Salem is reeling, and nothing will ever be the same again.

A week meant to bring justice has instead shattered certainty and cracked open long-buried secrets. What began as a straightforward courtroom trial has evolved into a web of hidden truths, mind control, emotional reunions, and a chilling possibility that the real threat still walks free. This week on Days of Our Lives, Salem finds itself at the center of a storm — and no one is safe from the fallout.

Marina’s Mental Maze: Unlocking the Past, One Hypnotic Memory at a Time

After collapsing in court, Marina Evans became the center of EJ DiMera’s desperate hopes. With Johnny DeMera’s fate hanging by a thread, EJ believes Marina holds the missing puzzle piece to that fateful night he was shot. Her vitals are stable, and tests show nothing physically wrong, but Marina feels the weight of something buried deeper — a truth locked inside her subconscious.

So, EJ makes a bold move: he urges Marina to undergo hypnosis, hoping it will trigger the memories that could save his son.

Marina reluctantly agrees, and as she sinks into a trance, images begin to flood her mind. She sees herself in the dark halls of the DiMera mansion. A shadow moves. A gun clicks. A flash of Stefano’s ring. Then—EJ’s voice. But not in panic… in confrontation. The narrative shifts. What if EJ wasn’t the victim that night? What if everything he believes about that moment is a lie?

When Marina jolts awake, the room shifts. EJ is visibly shaken. Could he be the one suppressing a painful truth? Could Johnny be innocent?

The hypnosis session doesn’t just resurface memories—it challenges the very foundation of the case. And what if Marina’s mind isn’t entirely her own?

Gwen’s Chilling Discovery: The Queen Is Not Finished

While chaos unfolds in the courtroom, Gwen von Leuschner follows a trail of secrets back to the heart of the DiMera mansion. She isn’t just there for curiosity—she’s hunting for leverage.

Hidden in an old study, Gwen discovers a sealed letter bearing Stefano’s wax insignia. Burnt at the edges but still legible, the message within is ominous: “The Queen is not finished.”

At first glance, it’s a cryptic phrase. But Gwen knows its meaning all too well. Stefano once brainwashed Marina, calling her the “Queen of the Night.” The letter appears to detail a posthypnotic trigger embedded in Marina’s psyche—something that could be activated at will, long after Stefano’s death.

Suddenly, Marina’s collapse isn’t a coincidence. It could’ve been induced—perhaps as a warning, or worse, as a means of control.

Gwen realizes the document she’s holding is dangerous. It holds power. With it, she could change the course of Marina’s life—or use it as a bargaining chip in Salem’s ever-shifting political landscape. But secrets don’t stay hidden for long in this town, and Gwen may soon find herself playing with fire.

Paulina & Abe: A Love Tested by Time

Away from the courtroom’s tension, a softer, more heart-wrenching scene unfolds.

Paulina Price sits beside her husband, Abe Carver, who continues to grapple with memory loss following his recent trauma. Some days he remembers her. Other days she’s just a kind stranger in the fog of his mind.

In a rare moment of honesty, Paulina admits her fears. What if Abe’s memory returns… and he no longer wants the life they once built? What if the past reminds him of pain rather than love?

Abe, ever calm and steady, takes her hand. He doesn’t remember every moment, but he knows how he feels around her — safe, grounded, and at peace. “Even if I can’t remember everything,” he whispers, “I know this… when I’m with you, I feel peace.”

In a week of storms, their moment is a quiet lighthouse.

Johnny’s Trial: Truth on Trial

Finally, the moment arrives. Johnny DeMera takes the stand in what should be a straightforward case. But nothing in Salem is ever that simple.

The prosecution paints Johnny as a DiMera heir burdened by legacy and driven by resentment. Their case leans heavily on circumstantial evidence and whispers of motive. They cite Rachel Black’s shaky statement, Johnny’s argument with EJ, and his presence near the scene that night.

Johnny doesn’t flinch. He admits to the argument. He acknowledges being near the mansion. But he denies ever holding a weapon or firing a shot. He speaks with quiet conviction, battling not just for his freedom—but for the truth.

Then, just as the courtroom starts to find its rhythm, a scream pierces the silence.

Susan’s Outburst: The First Crack in the Case?

From the back row, Susan Banks stirs. Her eyes glaze over. Her voice rises. “It wasn’t him. It wasn’t Johnny! Someone was hiding… hiding behind the DiMera name!”

Gasps erupt. The judge calls for order. The bailiff escorts Susan out. But her words linger like smoke in the air. Was it a delusion? A psychic vision? Or the truth Salem refuses to face?

In that instant, everything changes.

The prosecution’s narrative weakens. The defense has a sliver of hope. And for viewers, the line between fantasy and reality blurs.

A Ticking Clock: What Comes Next?

As Thursday ends, the pieces are in motion:

• Marina may be the key to unlocking a deeper conspiracy—if she can face what’s hidden in her mind.

• Gwen holds a letter that could unravel everything… or ignite a new war.

• Paulina and Abe find hope in the shadow of uncertainty.

• Johnny’s fate teeters on the edge of chaos, as the court now questions whether justice is even possible in a town built on secrets.

Friday’s episode promises even more turmoil. Will Marina’s memories return in full? Will Gwen expose the trigger before it’s too late? And will Susan’s outburst be dismissed—or seen as the warning Salem so desperately needs?

One thing’s certain: the truth is coming… but it may destroy everything in its path.