Days of our Lives Recap for Wednesday, November 20, 2024: Chad and Cat devised a new plan

After Gabi ended a business call outside the Brady Pub, she bumped into JJ. The two exchanged pleasantries, and then Gabi asked JJ if he had found out why EJ had dropped the charges against Cat. JJ surprised Gabi by revealing that Chad had been behind Cat’s release. JJ said he’d promised Chad he wouldn’t tell anyone the reason behind Chad’s actions. Since JJ believed that Chad was making a major mistake, he decided to confide in Gabi about Clyde’s leverage.

Gabi was shocked that EJ had gone along with Chad's request, but JJ attributed EJ’s response to “family loyalty.” Gabi wondered if Clyde wanted to kill Cat. JJ didn’t believe Chad would let that happen. He hinted that Cat might still have a hold over Chad. Gabi asked him if he believed Cat’s claim that she had only been working with Clyde to find her mother.

JJ wasn’t sure if he believed Cat, but he didn’t trust her. JJ brought up the possibility that Cat could still be working as a “double agent” for Clyde. Gabi pressed JJ on what he would do about his theories. JJ apologized for dumping all of the information on Gabi and admitted that he felt he couldn’t talk about it with anyone else. He didn’t want to place more burdens on his parents, and he feared that Steve would “go rogue.”

As a trained cop, JJ felt it was on him to figure it out and keep Chad safe. Gabi offered her help with anything that JJ needed. She confessed that she missed Abigail and wanted her to rest in peace. Gabi also liked the idea of hurting Clyde since he had played a part in destroying her life.

JJ thanked Gabi for the offer and the support. She warmly wished him luck and left.

At the Horton House, Chad entered the living room and exchanged harsh words with Cat. She reminded him that they were on the same side, and he testily responded, “For now.” Just as Cat wondered aloud why Clyde had not contacted Chad yet, Chad got a phone call from Clyde. During the call, Chad claimed that he had fooled Cat into believing he had forgiven her. As he looked at Cat, he assured Clyde that Cat had no idea he planned to hand her over to Clyde.

Chad told Clyde he understood the instructions and hung up. Cat chided him for referring to her as an “idiot” and asked if he believed that about her. Chad acknowledged that while he could say plenty of negative things about her, “idiot” was not one of them. When Cat asked what Clyde had instructed, Chad deadpanned that Clyde wanted them to “become Mr. and Mrs. DiMera” again. He quickly added that Clyde only wanted them to check into a hotel under their married names.

Cat grew uncomfortable with the plan and insinuated it might all be a set-up on Clyde’s part. Chad contended that they had no choice but to follow through. Cat reminded him how he had lashed out at her for going along with Clyde’s plans. She expressed frustration with having played Clyde’s “game” for so long. “It’s time we play one of our own,” she suggested.

Cat outlined a plan to Chad wherein they would get two “decoys” to pose as them and check into the hotel. Chad admitted the idea had promise but pondered where they would find two people willing to “risk their lives” to help. Cat suggested her brother, and Chad reminded her that Mark was in jail. Cat argued the merits of having her brother released, but Chad shut down the idea.

Cat wondered who she and Chad could enlist for help in place of Mark. On cue, JJ walked inside. Chad told him about Clyde’s call and about Cat’s plan. JJ immediately said, “I’m in.” Chad balked at first, but JJ insisted he wanted to help. Chad added they’d need a “Mrs. DiMera,” and JJ implied he had someone in mind.

In Horton Town Square, Kate and Bonne greeted each other. Bonnie immediately launched into a rant about the new “Lady Whistleblower” in town, who had spilled spoilers for Body and Soul in the column. Kate was angered by the news, but Bonnie assured her that Leo had gone to confront the culprit. Bonnie and Kate sat down at a table and commiserated about the potential impact of the spoiler leak on the show’s debut. Kate wanted to find out who was responsible for the leaks as well as the cupcakes, and Bonnie announced that she might know who had poisoned the treats.

Bonnie conveyed her theory that Hattie had sent the cupcakes in retaliation for having been fired. Kate wanted to go to the police with the tip. Bonnie thought Kate should have “Lady Whistleblower” locked up, too. Kate cracked that leaking soap opera storylines was not a crime, but Bonnie mused that it was “spoiling in the first degree.”

At the Gabi Chic office, Javi attempted to hug Leo but was taken aback when Leo pushed him away. Leo called Javi “dishonorable” and “contemptible” for what he had done. When a confused Javi asked what he had supposedly done, Leo snapped at him to cut the act and referred to Javi as “Lady Whistleblower.” Javi acted as if he didn’t know who “Lady Whistleblower” was, so Leo angrily filled him in on Leo's former job as a gossip columnist and the columnist’s seeming return as a spoiler for Body and Soul. When Javi incredulously asked if Leo thought Javi did the write-up, Leo shot back, “I know you did.”

Leo reminded Javi that he had caught Javi on Leo’s laptop, and Javi defended that he had just been preparing to watch the show with Leo. He couldn’t believe Leo would think he cared enough about the “stupid storylines” to reveal them, and Leo took offense at Javi’s seeming diss of his job. Leo also brought up Javi’s comment about needing to find other work, but Javi claimed he had just been talking about taking on a side gig as a bartender. Javi reiterated that he hadn’t written the column. An unconvinced Leo said he never should have trusted Javi.

Leo lamented how he thought he had finally met someone he had a connection with and who he could trust. Javi said he’d felt the same way, but Leo didn’t want to hear it. Javi asked Leo if he really thought the only reason he had slept with Leo was to steal secrets from Leo’s laptop. Leo admitted that the idea sounded crazy, but he believed it could be the only explanation. A frustrated Javi then stated, “I confess.”

Javi sarcastically listed the chain of events that had led him to supposedly commit the act, starting with his mother dying. Javi ended his rant by proclaiming, “The only mistake I made was falling for a world-class jerk.” He talked about the instant connection he’d felt with Leo and named all of Leo’s positive attributes. Javi had even fantasized about having sex with Leo on the desk. A wide-eyed Leo asked, “You were?”

Javi clarified that given Leo’s behavior, “I wouldn’t touch you with a ten-foot pole ever again.” Leo tried to defend himself, but Javi demanded he get out of the office. A stricken Leo eventually complied.

Alone, Javi thought back to his first meeting with Leo. He pulled Leo’s number up on his phone. When Gabi returned to the office, however, Javi told her that Leo and he were “done.” He deleted Leo's contact information

Later, Leo ran into Bonnie in the square. She asked him how his confrontation had gone. An upset Leo responded, “I think I made a big mistake.”

At the police station, Rafe stopped by Jada’s office. Jada asked him if he had reconsidered quitting the force. Rafe said he’d only come to return something and put his gun on her desk. Jada mentioned that he could have turned the gun over to her at home.

Rafe said he wanted the act to feel official. He admitted that Roman had suggested he could sue the police department. Jada asked him if he was considering it. Rafe said he had decided not to sue because he didn’t want to work for a department that would treat him so badly.

More importantly, Rafe didn’t want to hurt either Paulina or Jada. He called Jada a “great” commissioner. Jada compelled him to return to work as a detective since the department was already short-staffed. Rafe replied that while there were plenty of qualified detectives, “there’s only one you and me.” He didn’t want the situation to impact their relationship.

Jada assumed Gabi must have been right about Rafe’s “macho pride.” She challenged him on why he was fine with being her boss and seemingly uncomfortable with her being his boss. Rafe conceded that his pride had been hurt, but only because he had been demoted. He affirmed all the reasons why Jada was a good pick for the commissioner role, but he didn’t want to end up “silently resenting” her. He considered their relationship more important than a job.

Further, Rafe believed nearly dying on the job only to be removed from his position had been a “sign” that he needed to do something else. Jada disagreed and argued that the force – and she – needed him. She again urged him to reconsider. Before Rafe could respond, Paulina rushed in and updated the cops about the poisoned cupcakes incident. Paulina wanted Rafe to work the case, but Rafe replied that someone else would have to do it.

When Paulina insisted that Rafe investigate, he informed Paulina that he had resigned, citing “personal reasons.” Rafe walked off as Paulina gaped at him. After he left the office, Jada explained that Rafe had been hurt by the demotion. Paulina was sorry for Rafe’s response but remained unapologetic about her decision. She told Jada to get her best detective on the job to identify the poisoner.

Just then, Kate entered and declared she knew who might have done the deed. She presented her theory about Hattie to the women. Paulina was convinced and wanted Hattie arrested for attempted murder, but Jada cautioned them to wait for the results, as it could have been a case of regular food poisoning. Paulina called Kayla, who confirmed that toxins had been found in the cupcakes. Jada put out an APB on Hattie.

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