Nicole and Eric locked eyes with each other while alone together at the DiMera mansion. "I should go get that food for you," Eric stammered before rushing off to the kitchen -- and Nicole tried to laugh off the moment once the coast was clear.
Eric soon returned with sandwiches and tea, prompting Nicole to express appreciation for the gesture. "If only the baby's father were so attentive," Nicole grumbled. "I'm sure he has his reasons --" Eric diplomatically argued. "Well, they're not gonna be good enough! It's like he's forgotten what's important -- this baby isn't even born yet, and he's already abandoned us!" Nicole countered.
Nicole soon relieved Eric of babysitting duties -- but when they said goodbye to each other with a hug, it led to a passionate kiss. "We can't do this -- I'm with Sloan, you're with E.J. --" Eric objected after pulling away from Nicole. "I'm sorry -- I just felt that old pull between us, and those old feelings of being abandoned and worthless --" Nicole explained. "It's okay...and you shouldn't feel either, and E.J.'s a jackass for doing this to you, and if that baby were mine -- I'm sorry, that's not helpful," Eric responded. "You would have been the perfect father -- and you still can be, if things work out with you and Sloan," Nicole muttered.
E.J. and Kristen each breathed a sigh of relief when Leo joined them in the wine cellar. "I never thought I'd say this, but...thank God you're here!" E.J. declared. "I don't mean to kink shame, but...what is going on here?" Leo responded. "Oh, well, you know -- playing cops and robbers can get a little out of hand," Kristen joked. "Seriously?" Leo sputtered. "Of course not, you imbecile -- our sister Megan did this!" Kristen clarified. "She's held us captive down here for...weeks?" E.J. elaborated.
Leo bragged that Kristen and E.J.'s revelation about Megan wasn't a complete surprise. "I knew she was up to something, so I followed her here -- Lady Whistleblower can always sniff out a good story...and you'd be surprised how, more often than not, my nose leads me to uncovering an underground bondage dungeon just like yours," Leo added before musing that it was unusual for siblings to engage in such practices together -- and E.J. and Kristen each groaned in response.
Leo wanted to know what had set Megan off, but neither Kristen nor E.J. could remember that part of the story. "Come on -- this isn't, like, your locker combination!" Leo protested. "Megan injected us with something to make us forget," Kristen explained. "Does this have something to do with her son?" Leo wondered. "Actually...that does sound familiar!" Kristen responded. "I feel like it's more high-stakes -- like it's life-or-death," E.J. objected. "God, you two are useless!" Leo complained. "Unless you want to fully commit to your nom de plume, 'Lady'...I suggest you untie us -- now!" Kristen snapped.
Nicole was still venting to Eric about recent disappointments when E.J. and Kristen emerged from the secret tunnels and took turns explaining everything that they could still remember about what had happened to them.
Eric sighed during the story -- then exited the mansion and sighed again while thinking about what had happened with Nicole earlier.
E.J. soon rushed off to take a shower -- and Nicole followed with a sigh, thinking about what had happened with Eric earlier.
E.J. rejoined Nicole after showering and wondered what had prompted Eric's visit to the mansion. "A very good reason -- and we will talk about that, but not right now," Nicole responded before changing the subject, telling E.J. about the earlier pregnancy scare then stressing that everything was fine.
E.J. was happy to hear Nicole's good news but was quick to steer the conversation back to its original topic. "You thought the worst of me -- that I didn't care about you or our child -- and you turned to Eric," E.J. guessed. "That's not how it went, E.J. -- you know how I feel about you!" Nicole protested. "Do I?" E.J. countered, and Nicole conceded the point. "When I think about how Megan could have killed you...I realize that I do -- I love you," Nicole declared, but E.J. didn't find that comforting. "I just feel like I might have talked you into saying that -- or pressured you," E.J. fretted, but Nicole dismissed the concern then promised a night of activities that would prove the claim.
Kristen phoned the police from the living room and tried to report Megan's recent crimes then rushed off in search of E.J.'s help after struggling to provide the skeptical operator with the necessary details -- and Leo sneaked out of the secret tunnels with an expensive bottle of wine once the coast was clear.
Harris waved a gun around while apologizing for having interrupted the engagement party that was being held at the Bistro. "I'm here to eliminate a threat --" Harris began to explain, drawing a theatrical gasp from Megan. "I'm the 'threat' -- he's here to kill me!" Megan fretted, turning away from Harris to face a captive audience of frightened people who each had no reason to question the performance at that moment.
Harris tiredly clarified that Stefan was the intended target. "You don't even know me!" Stefan protested. "It's nothing personal -- I'm just following orders," Harris responded.
Stefan and Gabi began debating whether E.J. was responsible -- and Wendy tried to use the distraction as an opportunity to phone the police, but Harris realized what was happening and fired the gun at a bottle of Champagne as a demonstration of the consequences that could follow such a move. "The man who wants you dead is Li Shin," Harris informed Stefan after everyone recovered from the shock of the gunfire -- and Megan breathed a sigh of relief in response to the claim, pleased with Rolf's handiwork. "I know my brother, and he would never --" Wendy argued. "Li has a history of trying to eliminate his 'competition' -- by any means necessary," Gabi countered. "And he insisted you not come to this party," Johnny reminded Wendy.
Chad pointed out that Harris' days as an assassin were supposed to be in the past. "You've been brainwashed again -- this time by Li," Chad guessed. "Li's done this before -- he brainwashed Stefan!" Gabi agreed. "Who in this town hasn't been brainwashed?" Dimitri whispered to Gwen. "It's sort of a thing here -- and just wait until somebody pulls off a Mission Impossible-style mask," Gwen responded, intriguing Dimitri.
Chad and Stephanie took turns trying to get through to Harris -- and Gabi eventually joined the cause. "You're not a murderer --" Gabi insisted. "Um...actually, technically, he is --" Gwen clarified. "Not helping!" Gabi snapped.
Rafe soon arrived and tried to gain control of the situation -- but Gabi interfered with a futile attempt to tackle Harris to the floor, and the gun went off during their struggle.
Gabi jumped off Harris' back, desperate to check on Stefan -- just as Dimitri realized that the bullet had struck Megan instead.
Megan collapsed in Dimitri's arms and lost consciousness, and Gabi used the distraction as an opportunity to knee Harris in the groin and seize the gun -- then Gwen phoned for an ambulance as Chad explained the situation to Rafe.
Rafe found it easy to believe that Li was involved. "I saw Li outside -- he was staring up here -- and I thought he was gonna come up here and wreak havoc and make a fool of himself...but, obviously, it was much worse," Rafe noted.
Rafe handcuffed Harris to a chair then asked Chad and Stephanie to keep an eye on the situation until backup arrived. "I have a mission to complete!" Harris fretted. "You failed," Chad advised. "Poor guy can't catch a break," Stephanie mused.
Johnny tried to comfort Wendy. "When I lost Chanel to my sister, I was so desperate to get her back, I almost did something very underhanded --" Johnny revealed. "Did you brainwash a Navy SEAL to kill Allie?" Wendy countered, drawing a shake of the head from Johnny. "Of course not -- 'cause you're not a criminal, a heartless bastard with no conscience," Wendy continued. "There's no excuse for the horrible, unforgivable thing my brother did -- none at all," Wendy concluded.
Li paced around the Shin apartment while waiting for confirmation of Stefan's death -- and fantasized that Gabi would visit that very night and declare the event a blessing in disguise that had paved the way for the right couple to be together again.
Gabi soon arrived, and the visit played out just as it had in Li's fantasy -- until Stefan stepped into view to reveal that the assassination attempt had failed, and Rafe followed to arrest the assumed mastermind.
At the Salem Inn, Theo held back tears as he read on his tablet the newspaper article about Abe's death. Eli knocked on the door. "Did you see the paper? They're saying that my dad is dead," Theo said. When Theo lamented that he kept losing all the people that he loved, Lani walked through the door.
"You haven't lost me, Theo," Lani said. Lani hugged Theo and comforted him. Lani explained that the prison had granted her a furlough to attend Abe's funeral. "I'm so sorry that I wasn't here when Dad first went missing. And I wish we could have waited together, or maybe I could have helped find him," Lani said. "There's nothing you could have done that Steve, John, or Rafe didn't try," Eli assured Lani. Theo agreed.
"We have to take care of each other. Because that is what Dad would have wanted," Lani said. Theo asked about Jules and Carver, and Lani grinned as she talked about how she had held her children outside of the prison walls. Lani explained that they had left the babies with Valerie rather than subject them to the funeral.
"We did tell them what happened, but they didn't seem to understand. Which is a good thing for now," Lani said. Fireworks exploded outside, and Theo remembered that the Fourth of July was Eli and Lani's wedding anniversary. "We decided that we're not gonna celebrate this year," Eli said. "Because of Dad," Lani added. Theo disagreed.
"Dad is the reason why you should celebrate. You know how happy he was about you and Eli," Theo argued. Lani teared up, and she said she could not celebrate it without Abe.
A depressed Paulina sat on her couch in her robe and stared at the wall. Chanel walked in with a delivery of flowers. "Put it with the others," Paulina said absently. Chanel read the card from John and Marlena. "They loved Abe so much. I'm sure they must be grieving, too," Paulina said. Paulina wanted to send something to John and Marlena, but Chanel encouraged Paulina to take care of herself instead.
After a delivery of food, Chanel suggested that Paulina shower and rest. "Not right now. Right now, getting dressed reminds me of wanting to look my best for my sweet husband," Paulina said. Paulina asked Chanel to sit with her. After a few moments of silence, Paulina lamented that she had caused Abe a lot of heartache.
"You more than made up for whatever heartache you caused him by all the love and support you gave him. He was so crazy about you," Chanel said. Eli and Lani knocked on the door. Chanel gasped when she saw them. "What is it now?" Paulina muttered. Lani walked in, and Paulina screamed with joy.
"My darling, precious girl!" Paulina shouted as she hugged Lani tightly. Paulina told Lani that she was grateful Lani was home, despite the horrible reason for the visit. "I am beyond grateful to be free, even if it is for just a short time. So that I can be here for my mama and my sister, and my brother," Lani said. Lani admitted that she did not feel like Abe was gone.
"It just doesn't make sense to me. I mean, maybe, I suppose, partly because we didn't get to say goodbye to him. Never got to see him, touch him. And how the hell are we supposed to have a proper home-going when we don't have a body!" Paulina yelled. Eli noted that there was no guarantee that the police would be able to find Abe's body.
"They didn't waste any time declaring him dead, did they? Even though there is no evidence to prove it for a fact," Lani complained. Lani asked to see the evidence. "That's against policy. But given the circumstances, I'm sure Rafe wouldn't mind," Eli said. "I don't care if he would mind. Can we go now?" Lani asked. Paulina advised Lani not to spend her wedding anniversary at a police station.
"Nothing that you find down there at the police station will bring Abe back to us," Paulina argued. "I have to see that evidence for myself, or I will never sleep again," Lani said. Eli reminded Paulina that she would not be able to change Lani's mind. Lani kissed Paulina goodbye. Chanel noted that she needed to head to the bakery, and she asked if Paulina would be okay alone. "I think I better get used to it. Don't you?" Paulina said.
On the docks, John stared at a memorial for Abe. "Abraham!" John screamed. A robe-clad Abe walked onto the docks. "Hello, John," Abe said. John laughed with relieved delight. "I knew I'd find you," John said. "I can't stay," Abe said. Abe told John goodbye. John screamed for Abe, but he walked away.
John woke in bed with a start. Marlena grabbed a towel to dab the sweat off John's head and neck. "Another one of those damn nightmares," John admitted. Marlena asked John if he wanted to talk about his dream, and he told her what had happened.
"No wonder the dream was so upsetting for you," Marlena said. "Paulina trusted that Steve and I were going to find him, and I let her down. I let Abe down," John said. "You are being too hard on yourself," Marlena said. John shook his head, and he said he did not understand how Abe could have walked to the water on his own.
"The only person who saw him these last two weeks. Finally, somebody sees Abe. And what happens? The next minute, he falls off the dock and drowns in the river," John said. While Marlena dressed, John thought about a past conversation with Abe.
"Where were you just now?" Marlena asked. "I was thinking of the moment that I found out that I wasn't the person I thought I was. And how my whole life that I knew had changed in an instant. And there was Abe. One thing in my life that was still the same, and it was my friendship with Abraham," John said. John lamented that he had not been as good a friend to Abe as Abe had always been to him.
"You were. He always knew that about you," Marlena assured John. Frustrated, John said he had been sure that he would have found Abe. "And I was so damn wrong," John whispered. After a moment, John apologized. "I've been talking about myself, and I know you're going through this, too," John said.
Marlena admitted that she was upset, but that did not mean that John could not share his feelings with her. "The only way that we're going to get through this, and I mean beyond the two of us, the way we're all going to get through this, is to talk about our feelings," Marlena said.
At Whitley's apartment, she entered with the morning paper. On the cover was a story about Abe's death. As Whitley attempted to hide the paper, Abe rolled his wheelchair into the room. "What are you doing with that paper?" Abe asked. Whitley admitted that she had planned to get rid of the paper before Abe could see it. "I don't like being handled," Abe grumbled. Whitley lied and said that someone had drowned at the docks.
"I feel sorry for [the family and the man], but I'm not falling apart," Abe said. Abe held out his hand, and he asked for the paper. Whitley refused. Whitley argued that she did not want the story to upset Abe and give him another seizure. "You're not the only one going through this, you know? I'm scared," Whitley said. "Paulina, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking. I know this isn't easy for you," Abe said. Whitley told Abe that she could not lose him. "I'm doing this for you. This is what's best for you," Whitley said.
After Whitley dressed for work, Abe admitted that he got lonely when Whitley was away. "I thought you were catching up on Body and Soul?" Whitley asked. With a nod, Abe said he still wanted to talk to someone. "Couldn't Theo come over and hang out for a while?" Abe asked. Whitley told Abe that Theo had returned to South Africa. Abe was shocked that Theo had left without a goodbye. Whitley lied and said that Theo had stopped by, but she had not wanted to disturb Abe when he had been resting.
"You should have woken me up!" Abe said. Whitley apologized. Abe asked about Chanel. Whitley explained that Chanel had intended to visit her "step pop-pop," but she was too busy at the bakery. "So, another day spent staring at the walls," Abe muttered. Whitley reminded Abe that he had his soap opera to watch. With a grin, Whitley told Abe that bad girl Lorna was about to return to the show.
"Lorna is one of the great soap bitches of all time. And trust me when I tell you, you gon' love to hate her," Whitley said. Whitley turned on the show. A redhead that looked like Kate appeared on the TV. "When I come home, I'm going to need to hear about all your favorite catfights," Whitley said. With a playful catfight pose, Whitley walked out.
At the Johnson house, Kayla saw Steve was still working at the kitchen table. "You didn't come to bed last night," Kayla said. "I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep," Steve said. Steve told Kayla that he could not believe that Abe had appeared out of nowhere and had walked off the docks.
"Even though all the evidence points to that?" Kayla asked. "Evidence can be fabricated," Steve said. Steve asked Kayla if she believed that Abe could have left the hospital on his own manpower. "At the time, I didn't think so, but I suppose it's possible," Kayla admitted. With a nod, Steve asked why police had been unable to find one of the most recognizable men in the city for weeks. Steve argued that it did not make sense that the first person to have seen Abe was a witness to his death.
"How did [Abe] survive the weeks before that?" Steve asked. Steve noted that Abe had had a head injury and amnesia when he had left the hospital. "Do you still think it was Colin Bedford that did it?" Kayla asked. Steve shrugged, and he noted that someone would have had to have looked after Abe while Colin was in jail. With a nod, Kayla admitted that she was worried.
Theo knocked on the door, and Kayla gave him a big hug. As Steve hugged Theo, Kayla scooped up Steve's case file on Abe to hide it. "I'm so sorry that John and I didn't come through for you and your dad," Steve said. "You did your best. I just came to say thank you for the donation you made in my dad's name to the autism charity," Theo countered. "We really loved your dad. And we love you, Theo," Kayla said. Kayla reminded Theo that she and Steve would always be there for him.
Kayla fixed breakfast for Theo, and she reminded him that he needed to eat. "I think I'm going to be okay, especially now that my sister's here," Theo said. Theo told Steve and Kayla about Lani's furlough. "When my mom died, I was able to say bye to her. But with my dad, he just went away. He just disappeared and then drowned. It doesn't make sense to me," Theo said.
When John and Marlena arrived, they hugged Theo. "I'm so sorry about your dad," Marlena said. Theo assured John that he knew how hard John and Steve had worked to find Abe. "Your dad was a good man. One of the best. We loved him a lot," Steve said. "He knew that," Theo said. Theo started to talk about Abe, but then he started to cry. Marlena asked Theo if he wanted to talk to her, but he noted that he needed to leave.
"Are you sure you're all right?" Marlena asked. "Lani's home on furlough. I'll be fine," Theo said. Marlena asked Theo to send Lani and Paulina their love. "Tell [Paulina] to call us if there is anything we can do," Kayla added. With a nod, Theo left.
"Damn it. I should have found him," Steve said. "We should have found him," John countered. Marlena warned Steve and John not to take on all the blame. "You did everything you could. You searched and searched," Marlena said. Marlena added that Abe would agree with her. John nodded yes.
"I'm thinking that I'm just blaming myself because it's a hell of a lot easier than accepting the fact that he's gone," John said. "Same for me," Steve said. John told Steve about his Abe dream. "[Abe] didn't go in the water. He just walked away from me," John said. "You didn't tell me that," Marlena said. Marlena asked John for more details, and John obliged. Marlena furrowed her brow. Curious, Kayla asked Marlena what she thought.
"I was thinking this is not really about John's guilt. The dream, I mean. Maybe it's about John sensing that there is something wrong here," Marlena said. "That's what I've been saying!" Steve countered. Steve wondered aloud how Abe had survived weeks on his own without a witness. John noted that it was strange that there had been only one witness to have seen Abe in weeks. "We need to get back to work," Steve said.
When Eli and Lani walked into the police station, Lani appeared overwhelmed. "So many memories. Mainly, meeting my new partner and falling in love with him," Lani said. "And him falling even more in love with you," Eli countered. Lani put her arms around Eli, and she noted that except for a few challenges, they had lived happily ever after. Eli smiled. "But nothing that they couldn't handle. Because they were tough. And so in love," Eli said. Eli kissed Lani.
Eli escorted Lani into the interrogation room, and she reviewed the case file and evidence. When Eli mentioned that Abe's blood had been an exact match to the DNA evidence at the docks, Lani noted that she had been sure that Abe had been her father when she had arrived in Salem.
Lani thought about when she had first talked to Abe about being his daughter. "Did you ever wonder who your father was?" Abe had asked Lani. "Of course, I did," Lani had said. Abe had told Lani that he had not known about her when her mother had left Salem.
"I was wrong," Lani said. "About the DNA? Abe was, is, your father in every way that counts," Eli stressed. As Lani sighed, Eli handed Jerry's witness statement to Lani. Confused, Lani asked why Jerry's picture looked like a professional headshot. "Turns out Jerry Prentiss is an actor," Eli said.
In Whitley's apartment, Abe watched his soap opera. "I need someone who can pretend to be the true and rightful heir to the DeLorean fortune," Lorna said on the TV. The camera panned to another actor. It was Jerry. "Theo?" Abe said.
After Paulina dressed, there was a knock at her front door. It was Whitley. "Nurse King! What are you doing here?" Paulina asked.
Chanel emerged from Sweet Bits while having a heated phone conversation with a representative of a distributor that had failed to deliver an order of flour to the bakery within a promised time frame. Chanel stressed that the bakery was scheduled to reopen the following day and that the flour needed to be delivered before then, but the representative insisted that wouldn't be possible because deliveries never occurred on a holiday. The representative attempted to offer a compromise, but Chanel refused to leave Salem during a family tragedy and travel all the way to Brookville just to pick up flour from the warehouse of an untrustworthy distributor.
Things got even more heated when the representative implied that Chanel should have anticipated delays on an order that had been placed right before a holiday. "Yeah, well, you try running a business after your partner leaves town and your best employee tries to ruin your --" Chanel snapped at the representative before realizing that Talia was nearby. "I just really need something good to happen --" Chanel fretted while turning away from Talia, prompting the representative to agree to personally deliver the flour later that day. "8:00 p.m.," Chanel confirmed before thanking the representative then ending the call and explaining the situation to Talia.
Talia was cleaning the town square as part of a community service assignment but seized the opportunity to offer Chanel condolences.
Paulina invited Whitley into the Price condominium after learning that the nurse had stopped by to offer condolences. "You may have been the last person to see him alive," Paulina noted. "That guy at the docks was!" Whitley countered.
Paulina was stunned to learn that Whitley had been one of Abe's biggest fans and had even attended the Juneteenth wedding ceremony the previous year.
Paulina begged to hear about the times that Whitley had interacted with Abe at the hospital. Whitley recalled having been mistaken for Paulina during an attempt to check Abe's vitals. Whitley summarized that Abe had called out for Paulina.
Whitley soon rushed off -- and Chanel entered the condominium a short time later, prompting Paulina to rave that Abe's old nurse had just stopped by and had provided some words of comfort that had made the day slightly more bearable.
Paulina soon changed the subject, wanting the scoop on Chanel's new employee. "She's fine -- she's just --" Chanel began. "Not Talia," Paulina concluded, and Chanel confirmed the suspicion with a nod then revealed what had happened earlier.
Lani studied Jerry's acting résumé while alone with Eli in one of the conference rooms at the police station. "He hasn't been in much," Lani informed Eli before listing Jerry's acting credits -- some local theater productions, one commercial, and a soap opera. "Body and Soul? Never heard of it," Eli responded. "Nice try -- I know you used to watch it during the day whenever you worked night shifts," Lani countered. "I have no idea what you're talking about," Eli insisted. "Oh, really? So, it was just a coincidence that the TV would be on that channel when I came home?" Lani translated. "All right, I watched it here and there...but only because I had a crush on that actress -- what was her name, 'Sal' or something like that?" Eli backpedaled.
Eli quickly clarified that the actress had only been attractive due to bearing a slight resemblance to Lani. "Nice save," Lani assured Eli before dropping the subject.
Lani fretted to Eli that Jerry seemed to be a credible, law-abiding witness -- and Rafe and Jada entered the police station just then, cutting the conversation short.
Lani and Eli rushed out of the conference room together, not wanting to get caught looking at Abe's case file -- and Rafe and Jada both feigned ignorance despite knowing that a protocol violation had just occurred.
Eli stepped aside to take a phone call then returned and began complaining about having just been summoned to Arizona to work on a case, prompting Rafe to offer to assume responsibility for Lani's furlough so it wouldn't be revoked.
Talia soon arrived to hand in some community service paperwork, and Jada seized the opportunity to ask if the court-mandated therapy sessions with Marlena were still going well. Talia assured Jada that talking to Marlena was always a great experience. "She even offered to help me find a job at the hospital when my probation ends," Talia revealed. "You'll finally get back to doing what you were trained to do!" Jada teased.
Jada backed off after realizing that Talia missed working for Chanel at Sweet Bits. "I miss her, too," Talia admitted to Jada with a sigh while thinking about the earlier encounter with Chanel.
Theo stepped onto the pier and found Jerry staring at the makeshift memorial that had been constructed there. "Did you know my dad?" Theo wondered, startling Jerry. "I guess I was drawn to come back because I felt guilty," Jerry explained to Theo after they exchanged names. "About what?" Theo responded. "I...almost got to him, but it was too late -- and I wanted to jump in and save him, but...I can't swim," Jerry claimed. "The last thing my dad would have wanted was for you to lose your life while trying to save his," Theo stressed. "At least we know what happened to him," Theo continued. "Thank you for that," Theo concluded as Jerry squirmed.
Jerry sighed then admitted that there was something that Theo needed to know -- but Lani and Eli arrived before anything else could be said.
Jerry rushed off after claiming to have simply been trying to offer condolences -- and Theo produced a ragged teddy bear once the coast was clear then explained to Lani and Eli that they were looking at an old friend named Bruno. "Dad got him for me at a carnival when I was six. I used to not be able to sleep unless I was holding this thing," Theo recalled. "Dad probably thought I was gonna carry all my stuffed animals with me to high school," Theo continued. "He'd be very proud that I'm gonna leave this here with him," Theo concluded before adding the teddy bear to the makeshift memorial.
Abe continued watching old episodes of Body and Soul while alone at the King apartment. "What is my son doing in one of my wife's stories?" Abe muttered as a new character was introduced.
The episode soon ended -- and Abe was surprised to see that the closing credits listed "Jerry Prentiss" as the name of the actor who was playing the new character. "That's not my son's name!" Abe protested. "Paulina's been lying to me! What else is she lying about?" Abe continued. "I gotta get outta here," Abe concluded -- but Whitley returned just then.
Abe explained what had just happened, prompting Whitley to claim that the name in the credits was simply a stage name -- and that it had been years since Theo had last worked as an actor, anyway.
Abe declared the claim yet another lie then reached for a landline phone to contact the police, prompting Whitley to pounce with a syringe that contained a mild sedative. "I can't let you leave, darling -- not now, not ever," Whitley whispered while Abe was succumbing to the effects of the drug.
Chanel returned to Sweet Bits for the flour delivery -- and Talia soon approached to return an apron so it could be given to the bakery's new employee. Chanel took the apron from Talia while admitting that the new employee was less skilled -- and a fireworks display began as their hands touched.
Eli watched the fireworks display with Lani in the park before heading off to the airport. Jada and Rafe sneaked off to the Hernandez house together and watched a televised fireworks display -- and Paulina watched that same presentation with Theo at the Price condominium while recalling how sad Abe had been about Lani's arrest during the previous Fourth of July celebration. Jerry returned to the pier and removed a note -- "RIP DAD, LOVE YOU ALWAYS" -- from the paws of Theo's teddy bear then crumpled it and tossed it into the water as more fireworks were launched. Whitley watched the televised fireworks display with Abe, who was practically catatonic. "Isn't this nice!" Whitley declared, ignoring the tears in Abe's eyes.
Kate headed over to the hospital and found Harris handcuffed to a bed in one of the rooms. "I heard that you were here under observation, but I guess I had to see it for myself," Kate explained before demanding to know why Harris had gone off script during the execution of their plan to deal with a mutual enemy. "If it makes you feel any better, Megan Hathaway got hers anyway," Harris reported -- but Kate had already heard that news and still wanted more information.
Harris tried to focus on devising ways to escape from the hospital, having not yet given up on the idea of killing Stefan so Li could get back together with Gabi -- but Kate guessed that Megan was the true mastermind of the assassination scheme. "It would make sense if she somehow flipped the tables on you. I mean, I don't know why she would want to kill her brother -- I don't have any idea about that -- but...somehow, I think she is up to her eyeballs in this," Kate mused before offering to put Harris in contact with Marlena. "Why would I consent to letting a shrink mess with my head? I answer to Li Shin -- and I don't need to be 'programmed' to do what he wants!" Harris protested.
Gwen was pacing around the nurses' station when Leo approached with a stuffed pillowcase slung over one shoulder. "You working for Father Christmas now?" Gwen teased. "It's a change of clothes," Leo clarified.
Gwen appreciated Leo's thoughtfulness but insisted that the offering wasn't needed. "You do seem to be living here now," Leo argued. "Stop looking at me so disapprovingly -- I am merely supporting Dimitri!" Gwen protested.
Leo groaned then once again tried to convince Gwen that something fishy was going on. "You are really reaching, Matty --" Gwen maintained. "When I set E.J. and Kristen free, they told me they think Megan and her spawn are just using you, too!" Leo revealed. "For what purpose?" Gwen sputtered. "Well...they couldn't remember -- but they are sure those two are plotting something!" Leo answered.
Leo complained that being Gwen's best friend could be exhausting at times. "All I want is for you to be safe!" Leo declared. "How about happy -- do you want that for me? Because Dimitri makes me feel that way!" Gwen countered. "Orgasms don't count!" Leo shouted before rushing off to continue looking for proof that Gwen was being played, ignoring a group of nurses who were laughing about the retort.
Dimitri breathed a sigh of relief when Megan regained consciousness. "You're in the hospital -- you had emergency surgery two days ago," Dimitri revealed -- and Megan soon remembered what had happened.
Megan was handcuffed to a bed and was quick to complain to Dimitri about the perceived injustice. "I'm the victim here!" Megan argued. "After you were shot, Aunt Kristen and Uncle E.J. told the cops that you were holding them hostage in the basement of the mansion," Dimitri countered. "That...is the most absurd thing I have ever heard in my whole life!" Megan declared. "Why would they lie about that?" Dimitri wondered. "Because they're not true DiMeras like you and I -- they're...parvenu interlopers, and they will do and say anything that they can to blacken my name and drag me down!" Megan reasoned.
Dimitri found it difficult to believe that version of events because of a few recent incidents that seemed incriminating in hindsight -- such as times when Megan had been caught with a tray of food that was clearly meant for more than one person. "This hurts me -- that my own son can think that I would do anything so malevolent, that I would be so cruel to my own siblings!" Megan fretted.
Megan claimed to have no motive for such a crime, prompting Dimitri to reveal that E.J. and Kristen were both insisting that they had been given a drug that had made them forget that part of the story. "I'm getting the distinct impression that you believe them!" Megan observed while conjuring a flood of tears, making Dimitri feel guilty enough to apologize and drop the subject for good.
Megan ended the performance then begged Dimitri for an update on their quest to secure their share of the von Leuschner fortune. Dimitri admitted to Megan that progress had been made but victory had not yet been achieved.
Gwen soon entered the room, and Megan seized the opportunity to offer Dimitri some help. "Seeing the two of you growing closer together, making each other happy -- it reminds me of the richness in life, of the wealth that's available to us if we simply commit and receive it," Megan declared. "This entire experience has made me realize how much I've taken for granted, going along as if I have infinite tomorrows," Megan continued. "Don't postpone your happiness. If an opportunity presents itself, seize it with courage and conviction and without delay -- don't let it pass you by," Megan concluded.
Dimitri asked for another minute alone with Megan then applauded the speech after Gwen left the room. "And now it is time for you to take the reins, Dimitri -- it is time for you to make this happen, make that woman your wife," Megan advised. "I will do my damnedest," Dimitri promised. "And don't trust the others -- the parvenus -- and never forget that you and I, we're a team," Megan begged. "Yes, Mother -- a united front, always," Dimitri confirmed before giving Megan a kiss on the cheek then following Gwen out of the room.
Gabi and Stefan headed over to the police station after learning that Li had been refusing to speak during interrogations. "I believe that's my right," Li reasoned while alone with Stefan and Gabi in one of the conference rooms. "You think stonewalling is gonna help you? Your hired gun told a roomful of people that you ordered him to kill Stefan!" Gabi countered. "Another epic fail," Stefan declared. "You pathetic freak -- you and your homicidal henchman are going down!" Gabi spat.
Li feigned innocence then reminded Gabi and Stefan that Megan was the one who had a proven history of using Harris as a brainwashed assassin. "She may want the company, but she's not gonna take out a family member to get it," Gabi argued. "But you, Li, would absolutely take me out for another chance with Gabi," Stefan noted. "Yep. You got me," Li admitted with obvious sarcasm before summarizing the theory in a way that made Stefan and Gabi sound paranoid.
Gabi and Stefan soon exited the conference room together and conceded that Li had raised some good points about Megan -- who, after all, had also supposedly held E.J. and Kristen captive recently for unknown reasons.
Kristen and E.J. headed over to the Evans-Black townhouse in search of Marlena. "I assume you're here to see Rachel -- well, she left for camp a week ago...and you never even said goodbye!" Marlena snapped at Kristen, prompting E.J. to explain that there was a good reason for the offense. "We know that you would be reluctant -- not just because of Kristen but...well, obviously, I'm not your favorite person -- but we have come to you with all due respect and humility because you're the only person who can provide the kind of help that we need," E.J. declared while trying to stop Kristen from interjecting with comments that could further sabotage their chances with Marlena.
Marlena was surprised to learn that Kristen and E.J. both wanted to be hypnotized. "I will beg you if I have to," Kristen offered, and E.J. nodded in agreement -- but Marlena didn't take the bait.
E.J. and Kristen started to walk away with sighs of disappointment, but Marlena soon reconsidered and invited them into the townhouse then conducted a hypnotherapy session that cleared up everything. "Marlena, I know this was asking a lot, but we are so very grateful -- 'cause because of you, we can stop Megan from doing any further damage," E.J. raved. "Thank you, Marlena -- I don't know how to --" Kristen stammered. "Just make sure she pays," Marlena advised.
Marlena watched with obvious concern as Kristen and E.J. exited the townhouse together and rushed off in opposite directions, each with a different task to complete.
Kristen headed over to the police station to provide an update and saw that Stefan was already waiting to do the same. Stefan and Kristen compared notes while someone was being summoned to help them. "No need for you to hang around -- as Megan's intended victim, I would like to be the one to give Trask everything she needs to nail our sister to the wall," Stefan declared. "Then I will see you back at the house," Kristen responded.
E.J. headed over to the hospital to confront Megan but ran into Kate first. "I freakin' knew it!" Kate bragged after E.J. revealed what Megan had been plotting.
Stefan rejoined Li after Kristen left the police station. "I would never take your word on anything...but Kristen was just here, and she remembers what happened now, and she confirmed what you said -- that Megan programmed Harris to kill me," Stefan revealed, drawing a sigh of relief from Li. "But you damn well could have been in on it -- so, until I have confirmation that you weren't, you're not going anywhere," Stefan added, causing Li's smile to fade.
Leo sneaked into the DiMera mansion through the secret tunnels and continued searching for proof that Dimitri was up to something -- but Kristen interrupted before anything incriminating could be found.
Dimitri walked Gwen to the Salem Inn then started to leave. "I have an answer for you now -- my answer is yes," Gwen declared, stopping Dimitri.
Harris gave Kate's earlier offer a bit more thought then asked a guard to summon Marlena to the hospital.
E.J. and Kate stormed into Megan's room together -- and were stunned to find Gabi handcuffed to the bed.
Down on the docks, Roman sat by Abe's memorial. "Best friend a man could ever have. You've been a big part of my life for such a long time. Just knowing you were there to comfort me. And you know exactly what to say to help me get out of my own head. I wonder if you ever knew what that meant to me, and how I treasured our friendship," Roman said. Roman sniffled back tears.
"I don't understand why we could never find you before [you died]. God, bud. I miss you so much. You were such a special man," Roman said. Overcome with emotions, Roman started to sob.
Shawn and Kristen met up for lunch in the pub. When Shawn guzzled a beer, Belle raised an eyebrow. "Shawn, you're on duty. Do you think you should be drinking?" Belle asked. Shawn argued that it was hot out and that one beer was fine. "I'm on my lunch break. I'm not drunk," Shawn said. Belle gave Shawn a look of disapproval.
"I have tried to give you space, because I know that you're in pain," Belle said. Belle refused to enable Shawn's drinking any longer. "Fine. You're the boss. Actually, why don't I skip lunch too, hmm?" Shawn grumbled. Shawn announced that he had lost his appetite, and he stormed out.
"What was that all about?" Roman asked as he walked over to Belle's table. Belle admitted that Shawn was still drinking to excess because of his guilt over Bo's condition. "I was hoping he'd ease up on himself by now," Roman said. "[Shawn] knows nobody blames him. He just can't stop blaming himself," Belle explained.
At the hospital, E.J. and Kate rushed into Megan's room to confront her, but they were stunned to find Gabi handcuffed in Megan's place. "Where the hell is Megan?" E.J. asked. Gabi explained that she had gone to the hospital to confront Megan about brainwashing Harris. E.J. told Gabi that his memory had returned, and he confirmed that Megan had been behind the scheme to murder Stefan.
"I came here to choke the truth out of [Megan]," E.J. said. "I came up here to do the same," Gabi said. E.J. asked Gabi how Megan had turned the tables on her when Megan had been suffering from a gunshot wound. Gabi explained that she had been interrogating Megan when Rolf had grabbed her from behind.
"What prompted Dr. Rolf to come back?" Kate asked. Gabi noted that Rolf had returned because he had heard that E.J. and Kristen had recovered their memories. "Do you have any idea where they went?" E.J. asked. With a shrug, Gabi said Rolf had mentioned a submarine. E.J. raced out of the hospital.
"As much as I want [E.J.] to catch Megan, I'm sure she's at the bottom of the sea by now," Gabi muttered. After Kate called the police to help with the handcuffs, Gabi questioned why Kate was there to see Megan. "How are you involved with her?" Gabi asked. When Kate mentioned that Megan had attempted to kill her, Gabi noted that she would understand if Kate wanted to kill Megan.
Shawn marched into the room, and he demanded to know which of the two women had let Megan escape. Gabi scoffed. After Shawn unlocked the handcuffs, Gabi told Shawn that Rolf had escaped with Megan on a submarine. "How long ago did they leave?" Shawn asked. "Maybe an hour," Gabi suggested. Shawn rushed out of the room.
At the Salem Inn, Gwen accepted Dimitri's proposal. "I'm surprised. Delighted, don't get me wrong, but surprised," Dimitri admitted. Gwen said she had been hesitant, but she had changed her mind after Megan had been shot. Gwen explained that she had made her decision based partly on what Megan had said but mostly because of how Dimitri had responded to his mother's situation.
"I could see how much you love her and how scared you were to lose her. And there was more to it than that. I just suppose I saw another side to you, Dimitri. A side that's tender and vulnerable," Gwen confessed. Gwen noted that Dimitri was more than his past criminal actions.
"You're human, Dimitri. And a beautiful human at that," Gwen said. "Whenever I'm with you, I always feel like the man that I always was meant to be," Dimitri said. Dimitri swore that Gwen would not regret her decision. "Shall we make it official?" Dimitri said as he dropped to one knee with the ring box. Gwen put on the ring, and she and Dimitri kissed passionately.
"I need to tell my mother the wonderful news," Dimitri said as he pulled away from Gwen. Disappointed, Gwen asked Dimitri if they had time to celebrate their engagement before he left. With a grin, Dimitri and Gwen tumbled onto the bed. After sex, Gwen joked that they should keep the details of their delay from his mother.
"I don't know how it's possible, but somehow, you are more enchanting every single time I lay eyes on you," Dimitri said. Dimitri kissed Gwen, and he told her he could not wait to make her his wife. After a moment, Dimitri argued that they should go to the courthouse and get married. Gwen hesitated, and she suggested a more romantic location.
"I don't even know what I want. Which is why I was hoping for the time to figure it out before we say I do. I mean, really, what's the hurry, darling?" Gwen asked. Dimitri forced a smile. "It's just that I've been waiting for someone like you my entire life, and I'm a little bit impatient," Dimitri said. Gwen said she understood.
"I've never really been married before, so I really want to make it special," Gwen said. "I promise you, Gwen. It will be," Dimitri promised. Dimitri asked Gwen about a wedding at the end of the month before his 40th birthday. With a sheepish grin, Dimitri said he had promised himself that he would marry before he turned 40. "I hate breaking promises. Especially to myself," Dimitri said. "But why 40?" Gwen asked. Dimitri rambled that it was a milestone of maturity. Gwen agreed to marry him before his birthday.
In the DiMera living room, Kristen demanded to know why Leo was rooting around in the desk. When Leo lied about a corkscrew, Kristen threatened to call the police. Leo pleaded innocence, and Kristen reminded Leo that he had once stolen jewelry from Abigail -- on the night of her murder. Leo said he wanted the truth. "What truth are you in pursuit of?" Kristen asked. Leo explained that he was looking for dirt on Dimitri.
"Why the hell would you want to get the goods on him?" Kristen asked. Leo stressed that he wanted to protect Gwen. "It is rather presumptuous of you to think that my nephew isn't sincere in his marriage proposal," Kristen said. "I told you about this when I found you in the secret room. And you said it sounded vaguely familiar," Leo said. Leo asked Kristen if she had any idea why Dimitri was so eager to marry Gwen. Kristen remembered that Dimitri had plotted to use Gwen to get his money.
"That is the face of someone remembering something," Leo said. Kristen admitted that Dimitri might have an ulterior motive to marry Gwen. "If you remember your prodigal nephew's real reason for wanting to marry Gwen, then in the name of all that is holy, spill the tea," Leo said. Leo argued that Gwen deserved the truth. Kristen countered that since she had secured Gwen's pardon, Gwen owed her.
"If I hadn't been Johnny-on-the-spot and showed up when I did, you and E.J. would still be tied up in the secret room," Leo argued. Kristen offered an edible arrangement for his help instead. "So, that's it? You DiMeras just close ranks and screw everybody else?" Leo asked. "We DiMeras protect what's ours," Kristen growled. Kristen ordered Leo to leave. Leo pretended to leave the house, then he crept up the stairs, unseen by Kristen.
Nicole went to the docks to leave flowers at Abe's memorial. As Nicole kissed her fingers and touched Abe's photo, Eric rounded the corner. "I thought I'd come down and pay my respects, as well," Eric said. Eric asked about Nicole's health. Nicole said the doctor had given her a clean bill of health, but E.J. had not been with Nicole for the appointment.
"E.J. and Kristen went to see your mother, to see if she could help them remember why Megan pulled them into that secret room," Nicole explained. Eric asked why E.J. had not waited until after Nicole's doctor's appointment. "He wanted to go to my appointment, but I told him it was more important that he recover his memory, if that's even possible, to make his lunatic sister pay for what she's done," Nicole said. Eric said he was concerned about Nicole's health after her scare.
"Thank you, but E.J. is also concerned about his unborn child. And he loves this baby, and he loves me. And I love him," Nicole countered. "I shouldn't question E.J.'s devotion to you or the baby, it's just a knee-jerk reaction after all those weeks that he left you alone," Eric said. Nicole nodded, and she apologized for having been defensive.
"I can't imagine the pain you're going through right now. After everything that's happened with the baby and now Abe. It's just so heartbreaking," Eric said. Nicole's eyes welled up with tears. "I still can't believe he's gone. It's so unfair. He was such a good man," Nicole said. Nicole remarked that Abe had died because he had been looking out for Paulina and Chanel. "And he always looked out for me, that's for sure. Like a father," Nicole said. Eric put his hands on Nicole's shoulders as she cried.
"I'll miss him," Nicole said. Eric pulled Nicole into an embrace as E.J. walked onto the docks. E.J. cleared his throat. "I was just leaving flowers for Abe, and I bumped into Eric," Nicole said. "Looks like a very moving tribute. He was obviously loved by many," E.J. said. Nicole asked about Marlena. E.J. explained that he had recovered his memory, but Megan had escaped from the hospital before he had been able to confront her.
"Rolf provided a helping hand," E.J. said. "Do you have any idea where they could have gone?" Eric asked. E.J. explained that he believed Rolf had escaped in a submarine with Megan. "It appears [Megan is] long gone," E.J. said as he looked at the water. "Justice will catch up to her eventually," Nicole assured E.J. With a nod, E.J. asked about the doctor. Nicole said that the baby was healthy. E.J. grinned, and he told Nicole that had sent for the specialist again.
"I have every faith in your physician. I just wanted to bring Dr. Sorensen back in the fold, because I hated that I missed the first appointment with her," E.J. said. E.J. promised that he would be with Nicole every step of the pregnancy as a couple. As E.J. kissed Nicole, Eric looked away in disgust.
E.J. and Nicole returned home to the DiMera mansion. "I just want to say that when you showed up on the docks and saw me hugging Eric--" Nicole said. "You don't have to explain," E.J. interrupted. E.J. said that he understood that Nicole was emotional at Abe's memorial. "I'm really grateful that you understand," Nicole said. "We love each other. We're having a baby together. That's all that matters to me," E.J. said. E.J. promised Nicole that his priority was their family of three.
When Kate returned to the pub, Roman was still talking to Belle. "Where have you been?" Roman asked. Kate explained that she had been at the hospital to check on Harris. "But you know what? Megan escaped while I was there," Kate said. Kate explained that Shawn had arrived at the hospital and was searching for Megan. A look of worry crossed Belle's face.
Down on the docks, Shawn called Hope to warn her about Megan's escape. "The last thing I want is for you and Dad to get hurt any worse than you already have," Shawn said. Shawn asked Hope to tell Bo that he loved him and thought about him every day. After Shawn ended his call, he pulled a bottle of liquor from his coat pocket and took a big gulp.
In the square, Gwen ran into Kristen, and they talked about Kristen's kidnapping. "I'm glad to see you're none the worse for wear," Gwen said. "My memory is still a little fuzzy and a few unsettling dreams. Other than that, no lasting damage, hopefully," Kristen said. Kristen asked about Gwen. With a grin, Gwen held out her hand to show off her ring. "I'm engaged!" Gwen said.
In Dimitri's room at the DiMera mansion, Leo rifled through Dimitri's belongings. Leo knocked a book off a table, and he noticed a piece of paper tucked in the pages. When Leo pulled out the paper, he saw that it included the requirements of Dimitri's inheritance. "I've got you now, Zaddy Von Leuschner," Leo muttered. Dimitri returned to his room.
"Stark!" Dimitri yelped. "I am about to expose you for the malicious swindler you are," Leo said as he held up the papers. Dimitri lunged for the document, but Leo pulled it away. "The jig is up. You're only marrying Gwen to get your hands on this money," Leo said. "That's preposterous," Dimitri stammered. Leo announced that he planned to tell Gwen, and Dimtri aggressively grabbed Leo by the collar. Dimitri held Leo close, and then he kissed Leo.
