Days of our Lives usually needs to put two attorneys in a courtroom set to get the drama going. However, all Belle Black and EJ DiMera needed was an interrogation room at the Salem Police Department to have us riveted to our seats as we watched the skilled legal eagles banter back and forth. Soap Central finds Martha Madison and Dan Feuerriegel, Belle and EJ’s respective portrayers, “guilty” of being our Performers of the Week for DAYS.
Days of our Lives, Performers of the Week, Martha Madison and Dan Feuerriegel
Whether Belle walks into a courtroom or an interrogation room, like the one holding EJ, she enters like an assured winner, someone who knows that acquittal or conviction is in the bag, whichever side of the law she happens to be representing.
Brought in for his “alleged” role in Stephanie Johnson’s (Abigail Klein) kidnapping, EJ wasn’t sweating all that much, given his record for slithering out of criminal charges. However, Madison’s Belle honed in on her suspect with the precision that Camille Vasquez used when cross-examining Amber Heard.
Belle could predict what EJ is likely going to say, so part of her enjoyed the cat-and-mouse aspect of her questioning. Belle teased EJ that he had wasted his call by phoning his assistant, Rita (Maggie Carney), instead of an attorney.
Your witness on Days of our Lives
EJ reminded Belle that he didn’t need to call an attorney, as he is one himself. Off EJ’s assertion that he is innocent, Belle bluffed, “Yeah, I read your statement.”
Taking a seat opposite EJ, Belle cut right to the chase, asking EJ about his connection to Owen Kent (Wes Ramsey). Belle didn’t try to hide the fact that nobody involved had pointed a finger at EJ, but Belle’s subtext is that she doesn’t believe that EJ is innocent for a single second.
In turn, Feuerriegel’s EJ responded to Belle with a whimsical chuckle, as it became clear she had no case against him — for now, at least. “Great! So we can remove the bracelet, and I’ll be on my merry way!” EJ suggested.
“Yeah, I don’t think so,” Belle shot back. The banter continued as Belle pointed out the circumstantial evidence that points a finger at her former lover.
EJ holds his ground
EJ claimed to have only found out that Dr. Rolf (Richard Wharton) had left Stephanie and Jeremy (Michael Roark) after they had been rescued. Flashing back to a scene in which a sinister EJ declared that Stephanie and Jeremy could never be found again!
Belle had an additional reason to question EJ; she wanted to know what the deal with the pod was. It wasn’t truly grasping at straws when Belle pointed out that EJ could be found guilty of stealing electricity. EJ scoffed at that, but Belle was just getting warmed up.
Feuerriegel had EJ hold his ground, confident that Belle had no real proof against him — despite her instincts being spot on. Madison chose to have Belle remain laser-focused on her witness, as she maintained eye contact with EJ, hoping to catch him in a lie.
“You want to hate me so much,” EJ wickedly told Belle. “And yet you can’t, can you?”
“Oh, I can, and I do,” Belle responded. “In fact, the only thing that I hate more is that I have to let you go.”
This round went to EJ, but it’s clear that Belle’s not giving up anytime soon. The other winners in this battle of wills between the two attorneys were, of course, the viewers. Feuerriegel and Madison were mesmerizing in these scenes that had their characters struggling to get the upper hand!
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Edited by Michael Maloney