At the Kiriakis mansion, Chloe gave Philip a kiss then suggested that they could check on their sapling as a way of burning off Thanksgiving calories. "That...is...an awesome idea, but I am so stuffed, I can hardly move -- and in case you haven't noticed, it's cold outside," Philip argued. "How 'bout tomorrow?" Chloe countered. "And miss all the sales?" Philip protested. "Okay...but I do want to make a date to go visit our sweet little tree [soon]," Chloe maintained as Philip squirmed.
Chloe eventually changed the subject, sick of waiting for Philip to mention what had happened at the Salem Inn a few weeks earlier. "Brady only walked in with me to help me with my luggage," Chloe stressed. "That's exactly what I assumed," Philip claimed. "Well...good -- I'm glad..." Chloe muttered. "I've learned my lesson, Chloe -- I know how important trust is in a relationship; once it's broken, it's all over," Philip declared. Pleasantly surprised, Chloe said goodbye to Philip then rushed off to Basic Black to get some work done. "All that talk about trust right before she goes to meet her boyfriend -- well, there's not a chance in hell her and Brady are gonna make a fool of me..." Philip grumbled once the coast was clear.
Maggie entered the town square's bar and found Brady sitting alone at one of the tables -- with a glass of whiskey nearby. "I'm sorry to pull you away from Thanksgiving...but I'm glad you came," Brady began while giving Maggie a hug. "How many of those have you had?" Maggie wondered after claiming the extra chair at Brady's table. "I haven't even had a sip," Brady responded before checking the time then admitting to Maggie that the past hour and a half had been about nothing more than resisting the urge. Maggie summoned someone over to the table to take Brady's drink away, clearly finding it just as tempting.
Maggie was surprised to learn that Brady's urge to drink wasn't just about what was going on with Kristen but also about what was going on with Chloe. "I knew that Victor was trying to push the two of you together, but I just thought it was his wishful thinking," Maggie revealed. "Despite my desire to suppress them, I do have some real feelings for her," Brady confessed.
"I'm not gonna interfere...[but] it does hurt like hell to think that Chloe and I could have had a real chance if Philip wasn't in the picture," Brady grumbled. "I wish I could give you some advice, but I don't know what to say," Maggie fretted. "Can't be any worse than the advice I got from Marlena -- [she] told me to take Chloe and throw her on the conference table and ravage her," Brady responded. "That doesn't sound like Marlena at all -- what's gotten into her?" Maggie sputtered, drawing a shrug from Brady.
At the Horton house, Shawn joined John in the living room and reported that Julie was in the process of getting Doug settled in the master bedroom. "I'm glad you're all okay -- [well], except for that crack on your head..." John declared. "Yeah -- [but] Steve said that you were on your way to the hospital [earlier...and], I mean, based on the way that you look --" Shawn responded. "No -- that's all on hold until I can find Doc," John insisted.
"Did she say anything about her plans?" John wondered. "I think her plan was just to finish us off...until Julie drove her away," Shawn answered. "Leave it to Julie Williams to scare Satan away..." John mused with a mirthless chuckle. Shawn soon stepped aside to take a phone call from Belle, who was still at the hospital -- and John seized the opportunity to sneak off in search of Marlena and the demonic presence.
Ben and Ciara exchanged looks of confusion as "Marlena" shoved past them and begged for the front door of the Weston apartment to be shut right away. "I never thought I would have to tell anybody this, and I'm afraid you're gonna have a very hard time believing me, [but]...John's been abusing me!" the demonic presence explained as Marlena before revealing a bruise it had gotten during its earlier fight with Shawn.
"Unbelievable!" Ben spat. "I'm sorry, Marlena, but this doesn't sound like John -- [and besides], hasn't he been out of town for some undercover assignment?" Ciara argued. "He was...and I was hoping the time away would do him some good -- help him, you know, deal with his demons -- but then he came home this morning, [and] I told him I was so happy to see him because he'd been gone for a while, and he felt that I was guilting him about his job, [so] he grabbed me... [Anyway], he was in such a rage when I left [the townhouse, and] I'm afraid to go back there..." the demonic presence clarified as Marlena, conjuring a few tears in the process.
"John is madly in love with you [and] so gentle with you -- I simply can't picture him trying to hurt you," Ciara maintained. "I don't blame you for being skeptical, [but]...ever since the aneurysm, he flies into these fits of rage..." the demonic presence reasoned as Marlena before stepping into the bathroom to freshen up. "[The aneurysm] happened last fall, when you were..." Ben explained to Ciara, who still had doubts.
"Marlena, open up -- I know you're in there!" John suddenly shouted through the apartment door while pounding on it hard enough to make it shake, prompting Ben to lock it with the security chain then open it. "You need to leave --" Ben began. "After all that bitch has done...what, now it's my fault? Everything she's telling you is a lie, Ben -- she's just trying to get you on her side!" John insisted. "You need to go home --" Ben repeated. "You hear me, Doc? You're no victim! You got everything you deserve, and you're gonna get everything [else] that's coming to you, [because] I'm gonna stop you once and for all -- I'm gonna kill you, I swear to God --" John warned. "Close the door," Ciara begged Ben, who quickly complied. Meanwhile, Shawn found John passed out in the foyer of the Horton house. Outside the Weston apartment, the demonic presence smirked as John before morphing back into Marlena.
The demonic presence emerged from the bathroom of the Weston apartment seconds later -- just as Ben was telling Ciara that they needed to tell the police about what had just happened. "No!" the demonic presence objected as Marlena before reasoning that John had too many friends in law enforcement. "What about family?" Ciara suggested. "Eric's out of the country...and Sami's gone...and Belle and Brady -- I don't want to put them in a position where they have to turn against their father..." the demonic presence argued as Marlena. "There's gotta be something we can do," Ben insisted. "We have to leave town -- right now!" the demonic presence declared as Marlena.
The demonic presence stepped back into the bathroom to freshen up again, giving Ben and Ciara a chance to discuss the matter privately. "There's something so weird about all of this -- it's just fundamentally weird; it's all out of nowhere... [Look], there must be a better way that we can help her that doesn't involve us packing up our things and leaving town --" Ciara argued. "I know it seems like a lot, but this woman has never asked anything of me, [and] after everything she has done for me, maybe it's my turn to help her," Ben countered.
John woke up in the hospital and tried again to rush off in search of Marlena and the demonic presence, but Kayla and Belle refused to allow that to happen. Belle stepped aside to contact Brady, and Kayla seized the opportunity to apologize for having given John such a hard time about listening to Marlena's recording of Doug's therapy session. Belle soon ended the phone conversation with Brady, who filled Maggie in on what had happened to Marlena. Belle found Shawn near the nurses' station and agreed that it was time to get the police involved.
The demonic presence fled Salem with Ben and Ciara as Shawn put out an APB on "Marlena."
At the Hernandez house, Rafe and Ava kissed in bed. "I need to get to work," Rafe said. With a chuckle, Ava said she needed to find a job, since she was no longer scheming with Philip to steal Gabi's company. "Any ideas?" Rafe asked. Ava promised to find a job without threats or blackmail.
"I hope you know how grateful I am that you were able to put what I tried to do to Gabi in the past," Ava said. "We said we were putting all our mistakes behind us, right? Clean slate," Rafe said. Ava nodded in agreement. Ava promised she would not do anything to mess up their relationship.
In the interrogation room of the police station, Kristen complained to Chad about her new lawyer that E.J. had hired. Chad broke the news that the judge had refused to release Kristen from jail before her trial.
"Tell me you're not going to escape again," Chad said. Kristen swore she would not try to escape. Kristen added that she would hire two more lawyers to work on her appeal. When Chad noted that the police would likely transfer Kristen to Statesville that day, Kristen groaned. "In that case, can you get me something to eat?" Kristen asked. While Chad was out of the room, looking for food, Kristen took his phone from the jacket he had left behind.
Gwen awoke to the sounds of Xander packing a bag in their hotel room. "I just got a call from Kristen DiMera. It turns out, Sarah never betrayed me. She never stopped loving me. She never ran away with Rex. It was all a setup. She's trapped on some remote island. I'm going to rescue her," Xander said. When Gwen asked about her relationship with Xander, he said, "There is no us. Not anymore."
Gwen startled awake from her dream. "What's wrong?" Xander asked. As a distraction, Gwen grabbed Xander and kissed him. After they made love, Xander told Gwen that she always knew what to say and do to make him happy. "Do you mind if I just check my phone for messages? I'm hoping for word from my father," Gwen said. Xander grabbed Gwen's phone off the nightstand and handed it to her.
"Nothing," Gwen whispered. Xander suggested that Jack had been busy over Thanksgiving, and he would call Gwen later. Gwen was unsure. "Remember, Maggie is going to talk to [Jack]. Try to get him to come around," Xander said. Gwen wondered aloud how much effort Maggie would put into helping her. Xander argued that he had convinced Maggie that Gwen had changed and was a kind, caring person.
"In the meantime, you still got me. I'm not going anywhere," Xander said. While Xander was in the shower, Gwen's phone rang with a call from Chad's phone. It was Kristen. Gwen refused to help Kristen, so Kristen threatened to tell Xander about Sarah. "Please don't," Gwen pleaded. Kristen told Gwen that the police planned to send Kristen back to prison that day, and she needed Gwen to break her out.
"And if I can't?" Gwen asked. "Then I'll call Xander and tell him where to find Sarah. And he will dump you so fast, it will make your head spin," Kristen said. Gwen argued that she did not know how to break Kristen out. "Don't punish me for something that I would do in a heartbeat if I could," Gwen pleaded. Kristen said she would tell Gwen what to do if Gwen promised to execute the plan.
"I'll get you some help," Kristen said. Gwen ended the call as Xander returned to the bedroom. "Who's that?" Xander asked. Gwen said Chad had called. Confused, Xander asked why. Gwen lied and said that Chad had wanted to yell at her. Xander argued that Chad needed to get over it, because he had a future, a family, and a life.
"Some people have to settle for a lot less," Xander grumbled. "People like you?" Gwen asked. "Why would you say that?" Xander asked. Gwen noted that Xander had mentioned Sarah earlier. "Maybe it is still bothering you," Gwen said. Xander told Gwen that she had been right, and he needed to get over Sarah. "In fact, I already am," Xander said as he kissed Gwen.
In the police station bullpen, Chad and Rafe talked. Rafe advised Chad to tell Kristen that Susan was not an option for a switch because she was in the hospital. "I heard. Crazy story," Chad said. Rafe said that Susan would be fine as long as she did not help Kristen. Chad scoffed at the idea of anyone in Salem helping Kristen.
"Lani is her best friend, but she'd never risk it. There's always Ava," Rafe said. "They go way back," Chad said. Rafe noted that Ava had denied helping Kristen escape in the past. "And you believe her?" Chad asked. "I do," Rafe said.
Kristen called Ava at the Hernandez house and asked her for help. "If you are asking me to help you run from the police again, I can't help you," Ava said. Kristen threatened to tell Rafe that Ava had helped Kristen before. "Here is exactly what you need to do," Kristen said. After Kristen explained the plan, Ava grudgingly agreed to execute it.
Kristen deleted her calls from Chad's call log, but he returned to the room before she could put the phone back in Chad's jacket. "Who'd you call?" Chad asked. Chad angrily snatched the phone away from Kristen. "I was calling Brady," Kristen said. "You are unbelievable," Chad muttered. Kristen said she had been desperate to speak to Rachel. Chad threw the food on the table.
"Thank you for trying to help. Knowing that you still care gives me hope," Kristen said. "Hold on to it, because right now, it's all you got," Chad said. After Chad left, Rafe entered the room. "Any news?" Kristen asked. "The man taking you back to Statesville is on his way," Rafe said. When Kristen noted that there was still paperwork to do, Rafe said he had already taken care of all the paperwork.
"As soon as he gets here, you'll be on your way," Rafe said. At the Salem Inn, Ava met up with Gwen in her room. "According to Kristen DiMera, I'm your new partner in crime," Ava said.
At the hospital, E.J. sat at his mother's bedside and held her hand. "I'm so sorry for everything," E.J. whispered. Nicole entered the room. E.J. wiped the tears from his eyes. After E.J. confirmed that Susan was going to be okay, Nicole asked E.J. if he was okay. "Of course, I'm okay. It's my mother that I'm worried about," E.J. said. Nicole asked E.J. if he had slept. E.J. told Nicole that, all night, Susan had been frightened about the devil returning to hurt him.
"She finally fell asleep before you arrived," E.J. said. "Did she have another psychotic breakdown?" Nicole asked. E.J. escorted Nicole out of the room, down to the lounge to talk. E.J. told Nicole what had happened at the mansion. "When I first saw [Susan] with Steve, all pale and lifeless, I just kept telling her to hang on," E.J. said. When Nicole asked about the devil, E.J. said that Susan had believed Marlena was possessed by the devil.
"Do you think it was a delusion?" Nicole asked. "At first? Of course," E.J. said. E.J. explained that Steve had disagreed, but Steve had been unable to explain why before he had left. "I still can't believe what [Susan] did. The sacrifice she was willing to make," E.J. said. "But the threat, it probably wasn't real," Nicole countered. E.J. noted that regardless, Susan had been willing to die for him.
"This brave, kind, selfless woman. For all these years, I was ashamed of her. Pretended she didn't exist. Yet she was still willing to sacrifice her life for mine. I don't deserve it. I don't," E.J. said. As E.J. started to tear up, Nicole put her arm around him and put her head on his shoulder. After a moment, E.J. sniffled back his tears.
"You are one of the few people who has ever seen this side of me," E.J. said. "I'm honored that you let me," Nicole countered. E.J. joked that Nicole would no longer see him as a force to be reckoned with. "Just because you were vulnerable doesn't mean you're weak. It means that you're human. And in my eyes, at least, a very attractive human," Nicole said. E.J. grinned.
"You can hardly blame me for being wary about letting my guard down. I did that with Samantha, and you can see where that got me," E.J. said. Nicole asked E.J. if he had received any more calls from Sami. With a shake of his head no, E.J. said he was not sure who had called, but they had not called back.
"If it is Samantha, I can handle it," E.J. said. "It is strange that you haven't heard from Sami before now," Nicole said. With a shrug, E.J. reminded Nicole that he had told Sami that he wanted her out of his life. Nicole pointed out that Sami had gone to Gabi's to talk to her about moving back into the house. "It was Sami's mission to get you to forgive her, and what? She just disappears off the face of the earth?" Nicole asked. Nicole wondered aloud why Sami would have changed her mind.
"It's not like Sami to give up. Especially on you. She would dig in, hold on, be in your face 24/7 until she broke you down, but instead, she just disappeared? Why would Sami do that?" Nicole asked. "Because of me," E.J. said. E.J. argued that he had been cruel to Sami when he had pushed her away.
"I was vicious toward my wife for more than a year. Verbally and emotionally abusive," E.J. admitted. "Maybe we shouldn't talk about this right now," Nicole suggested. E.J. said that he had thought about his actions all night while he had watched his mother lie helpless in bed.
"It reminded me of what I went through after the fire. I was in so much pain, I didn't want anyone near me," E.J. said. "You went through some very severe trauma," Nicole noted. E.J. countered that Susan had been traumatized, and she had protected E.J. and wanted him close to her. "You two are very different people," Nicole pointed out. "That doesn't excuse my behavior," E.J. said.
When Nicole talked about E.J.'s extensive injuries, E.J. said that he had begged Sami to put him out of his misery. "But Sami refused. She kept fighting for me, long after I'd given up. And you think I showed her any bit of appreciation? No. I was a monster. In fact, Samantha told me how much she loved me, and I would scream at her to go to hell. She felt lonely, rejected, and so she betrayed me with that wretched simpleton. But that doesn't change the fact that she saved my life," E.J. said. Nicole noted that E.J. sounded like he felt more than anger toward Sami. E.J. said he was grateful to Sami, but he had not told her that.
"I told her to stay away, and she has," E.J. said. "It sounds like you regret it," Nicole said. E.J. said he did not regret his decision. Nicole asked E.J. if he was sure. E.J. admitted his behavior had been atrocious, but that did not change the fact that Sami had cheated and lied to him. When Nicole asked E.J. if he would have forgiven Sami if she had told him the truth at the start, E.J. shrugged.
"It doesn't matter because she didn't. She's gone, and I'm moving on," E.J. said. E.J. took Nicole's hands in his, and he thanked her for checking on him. "I've had a rather dark night of the soul. Feeling terribly guilty about how I've treated my mother. Treated everyone I've cared for. And you, you didn't scold me or mock me for my behavior in being a bastard. You listened. You gave me hope that things can be better moving forward. And reminding me that I am right where I want to be. I'm with the person I want to be with. Unless you're still pining over Rafe after you conference table sex?" E.J. asked. "I'm right where I want to be, too. Like I said, moving on," Nicole countered.
In an undisclosed location, Sami banged on the door to her locked room. "Let me out of here!" Sami screamed. The door opened. "It's me, Jason, your favorite guard," Jason joked. "Don't flatter yourself," Sami muttered. When Sami asked about her breakfast, Jason told Sami that she did not get breakfast because she had taken his phone.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Sami said. "If you don't hand it over, I'll do something a lot worse than just deprive you of food," Jason threatened. Sami handed the phone to Jason, and she admitted she had called her mother. When Jason joked that Sami's mother had to not care about her, Sami said that her mother was also in trouble. Sami asked Jason what he would do if his mother was in trouble.
"I know you have a heart in there. I'm just asking you to let me get back to the people I love," Sami pleaded. After Sami explained that her mother was chained up, Jason shrugged. "Why didn't she call the cops?" Jason said. Furious, Sami yelled that she would hold Jason responsible if something happened to her mother. Jason chuckled. When Jason looked at the phone, Sami said she had also called her husband.
"E.J. DiMera threw you out on your ass after you cheated on him with your ex-husband," Jason said. Sami argued that the story in the paper was an exaggeration about her lapse in judgment. "Even when [E.J.] is furious with me, he still loves me. If he knew I was in trouble, he would come running," Sami argued. Jason laughed.
"I thought you called him?" Jason said. Sami said the phone had gone dead when E.J. had answered the call. Jason said he doubted that E.J. wanted to rescue Sami. Sami argued that because she was the mother of E.J.'s children, he would pay a small fortune to rescue her from captivity.
"I'd pay a small fortune to get you to shut up," Jason said. When Sami asked Jason to tell his employer about E.J.'s money, Jason countered that his boss did not care about money. Sami begged Jason to tell her who his employer was. "We have had the same conversation every day since you got here," Jason said. Jason reiterated that he would not tell Sami about his boss.
"I know what side my bread is buttered on, all right?" Jason said. Sami grumbled that he should not mention food when she was hungry. With a grin, Sami asked if she could have breakfast. After a moment, Jason agreed. Jason grabbed his phone and left.
When Jason returned with a tray of food, Sami thanked him. As Sami took the food off her tray, she promised she would not take his phone again. Jason turned to leave, and Sami hit Jason over the head with the tray. Jason fell to the floor, and Sami ran out of the room.
Susan woke up in her hospital room. Xander was staring at her. "You're not my Elvis," Susan said. "It's me. Xander," Xander said. Susan asked Xander why he was there. "I heard about what happened to you, and I wanted to give you these," Xander said as he handed flowers to Susan. Susan asked why. "I wanted to thank you for what you did for me," Xander said. Confused, Susan said she had not helped Xander.
"You opened my eyes about my unfaithful fiancée. You saved me from making the biggest mistake of my life," Xander said. "I really don't know what on God's green earth you are talking about," Susan said.
At the Salem Inn, Gwen started to protest that whatever Kristen had told Ava had been false. "Oh, save it," Ava advised Gwen while barging into the Rizczech-Cook hotel room. "And shut that door, because what we have to talk about is private," Ava warned. "Got anything to drink around here?" Ava begged.
Gwen closed the hotel room door then retrieved two bottles of alcohol from the minibar and tossed one of them to Ava. "Classy..." Ava grumbled. "Oh, excuse me -- sorry, I didn't realize I'd be serving tea to Her Majesty," Gwen countered. Ava and Gwen drank while getting to know each other -- then they started brainstorming ways to help Kristen escape from police custody.
At the police station, Rafe bragged to Kristen about having pulled strings to ensure that a transport van would be sent out right away. "Should be here in about an hour," Rafe stressed before starting to exit the conference room in which Kristen was being held. "That's too soon..." Kristen muttered. "What's that? You have a pressing appointment?" Rafe wondered. "Well...I...haven't been able to say goodbye to anyone," Kristen clarified. "Yeah -- and...? Who in this town would be sad to see you go?" Rafe argued. "Her best friend," Lani responded, joining Rafe and Kristen in the conference room.
Rafe exited the conference room with a shake of the head, leaving Lani alone with Kristen, who quickly realized that something was wrong. Lani confirmed Kristen's suspicion with a sigh then revealed what had happened during Abe and Paulina's wedding ceremony. "He's called, but I just can't bring myself to pick up [because] I'm pretty sure that he's gonna want to see me -- [I mean], I just keep thinking that if I can avoid seeing him, I can pretend like none of this is real..." Lani tearfully admitted. "As someone who was adopted, I know that the family ties are more [important] than the blood," Kristen soothingly countered.
Abe went to the Price-Grant apartment to see Lani but found Eli there instead. "I spoke to Tammy last night -- [and] I lost my cool..." Abe admitted. "Why wouldn't you!" Eli exclaimed as Carver woke up and started fussing. "Are you thinking of changing his name?" Abe wondered. "Hell no! [Look], I'll tell you the same thing I told Theo -- he's still their uncle, and you are still their grandfather. [And] you will be that as long as you're on this planet. [And] just so you know, I still think that you are the greatest father-in-law a man could ever have," Eli responded before giving Abe a hug. Abe thanked Eli then started to rush off -- but Lani arrived just then.
At the hospital, Xander offered Susan more reminders of what had happened during their previous conversation. "[Still] doesn't ring a bell?" Xander eventually concluded. "Eh... You know what? They gave me one of those shots, and it's just made me forget stuff..." Susan apologetically explained before suddenly thinking to ask about the timing of the conversation -- then realizing why it didn't sound familiar.
Xander stormed off to the police station to confront Kristen after Susan clarified the situation. Kristen claimed to have exposed Sarah and Rex's affair as a way of doing Xander a favor -- then started to backpedal as a stall tactic after Rafe interrupted to announce that the transport van had just arrived. Gwen burst into the conference room just as Kristen was about to tell Xander the truth about Sarah. "I was just passing by, and I saw your car outside, and I thought maybe you'd gotten yourself into trouble..." Gwen explained to Xander while giving Kristen a subtle nod. "My confession is that I wasn't doing you a favor, [Xander] -- I took great joy in puncturing your little dream of happiness," Kristen declared.
Xander stormed off with Gwen, still somewhat suspicious. Rafe soon led Kristen outside, where two men were waiting near the transport van -- men Ava and Gwen had intercepted and threatened earlier. As soon as the coast was clear, one of the men removed Kristen's handcuffs and asked for a destination. "I haven't decided yet -- all I know is that I want to get as far away as possible from this godforsaken place..." Kristen grumbled.
Allie entered the Brady Pub while Lucas was scoffing at the Intruder's online article about Susan's self-inflicted stab wounds -- and the drama surrounding them. "Oh, good -- you're here," Allie began before claiming the extra chair at Lucas' table. "Something wrong?" Lucas wondered. "You don't know about Grandma Marlena," Allie realized.
"Well, I guess this [article] is making a little bit more sense now -- I mean, it's a creepy kind of 'sense,' but..." Lucas declared after Allie elaborated. "I tried calling Will, Johnny, and Sydney, but no one's picking up -- and, of course, there's Mom, who's still MIA..." Allie reported. "Your mother would want to be here -- she'd want to know..." Lucas insisted. "You worried about her?" Allie wondered. "I am now!" Lucas confirmed. "Yeah -- I am, too... Dad, what if something happened to her?" Allie fretted before taking a phone call from an unknown number.
"Thank God you picked up!" Sami began. "I am so relieved that you called, Mom -- [I mean], we have been so worried about you, and now...something's happened with Grandma --" Allie responded. "She's been possessed -- I know," Sami interjected. "How --" Allie wondered. "Listen to me -- I am in deep trouble, and I need your help!" Sami begged. "What have you done now?" Allie countered. "Nothing! I was kidnapped --" Sami explained. "Kidnapped?" Allie sputtered, prompting Lucas to snatch the cell phone.
"Who did this to you?" Lucas wondered. "I don't know, okay? [Look], I've been locked in this tiny room for months, [and] all I see are guards, and they're not very chatty, [and] I finally managed to steal this cell phone off of one of them, [and then] I tried to call my mom, [but] she's got her own problems right now, [and then] I called E.J., [but] the phone died before I could even talk to him, [and now] it's charged again, but the guard -- I knocked him out, and I'm really afraid of what he's gonna do when he wakes up..." Sami explained before starting to complain about having encountered a locked door while trying to escape -- and having then broken the guard's key in the lock.
"Oh, my God, she wasn't ghosting us -- we should have looked for her!" Allie fretted to Lucas during Sami's story. "Stop -- it's not your fault," Lucas assured Allie before advising Sami to access the GPS system on the guard's cell phone. Sami sent the information to Allie's cell phone, and Lucas rushed out of the Brady Pub as soon as the text message arrived.
Chloe entered the Kiriakis mansion and headed upstairs to Philip's bedroom. "What are you doing here?" Philip, who had been eating popcorn and watching a movie, began. "Well, right about now, I'm kind of wondering why my boyfriend is in the dark and acting like he doesn't want me around," Chloe responded. "I'd be a little more welcoming if I was expecting you," Philip countered.
"Did we have plans?" Philip wondered. "No...but we need to talk -- I found out something that was kind of upsetting [earlier; I found out that] you've been lying to me," Chloe clarified. "I can explain --" Philip insisted. "I stopped by Titan earlier today to surprise you and take you out to lunch -- and imagine my surprise when I find out from your now-former assistant that you were fired as CEO!" Chloe elaborated. "That...must have been awkward..." Philip mused with a sigh of relief, realizing that Chloe still didn't know about what had happened to their sapling. "Are we not a couple? [Because], you know, couples share key bits of information about their lives!" Chloe snapped.
"Is that so? Do you share every intimate detail of your life with me?" Philip challenged Chloe. "Well, I don't know what you mean about 'every intimate detail'...but I am open with you about most things -- [you know], the most important things, the things that are the deepest part of my soul -- [and yet] you don't let me in...[and] that has to change if this relationship is gonna work," Chloe responded. "Sorry," Philip muttered, drawing a nod from Chloe, who suggested that they could continue their conversation over dinner at a restaurant. "Not in the mood," Philip insisted, prompting Chloe to offer to cook a meal instead. "Don't want to run into Victor and Maggie," Philip protested, causing Chloe to rush off to pick up some takeout food. "Couldn't wait to get out of here, could you? [Well], go ahead, Chloe -- go have sex with Brady and be the whore my father always said you were!" Philip spat once the coast was clear.
Meanwhile, Maggie entered the study and greeted Victor, who was reading the Intruder's online article about Susan's self-inflicted stab wounds and the drama surrounding them -- an article that also mentioned John's involvement in the ordeal. "Chained, Maggie -- John Black was chained in the DiMera crypt like an animal...and trapped with that imbecile Susan Banks!" Victor summarized. "Susan was just as much of a victim as John was in this situation --" Maggie insisted. "Yeah, victim of 'the devil' -- or so she says..." Victor countered.
"That woman's got so many screws loose, the top of her head's flopping all over the place!" Victor declared. "Well, in this case, she's actually right -- [see], you were asleep when I got home last night, but Brady told me that Marlena is possessed again," Maggie revealed. "Are you saying that Marlena is responsible? [Seriously], how many times can one woman be possessed by the devil in one lifetime?" Victor sputtered.
"I'm just glad that Brady and I were on our way to a meeting when Belle called and told him -- I shudder to think of how he would have reacted if he had been alone..." Maggie admitted. "Is Brady drinking again -- [or] using drugs?" Victor wondered. "Now, you know [that], as his sponsor, I can't divulge that information --" Maggie objected. "I need to know!" Victor begged. "Okay, fine -- I don't want your blood pressure rising, [so] I will just tell you [that] he's not drinking...but he is struggling," Maggie clarified. "He's pining over that twit Chloe Lane?" Victor guessed.
"You're the reason that Brady is even in Chloe's orbit again!" Maggie reminded Victor. "I just wanted to get her claws out of Philip -- I certainly didn't expect Brady was gonna fall for that caterwauling streetwalker again!" Victor explained. "[Well], now your son and your grandson are enamored, yet again, with a woman you can't stand," Maggie summarized.
"Is it too much to ask that the men in my family come home with suitable mates?" Victor grumbled. "Why are you the arbiter of who is a 'suitable mate'? [And besides], the Kiriakis men aren't exactly a walk in the park to deal with!" Maggie argued. "Perhaps not -- [and perhaps] I happen to have found the last good woman in Salem," Victor conceded with a chuckle as Philip approached the study.
"So, has Brady got it bad for that stupid woman?" Victor wondered. "It's none of your business, Victor!" Maggie insisted. "I'll take that as a 'yes'... But he understands that there's no chance for a future with her, doesn't he?" Victor responded. "Actually, I do not think he understands that -- in fact, Brady told me that he thought that he and Chloe, they could be happy together if only Philip weren't in the way," Maggie admitted. "You don't think he'd do anything to hurt Philip, do you?" Victor fretted. "Oh, of course not -- Brady would never hurt Philip or anyone else; I mean, he was just letting off steam!" Maggie declared. "You and I both know, Maggie, that even a good man can be driven by jealousy to the darkest of places..." Victor countered.
At the hospital, Paulina entered the Black room with a bouquet of flowers while John was in the process of telling Brady about everything that had happened since Satan had returned to Salem to possess Marlena again. "Then it's true?" Paulina translated. Brady rushed off so John and Paulina could talk privately -- and they took turns filling each other in on their respective encounters with the demonic presence.
John assured Paulina that Abe was a very forgiving man. "Lexie was far from perfect..." John began to explain. "Go on!" Paulina excitedly prodded John. "When Lexie found out that Stefano DiMera was her father...well, she wrestled with some demons of her own --" John started to elaborate. "Lexie was possessed, too?" Paulina sputtered. "No -- I'm only figuratively speaking," John responded. "Can't blame a sister for wanting some clarification in this town..." Paulina muttered. "What I'm saying is that there were times when she yielded to her father's influence and kind of bent to the dark side -- [and] Abe was able to forgive what most men would have considered unforgivable," John concluded, delighting Paulina.
At the Price-Grant apartment, Eli stepped into the twins' bedroom with Carver so Lani and Abe could talk privately. Abe offered to leave, but Lani decided not to take the out. "I was starting to think you were avoiding me," Abe admitted. "I was; I didn't know how to face you [because] all of this is my fault -- [I mean], I'm the one who jumped to the conclusion that you were my father just because you dated Tamara around the time I was conceived... [You know], I bet you wish I had never come to Salem, looking for you..." Lani responded. "You would lose that bet -- learning that you were my daughter was one of the best things that ever happened to me," Abe insisted.
Lani received a phone call from Tamara just then -- and sent it to voicemail while explaining to Abe that it was one of many that had been ignored since the wedding ceremony. "I can't talk to her -- I mean, what is there even to say, [right]? Tamara and Paulina, they let me fall in love with this family -- with you, with Theo -- [and] form these connections that aren't even real --" Lani reasoned. "Who says that our bonds aren't real?" Abe protested.
Lani listened in shock as Abe explained that John had once been known as Roman. "[So, anyway], we were shocked and delighted by Roman's return, but that didn't lessen our love and commitment to John Black -- the heart doesn't work that way," Abe eventually concluded. "Or, at least, yours doesn't," Lani decided. "As far as I'm concerned...you are now, and you always will be, my daughter," Abe stressed before giving Lani a hug.
After Abe left, Lani received another phone call from Tamara. "Hi, Mom," Lani began. Meanwhile, Abe headed over to the hospital to see John -- and ran into Paulina at the nurses' station.
Chloe ran into Brady outside the pub and requested an update on the situation with John and Marlena -- then offered a few words of comfort before rushing back to the Kiriakis mansion and discovering that Philip was gone. Meanwhile, someone crept toward the pub as Brady was wrapping up a phone conversation with Tate. The person swung a crowbar at the back of Brady's head.
Ben and Ciara took "Marlena" to their cabin after failing to think of any better places to hide her from John. "I just can't thank you enough, [Ben] -- you have been a better friend to me than anybody [else] in this town!" the demonic presence raved as Marlena before giving Ben a hug -- and Ciara watched with a mixture of suspicion and jealousy.
The demonic presence eventually pulled away from Ben -- then noticed Ciara's glare. "I'm [still] having a very hard time believing that the John Black that I saw is the same man that I've known since I was a child. I can't believe that he's some kind of monster -- [I mean], I saw the way John acted, and it terrified me, [but] I can't reconcile that with the wonderful man I've known my entire life; it's like it was someone else who came to the apartment, not John Black," Ciara explained. "Trust me -- my husband is a very, very dangerous man," the demonic presence maintained as Marlena. "[Then] I think the best thing that we can do is to call the police and let them know what's going on -- [after all], there is no way that Shawn would let anything bad happen to his mother-in-law," Ciara argued before producing a cell phone and starting to dial Shawn's phone number, prompting the demonic presence to snatch the device.
"I'm sorry for grabbing your phone -- I'm just so on edge..." the demonic presence reasoned as Marlena. "Don't worry -- we're not gonna call anyone. [I mean], cell service is terrible out here, [anyway]," Ben stressed. "You know, [Ben], the isolation was really wonderful when we were here reconnecting, but I don't really think it's a great idea now -- I mean, what if something happens to the baby?" Ciara argued. "I'm a doctor -- I can take care of you," the demonic presence countered as Marlena before stepping into the bathroom to freshen up.
"I don't like this at all, Ben -- [I mean], something just feels off here... [Look], we have to at least call Belle and tell her what's going on, [because] Marlena and John are her parents, [and] there is nothing Belle wouldn't do to help her mom -- plus, Shawn would never forgive me for keeping this from him!" Ciara stressed. "We're not fighting Dr. Evans on this," Ben insisted. Just then, someone started knocking on the cabin door insistently -- and the demonic presence burst out of the bathroom before Ben could react. "Don't open that door!" the demonic presence demanded as Marlena.
When Chloe returned to the Kiriakis mansion with takeout, Philip was not there. Chloe called Philip to find him, and she left him a voicemail.
Outside the Brady Pub, Brady talked to Tate on the phone about Tate's soccer game. As Brady ended his call to his son, Philip hit him over the back of the head with a crowbar. Brady collapsed to the ground, unconscious. "Cheating bitch," Philip muttered as he looked at Chloe's name on his caller ID. Philip dragged Brady's body away.
When Philip returned home, he explained to Chloe that he had been out getting a present for her. "Where is it?" Chloe asked. "It's in my trunk," Philip said. With a sniff, Chloe asked if her present was manure. Philip said the manure was for their tree. "What about dinner?" Chloe asked. Philip noted the food was cold, and he offered to take Chloe out for a night on the town instead.
Philip escorted Chloe to the site of their sapling tree. "I'm looking forward to the day when our little tree gets big enough to carve our initials into it," Philip said. Philip feigned surprise when he saw the tree was gone. When Chloe asked what had happened, Philip noted that it looked like someone had ripped it out of the ground.
"Who would do something like that?" Chloe asked. Philip thought about when he had ripped the tree out of the ground. Chloe asked Philip if the tree could have been accidentally destroyed. Philip pointed out a watch on the ground. When Philip went to read the inscription, Chloe whispered, "Brady."
"It must have been Brady who pulled our tree out of the ground," Philip said. Philip argued that Brady had ben driven mad with jealousy. "[Brady] has been projecting all along. Trying to make me look like a bad guy," Philip said. Chloe countered that Brady had been respectful of her relationship with Philip.
"You're defending him?" Philip asked. "Brady cannot do something like this. He would never do something so juvenile," Chloe said. Philip argued that the watch was proof. With a shrug, Chloe said she had run into Brady at the pub, and he had been wearing the watch. "So, you just happened to run into him at the pub, and you just happened to notice his watch?" Philip countered. Chloe explained that she knew Brady well enough to know that he did not remove his watch unless he was getting in the shower or bed.
"How do you explain this?" Philip asked. "I can't," Chloe said. Philip theorized aloud that Brady had seen Chloe picking up a romantic dinner for two, and he had flipped out. "Brady was picking up dinner to bring to his father at the hospital. I'm sure he is there right now," Chloe said. "Or maybe he lied to you. You ever think about that? Or is he too damn perfect to lie?" Philip asked. Frustrated, Chloe said she would go to the hospital and prove Philip wrong. "I don't think you're going to find Brady there," Philip said. "I guess we'll see," Chloe said.
Abe ran into Paulina at the hospital, and he turned to walk away. "You can't run away from me, Abe Carver. You should know that by now," Paulina said. Paulina asked Abe if he was there to see John. When Abe said yes, Paulina told Abe about Marlena's possession. "John, he just confirmed it," Paulina said. "That explains the APB," Abe whispered.
When Paulina noted that the devil had interfered in their wedding, Abe frowned. "Lies come straight from the devil. And the lie started with you," Abe said. Abe walked away, but Paulina followed him to the hospital lounge. Paulina noted that Abe would not be able to outrun her with his cane and that he might as well listen to what she had to say. Abe sighed with resignation.
"You have one minute," Abe said. Paulina apologized. "You need to fast-forward to something I haven't heard before," Abe interrupted. With a nod, Paulina continued. "I debated a million times whether or not to tell the truth. And in the end, I decided that it was the kindest thing I could do for you and Lani," Paulina said. "To lie through your teeth! You have three seconds left," Abe interrupted.
"You are the best thing that has ever happened to me, Abraham Carver, and I love you with my whole heart. Can you ever find it in your heart to forgive me?" Paulina asked. "No. I don't forgive you," Abe said. "Then you'd be calling your friend John Black a liar," Paulina said. Confused, Abe told Paulina that he had not talked to John about how he felt. Paulina told Abe that John had mentioned that Abe had forgiven Lexie's shenanigans.
"[Lexie] was the love of my life," Abe growled. "And I'm not, I know that," Paulina said. Paulina stressed that she was not Lexie, but she was a fighter. "No one ever accused you of not going for what you want. The rest of us be damned," Abe muttered. Paulina told Abe that Lani's biological dad had nearly destroyed her.
"I fought for my life, my soul, my spirit, so that I would never be in that place again. And neither would Lani. And I'm damned proud I fought my way out, and I'm even prouder that I was able to give my little girl the best life I could. God was kind and gave me love again and my baby Chanel. When I lost her father, I accepted life alone. Then, out of the blue, you came along," Paulina said. Paulina told Abe that he was the best man she had ever known.
"I lost you and both my daughters. Now that takes true talent," Paulina said. Abe let a small smile slip, and he said, "Yes. Yes, it does." Abe started to leave. "I gave you your daughter, then I took her away, but would it have been better if you didn't have her at all?" Paulina asked.
"Of course not. I love her," Abe said. "And Lani feels the same way about you. You never disappointed her, you never lied to her, you've never been anything but wise and honorable," Paulina said. Paulina added that Lani might never be able to trust her, Tamara, or big mama again. "But you, thank God she has you. Now, no matter what goes on between us, whether it is over or not, please, please never turn your back on her," Paulina said.
"I've spoken to Lani, and she knows that she is my daughter in every way that matters. I am so grateful and blessed to have her in my life. Nothing will ever change between us," Abe said. "Thank God for that, but Abraham, do you think there is any chance for us?" Paulina asked. Abe noted that like his love for Lani, he could not turn off his love for Paulina.
"What are you saying?" Paulina asked. "God help me, I still love you," Abe whispered. As a relieved Paulina stepped forward to put her arms around Abe, he held up his hand to stop her. "This is very different than being able to trust you again. This isn't the first time you told me a life-altering lie, and this one is bigger and more appalling than the last," Abe said. Abe told Paulina that he did not think he could risk his heart again.
"There is nothing you can do, Paulina. I just need time," Abe said. "You take all the time that you need. I'll just keep on loving you, and I'll be here whenever you're ready. I'll wait forever," Paulina said. Paulina thanked Abe for hearing her out. "It's all I can ask," Paulina said.
At the Price residence, Lani talked to Tamara on the phone. "I understand the love that it took for you to commit to raise me. You pretty much saved Auntie P's life and probably mine, too. And I get why you chose to keep her secret when I jumped to the conclusion that Abe was my father. I get it with my head. But my heart, the lies of it, all these years, everything that I thought I knew about us?...I should go," Lani said. Lani told Tamara that she loved her.
John called Eli at the station to ask for an update on Marlena. "No sightings," Eli said. John reminded Eli that the demon inside Marlena could change her appearance. Unsure how to respond, Eli said, "Okaaaaay." "Handcuffs aren't going to hold her. Ask Shawn. He found out the hard way," John added. Eli asked John how they could capture Marlena.
"Let's just find her first. We will figure the rest out. We are running out of time," John said. After John ended his call, he attempted to get out of bed. Steve entered the room, and he wrestled John back into bed. "I need some answers," John said. John asked how Steve had found him at the crypt. Steve told John about his conversation with Johnny about the Ouija board.
When Steve noted that he had theorized that Hattie had replaced Marlena again, John groaned. "What's it coming to when Hattie Adams is the best-case scenario?" John muttered. With a shake of his head, Steve asked about John's first exorcism of Marlena. John guessed that the exorcism had not worked because he had not been an official priest at the time.
"I don't know why the devil has decided to come back now, but if I knew what he wanted, I think we could figure out where Marlena is right now," John said. Steve asked John if he had any ideas. "Just a lot of random, widespread chaos," John said. Steve asked for examples, and John told Steve about Marlena's advice to Brady about Chloe.
"I'm starting to think that this is nothing but a sideshow to whatever the devil's plan is," John said. Steve asked how they could find Marlena with her powers of disguise. "[The devil] can use other bodies, but he has to keep coming back to Marlena until he gets what he wants or we stop him," John said. Steve asked for details about John's last exorcism.
When John mentioned the help he had received, he recalled a man named Gabriel. "He was a guy that I met. A guy that turned out to be my guardian angel," John said. "A real live angel, huh?" Steve said. With a shrug, John said Gabriel had been a regular guy. John confirmed that Gabriel had given him the strength to defeat the devil before.
"So, where are you now, Gabriel?" John asked aloud. As John and Steve discussed next steps, Chloe entered the room. "I'm glad to see you're feeling better," Chloe said. "Almost perfect," John said. "Emphasis on the almost," Steve said. Chloe asked if Brady had returned from the pub with dinner. John complained that his food would be cold by the time Brady got back.
"Maybe Philip was right," Chloe whispered. Chloe noted that she had to go, and she hurried out of the room. John called Brady's phone, but there was no answer. "I don't like it. It's not like him," John whispered. Steve reminded John that Brady had a full plate to deal with, including the fact that Kristen was on the way to prison. "Don't let your imagination run wild. I'm sure Brady is just fine," Steve assured John.
At the water's edge, Philip dumped Brady's unconscious body at the site of the sapling tree. Philip thought about Chloe and Brady's conversation about sex on the conference table. Philip also thought about when Chloe had told him that she was relieved that Philip trusted her. "If I can't have Chloe, you can't, either! You son of a bitch!" Philip yelled. Philip pulled a knife out of his pocket.
Eli returned home, and Lani was in tears on the couch. After Eli comforted his wife, Lani told him about her phone conversation with Tamara. Lani said that Tamara had told Lani that she loved her. "I hope you know that that love is real," Eli said. "I do. It's just I'm not the only one that's gotten hurt. I spread that lie to Abe," Lani said. Lani argued that the lie had broken Abe's heart, too. Eli asked about Lani's conversation with Abe.
"He's just so wonderful, and he said that I will always be his daughter, and nothing will ever change that," Lani said through tears. "I hope you know he means it, Lani," Eli said. Lani nodded yes. "Kristen said the same thing," Lani said. Surprised, Eli asked Lani when she had seen Kristen. Lani said she had visited Kristen to say goodbye before the officers had taken her to Statesville.
"I got a call from the warden. Kristen never showed up to the prison," Eli said. Eli explained that the van had disappeared. "Either there has a been an accident..." Eli said. "Or Kristen has escaped," Lani finished. Worried, Lani said she had talked to Kristen, but she had not helped her escape. "I believe you," Eli said. "You know what, I think I have an idea where Kristen might have gone," Lani said.
Lani and Eli went over to the penthouse to check on Brady and Rachel. "I'm guessing this is the first place [Kristen] would come to," Lani said as she pulled her gun out. "Especially with John and Marlena not around. Easy to get in and out with her daughter," Eli said. "Let's hope we're not too late," Lani whispered.
Once inside the penthouse, a search turned up no Kristen. "The sitter said there was no sign of Kristen -- or Brady, for that matter," Eli said. At the lake, Chloe was startled to see Brady lying unconscious on the ground. "Brady, wake up," Chloe said. Chloe noticed a blood-covered knife nearby.
At the cabin, Marlena begged Ben not to open the door as someone banged on it. The knocking continued. Ciara looked out the window, and she confirmed it was a hiker. "This could be a trap," "Marlena" said. Ben promised "Marlena" that he would protect her.
"[The hiker] is not going away," Ben said. Ben opened the door. The hiker asked for water, and Ciara invited him inside and gave him a bottle. "We don't see many people in this part of the woods," Ben said. The hiker explained that he spent every year in that area on a spiritual retreat, but the stream he used to fill up his canteen had been "desecrated." In the corner, "Marlena" scowled as she listened to the hiker. Ciara offered to fill the hiker's canteen for him.
"Thank heaven for good Samaritans," the hiker said. Ben and Ciara introduced themselves. "Gabriel," the hiker said. Ciara noted that her grandmother had often said a special prayer to Saint Gabriel. "My own mother named me for the archangel," Gabriel said. Gabriel looked at "Marlena," and he asked for her name.
"Did John send you? Is that why you're here?" "Marlena" asked. "Who's John?" Gabriel asked. Ben noted that if John knew they were there, John would have gone to the cabin himself. "Can't be too careful," "Marlena" whispered. Ciara offered food to the hiker, and Ben chuckled about Ciara's pregnancy cravings.
"When's the blessed event?" Gabriel asked. "Not for a few months," Ciara confirmed. Gabriel noticed Ciara's necklace. Ciara explained that "Marlena" had given it to her. "It's supposed to help the angels watch over our baby," Ciara said. "What a thoughtful gift," Gabriel said as he looked at "Marlena." "Marlena" glowered at Gabriel.
While Ciara and Ben whipped up some lunch, Gabriel approached "Marlena" in the corner. "Lovely day, isn't it?" Gabriel asked. "Marlena" flashed her devil eyes at Gabriel, and he smirked. "He sent you, didn't he?" The devil asked telepathically. "God? Yes. It's not the first time. I helped God defeat you 25 years ago, and he will do it again," Gabriel responded.
The conversation continued telepathically. "I've always hated that about you and your type. That holier-than-thou thing. As if there is anything you can do. You're not allowed to interfere in human affairs," the devil said. "I can let you know you're being watched. I know you want that baby, and I know why," Gabriel said. "And you can't say a word to them," the devil said with a grin. Gabriel warned that God would not let the devil hurt the child.
"I wouldn't get too cocky if I were you. I don't know if you've noticed, but my power has grown," the devil said. The devil noted that the world was in shambles. "I'm feeling pretty good about my chances," the devil said. "Only because you fail to see the immense power of the hope, the faith, the light, that good people like Ben and Ciara give the world over every day," Gabriel said. Gabriel told the devil that love would prevail.
Ciara announced that dinner was ready. Gabriel suggested they say grace, and he asked "Marlena" to do the honors. "Of course. I'd be delighted to say grace," "Marlena" said. Gabriel suggested they join hands. "Marlena" said grace, and then she flinched as the others made the sign of the cross and said, "Amen."
