POINT OF A RETURN

By Stephanie Sloan � Cover Story

DAYS OF OUR LIVES's Bo And Hope Are Finally Happy.
So Why Is Billie Back?

     In 1992, Lisa Rinna debut as DAYS OF OUR LIVES's Billie Reed, a torch singer/drug addict who was abused by her father and was Kate's presumed-dead daughter. The character found an instant connection with Bo, who was then played by Robert Kelker-Kelly. In 1995, Bo's originator, Peter Reckell, reclaimed his role. RKK was out; Rinna left on her own soon after. Krista Allen took over as Billie in 1996, then left in 1999. This week, Rinna returns to daytime after a seven-year absence. "Everyone has been so welcoming," says Rinna on her first day back. "I was nervous to come back."

     Billie comes crashing into Salem this week � literally � as a meteor shower rocks the town.
     Why now? "Rinna is a great star and she originated the role, so it was exciting for us to think of her playing it again and having her back on the show," explains Head Writer Peter Brash. Adds Head Writer Paula Cwikly: "We were faced with finding a story for Bo and Hope beyond the baby switch that could work with Kristian's [Alfonso, Hope] maternity leave. When we started chewing on story, we came up with one and thought, 'This is good, but if we could add Billie into the mix, it really kicks it up.' So it really works well storywise for what we were planning."
     Don't expect the same old Billie, caution the scribes. "She's a person who's trying to change her life and do what she considers to be the good thing for herself and maybe even a selfless thing, which we may not have seen Billie try to do before," previews Brash. "What I find compelling about it the way that we've laid it out for her character that she may be doing something beyond herself for her family, community or her life in terms of what her goals are. Of course, being Billie, she gets tied up in knots at times, even with her best efforts. Sometimes, Billie doesn't have the best of luck, and that makes it even more complicated and compelling to watch."
     Rinna's return, which was announced in May, has DAYS fans worried that Billie will cause trouble for supercouple Bo and Hope. "Well, I guess we say, 'We hear their concerns � have patience,'" assures Brash. "There is always going to be something between Bo and Billie � they have a history and they can't deny that. We're mindful of what the fans want and where the characters are, but hte fans have to see where we're going before they make a judgement."
     "Have faith," echoes Cwikly. "What I'm telling them to have faith in is Bo and Hope's love � not necessarily in us � which would be nice [laughs], but faith that Bo and Hope's love is hopefully strong enough to handle anything anyone tries to throws at them."

Ridiculous Rumor      Fans' curiosity was piqued when TV Guide reported that Billie would return in a way that's never been done before in daytime. Here's what Brash and Cwikly think of the conjecture...      "We've been getting chuckles out of a rumor on the Internet that has spread like wildfire," shares Cwikly. "Awhile ago, someone printed on a Web site that Billie was going to parachute into the middle of the Brady/Horton barbeque, and that has spread to every DAYS site I have looked on. And they're stating it as fact! Peter and I laugh about it a lot."      "Wish we'd thought of it!" smiles Brash.

     It will be a while before Bo and Billie even see each other. Although Billie is back in town, she isn't rushing to reveal herself to Bo, mom Kate, or brothers Lucas and Philip. "We're doing the teasing stuff, cat and mouse," previews Reckell (Bo). "For some reason, and I don't know what it is, she doesn't want anyone to know she's in town. She's watching Bo or doing whatever it is she's doing."
     Reckell is looking forward to the challenge that Billie's return presents. "It's kind of a mixed bag," he reflects. "It's hard for me, too, because I look at this actress and I think of three months of powerful stuff that we had together and then I go, 'Wait a minute; Bo and Billie had a lot of stuff, but that was with another actress.' So I'm trying to combine all the history of Bo and Billie, and even to try and pull up some of the history that happened before I came back [when RKK was playing the role]."
     The actor says that at the DAYS fan club gathering last month, fans were concerned about what role Billie would play in the Brady marriage. "A lot of people were adamant, like, 'They're not going to break up Bo and Hope, are they?,' which is great because that's DAYS OF OUR LIVES fans � they're passionate about what they want to see. It puts us apart from other daytime shows and it's always been that way. It's a great thing. The fans will feel strongly about whatever happens with Bo and Billie."
     Breaking up Bo and Hope is not a sure thing, say the writers. "She does come in with her own agenda which will eventually have a great impact on Bo, but it's not all it appears to be," teases Brash. Adds Cwikly, "Fate helps her out a little bit when Hope's leaving town palys right into her hidden agenda."
     Overall, Billie's return will be "mysterious, intriguing and surprising to watch as it unfolds," says Brash. "Anyone who is thinking, 'Same old, same old, we don't want to see that again," we hear that concern and that's not the direction we're going in. We don't want to do it again, either!"

Bo Knows Billie      Missed the Lisa Rinna-as-Billie years? Here's a timeline of what went down... 1992: Bille Reed, a singer struggling to kick a drug habit, arrived in Salem, befriended Carrie Brady and moved in with her. She stole a blank check from John to cover her brother Austin's gambling debts. Billie overdosed on LSD; Austin and Carrie nursed her back to health. 1993: Billie got mixed up with a porn producer from her past, who forced her to hide a wad of cash. She stashed it in a barn, then had a fender-bender with Jack, who found the dough... Bo protected Billie from Cash, a crook who shot Abe, and they grew closer... Billie submitted a manuscript Jack found to Titan as her own and got a book contract... She went gambling with Jack at the Cheatin' Heart and won a deed to a cosmetics company. With the help of a wacky scientist, Charlie, Billie developed a line of cold creams... Billie's father, Curtis, came to town... Bo and Billie shared their first kiss while on a case in L.A.... Bo stood by Billie when she was accused of murdering Curtis. 1994: Billie learned that Kate Roberts is her mother... Billie was released when it was revealed that Stefano killed Curtis... Bo planned to propose to Billie at Maison Blanche, Stefano's plantation in New Orleans. Bo was about to pop the question when John came in carrying a woman named Gina who was a dead ringer for Hope. Bo broke it off with Billie so he could help Gina find her true identity. He and Billie soon reconciled and made wedding plans. Their ceremony was halted when a chandelier crashed down in the church. 1995: Bo and Billie married. Billie uncovered that Gina really was Hope, but didn't share the news right away. Bo was in an awkward position when he learned the truth, but chose Billie, in spite of the fact that Hope's memory had returned. When Bo couldn't fight his love for Hope, Billie realized it was over between them. She left town.