Monday, August 12, 2024

by Tiffany

At the DiMera mansion, Stefan raised a glass to Stefano's portrait. Stefan wanted to toast his decision not to tell Gabi about his affair with Ava.

In Horton Town Square, Johnny expressed his skepticism that Ava and Gabi could work together harmoniously. Ava insisted that her and Gabi's tensions were in the past. The talk turned to Johnny's new job at Body & Soul. He and Ava wished each other well on their new ventures, and Johnny left for a work appointment.

At the DiMera office, Connie blurted out that Stefan had cheated on Gabi. At first, Gabi assumed that Connie was referring to the gossip about Stefan and Ava that had resulted because of their pretend relationship. Connie agreed and tried to change the subject, but Gabi wanted answers after Connie stated that she had overheard something. Connie eventually admitted that she had listened to a conversation between Ava and Kristen in which Ava had confessed to having slept with Stefan.

Gabi threw a vase and insisted Connie had to have misunderstood. Connie said she was sorry and quoted word for word Ava's admission of the affair. Gabi grew enraged, and Connie asked if Gabi was mad at her. Gabi said she was grateful for the honesty. She stormed out and declared that she was going to confront the "lying, cheating son of a bitch" she had married. After Gabi left, Connie broke into a smile and hoped for Gabi to destroy her own life the same way that Gabi had destroyed Li.

Back in Horton Town Square, an approaching Stefan spotted Ava and confronted her about what she had told Gabi. Ava confirmed that Gabi still believed the indiscretion had ended with a few kisses. Ava couldn't understand why Stefan would consider telling Gabi about the sex. Stefan talked about his guilt and about how Kristen had dissuaded him from confessing. Ava agreed with Kristen that Stefan would not only hurt Gabi with the truth but would direct Gabi's wrath at both him and Ava.

Later, Gabi walked up and saw Ava and Stefan in the midst of a heated discussion. She angrily wondered if they were talking about their deception. Gabi marched up to the duo and, with a smile, asked if someone had said her name. Ava quickly covered and claimed that she and Stefan had been talking about how relieved they were that the air had been cleared. With a pointed look at Stefan, Gabi affirmed that there was nothing more to discuss.

Gabi kissed Stefan passionately and lied that she had come to thank him for the flowers and the dinner. She told Ava that she would see Ava at work, and she told Stefan that she would see him at home. Gabi left. An anxious Stefan asked Ava if she thought that Gabi knew the truth, as he believed Gabi had been acting "weird." Ava dismissed the idea and hoped that she and Gabi could be friends and put the past behind them. Stefan remained uneasy.

Back at the DiMera office, Connie wished that she could personally watch as Gabi's marriage went up "in flames." Later, Gabi returned to the office. Connie asked if Gabi had confronted Stefan, and Gabi said she wanted proof first. She hinted to Connie about her penchant for revenge by referencing the time she had almost "blown up" Julie's heart. With a vengeful smile, Gabi said she wanted Connie's help with exposing Stefan and Ava.

In the office for Body & Soul, Abe read a text from Kate. The text instructed Abe to tell Bonnie that Bonnie could not play Kassandra Lovegood. As Abe read the message, Bonnie flounced into the office and was eager to talk with her "favorite soap opera producer." Bonnie gave Abe a glamour shot she had taken years earlier, and she began rambling about how the picture showed her "good side." Abe tried in vain to speak, but Bonnie kept interrupting him.

Eventually, Bonnie settled down and said she was ready to listen and audition. Abe informed her that she would not be auditioning. When Abe cited Bonnie's lack of acting experience, she protested that Hattie did not have any experience, either. Bonnie claimed that she had done a great acting job when she had convinced the entire town that she was Adrienne. Johnny arrived and listened as Bonnie made her case.

Johnny cajoled Abe to give Bonnie a chance. Abe again told Bonnie that she wasn't right for the part. Johnny offered to direct her for the audition and said it could serve as Johnny's audition, as well. Bonnie got excited at the prospect but began rambling again, this time about her involvement in a school play called The Princess and the Pea. She begged Abe to let her try the audition with Johnny, and Abe finally relented.

Later, Bonnie paused as she started her audition because she had expected Johnny to say "Action!" Johnny encouraged Bonnie to keep the scene grounded in "real, raw emotion." Bonnie recited the lines but got distracted by one of the characters being named "Dagger." She kept pausing and berating herself for the bad line readings, but Johnny urged her to continue. When Bonnie claimed her tongue was swelling, Johnny stopped the audition.

Johnny prodded Bonnie to think back on a time when she had felt immense guilt. Bonnie opened up about how she sometimes still hated herself and didn't feel deserving of Justin's love because she had deceived him. Johnny encouraged Bonnie to channel those feelings into the scene. Bonnie restarted and delivered a more emotional speech in which her character expressed guilt for having caused a volcanic explosion that had wiped out an entire family.

Bonnie ended with a line about jumping in a fountain and declaring herself "the toxic tramp of Pineview." When she tearfully finished the monologue, Johnny called her performance amazing. Both Bonnie and Johnny anxiously looked to Abe, who concurred. Abe informed Bonnie that she had the part, and Bonnie jumped up and down with excitement.

Later, Bonnie gushed about landing the job. Johnny said he did have some notes to add "nuance" to Bonnie's performance. Bonnie suddenly began coming on to Johnny, which made him uncomfortable. Bonnie quickly backed off and exclaimed that she was acting and that she had fooled Johnny. He admitted that she'd had him going. He said he would see her at the first rehearsal. With exaggerated voices, they joked about their new business partnership.

At the Brady Pub, Kate vented to Roman about Hattie and Bonnie auditioning for Body & Soul. Roman reassured Kate that Abe would make the right decision. Kate hoped that Abe was rejecting Bonnie, but Roman defended the choice of Hattie. Kate believed Roman just had a "soft spot" for her because of Hattie's crush on him. Roman acknowledged Hattie's "good taste" and reminded Kate that Hattie had played a role in his and Kate's reconciliation.

Kate conceded the point but still drew the line at hiring Bonnie. Roman countered that Bonnie and Hattie were trying to turn their lives around, but Kate remained unmoved about bringing on Bonnie.

Later, Abe joined Kate at the pub. She asked him how Bonnie had taken the rejection. Abe reluctantly told an unamused Kate that he had given Bonnie the part of Kassandra.

In Leo's apartment, Leo reclined in his bed and wrote a scene for Body & Soul. The scene involved Charlemagne discovering she had a daughter whom Charlemagne had believed she had miscarried years earlier in a swamp. As Leo enthusiastically expressed his pleasure with the scene, he heard a knock on his door. He opened the door to Hattie.

Still believing Hattie was Marlena, Leo greeted "Marlena" and was surprised at her flashy choice of attire. Hattie reminded Leo that he had invited her to watch The Drag Races. An increasingly confused Leo corrected her about the title of the show and invited her in. "Marlena" held up a bag and proclaimed that she'd brought snacks. Leo complimented "Marlena" on her wardrobe, which he characterized as "80s sex worker meets Harley Quinn."

Leo was surprised that "Marlena" had arrived early. She mentioned tiring of playing the game "Doofus Drop," which earned another quizzical look from Leo. He mentioned that he would let her set the boundaries on their relationship. When "Marlena" stated she was just there to watch TV, Leo asked what else she thought might happen. "Marlena" looked toward the bed, perplexing Leo even more. He awkwardly invited her to join him on the bed so they could get settled before the show started.

"Marlena" threw Leo another curveball when she showed Leo the snacks she had brought, which included root beer and pork rinds. She noticed Leo's laptop and asked what he had been writing. When he referenced Body & Soul, "Marlena" exclaimed that she was the star of the show. Leo couldn't believe that "Marlena" would willingly give up her career to be an actor. "Marlena" launched into an audition scene and asked a flabbergasted Leo if he thought it was Emmy-worthy.

Later, "Marlena" and Leo broke out into laughter as the show ended. Marlena exclaimed that it was the "best time I've ever had with my clothes on," and Leo spit out his root beer. He marveled at how much he loved the new side of her, and "Marlena" added, "What you see is what you get." She talked up a new flavor of pork rinds as Leo gaped at her in puzzled wonder.