Days of our Lives Recap August 14: Rita Freezes John Oliver in the Pod

On the Friday, August 14, 2026, episode of Days of our Lives, Rita handled Devlin, Theo found Lexie, Chad was disappointed in Cat, and Chanel went into labor.

Terrible Surprises

EJ and Devil took a snooze | Image: Peacock

In EJ’s bedroom, Rita handed EJ a syringe of the memory erasing drug CRS-17 before Devlin stirred awake. After Rita left, Devlin asked EJ what had happened. EJ reminded Devlin that he had been blackmailing him. When EJ announced that he planned to give Devlin a second dose of medication to help him forget, Devlin grabbed EJ’s arm.

“You are not gutting my brain, you budget Bond villain!” Devlin cried out as he wrestled with EJ over the syringe. The two men even slapped one another. With Devlin distracted, EJ grabbed the syringe and administered the second dose. Devlin collapsed to the floor, and an exhausted EJ passed out in bed. Devlin’s eyes fluttered open.

Downstairs in the living room, Theo walked in as Chad argued with Rita about Kristen. Theo demanded to see Lexie and explained Chad that Lexie had lied about leaving town, and that she was instead seeking treatment inside the DiMera tunnels. Theo told Chad about Marlena’s theory that the drug that had saved Lexie was failing her. Theo argued that EJ likely had convinced Lexie to stay in the mansion rather than get help so that he could cover up the drug’s failure.

Rita attempted to deny the claim, but Chad argued that Rita was unlikely to tell the truth. As Rita told Theo that no one was allowed in the tunnels, Devlin crept down the stairs in the front hall. Theo ordered Rita to get out of his way. Chad and Theo went into the tunnels. As Rita turned around, she saw Devlin stumble past the doorway in the foyer. Devlin said he did not know where he was.

Devlin wandered into the living room, and said his last memory was golfing with George. When Devlin added that after waking up, he had overheard people talking about a woman hidden in the tunnels due to a failed miracle drug. Rita offered to escort Devlin home, but Devlin refused to trust a stranger. “You’re right not to trust me,” Rita agreed as she pulled out a stun gun.

In the tunnels, Chad and Theo found Lexie’s room. Chad ran out to retrieve Abe from the Bistro. Theo hugged his mother, and he assured her she would be okay. When Lexie weakly attempted to explain, Theo ran out to wait for Abe in the living room.

Real You

The Carvers celebrated Abe's birthday | Image: JPI

At the Brady Pub, Cat and Mark talked over dinner. Mark admitted he was worried about his job. Cat alluded to the failure of Versavix. Mark stressed that Rolf had not confirmed that there was an issue with the drug, but Mark had suspected it. Cat asked Mark if he was in contact with Rolf, but Mark said Rolf had disappeared.

When Cat asked about Lexie’s odds of survival, Mark admitted he was concerned. Mark encouraged Cat to quit working for EJ, but she noted that they both needed the money. Cat told Mark about EJ’s offer to find him a position at DiMera Pharmaceuticals. Mark said he hoped the change would mean less secrets.

At Chanel and Johnny’s apartment, Chanel commented to Johnny that she did not understand why Lexie had left town on her own before Abe’s birthday. Johnny agreed it was strange. When Paulina arrived to babysit, and she asked Chanel to give Abe a gift from her. Paulina explained that Marlena had convinced her to remain close with her ex. With a sigh, Paulina added that Marlena had had a strange look on her face, and she thought Marlena was worried about Abe. Chanel asked Johnny for his opinion, and he stammered that they needed to leave for dinner. As Chanel and Johnny headed for the door, Chanel groaned, but she assured Johnny and Paulina that it was Braxton-Hicks pain and not to worry.

At the Carver house, Abe greeted Lani. Abe wanted to cancel his birthday dinner, but Lani insisted. When Abe said he would still likely be focused on Lexie, Lani said that she and Theo believed that Lexie had snuck off to get treatment. Confused, Abe said he wished he knew why Lexie had left, and he hoped she would be home soon.

Johnny and Chanel joined Abe and Lani at the Bistro, and they were surprised that Theo was late to the dinner. Chanel gave Abe the present from Paulina. Inside the box was a framed paper with the handprints of Trey, Carver, and Jules on it.

Cat was walking through the square after dinner when she ran into Chad. Chad told Cat he was on his way to tell Abe that he had found a dying Lexie in the tunnels. “But you knew that already, didn’t you?” Chad said before he stomped off. As Chanel and Johnny chatted about names for the new baby, Chad walked into the Bistro and he pulled Abe aside. Abe rushed out.

When Chad exited the Bistro, Cat asked to explain. Chad reminded Cat that she had promised to tell him if she heard anything about his family, and she had failed to do that. Cat explained that she had not wanted to worry Chad until she had confirmed that what she had overheard was true. Fed up, Chad said that Cat’s lies and fake sympathy reminded him of EJ, and that she had been corrupted by his brother. With a shake of his head, Chad said he finally saw the real Cat, and he walked away.

Commotion

Theo hugged his weak mother when he found her | Image: JPI

Johnny, Chanel, and Lani returned to Johnny and Chanel’s apartment with pizza. Chanel explained that Abe had left unexpectedly early to meet up with Theo. A worried look crossed Paulina’s face. While the group ate pizza, Chanel gasped. “I think I might be in labor!” Chanel said. At the mansion, Theo met up with Abe in the living room, and he escorted his father into the tunnels. When they got to Lexie’s room, she was unconscious.

Elsewhere in the tunnels, Rita wheeled an unconscious Devlin into a lab containing a cryo tube. EJ barged in, and Rita encouraged EJ to go back to bed. Rita gave EJ a CRS-17 pill and said it was flu medication.

After EJ left, Devlin appealed to Rita to let him go because his ferrets needed him. Rita put a groggy Devlin in a cryo tube pod. When Rita asked Devlin to sign his resignation letter, a confused Devlin noted that he was three years away from retirement. Rita assured Devlin that he was going to paradise, and that he would return someday. Rita kissed Devlin goodbye, and she closed the pod door.

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