From: Kristen.K.Patterson@dartmouth.edu (Kristen K. Patterson)

Thursday, January 18, 1996 in The City:


ADOPTION, ABANDONMENT, AND THE PARENTAL SHUFFLE
===============================================
It's morning in Jacob's loft.  He's getting dressed, while Angie talks
on the phone with the social worker who, despite the early hour,
wants Kayla to meet with some prospective adoptive parents.  They
exchange pleasantries about how great they were last night, and
Angie tells him about the call.  Jacob seems psyched, but Angie's
bummed about having to give her up.  Angie feels awful, but Jacob
reminds her of the need to put Kayla in a permanent home before
they get too attached.  Angie thinks it's too much too soon, and
relates all the horrible things that have happened to Kayla in the
past few months.  Jacob agrees that she's had a rough life, and
says that's why she needs a permanent home.  Angie thinks she
needs time.  Jacob says time will make it harder, and picks up
the drawing Kayla made of her and her "mom" to prove his point.
He says any more time would be setting her up for a big dis-
appointment.

Zoey and Kayla come out of the clinic.  Zoey reminds Kayla not to
tell Angie about the junk food they ate, and how late they stayed
up, and that Zoey painted Kayla's toenails black.  Kayla asks Zoey
to do her fingernails next time.  Zoey reminds her to take things
one day at a time, but Kayla insists Angie loves her, and won't let
them take her away.  Zoey starts reading the file Richard gave her
from the orphanage.  Kayla asks if she's going to try to find her
parents.  Zoey doesn't think so.  Kayla reiterates that she's going
to stay with Angie forever.

Jacob admires Angie for taking Kayla in, and says Kayla has been
good for Angie because of her finding out that she can't have any
more children.  Angie blows up at that one.  Jacob says they'll
have to talk about it eventually.  Angie apologizes for being a little
nuts lately.  She thinks maybe it isn't Kayla, maybe she's just
feeling a little unsettled because her divorce hasn't come through
yet, and she doesn't feel like she can move on.  Jacob doesn't buy
that one, and says it is about Kayla, just as Kayla and Zoey come
in.  Kayla says she's ready for school.  Angie tells Kayla she won't
be going to school today.  Kayla's psyched.  Angie tells her that
the social services lady is coming by with a couple that wants to
meet her.  Kayla freaks that they're going to take her away.  Angie
says no one will hurt her.  Zoey says nothing lasts forever.  Jacob
tells her to lay off, she's making it worse.  Zoey turns on Angie,
saying she can't believe that she's just going to dump Kayla because
she can't be bothered anymore.  Jacob defends Angie.  Zoey yells at
him that she knows what it's like because she's been there, and it
sucks.  She tells him to save his tap dance for someone who buys
it, and storms out.  Kayla tries to follow, but Jacob grabs her.
Kayla yells that it's all Jacob's fault, because he wants Angie all
to himself.  Jacob says he wants what's best for her; "then let
me stay with Angie," Kayla says.  Angie says the people just want
to meet her.  Kayla asks Angie why she doesn't want her anymore.
Angie starts to cry.  Angie asks Kayla to just meet the people.
Kayla says "NO" several times, forcefully, then rips the picture
in half and runs off.  Angie starts to go after her.  Jacob suggests
she give Kayla space.  Angie says she's upset.  Jacob says she
can't always let her have her way; she has to put her foot down
now and then, because Kayla can be very manipulative.  Angie says
she's a scared child.  Jacob says she's the adult, and ultimately
she knows what's best.  Angie says he's right, but she still has to
make sure she's okay.  She says she can handle an 8-year old child,
and she thinks it would be better if Kayla meets with the people if
she's calm and open-minded.  Whatever, Jacob says, as Angie takes
off upstairs after her.

Angie apparently has found Kayla, because they're talking.  Kayla
doesn't want to go live with strangers.  Angie just wants them to
meet her.  Kayla threatens to run away again.  Angie says don't
say that.  Kayla wants to stay.  Angie wishes she could.  Kayla
says Angie doesn't love her.  Angie gets teary again.  Meanwhile,
Jacob's entertaining the couple and social worker.  He's a computer
salesman, and she teaches a computer class.  The woman asks Jacob
about Kayla, what she's like, if she gets along well with other child-
ren, etc.  Jacob flails, but is rescued by Angie.  Angie says Kayla
isn't feeling very well; she's a bit feverish and has a sore throat,
so they should try to do it another time.  They offer to wait, but
Angie says no.  The social worker says they'll be in touch, and they
leave.  Jacob asks her what's up with that.  Angie says he doesn't
understand; she lied to them because... Jacob doesn't care why she
lied to them, but she needs to stop lying to herself.

Zoey's reading her file and waiting for the elevator.  The door opens
and Richard's inside.  Zoey says she'll wait for the next one.  Richard
comments about her reading the file.  Zoey wants him to leave her
alone.  Richard bugs her about wanting to find her natural parents.
Zoey says she doesn't.  He says she can at least catch a lift with him.
He just wants to help her out, but says the subject's closed if she
doesn't want to talk to him.  The door starts to close, and she jumps
in.  She tells him that she does want to find her parents, and asks for
his help.  Richard stares straight ahead, but apparently has a change
of heart during the commercial, because afterward, she's telling him
that she doesn't want to see them or talk to them, but she wants to
know who they are and why they ditched her.  Richard asks why the
change of heart.  Women's prerogative, she says.  Richard warns her
not to be surprised at what they find; given the way they dumped
her, he doubts they're saints.  Zoey's bummed, but wants him to
find them anyway.


THE BUILDING HAS NO HEAT, BUT SYD, TESS, NICK, AND ALEX DO...
=========================================================
Bernardo's punching away at his punching bag.  Alex drops by to let
him know that the heat's out in their place.  Bernardo says it's not
just their place, but the furnace is fine, so it must be the ducts,
which he doesn't fix, even though he's the super; it's Sydney's
problem to take care of.  They argue over which one of them is
going to tell her.  They leave it at "whoever sees her first."
The camera closes in on the urn sitting above the pipes.

Sydney's reading the message that appeared on her computer
screen yesterday after her chess game ("You can't win with me.
Because I know your king is laid to rest.")  She picks up the phone
and calls Tess, but she isn't in her office.  Richard shows up and
startles her.  She's still upset about the way he talked to her last
night.  The truth hurts, Richard snipes.  He asks if she's working
on the famous merger, and comes around the desk to look at her
screen; Syd slams her laptop shut before he gets there.  He tells
her that if she wants him to stop asking questions, she needs to
talk to him, and tell him what's up.  Sydney's fresh out of an-
swers.  Richard jibes her for being tense; she didn't get a lot of
sleep.  He apologizes for being cruel the night before about her
stillborn child, and the other stuff he said.  Sydney asks him if
he really does feel that way, like she always made him feel
inadequate and like he could never measure up.  Richard says
he was upset, and he really doesn't know.  Sydney asks him to
stay awhile longer with her, and they could try to work on things.
Richard says she seems to want her privacy at the moment.  He
wonders if her secret business has anything to do with her new
buddy, Tess.  He finds her new friendship with Tess very curious.
Sydney reminds him that he's the one who brought Tess into the
building, and says she's just trying to make the best out of a 
bad situation.  She asks him again to stay, and Richard says he'll
think about it.  Sydney leaves.  Richard hightails it over to the
laptop, opens it up and starts typing away (wonder where the
screen with the message went?).

Molly's answering the phones at Tess' agency (how many jobs
does she have, anyway?).  Nick comes in looking for Tess to
complain about the heat (what's Tess supposed to do about it?).
He asks for a hot cup of coffee.  Molly asks if he's okay, because
he looks a bit rattled.  Tess comes in and tells him not to change
a thing; he's perfect.  Tess wants Nick to model for a "jilted
lover down on his luck" part.  "Ah, typecasting," Nick asks.
Sydney comes storming into the agency and asks for Tess; Molly
doesn't know who Syd is.  Molly tells her that Tess is meeting
with a model right now, but Sydney spies Tess and Nick and
heads over.  Tess says it's a nice surprise to see her, and she
was looking for her to thank her for Azure's cover.  Sydney asks
what Nick's doing there.  Tess says he's doing a little modeling.
Syd asks what they're selling, bourbon?  Tess says he'll be the
jilted lover in a cologne ad.  "It's a stretch, but..." Nick comments.
Tess tells her about the concept; the first part will be really
romantic, like the Rainbow Room... "or the top of the Empire
State Building," Nick chimes in.  Syd says that reminds her of
an old, bad movie.  Tess says "An Affair to Remember" was a
great movie!  Nick says she hasn't seen Syd's version.  Syd asks
Nick to excuse them, she has business with Tess.  Tess asks
what's up?  Syd asks who she told.  Tess is clueless.  Syd asks
who she told about Jared, or the lack thereof.  Tess wonders why
she would do that, she'd be crazy to kill her golden goose.  You
didn't tell a single soul that Jared is dead?  Syd presses.  "And
ruin our fabulous friendship?" Tess asks.  Syd says she's serious.
So's Tess.  Tess asks if someone is... "Trying to blackmail me?
You mean besides you?"  Tess swears she didn't tell anyone, and
suggests she ask Samuel.  Syd insists that Samuel wouldn't tell
anyone, he's the only person she trusts.  Tess asks who else
knows besides the three of them.  No one does.  Syd says come
to think of it, whoever this is is a lot more subtle than Tess
could ever be.  Tess says she's just as anxious to find out who
knows as Sydney is.  Sydney doubts that very seriously.  Tess
puzzles on who it might be.  Syd says she'll worry about that;
all Tess needs to do is keep her mouth shut.  She starts to leave,
but stops to use the phone.  Tess rushes out, and tells Molly she
needs to go "check on an investment."

Alex runs into Sydney in the hall.  They were just looking for each
other; him to tell her about there being no heat, and her wanting
him to do a job.  Syd doesn't do heat, but Alex looks intrigued.  She
wants a private investigator, and since he did such a good job for
Tess... Alex reminds her that he was investigating her.  He gets it;
if you can't beat 'em, buy 'em.  Syd says if you want the best...
"and if you can't buy 'em, flatter 'em," says Alex.  Syd says
actually she needs someone that no one knows.  "And if you can't
buy 'em, insult 'em," says Alex.  Syd asks if he's interested.  Alex
asks for details.  Sydney says she's had a security lapse; she
thinks someone is trying to sabotage her merger, and she wants
him to find out who it is.  Alex quotes her a huge price.  Sydney
asks if that isn't a little steep?  Alex says it's probably double
what she'd pay someone that she's already heard of, but that's
his price.  Syd likes his style, and says she'll have a check drawn
up.  Alex asks where to start.  Syd gives him a list of names of
people involved that might be possible leaks.  "Malcolm Christopher,"
Alex comments.  Sydney asks if she knows him.  Alex says he met
him at her party; looks like he's going to get to know him a bit
better.  Alex heads up the stairs.  Sydney pushes the elevator
button.  Nick comes out of the agency.  She asks him how the
modeling career is coming.  Nick says he'll take the stairs.

Meanwhile, Tess goes to check on Jared.  She's relieved to see
he's still there, and "tells" him Sydney sends her love.


See you next Thursday!

-Kristy

