All My Children, May 1976

MAY 1976

 

All My Children

 

Written by : Agnes Nixon

Produced by : Bud Kloss

 

Nurse Ruth Martin had fallen in love with hospital aide David Thornton, a former physician who gave up the practice of surgery when he couldn't save the life of his younger brother under combat conditions in Vietnam - Ruth alone, in Pine Valley, knew of David's past life and he had told her that with her help he could resume his dedication to surgery. - David had asked Ruth to marry him but sent her a letter offering to leave Pine Valley if she believed that such a move would be the best thing for them. When Ruth told him that such a solution might help her marriage to Dr. Joe Martin, she was unable to say that she was sure that she and Joe could make a go of their marriage even if David were to leave and give up the cabin he had just completed. She told David, in answer to his questions, that she and Joe had had separate bedrooms for the last few months and he told her "there's your answer." He urged her to go back to her husband's bed and see if there was still anything left to be salvaged from her marriage. "If there is," David promised, "I'll keep my part of the bargain and leave town."

When Joe asked Ruth if she had considered his suggestion that they seek marriage counseling, she replied that they had to work out their problems themselves. When Joe insisted that the next step might have to be a trial separation because he would "rather have nothing than to go on living this lie"; Ruth told him that she had been very unfair; that it had been only her pride that had been keeping them apart - The Martins' estrangement began with Joe's rejection of his wife and feelings of anger towards her when he blamed Ruth for the breakup of his daughter Tara's marriage to Dr. Charles Tyler, Jr. and Tara's plans to resume her life with Ruth's son Philip Brent. 

In the morning, Joe asked Ruth why she left him in the night to return to her own room and was told that she couldn't sleep; that she was used to sleeping alone and Joe angrily told her that she didn't give their reconciliation much of a chance. "I'm not a fool Ruth, don't play me for one." When she told him that she thought she was ready he told her: "No more lies." He left for the hospital.

Erica Kane Brent, having failed in an attempt to put pressure on Kitty to give her a job at the Boutique, had sought and obtained a position as a volunteer at Pine Valley's hospital in order to ingratiate herself with Chuck Tyler, but after a few days she stayed at home pretending illness and tried to get her old job back at the radio station, when she learned that Chuck was flying out to see Tara and little Philip in Arizona. Erica was humiliated when the production manager turned down her offer to freelance at WRCW. He told her that she did not give sufficient notice when she left to take the "Lacey Girl" promotional job and left her to break in her replacement. Erica, herself, had turned down an offer by Nick Davis that she work as a hostess at the Chateau, telling him she wouldn't stoop to being a "shill" and that there was "not enough money in this world for me to come to work for you."

Philip Brent had worked out an agreement with Erica to make the mortgage payments and take care of the utility bills on their house during their separation - Erica had cancelled her plans to divorce Phil when she lost her modeling job with Lacey's causing Tara and Philip to postpone their plans to marry and make a home for their son little Philip. The boy's asthmatic attacks seemed to be due to his distress over the breakup of Tara and Chuck's marriage and feelings that he had caused their separation and was being punished. Philip was mistakenly reported killed in Vietnam and Tara, pregnant with Phil's son accepted Chuck's offer to marry her. He had raised little Philip as his son.- However, Philip had told Nick that his job as manager of a local car wash was finished. The company was bankrupt and severance pay was out of the question. When Nick again offered Philip his old job at the Chateau, Phil again refused because of the hours but was so upset he appeared to be considering Nick's suggestion that he get away for a time using the money Nick owed him for his last few weeks on the job at the Chateau and take a vacation. Though that was not Nick's idea of "getting away from it all" Philip saw this as an opportunity to fly out to Arizona to see Tara and little Philip.

Phoebe English Tyler had asked Kate Martin to tell her what she knew of Kitty's parentage, her mother in particular, telling Kate that she was touched by Kitty's very real devotion to the mother who abandoned her and wished to get to know more of Kitty. Kate told her what she knew believing that Phoebe might be ready to accept the relationship between Kitty and her son Lincoln because "even Phoebe is capable of giving in with some grace when it's inevitable." Phoebe went to a woman's shelter in Center City and after a distressing incident in which a drunken inmate accused her of wanting to take her bed, returned to find a Mrs. Lum who was with the carnival, "barker to snake lady" and who "learned to read and write and count money." Phoebe asked her if she would be interested in a "humanitarian project" whereby she would move to another town and pretend to be somebody else. She assured Mrs. Lum that it would not be against the law to "help someone searching all life long for a long lost mother." She urged Mrs. Lum "to sleep on it," and told her that she would be in touch.

When Erica was visiting, Phoebe got a call from Mrs. Lum and when Erica left, Phoebe asked how Mrs. Lum was able to contact her. Told that she obtained her number from the director of the shelter and that Mrs. Lum had thought about Phoebe's proposition, "The more I thought about it the more I liked it. Ain't likely I'll get a better offer than that." Phoebe insisted that in the future Mrs. Lum had to never call her at her home and that their relationship had to be kept strictly confidential.

On her day off, Ruth agreed to go to David's cabin to help with some planting and told David that she still loved Joe and that she couldn’t shut the door on their marriage. David asked how long and she said "for the foreseeable future anyway." David told her that he would accept that and they go for a walk. When they returned they heard Joe call out to David. Dan Kennicott, Mary’s younger brother who was staying at the Martins’ to attend University, had left some tools David borrowed at the cabin, and Tad had asked Joe, who was unexpectedly home for a half day to drive out to the cabin so that he might finish working on a clubhouse.

Rather than have Tad witness a confrontation between himself and Ruth, Joe Martin dropped him off at the Martin house and continued the drive back from David's cabin with his wife. However, he left the car with Ruth at a street corner and went to his office alone after telling her that he found her statement that she had never been unfaithful to him with David hard to believe. When Ruth learned from Paul Martin that Joe had had a letter from his son Jeff saying that due to the death of Dr. Garrand he had decided to stay on for an indefinite time in Wisconsin, she decided to take Kate Martin's advice that she try to comfort him and went to Joe's office.

Joe speculated that Ruth might have come to keep up the appearance in Kate's eyes that she was "the perfect image of the perfect wife." He told her that their marriage was over when she left his bed the night before and said, "I will not share my wife with any man; not emotionally or any other way. As much as I love you and as much as I want you I can live without you if I must—And Ruth, unless you can make a total commitment, I prefer to live without you."

Before he left to join Tara and little Philip in Arizona, Chuck Tyler was told by Dr. Frank Grant that he was becoming too emotionally involved with Donna Beck and Frank had been moved to say the same thing to Caroline Murray when Caroline was upset at Donna's receiving a visit from one of her "sisters of the street", Estelle. Frank characterized Estelle and Ty as a "bunch of ruthless parasites."

In Donna’s room, Estelle tried to convince Donna that she should go back to work for Ty. When Donna asked if Estelle and the other "girls" had been beaten because they had not been able to meet their quota with no replacement, Estelle said "Not yet, but He's buildin' up to it. If I don't tell him tonight you're comin' back I know damn well it's gonna happen." When Donna showed Estelle that her leg had atrophied and insisted that it would take a lot of therapy before it was back to the way it used to be, Estelle told her that she thought that was a cop-out. As Estelle left, Donna insisted that she would do her own talking to Ty.

Nancy Grant had called Frank and insisted that he fly to Chicago and discuss their situation in person. At first Frank insisted that the trip would be a waste of time and money, since he had been offered only a junior residency in Chicago so far, but he told Caroline that when he spoke to Joe Martin he was inclined to maintain his position that he should wait a few more months in Pine Valley but something Dr. Martin said had given him pause. When Caroline asked what it was, Frank told her that Joe told him there was "only one way to run a marriage and that's together, no matter what the sacrifices involved."

Anne Martin was running a slight fever and was worried that Joe Martin had postponed a scheduled examination in order that another doctor could be present. Paul tried to calm her by saying that Joe was only being sensible but he had confided to his brother that he had been depressed lately by a premonition of trouble for the baby that Anne was carrying. 

All My Children, May 1977

All My Children

Written by: Agnes Nixon

Produced by: Bud Kloss

 March and April 1977 are here https://daytime70s.blogspot.com/2022/04/all-my-children-april-1977.html

Waking one night, Paul Martin saw his wife Anne crooning lullabies at the crib in their bedroom, empty since the death of their brain damaged daughter. In the morning Anne refused to see Dr. Polk as she had promised, saying that Paul murdered her baby and wanted to brainwash her. She screamed that Paul probably wanted her dead too, and told him to get out and give her some peace. Later that day she visited the Boutique, the Martin house and Nick Davis' office and her varying moods of euphoria, nostalgia and detachment puzzle everyone who saw her. Paul, hearing from some of the family, asked Anne's father, Dr. Charles Tyler, to check on Anne as he would be tied up in court. That afternoon Charles met his son Linc at Anne's door. Linc had been worried about Anne since Kitty told him of her visit and he got no reply when he telephoned. As the door was locked, Linc went to the side and entered Anne's bedroom window to see her lying unconscious across the bed.

Ruth Martin phoned Paul and asked him to come to the emergency room at the hospital. She told him that Anne was found with a completely empty bottle of barbiturates and that the emergency procedures were completed some time before but Anne was not responding. Finally, as Ruth wearily put her head in her hands at Anne's bedside, Anne opened her eyes. She recognized her "dear father" and then Ruth and Jeff, but when she realized that Paul was looking to her for a sign, she asked : "Who are you?"

Kitty Tyler had been so happy and healthy looking lately that Linc asked Dr. Desmond if there might have been a mistake in his diagnosis, but the doctor couldn’t hold out any hope. Kitty had mentioned wanting to adopt a child and Mrs. Lum, troubled that Linc seemed to be considering the possibility, asked for a conference with Linc and Dr. Desmond. On the day of their appointment, Kitty visited Linc's office and saw a note on his calendar to the effect that he was to see Desmond with Myrtle Lum.

Linc told the doctor that he had told Kitty she could begin adoption proceedings. Desmond acknowledged the fact that the procedure was a long one but advised against Linc's considering anything more than going through the motions. At home Kitty was recalling evasions by Myrtle Lum and Linc that had occurred lately and when Myrtle returned, Kitty acknowledged that she was tired and asked Myrtle to sing to her.

Tara learned in confidence from Chuck that Philip had asked that Chuck marry her if Phil didn't survive. She told her brother Jeff that she was crazy to have ever considered having an abortion and told Philip that she had been neglecting him in her concern for little Philip. She intended to tell the boy about the expected baby and together they would help him adjust. However when Tara told little Philip about the baby, he was unimpressed and insisted it would not be like a real brother or sister since Philip was not his father. - Though Chuck Tyler was little Philip's legal father, married at the time of the boy's birth to Tara, Philip and Tara had agreed not to tell the child that Philip Brent was his natural father because the boy experienced severe asthma attacks when Tara and Chuck were divorced. - When Chuck talked to little Philip about the expected baby the boy said he'd rather not go along with Phil and Tara's plans to move, saying they had their own baby and didn't need him and that he wanted to live with Chuck. When she saw Philip at the hospital, Tara told him that little Philip was happy. Philip realized she was lying but decided that he had been pushing the boy too hard and expected to be good friends by the time the baby was born.

Nancy Grant stayed on and prepared a meal for Frank after his release from the hospital and Frank, who had asked Caroline over and was unable to reach her by phone, stalled and allowed Nancy to do laundry and go ahead with the cooking to the anger and embarrassment of both Caroline and Nancy. After Caroline slammed out, Frank talked Nancy into cancelling the cab she planned to take but her departure was only delayed. Despite Nancy's efforts at a reconcilliation, Frank refused to believe that her relationship with Carl Blair was not a physical one. Finally, after almost six years of marriage, they said goodbye at Pine Valley airport, agreeing only that Paul Martin should represent the both of them in the divorce action.

Paul Martin had been advised against trying to see his wife for a time. Anne's father was fearful that any further upset would cause Anne to try to take her own life again. Charles was also worried about her mother seeing Anne as she was childlike and disoriented much of the time and he was wary of the effect they might have on each other. However, when Phoebe went to Anne, she was welcomed, though she was upset that Anne seemed to think she was back at the time of her debut and Paul was her "best beau." When Phoebe told her that Paul was her husband and begged her not to blame him, Anne said she had no husband and contrived to send Phoebe out of the room while she removed and then secreted her mother's wallet. She asked Phoebe to stay with her and feigned sleep. As Phoebe was talking with Charles and Paul in Charles' office, Anne dressed and slipped out of her room. After Phoebe went, Paul insisted upon seeing Anne for a moment even though she might be asleep and discovered that she had left.

Drs. David Thornton and Christina Karras had quarreled about her determination to resign. - Christina made up her mind after being convinced by David that she had an episode where she behaved like a small girl who wanted to be a ballerina. At first David was charmed at what he believed to be a whimsical, talented performance but Christina finally acknowledged that it had happened several times before but that she was not aware of any time lapse. - David reminded her that Dr. Tyler was in a great deal of personal turmoil after his daughter's attempted suicide and Christina agreed that this was not the best time to tender her resignation was is determined that she would do so as soon as possible. David suggested that she was upset at learning that her father had, in effect, bribed a young doctor she had been in love with into dropping her. She said that she and Hadley Caldwell had something beautiful and he betrayed it for a job, but the reason she was so upset was because her father was still trying to ruin her life and she had to pay for what she did.

David talked Christina into going with him to his cabin and finally got her to confide in him what it was that she felt so guilty about. She told him that she froze during an operation when she, a surgical resident, was assisting her father. Afterwards he took her back to the operating room and insisted that she dissect a cadaver because he would not allow her to disgrace him by being a coward. He put a scalpel into her hand, and, when she still refused, began shaking her, ordering her to do as he said. Christina recalled stabbing her father and watching him fall against the table, blood staining the front of his surgical gown.

Paul Martin returned to his home to find one of Beth's stuffed toys was missing and saw Phoebe's wallet in the baby's crib. He realized where Anne probably had been gone. He and Charles found Anne at the mausoleum, asleep. When Charles woke her, she shrank from Paul, telling her father that man was trying to hurt her. Charles promised to protect her and led her out, promising a warm bed at the hospital. Anne, very childlike, agreed to go along if her daddy would tuck her in and hear her prayers. The following day, Dr. Polk pointed out that Anne had opportunity to harm herself and didn't, but if she didn’t attempt suicide, she still might need protection because she was so out of touch with reality she could hurt herself accidentally. He said Anne needed long term care and recommended that she be admitted to a private mental hospital, Oak Haven. At Charles' urging Paul signed the commitment papers and Anne was removed the following day, heavily sedated, without having seen either Paul or Phoebe.

Christina Karras woke in David's cabin after having slept peacefully for the first time in months. David asked if she still believed, in the light of day, that she killed her father. Christina insisted that she did and was glad after she saw what she'd done, that he was dead. Paul spoke of it as an accident and Christina denied this, saying it might have been a crime of passion but it was a crime, nevertheless. She insisted that Dr. MacPherson probably had covered up when he listed the cause of death as heart failure, in order to protect her father's reputation and the hospital from scandal; and that she was too cowardly and frightened to insist that the truth be told.

Kitty Tyler made an appointment with Dr. Desmond on her own and insisted he tell her what her mother and Linc were keeping from her. When she threatened to go to another doctor to find out the truth about her condition, he was forced to tell her that her disease had no known cure. He told her that the symptoms might return at any time and might include loss of vision or motor impairment. Kitty told the doctor that she'd rather her husband and mother not know that she was then aware of her condition, saying she had a right to handle it as she chose. The doctor agreed.

Mona Kane told Nick Davis that Charles had promised to look up Mark Dalton's birth record in Center City but, with Anne's attempted suicide, he had been unable to do so. She expressed the hope that Erica had learned to respect herself. Mona Kane was unaware that Nick and her daughter Erica were sometime lovers. Mona tried to get Nick to stop seeing Erica but would not give him any reason other than that Erica got involved too easily and hurt herself and others. Mona was afraid to tell Mark that he might be Erica's half-brother as she had no proof and Nick had pointed out that if they could prove it they had no way of knowing how the news might effect Mark. 

Erica had left Mark's apartment after his abrupt "tonight's the night" attitude caused her to tell him she was no pushover. Mark insisted he was right the first time; he believed Nick Davis had the inside track. Erica went to the Chateau and she and Nick spent the night together at her house.

Frank Grant told Caroline that Nancy had gone for good and she wouldn’t be back so they could make their plans and live happily ever after. When Ruth referred to the dinner Frank and Nancy attended together at Kate Martin's, Caroline realized that once again, Frank had glossed over an incident having to do with Nancy, giving a false impression about the day Nancy left, if not actually lying. Caroline told him that the fact that he wasn't completely honest showed her that everything was not over between him and Nancy, no matter what he believed to the contrary.

Linc learned from Ruth that Kitty was at the hospital. After talking to Tara, Myrtle realized Kitty's story of visiting Phil at that time wasn’t true; Kitty probably had learned the truth about her illness.

Donna Beck received word she had failed her high school equivalency test and she planned to leave Pine Valley. But Caroline was finally able to convince her she owed it to Chuck to put off her decision until he returned from his trip to Baltimore.

Dan Kennicott had been told by Brooke that she was not ready to be tied down but after talking with Benny Sago, she decided that considering that in a couple of years Dan would be a full fledged architect, she could do a lot worse. When she told Dan she wanted to go on seeing him but not casually, he told her she had come running to him before, trying to make Benny jealous. Brooke told Dan that Benny loved her in his own way: that he was not as macho as he seemed and that she was not as sophisticated as she appeared to be. Dan let her walk away but later told her that he was in love with her and just didn’t want to share her with anyone.

One Life To Live, April and May 1977

 

April 1977

One Life To Live

Written by: Gordon Russell

Produced by: Doris Quinlan

At the reception at Anna's house after Larry and Karen's wedding, Mrs. MacGruder, who had been to the police station at Llanview and was unable to convince a young policeman that she wasn't a crank, showed up with Kevin. Viki was ecstatic but unable to share her joy with Joe who had left the house a few moments before with Tony Lord to have a drink at Tony's Place. He continued on alone and went on a tear that wound up with his being taken to the hospital after getting into a fight in a bar. When Jim learned that Joe was at the hospital the following morning, he told him that his son was safe and well. Joe tried to leave the hospital and collapsed. Jim ordered him to bed for another day at least, concerned because Joe had a history of aneurysm.

After spending an anxious night waiting to hear from Joe and jumping up at every sound the baby was making, Viki took Kevin to the hospital for a check-up and brought the child to Joe's room. Viki told Joe that she had the baby in the room with her at home because she was frightened despite the alarm systems. Joe told her he wanted to come home. He said that he lost faith and was eaten up with anger and frustration and the booze but that he hit rock bottom and couldn’t live without Viki. Viki told Joe she missed him very much but when he again asked to come home, she told him his love hadn't helped her very much for the past six months. She said she saw a side of him that she never knew existed and she didn’t think she could just wipe the slate clean, because every single time she needed him he was drunk. When Viki asked if they could ever forget the things they said to each other and Joe said they could try, Viki said all right. When they got home, Viki hired a private agency guard for twenty-four hour a day duty and a nurse for Kevin.

Viki interceded for the MacGruders, touched by the woman's love for Kevin and the good care they took of her son. When it came to Cathy, Viki was not so certain of her feelings. When Joe asked if Viki wanted Cathy to be punished, Viki said yes. She went on to say that she didn’t care about all the excuses; that she nearly died when Kevin was taken. Joe asked if Viki wanted Cathy to go to jail and she said maybe she did. When Joe asked why, she said testily "It would make me feel better. After all, Joe, look what it did to us."

Viki told Ed Hall that although she and Joe disagreed in their feelings toward Cathy - Joe blamed himself -, she did not want to be the one to be responsible for Cathy's going to trial if her word would carry weight along with Will's in helping influence the Government Attorney not to prosecute. When the recommendation was favorable, the judge dropped the charges on condition that Cathy continue in daily therapy with Dr. Will Vernon.

Jim and Anna offered to make a place in their home for Cathy but it was evident that she was still clinging to the hope that Tony would take her back. Will tried to get Cathy to face her own wishes in the matter and Cathy called Tony, begging him to come to see her when she managed to work up the courage. Tony was at work and just as he left, dreading what he was about to face, Pat came in with Matt MacAllister. He told her that he was going to see Cathy. When he returned, he sang a song to Pat and she knew that he had agreed to letting Cathy come home to live with him. She left the table in tears and Tony stopped her, telling her that Cathy begged him and he couldn't say no. Pat said she knew and went out crying to wait for Matt in the car.

Marco Dane had stayed on in Llanview and even called Karen at the hotel where she and Larry were honeymooning in Bermuda to let her know he was keeping in touch. When they got back, Karen asked Larry to take her to Tony's Place for a drink with Lana before they retired for the evening but Larry refused, saying he was tired and had to get up early the following morning to go to work. Karen went to Tony's herself. - She had told Lana on the phone that she went along with the short honeymoon thinking that once they were away she could talk him into a week at least. She added that if Larry thought she was going to get up early every morning, their marriage wasn’t going to last three months. 

At Tony’s Place, Samantha Vernon was with friend Marty, who was trying out a new fake I.D. Samantha wanted to leave but Marty said he was waiting for his new connection to arrive so he could buy some grass. Marco came in and began to make a play for Samantha, telling Marty that he couldn’t supply him as his contact didn't show. Karen saw him and told Lana that it was disgusting to watch Marco turning on for 17 year old Samantha Vernon. Lana remarked that Karen seemed to be jealous.

Karen went to the table and asked to talk to Marco privately, saying that she was there to pick up an old paycheck. Marco told Karen at another table that he had no intention of telling Larry anything then or in the predictable future; that it might rack him up pretty good. He said Larry seemed like a nice guy and he wouldn't want to make him unhappy, adding that he would find out about her soon enough. He told her she would always be the same cheap little tramp he knew and she would mess things up for herself without any help from him. Karen slapped his face and ran out.

Larry read Karen the riot act when he learned that she hadn't seen Danny off to school, cleaned the house or prepared his lunch as she was off house-hunting for a place way beyond their means. Karen told Lana that Larry had to learn a lesson and she intended to be unavailable in bed until he did; that he and Meredith might have played the starving newlyweds bit and lived in a garage but things were going to be different. Lana said she wouldn't think Karen would want to rock the boat at the moment with Marco in the picture. She said Marco had been hanging around Tony's asking about Larry but Karen replied Marco was probably using Tony's because he was back to "dealing" like he used to do when she knew him. Larry surprised Karen by telling her he was having a friend who was a contractor look at the house she wanted to buy but Karen, playing the housewife bit in gratitude, was interrupted by a call from Marco saying he approved of the house she was planning to buy. She realized he had been watching them.

Marco took Samantha to Tony's Place. He offered to take her out to his car in the parking lot to smoke some "really good stuff" but she told him she was not into that. Brad and Jenny came in and saw Sam with Marco. Jenny suggested Brad talk to Samantha but Brad said that Sam didn’t listen to anyone because his Dad spoiled her so much. Jenny told him that didn't sound like Will. Brad said big brother couldn’t be around all the time but he could find out more about Mr. Marco Dane. Marco talked Samantha into going to his motel room, promising beer, pizza and a willing ear for the story of her life - so far -. Marco made a play for Sam, convinced she was teasing, and only his belated realization of her complete panic kept Samantha "intact." Marco told her that she came on pretty strong and if she was going to act like that, she'd better be prepared to accept the consequences of the "adult world." He told her to go home and think about what happened and decided if she was ready to call him. He said he would wait for her to decide to call or to get herself a nice high school boy.

Brad asked Samantha at home where she went with "that creep" and Sam told him they went to a swim meet. Her brother told her to come off it and said that he played deaf-mute before when she was putting one up on their parents but he was going to draw the line. Samantha promised Brad she could take care of herself.

Cathy told Alan Bennett on the day she was scheduled to leave the hospital that when Viki came to see her, the same ugly feelings she had toward Viki came back. She was told that the difference was that she then knew those feelings were wrong and she admitted that she knew Joe always loved Viki and not her. She said she had spent her whole life wanting things she couldn't have.

Will Vernon told Tony he should just go on being open and supportive toward Cathy when she went home with him. Tony asked "How about truthful?" Will told Tony that he doubted that Cathy would force the question - of Tony's love for Pat - but Tony asked "What if she does?" Will's answer was that at the present it would be almost impossible for Cathy to deal with any sort of open rejection. Tony replied that he was only human and catering to Cathy's illness was not going to help her either.

When Cathy and Tony got to the apartment over Tony's Place it was nearly time for him to open up. He offered to send dinner up to Cathy but she said she wanted to prepare dinner and have him eat upstairs with her, arguing that if there was any need for Tony, the staff could always send up for him. After all, he was the boss. Tony joined Cathy for the candlelight meal she had prepared but when he started down to prepare to close, Cathy told him she would wait up for him. Tony told her that while she was away he had a cot put into the office downstairs. She quickly said whatever he thought was best; they just needed a little more time. As he left, she told him that she was more tired than she realized and will probably be asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. After Tony went, she curled up on the bed, crying.

May 1977

One Life To Live

Written by: Gordon Russell

Produced by: Doris Quinlan / Joseph Stuart

Naomi Vernon told her husband Will about finding an article about female contraceptive devices in Samantha's room. He pompously told her that sex was not a dirty word and she reminded her psychiatrist husband that she was his wife, discussing his daughter, not one of his patients. He suggested that Naomi talk quietly with her daughter, saying that times had changed and young people were more aware of their "choices." He went on to say that maybe their own marriage would have gotten off to a better start if Naomi hadn't been a virgin. Furious, Naomi told him she would leave the little talk to him, saying she was sure when Will got finished with his little seminar on sex education, Sam would get the idea she could do what she damn pleased. Will later apologized for the "misunderstanding" and Naomi tried to get him to take her seriously, saying she was convinced Sam was lying to them every time she went out. Sam had asked her friend Dolly what she was using and Dolly told her she had a doctor's prescription but immediately suggested that Samantha get someone she was friendly with at Llanview hospital to give her a supply "for both of us."

Marco saw Samantha and asked her once again to his motel room but she said she was not going because she was not ready ... yet. Marco had been making a play for Lana, among others, and when she mentioned it to Karen, she reacted by calling Marco a creep. When Lana said that Marco hadn't been all that creepy with her, Karen insisted that Marco liked to promote a sense of security but was nothing less than a dangerous animal. When Lana lightly said she had been out with her share of them, Karen persevered to warn Lana, "not like this one, I guarantee you."

Peter Janssen walked in on Dorian Lord at Llanfair despite Dorian's instructions to maid Felicia that she was not seeing anyone. Peter said he would talk to her whether she liked it or not: that he and Matt were worried about her and everyone was commenting on Dorian's absence. Dorian said she only wanted to get away from it all for awhile and then asked Peter lightly to bring her up to date. When he asked what she would like to know she rushed out with "Have you seen the Riley baby? Does he look like Joe? How is Joe feeling?" Peter, exasperated, asked her why she didn’t give up on Joe Riley and recommended she take a vacation cruise. She told him she didn't ask for his advice and didn’t want it, then added, "When I decide want something, I never give up until I get it." Peter persisted in telling her she was not behaving in a rational manner. Dorian said that Matt MacAllister told her he was in love with her and added, "What better reason not to see him anymore?"

Peter told Matt MacAllister that Dorian was depressed but he didn’t think it was personal against Matt. Matt told him that he felt sure Dorian would be getting in touch with him as there had been a new development in his situation and he refered obscurely to a "mushroom cloud over Llanfair." The next day Dorian called Matt after seeing a blind item in the opposition newspaper's gossip column, then written by Matt, to the effect that a wealthy local publisher had become a virtual recluse. Matt later told Dorian he wrote the item to make her come out of seclusion because he cared for her. He told her that she was permitting herself unrealistic and naive emotions, that Joe Riley never had loved her and never would, He suggested that Dorian buy up his contract; he would be happy to come back to work for the Banner.

Joe stopped by to invite Dorian to the baby's christening and offered to take her to see Kevin that day. Dorian told Joe she was thinking of starting a magazine to keep busy and asked him if he would help her launch it, saying together they could make it vital. Joe turned her down by telling her if he had any spare time he would spend it with Viki and his son.

Dorian went again to the Riley home with Viki's christening dress and some other keepsakes from Viki's babyhood that Victor had kept. Viki was very touched, but when Dorian, on the day before the christening, proposed to have the celebration at Llanfair, Viki firmly turned her down. After Kevin's christening, Dorian left early and Matt caùe to the library at Llanfair to see her clutching a pillow and rocking in pain. He asked her if she'd ever thought of getting professional help and urged her to try to be objective since she was a doctor. He told her she was torn apart inside and had been in this depression over a month. Dorian insisted that she knew what the matter was with her, Matt answered "That's what they all say, including Cathy Lord" and Dorian might be walking around with a time bomb as Cathy was.

Cathy once again had come to the point of urging Tony to give her a baby, saying that would make things all right and she would feel better. Tony went to Will Vernon for help, telling him that Cathy wanted to resume sexual relationships and he didn’t. Will replied that, after all, they were still married and Tony, exasperated, told Will once again, that he wanted Cathy to get well so he could divorce her. He stated once more for Will, "I do not love her" and added that it was undignified for her to come to him begging. Will told Tony that he had helped Cathy a great deal already and that the best they could hope for was that Cathy begin to see the reality of her situation herself.

Pat and Carla were having an interview in the hospital cafeteria when Cathy stopped by their table and smirked, saying to Pat, "it's never going to happen." She went on to tell a startled Pat that she was never going to succeed in her game of waiting for Cathy to break down again. She left and Carla stopped Pat from following her. When Pat said she has never had anyone look at her with such hatred in her life, Carla told her that was why she stopped her. "What could you possibly have said to her that she would listen to?"

Naomi had had a talk with Jenny about Brad and Jenny had told her that she was not in love with him, adding that they didn’t share the same interests. - Naomi learned that Will and Jenny did share the same interests when she came into a room to hear Will telling Jenny that he bought a record of music played at a concert they had both attended and saying that whenever he heard that music, he would think of the previous night. Jenny replied it was a wonderful concert and she was so glad they could go there, together. 

Lana stormed into Karen's apartment after Karen got back from a restaurant with Marco. Lana and Karen were shopping when Marco walked into the store. Karen not very subtly hustled him away intercepting and accepting an invitation meant for Lana but not before rising to Marco's bait by charging a very expensive pendant he offered to buy for her. Karen insisted she did it for Lana's own good because Marco collected women like some people collected stamps. Knowing he had just been hired by Dorian, Lana mischievously remarked that if he did stick around he might end up owning Llanfair. When Lana speculated on what Larry was going to say when he saw the necklace, Karen told her she would think of something when the time came. Unknown to Larry, Karen had steadily been picking up credit cards and then had quite an impressive stack. However when Larry came home unexpectedly early, Karen panicked and told him that the pendant belonged to Lana who gave it to her impulsively, and probably might ask for it back just as impulsively in a few days, so she was wearing it as much as she could. As she sent Larry off to get Danny, she recalled the kiss Marco gave her in public .

Matt suggested to Brad Vernon that he have a party to celebrate the opening of the Health Club and promised to give it coverage in his column. When Matt left, Brad asked Dorian to help him work on it to protect her investment. Dorian said it would entail extra expenses and remarked that Peggy Fillmore's interest in the health club seemed to have waned. Brad told her that Mrs. Fillmore was too demanding. When Dorian persisted in saying she thought Brad wanted the money, he said the price was too high. Dorian offered to introduce him to a friend of hers, an overweight heiress who might be interested enough to provide the expense money for the party. Brad's comment was "From Peggy Fillmore to a chubby heiress?" He told her to save it for somebody else and, noting that Marco had been sent to his home with some flowers for his mother from Dorian, added that it was right up her errand boy's alley.

When Marco delivered flowers for Naomi she was not at home but Samantha was doing her homework. He asked her if she had seen a doctor yet. She told him she didn’t want to be pressured and he said he thought she had some special feelings for him. When Sam murmured that she did, he went on to say he seemed to recall her saying that she was in love with him. He touched her chin in a tender proprietary manner as Naomi came in. When Marco went and Naomi asked why he came in, Sam told her she knew him from around school. Naomi asked "how well?" Samantha whined that she didn't do anything and Naomi finished up saying "because I came home unexpectedly." Samantha rushed out.

Sam went to her father's office just as Will was about to tell Jenny he was in love with her. When she asked the following day what they were talking about when Sam came in, Will said he forgot all about it but would let her know if he remembered. To himself he admitted that he would have gone on to tell Jenny he loved her and she would probably have walked out and he'd never see her again. He asked himself even if Jenny didn't, what good would it do?

After Will brought Samantha back and initiated apologies all around between his daughter and her mother, his daughter came to him saying that she was upset because Naomi had an asthma attack when she had been all right for months. Will told Samantha that other girl's mothers had quarrels with their daughters and scream right back at them but that Naomi's attacks were psychosomatic and went back to before Sam was born, when Naomi was brought up in a strict home and was "made to feel guilty if her shoes weren't tied." He said her attacks were totally unconsciously motivated in order to get back at the person who was causing her trouble. Samantha followed her father, saying "I guess we can't blame her if she doesn't know what she's doing. Can we?"

Pretending friendship, Dorian used the idea of Kevin being in danger of a second kidnapping to frighten Viki badly. She then "confided" to Pat her "fears" that Viki was losing her emotional stability and referred to Viki's past emotional trouble, annoying Pat who felt this was Viki's personal business. Dorian then used these machinations to press Joe to send his wife and son to the seclusion of the country for the summer "for Viki's own good."

When Naomi insisted to her husband that she knew he was getting involved with another woman, Will retorted he had no idea she had so much venom stored up. He insisted it was not true and her imagination would be the destruction of both of them. Naomi left the room after asking if he really thought she wouldn't know, adding she's familiar with the way he acted when he was trying to deceive her. She struck a nerve when she added the problem with him is that he wanted to be young again and she knew if he ever got his second chance, it would not be with her.

Samantha overheard the argument and told her father Naomi probably really hated both of them. Will replied Naomi behaved as she did with Samantha because Sam was young and independent and didn’t share her values; that her mother was an unhappy woman who had lost respect for herself.

The following morning, Will attacked Brad for accepting his mother's offer of a loan to cover further Health Club expenses, saying Brad conned her into it. Will suggested his son seek psychiatric help. Brad exploded, telling his father that they, the family of a prominent psychiatrist, were the most unhappy people he knew. Naomi had accused Will of hating Brad ever since Brad stopped her suicide attempt years ago and learned his father had been having an affair. Will countered that Naomi set up that suicide attempt to have just that effect.

General Hospital, May 1977

 

General Hospital

Written by: Eileen & Robert Mason Pollock

Produced by: Tom Donovan

Best friends Terri Arnett and Dr. Lesley Faulkner found their futures with the men they loved jeopardized by the other women in their men's lives. Terri, recovering from brain surgery performed by the man in her life, Dr. Mark Dante, found she was unable to remember the words to songs she had always known. Mark told her that in removing the clot, he might have inadvertently removed some of the memory links, but with time and therapy, the songs would be Terri's again. Mark's wife, Mary Ellen – Mellie -, who had discovered Mark's love for Terri, had arranged the accident that resulted in Terri's needing surgery. To make sure Terri had trouble recalling the 24 hours surrounding the accident, Mellie volunteered to work with Terri. Mellie misinformed Terri about that time, confusing Terri when she began to have memory flashes. Mellie told her it was her own idea to have tea; Terri recalled Mellie's threatening to sue her for alienation of affection unless Terri joined her for tea. Mellie told her she begged her to give Mark up; Terri finally recalled that Mellie said she'd kill Mark before letting Terri have him. Terri threatened to tell Mark about that conversation at tea. Mellie ran from Terri's house after swearing to carry through with her threat to kill Mark.

Lesley was engaged to Dr. Rick Webber. Rick's sister-in-law, Monica, with whom he'd had a torrid affair, had threatened to reveal the affair, thus ruining Rick's career, unless Lesley broke off with Rick. Lesley tried to show Monica that Rick loved her, Lesley, and would blame Monica, not her, for ruining his career. Monica was unable to see Lesley's point. Lesley decided not to break the engagement, feeling she and Rick could practice anywhere, as long as they were together. However, Dr. Pearlman, on leave as head of cardiology, being temporarily replaced by Rick, returned to resign for health reasons. He recommended Rick as his replacement, and chief of staff Steve Hardy concurred. Rick was ecstatic. This job was what he had been working for all his life. His father used to be head of cardiology. Rick wanted to follow in his father's footsteps, and then he had the chance. Monica told Lesley she had until the Board met to make her decision to break off. In great emotional pain, Lesley wrote Rick a letter telling him she would hurt him more by marrying him than by breaking up with him. She returned his ring. Ironically, the letter was delivered to Rick as he was describing to Monica how much the impending appointment meant to him. Rick read the letter and went to see Lesley immediately. He pointed out the ring was a pledge of loyalty and love, that in giving the ring to her, he handed her his life. He couldn’t understand. Monica, meanwhile, told friend and confidante, Dr. Gail Adamson, that she couldn’t follow through with her threat, as she knew what the job meant to Rick. Lesley's daughter Laura felt she was to blame for the breakup. Both Rick and Lesley assured her she was wanted as part of a family. Unable to tell Rick the reason for the break up, and desperately unhappy at being denied this chance for a happy future with the man she loved, Lesley made plans to go to Venice. Rick found out. He pleaded with her to stay and marry him, to no avail.

Unable to tell Rick she didn’t love him, Lesley left for Venice, having arranged for Laura to stay with Adam and Jill Streeter. Gail, in an effort to stop the agony for Lesley and Rick, asked Monica to tell Lesley her threats to disgrace Rick would never be carried through. Aware of the broken engagement, Monica was unable to respond to Jeff's pleas for forgiveness and reconciliation, hoping she could still win Rick. When Rick didn't seem overly disturbed by Lesley's leaving, Monica felt it was his pride, but in reality, Rick hadn't given up on his love for Lesley or hers for him.

Terri confronted Mellie with her full memory of the day of the accident, Mellie's threats to sue for alienation of affection, followed by Mellie's threats to kill Mark rather than let Terri have him. Terri responded that she would tell Mark everything, driving Mellie from the house. At the apartment, Mellie toyed with a letter opener, then called Mark with a fake suicide threat. He arrived and bandaged her slightly damaged wrists, but had her committed to the hospital. Peter persuaded Mark that Mellie might be sicker than they thought, and restricted her visitors to himself, as her psychiatrist, and her nurses. Mellie couldn’t bear the isolation. Terri, unaware of Mellie's fake attempt, went to the hospital to tell Mark of Mellie's threats. He told her about Mellie first, so Terri backed off. She contacted Rick. When he arrived, Terri told him she was breaking all ties with Mark, because unless she did, Mellie would kill him, and she couldn't bear the pain of wondering if Mellie'd succeeded everytime Mark was late coming home to her. Rick was to tell nobody and snuff any vestiges of feeling Mar might have. Terri planned to join Lesley.

Terri told Mark she couldn’t wait any more, that she felt he still loved Mellie. She told him it was over, that she didn’t love him. Broken up, Mark left, somewhat bitter.

Heather Grant, pregnant with Monica's husband Jeff's child, was having trouble with her blood pressure, causing resident Gina Dante to fear toxemia pregnancy. When Heather saw Gina with a woman from whom her mother had stolen stationery to forge a reference for Heather, her blood pressure soared. Heather finally confessed to Gina about the forged references she gave Peter and Diana Taylor in order to get the job as their mother's helper. Gina urged Heather to tell Diana, pointing out Heather had proven herself. Unfortunately, Diana was assigned to Mrs. Bradley and learned the truth before Heather could tell her. The Taylors forgave Heather for this mistake in judgment, but wondered about her story that a married man named Carlton, who lived in another state, was the father of her baby. Heather was sent home to her mother to spend the rest of her pregnancy in a quiet, unthreatening atmosphere.

But the Taylors’ concern about Heather was shoved to the background when their adoption of Mike Mallon was threatened. Mrs. Endecott, their case worker, began asking strange questions about Mike's adjustment to their family, then saying things like "that will help." The Taylors were unaware that some anonymous person - Pat Lambert - had revealed Diana was mixed up in a sensational murder case - Phil Brewer's - and the adoption board had decided the Taylors were unfit to have Mike. Finally, Mrs. Endecott was sent to get Mike. Peter assured the devastated Mike that they loved him and would do everything they could to get him back. Diana went to Mrs. Endecott and pleaded for the reasons behind their taking Mike away. When Mrs. Endecott, under orders, couldn’t tell her, Diana told her they would do whatever they had to to regain Mike. She was overheard by the head of the board, who felt the Taylors had to be involved when Mike disappeared. Without their knowledge, Mike was hiding in a storage room in the basement. Martha was taking him food. Finally, Mike called his friend, Tommy Baldwin. Mike had realized he might get the Taylors in a lot of trouble by hiding there and wanted Tommy to get him enough money to get to an old neighbor in his old home town.

Just after having been warned the Children's Center was after a search warrant to search their house, Diana found Mike in the cellar. He then understood he had to return to the center. Diana promised they would have him permanently by summer.

Jeff had told his sister Terri that Heather was carrying his child. He was afraid to tell Monica, fearful he would lose her. Terri told him he had to tell Monica in order to know whether he really had a marriage and future with Monica. Jeff told Monica who was overwhelmed by the irony of the situation. Before Rick's engagement to Lesley she could have used Heather's pregnancy to end her marriage to Jeff and resume her place with Rick. Then... Monica moved out of their bedroom, telling Jeff she needed time to think. She wondered how they would be able to face the Taylors, knowing the baby they were adopting was Jeff's. Jeff suggested they move away. Monica demurred, saying they were both head residents in their departments – she was Rick's head resident - and they couldn't give that up easily.

Tom Baldwin having returned after being imprisoned in Mexico for nine years, found he was still in love with Audrey Hobart. Their son Tommy had been trying to get them together by feigning illness, something he saw in a movie. However, medical tests had shown nothing wrong with him. Tom and Audrey were completely baffled until Martha Taylor told them she overheard Tommy telling Mike his plan. They confronted Tommy, who admitted his crime. In the aftermath, Tom asked Audrey to cancel their divorce, revealing his love for her. As gently as possible, Audrey told Tom that she loved Steve and always would. Tom planned to take a job elsewhere. When his brother Lee, a lawyer, asked about the possible bad effects on Tommy, Tom told him he had no intention of leaving Tommy behind, that he would fight for custody. When Audrey told Tommy she was going to marry Steve, Tommy turned hostile, trying to cut her out of his life. When Tom refused to help, at Steve's request, Steve took the matter into his own hands. Steve told Tommy that one couldn't force people to love each other. Tommy replied that Tom and Audrey loved each other when he was born. Steve admitted that, but pointed out it was a long time ago. Steve reminded him that one thing had not changed—his mother's love for him. Steve asked Tommy to stop punishing Audrey, Tommy apologized to Audrey for hurting her and Steve.

Tom’s plans to leave for a job in Salt Lake City were disturbed a bit when he found Rick wanted him to help train cardiac paramedic volunteers.

Lee Baldwin had resumed his practice in Port Charles, unhappily leaving his wife Caroline in Florida. Caroline refused to join Lee, preferring to stay and look after her son Bobby and his family. Bobby had a rare disease which was presently in remission. Lee's loneliness had been abated somewhat by the friendship of Dr. Gail Adamson. Lee was coming to depend on Gail for help and companionship. Gail suggested to Lee that he persuade Carolyn and the whole family to join him for the summer.  Caroline agreed but Bobby's doctors were concerned that the remission was abating, and so Caroline had cancelled. Gail was falling in love with Lee, but had told Monica that she wouldn't do anything to jeopardize her friendship with both Lee and Caroline.

Jill Streeter, angry at her father, Adam, because he appeared taken by Gina Dante and because he, backed by Gina, refused to buy her a car, got a sample of Adam's  signature and forged it on a withdrawal slip to get $2000 from her trust fund for the car. Her boyfriend Dexter and Laura Faulkner warned she could get in trouble, but Jill wouldn't be deterred.

Adam Streeter told Gina Dante he loved her. When she couldn’t declare similar feelings, he suggested they give each other six months. If at that time, Gina still couldn't say she loved him, they would go separate ways with no hard feelings. Gina agreed.