Days of our Lives Spoilers April 23: A Shock for EJ

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We pick up from just before yesterday ended, with EJ pouring himself a drink, toasting to Stefano and talking about just about everyone in this town hating him. He soliloquies that the entire mob is out there demanding his death, likely with Rafe and Gabi “leading the charge.” We cut to JJ showing up to an empty Hernandez house.

EJ then continues with Kristen, Jada, Paulina and Chanel all wanting his head. Even Johnny thinks he’s a monster now — and he curses Kate and Roman for telling Stefano’s “beloved Giovanni.”

At the pub, Roman gets a call from Kate and heads into the back, prompting Johnny to rush over behind the bar, unlock the gun box and take the weapon out. Kate tells Roman that Rex was in a hit-and-run accident, and she’s worried EJ caused it. “If EJ was behind this, he will regret it, Roman.” She pulls a gun out of her purse.

Back at the DiMera mansion, EJ continues with his speech, mentioning Ava, probably still fuming over Aremid — even though that was Kristen’s fault. We cut outside to Ava pulling Melinda’s gun out of her bag and looking around.

EJ Is Shot!

We then get “Some time later…” on the screen, with EJ saying he is his father’s son and, like father, he’s one step ahead. EJ drinks, toasts to no one, “I win,” looks over at someone and looks surprised. “What are you doing?”

Chanel gets home and wakes up Paulina looking for Johnny. He’s not there, and Chanel desperately hopes nothing’s wrong. It’s been ages since he went to see Grandpa Roman and she hasn’t been able to get hold of him since.

There’s a gunshot, EJ flinches, drops his glass and grasps at his bleeding chest and collapses. Chad gets over, lets himself in and starts calling for his brother. He wanders into the living room and sees EJ on the floor, still alive, but bleeding and rushes over to him.

He calls 911. “He’s still breathing, but he’s not responsive!” Chad loosens EJ’s tie, promising help’s on the way. EJ’s still.

Word of EJ’s Shooting Spreads

JJ’s at the police station and calls Gabi, wondering where she is. He even tried her office. If she’s around later — after doing whatever she’s doing — please call him, he’s worried. Then a CSI officer tells JJ that there was a shooting at the DiMera mansion. The victim was the man himself, EJ DiMera.

Kayla greets Cat at the hospital, surprised to see her, but she’s working on the fundraiser. Kayla thanks her for all her help, then mentions she’s on a 36 hour shift, but it’s been a pretty quiet night so far. She can look at Cat’s plans now, since it’s quiet. Kayla marvels over the band Cat got and getting Chad to be in the bachelor auction.

Kayla eyes Cat up, noting they’ve been spending lots of time together… “Are you aware that he was seeing my daughter, Stephanie?” But he couldn’t move on from Abigail. Cat assures her that she’s only working with Chad, not making a move on her. This hospital means a lot to her family.

Kayla gets beeped that there’s a gunshot wound coming in. She heads off to the ER, just as Chad arrives, wiping blood off his hands. Cat rushes over. “My brother,” Chad notes dully. “He was shot.”

He tells Cat EJ’s barely hanging on. They didn’t get along, but he’s family and Chad’s short of that these days. EJ was there for him when Abigail died.

JJ arrives to get Chad’s statement, though, as Chad says, “If you want a list of my brother’s enemies, we’re going to be here all night.” He didn’t see or hear anyone or anything. He was just stopping by the house to talk to EJ after the article in THE SPECTATOR.

But he never got a chance to talk. The last time he walked in the house and saw that much blood “was the night we lost Abby.” He and JJ get emotional while Cat watches in the background. JJ heads over to the mansion, promising to update Chad later.

Cat gently asks if there’s anyone he needs her to call. He says he can handle it, though honestly, he has a feeling half the people he has to call are going to rejoice.

Ava Leaves Town

Kate arrives at the pub, thinking back to EJ’s threats to her sons and her own to kill EJ if he touches any of them. She calls Roman — “I need you now!” — but she only gets his voicemail. Ava comes downstairs to announce she’s leaving Salem. For good.

She’s moving to Hong Kong for real this time. There’s nothing left in Salem. She guesses Kristen and her mother are getting away with what they did. “As well as EJ,” Kate notes. So Ava thinks back to her confrontation with EJ in front of the pub, promising she can get justice one way or another.

The ladies eye each other knowingly, then Roman shows up and Ava tells him her plan to leave and thanks him so much for being good to her. He’s sorry to see her go. “Who knows? I may be back someday.” For now, she can’t leave fast enough.

Roman wishes her well, and Ava does him as well. She thanks him for everything — including being forgiving. Roman tells her to give her best to Tripp and Wendy. She promises to try her best to stay out of trouble and leaves. (Bye, Ava.)

Kate’s surprised, but as Roman says, “So it goes in Salem.” She jumps right into EJ talk.

Johnny Worries Chanel

Paulina tries comforting Chanel over all that Johnny’s been through and her daughter explains how much he’s struggling. Paulina tells Chanel she just has to be there for him. Johnny even blames himself for losing the adoption. Paulina’s not having it, saying the only person to blame is EJ.

Yup, that’s what Chanel said to the man. Paulina’s taken aback. “You talked to EJ?” Chanel feels guilty for even thinking it, but they’d all be better off with EJ out of their lives. Paulina hears her. She felt the same way about Lani’s father. “You just have to be there. You let me handle the rest.”

Chanel laments that Amy will never let them adopt her grandchild if there’s any way EJ is in its life. Paulina thinks back to yelling at EJ and warning him that no one messes with Chanel and gets away with it. “Chanel… There’s something that you should know.”

Before she can get anything out, Johnny gets home and a relieved Chanel rushes over. He apologizes for turning his notifications off. He left the pub a while ago. “Oh? OK, well, where were you?”

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He spaces out a bit, thinks about the last time EJ came over and just shrugs that he went for a walk in the park. His phone rings and it’s Chad telling him about the shooting. “He’s in surgery now and he’s in critical condition.” Johnny just stands there. “I see.”

In the Show’s Final Moments

JJ arrives at the scene of the crime, where the cops are going over everything. He says there’s a lot of people that live there who need to be interviewed, then the CSI guy says they haven’t been able to reach Commissioner Hunter. JJ digs into the evidence and the camera lingers on the statue Rafe bugged.

Outside, Ava pulls the gun out of her bag and buries it in a trash can, then rushes off. Kate tells Roman they need to find out if EJ targeted Rex and if he’s going after more of her sons. Roman promises that they’ll figure it out and keep the boys safe. “I will always be here for you and for your kids, too.” She promises to do the same for him.

Kate goes to check in with Rex and Roman heads behind the bar after thinking back to Johnny asking about his gun. He opens the case, and the gun’s missing. So Roman reaches into his back pocket and puts it back.

Johnny thanks Chad, braces himself, then tells the ladies that his dad was shot. “Oh! Oh my God!” Chanel says she’ll grab her jacket and go with him. Where? He doesn’t care what happened to EJ. “He got what he deserves.” Chanel looks like she’s in shock, while Paulina just looks determined.

At the hospital, Chad gets off the phone and sees a stunned looking Kayla. “How is he? How’s EJ?”