Plodding along a country road in the pouring rain late at night, Bo assures Hope that, though it may take a while to get to the justice of the peace, they'll be married the next day. Their beat up old car has seen better days, however, and it sputters to a stop only ten miles outside of Salem. Soaking wet, Bo hails a passing truck whose driver is a friendly man named Henry. Henry brings the pair to his farmhouse to meet his wife, Alma, who gets all excited hearing that the two are eloping. Alma soon persuades her husband to let them be Hope and Bo's witnesses at the ceremony. After some good old fashioned apple pie, Alma prepares their beds for the night--in separate rooms, of course. "After all, you're not married yet," Alma notes. "It wouldn't be right." Not wanting to disillusion the charming old woman, Bo and Hope agree, even as they secretly plan to meet later. After everyone has gone to bed, Bo sneaks into Hope's room but finds her fast asleep. With a smile, he kisses her gently and heads back to his room.

The next morning, Alma fixes everyone a wonderful breakfast as she reminisces about her own big wedding, causing Bo and Hope to think about theirs. Finally, when Henry is ready to load up the bride and groom for the trip to the chapel, the two admit that they are not quite ready to tie the knot just yet. But they do hitch a ride with the country couple to New Orleans in the back of Henry's flatbed truck. Snuggling in the hay under a blanket, Bo and Hope feel as thought hey are heading out on another romantic adventure!

After a long day's journey, they arrive in New Orleans late at night and get three motel rooms--one for Henry and Alma and separate rooms for Bo and Hope. Thinking it will be easier to sneak into her room this time, the two go along with the room arrangements for Alma's sake but make plans to get together that night. "You'd better be awake this time, " Bo teases Hope. She is and the two duck under the sheets to make love but are interrupted, by someone knocking at the door. Bo darts into the bathroom while Hope opens the door to Alma, who is unable to sleep because of Henry's snoring. Hope has no choice but to let her stay in her room and Bo is stuck in the tub for the night!

Continuing to poison the woman he loves with two drops of arsenic, Larry is barely able to keep up a nonchalant front. Although he hates what he is doing to Gwen, at the same time, Larry is certain she will tell Abe that he murdered Megan. Larry even poisons Gwen's champagne at Blondies. But when Liz comes out later and sings a song for his birthday at Gwen's request, Larry can't take the guilt anymore and decides to stop poisoning her; he'll take the consequences, whatever they are. That night, wracked with guilt, Larry has a nightmare about Gwen prosecuting him. He tosses and turns in his sleep, crying out that he indeed murdered Megan. Shocked by this confession, Gwen grabs her tape recorder and captures his words--"I killed her...I killed Megan!"

The next day, Larry goes about his usual work as if nothing his wrong. However, coming home early, he catches Gwen listening to the tape. Furious, he goes to the refrigerator, pours a glass of orange juice and empties the rest of the bottle of arsenic into it, but Gwen has sneaked out the back. Later, unable to carry out his scheme, Welch confesses to Gwen that he killed Megan. "I didn't mean it, " he says desperately. "She threatened me, she wanted to push me into the hot tub to be electrocuted." So in love with him, Gwen accepts his confession an remains determined to stand by him. Afterwards, she goes downstairs and drinks the orange juice which Larry left on the counter. In minutes, Gwen is in a coma and Larry is horrified at what he has done....

As her trial date approaches, Marlena discovers some unsavory information about Hart that would surely have him removed, from the case. But when Kimberly admits to her that she was the woman involved with Hart, Marlena decides not to bring it up. At her support dinner before the trial, Hart enters to cold stares from Marlena. When he learns from Kimberly what Marlena knows about him and won't use, Hart personally tells Marlena that she is indeed a remarkable woman. Marlena is stunned by his statement and so is Hart, as he realizes that what is about to do will not be easy on his conscience.

Marlena's trial begins with Hart showing the tape of her shooting Stefano DiMera˜it is a very convincing portrayal of a cold-blooded murder. Next, he calls Alice to the witness stand. Though she tries to make Marlena look good, Hart twists her words. Alice winds up admitting that Mrs. Brady was calm and cool the night she left the house of the ice show. "Clearly, this was a premeditated move, " Hart tells the jury. "Not one of self-defense or passion." Sensing that she has hurt Marlena's case, Alice apologizes to Marlena, but Don assures them both that they've got a long way to go.

The next day, Shane takes the stand and is a bit more prepared for Hart's trick questioning than was Alice. Keeping Shane on the stand no longer than necessary, Hart calls Jimmy Porterfield who is brought in from prison, handcuffed. With nothing to lose and wanting to see Marlena put away, Jimmy lies and says that Marlena and Stefano were lovers and that the two of them were going to escape together to Caracas with the children! But when Stefano decided to go without her at the last minute, Jimmy says, she plotted to kill him. The courtroom buzzes with action as Marlena screams that Porterfield is lying.

After Jimmy's unexpected testimony, Hart berates him for changing the direction of the case. Now, because Jimmy has made it appear that Marlena was a vengeful lover who committed a crime of passion, the charge is changed to second degree murder. Honeycutt then takes the stand and backs Jimmy's claim that Marlena and Stefano were lovers. She testifies that Marlena was in Caracas giving her approval of the estate for her children. While Marlena fights for control, Don is furious because Marlena never said a word to him about being in Caracas. When Marlena gives him the details of her trip, they both realize that the only way to refute Jimmy and Kate's claims is to find Rosa, the woman Marlena befriended while she was in Caracas tracking Stefano...

Melissa and Ivy Clash !

Melissa's joy as a dance teacher is short-lived, since the warehouse is no longer available for her classes. When she realizes that the children and their parents share her disappointment, she is determined to find another place to practice. But the only available space is at the Body Connection! Despite her previous promise to Ivy that she would stay away from there, Melissa feels that Ivy should understand the situation. To the contrary, Ivy accuses Melissa of plotting to get back into Pete's life. A furious Melissa vows to hold her classes at the Body Connection with our without Ivy's approval. When Pete finds out about this run-in he is angry and implores them both to grow up. They reluctantly apologize, but a true reconciliation is impossible at this point.

Later, when Melissa hears how well Ivy and Pete are getting along, she is filled with jealousy and bitterness. A scene with Ian, coupled with her emotional state, causes her to seek refuge at The Cheatin' Heart. Pete finds her there and takes her to the fishing shack. But this time they keep their distance. Returning to Ian, Melissa realizes for the first time how much he cares, as Pete goes home to Ivy to make their marriage work.

Larry is at Gwen's side when she comes around. Her voice filled with emotional and physical pain, she asks Larry point-blank whether he tried to murder her. Larry claims that the poison was meant for himself but Gwen is not convinced. In the hospital coffee shop, Chris overhears Larry blaming him for Gwen's "attempted suicide" and lets Larry have it. Later, a battered and emotionally distraught Larry sits beside Gwen's bed, telling her that only her recovery and their being together matter to him. But Gwen has made other plans. She is leaving Salem for good and all of Larry's talk is useless to stop her. Chris is deeply hurt by Gwen's decision. When he and Gwen say their good-byes, Chris lets her know that should she ever wish to return....

Meanwhile, Liz comes home to find Noel--who has supposedly been suffering from the flu--unconscious on the floor. After conferring with Noel's doctors, Neil learns that his daughter has Juvenile Diabetes. Liz is shocked to learn that Noel will suffer from the disease her entire life and will depend upon insulin injections to stay alive.

As Marlena's trial continues, Rosa cannot be found. Therefore, Marlena is forced to take the stand in her own defense. Her words to the jury are so moving that even Hart begins doubting the validity of his case. The courtroom is stunned when, during Hart's closing argument, he proclaims Marlena Brady innocent! The judge is furious, but has no choice other than to declare a mistrial. Marlena is freed! Later, Bennett confesses to Marlena that he just couldn't allow her to go to jail for what she did, even if his actions meant ruining his career.

Hope wakes up in her hotel room alone. Bo has gone for a walk. Upon his return he confesses his love for Hope but doubts whether he could ever be happy in a traditional marriage. Hope convinces him that she doesn't want to get trapped in a confining marriage either. After reminiscing about Oak Alley, they end up sneaking into the museum to make love. Later, they agree to return to Salem. They are ready for marriage so long as they respect each other's special qualities, Bo and Hope conclude.

Back in Salem, Bo avoids planning for the wedding by helping Abe with Megan's murder case. Bo and Abe discover that Larry had a rental car at the Body Connection that night, and they confront him with this trivial piece of evidence, hoping to put the heat on. When they leave, Larry destroys the tape of his confession Gwen had sent to him, doing away with the last piece of damning evidence...

Anna's relationship with the prince really takes off when she announces that, since his father's death, he has become king and he wishes Anna to be his queen! When Anna agrees, Eugene convinces her to give her share of the company to Calliope. Tony pretends to be pleased for Anna but insists that she can't possibly leave them until after the big fashion show at Blondies. Anna agrees. She knows that it should be a stunner because Eugene has developed a formula which will make all of Alex's line of "cheap Anna DiMera copies" disappear!

Thanks to CJ Patterson for providing this synopsis from the May 7, 1985 issue of Soap Opera Digest.

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