One Life to Live had something I never thought I would see, Marty Saybrooke and Todd Manning kissing. Way back in 1993, Todd along with his two buddies Powell Lord and Zach gang raped Marty at a college party.
Now, Marty has amnesia and doesn't remember that Todd raped her. She does know about the rape, and that they had a past. Prior to the rape Todd and Marty slept together once.
Since Marty was hurt seriously in a vehicle explosion and her original caretaker Lee Ramsey was murdered, Todd has taken over her care. Everyone believes she died in this accident, which was caused by Ramsey shooting the tires out of the van. John McBain (Marty's boyfriend at the time of her "death") was able to get Cole Thornhart (her son with her deceased husband Patrick) out, but it blew up before he could save Marty.
The situation for better or for worse is twisted. How can Todd be redeemed, will Marty forgive him for yet another sin against her? What about Todd's daughter Starr and Cole who are having a child together? Starr wants to give the child up for adoption to a person Todd despises. He plans to somehow get the child and raise him with Marty. So Marty would help to raise her own grandchild without even realizing the connection.
Whatever happens, the fall out should be extreme. How will Todd's family feel that yet again Marty has become Todd's victim? Shouldn't Todd have grown from those days, and would he really risk prison again after nearly being executed for a crime he didn't commit?
Maybe Todd's actions are one of a person who has lost everyone who meant anything to him outside of his sister Viki who is in Africa. The good relationship he had with his niece Jessica is inactive as her alter Tess is in control. Tess is keeping the secret that he is taking care of Marty as Tess is busy with revenge on Jared and Natalie. The other people who know Marty is alive are on Todd's payroll and fear that he could hurt them.
His marriage to Blair is headed for divorce, there are restraining orders against him so he can't see any of his kids, and he has lost custody. He pushed his daughter Starr and she fell down a flight of stairs. Todd also harassed or physically went after Cole, Langston (Starr's best friend who is being cared for by Starr's great aunt Dorian) and Markko (Langston's boyfriend and Cole's best friend.) Blair Cramer is raising their two (Starr and Jack) along with Todd's child Sam that was conceived when Todd himself was raped by the crazed Margaret.
The shock value on this plot is high, and it is understandable that people are upset or perturbed by the idea of a rapist romancing his victim when she has no idea what he had done. There tends to controversy whenever a rapist and victim become involved in a relationship like with GH's Luke and Laura and DOOL's EJ and Sami. By going as far as they have with this story, I hope they play out a myriad of emotions and ripple this throughout the canvas.
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