Days of our Lives Recap, May 5, 2025: Steve puts Operation Save Bo into motion

On Days of our Lives today, Monday, May 5, 2025, EJ fields several visitors, Cat has reservations, Johnny and Chanel have a long-overdue talk, and Dr. Russell’s secret investor is revealed.

What happened on Days of our Lives

In Horton Town Square, Chad joined Cat on a bench and immediately made it his mission to dissuade Cat from going on her date with EJ. Although Chad loved his brother, he knew that EJ usually had an ulterior motive. Cat agreed it was strange that one of EJ’s first post-coma actions had been bidding on a date with her, whom he barely knew. Chad asked Cat not to agree to the date until he’d had a chance to talk with EJ.

At the Salem Inn, Johnny invited Marlena into his room. She explained that she’d seen Tate at the hospital and knew about Tate’s encounter with Johnny. After confirming Sophia’s baby was okay, Johnny admitted that the situation couldn’t be worse for him. He opened up about how devastated Chanel had been when he’d taken Marlena’s advice and told her his feelings about the adoption.

Marlena believed that, over time, Chanel would better understand Johnny’s perspective, and given time, Johnny’s perspective on fatherhood would likely change as well. Johnny wasn’t sure he’d ever be ready to become a father, and his uncertainty could cost him Chanel.

At the DiMera mansion, Chanel disrupted EJ’s troubled thoughts about Johnny when she stormed into the mansion. The adoption was off, Chanel vented, because of EJ. He was confused, but Chanel quickly set him straight that Johnny was the one who had called off the adoption. EJ’s son didn’t believe he could ever be a decent father or even a decent person. “You stole that joy and that light from him, and I’ll never stop hating you for it,” Chanel said with disgust.

As Chanel rushed out the front door, she ran straight into Marlena. Chanel lit into the older woman for her role in advising Johnny to “follow his heart.” Marlena sympathized with what both Chanel and Johnny were experiencing. Chanel calmed down somewhat and admitted that she was most frustrated that Johnny had kept his feelings hidden from her for so long. She felt like she’d lost two babies, and maybe even her husband.

After Chanel left, Marlena discovered EJ looking at a picture of Johnny and tearing up. When he noticed Marlena, EJ wiped his tears and apologized for getting emotional, blaming it on the coma. EJ wished he could do something for Johnny, as the distance from his son was killing him. EJ started to confide that he was afraid of something regarding Johnny before he cut himself off. Marlena took note of EJ’s shift and directly asked him if he thought Johnny had shot him.

EJ denied he’d entertained any such thought and claimed he was only worried about Johnny spiraling, as EJ himself had done in the past. EJ wanted to comfort his son and protect him, and he asked Marlena if she would convey that message to Johnny on his behalf. Marlena said she would and made a remark about parents always wanting to protect their children. On that note, Marlena had come to discuss EJ’s relationship with Belle. Chad, however, interrupted the conversation before it could commence.

Marlena exchanged pleasantries with Chad and let EJ know they would resume their talk soon. She left for work, and Chad hugged EJ. The warm moment soon concluded when Chad promptly questioned EJ’s intentions with Cat. EJ defended his bid on Cat: he’d wanted to help out the hospital, first and foremost. If he could accomplish that by doing something fun with someone he got along with, all the better.

EJ pondered why Chad was so invested and mused about Chad’s potential romantic interest in Cat. Chad shot down the insinuation, but an unconvinced EJ assured Chad that his own interest was elsewhere – namely, with Belle. After a bit of banter about Belle, EJ revisited his initial question about Chad and Cat. He offered to gift his date with Cat to his brother: his latest effort to be a “kinder, gentler” EJ. While Chad initially rejected the idea, he seemed to be considering it by the time EJ had made his pitch.

Back in the square, Cat bumped into Chanel and observed the other woman’s distressed state. Chanel admitted she’d had an unpleasant run-in with her father-in-law, EJ. When Cat mentioned her date with EJ, Chanel warned Cat to stay as far away from the man as possible. Chanel blamed EJ for Johnny’s decision about the adoption. At the mention of the adoption, Cat gave her sympathies and asked if Chanel and Johnny might work it out.

Chanel couldn’t give an answer. Since Cat was grateful to Chanel and Johnny for their support of Felicity, she hoped for the best for the couple. Although Cat knew it was none of her business, she advised Chanel to talk with Johnny.

Later, Cat met with Marlena at the hospital for work. Cat asked about John, but Marlena had no news to report. Marlena congratulated Cat on the success of the fundraiser. Cat was proud but confessed one part would be awkward: her date with EJ. Cat's concerns were further raised when Marlena concurred with Chad’s suspicion that EJ had an ulterior motive.

At the Brady Pub, Steve and Shawn strategized a plan for breaking into Dr. Russell’s lab. Steve believed they needed to loop Kayla into the plan. Kayla knew details about the lab, and she would put her reservations aside if it meant saving her brother’s life. Before Steve went to talk with Kayla, Shawn pledged that he would get the drug for his dad, with or without Kayla’s help.

Later, Johnny arrived and spotted Shawn. When Johnny said Roman had wanted to speak with him about a family matter, Shawn updated his cousin on the situation with Bo. Johnny conveyed how sorry he was, and Shawn returned the sentiment for Johnny's recent ordeals. Johnny confided that finding out what EJ had done to Sami had “messed” with his head and potentially cost him his family. After Johnny explained his fears about becoming a father, Shawn conceded that fatherhood had been the most frightening yet also the most fulfilling part of his life.

Shawn could relate to Johnny’s guilt over hurting someone he loved because he felt the same way about Bo. Despite Johnny’s assurances that the tragedy with Bo wasn’t Shawn's fault, Shawn couldn’t let it go.

Johnny eventually returned to his room, touched base with Grandpa Roman, and then received an unexpected guest: Chanel. He let her inside, and she said she’d had time to think things over. She could see why Johnny was grappling with becoming a father, given what he had learned about his own father. Johnny was grateful for the admission and cautiously asked if it meant that Chanel could forgive him. Chanel admitted she wasn’t there yet.

Johnny understood, and he took Chanel’s visit as a reason for hope. Chanel said they had a lot of people rooting for them. Johnny vowed that he would make it up to Chanel and that he would fight for his marriage.

In Kayla’s hospital office, Dr. Russell entered and asked Kayla if they could revisit their earlier discussion. Kayla hopefully asked if the doctor had changed his mind about using the drug on Bo. He deflated her hopes by affirming that his stance about the drug still stood, even after Kayla suggested the drug’s success could benefit him. Dr. Russell wanted to talk about leaving the hospital instead. Kayla reiterated to him that although he was free to leave, his research stayed with the hospital, per his contract.

Dr. Russell accused Kayla of punishing him out of spite and abruptly ended the conversation. Later, Steve stopped by, which gave Kayla the opportunity to fill him in on her latest back-and-forth with Dr. Russell. The subject turned to the doctor’s drug, and Steve asked if he could see Kayla’s file on it. While he attributed his interest to curiosity, Kayla wasn’t fooled and asked Steve what he really had in mind. Steve eventually acquiesced and said he needed Kayla’s help: Kayla could simply take a stroll while Steve caught up on some “light reading” in the office.

Kayla realized what Steve was asking. When she acknowledged to her husband that Bo’s time was running out, she seemed to make up her mind. Kayla stood and informed Steve that she was going to a meeting. She suggested Steve make a run to the cafeteria and wait in her office if she hadn’t returned by the time he came back.

Steve readily took the hint. After Kayla departed, he began searching through her files on Dr. Russell and his lab.

Meanwhile, at the pub, Shawn talked with Hope over the phone. He tried to put on a brave front by reassuring his mom, and he even spoke of “a miracle." Just then, Shawn caught sight of a new patron at the pub: Dr. Russell. When the doctor left with his order, Shawn made another call.

Outside the pub, Dr. Russell made a phone call of his own. He told the person that Kayla could blow up their plans for his experimental drug. On the other end of the line, EJ promised the doctor he would take care of it.

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