Days Recap: Days of our Lives Recap, May 20: Chad and Belle’s date has some guests

In today’s Days of our Lives recap for Wednesday, May 20, 2026, Amy vows vengeance will be hers, Gabi makes an indecent proposal (no, not that kind) to her daughter’s crush, and it’s date night in Horton Town Square.

An offer Liam can’t refuse

Gabi makes a proposition as Victor looks on in approval | Image: Peacock

At the Kiriakis mansion (welcome back, forgotten Salem mansion!), Liam hesitantly answered Gabi’s summons. Ari’s mom got her DiMera back on and made Liam an offer (a check with more than a few zeros attached) that he couldn’t refuse: leave town at once, and score more money than the lad’s ever seen in his life. Except Liam could refuse. He didn’t want to leave his mom and dad (will we ever meet them, or perhaps, maybe we already have?..this is Salem, after all). He liked his job. Plus, there was the whole little matter of being on probation.

Gabi had an answer for it all, but she did bristle at the prospect of going toe-to-toe with Liam’s boss (the Julie Williams herself) once again. (Gabi might want to leave out the part about threatening to blow up said boss’ heart.) Think of the life Liam could give his son. And hey, take the parents along, too. Gabi got all empathetic and said she could relate to Liam’s struggles, but she knew how to take advantage of an opportunity.

Gabi only had one more teeny, tiny caveat: Liam could never so much as glance in Ari’s direction again. Liam thought it over. If Gabi could make the pretty picture she’d painted a reality, he was all in.

Finals and final farewells

Holly bemoaned the sad state of her life | Image: Peacock

At the Brady Pub, Holly and Ari dished the topic that had been burning up Holly’s mind: her class test results. Turns out Holly got a C (the first ever in her life!). Hey, at least she passed, Ari reminded. But it was still a disappointment to Holly, as was Tate’s decision to drop out of school and become a fitness instructor. Sure, she was happy for him, but their lives were so different now (being Nicole’s daughter, at least the self-involvement comes honestly).

Ari could understand why Holly might be distracted, given Sophia and all. Ari herself had a run-in with Mrs. Choi and had gotten a tongue-lashing for icing out Sophia in the process. Although Ari had meant what she’d said to Sophia at the time, she felt guilty for saying it.

Nope, not Holly. She didn’t regret anything she’d said after how Sophia had taken a torpedo to her life. She was still coming off the effects of the drugs Sophia had fed her. Ari suggested her friend talk to someone. But nope, not Holly. She didn’t need to talk to anyone. Besides, maybe she should be the one concerned about Ari for getting involved with a guy like Liam.

Ari didn’t like the shoe being on the other foot and got all defensive. Holly reminded her bestie of the whole Doug III fiasco. (Wasn’t Holly just as caught up in said fiasco?) Ari fired back about Holly not having her mom around. She backtracked and apologized, and the girls soon hugged it out.

Later, Gabi took Holly’s spot at the table. With nary a mention of how she’d spent her evening playing Liam-blocker for Ari, Gabi instead brought up a memorial service coming up for Sophia the next day (oh, that’ll end well). Gabi thought Ari should go, but Ari wasn’t sure. So Gabi took it up another level and invoked the words of dear abuela: saying goodbye was strength, and always show up for the funeral. Ari reflected on what Gabi said and gave her mom a hug. (Better enjoy it Gabi, because you might not be getting many more.)

A not-so-fond farewell

Days of our Lives' Amy shared a mother's grief with Sarah | Image: Peacock

At the bridge, Amy visited a memorial that had been set up for Sophia. She read a couple of the cards left behind, from Ari and Tate, and grew emotional. Sarah approached, flowers in hand. She offered to leave, but Amy encouraged Sarah to stay. Amy still couldn’t believe her daughter was truly gone. When Sarah made a remark about Amy seeing Sophia again, Amy got hopeful and asked if Sarah believed Sophia might still be alive.

Sarah gently corrected that she had meant Amy would see Sophia one day in heaven. Amy knew her daughter would be with God because Sophia’s bad actions had been driven by mental illness…unlike “others.” Sarah did her best to sympathize as Amy went off on Sarah’s niece and Holly’s lack of remorse. A card from Holly had been conspicuously absent from the memorial.

Sarah reasoned that Holly probably felt her presence would bother Amy. And she was certain Holly felt bad about the harsh words she’d said to Sophia (not so much). Sarah then opened up about her own loss of a child (baby Mackenzie). She, too, had struggled to find forgiveness – but the person she’d struggled to forgive most was herself. Sarah had been consumed with guilt about all the things she should have seen and should have done differently.

Sarah hoped that one day Amy could extend to Holly the same forgiveness God extended to humanity. Despite Sarah’s compelling argument, Amy remained steadfast: she would only find peace when she found justice for her daughter. (Kristen better watch out!)

Later, Sarah went home to the mansion and found a ruminating Holly on the couch. Sarah, too, mentioned the upcoming memorial service for Sophia. And Sarah, too, suggested that Holly pay a visit.

Holly didn’t think it was a good idea (follow that instinct, Holly) because of how Mrs. Choi felt about her. Sarah believed it would give Amy comfort to know Holly cared (oh, Sarah). Holly promised to think about it (and the next public Salem spectacle is set).

Dueling Dates

The Cat-and-Rat game continued | Image: Peacock

At the Bistro (or Small Bar?), EJ wined and dined Cat and regaled her with tales about his amazing medical feats. But like all good megalomaniacs, EJ was being punished for his genius and might even lose his top spot at the hospital. But if that happened, the hospital could just go under. They didn’t have Xander’s fortune to save them anymore (oh, but they might, with Kristen’s – and a dead EJ’s – help).

Cat stroked EJ’s...ego and hailed his miraculous feats. The hospital wouldn’t give up all the fame and fortune the miracle drug would bring them on principle. And by the way, wouldn’t EJ stand to make a pretty penny too? EJ admitted (with fingers crossed behind his back) that the drug being on the “legal market” would bring a big payday. Cat only worried about EJ’s reputation, about the scrutiny of his coloring outside the lines….

EJ had enough of business talk and wanted to get personal. Cat told him a story about her sister at school (probably not what EJ had in mind), and then she asked about Sydney. The accident-prone Sydney was doing very well, she was a lovely “woman” (little Sydney’s finally grown up), and she and EJ were “very close.” EJ was certain his daughter would come home to Salem “soon” after she had finished school (so, is a Sami. Jr. on the way?).

EJ still couldn’t understand why he and Sami had drifted apart. He surmised it might have something to do with his time at the clinic, and he was determined to get answers – hypnotic prodding and all. Cat began to realize that using her prior connection with EJ as, well, catnip might backfire, and she urged EJ not to proceed. Maybe his brain didn’t want him to remember for a reason. EJ was undeterred, and he suggested continuing their lovely night by taking a stroll with Cat (hmm, wonder which Salemites they could possibly see….)

Meanwhile, in Horton Town Square, Chad and Belle made good on their long-planned second date. (Perhaps Belle’s more interested now that her potential beau bears a resemblance to her former beau.) Chad told Belle all about the challenges of road-tripping, and she held back on one-upping him with the challenges of around-the-world cruising. Chad also vented about the continued friction with Jack and Jennifer, about the will reading drama, and about EJ’s deception leading him to believe that the pod occupant might have been Abigail.

Belle empathized with it all and suggested they move the conversation to happier topics in the present. Chad concurred and filled Belle in on Thomas’ failed Little League experiment. (Boy, Chad is kinda dominating the conversation here). Belle finally got a word in, though, and got wistful when Chad brought up Thomas’ love of the Cubs, her dad’s favorite team. Belle talked fondly about John. (With the chess set mystery, they wouldn’t do the most controversial thing possible and try to make John one of EJ’s mystery patients, would they?)

Just as the date began to take a turn toward light and flirty, up walked the other “dating” duo, EJ and Cat. Awkward glances, smiles, and greetings were exchanged all around. As EJ wished his brother and his ex adieu and whisked away his brother’s ex (only in Salem), Chad made quick work of the rest of his drink.

Coming up on Days of our Lives

Love is definitely not in the air in Salem. Anna’s had about all she can take of Tony’s elegant shenanigans. Xander presses his luck with Gwen and makes a suggestion (just make sure it doesn’t involve Kristen). Philip gets truthful again with Gabi, and is about to get an earful of truth bombs detonate d his way in return.