A Brief History of the Baroness India von Halkein:
Once upon a time in a land far, far away, there lived a young lady by the name of India. She lived in the enchanted land of Andorra where after her mother's death, her father, the Baron von Halkein, raised her. But all was not right in the land of Andorra. One day, evil cast its ugly shadow over the land. Evil in the form of a despondent woman named Alexandra Spaulding, who married the unsuspecting Baron. Unbeknownst to the fair young India, it was only a marriage of convenience. Alexandra gained a title and the Baron gained money. Young India had hoped she had gained a mother, but it was not to be. Young India was sent off to boarding schools and never felt any love from her new mother. She only saw the contempt that Alexandra could not hide towards the Baron (and his drinking). After Alexandra, now the Baroness von Halkein, divorced India's father, India was shocked, but not surprised, to learn that the family fortune was gone. It was then that she swore vengeance on her ex-stepmother. But as our story really begins…
It was a dark and stormy night when India arrived in Springfield in 1984.... India came in search of revenge against her ex-stepmother, and she was bent on the reclaiming her family's fortune (She was very aware that Alexandra ws now more than well off). Upon arriving in Springfield, India soon set her sights on the Spaulding heir, Phillip. She thought he would be a suitable pawn in her quest to get her wealth and power back (the fact that he was Alex's nephew only made the plan more delicious). But before India could devise a plan to seduce Prince Phillip, a more readily available target presented itself in the form of Warren Andrews, her stepmother's paramour. India played the vixen and seduced Warren. With Warren on her side India learned that Phillip along with Andy Ferris was ultimately responsible for blowing up her stepbrother Lujack's club and blinding Beth, Phillip's love. India then paid Andy Ferris to make a tape implicating Phillip and proceeded to use this tape to force Phillip to marry her. Phillip married India to keep her quiet. Although India's motives seemed to be motivated by vengeance and greed, underneath it all, she had fallen in love with Phillip. But on their wedding night when a hopeful India was preparing for the ultimate love seduction, Phillip harshly rejected her saying, "You married a company, not a man." At this point Phillip only had contempt for India and refused to consummate their marriage much to our India's chagrin.
At this point, Alex regained possession of the tape implicating Phillip and attempted to chase India out of town. At Lujack and Beth's engagement party, Phillip, having grown to appreciate India's tenacity and wanting to gain control of Spaulding Enterprises, announced that India was pregnant (untrue). Lujack not to be outdone by his ruthless cousin brought Andy Ferris to the party to play the blackmail tape and expose Phillip. A scuffle over the tape occurred and Andy was shot and killed and the tape was stolen. A lengthy murder mystery ensued with Lujack being erroneously convicted of the murder. With the demands of the trial out of the way and Alex more determined than ever to run her out of town, India was more desperate than ever to cement her bond with Phillip. Conveniently an old family friend, Dr. Lyon, came visiting and India employed his the services of his never-fail love potion (sort of a gypsy version of Viagra). Needless to say, the India and Phillip went at it like rabbits! India began to mega-dose Phillip with the potion in hopes of making their previous baby announcement come true. But before India's desires came true, Phillip became ill from the potion and India was exposed for drugging Phillip. Many then assumed that she was also the real killer of Andy Ferris.
During this time Warren had been gaslighting India in an attempt to make her confess or bring forth the tape, which India had re-acquired on the eve of the murder. Lujack escaped from prison and went on the run with Beth. Phillip, once well, demanded a divorce and suddenly India disappeared! Unbeknownst to everyone, India had been kidnapped by the real killer, Floyd Parker. After India was rescued, she and Phillip grew closer for a bit and did finally truly consummate their marriage without the aid of any potion. But when India's ex-lover Simon Hall showed up and Phillip caught India and Simon in an embrace, Phillip finally had grounds and demanded a divorce. India assumed that Simon was going to marry her, but she was disappointed to see Simon focus all his attention on Lillian Raines' niece Jessie Matthews.... So India decided to concentrate on her work at Spaulding Foundation (the charity driven arm of Spaulding Enterprises)... But India was doing more than just working at the Foundation she was embezzling money to help her poor father who was in failing health. But with the help of her disloyal assistant, intrepid reporter Fletcher Reade exposed India and brought her to justice.
However unknown to all, India was not working alone. She and her father were working in cahoots with Alan Spaulding whom everyone still thought was dead. India and Alan made an excellent team for a bit. For her crimes India was sentenced to 30 days of community service at the Stony Lake Reformatory, where she met a little girl named Dorie. (Dorie, an orphan, was raised along side Dinah in a traveling carnival. She ran away from the Carny, which resulted in Dinah coming to Springfield in search of her "sister".)
When India began to get to know Dorie, she fell in love with the little waif, and a softer side of India emerged. India eventually adopted Dorie. After one last escapade involving long lost gold found in the cornerstone of the von Halkein castle, India became more caring and understanding and put Dorie above everything else including her plan to get rich. India left Springfield in 1987 with Dorie to go care for her ailing father in Andorra.
In 1990, India was lured back to Springfield briefly. Phillip had staged his own death to clear himself in a crime he did not commit and was hiding out in Italy. And on another dark and stormy night he ran into a vacationing India. Phillip agreed to give India stock in Spaulding if she promised not to tell anyone of his plans and return to Springfield to check on Beth for him. So India returned to Spaulding and informed Alex and Alan that she was Phillip's heir! This ruse didn't last very long and eventually India played a critical role in getting Phillip exonerated and reuniting him with Beth. With nothing left for her in Springfield and a daughter abroad, India once again returned to Andorra.
Since returning to Springfield in November of 1999, India has been busy yet seldom seen! She and Alex buried the hatchet over breakfast. India had a brief fun and romantic liason with Ross before handing him back over to his estranged wife, Blake. India also began to rekindle her attraction to Alan after helping Alan rescue Lizzie from Annie Dutton. As thanks, Alan agreed to fund dorie's school expenses. then as the two began to grow even closer, Alan had a heart attack. Alan, recovering and deciding to take things easier, appointed India to a new position at Spaulding: Executive Ambassador for Spaulding Enterprises. As most of Alan's recovery occurred off-screen, India was again barely visible.
As of March, 2000 India is in the South of France visiting with her "loving" stepmother, Alexandra, and all is assumed to be well.
Once upon a time in a land far, far away, there lived a young lady by the name of India. She lived in the enchanted land of Andorra where after her mother's death, her father, the Baron von Halkein, raised her. But all was not right in the land of Andorra. One day, evil cast its ugly shadow over the land. Evil in the form of a despondent woman named Alexandra Spaulding, who married the unsuspecting Baron. Unbeknownst to the fair young India, it was only a marriage of convenience. Alexandra gained a title and the Baron gained money. Young India had hoped she had gained a mother, but it was not to be. Young India was sent off to boarding schools and never felt any love from her new mother. She only saw the contempt that Alexandra could not hide towards the Baron (and his drinking). After Alexandra, now the Baroness von Halkein, divorced India's father, India was shocked, but not surprised, to learn that the family fortune was gone. It was then that she swore vengeance on her ex-stepmother. But as our story really begins…
At this point, Alex regained possession of the tape implicating Phillip and attempted to chase India out of town. At Lujack and Beth's engagement party, Phillip, having grown to appreciate India's tenacity and wanting to gain control of Spaulding Enterprises, announced that India was pregnant (untrue). Lujack not to be outdone by his ruthless cousin brought Andy Ferris to the party to play the blackmail tape and expose Phillip. A scuffle over the tape occurred and Andy was shot and killed and the tape was stolen. A lengthy murder mystery ensued with Lujack being erroneously convicted of the murder. With the demands of the trial out of the way and Alex more determined than ever to run her out of town, India was more desperate than ever to cement her bond with Phillip. Conveniently an old family friend, Dr. Lyon, came visiting and India employed his the services of his never-fail love potion (sort of a gypsy version of Viagra). Needless to say, the India and Phillip went at it like rabbits! India began to mega-dose Phillip with the potion in hopes of making their previous baby announcement come true. But before India's desires came true, Phillip became ill from the potion and India was exposed for drugging Phillip. Many then assumed that she was also the real killer of Andy Ferris.
However unknown to all, India was not working alone. She and her father were working in cahoots with Alan Spaulding whom everyone still thought was dead. India and Alan made an excellent team for a bit. For her crimes India was sentenced to 30 days of community service at the Stony Lake Reformatory, where she met a little girl named Dorie. (Dorie, an orphan, was raised along side Dinah in a traveling carnival. She ran away from the Carny, which resulted in Dinah coming to Springfield in search of her "sister".)
When India began to get to know Dorie, she fell in love with the little waif, and a softer side of India emerged. India eventually adopted Dorie. After one last escapade involving long lost gold found in the cornerstone of the von Halkein castle, India became more caring and understanding and put Dorie above everything else including her plan to get rich. India left Springfield in 1987 with Dorie to go care for her ailing father in Andorra.