From: kristyp@dartmouth.edu (Kristy Patterson)

(A copy of this message has also been posted to the following newsgroups:
rec.arts.tv.soaps.abc)

Hey guys, sorry for the lateness of this update!  Life intervened... anyway,
without further ado:

Thursday, February 8, 1996 in The City:


AZURE & BERNARDO DEFRAUD THE GOVERNMENT AND SHARE A KISS
========================================================
Azure's tooling around New York; she stops to make a call, window shop, etc.,
and eventually winds up at the agency.  She finds Bernardo doing his taxes,
muttering that "this isn't going to work."  Azure requests his body for the
evening... she got her first (huge) check, presumably from Mystique, and
wants him to celebrate with her.  Bernardo, however, is too busy trying to
fake 3 years worth of tax returns so that he and Danny can get a loan to open
their cafe; he works off the books, and Danny's income was acquired in an
even less savory manner, so they have to make up a financial history.  Azure
can't quite believe that they're going to blatantly lie to the IRS; Bernardo
can't quite believe he's going into business with Danny.  Anyway, he's not
very good at math, and can't figure out the tax forms.  Azure comments that
maybe he shouldn't have slept through Carver's algebra class.  Bernardo is
very interested in how she knew the name of his high school algebra teacher.
Azure covers, saying he's always talking about high school, and all the wacky
things he used to do.  Bernardo doesn't remember mentioning Miss Carver. But
how else would I know? counters Azure.  Anyway, Azure changes the subject, I'm
great at math, and offers to help Bernardo commit tax fraud, then they can go
out and celebrate.  Bernardo accepts her help, but is affronted by the idea
of the woman picking up the check.  Azure asks then what does the woman do?
Whatever she wants, replies Bernardo.  So, Azure leans over and plants a big
kiss on Bernardo; she "just wanted to see how that would feel."  Bernardo
looks a bit confused... Anyway, they get back to the tax returns.  Azure pulls
it off, hoping that she doesn't end up in prison, and tells Bernardo again that
they shouldn't do this.  He doesn't want to, but knows it's the only way he'll
get the loan.  He's apparently more concerned with how the kiss felt than with
his imminent felony; he asks Azure how it felt.  You tell me, she says. Nice,
he says.  Azure agrees.  Bernardo notices the time (it's after 1:00), and
Azure freaks, saying she has to go.  She goes off to a different part of the
agency and pops a pill...


ANGIE DISSES KAYLA, BUT THE HAMPTONS WANT HER ANYWAY
====================================================
Jacob shows up at the clinic with lunch supplies for Angie to share with Helen
Ican'trememberthenamebutIthinkit'sHampton (we'll go with Hampton for the rest
of the update).  Angie's nervous.  Jacob tries to make small talk, but Angie
cuts to the chase, and admits she's worried about the Hamptons adopting Kayla.
Helen shows up; Jacob makes his escape.  Helen tries to make small talk, but
Angie is still in her blunt phase, and suggests they talk now.  Helen, demon-
strating that she can compete effectively with Angie in the blunt department,
tells Angie that they got the feeling that she didn't want them to get close
to Kayla.  Angie says she owes it to Kayla to be cautious.  Helen understands
that, saying that's why she wanted to talk with Angie, and whips out an en-
velope containing pertinent information about them for Angie to peruse. Angie
dodges that, saying she's sure Social Services checked them out thoroughly.
They did, but Helen insists they want Angie to be comfortable with it, too.
Helen talks about the school system where they live, which is one of the best
in the state; that's one of the reasons they moved there... Angie cuts her off,
saying there are things they should know about Kayla.  Angie launches into the
Story of Kayla: she grew up on the mean streets of New York, her mother a
prostitute and crack addict... Helen thinks Angie is trying to shock her. 
Angie denies this (even though it's fairly obvious), saying she just wants
her to know the truth.  Helen says the social worker told them all about Kayla.
Angie wonders if she told them about Kayla pulling a gun on her. That takes
Helen a bit off guard.  Angie emphasizes that Kayla isn't your average 2nd
grader, and she's definitely no angel; she's had 7 sets of foster parents,
and she can't stand another disappointment.  Angie wants to make sure the
Hamptons can handle that responsibility.  Helen doesn't buy that, and accuses
Angie again of trying to scare them away.  Angie claims she just wants them
to know what they're getting into.  Helen says she thought they were going to
talk *honestly*.  Angie is affronted that Helen think she's lying.  Helen
astutely observes that Angie is afraid of losing Kayla.  Angie admits that she
loves Kayla and wants what's best for her.  Helen asks how she can love such
an evil, ill-behaved child?  (Busted!)  Angie admits that she went a bit
overboard.  Then she does have some redeeming qualities? asks Helen.  Angie
says that, once you get through the defenses, Kayla is the sweetest little
girl in the world (I wonder if they want Jacob's opinion on that particular
observation...).  The Hamptons know it will take time and love, but they
want a child; this isn't a whim, they've been trying for a long time.  Helen
laments that Angie can't know what it's like to not be able to have kids...
Angie gets upset, and says she thinks she understands better than Helen thinks.
Helen begs for Angie's help, with Social Services and with Kayla...


WAIT, ANGIE *DOES* HAVE A KID... WHO DOESN'T LIE ANY BETTER THAN SHE DOES
=========================================================================
Jacob, having bailed on Angie and Helen, encounters Frank playing pool. Frank
wanted to talk to Jacob about the fight in the bar; did he tell Angie?  Jacob
says no, that's Frank's job.  Frank says there's not much to tell, a guy
accused him and his friend of something they didn't do.  Jacob philosophizes
that you can't fight prejudice with fists.  Franks says it's over; he wanted
to talk to Jacob about something else; changing his name and taking an African
one.  Jacob's surprised, and thinks it's a bit impulsive.  Frankie says he's
been thinking about it for awhile; he finally feels connected to something
larger than himself and his own family and needs: his African roots.  He's
discovered so many eye-opening things about what it means to be an African in
America... Jacob thinks he's discovered how to impress his buddy James. Frank
insists that this has nothing to do with James (yeah, right), and he never
liked "Frank" anyway, it doesn't even mean anything.  Jacob counters that it's
the name his parents gave him, their only child, after Jesse's favorite uncle.
They loved and respected Uncle Frank, and connected their child to their 
history of strong, African-American men who took care of their families... is
he sure he wants to give that up?  Frank's sure.  Jacob wonders, then, why
Frank came to talk to him instead of to Angie.  Frank hedges, saying he's not
afraid of Angie's reaction, but he thought it might be better if he had Jacob
on his side.  I interpret Jacob's raised eyebrow as an indication that that's
probably fairly unlikely.  This is, in fact, shown to be the case when Jacob
says no way, this is between Frank and Angie.  He reminds Frank to think long
and hard about this.  Jacob asks how long he's known James, 2 months? and
continues that bigotry can come in all colors.  Frank freaks, asking why Jacob
didn't lecture the white supremacist kid instead of him?  Jacob says that kid
was ignorant, and his actions made no sense.  Frank philosophizes that all a
man really has is his sense of himself, and an African name will help Frank
develop one.  He takes off.


NICK KNOWS, AND TESS KNOWS HE KNOWS, AND KNOWS HE KNOWS SHE KNOWS...
====================================================================
In the agency, Tess hears a guitar and sees Nick.  She notices that he has the
Gibson back, and wonders where he got the money for it.  Nick says Jared Chase
gave it to him.  Tess is mightily confused... she covers by saying that a man
like Jared Chase wouldn't give Nick 2 dimes, especially since Nick is doing
his wife.  Nick wonders how she knows that.  Tess says she knows because she's
Syd's good buddy.  Nick asks how Tess managed to earn her trust; that's "earn"
with a "U," as in "Urn," homonyms, you know.  Tess asks what he's talking
about (duh, Tess).  Sydney told me about your little heist, Nick replies.
What kind of woman steals another's dead husband?  Tess wonders what kind of
woman keeps her husband's death secret?  One who has her reasons, Nick says.
Tess counters that she has her reasons, too.  Yeah, blackmail, great reason,
says Nick.  Tess says she was backed into a corner; this wasn't a practical
joke.  Nick agrees that extortion is no joke.  Tess tells Nick that Sydney
was trying to take over the agency, and Tess needed leverage.  Nick wonders
why she didn't cut a deal and get a lot of money.  Tess says he doesn't get
it; as long as she has the urn, Sydney takes her to parties, introduces her to
the players... Nick is amazed she did all this for a few parties.  Tess says
it's about being somebody, which Nick had the chance to do, but pissed away;
she isn't going to make that mistake.  She's worked for what she has, and she
won't let Sydney take it away with a wave of her checkbook.  Nick ominously
warns Tess that Sydney is very good at games.  Tess is surprised Sydney would
send him to confront her.  Nick says she didn't put him up to this.  Tess
wonders, then, why he's pleading her case; it's kind of touching, in a pathetic
sort of way.  Tess predicts that Sydney is using Nick, and will dump him again.
Nick thanks her for the warning, and says he has one for her; they both know
about Jared, and when others find out, Tess' "leverage" will be one big pile
of ashes.  Tess appears to consider this...


OEDIPAL FUN IN THE PENTHOUSE
============================
Sydney is sitting alone at her computer.  A man comes into the apartment, but
she doesn't hear him; she's busy muttering at her computer to stop being such
a coward and show his face.  The man sneaks up behind her and puts his hand on
her shoulder... it's Richard.  Syd freaks, he scared the hell out of her, and
he shouldn't skulk around like that.  Richard says he's sorry about the merger
falling through.  Sydney says it wasn't quite the hot deal she thought it was.
Richard comments on how many years it took her to discover that.  He wonders
why Samuel didn't intercept him before he got to Sydney.  She says he's not
there; he retired to spend more time with his daughter.  Richard doesn't buy
that for a second, comparing Samuel's devotion to a lap dog; he insists on
knowing what's going on.  Sydney apparently tells him, because in the next
scene Richard is saying "kidnapped Samuel's daughter?  Who?  Did you call the
police?" and all the usual things someone would say had they been told.  Syd
didn't call the police; Lauren was already back.  She insists Richard not
say a word.  Richard thinks she's crazy.  Sydney wouldn't have told him, but
she wants him to know the kind of people they are dealing with, and to be
careful.  Richard says he thought it was over.  Sydney thinks it is, since they
got what they wanted... for now.  Richard thinks she's acting like she has
another card up her sleeve.  Sydney tells him she wants him to stay out of it,
for his own safety.  Richard says she almost sounded like a mother, just then.
Sydney looks a bit wistful.  Richard says he hopes he didn't hurt her feelings,
but he's never seen her show maternal fear for him.  Syd admits she was no
June Cleaver.  Richard talks about when he found out he was going to be adopted
by a wealthy American couple, the Chases; he pictured a middle-aged couple,
and was shocked when he found out Marilyn Monroe was going to be his mother.
He says he had a major crush on her when he was 13.  Sydney reminds him that
she IS his mother.  But not my real mother, says Richard.  He says this isn't
a latent Oedipal complex or anything.  Sydney says she always tried to be a
good mother... Richard knows she did the best she could, and they're getting on
a lot better now.  He gets up to leave, and goes to give her a kiss, but Syd
pushes him away.  He leaves, she looks a bit guilty...

See you next week!

-Kristy

-- 
----------------
Kristy Patterson
Systems Designer, Center for the Evaluative Clinical Sciences
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~kristyp/

