One Life to Live Update for Friday, 24-Feb-2006

Todd has fallen asleep under the wing of the crashed plane. John not-so-gently kicks him awake so he doesn’t succumb to hypothermia. Todd denies having fallen asleep and once again begins his loop of “unchain me, I’m innocent.” John isn’t listening. Todd taunts John about playing the role of a good guy in the white hat. Todd thinks John knows that, deep down, he’s one of the bad guys – that’s why John hates himself. That’s why he likes to pick up cute innocent girls to hold his hand and tell him he’s a good guy. The truth hurts –Todd – when John decides to strangle him. This only gives Todd more fuel for his fire and he tells John he needs to watch his temper. He muses that John likes to see things as black and white, good and evil, no shades of grey. This is why John will understand when Todd has to knock him out: if you’re not part of the solution – you’re part of the problem. John goes down, but before he goes out he torments himself with his failure to find his father’s killer. Todd tells him to “just pass out” and gets to work on the chains.

Natalie is upset that John is still missing. Rex has come to the police station to try and comfort her but she is rude and snaps at him for caring. He finally asks if she just needs to hit something and get it all out. She decides that he will do and slugs him one. Cristian, who has come down to support both Natalie and Evangeline, witnesses the punch and cuts in on Natalie’s dance with melodrama. Natalie, once again, trots out the “I can’t lose anyone else” soliloquy and Cris is ever sympathetic. Natalie then jumps in on Cris for boxing. She spouts off lines about things that feel good not always being good. Cris lays out for her how things work in the real world: sometimes artists box, or bus dishes, or sweep diners so they aren’t beholden to self-absorbed heiresses. Don’t take it personally. Later Natalie tries to terrorize Evangeline but Vangie doesn’t scare off that easily. They sit down together with their coffee and the waiting.

Blair yells at DA Hughes and accuses him of withholding information about Todd. He admits he isn’t very concerned about the well-being of a baby-killer. Blair cuts loose a string of nastiness and (surprise) Spencer shows up to defend her. Blair storms out. Evangeline tells DA Hughes that he was a little harsh with Blair. DA Hughes notes that he takes the case personally as he was adopted himself. He has no sympathy for someone who couldn’t be inconvenienced with a baby. Meanwhile, after Blair leaves the DA’s office, she tells Spencer that he shouldn’t be around her now. He tells her that she needs to put Todd in her past and move on. She tells him that nothing is that simple. She needs to be alone right now. DA Hughes later confronts Blair and asks if Todd has phoned her since the crash. Blair asks why she would be at the police station asking him for information if she had spoken to Todd herself. He suggests that this might be part of her and Todd’s escape plan. Once again, Spencer arrives to defend Blair from the DA’s harassment. Blair storms off again and, as soon as she is out of hearing, Spencer drops the pretense and tells the DA to “do his job.” DA Hughes goes back to his office and plays with his gun.

Tess is in the hospital with abdominal pain. Nash is absolutely beside himself worrying about the baby, but Tess is only worried about Niki finding out her secret. Tess implores Nash to go head off Clint so that Niki can’t clue him on the secret too. Nash is not leaving. Adorably, Nash even manages to steal Tess some breakfast from a sleeping patient in the next room. Tess is too agitated to eat. Nash tells her that she might as well eat up; she can’t push him away, ever. He even suggests that Tess take another amniocentesis so that Antonio won’t have any ammo to use against them later. Tess just continues with the run-and-hide scenarios, plotting the ways and means of her own destruction at her family’s hands. Nash notes that everyone else has acknowledged her. Maybe it is Tess that needs to realize her own existence. When the doctor arrives and pronounces Tess healthy (false labor) he lets the expectant parents hear the baby’s heartbeat. The sound almost brings Jessica out. Nash calls on Tess to be strong and stay with him and the baby. She does. She finally believes Nash really loves her, not Jessica, and that their love and their baby will make her strong enough to survive no matter what Niki brings home.

Niki arrives at the Hot Spot all “dolled up” for her rendezvous with Sam, the barkeep. Sam arrives, but with Clint in tow. Niki is not happy. She tries to make a run for the door but Clint cuts her off and lets her know that she is coming home with him. She informs him that he has no jurisdiction here. They are divorced and she is free to “play” with whomever she chooses. Sam tells Clint to take a hike but Clint informs him that Niki is working Sam for info on her kid. Sam realizes that Niki lied to him about the kid not being hers and leaves her to Clint. Niki is really pissed now. She pulls a knife and informs Clint that she knows all about the kids - she remembers everything- she is the strong one. Clint tells her that he knows all that. That’s why he loves her. That’s why Viki has always been so strong. That stops her cold. Clint tells her that they have hurt each other so much and so often, but it can’t end like this. Niki drops the knife and sits down. She shakes her head dazedly and stares at Clint. Viki’s back.

Adriana enters her office to find a bouquet of red roses. She assumes they must be from Rex. She pulls the card and finds that they come attached to a modeling contract, complete with her forged signature. Dorian arrives feigning surprise and delight at Adriana’s “decision.” Adriana realizes what has happened and threatens to tear up the contract but Rex stops her. He acknowledges that Dorian meant to split them apart by sending Adriana away with the agency. He then points out to Adriana that she does want to be a model. She should think about it before she tears an opportunity into confetti.