Steve, John and Ava Plan a Prison Break — and Tate Reaches Out to Holly

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Theresa meets with a distraught Tate at the halfway house. He was so sure Holly would clear him once she woke up. Theresa has a plan to help get him out of there.

Eric comes to the DiMera mansion to visit Holly. Before he does, Nicole relays the teen’s upset that she can’t remember what happened on New Year’s Eve. After catching up, they share a lingering look and express how happy they are to see each other.

Leo arrives at Sloan’s apartment for babysitting duties. Sloan (temporarily played by Natasha Hall) makes it clear he’s her last resort because no one else is available. After their usual combative banter, she leaves to meet a client.

At Ava’s, Steve and John go over prison blueprints as she talks to her cousin Angelo on the phone. After hanging up, she tells the men Angelo and his team will do their part. They’re doing it as a one-time favor, but if it comes back to bite her, she’ll deal with it then. However, they’re only one part of the plan. It’s up to the three of them to take care of the rest.

When Nicole brings Eric to Holly’s room, the teen rushes to his arms. Nicole leaves them to talk. Eric asks if someone could have slipped drugs in her drink on NYE. Holly averts her eyes and twirls her hair. That would make the most sense, but she doesn’t know. Eric recalls how she used to play with her hair as a kid when she was nervous and feared getting into trouble. He asks what she’s not telling him.

Sloan breezes into the halfway house to meet with Tate and Theresa. Theresa explains to her son that Justin is knee-deep in Xander’s case, so Sloan agreed to take over. Sloan proposes a plea deal with a light sentence or even time served. Tate refuses because he is totally innocent.

When Jude starts to cry at the apartment, Leo consults his crying baby checklist, which is written on a homemade scroll. He gets a bottle of formula, but it doesn’t work. He digs out a forehead thermometer from his bag of babysitting tricks, but Jude’s temperature is normal. Consulting his list again, Leo sighs upon realizing what’s wrong. He digs into his bag.

At Ava’s, the trio goes over their plan, which includes an extensive list of supplies, transportation to an airfield, and Angelo, who will have a plane prepared for immediate flight. Steve declares they’re ready to go. “Great,” Ava flatly says. “Tonight, we break into prison.”

Wearing a protective shield, rubber gloves, and a Starry Night rain poncho, Leo changes Jude’s diaper. After, he picks up the little guy and tells him the story of his birth as a fairy tale. He grows serious as he says he doesn’t know how the story ends, but so far, it isn’t looking good. But he’ll always protect the little prince from poison apples because that’s his job. Leo tears up as he sees Jude smile at him.

In her room, Holly tells Eric that New Year’s Eve was a blur. She changes the subject by asking about Jude. Nicole returns as Eric shows her photos. He invites them to the Christening, whenever it will be. Nicole offers to host the reception at the mansion in lieu of the Pub. Eric balks, but Nicole presents a logical argument, and it might also make things right between her and Sloan. Eric accepts.

At Ava’s, John and Steve declare they’re going to make it look like they’re taking Clyde to the airfield, but in reality, they’re going to take him somewhere to extract Tripp and Wendy’s location from him. They’re not letting him go. Fearing Clyde’s retaliation, Ava begs them to reconsider, but John and Steve stand firm. Ava relents. She just wants her son back. Steve and John leave to break into the prison.

Eric comes home to Leo, who wears a shiny gold zip-up vest, thick gold chain, baseball cap, and sunglasses. He holds a toy boom box while rapping the ABCs to Jude. Eric is surprised to find Leo there but notes he and Jude have a connection.

At the mansion, Nicole and Holly plan a menu for the christening. Nicole can’t wait to have a celebration, considering all the sadness over losing the baby and Holly’s coma. Nicole doesn’t know what she would have done if she lost her. As they weepily discuss everything that’s happened, Holly says she wants to stop talking or even thinking about New Year’s Eve.

After Sloan steps away at the halfway house, Theresa assures Tate this is just a tactic to get him home sooner. Tate thinks Holly could come around, though, once she remembers. He wonders if she even knows what he’s been through. Sloan returns to privately talk with Theresa. She’ll be meeting with the judge in hopes of removing EJ from the case due to bias. As they talk, Tate swipes Theresa’s phone.

After the women leave, Tate quickly deduces the passcode on Theresa’s phone is his birthday, but he doesn’t know Holly’s number. “I don’t know anyone’s number.” He goes to social media. After Nicole and Holly make more party plans, Holly sits alone on the DiMera couch. She gets an alert on her phone and wonders why Theresa Donovan is sliding into her DMs. “No time for you,” she says. “I have a party to plan.”

Sloan warily comes home to find Leo and Eric together and learns Nicole will be hosting the Christening reception. “Oh em gee,” Leo glibly says. “Nicole is just the sweetest.” Sloan looks around nervously.