At the DiMera mansion, E.J. received a visit from Nicole. "This is a lovely surprise... Looking for some more ice cream?" E.J. began. "Actually, I was wondering if I could borrow a cup of...martini," Nicole clarified.
"What's bothering you?" E.J. prodded Nicole while preparing the drink. "Is it that obvious? Ugh! I don't know why I let this upset me -- I knew it was coming, and I don't know why some stupid paper should make it worse..." Nicole fretted before producing a manila envelope and handing it to E.J., who couldn't help chuckling after examining its contents. "Okay, this is ironic -- [so], you get divorce papers from Eric...the same day I get mine. Unfortunately, I can't serve them, because Samantha is still nowhere to be found," E.J. declared, drawing a look of skepticism from Nicole.
"Why does everyone act like I'm lying?" E.J. grumbled. "Because you kind of lie all the time. [Plus], it just seems that if you could find Kristen -- who is clever and subtle and, like, a professional disappearer -- you should be able to find Sami Brady -- who is about as subtle and discreet as an air raid," Nicole explained. "The difference is that I wanted to find Kristen. I don't care if I never hear from Samantha ever again," E.J. countered. "Well, you're gonna have to find her in order to serve those papers -- unless you don't want to get a divorce..." Nicole teased. "Trust me -- the last thing I want is to be trapped in that marriage for a second longer," E.J. maintained, drawing another look of skepticism from Nicole.
E.J. quickly changed the subject, admitting that it was flattering to be the person Nicole had chosen to confide in after receiving the divorce documents. "Instead of Rafe? Well, don't read too much into it -- it's just that you make a better martini," Nicole joked. "Right -- I can see that a drink with two ingredients in a ratio might be beyond him," E.J. conceded. "[Plus], if I show this to someone else, then I'm sharing intimate information -- airing my dirty laundry -- and...seeing that you already have a low opinion of me..." Nicole added. "That's not true," E.J. insisted before agreeing to represent Nicole in the divorce proceedings.
Rafe entered the Hernandez house while Ava was in the process of cooking dinner. "You didn't have to cook!" Rafe began. "I wanted to...[because] I thought that, you know, if we could just slowly get back to our old routine, then maybe we could slowly get back to being us again -- and I thought that cooking like I always do might help make this kitchen not seem like a crime scene anymore," Ava explained. "I am so sorry you had to go through that -- and that I was not here..." Rafe fretted. "It's okay -- you were working, doing your job; you were serving and protecting the citizens of Salem!" Ava raved as Rafe squirmed.
Meanwhile, Jake emerged from the shower and joined Gabi in their bedroom. "I thought we would go somewhere nice for dinner," Gabi, who had been struggling with the zipper of a dress, suggested while Jake was handling the matter. "Do I need to remind you that we're both unemployed?" Jake protested. "We just had a major win -- we need to celebrate that Victor gave Philip the sack!" Gabi reasoned.
"You know, what would be really nice [is] if Philip was outside of the restaurant -- gaunt, shivering, and with a 'will work for food' sign!" Gabi, who had also been struggling with the clasp of a necklace, mused with a laugh as Jake moved on to handling that matter. "Zip this, clasp that -- you know, I would much rather be helping you out of your clothes," Jake grumbled before giving Gabi a kiss.
Jake got dressed then followed Gabi to the kitchen -- where Rafe and Ava were kissing. "My brother is sleeping with a murderer!" Gabi fretted. "That was self-defense...[and] who the hell are you to talk [when] you have a prison record longer than the River Po [and are] wearing stolen goods?" Ava countered. "[This necklace is] not stolen -- I found it," Gabi insisted. "And you didn't bother to try and figure out who it belonged to," Ava noted. "I thought that might prove embarrassing for Rafe," Gabi reasoned. "Did you catch that, Rafe? Your sister here, she's trying to still make me believe that you slept with Nicole," Ava translated as Rafe squirmed again.
After Gabi and Jake exited the house, Ava decided to invite Nicole over for dinner as another way of making a fresh start with Rafe -- who insisted that was a bad idea. "I was just trying to be nice," Ava reasoned. "I get that, [but] we need to focus on ourselves," Rafe countered. "[Still], you just got so mad -- you don't normally blow up like that..." Ava observed. "I'm a little edgy," Rafe explained before trying to change the subject -- but Ava wanted to say something else first. "Living with you, it's been the happiest that I've ever been -- and I did come from a pretty miserable life, so the bar is set kind of low, but... [Look], I love you," Ava declared, making Rafe squirm yet again.
"I'm sorry -- I have this bad habit of putting you on the spot. [Look], I did not say 'I love you' to force a reply," Ava stressed. "I get what you're saying -- it's been great having you here -- [and] if I don't say what you want me to say, that does not mean that I don't care about you a lot, 'cause I do...[and] I promise you that I am committed to you -- only you," Rafe responded.
Gabi and Jake decided to have dinner at the town square's bar -- the one in which Johnny and Allie had introduced each other to their respective partners back in August; the one that no one in Salem ever seemed to refer to by name. Nicole was also at that bar with E.J., who was reviewing the Walker-Brady divorce paperwork. "Why are you turning down spousal support?" E.J. wondered. "Because I don't need it -- or deserve it..." Nicole responded. "You're giving room and board to his niece and her kid in Salem while he's playing Albert Schweitzer in Africa!" E.J. noted. "Xander said something like that, too..." Nicole admitted. "Then he's not always wrong," E.J. declared.
Gabi eventually approached with Jake and apologized to Nicole for the interruption then warned E.J. not to get too comfortable at the DiMera mansion. "I'm still having my lawyers look into how [you] managed to steal it from me," Gabi explained. "Don't you have bigger problems to deal with -- like finding a new place for your little vanity project? I hear Phil gave the two of you the old heave-ho after an aborted attempt to overthrow him," E.J. countered. "He is paying for that -- and Gabi Chic is gonna come back stronger than ever --" Gabi bragged. "Where the hell did you get that necklace?" E.J. interjected, confusing Gabi.
"Is it yours, [Nicole]? I was right -- you were sleeping with Rafe! [See], I told Ava it belonged to a woman he didn't want her to know about -- namely, you!" Gabi declared. "That is not my necklace," Nicole insisted. "It's Samantha's necklace -- I bought it for her in Tuscany," E.J. revealed before demanding to know when Gabi had found the necklace. "A few months ago -- just about the time [Sami] left town..." Gabi answered after some thought before refusing to give E.J. the necklace -- then walking away with Jake. "She almost gave me a heart attack -- I thought she knew about me and Rafe..." Nicole admitted to E.J., who was trying to figure out how Sami's necklace had ended up outside the Hernandez house.
At the DiMera crypt, John struggled to resist the demonic presence's advances, but it refused to give up -- and sensed that it was making progress as its recollection of Kristen. "Not like this," John, who was still shackled to a pillar, eventually protested, prompting the demonic presence to magically remove the manacles.
Meanwhile, Marlena continued a phone conversation with Sami. "Where are you?" Marlena wondered. "I don't know where I am -- [I mean], I'm in this room, [but] I have no idea where it is... Mom, I was drugged, and then I was kidnapped -- I mean, it happened back in August; I went to go see Gabi [because] I just wanted to beg her to let me stay at the mansion [because] I had nowhere else to go, and I was just about to knock on Rafe's door when I was attacked from behind and I was chloroformed --" Sami responded. "That doesn't make any sense -- you've been texting me the whole time --" Marlena interjected. "That wasn't me -- it was whoever took me...and I have no idea who it is!" Sami clarified.
"There are guards, and they bring me food, but they won't tell me who they work for or why this is happening to me... I mean, I finally managed to steal this phone from one of them, but they're gonna figure it out before long -- you have to come get me --" Sami elaborated. "You're not the only one who's in trouble right now," Marlena admitted before telling Sami everything. "You've been possessed by the devil again? I thought it was like the chicken pox -- I thought it could only happen to you once! Great, now I have to take 'my mother being possessed by the devil' off my list of things I never thought I'd have to worry about again!" Sami responded before advising Marlena to add the police to their phone conversation.
Meanwhile, John started making out with "Kristen" -- but the demonic presence eventually pulled away in shock. "You bit me!" the demonic presence observed as Kristen, unsure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. "Did you really think I was gonna give up on Doc?" John wondered. Furious, the demonic presence hurled John against a wall. "You will pay for that," the demonic presence vowed as John lost consciousness.
Marlena was still in the midst of a phone conversation with Sami -- and was struggling to add the police to the call -- when the demonic presence interrupted. "Hello, Samantha -- it's been a long time," the demonic presence declared as Kristen before ending the call. "Who the hell was that?" Sami wondered before trying to contact E.J. -- but that phone conversation was also cut short. "Stupid batteries!" Sami grumbled before tossing the cell phone aside. "For a minute there, I could have sworn I heard Samantha's voice..." E.J. explained to Nicole. Meanwhile, at the other end of the bar, Gabi got a sudden burst of inspiration -- then started telling Jake about a plan to take down E.J. with Sami's help.
Back at the DiMera crypt, the demonic presence implied that it had left the cell phone with Marlena because it had known that Sami would be reaching out soon. "Do you know who's kidnapped her?" Marlena wondered. "My lips are sealed -- unlike how they were a short time ago, when I was with John," the demonic presence responded. "We both know that you're lying -- John never touched you...and if he did, it was simply to shove you away. I know that -- I can feel that, because I can still feel the unbreakable bond that John and I share," Marlena countered. Annoyed, the demonic presence repossessed Marlena then reunited Susan with John, who was again shackled to a pillar.
"I didn't have very high hopes for that plan, anyway...so, I guess I'll just have to go to plan B -- [and] that's where you both die," the demonic presence teased.
Steve returned home from his search for John. As Kayla took a pie out of the oven, Steve told his wife that he believed he had been sent on a wild goose chase. "Who would do that?" Kayla asked. "Marlena" knocked at the door, and she cheerfully wished Steve and Kayla a happy Thanksgiving. Steve heated up a cup of tea for "Marlena."
"Careful! Straight out of the microwave," Steve cautioned "Marlena." "Marlena" took the mug and downed it without flinching. "Marlena" complimented Kayla's pie. When Kayla noted that the kids would not be home for Thanksgiving, "Marlena" made a sad face. "That's a shame. I mean, Thanksgiving is all about family, isn't it?" "Marlena" said.
"Well, we will be with family. We're going to go with Roman and Kate at the pub. They're making Thanksgiving dinner. And then we are going to video chat with the kids after," Kayla said. "I guess that's something," "Marlena" said. "Marlena" said she would stop by the pub after she finished her holiday calls.
"Is that why you're here?" Steve asked. "No. I stopped here to apologize. I just haven't been myself lately," "Marlena" said. "Marlena" said she knew that she had not returned Kayla or Steve's messages, and she was sorry about that. "We know you're a busy woman," Steve said. "Marlena" said she had been busy with Abe's "not wedding."
"It was terrible, even by Salem's standards," "Marlena" said. When Steve asked what had happened, "Marlena" told them about Chanel's announcement at the wedding. "It was just devastating for Abe and for Lani," "Marlena" said. "So, Tamara was most likely in on the deception?" Kayla asked. "Marlena" confirmed Tamara was aware. "Marlena" said that she had not seen Abe so devastated since he had lost Lexie.
"I'm going to give him a call," Steve said. "You're such a good friend," "Marlena" said. As "Marlena" rose to leave, Kayla said she wanted to talk about Doug. "Maybe you could let the two of them see each other today. It's Thanksgiving," Kayla said. "Marlena" said it was a bad idea. When Kayla asked what the harm was in a supervised visit, "Marlena" said she could not take the chance that Julie could be hurt.
"Maybe you can help me then. To find your husband," Steve said. "Marlena" said that John had told her before he'd left that he was off on a mission for Black Patch. "John hasn't checked in with me, and he hasn't followed any of our protocols," Steve confirmed. "Marlena" suggested that John might be working with the ISA undercover. Kayla confirmed that Steve had already checked with Shane to rule out that possibility.
"Not only is John not doing any freelance work for them, he's gone completely off the grid," Steve said. With a shrug, "Marlena" noted that it would not be a first for John to disappear. Surprised, Kayla asked "Marlena" if it bothered her that John was missing. "You don't have any idea where he could be?" Steve asked. "Marlena" said no.
"And that doesn't bother you?" Kayla asked. "Marlena" said she was terrified, but she was used to John disappearing. "So, you don't even want to try and track him down?" Steve asked. "It would be disrespectful. It would show a lack of trust," "Marlena" said. In disbelief, Kayla and Steve both asked "Marlena" to confirm that she had no interest in searching for John.
"If I could do anything, I would. But at times like this, we just have to trust in a higher power," "Marlena" said. With an overly cheerful smile, "Marlena" wished Steve and Kayla a happy Thanksgiving. "You, too," Kayla said. After "Marlena" left, Kayla asked, "Do you buy any of that?" "Not a word," Steve said.
Worried, Kayla announced that she was going to visit Julie and tell her that she had not made any progress with Marlena. "Marlena is just not making any sense these days, baby. I mean she wants a higher power to find John? And she thinks it's better for Doug to be alone on Thanksgiving?" Steve said.
Kayla groaned. Steve said he planned to head over to the pub to talk to Roman about Marlena. "To keep Doug and Julie apart, keep Doug isolated? That is cruel and unusual punishment, as far as I'm concerned," Kayla said.
At the Horton house, Julie sat in the living room and looked at old photo albums. When Belle and Shawn arrived, Julie talked about memories of Doug from past Thanksgiving celebrations. "And now, [Doug] is all alone on Thanksgiving," Julie said. Belle told Julie that she had filed a motion to terminate Marlena's power of attorney, but the judge had not made a ruling before the start of the holiday break.
While Belle called the courthouse, Shawn put his arm around Julie to comfort her. "We've been through everything together. We're not together now," Julie lamented. Julie wondered aloud if Doug believed she did not care about him. Shawn assured Julie that Doug knew Julie wanted to see him.
"Somehow, we got a compassionate judge, and he said the case was heartbreaking, so he didn't want to wait until Monday to rule. So, you officially have medical power of attorney," Belle said. "And that means?" Julie asked. "You get to see him today," Belle said. Relieved, Julie hugged Belle and thanked her.
Julie excitedly packed a bag of things to take to Doug. "I don't think [Doug] is going to care what's in that bag when he sees you," Belle said. Julie gushed that she felt like she was going on a first date. Julie gasped, and she noted that the dinner was cooking. Belle promised to finish cooking the meal while Shawn took Julie to visit Doug. "As Doug would say, let's get the show on the road!" Julie yelled.
When Kayla arrived at the Horton house, Julie and Shawn were already gone. Belle told Kayla that Shawn had taken Julie to see Doug. "Oh, no! I just got off the phone with your mother, and she was adamant that he have no visitors. They are going to turn her away," Kayla said. "It's not Mom's call anymore. I got a court order giving Julie medical power of attorney," Belle confirmed.
"I wonder how your mother is going to react to that?" Kayla asked. Belle laughed nervously. "I had to do something," Belle said. Belle wondered aloud if Marlena was right and if Belle had been wrong to go over her head through the courts. "I have had questions about this decision myself," Kayla said. Belle noted that something was wrong with Marlena.
"She is not the doctor or even the person that I have loved and admired as long as I can remember," Kayla said. "What is happening to her?" Belle asked. Kayla reminded Belle that Marlena was likely acting out of an abundance of caution to keep Doug safe.
"But it's not just this one decision," Belle noted. Belle said that Marlena's actions felt deliberate. Kayla suggested that they concentrate on the holiday and on Doug and Julie's reunion. "Then turn around!" Julie shouted as she walked in. Shawn wheeled Doug into the room in a wheelchair.
In the town square, Tripp and Henry greeted Allie as she exited the bakery. Tripp showed Allie a Thanksgiving drawing Henry had made. "He did not get his artistic ability from me. It must be from," Allie started. Allie noted that it was Thanksgiving, and she did not want to talk about Henry's father.
"You say whatever you want to stay whenever you want," Tripp assured Allie. Tripp added that it was a good thing not to pretend that the past had not happened. "Hold on to the fact that he is dead and buried and can never hurt you again," Tripp said. When Allie expressed her concern that Charlie could return from the dead again, Tripp confirmed that Rafe had exhumed Charlie's body. "It was undisturbed," Tripp said.
"Then who or what did we see that night?" Allie asked. With a shrug, Tripp reviewed their family options for Thanksgiving. "How the hell are we going to make a decision?" Tripp asked. "I have an idea," Allie said. Allie handed Henry to Tripp, and she ran off. When Allie returned, she had bags from the bakery.
"It's our excuse to visit everyone tonight," Allie said. Allie announced that she had picked out everyone's favorite cookies. "What about Johnny?" Tripp asked. "I'm sure he is at the DiMeras' with Chanel. Let them eat cake," Allie said.
Chanel crept into Paulina's apartment. "Look what the cat dragged in," Paulina said. Chanel explained that she was there to grab some clothes and leave. "You not only ruined my wedding day, [but also] my life, princess. Not just hurt me, but think about what you did to Abe, to Lani," Paulina said. Paulina told Chanel that she was ungrateful.
"Mama," Chanel said. "Don't call me that! I am no longer your mother! Thanks to you, I have nothing! Thanks to you, Lani hates me. So, I don't have any daughters," Paulina said. "You can't mean that!" Chanel pleaded. As Paulina continued to yell, she clutched her heart, and she fell onto the couch.
"Mama!" Chanel screamed as she awoke from her nightmare. As Chanel sat in Johnny's bed, gasping for air, Johnny startled awake. "I'm right here," Johnny mumbled. Chanel hugged him. Johnny asked Chanel if she had been dreaming about her mother. Chanel told Johnny about her dream. Johnny noted that he and Chanel both had flamboyant mothers.
"We do one thing to cross them, and we feel like we've killed them. They don't even have to be there. It's like they have this guilt remote control," Johnny said. "You never seem guilty," Chanel said. "It all crops up in our dreams," Johnny said. With a shake of her head, Chanel noted that she had done a bad thing.
"I think that you felt that your back was against the wall. There were all these lies. Her lies. She just kept pushing on, focusing on what she wanted. She pushed too hard, and you snapped. That's all," Johnny said. "It's weird how much you get it," Chanel said as she cuddled up to Johnny. With a chuckle, Johnny noted that his mother had left town, and she had told no one where to find her. Johnny added that he felt guilty about his mother's absence.
"It would be a lot easier if we didn't love them, wouldn't it?" Chanel said. "A lot easier, but, and I really believe this, we have to lead our own lives. Not feel guilty about it," Johnny said. Chanel said she wished she did not have to face the world. "I don't know about forever, but we could have one hell of a nice day," Johnny said. Johnny told Chanel she was welcome to stay in bed with him all day.
"That sounds like heaven," Chanel said. "I was there last night, and I would love to get back," Johnny said. Johnny kissed Chanel, and they made love. "You want to leave Salem? Together?" Johnny asked. Chanel argued that she could not bail on her business and Allie for a trip to Italy. "Leave Allie to me. Think about it," Johnny said. Johnny said he could put the movie on hold while he worked on the script during their trip.
"And your dad is just going to hand over the DiMera jet to you?" Chanel asked. Johnny noted that his father was in a phase where he was being overly nice. "I was going to capitalize on that," Johnny said. Johnny announced he would go to the pub and tell Allie about the trip. When Johnny told Chanel to go home and pack, she reminded him that that was how her nightmare had started. Johnny suggested they buy new clothes in Milan instead.
"I still have to get my passport!" Chanel said. Johnny offered to go with Chanel to support her. With a sigh, Chanel said she would sneak in and out of the apartment to avoid her mother. "I can't believe you are doing this for me. Thank you," Chanel said.
In Paulina's apartment, Paulina caressed the locket that contained a lock of Lani's hair. "You sure made a mess of it this time," Paulina muttered to herself. "You got that one right," Olivia said as she entered the room. When Olivia asked Paulina if she had heard from Chanel, Abe, or Lani, Paulina gave a curt "No." Olivia said they needed to sort out Paulina's mess.
When Paulina muttered about Chanel's mess, Olivia countered, "You know how I feel about blame shifting." Paulina scoffed. "I know how you feel about every topic under the sun," Paulina grumbled. Olivia warned Paulina to watch her tone. "This is your big 'I told you so' moment to enjoy," Paulina said. "I'm not enjoying it, and you know it," Olivia said. Paulina said when she had learned about her grandchildren, she had been compelled to go to Salem.
"Why couldn't you have just left well enough alone?" Olivia asked. "Watching my daughter grow up without me was well enough for you and Tammy but not for me," Paulina said. When Olivia noted that they had all agreed to the plan, Paulina argued that she had caved to pressure.
"I was pregnant. I was scared. You and Tammy, you helped me clean up my big mess. And here I go again and make another big mess," Paulina said. Paulina said she had followed her heart. "It's time for you to stop following [your heart] and time to start using your head," Olivia said. Paulina argued that she had always played second fiddle to her sister.
"Then when I finally get something that's mine, all mine, you decided that [Tamara] would be the better mother?" Paulina said. "It was to protect you and the baby. There was no other way," Olivia said.
"I ended up losing both my babies. I always got you, you don't lie. I got you. But you just kick me when I'm down. Well, I've never been more down in my entire life. And my mama, she can't even give me a little hug. She just wants to give me a lecture," Paulina said. "You may think Tamara was my favorite, but from the second you were born, you had my heart in your hand," Olivia said. Olivia pulled Paulina into a hug and said that she loved her.
While Paulina fixed a cup of coffee in the kitchen, Olivia dressed up. "Where you going with that fancy hat on?" Paulina asked. "Lani invited me for Thanksgiving," Olivia said. When Olivia announced that she was meeting Eli outside, Paulina's mouth fell open.
"So, I'm ostracized, I'm in Siberia, and you get to have a place of honor at the table?" Paulina asked. Paulina noted that Olivia had created the lie and kept it going over the years. With a grunt, Paulina asked if they wanted Tammy to fly in and play with Paulina's grandchildren, too. Olivia said she did not know why Lani had invited her.
"Maybe you should talk to Chanel," Olivia suggested. "After what she did?" Paulina countered. "Yes, after what she did. I'm sure she is hurt, too. And she is still your baby," Olivia said. Paulina sighed. "How did she know?" Paulina wondered aloud. Olivia told Paulina that she believed Marlena had told Chanel the truth.
"Marlena is a doctor. And she doesn't break confidences," Paulina said. "Something in that woman's spirit didn't sit right with me," Olivia said. Paulina scoffed, and she asked for concrete evidence. "How about the smug look on her face when Chanel stood up and blew our family to smithereens?" Olivia announced. Paulina stared into the distance. When Olivia said it had seemed like Marlena had known that Paulina was Lani's mother, Paulina averted her eyes.
"I told her," Paulina whispered. When Olivia asked why, Paulina noted that Marlena was a therapist and was restricted by doctor-patient confidentiality. "Well, doctor feel bad busted right out of those confidential bonds and put all your business on the street," Olivia said. Olivia stressed that Marlena was "no damn good."
After Olivia left, Chanel crept in the front door. "Look what the cat dragged in," Paulina said, just like she had in Chanel's nightmare. Chanel furrowed her brow.
Outside the Brady Pub, Johnny ran into Steve. "Have you noticed anything strange about [Marlena] lately?" Steve asked. "Strange? In what way?" Johnny asked.
Outside the DiMera crypt, devil Marlena looked at the messages on John's phone. "I need to find a way to make John and that imbecile Susan disappear," the devil murmured. The devil pulled a dagger out of her purse. "It's time to kill two birds with one stone. Or maybe I should say dagger," the devil said.
At the Brady Pub, Steve continued trying to determine if Johnny was among those who were concerned about Marlena.
"[For example, I've noticed] inconsistent behaviors [and] secrecy -- and, for some reason, she seems really focused on keeping Julie away from Doug," Steve explained. "I'm sure my grandma is just doing whatever she thinks is best for Doug...right?" Johnny reasoned. "Maybe..." Steve muttered. "Am I missing something?" Johnny wondered. "I can't exactly put my finger on it, [but] it's not just about the situation with Julie and Doug -- Marlena is not herself --" Steve insisted. "Then who is she?" Johnny challenged Steve. "Are you sure you haven't noticed anything odd about her recently?" Steve responded, ignoring Johnny's question.
"I guess it was kind of weird when I saw her at the crypt -- [I mean], it was Halloween, [but still]...she came out dressed like the devil, [and] she said she was wearing [the costume] in support of my film, [and then] she said she wanted to pay respects to my grandfather [because] he was the first one to realize she was possessed, [and then] she said that there was a rat inside -- a big one -- [and] she wouldn't let me in," Johnny admitted. "Did she say anything about your Grandpa John?" Steve wondered, drawing a shake of the head from Johnny, who took the question as a hint that John was missing. Steve downplayed the situation, assuring Johnny that John was probably just working on a case out of town.
At the Price condominium, Chanel groaned and braced for a lecture from Paulina -- or something even worse. "I had a dream that I came home this morning, and you said exactly the same thing to me -- 'Look what the cat dragged in!' [And then] you let me have it -- you told me that I ruined your wedding [and] ruined your life, and you told me [that] I wasn't your daughter anymore," Chanel explained, leaving out the part about Paulina's heart attack. "Chanel, I have only one thing to say -- and that...is...'I'm so sorry!'" Paulina responded, stunning Chanel.
"So...you're not mad," Chanel translated. "Oh, I'm mad -- at myself! I stood up there in that church, in the sight of God, and I accused you of being a liar -- I'm so ashamed of that; [it] was cowardly! [But, you know], I was so desperate to keep Lani and Abe from finding out, I would have said anything in that moment... [Anyway], it's a good thing that your grandma, your Big Mama, she stood up for you, and she got your back -- [I mean, sure], I would have preferred if it had gone down a different way, but you told the truth, which is a hell of a lot more than I did," Paulina fretted.
"I don't remember you ever admitting you were wrong before! [Seriously], I wish I could, like, freeze this moment -- or take a picture or something!" Chanel teased. "It's Thanksgiving Day, baby -- we usually do a turkey or ham, but this year...oh, your mama, she's eating crow," Paulina declared before changing the subject, eager to reveal the real reason that Chanel had been deprived of the opportunity to participate in the wedding ceremony as maid of honor. "You'd think, after a lifetime of practice, that I'd be a better liar... [Anyway, this idea of] loving Lani more than I love you -- that is not true; [she] might be my firstborn daughter, but you always will be my baby," Paulina stated at the end of the tale, earning a smile and a hug from Chanel.
Paulina soon changed the subject again, also eager to find out if Olivia was right about Marlena being the person who had told Chanel the truth about Lani and encouraged a wedding confrontation. "Dr. Evans did tell me...but [only] because she wanted me to feel better about you choosing Lani as your matron of honor. [And then Dr. Evans] told me to go to the wedding and hold my peace. [But] when the wedding started, I kept looking at Dr. Evans, [and] it was like this feeling came over me -- a feeling that she wanted me to tell -- and, like, I couldn't resist," Chanel clarified, confusing Paulina -- who decided not to dwell on the matter during Thanksgiving, of all days.
"We're good?" Paulina assumed. "Sort of...[but] I still need some time to process this, [and] when I told Johnny I didn't want to face you, he offered to fly me to Italy, [so]..." Chanel responded. "Well, honey, will you make it home in time for Christmas? We've never been apart for Christmas!" Paulina begged. "I'll do my best," Chanel promised before rushing off to another room to pack for the trip. "I love you!" Paulina called out. "I know," Chanel stressed.
At the Horton house, Belle and Kayla pulled Shawn aside while Julie was moving Doug from a wheelchair to an armchair. "Shawn, what is Doug doing here?" Kayla whispered. "We thought you were just going to Bayview to visit," Belle admitted. "You thought wrong," Julie explained with a shrug while joining the huddle.
"It's all thanks to you, Belle -- the court order that you got from the judge, that gave me the opportunity to make medical decisions for my husband, so...I made one," Julie reasoned. "You signed Doug out," Belle translated. "I brought him home for Thanksgiving -- where he belongs, whether Marlena likes it or not," Julie confirmed.
"I couldn't stop her -- when she saw him like that, she insisted on bringing him home...and, I mean, given his condition, I would have done the same thing," Shawn whispered to Belle and Kayla after Julie rejoined Doug -- who was seemingly catatonic. "Did they tell you at the hospital what medication they were giving him?" Kayla called out to Julie, who produced a prescription pill bottle and handed it over. "It's a very strong tranquilizer -- and the dose is very high on the label here," Kayla revealed. "Marlena prescribed those -- she has drugged my husband into...insensibility!" Julie stressed before insisting that Doug would never return to Bayview -- or take another dose of the medication Marlena had prescribed.
Shawn and Belle stepped into the dining room to set the table for Thanksgiving dinner -- and they seized the opportunity to discuss their shared belief that Doug seemed frightened for some reason. "What would he be scared of?" Shawn wondered. "Or who..." Belle muttered. "Come on -- I mean, you seriously don't think that your mom..." Shawn protested, drawing a shrug from Belle.
Meanwhile, Julie sang "Always" to Doug in the hope of getting some sort of response, but nothing happened. "Is there a chance his condition is permanent?" Julie wondered. "It's hard for me to get a clear picture of his current mental status -- we're gonna have to wait until the medication wears off, [which could take] 24 hours," Kayla responded, drawing a sigh from Julie, who decided to just be happy that Doug was back at home.
At the DiMera crypt, Susan roused John with a squeal of excitement. "Hang in there, all right? 'Cause guess what -- I had a vision that someone was gonna save us by the end of this day!" Susan assured John. "Not that I know if it's night or day anymore..." Susan conceded -- just as the front door swung open.
"I can tell you what day it is," the demonic presence offered. "You!" Susan spat. "It's Thanksgiving! [And do] you know the blessing I find in this day?" the demonic presence continued. "Mercy?" Susan guessed hopefully. "Not even close -- no, this is the day that I get to see the blood of innocents spilled," the demonic presence concluded before producing a dagger.
"If you want to kill John Black, you're gonna have to do it over my dead body!" Susan declared while shielding John from the demonic presence. "Tempting...but I've got a higher purpose for you -- [see], I'm not gonna kill John Black...[because] you are," the demonic presence clarified. "I would never, ever hurt a single silver hair on John Black's head -- [and] there is nothing you can say or do that will ever make me break the sixth or any of the other commandments!" Susan insisted. "How about...'If you don't take this dagger and kill John Black, I will kill the other John Black,'" the demonic presence teased.
"'The other John Black'? Wait -- are you saying that he's got a look-alike, just like me and Kristen DiMera?" Susan wondered. "Are you not aware that your grandson is writing a screenplay that will chronicle the last time that I possessed Marlena?" the demonic presence responded. "That's a terrible idea, if you ask me!" Susan grumbled. "And are you also not aware that the part of John Black is being played by your son?" the demonic presence continued. "Elvis Junior?" Susan fretted. "So, if you don't take this dagger and plunge it into John Black's heart, I will go over to where your precious son is having his Thanksgiving supper...and, in front of everybody sitting there, I will carve him like a Thanksgiving turkey!" the demonic presence concluded before shoving the dagger at Susan then exiting the crypt. John tried to argue that the demonic presence had just made an idle threat -- but Susan didn't want to take that risk.
The demonic presence headed over to the Evans-Black townhouse to get ready to attend various Thanksgiving dinners -- and found Paulina there. "You told my secret to Chanel -- who the hell do you think you are, messing with my life [and] my family!" Paulina spat. "I didn't mean to hurt anybody," the demonic presence claimed as Marlena. "I'm filing a complaint with the state medical board -- you're going to lose your license and your job!" Paulina warned.
"Your little devil-may-care attitude --" Paulina began to add. "Devil-may-care attitude!" the demonic presence repeated as Marlena, laughing hysterically. "You think this is funny?" Paulina snapped. "No, I don't -- I think it's sad, [and] I think you're projecting [because] you want to destroy my career the same way your daughter destroyed your wedding. [But] the fact is that Abe's never coming back to you, [and] Lani's never coming back to you, and I'm not the liar and the hypocrite -- that would be you," the demonic presence clarified as Marlena before starting to enter the townhouse.
"I'm not finished with you, you cold-hearted bitch!" Paulina protested. "Who are you calling a 'bitch,' bitch?" the demonic presence countered, turning to face Paulina again -- this time with its glowing yellow eyes visible. "Who -- what -- are you?" Paulina sputtered. "Get out of here!" the demonic presence demanded, and Paulina complied -- then produced a cell phone and dialed 9-1-1. "I would like to report... Well, to tell you the God's honest truth, I don't know what the hell I just saw!" Paulina began when someone answered the call.
Johnny went to the Price condominium to check on Chanel. "I got nervous when I didn't hear from you," Johnny began, prompting Chanel to clarify that Paulina had actually been quite nice during their earlier encounter. "I talked to Allie, [and] she said that she would watch the bakery while we're gone," Johnny revealed before offering Chanel an opportunity to back out of the trip in favor of spending Thanksgiving with Paulina -- an offer that was quickly rejected.
At the Horton house, Belle contacted "Marlena" and revealed what had happened earlier. The demonic presence hung up on Belle then stormed over to the Horton house -- and arrived just as Julie was wrapping up a toast to Doug. "What are you doing here? [Look], you're no longer welcome in this house, Marlena!" Julie snapped. "I've come to wish you all a happy Thanksgiving -- and to take Doug back to Bayview," the demonic presence explained as Marlena. "The hell you will," Julie protested. "I think it's for the best," the demonic presence argued as Marlena. "I don't care what you think!" Julie insisted.
"Doug is still a danger to himself and to others -- Kayla knows that," the demonic presence stressed as Marlena. "I'm not sure I agree with that anymore," Kayla admitted. "It's clear that Julie has let her emotions take over her judgment --" the demonic presence declared as Marlena. "Don't talk to me about judgment, or I will show you what 'a danger to others' really looks like!" Julie warned. "That would be a mistake --" the demonic presence growled.
Doug suddenly pounded a fist on the dining room table, interrupting the conversation. "You're...the devil!" Doug snapped while glaring at the demonic presence.
Meanwhile, Steve broke into the DiMera crypt with the help of a shovel that had been left near the entrance -- and found Susan inside, covered with blood and trembling.
In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, NBC continued its annual tradition of broadcasting the National Dog Show. As a result, Days of our Lives did not air. No bones about it, this was a planned preemption and there were no "lost" episodes that you'll need to fetch online.
Regular programming resumed on Friday, November 26, and picked up where the Wednesday, November 24, episode concluded.
In their apartment, Ciara grumbled to Ben about her morning sickness. "This is the sign of a healthy pregnancy...It will all be worth it in the end," Ciara said. Ben gave Ciara a present. "Our child is already spoiled," Ciara joked. "This one is for mama. Happy anniversary," Ben said. Ciara noted that it was not their anniversary.
"As far as I'm concerned, Thanksgiving four years ago was one of the most important days of my life," Ben said. With a chuckle, Ciara noted that it was the day she had first ridden her bike with Ben. Ciara opened the package, and inside was a motorcycle helmet for a child.
"All the things that truly matter are never going to change," Ben said. Ben said he had researched safety for bikes and cribs. With a grin, Ciara kissed Ben. Ben and Ciara recalled when they had first talked about their romantic feelings for one another on that Thanksgiving four years earlier.
"The first kiss. Was it really that long ago?" Ciara said. "In a way, it feels like yesterday," Ben countered. "And in other ways, it feels like a lifetime, baby," Ciara said. Ben said that day had been the best of his life and then the next Thanksgiving had been the worst when he had been in Statesville. "I never lost hope that you would come home," Ciara said. "You saved my life," Ben countered. Ben thanked Ciara for having never given up on him.
"Just like you never gave up on me," Ciara said. "Actually, I did," Ben admitted. Ben told Ciara that he had lost hope that Ciara had survived the explosion. "I took off on the bike," Ben said. "You may not have felt me, babe, but I heard you," Ciara said. Ciara told Ben that she had always believed Ben would find her when she had been in captivity.
"I'm never going to give up on you again, or on our baby," Ben said. Ben said he was relieved to finally have a real Thanksgiving to celebrate with Ciara. "No wonder I didn't know you didn't like pumpkin pie," Ciara lamented. Ben groaned. Ciara joked that she could not be with someone who did not like pumpkin pie. With a chuckle, Ben grabbed a couple of ginger ales to toast to one another. "Next year, it is going to be the three of us. You, me, and our little angel," Ciara said.
Steve forced open the door to the DiMera crypt. Susan stood there, covered in blood and shaking. "I had no choice," Susan whispered as she collapsed to the ground. Steve looked over at John who was still chained to the ceiling. "She did it to herself," John said. When Steve asked why, John explained that Susan had acted to protect her son.
As Steve pulled out his phone, he asked John if Marlena was to blame. John ordered Steve to take Susan to the hospital to save her. "What about you?" Steve asked. "I'll live! Get her out of here. Go!" John shouted.
At the Horton house, Doug called "Marlena" the devil when she arrived. "I understand how frustrated you are, but calling me names isn't going to help anything," "Marlena" said. Doug reiterated that the woman standing before them was the devil. "Now you see why [Doug] has to be medicated?" "Marlena" said. "Marlena" appealed to Kayla.
"I believe my husband!" Julie interjected. "Marlena" scoffed at the idea. Julie argued that if she had listened to Doug in the first place, she would have realized sooner that Marlena was actually the devil. "Julie is right," Doug said. Doug said that for the first time in a while, he was clear-headed. Belle stared at her mother, wide-eyed.
"This explains everything! Why you kept Doug locked up in a padded room, strung out on drugs, separated from all of us who love him!" Julie yelled. "Marlena" pleaded with Kayla or Shawn to talk sense into Julie. "What my grandmother is saying is making a strange kind of sense," Shawn agreed. "Marlena" turned to Belle.
"You don't believe this about your mother, do you? This is just nonsense," "Marlena" said. "I might have thought it was nonsense if it hadn't happened before," Belle countered. "Marlena" reminded Belle that John had cast the devil out of her. "John was not a consecrated priest," Julie reminded Belle. "Marlena" asked Belle to believe her.
"I'd like to hear what else Doug has to say," Belle said. Belle noted that "Marlena" had not been herself since Belle and Shawn had returned from South Africa. "Why would you say that?" "Marlena" asked. Belle reminded "Marlena" that she had dressed as the devil on Halloween. "Marlena" claimed she had dressed in the costume as a show of support for Johnny's movie. Belle then reminded "Marlena" of her treatment of the black cat "Marlena" had found.
"It was like you didn't care if it lived or died," Belle said. "Well, I'm not a cat person!" "Marlena" said. Frustrated, Julie cried out, "Why are we debating this? You all heard Doug!" "Marlena" argued that Doug was not in his right mind, and she appealed to Kayla as a rational person.
"I am also a Catholic, and my faith tells me that there is evil in the world," Kayla said. Kayla added that "Marlena" had ignored Kayla and Steve's phone calls for days. "Marlena" claimed she had been busy. "We didn't believe a word," Kayla said. When "Marlena" asked Kayla if she believed "Marlena" was a liar, Doug said, "That's all you do. That's what you are." "Marlena" gave Doug a withering glance.
"There is a reason that your entire family is concerned about you," Kayla said. Kayla told everyone that John had been so concerned about Marlena that he had listened to the recording of Marlena's therapy session with Doug. "That is a violation of my patient's confidentiality," "Marlena" objected. Kayla countered that it was not a violation because John had not heard Doug's voice on the recording.
"And that you sounded scared, Marlena," Kayla added. "Marlena" scoffed at the idea that she was afraid of a 96-year-old man. "No, afraid of evil incarnate," Julie corrected. "Marlena" sighed. Worried, Belle asked "Marlena" if she had hurt John. "Marlena" feigned innocence, but Julie told her to cut the act.
"You are not Marlena!" Julie yelled. Kayla demanded to know where to find John. "He is on a mission. I've explained that," "Marlena" said. "Steve said it seemed like [John] fell off the face of the earth," Kayla said. "He is undercover! That's how it works!" "Marlena" snapped. Shawn suggested that they continue the conversation at the police station.
"You're arresting me? For what?" "Marlena" asked. Shawn pulled out his handcuffs and snapped them onto "Marlena's" wrists. "Marlena" looked to Belle for help, but Belle noted that "Marlena" had left Shawn no choice. "You're going to be sorry you did this. You're all going to be very sorry you did this," "Marlena" growled.
"You really think handcuffs are going to hold Satan?" Julie yelled. With a shrug, Shawn said it was the only thing he could do. Kayla's phone beeped with a text message from Steve about John. "Is [John] okay?" Belle asked. "[Steve] just says to meet him at the hospital," Kayla said. Shawn told Kayla and Belle to go to the hospital, and he would handle Marlena.
"Give John my love. Tell him I'll see him soon," "Marlena" said with a smile. After Belle and Kayla left, "Marlena" asked Shawn how he planned to justify her arrest. Shawn noted that if John was unhurt, Shawn would apologize to Marlena then. "Please just get her out of our house," Julie pleaded. Shawn grabbed "Marlena's" arm to direct her to the door.
"Do you really think you can make me go someplace I don't want to go?" "Marlena" said. "Marlena" pulled her arms apart, snapping the chain of her handcuffs. The lights flickered. "Marlena's" eyes turned yellow. "Dear God!" Julie gasped. "Not exactly. Also, not exactly the Thanksgiving you had in mind, am I right?" The devil said. The devil yelled at Julie for her interference.
"Now I'm forced to inflict more pain and more suffering on your entire family!" The devil said. Julie pleaded with the devil to leave them alone, but she refused. The devil grabbed Shawn's arm and twisted it. Doug begged the devil to leave Shawn alone.
"I'm not afraid of you," Shawn said. "Then you are even dumber than I thought you were!" the devil bellowed. The devil threw Shawn across the table, sending him and the dinnerware crashing to the ground. With Shawn unconscious, the devil turned her attention to Doug and Julie.
"I've got such big plans for the two of you," the devil said. Julie marched over to the devil. "Not today, Satan!" Julie yelled. Julie told the devil that she would not hurt Doug. "I've been inside your husband. I know that he is weak and feeble, which made him a perfect vessel," the devil said. "No!" Julie said. The devil told Julie that she had used Doug as a vehicle to possess Marlena. The devil grabbed a knife, but Julie did not back down.
"I have loved this man for all of 50 years. I will continue to love him all the days of our lives that we have left. And I would rather die than see you strike him down again," Julie said. "That can be arranged," the devil countered. Julie said she knew that the devil was a lying trickster.
"I have a power, too. A power that you have forsaken eons ago. It's the power of love. God is love, Satan! And God stands with those who love," Julie said. "Stop it!" the devil bellowed. "Love is what makes us human, and after all your evil and all your destruction is forgotten, it is love, unbeatable, everlasting that will prevail. The God of love is stronger than your hatred, and stronger than your lies. You cannot defeat us!" Julie argued. Julie told the devil that the devil's reign was over. "It will NEVER be over!" The devil yelled.
In the DiMera living room, Anna asked E.J. if she could play Kristen in Johnny's movie. Tony smiled in agreement, but E.J. appeared shocked by the request. When E.J. noted there was some nudity and romance in the script that involved E.J.'s character with Kristen, Anna and Tony smiled.
"Are you suggesting that you're comfortable with me seducing your wife?" E.J. asked Tony. With a chuckle, Anna reminded E.J. that actors did not actually have sex with one another when shooting a love scene in a movie. "Not this kind of movie, anyway," Anna joked. Before E.J. could respond, a rattling noise emanated from the patio. Tony opened the door, and Steve helped a bloody Susan inside.
"Mother! What the hell did you do to her?" E.J. demanded as he rushed to Susan's side. Steve helped Susan onto the couch as E.J. called for an ambulance. Steve explained to Tony and Anna that he had found Susan in the DiMera crypt. "What were you doing out there?" Anna asked. Steve told Tony that he had been looking for John, who was still chained up in the crypt.
As Tony and Anna ran out of the house to tend to John, E.J. helped Steve stanch the blood flow from Susan's wound. "Hold on, Mother. Help is coming," E.J. whispered.
When Tony and Anna arrived at the DiMera crypt, John was still chained up. Anna held an axe aloft to cut John down, and a fearful John muttered, "No!" Once Anna had cut down John, Tony helped him into the house. "That shoulder is broken," John muttered. Anna gave John a glass of water. "Who chained you up in the crypt?" Tony asked. "Was it that kook Susan Banks?" Anna asked.
"No, it wasn't Susan. Marlena," John said. John told Tony and Anna that Marlena was possessed again. Anna made devil horns. "Yeah. The devil wanted Susan to kill me," John said. John explained that the devil had threatened to kill E.J. If Susan did not kill John. "How did [Susan] get hurt?" Anna asked. "Instead of stabbing me, she stabbed herself," John said.
Anna told John that Susan was alive and that Steve had called an ambulance. When Tony suggested they take John to the hospital, he refused. "I have to find Doc," John said. "Well, she is a doctor. Maybe a hospital is the best place to look for her," Anna quipped. John argued that Marlena was out "doing God knows what."
At the hospital, E.J. sat at his mother's bedside. When Steve walked in, E.J. said that Susan had not said anything. Steve told E.J. that Tripp had confirmed that the knife had not hurt any major organs. "So, they think she'll make a full recovery?" E.J. asked. "Looks that way," Steve said. E.J. thanked Steve for his help, and he apologized.
"I'm just glad she's okay," Steve said. "E.J.?" Susan whispered. E.J. rolled his chair close to his mother, and he told her he was there. "I thought she was going to kill you," Susan said. E.J. asked who. Susan said that Marlena was the devil.
"I think you're confused. We're not talking about Johnny's horror movie. That isn't real," E.J. said. "I wouldn't be so sure," Steve countered. Steve's phone beeped with a notification from Kayla, so he stepped out of the room. E.J. asked Susan what had happened. "The devil wanted me to kill John Black," Susan explained. Susan told E.J. about the devil's threat against him.
"That devil insisted that there be a dead body when he came back, or he was going to do it, and so I thought maybe, if he needed a human sacrifice, that he would accept mine," Susan said. "You were willing to die for me?" E.J. asked. "Of course, I was, silly. You're my baby boy. I'd do anything for you," Susan said. Susan added that she would gladly do it a second time to protect her son.
Susan told E.J. that the devil had turned her into a cat and how the devil had possessed her as Kristen DiMera. Exhausted, Susan said she did not want to talk about her captivity anymore. "I'm so sorry that you had to go through all of that, but it's over now," E.J. said. Susan worried aloud that the devil would go after E.J. "I love you with all my heart," Susan said. E.J. kissed his mother on her forehead. "I love you too, Mother," E.J. said.
In the hospital hallway, Steve met up with Kayla and Belle. "I don't know how to tell you this," Steve said. "Marlena is possessed," Kayla said. "You know?" Steve asked in surprise. "Where is my dad? Is he okay?" Belle asked. Steve confirmed that he had found John locked up in the DiMera crypt and that John was fine.
"I didn't have time to ask questions. Susan Banks was stabbed. I had to get her help," Steve said. Confused, Kayla asked how Susan had gotten involved. Steve explained that Susan had sensed the devil in Marlena. "Obviously, John knew, too, but it was too late," Steve said. Kayla told Steve that Doug had known about the devil, which was why "Marlena" had committed him to Bayview.
"I assumed that [John] would be here by now," Steve said. While Belle stepped away to make a phone call, Steve and Kayla talked about Marlena. "What do we do next?" Kayla asked. "For now, I'm just grateful we're all safe," Steve said.
Belle called Anna to check on John, and Anna confirmed that John was fine. "I know where my mom is," Belle said. Anna told John that Shawn had handcuffed Marlena at the Horton house and was on the way to the police station. John asked Anna to warn Shawn not to antagonize the devil, but Anna's phone connection to Belle was dead.
On the way to the hospital, John escaped from Tony and Anna. When Tony and Anna got to the hospital, they told Belle. "Single-minded determination to get to Marlena," Tony said.
At the Horton house, a breathless John raced into the dining room. Doug, Julie, and Shawn were seated at the table. "We're okay," Julie assured John. "Marlena is gone," Shawn said. "I knew she wouldn't let you take her to the station. Do you know where she went?" John asked. "She said something about fulfilling her true purpose," Shawn said. "My God," John muttered. At Ben and Ciara's apartment, Marlena knocked on the front door.
