EJ Gets an Unwelcome Surprise as Kristen Disappears, and Philip’s Matchmaking Attempt May Actually Pay Off

Xander and Philip get news that Gabi’s money came through, and it’s celebration time! Much to Sarah’s bemusement when she walks in on them drinking it up. It takes a little convincing, but Philip gets Sarah to agree to join them for a drink, then sends her and Xander down into the wine cellar. Wine cellar? The Kiriakises have a wine cellar?? (OK, they’re rich, of course, they do, but we never get to see it like the DiMera’s!)

Will Philip’s Plan Reunite ‘Xarah’?

Xander and Sarah reminisce a bit, then brush hands as they both find the wine Philip sent them for. But when they go to leave, the door won’t open! No need to panic right away, though, since Philip knows where they are. But… Philip’s not rescuing them. In fact, he orchestrated it to help Xander get Sarah back! So,, naturally, while the two wait, they break open the wine and start sipping straight from the bottle.

Xander mentions the club’s daddy-daughter dance and says he’d love to take Victoria, which Sarah’s all for. She thanks him some more for helping Holly. Xander’s just glad he could help, but he also suggests they tell Holly EJ was behind it all. And that they take him down.

Kate shows up to join in the celebration, wondering where Xander and Sarah are. Philip tells her, and… “What were you thinking? You’re not in high school, Philip!” He didn’t break them up, she points out, Xander’s violence did. Plus, there’s Brady! “Anybody with eyes can see that Sarah and Xander should be together,” Philip scoffs. Kate, though, reminds him about his track record of messing with Brady’s love life (you know, by framing him for murder) and sends him down to the wine cellar to be a grownup and let Xander and Sarah out.

Is Chad Really Over Cat?

Cat hurries over to Rafe’s to get all the deets on Gwen’s kidnapper, Dimitri! Worse, Leo took the bait and is on his way to Alamainia. Rafe plans on following and, with Gwen’s confession, free her and convince her to flip on EJ and take him down to save herself. Everything’s coming up roses and Rafe even wants to apologize to Cat after all the great work she’s done!

Chad fills Belle in on Leo, Dimitri and Gwen. And worse? He can’t make it to Italy right now. There is, it turns out, a father-daughter dance at the club he can’t miss with Charlotte. (What, suddenly everyone is all about a country club?) But Belle can’t wait for him — her caseload is too heavy so it’s now or never. Which means… it’s never. (So much for a Roman holiday.) Chad and Belle head into the square (briefly running into Cat) and marvel that, after years of knowing each other, it took an app to get together. And more importantly, Chad had an amazing day with Belle.

Where Is Kristen?

EJ’s reflecting on his sadness at having Kristen kidnapped when Rita hurries in to tell him the jet’s taken off… and Kristen’s still in Salem! It turns out the jet they were going to use was the one that Chad loaned to Leo.

They rush over to the airfield where Rita points out that it’s not hygienic to leave Kristen in the container, so EJ reluctantly lets her out. Except… It’s not Kristen. It’s Lexie! (What? How?) They wake her up and she admits she overheard everything and took Kristen’s place. She has no idea where Kristen is. (But we know where she’ll pop up next!) She just wants EJ to let her go to the island to die in peace. If she can’t face Abe and Theo, EJ will take her home so she doesn’t have to die alone.

In the Show’s Final Moments

Sarah realizes how long they’ve been down there (long enough to almost finish a bottle), then freaks out and jumps into Xander’s lap when she sees a mouse. That, of course, leads to a kis— nope! Philip opens the door before they can do it.

EJ gets Cat home and sends Rita to find Kristen, ASAP. He promises no one will know she’s staying there, then… looks up in surprise! Cat walks into the living room, but only finds Rita, while the secret door closes in the back.