Days of our Lives recap for Friday, December 6, 2024: Johnny is horrified to hear about EJ's scheme for Joy

In Vancouver, Chad and Cat checked into a hotel. “I just hope that [Clyde] thinks we’re the Mr. and Mrs. DiMera that checked in across the street,” Chad said. Chad looked out the hotel window. “What if Clyde already suspects us? What if he knows that we’re using JJ and Gabi as decoys?” Cat asked. “Well, then we’d already be dead,” Chad said. Chad started to unpack his bag. Confused, Cat said she had assumed they were in her room.

“It is. It’s mine, too,” Chad said. Chad told Cat that he did not trust her. “I’m not letting you out of my sight,” Chad said. Chad warned Cat not to ruin the plan. “I wouldn’t do that! My mother’s life is on the line,” Cat countered. Chad told Cat that he would help her find her mother, but his top priority was still the recovery of his wife’s remains.

“I’m happy to know that your dead wife trumps my hopefully still alive mother,” Cat muttered. As Cat turned away from Chad, he grabbed her arm. “Do not talk about my wife like that ever again. You understand me? You want to talk about priorities after what you and your brother did to me and my family?” Chad said. As Chad started to yell, Cat cut him off.

“I know! I don’t get to do anything except exactly what you say because apparently I don’t have my own life anymore,” Cat said. Chad nodded in agreement. “I get it. Yeah, you’re a victim, too,” Chad said. In an effort to change the subject, Chad announced that he needed to call Jennifer and check on the kids. Cat went into the bathroom.

After Cat showered, she overheard the tail end of Chad’s phone call home. “Chad, what’s wrong?” Cat asked. Chad explained that Doug had passed away in his sleep. “I’m so sorry,” Cat said. Chad sighed. “He was so full of life. The house is going to be really quiet when we get home,” Chad said. “He was a sweet spirit. I mean, even with everything, he never said an unkind word to me,” Cat said. Chad shook his head, and he lamented that he was not at home with his kids.

“I wasn’t a Horton or a Williams. I was lucky to live there with Abigail and the kids. But Doug, he was always down to make slime with Charlotte, play Scrabble with Thomas, babysit,” Chad said. Chad noted that Doug had been a huge help after Abigail’s death. “I wished my father was more like Doug,” Chad admitted. Cat gave Chad her condolences.

“Maybe you’ll be able to make it back in time for the funeral,” Cat said. Chad shook his head no. “I already missed it. Julie didn’t want to bother me. She figured I should stay focused on going after Clyde,” Chad said. Cat told Chad that she did not want to add to Chad’s stress. “Let’s just do what we need to do to get Clyde, and then we’ll get the hell out of here,” Chad said.

At the hotel across the street, a bellhop escorted JJ and Gabi to the DiMera room. “It’s absolutely perfect, isn’t it, Chad?” Gabi said. When the bellhop asked if they were there on business or pleasure, JJ and Gabi answered differently. “Both, actually. Figured we might as well make the best of a business trip,” JJ lied. JJ gave the bellhop a tip, and the bellhop gave JJ an envelope from Clyde.

JJ asked Gabi to read the letter while he checked the room for bugs. The letter directed Chad to turn over Cat to Clyde in the morning. “Great. More waiting. God, I’m a nervous wreck,” Gabi said. “I think we all are. But I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you doing this for Abigail,” JJ said. Gabi noted that although she wanted to help the family recover Abigail’s remains, she also wanted to help make sure that Clyde could not hurt anyone else.

When JJ confirmed that there were no bugs in the room, he started to call Chad to tell him about the note. Before JJ could dial the number, Jack called. JJ told Gabi that his mother had called multiple times, but he had ignored her calls because he did not want to argue with Jennifer about his plan to help Chad. “Maybe you should just take it and get it over with,” Gabi said. With a nod, JJ answered the call. Jack told JJ about Doug’s death. After the call, JJ told Gabi.

“Poor Julie. To lose a partner as wonderful as that man. And the two of them, we all wish we could have a love like that. Are you okay?” Gabi asked. With a shaky voice, JJ told Gabi that he and Doug had planned a musical treat together for Christmas. “At least you were able to spend one last time with him,” Gabi said. With a nod, JJ told Gabi about a conversation he had had with Doug about his failed marriage proposal to Lani.

“[Doug] knew I was jumping into something I wasn’t ready for, and he even tried to gently warn me. He was right. As always. And now Lani’s married to his grandson, so I guess it all worked out,” JJ said. JJ sniffled back tears. “I’m really gonna miss him,” JJ whispered. “I’m so sorry,” Gabi said. Gabi hugged JJ, and they sat in silence until Chad called. JJ and Chad both confirmed they had heard about Doug.

“I’m sorry we weren’t there,” Chad said. JJ stifled a sob. “Me too. But I know Doug would want us to be here, doing exactly what we’re doing for Abigail,” JJ said. Chad asked if JJ had heard from Clyde. JJ told Chad about the note. “We’ll come up with a plan for when we do hear from him [in the morning],” Chad said.

In Chad’s hotel room, Chad showered and got ready for bed. Cat tossed a bag of peanuts to Chad when he exited the bathroom. Chad looked out the window across the street again. “I think I’m just going to go to sleep,” Cat said. Cat grabbed a pillow, and she told Chad to take the bed.

“It was my idea to share a room, so you take the bed,” Chad said. Cat insisted she was fine, but Chad refused to let her sleep on the floor. “Besides, I’m gonna be on lookout tonight anyway,” Chad said. Cat suggested that they take turns, but Chad said he could not sleep. Reluctantly, Cat climbed into bed.

Across the street, JJ told Gabi to order room service for herself. “I’m not hungry. I just want to get to bed. Fast-forward to tomorrow,” JJ said. “I feel the same way. I’m exhausted. No food for me either,” Gabi said. JJ told Gabi to take the bed, but Gabi pointed out that they had shared a bed before. “And we both need a good night’s sleep for whatever happens tomorrow,” Gabi said. JJ and Gabi climbed into bed together.

In Salem, Paulina, Lani, and Chanel relaxed with freshly manicured nails and cucumbers on their eyes at the Price-Carver house. “I’m so happy that we got to spend this time together,” Chanel said. “Same. But you know, I wanted to spend time with Johnny too. Eli and I were hoping that we could do, like, a double date,” Lani said. Paulina scoffed.

“Tell your sister all about what a jackass your husband has been,” Paulina said. Chanel scowled at her mother. Paulina told Lani what had happened with Johnny. Annoyed, Chanel reminded Paulina that she had agreed to let go of the issue because Chanel was happy. Paulina argued she had, but Chanel disagreed. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t be badmouthing my husband to my sister,” Chanel grumbled. Paulina agreed to let go of her anger toward Johnny.

“Johnny feels terrible about what happened, as Mama knows, and I am doing my best to forgive and forget so we can move forward,” Chanel said. Lani admitted that she could see the situation from Johnny’s perspective. “I kind of made the same mistake with JJ Deveraux,” Lani admitted. Lani told Chanel and Paulina about the time she had believed that JJ had cheated on her with Gabi.

“I just ran, and I slept with Eli,” Lani said. “But I bet you never called JJ a cheating slut, did you?” Paulina said. “Mama!” Chanel yelled. Lani explained that the point of her story was that her assumption had changed the course of her life. “That was the night I got pregnant with David Abraham,” Lani said. Chanel apologized for having brought up such a painful memory. Lani assured Chanel that she was fine, because she already thought about her son every day.

Paulina argued that Lani’s situation had been different because Lani and JJ had been off and on, unlike Johnny and Chanel, who were married. “Still, Mama, we were never able to recover from that,” Lani said. “You just weren’t meant to be, baby,” Paulina said. Chanel noted that she understood what Lani meant, because Chanel had been unable to get over when Allie had cheated on her.

“Thank god that Johnny didn’t turn to someone else when he thought that I was sneaking around with Alex, because if he had done that, that’s just something that no matter how much I love him, I don’t think I could live with that,” Chanel said. “Sometimes the most traumatic thing can bring you closer to someone,” Lani said. Lani explained that as painful as it had been to grieve the death of her son, the shared grief with Eli had brought them closer together. “And now you have those wonderful twins and a beautiful life together,” Paulina said. Lani smiled.

“The other night when Johnny was sick, it was the first time that I just forgot about everything that happened. And I just, I just wanted to take him in my arms and make him feel better,” Chanel said. Lani advised Chanel not to worry. “Your marriage is strong, and it is only going to get stronger with time,” Lani said. “I sure hope so,” Chanel said. Lani stared silently into the distance, and Chanel asked if she was okay.

“I’m just sad that we’re leaving tomorrow,” Lani said. “But we’ll see you for Christmas, right?” Chanel asked. Lani confirmed that they planned to return for Christmas if Eli could get the time off from work. “I tried to get them to come back here,” Paulina grumbled. Lani reminded Paulina that she and Eli were not ready to leave DC. Chanel teased Lani about future visits, and Lani promised to return soon. Chanel and Lani hugged goodbye. With a chuckle, Lani said she was eager to see her sister on a soap opera.

“I am starting to wonder if it was such a good idea to work with my husband,” Chanel confessed. “I know how that is, but it has its perks, right?” Lani said. Chanel agreed that things were good. “And it’s only going to get better,” Chanel said.

In the DiMera living room, EJ chuckled as he saw Johnny working. Johnny explained that he was working on blocking for a scene with Chanel and Joy. “Oh, well, I wouldn’t work too hard on that if I were you,” EJ said. Concerned, Johnny asked why. EJ informed Johnny that he had offered to pay Joy to leave town.

“Why would you do that?” Johnny asked. EJ reminded Johnny that Johnny had been tortured by Joy’s presence and that it had ruined Johnny’s love for his job. “Because you are essentially an honest person and tormented with guilt if Joy keeps showing up on our doorstep, I know that the pressure on you to tell Chanel the truth will become insurmountable. So I took care of the problem for you,” EJ argued. Johnny groaned.

“It’s none of your business! So I want you to call Joy, and I want you to undo this, okay?” Johnny said. EJ argued it was too late because Joy had accepted his offer. “Tell her you changed your mind!” Johnny said. EJ refused.

“How are you going to explain Joy just all of a sudden leaving her job?” Johnny asked. “I’ll just finesse things with Abe and Kate. We’ll tell them that she’s homesick,” EJ said. Johnny argued that no one would believe that story because Joy hated her mother. “It’s her mother, Johnny. I’m sure she misses her whether they get along or not,” EJ argued. EJ added that he could argue that Joy missed New York City.

“The point is, [Joy] will get her golden parachute, and no one will be the wiser. And you and Chanel and presumably Joy Wesley will live happily ever after. Son, you know this is the best solution,” EJ said. Johnny shook his head no. “It’s blackmail,” Johnny said. With a smirk, EJ noted that it was bribery. When Johnny argued that the situation was unfair, EJ asked him if he would prefer to tell Chanel the truth.

“No,” Johnny admitted. “I know you feel bad, but you shouldn’t blow up an entire marriage because you scratched an itch of what I’m assuming is a one-time lapse of judgment,” EJ said. “It was once, obviously. Fine. Thank you,” Johnny said. With a sigh, Johnny told EJ that Alex also knew about the affair. EJ was furious.

“I don’t think this girl is as innocent as you make her out to be, Johnny, given that she has caused trouble at every turn,” EJ said. “She needed someone to talk to! It’s not like she planned on telling him,” Johnny countered. Johnny told EJ that Alex had promised to keep quiet because he did not want Chanel to get hurt. EJ asked Johnny if he had considered that Alex would use the secret as leverage against him. Johnny said he did not believe Alex would use the information for personal gain.

Alex was sitting in his living room when Joy stopped by. “You want to run some lines?” Alex asked. “No. I came to say goodbye,” Joy said. Alex invited Joy inside. Joy explained that she planned to quit the show in the morning. “You just barely started!” Alex protested. Joy argued that acting had been her mother’s dream, not hers. “Where is this coming from?” Alex asked. “I think it would be best. For everyone,” Joy stammered. Alex frowned.

“You mean best for Johnny because you don’t want Chanel to find out that you hooked up with her husband,” Alex countered. “I thought I could work with Johnny and Chanel without too much drama, but Chanel, she keeps inviting me over and acting like I’m her best friend. It’s too much,” Joy complained. Alex said he understood, but he did not know why Joy had to quit the show. “You’re not the one who is married, and you certainly didn’t know Johnny was gonna end up being your director,” Alex argued. Alex advised Joy not to break her contract.

“I have somebody taking care of that for me. It’s not gonna be a problem,” Joy said. Suspicious, Alex asked Joy if Johnny had pressured her to leave town. “Not Johnny. It’s his father,” Joy said. Joy told Alex about the offer, and he argued it was a mistake. “Honestly, I think it is the best solution for everybody. You know what? I could use the money for a new beginning,” Joy said. Alex asked Joy if she really wanted to abandon her first acting job and ruin her career.

“It’s not fair. It’s not right. You don’t want to leave this job. You love it,” Alex argued. Joy admitted that she loved her job. “This is vintage DiMera crap, them playing God with people’s lives,” Alex said. Alex encouraged Joy to reject EJ’s offer, but she refused because she feared the DiMera family. “EJ is the DA. He shouldn’t be bullying and blackmailing people,” Alex countered. “I’m not changing my mind,” Joy said. Joy begged Alex to stay out of the situation and to keep her secret.

“I promised I wouldn’t say anything to Chanel, and I won’t,” Alex said. Joy thanked Alex, and they both admitted that they enjoyed working with the other. “Maybe our paths will cross someday,” Alex said as he hugged Joy goodbye. Joy walked out.

When Joy arrived at the Brady Pub, EJ was annoyed that she was a minute late. EJ handed a check to Joy. “Now pack your things and go,” EJ said. At the DiMera mansion, an angry Alex stomped into the living room and asked Johnny, “Where’s your daddy?” Alex asked Johnny if he knew about EJ’s bribe. “I also assume that you’re the one that put him up to it,” Alex added. “I didn’t. It wasn’t my idea, and I feel awful about it,” Johnny said. Alex argued that Johnny did not feel bad enough to stop Joy from leaving.

“Well, she can be recast,” Johnny said. “She can. And you, my friend, are just as replaceable. Maybe more. Joy doesn’t want to quit her job. She admitted it when I tried to talk her out of leaving,” Alex said. Annoyed, Johnny told Alex, “Why don’t you just butt out before you mess everything up?” Chanel walked in. “What the hell is going on in here?” Chanel asked.

In the cemetery, Paulina and Lani visited the grave of David Abraham. Lani was surprised to see flowers on David’s grave. “I come every few weeks,” Paulina admitted. “I didn’t know that,” Lani whispered. Paulina noted, “He is still a part of our family. My first and forever grandchild.” Lani placed a bouquet of flowers on her son’s grave. “My sweet baby boy. Mama thinks about you all the time, and I miss you. I love you so, so much,” Lani said.

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