy trying to figure out how to get Stefano into the house to take Marlena away while Lynn - after talking to her "employer" - decides it's time she actually helped Laura Horton escape. Will she be able to pull it off with Stefano's men so close behind? As the perfect topping to the wedding day, Kristen inadvertently hits a gas line in the secret room trying to escape - and puts everyone's lives in jeopardy! Jeffrey Epstein, SOAP OPERA NEWS, 6/24/97 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

John Figures It Out! "This is the week where everyone finds out what Kristen did," reveals DAYS Headwriter James E. Reilly. That's great news for John and Marlena fans, who hung in there through a year-and-a-half of Kristen's shenanigans. "There are lots of shoes to drop," promises Reilly. "In the end, we see Kristen being taken to jail..." The stage is set for Kristen's undoing at John's remarriage to Kristen (who is really Susan in disguise). While bride and groom pledge 'I do,' a miserable Kristen and Marlena watch the oh-so-Susan-like proceedings from the monitors in the secret room. Suddenly, Laura arrives, drug-free and ready to reveal all she knows about Kristen's machinations. "Of course, everyone sees Laura and they are amazed that she's out of her unconscious state," shares Reilly. "She says Kristen is evil, and she's this and that. They all think that Laura is just crazy and take her outside." But a determined Laura breaks free and returns, so rattling "Kristen" that Susan's false teeth pop out. "People are stunned by that, but they still don't have any idea about what's going on," grins Reilly. "This is like a puzzle rippling through the whole group." After Susan confesses her true identity, John grills Vivian and Ivan, who give directions to the secret room. John rushes to save Kristen and Marlena, who are unconscious due to a gas leak that occurred during their escape attempt. "John is shocked," says Reilly. "I mean, first, it's overwhelming joy that Marlena is back, but at the same time, Marlena is close to death. While Marlena is unconscious, Kristen is trying to get John to go through with the marriage ceremony." Sound exciting? Reilly's just getting warmed up. After Kristen convinces John that Susan was behind the imprisonment, he agrees to marry her. Marlena comes to and stops the proceedings, giving the groom an earful about his intended. "Oh, it doesn't stop," chuckles the scribe. "I'm telling you, it's not what you think. Kristen is really desperate. She's really, really at the end of her rope and she does things that she's never done before." John's unshakable faith in Kristen buys her a little bit of time. "John has no reason to distrust his beautiful wife," points out Drake Hogestyn (John). "John believes in her." Even now? "I'm sure John will need to digest all that's happened, and a lot has happened," admits Hogestyn. "There is so much ground to cover that started with losing his baby in Paris." But what about John and Marlena? "Everyone wants to know when John is going to get back with Marlena," concedes Hogestyn. "But this is Susan's story right now. Eileen is carrying the ball. This is her time." Not for long. Reilly promises romance ahead for the tortured duo. Will the fans see John and Marlena in bed, in some incredible, wild, romantic, happy moment, hopefully without a threat over their heads this summer? "Absolutely," he teases. "But there are going to be big climaxes to come between them, with other people, too, so I think it's very fulfilling." Acknowledging that the fans have been waiting for a long time for this part of the story to reach it's conclusion, Reilly adds, "I had to give them a payoff. The payoff is going to be one of those...it's going to be a satisfying frustration. I think the audience will understand and will love what's going to happen." Okay, so the audience will be happy. What about the actors? Eileen Davidson (Kristen/Susan) has mixed emotions. "In some ways, its kind of sad," she sighs. "I've been playing this secrecy for so long. Now it's out in the open, and I will be the town pariah for a while and everyone will know about Susan. But now, we're going to go into some cool stuff about what pushes Kristen and what propels Susan. Who are these people? It will be fun to explore their psychological sides." And Hogestyn finally gets to play a character who's not in the dark. "It was hard for people to understand how John could have been hoodwinked for so long, coming from his background as a cop," he allows. "My feeling is, you play every storyline the way it's written, and each moment as real as you can. Once you put your tongue in your cheek, the fans will not believe the whole thing. Sure, you want the character to be strong and smart, but you have to be true to the storyline too." And this plot will be galloping, not limping, to it's conclusion - which isn't, by the way, as close as you might think. With six months until Davidson leaves Salem, expect a lot more of the, well, unexpected. "We are really, really going to hit, and when you think the story is over, it's not over," presages Reilly. "Even afterward, it doesn't stop. It doesn't stop at all. I mean, if you thought that Kristen was beaten or down, well, think again. There are more surprises and twists going on for the rest of the summer with this story." SOAP OPERA DIGEST, 7/1/97 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Wedding You'll Never Forget! The Marrying Man: DAYS' John stuck by Kristen despite his love for Marlena. But that love for another woman drove Kristen into an obsessive frenzy: She took measures so desperate that they were sure to catch up with her. Now, John and Marlena are reunited and headed for the altar. Will they make it? Not if Kristen and Stefano can prove that all roads lead back to Roman. "It's been a quantum leap for John," begins his portrayer, Drake Hogestyn. "In a twenty-four-hour period of time, he has gotten together with Marlena, proposed marriage to her and is setting the wedding plans in motion. On one day, he had a huge gathering at the DiMera mansion with family and friends and proposed a toast and his undying love to Kristen, and two days later, he's in the Penthouse Grill thanking everyone for being there to celebrate his joyous moment and engagement to Marlena. But it's not as though John hasn't thought about this; it's not as though he hasn't done this before with Marlena. Anytime is the right time with her." DAYS fans awaiting this happy reunion would agree. So would Deidre Hall (Marlena), whose alter ego has spent the past year nobly waiting for Kristen's misdeeds to catch up with her. "I like doing stuff that the audience loves," smiles Hall. "And they've wanted this for so long that it's fun just to stand up and be able to do this for them." From the executive perspective, the timing is just right. "I think, story-wise, this is the time for the two of them to come together," says Executive Producer Tom Langan. "I think with everything that Kristen has done, it's going to be a terrific payoff when they finally do express their love to one another." Still, the repercussions from what Kristen has done do linger. "John doesn't give his heart away easily," says Hogestyn. "It may seem that way, but the problem with what happened is that his trust has been betrayed and that's all that John bases his relationships on. The character has a lot to deal with, starting with the loss of the baby and working backward. It's very deep. He tells Marlena he can't get over that John Junior isn't his. That's a tough moment." In the meantime, Stefano's darling daughter is out on bail and hell-bent on getting John back. "Kristen's in a maniacal state where she's obsessed with John," explains Langan. "She will do anything to get him back." And don't forget Susan, who said, "I do" to John twice, but winds up befriending the reunited duo and even helps with their wedding plans. "Everybody was a victim and everybody had to find their own way to survive," believes Hall about Susan's plight. "Marlena is the last person in the world who would blame somebody for survival." As the wedding day approaches, there's plenty of drama surrounding the happy couple. "During all this, Stefano is basically also trying to put a stop to this wedding," says Langan. "He doesn't want them to marry." Neither does Sami. "Sami hates the fact that her mother is marrying John because it's just another betrayal of her father, Roman," Langan reminds us. Of course, no wedding would be complete without the uninvited guests. At this wedding, it's Kristen and her "date" - a-not-so-dead Roman Brady. "She shows up in a bright red dress and tells Marlena that she has a wedding present for her," teases Langan. "Of course, Marlena is furious that she showed up at the church, but Kristen says she thought Marlena would want this gift. This wedding present will change the course of everyone's lives. That's the first part of her plan to pull John and Marlena apart - bringing Roman back. There will be a lot of surprises in this story." Could Roman's return possibly tear John and Marlena apart? "They have the enduring love of any daytime couple, and we will always root for the two of them to be together," says Langan. "But every great love story has great obstacles attached to it. If everyone just sticks with it, they'll enjoy the ride." SOAP OPERA DIGEST, 7/22/97 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ DAYS' Roman: Why? DAYS' Roman: Why Now? Roman Brady "died" in April. Why is DAYS OF OUR LIVES bringing him back now? Here's Executive Producer Tom Langan with the scoop: SOAP OPERA DIGEST: John and Marlena are finally together. Why bring back Roman? Tom Langan: About a year ago, (Headwriter) Jim Reilly said, "There's only one thing that could stop John and Marlena from getting married...Roman." He told me he would make Roman really dead before that. And he said real DAYS fans will know that as soon as someone's dead, they're alive, because why would the show have this big-to-do if they're not bringing him back? SOAP OPERA DIGEST: Why cast Josh Taylor, who already played Chris Kositchek? Tom Langan: There was something about Josh that made us feel he was tailor-made for Roman. Some people will say it's stupid, but they'll like the story and forget about the fact that he played someone else. SOAP OPERA DIGEST: Will anyone mention that he looks like Chris? Tom Langan: No, we're playing it that he looks like Roman. This is a recast. This is Wayne Northrop coming back, so to speak, but it's not really him. SOAP OPERA DIGEST: Why didn't you just cast Wayne again? Tom Langan: Wayne was already signed to PORT CHARLES (as Rex) when we decided to cast this role, so he wasn't available. SOAP OPERA DIGEST: What will happen to John and Marlena? Tom Langan: Marlena will be torn because she finds out that Roman is dying of a synthetic substance that they use in warfare, like Agent Orange, and they don't have a cure for it. The story is going to unravel and be really great. You think it's just Roman coming back to stop the wedding, but it's not. It's really interesting. SOAP OPERA DIGEST, 7/29/97 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ Preview - What's Ahead For Daytime's Hottest Guys DAYS: Will John Finally Be Lucky In Love? Exclusive Preview - What's Ahead For Daytime's Hottest Leading Men: DAYS: Is There "Hope" For John's Love Life? John Black has had quite a year, and his adventures are far from over. Now he's joining forces with his worst enemy, Stefano, to find a cure for Roman. If that cure is found, many things can happen. John's trek into the unknown with Stefano creates an interesting dynamic. If Hope joins the outing, it underscores that Franco is not enough to keep her in Salem. Hope would be John's only ally. They share not only the goal of finding the cure, but the pain of being separated from the ones they love most. (Hope's true love, Bo, is in Rome helping Billie, and John's soulmate Marlena, will stay in Salem to tend to Roman.) Will Hope and John's common ground draw them closer together? John is also interested in finding information about Peter. "Peter is out there somewhere, and no one knows how to find him," says Executive Producer Tom Langan. "Stefano is not giving up any information. Stefano does not provide Peter." The dynamic between the actors Drake Hogestyn (John) and Josh Taylor (Roman) is likely to flare as Roman gets stronger. "Josh has a strong, masculine presence on camera," says Langan. "Much like Drake, he also has sensitivity. The two together work very well." John will have his hands full during this quest. If Stefano delivers the cure, John will have to tolerate DiMera as a free citizen in Salem - and a healthy Roman, who admittedly still loves Marlena and his family. The Roman/Marlena/John triangle continues, with different elements, after Kristen leaves town. Lorraine Zenka, SOAP OPERA MAGAZINE, 9/9/97 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ Daytime's Longest Running Feuds SOAP OPERA MAGAZINE takes a close-up look at the battles that have held our interest for years - and why these folks just can't seem to get along. Often daytime's most compelling relationships are those that are rich with venom. Whenever archenemies are in the same room, sparks are sure to fly. What makes these characters despise one another so much? How did their rivalries begin? Join us as we take a look at some of the longest-running feuds on daytime television. DAYS: John And Stefano Years ago Stefano abducted John and brainwashed him into thinking he was Stefano's archenemy, Roman Brady. As Roman, John spent years battling the evil mastermind, constantly trying to thwart his dastardly plans - and usually succeeding. Once John fell in love with Roman's wife, the lovely Dr. Marlena Evans Brady, Stefano's machinations included periodic abductions of both John and Marlena to further complicate their lives. Stefano is passionately obsessed with Marlena, and will stop at nothing to steal her from John. Today the battle rages on, as Stefano and John both vie for Marlena. Most recently, Stefano managed to once again break up John and Marlena's wedding, by arranging for Kristen to show up with Marlena's ex, the presumed-dead Roman Brady... Art Smith, SOAP OPERA MAGAZINE, 9/9/97 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Survival Of The Fittest John and Hope learn it's a jungle out there this week on DAYS as they search for a cure for Roman while trying to stay ahead of Stefano and Kristen. The week begins with the foursome landing in a dangerous jungle, making their way toward Stefano's secret compound. Stefano claims that a cure for Roman can be found among the rain forest flora, but John is beginning to have serious doubts about Stefano's sincerity. Both Stefano and John want Hope to return to Salem, each for different reasons. John worries that Hope is in danger, "but Hope is down there for love," Kristen Alfonso (Hope) explains. "She doesn't want to see John and Marlena's relationship destroyed by outside forces, the way her relationship with Bo was. She's there to protect John by not letting Kristen get her little hooks into him." Stefano is uneasy around Hope. "He arranges for Hope to be put in danger to remove her as a threat," Headwriter James E. Reilly says. "Initially, Stefano isn't so much afraid of her or what she might reveal, but he just doesn't want her around." According to Joseph Mascolo (Stefano), "Hope keeps talking about trying to remember what happened at Maison Blanche, but Stefano is fluffing it off at the moment." Maison Blanche is the DiMera family mansion where Stefano, after mysteriously rescuing Hope from Ernesto's acid bath, nursed her back to health and kept her prisoner. In 1994, Hope (who had amnesia and was going by the name Gina) escaped, and John rescued her from the raging sea rather than capture Stefano. Viewers have never been told how Hope got to Maison Blanche, or what DiMera secrets she holds in her subconscious. And Stefano isn't about to let those secrets come to light. He proceeds to imprison John and Hope, ostensibly "for their own protection," Mascolo adds. "His compound is well-protected, but the natives are afraid that Stefano will destroy the rain forest." Reilly purposely set the storyline in a jungle because "it was different. It was exotic. It was man against nature. It's a place where Stefano controls the situation, but not completely, because the natives are very much against him." In addition to coping with the natives, Stefano also has to contend with Kristen. "She's a pain in the butt," Mascolo says with a laugh. "He wants to do whatever he can to help her with John, but she is becoming a klutz - which is even worse than a pain in the butt!" Kristen feels the same way about Stefano. "She just wishes he would win this game and finally get rid of Marlena," Reilly adds. "Kristen wants to get rid of Marlena, but Stefano wants to get rid of Roman and John so he can have Marlena for himself. The sense is that they are working at cross purposes, and that comes into play this week." John nearly convinces Kristen to release him and Hope. "Kristen pretends that she is being good again," Eileen Davidson (Kristen) explains. "In fact, I think at times she feels she should be good, and she wants to be good, but she doesn't see how being good is going to get her what she wants in the end." So Kristen plays hardball and says she'll free them only if John will forgive her misdeeds. When he refuses, Kristen runs crying to Stefano. Later, she's tempted when Stefano offers to use a laser to remove John's memories of Marlena. "This is one of those things you can toy with in your imagination, but when it actually comes to the point of doing it, would you go through with it? That's the big question for Kristen," Reilly says. "Kristen may say 'Never, never, never,' because it would hurt John, and then, all of a sudden, if she fears Hope is taking her place with John, or Marlena has taken her place with John, she may actually come around and say yes. At this point, we don't know what she'll do." John and Hope manage to get free before Stefano and Kristen can go through with the procedure. They are horrified when, while exploring the compound, they stumble across Stefano's shrine to Marlena. "As far as Stefano is concerned," Mascolo explains, "it's not an obsession, it is very pure. He loves this woman, so he's built a shrine to her." Reilly adds that, "Stefano is proud of the shrine. He probably has one of these shrines in every home he owns. If Stefano didn't want them to see it, they wouldn't have seen it. In a sense, it's a challenge to John, because it clearly shows the fixation Stefano has on Marlena." Regardless, Kristen thinks it's revolting. "She even says so," Davidson adds. "She thinks it's so bizarre. It's really weird - not to mention the fact that she really hates Marlena, so it disgusts her to see her photos everywhere." Suddenly, while John and Hope are in the shrine room, Hope is hit with a poisoned dart. Actually, the dart isn't really poisonous, "it's just a booby trap Stefano has rigged to prove to them what he really could do them in if he wanted to," Mascolo explains. "This is his way of proving to them that he's not going to hurt them." Stefano may change his mind when Hope starts nosing around the laboratory where his scientists are working on Roman's cure. "Stefano didn't want her on the plane," Reilly says. "He didn't want her in the compound. He didn't want her in his house. And when she goes down to the lab and starts picking up tarps and stuff like that, and is about to see things, Stefano starts to get nervous." He gets even more nervous when Dr. Rolf, the doctor working on the cure, recognizes Hope. "He's thinking to himself, 'Shut up and go back to work, you stupid doctor,'" Mascolo quips. "As actors, we don't know exactly where this is going to go with Hope, so we have to play it as if it is a little thorn in Stefano's side that could become a big problem for him." Hope, however, is intrigued by Dr. Rolf. "She immediately recognizes him. At first she feels a little uneasy, and her instincts tell her that she's seen him before, but she has not put everything together yet," Alfonso says. "However, she knows there's a secret, and realizes that Stefano is uneasy with her around. He's afraid because the more she is around, the more realistic the chances are of her figuring out what the secret is. She is concerned, too, because there are parts of her life she can't remember." Hope is closer to her past than she thinks. "There's going to be something down there in the lab that is tangible, and that will bring back memories for Hope," Reilly hints. "I always knew that I'd do this storyline to flesh out Hope's past. I had to resolve the whole John/Marlena/Roman story first, but it's certainly interesting to go back to that John/Hope/Stefano connection." Reilly Nixes Those John/Hope Rumors: John and Hope find themselves in close quarters this week on DAYS, but viewers shouldn't look for the duo to contract a case of jungle fever. As Kristen Alfonso (Hope) explains, "Bo is always on Hope's mind, and she absolutely doesn't have any feelings for John. They're just friends." Headwriter James E. Reilly adds, "Hope is just down there to help John as a friend. In no way are we going to play a romance between them down there. What we are playing is the fact that three-and-a-half-years-ago we saw Hope in Maison Blanche, and John rescued her. Now we are going back to that story. "Longtime viewers know that DAYS has a way of getting into something, putting it (on the back burner) and then coming back to it. And it gives more levels to the story when we do that. The audience will probably see Hope and John together and think 'What are (the writers) up to?' But in no way are they being 'tested' as a couple." However, "a soap is a never-ending story," Reilly continues. "You always think that something is going to happen, but complications inevitably arise. You have Bo with Billie right now, and Roman with Marlena. But who knows what might happen in the future? We could see John and Hope, or John/Marlena/Roman/Hope, or Roman and Billie, or Bo and Hope again." Jonathan Reiner, SOAP OPERA WEEKLY, 9/23/97 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ Expanded News Section- Check It Out! Storyline Updates DAYS: Stefano Traps John And Hope Together... DAYS Hot Plots - The Things They Do For Love: Hope Wants Love To Conquer Evil, Kristen And Stefano Give Their All To Get The Ones They Love, Roman Wants To Rekindle His Love With Marlena... Stefano takes John, Hope and Kristen to his mysterious destination, where he claims there's a cure for Roman. Although John and Stefano insist that Hope must return to Salem, Hope refuses to leave. "Hope is doing this for love," says Kristian Alfonso (Hope). "The love between John and Marlena, the love she continues to have for Bo, the love they all share for Roman." It doesn't take long for Stefano to show his true - and familiar - colors. Stefano locks John and Hope in a bunker. John begs Kristen to let them out, but first she wants John to forgive her for her past manipulations. John refuses. Upset, Kristen goes to Stefano, who is already planning to erase John's memory of his love for Marlena. Kristen considers not standing in Stefano's way. Later, Stefano discovers John and Hope in the special room that's his "shrine" to Marlena and orders his men to hit Hope with a poison dart. Despite John's suspicions, Stefano insists there really is a cure for Roman and takes John to a lab where a scientist is working on it. Dr. Rolf recognizes Hope, but Stefano covers quickly. Later, Hope wonders if the scientist knew her from Maison Blanche. "Hope is wondering a lot about Stefano," says Alfonso. "Maybe she has something still buried in her subconscious, some secret that Stefano doesn't want exposed." Meanwhile, Roman tells Marlena that he wants to enjoy his last days with her and to rekindle their love. By week's end, they spend a romantic afternoon together. Marlena is torn between her concern for Roman and her deep love for John, and it doesn't help when Sister Mary explains that, in the eyes of God, Marlena is still married to Roman. Lorraine Zenka, SOAP OPERA MAGAZINE, 9/23/97 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ Hope And John And The Wildest DAYS Adventure Yet: · Hope And John Move In For A Passionate Kiss · Hope Risks Her Life For John · Will Either Make It Out Of The Jungle Alive To Save Roman? Cover Story - Jungle Fever On DAYS - Hope Risks Her Life To Save John Just Moments After They Move In For A Passionate Kiss: Animals, natives and natural forces come between Hope and John as they go off into the jungle in search of an ingredient for Stefano's life-saving cure for Roman. After no one else volunteers to venture into the jungle to get the flower needed to brew up the cure, John decides he has no choice but to go. So, he loads up his weapons and strikes forth into the jungle. Devious Stefano slips John's compass out of his backpack before he leaves. Later, Hope finds the compass and is determined to get it to John. "The compound is surrounded by natives who are trying to protect their land from commercial projects," Joseph Mascolo (Stefano) says. "Stefano doesn't care if John comes back. Or Hope. Stefano's hands are clean if anything happens to these two. They volunteered." Kristen, too, tries to go after John with another compass, but Stefano stops her. "She's going crazy and whining her ass off," Mascolo explains with a laugh. "Personally, I think Stefano would love to let Kristen go into the jungle!" Meanwhile, John finds Hope just in time to save her from a tarantula crawling up her back. He instructs Hope to get back to the compound, but she stubbornly refuses. "Then John takes another angle and begs her to go back to tell Marlena how much he loves her," says Drake Hogestyn (John). "But she insists that she's his partner." As written, John and Hope were to clink canteens in a toast to their new partnership. However, Hogestyn improvised another bonding: "I take the camouflage black dust and smear Hope's face with it. If she's a partner, she's a peer." It's John and Hope's first time working shoulder to shoulder in a life-and-death situation, and Hogestyn says their adventure will have an equalizing effect on their relationship. "John is gaining a different respect for Hope," says the actor. "He's known her for years and years as his brother's one-time wife and family friend. Through talking to Bo, John knows Hope is opinionated and stubborn," he adds. "Still, she is a woman who needs to be protected, even while John realizes she's an equal in every sense of the word. With her resolve to stay, they become truly partners." Hogestyn says John is starting to see a lot of himself in Hope. "Hope was a cop," Hogestyn points out. "There's a lot of Hope's personality that John really admires, and he also sees a lot of himself in her. He can relate to Hope's determination about seeing things through. He knows he would not be able to stop her anyway, because no one could stop John." DAYS' Executive Producer Tom Langan is thrilled about the pairing of these popular characters. "It's wonderful to see two of DAYS' legends working together to save Roman's life. No matter what happens, it's exciting to see the chemistry between these two." As John and Hope trek through the jungle, native eyes watch from the foliage. Later, as they sleep, John dreams of Marlena, and Hope of Bo. (OOPS! This is wrong. Typo alert! This sentence makes no sense. In our opinion it should be "Later, as they sleep, John dreams of Marlena, and Hope dreams of Bo" not "Later, as they sleep, John dreams of Marlena, and Hope of Bo.") Her dreams are a combination of haunting thoughts and romantic memories. "Hope doesn't understand why she and Bo haven't resolved their issues," says Kristian Alfonso (Hope). "Bo and Hope should have had a showdown by now because they are both very passionate characters." As their dreams become more passionate, John and Hope move toward each other. In their sleepy stupor, they nearly kiss. Next, their weapons are stolen. And soon after, John falls off a cliff. Hope struggles to save him, but his foot is wedged in a rocky crevice. The natives close in on them, cutting the vines that would have helped John and Hope back up the cliff side, but Hope refuses to abandon her partner to save herself. "Hope says to John, 'You said we were partners and I'm going to hold you to your part of the deal. And face it, you need me as much as I need you,'" says Alfonso. "John eventually realizes that's true." John understands that even more as the situation heats up. Hope risks her life to save John from a fiery death, mustering up the strength to move the rocky wedge and free him just in time. As far as being rescued by a woman, Hogestyn knows macho John's reaction is quite simple: "Living is good!" For Hope, who could have joined Franco for a leisurely vacation, trekking through the jungle is less terrifying. "Hope didn't feel right about that, even if they (Franco and Hope) were to have separate rooms," Alfonso says. "She doesn't want to commit to him. It's not fair to him, or herself. She just doesn't want the pressure. Hope is learning more about John," Alfonso adds, "and about his love for Marlena and undying loyalty to his friend Roman. Even though he knows Roman loves Marlena, John still fights to save Roman's life. John is very selfless person, always there to give." (OOPS! This is wrong. Typo alert! This sentence makes no sense. In our opinion it should be "John is a very selfless person, always there to give" not "John is very selfless person, always there to give.") Alfonso doesn't mind trading Hope's romantic dilemma for life-threatening danger either. "Lions and tigers and bears - oh my!" she says with a chuckle. "It's great. I'm having a lot of fun in the jungle. We're doing things instead of just talking all the time. I love the physical part of it!" Likewise, Hogestyn is animated about this action-packed storyline. "This is fun stuff, actor stuff, man stuff running around in the woods, being chased by natives, swinging from vines. It's great." Lorraine Zenka, SOAP OPERA MAGAZINE, 10/7/97 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ DAYS Preview! What's Next For Your Favorites Marlena And John: Is It Over? The Show Must Go On: For five years, James E. Reilly was Salem's premier puppet master, pushing characters in unexpected, sometimes unheard-of directions. Now, Reilly is creating a new soap, and Sally Sussman-Morina (formerly of GENERATIONS and THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) will be pulling the strings. What does it all mean for your favorite couples? "The only constant in life is change," smiles DAYS OF OUR LIVES Executive Producer Tom Langan, referring to the changing of the guard in Salem. "I'm extremely excited about Sally's (Sussman-Morina) long-term document about what's coming up for the next year." Not to worry, DAYS fans - the VIPs at this show have faith in the "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" adage. "It would be folly to have the Number One show in the key (18-34) demographic group and try to change it," notes Langan. "We're going to continue it. There's going to be a touch of the bizarro stuff like Jim does, and some great emotional stuff, too. Jim and Sally have been talking for months and plotting together what the future of the stories will be. She will just pick up where he left off." John And Marlena: Is It Over? Sure, Marlena's getting closer to Roman while John's off in the jungle with Hope, but John and Marlena remain at the heart of this story. "What we're playing is Marlena's extreme distress," explains Langan. "John is in danger, but the father of her children is dying. The only thing keeping him alive is his love for her. She has to keep Roman alive as long as she can. She still loves him, but her heart is breaking because she's found such happiness with John." That happiness will be tested however, if Stefano isn't able to produce a cure for the ailing Brady. "We're still wondering whether or not Stefano has the cure or if he's just trying to get John away from Marlena," Langan points out. "If there is a cure, how will that affect Marlena's relationship with Roman if he survives?" Not to mention Marlena's relationship with Roman if he survives. (OOPS! This is wrong. We think it should say "Not to mention Marlena's relationship with John if Roman survives," not "Marlena's relationship with Roman if he survives.") "John's love is much more current and pure and has come through a great crisis with Kristen," says Langan. "Roman's love is a love from the past and maybe four years of separation, where they almost have to get to know each other again." In the end, John and Marlena are the couple with the rooting interest, not Marlena and Roman or John and Hope. "You're still rooting for Marlena to get her wish, and for John to get his wish, and that these two people can be happy together," says Langan. "And for Roman to get cured. Otherwise, it's another black mark against John and Marlena's relationship..." Hope: Maison Blanche Mystery... What about the secret of Maison Blanche, where Hope was presumably held while she was believed to be dead? "The secret of Maison Blanche will be very exciting," promises Langan. "It will be very intriguing because it won't just involve Hope; it will involve several other characters on the show. There will be a couple of other people who come into the story that will help flesh out what went on over the years, but the central characters in the story are on the canvas now." Though the groundwork for this story was laid by Reilly, look for new Headwriter Sussman-Morina to pick up the reins. "Sally will be the one to say what the secrets are," smiles Langan. "We won't be disappointed." In the meantime, Hope and John will grow closer in the jungle, but rumors of a romantic pairing were greatly exaggerated. "Jim has put them together and they are good friends and will come out very bonded, but they will go on with their lives," clarifies Langan. "We have the option of picking up on this couple in a romantic way, but are they going to be romantically involved? No. The storyline is not at that point yet. Both people are in love with other people. You have to be very careful if you put these kinds of people together." As for Bo and Hope, "Their story will be resolved sometime in the future," Langan vows. Stephanie Sloane, SOAP OPERA DIGEST, 10/14/97 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ News Flash John Goes Over The Edge On DAYS... The News - DAYS John Goes Over The Edge: With the natives hot on their heels, DAYS OF OUR LIVES' John and Hope are saved when Kristen and Stefano, hovering in a helicopter, drop a ladder down to the couple. John sends Hope up the ladder to safety, as Stefano drops a smoke bomb to ward off the locals. However, when the smoke clears, John has disappeared. Unbeknownst to them, John has returned to the cliff to get the flower needed to save Roman. But as he's putting it in his pack, a native reappears. As he tries to escape, John trips and goes over a cliff. Meanwhile, back at the compound, Kristen is frantic about John's whereabouts, and Hope is determined to find him. Stefano puts everyone under house arrest; Hope says she's going to lie down, but really sneaks down to the basement. She's still hoping to find something that will make her remember the secret she learned at Maison Blanche. Realizing that the natives are planning to attack, Stefano demands they leave at once. Hope, who still thinks John may be alive, refuses to go. Stefano knows his hands are tied. He can't leave Hope at the compound, because she might learn his secret. SOAP OPERA WEEKLY, 10/21/97 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ Are John's DAYS Numbered? Late-Breaking News - Is DAYS' John Dead? John's attempt to retrieve the jungle orchid needed for Roman's cure spells disaster for him, Roman and Stefano this week on DAYS OF OUR LIVES. "John is on a mission," explains his portrayer, Drake Hogestyn. "He promised Marlena he was going to get the cure and he is determined to do it." John's plan hits a snag when he's clubbed by a native. Injured, John falls off the cliff and into a lagoon as Hope, Kristen and Stefano watch in horror from a helicopter. They land the aircraft and search for John, but no luck. The situation turns perilous when the natives attack, so the trio retreats to the compound, fearing that John is dead. "Stefano has mixed feelings about John, because if he doesn't get the cure, he doesn't get the pardon," points out Executive Producer Tom Langan. "But getting rid of John would make Stefano happy because John stands in the way of Stefano and Marlena." (That, and the fact that Marlena hates Stefano's guts...) Meanwhile, in Salem, a weakened Roman gets sicker by the day. "If they don't get that cure, he will die," adds Langan. "Marlena could lose both of the men she loves." By week's end, Stefano announces to a stunned Kristen and Hope that they will return to Salem - without John or the cure. "There's so much danger in the jungle," previews Langan. "The natives are getting restless and they have to get out of there. They don't even know if John is dead or alive." But, wait! "John may be discovered at the last minute," teases the exec. "But what condition will he be in?" SOAP OPERA DIGEST, 10/21/97 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ The News DAYS: Death Stalks Marlena's Men Both men in Marlena's life dance with death this week on DAYS OF OUR LIVES. In the jungle, John struggles back to the compound as Stefano, Kristen and Hope prepare to escape. In an effort to distract the natives, Stefano, unaware that John is nearby, orders his minions to spray the area with machine gun bullets. Back home in Salem, Roman's condition deteriorates, and Marlena fears it's just a matter of time. Roman makes a dying wish to Eric, but then asks him not to tell Marlena. John manages to survive a fire in the jungle and makes it to the compound. (OOPS! This is wrong. To our recollection, John wasn't faced with having to survive a fire in the jungle. Prior to this, John and Hope were nearly killed when the natives engulfed the cliff John and Hope were standing on in flames, but this article is talking about what happened when John's attempt to retrieve the jungle orchid from the cliff turned sour and John ended up being clubbed by a native and horrifically fell into the lagoon below. The natives had found John and dragged him to a tree stump in the jungle, but they unknowingly forgot to hide his backpack. John awoke and saw that his hands and feet were bound by ropes so he skillfully used his toes to reach inside his backpack for his knife holder. Once his toes had a firm hold on his knife holder, he used his foot to flip the knife into the air and it landed in his hand. From there, he started cutting away at the ropes. John escaped from his captivity and was able to nearly reach the compound, but sadly, this is when he was rendered totally helpless when a native shot him in the leg with a poison dart.) However, he's hit by a poison dart and is quite weak. "The guards carry him in, and Hope and Kristen rush to his side," Kristian Alfonso (Hope) says. John is near death as he talks to Marlena on his cell phone. Before the two can express their feelings for each other, the line goes dead. Later, John hallucinates and begins to think that Hope is Marlena. "He's delirious," Alfonso explains. "Dr. Rolf tells Hope to go along with whatever John says; that is what's giving him the strength to live." Everyone is shocked when John asks Hope to make love to him, especially Kristen. In fact, Kristen pulls Hope away, insisting that she be the one to comfort John. "Hope is appalled by the whole thing," Alfonso says. Hope quickly realizes that Kristen wants John to think she's Marlena, and that infuriates Hope. "She tries to fight Kristen. She even asks her, 'What are you doing?'" "Hope's concern is for John's life. It's about him living," Alfonso continues. "She wants Kristen out of the way so she can help John. She even tells Kristen to stop being so selfish." Despite Hope's efforts, it looks as if John may unwittingly make love to Kristen. Meanwhile, back in Salem, Marlena is frantic. She believes that John is dead, and her concern intensifies when she tries to call his cell phone and gets no answer. Janet Di Lauro, SOAP OPERA WEEKLY, 10/28/97 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DAYS OF OUR LIVES Will John Stop The Wedding? Altar-ations: Talk about your ironic twists. Back in July, Marlena and John were about to exchange I do's when her presumed-dead ex-husband, Roman, returned with the news that he was about to die. Now, Marlena has agreed to grant Roman's dying wish and marry him - and it's John who is on his way back to town with a cure that can save him. "It's not that she's betraying John," clarifies Executive Producer Tom Langan. "John is off somewhere on the same mission she's on, which is to save Roman's life. (Marrying) Roman is a way for Marlena to give this guy some hope so he can hold out until John comes back." Will John be able to stop these nuptials and save Roman? "John is going to be in for the shock of his life," previews Executive Producer Tom Langan of John's imminent return to Salem. "He's not expecting that while he's been away, Roman and Marlena have been working toward marriage. He thinks they're working towards saving a man's life." And why would he think otherwise? "In June, John and Marlena finally reconciled after almost two years of Kristen's manipulations. Then, Kristen brought Roman back to town, telling him she was married to John and that Marlena was unattached. Roman revealed that he wanted to make things right with his "Doc" before he died; faster than you can say DiMera, Stefano claimed that he had a cure for Roman's illness and lured John to the jungle to find it. John is under the assumption - because of the love he shares with Marlena - that a (Roman and Marlena pairing) is not even a consideration," explains Langan. "What he's played with her is their undying love for each other and their crisis with Kristen. And how they are past that. John left so soon after Roman came back that he didn't see any of the dynamic between him and Marlena." "John's not the sharpest knife in the drawer," laughs his portrayer, Drake Hogestyn. "He isn't egotistical, but he thinks that he and Marlena share a very special bond unlike anybody else - and that nothing will come between them." Deidre Hall (Marlena) agrees, but sees the bigger picture: "I think there's a sense of frustration and a desire to be with John and live that part of her life to the fullest," she reflects. "But there's also a sense of satisfaction and comfort knowing that what she's doing in this moment is bigger than her need to be in her relationship with John. It's making sure that Roman dies as happily and at peace as possible." Is it love, pity or guilt that's motivating Marlena? After all, her affair with John was what prompted Roman to divorce her and accept the dangerous assignment (where he was infected) in the first place. "I think we're playing her unselfishness at this point in time," says Langan. "Roman has the need and she's not going to turn her back on him, no matter who she loves. It doesn't mean that she stops loving other people. She is a mature, loving individual." She is loved by two men, each sharing a complicated past with her. Josh Taylor (Roman) can see why Marlena is confused. "There have been intimate moments with Roman not knowing anything but that he's courting this woman, and it's put her between a rock and a hard place," he says. "She realizes that it's not as cut-and-dried as she thought it was. This is a woman caught in the middle of two good men. It's legitimate for Marlena to be totally confused." So what does this mean for long-suffering John and Marlena fans? "The running through-line in Marlena's life has basically been Roman, even when Drake came into the picture, because that's who she believed he was. Of course, she was going to fall in love with him like he was Roman," says Langan. There's a very strong pull here: She has the twins with this man and she helped him raise Carrie. They had a wonderful family life. As John, Kristen, Stefano and Hope fight their way back to Salem, Marlena surprises everyone by agreeing to marry Roman again. "It's his dying wish," says Hall simply. "Sure, it's a sense of betrayal of her love for John, but she's a woman who does the best she can in the moment and this is the thing to do in the moment. To comfort somebody who is in a great need of comfort." Toss in Kristen's machinations and Roman's naiveté, and you've got one messy situation. "As far as Roman is concerned, she's free and clear," points out Taylor. "They did have a magical relationship and he believes that there is no hope. This is one of those final requests. She has not given him any indication of why they shouldn't be together." At any rate, will John stop the nuptials if he does make it to the church on time? "Knowing John as I do, he will do whatever is noblest," smiles Hogestyn enigmatically. "Whatever that may be." Is three a crowd? The audience wants Marlena with John. Here's what the actors think of their triangle trouble: Deidre Hall: I'm careful never to answer for the writers. They're pretty aware of the audience's desire to see Marlena and John together. I have no idea what they have planned for Josh, or any of us. I have to think that they're pretty smart folks here. Drake Hogestyn: There's a lot of story to tell yet with the addition of Roman. That's a whole new equation that can be played out. I look at it storyline to storyline. We've got a lot of mileage out of John and Marlena not being together and the audience is very upset about it, but being upset is a response. And we want a response. Josh Taylor: Marlena's in love with John and I think certainly, as her time with Roman has gone on, those old feelings have emerged and she's starting to have some problems. I think it makes it very equal. It certainly makes it more fun for Drake and I. It's a very legitimate triangle. SOAP OPERA DIGEST, 11/4/97 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

John's Own Story - Days Of Love: Will It Be Marlena...Or Hope? As a big week dawns for John Black in Salem, Drake Hogestyn, his creator, sat down with SOAP OPERA NEWS for his most candid interview ever. Hogestyn talks about the women in John's life...his extraordinary past...and what's ahead. SOAP OPERA NEWS: Recently, the jungle scenes had you doing what looked like a lot of physical activity. Was it difficult? Drake Hogestyn: The physical aspect of the show is never difficult for me. You're flattered that they give you that to do. When you get out into an area like the jungle, the days just fly by. Because you're physically working and not just talking heads, like your normal soap work, you lose track of time. It's almost like being on location. SOAP OPERA NEWS: You've played John for over eleven years. What are some of your favorite moments for the character? Drake Hogestyn: My first day on the show. The format of soap operas was so different from what I had done - which was basically one-camera television work. I remember at one point I questioned myself if I was equipped to do this because of the amount of dialogue and the pace. I remember the overwhelming feeling - and I didn't have a lot of dialogue that day. I walked into the soup kitchen and took the name off the Vietnam War Memorial - John Black. The pace was very quick. I think it's overwhelming for anybody the first day on a new job, getting to know people. And I loved the storylines with Genie Francis (Diana). When she was brought on, it was to work with Michael Weiss (Ex-Mike Horton) on a storyline. For whatever reason - and Lord knows I'll never understand how some actors click and some don't - they did a lateral move and put me into the storyline. We had one scene where I got them both out of a scrape of some sort. I stepped in and escorted her home. She said something that reminded me of someone else whom I'd tried to protect. And she had said, "Well, in the end, it didn't matter did it?" referring to Marlena, who I thought had been killed by Orpheus. There was just a beat there where there was a real connection. SOAP OPERA NEWS: John has been with quite a few women since he arrived in Salem, but the love most fans remember - aside from Marlena - is his wife Isabella. Drake Hogestyn: That was a once in a lifetime situation as far as soaps go. Usually, after you have a major love interest, which was Diana, they give you a little bit of downtime and throw in a "go-between girl," which happened to be The Countess, Yvette DuPrés. They gave us a day and a half a week, maybe two days. There was a spark, and it started picking up steam. I knew we were on the right track, but I also knew in the back of my mind that the formula of DAYS at the time was "this isn't the one!" But they strive for this kind of chemistry. The word was things were moving too quickly with us. So it was cut short. Then Staci Greason (who played Isabella) and I started working together, and to watch the garden start to grow as an actor was incredible. The final six weeks - she had decided not to re-sign her contract - where she was diagnosed with cancer, those scenes were foolproof. So in every scene that we did, we had the idea that no matter what we were doing, it might be the last time that John would be doing that with her. That thought alone was so strong - especially for an actor who considers himself "a man who came out of a locker room," where showing emotion is something you can't do. To get to the point where you're in scenes and you're able to take all that conditioning and break through, that's a real growing experience. That's what happened to me in the Isabella storyline. SOAP OPERA NEWS: Is John still mourning Izzy B's death? Drake Hogestyn: Yes. Every time he looks at their son, Brady, he sees her - and every time he walks out on the pier and sees the stars. That's what's interesting about soap work. You get this rich history. All that comes into play when he deals with any of the characters. I don't have to reach and think about moments before. They're all there. I've lived that. SOAP OPERA NEWS: How do you think you've grown as an actor? Drake Hogestyn: I feel like I'm still exploring. That's what keeps the job interesting and the days short. You try to find new ways to play old scenes. Experience can sometimes work for you and sometimes against you. I'd like to think it works for me because I've worked with a lot of different people. You find something wonderful with each different woman and man you work with. I don't like to think I come to a scene with a point of view so strong that I can't be flexible for what they want to do. You get that from working with a lot of people. SOAP OPERA NEWS: Will John ever fully remember his past? Drake Hogestyn: To be honest, part of me hopes there's always a mystery there. I think sometimes even John's imagination is a lot stronger than the past itself. I think it keeps an intensity in the character. And it keeps mystery around him, which I like about John Black, John Doe, John whoever he is off the Vietnam War Memorial. I'd love there to always be something that's unknown. SOAP OPERA NEWS: Who is the love of John's life - and why? Drake Hogestyn: Marlena. When John was going through his identity situation, she was the one who was there. She's the one who pulled him through the hole in the wall and stayed with him. She tried to make him believe what he didn't believe. She helped him search. The love grew out of that trust. John never knew whom to trust, but he always knew he could trust her. SOAP OPERA NEWS: Wasn't her confrontation with John your audition scene? Drake Hogestyn: My audition scene was "Who are you?" - and I said a couple of things to her that made her react. He had this page-long speech rambling about this and that, basically displacement activity and nervous energy. It all worked during the audition. I got the job for the three-month role I thought this was going to run! When we were taping the scene, I asked if I could just take a look there when she turned around. That was it. Sometimes, a picture is worth a thousand words. I didn't have to say that whole long speech. I just gave her a look and walked past her. Then boom! Marlena realized "he doesn't know!" SOAP OPERA NEWS: How would you describe John Black? Drake Hogestyn: John sees himself as always trying to do the right thing. He's a man of his word. You'd want to be his friend. He'll fight for you. SOAP OPERA NEWS: Sounds like John and Drake are pretty similar. Drake Hogestyn: Being a father is a responsibility I really like - having your children look up to you, being a hero in their eyes. They need to be taught right from wrong. They need to believe they're the best things since sliced bread. They need to have their self-esteem built. And they need to see by example. If you do the right thing - and I back up my wife, Victoria, and she backs me - there's no waffling on the issues. Hopefully, you can prepare children the best you can. SOAP OPERA NEWS: How is John feeling now about Hope? Drake Hogestyn: The only way John knew Hope was through Bo. He knew she was opinionated and feisty and has a zest for life - but Bo is that way, too, so I only got one side of it. I never had a lot of interaction with Hope until the jungle. Then I saw for myself that she is opinionated and high-spirited and actually reminds John of himself. He realizes the arguments will be short-lived because she's not gonna budge, I'm not gonna budge. John, being the man he is, is gonna let her have her way. SOAP OPERA NEWS: It seems like there might be a possibility for romance at some time. Drake Hogestyn: It's a platonic relationship right now. At one point, where I had to give her mouth to mouth when she was going to drown, I questioned that for a second. I asked, "Can I revive her another way or do you need the physical closeness for whatever red herring we may be exploring?" One of the producers came out and said, 'You're right on the money with that.' It was a way to get the characters together in a platonic way, fighting through something and not having time to realize there may be an awareness there. SOAP OPERA NEWS: John had an awkward moment with Sami and Marlena when Sami spat out, "You're not my father even if you are sleeping with my mother!" What's his take on Sami? Drake Hogestyn: I raised these kids, Eric and Sami. When I first came home, Marlena put the babies in my arms. I was hoping I'd been a stabilizing factor in their life, but I guess I wasn't as much as I thought. It was hurtful. It was one of the times when John would like to rationalize and say, 'Well, she's been through traumatic experiences and she's lost her focus. Hope is not lost, we can always bring her into the fold.' But the other side of it is John wondering if it has something to do with his upbringing of her initially. SOAP OPERA NEWS: How so? Drake Hogestyn: He may not have been equipped to handle her needs as a young girl when she needed Marlena. Then the betrayal (when John slept with Marlena when she was married to Roman) was a major chink in John's armor - all for his love for Marlena. It was the one time in his life when he threw everything aside and was basically selfish. He was thinking of himself and his own happiness. Isabella had just died. He was on the pier and Marlena walked in out of the fog and he said, "I remember when I first saw you come back, it was right on this pier, and I never stopped loving you." It was so fast! This is what is fabulous about (Headwriter) Jim Reilly's stories. He asks you to make quantum leaps in your character's belief, and it's up to you as an actor to make that bridge until we get to the next chunk of story. This was one of those moments. When Isabella was leaving, she held a party for everybody at the Penthouse Grill. She put in a videotape and we left the room. The tape was to everybody about what they meant in her life. It got to Marlena, and she said, "I know that he's always loved you. He will need you now." I used that. I said life was too short. I jumped right into it and we were off and running. I said, "We could all die tomorrow. What are we doing holding ourselves out?" And it destroyed a lot. It destroyed Marlena's marriage. It destroyed the trust John had built up with people over the years. The fallout is still being felt with Sami saying, 'You're not my father.' It's hurtful. SOAP OPERA NEWS: After everything Stefano has done, do you think John has softened a little toward him since he's come up with the cure? Drake Hogestyn: Initially, John is never going to believe anything Stefano says. But being in the jungle and hearing how impassioned Stefano was about the rain forest, I saw something that was so out of character. Then coming up with the right prescription to limit the side effects for Roman. Those are two things there. I can't help but believe that he'll do great things in front of people because he's setting up something down the road that is going to be heinous. SOAP OPERA NEWS: John seems to enjoy the game, though. Drake Hogestyn: John respects Stefano. He's more than a worthy adversary. And as much as John wants to kill him, I don't know if he could actually do it. What really surprised John is when Stefano was going to cut his head off in Paris. I thought this was going to be some sort of threat tactic because Stefano usually wants to cripple you in other ways, mental ways, and let you live with the pain. Losing is harder than dying. SOAP OPERA NEWS: Does John think Marlena might really be in love with Roman? Drake Hogestyn: I think it's possible to love two people at the same time. There were a lot of dynamics coming into play when John was gone. The support that the children are giving their father isn't lost on Marlena. Because John wasn't around to keep her occupied, she's had time to spend with Roman and to relive a lot of her memories. They're strong and the love was very real. There are going to be a lot of decisions to make. Jeffrey Epstein, SOAP OPERA NEWS, 11/11/97 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ Late-Breaking News Blood Ties DAYS' Stefano To Roman It's Stefano DiMera to Roman's rescue this week on DAYS OF OUR LIVES, when the miracle jungle cure doesn't work as expected. "Stefano knew there was a possibility that (Roman's body) could reject the serum," explains Executive Producer Tom Langan. "He tells them that's why he's there. You see, Stefano spent time in that jungle and was infected with a different strain of the bacteria, so his blood has the antibodies that can help Roman." The doctors perform a transfusion and, in the end, Roman is saved by Stefano's blood running through his veins. "Stefano is the ultimate hero," points out Langan. "But Stefano doesn't give anything away for free. There is always a price." In this case, the price is Marlena's forgiveness. "She agrees to forgive him, but never forget what Stefano did to her family," says Langan. As for the rest of Salem, "They're horrified to have Stefano back in town. They can't believe this man is walking free." DiMera is not turning over a new leaf, though. "He wants to be in complete charge of the town," says Langan. "He will move his power base to Salem. He will also try to strengthen his bonds with his daughter, Lexie, and his son (Elvis). He has very big plans for the future." SOAP OPERA DIGEST, 11/11/97 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ What Will Happen... November Shockers! DAYS OF OUR LIVES' Kristen's Baby Surprise... The Ides Of November - Viewers, Beware! This Month Brings Danger, Calamity And Intrigue To The Network's Top Shows DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Mother Is The Necessity Of Invention: Kristen proves she's a never-say-die DiMera this month when she resolves to reclaim John by using Susan's son, Elvis. "Kristen is determined to get that baby back for herself, and she has more momentum now knowing that the baby is Stefano's," previews Executive Producer Tom Langan. "She believes that if she can get Susan out of the picture and convince John that Susan gave her the baby to raise because she thought Kristen would be a good mother, then John would see her as this maternal figure and remember why he loved her." Easier said than done, considering that John despises Kristen for all the deceit and trickery she used to keep him and Marlena apart. "It's really kind of sad," sighs Eileen Davidson, who plays both Kristen and Susan, as well as Susan's twin, Mary Moira. "She's hoping to convince John that she's a loving mother under all that nastiness. She thinks that since Marlena and Roman are kind of back together, the door is open to convince John of her goodness." Convincing John is one thing; getting loopy Susan to give up her baby won't be so easy, even after she learns that Stefano, not Elvis Presley, is the baby's father. "Susan feels she has to protect her baby," nods Davidson. "Susan desperately loves this child and has built her whole life around being a good mother. Since Stefano dressed up like Elvis and drugged her, she doesn't know what's real and what's not. Her world will crumble." Which will make her easy prey for wily Kristen. "She will try and convince Susan that Stefano is dangerous and he will come for the baby at some time," reveals Langan. "Kristen says that Susan is better off giving the baby to Kristen to raise. Susan will be reluctant at first, but Kristen will work on Susan. Then, strange things will start to happen..." With the DiMeras involved, "strange" is undoubtedly an understatement. In the weeks ahead, bear in mind that Kristen hasn't been playing with a full deck for quite a while. "She's been walking a line in the last year," points out Davidson. "The fact that she thinks she can get back with John...I mean, why would she want to at this point?" Alan Carter, Adam Kelley and Stephanie Sloane, SOAP OPERA DIGEST, 11/11/97 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ DAYS' Marlena Gives Back John's Ring The engagement isn't off, but it's certainly on hold when DAYS OF OUR LIVES' Marlena gives her engagement ring back to John. "She doesn't want to have it in her possession right now because of the Roman situation," explains Executive Producer Tom Langan. "She gives it to John for safekeeping. She's not breaking any sense of momentum in their relationship, but she realizes that if the ring is discovered, it will make matters worse." The ring is the least of John and Marlena's troubles. In the weeks ahead, they'll face resistance to their romance from Eric and Sami, who plot to break them up. "We will see that this breakup has not only had an effect on Sami, but on Eric," notes Langan. "Now that Eric knows his father is going to survive, he wants his dad to be happy." To that end, Eric will ask John to let Marlena and Roman have a chance to rekindle their romance. "John tells Eric that he and Marlena love each other and he's not backing off," says the exec. "John is very sorry that Eric's upset, but that's the way it has to be. Marlena is Roman's ex-wife, after all." As the Christmas countdown begins, expect things to be a little strained in Marlena's penthouse. "The holidays evoke a lot of memories," states Langan. "Roman is back for the first time in years, and his children will do everything they can to remind Marlena of the family they used to be. John will feel like a little bit of an outsider." Uh-oh! SOAP OPERA DIGEST, 12/9/97 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ "Brotherly" Love On DAYS Watch out, Kristen. Susan pulls out the big guns this week when she brings her shady brother, Thomas, to town on DAYS OF OUR LIVES. "Thomas is a gangster," reveals Executive Producer Tom Langan. "He is a very dangerous man (with whom) Mary Moira and Susan have very little contact. However, Susan knows that if she needs something done, he can take care of it." What Susan "needs done" is the return of her baby, now that Kristen has tricked her into signing custody papers. "Susan is very upset," nods Langan. "She desperately wants to get her son back." Kristen won't give up "her" son so easily, though. "She is fascinated by this addition to the group," smiles the exec. "She sees Thomas as a loose cannon." Eileen Davidson, who is already pulling triple duty on the show, is excited about playing this challenging fourth role. "I was trying out men's voices for a while on my husband," she laughs. "It's been such a kick!" Whether or not Thomas can get the better of Kristen remains to be seen, but we can tell you that he's only slated to air for a few episodes. "This will lead to a very interesting story beat that Sally (Sussman-Morina, DAYS' Headwriter) came up with," previews the exec. "John tries to convince Kristen to give the baby back, and something very strange happens. There's going to be another major twist ahead." SOAP OPERA DIGEST, 12/30/97