Days of our Lives Recap for Wednesday, October 23, 2024: Johnny sang the birthday blues

At the offices of Body and Soul, Bonnie excitedly informed Abe that she had the perfect fit for the show’s new role: Regan Holloway, an interloper for the characters of Arrow and Faith. Bonnie described the girl she had in mind as “drop-dead gorgeous” with a “wild child vibe.” When Abe asked who Bonnie wanted for the part, she smiled and exclaimed it was Chloe’s little sister, Joy. Abe asked if Joy had any experience, and Bonnie reminded him that he had taken a chance on her.

Bonnie believed Abe could spot “raw talent” and urged him to give Joy a chance to audition. Since Abe had time before the scheduled auditions began, he agreed to see Joy. An exuberant Bonnie promised to have Joy at the office as soon as possible.

At the Salem Inn, Nancy frantically knocked on Joy’s door. Joy answered, looking as if she’d just woken up. She rolled her eyes as Nancy scolded her for not returning her calls. Nancy asked where Joy had been since she’d paid her daughter a late-night visit only to find Joy had not been in her room. Joy snapped at Nancy for hovering, and Nancy impatiently reminded Joy that she had paid for the hotel room.

Joy finally admitted that she’d been at a bar. Nancy and Joy argued about her whereabouts. To Nancy's surprise, Joy confessed she had met someone. When Nancy pondered who Joy could have met since she did not know anyone in town, Joy recalled her interaction with Johnny. Joy informed Nancy that she’d met a guy who Nancy probably didn’t know and then turned the subject to the audition.

Nancy said she’d gotten Bonnie to talk to Abe. Joy automatically assumed she’d gotten the job, but Nancy firmly told her that she still had to audition. Just then, Nancy received a text from Bonnie stating that Abe wanted to see Joy immediately, so Nancy ordered Joy to get dressed.

A shirtless Alex answered his apartment door and found Chanel waiting. She apologized, assuming she had interrupted Alex and Stephanie again. Alex told Chanel that Stephanie wasn’t there. After Chanel came inside, she apologized again for walking in on Alex and Stephanie earlier. He assured her she hadn’t interrupted and reminded Chanel that Stephanie had made a quick retreat.

Chanel lightly teased Alex about his and Stephanie’s back-and-forth behavior but then grew serious and urged Alex to talk it out with Stephanie. Chanel got a text from Abe requesting her presence at the office. Chanel bemoaned the lack of time she’d have to prepare for Johnny’s surprise party, so Alex offered to help. She gave him instructions for picking up the birthday cake and wondered when she’d have a chance to see Johnny. She mentioned that he had come home late and had left early.

Later, Chanel arrived at Abe's office and asked Abe what he needed. Abe requested that Chanel participate in an audition scene for the role of Faith’s rival “Regan.” Chanel gladly agreed, and Abe decided to direct the scene since Johnny was on set at the hospital. When Chanel inquired about the auditioner, Joy walked in, introduced herself, and shook Chanel’s hand. Abe informed the women they were on a time crunch and needed to start the audition soon.

After Abe left them alone to rehearse, Chanel tried to calm Joy's nerves. Chanel was skeptical when Joy insisted she wanted to "jump" into the scene without rehearsing. Joy called Abe over, and he started the scene, which involved “Faith” confronting “Regan” about a meeting at the bar with “Arrow.” The scene ended with “Faith” calling “Regan” a “home-wrecking bitch” and warning her to stay away from "Arrow." Chanel then fake-slapped Joy.

When the scene ended, Joy and Chanel grinned while Abe looked on, seemingly impressed. Later, Joy approached Abe at his desk and asked if she’d gotten the job. He told her he had other actresses to audition but said he would reach out if interested. Joy left, slightly dejected.

Joy later returned to her room and found Nancy still inside. She informed her mother that she was waiting to hear back about the audition. Nancy declared she had also been waiting for answers and held up a wedding ring she had discovered in the room.

In Horton Town Square, Stephanie and Paulina were in the middle of a business meeting when a breathless Leo joined them. An annoyed Stephanie chastised him for interrupting the meeting, but Leo proclaimed that a “sex scandal” at Body and Soul needed her immediate attention. Leo rambled about his time as Lady Whistleblower and his penchant for “titillating” news. Stephanie grew impatient and got Leo back on track.

Leo dramatically announced that Alex had been having sex with one of his co-stars. Paulina gaped, and Stephanie looked busted. She played innocent and told Leo it could have just been a rumor. Paulina, meanwhile, threatened Leo not to insinuate that Chanel had been involved in the incident. Leo assured her that any number of women could have fallen victim to Alex’s charms.

Paulina suggested that the encounter had been no big deal, but Leo argued that it had taken place on the set. When Leo mentioned that a “poor stagehand” had been tasked with the “cleanup,” Stephanie was mortified. Leo added that the scandal could take down the entire production.

Later, Alex bumped into Stephanie in the square while on his cake errand. He observed that she seemed worried about something and asked if they could talk. Stephanie blurted out that she didn’t think she and Alex should ever have sex again. Alex wondered where Stephanie’s attitude was coming from, and she reminded him that they’d both agreed that remaining friends only would be best.

Alex said he’d abide by Stephanie’s wishes, and she insisted that remaining free from a romantic entanglement with him was what she wanted. Stephanie walked away, and Alex seemed disappointed.

At the hospital, Marlena happily greeted Johnny and wished him a happy birthday. He thanked her with a weak smile, and his mood further soured after Marlena gifted him a cupcake made by his “loving wife.” Marlena took note of Johnny’s mood and asked him what was wrong. Johnny claimed that he had pulled an all-nighter preparing for the day’s scenes. When he joked about Marlena’s debut as “Charlemagne,” Marlena said she’d reluctantly accepted the part to help Leo after Hattie had quit.

Johnny said Hattie cursed the production and then recalled walking in on Alex and “Chanel.” He mused that Hattie’s curse had already taken effect, which puzzled Marlena. Before Johnny could clarify, Seth approached and chatted with Marlena about their respective entrances into show business. Bonnie arrived as well and offered to accompany Marlena to the dressing room. Marlena departed with Bonnie, and Seth lamented the lack of professionalism on set.

When Seth mentioned “Faith” and “Arrow” making their love scene real, Johnny wore a pained expression. Later, Johnny and Leo watched Marlena’s grand fall down the elevator. Marlena rose up and pleaded that she not have to reshoot the scene. Johnny smiled and called his grandma a “one-take wonder.” He reassured her that the scene had gone perfectly, and Leo also complimented Marlena.

Marlena was thankful for spending more time with Johnny on his birthday, and she left to return to her “day job.”

Meanwhile, Leo approached Bonnie and Seth with revised script pages to shoot. Seth was ecstatic that he’d been upgraded from an “under-five” to a “day player.” Johnny wondered about the sudden addition of scenes, but Leo assured him that it had been approved.

Later, Johnny directed a scene in which Seth wheeled out a gurney. Bonnie laid on it but threw back the sheet and demanded Leo assure her that she was not being killed off again. Leo promised her job was secure and explained that Bonnie was the stand-in for a “dead” Charlemagne. When the scene started, Seth’s character called someone and asked for more serum. He declared that Pineview had not “seen the last of Charlemagne” and mysteriously pushed the gurney away.

Johnny ended the scene, and Leo declared it “magnificent” and "perfect." Johnny confronted Leo about the plot twist and reminded him that Marlena had only agreed to do the one scene. Leo suggested that “anything’s possible” in the soap world and countered that they had an “insurance policy” in case Marlena changed her mind.

Leo then told Johnny that Chanel had arrived and wanted to see him on the hospital room set. Johnny reluctantly left as Bonnie approached and complained to Leo about her claustrophobia. Leo quickly shushed Bonnie when he saw Marlena coming toward them. He did not mention the added scene and turned his attention to Paulina, who had stopped by with a gift for the party. Paulina took Leo aside and asked about any new developments with the “scandal.”

Leo looked at Stephanie, who had arrived at the hospital with balloons. Seth approached Stephanie and suggested that they rehearse scenes together since “Faith” and his character would interact the following day. Stephanie was perplexed.

In the hospital room, Chanel and Alex made last-minute preparations for the party. Johnny walked in, and the two quieted. Alex said he'd see Johnny on set and left.

Back on the main set, Alex interrupted Seth and Stephanie's conversation. At the same time, Bonnie handed out streamers to the gathered group and told everyone to get ready. Stephanie took the opportunity to flee from Alex.

Back in the hospital room, Johnny flinched from Chanel's hug and angrily asked why she had been alone with Alex. She claimed she had been running lines, but Johnny screamed at Chanel to stop lying. He exclaimed that he knew she and Alex were having sex. Chanel was taken aback by the outburst.

Johnny accused Chanel of sleeping with Alex again because she “liked it so much the first time.” Chanel vehemently denied the accusation, but Johnny insisted he'd walked in on her and Alex in the act. Then he told Chanel about having overheard her and Alex conspiring and calling Johnny “clueless.” Before Chanel could explain, Johnny proclaimed that he didn’t want to hear any more lies and that he couldn't even look at her. He called her a “cheating slut” and stormed out.

Outside, as Johnny strode past them, the group yelled, “Surprise!” Johnny took in the birthday decorations and asked what was going on. A smiling Alex informed Johnny that Chanel had planned the celebration for him. Chanel emerged from the room behind Johnny and sarcastically said, “Surprise.” A shocked and stricken Johnny turned to her.