Classic SOD Synopses Section (January 9, 1990)

[Darcy]

Yes, the writers brought back both Marian and Opal at this time as Palmer desperately tried to use them to break up Tad and Dixie before they married at the end of December. They did not succeed in stopping the marriage but Opal and Palmer kept on trying (often hilariously as they tried to make Tad and Dixie's lives miserable). I've been watching AMC since almost the beginning and 1989 was probably my favorite year. Tad and Dixie, Nico and Cecily, Erica and Jackson all fell in love, the older characters were still being used a lot (Palmer, Phoebe, Langley - Bitsy who was Cecily's mother). I don't think there was any other time when AMC was more fun and humorous but also told great dramatic stories too including my all time favorite with Adam/Brooke/Dixie/Tad and then Palmer and Will working together to steal everything from Adam at a huge masked ball.

Trask was Brian Bodine's older brother. Trask was a good character who they should have done more with. They brought on Brian around a year later (for Hayley) and then Trask disappeared.

[yr9190]

GUIDING LIGHT:

Roger returns from a trip to Saudi Arabia, claiming he's truck a deal that will make million for Spaulding.Roger orchestrates a poker game that includes Henry, H.B, Josh, Fletcher, Ross, Vaughn and Billy. Alex, Holly and Vanessa become suspicious and crash the bash to find just a poker game, not a secret meeting. Alex joins in. Vanessa cautions Blake about her involvement with Gary. Blake feigns outrage at the insinuation.

Alex is thrilled when Roger tells her that some Saudi Arabian oil executives are coming to Springfield to work on their deal. Billy attempts to win the Saudi execs over to Lewis Oil and worries that his efforts will cause conflict with Vanessa. Roger takes Alan-Michael under his business wing.

BETH GOES PUBLIC:

Meanwhile, Phillip calls Lillian to Willow Hills, where she is both shocked and overjoyed to at last be reunited with her daughter. Phillip is frustrated when Beth indicates that she doesn't want to talk to him; She want Neil. The police question Neil about his connection to Beth. Later, Blake is panic-stricken when Rusty tells her that Beth may be at Willow Hills. While waiting for Rusty, Mindy snoops around in the detective's files and learns where Beth is.

A LAST NAME AT LAST?:

Try as he might, Dylan can't avoid Reva. He speaks to her briefly, then begs off. Harley comforts Reva following Dylan's rejection, explaining that Dylan's personality is difficult to understand. Reva asks Dylan if he would take her name, but the would-be Shayne tells Reva he doesn't know if he wants to give up his mono-moniker.

SWITCHING PARTNERS?:

Dylan is upset when Sam tells him that Alan-Michael is taking Samantha to the fraternity party. Harley and Sam re-establish their friendship and Harley helps Sam get ready for the bash. At the party, Sam is a big hit and Alan-Michael sees her in a new light. And after Harley sees him with his arm around Sam, Harley informs her husband that she wants a divorce. Sam quickly assures Harley that Alan-Michael is trying to get Harley out of his system and is jealous when one of his fraternity brothers asks Samantha on a date.

BEHIND THE SCENES:

While Johnny and Chelsea rehearse ONE ON ONE's new call-in format, a mysterious hand, wearing a black lace glove, writes Mr. Bauer a fan letter. Vanessa is the first guest on the call-in show. Afterward, Johnny gets a letter from a devoted fan. Still smitten with Ms. Lindsey, Ross flirts with his partner at the studio. And Nadine, still worried about her ratings, coerces a reluctant Frank into doing an aerobics segment on the show. Later, Frank learns from Alan-Michael that Harley slept with Dylan.

NEWS AROUND TOWN:

Frank finds himself attracted to Dana and asks her on a date. Miss Jones thinks she has a shot at a job at WSPR, but turns Frank down anyway.... At the firehouse, Dylan spikes Alan-Michael's food with hot peppers. Alex questions Harley, who admits to her the she slept with Dylan.... An overjoyed Rick spots Beth and realizes that Phillip was right. Phillip's doctor realizes Beth's true identity.

THE SPAULDINGS ARE KAPUT:

Gray tells Blake that if Phillip and Beth are together, she'd better be ready to fight. Neil takes Beth out of the hospital and Phillip discovers that she's disappeared. Spaulding tells Lillian not to worry; he'll find her. Alan-Michael comforts his sister-in-law, who is inconsolable over losing Phillip. Then Phillip, frustrated at losing Beth again, bursts in. He blasts Blake about Beth, then announces he wants a divorce.

NICK SAVES THE DAY:

At the Trailer, Beth, desperate to find security, agrees to marry Neil the following day. Neil calls Blake to witness the event. When she arrives, Mrs. Spaulding lambastes Beth over Phillip. Suddenly, Nick arrives asking directions and spies Beth. He finds Phillip and Rick and tells them where Beth is. As Beth is about to say "Id do", Phillip grabs her and whisks her out the door.

BROTHERLY LOVE:

Josh admits to Reva that he told Dylan his father was a rapist. A guilty Reva tries to reassure Dylan that that doesn't mean he's not a good person and nearly ends up telling him the truth. Harley suggests to Dylan and Josh that Reva could be lying about being raped, but both men immediately jump to her defense. Later, Reva admits to Josh that Harley was right. Josh guesses that it was Billy and, before Reva can explain, Josh storms out. A frightened Reva finds Billy at Vanessa's and Marah and little Billy overhear the truth. Josh confides to HB that he wishes he'd never been born and his father describes a sadder life without Josh. Lewis goes home to Reva and reaffirms the depth of his love. As Billy and Vanessa are drawing close, Hawk and Sarah burst in to announce that the kids are missing.

SPRINGFIELD SUMMARY:

Billy crashes Roger and Alex's party for Al Radi, the Arabian oil executive. Vanessa tries in vain to get him to leave.Billy and Roger compete for Radi's attention and favor....As Johnny and Chelsea make love, the mysterious fan sends Johnny a present.... Frank invites Dana to a party at Johnny and Chelsea's.... When Holly insists that she's going to the opening of the Blakewood Towers, Ross accuses her of going to see Roger.... Alan-Michael threatens to sue Harley for adultery. Dylan tells Sam his father was a rapist and they exchange a poignant kiss.... Fletcher cautions Roger about involving Alex in any exploitation of neighborhood property sales.

[MichaelGL]

Re: GUIDING LIGHT

This further cements the fact that it was surprise that Dylan was Billy's son. Viewers were at first led to believe that Dylan was the product of rape while Reva was a teen (I think it revealed years before that Reva was sexually abused?). Neat use of history as well, since viewers must have forgotten by then that Reva and Billy were an item before she came to town and even married.

I liked how Long brought back both Billy and Vanessa to the show and centered a couple of the front burner stories around them. It's odd to read here that the writers seemed to be toying with the idea of Samantha and Alan-Michael.

Question: What happened to the Sam and Dylan coupling? Most of what I remember from this era is the infamous Julie/Dylan/Bridget/Hart quad that happened a few years later. I'm not familiar with how they transitioned Dylan from being involved with Harley/A-M/Sam to Bridget and Co.

Characters like Frank, Chelsea, and Johnny seemed to be adrift, most notably Frank. It only illustrates what a genius Curlee was by penning the A-M/Eleni/Frank story after years of fluff for FD.

Another question: The poker scenes with the big boys of Springfield sounds fun, especially with Springfield's business women crashing the event, but who was Vaughn?

[yr9190]

KNOTS LANDING:

Amanda is in tears, threatening to turn Danny in to the police for raping her. Who would believe a flake like her? Danny taunts. Amanda doesn't make it to work the next day and can't bring herself to return Gary's phone messages.

GARY FINDS OUT:

As a miserable Amanda hole up in her apartment, Danny takes Val to a Jeweler and presents her with an engagement ring. Val and Danny are snuggling when the twins pop in with the news that their teacher, Amanda, quit.

Amanda leaving her job alarms Danny, and he stops by her place to apologize for the other night. They just got carried away, Danny says, and leaves Chester outside her door.

Gary is at his wits' end when Amanda cancels their weekend trip at the last minute without an explanation. He's had his fill of crazy women, Gary rages. He's not going to put up with another one. But as Gary is listening to Karen's talk show on TV, featuring a rape counselor as a guest, he recognizes Amanda's voice when she calls in. She was raped, Amanda says, and she doesn't know what to do.

TRADING BROTHERS:

An evening at the drive-in watching Olivia and Harold make out is the last straw for Michael. They can't go out together anymore, Michael tells his sister-in-law. Linda is apologetic-she didn't mean to be a burden. No one likes being with her because she's a pain. That's not the problem, Michael blurts out. He has a terrible crush on her.

The Next morning, the MacKenzies get a heartwarming letter from Eric, thanking them for taking care of Linda and expressing his love for her. Linda isn't as touched by the note as Eric's mother. After breakfast, Linda announces to Karen and Mack that she and Eric are getting divorced. The reason Eric took a job overseas was because they weren't getting along, Linda tells Michael. They married too young. Michael tries talking Linda into seeing a marriage counselor, but she silences him with a kiss.

IF THEY ONLY KNEW...:

Mack and Karen conspire to get Paige and Tom back together. Mack follows Tom into the coffee shop, and Karen asks Paige to stop by Mack's office to drop something off. Paige gets to Mack's office, where's shes's directed to the coffee shop and, according to plan, finds Tom. He just happens to have two extra symphony tickets, Mack tells Tom.

Despite the warnings from his oakman chief, Tom can't stay away from Paige. Tom must be reminded that he has a responsibility to his employer, Tom's angry Oakman contact, Willis, growls when he learns about Tom resuming his relationship with Paige. The next day, Paige is on her way to meet Tom when Joe, a man Tom recognizes from Oakman, slugs Paige and swipes her purse. Incensed, Tom phones Willis. He's only dating Paige to get more information from Mack, Tom lies. The tale wins him the okay to continue seeing Paige. To keep mack on the Oakman case, Tom hands over the name of a man he claims had something against Oakman, and disappeared.

POLICE REPORT:

Gray shows up unannounced at Amanda's, anxious to help her through the trauma of her rape. At first, Amanda is mortified that Gary knows what happened, then she collapses in his arms. The next day, Gary accompanies her to the police station to report the rape. He's shocked when she tells the police investigator that Danny is the rapist. After he gets the details of Danny's attack, Gary calls Val's house. Val and Danny are out planning their wedding, Ginny tells an alarmed Gary.

Informed that Amanda reported the rape, Danny warns Val that Amanda may be making wild accusations against him. Amanda just can't handle the idea of their divorce, Danny lies to his trusting fiance. When Gary tells Val about the rape, she dismisses it as the act of a sick, vengeful woman.

NAGGING DOUBTS:

Frustrated by Val's stubborn defense of Danny, Gray turns to Karen for help. Karen reserves judgement on Danny. She has no way of knowing it if he's guilty, Karen points out. However, the report that Amanda was the woman who called Karen's show and talked about being assaulted forces Karen to share her uneasiness with Val. Karen is reassured by Val's staunch belief in her fiance.

Not only does Gary have to contend with Val's disbelief concerning the rape, he must struggle with doubts of his own. He believes Amanda's story, Gary confides to Mack, but he's uncomfortable with the fact that Amanda slept with Danny just two weeks before the attack, and that she went to Danny's apartment of her own volition. If he believes Amanda was raped, he should stop asking questions, Mack advises his friend.

Danny's going to get away with it, Amanda murmurs when she learns the DA is not going to prosecute her case. And it appears she's right- Val is hostile when Amanda tires to warn her about Danny Amanda's just jealous, and they'll ignore her, Val tells her relieved intended.

PAYBACK TIME:

Amanda sinks into depression. Frustrated, Gary calls Danny. By pretending he doesn't buy Amanda's story, and needs Danny's help in pulling her out of her depression, Gary lures Danny to the ranch. In an isolated room, Gary picks up a baseball bat and slams it perilously close to Danny's head. After scaring Danny witless, Gary lets him go. Meanwhile a forlorn Amanda gets out a bottle of pills....

[yr9190]

LOVING:

Suspicious of Jeff, Stacey and Jack go to question him. They waver a bit after hearing his supposed guilt at trying to play the hero, and failing. Afterward, they agree Jeff was very convincing, but Stacey wonders why there weren't any dents or smudges of dirt on his van.

TRISHA'S VOW TO TRUCKER:

At Trisha's memorial service, Rick tells Stacey that there's nothing keeping him in Corinth; he's getting out of town. Afterward as Stacey gives the eulogy, Trucker takes his memories of Trisha- the acorn, the engagement ring, the cameo, and the player card from Rome-to the park, where he fondly remembers his love. He recalls her vow, "Nothing can separate us, Trucker- not even death". He's sure she's still alive.

MENTAL MANIPULATION:

Jeff's conspicuously absent at the service, since he has returned to the villa. Meanwhile, Trisha dreams about Trucker caught in a giant spider web. She wakes up screaming, and Jeff gets her to drink more drugged water. Later, she awakens and groggily reaches for the door, to find it unlocked. Next to the phone, she sees a copy of a newspaper, which reads: "Perfect Man perishes in fiery crash. Contest winner Trucker McKenzie was en route to Rome aboard AE jet.' She faints. When she comes to, Jeff confirms it for her. Later, Trisha catches Costanza speaking in English.

BAD LUCK IN THREES:

Gwyn and Clay go to the gatehouse, but Jeff's gone. They find the note he left. Gwyn panics when she reads that Jeff's going to kill himself. What's next? she wonders. First, Trisha's dead, then Rick's leaving Corinth. Now Jeff's going to commit suicide, she frets.

STAGED SUICIDE:

When Trucker confesses that he believes Trisha's still alive, Stacey chimes in that she does too. The police never proved it was Trisha in the explosion, Stacey insists. Trucker shows them the sketch of the tire tracks. Later, Hindman informs them that they've located Jeff's van in the Wilomette River. Trucker wonders if Jeff just wanted people to think that he felt too guilty to continue living. They race to the scene of the suicide, where a TV reporter interviews Trucker. On the air, Trucker warns Jeff that he knows he's still alive. Afterward he asks Dave to sneak him into the police garage, where they examine the tires of Jeff's recovered van. It's a perfect match. They show LT. Hindman the new evidence. Meanwhile, an enraged Jeff watches the television report and Trucker's accusation.

LOVE AND MARRIAGE:

When Alex questions Clay about Walker, Clay contends that Walker's trying to play both ends against the middle. They have to watch their step and work together. But does Clay have some tricks up his sleeve? Clay shows his rival the divorce papers that Gwyn has served. But later, Gwyn asks Clay if there's still some slight chance for the two of them.He hands her the divorce papers (Clay lied to Alex that she served him). Shes's in shock at the timing, but signs anyway.

When Ava spied Egypt shopping for baby clothes, she panics that she's really pregnant. Later, Ava and Alex celebrate Sandy's birthday, then spend that night making love.

As Kate's hair starts to fall out from the radiation treatments, Ava cheers her up with a variety of wigs. Ava later confronts Egypt about the baby, but Ms. Jones tells her to butt out. Ava stuns Egypt with the news that she and Alex have reconciled. Egypt puts on her best hysterical act for Clay, who's shocked to learn she's pregnant with Alex's child.

AN UNLIKELY GHOST:

Trying to pass himself off as a ghost, Jeff lets Rocky see him. She tells Trucker, "Jeff was Standing!" They wonder what Jeff's up to. Meanwhile, Jeff tampers with Trucker's brakes. Outside his cabin, Trucker finds a note: The answers are in Bateman's Quarry." He hops into his truck, but doesn't see Rocky sneak into the back. When Rocky reveals herself to Trucker, he tries to brake- to no avail. With hay bales to cushion their fall, they jump to safety as the truck crashes. Trucker realizes Jeff must be unstable.

Meanwhile, a feverish Trisha tires to get Costanza to talk to her and insists they have tea together. Realizing that she's probably been drugged, Trisha slyly switches the tea cups. After drinking, Costanza falls unconscious. A weak Trisha finds a TV and learns that Jeff lied about being in Rome as she watches an American newscast. Afterward, a faint Trisha falls back on her bed.

EGYPT MASTERS/AVA ALDEN?:

Dressed as a messenger, Peter delivers a computer disk to Clay and wonders if Alden's going to use the information to help Alex, or to destroy him. Peter insists, "Old Alex is a loaded gun just waiting for someone to pull the trigger." Spitefully,

he tells Clay that Ava and Alex were sharing a bed the other night. Clay's furious and confides in Cabot that he;s determined to make Ava love him, After reading the disk's file, Clay deletes a large block of copy, then gives it to Alex. He congratulates a dumbfounded Alex on Egypt's pregnancy. Alex confronts Egypt, who confirms the news. He takes her in his arms and assures her that he wants to be a father to their child. Egypt silently wonders if that means marriage.

Clay doesn't let on to Ava that he knows she and Alex have resumed relationships, but does confess to her that his divorce from Gwyn will be final soon, and they'll be ready to announce their engagement. Ava plays along.

[yr9190]

ONE LIFE TO LIVE:

When Tina insists she misses being with her husband and C.J., Cord pulls her into his arms and kisses her. Later, Tina spies Debra hugging Cord, thanking him for the great photos. Alone, Tina accuses Debra of coming on to Cord and insists Debra swear that she doesn't have a crush on her husband, but Debra can't.

To impress Megan, Max asks Tonya to fix her a gown fit for a princess. Since Tonya doesn't have enough time before the ball, Gabrielle decides to make the dress herself. Later, she confides in Debra that the gown is part of her plan to make Max happy again by reuniting him with Megan.

SORDID PAST:

Renee shows Viki an old news clipping from her trial years ago. Underneath is a photo of Ambrose and Serena, only their names are Andrew and Sherry Winslow. They ran a private religious school near Texas. One of it's teachers was killed in a hit-and-run. The victim was allegedly on her way to the authorities to report wrong-doings perpetrated by the Winslows. Determined to expose the Wymans, Viki calls Ambrose pretending to be Barbara Wedgeworth. Roger offers to help and they disguise themselves with make-up. At the clinic, after Ambrose confides that there may be an infant up for adoption in the near future, he surprises the prospective couple by insisting he visit them in their own home.

MATERNAL MISUNDERSTANDING:

As Dan updates Gabrielle's prenatal report, she explains that he can list Max as the father. After Dan hands the new records to the front desk to be mailed, Megan, who's visiting Raymond, spies the medical report. A shocked Megan immediately confides in Sarah. Meanwhile, Gabrielle feigns dizziness, then faints before Tonya. When she gives her a few days off, Gabrielle plans to finish the gown before the ball. When Megan learns that Gabrielle fainted, she's convinced that her rival's pregnant.

The prince asks to escort Megan to the Centennial Ball and she accepts. The next day, when Max anonymously lavishes Megan with gifts to be worn at the ball, she assumes they're from Raymond.

COZY IMPOSTORS:

Since Viki is friends with the real Wedgeworths, who are away on Vacation, Roger suggests moving in to their home until Ambrose visits. Luckily, the next day, Ambrose surprises the "Wedgeforths". He agrees they would be a perfect family, and Roger slyly asks if a donation to LLC is possible. Ambrose tells them it's sixty thousand dollars.

After Clint thanks Julia for her help, she suddenly kisses him. But he pulls away, and she apologizes. Clint realizes that he can't solve his problems long-distance. Julia offers to fly back to Lianview with him. He learns that Viki's at the Wedgeworth's, where he's shocked to discover Roger and Viki, arm in arm. After Barbara/Viki quickly explains, Clint barely masks his jealously, but plays along for Ambrose's benefit. Later, Clint expresses his doubts about his and Viki's marriage.

TROUBLE IN PARADISE:

Larry accidentally discovers the statement for Steven's trust fund. Brenda apologizes for not telling Larry sooner, but he;s furious. Dan sides with his father, insisting that Michael will use the trust fund to stay in Steven's life.

RELATIONSHIPS:

After Megan pulls a pleased Raymond into a deep, seductive kiss, he shocks her with the news that he's returning to Mendorra - his father has died. "Now you'll be the ruler of Mendorra!" Megan exclaims. They say good-bye. Later, Megan receives the gorgeous gown, but doesn't know Max arranged for it.

Clint confides to Julia that the shock of seeing Viki and Roger as a happily married couple made him realize that his marriage is over.

THE CENTENNIAL BALL:

Determined to make it to the ball, Tina slips out of the Halfway House and snags two gowns from Lianfair, offering one to Gabrielle. At the Centennial Ball, they witness Megan's entrance as she stuns the guests with her dress. They also spy Max's longing for Megan, While Cord snaps photos of Debra. Max is shocked when Megan confides that Raymond treated her to everything she's wearing. He clues her in to the truth, but Megan doesn't believe him and comments, "You've been busy somewhere else-getting Gabrielle pregnant!" He explains that Gabrielle's not really pregnant. Unable to take watching them together, Gabrielle tries to slip out unnoticed. But when a guard grabs Gabrielle, she cries out and Max leaves Megan to come to her rescue. He tells Herb that he invited her. Then, Max asks her to leave, since she almost ruined the evening. Debra decides to reveal that Gabrielle made Megan's gown. Furious, Megan leaves, while Max's anger frightens Gabrielle and she runs out.

Later, Megan convinces Max that they're finished. They say a tearful goodbye. Gabrielle spends the night praying in a church and a nun vouches for her whereabouts to the police. grateful that Gabrielle is safe, Max apologizes to her. Gabrielle insists that she needs to love herself first, before she can love anyone else. They decide not to see each other anymore, unless it's work-related.

MORE GOOD-BYES:

Delila heads to Hollywood to act on a TV series...Roger and Viki fork over thirty-thousand dollars in marked bills to Ambrose, who insists the money will be put into escrow.... Mari Lynn has Tiffany written off the soap so she can reunite with Wade in L.A.

[yr9190]

SANTA BARBARA:

Phyllis overhears Ethan and Laura discussing Leo Mitchell. When she mentions to Ethan how experienced she is in the legal profession, he offers her a job, which she accepts. Phyllis covertly telegrams Jeff Nugent, a witness in the Mitchell case who retracted his statement. Laura warns Gina to stay away from Ethan, which results in a brawl.Upset that Laura provoked a fight with Gina, Ethan tells her it's time they considered a divorce. After Jeff shows up at the office, Ethan tells Laura he thinks they're being set up for blackmail. When Gina overhears them arguing, she thinks it's about her, until she hears Laura say she killed Leo Mitchell. Later, Ethan visits Gina. He takes her in his arms and kisses her.

AUGUSTA'S THE WIDOW

Augusta explains that she and Tonell had an arranged marriage with a successful fortune, which Mason ruined. Julia asks Augusta to put aside old grudges and give back what belongs to the Capwells. But she refuses-they took everything from the Lockridges. Later, Mason suggest to Julia that she hopes to get the Lockridge house and maybe Lionel back with the money she stands to inherit. The two sister embrace.

LOVE QUADRANGLE:

Eden call Cruz to say she's with Robert, confesses that she love Cruz, then hangs up. Robert takes her to an abandoned theater,where he tells her that he loves her. He kisses her and wants to make love, but she leaves to get supplies. Meanwhile, among Robert's things, Kelly finds a Phantom of the Opera playbill, while Augusta's hit man watches. Kelly tells Cruz she knows where Eden and Robert are. She loves Robert and believes they can have a life together, Kelly insists. Cruz refuses to go with her.

ON THE RUN:

After Robert and Eden hear a noise, Robert scrambles away. Eden is found by the hit man, disguised as a cop. She lies that she's an actress, but he notices the bloody bandages. Robert recognizes the hit man and outwits him by pinning him under a scenery drop. Later, Kelly enters to find the theater deserted, but spies the bandages. Meanwhile, Robert and Eden arrive in Venice Beach. Without money, Robert resorts to pickpocketing. Dressed like beach people, Robert's enjoying their return to a life of crime. He spots Kelly, then whisks Eden away.

SUICIDE THREAT:

Cruz tries to help a guy named Travis, who's about to jump off the Capwell Hotel roof. He tells him about his girl, Nikki, who left him. Cruz finds Nikki and persuades her to talk to Travis, but the suicidal man pulls her onto the ledge with him. Cruz decides to join them, suggesting they all jump together. He manages to talk them both down, and Nikki thanks Cruz. Later, she calls Cruz, claiming that someone's trying to break into her apartment. She almost knocks him out when he charges in to save her. Cruz is invited to spend the night, and declines. He's married, the hero explains.

Inez tells Michael that she wants her baby back. seeing how much Inez love Grace, he gives in. But after Greta returns and tells Michael how much she's looking forward to spending Christmas with him and Grace, he dreads telling her.

THE READING OF THE WILL:

Cruz joins Kelly in Venice Beach to help look for Robert and Eden, but they agree to search separately. Cruz recognizes the hit-man by his book. During their scuffle, cinderblocks fall on the hit-man, killing him. Robert kisses Eden and their passion builds. After grilling several locals, Kelly discovers the pair at the lifeguard station. A horrified Kelly stares though the window at them. Eden spies her, then tries to explain to her sister, but Kelly doesn't want to listen.

Everyone's shocked when Robert appears at the reading of Tonell's will. He tells Augusta that the assassin she hired is dead, but she plays innocent. It's revealed that Robert inherits the bulk of the estate. Meanwhile. Cruz is surprised to Find Eden waiting for him at home. He refuses to listen to her, then takes off his wedding ring, insisting that it's over.

DIRTY TRICKS:

Phyllis anonymously gives Laura a doctored headline, revealing her as Leo's murderer. She tells Ethan that she's sure it's Gina and Phyllis's doing. Although annoyed with her accusation, Ethan's also uneasy and comforts a frightened Laura, who basks in his attention. Later, Ethan informs Gina there's been a crisis at home; he can no longer see her.

OBSESSIONS:

Sophia warns Kelly that Robert is obsessed with Eden, and she'll only get hurt if she pursues him. Later, Kelly sees Robert and Eden passionately kissing, again. She tears into Eden, admitting she once tried to emulate her, but now sees her for what she is- a selfish, willful bitch.

Infuriated that C.C's trying to bulldoze her into reconciling with Cruz, Eden asks Robert to take her away. Alone, they awkwardly attempt to make love. Robert senses that she's not committed to him; Eden realizes her place is with Cruz. Robert promises he'll always be there for her

JULIA'S SUSPICIONS:

In Mason's briefcase, Julia finds a Palm Springs hotel card. Suspicious, she calls the hotel and learns that Mason wasn't ever registered there, however someone named Jack Davies was. When Julia quizzes Mason about Jack Davies, he denies knowing him. Later, Augusta discovers that Mason and Sasha weren't in Palm Springs together.

[yr9190]

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS:

Jack solicits Douglas's help in trying to split up Nikki and Jim. He tells the colonel that if Victor doesn't intervene soon, Nikki will make a terrible mistake and marry the New York-based surgeon. That could mean Nikki would move to the Big Apple with Victoria and Nicholas. Since Nikki and Jim are considering a double wedding with Scott and Lauren, Douglas had better move fast.

IMPERSONATING KAY: INSIDE AND OUT:

Robert is about to chloroform Kay and whisk her off to the hideout when his intended victim doubles over in pain.Unaware that the plan has been aborted because of Kay's appendicitis attack, Clint and Marge arrive at the estate, prepared to move into action. It's only when Bert Fowler phones the house to check on Kay's condition that they learn of the turn of events. The duo narrowly misses exposure when Rex rushes into the house to collect a few of his wife's things for her hospital stay.

Anxious to spend her remaining nights with sexy Rex, Marge reluctantly agrees to an appendectomy. After all, Clint warns, she must become Kay in every way, down to the last, however slight, abdominal scar.

PAYING RESPECTS:

Lynne accompanies Nathan when he visits the Williams house to pay his respects to Mary. She thanks them for their support and promises to have a long talk with them someday soon.

EVIDENCE ON TAPE:

Adrian freaks out when he sees George's picture displayed in Cassie's room. Cassandra has no idea how it got out of her purse (Paul placed it in full view when he bugged her room). Carl and his son get their first ray of hope when they record Adrian grilling Cassie about her motives for keeping a picture of the husband she murdered.

THE FIRST MISTAKE:

Before joining Adrian for a night on the town, Cassie collects her "stolen earrings from the hotel safe. She delights in being able to safely wear her favorite piece of jewelry. Cassie and Adrian revel in their new-found freedom, totally unaware that their every move is being recorded. Filled with anger and desperate to return to the land of the living, Paul devises a plan to scare the truth out of his gorgeous but devious ex-lover.

WELCOME BACK JACK:

Much to everyone's surprise, Ashley convinces Victor to attend Jack's Party. Jack stuns the party goers when he presents his new boss with an intriguing gift- a unique ceremonial dagger. Victor graciously thanks Jack but later that evening, over dinner with Ashley, he jokingly tells his date that her brother undoubtedly has hopes that he'll use the weapon on himself.

HOLIDAY WISH:

Victoria tracks her father down and expresses concern for their family's holiday plans. she explains that she overheard her mother's dinner guests discussing the matter. Irritated, Victor shows up at his ex-wife's place, interrupting Scott and Lauren's celebration party. The guests leave and Victor informs Nikki he won't share the holiday with Jim. Nikki will have to choose between her children's father or her new beau.

NIGHTMARE IN PARADISE:

As Cassandra sleeps, Paul uses the bugging device to speak to her "from the grave". Cassie's even more spooked when she's browsing in a hotel shop and she sees Paul in the corridor. It's clear from a conversation Paul overhears between Cassandra and Adrian that Cassie is on the brink of cracking, so he "appears"

to her one more time.

A NEW HOME:

Having checked with two doctors. Skip assures Carol that if the father of Nan's baby is her rapist, his aberrant behavior isn't hereditary. Relieved, Carol and Skip plead with Nan to reconsider them as parents for her unborn child. Not only does Nan relent, she moves in.

Michael advises the Evanses that both of the men who might be the father of Nan's baby must relinquish their paternal rights.Since Nan doesn't know the identity of the man who raped her and is unwilling to reveal the name of her ex-boyfriend, Skip and Carol have no choice but to put an ad in the paper asking the men to come forward and acknowledge paternity. Nan's afraid the tactic will alert her family to her plight.

CRICKET CLEARS THE AIR:

To give Jim a chance to pursue his romance with Nikki without a daughter underfoot, Cricket moves in with Nina. It will also allow her to keep an eye on David, Cricket warns Nina's untrustworthy suitor.

NEW FRIENDS:

Lauren tells Mary she has accepted Scott's proposal, and asks Cricket to be her maid of honor. Unable to face the holidays alone, Brittany invites Mary and Carl to be her guests on a trip. Carl is away on business, Mary informs a disappointed Brittany, and she's got to stay near the phone.

OVEREAGER:

Anxious to get out of her hospital bed and into Rex's, an anxious Marge threatens to walk unless Clint moves her onto the estate ASAP. David is getting antsy too. He continues to report Jack's moves to Victor and keeps pestering his new boss for a promotion. Once again, he's put on hold. Jack instructs David to keep him posted on Moneybag's moves.

Thanks for being patient, as you wait for certain recaps to be posted! Im actually typing from the actual magazine pages, so thats why its kind of time consuming (unless i learn how to use a scanner) but again thanks for being patient, and i WILL post more recaps from my other old digests i have.

[Paul Raven]

Thanks for the recaps.

Re Y&R Brittany was inviting Mary & Carl to spend time with her? I don't recall them being close to her.

i remember that Lauren married Scott knowing Paul was alive and thinking it would have been better had she not known and married Scott as a way of moving on. Then when he returned Lauren & Scott could have the issue of her motives causing a problem in their marriage.

Nikki & Jim was another of those rushed match ups that went nowhere.

It's funny that the Paul fakes his death/murder mystery story and Marge story were playing at the same time - two of the more 'out there' stories ,yet the pacing,balance and characterizatiom made it work- as compared to today's mish - mash.

[yr9190]

I didn't watch Y&R in 1989, (Okay i wasn't even born yet! LOL) but from what i have seen on youtube, and have read, Nikki did hook up with Jim rather quickly. but I think it was to only have Jack break them up, since he wanted to Marry Nikki so he could get back at Victor.

Speaking of Jack, every time i read about him giving Victor the dagger, i can't help but think that is such a thing that Terry Lester's Jack would do, and Not Peter Bergman who was only playing Jack for about a week or so during this time, but i guess the writers did not know where Peter's Jack would go from their.

Okay, It makes more sense now why Lauren would marry Scott so quickly, to get over Paul. I always wondered why she married him, or even dated him in the first place, if according to Sheila "She never gave a damn about him any way" LOL! i guess Scott was always in love with Lauren. who was still into Paul, but then Sheila arrivied and was totally obsessed with Scott LOL! and the rest they say is history...

I wish someone would post all the episodes with The Katherine/Marge switch. I have only really scene the one from xmas 89 that they re-ran on xmas day 2008, and an episode from 1990 that use to be on youtube.

[KateW]

These recaps cover the weeks of December 11-15, 18-22, 1989. Hard to believe that 20 years ago there were 12 daytime dramas (4 per network) on the air and sadly in 5 months there will only be half that number.