We All Fall Down - OLTL Recap for Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Dorian throws The Banner down in disgust. Headlines read: “Manning Faces Judge as Daughter Buries Child.” Marty also glances at the same headlines on one of the Internet printouts spread across her bed. Saybrooke hears her son and Nora talking in the hallway and gathers the papers. The DA is assuring Cole that she plans the throw the book at Todd and that despite Marty being back in her son’s life that she’ll always be there for him. As Cole enters his Mom’s room, she is taken back at how handsome he is. He blushes and tells her that the only time he has worn suits is to funerals. Cole is disappointed that she’s not going to the funeral since she is the child’s grandmother and as Cole points out, was going to raise the child with Todd. Marty feels she would be a distraction. He leaves his Jabberwocky book with her.

Throughout Llanview, couples wake up comforting one another --- Blair & John, Charlie & Viki and Marciee & Michael. This is a day to support your loved one. Meanwhile, Natalie and Jared are hopefully near the end of their babysitting duties. Bree delights in throwing a spoonful of mush back at Jared as Natalie gives Chloe her bottle.

Reverend Andrew Carpenter finds Starr early at the church. She tells him she wanted time alone there before everyone arrived. Adhering to her wishes, he starts to leave the chapel and she asks him to stay. She knows that he and Cassie lost William and she wants to know how he felt losing a child. He explains that he was angry at everyone including God, but soon realized that the worst pain has “no rhyme or reason.” The clergy advises her to turn to family and friends for comfort and support. They too are uncomfortable with the situation and may not know the right things to say or do, but try to understand.

Over at St. Ann’s , Jessica is studying the headlines of The Banner and is oblivious to Brody’s arrival. When he sees she’s distressed about what she’s reading, he offers to get Dr. Levin. Jess is having funny feelings about the death of Starr’s baby. She explains to Brody that the two babies were born at the same time and how Starr is her cousin. She feels guilty that she got to keep her baby and Starr’s died.

At the church, people close to Starr arrive. They (Marcie, Michael, Viki, Charlie, Natalie, Matthew, Nora, Clint, Blair, John, Dorian, Langston and Marko) comfort the teen with hugs. Cole walks in, takes Starr’s hand and they sit in the front pew together. Andrew begins the service for “Hope Manning McBain.” He retells to the small group what he had already told Starr. He also tells everyone that Hope is an “Angel in Heaven close to God” and to let their tears falling “wash away the pain.” At St. Ann’s, Jessica is consumed with a wave of sadness. She feels like her own baby died. Brody tries to comfort her and tells her he knows how it is to lose a kid. Meanwhile, Marty peruses over Jabberwocky and has a flashback of reading to Cole when he was just a toddler.

After the church service, Dorian heads home to check on the boys. Once there, she comforts a grieving Langston. At the gravesite, Blair, John, Marcie, Michael, Blair, John, Starr and Cole join Andrew to say their final goodbyes to Hope. Blair leaves a picture on the casket next to a beautiful red rose and a card. Marcie places a white bear and then hugs the casket. Cole puts a picture of Starr and him as a memento for Hope. Starr approaches the casket, kneels, kisses her hand and then gently places it on the casket. A hand takes Cole’s hand --- it’s Marty. Over at Nora’s, the DA holds Chloe then places her in Matthew’s arms, Viki and Charlie hold Bree while Natalie and Jared hug. At St. Ann’s, Jessica, now alone, prays for Hope and Chloe to be safe wherever they are. She is sorry for the pain they’ve been through and she wants them to know they’re loved by many people.