Recap by Ann

ONE LIFE TO LIVE RECAP FOR TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2001
 
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Gina and Jean are sipping tea in Gina’s living room. Jean praises Gina for
her hospitality and compliments her tasteful decorating of the basement
room, demonstrating that she can be as pleasant as Viki. Jean goes on to
thank Gina for getting her glasses, and the two women go over the plan for
Jean to impersonate Viki. Gina reminds Jean that, should Ben suspect
anything, Jean will be dead. “The sooner Victoria’s marriage is over, the
sooner I am free to pursue my life,” Jean states dispassionately. Their
discussion is interrupted by a pounding on the door. It’s Ben, demanding to
be let in. Gina panics, then orders James to make sure the captive is not
seen.

“You have some serious explaining to do. About Viki,” Ben growls at Gina,
when she finally opens the door. Gina is immediately defensive. When Ben
questions her about her visit to Jessica and her questions about Viki’s DID,
Gina spins a yarn about thinking that this was the only possible explanation
for Viki’s behavior towards Ben. He refuses to believe that Viki has walked
out on him, but he is clearly rattled when Gina correctly guesses that Viki
didn’t even ask about him when she called Jessica. “I need a drink,” Ben
declares. He storms into the living room before Gina can stop him.

Gina breathes a sigh of relief upon noting that the living room is empty.
Ben accuses Gina of lying to Viki in order to scare her. “I don’t trust you,
Gina. I think you’re behind this,” he opines. Gina feigns hurt and insists
that she only wanted to help. Ben isn’t buying, and confesses that he misses
his wife and wants her back. Gina suggests taking a walk, but Ben wants to
be alone. “Stay the hell away from me!” he shouts, before heading for
Crossroads.

Jean emerges from her hiding place and expresses the opinion that Gina’s
exchange with Ben didn’t go well. “You’re my last chance, Jean,” Gina
admits. She can’t believe that Ben suspects her. She then reiterates her
demand that Jean convince Ben that Viki wants a divorce. Jean assures her
captor that she is capable of doing so. Much to Jean’s annoyance, Gina
repeats her threats against Viki’s life – and she adds that she will kill
Ben, as well, should the plan fail.

A short time later, Gina checks in with the operative she has stationed at
Crossroads. She’s upset to hear that Kurt has not yet delivered Jean to her
destination, but agrees to call back. Moments later, Ben looks up from the
game of pool he’s shooting to see ‘Viki’ walk in. Their eyes meet.

Blair is stunned at the realization that she’s carrying Todd’s baby, not Max
’s. “This is a problem,” Kelly remarks, once she’s certain that Blair is not
wrong about the identity of the father. Kelly wonders how Max will react to
the news. She’ll worry about Max’s reaction “tomorrow,” Blair responds.
Kelly reminds her cousin that the hearing is the next day, and that Blair’s
chances of staying out of jail hinge on Max’s testimony. Blair’s thoughts
are elsewhere. “Everything is different now,” she muses, as she contemplates
Todd’s reaction. Kelly outlines Todd’s recent actions, but Blair assures her
that Todd won’t treat her badly once he learns the truth.

At Dorian’s, Todd stares as flames destroy the paper upon which Blair had
written her vows for their aborted wedding. His lawyer arrives and they
discuss the eviction. Todd requests the man’s assistance in ruining Blair’s
life. “When I’m done, she’ll have nothing,” Todd declares, as he vows to
take Starr from her mother. Andrew overhears this and is appalled at Todd’s
coldness. Todd brands Blair an unfit mother. Andrew tries to talk sense into
Todd, to no avail. “I don’t know what you’ve become,” Andrew whispers. “Don’
t you know? I’m the devil,” Todd responds, before revealing to Andrew that
Blair is pregnant with Max’s baby. He adds that he plans to make sure that
Blair is convicted of Max’s shooting, since she’s guilty. There are many
different kinds of guilt, Andrew begins, but Todd stubbornly clings to his
pain. Andrew is dismayed by Todd’s actions. The reverend reminds Todd that
he claims to love Blair and Starr, and yet he does nothing but cause them
grief. “I think I’ve met someone beyond redemption,” Andrew opines. As he
heads out, he remarks that he’s thankful that Blair’s baby is Max’s.

Todd is alone for only a moment before Blair appears. He assumes that she’s
there to beg for her home back. “It’s not about that, Todd. It’s about our
baby,” Blair confesses. Todd comments that she must be psychic, as their kid
is exactly what he wants to talk about. He informs Blair that he’s planning
to file for sole custody. Blair is stricken and maintains that he can’t do
as he wants. He counters that she’s a cheap tramp with an itchy trigger
finger, and that she’ll never go near his daughter again. She tries in vain
to tell him about the baby, but he barely lets her get a word out. Kelly
arrives and blurts out that her cousin is lying. Todd doesn’t disagree.
Kelly urges Blair to keep quiet. Before the women leave, Todd suggests that
Max will double cross Blair. These words cause Blair to declare that she’s
glad she’s not carrying Todd’s child. Out of Todd’s earshot, Blair vows to
Kelly that Todd will never know that the baby is his.

Al offers his congratulations to his mother and “Pa.” “Get your hands off my
son!” Max orders. Asa pulls out adoption papers and explains to Max that Al
is now his boy. Gabrielle smiles at Max’s obvious distress. Max tells Al not
to call Asa ‘Pa’, and he insists that no adoption will make Al Asa’s son. He
continues to rail, then calms down and tries to convince Al that everything
will be fine. Max’s face falls when Al confirms that he signed the papers
himself, with no coercion on the part of Gabrielle or Asa. Max can’t believe
this, and accuses Asa of tricking Al. Al assures Max that he wants to be Asa
’s son. Max is certain that this is Asa’s payback for the con he pulled, and
he bristles when Al calls him Max instead of Dad. Asa suggests that the new
family go home, but Al decides to stay and discuss things with Max. Once the
newlyweds are gone, father and son face off. “Alright, Al, what the hell is
going on?”

Max tells Al that Asa is dangerous, and that he’ll come to regret his hasty
action. Al retorts that he’s simply showing his ‘Pa’ the respect and love
that he deserves. Max’s belief that Al was tricked can’t be shaken, and if
Gabrielle was behind it… He lets his words trail off, and Al warns Max not
to threaten his mother. Max tries to reason with his son, to no avail. “Why
would you want Asa as your father?” Max queries. Al accuses Max of treating
him like he didn’t exist for years. “As far as I’m concerned, you don’t
exist,” he spits. Max insists that he’s not the villain, given that it was
Al’s choice to go live with Gabrielle. Al counters that it’s a good thing he
did, since she needed help and there was none forthcoming from Max. Max
swears that he’s sorry and that he did try to see Al. “Which Christmas was
that, Max? I forget,” Al states bitterly. He wonders where Max was when he
and his mom were desperate. Not letting Max answer, Al goes on to remind Max
that, when Asa was Max’s father, Max didn’t care about Al. Now that he’s Asa
’s son, Al continues, he doesn’t care about Max. Max assures his son that he
gives a damn, but Al refuses to cut Max any slack. Max opines that Asa is
only using Al, and that Al will be very sorry that he let Asa adopt him. Max
offers to make it up to his son, but Al remarks that there’s no need – his
mother has taken care of everything.

At the mansion, Nigel places a photo album of Asa’s weddings on the table.
Just as he’s about to insert some pictures of nuptial number 11, the
doorbell rings. It’s Renee. The two exchange pleasantries before Renee gets
down to the real reason for her visit – she’s there to see Asa. Nigel
informs her that Mr. Buchanan has not yet returned. Renee delights in
sharing the news she received from Andrew, that Asa did not marry Alex.
Nigel surmises from her demeanor that she doesn’t know the whole story.
“Reverend Carpenter didn’t tell you the rest?” he hedges. “Are you
suggesting Asa married someone else?” Renee asks. Before Nigel can spill the
beans, Asa and Gabrielle enter. The latter is pleased to be able to rub
Renee’s nose in Asa’s latest marriage.

Renee wonders why Asa would marry Gabrielle. “Perhaps he wanted a younger
model,” Gabrielle quips. Renee wishes the duo happiness, but adds that she
figures pigs could fly more easily. She assures Nigel that there will always
be a place for him at the Palace, should he want or need it. After Renee’s
departure, Asa and Gabrielle delight in the success of their revenge scheme,
even as Gabrielle flashes back to happier times with Max. The newlyweds
toast, and Gabrielle is overjoyed at experiencing the taste of good
champagne again. She expresses her gratitude to Asa for taking her away from
a lousy life. Asa heads upstairs, as Gabrielle revels in her newfound
luxury. The doorbell rings and, thinking it’s Al, Gabrielle rushes to
welcome him. Instead of her son, she’s greeted by Blair, who has suitcase in
hand. “Who the hell are you?” Blair queries. She could ask the same thing,
Gabrielle retorts.

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Recap written by Ann McGowan, copyright by Katherine Thurston, 
and , 2001