Days of our Lives Recap, September 4: Brady asks the judge to throw the book at Kristen

Here is your Days of our Lives recap for Thursday, September 4, 2025.

What happened on Days of our Lives

Chanel was excited for Johnny when he told her he was going to be a new adjunct professor at Salem University. It wouldn't even interfere with his job at Titan-DiMera.

The subject soon turned to Kristen's sentencing. Johnny planned to go but did not want Chanel to come with him. Johnny was at least grateful to Kristen for telling what he thought was the truth. "At the end of the day, she did the right thing. She came forward," Johnny said.

When Chanel opened the door to leave for work, she wasn't happy to see EJ standing there. Chanel left, leaving EJ and Johnny alone together. EJ told Johnny that the jury had found him innocent, so it didn't matter that Kristen had confessed. "You crucified me for being ruthless and deceitful, but in the end, it was my rigorous defense that proved your innocence," EJ declared.

Johnny was unimpressed and still wanted nothing to do with his father. "I understand that you had to create reasonable doubt, but I had a problem with you blindsiding Aunt Belle. I had a big problem with you destroying my wife," Johnny lamented. "You destroyed your relationship with Aunte Belle. And with me."

Johnny told EJ he would always love him, but he had decided that he couldn't have him in his life anymore. He also asked EJ not to attend the sentencing hearing.

At Marlena's place, Belle gave Brady a breakfast burrito from the Brady Pub and noted it was an emotional day, with Tate going off to college and Rachel starting her last year of elementary school. Brady was more concerned with how Rachel would react to Kristen's sentencing.

In the bedroom, Marlena had another nightmare, this time about EJ remembering that it was Rachel who shot him. She also remembered her promise to Kristen never to let anyone learn her confession was a lie.

Marlena woke from her nap and joined Brady and Belle in the living room. Marlena asked to talk to Belle about something privately. Belle was taken aback when Marlena asked her to go a little easier on Kristen at the sentencing, for Rachel's sake, of course. Belle started going on and on about what a terrible mother Kristen was, but Marlena stopped her.

After Belle left for the sentencing hearing, EJ stopped by. He wanted to make sure that Marlena would still keep quiet about Rachel being his shooter. Marlena assured EJ that she wouldn't tell the truth. However, keeping this secret from Brady was killing her. She hated that he thought the worst of Kristen.

"I just wish Kristen didn't have to be punished for something she didn't do," Marlena said. EJ admitted that he wished he had known that the jury had found Johnny not guilty. Marlena was surprised to hear that. She was also furious at EJ for pressuring Kristen to do something when she'd begged him to wait for the jury. EJ asked Marlena not to tell Kristen the truth.

At the hearing, Belle told the judge she accepted Kristen's tale that the gun went off accidentally. Johnny also went to bat for his aunt before the judge read a letter from EJ asking for leniency. But then Brady walked in and asked the judge to give Kristen the maximum sentence, for Rachel's sake.

Kristen then had a chance to speak and said that the reason she confessed was for Rachel, that she wanted to teach her that you have to take responsibility for your actions. In the end, Kristen was sentenced to six years in Statesville.

In Horton Town Square, Chanel ran into Brady, who told her how glad he was that Johnny had been cleared. "Even though I'm angry at Kristen, I'm really sorry for what Rachel must be going through," Chanel said. Chanel also mentioned Tate and how he and Sophia had found the baby a loving home.

Chanel admitted that she was still disappointed that they didn't get to adopt Tate and Sophia's baby. She also said she was still considering adoption now that things had calmed down in her life. After Brady left, Chanel read that the mandatory waiting period was over and Tesoro could be adopted.

In the DiMera living room, EJ told Tony he had to get to Kristen's sentencing hearing. Tony was still amazed that Kristen shot EJ and was willing to let Johnny take the fall for the crime. "We DiMeras certainly have a strong instinct for self-preservation," EJ said, motioning to the portrait of Stefano on the wall.

"I'm really surprised that you're so level-headed about this," Tony observed. EJ felt vowing revenge wouldn't help matters.

Tony told EJ that he and Anna were embarking on another trip soon, but he wanted to finalize his plan to take back DiMera Enterprises first. He informed EJ that he had someone on the inside digging around.

Xander returned to his office to find Philip there. Philip asked how Xander's session with Marlena went. Gabi listened in on her phone app as the brothers mentioned the forged letter. Gabi immediately realized that she'd hit paydirt. Xander said he wanted to put the letter behind them and officially make Philip co-CEO.

"I'm already co-CEO," Philip noted. Xander told him that if they drew up legal papers to formally make him CEO, then it wouldn't matter about the forged letter. "You'd have the same claim to the company that I do," Xander said.

Philip surprised Xander when he told him that he quit. "I've come to realize I never should have used that fake letter to stake my claim on Titan. It was a huge mistake, which I deeply regret. And I think it's best if I just walk away," Philip explained.

Xander quickly called Philip an idiot. Philip said that was one of the reasons he was quitting — they couldn't peacefully co-exist. "I've done my part, and you've continued to insult me, berate me. In short, you're a total jerk to me," Philip said as he downed a handful of candy.

As Xander tried to convince Philip that they could be partners, Philip began choking on a piece of candy. Xander immediately got up and performed the Heimlich maneuver on his brother. "For a minute there, I thought you were going to let me die," Philip said after he caught his breath.

A few minutes later, Philip told Xander that he had passed the test. "I wasn't really choking. I faked it to see what you'd do," Philip admitted. Xander was angry, but in the end, Philip agreed to officially become co-CEO of Titan-DiMera.

As they tried to work out the details, Xander discovered his pen was not working. When Xander twisted it, he noticed a recording device fall out.

At the Hernandez house, Gabi remembered how good Philip and Xander had been to her as she debated whether to call Tony with her big news. Instead, she showed up at the DiMera mansion to talk with him. She played him the recording she had made of the brothers talking about the letter. Tony felt that they should do nothing for now.

"We must be careful on the way we play the next move," Tony insisted. Gabi reminded him that she held up her end of the bargain and expected to be made DiMera CEO. "I will be in touch," was all Tony would say. After Gabi left, Tony laughed to himself.

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