Eric gets up to the podium, talking about his and John’s connection, even after he learned John wasn’t his father. He was a mentor for all the kids and he’s honored to preside over the funeral. He then mentions that Sami wishes she could have been there, but instead sent a message for Eric to read. He reads a letter from her about how wonderful a childhood John gave her, despite their rocky start. “He did not, in fact, ruin my life. He made it infinitely better.” She may have been a nightmare as a child, but she loved John deeply, now and forever.
Bo Wins Over Hope
Bo, meanwhile, is arguing with Hope over getting to John’s funeral, insisting he’ll be fine. Hope, though, tearfully tells Bo that he can’t risk anything happening to him or John’s sacrifice will have been in vain. Bo insists he wouldn’t leave if it were endangering his life, but he has to be there for John. Hope buckles, saying she’ll drive, but if Bo even has a hint of weakness, they’re coming right back.
Carrie Talks About Family
Carrie gets up to talk about growing up in a blended family with John and Marlena, and how much love they had to share. John was always like a father to her. No matter what was happening in his life, he was always there for her. Carrie talks about John and Marlena’s 1999 marriage and the symbolism of each of the kids bringing a flower up during it to become part of “a larger garden.”
She wants to recreate that, so all the siblings bring flowers up, with Sami giving Paul her blessing to put hers up. As Belle and Brady stand up with their flowers, Marlena thinks back to that wedding. As Marlena thinks back to the happy couple explaining the flowers, Belle lays daisies up on the memorial, then Brady puts a sunflower down. Paul lays down a rose for Sami, and Eric puts down snapdragons. And finally, Carrie puts orchids down. They all sit back down and lean in to hug Marlena.
Brady Talks About John’s Father
Brady stands next, to talk about his grandfather, Timothy Robicheaux. He couldn’t make it today, but despite only knowing each other for a few years, John and Timothy loved each other and were so similar. Except for John’s one unique skill: his eyebrow. Brady talks about growing up with his dad’s eyebrow looks, then does his own John impressions as he explains what would get you each one from a conspiratorial eyebrow to a suspicious one. Then there were all his work ones, including Brady’s favorite: Make My Day Eyebrow. When the laughing dies down, Brady gets back to talking about Timothy, and how much finding his father finally laid to rest John’s doubts about who he was. But to Brady, he was always the World’s Greatest Dad. And he’s happy John got to experience that, too.
Marlena Recites a Poem
Finally, Marlena rises slowly to the podium, haltingly telling everyone that she didn’t plan on speaking. Her voice breaks as she shares that she got to share her feelings with John before he died. But there is a poem she’d like to recite.
“That is the true season of love,
When we believed that we alone could love,
That no one could ever have loved so before us,
and that no one will love in the same way after us.”
Marlena marvels over all the seasons of love they had — nearly 40 years — and she’ll carry them in her heart forever. They survived so many obstacles over the years, but their love always brought them through. “I really do believe that we will survive this now. Our love will bring us through. Goodnight, my love.”
Bo Makes It to the Funeral
Eric then stands back up, about to lead them in prayer when the ceremony stops in its tracks with Hope and Bo walk in. They apologize for the interruption, but Bo really wanted to be there for John. Bo asks if he can say something and Marlena hugs him and tells him she’d love that. Bo walks up and talks about John’s first appearance, when Bo thought he’d killed someone they’d loved. He hadn’t, but they didn’t learn that until after Bo and John fought, with John winning, but before Bo could fall to his death, John saved him. “His true power was his huge heart. And his compassion.”
John was always there to talk to, or smack some sense into Bo. “He was good at tough love.” Bo gets choked up as he moves on to John sacrificing his life for him. He saved life after life after life. “He may not be here, but his gift of life will go on. That’s a fact… That’s a fact.” He turns to John’s photo and promises to carry him with him always.
After the Funeral…
Afterwards, Eric goes up to thank everyone for coming, and asks them all to join them at The Brady Pub to continue celebrating John’s life. Marlena takes Eric by the hands and tells him he did a beautiful job. “John would have been proud.”
Kayla, meanwhile, squeezes Bo in a hug, then chastises him for leaving the hospital. Well, Bo tells her, he wouldn’t have missed a chance to honor “somebody who felt like my brother.” After, Hope tells Bo that she and John had a special bond. She picks up his photo and says, “I’ll miss everything about you, John. Everything.” She always looked up to him like a big brother. Chanel checks in with Johnny, who feels like his grandpa would be disappointed with him. Chanel reminds him of all the work he’s put in, from therapy, to a new job and a new apartment. Kate gets up to tell John’s portrait that he always held a special place in her heart. She doesn’t know what they’ll do without him.
Marlena walks over to the flowers and thinks back to John bringing her flowers at her office. “Lilacs,” she murmurs. “My favorite flower. I wonder who sent them.” Brady takes both plates from the gondola John and Isabella rode and lays them down. “These are for you dad. Give my love to mom.” Belle breaks down as she talks to Shawn, and he just tells her how sorry he is and hugs her. And finally, Kayla tells Marlena that she checked everywhere, but the gold coin disappeared. Marlena shakes it off. The coin was meant to be a sign of hope that John would recover. “And that hope is now gone.”
