SOD on GL's BETH

MOST BELEAGURED HEROINE 1984: Beth Raines (GL) We all wept for Beth when we realized her stepfather was physically abusing her. We cringed when he raped her, and we were overjoyed when she ran off to New York with her Prince Charming, Phillip Spaulding. We saluted Beth when she had the courage to testify against her stepfather, who was sent away to a psychiatric prison. We couldn't wait for her wedding to Phillip. But then heartbreak took over, and Beth learned that her friend Mindy was pregnant with Phillip's child. End of wedding; end of romance with Phillip. While Spaulding played martyr and married Mindy, Beth got over her tears with the help of reformed street-hood Lujack, who just happened to be the long-lost son of a Baroness. Although we weren't sure if we wanted Beth with Lujack, or hoped she'd reconcile with Phillip, at least we knew she was happy again. Unfortunately, it didn't last for long. As the two men fought for her affections, it was poor Beth who was injured and wound up blind. Luckily her affliction wasn't permanent, and she did reconcile with Lujack, but hasn't the girl been through enough?# SOD Special: Phillip-Beth-Mindy By now [1983], teen triangles were becoming the rage, and this was one of the top triangles ever to grace daytime. Phillip Spaulding, young, dashing and handsome, found himself smitten with the gentle Beth Raines, the unfortunate victim of a rape. Phillip was tender with Beth and helped her get over the trauma. He was also sleeping with the trashy Mindy Lewis. Just prior to Phillip's wedding to Beth, Mindy found out she was carrying his child. Beth caught wind of the news just as she was about to walk down the aisle, and audiences were stunned when she began pounding on Phillip's chest at the altar screaming about how Mindy was going to have his baby. Phillip pleaded with Mindy to tell Beth their relationship was purely sexual, but she wouldn't do it. Mindy became Phillip's wife, and Beth, well, things were going to heat up for Beth in just a little while.# Beth & Lujack The audience who was quite smitten with Phillip and Beth, was absolutely delighted with what happened to her next. Beth came into Tony Reardon's bar and met Lujack, who worked there. The chemistry was apparent, and they fell in love. But they did have some problems along the way. For instance, Lujack's ex-girlfriend hated Beth with a passion and held Beth, Lujack, and Lujack's mother hostage. Beth's ex, Phillip, wasn't exactly Mr. Nice Guy either--he planted a bomb that blinded Beth. Then poor Lujack was accused of the murder of Andy Ferris. The adventures of Beth and Lujack became very similar to those of GH's Luke and Laura--they became amateur detectives. Lujack was, unfortunately, killed on one of their adventures, which brought a sad end to one of GL's best-loved young couples.# Beth Raines...From a SOD Special Issue (late '80's) One of the best-loved younger characters GL has given its audience, Beth was initially a very sad creature. Her [step-]father was fond of physically abusing her, and when she defended herself, he raped her. This had such a profound effect on Beth that she became semicatatonic, and when Phillip managed to get her to tell him what happened, they ran away to New York. Upon their return, they were all set to get married until Mindy Lewis dropped her bombshell: [she was pregnant with Phillip's child]. Beth found herself drawn to gang leader Lujack, and the two fell in love. Phillip, insanely jealous, had someone blow up Lujack's retaurant. The result? Beth was temporarily blinded. She and Lujack became involved in some espionage activities, and Lujack was killed. Beth resumed her relationship with Phillip, but things came to an unexpected halt when Beth was kidnapped and then she disappeared. Viewers mourned the loss, since Beth was one of those characters they couldn't help but love, since she started off innocent and vulnerable. # Return to Press Index