The Bicentennial Gala begins with the whole town gathering for Salem’s anniversary and Hope and Aiden’s wedding, while Caroline reels from another vision of Bo—who is actually alive and struggling through the wreckage of a crashed plane with Steve, desperate to reach Hope. At the party, Stefano and Andre subtly pressure Aiden to carry out their deadly plan, and he steels himself as Hope lovingly tries to calm his “jitters.” John returns to Marlena, JJ tells Jennifer he’s applied to the police academy, and Eric quietly drinks as he works the event. Meanwhile, Abigail discovers disturbing, time‑stamped photos on Ben’s phone that link him to the murders; when she tries to leave for the Gala, he stops her—and she’s frightened for the first time