Days of our Lives Recap, May 23, 2025: The warehouse raid goes horribly wrong

Here's what went down in Salem today on the Days of our Lives episode recap for Friday, May 23, 2025.

What happened on Days of our Lives

In a hospital room, Hope kissed an unconscious Bo. “Happy Anniversary, Brady. I know you can hear me, so I am going to just keep talking,” Hope said. Hope thought about her first wedding to Bo, when Bo had told her that she had made him feel alive. “I want you to know, I’m gonna try my hardest to keep our love alive,” Bo had said that day. Hope smiled at the memory.

“I still can’t believe you stole a milk truck, and got arrested before our wedding. And if that wasn’t enough, you stole a horse, too, so you wouldn’t be late. 40 years. It seems like just yesterday, doesn’t it?” Hope said. Ciara walked in, and she stood in the doorway as she listened to her mother talk to her father. “I wish that we could do it all over again,” Hope said. “Mom?” Ciara said. Hope hugged her daughter, and she thanked her for being there.

“Chelsea’s on her way,” Hope said. “And Shawn?” Ciara asked. Hope confirmed that she hoped Shawn would arrive in time. With tears in her eyes, Ciara said, “I’m so scared.” Hope hugged her daughter tightly. Hope explained that the doctors had removed Bo from isolation so that his family could spend his last moments with him. “The priest gave him his last rites, but I think that he’s waiting to give you all a chance to tell him how much you love him,” Hope said. Hope rested her head on Bo’s chest.

Ciara confirmed that Ben was with the kids at a nearby hotel. “I know that daddy’s not gonna give up. He’s gonna fight with everything that he has,” Ciara said. “And so will we,” Hope countered. Hope asked Ciara to stay with Bo while she stepped out.

At the Horton house, Julie called Hope and left her a voicemail to wish her a happy anniversary. “Please know that I am sending you and Bo all my love and all my prayers. And call me back when you get a chance, okay?” Julie said. Julie ended the call, and she stared at a wedding photo of Bo and Hope. “Been a long road. But we helped each other, didn’t we?” Julie said. Julie thought about when she had helped Bo secretly meet up with Hope, and she smiled. Julie grabbed a photo of Doug.

“Darling, if there’s anything you can do to help Bo and Hope. In this great mystery, there must be somebody up there who owes you a favor. And well, please, if there ever was a moment to call it in, this is it,” Julie said. Julie clutched Doug’s photo to her chest. Julie wished Doug a happy anniversary, and she said that she thought of him every hour.

“Your beautiful blue eyes. The way you always looked at me with so much delight. Your smile that would light up the whole room. And your voice singing those love songs to me. I hear them in my mind. I feel them in my heart. And that’ll just have to do for now. Till we meet again,” Julie said. Julie kissed the photo.

When Marlena stopped by Kayla’s office, she was surprised that Marlena was not with John. Marlena told Kayla that John had met up with Steve to help in the search for a drug. As Kayla nodded solemnly, Marlena said, “You knew that, didn’t you?” Kayla confirmed that she was aware of Steve’s mission to save Bo, but she had not known about John. Kayla told Marlena that the drug in question was Versavix, which had been stolen from the lab.

“I thought it was still in early trials,” Marlena said. “It is. That’s why it’s risky and there are no guarantees. I mean, not to mention the ethical dilemma that has been tearing me apart. But you know, it’s the only thing that could actually save my brother, so I’m sorry that we didn’t share it with you. And I’m sorry that it’s delayed John’s homecoming,” Kayla said. With a smile, Marlena noted that she and John had the rest of their lives to spend together.

“Of course [John] is going to help Bo. I mean, Bo was always like a brother; he was a brother to him,” Marlena said. “Steve felt the same way,” Kayla agreed. Kayla thought about a moment with her brother Bo when she had given him Steve’s leather jacket. “That’s his. You don’t want me to have it,” Bo had said. Kayla had told Bo that Steve would have wanted him to have it. Kayla sighed at the memory.

“You and I have always prided ourselves in being strong, independent, self-sufficient women. But there have been so many times in my life when those three guys have really stepped up for me. And for others in ways that were just–,” Kayla started. “Exceptional,” Marlena finished. Kayla smiled, and she noted that the only downside was that there were moments of uncertainty about whether they would return home. “But Steve did come back to me when I didn’t think he would, and so did John,” Kayla said. Kayla noted that their group had been lucky because after years of dangerous challenges, the men had always fought and returned home.

“But what if Bo never gets to do that again?” Kayla said. “If he can’t, everybody is gonna do the fighting for him. They will get it done. And as far as we go, yes, we are strong, independent women. And we will always be there. We will always be optimistic, as will everybody who loves Bo so much,” Marlena said. Kayla nodded in agreement.

Over a cup of tea, Kayla reminded Marlena of when Bo had helped their mother with a clinical trial for her dementia. “I can imagine that [Caroline] is looking down on everybody right now and wanting you to know that you’re doing the right thing, and it’s all going to turn out okay,” Marlena said. With a sigh, Kayla urged Marlena to go home and wait for John. Marlena said she was too excited to wait at home. “John will get his mission accomplished, and then he’ll come home to the woman he loves,” Kayla said.

In the alley outside the warehouse where Steve and Shawn suspected the Versavix was being held, Steve and Shawn argued in front of Dr. Jeffrey Russell about whether to charge into the building or not. “We are running out of time. We’ve got to do something,” Shawn insisted. A hooded figure approached, and Steve chuckled as he greeted his friend.

“Dr. Russell, let me introduce John Black. You can also count on him to save the day. Isn’t that right, partner?” Steve said. “That’s a fact,” John said. John got to work on the security system. Worried, Jeffrey expressed his concerns to Steve about the number of people who knew about the theft of the drug. Steve assured Jeffrey that John was a discreet friend who was an expert at cracking security systems.

“When I called him, he was on his way home from a long, overseas mission, but he insisted on showing up here. Because that’s the kind of man he is. So stop worrying, Dr. Russell. And start being thankful that John Black is here,” Steve said. Shawn found Asher’s phone outside. Jeffrey lamented that his life’s work was locked up in a meth lab. Shawn admitted he did not know if Asher had dropped his phone on the way in the building or on the way out. After Steve checked in with John, he told Shawn that there was a redundant security system.

“John has one covered,” Steve said. “And I’ve got the other one,” Hope said as she walked up. Surprised, Shawn asked his mother why she was there. Hope explained that once she had heard about the situation, she had been eager to help instead of waiting around. After Hope checked in with John, they disabled the alarm. Hope asked Jeffrey to accompany them inside so that he could identify the drug.

Inside the warehouse, a man was unconscious on the floor. Hope and John crept into the room with Jeffrey, and the three of them donned suits and masks to protect themselves from the atmosphere inside. As Jeffrey pointed out his drug, the man who had been on the floor roused and tackled Jeffrey. The man started to choke Jeffrey as fumes from knocked-over chemicals started to fill the air. Hope pulled the assailant off of Jeffrey, and she assured him that they meant no harm.

“I’ll kill you!” the man yelled as he lunged at Jeffrey with a knife. John wrestled the man for control of the knife. As a fire started to grow in the corner, John yelled at Hope and Jeffrey to get out. Hope pushed Jeffrey out the door as John wrestled with the assailant on the ground.

Outside, Shawn worried aloud that he should be with his father instead of at the warehouse. Steve reassured Shawn not to second-guess his choice because Hope appeared to believe that it was possible to secure a dose of the drug.

“I want to believe that more than anything. But if we fail, and I chose to stay here, that means that I can never say goodbye to my dad,” Shawn said. Steve put his hand on Shawn’s shoulder. “I know you’re scared. I know you blame yourself for what happened to your dad. But let me tell you something, when it comes to Bo Brady, failure is not an option,” Steve said.

As Hope and Jeffrey stumbled outside, Steve asked what had happened. Hope shoved Jeffrey toward Steve, and she attempted to run back inside. Flames flared up and prevented her entry. After the firefighters arrived and put out the flames, Steve and Hope fought to get inside to look for John. “We found a body,” a firefighter confirmed.

When the firefighters returned, they had John on a gurney. They confirmed that John was alive but badly burned. “John saved me,” Jeffrey said. “Now we have to save him,” Steve said. Steve and Hope reassured John that they would take care of him. John opened his hand to reveal a vial of Versavix. “Go save Bo,” John whispered.

In Kayla’s office, she told Marlena that there had been an explosion at a warehouse. “Shawn and Steve are okay,” Kayla said. “And John?” Marlena asked. Kayla confirmed that John was severely injured.

In Bo’s hospital room, Ciara sat next to her father, and she commented on how strange it was to see him so still. “Did I ever tell you that Ben fixed your bike for me after I kind of sort of totalled it?” Ciara said. After a moment, Ciara started to cry.

“I would give anything to be able to fix you, Daddy, so we could just go, get out on the road or go out at sea,” Ciara said. Ciara admitted that she had dreamed that Bo would be able to teach her kids about engines and sailing. “I’m married to a wonderful man now. Ben. And he is a great father to our children, Bo and Addie. Just like you always were to me. You always made me feel so safe and loved. Even when we were all struggling when mom was gone and it was just the two of us,” Ciara said. Ciara told Bo that she remembered what he had said to her.

“If you get lonely, you just hold on to your necklace, okay, and know how much mommy and daddy love you. And you’re the most important thing to us in the world,” Bo had said. Ciara had given her father a hair bow as a reminder of her for him. Ciara sniffled as she thought about the memory. “I’m gonna say that to my kids too,” Ciara said.

Bo dreamed of walking through the Salem Town square, and he found Ciara’s bow on the ground. “Ciara?” Bo said. Bo saw the plaque for Alice and Tom, and he said hello to them. “What the hell am I doing here? Why am I in Salem?” Bo wondered aloud in his dream.

At Bo’s bedside, Ciara talked about Bo’s strong connection to Hope. “Even after everything you’ve been through. Having to give up one child and then losing another. Oh my god, now that I’m a mother, I can’t even imagine how you guys did it,” Ciara said. Ciara thought about a memory from her childhood when they had visited Zack’s grave. Ciara started to sob, and she wondered aloud how to say goodbye to her father. After Ciara calmed down, she lamented that she had acted out in her younger years. “I really wish I had realized sooner how blessed I am to be your daughter, to be a Brady, and to have a place as special as Salem to come home to.

In Bo’s dream, he saw a bouquet of flowers fall to the ground, and he noted that they were funeral flowers. “That’s not good,” Bo muttered. Bo walked over to the pub, and he grinned as he looked inside the window at Steve and Kayla eating chowder. Bo went inside, and he overheard Steve and Kayla talking about him. When Bo said hello, they reacted as if they could not hear him. “Can’t you hear me?” Bo cried out. Neither Steve nor Kayla reacted.

Bo reappeared outside the pub. Confused, Bo turned the handle, but the door would not open. Bo yelled out to Steve and Kayla inside, but they still could not hear him. “What the hell is happening? You guys, I’m here!” Bo said.

In Bo’s hospital room, his monitors started to beep. Ciara ran out of the room calling for help. A doctor ran back in with Ciara, and she examined Bo. “Daddy, please stay with us,” Ciara begged as she held her father’s hand. The doctor stabilized Bo. “Mom, where are you?” Ciara whispered.

At the Salem hospital nurses’ station, Steve informed Jeffrey that his assailant had died in the fire. “I just can’t believe how this all went down,” Jeffrey said. “Me neither. You know it turns out, John not only saved your life. He saved your life’s work,” Steve said. Steve handed Jeffrey a box with the other vials of Versavix. Jeffrey gasped. “How did this survive the explosion?” Jeffrey asked. “The firefighters said that John protected the tray with his body,” Steve said. Overwhelmed, Steve sat in a chair and wept.

In a hospital room down the hallway, Marlena sat next to John, who was bandaged from head to toe. “How bad is it?” Marlena asked Kayla. Kayla confirmed that John’s respiratory system was severely compromised, and that he had third-degree burns on over 30% of his body. “I’ve called the kids. They’re on their way in,” Marlena stammered. When Kayla suggested that Marlena could go to the chapel, she refused. “I just got him back. I’m not leaving him. Not now. Not ever,” Marlena said.

At Bo’s hospital, Hope arrived with Shawn. “Where have you been?” Ciara said. Hope explained that they had secured a drug that might save Bo. “I’ll explain everything later. This might be the miracle we’ve been praying for,” Hope said. Shawn thanked Hope. Hope kneeled next to Bo and said, “Don’t you dare leave me on our anniversary. You fight.” After the doctor spoke to Kayla, she returned to the room to administer the dose of Versavix. The family prayed aloud as they waited for the drug to take effect.

In Salem, Marlena whispered to John, “I know you’re exhausted. Please don’t leave us now.” Steve walked in, and he put a hand on Marlena’s shoulder. “You know, Stefano may have called himself the Phoenix, but he had nothing on John Black,” Steve said. John thought about moments from his life, good and bad. John whispered, “I love you, Doc.” The monitors started to blare. “He’s coding,” Kayla yelled as she rushed out of the room to call for a crash cart. Kayla asked Marlena to leave the room, but she refused. Steve pulled Marlena into the corner to keep out of the way. “John! I’m right here! I love you too!” Marlena called out.

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