Days of our Lives Recap for Thursday, March 13, 2025: EJ can't stay away from Belle, Johnny gets a shock

Find out what happened on Days of our Lives

Chanel found Paulina sitting in Horton Square. Paulina was waiting there hoping to run into Chanel and see how she was doing. "You mean after the lunch from hell with the DiMeras and Mrs. Choi?" she asked. Paulina apologized for what happened, but Chanel told her there was nothing to apologize for. Paulina pointed out that there was definitely someone who owed Chanel and Johnny an apology — EJ.

"Leave it to EJ to ruin a simple get-to-know-you lunch with Sophia's mother," Paulina said. Chanel concurred. "That is the thing. Sophia's mother didn't get to know any of us. Not really, I mean. Johnny and I were so busy pretending to be people that we weren't just so she would be okay with us adopting Sophia and Tate's baby."

Paulina announced that she had a plan to fix the situation. She had already put it into motion by asking Amy to meet her for a drink. Chanel was surprised to hear that Amy agreed. "Your mother is the mayor, honey," Paulina pointed out. Chanel wasn't sure it would work, but Paulina was hopeful.

At the DiMera mansion, EJ stood in the living room talking to both himself and Stefano's portrait as he waved a syringe around in his hands. "Rachel Blake is the only one who can implicate me in Rafe's kidnapping. Once I make her forget discovering Rafe at Aremid, this will all be over. Even if Kristen never forgives me for it, I know it has to be done," he hesitantly declared.

Johnny walked into the living room at that moment and asked, "What exactly is that? What are you up to this time, Dad?" EJ quickly hid the syringe behind his back. Johnny pointed out it was never a good sign when a DiMera had a conversation with Stefano's portrait. "Usually, it's when someone is trying to get something terrible off their chest or when someone is seeking approval to do something terrible, so which is it, Father?" Johnny inquired.

EJ claimed that he was just doing damage control. "I'm going to make this family's problems disappear," he teased. Johnny admitted that he's learned to expect the worst from EJ so asked what problem his father was going to make vanish. EJ lied and said it was the "situation with Amy Choi, of course." EJ blamed Gabi and Jada for what happened, but Johnny was honest and told EJ it was all his fault.

Johnny reiterated that he didn't believe that EJ wasn't responsible for the Rafe/Arnold mess. "Son, I give you my word. I did not bring that vile man back to town," EJ insisted. (He was technically not lying as Arnold arrived on his own.) EJ also wanted a "do-over" and intended to invite Amy and Sophia back to the mansion. "We will wine and dine her...I will be my most charming self," EJ promised. "Thanks, but no thanks," Johnny said.

The subject turned back to Arnold. Johnny repeated that if EJ had anything to do with the Arnold and Rafe mess, then he'd never speak to him again. "That man raped my mother," Johnny said. EJ admitted that Arnold sleeping with Sami wasn't part of the plan when he first brought Arnold to Salem. "Hurting Samantha like that is one of the greatest regrets of my life. My role in that was horrific. Nobody deserves that, especially the mother of my children," EJ admitted.

After Johnny left, an emotional EJ pulled the syringe out of his pocket and put it in the safe. As he poured himself a drink, he thought about Belle and how much he cared about her.

Theresa and her teenage son ended up at Small Bar to catch up now that Theresa is no longer in prison. Tate gave his mother a look when she picked up a drink but she promised him it was a mocktail. Tate admitted he felt triggered considering Theresa and Brady's history as addicts. Theresa assured Tate that she wanted her life back and wouldn't do anything to jeopardize her sobriety.

Theresa wondered if Tate ever drank. When he told her never, she had a blunt question. "So, then you were stone-cold sober when you knocked up Sophia, yeah?" she both stated and asked. Theresa thought it was odd that Tate would be so careless about sex.

Tate insisted that he and Sophia had used protection, but pointed out that no birth control is 100 percent effective. However, he wanted to do the right thing by the baby and find it a good adoptive home. Theresa once again asked if he was sure that was the right thing to do. Tate assured her that it was and that most adoptions don't go sour as they did with Aunt Eve.

Theresa began warming up to the idea until she heard that Johnny and Chanel were the couple that wanted to adopt Tate's baby. Tate told her that they ran into a snag with Johnny and Chanel's parents, but Theresa thought that was the least of concerns considering that Johnny was Tate's second cousin. He also said that Mrs. Choi's standards were impossibly high.

That's when Amy approached the table, surprised to see Tate in a bar. Tate introduced Amy to his mother and swore he was just drinking a soda. Theresa claimed she was back in town after taking care of her sick mother. "It must have been difficult to deal with all that while you were in prison," Amy said.

An annoyed Theresa responded after Amy called her a convicted felon. "That's not something I lead with when I first meet somebody," she said. Amy claimed that Theresa didn't need to justify her sins because he was between her and God.

Later, Johnny told Chanel about EJ's confession. "I don't know. It was the first time I felt he had a conscience, that he regretted what happened," Johnny said. He wanted to believe EJ wasn't lying now, but he couldn't be sure. Chanel changed the subject and told Johnny that Paulina was trying to make things right with Mrs. Choi.

Amy and Paulina met at Small Bar where Paulina tried to be casual and friendly, but Amy wanted to "get down to business." So, Paulina did just that as they unpacked what happened in the DiMera living room. Amy still wasn't sold. "I have no doubt your daughter is a lovely person and your son-in-law seemed wonderful as well, but I can't consider letting them adopt Sophia's baby if it means EJ DiMera is a part of its life," Amy said.

"Don't worry about it. I'll make sure EJ is completely out of the equation," Paulina promised.

Steve stopped at The Brady Pub to see Roman. He updated him on the John situation and told Roman that he and Marlena were headed to DC to see Shane. Roman wanted to go as backup so Shane had "both brother-in-laws staring him down."

Steve appreciated the offer but felt that they needed a softer approach with just Steve and Marlena. Roman realized Steve was right and agreed. He asked Roman to keep an eye on Kayla while he was gone. Roman said he would while also keeping his eye on Black Patch.

Theresa dropped by next for a tender reunion with Roman, followed by Johnny who wanted some takeout burgers. "As long as your dad doesn't get any," Roman said. Johnny assured Roman that EJ wasn't responsible for what happened to Rafe and Jada. EJ even felt remorse for what happened between Arnold and Sami.

"Johnny, that is total BS. That didn't stop him from doing the exact same damn thing that Feniger did," Roman shouted, much to Johnny's confusion.

Marlena told Steve she would meet him soon. As she hung up the phone, Belle walked in and spotted her mother's luggage. She asked if Marlena was going somewhere and was told, "Yes. I'm going to find your father." Marlena informed Belle that Shane had not been returning her phone calls so she and Steve were heading to Washington DC to see him in person and get some answers about John.

Marlena hoped that Shane would tell her John's last known location so she could then go to that location and find her missing husband. "Your dad is the love of my life. You would do anything for the love of your life, wouldn't you? Marlena asked.

That got Belle thinking about her own romantic entanglements. She told Marlena she couldn't stop wondering what was next for her. "I always thought that Shawn was the love of my life for as long as I can remember...We tried for so many years to work things out and now I get to find out who I am without Shawn and if that means that I don't find the kind of epic love that you and Dad have, then that's okay," she said.

Marlena had a pointed question. "So, are we ruling out EJ?" she asked. Belle said she thought Marlena didn't want her with EJ. Marlena affirmed that she did. She was also worried about the fallout from Sami. "Mom, I'm not in denial about who EJ is. That's why I ended things with him," Belle said.

Steve soon arrived to pick up Marlena for their trip. Marlena and Belle said goodbye. "Give Shane hell and come back soon," Belle told her mother. She then remembered her times with EJ before there was a knock on the door. Belle opened it to find EJ standing there.