[Hot and ill-tempered, Laura stumbles as her feet become tangled in the wild undergrowth.] Damn! Couldn't she have picked someplace even remotely civilized!

Grace: [Grace's lips curl into a bemused smile as her twinkling eyes slit open to watch Laura.] Careful Dear, we mustn't forget our manners. [Laura's dark look inspires a dry chuckle from Grace.] And here you tried to blame me...It seems to me you always walk like a drunk.

Don't sta…

Bo: [Interrupting], Laura?

[Swatting away a pesky fly, Laura turns to take in a confused Bo. With narrow eyes], Bo, what are you doing here?

Bo: [Distractedly], I, uh…well Shane asked me to come…to, um, try and talk to John. [Feeling the haze of confusion begin to lift, Bo counters more firmly.] What are you doing here?

[Looking over at Grace], Is he serious? [Grace shrugs non-committally as Laura shifts her attention back to Bo--her words rich with sarcasm.] Gee, I take it you've not been watching the show. [Turning to Bob], How is it in this age of ratings and immediate gratification that we are even still on the air when our own families won’t watch this sorry excuse of a show? What…Are we huge with inmates and the Barbie crowd?

Bob: [Holding his hands up in playful surrender], Hey, I just tape the show. What happens after that is anyone's guess...

Bo: [Impatiently], Excuse me, you were saying...

[Arching her brow], Well do you want the long answer or is brevity of supreme importance? [Bo says nothing--simply looks on expectantly.] Let's just say I'm not cut out to be a flower in the attic. Not to mention that life at Casa De Brady left a lot to be desired. I mean it must be for this, [gestures to the island], to seem preferable. [Laura's eyes harden.] You said you were here to talk to John...I suppose it's too much to hope that you'll also be locating your lovely wife [Bo shifts uncomfortably at the sound of Grace's derisive snort.] and taking her back into that nebulous region of nothingness that Langan seems to have permently relegated you to.

Bo: [Tensing at Laura's biting tone], Shane told me that Hope was having some problems...

Problems! That's the understatement of the decade.

Grace: Well, Laura, maybe you're setting your standards too high. We can't possibly all be as stable as you are, Sweetie.

[Shaking her head], Oh you're really one to talk. [Walking towards the blanket], Why don't you just shut up and pour me something to drink... [Grinning dangerously], If I'm gonna walk like a drunk, I might as well have the benefit of alcohol.

Grace: [Quirkily], True enough. [Handing her the champagne flute, Laura quickly drains the glass and hands it back to Grace.]

Bo: [Nodding his caveat], Okay. I get it...Hope's been having some serious issues. Has anyone tried to help?

[Shaking her head wearily], This may come as a huge shock to you, Bo, but some of us have more important things to worry about than Hope.

Bo: [Snidely], So I see.

[Taking her flute back from Grace's outstretched hand, Laura’s hard gaze pierces Bo.] I didn't take her to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for better or worse...She's you're wife. If you want what's broken fixed, then I'm afraid you're on your own big guy. [Laura's eyes glow intensely as she raises her glass in mock-toast. Without further comment she turns and settles herself on the blanket next to Bob.] Okay, I was promised food as a part of this little midday excursion, and I'm famished. [As Bo shuffles away in an annoyed huff, Laura's bright eyes fasten on Grace's fiery hazel stare.] So this better not be some kind of set up or you'll find out just what a bitch I can really be.

Grace: [Pulling the picnic basket to the center of the blanket, laughter filters through Grace's words.] Well as entertaining as that sounds, I think we'll have to save it for another day. [Opening the basket], Help yourself. Besides, I need you to keep your strength up. [Laura's eyes narrow questioningly, but she lets the issue drop--contented for the moment in the sweet taste of chocolate and bubbly flow of champagne.]

confessed by Laura at 7:20 PM

[Grace is leaning back against a large rock on the beach, her eyes closed. She's wearing a tiny pair of cut-off shorts and a bikini top and her hand rests on the base of a half-full champagne glass. It is a couple of moments before she hears the scuffling noise from the waters edge and the splash. Opening her eyes, she sees Bo wading up to the beach from a rowboat and she groans internally.]

Bo: Hey Marlena-

[Her annoyance showing.] What are you doing here??

Bo: [raises his eyebrows.] Nice to see you too. Shane asked me to talk to John. But guess he forgot John hasn't been voted off yet. So here I am. [Looks at the picnic spread and the slightly dusty blanket.] Uh, will John be back soon?

[Her boredom threshold rapidly approaching.] I wouldn't know.

Bo: Uh... well... where did he go Marlena?

[Rolls her eyes.] Don't any of you actually watch the show? No-one's seen John for weeks.

Bo: [Stunned.] Weeks? And nobody's said or done anything? What kind of a show is this?

[Her lips twitching with the effort of holding back her natural sarcasm.] I ask myself the same thing on a daily basis. [Pauses.] So what have you been so busy doing that you didn't notice what was going on over here Bobo?

Bo: Marlena... [Shakes his head. This is all really too weird.] Uh... uh... I've been... busy.... well, I'm sure I've been doing something really important, but anyway, what's important now is that we find John. He could be in real trouble with Stefano on this island.

[Laughs.] Whatever, Bo. [She waves him away as she closes her eyes and settles back against the rock.] Have fun. Let me know if you do find him, won't you?

Bo: Marlena....? [He just stares at her as Bob and Laura come crashing through the undergrowth.]
confessed by Marlena at 6:24 AM

Tribal Council Results and Next Vote Announced!

Your Big BadAss here is currently battling a big badass round of sinus drainage, so let's just cut to the chase, shall we?

Stefano DiMera, please gather your things, leave parting words if you really want to, and go somewhere other than this island.

Next Votes need to be in by midnight ET on Thursday to the Tribal Council E-mail. Ta.
confessed by Your Host, The Big BadAss at 3:46 AM