We pick up from Friday, with Xander inching his way towards Philip, pillow gripped in both hands. But he stops cold as Philip opens his eyes.
Kayla Laments EJ’s Budget
Kayla’s packing Stephanie’s manuscript in her bag out in the reception area, when Sarah stops her to talk. Kayla breaks the news about EJ’s budget proposal — it’s not what she was hoping. Sarah offers to keep picking up nightshifts if they’re short-staffed. It’s not like she’s got a husband to go home to.
Kayla, though, has to get going to Steve’s retirement party, so she heads out — just before Kate shows up to ask if Sarah’s seen the manuscript. But then the cop guarding Philip’s room walks by, having gone to the bathroom for an emergency, and a panicked Kate and Sarah rush into his hospital room.
“Oh my God! Philip!” He’s awake! Kate rushes to his bedside, while Sarah spots Xander and demands to know what he’s doing there. He’s just checking on Philip, of course, but then he woke up. He hasn’t said a word, though.
Sarah and Kate Seek Answers from Philip
Kate asks if Philip can hear her and he answers. “Mom? What’s going on?” Xander’s fake relieved, then gets kicked out by the ladies. He asks what happened — he doesn’t remember. When Sarah asks for time to examine him alone, he just says he was surprised to see his brother and he feels like he got hit by a truck.
Back out in the reception area, Kate lays into the cop, telling him he failed to protect Xander and he’s going to pay for it. He apologizes and says suddenly he felt like throwing up after having his coffee. Kate realizes that’s when Xander slipped in. “You son of a bitch,” she mutters
Sarah joins Kate to tell her she’s ordering some tests, but Philip didn’t tell her who did it to him. She insists, though, that she DOES want to know. She heads off to conduct the tests, Kate calls Roman to tell him the good news, then Sarah returns to say the tests are done and Kate can go back in Philip’s room.
Jack and Jennifer Celebrate His Birthday
Jack and Jennifer, meanwhile, are getting ready for Steve’s retirement party when she breaks out a birthday cupcake for Jack. He hasn’t wanted to celebrate since Abigail died, but Jen encourages him to celebrate. It’s what Abigail would want. She lights the candle and Jack takes a deep breath, then blows it out.
They share the cupcake then talk about the rules of wishmaking. Jennifer offers up her own wish: “That I would never hear the name Cat Greene again.”
Alex Is Afraid of Steve
Alex nervously asks Stephanie how he looks, wanting to prove himself to her parents for Steve’s retirement party. Steph tells him not to worry — her mom’s happy for them and her dad… only has a few reservations.
Alex reminisces about growing up with Steve’s sister, Adrienne as his mom, then fusses over his look again. Stephanie offers some stress relief and the two start making out.
Steve Gets a Heavenly Visit
Steve’s looking at an Irish blessing from John’s service, lost in his thoughts at his kitchen table, when Bonnie lets herself in. Except… it’s not Bonnie. It’s Adrienne. Yes, she acknowledges, she is dead. He’s dreaming.
Steve just grunts an “Oh,” when she tells him. He was hoping for one of those back from the dead miracles. “Or here, a Tuesday,” Adrienne snarks. She’s here with a message for him, though. John’s up with her and she promises to watch out for him.
More: See photos of John’s funeral Steve’s grateful and tells her how much he misses her. They both get emotional, but Adrienne has to go, and Steve wakes up on the couch. He’s standing over the table, looking thoughtful when Kayla gets home.
He tells her about his dream, and Kayla tells him about her mother’s saying: “Dreams are the place angels can visit us.” She then tells him about Stephanie’s dinner plans, but he’s not up for it. Kayla won’t take no for an answer — Stephanie’s already there. Some family time would be good.
Jada Questions Xander
Xander’s rushing through the square when Jada stops him dead, saying they need to have a chat about Philip. She just got a call from Kate… The officer guarding Philip mysteriously got ill, just as Xander snuck in. So what was he doing there? He just wanted to be there for his little brother.
“Did you?” Jada asks flatly. She tells Xander not to take any trips, she’ll probably be visiting him again soon.
Steve’s Celebrated By His Loved Ones
Stephanie, Alex, Jack and Jennifer all get to The Bistro and Steve and Kayla show up shortly. They all yell “Surprise!” and Steve’s cheered up a bit at the sight. Steph invited Bo and Hope, but they seemed to want their own time.
Alex offers his hand and shakes Steve’s, awkwardly congratulating him on his retirement. They take seats and Jack jokingly asks who’s going to keep Salem safe without Black Patch. Steve reminisces that it’s been 40 years since arriving in Salem, and Alex asks what brought him there.
“Funny you should ask. I was working for your Uncle Victor.” And he was looking for revenge against Bo. He’s the reason Steve lost his eye, after a fight over a woman. He was a bitter dude for awhile.
We flash back to the ‘80s, with Kayla cleaning Steve’s injuries and gently taking his patch off, then on to Steve talking about feeling like a freak as he walks down the street as they worry over a young Max losing an eye.
Back at the dinner, Steve insists he was only able to turn his life around because of Kayla’ love. And Adrienne’s attempts to put their broken family back together. We flash back to her telling Steve she’s his sister and her piecing together their family tree — Steve, Jack and their little sister.
Jack tells Alex and Stephanie about how Steve’s the rock of the family and reminisces about Steve giving him his kidney. Jack raises a toast to his big brother, “the original anti-hero.” They do a video chat with Tripp, Wendy and Joe, then Jada joins them.
She tells them she was just attending police business — Philip is awake, but he’s in tests, so he’s got some time. Next up is reminiscing about Jada’s dad, Marcus Hunter, and how they reconnected as adults after growing up together in the orphanage. “Like John, he was gone way too soon,” Steve mourns, quieting everyone.
Steve Unretires Already
Jada gets a text shortly after from Kate, she’s heading over to talk to him. Steve hugs her goodbye, then Jack asks his brother to take on one more case. Jennifer wants help finding Julie’s necklace. Could he take a crack at it?
Steve mentions Bo’s offer to team up. So he gives Bo a call and both he and Hope are onboard. He’s back in business. Jennifer’s incredibly grateful, then she and Jack head out. They’re heading back to Boston, but promise to visit soon.
It’s just Stephanie and Alex and she jokes about the “best unretirement party ever.” It was just what Steve needed, he says, heading out insisting she made him happy.
Alex thinks Steve hates him, but Stephanie laughs it off. “That’s just his face.” Xander wanders in just after and Alex tells him Philip’s awake, and that’s got to be good for the company. Xander knows. He just wants a drink. Alex wonders if his cousin’s mood is because he knows he’s about to be arrested. Again.
In the Show’s Final Moments
Out in the square, Jack tells Jennifer about his birthday wish: “That you and I will come home and visit Salem as often as possible.” Jen promises it will come true.
Jada gets to Philip’s room, where Kate’s sitting by his bedside. He’s up to answering questions and Jada asks if his memory about what happened is any less fuzzy. It is. He was the victim “of a brutal, vicious beating.” His attacker? Not Xander. Everyone looks stunned.
Steve and Kayla return home, where she admits she was looking forward to his retirement, but listening to all the stories made clear that she wouldn’t change Steve for the world. If it’s what he wants, it’s what she does, too.
Steve marvels at how lucky he is; his life is all because of Kayla and her belief in him. He’s so grateful for her and their life. They kiss and we end with a series of flashbacks of Steve’s time in Salem over the years.
Next on Days of Our Lives, Gabi makes Javi an offer, and Chad apologizes to Cat.
