| Alan Laurent | |||||||
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| ''The Young and the Restless'' | |||||||
| Portrayed by | Christopher Cousins | ||||||
| Current status | Former; Recurring | ||||||
| Duration | 2024 | ||||||
| First appearance | April 30, 2024 | ||||||
| Last appearance | June 7, 2024 | ||||||
| Cause/reason | Fell to his death | ||||||
| Profile | |||||||
| Gender | Male | ||||||
| Occupation | Retired Psychologist | ||||||
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Alan Laurent is a friend of Ashley Abbott's from Paris. He was played by Christopher Cousins from April 30, 2024 to June 7, 2024. Cousins continued to be credited as Alan till April 10, 2025 when he left the role of Alan’s twin brother Martin Laurent, who had been posing as Alan. Cousins was only originally slated to appear in ten episodes before having his run extended.
History[]
Alan grew up with his twin brother Martin. As twins they did the usual twin things of pretending to be each other. As they got older, Martin was diagnosed as a sociopath. Alan went on to become a psychiatrist and tried to help Martin, but Martin rejected his help and rejected that anything was wrong with him. Martin became interested in showing Alan up and proving he was the smarter twin, so Martin started studying psychology.
Alan retired from his practice and moved to France. While at a museum with a colleague, he met Ashley Abbott, and they became good friends and Ashley later attempted to turn to Alan for advice after her break up with Tucker McCall. Alan never told Ashley about Martin and was out of town at the time, so Martin posed as Alan and intercepted Ashley subsequently manipulating her without Alan's knowledge.
Storylines[]
Arrival and trying to help Ashley[]
On April 30, 2024; Alan was brought to Genoa City by Ashley's siblings Jack Abbott and Traci Abbott, who were concerned about her latest behaviour. Alan admitted he was also concerned after their last visit. At first he attributed it to the break up of her marriage but he later wondered if there was more to it. Traci asked if Alan knew what happened between her and Tucker, and Alan said he was aware and that Ashley came to see him after that, and told him about their visit to the cafe and that she had thought at first that the staff had been paid off.
Traci explained to Alan that they thought everything would be fine after she accepted that and got back home, but that's when things became very worrisome. Alan asked in which way, and Traci explained that Ashley has been having personality shifts including one where she seems very childlike, but when she is Ashley, she is very fragile, and she confided in her that she has been having blackouts.
Alan enquired about them, and Traci said that huge chunks of time were missing, and that her brother Billy Abbott has suggested that the break up with Tucker caused her personality to splinter off. Alan notes that Billy is making a serious diagnosis and asks if he is a psychologist. Traci says he isn't, but that Billy has gone through something similar, so he can recognize the signs. Traci said they wanted to get Ashley into a doctor and she agreed to go, but then changed her mind at the last second.
Alan says he is glad they reached out to him because he has known Ashley for a long time, and she confided in him she has a history of psychosis so maybe it was brought to a new level. Alan agrees to help them but noted he can't treat her since he retired and his America license has expired since he moved to France. Alan wondered if Ashley knew he was coming. Traci said she told her, but was worried Ashley would think she was overstepping. Traci believed that maybe she'd feel more comfortable talking to Alan unless her mood changes.
Traci called Ashley and she came over to the house to see Alan. Ashley and Alan left the house to catch up and they went to the Athletic Club where Alan was staying. Ashley seemed unusually flirtatious with Alan, and he noticed her voice seemed different. Jack happened by, and Alan met him. Jack wondered how long Alan was staying in town for. Alan said not long as he was a guess lecturing at a psychological convention and due in Vienna next week.
They explained how they met but Ashley said it was a Cafè while Alan said they met at a museum. Ashley even got the painting wrong saying it was a Monet while Alan said the painting was a van gough. Ashley also said he was alone while Alan said he was with a colleague. Ashley claimed it was a woman named Antoinette while Alan said his name was Jean-Claude. Jack said he won't keep them any longer and left.
Dealing with two "Ashley's"[]
Afterwards, Alan reported that something was definitely different with Ashley noting that she is usually very calm, but today she seemed very flirtatious and bubbly although she was just recovering from a break up and this could be her way of dealing with it. The next time Alan and Ashley met, she apologized for being flirtatious and blamed it on all the champagne they drank. Alan understood and hoped Ashley would show him around town, but he also noted Ashley's attitude towards him, and wondered if he had done something wrong.
Ashley coldly told Alan she knows he is here not as her friend but to psychologically analyze her and she wants it to stop. Alan says he is here as Ashley's friend to see how she is doing. Ashley said that Alan helped her in Paris and she thought he could help her again, but now these runs in feel forced, and she feels Jack and Traci have influenced Alan's perception of her. Ashley said she is fine and can deal with her issues herself, but Alan admits he isn't sure she is fine since her demeanour is completely different now.
Ashley says she doesn't want Alan to be feel offended just because she isn't feeling playful. Alan asked Ashley if Jack and Traci's assessment of her was wrong and if there was any reason for him to stay in town. Ashley said there isn't, and clarified she wasn't trying to chase him away. Alan said it feels like it. Ashley said it feels like he is always studying her, and he should just attend his conference in Vienna. Ashley wished him safe travels leaving Alan stunned.
Alan went back to the Athletic Club and packed up to leave. He booked a flight to Europe for the afternoon, but still had a couple of hours, so he called Ashley and asked to see her before she left, but Ashley accused him of wanting to psychoanalyze her. Alan apologized and said he wanted to be Ashley's friend above all. Suddenly, Ashley had to leave the phone temporarily, and when she came back on, she was thrilled to see Alan before he left.
Ashley came to meet Alan in the Athletic Club where she apologized for making him think she didn't want to see him anymore, saying she feels like he is the only person she can trust. Alan tells Ashley she can tell him anything. Before she could though, Tucker happened by, and introduced himself to Alan much to Ashley's annoyance. Tucker wondered how he knew Ashley, and Alan said they met in Paris and have been friends for years. Tucker recalled Ashley mentioning him, and wondered if he knew about him. Alan said they have discussed his and Ashley's relationship.
Ashley talked Alan up as the brilliant psychologist who helped her see she blew their whole fight at the Cafè out of proportion. Tucker thanked Alan, and then his girlfriend Audra Charles arrived and pulled Tucker away. Alan noted Ashley seemed amused by her encounter with Audra, noting that there were underlying comments about her mental health from Audra and wondered how that made her feel. Ashley thanked Alan for his concern, and said she was fine.
Learning more about Ashley's current state[]
Ashley hoped Alan would stay in Genoa City, which confused him, but he said he would stay and have his colleague cover for him in Vienna which made Ashley happy. Tucker encountered Alan again and expressed concerns about Ashley's mental state due to her hot and cold attitude towards him and initially convinced he would be violent towards her. Tucker also noted that Ashley referred to herself in the third person and threatened violence towards him.
Ashley took Alan to Chancellor Park, saying it was one of her favourite places to be. Alan noted it was named after a woman named Katherine, and wondered if she knew her. Ashley said she did, and Alan enquired she must have been a powerful figure. Ashley said Katherine was quite the mogul, and then told Alan she wants to kiss him and have since he arrived. Alan was taken aback when Ashley kissed him and told her this wasn't a good idea. He admitted he found her attractive but felt a long distance relationship between them wouldn't work.
Ashley got defensive and accused Alan of being in town cause he wanted to analyze her. Alan tried to explain, but Ashley told him good bye and next time she needs a shrink she will definitely call him, and left. Alan went to the mansion to apologize to again to Ashley, and said he wasn't trying to analyze her but he is concerned about her. Ashley said she was sick of talking and found Alan exhausting. Alan apologized and said he thought their friendship was strong enough to handle honesty. Ashley snapped that maybe their friendship has ran its course and stormed off.
Alan told Traci it was worse than he thought, and there is definitely more than one personality in Ashley and the one he spoke to just now was very concerning. He hesitated to say she had Dissociative Identify Disorder but she did have more than one personality in her and usually they are formed to protect the psyche from a traumatic event. Alan said the only thing they could do is get Ashley into a controlled and safe environment where she can get treatment. Traci asked if that was possible, and Alan said the real Ashley is in there somewhere, and they just need to reach her.
Helping Ashley By Retuning To Paris[]
Alan and Traci were worried when they couldn't reach Ashley, but then Tucker brought Ashley home and she was herself but very fragile as Traci had explained. Alan gently filled Ashley in on everything and said he thinks she should come to Paris to uncover the source of her trauma. Traci goes with them, and they arrive at Ashley's apartment. Alan hopes Ashley being at her home in Paris would help her relax.
Alan goes home to shower and when he gets back, Ashley is determined to get to the bottom of her trauma before her alters retake control. Alan says he will try to help Ashley uncover what happened and asked if she can remember what happened after her fight with Tucker.
Ashley takes Alan to and Traci to the bar where she allegedly met with him, but Alan's doesn't remember anything. He eventually comes to the conclusion that Ashley may have instead met up with his twin bother Martin, shocking both Traci and Ashley. Alan explained Martin's history and said he became obsessed with psychology and proving he was smarter than Alan.
Martin strikes[]
During this time, Alan is grabbed by Martin and locked up in the bathroom. He later manages to free himself and confront Martin who has taken Ashley hostage. It is revealed that Martin was the one Ashley had spoken to instead that night and Martin had manipulated Ashley into believing her fight with Tucker was way worse than she thought it was, inadvertently creating her altars as well.
Alan tried to convince Martin to seek help, but Martin refused and instead attacked Alan causing the brothers to go over the balcony. Alan survived with a broken arm, but Martin died on impact. Alan was devastated over the loss of his brother but also relieved he couldn't hurt anyone else. It even pained Alan to leave Martin's body alone in the street until it could be removed. Unbeknownst to everyone else, it was actually Alan who died and Martin was pretending to be him.
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