Days of our Lives Recap, August 4, 2025: Sami returns to grieve with Marlena

On Days of our Lives today, Monday, August 4, 2025, Johnny reconnects with his mom, Chad and Cat’s sudden disappearances worry loved ones, and the trapped duo continues to bond.

What Happened on Days of our Lives

In the hospital elevator, Cat called out in her sleep for someone to stop. When she jerked awake, a concerned Chad asked about her dream. Cat would only say she had an awful nightmare that had been recurring since she’d been in the car accident. Both Chad and she lamented how worried their families likely were about them. Frustrated at being trapped all night, Cat decided to take matters into her own hands.

She removed her shoes and asked Chad to give her “a boost.” He complied, but the impromptu plan didn’t yield any results. Chad joked about Cat’s failed attempt to implement an idea she’d rejected when he'd suggested it. Their banter resulted in a close moment, but Chad stepped away and apologized.

At the Horton house, Julie asked JJ if Chad had taken the kids to their Harry Potter camp yet. JJ informed her the kids were still sleeping…and he had no idea of Chad’s whereabouts. JJ called Leo to confirm Chad hadn’t come in to work. After he got off the phone, JJ promised a worried Julie that he would look into it as soon as he reported to the station for work.

In Horton Town Square, Chanel and Johnny strolled through the area, arm-in-arm. They chatted about his sister Sydney’s recovery from her injury and about his mom’s short-term visit to Salem. Felicity raced up to Chanel, however, and ended the couple’s conversation. Felicity begged Chanel to help her find her sister Cat, who had gone missing. She explained that she hadn’t seen Cat since Cat had left for work the previous day.

Johnny took Chanel aside and suggested they get in touch with the police. Chanel assured Johnny she would handle it and urged him to go see Sami. After Johnny left, Chanel went with Felicity to the police station.

At Marlena’s place, Marlena discovered a crying Sami in her living room. Marlena wrapped her daughter in a comforting hug. When she pulled back, Sami admitted how much she had missed her mom, and Marlena returned the sentiment. Sami sat down with Marlena and opened up about her regrets in not being there to hold Marlena’s hand during the funeral, not calling and visiting more often, and about her many regrets concerning John. She wished she had thanked him for being her “Girl Scout cookie mom” and for always arranging picnics for her at their house during her childhood. He had loved her like a daughter despite her cruelty towards him.

“You were his daughter” and “you were in his heart,” Marlena affirmed. She gushed about how John adored Sami and never considered anything he did for her an obligation or a burden. Sami confessed she adored John as well, even when she had blamed him for everything wrong in her life and when she had “hated him for loving you.” Sami remembered how John calling Marlena “Doc” had always elicited an eye roll from her, but Sami would give anything to hear him say it one more time. She again broke down in Marlena’s arms.

Marlena told Sami that John knew how she really felt and insisted John would not want Sami to have any regrets. She encouraged Sami to think of John sitting there and telling one of his long-winded but funny baseball stories. Sami smiled and said she could imagine it. John had always been “bigger than life” but "eternally optimistic." Marlena reassured Sami that John had been proud of the woman she had become. Sami dabbed at her eyes, announcing she had to pull herself together before Johnny’s arrival.

Marlena believed they had both needed to cry, and it had been a catharsis for them. Sami pledged she would be there for Marlena any time her mom needed someone to lean on. They were interrupted by a knock at the door. It was Johnny who embraced his mother and conveyed how happy he was to see her. When he came inside, Marlena excused herself to give mother and son alone time.

As Johnny and Sami caught up, Johnny told his mom he didn’t expect her to be at his trial, since it would be difficult. Sami believed it was a good thing that EJ was defending Johnny, and she expressed relief that Johnny had come to a place of forgiveness with EJ. Johnny said that’s what his Grandpa John would have wanted.

Sami teared up as she thought back to naming Johnny after John and how proud John had been when he’d gotten to meet his namesake. Johnny also teared up and clarified that he was the one who was proud to be named after John. Following an emotional hug with Sami, Johnny indicated he needed to get ready for his trial and said his goodbyes.

At the hospital, Julie tried Chad's phone again. When Marlena approached, Julie filled her friend in on Chad’s disappearance. Mid-sentence, Julie caught sight of an “Out of Order” sign on the elevator. “You don’t suppose…” she trailed off.

Marlena and Julie rushed over to the elevator and called out for Chad. Julie was relieved when he answered, but far less enthused when she realized Cat was in the elevator with him. “Keep your hands off Abigail’s husband,” Julie groused.

At the police station, Chanel and Felicity arrived just as JJ was putting out a BOLO for Chad. When JJ learned that Cat had also vanished, he theorized that Chad and she could be together. Felicity hoped that was the case. JJ left to follow up, while Chanel comforted Felicity.

When JJ returned, he updated Chanel and Felicity on the BOLO and explained the concept to Felicity. But a call from Julie alerting JJ to Chad’s ordeal in the elevator soon put to rest to the trio’s fears. Chanel thanked JJ and took Felicity to reunite with Cat.

Back at the hospital, Marlena and Julie stepped aside to allow the repair crew to do their work. Marlena observed that Julie seemed more worried about Chad than she had been when she hadn’t known his location. Julie launched into a tirade against Cat, calling the other woman a “parasite” who had probably arranged the whole elevator mishap.

Marlena defended Cat and got Julie to see that her theory was a little out there. Marlena also noted that Julie was still referring to Chad as Abigail’s husband. Julie believed that Chad and Abigail had experienced a one-of-a-kind love, just like Julie and Marlena had themselves. Julie would always consider herself Doug’s wife, Marlena would always see herself as John’s wife, and Chad would always be Abigail’s husband in Julie's eyes.

Marlena understood Julie’s feelings about Doug. She reminded Julie that they could both comfort themselves with the cherished memories built over the years: a process that was “cut tragically short” for Chad and Abigail. Marlena didn’t think Julie would want Chad to go the rest of his life without finding love again. Julie assured Marlena she wanted happiness for Chad, but she stressed that happiness couldn’t come with Cat.

Right as Julie made the statement against Cat, Felicity and Chanel approached. Chanel tried to redirect the conversation and asked about Chad and Cat. Julie put on a smile and promised Felicity her sister would be fine.

Meanwhile, in the elevator, Chad and Cat's tensions eased after they learned of their imminent rescue – until a sudden jolt of the elevator sent Cat tumbling into Chad’s arms.

Back outside, the elevator repairman came up and informed the group that the elevator was almost fixed. Just then, however, Chad and Cat called for help, alarming Julie anew.

Julie, Marlena, and Felicity gathered around the elevator as the repairman awaited its arrival. When the doors finally opened, Chad and Cat were caught in a clinch. The repairman made a crack about the duo “taking the plunge." While Felicity smiled, Julie glared.

After she left Felicity with Marlena and Julie, Chanel met up again with Johnny in Horton Town Square. She updated him on the Cat and Chad situation. He admitted how good it had felt to see his mom and reminisce about John. He was just sorry he had given her one more thing to worry about.

Back at Marlena's place, Sami started crying anew and walked up to John’s picture. She was grateful for how John loved her mother and his family. “Because the Bradys…we are your family,” Sami tearfully added. Taking the picture into her hands, she marveled at John’s capacity for “tough love,” especially for the people “who needed it the most and appreciated it the least.”

Sami continued, “I appreciate you, your kindness, and your big heart.” She apologized for blaming John every time she felt insecure and unhappy. She wished she had told him before, “but I thought you’d always be here,” Sami sobbed, gazing at the picture. “I thought I had plenty of time."

Sami calmed and thanked John. “You are such a big part of who I am,” she mused, recalling a time when John had learned Sami was engaged to Lucas. Sami had been touched because she’d believed John would want to warn Lucas off marrying her, but instead John had said how proud he was of Sami. She had gotten emotional when John mentioned Marlena and had run off; John had followed her and given her a big hug. Sami hugged John’s picture tightly to her as she cried, “I would do anything to get one more big hug from you.”

Sami had another memory of when she had been accused of Franco Kelly’s murder. John had visited her in jail and had reassured Sami that she would be exonerated. Sami had extracted a promise from him to look over Roman and Marlena. Sami had expressed lingering concern about Stefano’s ongoing obsession with her mom, and John had pledged he would protect her from Stefano.

Sami made the same vow to John’s photo. John could “rest easy" because she would protect Marlena. Sami then made one final pledge: “I just want you to know that you will always, always live in my heart. That’s a fact.”

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