Johnny’s Latest Lie Digs the Hole He’s In Deeper — Plus, Rafe and Jada Clash Over His New Case
Rafe meets with Leo in Horton Square. Leo is irate that Lady Whistleblower has struck again. Rafe says this isn’t an emergency, but Leo says everyone now knows about Weivenip, the tropical island that is Pine View spelled backward where presumed murder victims found themselves trapped. Rafe thinks this sounds familiar and asks how these people even got to this island. Leo says that’s unimportant and that his job is to find the leaker.
Jada returns home to find Javi staring at his phone. She asks if she walked in on something. He claims he was just putting together his top-secret Christmas list. She’s surprised Rafe isn’t home yet. Javi says he was here, but Leo called him on an emergency.
They sit down and talk about Rafe taking Leo’s job and Javi telling him not to. She asks why. Javi says Leo is a jerk and vents about what went down between them. He doesn’t want Rafe sucked into Leo’s vortex. Jada says it’s sweet that he wants to protect Rafe, but it’s not as if they are going to sleep together, so why doesn’t he want him to help Leo?
Javi claims he just doesn’t trust Leo, and who knows if they’ll ever find out who Lady Whistleblower is. He thinks if Rafe can’t find this person, Leo might blame Rafe. Jada doubts that, and this person is messing with Leo’s livelihood. Javi gets a text, says he has to go, and takes off. Jada comments, “That was abrupt.”
Rafe returns home, and Jada fills him in on her talk with Javi about his case. She asks if he has any leads. Rafe has a hunch that it’s Hattie Adams. Jada asks what he’s going to do, track her down. Rafe says he is and asks if she has a problem with that. She explains that Hattie is her main suspect in cupcake-gate and doesn’t need him to get in her way. Rafe chuckles that Javi warned them his new job could throw a wrench into Jada’s work. Jada asks him to let her take the lead, but Rafe says he is a PI and can trail anyone he pleases. They bicker, and Rafe wonders if Jada fears Mayor Price is going to think he’s doing a better job than she is. Jada says she’s not, and they shake on the best investigator winning.
Back in Horton Square, Leo continues to read Lady Whistleblower’s column. Javi appears and notes that it’s a shame about all the spoilers. Leo guesses he deserves his gloating. He laments that he loved being a head writer, and now it’s gone up in smoke. Javi understands and is sorry things are getting so messed up for him. Leo thanks him and is excited for the next episode. He asks Javi if he’d be interested in going back to his room and watching it.
Suddenly, Leo’s former one-night stand and groupie, Kerry, shows up. Kerry asks Javi if he’s ready. It turns out they met on a dating app, and Leo is surprised they are going out. Kerry reminds Leo that he said they didn’t have that spark. Kerry and Javi leave to go get drinks.
Outside the Brady Pub, EJ gives Joy a check and tells her to pack her things and go. Joy is hesitant as she likes her job. He tells her with this money she could go back to school, or go to L.A. He even offers to set her up with a friend who is an agent.
As Joy takes the check, Kate appears and asks what is going on. She didn’t know EJ knew Joy. EJ says they were just talking about her, and Joy has decided to quit the show. Kate asks Joy why she’s leaving. Joy simply says she’s not sure it’s for her what with the busy schedule, and she’s missing New York. Kate says she can’t allow her to quit as she has a contract, and she wouldn’t want to be in breach of it. EJ says he knows Joy has a contract, which is why Joy hired him to get her out of it He thinks they can work things out, and Kate can recast the role. Kate doesn’t want to, as Joy has a special gift and could be a big star. Kate promises Joy that she and Abe will work to address her concerns, so she asks her not to break her contract.
Joy announces that Kate is right, and she wants to stay. Kate is thrilled and promises that she and Abe will address her issues and make schedule adjustments so that she can visit her family in New York more often. Kate walks off, and EJ asks Joy what the hell that was. Joy says she likes her job, she likes being an actress, so why should she give that up. EJ says because she interfered in his son’s life. She points out it takes two to tango, and Johnny will have to get used to her being around as she’s not going anywhere. She tears up the check and storms off.
At the DiMera mansion, Alex tells Johnny that Joy doesn’t want to quit, as she loves her job, and he tried to talk her out of leaving. Johnny lashes out that this is none of his business and to stay out of it.
Chanel walks in and asks what is going on. What are they fighting about? Alex says it’s about Joy. Chanel asks what about her? Johnny blurts out that Alex slept with Joy. Johnny explains Alex admitted it to him, and he was concerned it wasn’t a good idea. Alex says it’s true, and Johnny isn’t happy about it. Johnny says he was worried after the whole Alex and Stephanie fiasco. Alex says he was explaining that he and Joy aren’t married, so it’s not as if they are hurting anyone. Chanel says that’s not exactly true.
Chanel says Joy could be hurt, as there is clearly a power imbalance in this relationship with her being new to the show. She says Joy is new in town, she’s vulnerable, and she and Johnny promised to look after her. Plus, Alex is not over Stephanie, and she doesn’t want to see Joy get hurt. Alex looks at both Johnny and Chanel and says he doesn’t want anyone to be hurt, either.
Chanel heads upstairs to learn her lines, and Alex asks Johnny, “What the hell was that?” Why would he tell Chanel that he and Joy slept together? Johnny says he had to think fast, and besides, Joy is leaving town. Alex says he knows, and Chanel will blame him for that. Johnny panicked but everything will be fine if Alex doesn’t say anything. Alex says he’ll keep quiet, but only so he doesn’t upset Chanel any further. He tells Johnny he handled this like a little bitch and gives him a playful slap on the cheek.
Later, EJ arrives and fills Johnny in on Kate convincing Joy not to leave. He says Joy is sticking around. Just then, Chanel appears and asks Johnny why he looks like he got caught cheating on a test. EJ tries to distract her by asking about Body and Soul. She says she is connecting with her character and asks Johnny to run lines with her and play a homewrecker. He says he’ll be right up. Chanel heads upstairs, and EJ tells his son that he’s going to have to learn to live with this secret.
Alex is running lines at his place when Joy knocks on his door. He invites her in, and she tells him that she’s staying. Alex is thrilled and asks what changed her mind. She says Kate did, she made her realize she wants this job. Alex is proud of her for standing up to EJ. Alex then drops the bomb that Chanel believes they are sleeping together.
