Chanel and Johnny wander through the square, happy that his mom is visiting. But then Felicity rushes over with the news that her sister’s missing. Chanel asks what she means, which, you know, is kind of self explanatory. She agrees that yes, Cat is missing, so Chanel sends Johnny off to his mom, while she takes Felicity to the police station.
Julie, meanwhile, comes downstairs and greets JJ, both realizing that they don’t know where Chad is. JJ runs off to the police station and is about to put a BOLO out when Chanel and Felicity drop in to announce Cat’s missing, too. The pieces all fall into place: They must be together! (This is why JJ makes the big detective bucks.)
Sami and Marlena Share a Tear-Filled Reunion
Marlena wanders into her living room, absorbed in her files and completely misses someone walking around in there. Luckily, it’s just Sami, and they hurry into each other’s arms in a rush of emotion. The tears are flowing freely as Sami apologizes for not making it in time to say goodbye. “You’re here now,” Marlena tells her.
Sami’s full of regrets, from not visiting enough to not thanking John to not calling enough and being mean to her stepdad. But “he treated me like a daughter.” She was, Marlena tells her. Sami cries through it all, heartbroken that it’s too late now to say all she wants to.
Eventually, they catch their breath and Marlena assures her daughter John knew how she felt. They have a heart-to-heart as Marlena does all she can to reassure Sami that John loved her and was proud of her. It’s heartbreaking, but as Marlena says, they both needed to cry. Just as Sami’s promising she’ll always be there for her mother, Johnny knocks on the door and rushes into her arms.
Marlena still has tears on her face as she heads off to work to give them space. Johnny makes clear that he doesn’t expect her to be in his trial. You know, what with EJ defending him and Sami’s tendency to flip out at her ex.
Johnny and Sami Reminisce About John
It doesn’t take long to get to talking about John and they both start crying again as Sami says how proud he was that Johnny was his namesake — and got so many years with him. By the time they hug, the tears are freely flowing. But they calm down soon enough and Johnny has to run out to get ready for court after the shortest visit ever.
Alone, Sami talks to John’s photo about how much he loved his family and the Bradys — who, she says, are his family. She breaks down again apologizing, then thanks him for helping make her who she is. They flashback to John supporting Sami in marrying Lucas and she pulls his photo against her, tears flowing. (We’re not crying, you’re crying…)
Finally! Chad and Cat Are Found!
Marlena and Julie run into each other at the hospital and Julie fills her friend in on the Chad drama. Then she spots the Out of Order sign on the elevator and figures it out!
Cat wakes up with a start in the elevator, having some sort of nightmare. But she doesn’t want to talk about it to Chad — probably because it’s super secret spy stuff. Wait, no, she says it’s a recurring post-accident dream. Cat realizes they’ve been there all night, which is when she decides to take action and climb out of the elevator!
Sadly, we don’t get to see what happened, just the disastrous aftermath. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t work. But it did get them closer and… just like that, Julie starts knocking above them and calling down. Chad calls up and they can all hear each other just fine, which begs the question of how no one heard them before?!
Meanwhile, just as JJ gets the paperwork together at the police station, Julie calls to tell him about the elevator trap. Fastest missing person’s search ever. (Once people realized they were missing.) Chanel thanks JJ for doing nothing (except she’s very kind about it), then takes Felicity to the hospital.
Julie Really Hates Cat
As Julie starts griping, Marlena points out that she seems more worried now than before, which is wholly because of Cat. By the time Julie gets to a conspiracy of Cat breaking the elevator, Marlena suggests she dial it back a little. Julie makes it clear that Chad and Abigail’s love is eternal — just like her and Doug, Marlena and John — and he’s still Abigail’s husband.
Marlena eases up and tells Julie that they’ll all figure out a way forward and find comfort in memories. “What is your point, Marlena?” (Fair.) Turns out, it’s that Chad should be allowed to find love again, and she’s sure Julie wants that, too. “Of course, I do!” But, you know, with someone besides the despicable Cat Greene! Chanel and Felicity show up to hear that. Also, everyone finds it strange that Cat was at the hospital when she wasn’t scheduled to work. Is it, though?
Down in the elevator, Cat shoves herself against the wall so Julie doesn’t flip out if she’s too close to Chad. OK, easy there, he says. Julie’s not crazy, the situation is. But also… not too bad doing it together. The elevator lurches up and they fall into each other’s arms.
In the Show’s Final Moments
Back at Marlena’s, Sami talks more to John, leading into another flashback of him visiting Sami in prison as she worries about Roman getting hurt. Coincidentally, she also worries about Stefano, while John assures her he’s out of their lives now.
“I don’t believe that,” she says back. “I don’t think he’ll ever be out of your lives.” Flashback foreshadowing?? In the present, Sami promises John that she — and everyone — will take care of mom now.
Chanel meets back up with Johnny in the square and fills him in on the elevator drama. Johnny, in turn, says his visit with mom was great. And finally, everyone’s fretting by the elevator only for the doors to open with Chad and Cat clinging to each other. Julie rolls her eyes, Felicity smiles and Marlena just stands there.
