Ryan's Hope
The Soap Opera Book, 1978

Jillian Coleridge
Frank Ryan
Delia Ryan

Click for a larger image

Frank Ryan turned to the intelligent and sensitive Jillian Coleridge when it became clear that his marriage to childish, selfish Delia was a disaster. Delia was set against his career as a politician and took no interest in him at all. Through a series of mishaps, Frank's affair became known right before his election bid for city councilman. Delia was furious. In order to keep Frank for herself, Delia saved his political career by telling everyone that they had reconciled.

In a corner, Frank agreed to the charade. In time, he and Delia began to make their marriage work. But it wasn't quick enough for Delia, who still felt rejected by Frank. To ease her anguish, she turned to Jill's brother, Roger Coleridge. The affair between them went on until Delia realized that she did indeed love Frank. But Roger was not about to let go. And on the eve of yet another Frank Ryan election bid (this time for Congressman), Roger contrived to spill the beans and ruin Frank's career. He also ruined Frank and Delia's marriage.

	Click for a larger image

When Frank found out about Delia's affair, and her multiple deceptions, he walked out on her and resumed his affair with Jill, who had never stopped loving him. Frank hopes to marry Jill should he be so fortunate as to be able to divorce Delia. This will not be easy, because the simple Jill/Frank/Delia triangle has begot new triangles with their own problems. Delia is playing on Pat Ryan's old tender feelings for her, and Jill must come to terms with her feelings for Seneca Beaulac, to whom she briefly became attached during Frank's long absence and whose child she is carrying, unbeknownst to Frank.

Delia is the villain of this piece—but she's not a vicious villain. She's merely an immature girl, conniving, spoiled, and possibly dangerous. Viewer sympathy lies with whomever she comes in contact with (even bad Roger is seen, sympathetically, as her dupe). Viewer sympathy also occasionally lies with Delia because she cries and pleads her case so well.

Return to The Three Sides of Love or Ryan's Hope Media page