Days of Our Lives Spoilers: Johnny Pleads With EJ, Paulina’s Worry Boils Over, and Leo Meets His Match

In the wake of Marlena’s (Deidre Hall) hypnosis session, EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) now remembers the chilling truth — he told her to put the gun down. But with this memory comes a dangerous dilemma: he needs a woman to pin the shooting on if he’s going to keep his promise to Johnny (Carson Boatman) and secure that elusive not guilty verdict.

Enter Chanel Dupree (Raven Bowens), who, in a shocking act of devotion, volunteers to confess in order to save Johnny. To EJ, it’s a stroke of genius — reasonable doubt could set his son free. But to Johnny, it’s a nightmare in disguise. Prison is the last place he wants to be, but the thought of Chanel behind bars is just as unbearable. Torn between his freedom and his wife’s, Johnny makes a heartfelt plea to his father: go easy on Chanel in court, even if she’s never offered EJ the same kindness. Will EJ honor his son’s request, or will the DiMera instinct for survival outweigh sentiment?

Meanwhile, Paulina Price (Jackée Harry) is in full mama-bear mode. The thought of Chanel being dragged into the witness stand sends her anxiety soaring. Sure, other people have to endure the stress of testifying — but not her baby girl. Not if Paulina can help it. She’s maneuvered Chanel out of legal hot water before, and she’s ready to do it again. But first, she turns to Belle (Martha Madison), reminding her of her “professional duty” while also hinting at the political optics for the Mayor’s office. Paulina presses: isn’t there something Belle can do to shield Chanel from the worst of it?

Elsewhere, a different drama is unfolding in less formal quarters. Juror Leo Stark (Greg Rikaart), sequestered for the duration of Johnny’s trial, is assigned a roommate at the hotel. True to form, Leo’s personality fills every inch of the room — and every moment of silence. The poor soul bunking with him is in for long nights and even longer stories. Pray for him.

With loyalties tested, secrets at stake, and tempers on the verge of boiling over, Thursday’s episode promises the kind of tangled emotional web only Days of Our Lives can spin.