At the hospital, Eric convinces Roman not to tell Marlena about his checkup today. Eric claims he doesn't want to get his mom's hopes up if Roman's not recovering as fast as he should be.
Sami is marching around her office when Kate storms in and asks Sami what she wants. Sami says it's been 15 minutes since she summoned her, and Kate tells Sami she will not be "summoned." Sami tells Kate that she wants an invitation to Carrie's New Years Eve party for Mike's favorite charity. Sami says it will be the perfect opportunity to get Mike and Carrie together. Kate refuses. Kate excuses herself and Roman tells Sami that he just sensed a whole lot of tension and hopes she's not butting in places where she doesn't belong. Sami plays miss innocent and says that she just wanted to make her Daddy proud. Roman says he's surprised by the size of her office and asks how she got it. Sami claims that Kate gave it to her because she want's Will to be proud of his mommy. Roman starts lecturing Sami on making a new life for herself without Austin, and Sami starts crying. Roman asks her what is wrong and Sami says he shouldn't tease her about finding a man since it's never going to happen.
At the DiMera mansion, Kristen is talking to her lawyer about the custody hearing when Peter comes up through a secret passage. Kristen tells Peter he looks very bad, but Peter says he's fine. Peter says his first priority is to get to Jen and Abby and he needs her help. Kristen says she can't because it would jeopardize her plan to get back together with John. Peter gets angry and tries to storm out, but Kristen hugs him and says she wishes she could help him. Kristen says okay and calls the hospital claiming to be Mike's secretary and says she's looking for Mike's mother. The woman tells Kristen that Laura has the day off and she's in Salem place.
At the hospital, Mike is talking to Nurse Bobby, who just got engaged. Mike wishes her his best and she hopes he finds the girl of his dreams. Mike sees Carrie approaching and says he already has. Carrie asks Mike about the news on Jack and Jen, but he doesn't know anything.
Laura is shopping at Salem Place and stops to make a call to someone to confirm a meeting that Jack set up. Laura leaves, and a man follows her. The next time we see Laura she is talking with Mike. After Mike and Laura walk off, Peter shows up disguised in a costume that makes him look like a stalker.
Jack tells Mike his plan, but of course we do not hear it. Laura returns and she tells Jack that she met with his man and got what he needs, fake IDs, disguises, and a car. Laura tells Jack that she parked the car behind the Wilson's house and took all the measures she had to in order to get the FBI off her trail. Jack decides it's now or never and he tells Laura that he and Mike already have a plan. Suddenly Jen shows up and asks what plan they are talking about.
Peter, who followed Laura, figures out that Jen and Abby must be at Alice's along with Jack. Peter decides to go check out Alice's place, but suddenly gets a jungle fever attack. Jack gets into the car and drives off, not knowing that someone is hiding in the car with him.
Susan receives the summons and says she is not giving up her baby. The man tells her if she doesn't appear in court than she will be arrested, but she yells at him to get out. Susan grabs one of the nuns and tells her that she needs her help really, really bad. Susan claims she wants to become a nun, but the nun says that would take a long time, the process is a complicated one.
Carrie arrives at the hospital at talks to Lexie about the benefit. Carrie tells Lexie she's doing this for Mike as a way to show him as a way to thank him for everything he's done for her and Roman. Lexie and Carrie talk about Mike and Carrie asks Lexie if she knows who this woman that Mike is in love with. Lexie knows Carrie is the woman, but she tells Carrie that Mike never talks about his personal life.
Mike tells Laura that he has to get over Carrie and decides to make it his New Years resolution.
Carrie and Lexie approach Mike and Laura and they talk about the party. Carrie tells Mike that the response she's gotten is overwhelming, small businesses are donating things to help and one place is going to raffle off a sports utility vehicle.
At Titan, Kate is marching around her office huffing, puffing, and reflecting on her little confrontation with Sami yesterday. Kate tells herself she can't take anymore threats from that damn little girl. Austin comes in and sees how upset his mom is and asks her what Sami has done now. Kate just says she has a lot of things on her mind, but Austin doesn't buy it. Kate says that Sami working at Titan is the best thing for her right now. Austin and Kate talk about Sami's obsession with him and Kate says that Sami will never get over him unless another man sweeps Sami off her feet. Franco is in Salem Place and reflecting back on seeing Sami crying to her dad about how no guy has ever loved her. Meanwhile, Sami is busy shopping for a dress for the New Years Eve party. Franco goes into the store where Sami is and says he's here to buy a present, but he decides to help Sami pick out the right dress. Sami then has a fantasy about Austin seeing her in the dress and telling her that she is the most beautiful woman he's ever seen. Carrie shows up and asks Austin to dance, but Austin tells Carrie he wants to dance with Sami instead. Franco awakens Sami from her fantasy and Sami says this new image will defiantly get Austin's attention.
Austin and Carrie talk about Eric. Carrie says Eric refuses to accept the fact that Marlena loves John more than Roman. Carrie admits that as much as she loves her dad, she can't ask John to just walk out on Marlena. They switch the topic and talk about the party. Carrie promises that she'll make room for him at the event to be together and Austin says that is good because Sami has this idea that she was going to "bond" with him at the event while Carrie is working. Carrie and Austin talk about Sami, Austin thinks one day Sami will leave them alone. Carrie doesn't agree.
At the DiMera Mansion, Kristen is getting ready for the hearing and is saying how John will come back to her once she gets her baby back. Kristen decides to get going, but she's held up when John comes to her door. John tells Kristen he came to talk about Little Elvis and how he (Little Elvis) has a right to be with his birth mother. Kristen says she has a very important appointment this afternoon and John informs Kristen that he knows that. John tells Kristen he knows all about the hearing and that is why he has come here to stop her. Kristen tells John that she has custody and that Susan knew exactly what she was doing when she signed those papers. Kristen starts going off about how she loves that baby so much and how much they both bonded with the baby and how they could become a family again. John tells Kristen if she has any hope that he will return then she won't take Susan's baby. John tells Kristen that this is her chance to prove that she isn't like the DiMeras and that she can still be the woman he fell in love with.
Marlena and Susan are at the courthouse. Susan is panicking and Marlena tells her to just stick to the plan. Mickey shows up and they go in to see the judge hearing the case. To their surprise, Kristen is not here and her lawyer asks if they could wait a few more minutes for Kristen to show. The judge becomes irritated when Kristen doesn't show, so the judge asks Susan to state her part of the case. Susan starts wailing and crying about how she loves her little Elvis and Mickey asks for the judge to please let Susan and Doctor Marlena Evans talk in private first, Susan is overcome with emotions. The judge agrees and Susan leaves the room.
Kristen comes into the room and asks where Susan is. The judge says Susan was overcome with grief and Doctor Evans will speak on Susan's behalf. Marlena begins to speak but Kristen interrupts and asks to please speak first. Kristen talks about how she loves that baby as if he was her own, but he's not. Kristen says she knows now that the baby belongs with Susan and she wants to withdraw the custody papers her lawyer filed. The judge declares the papers null and void and orders Kristen to pay Susan's legal fees. Kristen's lawyer becomes outraged with her and tells her that he never wants to see her or any of the DiMeras ever again.
John shows up with Little Elvis and Susan takes out the Kristen teeth and tells John that it "really, really, really worked!" Kristen arrives at the courthouse and goes into see the judge and ends up finding Marlena sitting in his chair smiling.
Billie and Austin are in Salem Place and they buy some pearls for Kate. Billie says if she had one wish it would be for Victor to recover. Austin asks, "what about yourself" and Billie says she wished Bo loved her like he loves Hope. Austin asks Billie about her relation ship with Bo and he asks her what happened in Rome. Billie explains to Austin what happened. Billie says she wants more then a promise from Bo, she wants a connection. She also wants his eyes to light up when he sees her.
Bo is down at the docks missing the Fancyface and Hope. Bo says that even though he made a commitment to Billie, he shares a son with Hope. That bond is special, and he can't get Hope out of his heart.
Roman and Eric come to the hospital because Roman has come to get his checkup. Eric hopes his dad is better, but he asks Mike to hold off telling Roman the truth. Mike tells Eric he can't do that, it's not fair to Roman. Eric asks for just a little more time to convince Marlena she and Roman could be happy . Eric begs Mike for a chance to reunite his parents, but Mike tells Eric that there is no way they can know if Marlena and Roman will reunite. Eric tells Mike if they aren't given time then they may never know the truth.
Roman learns that he is cured from Mike and says he is going to celebrate with Marlena. Roman asks them to keep this news a secret, he wants to surprise Marlena by proposing to Marlena tonight!
Franco tells Hope he's made a New Year's resolution, he won't say anything negative about Bo. Franco loves Hope, but he tells Hope that he wants her to be happy with Bo. Later, Hope overhears Austin and Billie talking about telling Hope the truth about Rome, and Hope asks the truth about what? Billie says she misunderstood, they were talking about Marlena and John telling Roman the truth. Hope leaves and Franco grabs Billie and tells her that Hope is planning on telling Bo she wants to reunite with him tonight!
Lucas shows up with Lynn and Sami asks Lucas how he could be here with her! Lynn tells Sami that ratting her out to Kate is nothing compared to lying to Austin about Will's true father. Lucas tells Sami that she hit a new low by blackmailing his mother. Later, Sami wishes Austin a happy New Year, but Austin says it will be happy if she would stay out of his and Carrie's lives.
John and Susan are back at Marlena's penthouse. Susan goes to check on Elvis and John tells himself that as soon as Roman gets a clean bill of health then he can put the engagement ring back on Marlena's finger. John starts fantasizing about marrying Marlena. Susan returns and asks John what happens if they find out what really happened. John assures Susan that she will be safe, a limousine is going to take Susan to the private airfield where she will get on a plane and leave.
At the courthouse, Marlena tells Kristen that the hearing is over. Marlena tells Kristen that she was here earlier and told the judge she was wrong about the custody papers and wanted them withdrawn. Suddenly Kristen realizes what happened, Susan impersonated her. Kristen says that she won't get away with this! Kristen tells Marlena she had no right to take John and her baby from her, but Marlena sets her straight about John and Elvis. Kristen calls Marlena a bitch and she says she will never give up that baby.
Stefano shows up at the courthouse and asks Kristen what is going on. Kristen says she was trying to protect the baby from Marlena, who is sending Susan and Elvis far away. Stefano is furious and rushes off to try to stop Susan from leaving.. After he's gone, Kristen says it's about time Marlena gets knocked off her pedestal.
Kristen goes to Salem Place and sees a picture of Marlena, Roman, Santa, and the kids hanging on a wall. Kristen tears Marlena out of the picture and throws it in the trash can. Roman shows up and sees Kristen is upset and he tells her he'd like to help, so they sit down and talk. Kristen says another woman stole John away from him. Roman tells her that he fells her pain because he felt that way when he lost Marlena to John. Kristen decides to get revenge on Marlena when Roman asks her who came between her and John.
Stefano goes to the airport and catches John, Susan, Marlena, and Elvis and he tells Susan she is not leaving Salem.
Due to the New Year's holiday, Days of our Lives did not air today.
Carrie's fundraiser at the Penthouse Grill is going well on the surface, but tensions are raging underneath. For some reason, Carrie can't seem to keep her eyes or her mind off Mike and his pretty date. Austin is completely oblivious. Carrie gets up on the podium and says that they are throwing the fundraiser in order to honor the favorite charity of one of her best friends, Dr. Mike Horton. Mike goes up to the podium and makes a moving speech about his inspiration, his dead grandfather Tom Horton. Carrie watches, obviously enthralled. Finally, Mike thanks Carrie and is obviously wrestling with his emotions as he tells her how much she means to him. Everyone thinks it's just a sweet thank you to a friend, even Austin. Photographers from the Spectator make Carrie take several publicity photos with Mike, which show them hugging and dancing. The whole time, they can barely keep their eyes off each other.
Bo kisses Billie and Hope kisses Franco when they New Year arrives, but Bo and Hope only have eyes for each other. Hope tells Abe that Billie may still desire Bo, but now that her testimony is over, she doesn't need him any more. Hope says she plans to tell Bo tonight that she wants him back. Bo, meanwhile, is wrestling with his conscience, and knows that he has to tell Hope that he and Billie have made love and that when he thought Hope was with Franco, he made a lifetime commitment to Billie. He takes Hope out on the terrace and they gaze longingly into each other's eyes before he sits her down to talk. Billie talks to Kate, who tells her that everything is going well, especially now that Sami is "handled." Kate asks her how things are going with Bo, and they see Bo and Hope walk to the terrace. Kate is worried, but Billie tells her that it's all right. Billie watches in despair as Hope and Bo talk on the terrace, obviously completely in love with each other. She walks away, looking sick, and then clutches her stomach and keels over in a faint...
Franco tells Kate that he plans to distract Sami from her quest to break up Austin and Carrie by making her feel attractive and paying attention to her. Kate is reluctant at first, but agrees. Franco talks to Sami and tells her that the best way to get Austin's attention is to let him see her getting on with her life, especially dating other men. Sami dances with Franco and notices that Austin is watching her. She thinks Franco's plan may be starting to work and gazes at him with new respect...and possibly the beginnings of a crush. Lucas, seeing Sami and Franco together, decides to be nice and ask Sami to dance with him, but Kate distracts him by asking him to dance with his mother, not wanting Lucas to interfere with Franco's plan to distract Sami from Austin.
Lucas and Lynn, obviously a little tipsy, walk up to Eric, who is glumly looking for Marlena. They tell him to cheer up and stop thinking about his parents. Lynn introduces Eric to a pretty friend who has had her eye on Eric all night long. Eric reluctantly dances with her, but obviously his heart is not in it. Later, he talks to Sami, who asks him why he has always been so private about his love life. He tells her that he has dated lots of girls, but none seriously, and that's the whole story. Together, they pledge that 1998 will be the year the Brady twins finally find real love.
At the airport, Stefano confronts Susan, Elvis, Marlena, and John, who are about to board the Alamain jet. He tells them they have no right to take Susan and the baby away. John asks Stefano what right he has to say what happens to the baby. Stefano says he has the rights of a father. Marlena and John are not really surprised, and they tell him that regardless of whether he fathered Susan's baby or not, no judge would ever give a monster like him custody, and they intend to see to it that Stefano never sees his son again. John tells a security guard to take Stefano away and boards the plane with Marlena, Susan, and Elvis. Stefano immediately overpowers the security guard and takes his gun. He then waylays the pilot and forces him to take off his uniform. Stefano dresses as a pilot and boards the Alamain jet, walking right past John and Marlena, who don't appear to notice that it's Stefano. He goes up into the cockpit and tries to start the plane, but it won't start. Stefano mutters that there must be something wrong. Suddenly, John and Marlena enter the cockpit and tell him that there is something wrong - the plane is not fueled. They tell Stefano they expected him to try something like this, and Susan and Elvis are taking off on another plane, which he can see lifting into the air as they speak. Stefano is furious that they outwitted him, and vows to find the child. John and Marlena stay on the plane for a few stolen moments together, while Stefano gets off the plane and calls Kristen.
Kristen and Roman sit together at Salem Place. Roman sees how glum Kristen is and tries to convince her that her marriage to John is not over, using the example of his resurrected relationship with Marlena. Kristen, who knows that Roman's happiness is an illusion, is very strongly tempted to tell Roman that Marlena and John are in love, just to hurt Marlena. But while she is contemplating spilling the beans, she gets a call from Stefano. Stefano is enraged that Susan and Elvis got away and blames Kristen and her interference for it. Kristen says she is still plotting to get John back. Stefano tells her to forget it, because Marlena and John are together on the Alamain jet right now having a romantic tryst. Kristen hangs up and thinks to herself that since her life is destroyed and she is destined to be miserable, she might as well make Marlena miserable with guilt. She tells Roman that she was planning to whisk John away on the Alamain jet tonight, but since things are tense between them, why doesn't Roman use the jet as a setting to propose to Marlena? Roman thinks that's a great idea, especially since Marlena is already at the airport. As Roman runs to the airport, Kristen smugly dresses and goes to the Penthouse Grill party. Drinking champagne, she pictures the life of guilt that Marlena will have to endure when Roman catches her in an adulterous embrace with John for the second time. "Happy New Year, you lousy bitch!" she says, smiling.
Roman races out onto the tarmac toward the Alamain jet. He glances up at the plane and stops in his tracks. Outlined against a window, John and Marlena are passionately kissing. Roman stares at them with hurt and disbelief.
