Days of our Lives Recap, May 2, 2025: EJ remembers his shooter

Here's what happened on the Days of our Lives episode that aired on Friday, May 2, 2025.

What Happened on Days of our Lives

Xander was working at his desk in the Kiriakis living room when Sarah walked in. “Just got official word from Wei Shin. Legal can’t get rid of Philip without potentially jeopardizing our acquisition of DiMera,” Xander said. Xander explained that no one could hear about Philip’s fraud. “Instead [Philip] gets to live his best life as my co-CEO,” Xander muttered. Sarah massaged Xander’s shoulder, and she assured Xander that he would not need to avoid Philip forever.

“Ease him out. Make him see that he’d be happier elsewhere,” Sarah suggested. “I don’t want him to be happy. I don’t want to ease him anywhere, except maybe down an elevator shaft,” Xander said. Xander argued that Philip deserved to suffer after how he had betrayed him. Sarah reminded Xander that his efforts to get revenge on Brady had been a horrible idea. Xander argued that unlike Philip, Brady had been innocent.

“Okay, he deceived you. But it’s not like he put you in a wheelchair,” Sarah argued. “He tried to steal half my birthright,” Xander countered. Sarah reminded Xander of all the things he had in his life, including a family. “I thought Philip was a true brother to me. That’s why I was able to put up with all his annoying habits,” Xander said. Xander explained that since he had learned the truth, the only thing he felt when he was near Philip was an urge to kill him.

“Instead of focusing on those negative feelings, why don’t you think of something a little more positive? Like our precious child?” Sarah said. Sarah held up her phone with a photo of Victoria, and Xander smiled. Sarah asked Xander if he would rather spend his money on attorneys or on his daughter. “I’m not making any promises, but I am up to discussing it,” Xander said. Sarah asked Xander if she could walk her to work.

Brady went to the DiMera mansion to pick up Rachel, but Kristen intercepted him on the front porch. “I don’t think [Rachel] needs to keep going to these [therapy] appointments,” Kristen said. “This is what our daughter needs. Especially since she teamed up with your mom to kidnap Ava,” Brady argued. Kristen countered that the best way to help their daughter was not therapy, but to instead track down Rachel’s grandmother.

Brady offered to revisit the conversation after Rachel’s appointment and after he handled some work emails. Kristen asked Brady to talk to Xander and Philip about a position for her at the merged company. “Look, I’m going to tell you the same thing that I told Gabi,” Brady said. Brady stressed that even if he wanted to help Kristen, he had too much going on in his personal life to take on any projects. “And by the way, I don’t think it’s a good idea that we work together, Kristen,” Brady added. “Blunt much?” Kristen countered.

Sophia was headed into work when she ran into her mother in the town square. “What are you doing here?” Sophia asked. Amy noted that their attorney had not received a copy of the signed adoption papers. Sophia explained that Johnny had backed out of the adoption. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Amy asked. Sophia sniffled back tears. “I wanted to, I just, I didn’t know how,” Sophia said. Amy hugged her daughter.

“If the adoption didn’t go through, then it obviously wasn’t meant to be,” Amy said. “It wasn’t meant to be with Johnny and Chanel. But if we go through an agency, then we can find someone else,” Sophia said. Amy reiterated that she would not allow a stranger to adopt her grandchild. Sophia told her mother that she still wanted to go to college.

“And yes, I want kids, I do. But I’m just not ready right now. Please, mom. Just please let us find another family to adopt the baby,” Sophia pleaded. Amy noted that she had only agreed to the adoption because Johnny and Chanel were part of Tate’s family. Amy argued that the adoption falling apart was a sign from god that Sophia should keep and raise her child. “Have faith that this is right,” Amy said. Frustrated, Sophia argued that it was not right that she had to give up her dreams.

“Maybe this baby will be your new dream,” Amy said. “I don’t want another plan!” Sophia said. With a grimace, Sophia clutched her belly. Amy asked if she was okay. “I don’t feel so good. I’m dizzy,” Sophia said. Amy called out for help as Xander and Sarah walked by. Sarah told Sophia that she wanted to take her to the hospital. “Somebody call Tate,” Sophia said.

At the penthouse, Belle asked Marlena if there was any news about John. “Not yet. But Paul thinks they’re very close to tracking him down,” Marlena said. Marlena changed the subject to Johnny, and she noted that she was worried about Johnny’s emotional state regarding the adoption. “When I went over there yesterday to bring him the papers, he was just absolutely agonizing about this decision,” Belle said. Marlena admitted that Johnny had also told her that he had not felt that he was ready to be a father.

“I encouraged him to tell Chanel, which he did. And now, he’s afraid he’s broken her heart,” Marlena said. Belle told Marlena that Chanel had kicked him out. “They love each other so much. I wish they could find a way to work things out. And also, I wish he could find a way to resolve these feelings with his dad. And if all that can happen, then maybe he and Chanel could have the family they so desperately deserve,” Marlena said. Marlena said she was relieved that EJ had survived, and she hoped Johnny would be able to work things out with his father.

“Do you think they will?” Belle asked. Marlena said she did not know. Marlena noted that nothing could happen until the police solved the shooting. “There is one good thing that is coming out of it. EJ seems to have made a change for the better. I just hope it lasts,” Belle said. “For Johnny? Or for yourself?” Marlena asked. Belle stressed that she was happy for Johnny. Marlena told Belle that she had spoken to Sami. Belle groaned.

“Did she also tell you that [EJ] was completely comatose at the time [I told him I loved him]?” Belle countered. Marlena accused Belle of deflecting. With a sigh, Belle admitted that when she had realized that she could lose EJ, she had realized that she was in love with him. Marlena asked Belle if she had told a conscious EJ about her feelings.

“Well, I hadn’t intended to, but Susan Banks outed me,” Belle muttered. “How did he react?” Marlena asked. Belle admitted that EJ had been excited about the possibility of a relationship with her. “I’m so proud of you. In all the times we have talked about this relationship with EJ, I’ve told you that you can’t possibly move forward unless you resolved what’s happened in the past,” Marlena said. Confused, Belle asked if that was what she was doing. Marlena noted that the fact that Belle had been honest about her feelings for EJ with Marlena and herself was a good sign.

“And if I were to ask you what I’m supposed to do with all these feelings now, what would you say?” Belle asked. “When it comes to love, you can solicit all the advice in the world. It won’t make any difference. Because you’re not going to take it. You’re going to do exactly what you want to do. And whatever that is, I’m going to support you,” Marlena said. Marlena told Belle that she would support any decision that made Belle happy.

At the Salem Inn, Johnny was deep asleep when someone banged on his hotel room door. Johnny jumped out of bed to dress, and muttered his hope that Chanel was at the door. When Johnny opened the door, Tate punched him. As Johnny rubbed his jaw, Tate muttered, “That’s the least you deserve after what you did.” Tate asked Johnny why he had not told anyone sooner that he had not wanted to adopt the baby.

“I get that you are rich and you’re entitled and you are used to doing whatever the hell you want to do, but this isn’t just some pair of sneakers that you decided to return, man. These are people’s lives that you’re screwing with! You know, people are telling me that I need to be more mature and take responsibility for my actions. Bro, you’re an adult. This is what you do?” Tate said. Tate told Johnny to grow up.

“You’re right. I understand that I blindsided you and Sophia, and I caused a lot of pain. All right, but please hear me when I say that when Chanel and I decided to adopt your baby, I didn’t know the truth about my father. Now that I do, it’s changed everything for me. Knowing what he did, that that part of him that made him think it was okay to do that to my mom could also be in me. And how can I become a parent when I know that?” Johnny said.

Tate sighed, and he reminded Johnny, “Whatever is in EJ has been in you your whole life. And you are still my awesome older cousin. You’re not your father, Johnny. You never will be.” Johnny thanked Tate, and he apologized again. After Tate left Johnny’s hotel room, he called Holly from the hallway. Holly didn’t answer, so Tate left a voicemail apology. Tate said that the adoption had fallen through. Midway through Tate’s message, he got a call from Amy about Sophia.

After Johnny dressed, he exited the Salem Inn and ran into Xander in the square. “You visiting someone?” Xander asked. “No, actually, I am [staying at the hotel],” Johnny said. Xander told Johnny that he hoped he had not been forced to sell the mansion because of the merger. “I wouldn’t care if they did. They could burn it down and bulldoze it with my father inside for all I care,” Johnny said. “Sounds like the old man really pissed you off,” Xander said. Johnny grumbled that he never wanted to hear the name DiMera again.

“If Titan taking over their company has caused you any hardship at all, I do apologize,” Xander said. Johnny shrugged, and he told Xander that he was welcome to take the whole company. “Just don’t ever let me dad get it back,” Johnny said. With a chuckle, Xander said he had no intention of handing the company back over to EJ. “But how would you like to work there?” Xander asked.

In the DiMera living room, EJ watched the footage of Johnny from the memory card he had stolen from Rafe’s camera. In the video, Johnny leveled a gun at EJ right before the video cut off. EJ remembered when Johnny had told him at the Carver-Price house that EJ was dead to him. EJ furrowed his brow, and he thought about how he had accused Belle of having worn a wire.

Rita bustled out of the entrance to the DiMera tunnels. “I should have known that you wouldn’t stay in bed,” Rita said. EJ assured RIta that he was recovering, and he had a different assignment for her. Before Rita could ask, Kristen walked in. “Why am I not surprised?” Kristen asked. Rita stammered, and Kristen mockingly noted that Rita was equally loyal to all the DiMera children.

“Except when we’re stabbing each other in the back. And then it’s to hell with us all, right? Except him,” Kristen muttered. EJ told Kristen to be nice to Rita while he went to take his pain medication. After EJ was gone, Rita confirmed for Kristen that she was still working at DiMera.

“I suppose it’s probably wise to keep someone around who knows where the bodies are buried. Speaking of, you helped my brother EJ, of course, disappear Arnold Feniger, didn’t you?” Kristen asked. “You obviously know I’ll never tell you,” Rita said. Kristen asked about her mother. Rita denied that she had done anything to Rachel Blake, but Kristen continued to press her until EJ returned to the living room.

“What I miss?” EJ asked. Kristen scowled at EJ, and she walked out. EJ apologized to Rita, and he thanked her for handling Kristen. “All in a day’s work. Speaking of, JR is very anxious to hear from you,” Rita said. EJ nodded his head in acknowledgment, and he noted that he had a more important matter for her. EJ handed Rita the stolen camera memory card, and he asked her to hide it. “You can count on me, as always,” Rita said.

At the hospital, Brady poured a cup of coffee in the waiting area while Rachel was in with her therapist. Marlena asked Brady about Rachel’s therapy. “As well as can be expected,” Brady said. Brady told Marlena that Kristen was concerned about Rachel’s lack of progress, and Marlena reminded Brady that therapy could take time to be effective. “Maybe the two of you should talk to a therapist together, because you have nothing else on your plate,” Marlena said with a chuckle.

“I’m really sorry that I haven’t been able to help you [with John]. I’ve been thinking about him non-stop,” Brady said. Marlena stressed that there was nothing that Brady could do. “We just have to trust that the ISA is going to do the best they can,” Marlena said. Marlena reminded Brady that they could not control the world, but handle what was in their capacity to control.

When Brady dropped off Rachel at the DiMera mansion, Kristen complained to him in the foyer that Rachel had stormed upstairs without a word. “Yeah, actually, she really loves therapy,” Kristen said sarcastically. Brady started to respond when Belle entered the house. “I came to see EJ,” Belle explained.

As Kristen sneered, Belle stood in front of Brady with her back to Kristen. “I’m sorry the adoption didn’t work out,” Belle said. “Me too,” Brady agreed. Belle asked if there were any other possible adoptive parents, but Brady said he did not know. “Tell [Tate] I’m thinking about him,” Belle said. Belle went into the living room.

“Why did you check yourself out of the hospital?” Belle asked. EJ explained that he wanted to recuperate at home. Curious, Belle asked EJ the real reason why he had left the hospital. “I remembered someone planted a video camera in this room. I found it the night I was shot,” EJ said. Belle was stunned. EJ explained that prior to the shooting, he had found the camera and removed the memory card.

“What happened to it?” Belle asked. “I don’t know. It’s gone,” EJ lied. EJ asked Belle if she had planted the camera in his living room. Belle said no, but she understood why EJ had suspected her. When EJ rubbed his face, Belle asked, “You don’t believe me?” EJ said he did. “I’m just so terribly upset about Johnny. I mean, I knew he was hurting, but I had no idea,” EJ said. “No idea of what?” Belle asked. After a moment, EJ said, “Of the depth of his hatred for me.” Belle assured EJ that Johnny would eventually come around.

“I can’t tell you how grateful I am to you, Isabella. Almost as grateful as I am at being alive,” EJ said. EJ yawned. “And for you making me want to be a better man,” EJ added. EJ leaned against Belle, and he fell asleep. EJ dreamed about the night of the shooting, and he dreamed that Johnny had shot him. The gunshot startled EJ awake.. “What’s wrong?” Belle asked. EJ wiped the tears from his eyes, and he said he had had a bad dream about his son. Belle offered to talk to Johnny on EJ’s behalf. “You have no idea how much that would mean to me. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you,” EJ said.

In the foyer, Brady asked Kristen to keep an eye on Rachel, because she had been quiet on the ride home. “What do you expect, Brady? I mean, her uncle has been shot. Her grandmother is missing as is her Grandpa John. Her parents can’t get along,” Kristen argued. Kristen suggested that they go as a family to dinner at the Bistro. Before Brady could respond, Tate called from the hospital, and he asked Brady to meet him there.

When Brady arrived at the hospital, Tate was in the waiting area with Amy. Marlena assured the group that Sophia was in good hands with Sarah. Sarah rounded the corner, and Amy and Tate leaped to their feet to ask if Sophia was going to be okay. “Sophia is fine and so is the baby, but her blood pressure is elevated, so we’re going to have to keep an eye on her,” Sarah said. A nurse wheeled Sophia into the hallway. “I’m so glad you’re okay. I’ve been praying non-stop,” Amy said. Amy assured Sarah that Sophia would not work any more.

“You were at work when this happened?” Tate asked. “I was on my way there, but that had nothing to do with why I got dizzy,” Sophia said. Sophia refused to quit her job. Sarah warned Sophia that she needed to quit because Sophia needed to remain on bedrest for the remainder of the pregnancy. “School is fine, but she’ll need to stay off her feet, so no extracurriculars,” Sarah said. “What about Prom?” Sophia asked. Sarah said no. Sophia gasped. “So my whole senior year is ruined,” Sophia said. Tate took Sophia’s hand, and he assured her that everything would be okay.