Days of our Lives Recaps: The week of December 13, 2021 on DAYS

Evidence mounted against Brady, and he was arrested. Philip confessed to Kate that he had framed Brady for his murder. Susan told John that the devil wanted Ciara's baby. The devil attacked Ben, Shawn, and John at the cabin, but Belle saved them. Sami refused to sign the divorce papers. Lucas refused to give up on Sami. Ava saw Rafe kiss Nicole. Rex told Xander about Sarah. Devil Marlena woke Jan Spears.

John and Shawn realize that Ben and Ciara are missing

Monday, December 13, 2021

by Mike

Kate headed over to the police station with Roman after learning that a prosthetic leg had been recovered from the river the previous night. "You're up for this?" Roman wondered. "What choice do I have?" Kate responded.

Kate and Roman joined Rafe in one of the conference rooms. "It's his," Kate declared after taking a look at the prosthetic leg. "You're sure?" Rafe assumed. "Yes -- he got it a couple of years ago; it's a new one, and I recognize it," Kate clarified. "Okay... We need to verify it officially, if possible --" Rafe began to request, prompting Kate to produce a notepad. "The serial number," Kate explained as Rafe opened the notepad. "It's a match," Rafe observed.

Kate ordered Rafe to arrest Brady. "I don't have enough --" Rafe argued. "What more do you need?" Kate countered before breaking down. "I'm talking like my son is dead -- and, actually, I don't believe that...[but] even if he does survive, this was a savage, savage attack, and Brady needs to pay!" Kate stressed after recovering. "I will conduct a thorough investigation, and I will keep you posted every step of the way," Rafe promised, drawing a sigh from Kate, who stormed out of the conference room with Roman -- just as Chloe entered the police station.

"I had to come and find out --" Chloe began to explain. "The leg belongs to Philip," Roman unceremoniously revealed. "Oh, Kate -- I'm so --" Chloe tried to declare. "You've been playing Brady and Philip off each other for months -- [and] if Philip ends up dead, you are just as guilty of murder as Brady!" Kate spat. Roman tried to intervene, but Kate continued lashing out at Chloe -- and threw in a slap for good measure. "I'm gonna make you pay!" Kate warned Chloe before finally exiting the police station with Roman -- just as Rafe emerged from the conference room.

"You okay?" Rafe wondered, drawing a shake of the head from Chloe, who tearfully admitted that Kate might be right -- then demanded to see Philip's prosthetic leg, seemingly as a form of punishment.

At the hospital, Belle informed Brady that the police had recovered a prosthetic leg from the river the previous night. "[Philip's] gotta be alive -- [and, look], I'm not [saying that because I'm] worried about being arrested; I'm worried about him!" Brady fretted. "[And] I'm worried about Chloe. Have you seen her? She's a wreck!" Brady added.

Before Belle could respond, John entered Brady's room. "Did you get released already?" Brady sputtered. "Yeah, I was. How ya doing?" John responded. "I'd be doing a hell of a lot better if I was out of this bed, Dad -- I need to go help with the search for Philip 'cause the cops don't know what the hell they're doing!" Brady grumbled. "All right -- I'll head on down to the station, see if I can move this investigation along a little --" John offered.

"Dad, I know you want to [help, but] I'm okay. Marlena's not, [though], so you need to go find her," Brady argued. "I'm worried about Doc, but I'm not leaving you --" John protested. "I actually have a...fairly decent...lawyer on the case, so..." Brady joked, drawing mock outrage from Belle -- who agreed that John needed to focus on finding Marlena. "Fine," John conceded after some thought.

John seized hugs from Brady and Belle then started to exit the hospital -- and ran into Susan at the nurses' station. "I'm just waiting on Elvis to come pick me up," Susan explained. "Well, I'm glad that you're all right -- and, listen, for the record, I just want to tell you how awful I feel about what you went through," John responded. "Oh -- you mean having to eat the food here at the hospital?" Susan assumed. "No -- I was talking about when you stabbed yourself," John clarified. "Hey, that wasn't your fault -- [and] I know that Dr. Marlena Evans had nothing to do with it, [either]; she would never deliberately hurt you...or me...or my son...[and] certainly never, ever hurt an innocent little baby," Susan stressed.

John listened in shock as Susan elaborated -- and Shawn eventually joined the conversation and confirmed that "Marlena" had seemed overly invested in Ben and Ciara's plan to conceive a child. "I've been racking my brain, trying to figure out why the hell the devil would come back to Salem after all this time..." John muttered. "He wants Ben and Ciara's baby -- [and he] was obsessed with that baby before Ben and Ciara even conceived it," Susan declared. "Do you have any idea what the devil wants with Ben and Ciara's baby?" John wondered. "I don't know his exact intentions...[but] what I can tell you is that they are evil, evil, evil!" Susan responded. John rushed off in search of Ben and Ciara -- and Shawn followed, no longer interested in questioning Brady about Philip's disappearance. Susan stayed behind -- and began to pray.

Meanwhile, Brady tried to assure Belle that John would be able to save Marlena once again. "Let's just get back to your case," Belle begged Brady, desperate for a distraction -- and while they were discussing everything again, Belle learned that Brady had recently ordered a drink at the town square's bar. "I didn't drink it -- [and] I even called Maggie and had her come and meet me there," Brady assured Belle.

Belle headed over to the Brady Pub in search of proof that Brady had made a purchase there on the day of Philip's disappearance -- and Roman found an itemized receipt that showed that $72 had been charged to Brady's credit card. "What did Brady buy?" Belle wondered. "Six shots of whiskey," Roman responded.

Meanwhile, Brady remembered that Tate had called on the day of Philip's disappearance and that something had happened right after the phone conversation had ended -- then Kate interrupted the memory. "Damn you, Brady! Mark my words -- if my son is a dead man, you're a dead man, too!" Kate spat before storming back out of Brady's room.

John and Shawn entered the Weston apartment with the help of a spare key that was hidden outside -- and discovered that a bottle of milk and some other groceries had been left out on the kitchen table. "If the food is spoiled, they must have been gone for a while," Shawn observed as John opened the bottle of milk and cringed at the smell of it. "And left in a hurry, too... When's the last time you spoke to your sister?" John responded. "Thanksgiving," Shawn decided after some thought.

At the cabin, Ciara woke up and greeted Ben -- then realized that "Marlena" was gone. "She went for a walk -- she said she was feeling a little out of sorts since that Gabriel guy showed up yesterday. I think he spooked her," Ben explained. "Really? Because I thought that he was really nice -- he was very concerned for our baby...and, quite frankly, Ben, I am, too," Ciara responded.

The demonic presence entered the cabin while Ciara was trying to convince Ben that it would be best to head back to Salem. "No, you can't -- I won't let you!" the demonic presence protested as Marlena before rephrasing the objection in a way that sounded less threatening. "I have a very important checkup scheduled for this week --" Ciara argued. "Yeah -- we really do need to go to the hospital, Dr. Evans; we need to see Kayla and just make sure everything is progressing the way it should, [and] I really want to go to Ciara's sonogram appointment... [But, look], if you are scared to stay alone, then I guess Ciara could go to her appointment on her own, and I could stay here --" Ben suggested.

"No -- I need you both to stay here!" the demonic presence insisted as Marlena. Annoyed, Ciara dragged Ben outside and protested that "Marlena" should never be a higher priority than their unborn child. "Baby, try to understand that, yes, Dr. Evans is my therapist, but she's also my friend, and she needs me," Ben explained. "I need you, too, Ben -- [and] something is off with her, okay? I don't like the way she's been acting, [or] how focused she is on our child -- [and], quite frankly, she's really starting to creep me out --" Ciara countered.

"Everything okay out here?" the demonic presence interjected as Marlena, joining Ben and Ciara outside. "No, everything is not okay -- Ben made his choice...and it's not me," Ciara snapped before storming back inside the cabin -- and the demonic presence stopped Ben from following. "Her hormones are raging. Give her a little time to cool off," the demonic presence advised as Marlena.

The demonic presence eventually headed back inside the cabin with Ben -- and they discovered that Ciara had sneaked out through the back door. "We can't let her go back to Salem!" the demonic presence insisted as Marlena before starting to rush off in search of Ciara -- and finding John outside. Meanwhile, Shawn tried to contact Ciara from the Weston apartment. "Hello?" Ciara began. "Where are you?" Shawn wondered. "Right here," Ciara answered, joining Shawn inside the apartment.

Ben defends "Marlena"

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

by Spalding

In the town square, Lucas asked Rafe if he believed that Philip was dead. "We're working under the assumption that Philip is still alive," Rafe said. "Why the hell haven't you arrested Brady yet?" Lucas demanded. Rafe assured Lucas that Brady would not leave town and that Rafe wanted to focus on building a case first.

"You want justice for Philip? Wait," Rafe said. "This is killing my mom," Lucas whispered. "I'm sorry, but we are not giving up," Rafe reassured Lucas. Rafe changed the subject to Sami's kidnapping. When Rafe asked Lucas if Sami planned to file a complaint, Lucas shook his head no.

"[Sami] has been a little preoccupied," Lucas said. "Marlena, right?" Rafe asked. With a smirk, Lucas said that Sami's priority was her marriage to E.J. "For the life of me, I will never understand what she sees in that jerk," Rafe complained. Lucas agreed. "Maybe catching him in bed with another woman was the last straw," Lucas said. Curious, Rafe asked about the woman.

"Nicole," Lucas said with a shrug. Rafe's smile fell away. "I ran into them both at the mansion last night. I just didn't realize," Rafe said. "Makes me sick. It bothers you, too?" Lucas said. "Nicole is my friend, and E.J. is human garbage, so, yeah, I have a problem with it," Rafe said. Lucas said he hoped Sami was done with E.J., because Lucas wanted her back.

At Nicole's apartment, Sami knocked on the apartment door. "Allie's not here," Nicole said. "I'll wait," Sami countered. Nicole attempted to close the door in Sami's face, but Sami pushed back. "That was my husband you slept with last night!" Sami screamed. Nicole asked Sami to lower her voice.

"I don't care who hears what you did to me!" Sami said. Furious, Nicole pulled Sami into the apartment. "What I did was sleep with a man who is in the process of divorcing a woman he despises. I didn't do anything to you," Nicole stressed. Nicole added that Sami had taken care to destroy Nicole's marriage.

"I was protecting my brother," Sami argued. "You don't give a crap about Eric. Otherwise, you wouldn't have put him in the spotlight," Nicole countered. Nicole argued that Eric was only collateral damage to Sami. "E.J. didn't need a nurse anymore, and you weren't woman enough. I didn't do this, Sami. You did," Nicole said.

"You slept with E.J. to get back at me," Sami grumbled. Nicole said that she had seen the divorce papers, and Sami had already lost E.J. before Sami had returned home. "E.J. knows who you are, and he wants no part of you," Nicole said. Nicole argued that Sami had ended her own marriage.

"You happy now?" Nicole asked. "No," Sami said quietly. After a moment, Nicole sighed, and she reached out to touch Sami as a gesture of sympathy. "Don't you ever touch me!" Sami yelped. Sami attempted to slap Nicole, but Nicole blocked her. As Nicole and Sami struggled, Allie returned home.

"What the hell is going on here?" Allie demanded. Nicole offered to leave and run errands. "I'm sorry," Allie whispered to Nicole. "Don't apologize to her for me," Sami growled. Nicole yelled at Sami, "I know you're upset, but don't you ever do this again." After Nicole left, Sami said she had not started the fight.

"You never do, do you?" Allie countered. "For your information, I found your precious Saint Nicole in bed with my husband last night," Sami said. "I'm sorry that you went through that after everything you've already been through," Allie whispered. Sami said the kidnapping had not been as painful as having found E.J. in bed with Nicole. "Dad and I tried to tell you not to go," Allie said.

"Did you know what she was doing?" Sami asked. "I really don't think we should be talking about what Nicole did wrong," Allie said. With a groan, Sami countered, "You want to talk about me. You want to lecture me on what I've done wrong?" Allie stressed that they needed to talk about what E.J. had done wrong.

"I saw first-hand what E.J. did to you in Italy," Allie started. "He was in pain," Sami whispered. "And when you were sad and alone and you went back to Dad? Did [E.J.] show any compassion? No. He kicked you out of his house. Out of his life!" Allie said. Sami argued that revenge was in the DiMera DNA. "It doesn't mean [E.J.] doesn't love me," Sami added.

"Mom, wake up! You blame Dad, you blame Nicole, you blame [E.J.'s] DiMeraness. E.J. DiMera has treated you like crap, and it is everybody else's fault but his!" Allie argued. Allie noted that E.J.'s choice to sleep with Nicole was the most hurtful thing he could have done. "If you didn't walk in on them, [E.J.] would have made sure you found out," Allie added.

"Not only does Dad love you, he likes you. Respects you. Okay? He's on your side. And I know, you and E.J., you're a love for the ages, but from where I sit? That love for the ages? It looks a lot more like life in prison with no parole," Allie said. Allie added that she hated that Sami let E.J. treat her terribly.

"I can understand, I mean after everything you went through trying to save him. Basically, giving up your life to save his. It's hard to think that wasn't worth it," Allie said. "It was worth it," Sami objected. Allie noted that Sami had forgiven E.J. repeatedly, but E.J. had not done the same.

"Not only has he not forgiven you, but he thinks he has the right to punish you," Allie said. Allie pleaded with Sami to think about how Sami felt when she was with Lucas. "Maybe something happened between you and Dad not just because you were lonely but because there has always been something between you two. He was your first great love, and maybe he is your last," Allie said.

"No one really knows what goes on in a marriage except the two people in it, okay? I know you are just trying to help me," Sami whispered. Sami added that she agreed that Allie was right about Lucas. Sami apologized for burdening Allie with her problems. "I think I needed to get a lot of that off my chest. I needed you to know how I felt about E.J.," Allie said. With a smile, Sami hugged Allie and said that she loved her.

"I usually get this kind of advice from your grandmother, and then I ignore it," Sami joked. "How is Grandma?" Allie asked. "I don't know. I hope John finds her, gets her safe before she hurts herself or someone else," Sami said.

As Nicole walked through the square, she saw Lucas and Rafe. "What are you two talking about?" Nicole asked. "Guy talk," Lucas said. Rafe promised to keep Lucas updated on Philip. "I'm so sorry, Lucas," Nicole said. Lucas quietly thanked Nicole, and he walked away.

"You were talking about me and Sami," Nicole said. Rafe smiled. Nicole confirmed that she had slept with E.J. When Nicole recounted the horrible day she had had, Rafe apologized. "I'm sorry that you're unhappy. I'm sorry because I think part of it is my fault," Rafe said. Nicole told Rafe that was egotistical. "What we had," Rafe said. "Is over," Nicole finished. "Is it?" Rafe asked. Rafe grabbed Nicole and kissed her.

Lucas visited Allie at Nicole's apartment. Allie told Lucas that she thought she might have finally gotten through to Sami. "Yeah, right, that never happens," Lucas joked. "I put in a good word for you, and I reminded her that you, unlike E.J., love her and treat her respectfully and compassionately. And I know that you guys still love each other," Allie said. Lucas asked what Sami had said.

"She mainly listened, but I think that Mom might finally be realizing that things are really over with her and E.J. And if she is going to be with anyone, she is going to be with you," Allie said. Lucas grinned.

At the DiMera mansion, E.J. helped Susan sit down. Worried, E.J. commented on how weak Susan appeared. "It's my soul, not my body that's in trouble," Susan said. "I promise to take care of you," E.J. said. Susan told E.J. that she was worried about Ciara's baby. Susan called Ciara's cell phone and left her a message warning her to stay away from devil Marlena.

"You need to calm down," E.J. said. Frustrated, Susan complained that she needed to help. E.J. argued that the Brady family would take care of Ciara, and he asked Susan to let him take care of her. Susan countered that the devil wanted people to think Susan was crazy so that they would not believe her.

"I'm not laughing. I'm just saying there are people to look after Ciara. Let me look after you," E.J. stressed. "You're such a good son," Susan said. E.J. shook his head in disagreement. "I'm a terrible son. Terrible father, husband, brother, person. But the devil doesn't bother me like he bothers you, so let me fight him for you," E.J. said. Susan warned E.J. that he underestimated the devil.

"[The devil] told me that I had to make a choice between you and John Black. And for a moment, I almost plunged a knife into that poor man's heart," Susan said. "You did your job. That baby is safe because of you. You literally beat the devil," E.J. told Susan. Susan smiled. "You know just what to say," Susan said. Susan suggested that E.J. call Sami to cheer her up, too.

"As far as I'm concerned, Samantha can join her mother in hell and stay there," E.J. said. "You shouldn't talk about Sami like that. After everything she has done for you?" Susan said. E.J. told Susan that Sami had cheated on him. "That's why I served her divorce papers," E.J. added. Susan gasped. E.J. wanted to change the subject, but Susan insisted that he tell her the whole story.

After E.J. told Susan the details of Sami's affair, Susan reminded him that he had cheated on Sami. "We're talking about the present," E.J. said. When E.J. said he had started divorce proceedings, Susan urged E.J. to forgive Sami.

"After all that time [Sami] spent with you in Italy? She gave her life over to save you," Susan said. "Even if I felt inclined to believe her, which I don't, it might be too late," E.J. said. E.J. told Susan that Sami had caught him in bed with another woman. "Nicole Walker," E.J. said. Susan threw up her hands in frustration.

After a moment, Susan asked E.J. if he was serious with Nicole. "We're taking things slow," E.J. confirmed. When Susan frowned, E.J. argued that Susan did not think any woman was good enough for him. "I changed my mind about that," Susan said. Susan reminded E.J. of his marriage vows and that Sami had helped him through the worst.

"You're right, and I came back here to start over with her. And then I found out that not only had she been unfaithful, but she would do whatever it took to make sure I never found out. For all I know, she intended to go on being unfaithful," E.J. said. "Because if she would have been honest about it, you would have forgiven her for doing something that you've been doing since God was a boy?" Susan retorted. Susan told E.J. that the devil had warned her that E.J. had already secured a place in hell.

"You need to find that love in your heart to save your soul," Susan said. "The love in my heart is no longer for Samantha," E.J. started. Susan argued that E.J. was acting like a spoiled brat. "She was unfaithful not to hurt you. She was grieving," Susan argued. Susan told E.J. that after all Sami had done to protect him, he had turned his back on Sami.

"You need to examine your conscience. And right now, you need to ask yourself, and be honest, do I still love Sami? And if you do, there is still hope," Susan advised. "For a happy ending?" E.J. said sarcastically. "No! For your immortal soul. Get yourself together, Elvis!" Susan grumbled. Susan marched out of the room.

E.J. sat down at his desk to work, but he grew distracted when he found his wedding ring in the desk drawer. E.J. thought about what Susan had said. When E.J. looked up, Sami was standing in the doorway.

Shawn searched Ciara's apartment, and he was surprised when Ciara returned home. "Thank God you're back!" Shawn said as he hugged his sister. When Shawn asked Ciara where she had been, she confirmed that she had been with Ben and Marlena.

"There's something I have to tell you about John," Ciara started. "First, there is actually something that I have to tell you about Marlena," Shawn interrupted. Shawn asked Ciara if Marlena had hurt her. "Why would she hurt me?" Ciara asked. Shawn told Ciara that Marlena was possessed by the devil.

"Where is Marlena right now?" Shawn asked. "She's still with Ben," Ciara said. Ciara told Shawn everything that had happened with Marlena, including her lies about John. "I was always kind of skeptical, but Ben totally believed her. It was so similar to what he went through as a child," Ciara said. "She knew all about that," Shawn whispered. When Ciara told Shawn about when John had shown up at her apartment, screaming, Shawn noted that it had not been John.

"What was it? God only knows," Shawn said. Ciara was anxious to find Ben, but Shawn refused to let Ciara go anywhere near the devil. Shawn told Ciara that he would have Belle stay with Ciara while he looked for Ben. "Well, how am I even supposed to know it's Belle?" Ciara asked. Shawn told Ciara a safe word that Belle would recognize.

"I'm just really scared," Ciara admitted. Shawn stressed that everything would be fine. After Shawn left, Ciara called Ben's phone, but it went to voicemail. Susan called Ciara to check on her. Ciara confirmed that she was safe from the devil. Scared, Ciara asked Susan to pray for Shawn, John, Ben, and Marlena.

At the cabin, Ben told Marlena that Ciara appeared to have sneaked out of the cabin. "We can't let her get back to Salem!" "Marlena" said. "Marlena" argued that John would get the truth out of Ciara. "I am terrified that [John] will come after me and kill me," "Marlena" said. "Marlena" rushed to the front door, and she gasped when she opened it. John was outside. "Marlena" slammed the door shut.

"He's here to kill me," "Marlena" said. "He's going to have to get by me first," Ben said as he stepped in front of "Marlena." John kicked open the door to the cabin. John asked Ben to leave him alone with "Marlena."

"No damn way that is going to happen. What you need to do is get the hell out of here," Ben countered. "Recruited him, have you?" John asked. Ben told John that he knew John had been abusing Marlena. "You think I would hurt Marlena? She's doing nothing but lying to you," John said. Ben noted that Marlena never lied.

"No, but that thing does!" John barked. "He is the one who is lying. He's not the person he claims to be!" "Marlena" interjected. John attempted to tell Ben that Marlena was possessed, but he was cut off. "I saw the way that you showed up at my apartment, screaming and yelling and banging down my door, saying that you were going to kill Marlena," Ben said.

"That wasn't me. That was her," John explained. "That's not true!" "Marlena" said. John started to yell that "Marlena" was the devil, but devil Marlena made John choke on his words. John gasped for air. John lunged toward "Marlena," and Ben punched John. John fell to the floor, unconscious. Ben tied John to a chair, and "Marlena" stuffed a rag in his mouth.

As John stirred awake, "Marlena" pulled out a knife. "What are you doing?" Ben asked. "I'm going to make sure he never, ever hurts me again," "Marlena" growled. Ben told "Marlena" that John could not hurt her. "You are safe," Ben said. "He needs to pay," "Marlena" countered. Ben reminded "Marlena" that she had taught him that violence was never the answer.

Ben asked "Marlena" to drop the knife. ""Marlena" dropped the knife to her side. While Ben made an attempt to text Ciara, the devil thought about how much he wanted to kill John. With a smirk, the devil noted that Ben "used to be so much fun."

"I need that baby, so I need [Ben] to get me to the mother. That Neanderthal brother of hers has probably already told her," devil Marlena thought. "Marlena" suggested to Ben that they go to Salem and talk to the police. "It's time to trust that the truth will set us free," "Marlena" said.

"You ready to go?" Ben asked "Marlena." "I'm ready," "Marlena" said. In his head, the devil thought, "I'm ready to take yours and Ciara's unborn child." Ben opened the door to leave. Shawn was on the porch. "We were just coming to see you," Ben said. Ben asked Shawn to arrest John. "This is not Marlena Evans. This is the devil," Shawn said.

Ben realizes that Marlena is possessed

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

by Mike

At the Horton Town Square, Rafe continued kissing Nicole, who responded favorably at first -- but eventually ended the moment with a shove and a slap. "Who the hell do you think you are, Rafe Hernandez? We are in the middle of the square, you idiot --" Nicole snapped. "Right..." Rafe muttered. "[But] you tell me that I'm too stupid to know my own feelings, [and then] you grab me and kiss me to prove your point -- [well], that makes you a jackass, in my book!" Nicole concluded.

Nicole started to storm off -- but Rafe followed. "Okay, I was out of line...[but] what about you, huh? Last night, you acted like you wanted me to kiss you!" Rafe declared. "You are in a relationship with Ava, who thinks you hung the moon, and I won't hurt her -- I have too much self-respect to --" Nicole argued. "What, be in a relationship with a man who has feelings for another woman...like E.J.?" Rafe countered. "Just don't ever grab me like that again, okay? Or I will tell Ava --" Nicole snapped. "Tell Ava what?" Ava wondered while approaching Nicole and Rafe.

"Rafe...was...just telling me about Philip's disappearance -- and I told him you should know, [since] you and Philip are friends," Nicole claimed. "I wouldn't exactly call us 'friends' -- 'business associates,' maybe -- but I already know about Philip. [And] I feel very sorry for his family, but...you know, working with Philip, it turned out to be a terrible mistake, and I learned my lesson, and I already told Rafe that I have put that life behind me," Ava responded. "And Rafe chose to stand by you -- and I think that's wonderful. I mean it -- I am so glad the two of you worked things out," Nicole stressed. "Aw, you're such a good friend, Nicole -- I honestly don't know what I'd do without you!" Ava declared before changing the subject, unable to resist pointing out that Rafe and Nicole were no longer avoiding each other. "It is the town square -- we just ran into each other," Nicole explained. "That's not a surprise -- I mean, for a not-so-small town, Salem is kind of incestuous," Ava admitted.

Nicole soon rushed off -- and as soon as the coast was clear, Ava demanded the truth from Rafe, who admitted that the earlier conversation had actually been about E.J. Ava listened to the new version of events while thinking about having watched from afar earlier as Rafe had kissed Nicole.

At the DiMera mansion, E.J. declared that Sami was trespassing and needed to vacate the premises immediately -- or else. "Oh, don't bother threatening anything -- I'm not going anywhere," Sami countered before producing a document and trying to hand it to E.J. "You know exactly what [this is -- it's] the divorce papers that you promised to serve me with while you were in bed with Nicole," Sami explained when E.J. didn't immediately accept the document. "What's the matter with you? Just take the papers!" Sami snapped before grabbing E.J.'s closed right hand and forcing it open -- and a ring was revealed in the process.

"Why, E.J., is this your wedding ring -- the one that I gave you? What a surprise! [And] you're clutching [it] like it was something that was really important to you!" Sami teased. "I...found it in my sock drawer -- [and] I was about to throw it in the trash before you barged in --" E.J. claimed. "But you didn't want to throw it away in front of me?" Sami wondered. "I didn't want to give you the wrong idea --" E.J. reasoned. "That you still care about me?" Sami guessed. "Weren't you about to hand me divorce papers?" E.J. snapped before snatching the document from Sami -- and realizing that it hadn't been signed.

Sami took back the document and ripped it several times then threw the remains at E.J. "I am not giving you a divorce -- I will fight it with everything that I have," Sami stressed. "Why?" E.J. wondered. "You know why -- [because] I still love you, and I always will...and you love me, even though you're being too stubborn to admit it," Sami responded. "I stopped loving you the moment you lied to me about Lucas -- I'm with Nicole now," E.J. declared. "Nicole Walker is a dime-store version of me -- why settle when you can be with the real thing? And you're only with Nicole because you know that it drives me insane!" Sami argued.

"There's a host of other reasons," E.J. insisted. "Like what? She's not smarter than me, she's not better-looking than me, and she certainly isn't more loyal --" Sami countered. "She's better in bed -- [she's] hotter, more experimental --" E.J. teased. "Oh, you son of a bitch -- she is not..." Sami protested before kissing E.J. "Sorry -- I don't feel a thing," E.J. breathlessly declared after Sami pulled away. "Oh, E.J. -- your mouth can say whatever you want it to, but your body is saying something else..." Sami triumphantly observed. "Don't throw yourself at me again --" E.J. halfheartedly warned. "I'm still your wife, [and] you are never getting rid of me -- but that's okay, 'cause you don't really want to," Sami bragged.

"In the history of our relationship, me sleeping with Lucas is, like, a 'three' -- [while] the way you treated me, after I sacrificed so much and spent years helping you become the man you are now, [is] a 'ten' --" Sami argued. "Are you saying I deserved what you did?" E.J. objected. "You did -- and you know it," Sami responded. "Then why not just walk away -- be done with me?" E.J. wondered. "Sometimes I wish I could...but even if I did walk away, E.J., I couldn't stop loving you; worse than that, I don't want to stop loving you -- and, whether you'll admit it or not, I know you don't want me to stop loving you," Sami explained.

Nicole entered the mansion before E.J. could give Sami a response. Sami traded digs with Nicole then rushed off after bragging about what had just happened with E.J. -- and what would happen in the future. Once the coast was clear, E.J. assured Nicole that Sami was delusional -- but stared at the wedding ring while making the comment.

At the Walker apartment, Lucas begged for even more highlights from Allie's earlier conversation with Sami. "Anyway, don't get your hopes up, but I think there's a decent chance that she's signing those divorce papers as we speak," Allie concluded after indulging Lucas for a while. "I would love it if you were right...[but] I just don't see her giving up on him that easily," Lucas admitted.

Allie eventually changed the subject, eager to find out if Lucas believed that Brady was responsible for Philip's disappearance. "I don't know -- all I know is that I was mad at my brother for interfering with my life, and now...I might not see him ever again," Lucas fretted, referring to how Philip had chosen to handle things after reading the letter Kristen had sent to E.J. about Sami's infidelity.

"This is not the time to be worried about my love life," Lucas decided. "There's nothing either one of us can do for Uncle Philip -- or Grandma [Marlena]," Allie argued before changing the subject again, desperate to share a theory with Lucas about Sami's kidnapping. "Obviously, Mom was reaching when she pinned it on Nicole, but...what about E.J.?" Allie wondered. "Well...I mean...I don't know --" Lucas stammered, prompting Allie to interrupt with more questions. Allie was particularly interested in finding out if the police in Wisconsin had uncovered any leads during their investigation into the kidnapping, but Lucas didn't shed much light on the situation -- and quickly steered the conversation in another direction.

Sami eventually arrived, wanting to talk to Allie about what had just happened -- and Lucas listened to the story with obvious disappointment.

Belle knocked on the front door of the Weston apartment and called out a greeting while Ciara was still in a phone conversation with Susan. "I promise -- I will not let her in unless I know it's really her," Ciara assured Susan before ending the call then picking up a baseball bat and challenging Belle to provide Claire's safe word. "It's 'box top' -- will you please just open the door?" Belle countered.

"How did you know about Claire's safe word?" Belle wondered after joining Ciara inside the apartment. "Shawn told me," Ciara explained before setting aside the baseball bat then locking the front door again. "Okay... Well, he just called me, and the reception was terrible, but all I got was that you were in danger and that I needed to come right over... What is going on?" Belle responded.

"My father would never, ever lay a hand on my mom!" Belle stressed while Ciara was explaining everything. "Wow -- 'she' thinks of everything..." Belle grumbled when Ciara revealed that "Marlena" had blamed John's aneurysm for the out-of-character behavior. "I guess if she can turn Susan Banks into a cat --" Belle conceded when Ciara described the encounter with "John" that had seemingly verified "Marlena's" claims of abuse. Ciara finished the tale after taking a moment to process what Belle had just said about "Marlena" turning Susan into a cat.

Belle wanted to head over to the cabin, but Ciara insisted that was a bad idea. "[Shawn] has a gun -- he can protect himself, [but] how are you gonna protect yourself?" Ciara argued. "My dad keeps saying that love is the thing that can conquer evil, and I am my mother's daughter, [so] that is the weapon that I have that [Shawn doesn't]...and it's time for me to use it," Belle countered. "Then I'm going with you -- [after all], I am the only person that the devil can't hurt, [because] I am carrying the baby that he wants," Ciara decided. "No heroics, okay? You have to take care of that baby, [so] just stay here and lock the door," Belle begged. "Like a locked door is gonna stop the devil from coming in..." Ciara fretted.

At the cabin, Ben struggled to process Shawn's claim that Satan had possessed Marlena -- even after John, who was still bound and gagged, started nodding and grunting in agreement. "John's obviously gotten to [Shawn] -- but he hasn't gotten to you; after the way your father treated you and your mother, you know never to trust an abuser," the demonic presence reasoned as Marlena. "Of course not," Ben agreed.

"It's all lies, Ben -- John has never laid a finger on Marlena; that is the demon inside of her trying to get you to trust her. Marlena is my mother-in-law, and I love her, and if she told me that John were hitting her, I would believe her, but this is not her!" Shawn stressed. "I think the pronoun you want is 'she'..." the demonic presence advised as Marlena before suggesting to Ben that it was time for them to head back to Salem and find Ciara.

"You two aren't going anywhere," Shawn insisted while trying to remove John's bindings. "Who are you going to believe, Ben -- somebody you barely know...or somebody you've known for a long time, who believes in you [and] has always helped you believe in yourself?" the demonic presence wondered as Marlena. "This is Shawn -- this is Ciara's brother --" Ben argued. "He didn't think you were good enough for his sister -- he still doesn't --" the demonic presence began to counter as Marlena -- just as Shawn started complaining that John's bindings were only getting tighter for some reason.

"She's using the devil's powers right now!" Shawn explained to Ben before starting to describe other strange things that had happened recently. "He wasn't even there [for any of those events] -- he doesn't know what happened --" the demonic presence interjected as Marlena. "Well, I was there on Thanksgiving, and I saw it up close -- Ben, she had eyes like fire, and her voice was not Marlena's... [So], I tried to take her down to the station, [but] she broke the cuffs like they were toys, then she threw me across the dinner table [and] knocked me unconscious --" Shawn stressed. "You went down like a ton of bricks," the demonic presence recalled, revealing its glowing yellow eyes.

"Dr. Evans --" Ben sputtered. "I'm not your precious Dr. Evans," the demonic presence clarified. "What are you talking about?" Ben protested. "What are you missing here? You're looking into the face of evil -- and it's kind of like looking into a mirror, isn't it? [You know], when you came to me [and] said that you were afraid you might pass on your evil to your child...oh, it was like music to my ears!" the demonic presence responded. "The devil wants your baby!" Shawn elaborated after realizing that Ben was still confused. "Susan Banks told Ciara and me that our baby was in danger, and we thought she was off her rocker..." Ben noted.

"It was you?" Ben concluded. "A brain cell has been detected!" the demonic presence teased. "What is so special about Ben and Ciara's baby?" Shawn wondered. "I'm so glad you asked -- [see], this baby will be a perfect combination of Brady goodness and Weston evil...and I can corrupt that child to my black heart's desire," the demonic presence explained.

"I'll never let you anywhere near Ciara or our baby --" Ben insisted. "You already have, you fool -- do you think you have any say in what happens next?" the demonic presence countered. "You already told me yourself that I'm evil -- maybe that's what it takes to get to you," Ben decided before lunging at the demonic presence.

The demonic presence magically froze Ben in place then conjured a necktie. "For the Necktie Killer," the demonic presence reasoned as the necktie magically flew over to Ben's neck and started to tighten around its target. "I always come prepared," the demonic presence bragged. Shawn, who had never stopped trying to free John, suddenly managed to remove the gag with ease -- apparently because the demonic presence was only able to focus its power on a certain number of items at once.

Shawn rushed to Ben's aid as John tried to get through to Marlena. The demonic presence stopped focusing some of its power on John's remaining bindings, since Shawn was no longer trying to remove them -- and then it used that freed power to choke John instead. "I think my work here is done -- time to be moving on..." the demonic presence decided before starting to exit the cabin -- then turning to get one last laugh out of the sight of Shawn scrambling to save Ben and John before either man lost consciousness. "Why don't you give it up, fellas -- mere mortals are no match for me --" the demonic presence bragged -- and Belle hit it from behind with a rock just then, knocking it out. "Sorry, Mom -- I love you!" Belle stressed before helping Shawn check on John and Ben, who were both fine. When the group thought to check on the demonic presence again, it was gone.

Ben rushed back to Salem to check on Ciara -- and was relieved to discover that the demonic presence wasn't at the Weston apartment. "I should have dealt with Belle long ago -- now it's time that she and her cop husband pay a heavy price...and I think I know exactly how to make that happen," the demonic presence, which was actually in the town square, mused with a grin.

Trask thinks of a way to have Brady arrested

Thursday, December 16, 2021

by Mike

At Basic Black, Chloe continued a phone conversation with Nancy. "It's really hard not to assume the worst about Brady, but you're right -- we don't know anything for sure [yet]," Chloe admitted before ending the call with expressions of love for Nancy, Craig, and Parker -- just as Brady entered the CEO's office.

Chloe stared at Brady in shock. "I was discharged an hour ago," Brady explained. "And you decided to...come to work?" Chloe responded. "You're not taking my calls, [so] I figured I had to -- it's the only way that I could see you," Brady clarified. Chloe apologized then admitted that Brady had simply called at a bad time earlier. "I ran into Kate..." Chloe began to elaborate, drawing a nod of understanding from Brady, who offered a few words of comfort at the end of the tale.

"I have to make a confession to you -- that's why I needed to talk to you --" Brady started to explain before pausing to stress that Chloe wasn't about to hear a murder confession. Chloe breathed a sigh of relief -- then grew concerned again after Brady elaborated. "The night that Philip disappeared, you drank six shots?" Chloe sputtered. "I bought them," Brady clarified before making another confession. "What made you so upset [that] you went to a bar?" Chloe wondered. "All these feelings that I have for you that I haven't been able to act on because you've been with Philip. [And] I even told Maggie, out of my frustration, that I would love if Philip was out of the way -- [but] I didn't mean it like that... I mean, I think I didn't mean it like that... I'm beginning to wonder, [though, and] I don't want to hide one single damn thing from you," Brady responded.

At the Salem Inn, Gwen fretted about Rex's return -- and hoped that Xander wouldn't decide to pick up food at the Brady Pub while running an errand. "How long does it take you to go get a newspaper -- and why can't you read it on a tablet, like everyone else?" Gwen grumbled before stepping over to a window to search the visible area of the Horton Town Square for Xander -- and spotting Rex instead.

"Bloody hell -- how is he right downstairs?" Gwen sputtered -- just as Xander returned. "Who?" Xander wondered. "The...guy...at the coffee cart down there -- yeah, that man, he wolf-whistles at me, and last week, he even said to me that I have a nice ass --" Gwen claimed. "What? Well, he's not wrong, but..." Xander grumbled before starting to storm off to confront the man. "What if he phones the police? You can't get in trouble with the law again!" Gwen objected.

Xander conceded the point then changed the subject, offering to take Gwen to the pub for dinner. Gwen tried to suggest other ways to pass the time, but Xander was set on dinner at the pub -- until sex was offered as an alternative.

Outside, Roman and Rex took turns warning Kate that it wasn't wise to go an entire day without consuming any food -- and that coffee didn't count as food. "I'm gonna be fine...once they find Philip and I know he's okay," Kate insisted before vowing to make good on an earlier threat if Philip wasn't okay. "You threatened Brady? When?" Roman sputtered. "This morning," Kate clarified. "There is no proof that Brady did anything to Philip --" Rex argued.

"There's proof enough for me! So, don't give me that condescending look -- [and] don't tell me to calm down, [either], because if I want to be crazy with worry, I am gonna be crazy with worry, and if I [want] to be frightened and panicked, then that's what I am gonna be, and don't try to fight me!" Kate snapped. "Okay, fine -- I won't do that, and I'm sorry --" Rex responded. "No, I'm sorry -- it's just that Philip has always been so hard on himself, and Victor has always made him [feel] like he's a huge disappointment, and I have been complicit in all of that, [and] I've been critical of him [myself], and now...all I can hope is that he knows how much I love him..." Kate fretted.

At the Kiriakis mansion, Victor picked up a framed photograph of Philip -- just as Maggie entered the study and started raving about what Cook was preparing for dinner. "All of your favorites!" Maggie concluded -- but Victor didn't respond.

"We have to have hope," Maggie advised. "He can't be dead -- I have to see him again; I have to tell him how sorry I am for the way I treated him!" Victor fretted.

Trask stormed into the police station and ordered Eli and Lani to arrest Philip's murderer immediately -- but the detectives refused in unison then took turns pointing out that the district attorney wasn't their boss and that they still didn't have enough solid evidence to prove that Brady had committed a crime. "We all know it's just a matter of time before the dive team finds Philip's body -- and since Mr. Black was just released from the hospital, we need to make our move before he tries to flee the jurisdiction!" Trask argued, but Lani and Eli stood their ground. "I should have known the two of you wouldn't cooperate!" Trask grumbled before wondering why Lani only seemed to be willing to ignore protocol when doing so benefitted a criminal like Kristen. "Maybe you had something to do with her van detouring on the way to Statesville the other day!" Trask suggested, prompting Lani to storm off with Eli.

Trask summoned Kate and Victor down to the police station -- then challenged them to have Philip declared legally dead so Brady could be arrested.

At the Salem Inn, Xander climbed out of bed and stepped into the bathroom to take a shower -- and Gwen rushed over to a window as soon as the coast was clear. Outside, Rex admitted that things weren't looking good for Philip -- and Roman disagreed. "Philip has always been one to go his own way, [and] whatever may or may not have happened between him and Chloe and Brady, he's also dealing with Victor firing him from Titan, and not for the first time... So, I'm thinking that had to be a huge blow, [and] maybe Philip figured a way to disappear for a while -- buy some time, clear his head, figure things out..." Roman reasoned -- but Rex wasn't convinced.

Gwen stepped away from the window with a sigh -- then started working on a plan to get Xander far away from Rex. By the time Xander emerged from the shower, Gwen had figured out a way for them to afford to take a trip to London, thanks to a combination of frequent-flyer miles and a friend who was willing to take them in as guests -- and they decided to take advantage of the opportunity.

Xander and Gwen quickly packed for the trip. After stepping over to the window once again and seeing that the coast was finally clear, Gwen rushed Xander out of the Salem Inn, unaware that Rex was heading back to the town square at that moment to search for a misplaced cell phone. Gwen and Xander emerged from the hotel just in time to run into Rex. Gwen gulped as Xander scowled at Rex.

Kate entered the Brady Pub and started telling Roman about what had just happened at the police station -- just as Victor began a similar conversation with Maggie at the Kiriakis mansion. "I want justice for my son...but signing away my grandson's life to get it..." Victor fretted. "What did you do?" Maggie wondered. "God forgive me -- I signed the damn paper," Victor admitted.

Brady decided to visit the riverbank, hoping that being there might cause some memories to resurface -- and Chloe insisted on tagging along. "Do you remember something?" Chloe wondered while Brady was looking around the area. "Yeah, I do -- it's fuzzy, but it's right there..." Brady confirmed before starting to describe the memory to Chloe -- but Trask approached with Eli just then. "Returning to the scene of the crime? Thanks for staying in plain view of our divers -- it made tracking you down very easy," Trask declared before announcing that Brady was under arrest. "Sorry, man..." Eli stressed while cuffing Brady.

"Philip, get your hands off me!" Brady recalled having uttered at some point. Meanwhile, at the Brady Pub, Roman insisted that it was understandable that Kate had wanted to have Philip declared legally dead to get some closure -- and had kind of bullied Victor into cooperating. Kate thanked Roman for the support then headed off to the upstairs bedroom to get some rest -- and was stunned to find Philip waiting there, beaming and apparently just fine.

Philip confesses his scheme to Kate

Friday, December 17, 2021

by Spalding

While Xander and Gwen walked through the town square as they headed for the airport, Rex returned to the caf to look for his dropped phone. "Rex Brady," Xander said. "Who's your friend?" Rex asked. "None of your damn business. Where is Sarah?" Xander countered. Rex commented on Xander's rudeness.

"How the hell should I know where Sarah is?" Rex asked. "Everyone knows that Sarah left town with you," Xander said. Gwen quietly attempted to discourage Xander from his interrogation, but Xander insisted that Rex tell him about Sarah. Rex told Xander that he had not seen Sarah since after her non-wedding to Xander.

"Are you saying that you [and Sarah] aren't still together?" Xander asked. "I'm saying we never were," Rex confirmed. Gwen insisted that they needed to hurry and make the flight to avoid a rebooking fee. "It's fine, Gwen, let it go," Xander whispered. Confused, Xander told Rex that Sarah had told him of her plan to leave town with Rex.

"When it came time to leave town, she jilted me. Same way she jilted you," Rex said. "Doesn't make any sense," Xander whispered. With a groan, Rex announced he was busy, and he told Gwen and Xander to enjoy their trip. After Rex walked away, Gwen suggested they continue their trip. Xander called out to Rex, "If Sarah is not with you, then where the hell is she?"

Stunned, Xander sat on a bench. "Everything I thought I knew about why Sarah left was a lie," Xander said. "I suppose, in the end, she decided she wanted to be on her own," Gwen said. Suspicious, Xander wondered aloud why Sarah had lied to her mother. Gwen suggested that Maggie had lied to protect Sarah.

"Maggie believed that Sarah was with Rex, just like I did," Xander said. "I'm sure there is a logical explanation for all of this," Gwen assured Xander. Xander wanted to talk to Maggie, but Gwen cautioned him not to worry Maggie unnecessarily. "Something could be really wrong," Xander insisted. Gwen dismissed Xander's concerns, and she suggested they go to the airport.

"Are you joking? I can't possibly leave now, Gwen. I have to find Sarah and talk to her directly," Xander said. Gwen stammered in disbelief. "[Sarah] lied to me about where she has been, about where she went. I have to find out why," Xander said.

In Kayla's office at the hospital, Kayla talked to someone on the phone about Sarah. "Sarah Horton hasn't worked at University Hospital for months, but I am happy to refer you to another doctor," Kayla said. As Kayla ended her phone call, Steve walked into her office. Steve updated Kayla on devil Marlena's adventures with Ciara and Ben.

"The devil almost strangled Ben and John to death without even touching them," Steve said. Steve said the confrontation had showed him how vulnerable they were. "I hope you and John find Marlena [and] get the help that she needs so that nobody else gets hurt," Kayla said. "I want that, too," Steve said.

At the penthouse, John refused to let Belle take him to the hospital. "I don't need a doctor; I just need to find your mother," John said. "I still can't believe what I walked in on," Belle said. John told Belle he was grateful that she had arrived in time to save his and Ben's lives. "We have to get Mom the help she needs before we lose her forever," Belle said.

John changed the subject to Philip. "I'm just praying that they don't find [a body]," Belle said. "It's possible that Philip is still alive," John said. Belle fussed over John, and John let her. Chloe called Belle to inform her that the police had arrested Brady. John staggered to his feet, and Belle rushed to assist him.

"I can't just sit here and wait," John said. "You just went ten rounds with the prince of darkness. It's okay to rest. Mom's going to need you to be strong," Belle insisted. Belle promised to take care of Brady. "Call me as soon as you know anything," John said.

At the police station, a handcuffed Brady waited in the interrogation room. Chloe entered and told Brady that she had contacted Belle. "Trask has it out for me," Brady lamented. Brady told Chloe that although he had started to recover memories when he had been at the river, he still had no clear memory of that night.

"I wish that there was some way that I could help you," Chloe whispered. Brady asked Chloe if she could talk to John. "I don't want him freaking out about my situation," Brady said. Chloe agreed. "I'm very thankful to you just for everything. Especially for believing in me," Brady said. "Of course. Brady, I know who you are, and I know your heart. We're going to get through this. Together," Chloe said. Chloe squeezed Brady's hand, and she left.

When Belle arrived, she told Brady about her confrontation with devil Marlena at the cabin. "You know that's not your mom," Brady said. "I just can't believe this is happening again," Belle said. When Brady worried aloud about John, Belle said that the only way she could help John was to help Brady. Brady asked why he had been arrested.

"In the eyes of the law, Philip Kiriakis is dead," Belle said. "So, my grandfather sold me out? I can't say that I'm surprised," Brady muttered. Belle assured Brady that Kate had been the reason Victor had agreed to sign the papers. When Belle asked about Brady's last thoughts the night of Philip's disappearance, Brady said that after he had talked to Chloe at the pub, he had talked to someone on the phone.

"I started to feel like I was regaining some memories when I was down at the river with Chloe earlier, but that was when Trask showed up and arrested me," Brady said. Belle asked for details. "It was just voices," Brady muttered. When Brady argued that they needed an eyewitness, Belle gasped. Belle told Brady that the pub had a security camera out front.

At the penthouse, Chloe told John that Brady was doing well. John wobbled on his feet. John assured Chloe that he was fine. "Just had a little run-in with el diablo," John said. John told Chloe about his confrontation with devil Marlena at the cabin. "I'm more concerned about my son," Brady said. Chloe told John that Trask was "out for blood."

When Chloe explained that Kate and Victor had signed the paperwork to declare Philip legally dead, John groaned. "[Victor] would have had to understand that [Trask] would use that against Brady," John barked. Chloe urged John to stay calm. "Stay calm? How do you do that? My son was just arrested for murder, and my wife is running around out there with the damn devil in her!" John yelled.

Chloe told John that she would talk to Kate. John laughed. "No offense, but that woman hates your guts," John said. Chloe said that she and Kate both wanted justice for Philip. "And you don't think that there is a possibility that Brady did it?" John asked. "In my heart, I think he is innocent," Chloe admitted. Chloe added that she did not think she could convince Kate of that.

"My boy is lucky to have you in his corner," John said. "Brady has been there for me so many times that I owe it to him. He and Philip," Chloe said. Chloe wished John luck with Marlena, and she left. John called Steve and Kayla's phones, but both went to voicemail.

A distraught Kate returned to her room above the pub, and she gasped. Philip was sitting on the bed, smiling at her. "Hey, Mom," Philip said. Kate rushed into her son's arms. "We thought that you were murdered. Your father and I had you declared dead," Kate said. "Something I'm sure Dad has been waiting to do since the day I was born," Philip joked. "Don't say that. He was worried sick. We both were," Kate insisted.

Kate asked Philip how he had survived Brady's attack. "Brady didn't attack me. I went after him," Philip said. Kate told Philip that Brady had attacked him after an alcohol-fueled blackout. "I don't blame you for thinking that Brady killed me. That means my plan was a success," Philip said. Philip explained that he had framed Brady. Kate slapped Philip.

"You bastard!" Kate yelled. Kate told Philip that she was so angry that she could kill him herself. "That's extreme," Philip muttered. "Why the hell would you do something like this?" Kate asked. Philip explained that he had wanted to punish Brady and Chloe for their affair.

"Because you had to torture Brady and Chloe, you had to put the rest of us through hell?" Kate yelled. Philip shrugged. "I didn't do it to hurt you," Philip said. Philip added that he was there to tell Kate not to worry about him. Frustrated, Kate argued that Philip should have told her the plan before he had faked his death.

"Or perhaps you shouldn't have done it at all!" Kate yelled. Philip apologized, and he asked Kate if she was impressed with what he had accomplished. Kate was not interested in the details, but Philip was eager to tell someone what he had done. Philip explained that he had followed Brady to the pub and then had knocked Brady out with a crowbar.

"Do you realize that anyone could have seen you do that?" Kate said. Philip stressed that he had been careful. Philip gleefully explained that he had dragged Brady into the bushes. "You're proud of yourself, aren't you?" Kate marveled. "I'm just getting to the good part," Philip said. Philip told Kate that he had stolen Brady's credit card and gone inside the pub to use it on alcohol. Confused, Kate asked Philip why Brady had been drunk if Philip had bought the alcohol.

"I couldn't exactly pour the liquor down his throat, so I cut out the middleman. I injected the booze right into his system," Philip said. "You could have killed him," Kate whispered. "That was a risk I was willing to take," Philip said. Philip added that he had not intended to kill Brady.

"I had to inject him with that booze. I needed him to be drunk enough to start sending those awful, threatening text messages," Philip growled. Philip told Kate how he had used Brady's phone to send the messages. "I'm almost afraid to ask what you did next," Kate said. Philip told Kate that he had stuffed Brady into the trunk of Philip's car, and he had driven Brady to the site of the sapling tree.

"She was leading me on the whole time. So, I left Brady's watch there for her to find," Philip said. "You said Brady destroyed that tree in a jealous rage," Kate noted. "Well, it wasn't easy to make Chloe believe that," Philip countered. "Because Brady didn't destroy that tree. You did," Kate said. Philip admitted he had destroyed it. Kate expressed surprise that Philip had gone to such lengths to punish Brady.

"Like mother, like son," Philip said. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Kate asked. Philip reminded Kate of Vivian and Jake. Kate rationalized her past schemes. "I didn't frame a family member for murder by drugging them!" Kate stressed. "Why do you and Dad always take everyone else's side?" Philp complained. Philip asked Kate if he had made a mistake in confessing his scheme to her.

"No, just finish your story," Kate reassured Philip. After a moment, Philip continued. "After Chloe left, that's when I dragged Brady's body to the riverside. I couldn't get the image of them out of my head. Kissing. Laughing at me. So, I took out the knife, and I cut myself with it," Philip explained. Philip said he had smeared his blood on the knife and on Brady.

"Then I carefully tracked blood down to the riverside and threw my prosthetic leg in the middle of the river. Luckily for me, I kept my old one when I got my replacement," Philip said. Frustrated, Kate said she could not believe that Philip had planned the scheme because of Chloe. "They made a fool of me," Philip said. Philip told Kate that he had overhead Chloe and Brady discuss that they had had sex on the conference table.

"I never said that you shouldn't feel humiliated and betrayed," Kate said. "Don't you see, Mom, they are getting exactly what they deserved, and they will never know that I am behind it," Philip said. Kate asked Philip if he planned to stay dead forever. "For now," Philip said. Kate told Philip that Victor deserved to know the truth.

"The hell with that. [Victor] told Chloe that I'm dead to him," Philip said. "He always says things like that. Philip, come on. Do you realize how many people love you?" Kate asked. Before Philip could answer, Chloe knocked on the door. "I need to talk to you!" Chloe yelled. "Don't answer that," Philip whispered.

At the Brady Pub, Belle ran into Rex. "I hear that you're defending Brady," Rex said. Belle said that she was there to check the surveillance footage. "My dad isn't here," Rex said. "Do you think you could help me find it?" Belle asked. With a shrug, Rex said he was not sure that Roman would want him to help the man that had killed Philip. "First of all, Brady didn't kill anyone. And it's because Philip is your brother that you should want to help me find out what happened," Belle said. Belle confirmed that someone had erased the footage, and she returned to the station to tell Brady.

As Steve kissed Kayla in her office, she ran her hand down his arm, and he pulled away. It was no longer Steve. It was devil Marlena. "Now I know why they call you Sweetness," devil Marlena joked. Horrified, Kayla warned the devil to stay away from her. "Why would you pretend to be my husband?" Kayla asked. "It's you I'm after," the devil said. The devil told Kayla that her family had been a thorn in its side.

"John is not as strong as he used to be, and I have become so much stronger," the devil said. "But [John] isn't alone in the fight. And I will not let you kill the people I love," Kayla said. "I'm not going to kill anybody. Yet. But I am going to put Shawn and Belle through a fate worse than death. And you, my darling Kayla, are going to be the key to help me do that," the devil said. Kayla's phone rang. The devil waved its hand, and the phone flew through the air.

"Now you really made me angry," devil Marlena growled. Devil Marlena knocked Kayla unconscious, and she took her key card. The devil used the card to access Jan Spears's room in the coma wing. "It's time to wake up," devil Marlena said.