The August 19 episode of Days of Our Lives finally answered a dangling question that began in early April when EJ (Dan Feuerriegel) was shot by a mystery assailant: Who pulled the trigger? There were a multitude of suspects, including the victim’s sister Kristen (Stacy Haiduk), his son Johnny (Carson Boatman), the mayor, Paulina Price Carver (Jackée Harry), and former police commissioner and current FBI agent Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering). So, who did the deed? Read on to find out!
Order in the Court
Court was back in session — and despite Johnny’s earlier protests for him to stay away, EJ was sitting in the back of the courtroom. Judge Dabney announced for the record that the defendant, John Roman Brady, had dismissed his attorney and chosen to represent himself. Johnny squirmed a bit in his seat during her announcement, clearly realizing what a big risk he was taking. Belle called Chanel back to the stand for her cross examination. The judge reminded Chanel she was still under oath from her testimony the day before. Belle’s first question was about why Chanel had threatened EJ on the night he was shot.
Chanel denied the charge, so Belle asked her how she would explain the video they had all seen. “I don’t know how to explain it, but I did not say those words to my father-in-law that you saw me saying in that video. I never threatened EJ DiMera — period,” Chanel insisted. Belle asked if she was insinuating that the video they watched was somehow doctored. Chanel said she wasn’t insinuating — that was exactly what happened. Johnny nodded in support. EJ could be seen behind him seething.
Belle then recalled Johnny to the stand and was reminded by the judge that he was under oath. Belle began questioning Johnny about what he did for a living before going to work at his current job at Titan. He explained about his directing career for film and television, with Belle asking if he would be considered an expert. He said yes. She asked if in his expert opinion, did he agree with his wife’s assertion that the video they saw was doctored. “I do. That video is a deep fake,” he answered, while looking at the jury. “And I can prove it,” he answered as EJ continued to look annoyed.
The judge called for order in the court and instructed the D.A. to continue. Belle said it was quite the allegation he was making, especially since the Salem Police Department had authenticated the footage. He reminded her that it wouldn’t be the first time someone had pulled one over on the Salem P.D. Johnny pointed out that his grandfather, Stefano DiMera, made a sport of discrediting the cops in Salem. “Taught his children how to do the same,” Johnny added, looking directly at an angry EJ.
Once again, the judge asked for order in the court. She instructed Johnny to answer the question and save his editorializing for his next script. Belle asked why the jury should believe him and not think he’s simply trying to protect his wife. He said he wouldn’t need to protect her if someone wasn’t trying to frame her. Belle played the recording again and gave Johnny permission to comment. He pointed out the pixelation of the recording and the shadow facing the wrong direction. He added they didn’t have to take his word — he sent the recording to one of the leading experts in the country on A.I. and that the expert agreed to submit a statement backing up Johnny’s assertion that the video has all the indications of being computer-generated.
Johnny added that someone went to great lengths and great expense to make it look like his wife wanted EJ dead on the night in question. That was not the case. Belle had no further questions so Johnny was instructed to step down. His father continued to look unhappy with the way things were going. Judge Dabney asked Johnny if the defense wanted to recall any of the witnesses. “The defense rests,” Johnny said. The judge announced they would take a short recess before returning for closing arguments. EJ eyed the jury, wondering what they were thinking.
A Brief Recess
During the break, Chanel and Johnny hugged and she congratulated him on his testimony. He was in his element talking about film but now he had to deliver his own closing argument. Chanel was supportive, confident that he would do a great job. In the courtroom, EJ surprised Belle. She said he should be ashamed of what he did to Chanel, but they both knew he had no shame. She then left him to stew in his own juices.
Belle delivered her closing arguments first, summing up the testimony against Johnny, once again mentioning how his father, EJ, had raped his mother, Sami. She instructed the jury to consider the facts to see if they warrant a conviction against the defendant. Chanel looked uneasy as both Johnny and EJ glanced at the jury, trying to figure out where they stood.
It was Johnny’s turn next. He reminded them that he wasn’t a lawyer, but that the district attorney still needed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he did it and she couldn’t — because he didn’t shoot his father. He spoke about all of the other suspects, noting that his father was a hard man to love and an easy one to hate. Johnny regretted that the gun he left behind was then used to shoot his father, but he wasn’t the one who did it. “I hope that’s enough for you guys to find me not guilty,” he concluded. The judge turned the case over to the jury.
As Johnny and Chanel moved to leave, EJ berated his son, telling him he proved nothing to the jury and he should have let EJ continue as his lawyer. Johnny spat back about EJ manipulating the jury to suspect Chanel. “Screw you,” Johnny told him. Belle looked over, concerned by what was unfolding. Chanel suggested they leave, so they did. Belle noted that Johnny and Chanel were as disgusted by EJ as she was and he suggested she not be so smug, considering her own mother suspects Belle was the one who shot him. Belle was gobsmacked by the accusation, as EJ asked if she really was the one who shot him that night. Belle wondered why she would do it. She said it was a ridiculous charge; she would never stoop to violence. She had no reason to — back then, at least. With that, Belle walked out of the courtroom.
By the Book
Away from court, Rachel was at Foster’s bookstore with Marlena. Foster learned about Rachel’s love for snakes, so they set about finding her a book on them. Meanwhile, Marlena saw Julie and the two spoke about their differing opinions regarding Cat Greene. Marlena insisted that Cat and Chad were just friends, but Julie reminded Marlena about a friend they both had who used to sing a ballad about how easy it was for friends to turn into lovers. Marlena smiled knowingly.
Foster returned to Rachel with a book about Selena, a young female salamander who was destined to become one of the most powerful sorceresses in the world. “So like Harry Potter?” Rachel asked. He felt it was more inspiring because she was a girl. Rachel seemed unimpressed and needed more reasons. He added that she had no idea she and she alone held the key to save her family and the world from the dread of the destructor. Rachel asked where was the key. Foster said if he told her that, it’d be spoiling the ending. Rachel admitted she loved spoilers and wanted to know. He told her that the key was trapped inside Selena’s mind. This pleased Rachel.
Marlena came over to pay for the book, but Foster said it was on the house. Marlena asked if he was sure, but he said Rachel simply needed to let him know if she liked it. Rachel promised she would, so Marlena prepared to get the young girl back to her mother. Marlena and Julie hugged good-bye and Rachel waved good-bye to Julie and Foster. After they left, Julie made an offer for the bookstore, and Foster was ecstatic. Settled on a bench in Horton Town Square, Rachel looked over her new book as Marlena broke the news to Cat on the phone that she’d have to look for another job because Marlena was taking an extended leave of absence.
Mystery Solved
Marlena brought Rachel back to the DiMera mansion, where they ran into EJ fixing himself a drink. They took him by surprise. “That’s because you were busy pouring booze,” Rachel said, making EJ laugh. “You’re becoming more and more like your mother every day,” he muttered under his breath. Rachel’s eyes landed on an object on the shelf as Marlena asked EJ about how the trial went, knowing that Johnny had fired him as his attorney. He told her the case was with the jury.
Rachel started tossing the object up in the air and catching it, earning an admonishment from Marlena: “Rachel, honey, put that down. It’s glass. Rachel, what are you doing?” EJ froze. “What are you doing?” EJ echoed, his voice trembling as he was struck by a memory: seeing a pink-bathrobe-clad Rachel holding a gun on him! Stunned by this new revelation, EJ sat down hard in the chair by his desk.
Grabbing a bite in Horton Town Square, Chanel asked Johnny how he was feeling. He admitted he felt relieved… mostly. Scared and nervous too. Chanel said she did too. Belle approached them and shared her hope that Johnny would be exonerated. Belle also told them about EJ’s outlandish claim that Marlena thought Belle was the one who shot EJ, which shocked Johnny. But it clued Belle into one thing — the person who shot EJ was someone both EJ and her mother would want to protect.
Back at the DiMera mansion, Marlena was still trying to order Rachel to put the glass object down as Rachel continued to do as she pleased. EJ was thrown back in time once again. On the night he was shot, Rachel refused to put the gun down until EJ told her where Grandma Rachel was. He insisted he had no idea. She accused him of lying, which he tried to deny. He asked her to put down the gun — and she shot him!
EJ was jarred back to the present. At the same time, the glass object was shown broken. “Oh no!” Rachel said as EJ recalled that same look of horror on Rachel’s face after she shot him. “Oh no,” Rachel said, looking at her bloody uncle. Back in the present, Marlena noticed something was wrong with EJ. He whispered, “Oh my God,” as Rachel stared at him.
