Exclusive: DAYS's Deidre Hall Says Meeting With Shane Leaves Marlena 'Devastated'

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Be Careful What You Wish For: Marlena (Deidre Hall) and Steve (Stephen Nichols, l.) getting an audience with Shane (Charles Shaughnessy).

Marlena and Steve’s trip to D.C. to speak to Shane face-to-face, obtain information about the missing John’s last mission and garner some semblance of hope of finding him leaves them sadly disappointed on Days of Our Lives. In fact, the pair learns precious little, except that John was last seen in Estonia.

“Marlena is lost,” asserts her portrayer, Deidre Hall. “All she knows is that John would find her [if she was the one missing] and that’s who she needs to be in this relationship now.”

Stonewalled by Shane

Unfortunately, Shane’s lack of information is coupled with something even more concerning. Marlena and Steve strongly suspect that the ISA honcho is keeping something from them, which only adds to their worry, as they both realize it’s likely something negative.

“That’s not good news,” acknowledges Hall regarding Shane’s obvious omission. “Shane was Marlena’s last line of defense. She thought that if she could get in front of him, at least he would be candid with whatever he knows, whether it’s terrible news or there’s some reason for hope. She and Shane have had a nice relationship from many years ago.”

Just as Hall has had a nice relationship with actor Charles Shaughnessy, who originally stepped into the role of Shane back in 1984. “By the way, it was delicious to have him [back],” shares the actress. “He’s one of those characters that the audience loves and that we love too. So it was nice to have him there.”

Hall notes that working with Shaughnessy again was like “[riding] a bike. You don’t forget, and we all work in a similar way, because of the pace at which we work. I think what people don’t realize about him is he’s so funny. He’s such a funny man. So that’s always great to have reintroduced into our conversations. And he’s always prepared and always delightful.”

Although Hall clearly enjoyed sharing scenes with Shaughnessy again, Marlena’s reunion with Shane was anything but happy. In fact, when all is said and done, her trip to D.C. with Steve turns out to be a bona fide bust. After the pair fails to get anything substantial out of Shane, they leave town in dismal spirits.

“Marlena is devastated, and she’s more frightened than she was when she got there,” sums up Hall. After all, the actress points out, Shane not only didn’t give them any useful information that might lead them to pinpointing John’s whereabouts, but, “There’s no expression of hope. There’s no encouragement of, ‘It’s all going to be fine. Don’t you worry.’ She doesn’t receive any words of comfort.”

Fortunately, Marlena has the support of Steve as they return back to Salem, and, despite being discouraged and not receiving any leads or positive information, she remains determined to find her missing husband. “Marlena will see this through to the end,” insists Hall. “She is determined to find John and, as I said, she knows this is exactly what he would do for her. So she will not be stopped. She will find him.”

Marlena’s lack of PI training won’t impede her. In fact, Hall insists that her character’s drive and determination will make up for it. “I think it’s just the knowledge that that’s who they are to each other,” explains Hall about John and Marlena’s relationship. “That they are a team, that they don’t give up on each other, that they fight together — and she will do that for him.”

And although Marlena leaves D.C. with more questions than answers, she won’t be deterred. “She is deeply frustrated,” concedes Hall. “But she is even more determined to find John.”