Days of our Lives, May 16, 2025: Xander threatens to kill Philip

Here's the full Days of our Lives recap of what went down in Salem on Friday, May 16, 2025.

What happened on Days of our Lives

Marlena treated Susan to breakfast at the cafe in the square. As Susan chattered on about Roger, she realized that Marlena was distracted. “Here I am running my mouth about my hubby, and you are on pins and needles about your hubby,” Susan said. Susan assured Marlena that John would be home soon. EJ approached the table and said good morning. Furious, Susan asked EJ why he was running around town so soon after his hospital release.

“I’m actually on my way back there,” EJ said. “Is something wrong?” Susan asked. EJ assured Susan that he was fine, and that he was going in for a routine follow-up. Susan invited EJ to join them. EJ sat down, and Susan fussed over her son as she fed him. “You do realize I’m a grown man,” EJ said. Susan noted that mothers always worried about their children. As Marlena scowled at EJ, Susan asked EJ if Belle was going to meet him at the hospital.

“No, why would she?” EJ asked. “Since you two are courting, I just thought she’d want to be there,” Susan said. EJ stammered that he and Belle were taking the relationship at a slower pace. “What for? She already said that she loves you,” Susan said. Marlena gave EJ a side-eye. Susan argued that EJ and Belle were perfect for one another.

“Maybe the next time I come visit, you guys will be tying the knot,” Susan said. Frustrated, Marlena blurted out, “Will you stop your yammering?” Marlena apologized, and she admitted that she was bothered by EJ’s relationship with Belle. “But that’s no reason to be rude,” Marlena added. With a sigh, Susan blamed herself for having been insensitive. Marlena said that was not the problem. “I had a call from Shane telling me that Andrew and Paul are about to move in on John’s location,” Marlena said. Marlena fought back tears, and she admitted that she was frightened.

“I just want to know that he’s all right. Please God, please let him be all right,” Marlena whispered. “My gut feeling tells me that John Black is going to be A-okay,” Susan said. Marlena smiled, and she agreed. “I think he will be coming home to me safe and sound,” Marlena said. EJ thanked the women for breakfast, and he noted that he needed to get to the hospital. “‘For what it’s worth, I’m praying for John’s safe return for your sake and for Belle’s,” EJ said.

“Thank you for saying that, EJ,” Marlena said. Marlena reminded EJ of their previous conversation about his relationship with Belle. “Every parent worries about their child. And every parent would do everything they could to protect that child. Belle is the apple of John’s eye. And he would do anything, anything, to protect her, to keep her from harm. So would I. You would do well to remember that,” Marlena said.

After EJ left, Susan wondered aloud if she should leave town before EJ’s shooter was apprehended. “I’m sure [EJ] is going to be fine,” Marlena said. Susan admitted that she had believed Gabi had been the shooter, but she was no longer sure. Marlena urged Susan to leave the matter to the police and go on her cruise as planned. Susan worried aloud that someone would make another attempt on her son’s life while she was out to sea.

After a moment, Susan told Marlena that she got the feeling that Marlena had her own suspicions about the culprit. “Who do you think shot my son?” Susan asked. Marlena said she did not know. Paul called Marlena, and she stepped aside to take the call. Marlena started to cry.

“Thank god. And please, thank Andrew for me. Thank everybody,” Marlena said. After Marlena ended her call, Susan asked what had happened. “They found him! Oh, I'm so happy! I’m so relieved,” Marlena said. Marlena noted that John had appeared to be okay. As Susan started to cheer, she shivered. “It feels like someone just walked over my grave,” Susan said.

At the hospital, Xander startled Sarah awake as he cursed at his phone. “What’s going on?” Sarah asked. “It’s my idiot brother Philip. He’s up to something,” Xander muttered. Xander told Sarah that Philip had been secretly talking to the head of DiMera Pharmaceuticals. Sarah advised Xander not to jump to conclusions about Philip. “I know that you are still angry at your brother for betraying you, but he is still your co-CEO,” Sarah said. “Don’t remind me,” Xander grumbled. Sarah argued that it was reasonable to believe that Philip was taking the time to learn about all the new DiMera acquisitions.

“Well, he has been getting info from his mummy,” Xander said. “What do you mean?” Sarah asked. Xander explained that Kate had told Philip about DiMera’s bid to buy the hospital. “Isn’t he going to find out about that anyway?” Sarah said. Xander argued that he had withheld the information because he had been concerned that Philip would mess up the deal.

“If the board accepts our bid, he’ll still reap the benefits anyway, all the praise, all the accolades, even thought he deserves none of it. Darling, do you have any idea how infuriating it is having to be stuck with that fraud?” Xander said. Xander argued that he was frustrated by the fact that Philip continued to lie to him. “We both know that you have no choice. Exposing Philip now could jeopardize the deal,” Sarah countered. Xander said he understood the stakes. “It just feels like Philip is being rewarded for stabbing me in the back,” Xander said. Sarah’s face paled, and Xander apologized for having complained about his brother. Sarah apologized for having ruined their honeymoon. Xander suggested that they have a honeymoon in town.

Philip was dressing in his room at the Salem Inn when Kevin called him to say that he had been unable to secure a dose of Versavix because Dr. Jeffrey Russell had entered the lab before he could return the drug. “The son of a bitch came back early,” Kevin said. “And saw that all the Versavix is gone?” Philip asked. Kevin said yes, but that Jeffrey had not called the police. “Damn it. If Xander finds out how badly I screwed this up,” Philip said. “You? What about me?” Kevin countered. Philip told Kevin he would text him a place to meet up while he worked out how to solve the problem.

In Kayla’s office at the hospital, Steve and Shawn told Kayla to go home and rest. “We’re all exhausted. But I am not going to rest until we find out who stole that drug,” Kayla said. Shawn reviewed the security camera footage, and he did not see anyone near the lab before the feed had been cut. “That’s ridiculous!” Kayla shouted. “It just means whoever stole the drug was there when we were,” Steve noted. Shawn argued they needed to search the lab.

Jeffrey marched into Kayla’s office. Surprised to see him, Kayla asked if everything was okay. “No, it most definitely is not. My lab was broken into last night. The Versavix was stolen. It’s all gone,” Jeffrey said. When Kayla did not feign surprise, a suspicious Jeffrey asked if she was already aware of the issue. “A break-in? When did that happen?” Kayla asked. “Do not play dumb with me,” Jeffrey said. Steve defended his wife, but Jeffrey argued that Kayla's desperation to save her brother was motivation enough.

“And my father,” Shawn interjected. Shawn explained that his father’s condition had deteriorated, and he had been updating Steve and Kayla about Bo. After a moment, Jeffrey apologized. “I don’t mean to make accusations when I know you’re going through something so difficult,” Jeffrey said. Kayla warned Jeffrey not make unfounded accusations.

“Why would I put your vitally important work at risk by taking it all out of the lab. If I had taken it last night, I would have taken just the one dose I needed for my brother, and I would have hightailed it over to him,” Kayla argued. Kayla swore that she had not taken the drug. “I just can’t believe this. I mean, I’ve poured everything I have into developing Versavix. I staked my entire career on its success,” Jeffrey said. Kayla noted that Shawn was a police officer, and she suggested that he accompany Jeffrey back to the lab to have a look around. Shawn agreed, and he said he would confirm it with the station.

“No police, okay? If the FDA catches wind of this, it could derail my entire research,” Jeffrey pleaded. “Okay, so why don’t you let us help you find out who stole the drug, off the books?” Steve offered. Confused, Jeffrey asked Steve why he was qualified to help. Steve explained that he was a private investigator. “Okay, so where do we start?” Jeffrey asked. Steve asked Jeffrey if he had checked the security tapes.

“That was the first thing I did, but I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. How is that even possible? An entire tray of test tubes was taken out of a secure room?” Jeffrey asked. Shawn noted that almost any security system could be hacked. “We’ll get right on this. But first, you need to give us access to the lab and permission to interview your staff,” Steve said. Wary, Jeffrey noted that Steve was a stranger. Kayla told Jeffrrey that he could trust her family.

“Okay, but this has to stay under the radar,” Jeffrey said. “You have my word,” Steve promised. With a nod, Jeffrey said he would call the lab. As Steve and Shawn left, Jeffrey stayed behind to talk to Kayla. “Don’t worry. We’re going to get to the bottom of this,” Kayla said. Jeffrey gasped. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of this sooner,” Jeffrey said. Jeffrey pointed out that either of the two parties that were bidding on the hospital could have orchestrated the theft. Kayla agreed that Xander and EJ should be questioned.

In the hospital hallway, Shawn asked Steve who he believed had stolen the drug. Steve pointed out that the drug was the main reason and Xander and EJ were fighting to buy the hospital. “Board can only take one bid,” Steve said. “Which gives two greedy CEO’s a reason to take matters into their own hands,” Shawn said. Xander wheeled Sarah down the hallway, and Steve said, “Well, look who’s here?” Steve told Xander and Sarah about the theft. Sarah was horrified that Jeffrey’s life’s work had been stolen.

“And whoever owned the patent could make a mint. Right, Xander?” Shawn said. “Wait, are you implying that I was behind the break-in?” Xander asked. Steve told Xander if he had not been involved, he needed to keep quiet while he and Shawn tracked down the thief. “Or your big investment opportunity will go bust,” Steve said. Xander promised that he and Sarah would stay quiet.

After Steve and Shawn walked away, a suspicious Sarah asked Xander if his only interest in the hospital was to secure the patent to Versavix. “Obviously, that was one of the reasons. But come on, darling, I’m not, we’re not really a non-profit here. We do have to make some money,” Xander argued. “I know. I think I’m just mostly upset thinking about all the patients that Versavix could save from dying of sepsis. And now that’s all in jeopardy,” Sarah said. Xander grumbled that EJ was a prime suspect for the theft. As Sarah raised an eyebrow, Xander swore he had not taken the drug. “I wouldn’t be so stupid to just steal the drug straight out of the lab,” Xander said. Xander stressed that he had wanted the deal to be “above board.”

“So you think it could be EJ?” Sarah asked. With a nod yes, Xander said he had only discussed the drug with a handful of people. Xander thought about his conversation with Dr. Frame at DiMera about Philip’s interest in the drug. “Oh, no. No it couldn’t be,” Xander whispered. Xander apologized, and he asked Sarah to call Maggie to pick her up while he attended to an urgent matter.

At the nurses’ station, Kayla assured Jeffrey that Steve and Shawn would track down the thief. As EJ hobbled down the hallway, Jeffrey pointed at EJ and accused him of having stolen the drug. Confused, EJ asked what had happened. “If my brother dies, it is on your shoulders,” Kayla said before she walked away.

Philip was leaving his hotel room at the Salem Inn, when he ran into Xander at the door. “What’s wrong?” Philip asked. Xander told Philip that he knew he had learned about Versavix. “Well guess what jackass? That billion-dollar drug has just been stolen. You did this, didn’t you? You miserable son of a bitch,” Xander said. Philip denied the accusation.

When Xander asked Philip how he had known to call Dr. Frame, Philip admitted he had found research on the drug at the office. “And then you thought to yourself, why should I share the wealth with my brother? You already stole half my birthright, why not steal Versavix, too?” Xander said. As Xander theorized aloud that Philip had planned to reverse engineer the drug, Philip shook his head no. Xander warned Philip not to lie to him.

“Damn it, Philip. Just this once, this one time in your whole pathetic life, just be a man and tell the truth. You stole that drug didn’t you?” Xander asked. “Yes, but I was only trying to help,” Philip said. Philip explained that when he had learned that EJ had set up a meeting while Xander was out of town, he had been worried that the board would accept EJ’s bid before Titan could make their pitch.

“I intended to cut the hospital out entirely, reverse engineer the formula for the drug, and make Titan billions,” Philip said. “But I told you last night that I managed to move that meeting up,” Xander countered. Philip yelled that the drug was Bo’s only hope to survive. “And he needs it now! How could I pass up an opportunity to get it to him? My god, he’s at death’s door,” Philip said. “Well, you’re gonna join him there, because I’m gonna kill you,” Xander growled. Xander demanded that Philip give him the drug.

“I don’t know exactly where it is, but don’t worry. This is all going to work out,” Philip said. “Do you have any idea how important this acquisition is to Titan-DiMera?” Xander asked. Xander took off his jacket. “You don’t want to do this,” Philip said. “This latest in a long, long line of betrayals has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that you and I simply cannot coexist as co-CEOs. So out of necessity, in this moment, I’m going to take off my executive cap and return to my roots,” Xander said. Xander reminded Philip that their father had made Xander work as a mercenary.

“I used to hurt people and kill people for money. But this job, I’m doing for free. To free myself. Because currently, I’m shackled to you. Forced to pretend that we’re equal partners obligated to work with you day in, day out, when the mere sight of you makes me physically ill. And the only way that I can remove myself from this utterly, ludicrous arrangement is to wipe you from the face of the earth. So that’s exactly what I’m going to do,” Xander said. Xander punched Philip and knocked him unconscious.

Sarah was sitting in her hospital room, when Kayla walked in. Sarah explained that Xander had bailed on her, and she was going to call Maggie for a ride home. “Do you know why [Xander] bolted?” Kayla asked. “No. Steve and Shawn told him that Dr. Russell's drug was stolen and he just took off,” Sarah said. Sarah asked Kayla about it, but Kayla told Sarah not to worry. Kayla offered to drive Sarah home. As Sarah thanked Kayla, Kayla asked what was wrong. “It’s just when I see Xander like this, I get really worried,” Sarah confessed.

At Jeffrey Russell’s lab, Shawn noted to Steve that the keypad appeared to be intact. “Are we sure that this is the only way to get inside the lab?” Steve asked. “According to the floor plan, yeah. And the emergency exit is just that, it’s an exit only,” Shawn confirmed. Steve reasoned aloud that whoever had taken the drug likely had a key card to access the lab. “That means it’s an inside job,” Shawn said. Shawn and Steve reviewed the logs for the keypad, and they saw that Kevin Lambert had been in the lab moments before they had arrived to steal the drug.

In an alleyway, Kevin paced as he waited for Philip. Kevin called Philip and left a voicemail telling him he was at the meeting place. “Where the hell are you?” Kevin said.

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