Days of our Lives Recap, August 5, 2025: Susan is unnerved by a darkness in Marlena

Here’s your Days of our Lives recap for Tuesday, August 5, 2025, when Sarah gave Marlena confusing news, Chad asked Julie not to share her opinions about Cat, and Xander showed some jealousy toward Sarah.

What happened on Days of our Lives

In the Hernandez kitchen, Gabi stole Rafe’s coffee to prepare herself for her meeting with Xander. “I also have a very important meeting this morning,” Rafe countered. Rafe declined to discuss his work. When Gabi asked about a partner, Rafe lied and said he did not have one.

At the hospital, Chad and Cat thanked Julie and Marlena for realizing that they had been trapped in the elevator. When Cat noted that it was lucky that no one got hurt, Julie muttered under her breath, “Pity.”

Marlena pointedly asked Julie to join her for coffee, and Julie reluctantly walked away with Marlena over to the coffee cart. “I know you’re not overly fond of Cat, but maybe you could try to hide your disdain,” Marlena said. “I did,” Julie said. Julie argued that Cat was as conniving as Gabi.

Chad apologized to Cat. Cat said she understood. “Before the elevator went haywire, it felt like you were going to tell me something. What was that?” Cat asked. Chad said he did not remember. Julie walked over and handed a cup of coffee to Chad. With a forced smile, Julie explained to Cat that it had been the last bit of coffee in the pot.

After Cat left, Julie joked that Cat was in a rush to trick her next victim. “How you feel about Cat is up to you, okay? It’s not my place to change your mind. But I’d ask that that go both ways,” Chad said. Julie refused to approve of Chad’s relationship with Cat. Chad argued that as a grown man, he did not want anyone to dictate his social circle.

“I know that you are just trying to protect what Abigail and I had, and that you don’t want anyone to replace her in my heart. I get that. But no one ever will. No one ever could,” Chad said. With tears in her eyes, Julie noted that it made her ill to see Chad with Cat. “You can hate Cat if you want. But I don’t want to see it or hear about it anymore,” Chad said.

“I hope you know it just comes from a place of love,” Julie said. Chad said he knew that, and he hugged Julie. “And I hope you know how much I appreciate the love that you give me and the kids,” Chad said. With a sad smile, Julie noted that since Doug’s death, her time with the children had been the best part of her day, including taking them to the bookstore.

After a moment, Julie asked Chad if he would like to buy his children’s favorite store. Chad suggested that Julie buy the bookstore. Julie reminded Chad that she was retired. “You talk about how bored you are,” Chad noted. Chad argued that a bookstore was the perfect fit for Julie.

In the DiMera living room, Johnny talked to Susan about his visit with Sami. EJ noted that it would be good to have Sami in court to support Johnny. Johnny clarified that Sami would not be in court. Susan warned EJ that Sami was still obsessed with him.

Johnny explained that Sami had returned home to see Marlena and pay her respects to John. “And we both agreed that it would be best if she continued to support me from a distance, especially since Sydney still needs her right now. And given the emotions that will probably stir up,” Johnny said. “And I can respect that,” EJ said. Susan disagreed. EJ stressed that there was no danger of his reconciling with Sami.

“She acts like you’re evil incarnate when she got the nasty streak a mile long,” Susan grumbled. “That’s my mom you’re talking about,” Johnny said. Susan apologized, and she noted that, unlike Sami, EJ’s bad instincts were because of Stefano. EJ agreed that, unlike him, Sami had two good people as parents. “Three actually if you count my Grandpa John,” Johnny added. Susan noted that though Roman and John were good people, she was worried that Marlena’s dark streak would reemerge.

“Deep trouble is residing within Dr. Marlena Evans,” Susan predicted. Johnny asked why, but EJ insisted that Johnny leave him alone with Susan. Johnny reluctantly left. “What’s going on with you?” EJ asked. Susan explained that she had felt upsetting vibes from Marlena. “The woman is mourning,” EJ said. EJ asked Susan to concentrate her psychic abilities on finding the shooter instead.

When Johnny returned to the living room, Susan was gone. “I’m sorry [Susan] upset you,” EJ said. Johnny admitted that Susan’s comments about Marlena had reminded him of when Johnny had been angry at EJ. “I don’t wanna be that person ever again,” Johnny said. “The grace that you and Samantha have afforded me is far more than I deserve,” EJ said. EJ said he had felt like a better man after he had woken from his coma, but he felt like he needed to regress to his old ways. EJ stressed that no matter how ruthless he was in court, it was only to protect Johnny.

Xander dreamed that he made love to Sarah, and she told him that she missed him and would always love him. When Xander got to work, his melancholy continued as he stared at a photo of Sarah until Gabi arrived. “You are late,” Xander grumbled. Gabi handed the sales report to Xander. Xander noted he was not surprised by the good sales numbers.

“Aren’t you glad that you gave up trying to take your company and run?” Xander said. “Well, I didn’t have a choice. But it turns out you and I make a pretty good team,” Gabi countered. Xander asked about Ariana. Gabi thanked Xander for his help. As Xander noted that he understood how much Gabi had wanted to keep her daughter safe, he glanced over at his desk photo. Gabi noticed.

Gabi offered to take Xander to lunch as a thank you. “What’s going on here, Gabi?” Xander asked. Gabi stressed that she just wanted to thank him. “It’s how you’re trying that concerns me,” Xander said. Xander shifted nervously in his chair.

“It’s not like I’m trying to ask you on a date,” Gabi said. “You’re not?” Xander said. Gabi looked over at the photo, and she said she knew that Xander was happily married. “Or unhappily at the moment,” Gabi added. Xander admitted that he was legally separated from Sarah. When Xander said he was too busy for lunch, Gabi changed it to dinner. Xander hesitantly accepted. An employee called to tell Xander about a Freedom of Information Act request about the Titan acquisition of DiMera.

“Assuming the takeover is legit, and I’m sure it is, what do you need to worry about?” Gabi asked. Xander dismissed Gabi from their meeting. Gabi called Tony to tell him that she planned to pump Xander for information over dinner.

At the hospital, Marlena met up with Sarah. Marlena told Sarah about Chad and Cat having gotten stuck in the elevator. “I told EJ last night that the elevators had been on the fritz the last couple of days, and he did nothing,” Sarah said. With a scowl, Marlena noted, “Let’s hear it for the new owner of the hospital not taking care of business.” Marlena asked about the test results.

“All of your tests came back negative,” Sarah said. Sarah apologized for not having any answers. Marlena thought about Susan’s comment about her vibe. Sarah asked Marlena if she had attended any grief support groups. Marlena noted that she had found a therapist instead. Marlena added that Sami was in town, and it had been therapeutic to talk with her about John.

“I’ve got such a wonderful family and wonderful friends,” Marlena said. “And you’ve been so wonderful to so many of us through hard times,” Sarah countered. Marlena asked Sarah about her separation. “We acknowledged that we needed to make a change and agreed that splitting up is the right choice so that we can both move forward,” Sarah said. Marlena cautioned Sarah to be mindful of all her feelings.

Sarah changed the subject back to Marlena, and she promised that she would track down the source of Marlena’s physical ailment. Marlena told Sarah that she reminded Marlena of both of Sarah’s fathers. “They would both be so proud of you,” Marlena said. Sarah teared up. Sarah confessed that she did not feel proud of herself, because she had wanted Victoria to grow up in a two-parent household. “I’ve been there,” Marlena said. Marlena noted that even without Xander in the house, Victoria still had a loving home.

Marlena asked Sarah for her opinion about possible reasons for her symptoms. “It could be chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia,” Sarah suggested. “Two illnesses that have no cure. And not in a rush to find a cure because they mostly affect women,” Marlena said. Sarah noted that the symptoms could be managed.

Cat met up with Rafe at his office, and she told him about her night in the elevator with Chad. After chit-chat, Rafe taught Cat some self-defense moves. Cat imagined that Chad was teaching her instead of Rafe, and that he had pulled her into his arms.

Marlena was walking through the town square when Susan called out to her. Susan apologized to Marlena for what she had said about her having a sickness in her. Marlena said her doctor had given her a clean bill of health. Susan noted that something was draining Marlena.

Xander was exiting the Brady pub when he ran into Sarah. Xander asked Sarah to give their daughter his love. “Last night, you and Brady? I saw you together in each other’s arms,” Xander said. “One person can just be nice to another person without there being sex involved,” Sarah said. Xander called Sarah defensive. “Get over yourself, Xander. I sure have,” Sarah said.

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