E.J. is about to pour himself a drink at the DiMera mansion when John emerges. “What the hell’s the meaning of this?” grumbles John, who holds up an engraved invitation and wonders why he needs one to drink in his own house. E.J. reminds John that Stefano’s party invitation is his way of reasserting his proprietary rights. John vows that Stefano won’t get away with it and is determined to stop him. E.J. warns him against this and suggests that maybe this is Stefano’s way of making peace. John questions why Stefano would be inviting him to one of his parties. E.J. reveals that he’s on the guest list too. “So am I,” announces Sami as she enters. E.J. thought she was at the police station, but Sami confirms that she managed to find her way home. She states that she even tried calling John and left several messages with the housekeeper, but John says he never got them. Stefano emerges and admits that he intercepted them. He stresses how important it is that everyone’s there tonight and turns on some classical music.
E.J. is surprised that Stefano actually came to Sami’s rescue at the police station. John insists that he would’ve been there for her if he had received any of those messages. Stefano suggests that he perhaps wanted to show that he’s not a bad guy after all, which makes a dubious E.J. laugh. Sami affirms that she didn’t need or want Stefano’s help, so she took a cab. John berates Stefano for involving himself in this and tells him to stay away from his stepdaughter. Stefano reminds John that Sami’s a guest in his house and the mother of his grandson. John states that he still holds title in the house and still has power of attorney over all the DiMera holdings. Stefano proceeds to check on the champagne. John turns the music off and Sami wonders what the party’s about.
E.J. requests a word with Sami and admits that he’s thankful she didn’t take Stefano up on his offer for help. She whines how she just wanted him to be there for her and stand by her. “I’m sorry Samantha. I think it’s about time that you started to grow up,” he suggests. “We stealing lines from my mom now? That’s exactly what she said to me at the police station,” scoffs Sami. E.J. declares that it’s about time she had a bit of tough love. He claims that she can be as erratic, childish, and self-destructive as she wants to be, but he doesn’t care anymore. Sami looks stung by his words.
Tony and Anna have arrived for Stefano’s gathering and are curious to know what the party’s all about. Tony predicts that Stefano will spend the evening trying to convince them of their duties and obligations as DiMera heirs. E.J. wonders if this is a charade for Stefano to get them back on his side. “In a word, yes,” confirms Stefano, who predicts that they will see he’s not the enemy and not the reason the family’s been torn apart. He implies that there is one person who is more ruthless than he is.
John approaches Sami in the foyer and asks if she’s okay. Sami moans how she feels as though everyone’s against her. John reiterates that he would’ve been at the police station had he received any of her messages. Sami expresses her appreciation that he understands her. She surmises that E.J. doesn’t understand her anymore, but John isn’t so sure. She thanks him for standing up for her in front of E.J. “Oh, I’ve observed you with the rugrats, and as a mother you’re very equipped,” remarks John, who believes that Sami’s the only one who gets him too, especially now since Ava has left him. John asks what he can do to help her, but Sami doesn’t believe there’s anything anyone can do except Stefano. John strongly warns her to stay away from Stefano, reminding her what he tried to do to Marlena. They head into the living room to get the party ordeal over with.
Stefano thanks his guests for arriving, noting how Abe and Lexie are absent. He promises that tonight will mark the beginning of reuniting a family that’s been tragically torn apart due to the cold and criminal actions of someone they would least expect. John urges him to cut the crap and get to the point. Marlena then arrives for the gathering, informing Sami that she got a message asking her to come over and meet John there. Stefano confesses that he’s responsible for the ruse and announces her as the guest of honor. Marlena refuses to stay, but Stefano insists otherwise. Tony urges Stefano to get to the point, otherwise he and Anna are leaving. Sami is tired of the games and proceeds to head to bed, but Stefano yells how no-one is leaving until they see firsthand why the guest of honor is there. He thinks it’s time for everyone to know what the oh so perfect Dr. Evans is capable of. “Go to hell,” Marlena responds before she storms out.
John follows her and implores her not to go. Marlena wonders why she should stay and admits that Stefano’s right, in that she did a terrible thing by deliberately injecting a man with a poison and putting him in a coma. John gives an impassioned speech, expressing how Stefano took the man whom she loved away from her. Thus, he got what he deserved. John admits he would kill anyone who hurt her like that again, even though she said she wanted nothing more to do with him. He brings tears to Marlena’s eyes, who thanks him for clarifying why she did what she did. She desponds how Stefano took away the man she loved, and she’ll never get him back again. John tells her not to feel ashamed or guilty for what she did, but to feel empowered. “You’re an incredible woman, and I can see how that guy that I used to be was so in love with you,” he expresses.
Back in the living room, an annoyed Sami wanders over to the window as Stefano rants how he’s been vilified as some kind of monster, while Marlena was responsible for his life of hell. Sami asserts that her mom is not homicidal. Stefano insists that the world must be aware of what a menace Marlena is. Marlena enters and confirms that she injected Stefano with an untraceable toxin which put him in a coma. “And given a chance to do it again, I might just do it,” she contemplates. Anna’s jaw drops to the floor and is in disbelief. Sami insists that her mom had no choice.
