On New Year’s Eve, Gabi and JJ run into one another — literally — in the town square. Establishing neither has plans, they decide to ring in 2025 together. She asks what he has in mind, and he admits he hasn’t figured that out quite yet. When Gabi says there must be a party they could crash, Johnny approaches to say they’re welcome to attend the bash he and Chanel are throwing. “We miss seeing you around the house,” says Johnny, admitting that by “we” he means “he,” adding she should bring her Ari. Sadly, Ari is staying in Arizona with Will and Sonny for a bit, Gabi reports. “I know you have complicated feelings about [the DiMera mansion] and some of the people who live in it,” Johnny says, “but love to see you guys tonight.” Gabi agrees to think about it. Along with JJ, however, she makes it clear that while it might be “fun hobnobbing with the fancy TV stars who were just ordinary Salemites a few months ago,” but she doesn’t want to go back into that house, calling it haunted by bad memories. Despite this, Gabi suggests they go so that she can “exorcise the ghosts of my marriage.” Heck, she may even stick it to EJ in the process.

JJ later arrivers to pick up Gabi, and each is blown away by how the other looks. He gives her a last chance to bail on the party, but she “can’t wait to walk in that door and see EJ squirm.”

Although Philip has snagged a great reservation for dinner, Stephanie says she needs to attend Johnny and Chanel’s party, if only to make sure the party and any resulting scandal doesn’t make it into the pages of the new Lady Whistleblower. She invites Philip, who demurs by saying EJ hates his guts. Steph points out EJ hates everyone’s guts, and Philip eventually agrees.

Fresh off the soundstages of Body and Soul, Alex and Joy discuss how fantastic their scenes were. Chanel enters to reveal she and Johnny are having a get together at the mansion. Chanel agrees to attend, but only if Alex will go, too. Once alone with Alex, Joy admits she wishes Chanel would stop inviting them to things. For his part, Alex wishes Johnny would man up and tell his wife the truth so she didn’t continue to think Joy and Alex were the ones who’d hooked up. Alex and Joy discuss how much they hate lying, but agree they don’t want to hurt Chanel.

RoboRafe meets up with Jada at the Brady Pub, and she immediately notices that he’s wearing different clothing than when she saw him earlier. He claims to have spilled coffee on himself and then purchased a new wardrobe at the mall. With that out of the way, Jada fills him in on the fact that EJ is no longer D.A., adding that he was fired and it was her idea. As they talk, he repeatedly makes blunders Rafe wouldn’t, including not recognizing the name “Paulina” and literally snorting derisively at her news.

Johnny overhears RoboRafe calling EJ an oaf. Johnny suggests that with “Rafe” and EJ working together — which is news to Jada — maybe they should attend the party. RoboRafe instantly accepts, which of course shocks Jada, who says she can’t go to EJ’s party, what with having just gotten him fired! As they discuss the party, RR calls her “Boo,” and, when she is surprised by this term of endearment, claims he’s “just trying it out.” He promises the party will be fun, which she highly doubts, and they leave to get ready.

Talking to himself, as Salem residents are wont to do, EJ hopes that Arnold won’t screw things up. DiMera has his hands full, of course, trying to get the real Rafe into the mansion’s secret room. He then returns to the living room where a newly-arrived Belle notices he’s out of breath and asks what he was doing down there in those not-so-secret tunnels. He claims to have workers fixing the tunnels. “So the DiMera’s can hold more people hostage in the new year,” she quips.

Belle is just about to tell EJ that she’s the person replacing him as District Attorney when Chanel enters to tell him about the spur of the moment party. While discussing details, Chanel says she’ll pop down to the wine cellar, which of course gets a big reaction out of EJ… and it’s one that does not go unnoticed by Belle. Sending Chanel off to get dressed, EJ promises to arrange for the booze to be brought upstairs with the help of the non-existent contractors. Chanel suggests Belle stay for the party, and the legal eagle agrees.

Once alone, Belle again tries to tell EJ her news, but he interrupts to clear the air. Admitting he is not a fan of hers as a work rival, he remains “fond of her as a person.” With both having recently become single, he suggests they go as one another’s date. “Just don’t tell Samantha,” he jokes of her sister and his ex.

As Philip and Stephanie exit her apartment, they run into Alex, emerging from his own. Alex congratulates them, revealing to Stephanie the conversation he’d had with Philip in which he hoped to make progress with her. As if that’s not awkward enough, the trio realize they’re all going to the same party, and that Alex is going with Joy.

While getting ready for the party, Johnny is surprised to hear Chanel invited Alex and Joy. Johnny strips down, suggesting they work up a quick sweat and then take a shower together before the party.

In an undeniably weird moment, RoboRafe leaves Jada standing outside while he goes into the party to “check it out” and bring her some champagne. Of course, this gives EJ — fresh from hanging a handmade “Do Not Enter” sign on the entrance to the tunnels — time for a quick conversation with Arnold, each threatening the other before Jada, Philip and Stephanie enter. Pulling Arnold aside, EJ insists the scoundrel stay away from Jada, wanting him to get out of town ASAP.

EJ’s night goes from bad to worse as he converses with Gabi, wanting to know who invited her. “I was invited by your son, who has much better manners than his father,” she says, causing RoboRafe to do his patented snort-laugh again. Worse, EJ finds out that Gabi’s date is none other than JJ. “Do I have to worry about you assaulting me again?” DiMera asks. JJ promises to keep his hands to himself, although Gabi asks that he not be too hasty with that particular promise. Belle enters in one of Chanel’s dresses, and EJ is clearly blown away. EJ’s not the only one uncomfortable, as Johnny and Chanel open the door to welcome Joy and Alex. Soon after, Johnny asks to talk to Joy alone and escorts her upstairs, leaving Alex and Chanel wondering where their dates have vanished to. Alex winds up spilling champagne on Stephanie and awkwardly drying to help dry her soaked chest. Gabi and JJ admit that 2024 was crappy, but hope that starting 2025 together will put things on a better track.

When the ball drops, RoboRafe plants a major kiss on Jada, as EJ watches disapprovingly. Alex is standing on the sidelines watching as Stephanie and Philip smooch. Upstairs, Johnny demands to know why Joy came to the party. They shout at each other about how stressful things are. And of course, Chanel is listening in when Joy says how bad it would be if Johnny’s wife knew what had happened between them…