Days of Our Lives Update
Update written by Joseph
Marlena sits at home with her tablet reading Jack’s article in the Spectator about Doug’s death until there’s a knock at her door. Marlena answers and is surprised by her old friend Liz Chandler as they embrace.
At the Horton house, Jennifer takes a framed photo of Doug from the mantle and holds it as she cries.
Marie Horton returns to Salem and stops in the town square at the plaque of Tom and Alice. Maggie walks by and greets her as they embrace.
Jennifer looks at an old Horton family photo as Lucas arrives and greets her. Jennifer hugs him and says she’s so glad to see him. Lucas says he had to be there for Julie. Jennifer says Julie will be so happy as she really needs her family right now. Lucas asks how Julie is holding up. Jennifer says as well as can be expected, but she can only imagine how Julie is going to feel when she wakes up and Doug is not beside her.
Julie wakes up in bed and sees a photo of her and Doug on the night stand. She closes her eyes and flashes back to memories of Doug.
Lucas talks to Jennifer about how he loves the Horton house and remembers Doug’s loving hugs. Lucas recalls feeling like the black sheep of the Horton family but Doug would always go out his way to make him feel like he belonged. Jennifer states that family meant everything to Doug. Ciara and Shawn arrive to greet them.
Julie gets up and puts on her wedding ring, giving her a flashback to her and Doug’s wedding. Julie then looks out her window and is surprised to see her brother, Steven.
Marlena comments to Liz on how long it’s been. Liz says she left Salem in 1986 so they have a lot to catch up on. Marlena tells Liz that she’s so pleased that she came back for Doug’s service as it will mean the world to Julie. Liz asks how Julie is doing. Marlena says she’s putting on a brave face. Marlena asks if Liz is still living in LA. Liz confirms she is and invites Marlena and John to come stay with them some time. Marlena says she would love to and asks about Liz’s daughter Noelle. Liz says she’s got a boyfriend and a good job. Liz adds that she also now has two sons. Liz says they will find a way to get their two families together. Marlena agrees they will have to do that. Liz apologizes for losing touch with her. Marlena says they had gotten very close. Liz jokes that being kidnapped by Stefano DiMera is quite the bonding experience. Liz tells Marlena that she missed her and all the people in Salem, except Marie Horton.
Marie tells Maggie that she was so sorry to hear about Victor’s passing. Maggie thanks her for the flowers she sent. Marie says that was the least she could do. They talk about Salem losing extraordinary men in Victor and Doug. Maggie says that Doug lifted everyone’s spirits just being around him so her heart goes out to Julie as she knows what she is going through. Marie points out that Maggie has had to mourn two husbands. Maggie says she was lucky to have love twice with one of them being Marie’s brother, Mickey. Marie says after all this time, she still can’t believe Mickey is gone along with Tommy, Addie, and Bill. Marie mentions Tom and Alice and says there’s not a day that goes by that she doesn’t think about all of them. Maggie comments on the legacy that Tom and Alice left.
Jennifer tells Ciara and Shawn that it’s wonderful to see them and asks when Hope is coming. Shawn reveals that Hope is not coming as she went to see Bo in the hospital and he squeezed her hand. Lucas asks if Bo is waking up. Ciara says the doctors think it could have been involuntary but Hope believes his condition is improving. Jennifer says she completely understands why Hope wouldn’t leave Bo now and knows Julie will understand now.
Julie helps Steven in and questions why he is climbing through their bedroom window. Steven reminds her of how he did so when they were kids as they hug.
Ciara shows Jennifer and Lucas photos of her babies. Shawn notices the time capsule that Julie found in the fireplace left by Alice and questions it still not being open. Jennifer explains that no one has been able to get it open and Jack brought it to Boston to see if she could but she had no luck so she brought it back to Salem to see if someone else could take a crack at it. Ciara offers to give it a try.
Steven and Julie talk about how they’ve missed each other. Julie can’t remember the last time she saw him. Steven admits he’s not a great communicator but promises to do better. Julie says what counts is that he’s here now. Steven says when he heard about Doug, he knew he had to be there with her and he’s so sorry. Julie brings up that Doug talked about Steven more than she did. Steven recalls Doug as an insightful man with a heart of gold as he flashes back to their past. Julie hopes Steven didn’t come back home because he’s on the run from the law. Steven assures that’s all in the past. Julie says it better be because her grandson is in town and he works for the FBI.
Eli and Lani get prepared for Doug’s memorial at Paulina’s. Lani comments on how good Jack’s article on Doug is and talks about learning so much she didn’t know about Doug. Lani mentions how she can’t imagine Doug in jail, but figures people would say that about her too. Eli informs Lani that Doug went to prison for security fraud and his cellmate was Julie’s uncle, Bill Horton.
Abe, Roman, Paulina, Steve, and Kayla gather outside for Doug’s memorial service. They talk about it never getting easier. Jack joins them and says he’s grateful to Johnny and Chanel for watching the kids so they could gather for Doug. Paulina says they were glad to do it and comments on how Doug touched so many lives. Roman says he did with a word, a smile, or a song. Kayla wonders who will come back for Doug’s memorial. Steve says that Doug was loved by so many that he wouldn’t be surprised if a few blasts from the pasts came back to pay their respects.
Marie tells Maggie that she has such fond memories of growing up in Salem and only a few regrets that have to do with her unfortunate taste in men. Maggie asks which men she’s referring to. Marie brings up Alex Marshall and Neil Curtis, though admits she’s grateful to Alex for giving her daughter Jessica. Marie apologizes and says she shouldn’t be saying this since Maggie was involved with Neil and he is Sarah’s father, but all she got from Neil was a bitter rivalry with Liz Chandler, who despised her for marrying Neil.
Liz tells Marlena how she despised Marie for marrying Neil. Marlena points out that was a very long time ago. Liz agrees that today is about Doug, who was charming and kind. Liz brings up Doug getting her first break as a singer at his club and flashes back to that moment. Liz says she owes so much to Doug.
Lani asks Eli how she never knew about Julie marrying an ex-con, who was also married to her mom. Eli says he never shared since he didn’t know if she wanted that personal information out there, but she must have been cool with it since Jack put it in Doug’s obituary. Eli points out that Julie and Doug lived happily ever after. Lani jokes that she thought her family history was crazy. Eli talks about Julie having history with shady dudes and brings up her brother Steven being on the run from mobsters, fleeing Salem and never looking back.
Steven questions Julie saying her grandson is in the FBI. Julie says she’s very proud of him and tells him about Eli’s life. Steven says he can’t wait to meet them. Julie asks if he’s sure since she remembers him raising quite a bit of hell in the past, reminding Steven that he dealt drugs and stole jewels. Julie asks if he remembers when she asked him to be her partner in her antique business and flashes back to that time. Julie talks about how it all fell apart when Steven sold fakes to her customers and that betrayal broke her heart. Steven admits he has no excuse for how he hurt her and let her down but insists he’s not the same man anymore as he’s been transformed.
Kayla brings up Thanksgiving a few years ago when Doug was so brave, looked evil straight in the eye and didn’t back down as she flashes back to when Marlena became possessed by the Devil again. Kayla and Steve talk about Marlena feeling terrible but not being to blame for any of it. Abe points out that Marlena and Doug fought their way through it together. Kayla says they had so much goodness in their hearts.
After Liz leaves, Marlena sits back down and comments that no one ever had a truer friend than Doug as she flashes back to a memory with Doug. Marlena’s daughter Belle then arrives and tells Marlena that her flight from Hong Kong landed early. They hug as Marlena says she’s so glad she made it, especially since John got held up and will be so upset to miss Doug’s memorial. Marlena tells Belle about Liz Chandler coming by. Belle talks about loving her music. Marlena sits with Belle and asks how Shawn is doing. Belle admits she doesn’t really know as she’s been trying to give him space which is why she’s been spending so much time in Hong Kong, doing consulting work for DiMera, but she wanted to be there for Shawn as he mourns his Grandpa. Belle then reveals that Shawn doesn’t know she’s here which surprises Marlena as she questions her not speaking to him. Belle says they only spoke briefly on the phone but they haven’t seen each other much lately, so she doesn’t really know where things stand.
Lucas talks about trying to open the time capsule since February. Jennifer talks about Hope was always good at puzzles. Shawn asks about not just smashing it open but Lucas explains that he didn’t want to disrespect Alice that way. Jennifer explains that they trusted that Alice wanted them to find a way to open it without destroying what’s inside. Lucas jokes that they’ll have to wait another 60 years, but then Ciara manages to get it open easily, shocking Jennifer, Lucas, and Shawn.
Maggie tells Marie that she knows Neil was a real sore spot between her and Liz. Marie says whenever she thinks about all that went down, it stirs up all that anger with Liz all over again even after all these years when she should be letting go of old resentments. Maggie suggests they at least try. Marie remarks that she would count herself lucky if she never laid eyes on Liz Chandler again. Liz then approaches and guesses today is not her lucky day.
Julie questions Steven saying he’s been transformed. Steven explains how he met a guru in India six months ago who changed his life and helped him see that he had been living a hedonistic and somewhat amoral life. Steven assures that Julie doesn’t have to worry about the old him anymore as this is the new and improved version. Julie says she’s glad to hear that and she’s always believed a person can change for the better at any stage of their life. Julie brings up how Doug being so adored and respected is not the man that he started out to be.
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