Although her parents bitterly disapproved, Dee Stewart married her family's enemy Dr. John Dixon.  Since John had helped her through some emotional problems, she married him out of gratitude, but she really didn't love him.  When Dee slept with her former lover, Ian MacFarland, for the first time, he died of a heart attack, leaving her crushed.  When Brad Hollister made advances toward her, a guilty Dee pulled away, even though she loved him.  In time, John comforted Dee and she found helself finally able to be with a man again.  But Brad had married her sister Annie and Dee couldn't take John's tyrannical and jealous behavior any longer.  She tried to end her marriage, but John wouldn't let her.  Brad gave Dee some sleeping pills to help her get through this difficult time.  While in bed, groggy from the pills, Dee thought Brad was checking on her but it was John.  He climbed on top of her and raped her, and she was too weak to stop him.  She told her father what had happened and he urged her to press charges against him.

The rape case brought about an interesting turn of events in Oakdale.  Tom Hughes returned to town to take Dee's case, while Tom's girlfriend Maggie Crawford defended John.  David testified on his daughter's behalf, while Lyla shocked everyone by saying she wasn't sure Dee had been raped.  Tom discovered Lyla and John had attended Northwestern University at the same time.  When Lyla's ex-husband Bart was called to the stand, he testified that Lyla was having an affair during their marriage with John.  The revelation of Margo as John's daughter rocked the town, especially Margo, who hated the man.  After John was hit by a car and blinded, Dee dropped the charges against her husband.

Frannie Hughes spent time studying in England and was surprised to see a young woman with a strong resemblance to her.  In time, Frannie and her family were shocked to discover that this young woman, Sabrina Fullerton, was actually Bob and Kim's daughter whom they believed had died at birth.  Sabrina was welcomed into the Hughes family with open arms.

David was so distraught after the trial and surrounding happenings he ended up suffering from amnesia in a town called Flat Rock.  There he met Cynthia Haines and the two fell in love.  When John learned David, who believed he was Donald Saunders, was about to marry Cynthia, he hurriedly brought Dee to Flat Rock for the nuptials.  Dee ran into her father's arms, but he didn't know who she was.  Then he suffered a heart attack from the shock.  After John gave David a type of truth serum, his memory returned.  He threatened to kill John if he ever hurt Dee again, then was relieved to hear he wasn't driving the car that mowed down John.

When John Dixon turned up murdered there were plenty of suspects. The chief suspect was the evil James Stenbeck.  He had ample reason to want John dead since John had evidence proving John wasn't the rightful heir to the Stenbeck family fortune.  However, Dee had also wished John dead since he was interfering in her romance with James.  David also was angry with John for harassing Dee once more.  Ellen feared the worst when she saw John's lifeless body, but when the police arrived, John was gone.  Dee was arrested and tried for John's murder.  Once again Tom came to her defense, this time angering Margo, who couldn't believe he would defend someone accused of murdering her father.  The charges against Dee were dropped when John turned up  in the courtroom alive and well.  He'd faked his death in order to frame James.  Dee finally moved to New York to get away from all the problems.

Steve Andropoulos was the number one suspect in the murder of Whit McColl.  The prosecution thought the case was open and shut because of the mounting evidence.  Witnesses heard Steve threaten to kill Whit and he was in the McColl home the night of the slaying.  In the courtroom, the real murderer stepped forward. It was the McColl housekeeper, Dorothy.  When Whit rejected her love, she struck him with a paperweight and blocked the incident from her mind.  She also admitted she was Kirk's mother.  The news crushed Kirk and strained his relationship with Jay, Dorothy's sonl.  In time the half-brothers reconciled their differences and became friends.

Diana cringed when she heard Whit's will.  Her late father insisted that before Diana collected a penny of her inheritance she must marry and have children.  She tried to snag Cal, the father of Jill with Maggie.  However her plan backfired.  While at the Justice of the Peace's office, Cal had an attack of guilt and rushed out of the ceremony to the church where Maggie was marrying Frank.  He then walked down the aisle and gave Jill to Maggie, knowing she'd be better off with her.

Ellie Snyder returned home to the family farm and set her sights on Kirk, Craig or any man with money.  When she chose Craig, Emily wasn't too thrilled, since she'd been dating him since her split with Tonio.  Desperate to keep her man, Emily hired a private detective who filled her in on Ellie's disastrous early marriage and then her affair with a married man.  Emily was unaware that Ellie had already confessed her sordid past to Craig.  When Emily filled Craig in on the news about his new girlfriend, he lashed out at her for using such low life tactics.  Emily justified her actions by saying if she couldn't have Craig, neither could Ellie.  She offered Tonio money tolocate Sierra, Craig's wife.  Bianca, a m=Montegan refugee turned up on Tonio's doorstep with a wedding ring she said belonged to Sierra.  Craig then learned that the possibility existed that Sierra was indeed alive and living in Montega and she'd just escaped from prison.  He rushed off eager to learn the truth.  When his search proved unfruitful, he returned to Oakdale and resumed his relationship with Ellie.

Lily's birthday party was marred by the nonappearance of Holden.  She flew to Chicago in Lucinda's jet and found Angel kissing Holden.  Lily rushed off before she heard Holden tell Angel that it was Lily that he loved.  When Holden returned to Oakdale, Lily had consoled herself with his brother Caleb.  Holden then received a job offer from Henry Lange, which sent him overseas.

Brock Lombard and Emily were becoming an item, but he told Ellie he'd drop Emily like a hot potato if she gave him the green light.  When Brock's wife Marjorie arrived seeking a divorce, Brock refused, so she dug up plenty of dirt on her husband's latest conquest.  After filling in Brock, he confronted Emily about her tawdry affair with James Stenbeck.  When Emily confided in Paul he took her in his arms.  Before long they made love.  Emily knew if Barbara ever learned that Emily had taken her son's virginity she'd be furious.  Paul sent Emily flowers and letters recalling the special night.  Emily enjoyed his admiration, but she wanted to move on and it was clear Paul wasn't ready to let go.

Photo captions: 

• 1981 -- Near the Temple of Poseidon in Greece, Nick found his brother Steve with the stolen Green Fire necklace and they exchanged blows before Steve dropped the necklace in the dirt and ran off. 
• 1982 -- Although James appeared the loving husband to wife Barbara, he actually was trying to drive her crazy so he could get sole custody of their son Paul. 
• 1982 - Tom and Margo found themselves on adventure after adventure at the hands of Mr. Big and his hitman Bruno. 
• 1983 -- Betsy and Dusty bonded over the troubles in their lives.  Betsy was stuck in a marriage to a man she didn't love, while Dusty didn't want his father to marry again.
• 1985 -- Just about all of Oakdale turned out for the long-awaited wedding of Bob and Kim.  Bob's sister Penny and his mom Nancy were even on hand for the big day. 
• 1987 -- Andy caught hell from his parents for helping Paul reunite with his criminal father James.