Chanel and Johnny Decide It’s Time for a Family — and Stephanie and Kayla Are Determined to Save the Hospital

Stephanie Makes a Plan

On today’s Days of Our Lives, we pick up from yesterday, with Seth leaving for California and dropping the bombshell on Stephanie and Kayla that the hospital is about to declare bankruptcy. It’s shutting down. For good. Kayla’s shocked, and Seth explains that the show was keeping the hospital afloat for a bit, but that’s over now. Kate and Abe sunk it.

Kayla rages at Seth at how horrible this is for everyone. But he just kind of shrugs and goes to clean out his desk. She’s outraged that the board is choosing money over people. “Tom Horton would just be rolling over in his grave!” Stephanie’s already got PR plans rolling in her head. They’ll save the hospital, she promises, telling Kayla to just rest.

Sophia Swipes Tate

Holly and Tate are complaining about the homework they’re doing, when talk turns to Valentine’s Day. Tate’s got plans in mind — at the Horton Cabin. He’s planning on making dinner, and already got the keys from Maggie. And maybe after dinner, they could… “start a fire.” Holly loves him and makes it absolutely clear she wants to make love with him. And he wants that too.

They kiss just as Sophia walks in, clearing her throat. She thinks she found a couple to adopt their kid — her former Sunday school teacher. And Amy’s mom knows and loves them, so this could work. They just need to run out to meet with the couple. Now. Holly sighs and wishes them luck.

Johnny and Chanel Move Forward

Johnny meets Chanel in the Horton Square, reminiscing over Whitley’s poisoning. He then tells her Body and Soul is dead in Salem. Everyone’s welcome to stay if they’re willing to move out to Los Angeles. So far Hattie’s the only one who took the deal — he wants to talk to Chanel about his own future. She says it’s a no-brainer. They were already planning on going out there before the miscarriage.

But Johnny wants to focus on them without a move complicating things. He wants to quit. “Johnny, is this really about our future, or is this about Joy Wesley?” No, he’s not trying to put distance between them for Chanel’s sake. She insists she doesn’t want him sacrificing his dreams based on what he thinks she wants.

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Johnny assures her that his dreams are building a future with her. There’s plenty of things he could do in Salem — but he just wants a family with her

Joy Dumps Alex

In her hospital bed, Joy finally asks Alex flat out if the reason he doesn’t want to leave Salem for Los Angeles is Stephanie. He plays dumb, but she tells Alex he saw him kissing Stephanie at the nurse’s station. And she heard them talking. Alex apologizes, but Joy tells him she’ll handle this in a way he couldn’t. “We are through.” She thought he was the only person in Salem to treat her with respect, then this. Alex admits he started thinking about going back to Stephanie weeks ago, which horrifies Joy. He didn’t realize she thought the two were more serious.

She’s angry — grateful he and Stephanie saved her — but now she doesn’t know what to do with her life. Alex suggests she go to Los Angeles and she yells at him to get the hell out. He just wants her far away. Joy gets on the phone with her mom, admitting she doesn’t know what she’s doing next.

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Out at the nurse’s station, Alex hugs Stephanie, telling her he has news, but she tells him about the hospital problems first. She’s doing everything she can to save it, but she wants to hear Alex’s news. He tells her Joy ended things… Because she saw them together. They both admit they could have handled things better, but it all worked out, right?

Leo Breaks the News to Doug

Leo’s sadly flipping through his scripts, mourning all the stories he didn’t get to tell. Doug barges in, showing up to be his new writer’s assistant, only to be told to carry everything out to the car. Both their jobs are gone now. Doug sighs that he already gave Holly the money he owed her, from Leo’s advance. He can ask her for it back, though — but Leo stops him.

He’s got enough money; the soap writing business was good to him. Consider this severance. Doug thanks him profusely, then vanishes. As Leo’s carrying his box out, Seth drops in to say he’s going to L.A. At least he’s got a job since the hospital is going under. He cuts off Leo’s bemoaning to stroke Leo’s ego as a writer, wanting a bigger role on the reboot. Seth apologizes when Leo tells him he wasn’t offered a job.

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Doug pops into the Pub, telling Holly his job is gone, but not to worry about the money; Leo let him keep it, which means Holly can, too. He asks where Tate is, and Holly says he and Sophia may have found a couple to adopt. She worries she’s being selfish, wanting it to happen so badly. Doug assures her it’s what’s best for everyone, so no. She thanks him, and offers to help him find work. She knows the town well.

Sophia and Tate Are Disappointed

Out in the Square, Sophia gets a call from Ellen, who tells her that they’re backing out and hangs up. Tate tells her it’ll be fine. They’ll find another couple to adopt. Sophia starts spiraling over how tough her mom is to please and they’ll never find anyone. As he’s comforting her, Johnny and Chanel stroll over.

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Tate introduces them all and Johnny asks if everything’s OK. No, Tate admits. Not really. Their potential adoption couple just dropped out. Sophia rushes back to work, leaving Johnny and Chanel to try comforting Tate. He’s fine. Sophia has no one on her side. And Holly is struggling with this whole thing, supportive or not. He’s asking her to put up with a lot. “But you are worth it,” Chanel assures him.

And Finally…

In the show’s final moments, Stephanie tells Alex she’s got to work an all-nighter to save the hospital, and he offers to help. They kiss and walk away as Joy watches, arms crossed, in the background. Seth assures Leo that the new producers are idiots for not wanting him. Plenty of folks like his work, the haters just make the most noise.

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Holly suggests that Doug try to get a job at the Brady Pub as Tate gets back. He tells Holly the couple backed out, so back to square one. Out in the Square, meanwhile, Chanel and Johnny lament Tate and Sophia’s problems, then think back to their own pregnancy. Chanel’s miscarriage was tough, but at one time, they’d wanted to try again. Chanel admits she still does. Maybe they could make an appointment with Kayla and see if they can go for it again. They’re both ecstatic and hug.