In the wake of their grief sex at the DiMera manse, a reeling Sami and EJ try to cope with what happened. “This is something that really, really strikes deep for Sami,” says her portrayer, Alison Sweeney. “She’s always held herself on a moral high ground about this: Carrie cheated on Lucas, Marlena cheated on Roman, and she looks around town at everyone else who does it and she’s always felt like she could do a lot of things, but she doesn’t cheat. And now she can’t stand by that and it’s a terrible feeling.”
Sami finally receives the message from Rafe that Johnny is okay and rushes off to the Brady Pub to be reunited with her son. EJ is eager to join her, but a guilt-ridden Sami fears Rafe will figure out that they were intimate. After an emotional reunion with Johnny, Sami apologizes to Rafe for everything that has happened. “Clearly, Sami has all this baggage that she’s bringing into every part of her relationship with with Rafe,” offers Galen Gering.
Sami is clueless that Will spied her in the clinch with her ex. “That’s the best part of the story for me, that Will is living through it,” smiles Sweeney. “And I love how irrational his reaction is and not dissimilar to Sami’s [when she caught Marlena and John in 1993]. Obviously, there’s such a great symmetry in that.” So when Sami sees her son, he isn’t too thrilled with her. “Will views what his mom did as the ultimate betrayal of her family,” notes Chandler Massey. “Her son is missing. She didn’t know if he was alive or not. So when Will walked in on her basically doing the unthinkable, it causes tension, to say the least.”
That tension extends to the Hernandez marriage, but unaware of the reason behind Sami’s uneasiness, Rafe showers her with affection. “Rafe feels a void between them,” acknowledges Gering. “He’s trying to recapture the affection between them. What better way to that than to cook for his wife and to let her know that he loves her?”
Speaking of love, Nicole declares hers for EJ at the DiMera mansion, which makes him realize that the ripple effects of his romp with Sami have far-reaching implications.
John Gets Life
Before John’s sentencing, he and Marlena are hopeful that everything will work out. “Marlena is probably more optimistic than John,” points out Drake Hogestyn. “Her belief in John has been steadfast.”
Carrie appeals to Judge Harris for leniency, asserting that John is a good person, but the judge stuns the courtroom when she hands down a harsh sentence: life behind bars. “Marlena is devastated,” shares Deidre Hall. “She never thought it would come to that.” Adds Hogestyn, “John knew it was a possibility. Did he ever think it would be that harsh? Absolutely not. But it is what it is, so John wants to move on.”
Carrie is determined to appeal Judge Harris’s decision, despite resistance from John. “John is very stubborn,” Christie Clark concedes. “It’s difficult to get through to him, but she has to keep fighting for her father.”
Marlena fights back tears as she watches her husband being led away by deputies. “It’s one of the hardest things she’s ever had to face,” says Hall.
Despite the pain of being separated from Marlena, John is eager to be out of sight and out of mind. “John wants everyone to get on with their lives and not worry about him,” says Hogestyn. “He wants closure.”
Hope Confronts Stefano
Hope arrives at the DiMera mansion and questions Stefano about the phoenix paperweight with the inscription acknowledging a bond with Alice. “She is at his doorstep, ready to take a him on,” declares Kristian Alfonso. “She wants to know why Stefano had a connection to Alice.”
Stefano avoids responding directly to Hope’s questioning, but she refuses to be stonewalled. Finally, Stefano admits he probably gave Alice the paperweight, adding that it was likely a thank you to Alice for help she provided regarding a charity. To steer attention away from himself, Stefano claims his assistant sent it. “Hope’s not buying any of it,” sniffs Alfonso. “He would never have one of his assistants send something with the family emblem, which is the phoenix.”
When it becomes clear to Stefano that Hope has no intention of backing down from her investigation, he cautions her to let things be, cryptically suggesting that delving into the secrets of the deceased could reveal things that she’s better off not knowing. “She says, ‘Don’t waste your breath; it’s not going to happen,’” says the actress. “He knows Hope is like a dog with a bone. The more you push, she’s push back and the more defiant and feistier she’ll get until she finds out what she needs to know. This is her grandmother; she was like a mother to her. She has no intention of backing off.
Will is Gay
Chandler Massey learned in February that Will was slated to come out as a gay and has kept mum since then. “Gary Tomlin, who was co-executive producer at the time, sat me down in his office and told me,” recounts the actor. “I was thrilled and honored to be part of a storyline that was so relevant. It’s a story that is important and needs to be told. On a personal level, it’s a creative challenge for me. I get to stretch as an actor.
Months later, however, Tomlin was let go as co-executive producer and Head Writer Dena Higley was replaced by Marlene McPherson and Darrell Ray Thomas, Jr. “I was worried because I didn’t know if the show would keep the story or toss it,” asserts Massey.
In the meantime, Massey had to remain quiet about Will’s future in Salem. “It wasn’t easy,” he admits. “My job is not to spill any storyline secrets, but this was definitely something I wanted to tell people because I thought it was so rich and valuable to the show. Let’s just say that I’m glad I can talk about it now.”
The arrival of Sonny will play a role in how Will handles his personal conflict. “Sonny is openly gay and comfortable with who he is,” notes Massey. “I believe that Will has been carrying this secret for a while. Obviously, he’s not comfortable with it. So when he sees that Sonny is okay with being gay, Will can’t help but wonder what’s going on in his head.
In the coming weeks, Will will develop a closer bond with his grandmother, Marlena, which will help him in his process. “Working with Deidre Hall is a gift,” enthuses the actor. “When I heard she was coming back, I was excited, and also a little intimidated. I didn’t know what it would be like to work with her. But it’s absolutely a privilege working with her. She is an amazing woman.
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