The Week in Kish

Last week was another busy one for Fish and Kyle on One Life to Live. It all started on Tuesday's episode, when Kyle and the guy he went out with last week, Nick, ran into each other at the gym. Kyle was about to go for a run and Nick was waiting for his crunch class to start, but the two of them agreed to hang out afterward. Kyle thanked Nick for being okay with taking things slowly and Nick pointed out that with the number that Kyle's ex did on him, it's understandable that he needs time.

After Kyle went for his run, Layla showed up for the same crunch class Nick was in and the two quickly struck up a friendly conversation. Both have a habit, it seems, of choosing Mr. Wrong but they were both hopeful about the guys they're currently seeing. Nick told Layla about the closet case that his new guy dated in college and how he's seeing a woman now and insists he's straight.

When Nick mentioned that he was seeing Kyle Lewis, the pieces began to fall into place for Layla and confirmation came when Nick told her that the ex, a cop, had even tried to warn him off of seeing Kyle. After hearing all of this, Layla told Nick that she wasn't feeling well and practically ran out of the gym. You've got to love the soap world, where even a conversation with a random stranger you've just met is sure to stir up drama!

At the police station, Fish took a moment away from his work to try and talk to John McBain about his relationship with Layla, bringing it up under the guise of worrying that it might be a problem since they work together at the station. He then tried to solicit some advice from John about whether or not it was wise to get involved with someone when you know they could end up getting hurt.

John asked if Fish was lying to Layla about something, but before the conversation could go much further, actual police work intruded.

Not surprisingly, Layla went straight to Cristian from the gym and told him about her conversation with the stranger, her new suspicion that Fish was involved with Kyle and her not so new conclusion that he may be gay. Layla quickly picked up on the fact that none of this was coming as a surprise to Cris and she asked if he knew something she didn't.

That's where we picked up on Wednesday's episode, with Cristian still trying to stay out of the situation as Layla went over it all again, wondering if Kyle's ex could be some other cop at the LPD. When Cristian still wasn't forthcoming about what he knew, Layla asked him, as a friend, to please just tell her. Cris finally admitted that Fish & Kyle didn't just have a relationship in the past- he'd seen them kissing just the other day.

Layla asked if Cristian was sure, if the two guys could have just been 'horsing around' (I'm sure all straight guys frequently mess around in ways that could be accidentally construed as man on man kissing, right?) and Cristian said he was sure, that they'd been 'in to it.'

A hurt Layla briefly turned her anger on Cristian for not telling her that he'd caught her boyfriend kissing another man. Cris explained that he hadn't been completely certain that Fish was lying about not being gay but apologized for not saying anything, adding that she'd seemed really happy and he hadn't wanted to get in the way of that.

Layla decided it was time to go and confront Fish about all of this, but Cristian advised her to at least wait until Fish was off duty, rather than doing it in front of their co-workers. Layla relented and called Fish to ask him to meet her at their apartment.

That set the stage for Thursday's confrontation between the two of them. Fish returned home with a bottle of wine, apparently expecting a romantic evening, but Layla brought his plans to a crashing halt by demanding the truth about him and Kyle Lewis.

Oliver tried to dance around the issue once again, saying that they'd been over this before: he and Kyle had been friends and frat brothers. Layla impatiently got more specific: had he slept with Kyle, yes or no? Pushed into a corner, Fish admitted he'd slept with Kyle, but tried to explain it away with the usual excuses: it had been a confusing time, they were drunk, they were playing truth or dare! Seriously, he said that.

Layla let Oliver have it for lying to her when she'd asked him if he was gay, but Fish insisted that he's not that person, that he'd just been experimenting as a kid but he'd grown up. Layla countered that by asking if that hadn't been him in the alley, then, kissing Kyle Lewis?

Fish realized she'd been talking to Cristian and told her that he'd been trying to break the two of them up since day one because he has a thing for her. Layla demanded that Fish tell her the truth and he again tried to explain things away by saying that he'd been with Kyle once in college (we've already heard, in their conversation at the gym last week, that it was more than once) and that Kyle had wanted to start things up again, but Fish hadn't because he was happy with Layla.

Layla: I know this isn't easy, Oliver, and I'm working really hard to have some compassion for you. This isn't what I wanted.

Fish: It's not what I wanted either! I want you.

Layla: Stop it! Just stop it! I know you are probably scared right now, and that a part of you cared about me and it felt safe. But I don't want safe, okay, I want real! So do us both a favor right here and right now. Do the right thing.

Fish: I love you.

Layla: Then trust me and tell us both the truth. Say the words. You're gay!

Fish: No, I'm not going to say it because it's not true. I'm not gay.

Layla: Have you ever given one thought to what it would do to me when I found out that I'd been lied to like this?

Fish: I'm with you and only you.

Layla: For how long?

Fish: What do you mean?

Layla: You told me you wanted a future with me.

Fish: I do!

Layla: When you're already letting yourself get backed up against an alley wall? You think that's what I want, the little bit you've got left?

......

Fish: I can be what you want, I just need-

Layla: To change who you are?

Fish: No, you like who I am, you said it yourself. That I'm the kind of guy you want, the kind of guy you can talk to. Someone who's kind and appreciates you and wants the kind of life that you want.

Layla: Why do you think this hurts so much, Oliver? Why? This isn't just about you and your problems, I wanted you to be the one!

Fish: I wanted you, too! Layla, we made love-

Layla: It's not supposed to feel like a test, Oliver, and I can't let you use me.

Fish: I love you. I told the guys, I told my parents. Layla, I need you. You're the kind of woman that I've always wanted. You're smart and sensitive and stylish and you're great, I love hanging out with you.

Layla: It's not enough.

Fish: Yeah, but it is for me. And I can be what you need, I promise. Just don't leave me. You don't know what it's like. I can't be gay.

Layla asked if Fish expected her to feel sorry for him because he was a gay homophobe and Fish denied being either homophobic or gay and went on about wanting to be a cop and to get married and have a family. Layla informed him that gay people have jobs, families, and can even get married in some states. She also informed Fish that he was coming in loud and clear: he hates himself.

Fish: ...I'm a work in progress, okay, but I'll do whatever it takes. I'll go to therapy, I'll go back to church.

Layla: I'm not asking you to change who you are, Oliver, and if you're not ready to accept yourself then there's nothing I can do about that. But you're lying to yourself and me. And I deserve better than that.

Layla asked Fish to leave and before doing so he tearfully told her that he was sorry and had never meant to hurt her.

I was so impressed by both Scott Evans and Tika Sumpter's work in these scenes! They both brought their A game to some strong material and it made for some really great soap opera. Tika Sumpter played the scenes just right, with Layla at first struggling to control her anger and then slowly breaking down as the argument progressed and beginning to cry. It was all completely natural and really made me see Layla in a whole new light.

Scott Evans was spot on as well, giving Fish that perfect edge of desperation as he struggled to maintain his grip on the closet door. It was all too easy to feel a mixture of pity for Fish and the self loathing we've discovered in him and frustration that he just couldn't let go of this attempt to prove that he's something he's not, even in the face of all the pain he's caused Layla. When he finally began to cry as well, though, you just wanted to hug him... and then give him a good hard shake to put some sense into him!

Very strong scenes overall. I'm loving this entire story so much. I knew that if OLTL told a gay story now, with a writer as good as Ron Carlivati at the helm, it would be the best daytime had ever seen. So far, they're proving me right!

I did lose the last five minutes of the show on Thursday for coverage of Ted Kennedy's body arriving at the JFK library, so if there was a final scene with Fish or Layla after he left the apartment, I didn't get to see it.

On Friday's episode, however, Fish woke up in Stacy Morasco's bed wearing next to nothing. Observe, courtesy of Superherofan:

Oliver, nursing a hangover, was completely confused about what had happened the night before, though Stacy's annoying friend helpfully supplied the news that he'd cheated on his girlfriend.

Oh, man, if Fish got Stacy pregnant, it means he'll be tied to her story for months! The one character/story that I can't stand shouldn't be allowed to intersect with Kish on a regular basis!

Fish soon began remembering the night before, piece by piece: first, knocking back shots at Rodi's, followed by a confrontation with Kyle about having told Nick to stay away from him. As Stacy eavesdropped, Fish lied to Kyle, saying that he'd just been getting even with Kyle for messing with his life. He also told Kyle that his relationship with Layla was over. Kyle asked if Fish had come out, and Oliver once again insisted that he wasn't gay.

Kyle told Oliver that he could finally be honest now and asked if he'd ever even been attracted to Layla. When Fish didn't have an answer, Kyle said that he knew he was hurt and confused and suggested that they go somewhere where they could talk. Fish suggested Kyle go be with someone who wasn't confused and asked him to leave him alone.

When Kyle left, Stacy made her move, clearly recognizing a confused target who'd be eager to sleep with her to prove to himself that he wasn't gay. Back at her place, Stacy put the moves on Fish, who was by that time quite drunk. She quickly maneuvered him into bed to do 'what a man and a woman are supposed to do'. When he remembered this the next morning, his immediate reaction was to feel sick.

After he ran for the bathroom, Stacy explained to her partner in crime that she couldn't be sure she'd gotten pregnant from the one time with Fish, so she had to keep him around just in case. When Fish came back from getting sick (a common reaction, one would think, from being around Stacy Morasco) he told Stacy that what had happened was not okay, that he'd used her and he had to stop doing this to people- and to himself.

Sounds like progress! Sadly, it's just in time for him to have knocked up Stacy first, though, which would suck.

Meanwhile, Layla and Cristian discussed the whole mess from the perspective of the morning after. Layla explained that her 'superpower' back in college was her finely tuned gaydar, that she'd never been wrong. Why hadn't she trusted her instincts about Fish?

Layla explained to Cris that Fish is so in denial that he actually thinks he can be straight. Cris was confused (a perpetual state for him) and Layla told him he can't understand what it's like to worry that your whole life will come crashing down if people find out the truth.

Layla blamed herself for not facing what she sensed earlier, but Cristian told her it wasn't her fault, that there was nothing wrong with her. Layla pointed out that there was nothing wrong with Fish, either, and if he could just have faced the truth about himself it would have saved them both from being miserable.

As Layla was contemplating calling in sick to work to avoid seeing Fish, he returned to the apartment with something to say to both Cristian and Layla: He's gay. Yes! He's finally said the words.

That's where the week ended. Four days of great story for Kish, and for Fish and Layla in particular. I can't wait to see what happens next!

I will have to wait to catch up on Nuke and any Y&R action, though, since I had so much wonderful Kish to catch up on tonight.

Let's leave things on a hot note, with a look at Oliver shortly before he finally accepted the truth about himself: