Monday, August 28, 2006, Episode #4882

Harry shows up on The Shady Marlin.

Nick boards the Shady Marlin and finds that someone is living there, as the bed is unmade and there are empty snack food containers on the table. When Nick hears someone coming downstairs, he hides. He grabs the intruder from behind as the intruder comes down the steps and threatens to break the person's arm if he doesn't tell Nick who he is and why he's there. The intruder calls out, "Nick, it's me, Harry!" After letting the young man go, Nick whirls Harry around. He's glad to see Harry, although he's miffed that Harry didn't tell him he was in town, or that he was crashing on Nick's boat. Harry's sorry if he made Nick mad. Nick says it's just that last he heard, Harry was on a Marone freighter in Sumatra. Harry tells Nick not to worry; he's not here to hit Nick up for money, even if Nick is the big boss now at Marone. He asks Nick if he misses the sea. What he misses, Nick says, are people like Harry's dad, who was a member of Nick's crew on the freighter that went down in the underwater earthquake (in the story that introduced Nick to the show). Harry knows it wasn't Nick's fault, but Nick still feels like he can never make up the losses experienced by people like Harry, who lost loved ones in that accident.

Nick makes Harry an offer.

Harry points out that at least Nick looked out for him by getting him a job on a Marone freighter and making sure he got an education. Nick thinks Harry's dad would have wanted it that way, and would be proud of the man Harry's become - just as Nick is proud of Harry. Harry then congratulates Nick on his recent wedding, noting that Nick's new wife is a "total babe." Nick guesses Harry saw the "wedding photo" (i.e. the Brooke's Bedroom ad) and says he just got lucky. Harry comments about Brooke's semi-nude body in the photo; Nick tells Harry not to think about the mother of his kids that way. "You two have kids?" Harry asks, surprised. Nick explains that the kids are Brooke's, but he loves them like they're his own. That explains why Nick hasn't had time to take care of the Marlin, Harry surmises. He suggests that Nick find someone to look after the boat; Nick agrees that he needs someone for that and suggests that Harry do it, in return for a fair wage, and for staying here on the Marlin. Harry thinks the Marlin is a step up from the Marone freighter he was on and accepts the offer.

Stephanie tells Taylor to heal by helping Thorne and Alexandria.

In the hospital, Taylor continues to watch Thorne and Alexandria in the hall through the window in the hospital room door. Stephanie thinks Taylor knows what she has to do, because Thorne and Ally are suffering. "Because of me," Taylor says. Stephanie doesn't want to hear that again. She knows Taylor is hurting, but perhaps by helping Thorne and Alexandria, maybe Taylor can heal herself, too, in the process.

Thorne talks with Bridget about the events since Darla died.

Outside, Bridget talks with Thorne while she waits for Phoebe's release papers. Thorne tells her about Taylor's idea for Ally to take the pictures she colored up to the room where Darla died and put them on the door, so Darla can see the pictures in heaven. He doesn't know why he didn't think of that. Bridget reminds him that Taylor is a professional, plus Taylor cares about him and Ally as much as she cares about her own family. Speaking of which, Thorne wonders what brought on Phoebe's panic attack and hopes Phoebe isn't still blaming herself again for Darla's death. Just then, Lt. Baker approaches. Thorne asks the cop about Hector, who isn't sure how the fireman is. Bridget says he'll have to check with Hector's doctor, since the fireman isn't her patient. But Phoebe is, Baker says, anxious to find out more about Phoebe's panic attack. Thorne says he thought he made it clear earlier that... Baker says he's aware Thorne wants him off the case, but the cop is curious what Phoebe's mom knows about a possible arson at the Ramirez home.

Lt. Baker still has questions.

Inside the room, Phoebe asks Taylor if she can keep the truth about Darla's death a secret. Taylor explains that confessing won't bring Darla back and will only end up with her being in jail, where she can't help Thorne's family or her own. Just then, Lt. Baker comes in; Stephanie objects to his being there, but he explains that he has some questions for Taylor about the fire. Taylor says it was a horrible accident and is just glad the firemen got there when they did. Baker shows her the strap he found by the burnt down Ramirez home (the one that was used to bind Taylor) and notes the marks on Taylor's wrists. He suggests that the fire might not have been an accident. Stephanie tells him to stop talking like that, especially with her granddaughter here. Baker apologizes; he just thinks Phoebe's panic attack stemmed from seeing what happened to her aunt Darla and wonders if Phoebe is feeling guilty about anything. Stephanie tells him to stop right there: she reminds him that Thorne told him to drop the investigation, and she agrees. She wants the cop to forget about the case so her family can move on. Lt. Baker leaves.

Alexandria leaves pictures for her mommy to see from heaven.

After Lt. Baker leaves, Taylor frets that the cop won't give up. Stephanie reminds Taylor and Phoebe that they all agreed what they're going to do, so there's nothing else to say. She suggests that she and Taylor go find Thorne, so they leave the room. Outside, Thorne tells them that Bridget took Ally for ice cream; he suggests that Taylor join him and Ally once Ally gets back, so they can go up to put Ally's picture's on the door of the room where Darla died. While they're waiting, he asks how Phoebe is. Stephanie replies that Phoebe and Taylor are both fine, much to Lt. Baker's chagrin. Thorne asks why Baker was there, but Stephanie assures him that she took care of it. Taylor then suggests to Thorne that they find Alexandria and go upstairs. Soon after, Taylor and Thorne are with Ally, outside the room where Darla died. The little girl puts a picture of a bee and another of a butterfly on the door. She asks if Mommy can see them. She sure can, Thorne says as he flashes back to the last times he saw Darla alive. The memories make him sad. Ally senses her dad is thinking about Mommy and says she is, too.

Phoebe listens to Stephanie's advice.

After the trio returns downstairs, Bridget comes over and tells Taylor that Hector has been asking for her. Bridget hasn't seen Hector herself but hears he is doing better. Taylor asks what room Hector is in; she doesn't want to be away from Phoebe for too long, but she agrees to see Hector for a few minutes. Bridget says that Stephanie is with Phoebe and offers to have Stephanie take Phoebe home, so Taylor can spend some time with Hector. Taylor thinks that's a good idea and thanks Bridget. Meanwhile, inside Phoebe's room, Stephanie scolds Phoebe for not telling her about the guilt she's feeling sooner. She knows Phoebe wanted to protect her mom, but Taylor never should have put her own daughter in that position. Now that they have decided that no one will ever know about Taylor's part in Darla's death, Stephanie wants Phoebe to put it all behind her, just like the rest of them.

Hector shows Taylor his wounds and announces that he's blind.

Taylor comes into Hector's room and finds him facing away from her. She's surprised he's out of bed. They say you can't keep a good man down, he replies, although Taylor will never see him that way. Taylor says she understands why he panicked, but she can't accept that he threatened her life. Hector asks if they're going to prison. No, she replies; she tells him that she had a talk with Stephanie, who now knows anything, and they agreed that nothing good would come out of her going to jail. That's why Stephanie agrees with what he said earlier, that the best atonement for her sins is to be there for Thorne and Alexandria. Part of her still feels like she should confess, but she promises Hector that she won't say a word. She's just glad Stephanie got to the house when she did, or she and Hector might still be trapped in that fire. She asks Hector how he feels...