Editor's Choice: After the Fall ~ Soap Opera Digest 11.18.97
In her wildest dreams, One Life to Live's Renee probably never expected her charity auction to be the smashing success that it was.
It was the night before Starr's custody hearing, so Blair was understandably emotional. Téa took full advantage of that, electing to publicly demonstrate how unstable Blair is - and what a bad mommy she would make.
Observing how riled up Blair was after an argument with Dorian, the clever attorney pushed Blair to the breaking point with whispered taunts that Blair was going to lose custody of her baby. Infuriated, Blair caused a commotion. "Calm down Blair," Téa said, loud enough for everyone to hear. Backing Téa into a corner, Blair read Téa's raised hand as a sign that Téa was going to hit her. In defense, Blair shoved Téa and sent her flying through a window to the terrace one floor below.
As Téa lay motionless, Blair went into shock. Bo questioned the traumatized Blair, who claimed that Téa had provoked her and she was defending herself. Unfortunately, no one else could back up her story. When Bo questioned Ian and Kelly, they reluctantly divulged that Blair and Téa had been at odds, but they didn't actually see Téa attack Blair.
At the hospital, Todd showed genuine concern for his wife (could this be love?) and demonstrated again why this couple remains OLTL's most intriguing. While Téa fights the feeling, Todd grows more human with each encounter. He cares...most of the time.
Todd wanted to press charges against his ex, but Téa convinced him otherwise. She successfully argued that they would come out smelling like a couple of roses at the custody hearing if they left poor, unstable Blair alone. However, Téa couldn't convince Todd to postpone the hearing until she recovered. He was determined to represent himself in court and put an end to the custody battle. Knowing Todd would blow it, Téa dragged herself out of her hospital bed and stunned everyone by hobbling into the courtroom on crutches to save the day.
While Téa took a ruthless approach to retaining custody of Starr, she had almost the same investment in the verdict as Blair and Todd. Téa started out as Todd's attorney and "wife", but their business arrangement has turned into much more. Todd and Starr have become her family, and whether Todd likes it or not, Téa's become a part of his.
As for the players, Florencia Lozano (Téa) is showing impressive range, going from hard-hearted lawyer to mushy stepmom. Roger Howarth remains one of daytime's finest actors, as the tormented Todd. And Kassie DePaiva is playing the conniving bitch Blair to perfection. While it was heart-wrenching to see Blair lose permanent custody of her little girl, that slap to Kelly's face, punishment for Kelly telling the truth in court, reminded us what Blair is really made of.
Blair is really hurting now; Téa's wounds are healing nicely; and Todd can probably never be made whole. Everyone is scarred in this storyline, which means the outcome is up in the air.
Round two, anyone?