Days of our Lives Recap, August 20, 2025: Kristen is devastated by EJ’s revelation about Rachel

On Days of our Lives today, Wednesday, August 20, 2025, fallout rocks the DiMera mansion, Alex has a big ask of Stephanie, Steve seeks answers, and Gabi sets her sights on a new target.

What Happened on Days of our Lives

In Horton Town Square, Philip checked in to see how Belle was doing with the trial. Belle hoped she had done a good job…just not so good that her nephew would be convicted. Philip had heard about EJ’s actions in court and expressed his sympathy for Belle. He claimed he was sorry about EJ and Belle’s break-up, but Belle didn’t believe him.

Philip conceded that he was actually happy about the split. He regretted giving his support to Belle and EJ even though he had known EJ was no good for her. Philip admitted his own regrets about how he had treated Belle during the forged letter fiasco. Belle considered it “water under the bridge.”

At Steve’s office, Gabi sauntered inside with a bone to pick with Steve about his Freedom of Information Act request. Steve considered it a good thing that the request had Xander “freaking out.” He assured Gabi that his inquiries couldn’t be traced back to her and then gave the seemingly bad news that the request hadn’t turned up anything incriminating.

Steve remained confident that the “Titan boys” were indeed hiding something because of their panicked reactions to a routine inquiry.

Back in the Square, Philip brought Belle up to speed on the mystery inquiry into Titan’s takeover of DiMera Enterprises. Belle believed it could only be one of the DiMeras behind the inquiry. Just then, Gabi walked up to the table. Belle excused herself to take a call while Philip tried to make a quick getaway. Gabi, however, stopped him and said she wanted a word about the company, over lunch. Philip accused Gabi of trying to “butter me up” after she had struck out with Xander, and he affirmed he wasn’t falling for the act.

Philip thought Gabi was trying to make him an ally so she could take back Gabi Chic. He then outright named her as the person seeking intel about the merger. Gabi swore on Arianna’s life that “she” hadn’t made the request for the information. Philip backed off and reluctantly agreed to lunch.

Meanwhile, Belle took her call from Steve. He asked if she could stop by Black Patch. Belle accepted the request.

Later, Belle entered Steve's office and commented about how she hadn’t been to Black Patch since John’s death. She fondly looked at a picture of John and Steve on the desk. Steve reminisced briefly about his first case with John, and he remembered how John’s first paycheck had gone to a gift for Marlena. Belle teared up as Steve told her he was there for the family if they ever needed anything.

Belle thanked Steve and asked about the reason for his call. Steve wanted to ask about a case, and he requested Belle's discretion in the matter. He elaborated on a mystery client’s inquiry into the Titan-DiMera merger. Steve had remembered Belle’s role at the time as Philip’s lawyer.

Belle stopped Steve and said she couldn’t divulge anything due to client confidentiality. Steve understood and thanked Belle. After she departed, though, he called Paul and asked about retrieving ISA records related to Philip’s prior lawsuit against Xander.

At Stephanie’s apartment, Alex arrived to find Stephanie working on her new murder mystery novel. Stephanie bemoaned the novel's challenges, and Alex was more than willing to provide Stephanie with a “distraction." First, he wanted to ask her a favor. He began by recounting his frustration with being unable to unmask “Daniel Lucas,” which made Stephanie guiltily recall her conversation with Steve about the alias. Alex then explained how Xander wanted Stephanie’s PR expertise to head off any fallout from Philip’s lie.

Stephanie offered to recommend someone else for the job, but Alex stressed that Xander wanted her because of her knowledge of the lie and because of her skill. Alex pledged he would tell Xander no if Stephanie was uncomfortable with the job. Stephanie said she’d do it…for Alex. He thanked her profusely, and she indicated she’d do the best job she could. Alex smiled and brought up another matter he wanted to discuss – the matter of what Steve had discovered about him.

Stephanie got a kick out of Alex’s tale of woe regarding his college prank arrest. She joked about including the incident in her next book. Alex saw one bright spot in the whole embarrassing disclosure: he had shared a small bonding moment with Steve, who wasn’t his biggest fan. Later, a toga-clad Stephanie suggestively invited Alex into the bedroom. When she discarded the attire, he eagerly followed.

At the DiMera mansion, EJ became agitated when Rachel started tossing a glass paperweight. He began recalling the night of his shooting, when Rachel had confronted him with a gun. After Rachel dropped the glass and it shattered, she exclaimed “Oh, no!” EJ remembered Rachel saying the same thing that night – after she had shot him. “Oh, my God,” he muttered.

Rachel said she was sorry, but EJ remained silent. Noting his distress, Marlena sent Rachel upstairs to Kristen. She turned to EJ and asked, “You remember, don’t you?” A shaken EJ nodded and said, “My niece was the one who shot me.”

Upstairs, Rachel admired the new snake Kristen had gotten her. When Kristen came into the room, mother and daughter shared an enthusiastic hug. Rachel thanked Kristen for the snake, and Kristen pledged, "I'd do anything for you." Kristen happily planned a mother-daughter outing for Rachel and her. Rachel seemed game, but a frown crossed her face.

Rachel asked if Kristen had sent her away from the mansion because “Uncle EJ” was mad at her. Rachel worried about her uncle’s anger if Johnny was sent to prison. Kristen reassured Rachel that she was only staying with her dad due to the “chaos” at the mansion.

According to Kristen, Rachel also lifted her Grandma Marlena’s spirits, which was another positive for Rachel remaining with Brady. EJ understood why Rachel had to tell the truth about what she had seen. Rachel still seemed concerned about Johnny going to prison, but Kristen promised her that wouldn’t happen. She left Rachel alone temporarily to get them some food.

Back downstairs, Marlena confirmed she had suspected Rachel because of the tone of voice EJ had used under hypnosis when he was “talking” to the shooter. Marlena had also observed how EJ seemed to be at eye level with the shooter while in his seat. More unsettling still had been Rachel’s state of mind since the shooting had happened. EJ had validated Marlena’s worst fear.

EJ, still stunned, remarked, “A child shot me.” He roused from his stupor and grew angry, accusing Rachel of being just like her mother, of lying, and of being willing to let Johnny take the fall for her “heinous crime.” Marlena defended Rachel and stated her belief that Rachel had “dissociative amnesia” due to the trauma of the event.

Marlena cautioned EJ that they needed to proceed delicately or else Rachel could be damaged beyond repair. EJ downed a drink and confessed that he remembered everything, including that Rachel hadn’t intended to shoot him. She had only wanted to know her grandmother’s whereabouts. He lamented about all the lives he had ruined and said, “I only have myself to blame."

Just then, Kristen came into the room and asked what had happened. EJ tried to brace her for “difficult” news and hesitantly said he remembered who had shot him. Kristen impatiently snapped at her brother to just say it. So EJ did. Kristen grew irate and raged at EJ for creating a “despicable fabrication” to exonerate his son.

When Marlena confirmed EJ’s claim, Kristen directed her anger at the psychiatrist. Kristen accused Marlena of favoring Johnny over Rachel because Rachel belonged to Kristen. EJ calmly reiterated that Rachel had shot him. EJ and Marlena explained that the sound of the paperweight crashing to the floor had triggered his memory, and Kristen scoffed. But her expression changed after EJ described the pajamas Rachel had been wearing that night.

Horrifying realization dawned on Kristen as EJ recounted how Rachel had picked the gun up that Johnny had left behind and had demanded he tell her about her grandma. EJ also reminded Kristen that she had been upstairs in the shower at the time, believing Rachel to be asleep.

Marlena added that EJ’s recollection explained Rachel’s recent distress. While the truth sunk in for Kristen, EJ affirmed that he didn’t want to hurt Rachel but hinted he might not have a choice. “I won’t sacrifice my son for your daughter,” he said. Marlena encouraged the siblings to take a step back and have a frank discussion about next steps. She went upstairs to be with Rachel while they talked.

As soon as Marlena left the room, Kristen begged EJ not to turn Rachel in. She feared Rachel’s already-fragile state could be shattered. Kristen fretted that she couldn’t lose her daughter again. She ruled out going on the run with Rachel because of how that plan had previously ended. While she bemoaned her choices, EJ urged her to calm down and think it over.

EJ cautioned that Kristen couldn’t wait too long to arrive at a plan of action because his son’s future was just as much on the line as Rachel’s future. Despite the fact that EJ loved Rachel, he couldn’t let his son go down for a crime she had committed. EJ advised a distraught Kristen that unless she came up with a way to ensure Johnny’s freedom, he would have to come forward with the truth.

Upstairs, Marlena tensed when Rachel off-handedly commented that her snake sometimes escaped from its cage. Rachel wondered if Marlena would mind if Rachel went back home. Marlena assured the little girl it was fine as long as Rachel visited often. Rachel gladly made the promise, then she grew serious again and asked Marlena if it was true that Johnny would go free. With a sad smile, Marlena declared she was “more sure than ever” that Johnny would be found innocent.

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