One Life to Live Recap for Wednesday, April 28, 2004

WANTED: TWO TEENAGED RUNAWAYS!

As a mother of four children in a computer-operated era, this storyline touches me very deeply. I applaud the writers for what has thus far proven to be an eye-opener, and pray that the viewers, both adult and children, really grasp the message that is being sent. Please be aware that while the internet has provided many positives, there is a dark side that balances it out with truly grave dangers. Because of the serious nature of this storyline, I am going to be telling their story, in full, first. The other storylines will follow. Thanks for taking the time to read this message. Let's move forward.

We open in the Manning hotel room. Nora reaches down to hug a shaken Matthew, who tells her that Starr ran away, and it's all his fault. Nora asks him why he would think such a thing, and he tells her that he should have told Blair about how weird Starr was acting. She'd hugged him so tightly before...Nora tells him that if she had been determined to run away, there was nothing Matthew could have done to stop her.

Flash over to Bo...He catches Travis' mother coming down the front steps on her way to work. He stops her to ask her some questions. Is your son home? No, and I'm in a hurry. Where is he? Look, Travis is a good kid. He's never been in any trouble. Bo tells her that he's been communicating with a 13-year-old girl on the internet who is now missing. She looks a bit frightened, and tells Bo that she's sorry, and hopes they find the little girl, but she really has to go..Bo stops her.

"Please don't tell me that you are not interested in the well-being of that little girl, Mrs. O'Connell." She stops for a second, then tells him that Travis didn't come home last night.

A few feet away, we see Travis and Starr crouched down behind a row of metal trash cans, watching the whole scene. Travis tells Starr that they have to get back to their hideout, because things are really hot right now, police involvement and all.

Back at the hotel, Bo has returned to see Matthew and Nora discussing Starr, He hears her tell Matthew that he couldn't have stopped Starr, and he tells Matthew to take Nora's advice. Todd and Blair walk in and ask Bo if there is any news. Bo says no news on Starr, but Mrs. O'Connell told him that Travis didn't come home last night. He goes on to tell Todd that according to his mom, Travis is a kid that fends for himself and stays out a lot. "And now he has my little girl with him. I'll KILL him!" Matthew jumps up and says: "NO! Don't hurt him! Starr ran away because of me!" That's NOT true, Matthew! Nora says. Yes, it is. She was already upset and I made it worse. I told her all about how you and Bo are always nice toe each other and how I thought you might be getting back together. She told me that her parents are fighting all the time. All she wants is two parents.

Flash over to the teens..They're in their hideout. Travis mentions that her parents must be going nuts to have called the police. Starr spots a flyer with her picture on it, and a message in red marker that says: "SHORTY, PLEASE COME HOME!" Travis asks her if she knew who wrote it, and she says that her dad used to call her Shorty, but she hates it. Travis says it must be nice having a dad who cares about her. He doesn't know where his dad is since he left his mother. Starr says that he's better off. How would Travis like to have a father that keeps promising to get back together with his mom, only to tell him not to count on it?

Back to the Mannings...Blair and Todd sit in another room, thinking about what Matthew said. They blame themselves for pushing her away. Todd walks over to get his phone, and Blair prays to God to bring Starr home safe, she'll do anything to make Starr happy if He does. Todd listens from across the room.

Back to the teens..They are looking over their map, discussing their escape plans. Travis tells her that they'll have to wait until later to leave, because they need time to make a plan. He asks her if she wants to watch TV, she is surprised he has one. He tells her that he got it for his 15th birthday last fall, she says he told her he was 16. He tells her that his lie is only off by six months, but hers is off by 2 years. That's why they get along so well, they tell the same lies. Moving right along, she grabs a bag a chips and settles down to watch the television.