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The show opens with a flashback of Doug in prison, planning to head to Salem once he is released.

Marlena is at home looking at the news about Doug on her tablet when there is a knock at her door. She’s stunned to find Liz Chandler standing there when she opens it, and they embrace.

Marlena invites her in and says her coming home for Doug’s service will mean the world to Julie. They sit and catch up. Liz says Noel is doing well and has a good job, and she has two grown sons. She’s sorry they lost touch and says she’s missed everyone in town, everyone except for Marie Horton. Marlena says that was a lifetime ago. Liz knows today is about Doug and recalls how he gave her her big break singing at his club. She flashes back to Doug offering her the job.

More: Days’ original Roman Brady, Wayne Northrop dead at 77.

Later, Marlena is alone and thinks back to Doug and Julie helping her the morning of her wedding. Belle walks in, surprising her mom. Marlena is glad she’s here, given her father has been called away on a mission. Marlena tells her so many people have come home, and Liz Chandler was just here. Marlena asks how Shawn is doing. Belle doesn’t know. She’s been giving him space, working for DiMera in Hong Kong. She wanted to be here to show him support, even though he doesn’t know she’s here. They haven’t spoken much or seen one another, so she doesn’t know where things stand.

At the Horton house, Jennifer holds a photo of Doug and cries. She looks at other family photos when Lucas appears. He and Jennifer embrace. Jennifer says Julie will be happy to see him as she needs her family around her. Jennifer can’t imagine how Julie will feel when she wakes up, and Doug isn’t beside her.

More: A week-long celebration of Doug William’s life

They reminisce about Doug, and Lucas recalls when he found out he was a Horton. Doug always made sure he felt included. Back then he felt like the black sheep of the family.

Ciara and Shawn appear, and everyone embraces one another. Jennifer asks when Hope is coming. Shawn says she’s not. She’s with his dad, who squeezed her hand when she told him about Doug. They all hope this means he’s waking up. Jennifer knows Julie will understand why Hope can’t leave Bo right now.

Ciara shares photos of her kids, little Bo and Addie, with the family. Shawn notices an old box on the table, and Lucas explains it’s a time capsule they found behind the wall when the house caught fire. Nobody’s been able to open it yet, so Ciara gives it a try. They all joke that nobody has been able to open it, and they even considered smashing it open, but that would dishonor Alice’s memory. Ciara manages to get it open, shocking Jennifer, Lucas and Shawn.

Up in her room, a sleeping Julie reaches out for Doug in bed, but he’s not there. She wakes up and looks at a photo of them on the nightstand. She flashes back to a memory of when they were younger.

Julie dresses and puts on her wedding ring. She recalls her and Doug’s wedding. Suddenly, she hears something outside. She looks out her window and sees that it’s her brother Steven.

Steven climbs in through the window, and they laugh about how he used to sneak in through the window when they were kids, which Alice hated. They embrace, and Julie scolds him for not being better at staying in touch. Steven promises to do better, but he had to be here for her today. Steven recalls when Doug helped him out of a bind when he got into trouble with the mob. Julie hopes Steven isn’t back just because he’s on the run from someone, as her grandson, who works for the FBI, is in town for the memorial.

Julie tells him about Eli and Lani, and Steven can’t wait to meet them. Julie wonders if he’s sure and reminds him of all the trouble he made back in the day. She flashes back to asking Steven to be her business partner in an antique business, only for him to sell fakes to her customers. Steven regrets how he hurt her but swears he’s not the same man. He’s been transformed. He says he met a guru in India, and it was life-changing for him. Julie says she’s always believed anyone can change, and Doug is a good example of that.

More: A new Doug comes to Salem?

At Paulina’s place, Lani reads Doug’s obituary and talks to Eli about Doug’s past, how his real name was Brent Douglas. She also learns about his stint in prison and sharing a cell with Bill Horton. Lani is also shocked to learn Julie and her mother were both involved with Doug in the past. She laughs, as she thought her family history was wild. Their talk turns to Julie’s brother, Steven, who fled Salem to escape the mob and never looked back.

In Horton Square, Marie returns home and looks at the memorial plaque for her parents. Maggie turns the corner, sees Marie, and they embrace. They sit down and talk about Doug and what Julie is going through. Marie reflects on all the Hortons they’ve lost.

Marie and Maggie talk about the past, and Marie vents about the mistakes she’s made with men, especially Alex and Neil. Alex gave her her daughter Jessica, but all she got from Neil was a rivalry with Liz. Marie says thinking about what happened stirs up that anger with Liz again. She knows she should be letting go of old resentments, and it would be her lucky day if she never laid eyes on Liz again.  Liz appears and tells Marie, “Today is not your lucky day.”

Outside the church, people begin to gather for the funeral. Paulina, Abe, Jack, Roman, Steve, and Kayla discuss Doug. Kayla wonders who might come home for his memorial. They then recall a Thanksgiving a few years ago when Doug faced off with Marlena, who the devil once again possessed.

In a black and white newly filmed “flashback,” a young man sits in a jail cell somewhere and reads a memoir by Doug Williams. He hands it to his cellmate, Bill Horton, who is interested in what he’s reading. Later, the young man is released and tells Bill to take care of himself. He says, “Look out, world, or should I say Salem, ’cause here I come!”