Days of our Lives Recap, August 7: Johnny testifies as EJ plays a dirty trick on Belle

Here is your Days of our Lives recap for Thursday, August 7, 2025.

What happened on Days of our Lives

In Horton Town Square, Chanel met with Johnny to discuss the morning in court. Johnny was nervous to testify, but insisted that he had to do it. "I'm innocent and I want the whole world to know it. That's why I have to testify," Johnny said. Chanel was proud of Johnny for "not taking the easy way out."

Johnny was not happy that EJ was making every witness out to be a potential suspect. Johnny relayed how Paulina was under fire, but she had his back and said she believed in his innocence. Johnny admitted he was surprised by how many people seemed to want his father dead.

He realized the only person more hated than EJ was Stefano, "who, my Grandma Susan is insisting, is still alive. Which would be impossible considering how old he'd be and how long anyone's heard from him."

"I guess I overestimated your grandmother's psychic abilities when I thought she could find out who the real shooter was," Chanel lamented. Johnny still thought Susan could come through for them and imagined her taking the stand while mimicking Susan.

"Oh, I'm a psychic, and my grandson's innocent. Oh, I could just feel it in my bones," Johnny said, cracking up Chanel.

After Johnny left, Paulina appeared to give Chanel some company. Paulina claimed she was fine after her testimony. "I had better days, but I'll survive," she said. Paulina informed Chanel that she was forced to tell the jury what Johnny said in anger after EJ was shot. However, she was impressed with EJ's skills in court.

EJ arrived at Belle's Salem Inn room ready for a romp during court recess. "Within these four walls, there is absolutely no discussion of the trial," EJ pronounced. Belle was just fine with that as EJ carried her to the bed.

In the afterglow, Belle told EJ she was worried the trial would come between them. "After almost losing you that terrible night...the thought of losing you again...I love you," Belle said. EJ returned the sentiment. "I know you're doing your best to prosecute this case fairly. Despite the difficult situation, I want you to know that I respect that," EJ said.

Back at the courthouse, Johnny interrupted a hallway moment between EJ and Belle. EJ took Johnny aside to talk, while Belle entered the courtroom and met with someone from the state attorney general's office.

He was there to observe because the case had a few red flags, including the district attorney prosecuting her own nephew. "It wasn't my idea to prosecute this case, but I'm doing my job to the best of my ability, and I'll continue to do so," Belle assured the man.

In the hallway, Johnny worried that Belle would ask him about his conception. EJ assured him that Belle would only ask about the night of the shooting. EJ wanted Johnny to say he was furious at his father because he'd gotten in the way of him and Chanel adopting Tate and Sophia's baby. "Dad, does that still count as the whole truth?" Johnny asked. "And nothing but," EJ replied.

When Johnny took the stand, he told the court that EJ had been a good dad and he loved him. Belle asked why Johnny was angry with EJ the night of the shooting, so Johnny gave him the rehearsed answer. Belle then asked if there was something else that Johnny was upset about that happened years ago.

EJ objected, but the judge overruled. Johnny admitted he had learned about the circumstances behind his conception. Belle visibly had a hard time as she asked Johnny whether he had visited EJ with a gun the night of the shooting. Johnny said that he had. "Because I briefly considered using it," Johnny admitted. Belle finished her questioning and looked at a very angry EJ.

EJ began to cross-examine Johnny and started with a very simple question. "Son, did you shoot me?" EJ asked. "No," Johnny replied. "I couldn't go through with it. I couldn't go through with hurting you or worse because you're my dad, and I love you."

EJ got Johnny to point out that Belle was Johnny's mother's sister. He claimed Belle brought up the night Johnny was conceived based on hearsay. Belle objected, and the judge sustained the objection. Belle then redirected and got Johnny to confirm what Paulina had said, that EJ got what he had deserved.

When EJ asked more questions, he got Johnny to confirm that Belle and EJ were lovers. That prompted EJ to ask for a mistrial due to Belle's conflict of interest.

Xander sat at his desk, staring at the wedding ring that was still on his finger, when Alex walked in. Xander had Alex sit down and informed him that someone had used the Freedom of Information Act to get information about the DiMera takeover, leading Xander to believe they were being sabotaged. He tasked Alex with finding out who it was.

Xander gave Alex a copy of the request to thumb through, but Alex admitted he wasn't a detective. "But you are my right hand. I trust you implicitly, Alex, and I'm counting on you to get to the bottom of this," Xander said. Alex took the file and said he would get to work.

Clad in a sequinned cocktail dress, Gabi popped into Steve's office for an update on her case. Gabi assumed Steve was the one who used FOIA rights to go digging. Steve was amused that Xander already knew. Steve wasn't sure that he had anything damaging on the Kiriakis clan yet, but he planned to keep digging.

After she left Steve's office, Gabi called Xander to ask what time they were meeting for dinner. Xander suggested they meet now, so they did just that. They made some small talk about Johnny's trial. Gabi told Xander what she was forced to admit on the stand.

Xander then dared to ask Gabi if she shot EJ. Gabi offered him a firm "No." Xander wondered if she was planning to. "Honestly, if you were, my respect for you would increase a thousandfold," Xander said. Gabi told Xander she pleaded the fifth.

Talk turned to the Titan takeover of DiMera. Xander was proud of that, but still smarting that EJ managed to steal the hospital when Xander wanted it. As the business discussion became more in-depth, Gabi admitted she wanted the right to Gabi Chic back, but she knew her company would be gone if Titan-DiMera were to fail. Xander seemed to believe her. He was especially intrigued when Gabi suggested ordering a bottle of wine.

Alex ended up in Steve's office to see if Steve could figure out who made the FOIA request. He handed Steve the file and told him someone named Daniel Lucas made the request, but he suspected it was a fake name. Steve said he didn't think he could help Alex, but tried digging for info to give Gabi.

"Is there any information that Xander wouldn't want Daniel Lucas to find?" Alex said there wasn't, as far as he knew. "If I had that information, I'd have something to go on," Steve added. Alex was just disappointed that Steve wouldn't take the job. "You're the best PI I know. If you can't get to the bottom of this, nobody can," Alex sighed.

Before Alex left, Steve told him he needed to be up front about something and handed Alex the file with his criminal history. Steve explained he did research when he realized how serious Alex and Stephanie were becoming. Alex tried to explain his crimes, as they happened when he was in college. "It was nothing more than just a fraternity prank that went way too far," Alex said.

In the DiMera living room, Tony was perplexed because wine seemed to be missing from a decanter, but Anna swore she didn't sneak any. "Maybe a spirit got into the spirits. I wouldn't rule it out, especially after the very interesting conversation I just had with Susan Banks," Anna said. "Tony, she claims your father is alive."

Tony looked at Anna like she had three heads. "Think about it, Tony. Is it really so far-fetched? This is Salem, after all. This is where people have been raised from the dead by the multitudes," Anna accurately pointed out. "Maybe your father has come back to life like the others."

Tony offered some nervous laughter. "I wish by some miracle that my father were alive, but I know there's no ghost of a chance that could be true," Tony said. He also felt that Stefano would have never allowed Titan to take over DiMera Enterprises. Tony told Anna he was going to get the company back on his own, but he had his siblings' blessings and also wanted hers.

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