One Life to Live 12/21/1989

Renee asks Asa why he hasn’t opened the letter his former business partner and close friend Chuck Wilson sent him. He says he has no intention of opening it, so Renee decides to open it for him, and she reads that he is in trouble and needs money. Santa (Max) tells Jessica that he can’t grant her wish of her daddy moving back home; he has to leave that to her parents. Kevin and Joey both reaffirm that that’s what they want for Christmas too. Bo notices a suspicious man at the party who has been looking at him and Sarah, but Sarah assumes it’s just one of the caterers. Asa falls asleep in front of the television and wakes up to see his old partner Chuck talking directly to him from the TV set. He says he needs the money for an operation, but when Asa turns the TV off Chuck appears in person in the living room. Gabrielle goes to the party for a moment but, after staring wistfully at Max for a few moments, she quickly departs. Down in the costume room, Julia tries to buck up her daughter’s spirits. Andy tells Max she’s thankful to have him as her older brother this holiday season. Clint and Viki have lunch at Max’s Place and try to hash things out, for the sake of the children. Ambrose and Serena arrive at the restaurant too and, though Viki’s back is facing Ambrose, he quickly recognizes Clint. The waiter confirms it’s Clint Buchanan and that the blond woman is his wife. Ambrose senses something isn’t right, and suggests they go meet the Buchanans. Bo and Sarah go roller skating, and Bo spots the same sketchy guy from the studio taking pictures of them at the roller rink. Gabrielle returns to the church and speaks to the same nun about her struggles. After their discussion, she says she says she’s made a decision, but she’ll need to tell her family and Max.

Bo confronts the man who was taking his picture, but the man insists he’s just a tourist taking pictures of the roller rink. Bo takes his camera and offers to have the pictures developed for him, but the man grabs the camera and pulls out the film, destroying the evidence of any photos he might have taken (and begging the question: will millennials even understand this scene?), and running away. Bo gives chase, but he isn’t able to catch the man. When the Wymans come over to the table, Viki pretends to have trouble with her contact lens to avoid showing her face, but Ambrose nevertheless recognizes her large ring. Viki explains to Clint how dangerous the Wymans might be, and says Tina is most at risk Ambrose did recognize her. Clint agrees to spend Christmas at Llanfair for the sake of the children, but says he can’t promise anything beyond that. Chuck warns Asa he needs to change his ways (a la Jacob Marley), but when Asa tries to throw him out, he warns three others will come after him and they will be much more convincing. Asa turns around to grab a fireplace poker and when he turns back, Chuck has disappeared. A man calling himself Calvin and sporting a chauffeur’s uniform appears and directs Asa to get in his car. When Asa refuses, Calvin snaps his fingers and they both disappear and then rematerialize in a car. Asa is furious as Calvin refuses to bring him home and promises a long journey ahead after which Christmas will never be the same again. The man who has been tailing Bo and Sarah, who calls himself Sebastian, calls Prince Roland of Mendorra. He reports that he’s followed Sarah and has bad news to report: she has a fiance with whom she appears very much in love. Ambrose tells Serena he’s certain Viki posed as Barbara, and it’s all beginning to make sense. He also relays that he developed the film from Tina’s camera and it had a photo of one of their personal ledgers. Ambrose says they’ll have to return the “Wedgeworths’” donation and tell them the mother changed her mind. That way they can steer clear of any further trouble. Serena informs him she’s already spent half the money on Christmas presents, but she’ll return them and get the money back. Ambrose hopes they weren’t given marked bills or else they’ll be in big trouble.

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