Liza's Manhunt
Will her quest to find a father for her
baby lead her to true love?
Soaps In Depth, June 30, 1998: Author unknown
Liza Colby has done some downright crummy
things in her time. But none of them really are good (or bad) enough reasons that the
schemer shouldn't find true love. She's dished it out, sure, but she's taken it too:
Remember when her teenage crush, Tad, took her mother to bed? Or the time that she walked
down the aisle with Adam to make Tad jealous, and he didn't make a peep?
Alas. Now Liza has given up on romance.
She has decided that there will be no hearts and flowers for her, no knight in shining
armor (nor Adam in silk PJs, even). But there will be a baby in her life, dammit. In her
fertile imagination, she's going to make a marvy mom. And since in her estimation, none of
her future child's potential pops measure up, she's going to become pregnant without their
help-- by heading down to the local fertility clinic to have herself inseminated by an
anonymous donor. Little does she suspect, her egg may be better aquatinted with it's
fertilizer than she could have dreamed!
Will Ryan Sow The Seed?
"Liza has found her heart's
desire," sums up headwriter Megan McTavish. "The question is: Who will give it
to her?"
"I think," McTavish adds,
"that going back to the pregnancy that didn't succeed, Liza never knew that she
wanted a baby until then. She is driven, ambitious-- a real career woman. Even when she
and Adam first got married, that was a plot to get someone else. She's never been sure of
her own heart-- or even that she had a heart!"
"Then," McTavish suggests,
"that little light started with Liza, with a man whom she loved very deeply. It
touched something in her that she didn't even know was there."
And the baby that Liza lost was the
beautiful manifestation of her newfound openness-- or at least, the child would have been.
"She felt such emptiness after she miscarried," McTavish notes. "She wanted
that baby, and she has a genuine desire for this one."
Upon making her decision to become a
mother, a giddy Liza asked Jake and fiancee Allie to act as godparents for the little one,
and they happily accepted. However, Liza's maternal glow wore off in a hurry when she and
her own mommie dearest, Marian, bumped into that cocky Ryan-- at the Pine Valley fertility
clinic, of all places!
Ryan was about to become a sperm donor
because, quite frankly, he was flat broke. The chance to make some fast money was just a
little too irresistible to the local virility poster boy. Liza, of course, was there
itching to sign up for insemination. But neither of them were about to reveal to each
other their real motives for hanging around a fertility clinic, so, they fed each other
elaborate lies. Afterward, Ryan proceeded to register at donor #517, and an unsuspecting
Liza signed her egg over to-- you guessed it-- donor #517!
It's Now Or Never!
This week, Liza is thrilled to bits when
she dials up the fertility clinic to inform the doctor that she's ovulating. In other
words, her womb is good and ready for donor #517!
But before Liza can get within basting
distance of the clinic, a scowling Tad storms into her office and announces that he's on
the verge of tanning Ryan's tan hide. Dimitri bribed the money-grubbing jerk into sitting
on the jury during Brooke's murder trial, Tad relates, and Ryan might have botched the
whole thing!
Needless to say, Liza's not listening;
instead, she's busy sharing the blissful news of her impending motherhood! After getting
an earful, an overjoyed Tad quits his griping and decides to accompany his pal to the
clinic.
But before the former lovers can get out
the door, Jake drops by and agrees to go with Liza wile his big bro stays behind to
interview Gillian for the coveted position of WRCW weather girl. While the mommy-to-be is
en route to her destiny, #517 hurries over to make his donation. At the same time, an
agitated Gillian flubs her lines at the audition-- and, in the process, manages to spill
the beans regarding her better half spilling his sperm!
Then it's all up to a frantic Tad to make
it to the fertility clinic and reveal the donor's identity to Liza before it's too late!
"Pick Me!"
"Thanks to Tad," reveals
McTavish, "the day is saved!" He bursts in and manages to tell an anxious Liza
the awful truth just before she's to undergo insemination: Ryan-- yes, Ryan, that
bumptious, shallow, heartless swine of a man-- is donor #517!
Chaos ensues as Tad reads Ryan the riot
act, and Jake comforts Liza. A disappointed Ryan beats a hasty retreat none the richer,
while Jake stuns everyone by announcing that he will act as the sperm donor!
This generous offer certainly perks up
Liza, but Tad is completely bewildered. He takes his brother aside and warns him not to do
anything foolish. Does he know what he's getting himself into? What's more, how will his
wife-to-be, Allie, feel about all of these shenanigans?
Jake assures Tad that Allie will
understand; she's a doctor, for crying out loud! Little does Jake know, he may be
expecting too much from his future misses.
The Gang's All Here!
To make matters worse, Adam enters looking
for Marian, and tells her that Stuart is missing! When he sees Liza, he becomes concerned.
Then Jake returns and informs Liza that he's all hers if she still wants him. A confused
Adam demands to know what Jake means, but the mom-to-be is determined to keep mum about
her plans. "When Adam finds out, his reaction is a big part of the story,"
teases McTavish. "All of the feelings that he and Liza had for the child that they
lost, he still feels for her. He absolutely still loves her."
But don't take that to mean that Liza
necessarily will allow him to step up to the plate and... you know. "He realizes that
he blew it in the marriage," points out McTavish. "But he just keeps making
bigger and more complex mistakes. No one can cause trouble like Adam Chandler. And [how he
reacts to Liza's situation] will have a big effect on another couple in the canvas.
You Won't Believe What Happens Next!
Will Jake do the good deed-- and put his
future with Allie at risk-- or will Tad step in and assume pollination duties for his old
flame? and what about Ryan? He's still experiencing a serious cash flow dilemma, and could
dive back into the sperm-donor pool. And of course, Adam could oblige his ex-wife, perhaps
to right the wrongs that he has done in the past. And Dr. David Hayward showed a bit of
interest in Liza before he cut out of town. Now that he's returning to Pine Valley, he
could throw his hat (and then some) into the baby ring, too. "I would look for two
more twists in the storyline," promises McTavish. "Who ultimately becomes the
father of Liza's baby is the crux of it."
"That's where the emotional
complications will occur later on," she adds. "There are a few more bumps in the
road here."
Ripe with possibilities, the plot won't
all be heavy drama, though, the wry scribe insists. "It will be a little outrageous.
Some of it will be very poignant, and some will be very funny."
Only time will tell which fellow Liza will
use as her breeding stud-- and whether they will share anything more than one magic moment
under a clinician's watchful eye.
The Bad Seed
Should David Father Liza's Baby?
Pros: The fact that David is in the
medical profession is a plus, as he would be more able to provide for her little tyke
than, say, a pauper like Ryan. Plus, David is one smart cookie, what with blackmailing
Allie and intentionally slipping Adam the incorrect medicine! And let's remember: David's
craftiness certainly increases the odds of his offspring nabbing a high SAT score.
Cons: Okay, let's face it-- David is
morally bankrupt, and that's kind of a major stumbling block. Sure, Liza hasn't always
been Pollyanna personified, but even she hasn't sunk as low as this bad boy.
American Gigolo
Should Ryan Father Liza's Baby?
Pros: For starters, when it comes to
looks, this guy's a catch with a capital "C." He's blessed with the chiseled
body of a Greed god and the smile of a Boy Scout-- two attributes that would serve anyone
well on the rocky road of life. Plus, he's witty, winsome and has a great sense of style--
a rare quality in any man!
Cons: To put it mildly, the stability
factor is worrisome-- as in Junior would stay up nights, wringing his hands. Must the kid
bear the onus of having a dad who literally charms the pants off every woman he meets?
Papa As A Rolling Stone
Should Tad Father Liza's Baby?
Pros: Where do we start? This potential
donor is smart, he's funny, he's devilishly attractive, and he could offer the wee one a
hefty trust fund. Tad has known Liza since they were lusty teens, and some would say that,
in an odd way, they're soulmates. What's not to like?
Cons: Here's what's not to like: Tad has
lamentable karma where the ladies are concerned. Come to think of it, most of his five
(count 'em) marriages have ended in divorce precisely because of his shameless
philandering. In other words, Tad The Cad's not a keeper, and "stability" never
has been his middle name. In fact, he and Liza have always had a volatile relationship.
Sure, they may be palling around now, but this friendship can turn on a dime! And don't
forget that Tad also bedded Liza's mother, Marian! How weird will it be when the kid
learns that Dad laid down with Mommy and Grandma? No... let's not go there.
The Devil's Own
Should Adam Father Liza's Baby?
Pros: Adam and Liza are a match made in
the fiery confines of Hell. And what a red-hot couple they are! Not only could the
curmudgeon provide his child with financial security, but, seeing as he is so taken with
Liza, surely he would smother the babe with a whole lot of love and devotion.
Cons: Adam's paternal track record is less
that stellar: He abandoned daughter Skye when she was just a tot; he wasn't even aware
that Haley was his offspring until she tore through Pine Valley as a rebellious teenager;
and he tried to dump Junior's mama in the loony bin! 'Nuff said.
Old Reliable
Should Jake Father Liza's Baby?
Pros: The M.D. racks up plenty of points!
Not only does he have a great job, but this candidate is tall, dark, and unusually
handsome, too. What's more, he's got the happy-go-lucky thing going for him, and therefore
he can act as yin to Liza's stressed-out yang. It's not hard to picture this guy as the
doting daddy! And, lest we forget, Jake and Liza once engaged in a steamy love affair, so
at least their spawn would be secure in the knowledge that, way back when, Mommy and Daddy
had that lovin' feeling. The fact that he hails from good stock (Pine Valley's moral
barometers, Ruth and Joe) doesn't hurt, either.
Cons: Let's not beat around the bush--
Liza's a selfish gal. She knows what she wants, and heaven help anyone who tries to get in
her way! So, if Jake were to play the proud papa, Liza might feel that he was invading her
parental territory. All in all, things could get ugly if Jake were to plunge into his
fatherly duties, and, knowing this sensitive man, he would take it all to heart.
Heartburn
We'd like few things better than to see
Liza find the love for which she always has longed. But, taking into consideration her
dismal track record with the unfairer sex, maybe her becoming a single parent is the
smartest move she's made since-- Okay, scratch that. This may be the smartest move she's
ever made, period! (Typer's note: I disagree. This is the smartest move she's made since
seducing Tad! Ya HAD to love that!)
The One That Got Away: 1982
When preppy Liza was in high school, she
yearned for clean-cut classmate Greg Nelson to sign her yearbook, "With love."
But once the gorgeous, gently Jenny Gardner arrived from the wrong side of the tracks, the
red-blooded blue-blood couldn't look away from her-- even long enough to notice that Liza
had become a green-eyed monster. The odd senior out did everything that she could drive a
wedge between the sweethearts-- including revealing that Jenny's father, Ray, raped Ruth
Martin, and falsely accusing Jenny's best friend, Jesse, of the same crime. But her
efforts were in vain: Eventually, Greg and Jenny became husband and wife. (Typer's note:
And Jenny DIED!! HA HA HA...)
Like Mother, Like Daughter: 1983
Ladykiller Tad Martin set his sights on
luring snooty Liza into his bed. Problem was, when Tad took a job as a shampoo boy at the
Glamorama, he started making it with Liza's oversexed mother, Marian, too! Consequently, a
shattered Liza went on a self-destructive rampage and eventually split town.
Seems Like Old Times: 1995
By this time, Tad and Liza may have been
older, but they weren't necessarily wiser. Liza, now a successful businesswoman, blew back
into town, and, much to Tad's chagrin, snatched up the position of station manager at the
local TV channel, WRCW. Although they tried to keep their feelings at bay (let's not
forget that Tad was hitched to Dixie at the time!), eventually, they stole a few kisses.
Then, a disgusted Dixie walked out on Tad when Laurel Dillon was shot and killed on his
talk show, THE CUTTING EDGE. She pointed the finger of blame at her husband and Liza for
shamelessly going after high ratings at the expense of human life. As a result, a
distraught Tad and Liza took solace in each other's arms and made love (Typer's note:
WAHOO!). Eventually, Tad and Dixie reunited. However, Marian, who was teed off that Tad
had taken advantage of her daughter once again, told Dixie the truth about her better
half's one-night tryst. A defeated Dixie responded by leaving town-- and Tad!
Splendor In The Grass: 1996
When vacationing Liza came upon hearty
Jake in a wooded country lane, little did she know that he was Tad's baby brother, Joey!
She fell head over heels for the strapping guy, but tied the knot with Adam all the same.
Still, Liza carried a torch for Jake even after she was married, and made plans to set
sail on a romantic cruise with him. However, her undeniable attraction to Adam (and boy,
did she ever try to deny it!) won out in the end, and Jake finally threw in the proverbial
towel.
Let's Make A Deal: 1996
Adam still had it back for Brooke; Liza,
for her part, seemed eternally smitten with Tad. The scheming duo's solution to their
romantic woes? They pretend to be on the verge of marriage, in order to provoke envy in
the hearts of their would-be paramours. However, Liza and Adam's plot backfired when Tad
and Brooke neglected to show up for the ceremony. Then Liza surprised her groom when she
actually said, "I do." She had her eye on a fat alimony check, and was
determined to consummate the union. By and by, the unlikely pair started to fall in love!
Unfortunately, Liza's miscarriage, Adam's lies and a whole bunch of misunderstandings
dealt the final death blows to their marriage, and they went their separate ways. |
