Days of our Lives recap for Friday, December 27, 2024: Jada makes a push to oust EJ from his job

EJ was alarmed to find his Rafe doppelganger Arnold lounging in a robe, snacking on breakfast in the DiMera living room. EJ hurriedly shut the door to the foyer, and he hissed, “What in god’s name do you think you’re doing?” Arnold said he was enjoying breakfast. “Is that my robe?” EJ asked. When Arnold noted that the robe felt good on his naked body, EJ grimaced and told him to keep it.

“You’ve had your fun, it’s time to leave,” EJ said. “What’s the rush? I just got here,” Arnold said. EJ reminded Arnold that no one could see him with EJ. “You are not Rafe, and my son is not an idiot. And he will figure that out if you stick around,” EJ said. Arnold noted that Johnny and Chanel had already left for work. Frustrated, EJ worried aloud that Johnny might run into Rafe and mention that he had talked to Rafe at the mansion.

“You were facing serious felony charges before my father, and I faked your death and spirited you out of the country. If the police were to find out that you are, in fact, still alive, you would be arrested on the spot,” EJ said. Arnold argued that since EJ was the D.A., he was not in any danger of going to prison. EJ countered that he had to answer to the mayor and the citizens of Salem.

“Many of whom were none too thrilled that you posed as the beloved Rafe Hernandez and bedded my wife,” EJ said. “Sami Brady. She was a real pistol,” Arnold said with a smirk. EJ accused Arnold of having raped Sami, but Arnold disagreed. “She thought you were Rafe. Now why she would sleep with him, that’s another story. But the point is, Samantha was incapable of consent,” EJ growled. Arnold noted that it was a grey area.

“Well, the murder of Fay Walker sure as hell wasn’t a grey area, and for that, you will be arrested. And for that, you will be prosecuted. And what will you do then?” EJ said. Arnold argued that he would offer to testify against EJ in exchange for a deal. Arnold reminded EJ that he and Stefano had coordinated Arnold’s plastic surgery and his replacement of the real Rafe after a car accident.

“It’s also gonna be you who pays for my crimes,” Arnold said. “I never asked you to sleep with Samantha or to kill Fay, for that matter,” EJ pointed out. EJ asked Arnold why he wanted to stay in town when EJ would pay him handsomely to leave it behind. “I’m gonna stay put,” Arnold said.

At the Hernandez home, Jada and Rafe planned their wedding. “For me, true romance is gazing into your eyes while I say my vows,” Rafe said. “You’ve been working on that one for a while now, haven’t you?” Jada said. With a chuckle, Rafe admitted he had been rehearsing his line. “It sounded perfect. Just like you,” Jada whispered. Jada suggested Rafe’s birthday for the wedding date.

“It would be a surefire way for you to remember our anniversary,” Jada said. “Oh ye of little faith,” Rafe countered. Jada clarified that she meant that Rafe was a busy man. With a nod, Rafe noted that his birthday was at the end of January. “I know. But we did talk about doing it soon,” Jada argued. Rafe told Jada that marrying her was a good birthday present.

After Jada left for work, Paulina stopped by Rafe’s house. Rafe noted that Jada had already left, but Paulina said she was there to talk to Rafe. Paulina told Rafe that she wanted to support Jada and help her succeed in the role of police commissioner. “You need to stay the hell out of her way,” Paulina said. Paulina blamed Rafe for having blown the Hattie case for Jada. Rafe reminded Paulina that his citizen's arrest of Hattie was why the police had Hattie in custody. Unfazed, Paulina argued that Rafe had prevented EJ from being able to make a case against Hattie.

“I’m sure I don’t have to remind you. I have a vested interest in this case. My husband was poisoned by that miscreant,” Paulina said. “I was hired as a private investigator, and I can’t help it if I got there first,” Rafe countered. When Paulina conceded that Rafe was good at his job, Rafe joked, “Which is why you replaced me.” Paulina stressed that her decision to replace Rafe had not been personal.

“I’ve come to realize that I could still use you on my team, a man of your skill set, with your very impressive work ethic,” Paulina said. “So you’re here offering me a job?” Rafe asked. Paulina asked Rafe to be her rat czar. Paulina explained that she wanted to model a program after the one in New York to protect public health. “I promise you, it is a critical job. Not to mention well paid,” Paulina said. Rafe said he was flattered to be considered.

“I’m getting the sense that you only offered me this job so that you can keep me on the sidelines. You know, so I don’t embarrass your new commissioner,” Rafe said. Rafe told Paulina that he loved Jada and that he refused to let their jobs ruin their relationship. “You can take the job and shove it. Respectfully of course,” Rafe said. Rafe opened the door for Paulina to leave.

At the police station, Belle was waiting for Jada in the bullpen. Jada and Belle chatted about how Belle had outsmarted EJ in Mark Greene’s case. “Sounds like you beat him at his own game,” Jada said. “Yeah, and I just came from doing it again,” Belle said. Belle explained that because EJ had attempted to question Hattie without her lawyer present, the judge had released Hattie from custody. “Damn. That means I won’t be able to prove that she tainted those cupcakes,” Jada muttered. Belle noted that EJ was to blame, and Jada agreed.

Jada and Belle headed into the commissioner’s office to talk privately. Jada complained that her record depended on EJ, and EJ had “botched” a number of recent cases. “Well, not to defend EJ, but, you know, when the facts are against you,” Belle said. Jada pointed out that EJ had attempted to play dirty and that was what had ruined his last two cases. “True. Some might argue that he’s just very determined to win at all costs,” Belle said. Jada disagreed.

“When EJ has a conflict of interest, he simply declines prosecuting the guilty party,” Jada said. Jada noted that if EJ did not secure convictions, it would reflect poorly on Jada, too. “I would rather work with someone like you,” Jada said. “You want me to replace EJ as D.A.?” Belle asked. Jada pointed out that Belle had a better winning streak. “I think you and I would make a very, very great team,” Jada argued. Belle noted that only Paulina could appoint a D.A. With a grin, Jada said she was confident she could convince Paulina to back her plan.

“I just don’t know,” Belle said. Jada asked Belle if her reservations about the job were because of Shawn’s position with the police department. “Well, yes, that’s part of it,” Belle admitted. Belle told Jada that she also had a history with EJ. “I don’t want to take his job from him,” Belle added.

“You might as well know that if I get my way, he is gone no matter what,” Jada said. Belle admitted that she did not know how long she would stay in Salem, so she did not think she should pursue the job. “We can sell it as a transitional move,” Jada suggested. Jada argued that Belle would only need to confirm for a set period of time. After Belle left, Paulina arrived at the precinct. Jada explained to Paulina that she wanted to replace EJ as the D.A.

At the DiMera mansion, EJ was still attempting to convince Arnold to leave town when someone rang the doorbell. EJ ordered Arnold to stay in the living room while he answered the front door. EJ slipped into the foyer, and he was horrified to see Rafe on the front porch.

At the Salem Inn, Leo sat in his hotel room and read through his horoscope. “Happy birthday to me. Why are my horoscopes always such a downer?” Leo muttered. As Leo looked through the day’s paper on his phone, he spotted a new column from Lady Whistleblower. The column touted that Leo had hired a P.I. to discover the identity of the columnist, but they had come up empty.

“Who knows? Maybe I’ll just show up at her door and put her out of her misery,” Leo read aloud. As Leo scowled at the column, there was a knock at his door. “Whistleblower? At long last, we finally meet,” Leo whispered. When Leo yanked open the door, Doug was in the hallway. “You’re not Lady Whistleblower, are you?” Leo asked. “I have no idea what that means,” Doug said. Leo ushered Leo into the room, and he noted that he was preoccupied with a gossip columnist who was out to destroy Leo’s life.

“I didn’t want to bother you, but I was hoping you would have some news about that necklace I gave you to sell,” Doug said. Leo informed Doug that he had found someone who would sell the necklace on Leo’s behalf. “I’m very thankful, but I just wish I didn’t have to do this,” Doug said. Doug lamented that he had taken a family heirloom from Julie. Leo retrieved the necklace from a drawer and held it out to Doug.

“If you want to give it back, there’s still time,” Leo advised. “I know I should give it back, but I can’t. I want to, but I really need the money to pay those people off,” Doug said. Leo gasped. “You have a way out for me?” Doug asked hopefully. Leo explained that Doug’s struggle would be a great storyline for his soap opera. “Don’t worry. Nobody can connect it back to you,” Leo said. Leo typed a note into his phone.

“Listen, I know what it’s like to be in the kind of bind that you’re in. And I know that you feel horrible hurting someone that you care about. But if it makes you feel any better, your grandfather’s family already thinks the necklace is gone. They’ll get over it. And you will, too,” Leo said. Leo advised Doug to sell the necklace and move on as if it had never happened.

Sophia met up with Tate at the penthouse after Brady and Marlena had left for work. “I had to get out of the house. I know the abortion appointment isn’t until tomorrow. But I just feel like the sooner we get on the road, the sooner we can get this over with,” Sophia said. Tate agreed. Holly knocked on the front door. Panicked, Tate told Sophia to hide in the other room. “Holly can’t know about this. You said to me, you don’t want anyone to know either, right?” Tate said. “Fine,” Sophia growled as she walked out of the room.

When Tate opened the front door, Holly asked him why it had taken so long to answer the door. Tate said he had been busy packing in his room. “Why’d you come over? I thought we said goodbye last night,” Tate said. Holly handed a bag to Tate, and she explained that she had made lemon squares for Tate to eat on the plane. In the hallway, Sophia rolled her eyes.

“You better think about me constantly, or there will be consequences, mister,” Holly teased. “I’m going to be with my grandparents. Trust me, you’re all I’ll be thinking about,” Tate said. Tate thanked Holly again for the concert tickets, and he apologized for not being able to attend the show. “There will be other concerts,” Holly said. Tate encouraged Holly to go to the concert without him. With a nod, Holly told Tate not to feel bad because it was important for him to spend time with his grandparents. As Holly and Tate said “I love you” to one another, Sophia winced.

After Holly left, Sophia returned to the living room. “Sorry to be such an inconvenience,” Sophia said. Tate apologized, and he explained that Holly had bought him concert tickets for Christmas. “I had to tell her something about why I couldn’t use them,” Tate said. “Oh? So I spoiled your special present. Wow, even better,” Sophia said bitterly. With a shake of her head, Sophia apologized for her tone. “I guess I didn’t realize you two were at the ‘I love you’ stage,” Sophia said.

When Tate noted it had first happened on Christmas, Sophia commented that Holly had been the good one that year. “She gets ‘I love you,’ and I get to have an abortion,” Sophia said. Tate apologized for Sophia having to hear his intimate conversation with Holly, and he changed the subject to their trip. Sophia confirmed that she had told her parents that she was visiting colleges with her friend Brianna’s family.

“Take a last look before I decide where I want to go. If I go,” Sophia said. “You will. We’re going to fix this. I’ll get my bag, and we’ll hit the road,” Tate said. Tate went to get his bag, and Sophia waited in the living room. “I guess it’s some consolatio.n Holly won’t be having any fun either. I wonder if she found anyone to use those tickets?” Sophia said.

In the square, Holly called around to friends to see if anyone could join her at the concert. As Holly ended a call, she said hello to Doug as he exited the Salem Inn. Holly asked Doug if he wanted her tickets to the Mystic Brew concert. “I didn’t have anyone to go with, so I don’t want them to go to waste,” Holly said. “Then why don’t we go together?” Doug asked. When Holly seemed unsure, Doug asked her if she was busy.

“No. They were just a Christmas gift for my boyfriend. But he’s going on a trip,” Holly said. Doug clarified that he had not been asking Holly out on a date. “You said you liked the band, and I don’t know anyone in town,” Doug said. Doug suggested that Holly talk to her boyfriend if she felt awkward about going with another guy.

“Good idea,” Holly said. Holly called Tate, but he did not answer his phone. Holly told Doug that she would go to Tate’s place to see if he had left yet. Holly gave her phone to Doug so he could enter his phone number, and she promised to text him.

As Doug waited on the bench in the square, Leo sat down next to him. “The necklace is sold,” Leo said. “As much as I didn’t want to do this, at least I can get these people off my back,” Doug said. Leo noted that the amount was not what Doug had wanted. “I’m sorry, it’s the best I could do. If it’s any consolation, I’m not going to take my normal 10%,” Leo said. Doug thanked Leo. “It’s not going to make a difference. They were expecting the full amount,” Doug whispered. Leo asked Doug about his plans. “I’ll have to figure out something,” Doug said.

At the penthouse, Tate returned to the living room, and he gaped when he saw Sophia eating his lemon bars. “Am I not allowed to have any of these? Because I am eating for two, at least for now,” Sophia argued. “Sophia, are you sure that you’re okay with this?” Tate asked. Sophia noted that she did not have a choice. “It’s not like you want to have a baby. It’s what we have to do,” Sophia said. With a nod, Tate grabbed his bag and opened the front door for Sophia. Holly was in the hallway, and her smile faltered when she saw her old friend with her boyfriend.

Stream full episodes of Days of our Lives on Peacock.