Days of our Lives Recap, August 11, 2025: Marlena agrees to counsel a challenging new patient

On Days of our Lives today, Monday, August 11, 2025, a fight nearly erupts at the Bistro, Belle lashes out at EJ, and Chad takes care of Cat.

What Happened on Days of our Lives

At Cat’s apartment, Chad applied a cold compress to Cat’s head. Distressed, she called out in her sleep. As Chad tried to comfort her, she suddenly kissed him. Almost immediately, Cat stopped the kiss and lamented how much she had already hurt Chad. She couldn’t hurt him again. Chad promised her he would be fine, since his immune system was “strong as an ox” due to the kids.

Cat continued saying she was sorry and eventually fell back asleep. Later, Chad got off the phone with Kayla, who had told him she would be sending antibiotics for both Cat and Chad. Cat tried to get up to check on Felicity, but Chad assured her that Felicity’s own medication was doing the trick. His priority was watching over Cat, which he did as she bundled herself in her blankets.

Later, Chad called Julie and filled her in on his exposure to a “nasty virus.” He informed her that he’d need to be on antibiotics for 24 hours before he could return home. After the call, he went back to tending Cat. After Chad gave Cat her medication, she roused and thanked him for staying overnight. When Cat anxiously asked if she had kissed him, Chad lied and said it must have been a dream.

At Marlena’s place, Belle ranted about EJ as she came through the door with Marlena. Belle remembered how everyone had tried to warn her, but Marlena attributed Belle’s previous defense of EJ to her love for him. “The only thing I feel now for that man is hate,” Belle pledged. She was thankful that at least Sami was no longer around to rub EJ’s betrayal in her face. Marlena defended Sami and said to Belle that her sister would know better than anyone Belle’s feelings about EJ.

Belle wasn’t so sure but thanked Marlena for being a support system during the ordeal. Marlena took comfort in Belle apparently having moved on from EJ, and she mentioned her scheduled hypnosis session with EJ the following day. Belle hoped EJ could finally remember something useful, so at least the family could put the stress of the trial behind them. The moment lightened when Belle made a joke about Marlena hypnotizing EJ to walk into traffic. Marlena affirmed she was only helping EJ to help Johnny.

Marlena invited Belle for an evening walk, but Belle declined, claiming she had notes to go over for the trial. After Marlena left, however, Belle soon made her own exit.

At the DiMera mansion, EJ made a beeline for the drink bar. He thought back to Belle dumping him and slammed his fist on the bar. Just then, Gwen entered the room and asked EJ, “What the hell is the matter with you?” EJ winced in pain and would only say that he’d done several “very stupid things.” Gwen offered to get him aspirin, but he insisted no medicine could “dull the pain” he felt.

Later, Gwen returned to the room and announced her aspirin search had come up empty, as all she had managed to find was a bag marked "Property of Dr. Rolf." EJ mused that Stefano had believed in “embracing the pain,” especially given the family was usually the source of headaches. Gwen made a crack about being universally hated in town and left the mansion to fetch some medication.

EJ was surprised when Belle paid him an unexpected visit. She assured him that she still hated him, but she needed to set “a few things straight.” Belle caught EJ off guard with her revelation about the threats to her job coming from the attorney general. He attempted to say he wouldn’t have disclosed their affair in court if he had known, but Belle angrily cut him off and compared him to Stefano. Just like EJ’s father had used Belle’s father as his “pawn,” EJ had used Belle in the same way because he hated losing.

Belle harshly added that EJ was worse than Stefano; at least Stefano had owned his bad nature. EJ affirmed that he loved Belle with all his heart. Belle found the words empty. They proved her point that EJ used meaningless declarations and promises in order to get what he wanted. Belle emphatically told him she was done, and if he tried to sabotage her career again, she would report him to the bar association. She stormed out the door, leaving a devastated EJ behind.

At the Bistro, Brady tried to talk Xander down from his enraged state. As Gabi attempted to pull Xander away, an angry Sarah rose and let Xander know that Victoria was home asleep, that Xander was in “no state” to take care of her, and that – like Xander – she could do “whatever the hell” she wanted. With the last assertion, Sarah pulled Brady into a kiss. After the kiss ended, Xander took a drunken swing at Brady, but Brady blocked the attack.

Later, Brady and Sarah returned to their table. Brady called Xander a "menace" and remarked that if Gabi hadn’t gotten Xander out of there, he would have given his uncle the fight Xander had been seeking. Sarah apologized for “provoking” Xander, especially when she knew that Xander had attacked Brady with a baseball bat. She also apologized for using Brady to make Xander jealous. Brady said the kiss had obviously been successful in that regard.

Sarah noted with embarrassment that everyone in the restaurant seemed to be staring at them. Brady suggested they go elsewhere for dinner, but Sarah asked for a raincheck instead. “And I won’t surprise-kiss you next time,” she added, which elicited a smile from Brady.

Outside the Bistro, Gabi dressed down Xander for causing a scene that would reflect badly on the company and that could potentially endanger his custody agreement. She ordered him to get himself together while she went back inside and paid their bill.

Later, Gabi returned and updated Xander on their banned status at the Bistro. Xander saw Sarah and Brady leaving and approached them, despite Gabi’s protests. Xander apologized to Brady for the attack and expressed hope they could move past it. Brady refused and announced he was tired of Xander’s “chaos and crap,” which neither he nor Sarah deserved. Xander started to apologize to Sarah, but she stopped him and asked for a moment alone with him.

Brady told Sarah to call if she needed anything and left, as did Gabi. Before Xander could speak, Sarah said she was over his excuses and apologies. He either started anger management therapy with Marlena immediately, or the next time he would see Victoria would be at the girl’s wedding.

Xander promised he would call and make the appointment, and Sarah was upset when she learned that he hadn’t contacted Marlena yet. An approaching Marlena heard her name and asked what she could do for them. Xander said both Sarah and he agreed that he needed Marlena’s help. Marlena suggested they get a cup of coffee in the Bistro and talk over Xander’s request. He sheepishly admitted he had been barred from the establishment.

Marlena then invited Xander for coffee at her hospital office, where they could talk. Xander accepted the invitation and thanked Marlena. As the duo left, Sarah mouthed a silent “thank you” to Marlena. Sarah’s bad day only got worse when Gwen strolled up to her and immediately snarked about Sarah’s marriage being “in the rubbish heap.” Sarah tried to act unfazed and declared herself well rid of Xander…until Gwen breezily stated that Xander had moved on already – with her.

Sarah wasn’t buying Gwen’s claims. She didn’t believe Xander would be that desperate, and she’d just seen Xander kissing someone else. Gwen was thrown for a moment, but her smirk returned. She suggested that Sarah ask “Mattie,” aka Leo, about having seen Gwen and Xander enter the Salem Inn together.

Gwen needled Sarah further by implying that Xander and she had easily picked up where they had left off. Satisfied that her job was done, Gwen sauntered away.

Outside the Brady Pub, Gabi gave her own apology to Brady. He blamed the public spectacle on Xander but was curious as to why Gabi had kissed his uncle. Gabi blew it off as an impulse and invited Brady to dinner inside. Their talk turned to the tensions at Titan-DiMera. Brady wished he had gotten Basic Black out from under Titan control while he had the chance, and Gabi expressed the same wish for Gabi Chic. Brady cautioned Gabi to steer clear of Xander and his hostility.

When they sat down for their meal, Brady opened up to Gabi about the pressure he felt to protect Basic Black, which was John’s legacy. Brady also believed he should do a better job of filling the enormous gap John’s absence had left in Salem, but his many failures were preventing him from following in John’s footsteps. Gabi acknowledged John’s larger-than-life heroic persona, but she saw many of his father’s traits in Brady: generosity, kindness, and loyalty to family.

Brady expressed frustration at the helplessness he felt to change things. Gabi coyly suggested that he stay patient because change might be coming sooner than Brady thought.

At the hospital, Marlena invited Xander to take a seat in her office and offered him coffee. She wanted to begin their talk by addressing Xander’s seeming resistance to therapy. Xander confessed that his reluctance was driven largely by his fear. He was afraid of the deep anger inside and how it seemed to control him at times. He wondered why Marlena wanted to help him after what he had done to her.

Marlena reminded Xander that she had treated many people over the years who had done harm to her family. She considered it her job to stay professional. Xander deemed himself Marlena’s most “hopeless” case yet.

Marlena didn’t believe it was a lost cause, provided Xander was willing to put in the work and to be “open” and “vulnerable.” She challenged him on whether he was ready to meet those terms. “Yes, I am,” Xander responded with seeming sincerity.

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