Facing Prison Time, Dimitri Proposes a Desperate Act to Leo, While EJ Vies For Power Against Stefan and Gabi

Kate comes to the Pub as Rafe consoles Jada over Talia leaving. Kate assumes she left because of Shawn. Jada is surprised she knows about that. Kate relays that Marlena told her. No judgment, but she thinks it’s probably best for everyone involved. Both she and Rafe assure Jada they’re there for her.

Outside the DiMera mansion, Stefan gives Gabi the cold shoulder for turning Vivian in, which sent her on the run. Gabi doesn’t think Vivian spending time in the rolling hills of her homeland with man servants giving her deep tissue massage sounds all that bad. Gabi would prefer to focus on the fact that they got Dimitri and Megan’s shares, with Dimitri headed straight for the penitentiary.

Leo brings Dimitri his favorite frozen yogurt in his hospital room, but won’t let him have it because he threatened to kill Stefan and Gabi. Now, the love of Leo’s life is going to prison. “Where does that leave me?” he curtly asks.

John calls Marlena from home, saying he got his father set up in an assisted living home. With Tate home, too, John is thrilled to have so much family around. It’d be perfect if Belle weren’t having such a rough time. They plan to check in on her together later. Marlena hangs up when Paulina bursts into her office, desperate for help in getting Abe’s memory back. Marlena thinks Paulina could benefit from therapy herself.

John calls Belle, who says she needs her space. John chokes up as he tells her how much they love her. After hanging up, Abe comes by to talk with Belle. After they clear up that it’s John’s son who lives there, Abe hopes Belle can help him file for divorce. He wants to end his marriage because he’s come to care about Paulina. He’s divorcing her for her own good.

Stefan and Gabi enter the mansion to EJ as he hangs up with Susan, who got to Memphis safely. Gabi scoffs over what saps the DiMera men are over their mothers, while Stefan shares how elated he was to hear Susan is alive. EJ thanks him and is sorry to hear his mother was forced on an extended vacation. However, EJ wonders why Vivian was forced to shoot Dimitri to protect them. What made Dimitri want them in an early grave?

When Gabi explains that they blackmailed him over his affair with Leo, Stefan jumps in to say they blackmailed him for a cut of his family fortune. However, with Gwen off to find said fortune, they’re left empty-handed. When EJ leaves to run an errand, Stefan explains he lied because they need to figure out how best to put Dimitri’s DiMera shares to use.

At the hospital, Dimitri goofily grins at Leo. “Really? I’m the love of your life?” Leo softens, wondering who else it would be. Dimitri is Leo’s fairytale prince. Never in a million years did he think something like this could happen to him. But Dimitri screwed it all up. Dimitri knows he made a royal mess of things. He’s sorry. Sorry isn’t good enough, Leo says. He screwed over his best friend to be with Dimitri. Leo hopes Gwen gets every last penny of the Von Leuschner fortune. Dimitri points out it’s his money. Leo wonders what good it will do him, considering he’ll probably be spending the next 20 years in prison. “Not if you help bust me out of here,” Dimitri says.

When Leo hedges, Dimitri says they have to act right now. EJ saunters in with a cup of frozen yogurt for his nephew. Dimitri says it’s strangely kind of him. EJ feigns concern for his condition, but Leo calls him out. EJ admits he’s there to take possession of Dimitri’s and Megan’s DiMera shares since Dimitri can’t vote while incarcerated. Dimitri tells him he’s too late. He already forcibly signed them over to Gabi and Stefan. EJ trashes the yogurt as he storms out.

As Jada and Rafe sit for lunch at the Pub, he tells her Harris will be her new partner. Rafe gets a call from Dimitri’s doctor that he’s well enough to be transferred to a holding cell. They leave before Dimitri slips through their fingers like his mother did.

At John’s place, Abe explains that he doesn’t want Paulina to live in disappointment. Maybe she needs to find someone with less baggage. John agrees she might be better off with someone else — like his dad. As John talks him up, a flabbergasted Abe asks if he’s out of his mind. John grins, assuming he’s jealous. Abe agrees he’s not ready to let Paulina go, especially because he thinks he’s falling back in love with her. However, he worries he’ll never be the man he once was. John assures him that all Paulina wants is him — with or without his memories. They’re meant to be together — and that’s a fact.

In Marlena’s office, she suggests Paulina focus on the relationship she has with Abe right now because he might never get his memory back. When Paulina refuses, Marlena sternly warns that Abe will feel like he’s let her down if he never remembers. And that could be the beginning of the end of their relationship. Paulina can’t lose Abe; he’s the love of her life. Marlena suggests she start making new memories with him then. Paulina will take her advice because all she wants is for Abe to be happy. She’ll do anything for that man.

When Leo continues to balk at going on the run, Dimitri asks what’s keeping him in Salem. All Leo can come up with is his gossip column. Dimitri asks who he loves more — Lady Whistleblower or him? As Leo ponders, Jada and Rafe enter. As soon as Kayla signs the release papers, they’re taking Dimitri to jail. After they step outside, a panicked Leo asks Dimitri, “How do we get you out of here?”

After he calls, Paulina meets Abe in the Square. He invites her to dinner at The Bistro for the early bird special. She says that’s for old married couples. Abe quips that’s what they are. Paulina will concede to being married… but old? Hell, no! Abe chuckles and offers to do something else, but she likes a good deal. He offers her his arm as they walk over.

As Gabi and Stefan strategize over board votes in their room, a furious EJ barges in. He rails at them for building a power base behind his back. Stefan knows EJ was going to do the same thing. He’s just pissed they beat him to the punch. After EJ storms out, Stefan assumes his brother will go after Kristen’s shares. He gets a brilliant idea.