SHOCKING TWIST!!! As Xander and Philip Prepare for ‘Battle,’ Kristen Declares War On Someone Who Might Be More Than Even She Can Handle

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In today’s Days of Our Lives, Brady gets home, delighted to see Belle and laments missing Doug’s funeral. He asks about Julie and Belle fills him in on the funeral, eulogy and everything. But then Brady asks about Shawn and she tells him they’re getting a divorce. She’s just glad they’re finally able to move forward and Brady promises he’s there for her.

Belle asks about Brady and the kids and he tells her Rachel’s a delightful handful, while Tate’s muddling through the complications of young love. He then breaks the news to a shocked Belle that he’s going on a date… with Ava Vitali.

“Ava Vitali??” He says they’ve gotten to know each other lately, then pushes back to the idea of it being romantic. But Belle won’t let it go and reminds him that he’s going on a date with the woman who brought down the plane that killed Shawn’s grandpa and namesake, Shawn Brady. They then move on to talking about Kristen’s continuing obsession with him, blackmailing Xander for the serum and trying to use it to get back with Brady. That didn’t happen and Belle reminds him that Kristen doesn’t take rejection very well. “That’s putting it mildly.” Brady’s sure Ava can hold her own with Kristen, though.

They move onto talking about Basic Black being back at Titan, working with Xander and his boss and uncle nearly killing him. Belle’s aghast.

Out in the square, Ava walks up as Kristen’s on the phone assuring Mr. Shin she’s not done trying to take over Titan. Ava starts needling Kristen about screwing Brady over by taking Rachel to the Nutcracker. Brady’s her friend and Kristen hurt him. Kristen shrugs off Brady having an extra ticket to the ballet, which Ava assures her isn’t going to waste. Because she’s going with him.

“I knew it. You little snake.” Kristen smiles coldly as she says she knows Ava has just been waiting to steal him away, ruining Rachel’s hopes of having her family again. Ava admits she’s taking delight in telling Kristen about the date herself. Kristen smiles and slaps her across the face. Ava smirks in turn and returns the favor. “It’s gonna take more than a little love tap to scare me.”

Kristen tells her maybe she should be scared.

Over at the pub, Justin goes through the divorce papers with Shawn and tells him everything looks fine. After helping Shawn out, Justin asks for a favor: Help Xander hold onto Titan. He’d like Shawn to give a deposition declaring his belief Xander is the best for the job. Shawn, though, says he’s rooting for Philip.
Justin’s surprised, but Philip’s letter from Grandpa Victor won Shawn over, despite his issues with Philip in the past. Justin shakes his hand and leaves.

Then Jada comes in and offers her condolences over Doug’s death. Shawn thanks her and takes the opportunity to say he’s sober now and doing the 12 steps. He wants to apologize for Talia and the trouble he caused when drinking. She thanks him and says she admires him for making amends, then asks if he’s sticking around… because she’d like to rehire him to the Salem PD. She needs the best of the best on the force, but they’ve been understaffed. She needs a great detective.

Xander’s working out in the Kiriakis living room, telling Sarah that he’s “preparing for battle.” He’s going to war tomorrow with Philip. Sarah’s somewhat amused by Xander’s rationale for working out and his declaration that he and Philip are going to be two gladiators going at it in the ring. Sarah just smirks as she watches him “ready for battle,” then he asks her to help him with his push ups.

He wants her to sit on him while he does them. Tickled, Sarah gets comfortable on his back while he does pushups. They wrap up just as Justin gets in and they start kissing. Xander asks about Shawn, but just shrugs off when Justin tells him his nephew is “Team Philip.” He has some more tricks up his sleeve, which worries Sarah a bit. “Philip’s just about to have a little… setback. That’s all,” he promises.

Justin says the less they know the better and walks out, but Sarah wants to know what Xander’s up to.

Stephanie, meanwhile, is on the phone outside Philip’s room and when he yanks the door open, shirtless and in a towel and surprises her. She clarifies that she thought they had a meeting and he apologizes and rushes into the bathroom to get dressed. They go over some PR plans to turn people on Xander and towards him, and Philip thanks her, but… He’s not sure it’s enough.

There’s buzz and the public are on his side, she notes, but it’s up to the judge. It all really hinges on that letter. So long as he has that, he’s got a really good chance. Philip looks awkward and says he has to be honest about the letter. But then he changes his mind at the last minute and just says he’s afraid it’s not enough to trump a will.

Stephanie says it’s all up to whether he has a good lawyer or not. Philip’s got the best: Ned Dickerson. Who then calls to say he’s quitting — because of conflict of interest with Xander. Philip knows this is all Xander’s doing. He thanks Stephanie and says he appreciates all she’s done, but he’s got to get a new lawyer now. Stephanie muses that if she figures out who New Lady Whistleblower is, maybe she can convince them to print dirt on Xander instead of Body and Soul spoilers.

In the show’s final moments, Kristen asks Ava if she remembered what happened to Sarah? Vanished onto Kristen’s island when she got in her way, then lost her mind when she got home. Ava says she’s batty if she thinks she can mess with her. Kristen purrs another threat at her then leaves. As soon as she’s gone, Ava texts Brady.

Brady gets the text and tells Belle he has to go. She tells her brother she’s leaving town shortly and Brady chides her to visit. Shawn, meanwhile, is grateful for Jada’s offer but… actually, no buts. He’ll take the job — his dad would want him to and it’s time for a new chapter. They shake on it and part ways, after which Shawn pulls out the divorce papers and signs them. Then he pulls off his wedding ring.

Back at her parents’ Belle also takes off her wedding rings. Xander tells Sarah that he took care of Philip’s lawyer and now he’s shot. No one will take his case the night before his trial. Just then, Philip knocks on Belle’s door, is let in, sees her wedding rings and says he’s sorry to hear she and Shawn are splitting up. He then asks if she’d represent him. She just sighs.

Brady shows up at the square where Ava’s waiting to tell him about her run-in with Kristen. Back at the mansion, Kristen’s raving to herself about Ava and her nerve. She could throw her in jail — or buried. She pours a drink and ponders how to get rid of Ava.