Marlena Stays By John’s Side Until the Very End, While Hope Pushes Bo to Come Back to Her

Steve and Kayla are marveling over how well John’s doing in the hospital, though Steve’s beating himself over calling John for help. Kayla points out that nothing was going to stop John from saving Bo’s life. And he’s on the mend now.

Bo’s recovering, too, but Kayla’s worried about complications from the drug. Steve’s just hoping that if John keeps improving, they can go see Bo.

Marlena’s still by John’s bedside as she tells him she could stay there with him forever. She breaks out a coin Belle brought and reminisces over their tossing a coin in the fountain in Italy. There was another time he almost didn’t make it, but then Belle dreamt of John with a coin in his hand, and it became a symbol that he would make it.

She thinks back to the moment and puts the coin in John’s hand. “I’m still here,” he whispers. Marlena talks about their years together and their time apart. Her life only began the day that he stole her heart.

She goes through all the identities John had over the years — from the Pawn to her thinking he was Stefano. (Which cues an ‘80s flashback with Marlena calling Bo in a panic.) But she always knew who he was. “The man who saved my life. You were the man who protected me even in my darkest hours.”

Kayla and Steve head in to visit them where Steve tries to apologize, only for John to tell him “no regret.” A nurse comes in with John’s morphine drip, after which Steve tells John that Rafe left them to rejoin the FBI, so he’s needed back at Black Patch.

They flash back to when the two first started their agency, with Steve talking John into the idea. In the present, they joke about having to erect a statue to John with all the heroics he’s been pulling off.

Marlena starts talking about his love of family and we go back to baby Belle and Brady meeting for the first time. She then thinks back to their first wedding night and accidentally pushing him off the bed.

But John starts choking while alarms go off. He can’t breathe. Kayla gets oxygen on him and Marlena rushes back to his side, breathing with him, telling him she’s got him. Marlena begs Kayla to do something, but there’s nothing to do. All they can do is make him more comfortable. It might be time to call in a priest.

Steve and Kayla do and Marlena thanks them, admitting it was probably the right thing to do. She then asks them to leave her alone with him and Kayla and Steve say their tearful goodbyes.

Marlena and John declare their love for each other, then Marlena tells him, tears running down her face, that it’s OK if he needs to go. He’s fought so hard, but he’s suffering so much. They’ll all be OK. He’ll always be in their hearts. He can rest now.

Bo Fights to Wake Up

Meanwhile, Hope, Ciara and Shawn all gather around Bo’s hospital bedside. The kids can’t convince her to leave Bo’s side. She snaps at them, then apologizes, saying that she’s talked to him every day since he’s been in here.

They reminisce over Bo and his stories, flashing back to him telling a young Zack a tale before bedtime. Everyone notices Bo’s eyelids flickering and call in the doctor, but she says his condition is unchanged.

In Bo’s mind, he’s still struggling to get back into the Pub, finally bursting in to see Kayla and Steve gone. The only one there is Zack, tending bar. Bo’s surprised to see his son, but realizes that this isn’t Salem.

He vaguely remembers a dream with Zack and Hope with a lot of white, but brushes it aside and wants a hug. Zack tells him it’s not a good idea, though. He’s not supposed to be here.

Shawn and Ciara suggest that maybe Bo’s dreaming — and the Versavix is doing its thing. They talk a bit about him having always been a rebel and how it got passed down to his kids. Hope wonders if Zack would have taken after Bo the same way.

Bo’s eyes flicker some more and his heart seems to speed up. Hope’s convinced that he’s becoming aware of what’s going on in the real world and she starts talking to him, trying to call him back, flashing back to their first meeting, the motorcycle wedding interruption, hot air balloon, on and on.

In the pub, Zack tells his dad that his place is with his living family. He’s OK — there are loved ones all around where he is. Bo wants to stick around, but Zack tells him he has to make a decision soon. He’ll always be waiting for his dad when it’s time.

Hope, Ciara and Shawn all appear in the pub telling him it’s not his time, while, in the hospital room, all three watch Bo closely. Shawn goes to call Claire and let her know what’s happening. They’re all hopeful.

Hope tells him Bo to think about all they’ve been through. It can’t end this way. We dive into more scenes from “Bope’s” past, while in his dream, Bo’s family tells him it’s time to get moving. Zack hugs everyone else and, as the family watches, dream Hope tells Bo to wake up.

He’s been fighting for years to come back, but nothing changes. Bo isn’t sure it’s meant to be.

In the Show’s Final Moments

Out in the reception, Steve begs Kayla for something to save John. Anything. He’ll go anywhere to help him like they helped Bo. But there’s nothing. They collapse into each other’s arms, crying.

Marlena meanwhile, lays in the bed with John, curled up, crying, remembering their life together as John’s voice talks over it all, reciting his vows and telling Marlena that their love has always endured. As she lays with him, John’s heart stops and she holds him until the very end.

Real Hope stares at Bo, suddenly overcome by a horrible feeling, while dream Hope snaps at Bo that he’s not a quitter. Bo doesn’t want to abandon Zack again, but he tells his dad he’s never felt abandoned.

Hope tells Bo to fight, to never give up. They’ve done all they can for him, now he needs to finish it. “You fight! You fight for us! You fight for your family!” Meanwhile, Bo starts coding in his hospital room and Hope collapses onto him, telling him to hang in.

But then Bo’s eyes slowly open and, while Hope watches in joy, he whispers, “Fancy Face,” and smiles at her.