From: kristyp@Dartmouth.edu (Kristy Patterson)

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

It's Leap Day in the City:


NICK FLUSHES "JARED," AND TESS' LEVERAGE ALONG WITH HIM
=======================================================
Tess begs Nick to give her back the Jared urn; she's afraid he'll give it
back to Sydney.  She tries to entice Nick by saying that Sydney will pay a
fortune for it; she already made Tess and offer.  "We" can't give it back,
says Tess.  Nick wonders who "we" might be; he has the urn, and possession
is nine-tenths of the law.  Tess, on the other hand, has squat.  Sensing
that he isn't going to bite, Tess changes her tack, suggesting Nick keep
Jared, but she keeps the urn (? Like no one will wonder what Nick's random
pile of ashes represents?).  Nick offers her some free advice instead; she
shouldn't think she can jerk Sydney around indefinitely, and when Tess steps
into whatever trap Sydney has set, she won't know what hit her.  Tess isn't
afraid of Sydney Chase.  Then, Nick suggests, think about the sharks who
would give anything for proof that Jared Chase is dead; those types wouldn't
think twice about starting a war to make their stock go up, let alone about
rubbing out a little nobody like Tess to get the urn.  Tess points out that
they might come after Nick.  Nick says he's not going to sit on it; Tess is
going to give it back.  Not without a check, I'm not, says Tess.

Later, while Tess is seeing Sydney (see below), Nick has the urn in his
apartment.  He gives a sarcastic eulogy to "Jared," then flushes him down
the toilet, saying "tonight, Jared, you sleep with the fishes."


SYDNEY PLAYS NICE WITH ZOEY
===========================
Sydney tells Zoey and Richard that, when she insulted Zoey, she had had a
rough few days, their presence surprised her, and she overreacted.  Richard
isn't buying Sydney's attempt at an apology for a second.  Zoey suggests
that "if she wants to eat crow, I say we set the table and bring on the
condiments."  Sydney lets that go, and asks them how about it?  Zoey is
willing to give it a shot.  "Your move, Syd," says Richard.  Sydney realizes
that things haven't always been great between Richard and her, but it's been
better lately, and she doesn't want to lose that.  Richard still doesn't want
to stay in the apartment.  Sydney understands; she knows she can be hard to
live with.  Richard considers that to be a considerable understatement.
Zoey chastises him.  Sydney sucks up to Zoey, saying that she thinks what
bothered her about Zoey is how much she reminds her of herself at her age,
when she felt free to express herself; the life she chose for herself doesn't
allow that, and she's a bit envious (Syd, you have a bazillion bucks, you
could dress up like a chicken and go around pecking at people's heads if you
felt like it!  Get real!).  Zoey is astonished that Sydney Chase is jealous
of her.  Sydney realizes that they may not be one big happy family right away,
but they can at least try.  Dinner?  Zoey says "I'm there," just as Richard
says "no way."  Sydney and Zoey completely ignore him, and start to talk about
the specifics.  Sydney promises not to count the silverware after Zoey leaves.
"How quaint and fun," Richard remarks.  Sydney, at least, feels much better.
She asks if Zoey is allergic to anything.  Zoey says no, and she'll even brush
up on her table manners.  Zoey leaves.  Richard warns Syd not to make him
regret this.  All Sydney is asking for is a chance.  Richard, still skeptical,
leaves.  "Well, that was easy enough," Sydney comments to herself.

Later, Sydney's on the phone with a caterer, ordering food for their dinner;
she thinks Zoey would like finger food, and the greasier the better... "yes,
buffalo wings would be perfect."  She suggests something simple for dessert,
"perhaps in the Ring-Ding family."  The doorbell rings; it's Tess.  Sydney
is relieved that Tess got her messages and has decided to be reasonable.
Tess doesn't know anything about any messages, but she's decided that she's
had her fun with Jared, and she's ready to let him come home.  So where is
he, Syd asks, noting that Tess is empty-handed.  Tess says you'll have him
back soon, but there's the matter of putting something in my empty hands;
I've decided that just being best friends with Sydney didn't turn out to be
all it was cracked up to be.  Sydney thanks the Lord for small favors, and
asks what made Tess change her mind.  Tess says that's irrelevant.  Sydney
deduces that Tess wants cash; Tess asks for $100,000.  And what if I say no,
queries Sydney.  Tess knows she's not that stupid.  Tess breezily tells Syd
to have a check ready by 8 p.m., and she'll send a messenger to collect it,
Jared in hand.  Sydney's upset about the messenger idea, since she doesn't
want anyone else to know, but Tess is already gone.

Down in the clinic, Richard can't believe Zoey said yes.  Zoey can't believe
Richard wouldn't cut his own mother any slack.  Richard says that Sydney played
her for a chump, and she bought it all the way.  Zoey says she told Sydney what
she wanted to hear so they could get out of there.  Richard's skeptical.  Zoey
says she's already been to one of Sydney's soirees, and she has no intention of
having dinner with her.  So, Richard says, you string people along until they're
really counting on you, then you brush them off?  Zoey says in this case, yes.
Richard asks if she's doing that to him?  Of course not, claims Zoey... except
maybe when they play pool.  Richard isn't talking about pool; when they talk
and hang out together, is he just another mark, another hustle?  What do you
think, asks Zoey.  Richard tells her to answer the question.  Zoey says she
doesn't hustle people she cares about.  Richard commends her on her tricky
answer.  He knows they argue a lot, but he thinks Zoey is okay -- he really
means that.  What do you think of me, he asks.  Zoey stammers, but finally
admits she likes him a lot.  Richard thinks that's good, and they kiss. So...
this is... good, says Richard.  Zoey says yeah... but it's not a commitment
or anything.  Absolutely not, Richard agrees.  They kiss some more.  Well...
says Richard... I have a meeting I have to go to.  Zoey says give 'em hell.
Richard promises that he will, and he'll see her later.  He leaves.  Outside
of each others' presence, both grin goofily.


MOLLY HIDES FROM THE MOB: DANNY JOINS THE FUN
=============================================
Molly is staying at the hotel Tony put her in.  She's edgy, jumping at every
little noise, checking the door and windows to make sure they're locked, and
talking to herself.  She tries to reassure herself that it wasn't Tony's brother
that beat up that kid, or planted the bomb, and besides he doesn't even know
you're onto him... there's a knock at the door.  "I'm dead," Molly says. It's...
Danny!  Molly questions him before she lets him in; is he alone, how did he
find her?  Danny (after she lets him in) wonders what's going on, why she's
so scared; what did Tony put you up to, he asks.  Molly asks how he found her.
Danny says she left the last message on their machine, and he had it traced
back to this hotel.  Molly's disturbed that they can do that (haven't these
people ever heard of *69?).  Danny says she's changing the subject, out with
it; why's she hiding out?  Molly says she's fine, but his being there might
blow her cover, and he should go.  Danny doesn't think she means that, and even
if she does, the damage is already done.  Molly is happy to see him, and glad
when he decides to stay.  "You can't stay all day... can you?"  Danny says it's
Leap Day, a free day; you can do anything, time stands still, all bets are off.
Molly likes the idea of time standing still.  She wishes she could turn back
the clock so the last few days didn't happen.  She starts to cry.  Danny deduces
that this has something to do with the beating and/or the bomb, not some stake-
out.  He asks her to trust him a little.

Molly apparently tells him some of what's going on, that she heard something
she wasn't supposed to hear, and she's stashed away while Tony tries to fix it.
Danny reminds her that she already told him that she knew the voice of the
person who beat up the kid; who was it?  Molly says she's already said too much.
Danny turns on the TV.  Molly can't believe he'll still stay, even though she
didn't tell him. (Aww, what a guy.)


ALLY AND TONY FIGHT: JOEY AND TONY FIGHT: ALLY EAVESDROPS
=========================================================
Ally and Tony come into her apartment arguing about how he nearly ran her over
barreling down the hallway.  Tony says he's just agitated over investigating
the bombing.  Ally says it's more than that; talk to me.  Ally asks if it has
something to do with Molly, because she left her a note that made no sense,
something about going to some hotel for him.  Tony tries to blow her off and
leave.  Ally blocks the door.  Tony isn't in the mood for games.  This isn't
a game, Ally says, what's going on with Molly?  Tony yells at her to stop it.
Ally asks if this is about the beating in the hall?  What is this, an interro-
gation, demands Tony.  Ally begs him to let her help; she knows Molly works
for him, and she's worried about both of them.  Tony decides he's hungry, is
she?  "Yeah, I come back from a trip, the bar's been blown up, Molly's hiding
out... I'm starved."  Tony says he never took her for the sarcastic type. No,
says Ally, you took me for the stupid type.  Tony says take it easy.  Ally's
sick of everyone acting totally withdrawn, edgy and irrational, but thinking
that, if they just don't talk about it, no one will notice (hear, hear!  Go
Ally!).  Tony ignores her.  Ally calls him pathetic.  Tony talks about food.
Ally wonders if he thinks that, if he lets his guard down, she might think
less of him.  Tony says nothing.  The olive oil in the pan starts to burn,
and Tony burns himself.  Ally doesn't have any aloe vera, so she starts to
go over to his place to get some.  Tony stops her to thank her... "for all
this."

Tony's holding an ice pack on his hand; Joey comes in, commenting that Tony
always burns the olive oil, he could smell it from the stairs.  Tony says that
he said everything he had to say to Joey at the church.  Joey starts in on the
"you're my brother, I love you" routine.  Tony says he used to think the same
thing, that they had a bond because they shared the same parents; but it was
really denial.  Joey's confused, saying he knows things have been tough...
Tony continues to wax nostalgic, saying that, in his head, he always had a
picture of his great big brother, not the kind of guy that would do bad things.
That guy wouldn't break a kid's kneecaps for Gino because he was late with a
loan payment.  For years, Tony denied it... then a bomb went off in his and his
friends' home. Not my brother, says Tony, my brother has too much class... he
attacks Joey.  Enough! Joey shouts.  Tony's figured something out; his brother
is dead in his book, he doesn't have a brother.  Please don't talk like that,
says Joey.  Tony says it's the truth; you're nobody to me.  Joey says if that's
the way he wants it, okay, but he has some advice for Tony.  A threat? asks
Tony.  The straight truth, says Joey.  Tony is in a bad place here, and loose
tongues will only make it worse.  Joey says you think you have a witness who
can place me at the beating; he knows it has to be Molly.  Tony says there's
no one.  Joey says listen to me -- what's going down is out of my hands, and if
I walk away, someone else will just come do it.  Tony asks who the boss is?
Because even Gino has too much class for this.  Joey says all he has to know
is that these poeple are in it for keeps.  Don't play the hero... if you name
names, they'll come after the people closest to you, and make them suffer
before it's your turn.  Tony presses.  Joey blows up: "you're on thin ice here,
bro, get out before you fall through and take your friends with you!  Get it?"
Joey heads for the door.  Ally, who has been listening, runs and hides on the
stairs; Joey doesn't see her.  Ally comes back down the stairs, clutching the
aloe vera, looking scared...

Cliffhanger!

-Kristy

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

