The Three Sides of Love
The Soap Opera Book, 1978

The love triangle. Two women in love with the same man. Two men in love with the same woman. Consider the possible complications. Three people whose lives are in some way torn by an impossible situation. From the beginning of the written word, the subject has fascinated us. One of the earliest examples is in the Bible. King David, in love with Bathsheba, uses his powers and position to send her husband to the front lines of battle where he is killed.

The story of David and Bathsheba, a tragic moral tale, is but one of the countless possibilities of the love triangle. Over the centuries, a triangle has been at the heart of tales of revenge such as Euripides' "The Medea," tales of the imperfection of the human condition such as the Legend of King Arthur, Queen Guinevere, and Sir Lancelot; and yes, the love triangle has even been funny. In Restoration comedies and French farces of the 1890s, there is nothing so common as the doting elderly husband who is unaware of the lover his wife has stashed in the bedroom closet.

The love triangle came into daytime serials at the beginning. It was natural. In the antique radio soap, The Romance of Helen Trent, there was a permanent triangle; Helen, an ever-present suitor Gil, and the many unusually evil men with whom Helen would fall temporarily in love.

Search For Tomorrow

Jennifer Pace
John Wyatt
Eunice Wyatt

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Eunice and John Wyatt's marriage was going through some bad times as a result of Eunice's sexual problems. John turned to Jennifer Pace, a beautiful younger woman, for comfort. He and Jennifer had an affair, which Eunice eventually discovered. John was determined to save his marriage and broke off his relationship with Jennifer. But Jennifer, an extremely insecure and clinging young woman, wouldn't let go. She was constantly visiting John's office, begging him to come back.

Eunice usually walked in when they were together and no amount of explaining could convince her that the affair had ended. Finally, Jennifer called John, told him that someone had tried to rape her in her apartment and begged him to come over and protect her. John consequently spent the night on her couch. Eunice found out about it and didn't believe his version of the story. John moved out. Eunice soon realized that she was wrong and was going to try for a reconciliation—until she found out that John had moved in with Jennifer.

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Eunice filed for divorce, even though she still loved John. John, meanwhile, found out that Jennifer had lied, and that no one had attacked her on that fateful night. Again he packed his bags. He and Eunice patched up their marriage and were back to being like newlyweds. Jennifer attempted suicide; she survived, but as a result went slightly crazy. She kept hearing John talking to her, telling her he loved her, and that he wanted her to kill Eunice so they could marry. All in Jennifer's head, of course. Still Jennifer stole a gun and shot and killed Eunice! Viewer sympathy lies with Eunice, in the grave.