You're welcome @DRW50

Holly returns December 1988, so a full 8 years she's absent.

So Holly was still on the canvas for quite some time after Vanessa was introduced. But during Jennifer's trial, I think Vanessa was trying to get back with Ross. They were definitely together during Jennifer's second trial, in early 1981. Holly was long gone before Vanessa became involved with Ed.

Edited 16 hours ago16 hr by DeeVee

Vanessa and Ross are definitely sleeping together before Jennifer's retrial in Jan '81. According to recaps, Ross tried getting into Evie's bed around the time of Rita's party. Vanessa interrupted them and told him that Evie was too boring for him.

Vanessa and Ed don't start dating until after her suicide attempt in March '81.

It just seems odd to me Vanessa wouldn't have crossed with either Holly or Rita. Although unless all those episodes become available, we won't know for certain. Speaking of, I'd love to find Van and Nola's first meeting.

Ed was all about Holly and Rita in 1980. Then they both left and Ed pivoted towards Vanessa in 81. They split Jan 82 just in time for Maureen's arrival.

Vanessa hooked up with Mar Evans in early 82.

16 hours ago, SoapDope78 said:

We barely get any videos from 1980 especially anything between summer and Christmas of 1980 so seeing Holly being on the verge of leaving town is a nice gift.

From what I recall, the actress had only signed a 1 year contract in November 1979 and wanted to see how she felt at the end of that contract before deciding if she wanted to stay or not. Sadly, the timing of a regime change and Michael Zaslow leaving and being killed off basically made her character almost a background character through most of 1980 so I could see why she opted to leave.

Someone a long time ago had posted an interview with the actress after she left where she stated that after Roger 'dying' that she hoped the writers would focus on Holly rebuilding her life, getting her strength back, and having more agency in her life. And she stated that most of what was written for her had her playing someone meek and almost defeated by life instead of someone rebuilding their life. Even this episode showed a worn out and zombie like Holly as she was preparing to leave.

1 hour ago, Soaplovers said:

Someone a long time ago had posted an interview with the actress after she left where she stated that after Roger 'dying' that she hoped the writers would focus on Holly rebuilding her life, getting her strength back, and having more agency in her life.

Let's face it, that's something Marland would not have been at all interested in writing. I bet if she had stayed, he wouldn't have even used her much in the upcoming Ed/Rita/Alan/Hope mess. He probably still would have preferred to have Ed with Vanessa, a character he created. She was wise to go when she did.

17 minutes ago, DeeVee said:

Let's face it, that's something Marland would not have been at all interested in writing. I bet if she had stayed, he wouldn't have even used her much in the upcoming Ed/Rita/Alan/Hope mess. He probably still would have preferred to have Ed with Vanessa, a character he created. She was wise to go when she did.

Most likely, Holly would have been used in a way where Ed was spending time with Holly and Blake for purely innocent reasons.. and Rita's insecurity would have driven her to be with Alan. That whole element did play out in the late 80s/early 90s between Ed/Maureen/Holly

I had read weekly synopsis of this period, and the only thing I could have seen her doing in 1981 was being somewhat involved in the whole Andy Norris situation since he was her brother and probably in conflict with their mother Barbara because Barbara would be blind to Andy and his true nature.

And there were some interactions in the weekly synopsis between her and Joe Bradley so I imagine perhaps she would have been occupied with that while the whole Ed/Hope/Rita/Alan story was going on in 1981

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by Soaplovers