Kristen gets up early to find EJ hadn’t even gone to bed, as he’s working on his hospital plans. She reminds him he still needs to bring her mother home — EJ’s planning to, so long as Kristen makes sure to uphold her end of the bargain. Kristen agrees, then runs off in a panic when she hears Rachel scream.
She rushes into her daughter’s room, where Rachel says she had a nightmare about Grandpa John. “I dreamed he died!” Kristen assures her that Grandpa John was feeling much better, so maybe they can see him after school. She puts Rachel back to bed, then texts Brady, saying she needs to see him about Rachel.
Word About John Spreads
Marlena’s laying in bed, staring off, thinking of her last moments with John in the hospital. Out in the living room, Belle gets up to find Brady already awake standing by the fireplace. She’s about to check on their dad when he stops her. “Dad’s gone. Dad’s gone.” Brady embraces her.
Belle starts sobbing as Brady tells her it was quick, then rushes over to hug Marlena when her mom enters. Brady brings in tea for Belle, but before they can start calling around, Marlena says they should give everyone some time. It’s too early.
Paulina and Abe, meanwhile, are asleep in bed when his phone starts ringing. It’s Steve with the news about John. They rush over to Marlena’s and Paulina jumps right into a hug for her.
Brady gets Kristen’s text and heads over, thanking Abe and Paulina for being there. They ask Marlena what they can do after Brady’s gone, but there’s nothing, so they just reassure her they’re there for her. Always.
Brady Tells Kristen About John
When Brady gets to the DiMera mansion, he tells Kristen that John died last night. He tells her what happened and as Kristen tries processing the loss, EJ comes down and overhears them. He pulls out his phone, changes his mind, and heads out the door.
Kristen tearfully tells Brady how sorry she is and how John was loved by so many — including her. Brady’s still a bit in shock, though. They talk about what to do about Rachel, and Kristen knows it’ll hit her hard. She tells Brady about the nightmare, then moves on to telling him about EJ promising to bring her mom back.
Brady doesn’t get why Kristen would do that, then gets upset when she says she bargained for keeping quiet about Johnny. “What about our daughter? Is she supposed to keep this secret for the rest of her life??”
Of course, not! She can talk to her therapist! Brady demands to know what would happen if EJ decides to silence Rachel. “He wouldn’t,” Kristen says, sounding less than certain.
Kayla and Roman Remember John
Kayla heads into the pub to break the news to Roman. “It’s John. He died last night.” Roman assures her she did all she could, and Kayla tells him that Steve’s making calls to Shane and Andrew. Roman gets emotional as he recalls how much good John did for him, even when he was living his life.
Kayla agrees, saying no matter what, John was part of the family. “He was another brother.” Hope calls with the happy news about Bo, leaving both siblings in shock. They didn’t tell her about John, though, not wanting to take her happiness away.
“Forty-eight hours ago, Bo was given his last rites and we were waiting to welcome John home,” Roman notes in sad wonder. Kayla goes to the hospital to get John’s personal items and Roman goes with her.
Julie’s Excited to Hear About Bo
Julie’s home when Hope calls with good news, for once. Bo’s awake and, Julie says, crying out in joy, it’s all because of John Black. She hangs up and hurries over to a photo of her and Doug to tell him the good news. “I know you had something to do with this, too.”
It’s Belle’s turn to bring Marlena some tea after Abe and Paulina leave to get some pastries. There’s another knock at the door, this time an excited Julie wanting to share the great news about Bo. She goes on for a moment or so before she sees Marlena near tears. “John… is gone,” she gets out and Julie’s face falls.
She hugs Marlena, apologizing, telling her she’ll be there for Marlena, just like she was there for her. They hug again as Abe and Paulina get back with boxes from Sweet Bits. Julie gets moving, putting the pastries in the kitchen for everyone as they come to see Marlena, while the others stand sadly in the living room.
Abe gently asks if she gave any thought to the funeral. “No, I haven’t,” she cries, but before they can get much farther, EJ shows up at the door. Marlena lights into him when he says he came to pay his respects. Belle hears the commotion and comes out to the living room, telling EJ her mom has had enough visitors and pulling him away.
Kayla and Roman Visit Marlena
With them gone, Julie cautiously comes back out to sit with Marlena, but she barely sits down when Roman and Kayla show up with John’s things. Roman pulls Marlena in for a hug, and Kayla tells Marlena the good news about Bo.
“Oh. Well that’s… that’s wonderful news,” Marlena says, nodding and smiling when the Bradys tell her John’s a true hero. But she can’t keep the tears away for long. Kayla tells Marlena she’s going to have Cat cancel all her appointments, but Marlena doesn’t know what she’d do with herself staying home.
“Right now,” Kayla tells her, “the person you need to take care of is yourself.” When Kayla offers to put John’s things in the other room, Marlena insists she wants to see them now. She opens the bag, rifles through and turns to ask if it’s everything. She doesn’t see the gold coin.
Belle Has News for EJ
Out in the square, EJ asks if Belle wants to get any coffee, but she doesn’t want to see anyone she knows. Then she demands to know what EJ was thinking coming over when half her family doesn’t even know her dad’s gone yet. EJ gently tells her he wanted to be there for her as soon as he heard the news.
That’s when he tells her he loves her, getting a bit giddy as he approaches her and… Belle pushes him away. She can feel her dad’s presence, wanting her to make the right choices. She wants to honor him and do what she thinks he’d want.
In the Show’s Final Moments
Abe and Paulina get back home, tired, but unable to sleep. Paulina tells Abe about a book she read: When Bad Things Happen to Good People. All that matters is how people come together and support each other when tragedy strikes. “That’s where you find God.”
Abe recalls how good a friend John was and how honored he was to marry John and Marlena. “I just hope he knew how much I loved him.” Paulina holds Abe, assuring him John knew. They let each other know how grateful they are to be there together.
Out in the living room, Julie offers to get Roman and Kayla something from the pastries, but they aren’t hungry. Roman says they should start making calls to everyone.
Marlena’s back on her bed, looking at a photo of her and John kissing at Christmas and holds it close to her. She sets it back down, hugs herself and starts crying. She checks her phone and notices a voicemail from John. She missed it somehow; one last message from her husband when he was coming home.
She hits play and we just hear John’s voice say: “I love you, Doc.” Marlena plays it over and over again, tears running down her face. “I love you.”
