Days of our Lives Recap for Monday, December 30, 2024: Tate and Sophia are busted

At the police station, Jada informed a surprised Paulina that she wanted EJ replaced as the district attorney. Paulina asked if Jada had someone in mind, and Jada suggested Belle. Jada quickly assured Paulina that it was ultimately Paulina’s decision, but Jada wanted to offer her professional opinion. Paulina challenged Jada on the idea of a defense attorney assuming the D.A.’s office. Jada responded by revealing EJ’s latest blunder of being forced to let Hattie Adams go free because he had tried to question the woman without an attorney present.

Paulina theorized that Belle was a better lawyer than EJ, but Jada posed the idea that EJ might be deliberately letting certain criminals go free due to his past nefarious associations. Paulina was skeptical until Jada reminded her how EJ had struck a deal with Stefan. Jada further revealed that several recent cases EJ had declined to prosecute had involved DiMera associates. Paulina disclosed that when she tried to oust EJ herself, EJ threatened to have her recalled as mayor. While she had doubts about her reaction at the time, she still remained hesitant to act for fear that it would cause more friction between Johnny and Chanel.

Paulina lamented that she was a hypocrite for considering saving EJ because of his connection to her when EJ was accused of doing the same thing. Jada assured her she was not and reiterated that Paulina had to make the decision. Paulina announced that she had made her decision: she would extend the offer to Belle, provided that Belle would take on the job long-term. Jada added that she’d already talked with Belle about it, and Belle was willing to commit.

Jada was pleased as she realized Belle would be a formidable ally. She worried that EJ would retaliate against Paulina, but Paulina proclaimed, “Bring it on!” She was done being bullied by EJ.

At the DiMera mansion, EJ tried in vain to rid himself of Arnold (aka Fake Rafe). When he heard someone at the door, he demanded that Arnold stay put and went to answer. EJ opened the door to Rafe and gulped out a hostile greeting. Rafe announced that he had come on behalf of Ava as Arnold listened from the other room. Rafe invited himself inside and told EJ that Ava had hired him to look into a series of threatening texts she had received.

EJ sneered at the insinuation and said he hadn’t given Ava a “millisecond's thought” in a long time. He snapped that Rafe should go look at Ava’s “long list of enemies.” Rafe urged EJ to calm down and assured him that Kristen was the primary suspect since one of the texts had been traced to the DiMera mansion. Again attempting to rid himself of Rafe, EJ angrily suggested that Rafe take his interrogation to DiMera Enterprises. Rafe didn’t move and said he had another matter to discuss with EJ.

When Rafe brought up his assignment to unmask Lady Whistleblower, EJ chuckled. He mockingly assured Rafe that he was not the culprit. Rafe clarified that he wanted to speak with Johnny and Chanel since they had worked on the show and were being targeted by the gossip columnist. EJ told Rafe that the couple wasn’t home and ordered Rafe to leave again. Just then, Arnold dropped a plate in the other room. The loud commotion drew Rafe’s attention, to EJ’s consternation.

Rafe suggested that EJ check on the source of the noise, but EJ tried to blow it off. Rafe grew suspicious and said that EJ had been acting strangely since he had arrived. EJ got irate at the insistent questioning and demanded that Rafe leave. Rafe eventually acquiesced. EJ immediately stormed back into the main room and saw shattered glass on the floor. Arnold unapologetically explained that he had dropped his plate and said the help could clean it up.

Arnold was impressed with how EJ had handled Rafe, but EJ wanted Arnold to leave at once. Their argument was interrupted by a call from Paulina, who summoned EJ to her office. After he ended the call, EJ commanded Arnold to prepare to go back to Argentina. EJ then left in a huff.

When EJ departed, Rafe emerged from the shadows and restated his belief that EJ was hiding something. He let himself back into the mansion and investigated the main room. Rafe looked quizzically at the robe Arnold had been wearing, which was laying on the floor. Just then, Arnold descended the staircase and reentered the room. Rafe turned and saw his doppelganger for the first time in years.

Belle ran into Shawn on her way out of the police station. He asked if she had a meeting about a client but was taken aback when Belle told him that Jada wanted her to replace EJ as the D.A. Shawn smiled and guessed that Jada was tired of watching Belle “whip EJ’s ass in court.” Belle hedged that it wasn’t a sure thing and wanted to keep the offer quiet from EJ in case it didn’t work out. Shawn seemed happy for Belle and made a remark about understanding Belle’s reservations, given her and EJ’s “history.”

Belle took offense at the remark and blasted Shawn for “throwing my affair with EJ in my face.” Shawn tried to clean up his statement and claimed that he had gotten over Belle’s past with EJ. He just wanted Belle to be careful because of EJ’s vindictiveness. Belle understood the potential for EJ’s wrath but believed that EJ had been abusing his position to go after his enemies and to give his friends a free pass. She also reminded Shawn that she had been mulling a transition to a prosecutorial role for a while.

With Claire settled in South Africa, Belle reasoned that now was the ideal time to make a change. Shawn warned her to proceed with caution. Belle questioned if Shawn would be uncomfortable should she take the job. Shawn reassured her and stated that they’d been working together successfully “without World War III breaking out.”

Shawn expressed his sincere hope that Belle did get the job and added that she’d make a great D.A. The warm moment was interrupted by EJ, who made a snide comment to Belle about not getting the better of him again before strolling into Paulina’s office. “Looks like that might already be happening,” Shawn cracked.

When EJ entered the mayor’s office, he greeted Paulina and Jada and asked what he could do for Paulina. “Absolutely nothing,” Paulina replied. “I’m replacing you as D.A., effectively immediately,” she added. EJ reacted to the news with astonishment.

At John and Marlena’s place, Tate and Sophia gathered their bags and prepared to leave. On their way out the door, they ran into Holly. She exclaimed, “What the hell is going on here?” As Tate started to explain, Holly pushed past him and called herself an “idiot.” She chastised herself for wanting to make sure Tate wouldn’t be jealous about the concert when Tate had been planning a “pleasure trip” with Sophia.

Tate again tried to stammer out an explanation, but Holly interrupted and asked him if Sophia and he had been secretly seeing each other all along. A fed-up Sophia blurted out, “We’re not going to Disneyland, Holly. We’re going to get an abortion.” When Holly asked if she was pregnant, Sophia snarked at Holly, “No, he is.” Tate asked Sophia for a moment alone with Holly, and Sophia reluctantly agreed. Once they were by themselves, Tate explained that the pregnancy had taken both Sophia and him by surprise.

Neither Tate nor Sophia wanted the pregnancy or wanted anyone to find out. Tate insisted that they had no choice but to leave the state since Sophia’s parents would not approve of the abortion. Holly indicated that she knew Sophia’s parents and agreed with Sophia’s assessment. Tate defended that Sophia and he believed they could leave, get the procedure done, and come back with no one ever learning the truth. “Especially me?” Holly asked.

Tate apologized for his deception but insisted that nothing needed to change between Holly and him. Holly was incredulous that everything hadn’t already changed. Tate said that Sophia wanted nothing to do with him because she was still angry. Holly acknowledged that Sophia had her “entire future mapped out” and that future didn’t include a teen pregnancy.

Tate didn’t want to abandon Sophia and asked Holly if she would be okay with him accompanying her to the appointment. Holly sighed and said that she had to be okay because she could do nothing about it. She wondered if “the universe” was trying to tell Tate that they shouldn’t be together. Tate protested and affirmed that all their struggles had only strengthened his love for Holly. Holly returned the declaration of love and hugged Tate.

In Horton Town Square, Ava read her latest text message: “Stay away from Brady, OR ELSE!” A woman approached and put her hand on Ava’s shoulder, which startled Ava. She whirled to the woman and yelled, “Kristen, stay the hell away!” Ava immediately apologized when she realized the woman was not Kristen. The woman introduced herself as Amy Choi, Sophia’s mother.

Amy reminded Ava that they had met when Sophia had interviewed for the job at the Bistro. Ava asked if she could do anything for Amy, and Amy explained that Sophia was going to look at colleges with a friend but had forgotten her retainer. Amy requested that Ava give Sophia the retainer when Sophia arrived for work. Ava responded that Sophia had taken the entire day off. Amy was puzzled because Sophia had claimed she would be working the lunch shift before leaving for her trip.

Ava covered for Sophia and said she must have gotten Sophia mixed up with another employee who wanted time off. She sang Sophia’s praises to Amy, who asked if Ava had noticed the young woman acting differently. When Ava brought up the situation with Holly and Tate, Amy assumed that Ava was referring to the prom incident. Ava again attempted to cover for Sophia, but Amy directly asked Ava if Sophia had been lying and had been seeing Tate behind her back. Ava suggested that Amy talk with Sophia herself.

Amy snapped that Sophia “clearly” confided in Ava more than her own mother. She wanted the truth from Ava about Sophia and Tate. As Ava continued to hedge, Sophia arrived to find her mother interrogating Ava. When Amy mentioned Tate, Sophia assumed that Ava had already told Amy something about him. Sophia confessed that she and Tate had seen each other again, and Amy asked if Sophia had let Tate kiss her.

Sophia admitted that she had and that Tate had gone back to Holly. As Amy scolded Sophia and continued grilling her, Sophia relented and admitted that she had done a lot more than kiss Tate. Amy understood the implication and angrily told Sophia that Sophia knew how her parents “and God” felt about premarital sex. She reminded her daughter what she had warned about teenage boys and implied that Sophia should have known better.

After Sophia said she felt sick, Ava attempted to intervene. Amy demanded Ava stay out of it because Ava had “corrupted” Sophia enough. When Amy listed off all the consequences of premarital sex, including pregnancy, Sophia clutched her stomach and said it was too late. She rushed to a nearby trash bin and vomited.

Later, a dejected Sophia arrived back at Tate’s place. When he picked up his bag and asked her if she was ready to go, she declared that she couldn’t go. A confused Tate asked why. Sophia’s mother entered the room and said, “Because of me.”

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