Chanel Catches Alex Confronting Johnny About Joy — Who Accepts EJ’s Check to Leave Town
Chad and Cat come to a drab motel room in Vancouver. Chad hopes Clyde believes they’re the Chad and Mrs. DiMera who checked in across the street. Cat’s surprised to learn they are sharing a room. “I don’t trust you,” Chad snarls. “I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
A glamorous Gabi and casual JJ enter an upscale hotel as Mr. and Mrs. DiMera. Before he leaves, the bellhop hands “Mr. DiMera” a letter someone left for him. JJ checks for listening devices as Gabi reads that Clyde will send instructions in the morning.
At home, Paulina, Lani, and Chanel relax around the living room table with cucumbers over their eyes and manicure tools between them. Lani wishes she and Eli could have gone on a double date with Chanel and Johnny before they leave tomorrow, but it will have to happen next time. Paulina thinks that’s for the best. “Tell your sister what a jackass your husband has been,” Paulina says to her youngest. Chanel reluctantly fills in Lani about Johnny falsely accusing her of cheating. Lani admits that she once did the same with JJ.
In the DiMera mansion, EJ finds Johnny working late on a scene between Chanel and Joy. EJ tells him not to work too hard because he enticed Joy to leave Salem. That way, Johnny won’t have to suffer from guilt every time she’s around. Johnny furiously tells his father to undo it, but EJ insists it’s the best solution.
Joy comes to Alex’s apartment to tell him she’s quitting the show and going back to New York. Realizing this is about Johnny, Alex urges her to reconsider. If for no other reason than Abe and Kate will sue her for breaking her contract. She tells him EJ is taking care of that for her. Alex warns the career that she loves will be over. Joy says it’s a done deal. She’s meeting EJ in 20 minutes to pick up her check, and she needs Alex to stay out of it.
In the motel, Cat grows upset with Chad for caring more about his dead wife’s remains than her hopefully alive mother. He orders her to never talk about his wife like that again. She remains bitter over having to do as he says. “I don’t have my own life anymore!” Relenting, he admits she’s right, but he doesn’t have the energy to discuss it. He calls Jennifer as Cat stomps to take a shower.
At the hotel, JJ reluctantly answers a call from Jack after ignoring Jennifer’s six previous calls. After hanging up, he tells Gabi that Doug died. Stunned, Gabi marvels over his and Julie’s love. An emotional JJ recalls how Doug tried to gently dissuade him from proposing to Lani, knowing it was a mistake. Now, she’s married to his grandson, so it all worked out. He’s really going to miss him. Gabi embraces him.
At Paulina’s, Lani tells her sister and mother how she slept with Eli when she thought JJ slept with Gabi. That night changed everything because she got pregnant with David Abraham, who she thinks about every day. Having been unable to forgive Allie for cheating, Chanel is happy Johnny didn’t turn to someone else. No matter how much she loves him, she doesn’t think she could live with that. Lani knows Chanel’s marriage is strong and will only get stronger with time.
At the DiMera mansion, EJ convinces his son that sending Joy away is the best way to protect his marriage. Johnny admits there’s one more loose end: Alex knows. EJ worries Alex will use this information to keep the upper hand with him. Johnny doesn’t think he’d do that.
Cat leaves the motel bathroom in a robe as Chad solemnly hangs up the phone. He tells her Doug passed away and recalls how great he was with the kids. Cat is so sorry for his loss and offers help if there’s anything she can do. He shuts her down and calls JJ. He’s sorry they weren’t at Doug’s funeral. JJ is, too, but he knows Doug would want them to do this for Abigail. He adds that Clyde will be in touch in the morning. Later, Cat gets vending machine snacks and puts a pillow on the floor to sleep. Chad coldly tells her to take the bed because he’ll be up all night anyway.
