Fire in the Skye

ABC Soaps in Depth (9/7/99) - pages 18-21

As Ben plans to pop the question to Viki, his old flame sets out to burn him big time!

"Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor hell a fury like a woman scorned." - William Congreve, The Mourning Bride

Just when Viki and Ben are on the verge of moving forward with their relationship, Skye stands at the ready, willing and able to slap the lovers back two steps! Will the conniver succeed in separating the dynamic duo? To paraphrase Congreve, hell hath no fury like Skye scorned.

Sizing up the Enemy
Originally invited to town by Asa to make like miserable for Ben - a member of the "no-good Rappaport clan" - Skye was always a woman on a mission. But after throwing a wrench into Ben's professional life, Skye now wants to make it personal. The key, she deduced, is to aim for Ben's heart - in other words, Viki.
Why can't Skye just let bygones… go by? "It's the way Ben discarded her," suggests her portrayer, Robin Christopher. "She had so many real feelings invested in the relationship, and when you're hurt that deeply, your capacity for revenge can run very deep, too."
So, this week, as Skye begins her job as The Banner's style editor, she immediately sets about ingratiating herself to an oblivious Viki, presenting herself not only as an ideal employee, but also as a friend and confidante. With friends like Skye, however, Viki is in no need of enemies. Skye makes a game of her treachery, freely discussing her nameless "former flame" while Viki opens up about her relationship with Ben.
Along the way, Skye has several near-misses with Ben, who, following a tense encounter with his old love weeks ago, is under the impression that Skye has left Llanview. No such luck!

Hot Summer Night
Despite "girl talk" with Skye at the office, Viki's mind in fact has not been focusing on her love life. Instead, she has been preoccupied by the anger she feels for Dorian.
"I quite frankly think that the relationship between Ben and Viki is stalled because of the whole problem with Dorian," says Erika Slezak (Viki). "But I fully expect it to move forward as soon as Viki finds some closure with this business with Dorian."
Fortunately, a concerned Jessica sets out to help her mother refocus on her blissful life and love with Ben. At her daughter's suggestion, Viki invites Ben over, then slips into something sexy and anxiously awaits a night of passion.
Arriving at Llanfair with Grace and Kevin, Ben immediately picks up Viki's seductive message and shows the others the door. Everything seems so right as Viki and Ben purge themselves of all distractions and spend the night making love.

The Trap Is Set
Skye, however, is drawing Viki and Ben's happy union into her crosshairs, and sets the table for the jaw-dropping climax of her plan. Suggesting that a gala party be thrown to commemorate The Banner's anniversary, Skye is bemused when Viki enthusiastically endorses her proposal, and schedules the festivities for later that week. Indeed, Skye fiendishly snickers, the lavish affair will provide the perfect occasion for her again to come face-to-face with Ben!
Yet perhaps getting too sure of herself, Skye pushes her luck - and begins to push Viki's buttons - by relating to her boss one of herb"old boyfriend's" quirks. Skye reveals that her onetime beau had the habit of whistling off-key. Viki thinks nothing of it until later, when she curiously notices Ben doing the same thing!

A Most Decent Proposal
It appears that nothing, however, can keep Viki and Ben from growing closer. After receiving a phone call from Skye in which she falsely claims that she has moved to Los Angeles, a relieved Ben spends an emotionally intimate evening with Viki. As his lover recounts her horrible past with her father, Ben attests to Viki that he now loves her even more, and feels that they are ready to leave their pasts behind.
"They've both been through a lot," notes Mark Derwin (Ben), "and they've found support in each other."
In fact, Ben is so sure of his feelings for Viki - and his desire to live a long life with her - that he confides in his sister, Grace, his most honorable intentions: He plans to propose to Viki!

An Affair To Remember
Donning a tux for The Banner's anniversary party at the country club, Ben can think of no more perfect setting in which to ask Viki to be his wife. Alas, once an eavesdropping Skye gets wind of his plans to propose, she knows that this night must ultimately belong to her. After all, she vowed to get back at Ben for breaking her heart, and it's one vow she intends to keep!
The tension mounts, inevitably leading to the one introduction Viki will wish she never made. Ben is completely shocked and angered when he is "introduced" to Skye, Viki's new editor! As it quickly becomes apparent that Skye and Ben know each other, Ben takes Viki aside and tries to explain to her past with Skye. Viki interrupts him, though, for she is far more interested in lashing out at her duplicitous new "friend." In front of the party guests, Viki publicly rails at Skye for her secrecy and deception, and advises her to dismiss and insidious notions she had of hurting her relationship with Ben.
Skye, however, is determined to have the last word… and what she has to say will leave Viki speechless!