As the Jury Deliberates Johnny’s Fate, a Horrified EJ Finally Remembers Who Shot Him!

Marlena and Rachel are at the bookstore, where Foster tries to help find the little girl a book on snakes. He ends up selling her on a book about a little girl sorceress named Selina Salamander, who Rachel astutely notes sounds like the Harry Potter books. He insists it’s better because a little girl is the hero in this one, and she unknowingly holds the key to defeating the dreaded destructor. The girl begs for spoilers, saying she always reads the last chapter first, so he reveals the key is trapped in the girl’s mind.

Marlena and Julie Lean On One Another

Marlena spots Julie engrossed in a book and says hello to her. Julie’s reading about how to deal with situations you have no control over, and rants about Chad letting that Cat woman into his life after what she’s done. Marlena points out that the two have insisted they are just friends, so Julie reminds her of their dear friend who sang about friends turning into lovers. Everybody sing… “What would you say if I told you… I’ve always wanted to hold you!”

Julie suggests they shift the topic to something fun, warm, and cozy, like this bookstore. Marlena understands it’s up for sale. Julie admits she’s considered bidding on it, and Marlena pushes her to go for it. They soon discuss their grief and how hard it is to move on after losing the loves of their lives.

Later, Marlena thanks Foster for helping Rachel find a book, and he insists they take it on the house. Marlena tells Julie that she’ll see her again soon, and they embrace.

Julie jokingly scolds Foster for giving his merchandise away for free, which is clearly why he’s going out of business. She asks if he’s had any more bids, but he hasn’t. Unfortunately, independent bookstores are a dying breed. Julie says in Salem, dying breeds have a way of resurrecting themselves, and she wants to buy his store.

Friends or Lovers?

At Cat’s place, after taking their temperatures, Cat and Chad are finally clear of their fevers. Chad celebrates finally being able to go home and get back out in society.

Chad quickly apologizes, not meaning to suggest it’s been so awful being here, but she understands. He admits he liked spending time with her, and Julie and  Abigail’s family will have to get used to what is happening here. She asks what is happening? He just never thought they’d get to this point, and he cares about her. He tells her she’s a good friend. She is flustered, but that likely wasn’t the word she wanted to hear.

Chad knows it hasn’t been easy for her to be separated from her family. She just got some good news: her mom is being moved to a facility closer to Salem, and Aaron’s moving home to play ball for Salem U.

Chad goes to say goodbye to Felicity, and Cat takes a call from Marlena. Marlena breaks the bad news to her that, unfortunately, she is taking an indefinite leave of absence from work, so she’ll need to find a new job.

Johnny Clears Chanel, But What About Himself?

In court, Johnny has dismissed EJ and is representing himself. Belle calls Chanel back to the stand and asks why she threatened EJ the night he was shot, as shown in the video they watched. Chanel didn’t, and insists that the video was doctored.

Belle calls Johnny back to the stand, and asks his opinion of the footage, as an indie filmmaker and director of the multiple award-winning soap, whose name we’ve all gladly forgotten. He points out the errors, indicating it’s a deep fake, and has an expert on AI willing to swear that as well.

Belle reminds him that the police authenticated the evidence, but Johnny points out that his grandfather Stefano made a sport of discrediting the cops and taught his children how to do the same. Johnny glares at his father, who sits in the back of the courtroom.

Johnny rests his case, and the judge breaks for a recess before closing arguments.

How Will The Jury Vote?

Chanel tells Johnny how proud she is of him. He is concerned about delivering a closing argument, but she’s sure he’ll nail it.

Meanwhile, Belle tells EJ he should be ashamed of himself for what he did to Chanel, but they both know he has no shame.

Leo talks to the bailiff about his insane roommate and hopes he can get a new one. Unfortunately, he can’t help Leo.

Court resumes session, and Belle begins her closing argument, speaking about Johnny’s mindset and motive the night EJ was shot, and his disappointment that his father survived the shooting.

Johnny gives his closing argument, admits he went to his father’s house to shoot him, but couldn’t. He says almost everyone in Salem had a motive to want him dead that night. He is sorry that someone else used the gun he left to shoot his father. All he can do is state it was not him, and hope that is enough to find him not guilty.

The judge sends the jury to deliberate. EJ scolds his son and says he proved nothing to the jury, and he should have let him finish what he started. EJ tells his dad to screw himself for trying to frame his wife, and he and Chanel walk out.

Belle tells EJ that Johnny and Chanel find him despicable as she does. EJ tells her not to be so smug, as her own mother thinks she is the one who shot him. A mortified Belle calls the accusation ridiculous, pointing out that back then, she had no reason to want him dead.

Leo tells the bailiff he has been appointed Jury foreman and places their lunch order. He tells him to make sure Roman doesn’t skimp on his chili cheese fries.

In the Show’s Final Moments

At the bookstore, Foster tells Julie that he’s ecstatic at the idea of selling to her. She cries that she’ll do everything in her power to keep the store the wonderful place it is.

At Cat’s, she cries to Chad about losing her job. She is sure something will turn up, and Chad agrees. He needs to get home to his kids. He leaves, and both seem to be disappointed at having to part.

Marlena brings Rachel back to the mansion. EJ is pouring a drink, and Rachel quickly judges him for boozing it up this early. He snaps that she’s becoming more and more like her mother every day.

As Marlena talks to EJ, Rachel decides out of the blue to toss a decorative glass ball from the mantel up in the air. Because, why not play with an expensive work of art? Marlena tells her to put it down, as it’s glass. EJ flashes back to Rachel pointing the gun at him the night he was shot. He falls into his chair in shock.

In Horton Square, Belle runs into Johnny and Chanel. She hopes Johnny is exonerated and they find out who shot EJ. She tells them about EJ’s crazy statement that her own mother thought it was she who shot EJ, which makes no sense. Whoever did shoot EJ is someone her mom and EJ clearly want to protect.

Back at the mansion, EJ remembers telling Rachel to put the gun down and give it to him. She said, “Not until you tell me where my grandma Rachel is!” He told her that he had no idea, but she thought he was lying.

In the present, as Rachel drops the glass ball and it shatters, EJ recalls she shot him, and dropped his drink, and his glass also shattered. In his memory, Rachel appears shocked at what she had done.

Marlena gives EJ a look, and he says, “Oh my god!” Rachel also appears to have remembered. Vote: What do you think EJ should do with the information.

Next on Days of Our Lives, EJ and Marlena plan their next move.